Assessment OF SURFACE WATER QUALITY at Large Watershed Scale: Land‐Use,Anthropogenic, and Administrative Impacts

Understanding the impacts that influence water quality is critical to the development of best management practices at the large watershed scale. This study describes the spatiotemporal variation in surface water quality and identifies their main impact in the Haihe River basin, China. Multivariate statistical techniques are applied to analyze the similarities among the sampling sites and to identify the main pollution sources in surface water. Results show that: (1) the basin can be clustered into two regions, water quality being better in the mountainous vs. plain regions; (2) water quality improves due to implementation of a strict state policy on environmental pollution control, prodded by the hosting of the Olympic games in the cities of Beijing and Tianjin; and (3) agricultural and residential land uses as well as livestock‐breeding are the main sources affecting water quality in the mountainous regions, whereas rural waste discharge — including domestic waste sewage, human and animal feces, and solid waste — significantly influences water quality in the plain regions. The waste discharge of industrial factories may be a significant source of water pollution in the plain regions. Results indicate that the environmental management from pollution sinks and sources, long‐lasting legal framework, and adequate economic incentives should be improved to optimize the large‐scale watershed management under the background of the rapid development of countries like China.     

Effect of exogenous 2,4-epibrassinolide on grain filling and yield formation of Tartary buckwheat北大核心CSCD

为明确外源2,4-表油菜素内酯影响苦荞生长、粒重与产量形成的生理机制,以苦荞品种晋荞2号为试验材料,研究不同浓度的外源2,4-表油菜素内酯处理(0、0.1、0.5、1.0和2.0 mg/L)对苦荞籽粒的灌浆特性、淀粉合成酶、根系形态及活力、叶片抗氧化酶活性及光合特性、农艺性状及产量的影响.结果表明:0.5 mg/L处理时苦荞籽粒的灌浆起始势(R0)、最大灌浆速率(Gmax)和平均灌浆速率(Gmean)最大,而达最大灌浆速率的时间(Tmax.G)最小;随2,4-表油菜素内酯施用量的增加,苦荞籽粒的腺苷二磷酸葡萄糖焦磷酸化酶(AGPase)和可溶性淀粉合成酶(SSS)活性、根系总长度等根系形态指标和根系活力、叶片抗氧化酶活性及光合特性指标、株高、主茎直径、单株粒重和千粒重均呈先增加后降低的趋势,且都在0.5 mg/L处理时达最大.外源2,4-表油菜素内酯的施用能在一定程度上促进苦荞产量的增加,其中0.1、0.5和1.0 mg/L处理与对照相比分别提高产量1.10、1.31和1.06倍,2.0 mg/L处理则降低0.96倍.本研究表明适宜的外源2,4-表油菜素内酯处理(0.5 mg/L)能促进苦荞籽粒灌浆,提高粒重和最终的产量.(图1表8参32)     

Effects of soil warming and nitrogen deposition on leaf and soil stoichiometric characteristics of Cunninghamia lanceolata saplings北大核心CSCD

Warming and nitrogen deposition directly or indirectly affect the plant-soil element cycle under global change. To examine the effects of warming and nitrogen deposition on leaf and soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) contents, and their stoichiometric ratios in Cunninghamia lanceolata saplings, four types of treatments were assigned: control (CT), warming (W, + 4 ºC), nitrogen deposition (N, 40 kg ha-1 a-1), and warming + nitrogen deposition (WN) treatments. The results showed that: (1) compared with CT, W treatment significantly decreased leaf P content by 54.54% and increased leaf C/P and N/P by 85.26% and 83.39%, respectively; WN treatment significantly decreased leaf C content and P content by 1.99% and 51.03%, respectively, but increased the leaf C/P by 68.01% with no significant differences in leaf N content among treatments. The leaf N/P ratio of each treatment was less than 10, but that of the W and WN treatments were closer to 10 than that of the CT treatment. Meanwhile, W and WN treatments significantly increased tree height. (2) No significant differences were observed in soil total carbon (TC), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) contents among treatments. Compared with CT, W treatment significantly decreased soil C/N by 4.09%, while neither W nor WN treatment affected soil C/P and N/P. W treatment increased the available soil content compared to CT treatment. (3) The correlation analysis showed that leaf N content was significantly negatively correlated with soil C/N in the CT treatment; in the W treatment leaf N content and N/P were significantly positively correlated with soil TN and TP content, respectively. Leaf N content was significantly negatively correlated with soil TC and TN in the N treatment, and leaf contents had no significant correlation with soil C, N, and P contents or their stoichiometric characteristics in the WN treatment. This study showed that N limitation still exists in C. lanceolata saplings. Warming and the interaction between warming and nitrogen deposition could alleviate N limitation and promote the growth of C. lanceolata. © 2022 Authors. All rights reserved.     

Differences in the quality of steamed hull-less barley and wheat cakes北大核心CSCD

In this study, three different hull-less barley varieties were used to prepare steamed cakes, and their nutritional value, sensory qualities, textural properties, and in vitro starch hydrolysis were evaluated. The results showed that the contents of total dietary fiber (4.50%-5.12%), β-glucan (2.96%-3.96%), total flavonoids (12.56-38.73 mg/100 g), and γ-aminobutyric acid (5.08-9.53 mg/100 g) in the steamed hull-less barley cakes were significantly higher than that in the steamed wheat cake, which were 0.65%, 0.23%, 3.93 mg/(100 g), and 2.63 mg/(100 g), respectively. The sensory properties of steamed ordinary hull-less barley and wheat cakes were not significantly different, but the steamed 08-1127 (waxy hull-less barley) cake was softer and out of shape. The springiness, resilience, cohesiveness, gumminess, and adhesiveness of steamed ordinary hull-less barley cakes were similar to those of steamed wheat cake, while those of steamed 08-1127 cakes were significantly lower than those of steamed ordinary hull-less barley cakes. Steamed hull-less barley cake also showed a maximum starch hydrolysis rate (38.76%-42.74%) that was lower than that of steamed wheat cake (49.92%), and the contents of rapidly (11.58%-13.16%) and slowly digested starch (5.34%-7.56%) were lower than that of steamed wheat cake (17.21% and 15.97%, respectively). In addition, the glycemic (59.37-61.67) and hydrolysis indexes (35.82-40.00) were lower than those of steamed wheat cake (76.66 and 67.30, respectively), and the contents of resistant starch (2.74%-3.55%) were higher than those of wheat steamed cake (1.68%). Therefore, the steamed cakes of ordinary hull-less barley had a higher content of nutritional components than the steamed cake of wheat, and the in vitro starch hydrolysis parameters were better than those of steamed wheat cake. When it is necessary to consider both nutritional and sensory qualities, ordinary hull-less barley can be selected as the raw material for steamed cakes, but waxy hull-less barley is not suitable for making steamed cakes. © 2022 Science Press. All rights reserved.     

Cobalt-based catalysts for hydrogen production by thermochemical valorization of glycerol: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Rising energy needs and the exhaustion of fossil fuels are calling for renewable fuels such as dihydrogen (H2), commonly named 'hydrogen.' Biomass...     

Icariin ameliorates metabolic syndrome-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia in rats

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is an immense health issue that causes serious complications in aging males including BPH. Icariin (ICA) is a flavonol...     

CO2 sequestration by propagation of the fast-growing Azolla spp.

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Azolla is a group of aquatic floating plants that can achieve very high growth rates compared to other aquatic macrophytes, with a doubling time of...     

Do renewable energies contribute to enhancing environmental quality in Eastern Africa?

East Africa has enormous renewable energy potential, but only a small portion of it has been exploited, and little is known on its role in improving environmental quality. Thus, this study empirically examines the impact of renewable energy on the environment using ecological footprint (EF; positive indicator) and CO₂ emissions (negative indicator) as proxy indicators for environmental quality in a panel of ten East African countries from 1990 to 2015. These indicators were chosen due to their potential impact in the environment. The work used the pooled mean group (PMG) as the main panel estimator to determine the impact while controlling non-renewable energy consumption, GDP per capita, and foreign direct investment (FDI). PMG has been used as it forces the long-run coefficients to be equal across all panel groups. The findings show that in the long run, there is a significant negative relationship between CO₂ emissions and renewable energy consumption, as well as a significant positive relationship (with a low impact) between EF and renewable energy consumption, suggesting that renewable energy use enhances the area’s environmental quality. Also, results indicate that non-renewable energy use degrades environmental quality in both metrics, whereas GDP degrades environmental quality through CO₂ emissions and improves environmental quality through EF. This requires East African countries to focus a higher emphasis on accessible renewable energy sources to achieve quick and sustainable economic growth and minimize environmental effects. To accomplish this, strategic policies and legislation, as well as the promotion of green technology, are required.

     

The effect of chlorine position of chlorinated phenols on their dechlorination kinetics by Fenton's reagent

Chlorine position of chlorophenol isomers has a significant effect on the dechlorination kinetics of monochlorophenols, dichlorophenols, and trichlorophenols during Fenton oxidation. The effects have been evaluated by the rate constants of the dechlorination kinetic model developed in this study. It is found that the dechlorination rate of 3-CP is faster than that of 4-CP, which is faster than that of 2-CP. Since OH and Cl groups on the aromatic ring are ortho and para directors, the directory effect of OH and Cl groups enhances the dechlorination kinetics of 2-CP due to acceleration of the hydroxylation of 2-CP. Therefore, the dechlorination kinetics increases accordingly. For trichlorophenols (TCP), steric hindrance plays an important role during their dechlorination process. Specifically, the closer the chlorine atoms locate with each other on the aromatic ring, the more difficult the dechlorination processes will be. The dechlorination kinetics of dichlorophenols seems to be affected by both directory effect of OH and Cl groups and the effect of steric hindrance of chlorine atoms. The directory effect of OH and Cl groups on trichlorophenols decreases since the chlorine atom occupied the positions which are the most favorable for hydroxyl radical attack.     

Leaching from solid waste incineration ashes used in cement-treated base layers for pavements

Waste incineration bottom ash and treated flue gas cleaning products mixed with 2.5% of cement (50 kg/m3) were tested in the laboratory in terms of compressive strength and tank leaching tests over a 64-day period. Although the material displayed lower mechanical strength than a reference concrete, the strength still was sufficient for use as a base layer for roads. The metal content in the incineration-residue-based specimens was up to 100 times higher than in the reference concrete, suggesting that the mixed waste incineration residue should be used only for dedicated purposes. The leaching of Cl and Na was increased by a factor of 20-100 from the incineration-residue-based specimens as compared to the reference, while the leaching of K, Ca and SO4 was increased by a factor of 2-10. The leaching of heavy metals was also higher from the incineration-residue-based specimens than from the reference with respect to Cu (50 times), Cd, Pb and Zn (5 times), but not with respect to Cr and Ni. The leaching curves did only allow for a closer evaluation of the leaching process in a few cases. The physical retention of the constituents seemed to be the same in the reference as in the incineration-residue-based specimens. Heavy metal leaching was limited by enhanced chemical retention in the incineration-residue-specimens as compared to the reference. Since no quality criteria in terms of leaching from a monolithic material are currently available, the leaching issue must be evaluated case by case.