Chemotaxis to atrazine and detection of a xenobiotic catabolic plasmid in Arthrobacter sp. DNS10

Introduction

A plasmid named pDNS10 was detected from an atrazine-degrading strain Arthrobacter sp. DNS10 which has been isolated previously in our laboratory.

Materials and methods

In this paper, a special plasmid-detecting method and drop assays experiments were mainly used to achieve research goals.

Results and discussion

pDNS10 exhibited an excellent stability because it also could be detected even when the strain DNS10 has been subcultured under nonselective conditions for eight times. Over a 48-h incubation period, the OD₆₀₀ of samples inoculated with strain DNS10 and strain DNS10-ST (both of them contained pDNS10) were 0.31 ± 0.042 and 0.305 ± 0.034, respectively ,whereas the OD₆₀₀ of samples inoculated strain without pDNS10 (strain DNS10-PE) was only 0.138 ± 0.018. No atrazine was detected in the inoculated strain DNS10 and strain DNS10-ST samples at this period. Contrarily, the atrazine-degrading rate of strain DNS10-PE was only 5.23 ± 0.71%. Furthermore, both the two types of strains containing pDNS10 confirmed the presence of known degrading genes such as trzN, atzB, and atzC. It suggests that pDNS10 is an atrazine catabolic plasmid. In drop assays experiments, the wild-type strain DNS10 cells were chemotactically attracted to atrazine, whereas strain DNS10-PE showed no chemotaxis to atrazine and hydroxyatrazine. There was some relationship between atrazine degradation and the chemotactic response towards atrazine in strain DNS10.

Conclusions

The biochemical characteristics of pDNS10 and the chemotaxis characteristics of strain DNS10 could help us in better understanding of the mechanism of atrazine degradation by strain DNS10.     

Quantitative assessment of variability and uncertainty of hazardous trace element (Cd, Cr, and Pb) contents in Chinese coals by using bootstrap simulation

The quantitative measurements of uncertainties regarding the contents of hazardous trace elements (HTEs) serve as a basis for better assessment of the geochemistry and mineralogical characteristics of coals and their environmental impacts. In this paper, by using bootstrap simulation methodology, a quantitative procedure was demonstrated to characterize the variability and uncertainty of HTE (Cd, Cr, and Pb) contents in Chinese coals, which were specified by 27 different provinces and mining areas. Original data samples for Cd, Cr, and Pb contents in Chinese coals were compiled and summarized from the results reported in published literature. Sampling distributions for uncertainties in statistics such as the mean, median, and confidence interval were calculated. The national average contents were estimated at approximately 0.61 microg/g for Cd, 30.37 microg/g for Cr, and 23.04 microg/g for Pb. The ranges of uncertainties for bootstrap samples of national HTE contents were nearly symmetrical, and the ranges of the 95% confidence interval for the arithmetic mean were relatively small, with relative uncertainties of -16.39% to +21.31% for Cd, -10.11% to +11.72% for Cr, and -8.55% to +8.64% for Pb. This shows that the arithmetic mean contents f HHTEs in Chinese coals are higher in southern provinces than those in northern provinces, obviously differing because of different coal basins. The high values of HTE contents occur in provinces such as Sichuan, Chongqing, Yunnan, Hubei, and Guangxi. Provinces with low contents are located in northwestern China and include Xinjiang, Qinghai, Gansu, and Inner Mongolia; this can be mainly attributed to the medium moisture content, low ash, and low sulfur content in coals. Several provinces with high HTE contents such as Ningxia for Cd, Guangdong for Cr, and Shaanxi for Pb may be associated with the representativeness of the original data samples.     

The seasonal and spatial variations in diatom communities and the influence of environmental factors on three temperate reservoirs in Shandong province,China

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Diatoms play an important role as ecological indicators, and some species of diatoms can easily cause water blooms, thereby decreasing the production...     

Effect of Nucleation of Tricalcium Phosphate and Isothermal Annealing on the Crystallization of Poly(l-lactide-co-glycolide)

We investigated the effect of nucleation and isothermal annealing on the crystallization behavior of a random copolymer, poly(l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLLGA), with monomer molar ratios of 85/15 (PLLGA85/15) by scanning electron microscopy, polarizing optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray diffraction, and examination of the tensile properties of the resultant product. The effect of heterogeneous nucleation was assessed by the addition of tricalcium phosphate (TCP) as a nucleating agent. Nucleation and isothermal annealing of PLLGA at 130 °C were conducted to improve the degree of crystallinity of the copolymer. The fracture surfaces of the TCP/PLLGA85/15 composite bar showed a considerable number of spherulites with TCP as their nucleus. Addition of TCP and subsequent annealing improved the degree of crystallinity. After annealing, the TCP/PLLGA85/15 composite samples gained nearly the same strength that the pure PLLGA85/15 samples possessed. It is believed that this method will enhance the practical application of this nucleating agent in the processing of polymers.     

长江口大气多氯联苯干湿沉降通量

大气干、湿沉降是水体持久性有机污染物的主要来源.长江口是我国陆海相互作用研究的关键区域,是大气污染物监测的重点区域.为了解长江口大气中多氯联苯(Polychlorinated Biphenyls, PCBs)的污染特征,本研究共采集了自2013年10月—2014年8月4个季度93对大气样品(气态和颗粒态)和13个雨水样品,分析了样品中7种典型PCBs浓度并估算了PCBs的干、湿沉降通量.结果表明:①长江口大气中PCBs(气态和颗粒态)浓度范围是2.37～207 pg·m~(-3),平均浓度为44.9 pg·m~(-3);与以海洋为背景的国内外大气中PCBs相比,浓度处于中度水平;大气中PCBs主要存在于气态中,占77%;夏季气态PCBs浓度明显高于其他3个季度;颗粒态PCBs浓度呈冬、春季高,夏、秋季低的特点.②PCBs的干沉降通量为681～2330 pg·m~(-2)·d~(-1),年均值为1880 pg·m~(-2)·d~(-1),冬、春季干沉降通量明显高于夏、秋季;湿沉降通量为184～1210 pg·m~(-2)·d~(-1),年均值为863 pg·m~(-2)·d~(-1),夏季湿沉降通量明显低于其他3个季节.总体上,PCBs干、湿沉降通量年均变化为865～3300 pg·m~(-2)·d~(-1),年均值为2250 pg·m~(-2)·d~(-1),干沉降占总沉降通量的69%.     

野生动物资源的保护与持续利用

本文从非洲南部的大象、澳大利亚的大袋鼠到北美的野生动物管理体制、欧洲的野生动物狩猎、新西兰草地牧业的转轨,回顾了世界野生动物利用与保护的历史。并追溯了我国古代野生动物管理思想,以黄羊、虎两个实例,分析了我国野生动物资源濒危的原因与现状。最后,探讨了野生动物资源保护与开发的辩证关系,提出了野生动物利用分为开发初期、过度开发期、保护恢复期及持续利用期,目前我国野生动物资源正处于保护恢复期。     

焦化废水治理现状分析

通过对焦化企业性质、废水回用用途、废水处理技术、废水治理投资等方面的调研分析,结果表明,在废水资源综合利用方面,联合型的焦化企业跟独立焦化企业相比,优势非常明显;从节约水资源的角度考虑,必须加大废水资源化利用方面的研究力度,提高废水处理水平。     

有色金属工业固废资源属性多维度评价体系构建——以锡尾矿为例

提升固废综合利用水平是近年各类政策、法规、标准的要求,从固废资源属性入手,全面分析和评价固废资源属性特征,有利于固废综合利用技术的开发应用,是提升固废综合利用水平的有效途径。本文针对目前固废资源属性特征评价体系缺失、资源属性数据缺乏等问题,以有色金属工业固废为例建立了一套资源属性评价体系。从有色金属工业固废自身的物质和能量属性,以及使其成为固废的环境、经济、技术、社会等6个维度构建评价指标体系,形成定性和定量相结合的14项指标,并以锡尾矿为例,进行实证。结果表明,除能量维度外,对锡尾矿开展资源化利用的综合潜力较大,其最具潜力的利用途径是回收有价金属,其次是作为陶瓷制品的原料,评价也指出未来在锡尾矿作为建材利用的技术方面仍需要加强研发和应用推广。评价结果以定量为主结合定性描述,为锡尾矿资源化利用方向提供了具体参照和指导,也为探索固废资源属性全面评价、完善固废资源属性数据库提供理论和方法学的借鉴。     

继承性宇生核素在冰川地貌暴露测年中的研究进展

原地生成宇宙成因核素（in situ terrestrial cosmogenic nuclide,TCN）暴露测年技术已被广泛应用于全球冰川地貌的年代测定中。继承性核素（inheritance,核素残留）作为影响TCN暴露测年的重要因素之一,一直以来受到许多学者的关注。然而,继承性核素对暴露测年结果有无影响、影响程度有多大还存在争论。梳理该方面的研究将有助于进一步了解继承性宇生核素对TCN暴露测年的影响,进而提高测年的精确性。基于此,整理了2009—2017年共计54篇全球关于第四纪冰川宇生核素继承性文献,简述继承性核素的产生背景和研究进展,重点探讨核素残留对TCN暴露测年的影响程度以及在实际应用中如何降低其对测年数据的影响。结果表明：继承性核素会导致冰碛物出现异常老化和分散的暴露年龄,可通过选取合适的地貌部位及多样化的抽样和多样品方法,也可尝试采集现代冰川冰碛物定量化研究继承性核素的影响。     

基于CMAQ模式和自适应偏最小二乘回归法的中国地区PM2.5浓度动力-统计预报方法研究

采用CMAQ模式和自适应偏最小二乘回归法相结合的动力-统计预报方法,对2014年1—12月全国252个环境监测站的PM_(2.5)浓度逐时预报值进行了滚动订正,分析了订正前后PM_(2.5)浓度的时空变化特征,重点研究该方法在中国不同地区不同季节的适用性.结果表明:CMAQ模式预报的PM_(2.5)浓度年平均和秋冬季季节平均偏差表现为非均匀空间分布特征,即辽宁、山东部分地区、川渝地区及华中、华东、华南大部分地区预报偏高,京津冀和西部大部分地区预报偏低;订正后PM_(2.5)浓度与实测值的空间分布较一致,上述偏高和偏低地区的PM_(2.5)浓度预报误差显著减小;秋冬季PM_(2.5)浓度预报和订正偏差均大于年平均值.全国区域平均PM_(2.5)浓度实测值存在明显的季节变化特征,1—3月和11—12月较大,其他月份较小;PM_(2.5)浓度预报误差较大,多数时刻预报偏低,尤其是1—3月和11—12月偏低较明显;订正后PM_(2.5)浓度与实测值较接近,而且时间变化趋势较一致,秋冬季PM_(2.5)浓度预报和订正偏差亦明显大于春夏季.秋冬季4个重点污染区域中,京津冀地区PM_(2.5)实测浓度的区域平均值较大,川渝地区次之,长三角和珠三角地区较小;珠三角地区PM_(2.5)浓度预报和订正效果较好,川渝和长三角地区次之,京津冀地区相对较差;经滚动订正后,全年和秋冬季时段PM_(2.5)浓度订正值与实测值的相关系数均显著增加,误差显著减小,尤其是秋冬季订正效果较好.川渝地区的订正改进幅度最大,长三角和京津冀地区次之,珠三角地区较小.本文方法均适用于非污染日和污染日全国范围的PM_(2.5)预报浓度订正,两种天气过程PM_(2.5)浓度的订正效果均较好;该方法对于改进京津冀地区污染日的PM_(2.5)浓度预报更有效,其他3个地区非污染日的订正改进效果优于污染日.本文研究结果可为改进空气质量预报、重霾污染天气预警和防治提供新技术途径和科学依据.