Enzymatic hydrolysis of banana stems (Musa acuminata): Optimization of process parameters and inhibition characterization

In current work, an optimum solid loading (solid: liquid = 1:20), pH (4.8), temperature (50°C), and enzyme dosing of 20 filter paper unit (amount of enzyme required to release 1 µmol of glucose as reducing sugar from filter paper in per mL per minute) were enumerated for enzymatic hydrolysis of banana stem using cellulase from Trichoderma reesei. Further, inhibition study on enzymatic hydrolysis of banana stem was investigated by the supplementation of monosaccharides (glucose, galactose, mannose, xylose, and arabinose), disaccharide (cellobiose), and inhibitors (acetic acid and furfural obtained from pre-enzymatic hydrolysis steps). Glucose and cellobiose showed inhibitory effect on enzymatic hydrolysis of pretreated banana stem at or above 8 g/L while galactose, mannose, and xylose showed a significant inhibitory effect at or above 4 g/L. Instead of inhibition, arabinose enhanced the enzymatic hydrolysis with increase in total reducing sugars. Acetic acid did not show any significant inhibition while furfural inhibited the system at a comparative low concentration of 2 g/L. Further, scanning electron microscopy analysis was performed to investigate the difference in ultra-structural morphology of raw biomass, pretreated biomass, and biomass obtained after enzymatic hydrolysis.     

Pulling force prediction using neural networks

Purpose. In ergonomics and human factors investigations, pulling force (PF) estimation has usually been achieved using various types of biomechanical models, and independent approximation of PF was done with the help of upper extremity joints. Recently, multiple regression methods have gained importance for task-relevant inputs in predicting PF. Artificial neural networks (ANNs) also play a vital role in fitting the data; however, their use in work-related biomechanics and ergonomics is inadequate. Therefore, the current research aimed to accomplish comparative investigation of ANN and regression models by assessing their capacity to predict PF values. Methods. Multipositional PF data were acquired from 200 subjects at three different handle heights and body locations. ANN and regression models were formed using a random sample of three subsets (75% training, 15% selection, 10% validation) for proving the outcomes. Results. The comparison of ANN and regression models shows that the predictions of ANN models had a profoundly explained variance and lower root mean square difference values for the PF data at three handle heights. Conclusions. These outcomes advise that ANNs offer a precise and robust substitute for regression methods, and should be considered a useful method in biomechanics and ergonomics task assessments.     

紫羊茅抗铜和敏感品种在发育早期对铜离子反应的生理差异

紫羊茅（Festucarubra）抗铜品种Merlin和敏感品种559种子在水中吸胀5d后长出的幼苗在一般培养液中分别培养了0、2、4、6、8和10d（分别称为D0、D2、D4、D6、D8和D10）后再置于ρ（Cu2＋）＝5mg／L的相同培养液中，其中约一半培养至d20，其余至d27．结果与同龄的幼苗相比，MerlinD6在27d和20d的根中均有最高的干物质含量和最大的叶绿素浓度；在27d苗的根中铜积累了最少；而MerlinD6的苗在各个抗性处理组中最高在从20d至27d的培养期间，MerlinD6地上部分的干物质增加最多，而根中则减少最多，叶绿素含量也减少最多，在根中积累的铜也最少；可是在敏感的S59中则没有这种特殊现象，这些现象暗示，即使是在抗性品种的Merlin中，在其不同的生长时期经铜处理，也表现出不同的抗性，并可能有一个抗性最大的生长期。     

Studying developmental neurotoxic effects of bisphenol A (BPA) using embryonic stem cells

There is little to no toxicity information regarding thousands of chemicals to which people are exposed daily. In fact, of the 84,000 chemicals listed in the United States Toxic Substances Control Act Inventory, there is limited information available on their effects on neural development (Betts, 2010 and US EPA, 2015). The number of chemicals tested remains low due to the high cost of conducting multi-generational animal studies and the lack of alternative testing methods.     

Assessment of Bisphenol A (BPA) neurotoxicity in vitro with mouse embryonic stem cells

The adverse effects of environmental pollution on our well-being have been intensively studied with many in vitro and in vivo systems. In our group, we focus on stem cell toxicology due to the multitude of embryonic stem cell (ESC) properties which can be exerted in toxicity assays. In fact, ESCs can differentiate in culture to mimic embryonic development in vivo, or specifically to virtually any kind of somatic cells. Here, we used the toxicant Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical known as a hazard to infants and children, and showed that our stem cell toxicology system was able to efficiently recapitulate most of the toxic effects of BPA previously detected by in vitro system or animal tests. More precisely, we demonstrated that BPA affected the proper specification of germ layers during our in vitro mimicking of the embryonic development, as well as the establishment of neural ectoderm and neural progenitor cells.     

渤海湾海域10种鱼类中二（口恶）英类及指示性多氯联苯的污染特征研究及风险评价

多氯联苯(PCBs)具有高毒性和生物蓄积性,是列入公约优先控制的持久性有机污染物之一.多氯联苯在水生食物链中蓄积,同时人类食用鱼肉会对人体健康产生一定影响.近渤海地区具有焚烧、钢铁冶炼及水泥等PCBs非故意潜在排放源,而对此区域PCBs产生的环境污染及造成的人体健康效应的研究较少.本研究利用高分辨气相色谱/高分辨质谱(HRGC/HRMS)首次对近渤海地区10种不同鱼类中的二噁英类多氯联苯(dl-PCBs)和指示性PCBs进行了分析.12种dl-PCBs的含量(以湿重计)为28.9~1067.6 pg·g-1,其中PCB-118和PCB-105是主要贡献单体,贡献率分别是41%~56%和15%~21%.指示性PCBs的浓度范围是185.5~8371.7 pg·g-1,其中PCB-153和PCB-138是主要的贡献单体,贡献率分别是27%和22%.与国内外其他海域的研究相比,近渤海区海水鱼中PCBs残留量处于较低水平,对人体产生健康风险比较小.     

煤气设备水封的有效高度

通过分析煤气设备水封的有效高度的有关规定,及水封有效高度的计算方法,阐述生产单位水封跑气事故情况,提出了煤气设备水封的有效高度的新计算方法。     

对解决跨行政区域水污染问题的思考和建议--以淮河流域亳州市受跨行政区域水污染为例

本文以亳州市地表水受跨行政区域水污染的影响为例,简要分析了当前我国解决跨区域水污染存在的主要问题,并针对如何妥善解决该问题提出了自己的见解.     

Respirometric Monitoring for the Determination of Effective Height and Reaction Rate Constant in Up-Flow Autotrophic Denitrification Reactor Packed with Sulfur

A novel technology for the removal of nitrogen from wastewater, autotrophic denitrification process with sulfur particle, has been developed. A respirometer was employed for the monitoring of nitrogen gas produced in the reactor. It was found that the autotrophic denitrification studied by gas production rate and nitrate depletion rate followed a first order reaction from the relationship. The reaction rate constant based on effective volume, k_N was ranged from 2.67 to 3.07 h^–1. The effective height was around 23.8 and 50% of the total height for 11.8 and 5.9 h of packed bed contact time, respectively. It was assumed that the reaction rate constants were similar in each experimental condition, PBCT = 11.9 and 5.9 h because there was little gradient of biomass concentration within 50% of the total height. The respirometry was found to be a simple and fast way to monitor the denitrification process. The method was especially useful for the determination of kinetic parameters.     

灰色消解模型的改进——z变换后的线性回归解法

针对文献中提出的灰色消解模型的建模方法进行了ｚ变换，然后改用线性回归的办法求解，实例验证后表明，模拟拟合状况一致，但计算工作量大为减轻。