Environmental effects on mineral accumulation in rice grains and identification of ecological specific QTLs

Optimizing the beneficial mineral elements in rice grains is of interest for rice breeders. To study the environmental effects on mineral accumulation in rice grains, we grew a double-haploid (DH) population derived from the cross between cultivars Chunjiang 06 (CJ06, a japonica rice) and TN1 (an indica rice) under two different ecological environments (Lingshui and Hangzhou, China) and determined the content of Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, P, and Zn in brown rice. These contents show transgressive variation among the DH lines. Subsequently, the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for mineral accumulation in rice grain were mapped on the chromosomes using CJ06/TN1 population. For the 7 mineral elements investigated, 23 and 9 QTLs were identified for Lingshui and Hangzhou, respectively. Of these, 24 QTLs were reported for the first time in this study and 8 QTLs are consistent with previous reports. Only 2 QTLs for Mg accumulation have been detected in both environments, indicating that mineral accumulation QTLs in rice grains are largely environment dependent. Additionally, co-localizations of QTLs for Mn and Zn, Mg and P, and Mg and Mn accumulation have been observed, implying that these loci might be involved in the accumulation of different elements. Furthermore, the QTLs for the accumulation of Fe, K, Mg, Mn, P, and Zn were mapped to a region close to each other on chromosomes 8 and 9, suggesting that clusters of genes exist on chromosomes 8 and 9. Further characterization of these QTLs will provide a better understanding of the molecular mechanism responsible for mineral accumulation in rice grains.     

Concentration of arsenic in water, sediments and fish species from naturally contaminated rivers

Arsenic (As) may occur in surface freshwater ecosystems as a consequence of both natural contamination and anthropogenic activities. In this paper, As concentrations in muscle samples of 10 fish species, sediments and surface water from three naturally contaminated rivers in a central region of Argentina are reported. The study area is one of the largest regions in the world with high As concentrations in groundwater. However, information of As in freshwater ecosystems and associated biota is scarce. An extensive spatial variability of As concentrations in water and sediments of sampled ecosystems was observed. Geochemical indices indicated that sediments ranged from mostly unpolluted to strongly polluted. The concentration of As in sediments averaged 6.58 μg/g ranging from 0.23 to 59.53 μg/g. Arsenic in sediments barely followed (r = 0.361; p = 0.118) the level of contamination of water. All rivers showed high concentrations of As in surface waters, ranging from 55 to 195 μg/L. The average concentration of As in fish was 1.76 μg/g. The level of contamination with As differed significantly between species. Moreover, the level of bioaccumulation of As in fish species related to the concentration of As in water and sediments also differed between species. Whilst some fish species seemed to be able to regulate the uptake of this metalloid, the concentration of As in the large catfish Rhamdia quelen mostly followed the concentration of As in abiotic compartments. The erratic pattern of As concentrations in fish and sediments regardless of the invariable high levels in surface waters suggests the existence of complex biogeochemical processes behind the distribution patterns of As in these naturally contaminated ecosystems.     

Levels and distribution of trace metals in surface sediments from Kongsfjorden, Svalbard, Norwegian Arctic

Trace metal contents (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) have been measured in 27 surface sediment samples collected from Kongsfjorden, Svalbard, Norwegian Arctic. The analyses yielded concentration values (in mg kg^?1) of 0.13–0.63 for Cd, 11.89–21.90 for Co, 48.65–81.84 for Cr, 21.26–36.60 for Cu, 299.59–683.48 for Mn, 22.43–35.39 for Ni, 10.68–36.59 for Pb, 50.28–199.07 for Zn and 8.09–65.34 for Hg (in ng g^?1), respectively. Relative cumulative frequency method has been used to define the baseline values of these metals, which (in mg kg^?1) were 0.14 for Cd, 13.56 for Co, 57.86 for Cr, 25.14 for Cu, 364.08 for Mn, 26.22 for Ni, 17.46 for Pb, 70.49 for Zn and 9.76 for Hg (in ng g^?1), respectively. The enrichment factor analysis indicated that Hg showed some extent of anthropogenic pollution, while Pb, Zn and Cd showed limited anthropogenic contamination in the study areas.     

内控机制在电网调度管理考核中的应用

根据国家电网调度中心提出的加强内控机制建设的工作要求,以信息技术为依托,以业务流程处理为基础,采用J2EE技术路线及面向服务体系结构(SOA),开发了内控机制管理平台,并应用于调度管理考核中。应用结果表明:内控机制的建设,实现了调度工作全面、全员、全过程、全方位的管理,为宁夏电力调度工作的考核提供了先进的技术平台。     

Effects of salinity stress on neurotransmission, energy metabolism, and anti-oxidant biomarkers of Carcinus maenas from two estuaries of the NW Iberian Peninsula

This study investigated the effects of salinity on biomarkers of oxidative stress, energy metabolism, and neurotransmission of Carcinus maenas from an estuary low impacted by pollution and from an estuary under chemical stress in the NW Iberian Peninsula. Crabs were collected in the field and, following an acclimation period, they were exposed for 7 days to five salinity levels ranging from 4 to 45 psu. At the end of the exposure period, stress biomarkers were determined in samples of muscle and digestive gland. The biomarkers assessed in the muscle were the activities of the enzymes cholinesterases (ChE), of which acetylcholinesterase is involved in neurotransmission, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) that are involved in energy metabolism. The biomarkers assessed in the digestive gland were (1) the activities of the enzymes glutathione S-transferases (GST), glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), involved in phase II biotransformation and the anti-oxidant defence system; (2) the levels of total glutathiones (TG), also belonging to the anti-oxidant system; and (3) the levels of lipid peroxidation as a measure of oxidative damage. The results showed a significant influence of salinity on neurotransmission, energy metabolism, anti-oxidant status, and oxidative damage of C. maenas. For some biomarkers, this influence was dependent on whether the crabs were collected at the low-polluted estuary or at the contaminated estuary. In particular, crabs collected at the low-polluted estuary showed altered neurotransmission and anti-oxidant defences (GR). Crabs collected at the impacted estuary showed alterations in neurotransmission, energy metabolism (IDH and LDH), biotransformation, and anti-oxidant defences (GST, GR, GPx, and TG), as well as in oxidative damage, indicating that salinity change superimposes higher stress on these organisms. For ChE, IDH, and TG, altered responses were induced by both hypo- and hypersalinity.     

异质结型光催化剂CuO/SnO2的制备及产氢性能

光催化降解有机废水可以实现在降解污染物同时回收清洁能源.本研究采用简单沉淀法制备了CuO/SnO2系列复合光催化剂,并用XRD、TEM对其结构进行表征.分别考察了氧化铜含量和乙醇浓度对复合材料光催化产氢性能的影响.实验结果表明,通过氧化铜与二氧化锡适当比例复合能显著提高复合材料的光催化产氢性能.复合材料48.51%CuO/SnO2的产氢性能比纯二氧化锡提高了近5倍.乙醇的浓度也对复合材料的产氢性能有较大影响,最佳的乙醇浓度为2.00 mol.L-1左右.长时间光催化产氢结果表明,每降解废水中1 kg的COD可产生氢气3724 mL.另外,对复合材料光催化分解乙醇的产氢机理也进行了分析.     

血小板功能与动脉粥样硬化的研究进展

由于多种遗传因素和环境因素的影响,动脉粥样硬化的发病机制与血栓形成、脂质浸润及损伤炎症反应等有关.研究证实,血小板参与了动脉粥样硬化的形成过程,但其机制十分复杂,可能与血小板对内膜的损伤,释放出的细胞因子,以及相关脂蛋白的调节相关.     

Coastal features analysis using GIS tools–stretch Esmoriz-Furadouro

The aim of this study is to identify morphological features and hydrodynamic patterns (e.g. coastal forms, wave breaking zones, rip current patterns, submerged bars), based on aerial photograph datasets. Understanding past patterns may help to increase the ability to predict future ones. To achieve the proposed objectives, a methodology to analyse aerial photograph datasets was developed. The analysis consists of visual identification of coastal features and patterns in a GIS environment. A GIS database was created to store the existing data and the result of the analysis. Several coastal features and patterns were identified, measured and correlated to the wave climate and other parameters. This correlation indicates that the presence and the dimensions of coastal features and patterns are closely related with the wave conditions and tide level, although the latter has less significance.     

Occupational accident rate in olive oil mills

Problem

This paper aims at examining the occupational accident rate in Spain in the olive oil mill industry. These mills produce olive oil by physical or mechanical, but not chemical procedures. Although Spain is the leading olive oil producer in the world with 1,200,000 tons/year and over 25% of the world olive farming area, the occupational accident rate in this sector has been little studied in the relevant scientific literature.

Method

Our study analyses all occupational accidents which occurred during 2004-2009, with or without sick leave, at 90 Andalusian olive oil mills covered by one of the biggest state insurance companies for accidents at work and occupational diseases (within the Spanish Social Security system).

Results and discussion

Slips or trips are the most frequent cause of occupational accidents in this sector, accounting for 14.86% of the cases. In second position, incorrectly coordinated bodily movements account for almost 13.51% of the accidents. Falls from height, 12.2% of the cases, are also statistically noteworthy. As for the seriousness of the injuries, entrapments are particularly important, since in 2.70% of the cases they result in the traumatic amputation of a part of the body. The analysis of accidents without sick leave reveals that a high number of incidents are caused by contact of the skin and eyes with hazardous substances (20% of the cases) and 10% of them involve superficial injuries.

Impact on the industry

This paper provides a clear and updated image of the accident rate in Spanish olive oil mills and can be a useful tool for the design and adequate adjustment of the management systems implemented in these plants to guarantee a satisfactory level of occupational health and safety by means of more efficient planning and monitoring of measures intended to reduce professional risks and improve working conditions.

Recommendations

Given not only the high incidence of falls on the same level and the potential seriousness of falls from different levels, but also the small, round fruit involved, with a high oil content and a hard round stone, it is extremely important to design and implement safe working procedures and specifically train both operatives and managers in charge of the tidiness, cleanliness and regular control of the premises and operations. The analysis of the accidents not requiring sick leave (mostly cases of contact with hazardous substances on the skin or eyes, or superficial injuries) clearly reveals that the use of suitable personal protective equipment and the relevant training are crucial issues.