Molecular and physiological characterization of fluoroquinolone resistance in relation to uropathogenicity among Escherichia coli isolates isolated from Wenyu River, China

Increasing antibacterial resistance and pathogenicity in the environment is of growing concern due to its potential human risk. In the present study, 236 Escherichia coli isolates were collected from Wenyu River in China on drugless (48 isolates) and quinolone-containing plates (189 isolates). Their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined ranging from 0.125 μg mL⁻¹ to 128 μg mL⁻¹. Mutation points related to fluoroquinolone resistance were observed at S83 to L and D87 to N or Y in the GyrA subunit and S80 to R or I and E84 to G in the ParC subunit. Generally, MICs of LEV and GAT are dependent on the patterns of these mutation points. The profile with three mutation points was related to LEV-resistant E. coli isolates, and the (S83L, D87N + S80I) mutation profile was most prevalent (65.7%) in LEV-resistant isolates, while a large proportion of isolates, even those with three mutation points, were susceptive to GAT. The incidence of virulence factors in LEV-resistant isolates (44.7%, 59/132) was much higher than in nonresistant isolates (23.1%, 24/104) (χ² = 11.925, 1° of freedom, p < 0.001) indicating that fluoroquinolone-resistant E. coli would pose a potential risk. A similar distribution was also found in isolates resistant to GAT (χ² = 7.843, 1° of freedom, p = 0.0079).     

Photodegradation of quinestrol in waters and the transformation products by UV irradiation

Quinestrol is synthetic estrogen used in contraceptive and hormone replacement therapy and occasionally for treating breast cancer and prostate cancer. It can make its way into the environment through sewage discharge and waste disposal produced by human excretions. In this study, the photodegradation kinetics of quinestrol in various conditions was investigated by UV and solar irradiation. The affecting factors were studied including concentration of hydrogen peroxide, different water types, and the initial concentrations of quinestrol. Concurrently, the transformation products and presumed pathways of quinestrol in distilled water by UV irradiation were identified and proposed. The results showed that the degradation of quinestrol in both irradiation conditions followed the pseudo-first-order kinetics. More rapid degradation was observed by UV irradiation (k = 0.018 min⁻¹) than solar irradiation (k = 0.004 h⁻¹), and the photodegradation rate of quinestrol depended on the concentration of hydrogen peroxide, the initial concentration of quinestrol and water types. The transformation products of quinestrol in distilled water were identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. When exposed to UV irradiation, quinestrol in aqueous solution was rapidly degraded, giving at least ten photodegradation products. The chemical structures of ten degradation products were identified on the basis of mass spectrum interpretation and literature data.     

Urban transformation of a metropolis and its environmental impacts

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to understand the sustainability of urban spatial transformation in the process of rapid urbanization, and calls for future research on the demographic and economic dimensions of climate change. Shanghai towards its transformation to a metropolis has experienced vast socioeconomic and ecological change and calls for future research on the impacts of demographic and economic dimensions on climate change. We look at the major questions (1) to explore economic and demographic growth, land use and land-cover changes in the context of rapid economic and city growth, and (2) to analyze how the demography and economic growth have been associated with the local air temperature and vegetation.

Method

We examine urban growth, land use and land-cover changes in the context of rapid economic development and urbanization. We assess the impact of urban expansion on local air temperature and vegetation. The analysis is based on time series data of land use, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and meteorological, demographic and economic data.

Results and discussion

The results indicate that urban growth has been driven by mass immigration; as a consequence of economic growth and urban expansion, a large amount of farmland has been converted to paved road and residential buildings. Furthermore, the difference between air temperature in urban and exurban areas has increased rapidly. The decrease of high mean annual NDVI has mainly occurred around the dense urban areas.     

无硫膨胀石墨的制备及吸油性能

通过单因子实验考察了无硫膨胀石墨制备过程中氧化剂及插层剂用量、氧化反应及插层反应时间、氧化反应及插层反应温度对无硫膨胀石墨膨胀体积的影响。通过正交实验确定了制备无硫膨胀石墨的最优条件是:石墨(g)∶浓硝酸(mL)∶30%H2O2(mL)∶乙酸酐(mL)=1∶2.25∶0.25∶0.6,在30℃条件下氧化反应60 min,加入插层剂后在60℃条件下插层反应90 min,此条件无硫膨胀石墨的膨胀体积达317 mL/g使用XPS、FT-IR、XRD和SEM对无硫膨胀石墨进行了表征并对其吸油性能和再生性能进行了研究。结果表明,所制备无硫膨胀石墨对原油和柴油的最大吸附量分别为66.3 g/g和62.7 g/g。吸附原油后的无硫膨胀石墨抽滤再生后首次再生率为49.1%,原油的回收率为64.5%。     

利用剩余活性污泥生产一次性可降解材料

为了缓解污水处理厂日益严重的污泥处置难题,实现剩余活性污泥的无害化、减量化、稳定化、资源化利用。采用SBR系统对剩余活性污泥进行10 d的驯化,加入4.0 g/L的乙酸钠作为发酵培养基碳源和前体物质,累积聚羟基烷酸酯(polyhydroxyalkanoates,PHA)。30℃好氧发酵10 h后,PHA积累达1 125 mg/L,占污泥浓度(MLSS)的质量分数为35.7%。然后经过离心、烘干、粉碎后模压成型加工成一次性使用的可生物降解材料。使用正交实验进行优化,结果表明:其最佳的物料配比和模压条件为:干污泥57%;稻草纤维20%;聚乙烯醇(PVA)19%;硬脂酸钡2%;氧化钙2%;最佳工艺条件为100℃,加热1.5 h,此时加工出来的产品具有最优的抗压强度和拉伸强度。以本方法制成的可生物降解花盆其所含细菌总数、粪大肠菌群、蛔虫卵死亡率均达到国标所规定的污泥农用生物安全要求;另外,试样中未检出病毒;其重金属含量也达到国标所规定的污泥农用标准;其可生物降解性能达到了可降解材料的要求。因而本研究制备的一次性使用可降解花盆具有较好的开发和应用价值。     

Fenton 法降解抗生素磺胺间甲氧嘧啶钠

应用Fenton高级氧化技术降解水溶液中抗生素磺胺间甲氧嘧啶钠(SMMS),系统探讨了起始pH、CSMMS、CFe2+、CH2O2和温度等因素对SMMS降解效果的影响。结果表明:CSMMS=4.53 mg/L,pH=4.0,CH2O2=0.49 mmol/L,CFe2+=19.51μmol/L,T=25℃为最佳反应条件。在最佳条件下,87.4%的SMMS可以在120 min内降解。反应动力学研究表明Fenton氧化降解SMMS分为两个阶段,快速反应阶段和慢速反应阶段,并建立了两阶段动力学模型,模型拟合结果较好。研究结果为含有SMMS的污废水处理提供了基础数据和科学参考。     

三元乙丙橡胶超细纤维复合膜的制备及其截留性能

以四氢呋喃和N,N-二甲基甲酰胺为溶剂,配制三元乙丙橡胶(EPDM)纺丝液,通过静电纺丝技术制备了EPDM超细纤维,进而以聚偏氟乙烯(PVDF)微滤膜为基膜制备了EPDM超细纤维复合膜。采用红外光谱(FTIR)和扫描电子显微镜(SEM)对EPDM超细纤维的结构和形态进行了表征。考察了复合膜对苯乙烯废水的截留效果和复合膜通量的变化情况。实验结果表明:EPDM超细纤维具有类似无纺布形式的多孔纤维网状结构,其直径在0.2~2.0μm之间;复合膜在操作压力为0.1MPa的条件下,处理质量浓度为100μg/mL的模拟苯乙烯废水,膜通量约为5.90mL/(cm2.h),苯乙烯去除率可达89.7%。     

我国电子废弃物回收体系建设的思路与保障措施

随着电子信息产业的高速发展和人民生活水平的不断提高,电子废弃物的数量也不断增长,成为21世纪增长最快的固体废弃物。从我国电子废弃物的回收利用现状入手进行分析,提出建设一套专业回收利用体系,形成以城市社区回收点为基础,中转交投中心为纽带,资源循环利用为目的,点面结合、三位一体的电子废弃物回收利用体系,逐步提高回收、集散、循环利用能力,促进行业健康、有序发展。     

Comprehensive assessment of toxic metals in urban and suburban street deposited sediments (SDSs) in the biggest metropolitan area of China

A set of toxic metals, i.e. As, Hg, Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, Ni and Cr, in urban and suburban SDSs were investigated comparatively in the biggest metropolitan area of China, Shanghai. Results showed that all of the metals except As were accumulated greatly, much higher than background values. Geo-accumulation index indicated that metal contamination in urban SDSs was generally heavier than that in suburban SDSs. Potential ecological risk index demonstrated that overall risks caused by metals were considerable. Cd contributed 52% to the overall risk. Multivariate statistical analysis revealed that in urban SDSs, Zn, Ni, Cd, Pb, Cu and Cr were related to traffic and industry; coal combustion led to elevated levels of Hg; soil parent materials controlled As contents. In suburban SDSs, Pb, Cu, As and Cd largely originated from traffic pollution; Zn, Ni and Cr were associated with industrial contaminants; Hg was mainly from domestic solid waste.     

Ambient TSP concentration and dustfall in major cities of China: Spatial distribution and temporal variability

Based on environmental monitoring data in 93 major cities and meteorological records at 398 weather stations in China from 1981 to 2007, total suspended particle (TSP) concentration, the intensity of dustfall, and sand and dust storm frequency (F_d) were analysed. During the past 27 years, the annual average TSP concentration (C_TSP) in 93 cities was 402 μg m^?3. Annual average C_TSP decreased from the north to the south and from inland to the coast areas with a peak value of 628.8 μg m^?3 in Lanzhou. In the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, annual average C_TSP was 628.7, 319.2, and 250.1 μg m^?3, respectively. Annual average intensity of dustfall (I_d) was 240.5 t km^?2 a^?1, decreased from northern to southern China and from inland to the coast areas with the maximum value of 717.2 t km^?2 a^?1 in Baotou. In the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, annual average I_d was 334.8, 220.9, 146 t km^?2 a^?1 respectively. Annual average I_d in the Loess Plateau region was commonly higher than 200 t km^?2 a^?1. The annual average F_d decreased from arid regions in northwestern China to humid areas in southeastern China with two sand and sand storm centers existing in Xinjiang Taklamakan Desert and western Inner Mongolia. The annual average F_d in the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s was 16, 8, 6 days respectively, decreased steadily from 18 days in 1981–5 days in 2007. Annual average I_d had a positive linear relation to annual average C_TSP (R² = 0.96). Annual average F_d had a positive relation with annual average C_TSP (R² = 0.97) as well as annual average I_d (R² = 0.94). TSP was the chief pollutant influencing Air Pollution Index (API) in northern China in spring and winter seasons. Sand and dust storm might be a major factor affecting the temporal variability and spatial distribution of TSP and dustfall in China.