Toxicology and detection methods of the alkaloid neurotoxin produced by cyanobacteria, anatoxin-a

Freshwater resources are under stress due to naturally occurring conditions and human impacts. One of the consequences is the proliferation of cyanobacteria, microphytoplankton organisms that are capable to produce toxins called cyanotoxins. Anatoxin-a is one of the main cyanotoxins. It is a very potent neurotoxin that was already responsible for some animal fatalities. In this review we endeavor to divulgate much of the internationally published information about toxicology, occurrence and detection methods of anatoxin-a. Cyanobacteria generalities, anatoxin-a occurrence and production as well as anatoxin-a toxicology and its methods of detection are the aspects focused in this review. Remediation of anatoxin-a occurrence will be addressed with a public health perspective. Final remarks call the attention for some important gaps in the knowledge about this neurotoxin and its implication to public health. Alterations of aquatic ecosystems caused by anatoxin-a is also addressed. Although anatoxin-a is not the more frequent cyanotoxin worldwide, it has to be regarded as a health risk that can be fatal to terrestrial and aquatic organisms because of its high toxicity.     

沈阳市浑南新区发展循环经济可行性探讨

浑南新区拟用循环经济和生态工业的理论建设生态工业园区,为切实做好新区创建环保样板城循环经济试点工作,将发展循环经济的观念注入全区经济结构调整和产业转型之中,从根本上解决浑南新区在发展过程中遇到的经济增长与资源环境之间的尖锐矛盾,协调社会经济与资源环境的发展。以园区内主导优势产业的物质、能量的资源化利用为基础,以生态产业链为主线建立园区的生态工业,在经济结构战略性调整中大力推进循环经济。     

“工业强省”战略下贵州省产业结构合理化与高度化分析

本文结合贵州省＂加速发展、加快转型、推动跨越＂的主基调、＂工业强省＂和＂城镇化＂两大战略的基本精神,在研究近年贵州省相关统计数据的基础上,分析了我省产业结构的合理化、高度化及产业结构效益,提出了现阶段调整产业结构的对策建议,以期为政府提供政策参考。     

东山湾营养盐结构及限制作用的初步研究

根据2013年4个航次的调查资料,对东山湾春、夏、秋、冬4个季节营养盐结构分布特征及其限制状况进行分析研究。结果表明:营养盐结构平面分布随着季节变化而不同,陆地径流和沿岸流对营养盐分布有较大影响,夏秋冬3个季节Si/P和Si/N比值由北向南递减,春季相反。N/P比值除了冬季外,其他季节都是由北向南递增的趋势。东山湾海域潜在限制性因子主要为P,秋冬两季尤为明显。     

Number of COVID-19 cases required in a population to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater in the province of Alberta, Canada: Sensitivity assessment

With a unique and large size of testing results of 1,842 samples collected from 12 wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) for 14 months through from low to high prevalence of COVID-19, the sensitivity of RT-qPCR detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater that correspond to the communities was computed by using Probit analysis. This study determined the number of new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population required to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater at defined probabilities and provided an evidence-based framework of wastewater-based epidemiology surveillance (WBE). Input data were positive and negative test results of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater samples and the corresponding new COVID-19 case rates per 100,000 population served by each WWTP. The analyses determined that RT-qPCR-based SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection threshold at 50%, 80% and 99% probability required a median of 8 (range: 4-19), 18 (9-43), and 38 (17-97) of new COVID-19 cases /100,000, respectively. Namely, the positive detection rate at 50%, 80% and 99% probability were 0.01%, 0.02%, and 0.04% averagely for new cases in the population. This study improves understanding of the performance of WBE SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection using the large datasets and prolonged study period. Estimated COVID-19 burden at a community level that would result in a positive detection of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater is critical to support WBE application as a supplementary warning/monitoring system for COVID-19 prevention and control.     

一台延期报废的氧气储罐的监控使用

通过对一台储氧卧罐检验结果的分析及对历次检验情况的比较,建议对这台容器进行判废处理。但由于生产需要,该容器不能立即更新,专家们根据实际情况提出了用声发射仪监控,延长使用期一年的意见。     

高水速凝材料浆体流变特性研究

高水速材料是一种新型无机材料，其体积比合水率达９０％，称为“点水成石”。高水材料加水制成净浆可用于煤矿巷旁充填和灌注：高水材料具有不同于水泥的团结特性，可团结粘土、污泥和矿山尾砂等工业废料，高水材料与上述骨料加水后制成砂浆，输送浓度为６０～７５％，具有良好的流动性和输送性。在此重点介绍高水材料浆体的流变特性研究的成果，包括高水材料浆体的类型、流变特性、屈服应力、结构粘度与浆体浓度的关系，以及高水材料浆体的输送特性和管道阻力的计算公式，以便更好的推广和广泛使用。     

Assessment of the use of selected rodents in ecological monitoring

Rodents can be useful in detecting environmental impacts because they are easy to study (easy to capture and handle), they can occur in densities adequate for statistical analysis, and they are ecologically important. In this study the usefulness of rodent populations for ecological monitoring was investigated by examining the effect of variation on the possibility of detecting differences among populations of rodents on 10 trapping grids. The effects of sampling frequencies and dispersal on detecting differences in population parameters among grids was also investigated, as was the possibility of inferring population parameters from correlations with habitat data. Statistically significant differences as small as 4.3Peromyscus maniculatus/ha were detected between grids. Of 10 populations, this comprised 12% of the highest-density population and 44% of the lowest-density population. Smaller and more differences among grids were found by examining only animals surviving from previous months. Dispersal confounds detection of direct impacts to populations, especially during the breeding season. Infrequent sampling fails to detect impacts that occur between sampling periods and will indicate impacts when observed changes result from natural variation. Correlations between population parameters and habitat variables exist but should only be used in predicting, not measuring, impacts. It is concluded that some rodent populations can be used in ecological monitoring. However, intensive sampling is required to account for variation and dispersal.     

Fluorescence detection of phosphate in an aqueous environment by an aluminum-based metal-organic framework with amido functionalized ligands

● A novel Al-MOF was successfully synthesized by a facile solvothermal method. ● Al-MOF showed superior performance for phosphate detection. ● High selectivity and anti-interference for detection were demonstrated. ● The high coordination between Al-O and PO₄³⁻ was the key in fluorescence sensing. The on-site monitoring of phosphate is important for environmental management. Conventional phosphate detection methods are not appropriate to on-site monitoring owing to the use of complicated detection procedures, and the consequent high cost and maintenance requirements of the detection apparatus. Here, a highly sensitive fluorescence-based method for phosphate detection with a wide detection range was developed based on a luminescent aluminum-based metal-organic framework (Al-MOF). The Al-MOF was prepared by introducing amine functional groups to conventional MIL to enhance phosphate binding, and exhibited excellent fluorescence properties that originated from the ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT). The detection limit was as low as 3.25 μmol/L (0.10 mg/L) and the detection range was as wide as 3–350 μmol/L (0.10–10.85 mg/L). Moreover, Al-MOF displayed specific recognition toward phosphate over most anions and metal cations, even for a high concentration of the co-existent ions. The mechanism of phosphate detection was analyzed through the characterization of the combination of Al-MOF and phosphate, and the results indicated the high affinity between Al-O and phosphate inhibited that the LMCT process and recovered the intrinsic fluorescence of NH₂-H₂BDC. The recovery of the developed detection method reached a satisfactory range of 85.1%–111.0%, and the feasibility of on-site phosphate detection was verified using a prototype sensor for tap water and lake water samples. It was demonstrated that the prepared Al-MOF is highly promising for on-site detection of phosphate in an aqueous environment.