Effects of Nonylphenol on immune function of female Sprague-Dawley rats

Nonylphenol (NP) is the final biodegradation product of nonylphenol polyethoxylates, which are widely used as surfactants in domestic and industrial products. NP was reported to exert estrogenic actions and shown to potentially adversely affect reproductive functions. However, NP influence on immune system function remains unclear. To address this issue, the effects of NP on spleen and thymus were examined in this study. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with NP orally at doses of 0, 20, 80, or 200 mg/kg respectively. Data showed that NP increased the levels of natural killer (NK) cells and natural killer T (NKT) cells in peripheral blood and decreased the levels of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) in serum. These findings suggest that exposure to NP by oral route may induce adverse effects on the spleen and thymus and affect the immune function of female rats.     

Heavy metals in contemporary Chinese sewage sludges

The heavy metal content in sewage sludges from a big Chinese city was investigated. Concentrations of zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd) and mercury (Hg) in the sludges were 258–4050 mg kg^‐1, bd: 994 mgkg^‐1, 8.3–566 mg kg^‐1, 26.3–370mgkg^‐1 4.2–113 mg kg^‐1 0.9–6.4 mg kg^‐1 and 1.8–12.4 mg kg^‐1 respectively. The concentrations of Zn and Pb in the sewage sludges from the residential areas were higher than those in the mixed ones (from both residential and industrial areas). The concentrations of heavy metals in the flocculently dewatered sewage sludges were higher than those in the sediment of the centrifuged undewatered sewage sludges. After centrifuging, more than 60% of heavy metals remained in the sludge sediment with an exception of Cd. The content of organic matter, total phosphorus (T‐P) and total potassium (T‐K) in these sewage sludges was also measured.     

岩溶表层带土壤温度和含水率对呼吸作用的影响

全球环境变化对岩溶区的碳循环产生重要的影响,而土壤呼吸作用在全球环境变化的影响和反馈的过程中具有十分重要的作用。因此,以岩溶区的岩溶表层带为研究对象,研究了土壤呼吸作用与土壤温度和大气降水量之间的响应机理和内在联系。研究结果表明：岩溶表层带的土壤呼吸作用具有单峰型的季节性变化特征。洼地0~5、10~20 cm 的土壤呼吸速率在范围变化分别为82.58 mg· m-2· h-1至412.89、151.39 mg· m-2· h-1至523 mg· m-2· h-1,最大值出现在8月中旬。坡地0~5、10~20 cm的土壤呼吸速率在范围变化55.05 mg· m-2· h-1至412.89、137.63 mg· m-2· h-1至495.47 mg· m-2· h-1,最大值出现也在8月中旬。洼地的土壤呼吸作用相对强于坡地,主要是由于坡地土壤相对洼地土壤较薄并且容易被降水冲刷搬运。在大气降水量不成为限制土壤呼吸作用的因子下,土壤温度为主要控制土壤呼吸作用的因子。因此,该研究可为控制土壤呼吸作用缓和大气CO2的升高和温室效应应对策略,为国家固碳减排的科学决策提供理论依据。     

邻苯二甲酸二乙基己酯(DEHP)对THP-1细胞IL-1β和MMP-8表达及ROS的影响

为探讨邻苯二甲酸二乙基己酯((DEHP)的细胞免疫毒性作用与机制,采用RT-PCR和ELISA方法,考察了0.05～1μmol·L-1浓度范围内的DEHP对THP-1细胞白细胞介素-1β(IL-1β)及基质金属蛋白酶-8(MMP-8)基因和蛋白表达的影响;采用免疫印迹WesternBlot方法检测DE-HP对ERK1/2磷酸化水平的影响;以2,'7-'二氯荧光素二乙酸酯(DCFH-DA)为荧光探针检测1～50μmol·L-1DEHP对细胞内活性氧(ROS)产生的影响。结果显示,0.05和0.2μmol·L-1DEHP在6h内显著诱导IL-1β和MMP-8基因表达(P<0.05或0.01);0.05～1μmol·L-1DEHP刺激细胞48h,可诱导IL-1β蛋白表达,并表现出明显的剂量-效应关系,线性拟合的确定系数为0.937;0.05μmol·L-1DEHP刺激细胞6或12h,显著诱导MMP-8蛋白表达(P<0.05);0.2μmol·L-1DEHP在15～30min内快速诱导ERK1/2磷酸化;1～50μmol·L-1DEHP浓度依赖性刺激细胞中ROS的产生;ERK/MAPK抑制剂PD98059显著抑制DEHP诱导的MMP-8分泌,但对IL-1β分泌未表现出抑制作用。研究表明,DEHP可能是经ERK/MAPK信号路径诱导MMP-8基因和蛋白的表达,经其他路径诱导IL-1β基因和蛋白的表达,诱导细胞内ROS的产生,从而激发炎症反应,进而损害免疫系统功能引发哮喘等炎症性疾病。此研究结果可为DEHP的暴露风险评估提供参考。     

Scaling up a novel denitrifying microbial fuel cell with an oxic-anoxic two stage biocathode

A scaled up microbial fuel cell （MFC） of a 50 L volume was set up with an oxic-anoxic two-stage biocathode and activated semicoke packed electrodes to achieve simultaneous power generation and nitrogen and organic matter removals. An average maximum power density of 43.1 W·m^-3 was obtained in batch operating mode. By adjusting the two extemal resistances, the denitrification in the A-MFC and power production in the O-MFC could be enhanced. In continuous mode, when the hydraulic retention times were set at 6 h, 8 h and 12 h, the removal efficiencies of COD, NHf-N and total nitrogen （TN） were higher than 95%, 97%, and 84%, respectively. Meanwhile the removal loads for COD, NH4^＋-N and TN were10, 0.37 and 0.4 kg·（m^3·d）^-1, respectively.     

Removal of Zn2+ from aqueous solution by biomass of Agaricus bisporus

Biosorption of Zn²⁺ from aqueous solutions by biomass of Agaricus bisporus was investigated. The removal rates of Zn²⁺ by A. bisporus under different parameters (e.g., solution pH, bio-sorbent dosage and initial Zn²⁺ concentration) were studied. The inhibition of A. bisporus’s biosorption by anionic ligands EDTA (Ethylene Diamine Tetraacetic Acid), acetate and citrate) implied that EDTA and citrate might be used as eluting reagents. Regular and simultaneous solution pH change and light metal ions release after biosorption indicated that an ion exchange mechanism was involved. From FT-IR (Fourier Transform Infrared) spectroscopy, the main functional groups participated in biosorption were found. Biosorption of Zn²⁺ by A. bisporus could be well described by the Freundlich and Langmuir models. In conclusion, the biomass of A. bisporus showed high potential for the treatment of wastewater containing Zn²⁺.     

Reduction of carbon dioxide into tetraiodomethane at 1?atm

We here report that by using electronegative gas of iodine and CO₂ under negative corona discharge, tetraiodomethane could be synthesized at 70?°C and 1?atm without any catalyst, despite thermodynamically infeasible at ambience without electron discharge. The conversion of carbon dioxide reached 88.71?% at a gas flow rate of 0.06?L/min and a discharge frequency of 9.608?kHz. The anion-involved CO₂ reduction process could be implemented efficiently under mild conditions, avoiding high temperature and high pressure.     

袋式除尘器稀相气力输灰技术研究

介绍了袋式除尘器稀相气力输灰技术,并对其相关试验系统进行了描述,分析了各阻力系数与料气比之间的关系,给出了各阻力系数的取值范围,供工程设计人员参考。     

无损检测用X光底片伪缺陷的产生及防止方法

X光底片作为直接反映缺陷形状、大小、数量的媒介,它的质量好坏对于无损检测人员作出正确分析判断是极其重要的。总结了X光底片上伪缺陷产生的原因,并提出了相应的防止方法。     

生态设计:汽车工业可持续发展的新视角

随着世界汽车工业的飞速发展,汽车工业发展与环境保护之间矛盾日益凸现。从企业可持续发展论和生态设计定义谈起,提出了汽车工业生态设计的理念,并探讨了生态设计的内涵和战略,从汽车产品生态设计和汽车企业环境经营两个方面提出了实现汽车工业可持续发展的思路和建议,以期为更好地解决汽车工业与环境保护之间的矛盾提供借鉴。