Immediate prenatal diagnosis of Zellweger syndrome by direct measurement of very long chain fatty acids in chorionic villus cells

We report a gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric method which allows the very long chain fatty acids content of trophoblastic tissue to be directly measured in samples collected by biopsy between 8 and 11 weeks of gestation. This method has been successfully applied to the detection of fetal Zellweger syndrome in two pregnant women who had previously delivered affected infants. In one of them, increased concentrations of C26:0 (0.254 versus 0.108±0.035 μ/mg proteins) and C24:0 (1.32 versus 0.815±0.325 μ/mg proteins) in trophoblast indicated that the fetus had Zellweger syndrome, a diagnosis confirmed by pathological findings after abortion. In the second case, the pregnancy was allowed to proceed, on the basis of normal concentrations of very long chain fatty acids in trophoblastic tissue, and its outcome was actually a healthy newborn.     

污泥好氧颗粒化过程中氨氧化菌群结构的演替与分析

为了揭示颗粒污泥形成过程中氨氧化菌(AOB)群落结构的演替规律,利用变性梯度凝胶电泳(DGGE)、克隆测序和实时定量聚合酶链式反应(real-time PCR)等分子生物学技术对AOB群落的演替进行了研究。DGGE结果表明,污泥接种驯化期,AOB群结构的变化较为剧烈,在外加选择压的作用下,种群多样性迅速下降;但随着污泥颗粒化的完成而趋于稳定。测序结果表明,接种污泥中的大多数亚硝化单胞菌属因可快速适应工艺的淘洗过程而被保留在系统内,而亚硝化螺菌属逐渐被淘汰。real-time PCR结果表明,在经历了运行初期的淘洗后,AOB含量随着污泥浓度的提高而逐渐增长;但污泥的氨氧化活性随着污泥浓度的增长而降低。     

混合酶强化剩余污泥微生物燃料电池性能

为了提高剩余污泥为燃料的微生物燃料电池(SMFC)产电性能以及污泥减量化效果,在不同的温度(40、45和50℃)研究单室无膜微生物燃料电池中酶对SMFC产电特性的强化效果.加入单一酶(蛋白酶或α-淀粉酶)的结果表明,随着温度的上升,SMFC功率密度均上升,但40℃时强化效果最明显,与加入失活酶的对照组相比分别增加198％和130％.在40℃下,混合酶比(蛋白酶浓度:淀粉酶浓度)为2∶3时,SMFC最大功率密度为776 mW/m2.随着混合酶中淀粉酶的比例提高,SMFC库伦效率逐渐增加,当混合酶比为4∶1时,CE(库伦效率)可达18.3％,同时TCOD、TSS和VSS去除率分别为70.3％、66.7％和80.4％.因此,温度相对较低时,外加酶强化效果更明显;与单种酶相比,混合酶对SMFC产电性能和污泥减量化的强化效果更显著.     

不同处理条件对石油污染土壤植物修复的影响

针对石油烃植物修复过程中的主要影响因素,研究了不同植物种类、不同土壤调理剂和菌剂使用等不同条件对土壤中石油烃植物修复效果的影响.结果表明,不同种类的植物修复可使总石油烃的年降解率达到37.8％ ～ 73.98％,其中大豆和碱蓬具有较好的修复效果;3种不同土壤调理剂对石油烃污染土壤修复的效果为商业添加剂＞牛粪＞蛭石;先微生物修复后种植植物的处理要优于单独的微生物修复及微生物、植物修复同步进行的处理.     

双室微生物燃料电池处理硝酸盐废水

基于双室微生物燃料电池(microbial fuel cell,MFC),针对阴极分别接种活性污泥(A-MFC)和反硝化细菌(D-MFC),研究其产电情况和硝酸盐废水去除效果。结果表明,在产电的同时都可有效去除废水中的硝酸盐污染物。在外接电阻100Ω的情况下,2种MFC均具有良好的产电性能,A-MFC和D-MFC达到的最大输出电压分别为119.6 mV和117.2mV,最大功率密度分别为23.40 mW/m2和26.63 mW/m2;同时两者在阴极室的平均反硝化速率分别为1.86 mg/(L.d)和2.19 mg/(L.d),阳极室的平均COD去除率分别为81.9%和82.4%。另外,通过扫描电镜观察可知,A-MFC和D-MFC阴极碳布表面形貌存在差异,并且阳极与阴极碳布表面形貌差异显著。     

利用废弃物衍生燃料的热化学处理法制富含氢气合成气

为了探讨利用热化学方式从城市垃圾中制取富含氢气合成气过程的要素影响,解析氢气发生特性及其与主要影响要素之间的关系。在分析了城市生活垃圾组分特性的基础上,将其加工成组分均一的废弃物衍生燃料(refuse derived fuel,RDF),并在700、800和900℃等3个温度条件下,分别开展了RDF的热解、气化及水蒸汽气化等实验。研究表明,RDF的加工不但可有效降低垃圾含水率,还可将垃圾热值提高近1倍。温度和添加水蒸汽是从RDF中制取富含氢气合成气过程中的关键影响要素。其中,温度对氢气生成起到至关重要的决定作用,温度的提高对促进H2浓度的提高有利,同时,在气化过程中添加水蒸汽,可有效促进CO和H2等有价气体组分生成。在900℃的高温水蒸汽气化处理过程中,可获得H2浓度最高为34.13%的合成气。另外,800℃热解过程所产生的合成气热值最高,达到14 509 kJ/Nm3。     

Detection of transfluthrin and metofluthrin genotoxicity in the ST cross of the Drosophila Wing Spot Test

In this study, different concentrations of transfluthrin and metofluthrin have been assayed for genotoxicity by using the Wing Spot Test on Drosophila melanogaster. Standard cross was used in the experiment. Third-instar larvae that were trans-heterozygous for the two genetic markers mwh and flr³ were treated at different concentrations (0.0103 mg mL⁻¹, 0.103 mg mL⁻¹ for transfluthrin and 6 μg mL⁻¹, 60 μg mL⁻¹ for metofluthrin) of the test compounds. Feeding ended with pupation of the surviving larvae and the genetic changes induced in somatic cells of the wing’s imaginal discs lead to the formation of mutant clones on the wing blade. Results indicated that two experimental concentrations of transfluthrin and 60 μg mL⁻¹ metofluthrin showed mutagenic and recombinogenic effects in both the marker-heterozygous (MH) flies and the balancer-heterozygous (BH) flies.     

Impact of long‐term pesticide applications on some soil biological parameters

Abstract

The soil oxidative and anaerobic processes, as well as, the microbial biomass were followed during three years in a cotton farm (Tatuí) where the recommended pesticides have been used for several years, and in an experimental field (São Paulo) treated first time with the same pesticides. The oxidative process was monitored by the dehydrogenase (DHA)‐activity using triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) as substrate. The anaerobic process was followed by the iron‐oxide reduction, and the microbial biomass was estimated by the substrate (glucose)‐indiced respiration. Increases in DHA‐activity and in the microbial biomass occurred only in the farm soil, with concomitant decreases in iron‐reduction. In the experimental field soil, the increases in DHA‐activity were followed only by decreases in iron‐reduction. Soil characteristics were the determining factor for different biological parameters after pesticide inputs. All the pesticides produced at least one clear but transient effect.     

Effects of glyphosate and foliar amendments on activity of microorganisms in the soybean rhizosphere

A field study was conducted to determine the effects of glyphosate on microbial activity in the rhizosphere of glyphosate-resistant (GR) soybean and to evaluate interactions with foliar amendments. Glyphosate at 0.84 kg ae ha^{? 1} was applied GR soybean at the V4–V5 development stages. Check treatments included a conventional herbicide tank mix (2003 study only) and no herbicides (hand-weeded). Ten days after herbicide application, a commercially available biostimulant and a urea solution (21.0% N) were applied to soybean foliage at 33.5 mL ha^{? 1} and 9.2 kg ha^{? 1}, respectively. Soil and plant samples were taken 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 days after herbicide application then assayed for enzyme and respiration activities. Soil respiration and enzyme activity increased with glyphosate and foliar amendment applications during the 2002 growing season; however, similar increases were not observed in 2003. Contrasting cumulative rainfall between 2002 and 2003 likely accounted for differences in soil microbial activities. Increases in soil microbial activity in 2002 suggest that adequate soil water and glyphosate application acted together to increase microbial activity. Our study suggests that general soil microbial properties including those involving C and N transformations are not sensitive enough to detect effects of glyphosate on rhizosphere microbial activity. Measurements of soil-plant-microbe relationships including specific microbial groups (i.e., root-associated Fusarium spp.) are likely better indicators of impacts of glyphosate on soil microbial ecology.     

Intestinal absorption of the acetamiprid neonicotinoid by Caco-2 cells: Transepithelial transport,cellular uptake and efflux

The human intestinal absorption of acetamiprid (AAP) using the Caco-2 cell line reveals that AAP flux was active in a bidirectional mode with an apparent permeability coefficient of 26^.10^?6 cm·s^?1 at 37°C. Apical uptake was concentration-dependent and unsaturated for AAP concentrations up to 200 μ M. AAP cell preloading demonstrated the involvement of active transport mechanisms. Arrhenius plot analysis revealed an unusual profile with two apparent activation energies suggesting two transport processes. Uptake Vi studies indicated the involvement of a sodium-dependent transporter, the presence of a common transporter of AAP and nicotine and the involvement of Ti-sensitive ATP-dependent efflux transporters. Apical efflux investigations showed the involvement of inward active transporter(s). Whereas vincristine had no effect on intracellular accumulation, taxol and daunorubicin treatments unexpectedly led to 10% and 23% reductions respectively, suggesting that the latter shared a common inward transporter with AAP. All these results suggest full and express AAP absorption in vivo with transport involving both inward and outward, passive and active mechanisms. Thus, AAP or its metabolites could be representative of a risk for human health after its ingestion in food.