Increasing the microbial activity in activated sludge by the phenomenon of 'biological resonance

Mechanical oscillations as well as electrical oscillations (e.g. in an electrical oscillatory circuit) can lead to resonance conditions by external agitation with the natural frequency of the system. During the microbial protein synthesis, the induction and repression mechanisms also cause oscillations in the form of varying protein concentrations. The aim of this work concentrates on an induced resonance case of the biological system, comparable with physical resonance phenomena, by external periodic stimulations. For this, system theoretical computer simulations with a structured genetic model were carried out, which built the theoretical fundament for describing the effect of 'Biological Resonance'. Based on that, lab-scale experiments using a mixed microbial culture (activated sludge) and skimmed milk as an inducing substrate revealed an enhanced microbial productivity of around 60%-75% compared to values of the productivity under steady-state conditions in a narrow range of process parameters. The optimum (resonance case) was confirmed by a repetition of the variation experiments and is characterised by a substrate supply period of approx. 18 min and a following starvation period of about 9 min. Long-term investigations under optimised process conditions indicate adaptation mechanisms of the microorganisms to evade the imposed stress conditions. The productivity will not remain constant without additional stimulation and declines to its original level. However, temporal modulation of the starvation period permanently increases the productivity (elevated catabolism) to about 60%, which was observed over a period of several weeks.     

Toxic Effects of Crude Oil Combined with Oil Cleaner Simple Green on Yolk-sac Larvae and Adult Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (4 pp)

Background, Goal and Scope Cleaner CRYSTAL Simple Green (SG) was used for the cleanup of the oil spill in the Baltic Sea near Lithuania in 2001. No scientific data are available on the effects and consequences of its application for local aquatic life. The aim of this study was to determine and compare sublethal effects of a) solution SG; b) crude oil alone; c) SG in combination with oil on rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss at different stages of its development in laboratory conditions.Methods Laboratory studies were performed on adult rainbow trout (4-day duration) and on yolk-sac larvae (25-day duration) evaluating their biological parameters. Concentrations of water-soluble and thin-dispersed fractions of petroleum hydrocarbons were measured using gas chromatography.Results and Discussion SG solution (0.5 mg/l) did not affect the survival of larvae and adult fish, and no significant changes were determined in respiratory parameters of the exposed larvae and adult fish. The most expressed alterations were found in morphological parameters (a decrease in the average body mass) of larvae and in haematological indices (a decrease in the leukocyte count) of adult fish at the end of the tests. Crude oil (1610 mg/l) did not affect the survival of adult fish during the 4-day exposure. An increase in larvae mortality rate (~ 36%) was recorded at the end of the tests. A significant decrease in the average body mass and heart rate of larvae as well as in gill ventilation frequency of larvae and adult fish were determined. SG combined with oil induced an increase in larval mortality  46% of individuals died at the end of the tests. No mortality was recorded in adult fish. The average body mass and heart rate of larvae were significantly decreased. Marked changes were also found in respiratory parameters (gill ventilation frequency of larvae and adult fish significantly decreased, while “coughing” rate increased). A 1-day, 2-day exposure of fish to SG combined with oil induced a significant decrease in the leukocyte count of adult fish, which was also determined at the end of the tests. The augmentation of adverse impact could be explained by the data obtained from our studies. When SG was added into dilution water with crude oil the concentration of petroleum hydrocarbons in the mixture increased 3 ~ 4.5 times after 24 h and 96 h, respectively. Conclusions The comparative study of the effects of crude oil alone, SG and SG combined with oil showed that their toxic effects on fish differed. Oil combined with SG was found to be more toxic to fish (larvae and adults) than SG alone and oil alone. Fish at early stages of development (yolk-sac larvae) were more sensitive to the effects of the compounds studied than adults.Recommendations and Outlook To diminish the negative impact of oil spill cleanup using chemicals on aquatic ecosystems, it is recommended to carry out more comprehensive studies of their effects and after-effects in laboratory conditions using a wide scale of local aquatic organisms. The selected species of the most sensitive aquatic organisms should include those which are unable to escape the impact of combined action of oil and cleaners. Special attention should be directed to the research of effects of these pollutants on studied organisms at their most sensitive stages of life (reproduction, hatching, early stages of development), as after-effects of exposure to pollutants may be observed in future generations.     

退耕还林工程与农业生态经济社会系统协同性研究——以安塞县为例

针对黄土丘陵区退耕还林工程与农业生态经济社会协同性研究滞后的现实,在构建退耕还林工程与农业生态经济社会协同性表征体系的基础上,通过建立耦合度模型分析了二者的协同性及相关问题,将退耕还林工程与农业生态经济社会系统协同关系划分为4个阶段：（Ⅰ）协作推进与发展阶段,（Ⅱ）相悖阶段,（Ⅲ）无序失衡阶段,（Ⅳ）抑制发展阶段。其中阶段Ⅲ只是理论结果,在实际政策约束和农户行为的影响下一般不会出现;而阶段Ⅱ和阶段Ⅳ可能会短期出现。以安塞县为例,系统分析了不同阶段协同性演变过程：1995—2014年,安塞县先后经历了相悖阶段和协作推进与发展阶段,目前处于协作推进与发展阶段的下降时期。基于此,需要进一步优化产业结构提高区域内资源的有效利用率,通过林种结构的合理布局,提高退耕林分质量,推进退耕还林工程与农业生态经济社会系统的协同发展。     

A green method to synthesize flowerlike Fe(OH)3 microspheres for enhanced adsorption performance toward organic and heavy metal pollutants

Dyestuffs and heavy metal ions in water are seriously harmful to the ecological environment and human health.Three-dimensional(3 D) flowerlike Fe(OH)_3 microspheres were synthesized through a green yet low-cost injection method,for the removal of organic dyes and heavy metal ions.The Fe(OH)_3 microspheres were characterized by thermal gravimetric analysis(TGA),Fourier transform infrared(FT-IR),and transmission electron microscopy(TEM) techniques.The adsorption kinetics of Congo Red(CR) on Fe(OH)_3 microspheres obeyed the pseudo-second-order model.Cr~(6+) and Pb~(2+) adsorption behaviors on Fe(OH)_3 microspheres followed the Langmuir isotherm model.The maximum adsorption capacities of the synthesized Fe(OH)_3 were 308,52.94,and 75.64 mg/g for CR,Cr~(6+),and Pb~(2+) respectively.The enhanced adsorption performance originated from its surface properties and large specific surface area of 250 m~2/g.The microspheres also have excellent adsorption stability and recyclability.Another merit of the Fe(OH)_3 material is that it also acts as a Fenton-like catalyst.These twin functionalities(both as adsorbent and Fenton-like catalyst) give the synthesized Fe(OH)_3 microspheres great potential in the field of water treatment.     

国际间绿色GDP核算方法评述

绿色GDP核算是通过将资源环境成本纳入国民经济核算中来实现环境管理的一种有效的经济手段。本文分析了世界各主要核算体系下的编制方式,探讨目前各种核算方式所存在问题及缺失,以加深各方面对绿色GDP核算的理解与实践拓展。     

经济与环境协调与可持续发展的机制分析

人类社会经济飞速发展的同时带来了环境的持续恶化。经济发展与环境保护之间存在一种博弈的两难困境,人类必须制定一定的规则和机制来改变与脱离这种困境。推动全球绿色贸易是走出这种困境的一条可操作的途径,推动世界绿色贸易、提高环境保护技术整体能力是改变博弈结构的关键。可持续发展的概念的产生是对经济发展与环境保护的一种协调。另外推动环境正义的理念也是促使经济发展与环境保护之间合作的一种人文途径。     

可生物降解材料聚羟基脂肪酸酯（PHA）的合成与应用概述

聚羟基脂肪酸酯（polyhydroxyalkanoates,PHA）是很多微生物合成的一种细胞内聚酯,是一种天然的高分子生物材料。PHA具有良好的生物相容性能、生物可降解性和塑料的热加工等性能。文章主要综述了PHA的合成途径与有关应用方面的研究。     

黄土丘陵区退耕还林工程对县域粮食安全的影响——以陕西省清涧、米脂、子洲、吴堡县为例

为了评估黄土丘陵区实施退耕还林工程对县域粮食安全的影响,选取研究区典型四县——米脂、清涧、子洲和吴堡,假设实施退耕还林工程粮食补贴全部以粮食实物兑现和不实施退耕还林工程退耕的坡耕地提供粮食生产为前提,运用修订的耕地压力指数模型来对比评估退耕还林工程对县域粮食安全的影响。研究结果表明:退耕还林工程对米脂县和子洲县粮食安全影响较明显,对清涧县和吴堡县影响甚微。不同退耕规模对不同人口密度县域粮食安全的影响程度不同。研究结果对国家建立长期、稳定、有效的粮食补偿机制有一定参考意义。     

Linking Russia with the European and global greenhouse gas emissions trading markets: three paths for greening the Russian assigned amount under the Kyoto Protocol

This article examines possibilities for linkage between the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) and Russia, with a view to enhancing cooperation on a broader scale than the project-based approaches that have been tested thus far. Three paths for possible EU-Russia linkage are presented by which the Russian Assigned Amount under the Kyoto Protocol can be greened in order to stimulate emissions trading: 1. Joint implementation—reductions earned via individual projects in Russia; 2. Greened allowances or green investment schemes; and 3. Linked cap-and-trade systems, in which a Russian domestic emissions trading system would link with the European Union Emissions Trading System. The authors conclude that the third option, emissions trading through linked domestic emissions trading systems, offers the best opportunities at the lowest transaction costs. The authors discuss useful innovative instruments like call options and slip level arrangements on government-to-government and business-to-business levels.