The fate of recombinant plasmids during composting of organic wastes

Composting was investigated as a means for safe disposal of organic waste containing bacteria that carry transgenes in recombinant plasmids. To generate model recombinant plasmids, a mobile IncQ plasmid, RSF1010, and a non-mobile plasmid, pGFP, were genetically modified to carry a DNA segment encoding both green fluorescent protein and kanamycin resistance and were designated as RSF1010-GFPK and pGFPK. Escherichia coli (E. coli) C600 harboring these plasmids were inoculated into chicken manure specimens that were placed in compost at 20 and 60 cm from the bottom of a 1.0-m high compost bin. Control specimens were held at ambient temperature. By day 10, compost temperatures at the lower and upper levels of the bin had reached 45.3 and 61.5°C, respectively, and at both levels the target E. coli had been inactivated and the plasmids had lost their capacity to be transformed or mobilized. Furthermore, based on real time Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the transgene fragments along with the host chromosomal DNA fragment from specimens at the upper level had been degraded beyond the detection limit. However, at the lower level where temperatures remained below 48°C these fragment persisted to day 21. At ambient temperatures (0–8°C), the E. coli, plasmids and the transgene fragments persisted in manure specimens throughout the 21 day test period. The study showed the potential for composting as a safe procedure for disposal of bacteria carrying transgenes in recombinant plasmids.     

Analysis of patterns and ecological security trend of modern oasis landscapes in Xinjiang, China

Ecological security has become so important that it will affect the national security and social sustainable development. In this paper, a case study on the ecological security indexes of modern oasis landscapes in Beitun Oasis, Xinjiang, was carried out. The spatial neighbouring parameters, such as the contiguous length, measure of area and patch quantity of oasis landscape patches, affected by desert landscape patches were calculated by using GIS-based buffer analysis, the method of calculating ecological security indexes of oasis landscape was developed, and the dynamic changes of patterns and ecological security indexes of the oasis landscapes since recent 30 years were analyzed. The results showed that soil salinization or alkalization and paludification were major factors affecting the ecological security in Beitun Oasis. Therefore, measures should be taken actively to prevent and control secondary salinization and paludification. The ecological security indexes of the oasis landscape in 1972, 1990 and 2005 were 78.91, 82.28 and 83.86, respectively, which showed the degree of security is improving, and the environment was developing harmoniously between human and nature. The methods of evaluating ecological security based on the spatial neighbouring relations between landscape patches can be used to reflect preliminarily the ecological security patterns of landscapes.     

Land desertification monitoring and assessment in Yulin of Northwest China using remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS)

The objective of this study is to develop techniques for assessing and analysing land desertification in Yulin of Northwest China, as a typical monitoring region through the use of remotely sensed data and geographic information systems (GIS). The methodology included the use of Landsat TM data from 1987, 1996 and 2006, supplemented by aerial photos in 1960, topographic maps, field work and use of other existing data. From this, land cover, the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), farmland, woodland and grassland maps at 1:100,000 were prepared for land desertification monitoring in the area. In the study, all data was entered into a GIS using ILWIS software to perform land desertification monitoring. The results indicate that land desertification in the area has been developing rapidly during the past 40 years. Although land desertification has to some extent been controlled in the area by planting grasses and trees, the issue of land desertification is still serious. The study also demonstrates an example of why the integration of remote sensing with GIS is critical for the monitoring of environmental changes in arid and semi-arid regions, e.g. in land desertification monitoring in the Yulin pilot area. However, land desertification monitoring using remote sensing and GIS still needs to be continued and also refined for the purpose of long-term monitoring and the management of fragile ecosystems in the area.     

Research status,challenges and future prospects of renewable synthetic fuel catalysts for CO2 photocatalytic reduction conversion

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In recent years, with global climate change, the utilization of carbon dioxide as a resource has become an important goal of human society to achieve...     

结构物震害预测的灰色贝叶斯方法

本文提出了一种结构物震害预测的新方法。该方法棋于贝叶斯理论和灰色系统理论，可以充分考虑到某类结构物震害所表现出的共性和某一特写结构物所具有的特殊性，能作出较全面的反映结构物实际状况的震害预测。     

Spatial differentiation of comprehensive suitability of urban human settlements based on GIS: a case study of Liaoning Province,China

Environment, Development and Sustainability - The comprehensive suitability of regional human settlements is of great significance to the development and spatial distribution of regional human...     

油污土壤生物修复实验研究

为了有效预防和治理因石油开采、运输等造成的土壤污染,对大庆地区油污土壤进行了生物修复的实验研究,通过室内盆栽模拟实验,对芦苇和香蒲根际土壤的石油类污染物总含量、石油烃类组分浓度、非烃组分浓度进行了测定。结果表明,芦苇和香蒲对石油类污染物具有比较明显的降解作用,可以使被污染土壤中的某些油污成分逐渐被选择性消耗。实验还可看出,芦苇和香蒲对石油类污染物中正构烷烃的降解能力高于非正构烃。总体看,芦苇对石油类污染物的降解能力强于香蒲,但芦苇对非正构烃的降解能力略逊于香蒲。     

汶川地震映秀镇地质条件与地表破裂特征调查

2008年5月12日14时28分04秒,四川省汶川县发生了MS 8.0地震.根据地震部门测定,本次地震是从映秀开始破裂,震中位于四川汶川县映秀镇附近(北纬31.015°,东经103.365°).在中国地震局组织的汶川地震科学考察成果基础上,本文分析了映秀地质条件:主要发育的地层为二叠系的石英闪长岩,震旦系的砂岩;通过研究区的主要构造为龙门山中央断裂-映秀-北川断裂;主要的地貌类型为河流地貌.调查了研究区的地表破裂特征,根据研究区的地貌类型将其划分为A、B、C三段,A段为河床沉积地貌,垂直断距最大;B段为丘陵地貌,断距中等,但诱发崩塌地质灾害;C段为河流边滩地貌,断距较小,但震害严重.     

含油固体废弃物综合利用技术的研究

就油田含油固体废弃物的存放及其对周边环境存在的潜在隐患 ,全面分析了该废弃物的组成与成分 ,并介绍了几种可用于石油污染土壤治理技术的方法特点 ,尤其是针对这种固体含量和油分含量皆较高的含油固体废弃物 ,开展了综合利用治理技术方面的试验 ,以固体废弃物细粉作为制砖助燃配料成分 ,考查了砖块质量与细粉掺入量及其他因素之间的关系 ,取得了较好的效果