Pre-hatching fluoxetine-induced neurochemical,neurodevelopmental, and immunological changes in newly hatched cuttlefish

Embryonic and early postembryonic development of the cuttlefish Sepia officinalis (a cephalopod mollusk) occurs in coastal waters, an environment subject to considerable pressure from xenobiotic pollutants such as pharmaceutical residues. Given the role of serotonin in brain development and its interaction with neurodevelopmental functions, this study focused on fluoxetine (FLX), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI, antidepressant). The goal was to determine the effects of subchronic waterborne FLX exposure (1 and 10 μg L^?1) during the last 15 days of embryonic development on neurochemical, neurodevelopmental, behavioral, and immunological endpoints at hatching. Our results showed for the first time that organic contaminants, such as FLX, could pass through the eggshell during embryonic development, leading to a substantial accumulation of this molecule in hatchlings. We also found that FLX embryonic exposure (1 and 10 μg L^?1) (1) modulated dopaminergic but not serotonergic neurotransmission, (2) decreased cell proliferation in key brain structures for cognitive and visual processing, (3) did not induce a conspicuous change in camouflage quality, and (4) decreased lysozyme activity. In the long term, these alterations observed during a critical period of development may impair complex behaviors of the juvenile cuttlefish and thus lead to a decrease in their survival. Finally, we suggest a different mode of action by FLX between vertebrate and non-vertebrate species and raise questions regarding the vulnerability of early life stages of cuttlefish to the pharmaceutical contamination found in coastal waters.     

Linking agricultural adaptation strategies,food security and vulnerability: evidence from West Africa

Adaptation strategies to reduce smallholder farmers’ vulnerability to climate variability and seasonality are needed given the frequency of extreme weather events predicted to increase during the next decades in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in West Africa. We explored the linkages between selected agricultural adaptation strategies (crop diversity, soil and water conservation, trees on farm, small ruminants, improved crop varieties, fertilizers), food security, farm household characteristics and farm productivity in three contrasting agro-ecological sites in West Africa (Burkina Faso, Ghana and Senegal). Differences in land area per capita and land productivity largely explained the variation in food security across sites. Based on land size and market orientation, four household types were distinguished (subsistence, diversified, extensive, intensified), with contrasting levels of food security and agricultural adaptation strategies. Income increased steadily with land size, and both income and land productivity increased with degree of market orientation. The adoption of agricultural adaptation strategies was widespread, although the intensity of practice varied across household types. Adaptation strategies improve the food security status of some households, but not all. Some strategies had a significant positive impact on land productivity, while others reduced vulnerability resulting in a more stable cash flow throughout the year. Our results show that for different household types, different adaptation strategies may be ‘climate-smart’. The typology developed in this study gives a good entry point to analyse which practices should be targeted to which type of smallholder farmers, and quantifies the effect of adaptation options on household food security. Subsequently, it will be crucial to empower farmers to access, test and modify these adaptation options, if they were to achieve higher levels of food security.     

Understanding slums: analysis of the metabolic pattern of the Vidigal favela in Rio de Janeiro,Brazil

This paper illustrates an innovative approach to characterize the metabolic pattern of informal urban settlements or slums with the aim to better understand the factors that affect the material standard of living of slum residents, the dynamics of slum development and the interaction of the slum with its wider socioeconomic context. The proposed system of accounting, multi-scale integrated analysis of societal and ecosystem metabolism (MuSIASEM), integrates socioeconomic and spatial data and studies energy and monetary flows in relation to the pattern of human activities and land uses. The theoretical basis of the approach is illustrated with data from Vidigal favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In particular, we show how to construct taxonomies of accounting categories to characterize: (1) the set of activities carried out by the slum dwellers, to which to link assessments of flow rates per hour; (2) the set of land uses or spatial elements making up the slum, to which to link assessments of flow densities per hectare. The analysis of the interaction of Vidigal with its wider socioeconomic context focuses on monetary flows and transport (job commuting).     

Serum concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the inhabitants of a Sicilian city

Background

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides are common environmental contaminants that have been associated with human health problems.

Objectives

To assess serum concentrations of several organochlorine contaminants in general population living in a city with an ancient agricultural tradition and to identify possible exposure sources in Sicily.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 101 individuals. Each participant answered a face-to-face questionnaire submitted by well-trained personnel and provided a serum sample which was analyzed for the concentrations of PCBs, HCB, HCHs and DDTs by using gas-chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry.

Results

HCB, p,p′-DDE, PCB 138, PCB 153 and PCB 180 were detected in more than 80% of the study participants. The ng g⁻¹ lipid median concentrations were: 18.6 for HCB; 175.1 for p,p′-DDE; 22. for PCB 138; 32.5 for PCB 153 and 23.0 for PCB 180. PCB 153 and PCB 138, PCB 138 and PCB 180, PCB 153 and PCB 180, and p,p′-DDE and HCB showed a high correlation each other (p < 0.05). HCB and p,p′-DDE concentrations were significantly higher in subjects >49 years old (adj-p = 0.03 in 50-69 years old and adj-p < 0.001 in >69 years old, respectively) whereas PCB 138, PCB 153 and PCB 180 concentrations were higher in males (adj-p = 0.03), in subjects >69 years old (adj-p = 0.04) and in current smokers (adj-p = 0.04).

Conclusions

The present study shows that serum concentrations of organochlorine compounds detected in subjects living in a small Sicilian city with ancient agricultural tradition are similar to those found in subjects living in urban areas of other countries. However, further investigations are needed to compare data from rural/urban areas in the same country, assessing correlations between serum concentrations of several chemical compounds and potential health effects in general population.     

Biochemical modifications in Pinus pinaster Ait. as a result of environmental pollution

Exposure to chemical pollution can cause significant damage to plants by imposing conditions of oxidative stress. Plants combat oxidative stress by inducing antioxidant metabolites, enzymatic scavengers of activated oxygen and heat shock proteins. The accumulation of these proteins, in particular heat shock protein 70 and heme oxygenase, is correlated with the acquisition of thermal and chemical adaptations and protection against oxidative stress. In this study, we used Pinus pinaster Ait. collected in the areas of Priolo and Aci Castello representing sites with elevated pollution and reference conditions, respectively. The presence of heavy metals and the levels of markers of oxidative stress (lipid hydroperoxide levels, thiol groups, superoxide dismutase activity and expression of heat shock protein 70, heme oxygenase and superoxide dismutase) were evaluated, and we measured in field-collected needles the response to environmental pollution. P. pinaster Ait. collected from a site characterized by industrial pollution including heavy metals had elevated stress response as indicated by significantly elevated lipid hydroperoxide levels and decreased thiol groups. In particular, we observed that following a chronic chemical exposure, P. pinaster Ait. showed significantly increased expression of heat shock protein 70, heme oxygenase and superoxide dismutase. This increased expression may have protective effects against oxidative stress and represents an adaptative cellular defence mechanism. These results suggest that evaluation of heme oxygenase, heat shock protein 70 and superoxide dismutase expression in P. pinaster Ait. could represent a useful tool for monitoring environmental contamination of a region and to better understand mechanisms involved in plant defence and stress tolerance.     

SAPS处理酸性矿山废水的模拟应用研究

根据硫酸盐还原菌(SRB)的生物矿化原理设计了一套连续碱度产生系统(SAPS)反应器,以市政污水处理厂的活性污泥为SRB提供源,南方常见的香芋柄为有机物碳源,选用石灰石为反应器中碱度层填充物,进行实验室模拟SAPS处理酸性矿山废水(AMD)的应用研究,实验结果表明,SAPS处理酸性矿山废水的方法是具有技术可行的:SRB利用有机碳源生长代谢,产生碱度、还原SO2-4和降解COD。最终废水p H从进水4.0左右上升到出水7.0左右;出水COD降低到约200 mg/L;SO2-4还原为各种硫化物,其还原率约为61%;不同金属离子在有机层和碱度层发生反应产生沉淀,其中Fe2+、Cu2+和Zn2+的去除效率分别约为76%、78.5%和82%,而主要靠物理吸附作用的Mn2+去除率较低;初次模拟SAPS运行到56 d时,系统最终因有机碳源不足而各项指标不再改变。     

3株贫营养好氧反硝化细菌的分离鉴定及反硝化特性

贫营养好氧反硝化细菌在水环境能量流动和物质循环过程中扮演着重要的角色。从山东某水源水库沉积物中共驯化分离出216株好氧反硝化细菌,复筛得到3株高效菌株ZN1、ZN2和ZN3。经形态学指标和16S rRNA序列分析,ZN1和ZN3属于铁还原细菌(iron-reducing bacterium),ZN2属于粘液菌属(Zoogloea sp.)。关键酶基因检测表明3株菌均含有周质硝酸盐还原酶基因(nap A)。在30℃、120 r/min条件下,培养47 h后3株菌对培养液中NO3-N的去除率均在80%以上,TN去除率均在40%以上,且无明显的亚硝氮积累。对3株菌分别进行原水适应,以20%的梯度增加原水的比例直至100%原水。原水培养72 h后,3株菌NO3-N去除率为30%~40%,TN去除率为20%~25%。     

离子液体辅助合成Nd掺杂TiO_2的可见光催化性能

在离子液体1-丁基-3-甲基咪唑四氟化硼([C4MIM]BF4)的辅助下,采用溶胶-凝胶法制备了Nd掺杂Ti O2光催化剂(Nd-Ti O2(IL))。实验结果表明:在加入[C4MIM]BF4、n(Nd)∶n(Ti O2)=2.5%的条件下制得的Nd-Ti O2(IL)(记作2.5%Nd-Ti O2(IL))的光催化性能最好;在初始亚甲基蓝质量浓度10 mg/L、2.5%Nd-Ti O2(IL)加入量1 g/L的条件下,光催化反应180 min,亚甲基蓝降解率为84%,2.5%Nd-Ti O2(IL)光催化降解亚甲基蓝的表观速率常数为0.010 9 min-1。表征结果显示:Nd的掺杂抑制了Ti O2晶粒长大,增大了Ti O2的比表面积,2.5%Nd-Ti O2(IL)的比表面积为80.77 m2/g;[C4MIM]BF4的加入提高了Ti O2的晶化度;Nd以Nd3+的形式,通过晶格取代方式进入Ti O2晶格。     

A fuel-based approach for emission factor development for highway paving construction equipment in China

The objective of this paper is to develop and demonstrate a fuel-based approach for emissions factor estimation for highway paving construction equipment in China for better accuracy. A highway construction site in Chengdu was selected for this study with NO emissions being characterized and demonstrated. Four commonly used paving equipment, i.e., three rollers and one paver were selected in this study. A portable emission measurement system (PEMS) was developed and used for emission measurements of selected equipment during real–world highway construction duties. Three duty modes were defined to characterize the NO emissions, i.e., idling, moving, and working. In order to develop a representative emission factor for these highway construction equipment, composite emission factors were estimated using modal emission rates and the corresponding modal durations in the process of typical construction duties. Depending on duty mode and equipment type, NO emission rate ranged from 2.6–63.7mg/s and 6.0–55.6g/kg–fuel with the fuel consumption ranging from 0.31–4.52 g/s correspondingly. The NO composite emission factor was estimated to be 9–41mg/s with the single-drum roller being the highest and double-drum roller being the lowest and 6–30g/kg-fuel with the pneumatic tire roller being the highest while the double-drum roller being the lowest. For the paver, both time-based and fuel consumption-based NO composite emission rates are higher than all of the rollers with 56mg/s and 30g/kg-fuel, respectively. In terms of time–based quantity, the working mode contributes more than the other modes with idling being the least for both emissions and fuel consumption. In contrast, the fuel-based emission rate appears to have less variability in emissions. Thus, in order to estimate emission factors for emission inventory development, the fuel-based emission factor may be selected for better accuracy.

Implications: The fuel-based composite emissions factors will be less variable and more accurate than time-based emission factors. As a consequence, emissions inventory developed using this approach will be more accurate and practical.