Effects of ethyl 2-methyl acetoacetate (EMA) on the growth of Phaeodactylum tricornutum and Skeletonema costatum

We investigated the effects of ethyl 2-methyl acetoacetate (EMA) on growth of the marine diatom algae Phaeodactylum tricornutum (P. tricornutum) and Skeletonema costatum (S. costatum). Growth of P. tricornutum was significantly inhibited by the minimum concentration (3.5 mmol·L ^?1) of EMA at lower initial algal densities (IADs) (3.6×10⁴ and 3.3×10⁵ cells·mL ^?1). However, at the highest IAD, significant growth inhibition was found at above 7 mmol·L ^?1 of EMA exposure. In S. costatum, EMA concentrations of 10.5 mmol·L ^?1 or more significantly inhibited growth at lower IAD (3×10⁴ and 1.8×10⁵ cells·mL ^?1); at the highest IAD, only EMA concentrations above 14 mmol·L ^?1 obviously inhibited the growth of S. costatum. Changes in specific growth rates and pigment were consistent with algal growth, but only at higher EMA concentrations or lower IAD values was the ratio of chlorophyll a (Chla) to carotenoid significantly lower than the control. Medium effective concentration (EC ₅₀) values were in the order 4.07, 8.03 and 12.27 mmol·L ^?1 for P. tricornutum and 7.48, 11.92 and 17.22 mmol·L ^?1 for S. costatum. All these results show that the effect of EMA on the growth of algae was species specific and mainly depended on IAD, which might be an important factor to influence algal growth.     

Analysis,accumulation and central effects of trihalomethanes. I. bromoform†

The paper presents the results obtained in a study on the effects of organic micropollutants on the central nervous system of the rat, used herein as a suitable model for neurotoxicologic work. Bromoform, a member of the trihalomethane (THM) family, was the pollutant selected since it becomes a characteristic marker in the Barcelona potable water supply.

Analytical data on the GC‐ECD separation of THMs from other volatile halocarbons is presented. A mixed packed column 10% SE‐30/PEG 20M (94:6) at 70°C provides an adequate separation. The distribution of bromoform in rat plasma and tissues showed an accumulation in brain, kidney and fat, increasing in this order and a rapid elimination after 30 min. The effect on the central aminergic metabolism is studied by HPLC. The increased metabolic activity detected could be attributed either to an increased nervous activity, stimulating the metabolism of serotonin, or to its greater degradation.     

Remote sensing of global change: growth in China's Jiangsu Province

SUMMARY

This paper examines how remote-sensing data and regional social and economic data can be used together to identify changes in land-use patterns in particular regions. Study of the spatiotemporal dynamics of remote-sensing data can identify trends in competing uses of land, water and other natural resources for agriculture, industrial development and urban settlements. When combined with information on trends in industrial production, population, agricultural production, pollutant releases, water usage and natural forest coverage, these data reveal patterns of anthropogenic disturbance that can provide early signals of problems in resource decline or land-use management. This study focuses on land-cover changes in southern Jiangsu Province of the People's Republic of China between 1976 and 1984. This region, to the west of Shanghai and to the south of the Yangtze River, experienced unprecedented economic growth after the end of the Cultural Revolution. Remote-sensing imagery reveals the rapid growth of urban centres, commensurate declines in surface water area, and changing patterns of agriculture. The observed changes cast doubt on the ability of the region to sustain such rapid and intense land-use conflicts over a long period.     

节球藻毒素对斑马鱼胚胎发育的毒性效应

研究了节球藻毒素对斑马鱼(Danio rerio)胚胎的急性毒性效应。采用水浴染毒法,将受精后2h的斑马鱼卵分别暴露于含有0、50、100、200、400、800、1600及3200μg·L-1节球藻毒素的试液中,显微观察不同浓度节球藻毒素对斑马鱼受精卵及其胚胎发育过程的影响,并通过累计孵化率、死亡率、发育畸形率的比较,评价节球藻毒素对斑马鱼胚胎的发育毒性。结果显示:随着节球藻毒素浓度的增加,斑马鱼胚胎的孵化率降低、死亡率和畸形率增加。与对照组比较,浓度≥1600μg·L-1的实验组胚胎发育明显迟缓。浓度≥400μg·L-1时,胚胎孵化率显著降低,72hpf的孵化率由对照组的87%降低到高浓度组(3200μg·L-1)的7%。浓度≥800μg·L-1时,斑马鱼的死亡率、畸形率明显升高;144hpf的死亡率由对照组的7%增加到73%;144hpf的畸形率由对照组的0%增加到93%,畸形主要表现为脊柱弯曲,心包囊肿,尾畸弯曲等。节球藻毒素暴露48hpf对斑马鱼半致死浓度LC50为2572.76μg·L-1,暴露144hpf时为1056.33μg·L-1。节球藻毒素对斑马鱼早期生命发育阶段有一定的抑制效应,高浓度亦会导致死亡。     

全氟烷基磺酸盐(PFOS)及其替代品对两栖类胚胎的发育毒性

用非洲爪蟾胚胎致畸实验和黑斑蛙胚胎发育毒性实验,比较研究了PFOS及其4种替代品对两栖动物胚胎的发育毒性。结果发现,用调聚法合成的织物三防整理剂和50%的全氟丁基有机铵盐阳离子表面活性剂同PFOS一样对非洲爪蟾胚胎有明显毒性,且织物三防整理剂和表面活性剂的毒性强于PFOS;电解氟化法合成的C4织物及C6织物三防整理剂(以下简称C4及C6织物三防整理剂)对非洲爪蟾胚胎没有明显毒性。与非洲爪蟾不同,PFOS和4种替代品对黑斑蛙胚胎没有明显毒性。结果显示,从生物安全性的角度分析,C4和C6织物三防整理剂可作为PFOS的替代品使用,而织物三防整理剂和表面活性剂的毒性比PFOS大,作为PFOS替代品使用需要慎重考虑。     

全氟烷基磺酸盐(PFOS)、全氟己烷磺酸盐(PFHS)和全氟丁烷磺酸盐(PFBS)对非洲爪蟾胚胎的发育毒性

全氟烷基磺酸盐(PFASs)在工业生产和生活中广泛应用,某些PFASs已成为环境中普遍的污染物。鉴于对动物和人类的潜在毒性,全氟辛烷磺酸盐(PFOS)已被禁用,由一些半衰期相对较短的短链PFASs(如全氟丁烷磺酸盐,PFBS)替代。虽然四碳的PFBS和六碳的全氟己烷磺酸盐(PFHS)已经广泛使用,但目前对其毒性及其机制的了解很少。通过检测发育毒性和致畸性的非洲爪蟾胚胎致畸试验(FETAX),得到PFOS、PFHS和PFBS半致死浓度(LC50),半致畸浓度(EC50)和最小抑制生长浓度(MCIG),比较研究了3种化合物的发育毒性。结果发现,PFOS的LC50、EC50和MCIG分别为51.46、108.20和35mg·L-1。PFHS和PFBS的LC50大于100mg·L-1,对胚胎形态和生长没有明显影响。PFASs暴露引起非洲爪蟾胚胎运动行为异常。FETAX结果表明,PFOS急性发育毒性明显大于PFHS和PFBS。     

Cement-based solidification/stabilization of contaminated soils by nitrobenzene

The cement-based solidification/stabilization (S/S) of nitrobenzene (NB) contaminated soils, with cement and lime as binders, sodium silicate solution and powder activated carbon (PAC) as additives, was optimized through an orthogonal experiment, and S/S efficiency was estimated by both leaching test and volatilization measurement. The leaching test results showed that the factors affecting S/S efficiency were NB concentration, cement-to-lime ratio and binder-to-soils ratio, in sequence. With increasing curing time, the leaching concentration of NB between different levels of the same factor in the orthogonal experiment decreased, and less than 9% NB leached out from the 28 d cured samples. The volatilization measurement results indicated that 0.5‰ of NB was volatilized during the mixing and curing processes for the samples without PAC in the 28 d cycle, whereas adding 2 wt% and 5 wt% PAC, with respect to the weight of contaminated soils, could reduce NB volatilization to half of its original values either during the mixing or curing process. The optimizing formula, that is, contaminated soils (dry weight):cement:lime= 100:25:25, with 5 wt% additional sodium silicate and 2 wt% additional PAC, was applied to the engineering application of NB contaminated soils. Both the leaching test results of the product and the ambient air quality monitoring results met related regulations during the treating process.     

成都平原地下水硝酸盐含量空间变异研究

采用格网方式,并结合重点抽样布点,运用地统计学方法中的普通克里格和概率克里格法对成都平原76个样点的地下水硝酸盐含量进行空间变异分析。结果表明,目前该区域地下水的硝酸盐含量总体水平不高,但局部区域有超标现象,12 %的区域未达到世界卫生组织规定的饮用水水质标准（小于10 mg/L）, 5 %的地区未达到我国规定的生活饮用水卫生标准 （小于20 mg/L）;其分布特点是北部 （7.38 mg/L）＞东部（5.72 mg/L）＞西部（3.91 mg/L）＞南部（1.51 mg/L）;彭州、郫县、新都三县(区)地下水硝酸盐含量超标的概率最大（0.25~0.50）,而区域西北部的大邑县、都江堰以及南部双流县超标的概率最低。普通克里格和概率克里格两种方法的特点分析表明,前者表征了区域硝酸盐含量的空间变异及其分布规律,后者能较好地反映区域硝酸盐污染的风险性程度。     

湖南鼎城农业旱灾脆弱性的变化及原因分析

农业旱灾的形成是降水不足或不均与农业生产系统脆弱性共同作用的结果,承灾体脆弱性的高低会起到“放大”或“缩小”灾情的作用,降低承灾体的脆弱性是抗灾减灾的主要和有效途径。选择湖南省鼎城区为研究区,发现在降水量及其季节分配相似,即致灾强度相似的两个年份（1988年和2001年）,粮食因灾损失量前高后低。通过建立包括作物需水亏缺指数、耕地的灌溉便捷指数、耕地平坦指数、耕地生产投入指数等7个指标的评价指标体系,分别对1988年和2001年该区的农业旱灾承灾体脆弱性进行评价。结果显示该区的承灾体脆弱性明显降低,分析其原因,发现作物结构调整（中稻播种面积比例的适当增加）、耕地条件和生产力的改善、利用灌溉条件能力的提高有效地降低了该区农业旱灾承灾体脆弱性,减小了粮食生产的因灾损失。为致灾因子相似、承灾体脆弱性不同会“放大”或“缩小”灾情提供了实证案例。     

On conditional skewness with applications to environmental data

The statistical literature contains many univariate and multivariate skewness measures that allow two datasets to be compared, some of which are defined in terms of quantile values. In most situations, the comparison between two random vectors focuses on univariate comparisons of conditional random variables truncated in quantiles; this kind of comparison is of particular interest in the environmental sciences. In this work, we describe a new approach to comparing skewness in terms of the univariate convex transform ordering proposed by van Zwet (Convex transformations of random variables. Mathematical Centre Tracts, Amsterdam, 1964), associated with skewness as well as concentration. The key to these comparisons is the underlying dependence structure of the random vectors. Below we describe graphical tools and use several examples to illustrate these comparisons.