Containment of genetically modified (GM) microorganisms such as Escherichia coli is a legal requirement to protect the environment from an unintended release and to avoid horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of recombinant DNA to native bacteria. In this study, we sampled the laboratory wastewater (LWW) at a large Swiss university from three sources over 2 years and cultured ampicillin-resistant, presumptive GM E. coli. From a total of 285 samples, 127 contained presumptive GM E. coli (45%) at a mean concentration of 2.8 × 102 CFU/ml. Plasmid DNA of 11 unique clones was partially or entirely sequenced. All consisted of cloning vectors harboring research-specific inserts. To estimate the chance of HGT between GM E. coli and native bacteria in LWW, we identified taxa representative for the bacterial community in LWW using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and measured conjugation frequencies of E. coli with five LWW isolates. At optimal conjugation conditions, frequencies were between 3.4 × 10−3 and 2.4 × 10−5. Given the absence of transferable broad-host range plasmids and suboptimal conjugation conditions in the LWW system, we conclude that the chance of HGT is relatively low. Still, this study shows that the implementation of robust containment measures is key to avoid the escape of GM microorganisms.
The impact of UV-B radiation on 10 genotypically different barley and tomato cultivars was tested in a predictive study to screen for potentially UV-tolerant accessions and to analyze underlying mechanisms for UV-B sensitivity. Plant response was analyzed by measuring thermoluminescence, fluorescence, gas exchange and antioxidant status. Generally, barley cultivars proved to be much more sensitive against UV-B radiation than tomato cultivars. Statistical cluster analysis could resolve two barley groups with distinct differences in reaction patterns. The UV-B sensitive group showed a stronger loss in PSII photochemistry and a lower gas-exchange performance and regulation after UV-B radiation compared to the more tolerant group. The results indicate that photosynthetic light and dark reactions have to play optimally in concert to render plants more tolerant against UV-B radiation. Hence, measuring thermoluminescence/fluorescence and gas exchange in parallel will have much higher potential in identifying tolerant cultivars and will help to understand the underlying mechanisms. 相似文献
The evaluation of radioactivity accidentally released into the atmosphere involves determining the radioactivity levels of rainwater samples. Rainwater scavenges atmospheric airborne radioactivity in such a way that surface contamination can be deduced from rainfall rate and rainwater radioactivity content. For this purpose, rainwater is usually collected in large surface collectors and then measured by γ-spectrometry after such treatments as evaporation or iron hydroxide precipitation. We found that collectors can be adapted to accept large surface (diameter 47 mm) cartridges containing a strongly acidic resin (Dowex AG 88) which is able to quantitatively extract radioactivity from rainwater, even during heavy rainfall. The resin can then be measured by γ-spectrometry. The detection limit is 0.1 Bq per sample of resin (80 g) for 137Cs. Natural 7Be and 210Pb can also be measured and the activity ratio of both radionuclides is comparable with those obtained through iron hydroxide precipitation and air filter measurements. Occasionally 22Na has also been measured above the detection limit. A comparison between the evaporation method and the resin method demonstrated that 2/3 of 7Be can be lost during the evaporation process. The resin method is simple and highly efficient at extracting radioactivity. Because of these great advantages, we anticipate it could replace former rainwater determination methods. Moreover, it does not necessitate the transportation of large rainwater volumes to the laboratory. 相似文献
Although the terrestrial carbon budget is of key importance for atmospheric CO2 concentrations, little is known on the effects of management and natural disturbances on historical carbon stocks at the
regional scale. We reconstruct the dynamics of vegetation carbon stocks and flows in forests across the past 100 years for
a valley in the eastern Swiss Prealps using quantitative and qualitative information from forest management plans. The excellent
quality of the historical information makes it possible to link dynamics in growing stocks with high-resolution time series
for natural and anthropogenic disturbances. The results of the historical reconstruction are compared with modelled potential
natural vegetation. Forest carbon stock at the beginning of the twentieth century was substantially reduced compared to natural
conditions as a result of large scale clearcutting lasting until the late nineteenth century. Recovery of the forests from
this unsustainable exploitation and systematic forest management were the main drivers of a strong carbon accumulation during
almost the entire twentieth century. In the 1990s two major storm events and subsequent bark beetle infestations significantly
reduced stocks back to the levels of the mid-twentieth century. The future potential for further carbon accumulation was found
to be strongly limited, as the potential for further forest expansion in this valley is low and forest properties seem to
approach equilibrium with the natural disturbance regime. We conclude that consistent long-term observations of carbon stocks
and their changes provide rich information on the historical range of variability of forest ecosystems. Such historical information
improves our ability to assess future changes in carbon stocks. Further, the information is vital for better parameterization
and initialization of dynamic regional scale vegetation models and it provides important background for appropriate management
decisions. 相似文献
Schwebstoffgebundene Schadstoffe werden durch Sedimentation der Wasserphase und damit der Verfügbarkeit für viele aquatischen Organismen entzogen. W?hrend bei durchschnittlichen hydrologischen. Verh?ltnissen die Freisetzung von Schadstoffen aus stabil gelagerten Sedimenten meist weitgehend unterbunden wird, besteht bei Hochwassereignissen die Gefahr einer Remobilisierung von kontaminierten Ablagerungen. In diesem Beitrag wird ein kombiniertes ?kotoxikologisches und hydraulisches Untersuchungssystem zur Untersuchung der ?kotoxikologischen Belastung und des Erosionsrisikos von Sedimenten vorgestellt. Der integrierte Ansatz wurde am staugeregelten Neckar angewendet, um das Sch?digungspotenzial und die Gefahr einer Remobilisierung an Sedimentbohrkernen der Stauhaltung Lauffen sowie an Schwebstoffen zweier extremer Hochwasser zu überprüfen. Für die Bohrkernsegmente unterhalb einer Erosionsdiskordanz konnte eine sprunghafte Zunahme der ?kotoxikologischen Belastung ermittelt werden. Bei Hochwasserereignissen mit einer 5-j?hrlichen Wiederkehrwahrscheinlichkeit (=HQ5) k?nnen prinzipiell alle Sedimente, auch die st?rker kontaminierten und erosionsresistenteren Altsedimente, remobilisiert werden. W?hrend der Hochwasserereignisse (HQ15 bis HQ20) kam es zu einer deutlichen Erh?hung des cytotoxischen und mutagenen Sch?digungspotenzials der Schwebstoffe im Vergleich zu einem mittleren Hochwasser im Jahre 1995/96 (HQ1) Dies schien zumindest teilweise auf die Remobilisierung hochkontaminierter Altsedimente zurückzuführen zu sein. 相似文献
Human behavior is structured by serial order and timing of functionally related groups of movements with a duration of a
few seconds. These elementary action units have been described in ethological studies during unstaged everyday behavior, but
not during interview sessions. Psychomotor alterations are relevant for differential diagnosis and treatment, and psychiatric
patients are generally evaluated during interview sessions. Therefore the time structure of upper limb movements (n=764) of healthy subjects (n=22) were studied using videotaped interviews and frame-by-frame analysis and compared to movements (n=530) of unstaged human everyday behavior (n=154). The number of action units, but not their duration, was correlated inversely with self-reported impairment of mood
and pleasure experience in healthy persons. The temporal distribution of movements in interview sessions did not differ from
the time patterns of everyday behavior. This method could be a promising tool to investigate time patterns of movements and
psychomotor alterations in psychiatric patients during interview sessions.
Received: 29 October 1998 / Accepted in revised form: 29 December 1998 相似文献
The photocatalytic degradation of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene and ten other nitroaromatic compounds in aerated TiO2 suspensions has been studied. The following order of reactivity was observed: nitrotoluenes > nitrobenzene > dinitrotoluenes . dinitrobenzenes > 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene > 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene, which reflects the known influence of nitro groups towards the attack of electrophilic reagents on the aromatic molecule. 相似文献