Potential toxicity of amphenicol antibiotic: binding of chloramphenicol to human serum albumin

Antibiotics are widely used in daily life but their abuse has posed a potential threat to human health. To evaluate the toxicity of chloramphenicol (CAP) at the protein level, the interaction between CAP and human serum albumin (HSA) was investigated by fluorescence, Ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) absorption, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and molecular docking methods. Fluorescence data revealed that the fluorescence quenching of HSA by CAP was the result of the formation of CAP–HSA complex, and the binding constant was determined to be 3.196?×?10⁴ L mol^?1 at 310 K. The thermodynamic determination indicated that the interaction was driven by enthalpy change and entropy change together, where the multiple hydrogen bonds (CAP and the residues Arg 222 and His 242 of HSA) and van der Waals forces were the dominant binding force. The site marker competition revealed that CAP bound into sub-domain IIA of HSA. The binding of CAP induced the drastic reduction in α-helix conformation and the significant enhancement in β-sheet conformation of HSA. Molecular docking study further confirmed the binding mode obtained by experimental study. This work provides a new quantitative evaluation method for antibiotics to cause the protein damage.     

Carbon Sequestration Function of Check-Dams: A Case Study of the Loess Plateau in China

Check-dams are the most common structures for controlling soil erosion in the Loess Plateau. However, the effect of check-dams on carbon sequestration, along with sediment transport and deposition, has not been assessed over large areas. In this study, we evaluated the carbon sequestration function of check-dams in the Loess Plateau. The results indicate that there were approximately 11 000 check-dams distributed in the Loess Plateau, with an estimate of the amount of sediment of 21 × 10⁹ m³ and a soil organic carbon storage amount of 0.945 Pg. Our study reveals that check-dams in the Loess Plateau not only conserve soil and water but also sequester carbon.     

Heavy metal pollution in vegetables grown in the vicinity of a multi-metal mining area in Gejiu,China: total concentrations,speciation analysis,and health risk

A field survey was conducted to investigate the present situation and health risk of arsenic (As), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) in soils and vegetables in a multi-metal mining area, Gejiu, China. Furthermore, three vegetables (water spinach, potato, and summer squash) containing high metal concentrations were selected to further analyze metal speciation. The results showed that the average concentrations of five metals in soil exceeded the limiting values, and their bioavailable concentrations were significantly positively correlated to the total ones. Heavy metals in the edible parts of vegetables also exceeded the corresponding standards. The leaves of pakchoi, peppermint, and coriander had a strong metal-accumulative ability and they were not suitable for planting. Except the residue forms, the main forms of metals in the edible parts of three selected vegetables were ethanol-, NaCl-, and HAc-extractable fractions for As, Pb, and Cd, respectively; however, Cu was mainly presented as NaCl-extractable and Zn as HAc-extractable fractions. A high proportion of ethanol-extractable As showed that As bioactivity and toxic effects were the highest. Although the total and bioavailable Cd were high in soil, its speciation in vegetables was mainly presented as HAc-extractable fraction, which has a relatively low bioactivity. Lead and arsenic were imposing a serious threat on the local residents via vegetable consumption.     

Risk for estrogen-dependent diseases in relation to phthalate exposure and polymorphisms of CYP17A1 and estrogen receptor genes

Evidence has shown that polymorphisms of various genes known to be involved in estrogen biosynthesis and function are associated with estrogen-dependent diseases (EDDs). These genes include CYP17A1, estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1), and 2 (ESR2). Phthalates are considered estrogenic endocrine disruptors, and recent research has suggested that they may act as a risk factor for EDDs. However, extremely few studies have assessed the effects of gene–environment interaction on these diseases. We recruited 44 patients with endometriosis or adenomyosis, 36 patients with leiomyoma, and 69 healthy controls from a medical center in Taiwan between 2005 and 2007. Urine samples were collected and analyzed for seven phthalate metabolites using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Peripheral lymphocytes were used for DNA extraction to determine the genotype of CYP17A1, ESR1, and ESR2. Compared to controls, patients with leiomyoma had significantly higher levels of total urinary mono-ethylhexyl phthalate (ΣMEHP) (52.1 vs. 29.6 μg/g creatinine, p?=?0.040), mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP) (75.4 vs. 51.3 μg/g creatinine, p?=?0.019), and monoethyl phthalate (MEP) (103.7 vs. 59.3 μg/g creatinine, p?=?0.031). In contrast, patients with endometriosis or adenomyosis showed a marginally increased level of urinary MEHP only. Subjects who were homozygous for both the ESR1 C allele (rs2234693) and CYP17A1 C allele (rs743572) showed a significantly increased risk for leiomyoma (OR?=?19.8; 95 % CI, 1.70; 231.5; p?=?0.017) relative to subjects with other genotypes of ESR1 and CYP17A1. These results were obtained after adjusting for age, cigarette smoking, MEHP level, GSTM1 genotype and other covariates. Our results suggested that both CYP17A1 and ESR1 polymorphisms may modulate the effects of phthalate exposure on the development of leiomyoma.     

Reduction of Fusarium rot and maintenance of fruit quality in melon using eco-friendly hot water treatment

Significant losses in harvested fruit can be directly attributable to decay fungi and quality deterioration. Hot water treatment (HWT) has been demonstrated to be an effective and economic environment-friendly approach for managing postharvest decay and maintaining fruit quality. In this study, the effects of HWT (45 °C for 10, 15, 20, and 25 min) on in vitro growth of Fusarium oxysporum, in vivo Fusarium rot, and natural decay of melon were investigated. HWT inhibited spore germination and germ tube elongation of F. oxysporum. Protein impairment and ATP consumption triggered by HWT contributed to the inhibitory effect. Results of in vivo studies showed that HWT effectively controlled Fusarium rot and natural decay of melon. Correspondingly, HWT induced a significant increase in content of total phenolic compounds and lignin of melon. These findings indicate that the effects of HWT on Fusarium rot may be associated with the direct fungal inhibition and the elicitation of defense responses in fruit. Importantly, HWT used in this study had beneficial effects on fruit quality as well. HWT may represent an effective non-chemical approach for management of postharvest Fusarium rot.     

A2O-MBR工艺处理城市污Z作农业灌溉用水中试研究

为开发一种污水再生利用于农田灌溉领域的新型技术,本实验以城市污水为研究对象,采用A2O—MBR工艺进行中试研究,并将系统出水水质与《农田灌溉水质标准（GB5084—2005）》的主要水质指标进行对比分析。结果表明,系统COD和BOD,出水浓度范围分别为3．2～59．6mg／L、1．0～7．6mg／L,系统出水pH为7．16～7．54,悬浮物浓度几乎为0,上述指标均符合标准;TP、TN和氨氮的出水范围分别为0．03～0．79mg／L、1．6～17．7mg／L和0．8～10．3mg／L。《农田灌溉水质标准》没有对上述3个指标提出具体要求,且少量的氮磷是植物生长的营养元素。该系统出水的主要水质指标符合标准兽求．     

一种包埋微生物复合填料的制备及性能评价

采用包埋法制备出一种复合生物填料,测其各项理化性质,并以NO。模拟废气验证其脱硝性能。填料主要由碳酸钙、牛粪堆肥腐殖质、菌剂载体、水泥、轻质珍珠岩、立体网状纤维及脱硝功能微生物等复合而成,粒径书12mm×20mm,自然堆积密度（471±0．8）kg／m2,持水量（49±1．3）％,比表面积3．91m2／g,平均机械强度（427．3±0．2）N,pH为10．5-0．2。填料能长期在潮湿环境中保持良好的粘结强度,并具有营养缓释及pH缓冲能力。包埋脱硝功能微生物复合填料中初期微生物数量5．3×10^5 CFU／g,运行60d后微生物数量达到8．6×10 8 CFU／g,闲置停运30d微生物有所减少,但重启后净化效率基本不变。当进气负荷低于I878mg／（13m3·h）,气体停留时间为14．47s时,BF,的去除率高达93．15％。     

高效脱硫菌的筛选及其性能研究

从高硫污染的活性污泥中富集培养,分离纯化得到一株可以降解噻吩的菌株s_4,并对该菌株的形态特征进行观察。应用Design—Expert8．0．5b软件进行响应面优化实验,研究了反应时间、噻吩浓度、微生物浓度3个因素的组合对菌株s_4脱硫效果的影响,并拟合得到多元二次回归方程,得出最佳实验条件。拟合结果表明,当反应时间27．46h,噻吩浓度为1．04％,微生物浓度4．04％时,预测噻吩降解率为14．8％,通过验证得最佳条件下的降解率为14．3％,与预测值相符。     

活性污泥缺氧转化1-2-7-三氨基-8-羟基-3-6-萘二磺酸

1—2-7-三氨基-8-羟基-3—6-萘二磺酸（TAHNDS）作为偶氮染料的脱色产物很难被常规的厌氧-好氧染料废水处理工艺所去除。研究了未经驯化的活性污泥对TAHNDS的缺氧转化效果。结果表明,只有在特定的缺氧条件下（ORP在-50～-150mV之间）,TAHNDS才能被活性污泥所降解转化。当浓度在10—80mg／L范围内,TAHNDS可在72h内转化93％以上。加入100mg／L的硝酸盐和0．64mmol／L的氧化还原介体蒽醌-2-磺酸钠（AQS）可将40mg／L的TAHNDS的转化时间从84h缩短到36h。光谱及HPLC—MS分析表明,TAHNDS在缺氧条件下主要是通过脱氨基和脱磺酸作用生成已知可好氧生物降解的3,5-二氨基4-羟基萘-2-磺酸。因此,缺氧处理有望作为预处理工艺促进废水中TAHNDS的完全降解。     

西安市及周边地区MODIS气溶胶光学厚度与PM10浓度关系模型研究

西安是空气污染监控和防治有代表性的西部大型城市。研究了西安市及周边地区上空气溶胶光学厚度与PM10浓度的关系模型。利用2011—2012年MODIS卫星气溶胶光学厚度（AOD）遥感产品,通过数据匹配,利用地面气象观测站点的能见度数据和相对湿度数据对AOD产品进行垂直标高订正和湿度订正,2项订正显著提高了AOD和地面PM10浓度的相关性,相关系数从0．36提高到0．65,按季节分类统计和订正春至冬四季的相关系数分别为0．57、0．71、0．62和0．87,夏季和冬季的订正更为有效,可用性更高,这可能由于受到不同季节气溶胶来源和特征的影响。为研究中国西部大型城市,特别是西安市空气环境监测和区域联防联控提供了一种有效方法。