Rapid detection of nanoplastics and small microplastics by Nile-Red staining and flow cytometry

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Microplastics are of rising health concerns because they have been detected even in remote and pristine environments, from the Artic snow to the Marianne Trench....     

Fauna of the green alga Cladophora glomerata in the Baltic Sea: density, diversity, and algal decomposition stage

The green alga Cladophora glomerata (L.) is a common macrophyte in the northern Baltic Sea, where it forms drifting mats during summer. We studied the effect of its stage of decomposition on the density, diversity, and resource usage of associated meio- and macrofauna. We hypothesised that mobile species would show small variation in food preferences among decomposition stages, while high variation was expected in stationary species, as reflected in their stable isotope signatures. The assemblage structure of the fauna differed between the 3 studied algal degradation stages, Green (attached, healthy), Degraded (attached, but starting to decay), and Drift (detached, decaying). C/N ratios were highest in green algae and decreased in decaying algal stages. Variation in stable isotope ratios of stationary and mobile species supported our resource use hypothesis. The decomposition stage of C. glomerata significantly affected the carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios of both the alga and its main grazer species. Higher invertebrate diversity in the more decaying stages was probably facilitated by decomposer microbes adding resource types and by the proximity of the detached algal mats to the sediment.     

Differential effect of ultraviolet exposure (UVR) in the stress response of the Dinophycea Gymnodinium sp. and the Chlorophyta Dunaliella tertiolecta: mortality versus survival

Dunaliella tertiolecta (Chlorophyta) and Gymnodinium sp. (Dinophyceae) cells were exposed to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) (PAR, UVA and UVB: PAB) for 6 days either continuously or during a photoperiod. Both UVR treatments were harmful to Gymnodinium but exposure to continuous PAB had the most dramatic effects. Although a number of lesions/damage could have happened during the first few hours of exposure to UVR, in less than 24 h, Gymnodinium lost its ability to detoxify ROS efficiently, photoinhibition occurred, thymine dimers formed in the DNA, caspase-like enzymatic activities DEVDase sharply increased and cells died as determined by SYTOX-green staining. Superoxide dismutase activity did not significantly change with time, and although the catalase activity augmented in both treatments, cells still suffered from the UVR stress. Clearly, UVR was fatal to the dinoflagellate. For the chlorophyte, however, cell numbers increased regardless of the UVR treatment and mortality remained low (<20 %). F _v/F _m showed an initial decrease but then remained constant for both light treatments. After 6 days of continuous PAB exposure, however, signs of stress (thymine dimers, oxidative stress) paralleled a drop in catalase activity. Results obtained here demonstrate that the dinoflagellate Gymnodinium was much more sensitive and was harmed more rapidly by UVR exposure than the chlorophyte D. tertiolecta. The increased tolerance to UVR exposure of the chlorophyte may provide advantages over other more sensitive phytoplankton species within the photic zone. We provide strong support in the present study for repair being an important component of UV resistance in this species.     

UV-B辐射对设施桃结果枝同化物转运和分配的影响

以6年生设施栽培‘春捷’毛桃(Prunus persica cv.Chunjie)为试材,设对照和补充UV-B辐射的低、中、高剂量3个处理,在果实成熟后对果实单果重、可溶性固形物含量和可溶性糖含量进行测定;在果实发育不同时期饲喂14C标记的CO2,并采样由中国科学院原子能利用研究所对样品14C放射性活度(cpm值)进行测定;研究了不同剂量UV-B辐射对设施桃树果实不同发育时期光合碳同化产物转运和分配特性的影响.结果表明:(1)果实膨大期,碳同化物向果实中分配比例最高的是低强度辐射处理,达到54.67%,向营养器官中分配比例最高的是中强度处理,为58.98%;硬核期,果肉对碳同化物的竞争能力最强的是高强度处理,分配比例为31.73%;果实着色期促进碳同化物向果肉中转运的效果最显著的则是中强度处理,分配比例达到87.88%.(2)通过补充外源UV-B辐射,设施桃果实单果重、可溶性固形物含量及可溶性糖含量均有显著提高.综上,光合碳同化物在设施桃树各器官中的转运和分配受果实发育时期影响;补充UV-B辐射可以增强果实对光合碳同化物的竞争能力,从而导致光合碳同化物在果实中的分配比例增加.     

Workaholism and mental health among Polish academic workers

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between workaholism and mental health among 126 Polish academic workers. The participants' mean age was 45.9 years, 51.6% of them were women. The participants completed 2 questionnaires: the work addiction risk test and the general health questionnaire. Even though 66% of the subjects were classified in the group of moderate-to-high risk of workaholism, the overall state of mental health was categorized as average. The results revealed that workaholism was associated with poorer mental health. Employees with higher levels of workaholism had worse state of health, i.e., more somatic symptoms, higher levels of anxiety, insomnia, social dysfunction and symptoms of depression. Emotional arousal/perfectionism was the strongest predictor of the state of general health and was mostly responsible for harmful effects on mental health. However, the general effect of workaholism on health was not as strong as expected.     

TECHNICAL CLARITY IN INTER-AGENCY NEGOTIATIONS: LESSONS FROM FOUR HYDROPOWER PROJECTS1

ABSTRACT: We investigated the effect of technical clarity on success in multi-party negotiations in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) licensing process. Technical clarity is the shared understanding of dimensions such as the geographic extent of the project, range of flows to be considered, important species and life stages, and variety of water uses considered. The results of four hydropower licensing consultations are reported. Key participants were interviewed to ascertain the level of technical clarity present during the consultations and the degree to which the consultations were successful. Technical clarity appears to be a prerequisite for successful outcomes. Factors that enhance technical clarity include simple project design, new rather than existing projects, precise definition of issues, a sense of urgency to reach agreement, a sense of fairness among participants, and consistency in participation. Negotiators should not neglect the critical pre-negotiation steps of defining technical issues and determining appropriate studies, deciding how to interpret studies, and agreeing on responses to study results.     

臭氧与活性炭结合对水中有机物去除的研究

阐明了臭氧及活性炭去除有机物的作用,以及在水处理中应用的现状。将臭氧,活性炭及臭氧-活性炭应用到水处理中,臭氧对水中的UV254、COD、TOC去除率分别为14.3%、12.5%、17%,活性炭对UV254、COD、TOC去除率分别为60.5%、52.7%、50.8%,臭氧-活性炭联合运用对水中UV254、COD、TOC去除率分别为66.8%、58.3%、65%。臭氧与活性炭的结合工艺有较好的去除效果。