Large variability in ambient ozone sensitivity across 19 ethylenediurea-treated Chinese cultivars of soybean is driven by total ascorbate

The sensitivity of Chinese soybean cultivars to ambient ozone(O3) in the field is unknown,although soybean is a major staple food in China. Using ethylenediurea(EDU) as an O3 protectant, we tested the gas exchange, pigments, antioxidants and biomass of 19 cultivars exposed to 28 ppm·hr AOT40(accumulated O3 over an hourly concentration threshold of40 ppb) over the growing season at a field site in China. By comparing the average biomass with and without EDU, we estimated the cultivar-specific sensitivity to O3 and ranked the cultivars from very tolerant( 10% change) to highly sensitive( 45% change), which helps in choosing the best-suited cultivars for local cultivation. Higher lipid peroxidation and activity of the ascorbate peroxidase enzyme were major responses to O3 damage, which eventually translated into lower biomass production. The constitutional level of total ascorbate in the leaves was the most important parameter explaining O3 sensitivity among these cultivars. Surprisingly, the role of stomatal conductance was insignificant. These results will guide future breeding efforts towards more O3-tolerant cultivars in China, while strategies for implementing control measures of regional O3 pollution are being implemented. Overall, these results suggest that present ambient O3 pollution is a serious concern for soybean in China, which highlights the urgent need for policy-making actions to protect this critical staple food.     

Specific antibody for pesticide residue determination produced by antibody-pesticide complex

A new method for specific antibody production was developed using antibody (Ab)-pesticide complex as a unique immunogen. Parathion (PA) was the targeted pesticide, and rabbit polyclonal antibody (Pab) and mouse monoclonal antibody (Mab) were used as carrier proteins. The Ab-PA complexes were generated by conjugating the two antibodies with an excessive dosage of PA. It was shown that the sensitivity of homologous enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using the new antibodies was similar to that using original antibodies. However, the new mouse Pab had not only similar positive recognizing spectrum as the original Mab, but also a significantly improved sensitivity in heterologous ELISA when some recognizable competitors were applied. IC₅₀ value of ELISA based on a combination of the new mouse Pab and hapten 9 was 0.24 ng/mL, which was 445.54 times as that of the homologous ELISA. An Ab-pesticide complex may be a suitable alternative immunogen for producing highly specific antibody to improve the immunoassay sensitivity.     

Using global sensitivity analysis of demographic models for ecological impact assessment

Population viability analysis (PVA) is widely used to assess population‐level impacts of environmental changes on species. When combined with sensitivity analysis, PVA yields insights into the effects of parameter and model structure uncertainty. This helps researchers prioritize efforts for further data collection so that model improvements are efficient and helps managers prioritize conservation and management actions. Usually, sensitivity is analyzed by varying one input parameter at a time and observing the influence that variation has over model outcomes. This approach does not account for interactions among parameters. Global sensitivity analysis (GSA) overcomes this limitation by varying several model inputs simultaneously. Then, regression techniques allow measuring the importance of input‐parameter uncertainties. In many conservation applications, the goal of demographic modeling is to assess how different scenarios of impact or management cause changes in a population. This is challenging because the uncertainty of input‐parameter values can be confounded with the effect of impacts and management actions. We developed a GSA method that separates model outcome uncertainty resulting from parameter uncertainty from that resulting from projected ecological impacts or simulated management actions, effectively separating the 2 main questions that sensitivity analysis asks. We applied this method to assess the effects of predicted sea‐level rise on Snowy Plover (Charadrius nivosus). A relatively small number of replicate models (approximately 100) resulted in consistent measures of variable importance when not trying to separate the effects of ecological impacts from parameter uncertainty. However, many more replicate models (approximately 500) were required to separate these effects. These differences are important to consider when using demographic models to estimate ecological impacts of management actions.     

Modelling of dust lifting process behind propagating shock wave

Dust dispersion from a layer is a complicated problem, which has not been completely solved yet, especially if an Eulerian–Eulerian approach has to be used to model the two-phase dusty flow. In previous investigation, a phenomenological model of the dust dispersion process from a layer was developed, but the evaluation of the model revealed some weaknesses. In the current paper, the model of the dust dispersion process was presented and three improvements of the model were studied: Saffman force, Magnus force and particles collisions. The implementation of Magnus and Saffman forces into the code did not improve the numerical results and it was shown that it had very little influence on the dust lifting process, in case the phenomenological model of the layer is used. Some explanations were proposed in the paper. Besides, an empirical model of particles collisions was also added to the code and its influence on the results was studied. It was shown that the particles collisions model improved the obtained results, but further modifications are to be studied in the future.     

Valuation of small and multiple health risks: A critical analysis of SP data applied to food and water safety

This study elicits individual risk preferences in the context of an infectious disease using choice experiments. A main objective is to examine scope sensitivity using a novel approach. Our results suggest that the value of a mortality risk reduction (VSL) is highly sensitive to the survey design. Our results cast doubt on the standard scope sensitivity tests in choice experiments, but also on the validity and reliability of VSL estimates based on stated-preference studies in general. This is important due to the large empirical literature on non-market evaluation and the elicited values’ central role in policy making.     

厚壁管变形横波周向超声检测工艺及缺陷定位系统开发

在理论研究的基础上，利用试块对厚壁管变型横波与折射横波检测灵敏度进行了比较，证实了变型横波在厚壁管件中的检测灵敏度高于折射横波；设计开发计算软件，实现缺陷进行自动定位，大大提高现场检测效率和定位精度。     

不同温度下的土壤微生物呼吸及其与水溶性有机碳和转化酶的关系

为研究不同温度下的土壤微生物呼吸及其与水溶性有机碳(DOC)和转化酶的关系,设置了室内培养实验.采集南京市周边老山、紫金山、宝华山的土壤,研究不同土壤的微生物呼吸对温度升高的响应规律,并分析土壤DOC含量及转化酶活性.结果表明,不同土壤的累积微生物呼吸与土壤温度之间的关系均可用指数方程描述,其P值均达到极显著水平(P0.001),不同地点土壤的微生物呼吸温度敏感系数(Q10值)在1.762~1.895之间变异.累积土壤微生物呼吸的Q10值随着土壤温度升高表现出降低的趋势.培养后27 d土壤微生物呼吸的Q10值与培养后1 d的Q10值无显著差异(P0.05),这表明难分解有机质的温度敏感性与易分解有机质的温度敏感性一致.对于所有土壤而言,累积土壤微生物呼吸与DOC含量之间存在极显著(P=0.003)的线性回归关系,DOC可以解释累积土壤微生物呼吸31.6%的变异性.无论是单独分析不同土壤还是综合所有土壤的测定结果,累积微生物呼吸与土壤转化酶活性均存在极显著(P0.01)的一元线性回归关系,由此说明转化酶活性是衡量土壤微生物呼吸大小的一个较好的指标.     

北京市污水处理厂出水中雌二醇的概率生态风险评价

随着北京市再生水补给河湖规模扩大,污水处理厂出水中雌激素活性物质引起的受纳水体生态风险日益受到关注。以雌二醇为例,利用物种敏感度分布(species sensitivity distribution,SSD)模型和联合概率曲线(joint probability curve,JPC)方法开展北京市污水处理厂出水的概率生态风险评价研究。通过文献调研整理了北京市约430个物种,利用美国环境保护署ECOTOX数据库获取了其中7个物种的雌二醇毒性数据,构建了正态分布、对数正态分布、Logistic分布、对数Logistic分布、Weibull分布、Burr III型分布和Gumbel分布等7个SSD模型,评价了北京市污水处理厂二沉池出水以及"混凝-沉淀-过滤-臭氧"、"超滤-臭氧"和"超滤-活性炭-臭氧"3种深度处理工艺组合出水的生态风险。结果表明,利用北京市7个物种雌二醇毒性数据构建的SSD模型具有合理性,SSD模型选择对生态风险评价结果的影响较大,对数正态分布、对数Logistic分布、Weibull分布和Burr III型均是可接受的SSD模型,其中拟合效果最佳的Burr III型分布模型给出了最保守的风险估计。Burr III型分布模型的模拟结果显示,北京市污水处理厂二沉池出水以及3种深度处理工艺组合出水的总体风险期望值分别为0.070、0.040、0.036和0.026,该结果可以为北京市未来水生态保护目标的设定以及污水处理工艺的升级改造提供决策参考。     

种间关系预测(ICE)模型在水质基准研究中的应用

水质基准研究主要是基于物种的实验室测试的毒性数据开展的。对于一些毒性数据相对缺乏的化学品,水质基准研究就会受到一定的影响。本文从水质基准研究方法的角度,阐述了种间关系预测(ICE)的基本原理和基本方法,系统介绍了ICE模型的毒性预测方法在水质基准研究中的应用,并通过锌的ICE案例研究证明了模型在中国的可利用性。同时,对ICE模型的不确定性和适用性进行了分析。最后,对ICE模型存在的问题和未来的发展方向进行了探索和展望。     

水生生物水质基准研究中轮虫、水螅、涡虫类受试生物的筛选

轮虫、水螅、涡虫是水生生态系统的重要生物类群。因其对水体污染较敏感,所以对水生生物基准研究有重要意义。依据我国生物区系资料及毒性数据丰度,筛选出8种代表性本土轮虫、水螅、涡虫类生物。参照美国水生生物基准技术指南,搜集、筛选了这8种代表性生物的急性毒性数据,通过数据分析,筛选出对各物种毒性最大的污染物,主要包括重金属、农药、有机锡化物、表面活性剂、吡啶胺类杀菌剂。分析污染物的物种敏感度分布,依据累积概率对代表性生物的物种敏感性进行分类,结果为:萼花臂尾轮虫(Brachionus calyciflorus)、绿水螅(Hydra viridissima)、普通水螅(Hydra vulgaris)对重金属铜的累积概率为6.5%、8.5%和10.4%,普通水螅(Hydra vulgaris)对重金属汞的累积概率为6.3%;龟甲轮虫(Keratella cochlearis)和四齿腔轮虫(Lecane quadridentata)对五氯酚钠的累积概率为5.1%和7.6%;褐水螅(Hydra oligactis)和绿水螅(Hydra viridissima)对三丁基氧化锡的累积概率为6.9%和13.8%,萼花臂尾轮虫(Brachionus calyciflorus)对氟啶胺的累积概率为6.7%,日本三角涡虫(Dugesia japonica)对四氯化碳、十二烷基苯磺酸钠的累积概率分别为6.7%和7.1%。上述结果表明:萼花臂尾轮虫、绿水螅对重金属铜敏感;普通水螅对重金属铜和汞敏感;龟甲轮虫和四齿腔轮虫对农药敏感;褐水螅和绿水螅对有机锡化物敏感;萼花臂尾轮虫对吡啶胺类杀菌剂敏感;日本三角涡虫对四氯化碳、表面活性剂敏感。这7种代表性生物可作为相关污染物的水生生物基准受试物种。