Photosynthesis and related metabolic mechanism of promoted rice (Oryza sativa L.) growth by TiO2 nanoparticles

• The rice growth was promoted by nano-TiO₂ of 0.1–100 mg/L. • Nano-TiO₂ enhanced the energy storage in photosynthesis. • Nano-TiO₂ reduced energy consumption in carbohydrate metabolism and TCA cycle. Titanium dioxide nanoparticle (nano-TiO₂), as an excellent UV absorbent and photo-catalyst, has been widely applied in modern industry, thus inevitably discharged into environment. We proposed that nano-TiO₂ in soil can promote crop yield through photosynthetic and metabolic disturbance, therefore, we investigated the effects of nano-TiO₂ exposure on related physiologic-biochemical properties of rice (Oryza sativa L.). Results showed that rice biomass was increased >30% at every applied dosage (0.1–100 mg/L) of nano-TiO₂. The actual photosynthetic rate (Y(II)) significantly increased by 10.0% and 17.2% in the treatments of 10 and 100 mg/L respectively, indicating an increased energy production from photosynthesis. Besides, non-photochemical quenching (Y(NPQ)) significantly decreased by 19.8%–26.0% of the control in all treatments respectively, representing a decline in heat dissipation. Detailed metabolism fingerprinting further revealed that a fortified transformation of monosaccharides (D-fructose, D-galactose, and D-talose) to disaccharides (D-cellobiose, and D-lactose) was accompanied with a weakened citric acid cycle, confirming the decrease of energy consumption in metabolism. All these results elucidated that nano-TiO₂ promoted rice growth through the upregulation of energy storage in photosynthesis and the downregulation of energy consumption in metabolism. This study provides a mechanistic understanding of the stress-response hormesis of rice after exposure to nano-TiO₂, and provides worthy information on the potential application and risk of nanomaterials in agricultural production.     

Evaluating provincial eco-efficiency in China: an improved network data envelopment analysis model with undesirable output

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In this study, an improved matrix-type network data envelopment analysis (NDEA) model with undesirable output was developed to evaluate the...     

Does regional energy consumption disparities assist to control environmental degradation in OBOR: an entropy approach

China launched the One Belt & One Road (OBOR) initiative to minimize the energy resource shortage. The China’s nearby countries are rich in energy resources especially Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Asian countries which make them ideal locations to cooperate with China in terms of energy resources, as 42.8% of world energy consumption belongs to OBOR countries. The present study elaborates the spatial distribution pattern of energy consumption disparities and its impact on environment. To do this, an entropy approach is utilized to compute the energy consumption inequalities in OBOR and its regions. The spatial and Pareto analysis show that MENA, East, and Southeast Asian economies have the highest degree of energy consumption inequalities, while European and Central Asian economies show the lowest energy consumption inequalities in OBOR region. The long-run estimates indicate that energy consumption inequalities enhance the CO₂ emission in OBOR and its region except South and Southeast Asia. Financial development also has a significantly positive impact on CO₂ emission in all models for OBOR and its regions except East Asia. Based on findings, the spatial distribution analysis is applicable to maintain balance in regional energy consumption inequality within OBOR and its regions.

     

啤酒行业涉氨环境风险特征、评估及防控对策

为了解和掌握啤酒行业涉氨环境风险状况,分析了啤酒行业液氨在运输、贮存和使用过程中的环境风险单元和特征。以典型啤酒厂为例,对其环境风险进行评估,确定环境风险等级,并利用环境风险评价系统(RiskSystem)模型对其在不同风速条件下发生液氨泄漏的环境风险进行了预测分析,进而提出有针对性的环境风险防控对策。研究结果表明:啤酒行业在液氨贮存和运输环节存在较大的环境风险,阀门、法兰、接口等连接部位腐蚀和操作不当是氨泄漏的主要原因。根据典型案例环境风险评估和模拟预测结果,在受体敏感区域环境风险较大,风速对氨泄漏事故的影响范围有较大作用,需要严格预防和加强风险控制。建议国家和地方尽快出台相应的环境风险防范技术规范;涉氨单位应以预防为主,加强环境风险单元和重点环节的隐患排查力度,严格落实风险防控措施和要求。     

一种便携式储油装置的研制与应用

油中溶解气体在线监测因其即时性和连续性的优点,可连续对变压器状态进行有效跟踪及识别,是目前变压器故障诊断的重要手段,为了提高油中溶解气体在线检测装置的准确性,开发、制造了一种用于校准油中溶解气体在线监测装置的储油装置,对该装置进行了油样稳定性与均匀性的实验验证,并将其应用于宁夏电网油中溶解气体在线监测装置的入网校验与现场校验。结果表明：该储油装置操作简单、便于实验室和现场携带运输,其特征气体5日损耗率低于5%,均匀性满足不同取样位置检测值之差小于平均值10%的技术指标。该装置的应用有效发现了部分油中溶解气体在线监测装置的准确性问题。     

地震作用下滑坡水平运动距离概率预测模型∗

地震诱发滑坡失稳是一种常见的地质灾害。如何预测地震作用下滑坡的水平运动距离对该地质灾害的防治具有重要作用。现有经验预测模型存在不能区分有阻碍滑坡和无阻碍滑坡,依据的案例较少且只能提供滑坡水平运动距离的最优估计值而无法提供其预测误差的局限。针对上述不足,首先建立包含380个案例的地震滑坡水平运动距离案例库,基于最大似然法原理,提出可同时考虑有阻碍滑坡和无阻碍滑坡的地震滑坡运动距离经验模型标定方法。单因素回归分析表明,地震作用下滑坡水平运动距离与滑坡垂直运动距离和滑坡体积具有较高的相关性,与滑坡倾角和滑坡表面长宽比相关性较小。在此基础上,通过逐步回归的方法建立滑坡水平运动距离的多因素预测模型。案例分析表明,提出的模型具有较高的预测精度。提出的地震作用下滑坡水平运动距离预测模型可为地震滑坡危险性评价提供参考。     

Changes Of Hydrological Environment And Their Influences On Coastal Wetlands InThe Southern Laizhou Bay, China

The structure and function of the coastal wetland ecosystem in the southern Laizhou Bay have been changed greatly and influenced by regional hydrological changes. The coastal wetlands have degraded significantly during the latest 30 years due to successive drought, decreasing of runoff, pollution, underground saline water intrusion, and aggravating marine disasters such as storm tides and sea level rising. Most archaic lakes have vanished, while artificial wetlands have been extending since natural coastal wetlands replaced by salt areas and ponds of shrimps and crabs. The pollution of sediments in inter-tidal wetlands and the pollution of water quality in sub-tidal wetlands are getting worse and therefore “red tides” happen more often than before. The biodiversity in the study area has been decreased. Further studies are still needed to protect the degraded coastal wetlands in the area.     

Depth perception,dark adaptation,vigilance and accident proneness of Chinese coal mine workers

To explore the relationships between human factors and accident proneness of coal mine workers, the depth perception, dark adaptation and vigilance abilities of 239 Chinese coal mine workers were tested and their accident proneness was surveyed with an accident proneness questionnaire. The results indicated that dark adaptation and vigilance abilities of the mine workers declined with increasing age. Vigilance had a significant negative relationship with accident proneness. There were significant differences in vigilance between coal mine workers doing different types of work. Individual difference in vigilance was relevant to the type of work that an individual did in a coal mine. The dark adaptation index had a significant positive relationship with accident proneness. Coal mine workers with weaker dark adaptation ability were also more accident prone. Some ergonomics recommendations concerning coal mine safety management in China are proposed.     

Road traffic injuries among riders of electric bike/electric moped in southern China

Objective: Electric bike/moped-related road traffic injuries have become a burgeoning public health problem in China. The objective of this study was to identify the prevalence and potential risk factors of electric bike/moped-related road traffic injuries among electric bike/moped riders in southern China.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was used to interview 3,151 electric bike/moped riders in southern China. Electric bike/moped-related road traffic injuries that occurred from July 2014 to June 2015 were investigated. Data were collected by face-to-face interviews and analyzed between July 2015 and June 2017.

Results: The prevalence of electric bike/moped-related road traffic injuries among the investigated riders was 15.99%. Electric bike/moped-related road traffic injuries were significantly associated with category of electric bike (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.36, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01–1.82), self-reported confusion (AOR = 1.77, 95% CI, 1.13–2.78), history of crashes (AOR = 6.14, 95% CI, 4.68–8.07), running red lights (AOR = 3.57, 95% CI, 2.42–5.25), carrying children while riding (AOR = 1.96, 95% CI, 1.37–2.85), carrying adults while riding (AOR = 1.68, 95% CI, 1.23–2.28), riding in the motor lane (AOR = 2.42, 95% CI, 1.05–3.93), and riding in the wrong traffic direction (AOR = 1.63, 95% CI, 1.13–2.35). In over 77.58% of electric bike/moped-related road traffic crashes, riders were determined by the police to be responsible for the crash. Major crash-causing factors included violating traffic signals or signs, careless riding, speeding, and riding in the wrong lane.

Conclusion: Traffic safety related to electric bikes/moped is becoming more problematic with growing popularity compared with other 2-wheeled vehicles. Programs need to be developed to prevent electric bike/moped-related road traffic injuries in this emerging country.