Monitoring aromatic hydrocarbon biodegradation by functional marker genes

The development of biological treatment technologies for contaminated environments requires tools for obtaining direct information about the biodegradation of specific contaminants. The potential of functional gene array analysis to monitor changes in the amount of functional marker genes as indicators of contaminant biodegradation was investigated. A prototype functional gene array was developed for targeting key functions in the biodegradation of naphthalene, toluene and xylenes. Internal standard probe based normalization was introduced to facilitate comparison across multiple samples. Coupled with one-colour hybridization, the signal normalization improved the consistency among replicate hybridizations resulting in better discrimination for the differences in the amount of target DNA. During the naphthalene biodegradation in a PAH-contaminated soil slurry microcosm, the normalized hybridization signals in naphthalene catabolic gene probes were in good agreement with the amount of naphthalene-degradation genes and the production of 14CO2. Gene arrays provide efficient means for monitoring of contaminant biodegradation in the environment.     

Bioreduction of hexavalent chromium by Exiguobacterium indicum strain MW1 isolated from marine water of Paradip Port,Odisha, India

Hexavalent chromium-tolerant (1500?mg/L) bacterium MW1 was isolated from harbour water of Paradip Port and evaluated for Cr(VI) reduction potential. The isolate was identified as Exiguobacterium indicum by biochemical and 16S rRNA gene sequence methods. Salt tolerance of the bacterium was evaluated in a wide range of NaCl concentrations (0.5–13%, w/v). The Cr(VI) reduction of the strain was evaluated and optimised with varied Cr(VI) concentrations (100–1000?mg/L), pH (5.0–9.0), temperature (30–40°C) and shaking velocity (100–150?rpm) in two different minimal media (M9 and Acetate). Under optimised conditions, after 192?h of incubation nearly 92%, 50% and 46% reduction in the M9 minimal medium and 91%, 47% and 40% reduction in the acetate minimal medium were observed for 100, 500 and 1000?mg/L of Cr(VI), respectively. The exponential rate equation for Cr(VI) reduction yielded higher rate constant value, that is, 1.27?×?10^?2?h^?1 (M9) and 1.17?×?10^?2?h^?1 (Acetate) in case of 100?mg/L and became lower for 500 and 1000?mg/L Cr(VI) concentrations. Further, the association of bacterial cells with reduced product was ascertained by Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, UV–Vis–DRS and field-emission scanning electron microscope–energy-dispersive X-ray analyses. The above study suggests that the higher reducing ability of the marine bacterium E. indicum MW1 will be suitable for Cr(VI) reduction from saline effluents.     

基于生态足迹方法的中国区域间生态转移支付研究

针对中国经济发展中出现的“反溢出效应”,有学者认为占用外省市自然资源的地区应给予输出自然资源的地区一定的经济补偿,也是生态转移支付的一种形式,试图以此实现社会经济发展的公平性。文章基于生态足迹理论,建立这种补偿的理论基础并尝试确定补偿的标准。结果显示：有13个省市需要向其他地区支付一定的生态补偿。应支付生态补偿的地区多为东部沿海的经济发达地区,应接受补偿的地区多为较落后的中西部地区。     

石油生物脱硫技术研究进展

生物脱硫技术由于具有条件温和、能耗低等优势受到人们关注。对生物脱硫新型微生物的筛选方向、生物脱硫技术中脱硫菌生长以及脱硫限制、传质限制等因素及其近期研究进展等方面进行了介绍,以期促进生物脱硫技术的研究深度。     

Split-hand/split-foot malformation with paternal mutation in the p63 gene

We report the prenatal diagnosis at 16 weeks' gestation of bilateral split-hand/split-foot malformation (SHSFM) with severe lobster claw deformity of hands and feet in a male fetus without associated malformations. A minor manifestation of SHSFM was present in the father with only mild bilateral foot involvement (syndactyly I–II; cleft II–III; left cutaneous syndactyly III–IV). Mutation analysis of the p63 gene on chromosome 3q27 showed a missense mutation 577A→G (predicting amino acid substitution K193E) in the father. This mutation has not been reported so far in SHSFM but resembles the previously reported 580A→G (predicting amino acid substitution K194E) in a family with SHSFM. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Prenatal diagnosis in three cases of iniencephaly with unusual postmortem findings

Iniencephaly is a rare and lethal congenital malformation of the neural tube characterized by occipital bone defect, cervical dysraphism, fixed retroflexion of the fetal head and severe lordosis of the cervicothoracic spine. The etiology is unknown. Prenatally diagnosed cases of iniencephaly are rare because careful and early ultrasonographic evaluation is necessary. We present three cases of iniencephaly prenatally diagnosed by sonography at 20–22 weeks' gestation in which therapeutic abortion was induced. The sonographic findings were compatible with the postmortem findings. The present cases of iniencephaly were found to carry unusual associated malformations such as two lobes in the right lung and chorangiosis of the placenta. Only hypoplastic lungs have been reported by previous authors. We also studied the 677C→T mutation on the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene in the parents in one of the present cases. The mother was found to be heterozygous for the 677CT polymorphism. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

农作物品种单一化的影响

绿色革命是人与自然关系的产物--集约型农业与高产农业的一大壮举.但绿色革命带来的负面影响也是巨大的,主要是农作物品种单一化引起的农业种质资源的减少和农业生态系统的脆弱.本文就绿色革命的这一负面影响进行阐述并提出对策.     

江汉湖沼资源的开发与保护

湖沼是重要的自然资源,是开发水体生态农业以及发展轻化工业原材料的生产基地保护湖沼资源不但能调控环境,且可成为天然水生或沼生生物基因库。对江汉湖沼资源的合理开发利用,既能收到巨大经济效益,又可保护湖沼生态环境和发挥其生态效益作用。     

地铁换乘车站客流疏运模拟及风险分析（2）——单通道换乘车站

为了研究通道换乘地铁车站的客流疏运过程及风险点,文章针对某单通道换乘车站,通过对车站通道和客流分析,提出了优化的客流流线;并基于智能个体和矢量空间模拟技术,建立了地铁换乘车站的疏运模型,模拟了高峰时间段内的客流疏运过程。数值模拟结果显示了交叉客流、拥堵发生位置及原因,辨识了高风险位置,并提出了整改措施。文章提出的模拟方法和结论可为国内外类似车站制定客流组织方案及通道设计提供参考。