Removing lignin model pollutants with BiFeO3–g-C3N4 compound as an efficient visible-light-heterogeneous Fenton-like catalyst

BiFeO_3–g-C_3N_4 nanoscaled composite was prepared with a hydrothermal method and evaluated as a highly efficient photo-Fenton like catalyst under visible light irradiation. The BiFeO_3–g-C_3N_4 composite exhibited much stronger adsorption ability to lignin model pollutant(guaiacol) than that of BiFeO_3, which may be due to the higher specific surface area(BiFeO_3–g-C_3N_4: 35.59 m~2/g BiFeO_3: 7.42 m~2/g) and the adsorption form of π–π stack between g-C_3N_4 and guaiacol. The composite exhibited excellent visible light-Fenton like catalysis activity, being influenced by the solution pH value and the proportions of BiFeO_3 and g-C_3N_4 nanosheets. Under optimal conditions with visible light irradiation, the BiFeO_3–g-C_3N_4 composite yielded fast degradation of guaiacol with an apparent rate constant of 0.0452 min~(-1), which were 5.21 and 6.80 folds of that achieved by using BiFeO_3 and the mixture of BiFeO_3 and g-C_3N_4 nanosheets, respectively. The significantly enhanced visible light-Fenton like catalytic properties of the BiFeO_3–g-C_3N_4 composite in comparison with that of BiFeO_3 was attributed to a large surface area, much increased adsorption capacity and the semiconductor coupling effect between BiFeO_3 and g-C_3N_4 in the composite.     

ERα和ERβ介导的有机磷农药雌激素效应差异分析

雌激素受体（Estrogen Receptor,ER）ERα和ERβ能与雌激素特异性结合,它们在结构上的差异性可能影响与类雌激素的相互作用,这进而会影响其功能.因此,针对10种有机磷农药对ERα和ERβ的雌激素效应差异,采用分子对接方法比较分析了它们与ERα、ERβ相互作用的差异并筛选出与ERα和ERβ相互作用的最佳结合模式.结果发现,10种有机磷农药分子与ERα配体结合域（Ligand Binding Domain,LBD）精氨酸（Arg394）、赖氨酸（Lys449）、色氨酸（Trp393）形成氢键;而部分农药分子与ERβLBD精氨酸（Arg346）、亮氨酸（Leu343）、赖氨酸（Lys401）形成氢键.有机磷农药配体与ERαLBDArg394、Lys449、苯丙氨酸（Phe445）、脯氨酸（Pro324）、Leu387、谷氨酸（Glu353）、甘氨酸（Gly390）等存在疏水作用,与ERβLBD氨基酸Arg346、Glu305、Leu343、蛋氨酸（Met336）、组氨酸（His279）、丙氨酸（Ala302）等存在疏水作用.采用量子化学从头算进一步分析了10种有机磷农药分子表面静电势的差异.研究发现,有机磷农药分子与ERα和ERβ受体不同的相互作用是导致雌激素效应差异的重要原因.     

“十一五”河南省城市环境空气污染特征及原因分析

文章通过对平均综合污染指数,城市空气质量级别的变化对比分析,认为"十一五"期间河南省城市环境空气质量整体呈现改善的变化趋势。基于监测数据,从河南省城市主要污染物、污染特性空间分布、季节性污染特性等方面对环境空气污染特征进行了深入分析,并从污染负荷、气候影响、产业地域布局、产业结构调整、环境管理和污染防治措施等方面深入探讨了产生这种变化趋势和污染特征的内在原因。     

喀斯特小流域生态治理下土壤养分特征分析——以广西都安县澄江小流域为例

选择广西典型喀斯特小流域,对生态治理过程中不同土地利用方式的土壤养分特征进行了研究和分析。结果表明棕色石灰土养分含量在经过石漠化治理后较1990年平均水平有所提高,用SPSS16.0对48个土壤样品的土壤养分进行主成分分析,得出2个主成分,并对土壤样品按不同土地利用方式得出的主成分分值进行排名,得分依次为乔木林灌木林沟谷耕地灌草丛草丛坡耕地。土地覆被好的区域土壤养分的含量高,土壤养分易于在植被较好的区域聚集。     

Desorption of CO2 from activated carbon fibre–phenolic resin composite by electrothermal effect

CO₂ capture by electrothermal swing adsorption is considered superior over conventional adsorption approaches: temperature swing adsorption and pressure swing adsorption. In this work, the effects of electricity, preheating and flow rate were studied. An increase in energy input by electricity has been found able to improve desorption performance more significantly than an increase in current level. However, higher current level is recommended because it can minimise energy loss while passing electricity. Higher flow rate can also be beneficial due to the improved desorption rate and reduced desorption time. However, there is a drop in CO₂ concentration in the effluent gas. When desorption takes place at a high current level, preheating is not required as it extends desorption duration with no obvious improvement in desorption rate. CO₂ capture by electrothermal swing adsorption has also been tested with different concentrations of CO₂. It is found that electrothermal swing adsorption can be more energy efficient while dealing with higher concentration CO₂.     

Allelopathic Potential of Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) on Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)

This study investigated allelopathy and its chemical basis in nine switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) accessions. Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) were used as test species. Undiluted aqueous extracts (5 g plant tissue in 50 ml water) from the shoots and roots of most of the switchgrass accessions inhibited the germination and growth of the test species. However, the allelopathic effect of switchgrass declined when extracts were diluted 5- or 50-fold. Seedling growth was more sensitive than seed germination as an indicator of allelopathic effect. Allelopathic effect was related to switchgrass ecotype but not related to ploidy level. Upland accessions displayed stronger allelopathic potential than lowland accessions. The aqueous extract from one switchgrass accession was separated into phenols, organic acids, neutral chemicals, and alkaloids, and then these fractions were bioassayed to test for allelopathic potential. Alkaloids had the strongest allelopathic effect among the four chemical fractions. In summary, the results indicated that switchgrass has allelopathic potential; however, there is not enough evidence to conclude that allelopathic advantage is the main factor that has contributed to the successful establishment of switchgrass on China’s Loess Plateau.     

Determination of effects of turbulence flow in a cathode environment on electricity generation using a tidal mud-based cylindrical-type sediment microbial fuel cell

We examined the possibility of harvesting electricity from the surface of a tidal mud flat using a cylindrical-type sediment microbial fuel cell (SMFC), a marine mud battery (MMB), which can be applied in a sea environment where the ebb and flow occur due to tidal difference. In addition, we indirectly investigated the influence of ebb and flow in a lab, using aeration, argon gassing, and by agitating the cathodic solution. The MMBs consisted of cylindrical acrylic compartments containing a nylon membrane, an anode, and a cathode in a single body. The MMBs were stuck vertically into an artificial tidal mud flat such that the anode electrode was in direct contact with the tidal mud surface. As a result, the maximum current and power density generated were 35 mA/m² and 9 mW/m², respectively, thus verifying that it is possible to harvest electricity from the surface of a tidal mud flat using an MMB without burying the anode electrode in the tidal mud. Furthermore, the results of tests using an artificial turbulence flow showed the flow induced by the tidal ebb and flow could allow the performance of MMBs to be enhanced.     

When does benevolent leadership lead to creativity? The moderating role of creative role identity and job autonomy

The present study identified creative role identity and job autonomy as two moderators that influence the relationship between benevolent leadership, a leadership style that prevails in paternalistic contexts, and creativity. Using 167 dyads of supervisor and subordinate as a sample, we found that both creative role identity and job autonomy have significant moderating effects: When each moderator is high, the positive relationship between benevolent leadership and creativity is stronger; when each moderator is low, this relationship is weaker. Our results suggest that the effect of benevolent leadership upon creativity is dependent on the coexistence of important individual and contextual factors. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Assessing the impact of urbanization on regional net primary productivity in Jiangyin County, China

Urbanization is one of the most important aspects of global change. The process of urbanization has a significant impact on the terrestrial ecosystem carbon cycle. The Yangtze Delta region has one of the highest rates of urbanization in China. In this study, carried out in Jiangyin County as a representative region within the Yangtze Delta, land use and land cover changes were estimated using Landsat TM and ETM+ imagery. With these satellite data and the BEPS process model (Boreal Ecosystem Productivity Simulator), the impacts of urbanization on regional net primary productivity (NPP) and annual net primary production were assessed for 1991 and 2002. Landsat-based land cover maps in 1991 and 2002 showed that urban development encroached large areas of cropland and forest. Expansion of residential areas and reduction of vegetated areas were the major forms of land transformation in Jiangyin County during this period. Mean NPP of the total area decreased from 818 to 699 gCm(-2)yr(-1) during the period of 1991 to 2002. NPP of cropland was only reduced by 2.7% while forest NPP was reduced by 9.3%. Regional annual primary production decreased from 808 GgC in 1991 to 691 GgC in 2002, a reduction of 14.5%. Land cover changes reduced regional NPP directly, and the increasing intensity and frequency of human-induced disturbance in the urbanized areas could be the main reason for the decrease in forest NPP.     

Heavy haze pollution during the COVID-19 lockdown in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, China

To investigate the characteristics of particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm (PM_2.5) and its chemical compositions in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region of China during the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) lockdown, the ground-based data of PM_2.5, trace gases, water-soluble inorganic ions, and organic and elemental carbon were analyzed in three typical cities (Beijing, Tianjin, and Baoding) in the BTH region of China from 5-15 February 2020. The PM_2.5 source apportionment was established by combining the weather research and forecasting model and comprehensive air quality model with extensions (WRF-CAMx). The results showed that the maximum daily PM_2.5 concentration reached the heavy pollution level (>150 μg/m³) in the above three cities. The sum concentration of SO₄²⁻, NO₃⁻ and NH₄⁺ played a dominant position in PM_2.5 chemical compositions of Beijing, Tianjin, and Baoding; secondary transformation of gaseous pollutants contributed significantly to PM_2.5 generation, and the secondary transformation was enhanced as the increased PM_2.5 concentrations. The results of WRF-CAMx showed obviously inter-transport of PM_2.5 in the BTH region; the contribution of transportation source decreased significantly than previous reports in Beijing, Tianjin, and Baoding during the COVID-19 lockdown; but the contribution of industrial and residential emission sources increased significantly with the increase of PM_2.5 concentration, and industry emission sources contributed the most to PM_2.5 concentrations. Therefore, control policies should be devoted to reducing industrial emissions and regional joint control strategies to mitigate haze pollution.