Quantifying the impacts of socio-economic factors on air quality in Chinese cities from 2000 to 2009

Socio-economic factors have significant influences on air quality and are commonly used to guide environmental planning and management. Based on data from 85 long-term daily monitoring cities in China, air quality as evaluated by AOFDAQ-A (Annual Occurrence Frequency of Daily Air Quality above Level III), was correlated to socio-economic variable groups of urbanization, pollution and environmental treatment by variation partitioning and hierarchical partitioning methods. We found: (1) the three<br />groups explained 43.5% of the variance in AOFDAQ-A; (2) the contribution of &ldquo;environmental investment&rdquo;to AOFDAQ-A shown a time lag effect; (3) &ldquo;population in mining sector&rdquo; and &ldquo;coverage of green space in built-up area&rdquo; were respectively the most significant negative and positive explanatory socioeconomic<br />variables; (4) using eight largest contributing individual factors, a linear model to predict variance in AOFDAQ-A was constructed. Results from our study provide a valuable reference for the<br />management and control of air quality in Chinese cities

从“家园美化”到“景观规划”-——德国景观美学资源评价理论发展综述

本文通过概述德国景观保护运动的历史由来以及相关评价理论<br />发展的历程，介绍景观美学资源保护在德国现代景观保护及规划体系<br />中的地位和意义。作者以对景观美学理论及方法的讨论为出发点，全<br />面介绍德国景观美学资源评价理论的主要分支，进而提出作者对景观<br />美学资源评价基础理论问题的见解。在系统描述德国景观美学研究领<br />域主要评价技术方法的基础上，由分析其基本理论假设入手，举例剖<br />析其在实践应用中的得失，并重点探讨德国《联邦自然保护法》提出<br />的景观美学资源度量指标的含义和合理性。最后结合我国景观美学资<br />源保护的现状，提出我国景观美学资源评价技术方法研究的发展方向。By outlining the historical origin of German landscape protection<br />movement and the development processes of related evaluation theories,this paper introduces the position and significance of landscape aesthetic resources protection in the modern landscape protection and the planning system in Germany. Started with discussion on the landscape aesthetic theories and methods, the main branches of the landscape aesthetic resources evaluation theory in German are comprehensively introduced,then the further proposition of the authors&rsquo; insight into basic theoretical problems in landscape aesthetic resources evaluation is made. Based on the<br />systematically description of the main evaluation methods and techniques in research field of landscape aesthetics in German, began with analyzing the basic theoretical assumptions, the authors critically examine the gains and losses when they are applied in practice by using examples, and then focuses on discussing the meaning and rationality of the landscape aesthetic resources measurement index proposed by the German &quot;Federal Agency for Nature Protection Act&quot;. In connection with China&rsquo;s current landscape aesthetic resources protection status, the author outlooks the development direction of China&rsquo;s landscape aesthetic resources evaluation methods and<br />techniques

Deep sequencing-based transcriptome profiling analysis of Oryzias melastigma

Oryzias melastigma is a newly emerging marine fish model. However, the application of this model has been restricted because of the lack of genomic information. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), a persistent organic pollutant, is widely distributed in the estuarine/marine environment. The toxicological<br />effects of PFOS on organisms, especially on marine fish species, remain largely unknown. In this study, the transcriptome of O. melastigma was sequenced using newly developed sequencing technology (Illumina RNA-seq). A total of 145,394 unigenes were obtained with 565 bp of unigene N50. These genes were further<br />enriched in various molecular pathways involved in the toxicological response. We also investigated the transcriptional response of O. melastigma embryos after PFOS exposure from 2 days post fertilization(dpf) to 6 dpf by digital gene expression (DGE) technology. The differentially expressed genes were related to neurobehavioral defects, mitochondrial dysfunction and the metabolism of proteins and fats.A further quantitative RT-PCR study showed the down-regulation of ATP synthase and the up-regulation of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2), which indicated mitochondrial dysfunction. In all, the transcriptome data represent the most comprehensive expressed gene catalog for O. melastigma and will serve as an important reference for various marine fish that are yet to be sequenced. The transcriptome profiling of O. melastigma embryos after exposure to PFOS are also expected to improve our current understandingof the molecular toxicology of PFOS

Pollution characteristics of volatile organic compounds in the atmosphere of Haicang District in Xiamen City, Southeast China.

The compositions, spatial distributions, seasonal variations and ozone formation potential (OFP) of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were investigated in the atmosphere of Haicang District, Xiamen City, Southeast China. Twenty-four types of VOCs were measured in this study, and ethanol,methylene chloride, toluene, ethyl acetate and isopropyl alcohol were the abundant species based on concentration rank. The concentrations of total VOCs (TVOCs) in industrial areas were higher than those in residential and administrative areas and background site. For industrial areas, the TVOCs concentrations in summer were higher than those in winter, which might result from higher emissions<br />from industrial activities because of stronger evaporation in summer. In contrast, non-industrial areas showed higher concentrations in winter due to the unfavorable meteorological conditions. The spatial distribution of BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene) followed the order of industrial areas<br />&gt; residential and administrative areas &gt; background site, and the concentrations in summer were lower than those in winter for most sites. The high ratios (8.9&ndash;14.0) of T/B in this study indicated that industrial emissions were the main sources in this district. X/B ratios were used to assess the ages of air parcels and provided evidence of the transport of air parcels among these sites. Total OFP (TOFP) showed the trend of increase with the increase of TVOCs, and toluene was found as the major contributor to TOFP

Diastereoisomer- and Enantiomer-Specific Accumulation, Depuration, and Bioisomerization of Hexabromocyclododecanes in Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

In this study, zebrafish (Danio rerio) were exposed to two dietary<br />concentrations of individual HBCD diastereoisomers (&alpha;-, &beta;-, and &gamma;-HBCD) for 42 days,followed by clean food for 21 days, to examine bioaccumulation, depuration, and enantiomer fractions (EFs) of HBCD diastereoisomers and to test the bioisomerization of HBCDs in fish. The depuration of &alpha;-, &beta;-, and &gamma;-HBCD in zebrafish followed the first-order process. Bioaccumulation parameters of the three diastereoisomers differed between low and high dose, suggesting that the bioaccumulation of them is concentration dependent.<br />Calculated assimilation efficiencies (AEs), biomagnification factors (BMFs), and half-lives (t1/2) of &alpha;-HBCD were the highest among the three diastereoisomers. Furthermore, the study showed that zebrafish could biotransform &gamma;-HBCD to &alpha;-HBCD. The highest AE,<br />BMF, and t1/2 of &alpha;-HBCD and bioisomerization of &gamma;-HBCD to &alpha;-HBCD could explain why &alpha;-HBCD appears to be dominant in biota samples. The EFs for &alpha;- and &gamma;-HBCD in zebrafish<br />estimated at different times of bioaccumulation and depuration were all significantly greater than those in corresponding food (P &lt; 0.05), indicating selective enrichment of (+) &alpha;-enantiomer and (+) &gamma;-enantiomer relative to (&minus;) &alpha;-enantiomer and (&minus;) &gamma;-enantiomer, respectively

Transformation of Bisphenol A and Alkylphenols by Ammonia-Oxidizing Bacteria through Nitration

<span style="text-align: left; widows: 2; text-transform: none; background-color: #f4f9fd; text-indent: 0px; display: inline !important; font: 500 14px/22px 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; float: none; letter-spacing: normal; color: #000000; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px">Transformation of bisphenol A (BPA) by ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB)<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></span><em style="text-align: left; line-height: 22px; widows: 2; text-transform: none; background-color: #f4f9fd; font-variant: normal; text-indent: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; letter-spacing: normal; color: #000000; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 500; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px">Nitrosomonas europaea</em><span style="text-align: left; widows: 2; text-transform: none; background-color: #f4f9fd; text-indent: 0px; display: inline !important; font: 500 14px/22px 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; float: none; letter-spacing: normal; color: #000000; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>ATCC 19718 was investigated. On the basis of the ultraperformance liquid chromatography (UPLC) coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (Q-TOF MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance analysis, we found<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></span><em style="text-align: left; line-height: 22px; widows: 2; text-transform: none; background-color: #f4f9fd; font-variant: normal; text-indent: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; letter-spacing: normal; color: #000000; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 500; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px">N. europaea</em><span style="text-align: left; widows: 2; text-transform: none; background-color: #f4f9fd; text-indent: 0px; display: inline !important; font: 500 14px/22px 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; float: none; letter-spacing: normal; color: #000000; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>could transform BPA into nitro- and dinitro-BPA, suggesting that abiotic nitration between the biogenic nitrite and BPA played a major role in the transformation of BPA in the batch AOB system. Nitrite concentrations, temperature, and pH values were the major factors to influence the reaction rate. Furthermore, the yeast estrogenic screening assay showed that the formed nitro- and dinitro-BPA had much less estrogenic activity as compared with its parent compound BPA. Similar reactions of abiotic nitration were considered for 4-</span><em style="text-align: left; line-height: 22px; widows: 2; text-transform: none; background-color: #f4f9fd; font-variant: normal; text-indent: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; letter-spacing: normal; color: #000000; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 500; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px">n</em><span style="text-align: left; widows: 2; text-transform: none; background-color: #f4f9fd; text-indent: 0px; display: inline !important; font: 500 14px/22px 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; float: none; letter-spacing: normal; color: #000000; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px">-nonylphenol (</span><em style="text-align: left; line-height: 22px; widows: 2; text-transform: none; background-color: #f4f9fd; font-variant: normal; text-indent: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; letter-spacing: normal; color: #000000; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 500; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px">n</em><span style="text-align: left; widows: 2; text-transform: none; background-color: #f4f9fd; text-indent: 0px; display: inline !important; font: 500 14px/22px 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; float: none; letter-spacing: normal; color: #000000; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px">NP) and 4-</span><em style="text-align: left; line-height: 22px; widows: 2; text-transform: none; background-color: #f4f9fd; font-variant: normal; text-indent: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; letter-spacing: normal; color: #000000; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 500; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px">n</em><span style="text-align: left; widows: 2; text-transform: none; background-color: #f4f9fd; text-indent: 0px; display: inline !important; font: 500 14px/22px 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; float: none; letter-spacing: normal; color: #000000; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px">-octylphenol (</span><em style="text-align: left; line-height: 22px; widows: 2; text-transform: none; background-color: #f4f9fd; font-variant: normal; text-indent: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; letter-spacing: normal; color: #000000; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 500; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px">n</em><span style="text-align: left; widows: 2; text-transform: none; background-color: #f4f9fd; text-indent: 0px; display: inline !important; font: 500 14px/22px 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; float: none; letter-spacing: normal; color: #000000; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px">OP) since nitro-</span><em style="text-align: left; line-height: 22px; widows: 2; text-transform: none; background-color: #f4f9fd; font-variant: normal; text-indent: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; letter-spacing: normal; color: #000000; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 500; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px">n</em><span style="text-align: left; widows: 2; text-transform: none; background-color: #f4f9fd; text-indent: 0px; display: inline !important; font: 500 14px/22px 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; float: none; letter-spacing: normal; color: #000000; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px">NP and nitro-</span><em style="text-align: left; line-height: 22px; widows: 2; text-transform: none; background-color: #f4f9fd; font-variant: normal; text-indent: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; letter-spacing: normal; color: #000000; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 500; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px">n</em><span style="text-align: left; widows: 2; text-transform: none; background-color: #f4f9fd; text-indent: 0px; display: inline !important; font: 500 14px/22px 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; float: none; letter-spacing: normal; color: #000000; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px">OP were detected by UPLC-Q-TOF MS. In addition, results from the local wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) showed the occurrence of nitro-BPA and dinitro-BPA during the biological treatment process and in the effluent, indicating that nitration of BPA is also a pathway for removal of BPA. Results of this study provided implication that AOB in the WWTPs might contribute to removal of selected endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) through abiotic nitritation.</span

Cross-boundary environmental effects of urban household metabolism based

The cross-boundary environmental effects of urban household metabolism are of increasing interest in the context of global climate change and the sustainability of urban systems. To assess resource exchanges and environmental emissions, urban household metabolism was investigated using an&lsquo;emergy synthesis framework&rsquo;, with the city of Xiamen providing case study data. Two data sets, one from the highly urbanized Xiamen Island (XI) and the other from the less urbanized Xiamen Mainland<br />(XM), were collected and analyzed using an &lsquo;urban spatial conceptual framework&rsquo;. Household onsumption and its spatial environmental effects are embodied by exchanges of resources, energy,services, and wastes between the urban system&rsquo;s physical footprint (&lsquo;Urban Sprawl Region&rsquo;, USR), and its ecological footprint (&lsquo;Urban Footprint Region&rsquo;, UFR). The results show that Xiamen&rsquo;s USR is connected to its UFRs by approximately 98.74% emergy flows. The distinct emergy indicators identified within the<br />results show that the driving forces, processes, influences, efficiency and sustainability of household metabolism vary dramatically between XI and XM, demonstrating that different urban and social contexts significantly affect household metabolism. The Emergy Sustainability Index reveals that USR<br />households need to make lifestyles changes to sustain development. The employed frameworks (urban spatial conceptual framework and emergy synthesis framework) enable the computation of household consumption and cross-boundary environmental effects. The results may help foster alternative<br />household consumption strategies which could result in more equitable resource allocation and effective mitigation of cross-boundary environmental influences

Pd-CeO2-Al2O3对烟气中多环芳烃的催化氧化性能研

<dd>采用浸渍法制备了不同负载量及不同钯铈比（Pd：Ce）的Pd/CeO2-Al2O3催化剂,并结合XRD、BET、SEM、O2-TPD和H2-TPR等方法对催化剂的性质进行了表征,研究了所制备的催化剂对燃煤烟气中多环芳烃（PAHs）的催化转化效率.XRD和SEM结果表明,Ce和Pd在Al2O3表面呈高度分散状态,有利于PAHs的催化氧化.BET测试表明,Ce的引入改变了催化剂表面孔径结构,提高其比表面积.O2-TPD和H2-TPR测试表明,适当钯铈比条件下制备的催化剂有较强的储氧能力和活性.催化氧化实验结果表明,所制备的Pd/CeO2-Al2O3催化剂对PAHs具有较高的转化效率,其平均转化率均在80%以上,且PAHs的毒性当量显著降低,钯铈比对PAHs的催化氧化性能影响较大,当催化剂的钯铈比为1：1时,PAHs的转化率最高,可达90%以上.</dd>Pd/CeO2-A1203 catalysts with various loading percentages and different Pd-to-Ce ratios were prepared by impregnation method. The physicochemical properties were characterized with XRD, BET, SEM, O2-TPD and H2-TPR, and their catalytic performances were evaluated by the conversion efficiency of PAHs in flue gas. The results of XRD and SEM demonstrated that Ce and Pd were highly dispersed, which was in favor of the catalytic oxidation of PAHs. BET tests showed that the introduction of Ce changed the pore structure of catalyst and improved the specific surface area. The results of 02-TPD and H2-TPR confirmed that the catalysts prepared in the appropriate Pd:Ce had strong oxygen storage capacity and activity. The experimental results of catalytic oxidation of PAl-Is showed that the as-prepared Pd/CeO2-Al2O3 possessed high catalytic efficiency with the average conversion efficiency of above 80% , and the TEQ ( Toxic Equivalent Quantity) of PAHs decreased remarkably after the catalytic reaction. The ratio of Pd- to-Ce influenced the oxidation of PAHs greatly, and the conversion efficiency of PAHs could reach more than 90% when Pd:Ce equaled to 1 : 1

资源环境承载力约束下的半城市化地区发展情景分析

<span style="font-family: 宋体; font-size: 10.5pt">本文聚焦我国半城市化地区资源环境承载能力与社会、经济发展压力之间的动态关系，以厦门市集美区为案例，分析典型半城市化地区社会&mdash;经济&mdash;自然复合生态系统演变过程中主要社会经济驱动因子与生态环境限制因素的动态作用机制。运用<span>Vensim</span>软件建立区域复合生态系统动力学模型，模拟在资源环境承载力约束下集美区主要社会、经济和自然因素之间的动态联系，通过设定其中主要因子的变化过程，进行惯性发展、既定目标发展和保护生态环境发展<span>3</span>种情景分析。结果表明：在<span>2003-2006</span>年的惯性发展条件下，集美区的经济增长难以满足原定&ldquo;十一五&rdquo;计划目标；增加投资的情况下大力提高现有产业科技水平是集美区今后可持续发展的必然途径。本研究将为快速城市化地区涉及资源、环境和生态保护的相关政策、规划和管理提供科学决策依据。</span

Diversity and Characterization of Potential H2-Dependent Fe(III)-Reducing Bacteria in Paddy Soils

Microbial ferric iron reduction, with organic carbon or hydrogen as the electron donor, is one of the most important biogeochemical<br />processes in anoxic paddy soils; however, the diversity and community structure of hydrogen-dependent dissimilatory iron-reducers remain unknown. Potential H2-dependent Fe(III)-reducing bacteria in paddy soils were explored using enrichment cultures with ferrihydrite or goethite as the electron acceptor and hydrogen as the electron donor. Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis and cloning/sequencing were conducted to reveal bacterial community structure. Results showed that Geobacter and Clostridium were the dominant bacteria in the enrichment cultures. Fe(III) oxide mineral phases showed a strong e&reg;ect on the community structure; Geobacter and Clostridium were dominant in the ferrihydrite treatment, while Clostridium spp. were dominant in the goethite treatment. These suggested that H2-dependent Fe(III)-reducing bacteria might be widely distributed in paddy soils and that besides Geobacter, Clostridium spp. might also be an important group of H2-dependent Fe(III)-reducing microorganisms