Primary neuronal-astrocytic co-culture platform for neurotoxicity assessment of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate

Plastics such as polyvinyl chlorides （PVC） are widely used in many indoor constructed environments; however, their unbound chemicals, such as di-（2-ethylhexyl） phthalates （DEHP）, can leach into the surrounding environment. This study focused on DEHP＇s effect on the central nervous system by determining the precise DEHP content in mice brain tissue after exposure to the chemical, to evaluate the specific exposure range. Primary neuronal-astrocyte co-culture systems were used as in vitro models for chemical hazard identification of DEHP. Oxidative stress was hypothesized as a probable mechanism involved, and therefore the total reactive oxygen species （ROS） concentration was determined as a biomarker of oxidative stress. In addition, NeuriteTracer, a neurite tracing plugin with ImageJ, was used to develop an assay for neurotoxicity to provide quantitative measurements of neurological parameters, such as neuronal number, neuron count and neurite length, all of which could indicate neurotoxic effects. The results showed that with 1 nmol/L DEHP exposure, there was a significant increase in ROS concentrations, indicating that the neuronal-astrocyte cultures were injured due to exposure to DEHP. In response, astrocyte proliferation （gliosis） was initiated, serving as a mechanism to maintain a homeostatic environment for neurons and protect neurons from toxic chemicals. There is a need to assess the cumulative effects of DEHP in animals to evaluate the possible uotake and effects on the human neuronal system from exoosure to DEHP in the indoor environment.     

Fouling distribution in forward osmosis membrane process

Fouling behavior along the length of membrane module was systematically investigated by performing simple modeling and lab-scale experiments of forward osmosis （FO） membrane process. The flux distribution model developed in this study showed a good agreement with experimental results, validating the robustness of the model. This model demonstrated, as expected, that the permeate flux decreased along the membrane channel due to decreasing osmotic pressure differential across the FO membrane. A series of fouling experiments were conducted under the draw and feed solutions at various recoveries simulated by the model. The simulated fouling experiments revealed that higher organic （alginate） fouling and thus more flux decline were observed at the last section of a membrane channel, as foulants in feed solution became more concentrated. Furthermore, the water flux in FO process declined more severely as the recovery increased due to more foulants transported to membrane surface with elevated solute concentrations at higher recovery, which created favorable solution environments for organic adsorption. The fouling reversibility also decreased at the last section of the membrane channel, suggesting that fouling distribution on FO membrane along the module should be carefully examined to improve overall cleaning efficiency. Lastly, it was found that such fouling distribution observed with co-current flow operation became less pronounced in counter- current flow operation of FO membrane process.     

缙云山3种典型森林降雨过程及其氮素输入

选取重庆缙云山的常绿阔叶林、毛竹林和针阔混交林为研究对象,于2012年5~10月对大气降水、穿透雨和树干径流等降水过程及其氮素输入进行研究.结果表明:①研究期间总降雨量564.88 mm,常绿阔叶林、毛竹林和针阔混交林的穿透雨量占总降雨量的比例分别为74.0%、85.0%和71.6%,且树干径流量所占比例分别为1.9%、10.3%和1.6%;3种林分的穿透雨量、树干径流量与林外降雨量之间均呈显著的线性关系(P<0.05),且穿透雨率、树干径流率与林外降雨量之间都呈对数关系(P<0.05).②与大气降水相比,穿透雨和树干径流的NO-3和NH+4浓度要高,且3种林分的大小关系为针阔混交林>常绿阔叶林>毛竹林;穿透雨和树干径流的总无机氮输入量(以N计)分别为针阔混交林(18.93 kg·hm-2)、常绿阔叶林(14.93 kg·hm-2)和毛竹林(15.31 kg·hm-2).③3种林分的无机氮输入量与穿透雨量、树干径流量之间均呈显著的线性关系(P<0.05).     

甲硫醇降解菌群筛选及其降解特性研究

从处理甲硫醚(DMS)和丙硫醇(PT)混合废气的生物滴滤塔中富集出一组能够有效降解甲硫醇(MT)的混合菌群,并对其特性进行了系列研究.结果表明,该混合菌群能有效降解MT,菌群较为适宜的生长和降解条件为30℃、p H=7.0,在该条件下能将初始浓度为20 mg·L~(-1)的MT在70 h内降解完全.添加酵母膏(YE)后,MT降解速率进一步提高,降解所需时间缩短10 h.利用高通量测序技术分析混合菌群的群落结构,发现其中优势菌属为Pseudomonas sp.、Thiobacillus sp.和Acinetobacter sp.,所占比例分别为33.78%、21.91%和17.01%.中间产物检测结果表明,混合菌群降解MT的过程中产生了甲醛、H_2S、二甲基二硫醚(DMDS)等物质,推断MT的降解途径可能有如下2条:(1)MT在MT氧化酶作用下形成甲醛和H2S,随后氧化为SO_4~(2-);(2)MT依次转化为DMDS、DMS、二甲基亚砜(DMSO)和二甲基砜(DMSO_2),最后经甲基磺酸(MSA)可生成SO_4~(2-).     

Selection of appropriate organic additives for enhancing Zn and Cd phytoextraction by hyperaccumulators

Chelant-enhanced phytoextraction is one of the most promising technologies to remove heavy metals from soil. The key of the technology is to choose suitable additives in combination with a suitable plant. In the present study, laboratory batch experiment of metal solubilization, cress seeds germination were undertaken to investigate the metal-mobilizing capability and the phytotoxicity of organic additives, including ethylene diamine triacetic acid （EDTA）, citric acid, acetic acid, oxalic acid, glutamine and monosodium glutamate waste liquid （MGWL） from food industry. Experiments in pots were carried out to study the effects of the additives on Zn and Cd phytoextraction. Furthermore, a leaching experiment with lysimeter was performed to evaluate the environmental risks of additive-induced leaching to underground water. The results showed that EDTA had a strong mobilizing ability for Zn and Cd, followed by mixed reagent （MR） and MGWL. MGWL and acetic acid at 5 mmol equivalent per liter resulted in seed germination index less than 2%. Experiments in pots verified the phytotoxicity of acetic acid and MGWL. Addition of the mixed reagent at 6--10 mmol/kg significantly increased Zn phytoextraction by Thlaspi caerulescens. The same for EDTA and the mixed reagent at 10 mmol/kg by Sedum dfredii. But only mixed reagents could significantly increase Cd phytoextraction by the studied hyperaccumulators. This suggested that the strong chelant was not always the good agent to enhance phytoextraction. S. alfredii combined with 2--10 mmol/kg soil MR was preferred for phytoremediation of Cd/Zn contaminated soils in southern China, this could result in high phytoextraction of Cd/Zn and reduce the leaching risk to underground water than EDTA assisted phytoextration.     

隧道与横通道交叉角对火灾烟气蔓延影响机制研究

为探索隧道与横通道交叉角对火灾烟气蔓延的影响机制,采用FDS数值模拟,研究横通道与隧道不同交叉角情况下火灾烟气温度、浓度、烟气层高度等的变化规律,建立开启火源下风向横通道时隧道内烟气最高温度修正公式,提出烟气纵向蔓延恢复长度的概念,并探讨其影响规律。 结果表明:隧道和横通道交叉角越小,隧道内同一位置烟气层高度越高,当交叉角由90°降低到30°时,烟气层高度最大增加32%;烟气纵向蔓延恢复长度与交叉角及通风速率呈正相关,而与火源功率几乎无关。研究结果对隧道通风排烟系统设计及相关标准的制定具有参考意义。     

Assessing Spatial, Temporal, and Analytical Variation of Groundwater Chemistry in a Large Nuclear Complex, USA

Statistical analyses were applied at the Hanford Site, USA, to assess groundwater contamination problems that included (1) determining local backgrounds to ascertain whether a facility is affecting the groundwater quality and (2) determining a ‘pre-Hanford' groundwater background to allow formulation of background-based cleanup standards. The primary purpose of this paper is to extend the random effects models for (1) assessing the spatial, temporal, and analytical variability of groundwater background measurements; (2) demonstrating that the usual variance estimate s ², which ignores the variance components, is a biased estimator; (3) providing formulas for calculating the amount of bias; and (4) recommending monitoring strategies to reduce the uncertainty in estimating the average background concentrations. A case study is provided. Results indicate that (1) without considering spatial and temporal variability, there is a high probability of false positives, resulting in unnecessary remediation and/or monitoring expenses; (2) the most effective way to reduce the uncertainty in estimating the average background, and enhance the power of the statistical tests in general, is to increase the number of background wells; and (3) background for a specific constituent should be considered as a statistical distribution, not as a single value or threshold. The methods and the related analysis of variance tables discussed in this paper can be used as diagnostic tools in documenting the extent of inherent spatial and/or temporal variation and to help select an appropriate statistical method for testing purposes.     

铝材Sn-Ni混合盐电解着枪色参数研究

首先对铝片试样进行预处理,随后在恒定的电流密度和相同的氧化时间下,在铝材表面形成厚度均匀的阳极氧化膜,然后采用方波交流电,对铝试样进行电解着色处理,通过改变铝材电解着色工艺的着色时间、电流密度、正负电流比、占空比等因素来研究这些因素与铝材明度值和色差之间的关系。实验结果表明获得枪色的最佳工艺条件是:着色时间6m in左右,着色电流密度为1.40 A/dm2左右,正向电流比负向电流大7%左右,占空比55%左右。     

锐钛矿-金红石混合晶型TiO2降解气相苯

用溶胶-凝胶法并通过控制煅烧温度合成不同晶相比的混合晶型纳米TiO_2,在紫外光光照下降解气相苯。考察了苯初始质量浓度、紫外灯光照强度和催化剂加入量对苯去除率的影响;探究了光催化降解气相苯的动力学特征。结果表明:450℃煅烧制备的催化剂降解苯效率最高,此催化剂金红石相质量分数为6.30%;在苯初始质量浓度为74.39 mg/m~3、催化剂加入量为7 g、光照强度为2.18 klux的最佳条件下反应84 min,苯去除率达99.73%;光催化降解率与光照强度之间符合0.5级动力学特征;当催化剂加入量为3 g时,单位时间单位质量催化剂降解苯的质量最多;苯的光催化降解反应均符合一级动力学方程。     

Effect of sulfate on the methanogenic activity of a bacterial culture from a brewery wastewater during glucose degradation

The maximum specific methanogenic activity （SMA） of a sludge originating from a brewery wastewater treatment plant on the degradation of glucose was investigated at various levels of sulfate on a specific loading basis. Batch experiments were conducted in serum bottles at pH 7 and 35℃. A comparison of the values indicates that the SMA of this mixed culture was increased and reached its highest level of 0.128 g CH4 gas COD/（g VSS.d） when biomass was in contact with sulfate at a ratio of 1：0.114 by weight.