Hydroxytyrosol, the phenolic compound of olive oil protects human PBMC against oxidative stress and DNA damage mediated by 2,3,7,8-TCDD

The protective effect of hydroxytyrosol (HT), a strong antioxidant compound from extra virgin olive oil, against TCDD induced toxicity was investigated in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). PBMC (1 × 10⁶ cells mL⁻¹) were divided into four groups and were incubated in a CO₂ incubator (5% CO₂) for 12 h with vehicle, TCDD (10 nM), TCDD + HT (10 nM + 100 μM) and HT alone (100 μM) respectively. To clarify the role of HT against TCDD induced cytotoxicity, oxidative stress and the levels of antioxidant enzymes were assessed. Incubation of PBMC with TCDD significantly decreased cell viability, catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and increased the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GR) and oxidative stress markers such as lipid peroxidation products (LPO), protein carbonyl content (PCC) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Whereas, HT had an effective antioxidant property as observed by the increased cell viability, normalization of antioxidant enzymes and decreased levels of LPO, PCC and ROS in PBMC co-treated with HT and TCDD. Apoptosis detection and comet assay results shows that HT, by acting as an antioxidant, prevents the damage to DNA induced by TCDD. In addition light microscopic and histopathological observations revealed that the cells are apoptotic and degenerated during TCDD treatment, whereas cells showed intact morphology during co-treatment with HT. On the whole, the results reveal that HT exerts a promising antioxidant potential in protecting the PBMC against TCDD induced oxidative stress, which might be due to the presence of catechol moiety in its structure.     

Quantifying the role of online news in linking conservation research to Facebook and Twitter

Conservation science needs to engage the general public to ensure successful conservation interventions. Although online technologies such as Twitter and Facebook offer new opportunities to accelerate communication between conservation scientists and the online public, factors influencing the spread of conservation news in online media are not well understood. We explored transmission of conservation research through online news articles with generalized linear mixed‐effects models and an information theoretic approach. In particular, we assessed differences in the frequency conservation research is featured on online news sites and the impact of online conservation news content and delivery on Facebook likes and shares and Twitter tweets. Five percent of articles in conservation journals are reported in online news, and the probability of reporting depended on the journal. There was weak evidence that articles on climate change and mammals were more likely to be featured. Online news articles about charismatic mammals with illustrations were more likely to be shared or liked on Facebook and Twitter, but the effect of news sites was much larger. These results suggest journals have the greatest impact on which conservation research is featured and that news site has the greatest impact on how popular an online article will be on Facebook and Twitter. Cuantificación del Papel de las Noticias En Línea en el Enlazamiento de la Investigación para la Conservación con Facebook y Twitter     

Comparison of Diuron degradation by direct UV photolysis and advanced oxidation processes

The rates of Diuron elimination by some advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) such as Fe(III)/UV, Ferrioxalate/UV, Fe(III)/H(2)O(2)/UV, Ferrioxalate/UV/H(2)O(2) and Fe(III)/H(2)O(2) have been compared. Experiments have been conducted at pH=2.3+/-0.1 with a batch reactor equipped with a low-pressure mercury lamp emitting mainly at 253.7nm. Data obtained under the following experimental conditions ([H(2)O(2)](0)=10(-3)M, [Diuron](0)=5x10(-5)M and [Fe(III)](0)=10(-3)M) have shown that rates of Diuron oxidation were higher with the systems Fe(III)/H(2)O(2)/UV and Ferrioxalate/UV/H(2)O(2) than with Fe(III)/UV and Fe(III)/H(2)O(2). On the other hand, Fe(III)/UV was found to be very efficient in mineralization of Diuron solution in comparison to direct UV photolysis. The experimental results showed that radical ()OH is the major pathway in the process of Diuron degradation.     

Assessment of risks posed by chemical industries—application of a new computer automated tool -III

The paper describes the application of a new computer automated tool, developed by us, in the risk analysis of a typical chemical industry engaged in the manufacture of linear alkyl benzene. Using the tool—a comprehensive software package -III (MAXimum CREDible accident analysis)—nine different scenarios, one for each storage unit, have been studied. It is observed that the accident scenario for chlorine (instantaneous release followed by dispersion) leads to the largest area-under-lethal-impact, while the accident scenario for propylene (CVCE followed by fireball) forecasts the most intense damage per unit area. The accidents involving propylene, benzene, and fuel oil have a high possibility of causing domino/secondary accidents as their destructive impacts (shock waves, heat load) would envelope other storage and process units.Besides demonstrating the utilizability of -III, this study also focuses attention on the need to bestow greater effort towards risk assessment/crisis management. The authors hope that the study will highlight the severity of the risk posed by the industry and thus generate safety consciousness among plant managers. The study may also help in developing accident-prevention strategies and the installation of damage control devices.     

灰色关联分析在玉米高产施肥技术上的应用

通过施肥因子对玉米产量的分析，研究影响作物产量的各施肥因子的影响程度．通过关联因子和关联序分析，提出一套切实可行的施肥方案．并为今后研究作物施肥提供一条新的行之有效的研究途径和一种新的方法．研究结果表明：在玉米高产施肥中，施肥与产量之间的关联序为：基N＞追N＞总N＞总K＞追K＞基P＞追P＞总P（总N＞总K＞总P），粒N＞苗N＞穗N＞穗K＞粒P＞苗K＞苗P＞穗P＞粒K．这为玉米高产施肥提供了重要的理论依据，并为作物施肥技术研究开辟了一条新路．     

异常性检测算法在引信干扰信号识别中的应用

目的 解决传统分类引信抗干扰算法因干扰信号难获取、特征信号样本少、正负样本数不平衡而导致计算精度低的问题,克服引信抗干扰算法对样本的依赖性,并提高引信信号识别准确率。方法 通过WVD时频变换的方法,将拆分后的真实含扰引信信号切片进行重组,使其由一维时序信号向二维图片信息进行扩展,基于数据倍增策略,提升算法泛化性,并降低其对真实数据样本的依赖。融合GANomaly与EfficientNet网络,在扩充的引信数据集上进行线下干扰信号特征学习,并对含扰引信图像数据进行线上异常性判断与干扰信号识别。结果 GE-FS网络能够在真实引信小样本信号的基础上进行有效数据扩充,基于扩充数据训练后,引信含扰识别准确率达到98.4%。结论 GE-FS网络能有效针对引信异常信号进行精确检测与识别,可以增强引信系统的抗干扰能力与作战自适应性。     

正确评价森林水文效应

只有正确客观地认识森林水文效应，才能在实践中实现其指导意义。论文从森林与水的关系入手，提出要确立系统观。以我国各生态定位研究站及其他同类研究项目的多年研究结果为基础，系统客观地分析和阐述了森林生态系统与水分循环的关系以及森林在各方面的综合调节功能。提出在西部开发中林草植被建设要考虑到水资源的科学分配；要在保证生态安全的前提下，所有产业“适度发展”。