The Probability of a Horizontal Gene Transfer from Roundup Ready® Soybean to Root Symbiotic Bacteria: A Risk Assessment Study on the GSF Lysimeter Station

The gene transfer from glyphosate tolerant soybean to Bradyrhizobium japonicum was evaluated in a free-air lysimeter experiment under natural conditions and increasing selection pressure, to monitor for the probability of horizontal gene transfer (HGT). A large volume lysimeter study that offers conditions comparable to normal farming was conducted in 2004 and 2005 with Roundup Ready® (RR) soybean and Roundup® application according to agricultural practice. Analysis of nodules showed, as expected, the presence of the transgenic 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS). However, in bacteroids that were isolated from nodules and then cultivated for several rounds in the presence of high levels of glyphosate, the EPSPS gene could no longer be detected. This indicates no stable HGT transfer of the whole EPSPS gene under field conditions.     

Vegetation as an Indicator of Soil Properties and Water Quality in the Akarçay Stream (Turkey)

In this study, the relationship among water quality, soil properties, and plant coverage in the region of the Akarçay stream was examined. Correlation analyses were carried out between soil samples taken from each of four plant communities in the Akarçay basin and water in the Akarçay stream. The four plant communities in the study area are as follows: Limonium lilacinum (Boiss. et Bal.) Wag., Alhagi pseudalhagi (M. Bieb.) Desv. Peganum harmala L., and Hordeum marinum Huds. subsp. marinum. B, Cl, EC, K, Mg, Na, pH, and SO₄ data from both soil and water samples were subjected to statistical analysis, and significant correlations were obtained (p < 0.05). These correlations indicated that the chemical features of the soil had a major effect on water quality. The important parameters were B, Cl, EC, K, Mg, Na, pH, and SO₄ for Limonium lilacinum communities; Ca, K, and pV for Peganum harmala; and B, Cl, Mg, pH, and pV for Alhagi pseudalhagi. There were also statistically significant relationships (p < 0.05) among the parameters examined. These findings strongly suggested that these plant communities can be used as indicators for soil chemistry and water quality.     

Bestimmung von Phthals?ureestern in Lebensmitteln, Frauenmilch, Hausstaub und Textilien

Zusammenfassung  Es wurden 25 Lebensmittel-, 5 Frauenmilch-, 4 Staub- und 16 Textilproben auf Phthals?ureester untersucht. In allen Proben waren Phthalate nachweisbar, wobei Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalat (DEHP) und Di-n-butylphthalat (DBP) am h?ufigsten gefunden wurden. In Rohmilchproben lagen die Gesamtphthalat-Konzentrationen im Mittel bei 0,1 mg/kg. Konsummilch wies keine h?here Belastung als Rohmilch auf, auch die Lagerung von Milchproben bis zum Ablauf des Mindesthaltbarkeitsdatums führte nicht zu h?heren Gehalten. Fettarme Milch war weniger belaster als Vollmilch. Die in Sahneproben gefundenen h?heren DEHP-sowie Gesamptphthalatgehalte lassen sich durch den h?heren Fettgehalt erkl?ren. Mit Konzentrationen von bis zu 1,54 mg/kg zeigten gemahlene Haselnüsse, Mandeln und Muskatnüsse, die in Kunststofffolie verpackt waren, eine vergleichsweise hohe Belastung. In S?uglingsnahrung waren nur Spuren von DEHP und DBP zu finden, weitete Phthals?ureester konnten nicht nachgewiesen werden. Auch die Frauenmilchproben wiesen nur geringe Gehalte von ca. 0,1 mg/kg auf, eine Akkumulation der Phthalester im menschlichen K?rper scheint also nicht stattzufinden. Au?ergew?hnlich hohe Konzentrationen wurden in Staubproben gefunden; die Werte lagen zwischen 300 und 5370 mg/kg Staub, wobei DEHP die Hauptkomponente darstellte. Die Belastung des Staubes l?sst auf eine erhebliche Bedeutung des Luftpfades beim Transfer der Phthals?ureester schlie?en. Da Staub erhebliche Anteile an Textilfasern enth?lt, wurden auch Textilien untersucht. Die Phthals?ureester-Gehalte in den Textilproben reichten von 3,42 bis 34,44 mg/kg. Die hohen Phthalester-Kontaminationen des Staubes k?nnen daher nicht durch Textilfasern erkl?rt werden. Online-Publikation: 07. Februar 2000     

道路交通安全研究方法

介绍了交通安全的研究方法和预测模型 ,并对统计分析、模糊数学分析及灰色理论方法进行了比较。在此基础上 ,介绍了适应我国目前交通安全研究现状的交通事故灰色预测研究方法 ,对交通事故发展趋势进行了预测。论文给出了相应的灰色预测模型及预测方法 ,预测结果与实际情况较吻合     

生活(医院)污水处理设施运行情况分析

通过对江苏油田6套生活污水2套医院污水处理设施进行调查,针对其工艺流程、建设投资、处理能力、运行费用、运行状况及处理效果,分析了现有处理方法存在的问题,并提出了解决办法,对今后处理设施的管理、改进和处理技术有一定的参考价值。     

The near-closure of a lagoon in western Iceland: how accurate were predictions of impacts on environment and biota?

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) project instigated in connection with the near-closure of the large fjord-like lagoon Gilsfjörður in sub-arctic western Iceland with a road is described and discussed. Three phases were involved: a survey of pre-impact conditions of areas possibly affected as well as control areas, predictions of impacts of the road, and assessment of impacts up to 5–6 years after completion of the project. Emphasis was placed on birds and benthic flora and fauna. Although several predictions were upheld, others were not. The most unexpected changes were the elimination of kelp forest and some associated fauna inside the road as well as from large areas outside it. Feeding areas of the knot (Calidris canutus) and female eiders (Somateria mollissima) with ducklings also changed in unexpected ways. Unforeseen changes can partly be traced to inadequate knowledge of communities and their functioning in the area. The ecological requirements of many species involved, e.g. with respect to salinity, were imperfectly known. The predictions of engineers on the effects of the project on physical factors were not as accurate or detailed as desired. Some critical predictions of the engineers failed to make an impact on the ecologists, who then failed to predict some major changes in the biota, such as the disappearance of kelp forest outside the road. This study highlights some problems probably shared by many EIAs: (a) the near impossibility of finding suitable control areas, (b) the lack of ecological understanding of even common species, and possibly (c) inadequate communication between engineers and ecologists.     

The impact on tropospheric ozone formation on the implementation of a program for mobile emissions control: a case study in São Paulo,Brazil

The main sources of reactive hydrocarbons (RHC) and nitrogen oxides (NO_x), ozone precursors, in the Metropolitan Area of São Paulo (MASP) in the southeast of Brazil are emissions from vehicles fleets. Ambient surface ozone and particulate matter concentrations are air quality problem in the MASP. This study examined the impact that implementing a control program for mobile emissions has on ozone concentrations, An episode of high surface ozone concentrations occurring in the MASP during the March 13–15, 2000 period was used as a case study that was modeled for photochemical oxidants using the California Institute of Technology/Carnegie Mellon University three-dimensional photochemical model. Different scenarios were analyzed in relationship to the implementation of the Programa Nacional de Controle de Poluição por Veículos Automotores (PROCONVE, National Program to Control Motor Vehicle Pollution). Scenario 1 assumed that all vehicles were operating within PROCONVE guidelines. Scenarios 2 and 3 considered hypothetical situations in which the PROCONVE was not implemented. Scenario 2 set the premise that vehicles were using pre-1989 technology, whereas scenario 3 allowed for technological advances. A base case scenario, in which the official emission inventory for the year 2000 was employed, was also analyzed. The CIT model results show agreement with most measurements collected during 13–15 March 2000 modeling episode. Mean normalized bias for ozone, CO, RHC and NO _x are approximately 9.0, 6.0, ?8.3, 13.0%, respectively. Tropospheric ozone concentrations predicted for scenario 2 were higher than those predicted for scenarios 1, 3 and base case. This study makes a significant contribution to the evaluation of air quality improvement and provides data for use in evaluating the economic costs of implementing a program of motor vehicle pollution control aimed at protecting human health.     

“三北”地区沙棘种植地带划分与对策

中国“三北”地区不同生态气候地带,需要布设不同适宜性的沙棘品种,并严格按照适地适树的原则,因地制宜,方能达到预期的生态经济效果。“三北”沙棘种植地区,主要包括黄土高原南部半湿润森林草原气候生态经济型沙棘种植地带、黄土高原中部半干旱草原气候生态经济型沙棘种植地带、黄土高原北部干旱荒漠草原气候生态型沙棘种植地带、冀北辽西半干旱半湿润草原气候生态经济型沙棘种植地带、东北北部冷湿草原气候经济型沙棘种植地带(简称“五带”)。每一地带基本上都有各自适宜的自然种源区及良种繁育中心(基地、站、点)。沙棘“五带”种植地带划分方案的实质,是防止引种工作中的一窝蜂现象,实现科学规划,精心种植。在保证沙棘引种区域化的前提下,要注意培育沙棘优良品种、防止病虫害蔓延和通过产品打入国际市场来拉动国内沙棘种植的步伐。     

淄博市雷电灾害易损性风险评估及区划

从雷电灾害易损性分析角度出发,利用山东省淄博市8个气象台站1963-2012年雷暴日资料和2002-2012年雷电灾害资料,结合各区县的经济和人口密度特征,选取雷击大地密度、雷电灾害频度、经济易损模数、生命易损模数4个指标,对淄博市雷电灾害易损性进行了评估。结果显示：张店区、淄川区是极高易损区,沂源县、临淄区为高易损区,博山区、周村区是中易损区,桓台县为低易损区,高青县为极低易损区。初步形成了各地易损性结构和淄博市雷电灾害易损度区划图,为各级政府和相关管理部门指导城市规划、防御和减轻雷电灾害提供了客观的科学依据。     

珠三角SO_2污染区划及来源的定量研究

文章利用珠三角粤港空气质量监测网13个空气质量监测点2009年11月SO2监测浓度,通过聚类分析对珠三角SO2进行污染特征区划,最终选定该时段内3个核心关注区域,分别为广州中心城区、佛山江门片区、珠江口西侧片区。发现佛山江门片区的污染最为严重,其次是珠江口西侧片区。根据一定标准,选定11月23-27日为典型污染过程,11-16日为典型清洁时段。利用MM5-CALPUFF模式对这3个区域,在典型污染过程与清洁时段内的SO2平均浓度进行来源分析,发现在选定的模拟时段内,广州中心城区在污染过程中以本地污染为主(贡献率达62.47%),清洁时段则广州本地污染(49.43%)与东莞输送污染(40.27%)并重;佛山江门片区在污染过程和清洁时段均以外地输送污染(分别为65.06%和68.92%)为主,主要输入源地是广州和东莞;珠江口西侧片区在污染过程和清洁时段均是输送污染与本地污染并重(污染过程输送污染44.10%,本地污染51.83%;清洁时段输送污染50.25%,本地污染41.11%),其中污染过程中,输送污染的主要输入源地是深圳与东莞,清洁时段输送污染比重略大于本地污染,主要输入源地只有东莞。研究结果为控制及治理珠三角SO2源提供科学依据。