Identification of potential electrotrophic microbial community in paddy soils by enrichment of microbial electrolysis cell biocathodes

Electrotrophs are microbes that can receive electrons directly from cathode in a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC). They not only participate in organic biosynthesis, but also be crucial in cathode-based bioremediation. However, little is known about the electrotrophic community in paddy soils. Here, the putative electrotrophs were enriched by cathodes of MECs constructed from five paddy soils with various properties using bicarbonate as an electron acceptor, and identified by 16S rRNA-gene based Illumina sequencing. The electrons were gradually consumed on the cathodes, and 25%–45% of which were recovered to reduce bicarbonate to acetic acid during MEC operation. Firmicutes was the dominant bacterial phylum on the cathodes, and Bacillus genus within this phylum was greatly enriched and was the most abundant population among the detected putative electrotrophs for almost all soils. Furthermore, several other members of Firmicutes and Proteobacteria may also participate in electrotrophic process in different soils. Soil pH, amorphous iron and electrical conductivity significantly influenced the putative electrotrophic bacterial community, which explained about 33.5% of the community structural variation. This study provides a basis for understanding the microbial diversity of putative electrotrophs in paddy soils, and highlights the importance of soil properties in shaping the community of putative electrotrophs.     

Morphology-dependent interfacial interactions of Fe2O3 with Ag nanoparticles for determining the catalytic reduction of p-nitrophenol

In this work,we fabricated three kinds of Ag/Fe_2O_3 model catalysts with different morphologies to study the interfacial interactions between Ag and Fe_2O_3,and how they affected the catalytic activity in hydrogenation of p-nitrophenol was explored.The hydrothermal method was used to synthesize the metal oxide supported silver catalyst,with various morphologies including nanoplates(NPs),nanospheres(NSs),and nanocubes(NCs).The crystal structure,morphology and surface elements of the composite were investigated by various measurements,such as X-ray diffraction(XRD),scanning electron microscopy(SEM),transmission electron microscopy(TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS).The catalytic activity was also evaluated by the reduction of p-nitrophenol to p-aminophenol.It was found that the activities of the above catalysts varied with the morphology of the support.Among them,Ag/Fe_2O_3 NPs promoted the highest performance,Ag/Fe_2O_3 NSs were slightly inferior,and Ag/Fe_2O_3 NCs were the worst.At last,we ascribed the remarkable activity of Ag/Fe_2O_3 NPs to the strong metal-support interactions between Ag and Fe_2O_3.     

高原湖泊沉积物中反硝化微生物的群落特征——以包头南海湖为例

为了探明内蒙古高原富营养化城市湖泊中nirS型反硝化细菌群落结构的特异性,利用特异性功能基因nirS对包头市南海湖的表层沉积物进行反硝化细菌多样性测定,在分析各采样点沉积物理化指标的基础上,对各样品中nirS型反硝化细菌群落和多样性进行研究.结果表明,南海湖沉积物Shannon指数变化为3.07~3.41,相比于其他研究,反硝化微生物多样性相对较低.参与反硝化的优势菌属与大多数湖泊保持一致,以假单胞菌属（Pseudomonas）和红杆菌属（Rhodobacter）为主.冗余分析（RDA）指出,城市湖泊中的各种类型的污染物对反硝化优势菌属有明显的促进作用,红杆菌属（Rhodobacter）与硝酸盐氮、亚硝酸盐氮呈正相关,假单胞菌属（Pseudomonas）除受硝酸盐氮、亚硝酸盐氮的影响外,还与总磷呈较强的正相关.南海湖nirS型反硝化细菌中的主要菌属促进了反硝化作用,加速了南海湖氮素的去除.     

地方环境约束目标对经济增长的影响效应

从2003~2017年中国283个地级市的政府工作报告中,收集了各年度各城市的环境保护约束目标,考察了各类环境约束目标对经济增长的影响.研究发现,对于SO₂等工业污染物的直接约束能够在促使政府提升环境治理力度的同时,释放经济增长红利;关于空气质量优良天数和PM_2.5浓度的间接约束不足以刺激污染型企业转型,且导致经济增长速度放缓.无环境约束将产生正向经济增长效应,但会以环境污染为代价.中间机制检验结果显示,产业结构和环境治理是环境约束影响经济增长的主要传导渠道.在环境保护约束的特征方面,约束目标“加码”将抑制经济增长,设定污染物减排区间更有利于发挥经济增长效应.经济与环境协调度方面,对环境污染物设定约束目标有助于促进经济与环境协调发展,无约束则不利于经济增长和环境保护双重目标的实现.地方政府应在明确设定污染物排放目标的基础上,遵循渐进原则对环境保护约束目标进行调整.     

广东省沿岸海域藻华发生的时空特征

本文收集了1980—2017年广东省沿岸藻华发生数据,并进行了系统分析,结果表明藻华发生区域主要集中于珠江口附近、大鹏湾和大亚湾水域,具有明显的时空特征。不同区域的藻华种类差异明显,广东西部多发硅藻藻华,广东中部多发甲藻藻华,广东东部多发金藻藻华。且各地区主要藻华种类的发生也呈现出不同的年际和季节差异,广东沿岸中部地区每年几乎都有藻华出现,其中大鹏湾海域在2000年以后无硅藻藻华发生,大亚湾海域在2002年之前以硅藻藻华为主,2002年以后以甲藻藻华为主;而东部和西部在2000年以前几乎无藻华发生,直到2000年以后才开始频繁出现藻华。西部地区（湛江海域）夏季多发硅藻藻华,中部地区的珠江口春季多发有毒藻华,大鹏湾春季多发夜光藻（Noctiluca scintillans）藻华,大亚湾夏秋季节多发锥状斯氏藻（Scrippsiella trochoidea）藻华,广东东部的球形棕囊藻（Phaeocystis globosa）藻华可在全年出现。综上,广东省藻华原因种类分布具有明显的地域和季节特征,因此需要对不同地区的藻华发生情况和可能诱因进行有针对性的监测和研究,采取区域化的管理,以期能够更合理高效地利用和保护广东省的海洋资源。     

Optimal range of plug-in electric vehicles in Beijing and Shanghai

Both China’s national subsidy policies for plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) purchasers and passenger cars corporate average fuel consumption and new vehicle credit regulation (dual-credit policy) favor long-range 300+ km battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and 80+ km plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). However, these electric vehicles tend to have lower energy efficiency and higher purchase and operation costs. Vehicle with larger batteries can also be less equitable because the subsidies are often provided to more expensive vehicles and wealthier owners. This study takes advantage of a novel dataset of daily driving data from 39,854 conventional gasoline vehicles in Beijing and 4999 PHEVs in Shanghai to determine the optimal range of BEVs and PHEVs within their respective cities. We simulate a model to explore ranges with which PEVs emit less GHGs than that of a baseline hybrid and conventional gasoline vehicle while ensuring that all daily travel demands are met. Our findings indicate that in both cities, the optimal ranges to balance cost and travel demand for BEVs are 350 km or less and for PHEVs are 60 km or less in Beijing and 80 km or less in Shanghai. We also find that to minimize carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, the ranges are even lower 10 km in Beijing and 30 km in Shanghai. Our study suggests that instead of encouraging long-range PEVs, governments should subsidize PEV models with shorter ranges. Parallel efforts should also be made to both increase renewable energy over fossil fuels and expand charging facilities. Although individual mobility demand varies, the government could reduce occasional long-distance driving by subsidizing alternative transportation choices. Providing week-long driving trials to consumers before their purchases may help decrease the demand of very long range PEVs by alleviating the range anxiety through a learning process.

     

Heterogeneity in the relationship between carbon emission performance and urbanization: evidence from China

Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change - Global change caused by carbon emissions alone has become a common challenge for all countries. However, current debates about urbanization...     

电晕线直径对静电除尘器性能影响的模拟研究

采用数值模拟方法研究了电晕线直径对静电除尘器性能的影响,分析了电压、风速对不同直径电晕线的除尘效率的影响规律。结果表明,随电晕线直径减小,收尘板处的电荷密度和电场强度都逐渐增大;电晕线附近的电荷密度显著增大,由272增大到778μC/m3;而电场强度逐渐减小,且场强最低点的位置逐渐靠近电晕线。随电晕线直径减小,大颗粒和小颗粒的除尘效率都逐渐增大。电晕线直径较小时,随着电压增大,大颗粒和小颗粒的除尘效率都逐渐增大;电晕线直径较大时,大颗粒除尘效率的提高程度更显著。随着风速减小,不同电晕线直径的除尘效率都逐渐增大,且小颗粒除尘效率的提高程度相对较显著,0.1μm颗粒的除尘效率提高12.3%。     

专家笔谈：资源环境热点问题

重大的资源开发利用工程建设设想或实施往往容易引起社会各界的广泛关注。如何正确认识和科学评价各种资源环境热点问题是大家讨论的重点。文章认为任何重大资源开发工程必须遵循自然规律、生态规律、资源规律和经济规律,必须结合国家战略需求和地缘政治关系,开展前期深入的系统性综合调查,进行生态安全与资源工程安全评价和交叉学科论证,并对其科学价值、社会价值和经济价值等做出正确的判断。建议：未来的资源环境工程建设要谨防“大跃进”,要科学认识自然资源系统规律,守护好美丽的地球家园;要切实履行资源科学家的社会责任,提倡基于科学研究和科学态度的学术争鸣,科学问题最好还是由科学家去讨论;一些争议大的科研课题慎用公益性研发经费来支持。