Single walled carbon nanotubes induce cytotoxicity and oxidative stress in HEK293 cells

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential toxicity and general mechanisms involved in single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs)-induced cytotoxicity using human embryonic kidney cell line (HEK293) cells. Carbon nanotubes (coded as CNT) used in this study were synthesized by the chemical vapor deposition method. To elucidate the possible mechanisms underlying SWCNT-induced cytotoxicity, cell viability, cell membrane damage (lactate dehydrogenase activity (LDH) assay), reduced glutathione (GSH), interleukin-8 (IL-8) and lipid peroxidation products levels were quantitatively assessed following SWCNT exposure for 48 hr using HEK293 cells. Exposure of cells to SWCNT at 3–300 μg/ml produced significant reduction in cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner. The IC₅₀ value of SWCNT was found to be 87.58 μg/ml. Exposure of HEK cells to SWCNT at 10–100 μg/ml resulted in concentration-dependent cell membrane damage, increased production of IL-8, elevated levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances like malondialdehyde and decreased intracellular GSH levels. In summary, exposure to SWCNT resulted in a concentration-dependent cytotoxicity in cultured HEK293 cells that was associated with increased oxidative stress.     

Effects of Exurban Development and Temperature on Bird Species in the Southern Appalachians

Land‐use dynamics and climatic gradients have large effects on many terrestrial systems. Exurban development, one of the fastest growing forms of land use in the United States, may affect wildlife through habitat fragmentation and building presence may alter habitat quality. We studied the effects of residential development and temperature gradients on bird species occurrence at 140 study sites in the southern Appalachian Mountains (North Carolina, U.S.A.) that varied with respect to building density and elevation. We used occupancy models to determine 36 bird species’ associations with building density, forest canopy cover, average daily mean temperature, and an interaction between building density and mean temperature. Responses varied with habitat requirement, breeding range, and migration distance. Building density and mean temperature were both included in the top occupancy models for 19 of 36 species and a building density by temperature interaction was included in models for 8 bird species. As exurban development expands in the southern Appalachians, interior forest species and Neotropical migrants are likely to decline, but shrubland or edge species are not likely to benefit. Overall, effects of building density were greater than those of forest canopy cover. Exurban development had a greater effect on birds at high elevations due to a greater abundance of sensitive forest‐interior species and Neotropical migrants. A warming climate may exacerbate these negative effects. Efectos del Desarrollo Exurbano y de la Temperatura sobre Especies de Aves en las Apalaches del Sur     

Atmospheric lead pollution in fine particulate matter in Shanghai, China

The Pb-monitoring program was extended for 6 years from 2002 to 2007 at 17 representative urban sites (6 traffic, 5 industrial, and 6 residential sites), and 3 suburban sites to assess the lead pollution in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) after phasing out leaded gasoline in Shanghai. Compared with Pb levels reported in other places, the Pb pollution in Shanghai is still serious after phasing out leaded gasoline, which remains at high concentration range (213–176 ng/m3) in PM2.5 in winter. Significant spati...     

菲和镉单一及复合污染条件下在毛蚶体内的富集动力学研究

采用室内半静态双箱动力学模型实验,研究了菲和镉单一及复合污染条件下在毛蚶(Anadara subcrenata)体内的生物富集,通过对富集与释放过程中毛蚶体内菲和Cd的富集量进行非线性曲线拟合,获得了菲和Cd单一及复合污染条件下在毛蚶体内的吸收速率常数k1、释放速率常数k2、生物富集因子BCF、生物半衰期B1/2和平衡状态下最大富集量CA max等动力学参数。实验结果表明,菲和Cd在实验前期富集速率较高,8 d以后富集速率减缓,释放阶段与富集阶段相似。毛蚶对菲的BCF值为37.80,远大于Cd的BCF值13.12,且生物半衰期时间更长,菲更容易在生物体内富集。菲和Cd联合暴露条件下,在毛蚶体内的CA max和BCF值均大于单一作用,说明二者同时暴露时,毛蚶对菲和镉的吸收富集均有所增强。实验模型拟合度较好,输出值和实测值之间无显著性差异,拟合方程和拟合参数可信。     

重金属Cr(Ⅵ)、Pb及Cu胁迫对双齿围沙蚕体腔细胞的DNA损伤

为探讨重金属Cr(Ⅵ)、Pb以及Cu对沙蚕体腔细胞DNA的毒性效应,以双齿围沙蚕为受试动物,重金属按不同剂量水平,Cr(Ⅵ):10、100和200 mg· L-1,Pb:5、50和100 mg·L-1,Cu:1、10和20 mg· L-1,分别胁迫沙蚕24 h,以不加任何重金属离子的海水为对照,采用单细胞凝胶电泳技术,检测其体腔细胞DNA损伤程度.结果表明,与空白对照组相比,3种重金属离子的各浓度组都能引起沙蚕体腔细胞DNA损伤,且3种重金属胁迫浓度与细胞DNA损伤程度之间存在显著的剂量-效应关系.双齿围沙蚕可以作为单细胞凝胶电泳的实验材料用于重金属所致环境污染的生物监测指示生物.     

重金属Cr(VI)、Pb及Cu胁迫对双齿围沙蚕体腔细胞的DNA损伤

为探讨重金属Cr(VI)、Pb以及Cu对沙蚕体腔细胞DNA的毒性效应,以双齿围沙蚕为受试动物,重金属按不同剂量水平,Cr(VI):10、100和200 mg·L~(-1),Pb:5、50和100 mg·L~(-1),Cu:1、10和20 mg·L~(-1),分别胁迫沙蚕24 h,以不加任何重金属离子的海水为对照,采用单细胞凝胶电泳技术,检测其体腔细胞DNA损伤程度。结果表明,与空白对照组相比,3种重金属离子的各浓度组都能引起沙蚕体腔细胞DNA损伤,且3种重金属胁迫浓度与细胞DNA损伤程度之间存在显著的剂量-效应关系。双齿围沙蚕可以作为单细胞凝胶电泳的实验材料用于重金属所致环境污染的生物监测指示生物。     

Co(C3H6NS2)3·C6H12N2S3单晶的制备及催化性能的研究

采用常温饱和溶液蒸发法,一硫化四甲基秋兰姆与钴(Ⅱ)发生原位反应得到一种新型非均相Fenton催化剂单晶Co(C₃H₆NS₂)₃·C₆H₁₂N₂S₃;通过单晶X衍射、红外光谱和C、N和H元素分析对该单晶结构进行了表征;该单晶的空间群为P-1,在不对称单元中有1个Co(Ⅲ)中心,3个新配体C₃H₇NS₂和1个TMTM;Co(Ⅲ)呈现出稍微偏斜的八面体的配位几何构型.利用该单晶催化氧化降解了直接蓝6和直接绿28;结果显示,在酸性和碱性条件下,染料的降解率和矿化率都较高,这是因为活性中心Co(Ⅲ)提高了H₂O₂的效率.当投加量在1 200～1 600　mg·L^-1之间时,处理90　min后,直接蓝6和直接绿28的降解效率可分别达到94.39%和94.78%.相比之下,不加该单晶光催化剂,其它条件完全相同时,处理90　min后2种染料的降解率均不到45%,降解缓慢.使用后的单晶,通过过滤,可反复使用,有利于降低处理成本.此外还研究了催化反应的动力学,反应遵从Langmuir-Hinshelwood动力学模型;2种染料降解反应速率常数k分别为3.03×10²和6.25×10²　mg·(L·min)^-1,吸附常数K分别为1.52×10^-4和7.23×10^-5　L·mg^-1.     

A comparison of different lysis buffers to assess allele dropout from single cells for preimplantation genetic diagnosis

Single cell polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) requires high efficiency and accuracy. Allele dropout (ADO), the random amplification failure of one of the two parental alleles, remains the most significant problem in PCR-based PGD testing since it can result in serious misdiagnosis for compound heterozygous or autosomal dominant conditions. A number of different strategies (including the use of lysis buffers to break down the cell and make the DNA accessible) have been employed to combat ADO with varying degrees of success, yet there is still no consensus among PGD centres over which lysis buffer should be used (ESHRE PGD Consortium, 1999 ). To address this issue, PCR amplification of three genes (CFTR, LAMA3 and PKP1) at different chromosomal loci was investigated. Single lymphocytes from individuals heterozygous for mutations within each of the three genes were collected and lysed in either alkaline lysis buffer (ALB) or proteinase K/SDS lysis buffer (PK). PCR amplification efficiencies were comparable between alkaline lysis and proteinase K lysis for PCR products spanning each of the three mutated loci (ΔF508 in CFTR 90% vs 88%; R650X in LAMA3 82% vs 78%; and Y71X in PKP1 91% vs 87%). While there was no appreciable difference between ADO rates between the two lysis buffers for the LAMA3 PCR product (25% vs 26%), there were significant differences in ADO rates between ALB and PK for the CFTR PCR product (0% vs 23%) and the PKP1 PCR product (8% vs 56%). Based on these results, we are currently using ALB in preference to PK/SDS buffer for the lysis of cells in clinical PGD. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis of the fragile X syndrome by use of linked polymorphic markers

Fragile X syndrome is the most common cause of familial mental retardation. The most common mutation is expansion of a triplet (CGG)_n repeat in the 5′ untranslated region of the FMR1 gene on Xq27.3. The expansion is refractory to PCR due to preferential amplification of the smaller allele in heterozygous cells and the high GC content of the repeat and surrounding sequences. Direct detection of the normal parental alleles in preimplantation embryos has been used for preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) of this disorder. However, this approach is only suitable for approximately 63% of couples due to the heterozygosity of the repeat in the normal population. As an alternative we investigated the use of polymorphic markers flanking the mutation to track the normal and premutation carrying maternal chromosomes in preimplantation embryos. Using a panel of 11 polymorphisms, six (CA)_n repeats and five single nucleotide polymorphisms, diagnosis was developed for 90% of referred couples. Multiplex amplification of informative markers was tested in 300 single buccal cells from interested couples with efficiency and allele drop out (ADO) rates ranging from 69% to 96% and 6% to 18%, respectively. Use of this approach is accurate and applicable to a larger number of patients at risk of transmitting fragile X to their offspring. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于多种方法的长江上游小流域水质综合评价

选取大河和巴关河流域2018—2022年水质监测数据,运用单因子评价法、Spearman秩相关系数法、综合污染指数法和主成分分析法,对流域水质状况、变化趋势及主要污染物特征进行综合评价分析。结果表明:2018—2022年,大河流域水质未达到地表水Ⅲ类标准;流域整体综合污染指数超过了1,为重污染,下游污染程度较重;营养指标和有机污染物指标存在显著正相关。巴关河流域水质达到了地表水Ⅲ类标准;流域整体综合污染指数未超过1,为中污染,上游污染程度较重;营养指标、有机污染物指标和重金属指标等均呈现出不同程度的相关性。巴关河流域水质总体优于大河流域。TP、NH₃-N、COD_Mn、COD_Cr和BOD₅是影响大河流域和巴关河流域水质的主要因子,均属于有机型及富营养化污染指标,主要来自生活源和农业源。建议选择适宜的评价方法开展系统性小流域污染溯源,分河段有针对性地开展小流域水环境治理。