Gender-based comparative toxicity of di-ethyl phthalate in Wistar rats

In recent years, the exposure of humans to phthalate esters through environmental contamination has increased. One among them is di-ethyl phthalate (DEP), which is used as a plastisizer for cellulose ester plastic films and sheets, solid rocket propellants, molded and extruded articles, as a component in insecticide sprays and various other substances, as well as in industrial applications. Release into the environment occurs primarily as a result of production and manufacturing of DEP and during the use and disposal of products containing DEP. Therefore, a study was undertaken to evaluate gender-specific toxicity of DEP in Wistar rats. Rats of both sexes, weighing 125–130?g, were administered 50?ppm (w/v) DEP in water ad libitum for a period of 180 days and were given normal diet. Control animals received normal diet and water ad libitum. During the treatment, rats were weighed every week and water consumption per day was measured. After the completion of treatment, liver weight?:?body weight^?1 ratio, liver weight, body weight^?1, liver and serum enzymes, and other biochemical parameters of liver and serum were assessed. It was observed that there was no significant change in body weight^?1, liver weight, liver weight?: body weight^?1 ratio, and water consumption in both sexes. There were significant increases in liver acid phosphatase (ACP) activity and kidney glutathione levels, and nonsignificant changes in liver alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities in DEP-treated male rats, whereas in DEP-treated female rats the liver showed significant decrease in ALP and SDH and nonsignificant changes in AST, ALT, and LDH activities. Serum ACP and LDH levels in DEP-treated male rats were significantly decreased, and in the case of DEP-treated female rats, only serum LDH levels were significantly decreased. There was no significant change in serum ALP, AST, and SDH levels in DEP-treated male and female rats as compared to control rats. Histology of the livers of both male and female rats showed loss of hepatic architecture, degenerative changes in hepatocytes, and vacuolation in hepatocytes in both the centrilobular and periportal areas. It can be concluded from this study that prolonged exposure to DEP at 50?ppm levels can be harmful to animals and humans. This is evident from the present study as certain significant changes in enzyme activities in the liver, serum, and histological alterations in liver were observed.     

Electrochemical degradation of Acid Red I dye and its treatment by UV light

Degradation of Acid Red I (ARI) dye by electrochemical treatment and UV light irradiation was studied in this work. The effect of the current density and the concentration of NaCl and dye on the decoloration and degradation efficiency were studied and optimized. The UV irradiation was monitored by UV-Vis spectrophotometry and chemical oxygen demand. The kinetic constants for decoloration and degradation were calculated. Degradation of 86% was achieved in 160?min and the first-order kinetic constant was 0.013?min^?1. Degradation products were identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The mechanism for the degradation of ARI was proposed.     

全球沙尘气溶胶源汇分布及其变化特征的模拟分析

根据全球沙尘气溶胶气候模式GEM-AQ/EC模拟的1995~2004年的沙尘起沙量和干湿沉降量,分析了沙尘气溶胶源汇的全球时空变化特征.全球沙尘起沙量集中在各个主要沙漠地区,北非对全球沙尘气溶胶贡献最大为66.6%.沙尘气溶胶沉降的高值区分布在沙漠源区及其紧临的下风地区.最大净沙尘气溶胶接收主要分布在沙漠周围地区并形成净接收量大于10t/(km2×a)的位于0°N~60°N之间的北非、欧亚大陆、西太平洋、北印度洋、北美和大西洋的带状分布.在北非、阿拉伯半岛、中亚、东亚和澳大利亚5个主要沙漠地区中,起沙量和沉降量都存在明显的季节变化,除中亚其他4个区域干湿沉降量和起沙的季节变化基本一致;东亚地区沙尘气溶胶起沙量和总沉降量的季节变化最为明显,而北非沙漠起沙量和总沉降量的季节变化最小,其他3个区域的季节变化幅度基本相同.中亚起沙峰值和阿拉伯半岛起沙次峰值出现在夏季,其他区域的峰值均出现在春季.10年间全球陆地年平均起沙量为(1500±94)Mt,保持略微上升趋势.以北非沙漠起沙量年际变化率最低(6.3%), 而以东亚(28.3%)和澳大利亚(45.0%)起沙量年际变化最为明显;全球陆地的沙尘气溶胶沉降量以约9.9Mt/a的速率递减,全球海洋的沙尘气溶胶沉降递增.     

Does the stock market value the inclusion in a sustainability stock index? An event study analysis for German firms

This paper empirically analyzes the effect of the inclusion of German corporations in the Dow Jones STOXX Sustainability Index (DJSI STOXX) and the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World) on stock performance. In order to receive robust estimation results, we apply an (short-term) event study approach that is based on both a modern asset pricing model, namely the three-factor model according to Fama and French [24], and additionally a t-GARCH(1,1) model. Our empirical results suggest that stock markets may penalize the inclusion of a firm in sustainability stock indexes. This finding is mainly driven by a strongly negative effect of the inclusion in the DJSI World. In contrast, we do not find significant average cumulative abnormal returns for the inclusion in the DJSI STOXX. This suggests that the inclusion in a more visible sustainability stock index may have larger negative impacts.     

依据材料与构件的受弯性能综合评价ECC的控裂性

为了研究国产的工程水泥基复合材料(Engineered Cementitious Composites,ECC)和普通聚乙烯醇(Polyvi-nyl Alcohol,PVA)纤维混凝土对结构增韧和控裂的效果,分别采用材料试验和构件试验进行研究。通过四点弯曲试验,发现ECC的峰值荷载和峰值荷载对应的拉应变要远远大于普通混凝土、PVA纤维混凝土,而且ECC起裂以后,裂缝宽度较小,且发展较慢,控制较好;采用不同高度的ECC、PVA纤维混凝土作为钢筋混凝土梁底保护层,发现1/4h ECC对钢筋混凝土增韧的效果最好,且裂缝宽度为0.2mm时,1/4h ECC的承载能力比普通钢筋混凝土提高1.6倍,峰值荷载比普通钢筋混凝土提高约12%;同时发现,在相同荷载作用下,采用ECC作为梁底保护层时,裂缝宽度比钢筋混凝土小,且可以有效地控制裂缝宽度的快速增长,间接提高结构的耐久性。     

低碳城市建设中不同行为主体的行为模式解析

随着工业化、城市化进程的快速推进,城市要面对能源消费、热岛效应、气候变化等一系列挑战。为了应对这些挑战,我们必须建设低碳城市。具体分析了中国低碳城市建设的困境,基于微观行为主体的视角,构建了＂MOCIC＂分析模型,最后从政府、企业、居民3个层面提出了中国低碳城市建设的对策。     

A new polystyrene-latex-based and EPS-containing synthetic sludge

Since the living microorganisms in activated sludge continuously change, it is difficult to conduct controlled experiments and achieve reproducible results for evaluating sludge characteristics. Synthetic sludge, as a chemical surrogate to activated sludge, could be used to investigate the sludge physicochemical properties, and it is desirable to prepare synthetic sludge with similar structure and properties to real activated sludge to explore the flocculation and settlement processes in activated sludge systems. In this work, a high-strength synthetic sludge was prepared with functional polystyrene latex particles as the framework and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) to modify its surface. The flocculation and settling characteristics of the microspheres and the prepared synthetic sludge were tested. Compared with other three functional polystyrene latex microspheres, the synthetic sludge prepared with EPS-modified polystyrene latex microspheres showed good settling characteristics and a significantly higher strength. They could be used for studying the physicochemical properties of activated sludge.     

中国GBZ2.1与德国MAK工作场所化学有害因素职业接触限值比较研究

系统比较中国现行职业接触限值标准GBZ2.1-2007与德国职业接触限值MAK在定义、制定原则和具体数值方面的差异,为中国GBZ2.1的修订提供建议和依据。将 GBZ2.1中规定的OELs与德国MAK于2015年公布的化学有害因素 OELs ,按不同类型建立比较分析数据库,并进行比较分析,分析结果表明:中德2国在职业接触限值的制定原则,化学有害因素的来源、数量与标识等方面有显著差异。 因此,我国应加强对化学性有害因素孕期毒性接触限值的研究和应用。中德在选择化学性有害因素制定OELs时各有侧重,我国在重金属方面制定的OELs,如:钴、钼、铍、铊等,是德国MAK以及美国ACGIH中所未有的,而德国则不再为致癌物质制定OELs。中、德均制定有OELs的化学性有害因素在数值上差异较大,中国有部分OELs同时高于德国MAK和美国ACGIH。我国的职业接触限值更新频率较慢,应缩短OELs更新周期,在对现行的GBZ2.1进行制修订时,可将发达国家OELs作为1项参考。德国风险分级评估方法对致癌物质的管理和评估值得进一步探讨及研究。     

中国经济转型阶段建设用地增长极限计量研究

论文以中国经济发展进程中的建设用地增长态势为研究起点,在把握经济发展与建设用地增长规律的基础上,提出建设用地增长极限命题;通过构建边际模型,计量建设用地增长的极限时点,进而剖析时空变化规律。结果表明:①1978-2000年间中国经济发展与建设用地增长具有周期性波动特征,两者波动周期基本一致;②中国建设用地增长极限平均时点为2047年左右,不同省(市)建设用地增长极限特征不论时间纵向还是空间横向比较,都大致沿东南-西北线依次分级;③东部地区较早达到建设用地增长极限,其中上海、江苏和广东等11个省(市)早于全国平均时点,河北、四川和青海等其余19个省(市)晚于全国平均水平,东部地区建设用地增长压力较大,中、西部地区增长压力相对较小。最后,论文提出提高中、西部地区的土地利用效率,控制粗放利用,鼓励技术创新等加快逼近建设用地增长极限的政策和建议。     

气相色谱-质谱联用测定母乳中合成麝香

建立了凝胶渗透色谱(GPC)柱和硅胶柱净化,气相色谱-质谱(GC/MS)测定母乳中合成麝香的分析方法.实验结果表明:GC/MS在0.01μg.ml-1到1μg.ml-1的浓度范围内对4种常见合成麝香(佳乐麝香HHCB、吐纳麝香AHTN、二甲苯麝香MX和酮麝香MK)均有良好的线性响应,4种合成麝香的基质加标回收率为76%—115%,相对标准偏差为2.8%—7.4%.利用信噪比(5/1)确定该方法的定性检测限,HHCB,AHTN,MX为5ng.g-1脂重,MK为4ng.g-1脂重,定量检测限为定性检测限的2倍.采用上述方法分析了上海母乳样品中合成麝香的浓度和分布特征,发现母乳中普遍存在这4种合成麝香,浓度分别为HHCB92±70;AHTN16±12;MX26±22;MK16±14ng.g-1脂重,与欧美国家的污染水平相比,总体含量偏低.