Discovery of nano-sized gold particles in natural plant tissues

Biological effects of nanoparticles have attracted widespread attention. However, the interaction between plants and nanoparticles remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate characteristics of nano-sized metal particles in two representative plant species, Erigeron canadensis and Boehmeria nivea, in the Guangdong Province, China. The stems of the plants were sliced and placed on Ni–C grids for field-emission transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The metal-bearing nanoparticles were further analysed for their size, shape, composition, content and other characteristics using X-ray energy spectrum analysis, scanning TEM and selected-area electron diffraction pattern. The results revealed that the plants contain nano-sized Au-bearing particles with a diameter of 5–50 nm, ellipsoid, spherical and bone-rod shapes or irregular morphology with smooth edges. These nanoparticles primarily consisted of Au, Cu, O and Cl. The discovery of Au-bearing nanoparticles in natural plant tissues is of great significance for biological nanoscience. Here, we discuss the function and absorption mechanism of Au-bearing nanoparticles in plants and present the influence of the discovery of Au-bearing nanoparticles in natural plants.     

Seasonal variations of transport pathways and potential sources of PM<Subscript>2.5</Subscript> in Chengdu,China (2012–2013)

Seasonal pattern of transport pathways and potential sources of PM_2.5 in Chengdu during 2012–2013 were investigated based on hourly PM_2.5 data, backward trajectories, clustering analysis, potential source contribution function (PSCF), and concentration-weighted trajectory (CWT) method. The annual hourly mean PM_2.5 concentration in Chengdu was 97.4 mg·m^–3. 5, 5, 5 and 3 mean clusters were generated in four seasons, respectively. Short-distance air masses, which travelled within the Sichuan Basin with no specific source direction and relatively high PM_2.5 loadings (>80 mg·m^–3) appeared as important pathways in all seasons. These short pathways indicated that emissions from both local and surrounding regions of Chengdu contributed significantly to PM_2.5 pollution. The cities in southern Chengdu were major potential sources with PSCF>0.6 and CWT>90 mg·m^–3. The northeastern pathway prevailed throughout the year with higher frequency in autumn and winter and lower frequency in spring and summer. In spring, long-range transport from southern Xinjiang was a representative dust invasion path to Chengdu, and the CWT values along the path were 30-60 mg·m^–3. Long-range transport was also observed in autumn from southeastern Xinjiang along a northwesterly pathway, and in winter from the Tibetan Plateau along a westerly pathway. In summer, the potential source regions of Chengdu were smaller than those in other seasons, and no long-range transport pathway was observed. Results of PSCF and CWT indicated that regions in Qinghai and Tibet contributed to PM_2.5 pollution in Chengdu as well, and their CWT values increased to above 30 mg·m^–3 in winter.

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CRISPR/Cas系统抵御细菌耐药

近年来,细菌耐药性问题在全球范围内日益严重,世界各地不断出现各种新型耐药基因及"超级细菌",以此形成的细菌耐药性污染已成为威胁全球公共卫生与环境安全的重大问题。目前除了在管理上规范合理用药和限制抗生素排放,应探讨抵御细菌耐药的分子机制,有效地从根本上遏制细菌耐药的产生。CRISPR系统作为一种天然免疫系统,可用来对抗入侵的外源性遗传物质,其结构和功能与细菌耐药及毒力因素密切相关,深入分析两者的关系有助于更好地理解细菌耐药机制,为防治细菌耐药提供了新的方向。     

电子垃圾拆解地翠鸟对多氯联苯的累积及风险评估

粗犷的电子垃圾拆解活动已造成当地野生生物多氯联苯(PCBs)严重污染,但PCBs在野生鸟类中的生物累积特征及潜在的毒害作用研究较少。本研究采集了广东省某电子垃圾拆解地翠鸟(Alcedo atthis)及其食物(各种小型鱼类)样品,研究翠鸟对PCBs的累积特征、生物放大效应及毒性风险。翠鸟肌肉中PCBs中值含量为220μg·g~(-1)脂重,比其他报道值高1~3个数量级。计算的生物放大因子(BMF)显示,大部分PCB单体的BMF值都大于1,表明翠鸟对PCBs具有生物放大效应。计算的共面PCBs毒性当量(TEQs)范围为39~23 600 pg·g~(-1)湿重,已经达到或超过了影响某些鸟类生殖或发育障碍的报道值。上述结果表明,电子垃圾拆卸活动已经造成了当地翠鸟PCBs严重污染,PCBs污染物对电子垃圾拆解地翠鸟及其他野生生物的毒性效应尚需进一步研究。     

Enhanced disinfection of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> and bacteriophage MS2 in water using a copper and silver loaded titanium dioxide nanowire membrane

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) is a widely used photocatalyst that has been demonstrated for microorganism disinfection in drinking water. In this study, a new material with a novel structure, silver and copper loaded TiO₂ nanowire membrane (Cu-Ag-TiO₂) was prepared and evaluated for its efficiency to inactivate E. coli and bacteriophage MS2. Enhanced photo-activated bactericidal and virucidal activities were obtained by the Cu-Ag-TiO₂ membrane than by the TiO₂, Ag-TiO₂ and Cu-TiO₂ membranes under both dark and UV light illumination. The better performance was attributed to the synergies of enhanced membrane photoactivity by loading silver and copper on the membrane and the synergistic effect between the free silver and copper ions in water. At the end of a 30 min test of deadend filtration under 254 nm UV irradiation, the Cu-Ag-TiO₂ membrane was able to obtain an E. coli removal of 7.68 log and bacteriophage MS2 removal of 4.02 log, which have met the US EPA standard. The free metal ions coming off the membrane have concentrations of less than 10 ppb in the water effluent, far below the US EPA maximum contaminant level for silver and copper ions in drinking water. Therefore, the photo-activated disinfection by the Cu-Ag-TiO₂ membrane is a viable technique for meeting drinking water treatment standards of microbiological water purifiers.

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Urbanization and small household agricultural land use choices in the Brazilian Amazon and the role for the water chemistry of small streams

Many small watersheds and streams in the Brazilian Amazon have been impacted by agriculture and urban development, often due to household economic needs and migration processes. This study examined the relationships between land use, soil type, and household factors on stream water chemistry in and near the city of Altamira, Pará, Brazil, in 2008–2009. While soil weathering and stream discharge may have affected several stream water ion concentrations, agriculture and especially urban development were associated with high dissolved nitrogen concentrations, high water temperatures, and low dissolved oxygen concentrations in streams. Younger interviewed households were generally associated with these watersheds, and many urban residents reported disposing of household waste directly into streams. In contrast, older households were generally associated with forest and cocoa agriculture, along with lower water temperatures and higher dissolved oxygen concentrations in streams. These conditions persisted despite reported uses of herbicides and fertilizers by some residents.     

臭氧-活性炭工艺在炼化循环排污水处理中的应用＊

针对炼化企业循环排污水中有机污染物浓度不能满足脱盐处理工艺进水水质要求的问题,开展了臭氧氧化-活性炭吸附工艺去除循环排污水中有机污染物的研究。通过对两种处理工艺进行不同组合的实验结果得知:当反应时间控制在最佳值,臭氧氧化和活性炭吸附单独处理循环排污水时,COD去除率分别约为27%和20%,处理效率偏低;当两种工艺组合后,在臭氧浓度为12 mg/L、氧化时间20 min、吸附时间为10 min时,COD去除率则达到52%,组合工艺协同作用效果明显。     

加强高校网络管理工作的思考

在深入分析网络管理现状的基础上,从高校管理、服务的实际情况出发,通过广泛的调研、分析,全面阐述了在高校加强网络建设、网络管理和构建网络安全的必要性和重要性。     

Phosphorus runoff from sewage sludge applied to different slopes of lateritic soil

Sewage sludge (SS) applied to sloping fields at rates that exceed annual forest nutrient requirements can be a source of phosphorus (P) in runoff. This study investigates the effects of different slopes (18, 27, 36, and 45%) on P in runoff from plots amended with SS (120 Mg ha). Lateritic soil (pH 5.2) was exposed to five simulated rainfalls (90 mm h) on outdoor plots. When sludge was broadcast and mixed with surface soils, the concentrations and loss in runoff of total P in the mixed sample (MTP), total P in the settled sample (STP), total particulate P (TPP), total suspended P (TSP), and total dissolved P (TDP) were highest at 1 or 18 d after application. Initially, pollution risks to surface waters generally increased to different degrees with steeper slopes, and then diminished gradually with dwindling differences between the slopes. The runoff losses coefficient of MTP increased in the order 36 > 45 > 27 > 18%. The initial event (1 and 18 d) accounted for 67.0 to 83.6% of total runoff P losses. Particulate fraction were dominant carriers for P losses, while with the lower slopes there was higher content of P per unit particulate fraction in runoff. Phosphorus losses were greatly affected by the interaction of sludge-soil-runoff and the modification of soil properties induced by sludge amendment. It is recommended to choose lower slopes (<27%) to reduce risk of P losses. Thus, the risk of application sludge to sloping fields in acid soils should be studied further in the field under a wider diversity of conditions.     

Studies on the causes of forest decline in Nanshan,Chongqing

Nanshan is located in the south suburb of Chongqing, Sichuan province in China. It is about 10 km from the city of Chongqing. There are about 2000 ha of forest, mainly Masson pines (Pinus massoniana Lamb) which have exhibited decline since the beginning of the 1980s. Surveys of stands estimated that 85% of Masson pines are injured. Symptomology of Masson pines includes tip necrosis of needles, thin crown, reduced needle length, premature abscission, branch dieback, reduced radial growth. The foliage of broadleaf treesRobinia pseudoacacia L,Quercus dentata Thunb,Eucalyptus robusta Sm,Erythrina variegata var. orientalis (L) Merr,Faulownia fortunei (Seem) Hemsl,Rosa chinensis Jacq, also displayed necrotic lesions, both marginal and interveinous, most are brown or bleached. Foliage symptoms are similar to that produced in laboratory fumigation experiments with gaseous air pollutants SO₂ or HF. The foliage injury intensity is related to the distance from the city. Forest in some localities furthest from the city exhibit approximately normal growth.Three monitoring sites had been selected in Nanshan forest area. At two sites pine trees were severely damaged. At another site they showed little damage. Atmospheric SO₂ and fluoride concentrations had been examined. The average value of SO₂ and fluoride concentrations at the two former sites were much higher than that at the latter site. The injury intensity was consistent with an increase in the concentrations of SO₂ and fluoride. The sulphur and fluoride contents of tree leaves were also monitored. Sulphur contents of pine needles at the two former sites were generally more than that at the latter. The same tendency is observed in broadleaf trees. Higher levels of fluoride had been found in foliage of injured trees compared to unijured trees.Chongqing is also an acid rain region. The yearly average pH value of precipitation approaches to 4.0, and the frequency 100%. The pH values of acid rain at the three sites in Nanshan region are 4.17, 4.20, and 4.38 respectively. The difference is not significant. Also no significant difference in soil pH among the three sites is observed. It is suggested that acid rain and the acidification of soil are not implicated in the decline of Masson pines in Nanshan region.