Different effects of foliar application of silica sol on arsenic translocation in rice under low and high arsenite stress

Foliar application of Si can generally reduce As translocation from roots to shoots in rice; however, it does not always work, particularly under high As stress. Here, the effects of foliar application of nanoscale silica sol on As accumulation in rice were investigated under low (2 μmol/L) and high (8 μmol/L) arsenite stress. The results revealed that foliar Si application significantly decreased the As concentration in shoots under low arsenite stress, but showed different effects under high arsenite stress after 7 days of incubation. The reduction in root-to-shoot As translocation under the 2As+Si treatment was related to the down-regulation of OsLsi1 and OsLsi2 expression and up-regulation of OsABCC1 expression in roots. In the 8As+Si treatment, the expressions of OsLsi1, OsLsi2, and OsABCC1 were significantly promoted, which resulted in substantially higher As accumulation in both the roots and shoots. In the roots, As predominantly accumulated in the symplasts (90.6%–98.3%), in which the majority of As was sequestered in vacuoles (79.0%–94.0%) under both levels of arsenite stress. Compared with that of the 8As treatment, the 8As+Si treatment significantly increased the As concentration in cell walls, but showed no difference in the vacuolar As concentration, which remained constant at approximately 69.1–71.7 mg/kg during days 4–7. It appeared that the capacity of root cells to sequester As in the vacuoles had a threshold, and the excess As tended to accumulate in the cell walls and transfer to the shoots via apoplasts under high arsenite stress. This study provides a better understanding of the different effects of foliar Si application on As accumulation in rice from the view of arsenite-related gene expression and As subcellular distribution in roots.     

芬兰城市和工业污水处理现状及发展趋势

介绍了芬兰在城市和工业废水治理方面的情况，芬兰在废水处理技术与管理目标方面取得的成就。最新进展及未来规划为我们提供了可供借鉴的资料和信息。     

封闭景观水体的表观污染机制研究

良好的表观性状是城市水体发挥景观功能的基本条件,现今封闭景观水体的表观受污染严重。以景观园林师陶园内的封闭水体为研究对象,进行为期半年的现场观察和水质监测,运用吸收光谱法研究了水体表观污染的历程,并进行了表观污染指数(SPI)及环境因子间的相关性分析以了解表观污染机制。研究发现,封闭水体的表观污染程度随季节变化明显,SPI与温度(T)、浊度、腐殖酸(UV254)、叶绿素a(Chl-a)均显著正相关,与溶解氧(DO)显著负相关,相关系数分别为0.786、0.951、0.595、0.849、-0.699。结果表明,植物残体的腐烂分解以及浮萍和藻类的竞争性生长会导致水体颜色和浊度异常,甚至出现发黑发臭的严重表观污染现象。     

Rapid fetal karyotype from cystic hygroma and pleural effusions

Fluid from pleural effusion (n=2) and cystic hygroma (n=7) was obtained from eight fetuses, between 13 and 32 weeks of pregnancy at the time when a conventional prenatal diagnosis procedure was carried out. As these fluids contain lymphocytes, they were processed like peripheral blood. A karyotype was obtained in 4 days in both cases of pleural effusion and in four out of seven samples of cystic hygroma. An abnormal karyotype was detected in three of the four samples of cystic hygroma: two trisomies 21 and a monosomy X. Different parameters were evaluated in order to predict the feasibility of obtaining a cytogenetic diagnosis. Our data showed that if the amount of fluid obtained was ⩾4 ml and the initial lymphocyte count (ILC) was >0.2 × 10⁶ cells/ml, a cytogenetic diagnosis was possible from an initial concentration of cultured lymphocytes )ICCL) of >0.06 × 10⁶ cells/ml.     

Mg2+ improves biomass production from soybean wastewater using purple non-sulfur bacteria

Soybean wastewater was used to generate biomass resource by use of purple non-sulfur bacteria (PNSB). This study investigated the enhancement of PNSB cell accumulation in wastewater by Mg²⁺ under the light-anaerobic condition. Results showed that with the optimal Mg²⁺ dosage of 10 mg/L, biomass production was improved by 70% to 3630 mg/L, and biomass yield also was improved by 60%. Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) removal reached above 86% and hydraulic retention time was shortened from 96 to 72 hr. The mechanism analysis indicated that Mg²⁺ could promote the content of bacteriochlorophyll in photosynthesis because Mg²⁺ is the bacteriochlorophyll active center, and thus improved adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production. An increase of ATP production enhanced the conversion of organic matter in wastewater into PNSB cell materials (biomass yield) and COD removal, leading to more biomass production. With 10 mg/L Mg²⁺, bacteriochlorophyll content and ATP production were improved by 60% and 33% respectively.     

Controlling cyanobacterial blooms by managing nutrient ratio and limitation in a large hypereutrophic lake: Lake Taihu, China

Excessive nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) loading of aquatic ecosystems is a leading cause of eutrophication and harmful algal blooms worldwide, and reducing nutrient levels in water has been a primary management objective. To provide a rational protection strategy and predict future trends of eutrophication in eutrophic lakes, we need to understand the relationships between nutrient ratios and nutrient limitations. We conducted a set of outdoor bioassays at the shore of Lake Taihu. It showed that N only additions induced phytoplankton growth but adding only P did not. Combined N plus P additions promoted higher phytoplankton biomass than N only additions, which suggested that both N and P were deficient for maximum phytoplankton growth in this lake (TN:TP = 18.9). When nutrients are present at less than 7.75-13.95 mg/L TN and 0.41-0.74 mg/L TP, the deficiency of either N or P or both limits the growth of phytoplankton. N limitation then takes place when the TN:TP ratio is less than 21.5-24.7 (TDN:TDP was 34.2-44.3), and P limitation occurs above this. Therefore, according to this ratio, controlling N when N limitation exists and controlling P when P deficiency is present will prevent algal blooms effectively in the short term. But for the long term, a persistent dual nutrient (N and P) management strategy is necessary.     

缺氧－好氧生物膜法脱氮技术的研究

为了防止氮污染对水体造成的危害,我国对氨氮排放实行严格的控制。采用缺氧－好氧淹没式生物膜脱氮方法研究其处理效果与工艺参数,并着重研究氮负荷和碳源对硝化、反硝化的影响;微生物在膜上的分布特性及其对底质变化的影响。研究结果表明：缺氧段（A段）停留时间为7.3h,好氧段（0段）为15.7h好氧段容积负荷：COD0.36kg/m³·d,NH₃－N0.35kg/m³·d;缺氧段硝态氮负荷0.65kg/m³·d,COD负荷1.7kg/m³·d。这一水处理技术工艺稳定,NH₃－N与NO_x－N的去除率均在90％以上,而且生物活性强,分布较均匀,是目前控制氮污染的有效方法。     

基于集集地震的建筑物易损性统计分析

文章收集了台湾921集集地震的强地震动和震害调查资料，利用统计分析的方法，分析了建筑物破坏的数量、震中距、地表加速度之间的关系，对集集地震做了基于地震动参数的易损性初步分析。     

Preparation and performance characterization of a new dust suppressant with a cross-linked network structure for use in open-pit coal mines

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In an effort to control dust pollution in open-air environments such as pit coal mines and coal transportation systems, a new dust suppressant with a...     

Diversity and biogenesis contribution of sulfate-reducing bacteria in arsenic-contaminated soils from realgar deposits

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Microbial sulfate reduction, a vital mechanism for microorganisms living in anaerobic, sulfate-rich environments, is an essential aspect of the sulfur...