Enhanced production of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) by filamentation-suppressed recombinantEscherichia coli in a defined medium

Fed-batch cultures of recombinantEscherichia coli strains were carried out for the production of poly(3-hydroxybutyric acid) (PHB) in a chemically defined medium. TheE. coli strains used were XL1-Blue, harboring pSYL105, a stable high-copy number plasmid containing theAlcaligenes eutrophus polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) genes, and XL1-Blue, harboring pSYL107, which is pSYL105 containing theE. coli ftsZ gene to suppress filamentation. With XL1-Blue(pSYL105) the final cell mass and PHB concentration obtained in 62 h were 102 and 22.5 g/L, respectively. Fed-batch culture of XL1-Blue(pSYL107) under identical conditions resulted in a final cell mass and PHB concentration of 127.5 and 48.2 g/L, respectively. The PHB contents obtained with XL1-Blue(pSYL105) and XL1-Blue(pSYL107) were 22.1 and 37.8%, respectively. Therefore, PHB was more efficiently produced in a defined medium by employing filamentation-suppressed recombinantE. coli.     

Uncertainties in vegetated buffer strip function in controlling phosphorus export from agricultural land in the Canadian prairies

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Vegetated buffer strips (VBSs) are widely encouraged as a cost-effective strategy to address phosphorus (P) pollution associated with agricultural...     

Reservoir‐host amplification of disease impact in an endangered amphibian

Emerging wildlife pathogens are an increasing threat to biodiversity. One of the most serious wildlife diseases is chytridiomycosis, caused by the fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), which has been documented in over 500 amphibian species. Amphibians vary greatly in their susceptibility to Bd; some species tolerate infection, whereas others experience rapid mortality. Reservoir hosts—species that carry infection while maintaining high abundance but are rarely killed by disease—can increase extinction risk in highly susceptible, sympatric species. However, whether reservoir hosts amplify Bd in declining amphibian species has not been examined. We investigated the role of reservoir hosts in the decline of the threatened northern corroboree frog (Pseudophryne pengilleyi) in an amphibian community in southeastern Australia. In the laboratory, we characterized the response of a potential reservoir host, the (nondeclining) common eastern froglet (Crinia signifera), to Bd infection. In the field, we conducted frog abundance surveys and Bd sampling for both P. pengilleyi and C. signifera. We built multinomial logistic regression models to test whether Crinia signifera and environmental factors were associated with P. pengilleyi decline. C. signifera was a reservoir host for Bd. In the laboratory, many individuals maintained intense infections (>1000 zoospore equivalents) over 12 weeks without mortality, and 79% of individuals sampled in the wild also carried infections. The presence of C. signifera at a site was strongly associated with increased Bd prevalence in sympatric P. pengilleyi. Consistent with disease amplification by a reservoir host, P. pengilleyi declined at sites with high C. signifera abundance. Our results suggest that when reservoir hosts are present, population declines of susceptible species may continue long after the initial emergence of Bd, highlighting an urgent need to assess extinction risk in remnant populations of other declined amphibian species.     

Removal of Volatile Aliphatic Hydrocarbons in a Soil Bioreactor

Soil removal of propane, isobutane and n-butane from a waste air stream was evaluated in the laboratory and in a prototype soil bioreactor. Laboratory investigations indicated first-order kinetics and the potential to degrade light aliphatic hydrocarbons and trichlorethylene, a compound ordinarily resistant to aerobic biological treatment. The predicted behavior of the bioreactor, based on laboratory studies, agreed closely with the actual behavior of the Reid system. The prototype bioreactor reduced the hydrocarbon concentrations in the air by at least 90percent with a residence time of 15 minutes and a pressure drop of 85 cm of water. The bioreactor functioned well through a range of temperatures, 12°C to 24°C.     

The role and expectancy participation model: An empirical assessement and extension

Four hypotheses were investigated. The results substantially support and extend the usefulness of Schuler's role and expectancy participation model (1980). Schuler's model posits that participation intervenes to attenuate the relationships between job objectives and role conflicts and ambiguity. Also, participation, role conflict and role ambiguity are assumed to intervene to attenuate the relationships between job objectives and job satisfaction. The four hypotheses were tested using a sample of 187 retail store managers. Results revealed that job objectives were related to the role variables and satisfaction. Participation significantly attenuated the job objectives, role conflict and job satisfaction relationships. Implications for the use of the attributes of job objectives approach to integrate other objective setting paradigms are discussed.     

BASIN WATER MONITORING: HYDROLOGIC IMPACT OR LEGAL COMPLIANCE1

ABSTRACT: The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (PL 95–87) requires data collection prior to mining which will allow a determination to be made of the probable hydrologic consequences. Modeling strategies exist which allow for such determination, but selection of a specific model form will dictate the length of data record needed. The absence of a sound management strategy by the regulatory authority in‘Maryland does not result in valid data collection and suggests that the agency is concerned more with legal compliance than with integrated resource management.     

密封消解法测定高氯离子含盐废水COD_(Cr)的探讨

针对国标重铬酸钾法测定高氯离子含盐废水CODCr时的不足,提出用密封消解法来测定高盐废水CODCr的观点,通过丁酮氧化率、氯离子干扰、混配水样和实际水样测定结果的比较,对国标法和密封消解法进行了验证。试验结果表明:在测定高氯离子含盐废水CODCr值时,密封消解法优于重铬酸钾法,能够真实准确地反映废水的CODCr。     

Field dissipation of acetochlor in two New Zealand soils at two application rates

The persistence of pesticides in soils has both economic and environmental significance and is often used as a key parameter in pesticide risk assessment. Persistence of acetochlor [2'-ethyl-6'-methyl-N-(ethoxymethyl)-2-chloroacetylanilide] in two New Zealand field soils was measured over two years and the data were used to identify models that adequately describe acetochlor persistence in the field. Acetochlor was sprayed onto six fallow plots (3 x 9 m each) at each site at the recommended rate (2.5 kg a.i. ha(-1)) and at twice that rate. Acetochlor concentrations were measured in soil cores. Simple first-order kinetics (Model 1) adequately described acetochlor persistence in Hamilton clay loam soil (Humic Hapludull, Illuvial Spadic) at the high application rate, but overestimated it at the low application rate. A quadratic model (Model 2), a first-order double-exponential model (Model 3), a first-order biphasic model (Model 4), or a two-compartment model (Model 5) better described acetochlor persistence at the low application rate. The time for 50% (DT50) and 90% (DT90) of initial acetochlor loss was approximately 9 and 56 d, and 18 and 63 d at low and high application rates, respectively. The more complex Models 2 through 5 also better described the biphasic dissipation of acetochlor in Horotiu sandy loam soil (Typic Orthic Allophanic) than Model 1, with Model 1 significantly underestimating acetochlor concentrations on the day of application at both application rates. The DT50 and DT90 values were 5 and 29 d and 7 and 31 d at low and high application rates, respectively. Overall, application rate significantly affected the DT50 and DT90 values in the Hamilton soil, but not in the Horotiu soil. Faster acetochlor loss in the Horotiu soil possibly resulted from the higher soil organic carbon content that retained more acetochlor near the soil surface where higher temperature and photolysis accelerated the loss.     

Time series in M dimensions: The one-dimensional case: Pollution in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal

A nonstationary time-series model is used to examine the changes occurring at sampling stations on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. Using data from upstream sampling sites, downstream levels of dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solids, nitrates and nitrites, and ammonia are accurately predicted. The method is simple, insensitive to extreme values, and responsive to changes in the system.     

Using GIS to Generate Spatially Balanced Random Survey Designs for Natural Resource Applications

Sampling of a population is frequently required to understand trends and patterns in natural resource management because financial and time constraints preclude a complete census. A rigorous probability-based survey design specifies where to sample so that inferences from the sample apply to the entire population. Probability survey designs should be used in natural resource and environmental management situations because they provide the mathematical foundation for statistical inference. Development of long-term monitoring designs demand survey designs that achieve statistical rigor and are efficient but remain flexible to inevitable logistical or practical constraints during field data collection. Here we describe an approach to probability-based survey design, called the Reversed Randomized Quadrant-Recursive Raster, based on the concept of spatially balanced sampling and implemented in a geographic information system. This provides environmental managers a practical tool to generate flexible and efficient survey designs for natural resource applications. Factors commonly used to modify sampling intensity, such as categories, gradients, or accessibility, can be readily incorporated into the spatially balanced sample design.