Genomewide analysis indicates that queen larvae have lower methylation levels in the honey bee (Apis mellifera)

The honey bee is a social insect characterized by caste differentiation, by which a young larva can develop into either a queen or a worker. Despite possessing the same genome, queen and workers display marked differences in reproductive capacity, physiology, and behavior. Recent studies have shown that DNA methylation plays important roles in caste differentiation. To further explore the roles of DNA methylation in this process, we analyzed DNA methylome profiles of both queen larvae (QL) and worker larvae (WL) of different ages (2, 4, and 6 day old), by using methylated DNA immunoprecipitation-sequencing (meDIP-seq) technique. The global DNA methylation levels varied between the larvae of two castes. DNA methylation increased from 2-day- to 4-day-old QL and then decreased in 6-day-old larvae. In WL, methylation levels increased with age. The methylcytosines in both larvae were enriched in introns, followed by coding sequence (CDS) regions, CpG islands, 2 kbp downstream and upstream of genes, and 5′ and 3′ untranslated regions (UTRs). The number of differentially methylated genes (DMGs) in 2-, 4-, and 6-day-old QL and WL was 725, 3,013, and 5,049, respectively. Compared to 4- and 6-day-old WL, a large number of genes in QL were downmethylated, which were involved in many processes including development, reproduction, and metabolic regulation. In addition, some DMGs were concerned with caste differentiation.     

Pathway of 17��-estradiol degradation by Nitrosomonas europaea and reduction in 17��-estradiol-derived estrogenic activity

In recent years, natural and synthetic estrogens have been recognized as endocrine disruptors in aquatic organisms. Although natural and synthetic estrogens are known to be degraded by microbes, only limited information about their degradation pathways is available. Here, we studied the degradation pathways of a natural estrogen, 17β-estradiol, by the nitrifying microorganism Nitrosomonas europaea, and we determined whether the degradation products of 17β-estradiol had estrogenic activity. To identify the degradation products, we subjected the culture solution to solid-phase extraction, and the extract was analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The potential estrogenic activity of the degradation products was investigated by means of a yeast two-hybrid assay. 1,3,5(10),16-Estratetraen-3-ol (estratetraenol) was newly identified as a degradation intermediate produced by dehydration of 17β-estradiol. Estratetraenol was also degraded by N. europaea, and its degradation rate was faster than that of 17β-estradiol. The two-hybrid assay confirmed that estratetraenol acted as a ligand for the estrogen receptor; estratetraenol thus has potential estrogenic activity. N. europaea eliminated the estrogenic activity derived from 17β-estradiol. This paper is the first to report dehydration as a mechanism of microbial estrogen degradation.     

云南荞麦地流域地下水水化学特征及物质来源分析

为研究荞麦地流域地下水的水化学特征及物质来源,2017年7月在研究区共采集地下水的水样32个,综合运用聚类分析、因子分析和路径模型分析等方法,分析了荞麦地流域地下水水化学特征,并定性和定量探讨了荞麦地流域地下水水化学的物质来源.结果表明,研究区内水体整体呈弱碱性,Ca~(2+)、Mg~(2+)、SO_4~(2-)、HCO_3~-和N_3O~-等主要阴阳离子具有较高的空间变异性.通过聚类分析可知,研究区内地下水可分为两大类:A类和B类,分别具有两个子集:A_1、A_2、B_1和B_2,并且从A类地下水到B类地下水化学类型开始变得复杂,A类地下水水化学类型均为HCO_3-Ca型,B_1类地下水和B_2类地下水分别有HCO_3-Ca型、HCO_3-Na·Ca型、HCO_3-Na·Ca·Mg型和HCO_3-Ca型、HCO_3-Ca·Mg型、HCO_3-Na·Ca型各3类.为进一步探讨地下水水化学的影响因素,通过因子分析和路径模型分析可确定碳酸盐岩、人类活动、蒸发岩和硅酸盐岩是地下水的主要物质来源.其中人类活动的作用和MgSO_4型蒸发岩的溶解,是形成以碳酸盐岩为地下水化学组分的主要来源,同时具有多元地下水水化学特征的重要原因.     

典型炼厂硫转移及硫分布分析研究

以国内某高硫原油加工炼厂为研究对象,对其原油加工过程中硫的迁移分布规律以及硫在各加工单元的存在类型进行了系统的研究与分析,明确了该炼厂H2S存在的主要危险区域.在此基础上,提出了防护措施与建议,以最大程度地降低H2S中毒的风险,为我国加工高硫原油的安全防护提供参考.     

我国环境事件生发机理的Logistics回归分析

以近年来我国发生的有影响力的100个环境事件为研究对象,通过多元Logistics回归方法。利用环境污染生境、污染主体特征、污染物特征、对象敏感性、社会敏感性、治理难度和治理效果7类变量23类观测指标解析了影响环境事件发生的显著因素。以此为基础,分别给出了控制和预防大概率小损失、大概率大损失、小概率小损失和小概率大损失环境事件发生的政策建议。     

染料废水的X射线粉末衍射分析

染料生产过程的废水，其中含有致癌，致畸的有毒物质，通常需经生化处理后才排放，但生化处理并不能使其毒性消除骀尽，所以对处理后排放废水的进一步分析是当今环保分析中的一个重要课题，分光光度法，高压液相色谱及色－质联用仪是作微量分析的常用方法，但难以分析难挥发物和悬浮物，我们尝试用Ｘ射线粉末衍射分析法对分离废水得到的固态难挥发物作了分析，证明此法准确，快捷，可推广，但对胶状物或含量过低的物质则不适用。     

塔里木河干流流域区域开发与环境对策

区域开发的设计,目的在于实现资源开发和环境建设的协调发展。塔河流域具有光热资源丰富、土地资源开发潜力大、石油资源开发前景广阔等区域开发优势,同时存在水土资源不平衡、社会经济发展缓慢、科学技术水平落后、交通条件差、生态环境问题严重等区域开发的限制性因素。从塔河流域资源优势出发,针对当前区域开发的限制性因素,按照新疆经济发展对塔河流域的要求,选择“优势资源转换开发模式”为塔河流域开发战略模式。解决塔河流域生态环境问题,首先要使现有生态环境不再继续恶化,最低限度保护现有植被面积不再减少,即维护现有天然胡杨林29.8万公顷、天然灌木林111.33万公顷、天然草地90.38万公顷,在此基础上,恢复和改善下游绿色走廊的植被,约3.96万公顷。如果完成以上指标,必须确保生态用水,特别是下游段的生态用水,加强天然植被的抚育更新,并制定相应的政策、法规等。     

顺德城市化的历史分析与可持续发展的现实选择

本文对顺德市城市化的历史进程、现状、城市化机制等进行了客观评价和理论分析。认为 :顺德的“滞后城市化”是因为走“农村推动型”的城市化道路所致。指出新时期走可持续发展的城市化道路是推进顺德城市化进程的唯一途径 ,并提出其主要的思路     

叶绿素a含量与大气污染评价的研究

当绿色植物受到污染大气的侵害后,叶片中叶绿素a的含量就会下降。因此,通过测定生长于一个城市上风向(大气清洁区),侧风向(轻污区),下风向(重污区)大叶黄杨(Buxaceae buxus sp.)生长功能叶片中叶绿素a含量(c),并以Ci/C上风=A作为相对评价标准,即可在排除了采样差异的前提下,较为客观地揭示城市各区污染的宏观状况。