雌激素受体作为壬基酚的主要作用靶点导致机体免疫毒性

雌激素作为一类重要的性腺类固醇化学信使,已经被证实能够直接调节机体免疫反应,因此,一些具有拟雌激素特性的环境内分泌干扰物(endocrine disruptors,EDs),会通过影响雌激素相关信号通路对免疫系统产生干扰作用。壬基酚(nonylphenol,NP)作为典型的环境内分泌干扰物,已有大量的文献报道其通过拟雌激素特性或干扰雌激素的合成、分泌、转运以及与靶点的结合,破坏机体生殖功能以及神经-免疫-内分泌系统,影响整体生理平衡与稳定。近年来,NP对免疫系统的干扰作用逐渐引起重视,研究发现,NP暴露会引起小鼠免疫器官及免疫细胞的发育异常,并且会导致新生小鼠肝毒性,肝脏细胞内炎性因子TNF-α、IL-1β分泌增加。除NP作为配体干扰雌激素信号通路外,尚未发现其他明确的分子机制解释NP造成的免疫毒性。本综述主要结合近年来相关的实验结果,总结了NP对免疫系统的潜在影响及其可能的分子机制。     

计算毒理学在内分泌干扰物筛选上的应用和展望

内分泌干扰物通过干扰内分泌系统导致多种疾病,如生殖疾病、肥胖症甚至癌症。然而,面对环境中大量潜在的内分泌干扰物,传统的体外、体内评估方法由于成本高、耗时长等问题,难以实现内分泌干扰物的高通量筛查。计算毒理学逐渐发展成为被美国环保局(Environmental Protection Agency,EPA)、经济合作与发展组织(Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development,OECD)等机构所推荐的内分泌干扰物筛选与预测方法。本文综述了计算毒理学在内分泌干扰物筛选上的进展,主要包括分子对接和分子动力学模拟的应用,并对有害结局路径(adverse outcome pathway,AOP)的方法进行介绍和展望。     

常规金属离子对Fe3O4磁性纳米颗粒悬浮和沉降的影响

水体中的有机质、无机盐及酸碱度是影响纳米材料迁移转化的主要因素.考察了Na~+、Mg~(2+)、Ca~(2+)、Sr~(2+)和Ba~(2+)对Fe_3O_4磁性纳米材料(Magnetic Nanoparticles,MNPs)的沉降作用.结果表明,Fe_3O_4MNPs的沉降作用是水体pH、金属离子化合价、离子强度共同影响的结果.整体上,碱土金属离子较Na~+更能加速Fe_3O_4MNPs的沉降.当pH为5.0时,浓度低于1.0 mmol·L~(-1)的Na~+、Mg~(2+)和Ca~(2+)有助于Fe_3O_4MNPs的悬浮;当浓度大于1.0 mmol·L~(-1)时,较强的离子强度促使Fe_3O_4MNPs团聚,发生沉降.当pH为9.0时,碱土金属离子较Na~+更能促使Fe_3O_4MNPs聚沉.因此,纳米颗粒在水体中的扩散和聚沉需要综合考虑金属离子种类和浓度.     

活性艳蓝X-BR降解菌的筛选

从某印染厂废水排放出口的污泥中分离到一株活性艳蓝X-BR染料高效降解菌LPY68-14,经生理生化鉴定,该菌为埃希氏菌(Escherichia sp.).研究了影响菌株LPY68-14降解效果的因素,实验结果表明:在缺氧、质量分数为0.2%葡萄糖为外加碳源、温度37℃、接种量4 mL、pH 7的最佳条件下,质量浓度为30 mg/L的活性艳蓝X-BR经菌株LPY68-14处理24 h后的降解率可达80%;当活性艳蓝X-BR质量浓度为100～400 mg/L时,该菌处理48 h后的降解率可稳定在70%左右.     

混凝法深度处理印染废水中试研究

采用高效混凝沉淀-过滤深度处理工艺处理印染废水二级生化出水,并将混凝沉淀污泥回流.实验结果表明,混凝剂聚合氯化铝加入量为160 mg/L时,COD去除率平均可达34.6%,TP去除率平均达到87.9%,平均出水TP为0.3 mg/L.气相色谱-质谱分析和元素分析结果表明混凝沉淀工艺对有机物和TP的去除效果良好.     

北京城区冬季道路灰尘粒度特征分析

对2013年1月于北京城区采集的40组道路灰尘样品用激光粒度仪进行粒度测定。结果表明:北京城区冬季道路灰尘频率曲线呈单峰态或双峰态分布,单峰型峰值粒径为112~237μm,双峰型第一峰值粒径为189~286μm,第二峰值粒径为42~57μm。道路灰尘平均粒径为183μm,分选性差,呈极不对称的极正偏宽峰态到窄峰态,属砂土。道路灰尘是局地灰尘和区域灰尘的混合物,且主要为跃移或短时悬浮颗粒物,对大气悬浮颗粒污染物的贡献量不大。研究4种不同道路类型灰尘发现,平均粒径从大到小顺序为快速路支路次干路主干路,分选系数与偏度为快速路主干路次干路支路,峰度无较大区别,细颗粒含量主干路次干路(支路、快速路)。主干路灰尘污染贡献率更高,对大气环境和人体健康的危害潜力不容忽视。     

废聚碳酸酯水解法制双酚A

以1,4-二氧六环为溶剂、NaOH为催化剂,采用废聚碳酸酯(PC)常压水解法制双酚A(BPA).对反应影响因素进行了研究.实验结果表明,在反应温度为100℃、反应时间为8h、m(NaOH):m(水+溶剂)=1:33、m(溶剂):m(PC)=4:1、m(水):m(PC)=1:1的最佳反应条件下,PC水解率大于98%,BPA收率大于95%.     

Invasion versus Isolation: Trade-Offs in Managing Native Salmonids with Barriers to Upstream Movement

Abstract: Conservation biologists often face the trade‐off that increasing connectivity in fragmented landscapes to reduce extinction risk of native species can foster invasion by non‐native species that enter via the corridors created, which can then increase extinction risk. This dilemma is acute for stream fishes, especially native salmonids, because their populations are frequently relegated to fragments of headwater habitat threatened by invasion from downstream by 3 cosmopolitan non‐native salmonids. Managers often block these upstream invasions with movement barriers, but isolation of native salmonids in small headwater streams can increase the threat of local extinction. We propose a conceptual framework to address this worldwide problem that focuses on 4 main questions. First, are populations of conservation value present (considering evolutionary legacies, ecological functions, and socioeconomic benefits as distinct values)? Second, are populations vulnerable to invasion and displacement by non‐native salmonids? Third, would these populations be threatened with local extinction if isolated with barriers? And, fourth, how should management be prioritized among multiple populations? We also developed a conceptual model of the joint trade‐off of invasion and isolation threats that considers the opportunities for managers to make strategic decisions. We illustrated use of this framework in an analysis of the invasion‐isolation trade‐off for native cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii) in 2 contrasting basins in western North America where invasion and isolation are either present and strong or farther away and apparently weak. These cases demonstrate that decisions to install or remove barriers to conserve native salmonids are often complex and depend on conservation values, environmental context (which influences the threat of invasion and isolation), and additional socioeconomic factors. Explicit analysis with tools such as those we propose can help managers make sound decisions in such complex circumstances.     

Nutritionally relevant elements in staple foods: influence of arable site versus choice of variety

Eighteen representative sites for the Austrian grain-growing and eight for the potato-growing zones (soils and crops) were investigated. On each site, total element contents (B, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, P, Sr and Zn) were determined in 4–12 varieties of winter wheat (n = 136), 6 varieties of spring durum wheat (n = 30), 5 varieties of winter durum wheat (n = 15), 7 varieties of rye (n = 49), 5 varieties of spring barley (n = 30) and 5 varieties of potatoes (n = 40). Element accumulations in grain species and potato tubers varied significantly with site conditions, with the main exceptions for B in potatoes and wheat as well as for Zn, Cu and Co in durum wheat. On average, across all investigated sites, differences in varieties occurred concerning the elements Ca, Cd, Ba, Sr and Zn (except Zn in potatoes and winter durum). A rough estimation revealed that an average Austrian consumer of wheat, rye and potatoes meets more than 50% of the needs of daily element intake for K, P and Mg, between 36 and 72% for Fe, Zn and Cu, and more than 100% for Co, Mo and Mn. In particular, the elements Ca and Na have to be added from other sources.     

Colorful tails fade when lizards adopt less risky behaviors

Colorful tails that become cryptic during ontogeny are found in diverse taxa. Nevertheless, the evolutionary bases for this change remain debated. Recent work suggests that colorful tails, deflective displays, and striped patterns may represent antipredator mechanisms used by immature lizards to compensate for being more active and hence more vulnerable to predation (increased movement hypothesis, IMH). I challenged the generality of IMH by comparing foraging behavior and frequency of tail displays across five Acanthodactylus lizards that vary in fundamental life history traits, before and after the tail changed color. As these species underwent changes in tail coloration, they congruently adopted less risky behaviors and reduced the frequencies of tail displays. Contrary to expectation, in two species, the hatchling risky behavior resulted not from increased movements but from longer stay in exposed microhabitats. I suggest that colorful tails and deflective tail displays are synergistic antipredator mechanisms neonates use to minimize the fitness consequences of using various risky behaviors rather than increased movement alone.