Antilysozyme Activity as a Factor of Algae Survival in Aquatic Biocenoses

Field and laboratory investigations were performed to study the distribution and functional significance of antilysozyme activity (ALA) in algal cultures. According to the results obtained, ALA as a trait is widespread among green and blue-green algae but is expressed to different extents. Experiments on the algae–zooplankters model showed that ALA is a factor facilitating the survival of algae in freshwater communities by promoting the establishment of their trophic and symbiotic relationships with other aquatic organisms. Analyzing the intrapopulation structure of algal cultures associated with zooplankters, it was shown that changes in the ALA of algal clones have adaptive significance, providing for a greater stability of algal populations in biocenoses.     

Protocol for using compound‐specific isotope analysis in environmental forensics

Forensic arguments must be demonstrably objective. A protocol is proposed to supply a framework to achieve this when using data from compound specific isotope analysis (CSIA) in developing forensic arguments about volatile organic carbon (VOC) contamination in groundwater. The protocol uses a “line of evidence” approach to reiteratively refine a hypothesis by testing it against each of three criteria, modifying the hypothesis if it fails or accumulating supporting evidence if it passes. The criteria are intended to organize data interpretation and to maximize use of both site data and supporting literature. Specifically, the criteria are: 1) degradation: enrichment factors and dual isotope plot (DIP) slopes; 2) hydrogeology: groundwater flow and plume shape; and 3) site history: VOC use and previous remediation work. Each of these criteria is described in detail and examples are provided for these criteria to show how each criterion can be used to identify the more plausible explanation when alternate hypotheses are presented. The protocol built upon these criteria is intended to maximize the use of supporting data and to document that support, as well as to ensure that interpretations are self consistent. The protocol is intended to be flexible and provides the framework to use exceptions as a line of evidence supporting an explanation.     

Ecotoxicological assessment of doxycycline in soil

Doxycycline has been used in continually increasing quantities for mass treatment of food animals because of its greater bioavailability relative to older tetracyclines. The study presented in this paper was undertaken to investigate the degradation rate of the tetracycline derivative in manure-amended soil. In the present experiment, following composting, the doxycycline-contaminated manure was applied to agricultural land, and a field study was performed to investigate the degradation rate of doxycycline in soil. By the end of the 20-week sampling period, about 20 %, 33 % and 18 % of the initial doxycycline concentrations could be measured in soil samples taken at three different soil depths. The calculated half-life of doxycycline in the soil was 66.5, 76.3 and 59.4 days at depths of 0 cm, 25 cm and 50 cm, respectively. The potential effect of doxycycline on soil microbial activity was demonstrated by the nitrogen transformation test performed in compliance with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Guideline No. 216. On day 28, the following nitrate concentrations of the control soil sample were found in the soil samples treated with different amounts of doxycycline: 76.9 %, 53.0 %, 65.6 %, 59.7 % and 77.1 %.     

Biological evaluation of SZI‐121, a new miticide

Abstract

A large number of tetrazine analogues were synthetised and tested as miticides. A comprehensive screening system was applied to recognise some effects important in terms of field performance. A promising new substance, coded as SZI‐121 was choosen for further development. It proved to be about four‐times more active as an ovicide (LC₅₀=0.05 ppm) than the reference clofentezine, when administered to the eggs directly (LC₅₀=0.23 ppm). In contrast to clofentezine which has solely a contact mode of action, SZI‐121 has excelent translaminar activity acting on already laid eggs (LC₅₀= 18.66 ppm) or those in females feeding on the opposite, non‐treated side of the leaf (LC₅₀=5.11 ppm). High toxicity of SZI‐121 to the chrysalis form (LC₅₀=0.39 ppm) was also observed. The field rate of SZI‐121 is 60–100 g a.i./ha against a wide range of phytophagous mites including European red mite (Panonychus ulmi), two spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae), grape leaf rust mite (Calepitrimerus vitis), vine leaf blister mite (Colomerus vitis), apple leaf rust mite (Aculus schlechtendali), stone fruit leaf rust mite (Vasates fockeui). Because it stops the development of mites in egg and chrysalis forms simultaneously, SZI‐121 can be used independently from actual development stages of mites during the whole season as the field trials demonstrated. These characteristics permit SZI‐121 to be easily fitted into integrated pest management.     

Tactics, effectiveness and avoidance of mate guarding in the blue-footed booby (Sula nebouxii)

We examined the dynamics and avoidance of mate guarding, by males and females, in the blue-footed booby, in which the two social mates are usually simultaneously present on the territory but each of them is unmonitored by the other for one-quarter of its time. Both sexes were promiscuous and liable to switch mates. Cuckolded individuals did not increase their overall presence on the territory, but in response to the extra-pair (EP) courtships of their mates, both sexes doubled their rate of intra-pair (IP) courtship and sometimes showed aggression. The male or female's presence depressed the social mate's EP activity, but intra-pair courtship had no such effect, tending even to propitiate that EP activity. Similarly, when females responded to their social mates' EP courtship with approach or aggression, disruption of EP activity was short-lived. Promiscuous females modified their diurnal pattern of attendance, as if attempting to sidestep monitoring by their mates, but cuckolded males matched the modification. Both sexes tended to perform their EP activities at a distance when their mates were present, possibly to evade monitoring or disruption by their mates. Male and female boobies cannot monitor their mates continuously, they do little to facultatively adjust their presence on territory to the risk of infidelity, and their immediate responses to overt infidelity have only the briefest impact; but the information they acquire while monitoring their mates may be critical to constraining their mates' infidelity and also to calibrating their own reproductive investment.     

光照对芦丁稳定性及抑菌活性的影响

黄酮类化合物具有多羟基结构易被氧化,为了解其羟基被氧化后,是否还具有抑菌、抗癌等多种生物学活性,对芦丁光照处理前后的含量、抗氧化活性(清除DPPH.和还原能力)、分子结构以及抑菌活性进行了比较研究.结果表明,随着光照时间的延长,芦丁含量和抗氧化活性均呈下降趋势,降解反应属于一级反应,半衰期为187.3 d.结构鉴定表明,光照处理芦丁母核结构没有降解,只是A环5、7-OH和B环3′、4′-OH氢解离,芦丁在溶液中以负离子或自由基形式存在.芦丁氧化前后的浓度与抑菌效果均成良好的量效关系,其相关系数分别为0.933 2和0.933 0.但氧化芦丁的EC50值(15.58 g/L)与对照(6.34 g/L)相比差异显著(P<0.01).可见,氧化芦丁的抑菌活性明显降低.这进一步表明,芦丁分子结构的细微改变与体外的抗氧化活性和抑菌活性三者之间的构效关系基本一致.     

Aspects of Tests and Assessment of Filtering Materials Used for Respiratory Protection Against Bioaerosols. Part II: Sweat in the Environment,Microorganisms in the Form of a Bioaerosol

The second part of the article presents the results of a study of antimicrobial activity of filter nonwovens with an addition of biocides, as a function of the presence of sweat in the environment and the method of microbe deposition on a nonwoven in the form of a liquid and a bioaerosol. At the same time, the filtration efficiency of nonwovens against microorganisms in the form of a bioaerosol was tested with the dynamic method. The results showed that the addition of sweat on the surface of a nonwoven resulted in an insignificant decrease of biological activity that still remained high. Moreover, an active nonwoven showed biostatic and biocidal activity only when microbes were deposited on the surface in the form of a solution. The nonwoven did not show any biological activity after deposition of microorganisms with the dynamical method in the form of a bioaerosol.     

基于双维度校验的珠三角区域臭氧生成机制长期时空演化特征识别

臭氧（O₃）污染已经成为我国主要城市区域大气环境的首要污染物,由于其生成与前体物之间呈现高度非线性的关系,O₃生成机制的识别对前体物的减排具有基础性的重要作用.针对常规方法难以较好对机制的长期演化特征进行识别问题,基于常规观测数据（O₃、NO₂）和温度（T）与挥发性有机物活性（VOCR）之间的关系,从NO₂和T两个维度对珠三角区域O₃的生成机制进行了识别并做校验,分析了2006~2020年期间O₃的趋势变化规律和原因,研究了机制的长期演化特征.结果表明,O₃浓度随NO₂和T水平的升高呈现升高、稳定、下降和再次升高的趋势变化规律,当ρ（NO₂）处于0~35、35~45、>45 μg·m^-3和T处于>30、25~30、<25℃时,机制分别处于NO_x控制区、过渡区和VOCR控制区.不同时间段,随着T升高VOCR随之升高,推动了O₃浓度上升.由于前体物排放趋势变化和O₃生成机制状况不同,O₃浓度在不同时间段和T条件下的趋势变化规律不同.整体上,珠三角区域西部偏VOCR控制区,东部偏过渡区,两个维度机制的识别结果具有较高一致性.随时间变化,西部区域的过渡区向VOCR控制区转变,东部区域的VOCR控制区向NO_x控制区转变.在不同时间段,随着T升高O₃生成对NO_x的敏感性增强,随时间变化,高温和低温条件下O₃生成分别对NO_x和VOCR的敏感性增强.     

促生剂投量对菌剂-促生剂协同修复沉积物的影响

采用5个110 L的模拟河道反应器,在投加菌剂的基础上(底泥稳定后向底泥和水中分别注射浓度为0.09%和0.03%的菌剂),生物促生剂投量分别设计为0(空白对照实验)、0.08、0.09、0.10和0.11 g·L~(-1),通过为期115 d的修复实验研究菌剂与促生剂协同作用时底泥微生物群落特征变化规律,进而分析其对底泥修复效果的影响.实验表明,投加促生剂后,115 d时Chloroflexi、Proteobacteria、Firmicutes、Betaproteobacteria及Bacteroidetes等主要功能菌群相对丰度增加,脲酶活性与蛋白酶活性后期时总体上低于单独投加菌剂组.促生剂投量为0.10 g·L~(-1)时,上覆水COD_(Cr)稳定浓度为16.82 mg·L~(-1),低于其余各组;底泥TOC含量由初始的0.808%下降至第115 d时的0.687%,去除率为14.9%,显著高于其余各组;促生剂投量为0.11 g·L~(-1)时,底泥全氮去除率最高为14.8%.生物促生剂促使微生物群落向更适宜降解去除氮素及有机质的方向演替,有效改善底泥环境.