Short-term inhalation exposure evaluations of airborne antibiotic resistance genes in environments

Antibiotic resistance is a sword of Damocles that hangs over humans. In regards to airborne antibiotic resistance genes (AARGs), critical knowledge gaps still exist in the identification of hotspots and quantification of exposure levels in different environments. Here, we have studied the profiles of AARGs, mobile genetic elements (MGEs) and bacterial communities in various atmospheric environments by high throughput qPCR and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. We propose a new AARGs exposure dose calculation that uses short-term inhalation (STI). Swine farms and hospitals were high-risk areas where AARGs standardised abundance was more abundant than suburbs and urban areas. Additionally, resistance gene abundance in swine farm worker sputum was higher than that in healthy individuals in other environments. The correlation between AARGs with MGEs and bacteria was strong in suburbs but weak in livestock farms and hospitals. STI exposure analysis revealed that occupational intake of AARGs (via PM₁₀) in swine farms and hospitals were 110 and 29 times higher than in suburbs, were 1.5 × 10⁴, 5.6 × 10⁴ and 5.1 × 10² copies, i.e., 61.9%, 75.1% and 10.7% of the overall daily inhalation intake, respectively. Our study comprehensively compares environmental differences in AARGs to identify high-risk areas, and forwardly proposes the STI exposure dose of AARGs to guide risk assessment.     

Progress in the ecology and conservation of giant pandas

Giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) conservation is a possible success story in the making. If extinction of this iconic endangered species can be avoided, the species will become a showcase program for the Chinese government and its collaborators. We reviewed the major advancements in ecological science for the giant panda, examining how these advancements have contributed to panda conservation. Pandas’ morphological and behavioral adaptations to a diet of bamboo, which bear strong influence on movement ecology, have been well studied, providing knowledge to guide management actions ranging from reserve design to climate change mitigation. Foraging ecology has also provided essential information used in the creation of landscape models of panda habitat. Because habitat loss and fragmentation are major drivers of the panda population decline, efforts have been made to help identify core habitat areas, establish where habitat corridors are needed, and prioritize areas for protection and restoration. Thus, habitat models have provided guidance for the Chinese governments’ creation of 67 protected areas. Behavioral research has revealed a complex and efficient communication system and documented the need for protection of habitat that serves as a communication platform for bringing the sexes together for mating. Further research shows that den sites in old‐growth forests may be a limiting resource, indicating potential value in providing alternative den sites for rearing offspring. Advancements in molecular ecology have been revolutionary and have been applied to population census, determining population structure and genetic diversity, evaluating connectivity following habitat fragmentation, and understanding dispersal patterns. These advancements form a foundation for increasing the application of adaptive management approaches to move panda conservation forward more rapidly. Although the Chinese government has made great progress in setting aside protected areas, future emphasis will be improved management of pandas and their habitat.     

江汉平原中北部一次区域性暴雨的成因分析

利用常规气象资料和NCEP再分析客观物理量场、卫星云图、多普勒雷达回波产品资料,对2007年7月13日发生在江汉平原中北部的暴雨过程进行了诊断分析。结果表明,（1）高空低槽东移是影响此次强降水过程的主要大尺度环流背景;（2）低层低涡暖切变和低空急流是暴雨的直接影响系统;（3）有利的热力水汽条件和动力条件是强降水产生和维持的机制;（4）卫星云图上“人”字型、“V”字型云系和多普勒速度资料上的“逆风区”、风切变可作为判断强降水落区落点的依据。     

近40年湖南冰雹时空分布和变化特征及机理分析

利用湖南省1967～2006年近四十年冰雹日数资料,分析了湖南冰雹时空分布特征,着重讨论了湖南冰雹日数年代、年、季、月、旬、日际变化、地域分布特征及湖南前后二十年冰雹的变化趋势。研究表明：湖南冰雹是典型的春雹区,春季冰雹日数占全年冰雹日数的74．9％;存在2年和4．8年的周期;日变化十分明显,多出现在午后到傍晚;地理分布呈西多东少,高山多于平原,洞庭湖北侧多于南侧的特点;近二十年冰雹呈减少趋势,多雹区更集中,主要出现在湘西北和湘东南。     

耦合厌氧氨氧化反应的高氮负荷型双室MFC性能研究

实验针对厌氧氨氧化反应在双室型MFC阳极和阴极2种形式的耦合,将厌氧氨氧化菌分别接种于a、b-双室型MFC的阳、阴极,并探究其产电、脱氮性能及脱氮机理.结果表明,2种类型的MFC均可在NH+4-N、NO-2-N浓度分别为400 mg·L-1和528 mg·L-1的高氮浓度模拟配水条件下稳定启动.与开路状态下的线性关系曲线不同,2类MFC在闭路状态下氨氮、亚硝态氮浓度均呈单指数关系衰减曲线,脱氮效率显著提高,周期内氨氮、亚硝态氮去除率均分别达到99%和85%以上.另外a、b-MFC平均容积氮去除负荷分别为0.417 kg·m-3·d-1和0.516 kg·m-3·d-1.在外阻1500Ω条件下,a-MFC最高输出电压48.0 m V,b-MFC最高输出电压可达到502.2 m V,b-MFC稳定输电周期约2170 min.     

生物脱氮除磷工艺的研究进展

为遏制水体富营养化的恶化，氮，磷的排放标准日趋严格，生脱氮除磷工艺能有效地去除水体中的氮、磷。通过对现有的生物脱氮除磷传统工艺和新近发展工艺的介绍和分析，指出经济、高效、低能耗是其发展的方向，同时认为今后应加强对生物脱氮除磷机理更深入的研究，大力开发技术成熟，高效经济又符合我国国情的新工艺。     

湖南2008年极端冰冻特大灾害成因分析及影响评估

2008年初,湖南出现了有完整气象记录以来罕见的特大低温冰冻雨雪极端灾害天气.本次过程具有强度大、范围广、时间长、灾害重等特点,过程气温、冰冻、严寒期的多项评估指标创1949以来极值,综合评估为特大型气象灾害.从天气学角度出发,对此次低温冰冻雨雪天气形势进行了分析,同时对低温雨雪冰冻造成的湖南农业、电力、通信、交通等行业影响进行了评估.     

Assessing the geographical distribution of 76 Dendrobium species and impacts of climate change on their potential suitable distribution area in China

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The geographical distribution of plant resources is of great significance for studying the origin, distribution, and evolution of species. Climate and...     

石羊河流域地下水循环的同位素和地球化学演化特征

石羊河流域是我国水资源开发程度最高的内陆河流域之一,是干旱区典型的水资源脆弱带,其生态环境问题日益严重,因此,研究石羊河流域地下水循环和地球化学演化规律具有重要意义.本研究从祁连山顶到红崖山水库沿径流剖面采集水样,对降水、地表水和地下水的水化学及同位素δ18O、δD进行分析,以揭示地下水的补给、径流和排泄规律.结果表明,地下水径流系统在向下游输送的过程中不断接受河流的渗漏补给和农田灌溉入渗补给,通过河床溢流、人工开采的形式排泄,盆地平原区地下水以垂向运动为主.盆地下游是地下水的主要排泄区,盆地北端地下水随基底抬升而上升溢出,转化为地表水排出.流域地下水从上游到下游矿化度逐渐升高,溶解性总固体(TDS)值在131 ～1750mg·L-1之间;水化学类型从HCO3--SO42--Ca2+-Mg2+型逐渐转化为SO42--HCO3-Mg2+-Ca2+型,呈现明显的分带特征.