Selection of poly(R)-3-hydroxybutyric acid utilising bacteria by enrichment,optimisation and compatibility testing for consortia development

Bacterial strains with poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) degradation potential were isolated from waste yard soil samples of selected industrial sites in Uttarakhand, India, and two microbial consortia were developed, i.e. Consortium I comprises Pseudomonas sp. strain Rb10, Pseudomonas sp. strain Rb11 and Bacillus sp. strain Rb18, and Consortium II is composed of Lysinibacillus sp. strain Rb1, Pseudomonas sp. strain Rb13 and Pseudomonas sp. strain Rb19. The current study involved enrichment selection via liquid and semi-solid media, followed by isolation and screening of bacterial strains using PHB pellets and films. Furthermore, the identification and characterisation was done by triphasic approach. The utilisation of PHB by the characterised strains was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Moreover, the minimum inhibitory concentration of solubilised PHB was found to be 2.5?mg/mL, which was detected through ‘clear zone assay’. Further, the selection and biocompatibility testing of potential isolates were performed for the formation of bacterial consortia. Thus, the present work would provide direct and standardised protocol for screening and selection of potential microbiomes for biodegradation of polymers by overcoming the negative effect of organic solvents. Moreover, indigenously developed consortia would be evaluated for their in situ biodegradation potential against various bioplastic films.     

浙江三门湾沉积记录:U k37表层海水温度和浮游植物群落变化与El Ni?o/La Ni?a的关联

应用三门湾沉积柱样中长链烯酮不饱和指数(U k37)与表层海水温度SST的关系重建历史上的El Ni?o/La Ni?a事件;利用3种浮游植物标志物菜子甾醇(brassicasterol)、甲藻甾醇(dinosterol)和长链烯酮C37(alkenones)来恢复单一种硅藻Diatom、甲藻Dinoflagellates和颗石藻Emiliania huxleyi变化.研究结果表明:(1)U k37估算温度在15.19~17.61℃波动,与当地秋季海水实测温度接近.U k37估算的温度清晰地再现了全球变暖的趋势,且其波动可能与El Ni?o/La Ni?a震荡有关.(2)浮游植物标志物总含量变化范围为710.7~6998.5 ng·g-1,180年以来呈总体上升趋势.沉积记录中硅藻相对比例最高、甲藻次之,硅藻/甲藻比值在2.1~7.2波动,表现出近岸浮游植物对海洋环境变化的敏感性.(3)El Ni?o/La Ni?a事件可影响到浮游植物细胞丰度以及群落结构变化,在El Ni?o盛期,浮游植物细胞丰度剧增,而浮游植物种类数及群集多样性程度明显减少.另外,浮游植物细胞丰度的季节性规律不明显,El Ni?o事件可能是影响三门湾海域浮游植物生产力的主要因素.     

Acute toxicity of ammonia to a freshwater teleost,Labeo bata larvae

Ammonia toxicity tests were performed with Labeo bata (bata) larvae of three different size groups. One hundred percent survival of larvae (500.0?±?4.0?mg) was recorded when exposed to ammonia concentrations of 1.0–13.56?mg?L^?1 at 96?h of exposure. Bata larvae exposed to ammonia concentrations of 15.8–25?mg?L^?1 showed 10–74% mortalities. The 96?h LC₅₀ value for 200 (±5), 250 (±2) and 500 (±4) mg bata larvae were 11.5, 16.8 and 22.5?mg?L^?1 un-ionised ammonia concentrations, respectively. When fish were exposed to different doses of ammonia, behavioural changes immediately occurred even at the lowest dose. At first, the fish became hyperexcitable, the skin darkened and they showed an increased ventilation frequency, fish behaviour became normal, 24?h after exposure. A 96?h LC₅₀ value of un-ionised ammonia showed direct relationship with the increasing size of bata larvae.     

A factor analysis study: Air pollution,meteorology, and hospital admissions for respiratory diseases

It is well known that air pollution exerts adverse effects on health and environment. Bal?kesir located in the Marmara region (Turkey) has serious air pollution problems produced by heating in the months of winter. In this study, the effect of exposure to air pollution on hospital admission for respiratory illnesses among children and adults was examined. Epidemiological data from records of hospitals, air pollutants and meteorological data were used. During July 2005–July 2007 period, there was a total of 280,426 hospital admissions for respiratory diseases. In a population-based analysis, 9 children were admitted for asthma, 17 children for acute bronchitis, and 20 children for lower respiratory diseases out of 100 children. There was a significant increase in the hospital admissions for respiratory diseases and air pollutants from October to March. It was concluded that children living in the city suffer from respiratory diseases such as asthma, pneumonia, and lower respiratory diseases. Three factors that account for approximately 90% of total variance of hospital admissions, air pollution, and meteorology were identified by means of principal component factor analysis.     

Distributions of total metals in the surface sediments of the Bandirma and Erdek Gulfs,Marmara Sea,Turkey

The aim of this study is to determine the contents of aluminum, iron, manganese, nickel, copper, zinc, chromium, cadmium, lead, and mercury in sediments at 1–30?m depths of the Band?rma and Erdek Gulfs in the Southern Inner Shelf of the Marmara Sea. Sediment samples were collected from different depths (1?m, 5?m, 10?m, 20?m, 30?m) at each region in February 2008. Primary hydrographic conditions, such as temperature (6.6–14.5°C), salinity (22.6–26.875 psu), percentage of dissolved oxygen saturation (35–83 %), and pH (8.0–8.4) were recorded for each sampling point. Moreover the total organic carbon (0.5–2.9%) and the total calcium carbonate contents (0.8–60%) of sediment samples were determined. In surface sediments of both gulfs, Pb (21–62?mg?kg^?1) and Cd (0.52–0.86?mg?kg^?1) contents were determined to be higher than the shale average (Pb 20?mg?kg^?1, Cd 0.2?mg?kg^?1) while the other metal contents were measured to be lower in general. On the other hand, generally Hg (0.06–1.1?mg?kg^?1) contents were higher than the shale average (0.3?mg?kg^?1)at all of the examined stations in the Band?rma Gulf and lower than the shale average in the Erdek Gulf.     

Accumulation trends of metals and a metalloid in the freshwater crayfish Astacus leptodactylus from Lake Yeniçağa (Turkey)

This study aims to determine the extent of metal pollution in Lake Yeniça?a (Bolu, Turkey) by investigating the accumulation trends of five metals (Al, Cu, Fe, Ni and Zn) and a metalloid (As) in gills, exoskeleton, hepatopancreas and abdominal muscles of the freshwater crayfish Astacus leptodactylus. Principal component analysis (PCA), cluster analysis (CA), correlation analysis and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were utilised to determine the accumulation profiles of each element over four seasons. The greatest element accumulation was found to occur in the gills. All elements in exoskeletal tissue displayed positive correlations with each other, a similar trend was also observed in the hepatopancreas samples. Strong (r=0.868) and very strong (r=0.960) positive correlations were found between the accumulations of Al and Fe in gills and the exoskeleton, respectively. Correlations in tissue accumulation rates are discussed in the context of metabolic roles and impacts associated with the elements tested. Elemental compositions of Yeniça?a water and sediment samples were also investigated to determine whether the composition of the surrounding environment matches the metal accumulation trends of tissue samples. We demonstrate that, by the criteria set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Lake Yeniça?a is heavily polluted in terms of As and Ni.     

Screening and identification of bacterial strain producing (R)-1-phenyl-1,2-Ethanediol by efficient whole-cell catalytic reduction system北大核心CSCD

(R)-1-Phenyl-1,2-ethanediol [(R)-PED] is an important chiral intermediate used to synthesize pharmaceutical intermediates. The production of (R)-PED is of great practical significance. A novel bacterial strain HBU-SI7 isolated from soil samples was screened using a-hydroxyacetophenone (2-HAP) as substrate, which is capable of enantioselective reduction of 2-HAP to (R)-PED. HBU-SI7 was identified as Rhodococcus sp. by bacterial morphological observation and 16S rDNA analysis. The analysis of whole-cell catalytic system showed that the bioconversion of 2-HAP reached 96.2% in the two-phase reaction system (dibutyl phthalate/phosphate buffer = 1/3, V/V) with the substrate concentration of 3.0 g/L, and 99.3% of e.e. for (R)-PED was achieved. A new enantio selective reduction system with the whole cells of Rhodococcus sp. was established for efficient production of (R)-PED, which has potential research and application values. © 2018 Science Press. All rights reserved.     

Untersuchungen zur Aufnahme von HCB und Pyren durch den KompostwurmEisenia fetida und ausgew?hlte Regenwurmwildarten

Zusammenfassung  Ziel der beschriebenen Untersuchungen war die praktische überprüfung eines Methodenentwurfs zur Erfassung der Bioakkumulation von Umweltchemikalien mitEisenia fetida, der Eignung vonE. fetida als Modellorganismus und des OECD-Kunstbodens als Standardsubstrat. Als Testorganismen wurden aus eigener Zucht der KompostwurmEisenia fetida und nach FeldentnahmeAllolobophora caliginosa, Allolobophora chlorotica, Allolobophora longa undLumbricus rubellus eingesetzt. Testb?den waren der OECD-Kunstboden und ein Boden vom Versuchsfeld der BBA in Berlin-Dahlem. Beiden B?den wurden die Testsubstanzen Hexachlorbenzol und Pyren in einer Konzentration von 10 mg/kg Bodentrockengewicht zugemischt. Die Expositionszeit der Regenwürmer betrug 4 Wochen bei w?chentlicher Bestimmung der Konzentrationen der Testsubstanzen in den Würmern und B?den. Die fürE. fetida sowie die Wildarten errechneten Anreicherungsfaktoren (AF) beliefen sich bei HCB in Abh?ngigkeit des verwendeten Bodens auf Werte zwischen 10 und 17 und bei Pyren auf Werte zwischen 0,9 und 1,7. Durch Umrechnung der Bodenkonzentrationen auf Gehalte in der Wasserphase und Ableitung der entsprechenden Anreicherungsfaktoren kann ein Vergleich mit BCF-Werten, die aus QSAR’S anderer Regenwurmarten und Fischen berechnet wurden, hergestellt werden. Die Ergebnisse lassen den Schluss zu, dass der Regenwurmtest mitE. fetida (OECD 1984, ISO 1998) für die Untersuchung der Bioakkumulation geeignet ist. OnlineFirst: 31. 05. 2002     

Increases in Nitrate Concentrations in the River Frome (Dorset) Catchment Related to Changes in Land Use, Fertiliser Applications and Sewage Input

Nitrate concentrations and nitrate loads throughout the River Frome catchment (Dorset) are compared for the periods 1970-71 and 1984-86. Nitrate concentrations and loads have increased at every site, the increase in mean nitrate concentrations varying from 31% to 123%. These increases in nitrate concentrations are related to changes in land use and fertiliser applications and also to an increase in sewage effluent entering the river.     

基于3S技术的生态安全动态监测——以秦皇岛为例

遥感技术（RS）、地理信息系统（GIS）、全球定位系统（GPS），即3S技术，在生态安全评价研究中能够快速获取动态变化信息，并进行空间叠加分析，比传统方法更具优越性。通过论述基于3S技术的生态安全评价的理论和方法，对秦皇岛市的生态环境进行动态监测和分析，包括土地利用、植被指数和植被覆盖度、土壤侵蚀等，评价结果比较符合实际。