Non-UV based germicidal activity of metal-doped TiO2 coating on solid surfaces

A stain-based screening method was developed to screen different catalyst coatings for their germicidal activity. A Baclight dead/live bacteria viability kit （invitrogen, molecular probes） was used for staining the cell. The screening was carried out following a standard procedure. This included loading cell suspension to solid surface and maintaining contact for 30 min, then staining with a mixture containing dyes. The stained cells were observed using an epifluorescent microscope and photographed with a CCD camera under UV. Metal-doped TiO2 coatings on AI plates were prepared and tested for non-UV germicidal activity without using UV. It was tested using model microorganisms such as Bakers Yeast （Saccharomyces cerevisiae）, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas putida, and Escherichia coli. On the basis of the germicidal activity of catalyst and the degree of damage caused to the cells, the stained cells may appear green （viable）, green with red or yellow nuclei and yellow （compromised） or red （nonviable）. According to their stained color, cells were counted to calculate the percentage of dead, live, and compromised cells. Compromised cells are cells that grow very slowly after reculturing indicating a degree of reversible cell damage. Screening the germicidal activity using this staining method is accurate and efficient, and requires less time than the culture-based method. A modification to the procedure for measuring germicidal activity of rough surfaces or fibrous coatings was developed. Both TiO2 and metal-doped TiO2 （Ag, Pt, Au, Cu） possess non-UV based germicidal activity. The germicidal activity of TiO2 was found to be related with its wetting property and can be improved by UV irradiation before testing. It is not greatly affected by contact time, indicating a fast acting germicidal activity.     

庐山不同森林植被类型土壤碳库管理指数评价

土壤碳库管理指数(CPMI)是表征土壤碳库变化的一个重要量化指标,能够反映土壤的碳库变化和碳库质量。选取庐山8种森林植被类型土壤为研究对象,对其土壤有机碳库特征及碳库管理指数进行系统研究。结论表明:(1)土壤有机碳(SOC)主要分布于0~20 cm土层中,随着土层深度增加,不同森林植被类型下SOC含量急剧下降;在0~60 cm土层中,不同森林植被类型下SOC含量的平均值排序为:马尾松林常绿阔叶林灌丛针阔混交林常绿-落叶混交林黄山松林落叶阔叶林竹林。(2)不同森林植被类型下活性有机碳(ASOC)含量为0.24~0.57 g·kg–1,总有机碳(TOC)含量为9.72~14.74 g·kg–1,土壤碳库指数(CPI)为1.63~2.48,碳库活度(A)为0.019~0.062,碳库活度指数(AI)为0.388~1.265。不同森林植被类型下ASOC含量排序:落叶阔叶林黄山松林常绿-落叶阔叶混交林灌丛针阔混交林常绿阔叶林竹林马尾松林;不同森林植被类型下ASOC/TOC(%)排序:落叶阔叶林黄山松林常绿-落叶阔叶混交林竹林灌丛针阔混交林常绿阔叶林马尾松林;不同森林植被类型下CPMI排序为:落叶阔叶林黄山松林常绿-落叶阔叶混交林灌丛针阔混交林常绿阔叶林竹林马尾松林。     

Effects of humic acids derived from lignite and cattle manure on antioxidant enzymatic activities of barley root

To investigate the effects of humic acids (HAs) on the ability of plants to defend themselves against oxidative stress, barley was hydroponically cultured in the absence and presence of HAs, and the antioxidant enzymatic activities (catalase, superoxide dismutase, ascorbate and glutathione peroxidases) of root tissue were evaluated. Auxin-like structures in HAs, which were extracted from an oxidation product of lignite (LHA) and compost derived from cattle manure (CHA), were identified by pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) with tetramethylammonium hydroxide. The LHA, which had the lower molecular weight, was more effective in promoting the growth of barley root than CHA. However, the amounts of auxin-like structures in the CHA were much higher than those for LHA. The antioxidant enzymatic activities were initially decreased in the presence of LHA and CHA at the first day after refreshing the culture solution, but were significantly increased on the second day. The CHA sample, which contained relatively high levels of phenolic acids that contained auxin-like structures, was effective in increasing four types of enzymatic activities, while the activities of catalase and ascorbate peroxidase were increased in the presence of LHA, which contains naphthalene derivatives. These results indicate that using HAs as a supplement can be effective in enhancing antioxidation enzymatic activities, while the appearance of the effects is retarded because of the decomposition and release of auxin-like compounds from HAs by organic acids from the plant roots.     

In vivo screening to determine hazards of nanoparticles: Nanosized TiO2

A single-species laboratory test with terrestrial invertebrates was used to identify the hazard of nanosized TiO₂. Feeding parameters, weight change, mortality, and the activities of catalase and glutathione-S-transferase were evaluated after 3 or 14 days of dietary exposure. The effects of nano-TiO₂ were dependent on exposure concentration and duration, total consumed quantity, size and pre-treatment of particles. The intensity of a response was ruled by duration of exposure and not by consumed quantity of nano-TiO₂ or exposure concentration as expected. The response to nano-TiO₂ is described as threshold-like. The exposure concentrations 10-1000 μg TiO₂/g dry food (1.35-1025 μg of total consumed quantity of TiO₂/g animal wet wt.) were identified as safe for tested species after tested exposure period. We conclude that the response to nanoparticles is different from that of soluble chemicals therefore these two types of data should be interpreted and processed differently.     

厌氧序批式反应器内挥发性脂肪酸积累特性研究

小试规模的厌氧序批式反应器（ASBR）,通过人工配水,研究了启动3个月时间以及一个运行周期内反应器内挥发性脂肪酸（VFA）的积累情况,并通过分析期间产甲烷活性的变化说明了控制VFA积累的重要性。经过近120 d的运行,乙酸和丙酸的最大比产甲烷活性分别提高了1.8和2.2倍,说明反应器的启动过程即是微生物群落的优化和选择的过程,ASBR的抗冲击的能力较强说明随启动的进行和种群的优化,活性污泥凝聚性能增强,对VFA的降解能力增强。     

N掺杂TiO_2光催化剂的制备及其H_2O_2改性的研究

以钛酸四丁酯为前驱物,采用水解沉淀法制备了N掺杂TiO_2光催化剂和H_2O_2改性的N掺杂TiO_2光催化剂.实验表明,H_2O_2改性的N掺杂TiO_2光催化剂的最佳制备条件为:氨水(质量分数28%)加入量20 mL,焙烧温度500 ℃,H_2O_2(质量分数30%)加入量2.0 mL.日光下,N掺杂TiO_2光催化剂及H_2O_2改性的N掺杂TiO_2光催化剂在反应90 min时的活性红紫去除率达99%,它们对活性红紫的去除率远高于P_(25)TiO_2光催化剂.H_2O_2改性的N掺杂TiO_2光催化剂中N质量分数比改性前明显提高,制备的两种催化剂中不仅含有N元素,同时还含有C和H元素.     

成都市土壤天然放射性核素的外照射水平估算研究

利用IED22000A便携式微机多道能谱仪对成都市区土壤的天然放射性核素进行了直接就地测量,估算出天然环境放射性核素^238U、^232Th、^40K的比活度范围分别为10.37～77．19Bq／kg、17,85～225．74Bq／kg、284．83～892．67Bq／kg;外照射指数范围为0．16—0．8;离地面1m高的空气吸收剂量率均值为83．23nGy／h;1外照射年有效剂量当量为0．34～0．70mSv;等效镭浓度的变化范围是59．06-386．45Bq／kg,均值为164．15Bq／kg。各项指标均在容许范围之内,因而成都市属于外照射水平的安全区域,人居环境不受影响。     

Racemic,R-, and S-tebuconazole altered chitinase and chitobiase activity of Daphnia magna

Tebuconazole is a chiral trizole fungicide and widely used in many crops for controlling disease. Tebuconazole is potential toxic to some aquatic organisms but relative information of its isomers is scarce. To detect the endocrine disrupting effects and difference of rac-, R-, and S-tebuconazole, the chitinase activity in Daphnia magna and chitobiase activity in each test medium were used as biomonitors after a 14-day exposure. Results showed that chitinase activity was significantly reduced by rac-, R-, and S-tebuconazole. The chitobiase activity in the test medium was reduced by rac- and R-tebuconazole before day 10, and only one peak was observed at day 10 or day 12 compared with two obvious peaks in the control group (days 6 and 12). S-tebuconazole delayed and reduced the reproduction of D. magna, but did not delay the first chitobiase activity peak, whereas the second peak could not be characterized as the exposure concentration and time increased. Compared with chitinase activity, chitobiase activity can still be used as a rudimentary model for identifying molt-interfering xenobiotics, and further studies should focus on the analysis of correlations between these parameters.     

Influences of adding easily degradable organic waste on the minimization and humification of organic matter during straw composting

To find a better composting process with low greenhouse gas emission and high humus production, the effect of adding kitchen waste on reduction and humification of organic matter during straw composting was studied. Three processes were compared, consisting of different ratios of straw and kitchen waste (1:2, 1:1, and 2:1). At four time points over a 62-d incubation, the reduction and humification of compost was evaluated by measuring the total mass, carbon content, and humic material content of the compost. Treatment 1 (straw/kitchen waste ratio of 1:2) reduced the total mass of compost the most. Treatment 2 (straw/kitchen waste ratio of 1:1) reduced the total carbon content the most, reflecting the highest emission of greenhouse gas. Treatment 3 produced the most humic acid material and released the lowest amount of carbon. Hence, from the point of view of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing stable organic matter such as humus and humic acid during composting, treatment #3 was optimal. The three treatments resulted in significant differences in microbial biomass and enzyme activity during composting. The highest amount of active microbial biomass was associated with the largest reduction in compost mass (treatment 1). Higher proportions of straw (treatments 2 and 3), which contains more lignin, were associated with greater β-glycosidase activity, which may generate more humus that can improve soil quality. Dehydrogenase activity seemed to be the most important microbial factor in organic carbon catabolism or humification.     

Species-specific effects of elevated ozone on wetland plants and decomposition processes

Seven species from two contrasting wetlands, an upland bog and a lowland rich fen in North Wales, UK, were exposed to elevated ozone (150 ppb for 5 days and 20 ppb for 2 days per week) or low ozone (20 ppb) for four weeks in solardomes. The rich fen species were: Molinia caerulea, Juncus subnodulosus, Potentilla erecta and Hydrocotyle vulgaris and the bog species were: Carex echinata, Potentilla erecta and Festuca rubra. Senescence significantly increased under elevated ozone in all seven species but only Molinia caerulea showed a reduction in biomass under elevated ozone. Decomposition rates of plants exposed to elevated ozone, as measured by carbon dioxide efflux from dried plant material inoculated with peat slurry, increased for Potentilla erecta with higher hydrolytic enzyme activities. In contrast, a decrease in enzyme activities and a non-significant decrease in carbon dioxide efflux occurred in the grasses, sedge and rush species.