Characterization of microbial communities from coastal waters using microarrays

Molecular methods, including DNA probes, were used to identify and enumerate pathogenic Vibrio species in the Chesapeake Bay; our data indicated that Vibrio vulnificus exhibits seasonal fluctuations in number. Our work included a characterization of total microbial communities from the Bay; development of microarrays that identify and quantify the diversity of those communities; and observation of temporal changes in those communities. To identify members of the microbial community, we amplified the 16S rDNA gene from community DNA isolated from a biofilm sample collected from the Chesapeake Bay in February, 2000. The resultant 75 sequences were 95% or more similar to 7 species including two recently described Shewanella species, baltica and frigidimarina, that have not been previously isolated from the Chesapeake. When the genera of bacteria from biofilm after culturing are compared to those detected by subcloning amplified 16S fragments from community DNA, the cultured sample exhibited a strong bias. In oysters collected in February, the most common bacteria were previously unknown. Based on our 16S findings, we are developing microarrays to detect these and other microbial species in these estuarine communities. The microarrays will detect each species using four distinct loci, with the multiple loci serving as an internal control. The accuracy of the microarray will be measured using sentinel species such as Aeromonas species, Escherichia coli, and Vibrio vulnificus. Using microarrays, it should be possible to determine the annual fluctuations of bacterial species (culturable and non-culturable, pathogenic and non-pathogenic). The data may be applied to understanding patterns of environmental change; assessing the health of the Bay; and evaluating the risk of human illness associated with exposure to and ingestion of water and shellfish.     

通辽露天煤矿排土场恢复初期土壤碳组分变化及影响因素

通过研究露天煤矿排土场植被恢复初期土壤碳的变化规律及相关的影响因素,可为矿区排土场生态恢复提供科学依据和决策支持。为此,以内蒙古通辽高寒露天煤矿排土场土壤为研究对象,分别在2018、2019和2020年植物复垦土壤以及2021年未复垦土壤进行调查取样,探究了恢复初期土壤全碳、有机质、颗粒有机碳(POC)、矿物结合态有机物 (MAOC)和土壤微生物量碳(MBC)变化规律及影响因素。结果表明：植被复垦后土壤碳组分显著高于对照土壤,并随着排土场植被恢复时间的增加,土壤活性有机质中的POC、MAOC组分以及MBC的含量显著增加,但土壤全碳含量的差异不显著。土壤pH显著影响土壤全碳和MAOC含量,而土壤铵态氮与土壤碳累积呈负相关。随着植被恢复时间的增加,土壤pH降低,并与土壤全碳和MAOC的含量显著增加显著相关。因此,植被恢复对于排土场土壤碳累积具有重要的意义,同时在排土场生态恢复的过程中应重视土壤盐碱化治理。     

自吸过滤式呼吸器对人体主观舒适度的影响

测定了在中等（100W）和高等（155W）劳动强度下,8名受试者佩戴5种自吸过滤式呼吸器（呼吸阻力及死腔不同）从事踏车运动时的主观舒适度。结果表明：随着呼吸负荷增大,受试者的主观不适度显著增强;在中等运动负荷条件下,高温环境中人员对呼吸负荷主观不适度的反应更加明显;在高运动负荷条件下,常温环境人员对呼吸负荷主观不适度的反应更加明显。     

Radon level in dwellings and its correlation with uranium and radium content in some areas of Himachal Pradesh,India

LR- 115 plastic track detectors have been used to measure indoor radon level in some dwellings of Una district, Himachal Pradesh, India. The annual average radon concentration in dwellings in most of the villages falls in the range of the action level recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection. The radon values in some of the dwellings exceed the action level and may be unsafe from the health hazard point of view. The indoor radon values are in general higher in winter than in summer. Uranium, radium and radon exhalation studies have also been carried out in soil samples collected from these areas. A good correlation is obtained between uranium concentration in the soil and indoor radon in dwellings. The soil radon exhalation rate also correlates with the uranium concentration in soil.     

论环境产业

本文在可持续发展视角下,把环境的保护、修复、维护的生产活动及与之直接相关的服务活动称为环境产韭,包括发挥减少、避免污染环境作用的资源再利用鼗和发挥治理污染物与修复、改善环境作用的环境维护业.通过探讨环境产业的内涵、发展历程、运行机制和在产业体系中的位置与作用,指出环境产业是在法规保障下政府强行推动产生和发展起来的,是产业体系中不可缺少的重要组成部分;考虑自然环境对社会行为的影响,改进政府行为构建适台环境产业与传统产业协调发展的经济体制是加快发展环境产业的关键.     

Environmental radon studies using solid state nuclear track detectors

The results of radon activity recorded in 70 dwellings of Nurpur area, Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh, India are reported. LR-115 Type 2 films in the bare mode were exposed for four seasons of three months each covering a period of one year for the measurement of indoor radon levels. The calibration constant of 0.020 tracks cm(-2) d(-1) per Bq m(-3) has been used to express radon activity in Bq m(-3). The annual average indoor radon concentrations in 17 different villages of the area are found to vary from 168+/-46 to 429+/-71. Most of the indoor radon values lie in the range of action levels (200-600 Bq m(-3)) recommended by International Commission on Radiological Protection.     

Subsurface nutrient modelling using finite element model under Boro rice cropping system

Boro rice, an emerging low-risk crop variety of rice, cultivated using residual or stored water after Kharif season. To enhance the quality and production of rice, potassium (K) and phosphorus (P) are the common constituents of agricultural fertilizers. However, excess application of fertilizers causes leaching of nutrients and contaminates the groundwater system. Therefore, assessment and optimization of fertilizer dose are needed for better management of fertilizers. Towards this, the present study determines the path, persistence, and mobility of K and P under the Boro rice cropping system. The experimental site consisted of four plots having Boro rice with four different fertilizer doses of nitrogen (N), P, K viz. 100%, 75%, 50%, and 25% of the recommended dose. Disturbed soil samples were analysed for K and P from pre-sown land to tillering stage at 0–5, 5–10, 10–15, 15–30, 30–45, and 45–60 cm depths. Simultaneously, K and available P were also simulated in the subsurface soil layers through the HYDRUS-1D model. The statistical comparisons were made with RMSER, E, and PBIAS between the modelled values and laboratory-measured values. Although, the results showed that all the treatments considered had agreeable simulations for both K and P, the K simulations were found to be better as compared to P simulations except for 25% where P simulations outperformed K. The simulated concentration at all doses was found most appropriate when measured for the subsurface layers (up to 45 cm), while showed an underestimation in the bottom layers (45–60 cm) of soil.