Validation of Bacteroidales-based microbial source tracking markers for pig fecal pollution and their application in two rivers of North China

• Pig feces is the predominant excrement produced by animal husbandry in China. • The PF, Pig-1-Bac^TaqMan, and Pig-2-Bac^TaqMan MST assays showed better performance. • The pig-specific MST assays can contribute to managing the pig fecal pollution. In China, pig feces is the predominant source of excrement produced by animal husbandry. Improper use or direct discharge of pig feces can result in contamination of natural water systems. Microbial source tracking (MST) technology can identify the sources of fecal pollution in environmental water, and contribute to the management of pig fecal pollution by local environmental protection agencies. However, the accuracy of such assays can be context-dependent, and they have not been comprehensively evaluated under Chinese conditions. We aimed to compare the performance of five previously reported pig-specific MST assays (PF, Pig-Bac1^SYBR, Pig-Bac2^SYBR, Pig-1-Bac^TaqMan, and Pig-2-Bac^TaqMan, which are based on Bacteroidales 16S rRNA gene markers) and apply them in two rivers of North China. We collected a total of 173 fecal samples from pigs, cows, goats, chickens, humans, and horses across China. The PF assay optimized in this study showed outstanding qualitative performance and achieved 100% specificity and sensitivity. However, the two SYBR green qPCR assays (Pig-Bac1^SYBR and Pig-Bac2^SYBR) cross-reacted with most non-pig fecal samples. In contrast, both the Pig-1-Bac^TaqMan and Pig-2-Bac^TaqMan assays gave 100% specificity and sensitivity. Of these, the Pig-2-Bac^TaqMan assay showed higher reproducibility. Our results regarding the specificity of these pig-specific MST assays differ from those reported in Thailand, Japan, and America. Using the PF and Pig-2-Bac^TaqMan assays, a field test comparing the levels of pig fecal pollution in rivers near a pig farm before and after comprehensive environmental pollution governance indicated that pig fecal pollution was effectively controlled at this location.     

Metabolic uncoupler, 3,3′,4′,5-tetrachlorosalicylanilide addition for sludge reduction and fouling control in a gravity-driven membrane bioreactor

• Effects of metabolic uncoupler TCS on the performances of GDMBR were evaluated. • Sludge EPS reduced and transformed into dissolved SMP when TCS was added. • Appropriate TCS increased the permeability and reduced cake layer fouling. • High dosage aggravated fouling due to compact cake layer with low bio-activity. The gravity-driven membrane bioreactor (MBR)system is promising for decentralized sewage treatment because of its low energy consumption and maintenance requirements. However, the growing sludge not only increases membrane fouling, but also augments operational complexities (sludge discharge). We added the metabolic uncoupler 3,3′,4′,5-tetrachlorosalicylanilide (TCS) to the system to deal with the mentioned issues. Based on the results, TCS addition effectively decreased sludge ATP and sludge yield (reduced by 50%). Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS; proteins and polysaccharides) decreased with the addition of TCS and were transformed into dissolved soluble microbial products (SMPs) in the bulk solution, leading to the break of sludge flocs into small fragments. Permeability was increased by more than two times, reaching 60–70 L/m²/h bar when 10–30 mg/L TCS were added, because of the reduced suspended sludge and the formation of a thin cake layer with low EPS levels. Resistance analyses confirmed that appropriate dosages of TCS primarily decreased the cake layer and hydraulically reversible resistances. Permeability decreased at high dosage (50 mg/L) due to the release of excess sludge fragments and SMP into the supernatant, with a thin but more compact fouling layer with low bioactivity developing on the membrane surface, causing higher cake layer and pore blocking resistances. Our study provides a fundamental understanding of how a metabolic uncoupler affects the sludge and bio-fouling layers at different dosages, with practical relevance for in situ sludge reduction and membrane fouling alleviation in MBR systems.     

Metagenomic analysis reveals the effects of cotton straw–derived biochar on soil nitrogen transformation in drip-irrigated cotton field

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Biochar has been widely accepted as a soil amendment to improve nitrogen (N) use efficiency, but the effect of biochar on N transformation metabolic...     

Assessing the land use type and environment factors affecting groundwater nitrogen in an arid oasis in northwestern China

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Identifying the magnitude and seasonal variability of groundwater nitrogen (N) under various land use types and quantifying the contribution of their...     

N2O profiles in the enhanced CANON process via long-term N2H4 addition: minimized N2O production and the influence of exogenous N2H4 on N2O sources

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Production of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O) from the completely autotrophic nitrogen removal over nitrite (CANON) process is of growing...     

Effects of reciprocal hybridization on cadmium accumulation in F1 hybrids of two Solanum photeinocarpum ecotypes

In this study, farmland and mining ecotypes of Solanum photeinocarpum (a potential cadmium (Cd) hyperaccumulator plant) were reciprocally hybridized each other, and the Cd accumulation characteristics of the F1 hybrids were studied. In pot experiments, higher biomasses and Cd extraction abilities were found for two S. photeinocarpum F1 hybrids than for the parents, but the Cd contents in various organs were lower in the hybrids than the parents. However, the differences between the Cd contents in the two hybrids were not significant. The antioxidant enzyme (superoxide dismutase and peroxidase) activities were higher for the S. photeinocarpum F1 hybrids than the parents. Less DNA methylation was found in the hybrids than the parents because more demethylation occurred in the hybrids than the parents. The biomass, Cd content, and Cd extraction ability effects in field experiments were similar to the effects in the pot experiments. It was concluded that reciprocally hybridizing different S. photeinocarpum ecotypes improved the ability of S. photeinocarpum to be used to phytoremediate contaminated land.

     

浅埋富含水砂层盾构下穿敏感性建筑水平冻结+短钢箱接收技术∗

盾构始发与接收是盾构法隧道施工的关键风险点,以常州地铁1号线一期工程博爱路站-常州火车站区间下行线盾构接收工程为例,隧道下穿常州火车站站厅,隧道顶部距地下大厅结构底板仅3.75 m,受地面条件限制采用水平冻结加固方式。通过对冻结温度场、卸压孔压力及车站底板隆起进行跟踪监测与分析,结果表明:受地下水影响温度下降缓慢,车站底板因冻胀隆起较大,最大隆起处位于隧道端头中心线处约为46 mm,且底板隆起值与测点温度的变化密切相关;为防止温度低引起冻胀过大造成上部结构破坏,采取在冻结壁外围适度卸水进行卸压措施;在冻结壁交圈但厚度尚未完全达到冻结设计要求情况下,提出加装短钢箱装置进行盾构接收。实践表明,适度卸压水平冻结+加装短钢箱接收方式密封止水效果良好,安全可靠,可为今后类似工程提供可行技术。     

基于三角形算法的电力系统连通可靠性分析∗

为了研究电力系统的连通可靠性,介绍了网络连通性分析中常用的三种算法(图论法、模糊数学法、Warshall算法)及各自存在的问题。针对现有算法在求解传递闭包过程中未考虑对角线元素的问题,提出了基于 Warshall算法的假定算法。对此算法进行探讨后提出了可以避免偏差和考虑对角线元素处理的三角形算法,并进行推理及证明。基于川北地区 110 kV 发电站与变电站的可靠性,进行了电力系统连通可靠性的实例分析,对比验证了三角形算法的高效性。为大型网络系统连通可靠性分析提供了理论依据。     

高燃速推进剂成型过程中的安全性分析

为研究高燃速推进剂成型过程中的安全性,根据配方组成和工艺条件,对其压伸过程的热点形成因素进行了理论分析,并采用热-结构耦合方法,选择有限元软件ABAQUS对其不同工艺条件下的压伸过程进行了建模分析。结果表明:在压伸过程中,物料在收缩段承受的压力最大,且温度变化显著。物料中残留的气泡是影响高燃速推进剂压伸成型过程安全性的主要因素。当物料中有残留气泡时,随压伸过程所加的载荷不同,气泡的最高温度会显著上升,载荷为15MPa时,气泡的最高温度可达139.3℃;载荷为20 MPa时,温度可达264.2℃。     

基于SPSS的独流减河水生态水环境相关关系研究

为提升独流减河干流水生态水平,增强水生态管理能力,亟需建立独流减河水生态水环境响应模型,实现通过管理水环境调节水生态的目的。于2017年在独流减河干流10个断面采集了120个水样、40个生物样品,进行了水质检测和藻类鉴定。结果表明:独流减河干流以Cl~-和Na~+为主要离子,平均质量浓度分别为4 774.35mg/L、2 137.35 mg/L;总氮、总磷质量浓度高,平均质量浓度分别为4.17 mg/L、0.46 mg/L;Pb、Cd污染较重,平均质量浓度分别为0.1mg/L、0.05 mg/L;藻类以蓝藻门的数量最多、绿藻门种类最多。基于SPSS平台对水生态指数和水质因子进行相关性分析,并建立了水生态回归模型。结果表明,独流减河藻类香农多样性指数与水体中的氮磷比呈反比例关系,要保证较高的水生态多样性,水体中氮磷比需要控制在8.83以下。