Comparative phototoxicity of nanoparticulate and bulk ZnO to a free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans: the importance of illumination mode and primary particle size

The present study evaluated phototoxicity of nanoparticulate ZnO and bulk-ZnO under natural sunlight (NSL) versus ambient artificial laboratory light (AALL) illumination to a free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Phototoxicity of nano-ZnO and bulk-ZnO was largely dependent on illumination method as 2-h exposure under NSL caused significantly greater mortality in C. elegans than under AALL. This phototoxicity was closely related to photocatalytic reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation by the ZnO particles as indicated by concomitant methylene blue photodegradation. Both materials caused mortality in C. elegans under AALL during 24-h exposure although neither degraded methylene blue, suggesting mechanisms of toxicity other than photocatalytic ROS generation were involved. Particle dissolution of ZnO did not appear to play an important role in the toxicity observed in this study. Nano-ZnO showed greater phototoxicity than bulk-ZnO despite their similar size of aggregates, suggesting primary particle size is more important than aggregate size in determining phototoxicity.     

Does the stress tolerance of mixed grassland communities change in a future climate? A test with heavy metal stress (zinc pollution)

Will species that are sensitive/tolerant to Zn pollution still have the same sensitivity/tolerance in a future climate? To answer this question we analysed the response of constructed grassland communities to five levels of zinc (Zn) supply, ranging from 0 to 354 mg Zn kg⁻¹ dry soil, under a current climate and a future climate (elevated CO₂ and warming). Zn concentrations increased in roots and shoots with Zn addition but this increase did not differ between climates. Light-saturated net CO₂ assimilation rate (A_sat) of the species, on the other hand, responded differently to Zn addition depending on climate. Still, current and future climate communities have comparable biomass responses to Zn, i.e., no change in root biomass and a 13% decrease of above-ground biomass. Provided that the different response of A_sat in a future climate will not compromise productivity and survival on the long term, sensitivity is not altered by climate change.     

采煤沉陷区输电铁塔复合防护板基础抗变形性能及其板厚取值研究

以某采煤沉陷区内的典型输电铁塔及其复合防护板基础工程为背景,考虑地基-基础-上部铁塔结构的共同作用,对不同板厚复合防护板基础的抗采动变形性能进行了研究,并引入"保护作用"的概念,对独立基础和复合防护板基础的抗变形性能进行了分析。研究表明,设置复合防护板后,与独立基础相比,可明显减少铁塔支座的水平位移及上部结构的应力,支座位移与结构应力随着复合大板厚度的增大而减小,其减小的幅度随着板厚的增大而趋缓,当板厚达到一定数值以后几乎不再减小。提出的复合防护板的厚度可取铁塔基础长向根开的1/45～1/35的建议,以供采煤沉陷区内复合防护板基础的设计参考。     

广州地铁西村站近接桩基沉降现场监测方法及其应用

以广州地铁西村站近接9组桩基施工为例,运用三维数值模拟技术,研究了近接桩基沉降现场监测方法,建立了西村站近接桩基沉降控制标准、监控量测管理等级和监控量测频率。对西村站9组近接桩基沉降现场监测值及计算值分析的结果表明:9组近接分区桩基沉降现场实测值与采取加固措施后的近接分区桩基沉降计算值基本一致,仅桩基X J27和X J31略有不同,现场实测值略大一些,桩基X J27由C区变为B区,桩基X J31由D区变为C区;桩基X J34沉降过大的原因主要是,加固措施的施工质量未达标以及开挖到桩基X J34相应位置时对围岩扰动过大;提出的广州地铁西村站近接桩基沉降现场监测方法是正确的。     

长江常熟江段近岸小型鱼类群落结构及多样性探析

2009年3月～2010年2月,利用密目插网对长江常熟江段小型鱼类进行了连续监测,首次对该江段的小型鱼类群落组成、优势种组成及生物多样性进行了剖析。结果表明：该江段共有小型鱼类24种,隶属于5目7科,其中鲤形目最多。根据〖WTBX〗IRI〖WTBZ〗指数分析,贝氏〖FK（W1。1〗〖PS餐鱼1.eps〗〖FK）〗、刀鲚、窄体舌鳎、蛇鮈和光泽黄颡鱼为优势种,共占总数量的83.44%,占总重量的8202%;贝氏〖FK（W1。1〗〖PS餐鱼1.eps〗〖FK）〗和窄体舌鳎在各个季节中均为优势种,刀鲚在春、夏、秋3季为优势种。基于渔获数量的分析结果显示,常熟江段各月多样性特征值范围为：Shannon Wiener指数（H’） 118～176, Margalef指数（R）087 ～207,Pielou指数（J’）048～083,McNaughton指数(Dn) 057～086。Margalef指数和McNaughton指数春季最高,冬季最低;Shannon Wiener指数和Pielou指数冬季最高,夏季最低。最后探讨了影响该江段小型鱼类群落结构的各种因素,提出了合理开发和保护小型渔业资源的建议     

尼洋河不同河段浮游植物群落多样性差异研究

2009年8月对尼洋河流域浮游植物群落的种类组成、分布和数量特征进行了调查：共发现浮游植物共26属74种(变种),以硅藻为主,大多数种类的相对丰富度较低,优势种不明显,平均相对丰富度大于5%的种类分别是极细微曲壳藻(90%)、弧型蛾眉藻线形变种(54%)、中型脆杆藻(53%)和尖针杆藻(5%);其出现频次分别是19、20、17和20次。种类分布均匀,平均细胞密度为225×104 ind./L,远低于一般河流和湖泊。分析显示绝大多数样点浮游植物的多样性和均匀度指数都很高,其均值分别为364和095。以上结果表明该流域浮游植物群落结构比较复杂、处于较完整的稳定状态,体现了尼洋河流域贫营养河流水体的特征。TWINSPAN和DCA分析表明海拔高度和环境的稳定程度可能是影响该流域浮游植物群落多样性的主要因子     

天然锰砂去除水中的砷

天然锰砂是一种廉价、高效的水处理用材料,但尚未用于水中砷的去除。实验研究了反应时间、砷形态、初始砷浓度、温度、溶液初始pH对吸附过程的影响。结果表明,天然锰砂对As(Ⅲ)的吸附能力大于As(Ⅴ)。25℃时,固液比为10 g/L的条件下,天然锰砂对初始浓度为5.0 mg/L的砷溶液吸附过程经72 h基本达到平衡,平衡时对As(Ⅲ)和As(Ⅴ)的去除率分别达到94.5%和85.9%。吸附过程符合Lagergren准一级反应动力学模型和假二级反应动力学模型。相比之下,假二级动力学模型拟合程度更高。对As(Ⅲ)和As(Ⅴ),45℃时的吸附量均大于25℃时。不同温度下,天然锰砂对As(Ⅲ)和As(Ⅴ)的吸附过程更符合Freundlich等温吸附模型。在溶液初始pH为3～10范围内,锰砂对砷的吸附能力受pH的影响较小。实验结果表明,天然锰砂是一种具有实际应用潜力的除砷材料。     

Assessment of oxidative stress due to exposure to pesticides in plasma and urine of traditional limited-resource farm workers: Formation of the DNA-adduct 8-hydroxy-2-deoxy-guanosine (8-OHdG)

The objective of this study was to assess the risk of genotoxicity caused due to oxidative stress using plasma and urinary levels of 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in farm workers for six months during a growing season. Blood and urine samples were collected once a month for six months (June to November 2003) from farm workers (n = 15) and urban unexposed controls (n = 10). Plasma and urinary levels of 8-OHdG were evaluated by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) technique. There was no significant difference in the urinary levels of 8-OHdG between the farm workers and the control group, but there was an approximately four-fold increase in mean values of plasma 8-OHdG levels in the farm worker group (P ≤ 0.05).     

Governmental Provisions to Manage and Eradicate Feral Swine in Areas of the United States

Feral swine (wild hogs) are one of the most widely distributed free-ranging mammals in the world. In the United States, feral swine serve as game animals for the sport of hunting in some areas, while they are nuisance species at other locations. Increasing feral swine populations creates negative impacts to growing crops, native plant communities, and wildlife. Feral swine can also serve as reservoirs for a number of bacterial and viral diseases that can infect wild animals, livestock, and humans. The US state governments are adopting statutes and regulations to reduce the growth and dispersal of feral swine populations. An analysis of these provisions suggests that while they seek to control feral swine populations, they are unlikely to provide any significant relief from damages to crops and native ecosystems. More localized reduction plans and a national disease control program are suggested to assuage damages being wrought by these invasive animals.     

Differential physiological,ultramorphological and metabolic responses of cotton cultivars under cadmium stress

Cadmium (Cd) stress may cause serious physiological, ultramorphological and biochemical anomalies in plants. Cd-induced physiological, subcellular and metabolic alterations in two transgenic cotton cultivars (BR001, GK30) and their parent line (Coker 312) were evaluated using 10, 100 and 1000 μM Cd. Germination, fresh biomass of roots, stems and leaves were significantly inhibited at 1000 μM Cd. Root volume tolerance index significantly increased (124.16%) in Coker 312 at 1000 μM Cd. In non-Cd stressed conditions, electron micrographs showed well-configured root meristem and leaf mesophyll cells. At 1000 μM Cd, greater ultramorphological alterations were observed in BR001 followed by GK30 and Coker 312. These changes were observed in nucleus, vacuoles, mitochondria and chloroplast. Dense precipitates, probably Cd, were seen in vacuoles, which were also attached to the cell walls. A considerable increase in number of nuclei, vacuoles, starch granules and plastoglobuli was observed in the electron micrographs of both roots and leaves at 1000 μM Cd. MDA contents were higher in roots of BR001 at 1000 μM Cd. Mean values of SOD activity in leaves of both BR001 and GK30 at 1000 μM Cd significantly increased as compared to the controls. POD activity in roots of BR001 and Coker 312 was greater at all Cd (10, 100, 1000 μM) levels over the control. Regarding APX, highest percent increase (71.64%) in roots of GK30 at 1000 μM Cd was found. Non-significant differences in CAT activity were observed at all levels of Cd stress in leaves of BR001 and GK30. Both transgenic cotton cultivars and their parental line invariably responded towards Cd stress. However, Coker 312 showed Cd-resistant behavior as compared to its progeny lines (BR001 and GK30).