BIOAVAILABILITY OF CALCIUM FROM SWEETPOTATO AND SOY FLOUR SUPPLEMENTED DIETS IN HAMSTERS

The bioavailability of calcium from two varieties of sweetpotatoes and supplementation of sweetpotatoes with soy flour was investigated in hamsters using plasma calcium concentration and femur calcium content as indicators. Five different diets were fed to five groups of animals for 28 days. There was no significant difference in plasma calcium concentrations of hamsters in all the diet groups. However, the femur calcium content of hamsters with transgenic sweetpotato flour (TSPF) and parent nontransgenic (from which transgenic was produced) sweetpotato flour (NTSPF) diets was significantly higher than that of the transgenic sweetotato flour supplemented with soy flour (TSPF+SF) and parent nontransgenic sweetpotato flour supplemented with soy flour (NTSPF+SF) diets. The relative bioavailability of calcium from the control (100%), TSPF+SF (30%), NTSPF+SF (23%), TSPF (57%) and NTSPF (46%) indicated that sweetpotatoes could be the better source of calcium, however, supplementation with soy flour might reduce the bioavailability of calcium.     

Linking Salmon Aquaculture Synergies and Trade-Offs on Ecosystem Services to Human Wellbeing Constituents

Salmon aquaculture has emerged as a successful economic industry generating high economic revenues to invest in the development of Chiloe region, Southern Chile. However, salmon aquaculture also consumes a substantial amount of ecosystem services, and the direct and indirect impacts on human wellbeing are still unknown and unexplored. This paper identifies the synergies and trade-offs caused by the salmon industry on a range of ecosystem services. The results show that large economic benefits due to the increase of provisioning ecosystem services are also causing a reduction on regulating and cultural services. Despite the improvement on average income and poverty levels experienced in communities closely associated with the sector, this progress is not large enough and social welfare did not improve substantially over the last decade. The rest of human wellbeing constituents in Chiloe region have not changed significantly compared to the development in the rest of the country.     

Simulation of a Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS) spill in the marine environment: Lethal and sublethal effects of acrylonitrile to the European seabass

Despite the extensive maritime transportation of Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS), there is a current lack of knowledge on the effects posed by HNS spills on the marine biota. Among the HNS identified as priority, acrylonitrile was selected to conduct ecotoxicological assays. We assessed the acute and subletal effects of acrylonitrile in seabass, followed by a recovery phase to simulate the conditions of a spill incident. The work aimed at testing a broad range of biological responses induced by acrylonitrile. Sublethal exposure to the highest two doses increased the fish mortality rate (8.3% and 25% mortality in 0.75 and 2 mg L⁻¹ acrylonitrile concentrations), whereas no mortality were observed in control and 0.15 mg L⁻¹ treatments. Additionally, important alterations at sub-individual level were observed. Acrylonitrile significantly induced the activities of Catalase– CAT and Glutathione S-Transferase – GST; and the levels of DNA damage were significantly increased. Conversely, Superoxide Dismutase– SOD – activity was found to be significantly inhibited and no effects were found on Lipid Peroxidation– LPO and ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase – EROD – activity. Following a 7 d recovery period, the levels of CAT, GST and EROD fell to levels at or below those in the control. In the 2 mg L⁻¹ group, SOD remained at the levels found during exposure phase. This study has gathered essential information on the acute and subletal toxicity of acrylonitrile to seabass. It also demonstrated that 7 d recovery allowed a return of most endpoints to background levels. These data will be useful to assist relevant bodies in preparedness and response to HNS spills.     

Hexabromocyclododecanes in limnic and marine organisms and terrestrial plants from Tianjin,China: Diastereomer- and enantiomer-specific profiles,biomagnification, and human exposure

To interpret the distribution of hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) in various organisms, we measured the concentrations and diastereomer and enantiomer profiles of HBCDs in 21 different species of limnic and marine cohorts from Tianjin, China. The concentration ranges of HBCDs in limnic and marine organisms were 64.3–1111 ng g⁻¹ lw and 85.5–989 ng g⁻¹ lw, respectively. Living habitat and feeding habits had important impacts on HBCD diastereomer distribution. Most of the species appeared to preferentially select (+)-α-, (−)-β- and (−)-γ-HBCD. There is a tendency that the total and α-HBCDs were magnified as trophic level increased with trophic magnification factors (TMFs) around 2. The concentrations of HBCDs in the limnic and marine fishes were highest in the liver, followed by the gill, skin, and muscle. In terrestrial plants, the highest concentrations of HBCDs were observed in the leaf, followed by the root and the rhizosphere soil. Plants showed enantioselectivity for HBCD enantiomers, which varied with plant species and organs (leaf vs. root) of the same plant. Higher estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of HBCDs were observed from fish than from wheat.     

Swine wastewater treatment in a two stage sequencing batch reactor using real‐time control

Abstract

A laboratory scale two‐stage sequencing batch reactor (TSSBR) was used to study the effectiveness of pH as a real‐time control parameter in swine wastewater treatment. A Ringlace media was inserted into the A/O (Anoxic/Oxic) reactor for bacteria immobilization. The TSSBR was subjected to three levels of organic loading. The pH and ORP (Oxidation Reduction Potential) patterns obtained were consistent with distinct features, enabling the real‐time control strategy to effectively set a flexible aeration time pending on influent concentration, hence resulting in flexible cycle time and HRT (Hydraulic Retention Time) for the system. The real‐time process ensured a removal efficiency of over 99% and 95%, respectively, for ammonia and TOC (Total Organic Carbon). For NO₃ ^‐‐N and PO₄ ^‐3, the run with influent TOC = 4,000 mg/L yielded the most efficient removal of 61% and 95%, respectively. Test results suggest that pH can be a viable tool for on‐line real‐time control of a biological treatment process.     

3种载体固定化菌藻共生系统脱氮除磷效果的对比

采用3种不同载体（海藻酸钠、聚乙烯醇、复合载体）,分别将小球藻和栅藻与活性污泥固定成菌藻共生系统,制成菌藻凝胶小球,单独菌、单独藻的凝胶小球,用于处理人工污水。结果表明,（1）复合载体固定的菌藻共生系统氮磷去除效果最好,PVA载体的脱氮除磷效果次于复合载体优于海藻酸钠;（2）固定化菌藻共生系统的脱氮除磷效果明显优于单独固定菌和单独固定藻,固定菌的效果较差;（3）3种载体包埋下的固定化小球藻的脱氮除磷效果均较相同载体固定化的栅藻效果好。     

2种新分离微藻的生长、氮磷去除和营养特性的比较研究

为了解2种新分离微藻的净化和资源化潜力,研究比较了其生长、氮磷去除和营养特性。结果表明,栅藻和月牙藻的最大生物量（干重）分别为0．78g／L和0．53g／L;最大生物量（干重）增长速率分别为0．05g／（L·d）和0．03g／（L·d）。培养至第23天,栅藻和月牙藻对TN的去除率分别为85．1％和72．5％;对TP的去除率为82．6％和79．7％,但栅藻较月牙藻更易释放较多的No2--N进入藻液。稳定期时,栅藻、月牙藻的粗蛋白质含量和粗蛋白产量（干重）分别为31．8％、19．2％和0．24g／L、0．09g／L;粗脂含量和粗脂产量（干重）分别为7．81％、9．26％和0．06g／L、0．05g／L。综上,与月牙藻相比,栅藻具有明显的生长、氮磷去除和营养优势,在进行水产养殖废水的净化和资源化利用上可作为优选藻种。     

基于EFDC和WASP模型的突发水污染事故影响的预测预警

近年来,我国突发水污染事故频发。长江作为我国最重要的水源地,其水质安全受到沿江众多化工企业可能突发污染事故的威胁。因此,开展南京化工园突发水污染事故影响的预测预警研究意义重大。基于EFDC和WASP模型,建立了南京化工园突发水污染事故影响的预测模型,并以龙翔甲苯罐区泄漏为例进行了事故情景模拟。研究表明：所建的预测模型能够对南京化工园突发水污染事故后污染物的水环境行为进行快速的模拟和预测,并且能够在地理信息系统的图层上以动画的形式实时展示事故影响的范围和程度,可以为南京化工园突发水污染事故的预警应急提供决策依据;基于EFDC构建的二维水动力模型能够较为准确地反映研究区的水动力情况;事故情景中排放的甲苯在研究江段能够较快地稀释扩散,挥发作用对甲苯的衰减过程影响显著,平水期比枯水期更有利于水体中甲苯的衰减     

膜生物反应器(MBR)-反渗透(RO)工艺深度处理印染废水的实验研究

采用膜生物反应器（MBR）-反渗透（RO）工艺对印染废水进行了深度处理实验。原水经MBR系统处理后,COD去除率、ss去除率和色度去除率分别达89．9％、100％和87．5％。MBR系统处理出水进入反渗透（RO）系统进行处理,硬度去除率和除盐率分别达99．62％和99．64％,同时可进一步除去剩余的COD、色度。系统出水水质满足生产回用的要求。     

纳米氧化物对钙基材料在高温燃煤中除砷脱硫的促进机理研究

将纳米MgO、Al2O3和ZnO分别添加于CaCO3中制备出钙基纳米氧化物复合吸附剂,进行了燃煤过程中除砷脱硫的实验研究;对燃煤灰渣进行了比表面积及孔隙度分析、X-射线衍射分析和扫描电镜观察,探讨了纳米MgO对CaCO3除砷脱硫的促进机理。结果表明,添加了纳米MgO的复合吸附剂除砷脱硫性能最好,比单一的CaCO3除砷率和脱硫率分别高出了28．73％和37．21％,表现出同时除砷脱硫的良好性能;其促进机理是纳米MgO的加入改变了灰样的微观结构促进了气相间的流动使得灰渣孔隙明显扩大,提高了CaO与As2O3和SO2反应的能力;在除砷的反应中生成了新的物质Ca3Mg2（AsO4）2,在一定程度上抑制了除砷产物的分解。