Detection of Class I and II integrons for the assessment of antibiotic and multidrug resistance among Escherichia coli isolates from agricultural irrigation waters in Bulacan,Philippines

Contaminated irrigation water may greatly affect not only the quality of produce but also the people exposed to it. In this study, agricultural irrigation waters in Bulacan, Philippines were assessed and found to be contaminated with Escherichia coli (E. coli) ranging from 0.58 to 4.51 log₁₀ CFU/mL. A total of 79 isolates of E. coli were confirmed through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplifying the uidA gene and were tested for phenotypic resistance using 10 antimicrobials through the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method. Forty-six isolates (58.22%) were noted to be multidrug resistant (MDR) with high resistance rate to cephalothin, tetracycline, streptomycin, ampicillin, trimethoprim, nalidixic acid, and chloramphenicol. Moreover, this study also examined the prevalence of Class I and II integrons accounting to 67.39% and 17.39%, respectively, of the MDR E. coli strains using multiplex PCR. The results imply that the agricultural water used in Bulacan is contaminated with the fecal material of man or other animals present in the area, and the presence of MDR bacteria, which pose a potential threat to individuals in these areas, is alarming. In addition, detection of integrons could be a good marker for the identification of MDR isolates. Lastly, this study could develop strategies for the proper management of farming sites leading to the detection of food-borne pathogens and prevention of infectious diseases.     

Quantity and biochemical composition of sedimentary organic matter around offshore gas extraction platforms of the Adriatic Sea

Gas platforms can exert relevant effects on various ecosystem properties of the hosting area, modifying patterns of productivity and particle sedimentation. We hypothesised that the presence of gas platforms is associated with higher organic matter (OM) contents and we tested the null hypothesis by which benthic trophic conditions do not vary significantly among gas structures with different architectural characteristics. To test these hypotheses, we investigated sedimentary OM contents and biochemical composition at increasing distance from two distinct structures: one subsea well-site and one four-leg platform (FLP). We found that sediments surrounding the structures were characterised by similar OM contents, but different biochemical compositions, and that sedimentary OM compositional change with increasing distance from the structure is confirmed only at the FLP. These results suggest that: (i) benthic eutrophication is not consistent among different structures; (ii) OM biochemical composition changes are more evident than those in OM quantity; and (iii) the effect, wherever present, disappears at a very narrow distance from the platform. As biochemical composition of OM reflects food availability for benthic organisms, our results suggest that the enrichment of macrozoobenthic communities around these structures could be the consequence of increased nutritional quality of resources.     

Effect of the allelochemicals from the macrophyte Egeria densa on the competitive interactions of pelagic and littoral cladocerans

Macrophytes release allelochemicals, which affect pelagic cladocerans such as Daphnia. Using population growth experiments, we analysed the effects of allelochemicals from the macrophyte Egeria densa on the interaction between Daphnia mendotae and three littoral cladocerans (Diaphanosoma birgei, Macrothrix triserialis and Simocephalus mixtus). We found that allelochemicals from E. densa increased the abundance of all the tested cladocerans in spite of the presence of a competitor. This effect was stronger (nearly three to four times higher than in controls) for D. birgei and M. triserialis in the absence of D. mendotae. Independent of the presence of allelochemicals, S. mixtus, but not D. birgei and M. triserialis, reduced the abundance of D. mendotae as compared to controls. The rate of population increase (r) per day was significantly elevated due to the presence of Egeria’s allelochemicals (from 0.07–0.16?d^?1 without allelochemicals against 0.12–0.24?d^?1 with allelochemicals). In our competition experiments, the rates of population increase of the cladocerans were lower than those in single-species cultures when cultured in the absence of allelochemicals. However, in the presence of allelochemicals this trend was not consistent. Thus, the positive effects of Egeria’s allelochemicals over the cladoceran populations may enhance the grazing pressure on phytoplankton.     

Low uptakes of Cd,Cu, and Zn in Dugesia japonica,a freshwater planarian with higher tolerance to metals

Although a freshwater planarian is proposed as a potential model for studying toxicities of environmental pollutants, they are less sensitive to metal exposures, compared to other freshwater invertebrates. We hypothesised that the metal uptake is low in treated planarians, which may lead to their higher tolerance to metals. The acute toxicities of Cu and Zn to Dugesia japonica were determined. The 24- and 48-h median lethal concentrations were 4.50 and 3.46?mg?L^?1, respectively, for Cu, and 41.97 and 37.79?mg?L^?1, respectively, for Zn. Accordingly, combining with the data on Cd in our previous study, higher tolerance of planarians to metals was revealed. Also, tissue levels of Cd, Cu, and Zn in treated D. japonica were determined, and their dissolved uptake rate constants (k₁) were calculated. Results showed that bioaccumulations of these metals in D. japonica were, indeed, lower than that in other freshwater invertebrates having higher susceptibilities to these metals.     

Evidence of new particle formation during post monsoon season over a high-altitude site of the Western Ghats,India

The formation of ultrafine particles, their growth, and associated characteristic features has been studied during new particle formation events over a high-altitude station of the Western Ghats during the 2014 post-monsoon season. Most of the events were observed during noon time where particle bursts in the nucleation-mode size range from 5 to 25 nm followed by sustained growth in size. This phenomenon persists for ～4–8 h with a growth rate of 1–2 nm h^–1. Peak concentrations of nucleation-mode particles during the event generally vary from 2300 to 5000 cm^–3. The mean growth rate is 1.4 ± 0.42 nm h^–1, particle formation rate is 1.14 ± 0.22 cm^–3 s^–1, coagulation sink is 0.35 ± 0.22 cm^–3 s^–1, and condensational sink is 15.4 ± 2.6?×?10^–3 s^–1. All these values are comparable with earlier results from Indian region. Comparison of size-segregated particle number concentration during days of new particle formation events and those without new particle formation were carried out showing a distinct variation in nucleation and Aitken mode with least variability associated with the accumulation mode.     

中国新克强指数的构建与实证分析

随着中国经济进入新常态,英国《经济学人》杂志构建的克强指数已无法反映中国经济的全貌,如何客观地反映中国经济的真实状况成为一个迫切需要解决的现实问题。为更好地测度中国经济运行的真实状况,本文根据李克强总理提出的"未来会更加关注就业、居民收入和生态环境的持续改善"的愿景,在原有克强指数的基础上,增加年末就业人员数、农村居民家庭人均纯收入、城镇居民家庭人均可支配收入等就业和收入方面的指标,使用中国1995—2015年的相关数据和层次分析法构建了克强指数的修订版本即新克强指数,并将新克强指数与GDP增长率、克强指数进行了比较,发现新克强指数在反映中国经济波动和经济整体运行状态上有更为优良的性质。与GDP增长率相比,新克强指数克服了服务业比重提高带来的熨平效应,进而灵敏地反映中国经济波动情况,并对异常事件更加具有敏感性。相对于克强指数而言,新克强指数破除了因中国在第二产业上存在失衡性发展所带来的经济波动的杠杆效应,降低了经济增长中的虚假成分,从而与中国经济运行的整体关联度更为密切。此外,相对于克强指数而言,新克强指数在反映经济景气方面有着较好的时效性与关联性。采用时差相关分析法对新克强指数与宏观经济指标之间的关系进行分析,发现新克强指数在反映第一产业增加值、第三产业增加值、最终消费支出、资本形成总额、对外贸易、通货膨胀等方面具有优势。研究表明:新克强指数是更适宜测度中国经济的多元评价指标,为测度中国经济运行的真实状况提供了科学的参考依据。     

新型吸附材料AGS在油气回收中的应用

考查了自制疏水性硅胶吸附材料AGS在加油站模拟油气回收装置及某油库现场油气回收装置的应用效果,并与常用的柱状活性炭进行了比较。实验结果表明：与活柱状性炭相比,AGS对油气的吸附速率和吸附量较小,但是油气脱附效果更好;将二者混合得到的吸附材料同时具备二者的优点,既具有较高的油气吸附量又具有良好的脱附性能,使油气回收装置具有更大的油气吸附量和更好的回收效果。     

中国2030年CO2排放总量预测研究

我国2005年和2010年CO2排放总量分别为55亿t和81.52亿t,“十五”和“十一五”期间年均增长率分别为11.0％和8.0％.中国2011-2015年、2016-2020年、2021-2025年和2026-2030年GDP年均增长率分别为8％、7％、6％、5％的经济发展模式与对应的能源消费弹性系数分别为0.5、0.5、0.4和0.3的能源发展模式,预测2030年燃煤、燃油和天然气CO2排放量及全国CO2排放总量.提出减少CO2排放总量对策,主要包括：调整能源结构,尽量减少煤炭消费量占能源消费总量的比例,增加石油、天然气和新能源的比例,提高CO2综合利用率,完善CO2管理政策与法律法规等.     

臭氧氧化法处理焦化废水生化出水的反应动力学

对臭氧氧化去除焦化废水生化出水COD的反应动力学及其影响因素进行了实验研究,结果表明,在臭氧投加量为8．50mg／min,反应温度为20＇E和初始pH为10．61条件下,对COD的降解符合表观一级反应动力学模型,其相关系数R。=0．9991,表观反应速率常数k。。=1．01×10^-3s-1。该条件下,臭氧氧化对COD的降解主要来源于高活性羟基自由基的强氧化作用。在不同的臭氧投加量（4．25～12．75mg／min）、不同的反应温度（10～40℃）和不同的初始pH（3．76～12．53）下,COD的降解也同样遵循一级反应动力学规律。随着臭氧投加量的增大,COD降解的表观反应速率常数从（0．554×10^-3）s-1增加到（1．06×10＆-3）s-1;随着反应温度的升高,表观反应速率常数从（0．427×10^-3）s-1增加到（1．40×10-3）s-1,温度越高反应速率提高的幅度却越小;在初始pH3．76～10．61范围内,表观反应速率常数从（0．218×10^-3）s-1增加到（1．01×10^-3）s-1,在初始pH为12．53时表观反应速率常数下降到（0．857×10^-3）s-1。     

3种运行模式下CAST工艺脱氮性能

以模拟城市污水为处理对象,采用循环式活性污泥法（CAST）反应器,对3种运行模式（M1：常规模式,M2：缺氧好氧模式、M3：缺氧好氧交替模式）下系统的脱氮性能进行了研究,比较了各模式下CAST反应器的氨氮和总氮的去除效率,并对各模式下典型周期内氮基质浓度变化进行了考察,以确定系统的脱氮模式。结果表明,在氨氮去除不成为限制条件（去除率〉90％）的条件下,3种运行模式下系统总氮的平均去除率分别为67．3％、70．6％和82．4％,以缺氧好氧交替模式下的最高;M1、M2和M3均可实现亚硝酸型硝化,但随着温度的升高,亚硝酸型硝化逐渐消失。静态实验分析表明,3种模式下系统的氨氧化速率大小次序为：vN：M1〉vN：M2〉vN：M3,反硝化速率大小次序为：vDN,M2〉vDN,M3〉vDN,M1。