Microbiological characteristics in a zero-valent iron reactive barrier

Zero-valent iron (Fe⁰)-based permeable reactive barriertreatment has been generating great interest for passivegroundwater remediation, yet few studies have paid particularattention to the microbial activity and characteristics withinand in the vicinity of the Fe⁰-barrier matrix. The presentstudy was undertaken to evaluate the microbial population andcommunity composition in the reducing zone of influence byFe⁰ corrosion in the barrier at the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plantsite. Both phospholipid fatty acids and DNA analyses were usedto determine the total microbial population and microbialfunctional groups, including sulfate-reducing bacteria,denitrifying bacteria, and methanogens, in groundwater andsoil/iron core samples. A diverse microbial community wasidentified in the strongly reducing Fe⁰ environment despitea relatively high pH condition within the Fe⁰ barrier (up topH 10). In comparison with those found in the backgroundsoil/groundwater samples, the enhanced microbial populationranged from 1 to 3 orders of magnitude and appeared to increase from upgradient of the barrier to downgradient soil. Inaddition, microbial community composition appeared to change overtime, and the bacterial types of microorganismsincreased consistently as the barrier aged. DNA analysisindicated the presence of sulfate-reducing and denitrifyingbacteria in the barrier and its surrounding soil. However, theactivity of methanogens was found to be relatively low,presumably as a result of the competition by sulfate/metal-reducing bacteria and denitrifying bacteria because of the unlimited availability of sulfate and nitrate in the site groundwater. Results of this study provide evidenceof a diverse microbial population within and in the vicinity ofthe iron barrier, although the important roles of microbial activity, either beneficially or detrimentally, on the longevityand enduring efficiency of the Fe⁰ barriers are yet to be evaluated.     

水体悬浮颗粒物对斜生栅藻生理生化及光合活性的影响

通过研究不同浓度(30、40、50、60、70 mg·L-1)和不同粒径(0～75μm、75 ～ 96μm、96 ～150 μm、150～ 250 μm)水体悬浮颗粒物对斜生栅藻(Scenedesmus obliquus)叶绿素a含量、抗氧化系酶活性、脂质过氧化物丙二醛(MDA)含量、可溶性蛋白含量及光合参数变化的影响,探讨了水体悬浮颗粒物对斜生栅藻生理生化及光合活性影响的机制.结果表明,预处理与未处理悬浮颗粒物在一定浓度范围内会促进藻类生长,超过各自临界浓度(预处理为40 mg·L-1、未处理为50 mg·L-1)后,随着颗粒物浓度的增加会对藻类生长产生抑制现象未经处理的相同浓度不同粒径颗粒物对斜生栅藻都表现出抑制作用,0～75μm粒径组颗粒物作用下藻体内超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、MDA和可溶性蛋白质含量等均显著区别于其他粒径组的作用(p＜0.05).经过预处理的相同浓度不同粒径颗粒物中,96～150μm粒径组对藻类的生长抑制较其他粒径组明显,且小粒径组颗粒物对藻类体内SOD、CAT、MDA和可溶性蛋白质含量等影响较大.受不同浓度悬浮颗粒物胁迫的斜生栅藻相对电子传递速率随着时间延长在一定程度上降低,但这种抑制作用在藻细胞的耐受范围,藻细胞可以通过自身调节将电子传递速率恢复到正常水平甚至更高以抵抗逆境环境.     

微囊藻毒素对水稻根系生长和抗氧化系统的影响

以水稻幼苗为材料,研究了不同质量浓度(1、100、1 000、3 000μg·L-1)微囊藻毒素(MCs)在胁迫期和恢复期对水稻幼苗根系生长、吸收活力、抗氧化系统的影响以及MCs在水稻根部的积累.结果表明,胁迫处理7 d,MCs在水稻根部的积累量与MCs质量浓度呈正相关.1μg·L-1MCs处理促进了根系生长,根系活力上升,过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性上升有效维持H2O2于正常水平;100μg·L-1MCs处理下,根系生长受抑,根系活力下降,CAT无显著变化;在高质量浓度(1 000μg·L-1、3 000μg·L-1)MCs处理下,不仅根系生长受抑、根系活力下降,且CAT活性受抑,H2O2大量积累,膜质过氧化加剧.相比胁迫期,恢复7 d后各处理组水稻根系MCs的积累量均低于胁迫期.100μg·L-1MCs处理组根系各生长指标、根系活力、丙二醛(MDA)、H2O2和CAT的变幅减小,优于胁迫期,显示出一定程度的恢复,而1 000μg·L-1和3 000μg·L-1MCs处理组,根系生长与根系活力均低于胁迫期,氧化胁迫进一步加剧,表明高质量浓度(1 000μg·L-1和3 000μg·L-1)MCs对水稻根系造成的伤害不可逆.     

Assessment of the Heavy Metal Pollution Effects on the Soil Respiration in the Baix Llobregat (Catalonia, NE Spain)

A main goal of investigations is to determine could a soilrespiration be an indicator of the soil pollution. In this case a measured levelof the soil oxygen consumption depends of its pollution. It alsomeans that the pollution reduces biological processes in edaphon.Investigated soil samples were taken from polluted andnon-polluted places in the Baix Llobregat near Barcelona (Catalonia, NE Spain). Soil samples were taken from the top ofsoil (0–5 cm) without a litter. Soil analysis were done, determining percentage shares of coarsefragments, coarse sand, fine sand, coarse silt, fine silt, clay,CaCO₃, organic matter as well as water pH and conductivityCE (1:5 [mS cm^-1]). Also were determined (in mg kg^-1)quantities of heavy metals, as Fe, Al, Mn, Zn, Cr, Ni, V, Cu, Cd, Pb.The soil respiration was investigated in temperatures15 and 30 °C and with controlled humidity.The respiration in 30 °C is number of times greater thenin 15 °C both for polluted and non-polluted soils.Particularly high coefficients of correlation between the soilrespiration and soil pollution in polluted soils were obtainedfor Pb: r = 0.75 in 15 °C and r = 0.98 in30 °C; for Ba: 0.90 and 0.57; for V: 0.99 and 0.81. In non-polluted soils highest correlation coefficients are for Pb: r = 0.70 in 15 °C; Fe: 0.60 and 0.72; Al: 0.68 and0.64; Mn: 0.51 and 0.66; Ba: 0.63 and 0.61; Cr: 0.94 and0.70; Ni: 0.64 and 0.65; Cu: 0.69 and 0.48; as well as V: 0.62in 15 °C; and Cd: 0.69 in 15 °C.This way the soil respiration could be a good indicator of the soil pollution.     

Synthesis and in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of novel benzo[d] imidazolyl dihydrospiro[indoline-3,1′-isoindole]-2,4′,7′-triones

Synthesis of novel benzo[d]imidazolyldihydrospiro[indoline-3,1′-isoindole]-2,4′,7′-triones has been described. The key intermediate 2-[(2-sulfanyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-5-yl)amino]acetic acid is obtained by reacting 5-amino-2-mercapto benzimidazole and chloroacetic acid. The three-component reaction of 2-[(2-sulfanyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-5-yl)amino]acetic acid with isatin and 1,4-benzoquinone in the presence of 10 mol% of L-proline at ambient temperature afforded 2′-(2-mercapto-1H-benzo [d] imidazol-5-yl)-3′,3a′-dihydrospiro[indoline-3,1′-isoindole]-2,4′,7′(2′H,7a′H)-triones. All the synthesized compounds were evaluated for in vitro anti-inflammatory activity.     

Soil microbial community structure and function responses to successive planting of Eucalyptus

Many studies have shown soil degradation after the conversion of native forests to exotic Eucalyptus plantations. However, few studies have investigated the long-term impacts of short-rotation forestry practices on soil microorganisms. The impacts of Eucalyptus successive rotations on soil microbial communities were evaluated by comparing phospholipid fatty acid （PLFA） abundances, compositions, and enzyme activities of native Pinus massoniana plantations and adjacent 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th generation Eucalyptus plantations. The conversion from P. massoniana to Eucalyptus plantations significantly decreased soil microbial community size and enzyme activities, and increased microbial physiological stress. However, the PLFA abundances formed ＂U＂ shaped quadratic functions with Eucalyptus plantation age. Alternatively, physiological stress biomarkers, the ratios of monounsaturated to saturated fatty acid and Gram＋ to Gram- bacteria, formed ＂∩＂ shaped quadratic functions, and the ratio of cy17：0 to 16： 1ω7c decreased with plantation age. The activities of phenol oxidase, peroxidase, and acid phosphatase increased with Eucalyptus plantation age, while the cellobiobydrolase activity formed ＂U＂ shaped quadratic functions. Soil N：P, alkaline hydrolytic nitrogen, soil organic carbon, and understory cover largely explained the variation in PLFA profiles while soil N：P, alkaline hydrolytic nitrogen, and understory cover explained most of the variability in enzyme activity. In conclusion, soil microbial structure and function under Eucalyptus plantations were strongly impacted by plantation age. Most of the changes could be explained by altered soil resource availability and understory cover associated with successive planting of Eucalyptus. Our results highlight the importance of plantation age for assessing the impacts of plantation conversion as well as the importance of reducing disturbance for plantation management.     

成都市典型非道路工程机械排气烟度分析

采用不透光烟度计采集了成都市典型工程机械(挖掘机、装载机、叉车和压路机)排气烟度,研究了机械功率对其活动水平(燃油消耗量和年均工作时间)的影响,同时也研究了机械发动机构造和机械排放标准对其排气烟度的影响;同时,采用氮硫测定仪分析了机械油品硫含量,研究了硫含量对其排气烟度的影响.试验结果表明:机械功率越大的工程机械,燃油消耗量和年均工作时间数越高.成都典型工程机械排气烟度排放水平最低的为装载机,最高的为压路机;同时,超高排放装载机与叉车的占比较高.工程机械排气烟度受机械发动机排量、机械发动机构造、机械发动机排放标准和机械用油的综合影响,通过对工程机械装配电控发动机、提高原机排放标准和使用低硫燃油均能直观反映出机械排气烟度不同程度的改善.此外,油品中硫含量越高,机械排气烟度越大.     

土壤酶和微生物量碳对土壤低浓度重金属污染的响应及其影响因子研究

土壤酶和微生物量碳是反映土壤健康的重要微生物性质指标。土壤重金属污染能够对土壤微生物性质产生影响,然而土壤酶和微生物量碳对土壤重金属污染的响应受到土壤本身理化性质的影响。通过北京市建成区233个样点的数据监测和实验室模拟,研究了土壤脲酶活性和微生物量碳对土壤低浓度重金属污染的响应以及受土壤理化性质的影响。研究结果表明:在野外主要重金属污染的浓度范围内(Cd 0.003~0.98μg·g-1,Cu 13.4~207.9μg·g-1,Zn 29.4~322μg·g-1,Pb 4.02~174μg·g-1),土壤脲酶活性、微生物量碳(MBC)和有机碳(SOC)的含量与土壤中Cd、Cu、Zn和Pb的浓度正相关,而微生物量碳占有机碳的比率(MBC/SOC)与重金属浓度负相关;脲酶活性、MBC/SOC与重金属浓度建立的相关关系只能解释总变异的5%~10%。实验室模拟试验表明,土壤酶活性受土壤重金属含量和土壤性质联合效应的影响;土壤有机质含量和pH是影响酶活性的主要土壤理化性质。引入土壤有机碳含量和pH两个参数,重新建立脲酶活性、MBC/SOC与土壤中重金属浓度的关系,建立的相关关系的决定系数变大,能够解释总变异的14%~17%。     

Echolocation call design and limits on prey size: a case study using the aerial-hawking bat Nyctalus leisleri

The echolocation calls used by Nyctalus leisleri during search phase in open air space are between 9 and 14 ms long, with the peak energy between 24 and 28 kHz. The pulses are shallowly frequency-modulated with or without an initial steep frequency-modulated component. The diet consists primarily of small flies (Diptera), including many chironomids (wingspan 9–12 mm) and yellow dung flies (Scatophaga; wingspan 24 mm), but also of some larger insects such as dung beetles (Coleoptera; Scarabaeoidea), caddis-flies (Trichoptera) and moths (Lepidoptera). The echo target strength of some prey items was measured. Contrary to models based on standard targets such as spheres or disks, the echo strength of real insects was found to be virtually independent of the emitted frequency within the 20–100 kHz frequency range. A model was used to calculate probable detection distances of the prey by the bat. Using narrow-band calls of 13.7 ± 2.7 ms duration, a bat would detect the two smallest size classes of insect at greatest range using calls of 20 kHz. The results may therefore explain why many species of large and medium sized aerial-hawking bats use low-frequency calls and still eat mostly relatively small insects. The data and model challenges the assumption that small prey are unavailable to bats using low-frequency calls.     

Bacterial colonization of the phyllosphere of nineteen plant species and antimicrobial activity of their leaf secondary metabolites against leaf associated bacteria

Summary. The scope of this work was to examine whether leaf constitutive secondary metabolites play a role in determining bacterial colonization of the phyllosphere. To this aim, we surveyed nineteen native or cultivated plant species that share a common bacterial pool in a North Mediterranean area, and estimated the size of total and ice nucleation active (INA) bacterial populations on their leaves. Large differences in the colonization of their phyllosphere were found; the population size of epiphytic bacteria ranged from 7.5 × 10² to 1 × 10⁶ CFU/g fresh weight, in eucalypt and celery, respectively. Species native in Mediterranean-type climate areas, particularly those belonging to the group of aromatic plants, are characterized by scarce presence of INA bacteria. The antibacterial activity of essential oils, surface phenolics and leaf tissue extracts was also estimated against the INA strains P. syringae and E. herbicola, isolated from two of these plant species. E. herbicola proved more sensitive than P. syringae. Of the species examined, oregano [Origanum vulgare L. subsp. hirtum (Link.) Ietswaart], an aromatic plant, had the highest antimicrobial activity, whereas six species showed no activity at all. Further experiments were performed with oregano and bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) that represent two extremes in their secondary metabolite content. Both plants were inoculated with P. syringae. By the end of incubation, the bacterial population on bean plants was about 100 times higher than that on oregano leaves. Scanning electron micrographs showed that bacterial growth on oregano leaves was confined to sites away from glandular hairs. Results from the bacterial colonization survey together with those from the toxicity tests showed that all species rich in antibacterial secondary metabolites harbored low leaf bacterial populations. These results provide substantial evidence that leaf secondary metabolites function as constitutive defense chemicals against microbial invasions. However, the fact that species with non- or moderately active leaf secondary metabolites are not always highly colonized suggests mediation of other unknown factors, the contribution of which requires further investigation.