A multidisciplinary study of archaeological grape seeds

We report here the first integrated investigation of both ancient DNA and proteins in archaeobotanical samples: medieval grape (Vitis vinifera L.) seeds, preserved by anoxic waterlogging, from an early medieval (seventh–eighth century A.D.) Byzantine rural settlement in the Salento area (Lecce, Italy) and a late (fourteenth–fifteenth century A.D.) medieval site in York (England). Pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry documented good carbohydrate preservation, whilst amino acid analysis revealed approximately 90% loss of the original protein content. In the York sample, mass spectrometry-based sequencing identified several degraded ancient peptides. Nuclear microsatellite locus (VVS2, VVMD5, VVMD7, ZAG62 and ZAG79) analysis permitted a tentative comparison of the genetic profiles of both the ancient samples with the modern varieties. The ability to recover microsatellite DNA has potential to improve biomolecular analysis on ancient grape seeds from archaeological contexts. Although the investigation of five microsatellite loci cannot assign the ancient samples to any geographic region or modern cultivar, the results allow speculation that the material from York was not grown locally, whilst the remains from Supersano could represent a trace of contacts with the eastern Mediterranean.     

Sustainability assessment of a giant bamboo plantation in Brazil: exploring the influence of labour,time and space

Bamboo presents physical and mechanical characteristics, which turn it an alternative option for product development, replacing native or reforested wood. The sustainability assessment of a Dendrocalamus Giganteus species plantation in Brazil through the emergy methodology evidences a great weight of renewable (30% sej/sej) and human labour contributions (33% sej/sej). These contributions account for the great interface with environment and to the intensive work, respectively. The transformity value of bamboo production is 2.42E + 04 sej/J. The influence human labour has on the total emergy flow and on indicators is evaluated by taking into account different country locations (Brazil, Australia and China). Thus, a different transformity value for labour is assumed for each country. A ranking based on emergy sustainability index (ESI) values shows that bamboo production in China was the first placed, followed by Brazil and Australia (values of 1.18, 0.50 and 0.09, respectively). The insertion of indirect renewability embedded in labour results in the ranking modification, leading to plantation in Brazil in the first place, followed by the Australian and Chinese ones. The relative position of the bamboo systems is visualized in the ternary diagram expressed in terms of emergy. In an attempt to explore the relationship between sustainability and time, a graphic of ESI vs. global productivity is discussed in terms of a prospective evaluation. Indirect support areas of the bamboo production are calculated as a way to evaluate the sustainability-space relationship.     

Utilisation of phosphorus nutrient content in industrial scale plasmid DNA production: a waste minimisation study

Human gene therapy is currently seeing an increase in the use of plasmid (pDNA)-based vectors as a preferred choice of vehicle for delivery of the therapeutic gene into the body. In this regard, the environmental impacts of the waste streams from the possible industrial scale manufacture of pDNA require more detailed assessment. In this study, an initial assessment was made of the nutrient phosphorus (P) inputs to four fermentation processes recommended for the industrial scale production of pDNA for the purposes of gene therapy. Phosphorus inputs to each of the four selected fermentation processes ranged from approximately 60 mg l^?1 up to 3000 mg l^?1 in the fresh media. However, the spent media waste from each of the processes exhibited only a minor reduction in the phosphorus concentrations indicating minimal uptake of P by the microorganisms. This unutilised excess level of phosphorus nutrient within the waste streams poses a strong potential for environmental impact. Waste minimisation studies were undertaken on one model fermentation process with the aim of reducing unnecessary phosphorus input. An optimised media containing a 98% reduction in added P to the media was developed. This phosphorus-minimised media had little quantitative effect upon cell biomass produced and no effect upon the quantity or quality of pDNA produced, relative to the control media. The reduction in P requirement results in an overall cost savings of 12% per fermentation batch, would simplify subsequent wastewater treatment and would contribute to slowing the depletion rate of a valuable, finite natural resource.     

活动断层若干问题研究回顾

简要回顾了活动断层的研究历史,重点介绍了近年来这一领域的相关情况.内容包括活动断层的概念.研究方法、危险性分析等.在论述研究进展的同时,对有关研究内容进行了评述和讨论,并对今后的研究工作提出了一些建议.     

SBR工艺处理高盐度生活污水试验

针对海水冲厕产生的高含盐生活污水,试验采用SBR工艺分别研究了不同海水盐度的污水中有机物的降解及氨氮的去除情况。结果表明,在高盐度污水的生物处理系统中,污泥的驯化是关键的一步。有机物和氨氮的去除率总体上随着盐度的增大而降低,但在海水冲厕范围内(海水比例在30%内,盐度为10500mg/L,Cl-为5700mg/L),海水盐度对有机物及氨氮的去除影响不大。     

区域经济发展与污水排放协调分析

选择了江苏3个典型的经济发展区域,就区域GDP与污水排放的关系,动态分析区域的水环境保护成效.苏州市经济发达、外资比重高,2005年人均GDP5.38万元,GDP与污水排放关系呈线性增长;南京市经济较为发达、国有大中型企业比重高,2005年人均GDP3.71万元,GDP与污水排放关系呈线性降低;徐州市经济相对欠发达、以煤炭重工业为主,2005年人均GDP1.32万元,GDP与污水排放关系呈波动状.根据各区域经济发展和污水排放特点,苏州市水环境保护重点应同时控制水污染物排放浓度和排放总量,南京市主要是调整产业结构、控制水污染物排放总量,徐州市主要应控制水污染物排放浓度,使各区域经济和环境协调发展.     

关于呼和浩特市中水回用系统的设想

呼和浩特市地处北方干旱缺水区,而中水回用系统能实现污水资源化,增加可利用的水资源;同时实现生活污水无害化,减少水污染。     

河台金矿矿山土壤-植物系统微量元素地球化学和生物地球化学特征

在广东省河台金矿矿山采取土壤、植物样品,并对其中的微量元素含量采用ICP-MS法测定,研究了金矿矿山土壤、植物的根、茎、叶微量元素地球化学和生物地球化学特征。结果表明:在成矿和表生地球化学过程中金矿土壤各层的微量元素发生迁移和分异,在表土层和心土层含量高于底土层;土壤各剖面层中Au及Au的伴生元素As、Hg、Cu、Pb明显高于背景对照区和中国土壤背景值;植物体内微量元素的含量特征受所处土壤环境影响,同时表现出每种植物独特的生物地球化学特征和对金矿环境的耐性机制;运用微量元素的生物吸收系数和生物转移系数表征植物对微量元素的吸收富集能力以及在各个器官的迁移状况。     

杭州交通噪声投诉点污染现状调查与防治

近年来杭州交通噪声投诉点主要分布在高架道路、立交桥和绕城高速附近的高层住户。对其中9个交通噪声投诉点的监测表明,昼间超4 a类标准的有4个,超标范围为0.1~7.6 dB;夜间9个点全部超4 a标准,超标范围为5.4~17.4 dB,夜间噪声超标特别严重。采用低噪声路面,设置隔声屏障,对敏感点安装通风隔声窗以及加强交通噪声管理等对策,可减轻交通噪声对敏感点的影响,从而减少交通噪声的投诉。     

奶牛粪便排泄系数测定

随着奶牛养殖业的发展,养殖粪便也大幅度的增加,而准确量化所产生的污染物,是环保部门需要解决的问题。通过实验测定奶牛粪便排泄系数,有利于对奶牛养殖污染物的排放进行管理。