Prenatal diagnosis of β-thalassaemia in Mediterranean populations by dot blot analysis with DNA amplification and allele specific oligonucleotide probes

In this study, we describe a simple strategy to detect β-thalassaemia mutations in prospective parents and to make prenatal diagnosis in pregnancies at risk in the Mediterranean population. Screening of prospective parents is carried out by dot blot analysis on enzymatically amplified DNA with a set of oligonucleotide probes complementary to the most common mutations in this population. Prenatal diagnosis is accomplished by the same procedure on enzymatically amplified amniocyte or trophoblast DNA. The main advantages of this procedure are the simplicity, sensitivity (0.05 μg of DNA), and rapidity (12–24 h). Further simplification is obtained by amplification of the DNA from crude amniotic cell lysate. The very low amount of fetal material necessary for this analysis eliminates the need to culture amniotic fluid cells and may decrease the fetal loss rate associated with trophoblast sampling. The number of specific DNA sequences obtained by the amplification procedure allowed us to use non-radioactive labelled oligonucleotide probes, which have several advantages compared to radioactive probes.     

Removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from different soil fractions by persulfate oxidation

Removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from different soil fractions of contaminated soil was investigated by using activated persulfate oxidation remediation in our research. The results showed that the light fraction, which accounted for only 10% of the soil, contained 30% of the PAHs at a concentration of 4352?mg/kg. The heavy fraction contained more high-molecular-weight PAHs, and the total PAH concentration was 625?mg/kg. After being oxidized, the removal rate of PAHs was 39% in the light fraction and nearly 90% in the heavy fraction. Among the different fractions of the heavy fraction, humic acid contained the highest concentration of PAHs, and consequently, the highest removal efficiency of PAHs was also in humic acid. Compared with the light fraction, the heavy fraction has more aromatic compounds and those compounds were broken down during the oxidation process, which may be the removal mechanism involved in the oxidation of high-ring PAHs. Similarly, the enhancement of C = C bonds after oxidation can also explain the poor removal of high-ring PAHs in the light fraction. These results imply that different fractions of soil vary in composition and structure, leading to differences in the distribution and oxidation efficiencies of PAHs.     

The thermal transformation mechanism of chlorinated paraffins: An experimental and density functional theory study

The increasing production and usage of chlorinated paraffins(CPs) correspondently increase the amount of CPs that experience thermal processes. Our previous study revealed that a significant amount of medium-chain chlorinated paraffins(MCCPs), short-chain chlorinated paraffins(SCCPs) as well as aromatic and chlorinated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(Cl-PAHs) were formed synergistically during the thermal decomposition of CP-52(a class of CP products).However, the transformation mechanisms of CP-52 to these compounds are still not very clear.This article presents a mechanistic analysis on the decomposition of CP-52 experimentally and theoretically. It was found that CP-52 initially undergoes dehydrochlorination and carbon chain cleavage and it transformed into chlorinated and unsaturated hydrocarbons. Cyclization and aromatization were the most accessible pathways at low temperatures(200–400°C), both of which produce mostly aromatic hydrocarbons. As the temperature exceeds 400°C, the hydrocarbons could decompose into small molecules, and the subsequent radical-induced reactions become the predominant pathways, leading to the formation of Cl-PAHs. The decomposition of CP-52 was investigated by using density functional theory and calculations demonstrating the feasibility and rationality of PCB and PCN formation from chlorobenzene. The results improve the understanding of the transformation processes from CP-52 to SCCPs and Cl-PAHs as well as provide data for reducing their emissions during thermal-related processes.     

Simultaneous quantification of fifty-one odor-causing compounds in drinking water using gas chromatography-triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry

A wide range of compounds with various structural features can cause taste and odor(TO)problems in drinking water. It would be desirable to determine all of these compounds using a simple analytical method. In this paper, a sensitive method combining liquid–liquid extraction(LLE) with gas chromatography-triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry(GC–MS/MS)was established to simultaneously analyze 51 odor-causing compounds in drinking water,including organic sulfides, aldehydes, benzenes, phenols, ethers, esters, ketones, nitrogenous heterocyclic compounds, 2-methylisoborneol and geosmin. Three deuterated analogs of target analytes, dimethyl disulfide-d6, benzaldehyde-d6 and o-cresol-3,4,5,6-d4,were used to correct the variations in recovery, and five isotope-labeled internal standards(4-chlorotoluene-d4, 1, 4-dichlorobenzene-d4, naphthalene-d8, acenaphthene-d10, phenanthrene-d10 respectively) were used prior to analysis to correct the variations arising from instrument fluctuations and injection errors. The calibration curves of the target compounds showed good linearity(R2 0.99, level = 7),and method detection limits(MDLs) below 1/10 of the odor threshold concentrations were achieved for most of the odorants(0.10–20.55 ng/L). The average recoveries of most of the analytes in tap water samples were between 70% and 120%, and the method was reproducible(RSD 20%, n = 7). Additionally, concentrations of odor-causing compounds in water samples collected from three drinking water treatment plants(DWTPs) were analyzed by this method.According to the results, dimethyl trisulfide, dimethyl disulfide and indole were considered to be the key odorants responsible for the swampy/septic odor. 2-Methylisoborneol and geosmin were detected as the main odor-causing compounds for musty/earthy odor in DWTP B.     

Spatial–temporal characteristics of haze and vertical distribution of aerosols over the Yangtze River Delta of China

Variation of haze events occurred in the Yangtze River Delta(YRD) of China, the characteristics of meteorological elements and the vertical distribution of aerosols during haze episodes were analyzed by utilizing data of ground observation, radiosonde and CALIPSO. The results illustrate that the frequency of haze events between 1981 and 2010 peaked in winter but bottomed out in summer and decreased from north to south in the YRD region, reaching at the lowest point in "low frequency center" — Shanghai. When haze happened, the most seriously affected area was 2–4 km above the ground and the concentrated range of total backscattering coefficient(TBC) that decreased with altitude was 0.8 × 10~(-3)–2.5 × 10~(-3) km~(-1)·sr~(-1). Particulate depolarization ratio(PDR) was less than 40%in a large part and 93% aerosols over the YRD area were regular particles, while the irregular ones concentrated on 2 km above the surface and the irregularity rose up but the diversity diminished when altitude increased. Color ratio(CR) was lower than 1.2 mostly at all altitudes and distributed asymmetrically above the ground. Nearly 80% aerosols under10 km were fine particles(CR 1.0) and 22.54% coarse particles(CR 1.0) clustered at 2–4 km. Large particles(CR 1.2) aggregated in lower troposphere massively yet relatively smaller ones gathered in middle and upper troposphere. In the YRD region, aerosols with more powerful capabilities were wider and less regular than the ones of Northwestern China.     

中国东部主要河流河水腐殖酸的起源、含量及地域分异规律

测定了中国东部地区主要河流河水、悬浮物和沉积物中腐殖酸含量,研究了该地区河水腐殖酸含量的地域分异规律,并探讨了河水腐殖酸的可能来源。结果表明,所研究河流河水腐殖酸含量在0.9—14.4mg/L范围内,中值为4.16mg/L,并有北高南低的一般趋势。黑龙江上游及松花江北部支流的河水腐殖酸含量在8.5mg/L以上,滦河以北其它地区在3.9—6.4mg/L范围内,黄河以南区域则在0.9—3.3mg/L之间,所研究地区河水中的腐殖酸为混合起源的,它既来自河流悬浮物和沉积物中腐殖酸的释放,又来自流域表土中腐殖酸的淋溶。     

硫酸羟胺的自加速分解温度和稳定性研究

通过快速筛选热分析试验对硫酸羟胺热危险性进行定性分析,对其热分解过程进行初步研究,获得温度、压力变化规律;再运用C80微量热仪对硫酸羟胺进行深入分析,得到硫酸羟胺的化学反应动力学参数,根据Semenov模型计算其自加速分解温度（SADT）。试验结果表明：由RSD初步筛选试验得到硫酸羟胺在164．2℃时即发生分解放热;用C80法得到硫酸羟胺的起始热分解温度为137．1℃,并计算了该物质在3种典型包装下的自加速分解温度。由SADT得到储存、运输过程中硫酸羟胺的控制温度,从而为减少硫酸羟胺事故的发生提供必要的参考数据。     

基于排队论的城市垃圾箱最佳间距研究

针对城市垃圾箱最佳间距的研究不够精细的现状,本文通过建立排队论模型得到了可供不同城市参考的城市垃圾箱最佳间距参数表。通过对部分城市街道的垃圾箱摆放间距情况进行实地调查,运用层次分析法将影响垃圾箱间距分布的多重因素转化为单因素;建立了基于指数分布的教学模型,利用排队论分析单因素状态下的垃圾箱间距分布,得到了求解城市垃圾箱最佳间距的一般方法。     

有机氯农药污染土壤的Fenton氧化修复研究

研究了Fenton氧化对某实际有机氯农药污染场地土壤的修复效果。结果显示:Fenton氧化能够快速有效地降解污染土壤中的六氯和DDTs。当Fe2+浓度为80 mmol/L,Fe2+与H2O2的摩尔浓度比为1∶5,水土比10∶1时,反应6 h,土壤中六氯和总DDT的去除率分别为:96.7%和78.2%。每方土的修复成本估算为951元。     

SBR在高校中水回用领域的工程应用研究

采用SBR工艺对高校校园废水进行了处理,运行结果表明:废水中COD含量从200～360mg/L降至60mg/L以下,BOD5含量从70～110mg/L降至20mg/L以下,氨氮含量从60～80mg/L降至10mg/L以下,SS含量从75～160mg/L降至50mg/L以下,达到了北京市DB11307—2005《水污染物排放标准》的二级排放标准。