Antibacterial,antiviral and antioxidant activities of aerial part extracts of Peganum harmala L. grown in Tunisia

Ethyl acetate, chloroform, butanol, and methanol extracts from the aerial part of Peganum harmala were tested for antibacterial, antioxidant, and antiviral activities. The antibacterial activity was evaluated by the determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) using the solid medium technique. Oxacillin, amoxicillin, ticarcillin, cefotaxim, and amphotericin were used as control agents. The antiviral activity was evaluated against human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) strain AD-169 (ATCC Ref. VR 538) and Coxsackie B virus type 3 (CoxB-3) using a cytopathic effect (CPE) reduction assay. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using two tests: 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free-radical scavenging and ammonium thiocyanate methods. Among tested extracts; the chloroform extract displayed a higher antibacterial activity against Gram-positive than Gram-negative bacteria. The butanol extract demonstrated the highest antioxidant activity. The methanol extract showed significant antiviral activity against CoxB-3 virus. The chloroform extract may be an important source of bactericidal compounds against Gram-positive bacteria.     

2种入侵植物对根际土壤微生物种群及代谢的影响

选取2种入侵植物（一年蓬Annual Fleabane及加拿大蓬Erigeron Canadensis）及本土植物（艾蒿Artemisia argyi）的根际土壤微生物种群为研究对象,以分析不同根际土壤微生物种群的数量及测定根际土壤微生物酶活的活性为切入点来探析入侵植物对土壤微生物的影响及其响应机制。结果显示：2种入侵植物显著增加了其根际土壤中的细菌的数量,而显著抑制了真菌与放线菌的数量。另外,入侵植物一年蓬显著抑制其根际土壤中纤维素酶的活性,而3种植物的根际土壤硝酸还原酶活性无显著差异。入侵植物对其他3种土壤酶（即转化酶、脲酶及酸性磷酸酶）活性的影响却呈现出截然相反的影响,即一年蓬显著增加了3种根际土壤酶的活性,而加拿大蓬却显著减少了3种根际土壤酶的活性。导致这种现象的原因可能是不同入侵植物的根系释放不同的化学物质进而对土壤微生物的数量和活性造成不同的影响。     

Distraction in older drivers - A face-to-face interview study

The prevalence of older drivers’ engagement in distracting activities while driving is largely unexplored. Face-to-face interviews were conducted in the city of Braunschweig, Germany, comparing a sample of older drivers (n = 205) to a group of middle-aged drivers (n = 209). The drivers were interviewed on their engagement in distracting activities during the last half an hour of their driving trip, including the frequency and duration of these activities, their perception of the risk associated with these distracting activities and the role of these activities in at-fault crashes. Middle-aged drivers were significantly more likely to engage in certain distracting activities than older drivers. With regard to the duration of interactions with the passengers older drivers were significantly more talkative than middle-aged drivers. Middle-aged drivers rated most of the distracting activities as significantly less dangerous than older drivers. Distraction-related crashes are not a special problem of older drivers but seem to be very comparable to the middle-aged drivers. It is concluded that older drivers’ reluctance to engage in distracting tasks while driving is either a process of self-regulation or their age-related prudence. The study is the first to gather knowledge about distraction in German older drivers. Although older drivers are not currently overrepresented in distraction-related crashes, it is important to note that future cohorts of older drivers might differ in the way they engage with vehicles and technologies, which in turn may influence their driving patterns and willingness to engage in potentially distracting activities.     

Heavy metal contamination of paddy soils and rice (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza sativa</Emphasis> L.) from Kočani Field (Macedonia)

This research focuses on the heavy metal contamination of the paddy soils and rice from Kočani Field (eastern Macedonia) resulting from irrigation by riverine water impacted by past and present base-metal mining activities and acid mine drainage. Very high concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn were found in the paddy soils (47.6, 6.4, 99, 983 and 1,245 μg g⁻¹) and the rice (0.53, 0.31, 5.8, 0.5 and 67 μg g⁻¹) in the western part of Kočani Field, close to the Zletovska River, which drains the mining facilities of the Pb–Zn mine in Zletovo. In terms of health risk, the observed highest concentrations of these elements in the rice could have an effect on human health and should be the subject of further investigations.     

利用报告基因试验检测饮用水源水的内分泌干扰活性（Endocrine-Disrupting Effects of Drinking Source Water with the Reporter Gene Assay）

基于非洲猴肾CV-1细胞受体转录激活试验,研究了饮用水源水内分泌干扰活性的检测方法,并测定了南方某城市某水厂水源水中有机提取物的拟雌激素活性和拟/抗甲状腺激素活性.结果表明,CV-1细胞受体转录激活试验是一种筛选和定量分析具有拟雌激素受体活性和拟/抗甲状腺受体活性的内分泌干扰物的快速、有效的方法.结合固相萃取等前处理技术,有效检测了南方某城市某水厂水源水弱极性和强极性有机提取物的内分泌干扰活性.此水源水弱极性组分和强极性组分,皆可以显著诱导雌激素活性,诱导倍数为对照组的6~7倍,且弱极性组分的拟雌激素活性要略强于极性组分.弱极性组分和强极性组分在不同浓缩倍数下皆不会显著诱导甲状腺激素活性,但当与5nmol·L-1T3共同作用于CV-1细胞时,弱极性组分在25~100倍浓缩时,会产生显著的拟甲状腺激素活性,且表现为与5nmol·L-1T3协同作用;在25~100倍浓缩的强极性组分暴露下,无显著的拮抗甲状腺激素活性,但当样品浓度上升至200倍浓缩暴露时,表现为显著拮抗甲状腺激素活性.对应的化学分析表明,该水厂水源水中含有有机氯农药类化合物及其代谢物(0.09~0.33ng·L-1)、多氯联苯类化合物(0.06~0.1ng·L-1)、多环芳烃类化合物(0.6~19.0ng·L-1)和辛基酚(49ng·L-1)等内分泌干扰物,很好地印证了样品内分泌干扰活性的来源.     

塔里木盆地南缘绿洲土壤酶活性与理化因子相关性

基于塔里木盆地南缘于田绿洲土壤酶活性与水盐、养分等理化因子数据,利用冗余分析技术(RDA)全面分析了土壤酶活性与理化因子间的关系. 结果显示:①于田绿洲土壤酶活性总体水平较低,过氧化氢酶(以KMnO₄计)、转化酶(以Na₂S₂O₃计)、脲酶(以NH₃-N计)和碱性磷酸酶(以C₆H₆O计)活性平均值分别为9.37、2.04、0.27和0.18 mg/g;研究区土壤水分含量(15.46%,以w计)较少且盐渍化严重〔w(全盐)平均值为19.39 g/kg〕. ②w(有机质)、土壤水分含量、地下水埋深和w(有效磷)是影响土壤酶活性的主要因素,w(有机质)、土壤水分含量、w(有效磷)与土壤酶活性呈正相关,地下水埋深与土壤酶活性呈负相关. ③各理化因子对土壤酶活性影响的重要性排序为w(有机质)、土壤水分含量、地下水埋深、w(有效磷)、pH、w(全盐)、电导率、w(速效钾). 综合分析表明,研究区强盐渍化的土壤性质对土壤酶活性的抑制并不显著,土壤碳、磷等养分与水分状况才是限制土壤酶活性的关键因素.      

Effects of perfluorooctane sulfonate on behavioural activity,regeneration and antioxidant enzymes in planarian Dugesia japonica

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is a persistent organic pollutant and has been found to be the predominant perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) in the environment. In the present study, planarian Dugesia japonica is employed to investigate the toxicity of this compound. The behavioural activity, survival, regeneration and antioxidant enzyme activities of the D. japonica exposed to PFOS were investigated. The results showed that the planarian D. japonica is very sensitive to low concentration pollutants including PFOS and suitable for toxicological bioassays. PFOS has severe toxicity in inducing oxidative stress, regeneration and development toxicity in planarians. The toxicity is indicated by reduced planarian locomotor velocity (pLMV), reduced appearance of auricles in regenerating animals, changed in antioxidant enzyme SOD and CAT activities. The information presented in this study will help elucidating the PFOS-induced toxicity in aquatic organisms.     

Potential sources of unintentionally produced PCB,HCB, and PeCBz in China: A preliminary overview

Under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), China is required not only to reduce polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/PCDF) but also unintentionally produced polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and pentachlorobenzene (PeCBz). A baseline of the sources in China that generate these unintentional POPs is needed for both research and regulation purposes. In this paper, we have compiled production data of potential sources in China and assessed them in five-year intervals from 2000 to 2015. Most of these activities experienced changes from rapid growth to slow growth. Measured data for PCB, HCB and PeCBz in samples collected from potential sources in China were reviewed. Most information was associated to thermal processes with high potential of emission, including waste incineration and ferrous and non-ferrous metal production. In addition, high levels of PCB, HCB and PeCBz were found as impurities in a few chlorinated products or as by-products in solvent production, which suggested organochlorine industry might be important sources. Finally, based on the studies reviewed, recommendations for future actions in research and policy as well as a few regulatory issues in China are discussed.

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湖滨带生态退化及其与人类活动的相互作用

湖滨带属于水陆生态交错带,是湖泊水生态系统与陆地生态系统间非常重要的过渡带. 根据湖滨带生态退化的表现形式,可以将湖滨带生态退化过程归纳为渐变退化、间断不连续退化、跃变退化、突变退化及复合退化5种类型. 系统自然退化是一个漫长渐变的过程,而人为干扰往往带有冲击负荷与胁迫压力.人类对湖滨带生态退化的影响与人类文明的发展历程密切相关,随着人类开发自然、利用自然能力的加强,对湖滨带生态退化的影响深度、范围也明显增强. 在文明初始阶段,人类对湖滨带处于被动适应及竞争利用的状态;文明成长阶段,人类开始对湖滨带进行主动开发及可控利用;在文明成熟阶段,从对湖滨带单纯开发利用拓展为发挥综合生态服务功能. 另一方面,湖滨带生态退化对人类产生的影响主要体现在生物资源萎缩、洪水灾害损失增加、可利用淡水资源减少、对人体健康造成威胁、美学价值丧失、影响水文化的历史传承等. 研究湖滨带的退化过程及其与人类活动之间的相互作用、相互影响关系,认清湖滨带自身的发展规律,识别湖滨带退化的驱动因子,有助于我们进一步保护湖滨带、修复退化的湖滨带或提出减缓湖滨带退化过程的有利措施.