海口城市土壤重金属污染特征与生态风险评估

对海口城市土壤重金属含量、空间分布特征与赋存形态进行了研究,并评估了其生态风险。结果表明,海口城市土壤重金属Hg、As、Cd、Cu、Cr、Ni、Pb、Zn的平均含量分别为0.073、3.82、0.25、26.7、92.4、52.5、29.1和84.1 mg·kg-1。与海口土壤背景值相比,海口城市土壤明显富集重金属Hg、As、Cd、Cu、Cr、Ni、Pb和Zn,受到一定程度重金属污染。Cr、Ni、Cu、Cd和Zn元素主要在郊区富集,Pb主要在路边绿化带中富集,Hg主要在生活区富集。海口城市土壤中Zn、As、Cr、Cu和Ni以残渣态为主,Hg主要以强有机态和残渣态存在,Pb主要以铁锰氧化态和残渣态存在,而Cd则主要以生物可利用态为主。生态风险评价结果显示,海口城市土壤重金属综合生态风险属于微弱水平,但Cd和Hg污染应引起重视。     

防城港临时性海洋倾倒区沉积物重金属污染现状及其生态风险评价

对防城港临时性海洋倾倒区表层沉积物重金属的含量和分布进行了对比分析,并采用污染指数法和Hakanson潜在生态风险指数法对其重金属的污染特征及潜在生态风险程度进行了评价。结果表明,倾倒区沉积物Hg、Pb、As和Zn的含量显著性升高;总体污染程度为中等污染,各重金属元素的污染程度由高到低排序依次为As(3.59)>Hg(2.19)>Pb(1.42)>Zn(1.20)>Cu(1.05)>Cd(0.91),其中As是主要污染因子;该海域表层沉积物重金属总体潜在生态风险程度为中等,各重金属元素的潜在生态风险程度由高到低排序依次为Hg(87.74)>As(35.89)>Cd(27.27)>Pb(7.08)>Cu(5.23)>Zn(1.20),其中Hg为主要潜在生态风险因子。     

贵州红枫水库沉积物重金属污染评价及来源分析

为了解红枫水库沉积物重金属污染现状,沿库区采集8个点共计80个沉积物样品,采用原子荧光光谱仪及原子吸收光谱仪对重金属Hg、As、Pb、Cd、Cr、Cu、Zn和Ni含量进行了测定,利用地积累指数(Igeo)和潜在生态风险指数(RI)进行污染评价,同时进行相关性分析并讨论其污染来源。结果表明:红枫水库北湖沉积物重金属含量明显高于南湖,8种重金属Hg、As、Pb、Cd、Cr、Cu、Zn、Ni的平均含量依次为0.56、35.76、43.66、0.50、91.03、89.14、152.44和109.30 mg·kg-1;以贵州省土壤背景值为参比,地积累指数评价结果显示Hg为中等污染,污染顺序为HgNiCuAsZnPbCrCd,综合潜在生态风险指数评价结果显示红枫水库为中等生态风险;库区沉积物重金属污染来源于三方面:一是工业排放,主要集中在北湖和中湖,重金属包括Pb、Zn、Cd;二是城市排放及周边农药、化肥残留,主要污染区为北湖、中湖,污染物为Cr、Ni、As和Cu;三是矿区开采,污染覆盖全湖区,主要包括Hg和As。     

沙颍河流域沉积物重金属污染特征及生态风险评价

为了解沙颍河流域沉积物重金属污染分布特征,于2013年5月采集沙颍河干流与支流共35个样点的表层沉积物,测定7种重金属(As、Cd、Cr、Cu、Hg、Pb和Zn)的含量。结果表明,沙颍河流域沉积物中As、Cd、Cr、Cu、Hg、Pb和Zn的平均含量分别为8.49、0.35、51.4、27.2、0.094、26.8和111.8 mg·kg~(-1)。Cd、Cu、Hg、Pb和Zn的平均含量均高于河南省土壤背景值,在不同程度上受到人为活动的影响。地积累指数统计结果表明,各重金属污染程度为CdHgZnPbCuCrAs,其中Cd污染最严重,91.43%的样点受到Cd污染。潜在生态危害指数结果表明,各重金属的生态风险为CdHgAsCuPbZnCr,Cd表现为很强风险,Hg表现为强风险,其他5种重金属生态风险较低。整个沙颍河流域属颍河周口段及其支流贾鲁河和清潩河的重金属污染问题最为突出,应该引起当地环保部门的重视。     

临安市雷竹林土壤重金属污染特征及生态风险评价

为了解临安市雷竹林土壤重金属污染特征,采集并测定了160个土壤样品的Hg、As、Cu、Pb、Zn、Cd、Cr、Ni、Co、Mn等重金属含量,采用单因子污染指数和内梅罗综合污染指数对雷竹林土壤重金属污染程度进行分析,并应用Hankanson潜在生态风险指数法对雷竹林土壤重金属潜在生态风险进行评价.结果表明:雷竹林土壤重金属Hg、As、Cu、Pb、Zn、Cd、Cr、Ni、Co、Mn的平均含量分别为0.16、7.41、34.36、87.98、103.98、0.26、59.12、29.56、11.44、350.26mg·kg-1,Pb、Cd、Zn和Cu平均值超过浙江省土壤背景值,分别是对应背景值的2.89、1.70、1.12、1.12倍.经单因子污染指数评价,不同重金属元素的平均污染程度大小依次为Pb＞Cd＞Cu=Zn＞Hg＞As＞Ni＞Co＞Cr＞Mn,其中Pb有中度污染,Cd、Cu和Zn有轻度污染.经内梅罗综合污染指数评价,160个样点都受到不同程度的重金属污染,轻度污染、中度污染和重度污染水平所占比率分别为55.6％、29.4％和15.0％.各重金属单因子潜在生态风险指数平均值评价结果显示,只有Cd污染达到中等生态风险,其他重金属均为轻微生态风险,而局部采样点Cd和Hg单因子潜在生态风险指数最大值分别达到256.82和187.33,存在很强生态风险.重金属综合因子潜在生态风险指数评价结果表明,临安市雷竹林土壤整体上存在轻微生态风险.     

新疆库尔勒市地表灰尘重金属污染及潜在生态风险

从库尔勒市采集54个地表灰尘样品,测定其中Hg、Cd、As、Pb、Cr与Cu共6种重金属元素含量,采用内梅罗综合污染指数(NPI)、潜在生态风险指数(HRI)和生态风险预警指数(IER),评价了地表灰尘重金属污染及潜在生态风险。结果表明,库尔勒市地表灰尘中Hg、Cd、Pb、Cr和Cu等元素含量平均值分别为新疆土壤背景值的3.71、1.87、1.96、1.14和1.29倍。其中,Hg呈现重度污染,Cd、Pb、Cr、Cu呈现轻度污染,As呈现轻微污染,NPI平均值呈现重度污染。潜在生态风险评价结果表明,地表灰尘中Hg呈现较强生态风险,Cd呈现中等生态风险,As、Pb、Cr和Cu呈现轻微生态风险,HRI平均值为232.23,呈现中等生态风险。根据生态风险预警分级标准,地表灰尘中Hg污染处于轻警态势,Cd、Pb、Cu和Cr污染处于预警态势,As污染处于无警态势,IER平均值为4.91,处于中警态势。从空间分布格局来看,地表灰尘重金属污染及生态风险高值区分布于研究区北部。总体上,库尔勒市地表灰尘重金属污染风险相对较低。     

北京市南沙河沉积物重金属污染特征及风险评价

北京南沙河是海淀北部地区的重要排水和风景观赏性河道,为全面了解南沙河底泥沉积物中重金属的污染特征,采集了表层沉积物样品,分析了重金属元素的含量和形态,并利用单因子指数法、Hakanson综合污染指数法和潜在生态风险指数法对沉积物重金属进行了生态风险评价.结果表明:南沙河表层沉积物各种重金属元素存在较好的同源性,污染程度为:Cr＞Cd＞Zn＞Cu＞Pb＞Ni.基于单项潜在生态风险指数的评价表明,该区域重金属生态风险等级由强至弱依次为:Cd＞Pb＞Cu≈Cr＞Ni≈Zn,其中,仅Cd具有较高的潜在生态风险,综合潜在生态风险指数表明,除了京藏高速桥河段危害等级较高外,南沙河总体处于轻微的生态风险等级.形态分析表明,Cd的酸提取态含量高,迁移性最强,最容易对生物造成直接危害,其次是Pb和Zn,Cu和Ni具有一定程度的潜在环境危害,Cr产生环境危害的可能性较小.     

江苏省典型区农田土壤及小麦中重金属含量与评价

为了研究江苏省典型区地震带农田土壤和小麦中重金属的污染,在具有代表性的农田采集收获期小麦及耕层土壤,分析和评价了土壤和小麦中重金属Cu、Pb、Cd、Ni、Cr、Hg、As和Zn的含量及污染程度。结果表明,土壤样品中Cd、Zn、Pb的含量均超过江苏省土壤背景值,Cr、Cu、Ni和As分别有25.64%、97.44%、92.31%和92.31%的土壤样品中超过江苏省土壤背景值,Hg的含量均在背景值以下;与国家土壤环境质量标准(GB15618—1995)中Ⅱ级标准相比,Cd的含量均超出标准限值,其它7种重金属元素含量均在标准限值以下。土壤中重金属相关分析表明,Cd、Cu、Cr、Ni、Pb、Zn、As具有相同的来源的可能性较大,而Hg与Cd、Cu、Cr、Ni、Pb、Zn、As的来源均不相同。以NY 861—2004为评价标准,小麦籽粒Pb、Cr、Hg、Ni、As样品超标率分别为100%、58.97%、33.33%、10.26%、2.56%,Cu、Zn和Cd没有样品超标,由此可见小麦籽粒中Pb的污染最为严重。采用单因子污染指数法、综合污染指数法和Hakanson潜在生态评价指数法以国家土壤环境质量标准(GB15618—1995)和江苏省土壤背景值为参比值,对农田土壤重金属污染进行评价,结果显示,从单项污染指数来看只有Cd达到重度污染水平,其它元素均在安全范围以内,从综合污染指数来看土壤重金属污染达到中度污染水平,从潜在生态评价指数法来看,研究区域表现为很强的生态危害,并以Cd为主要污染因子。     

湖南省主要水系底泥重金属污染特征及其生态风险评价

为全面了解湖南省主要水系底泥中重金属含量及其潜在生态风险,在湖南省内的湘、资、沅、澧以及洞庭湖5个主要水系共采集了75个位点的底泥样品,分析了重金属元素含量和来源分布特征,并采用地累积指数法、内梅罗指数法和潜在生态风险指数法对其污染程度和潜在生态风险进行评价。结果表明,As、Cd、Cr、Cu、Mn、Pb和Zn的平均含量分别为32.87、7.59、78.09、70.69、1182.60、85.64 mg/kg和482.44 mg/kg。湘江和洞庭湖的污染相对严重,底泥中重金属含量明显高于资江、沅江和澧水;相关性分析表明多种重金属具有相同污染来源;地累积指数评价结果显示,湖南省主要水系底泥中Cd为重污染水平,Zn为中度污染,Cu、Mn和Pb均为轻度污染,而As和Cr污染程度为清洁;内梅罗指数法评价结果表明,除Cr为轻度污染外,湖南省主要水系底泥中其他6种重金属污染均为重污染级别;潜在生态风险评价结果显示,湖南省总体潜在生态风险属于中等级别,各水系潜在生态风险大小顺序为洞庭湖>资江>湘江>澧水>沅江,重金属Cd的潜在生态风险级别为很强,其他重金属元素都属于轻微级别。     

大兴安岭森林土壤重金属含量空间变异与污染评价

重金属是危害森林生态健康的主要污染物之一,迄今有关大兴安岭森林土壤重金属含量、空间变异和污染程度鲜见报道。本文通过野外调查采样,应用GIS空间分析技术,结合经典重金属污染评价方法,分析了大兴安岭森林土壤Cd、Cr、Pb、Cu、Zn、Ni、Hg及As含量的空间变异与污染程度。结果表明:(1)研究区8种重金属含量具有中等空间异质性,变异系数在16.67%~35.39%。Cd、Cr、Pb、Zn、Hg、As的块金值/基台值[C0/(C0+C)]25%,其空间变异主要由母质、地形等结构性变异引起,Cu和Ni的C0/(C0+C)在25%~75%,即非结构性因素人类活动对二者的影响较大。土壤重金属含量呈斑块状、条带状和岛状分布。(2)大兴安岭森林土壤8种重金属含量主要表现为累积的特征。8种重金属含量的平均值与最大值均未超过《国家土壤环境质量标准》(GB 15618—1995)二级标准限值,其中Cu、Zn、As的最大值超过一级标准,而其他5种元素的最大值均未超过一级标准。(3)地积累指数表明,土壤Cr、Pb、Ni无污染风险,其他5种元素污染风险较低。内梅罗综合污染指数表明,土壤整体质量已经处于轻污染状态。单因子潜在生态风险指数分析表明,Cu、Ni、Pb、Cr、Zn、As不具有潜在生态风险,Hg、Cd的部分样点的单因子生态风险指数Eri值存在生态风险,其中Hg的个别特征点已经达到Ⅲ级(中等风险)水平;潜在生态风险指数表明,研究区80%的样点无潜在生态风险,20%样点处于一般生态风险水平。     

A Unique Protease Cleavage Site Predicted in the Spike Protein of the Novel Pneumonia Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Potentially Related to Viral Transmissibility

正Dear Editor,In December 2019, a novel human coronavirus caused an epidemic of severe pneumonia(Coronavirus Disease 2019,COVID-19) in Wuhan, Hubei, China(Wu et al. 2020; Zhu et al. 2020). So far, this virus has spread to all areas of China and even to other countries. The epidemic has caused 67,102 confirmed infections with 1526 fatal cases     

Curcuminoids as inhibitors of thioredoxin reductase: A receptor based pharmacophore study with distance mapping of the active site

Curcumin is the yellow pigment of turmeric that interacts irreversibly forming an adduct with thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), an enzyme responsible for redox control of cell and defence against oxidative stress. Docking at both the active sites of TrxR was performed to compare the potency of three naturally occurring curcuminoids, namely curcumin, demethoxy curcumin and bis-demethoxy curcumin. Results show that active sites of TrxR occur at the junction of E and F chains. Volume and area of both cavities is predicted. It has been concluded by distance mapping of the most active conformations that Se atom of catalytic residue SeCYS498, is at a distance of 3.56 from C13 of demethoxy curcumin at the E chain active site, whereas C13 carbon atom forms adduct with Se atom of SeCys 498. We report that at least one methoxy group in curcuminoids is necessary for interation with catalytic residues of thioredoxin. Pharmacophore of both active sites of the TrxR receptor for curcumin and demethoxy curcumin molecules has been drawn and proposed for design and synthesis of most probable potent antiproliferative synthetic drugs.     

Comparative morphology of the carpel in the Liliaceae: Hewardieae, Petrosavieae, and Tricyrteae

The young pistils in the melanthioid tribes, Hewardieae, Petrosavieae and Tricyrteae, are uniformly tricarpellate and syncarpous. They lack raphide idioblasts. All are multiovulate, with bitegmic ovules. The Petrosavieae are marked by the presence of septal glands and incomplete syncarpy. Tepals and stamens adhere to the ovary in the Hewardieae and the Petrosavieae but not in the Tricyrteae. Two vascular bundles occur in the stamens of the Hewartlieae and Tricyrtis latifolia. Ventral bundles in the upper part of the ovary of the Hewardieae are continuous with compound septal bundles and placental bundles in the lower part. Putative ventral bundles occur in the alternate position in the Tricyrteae and putative placental bundles in the opposite. position in the Petrosavieae. The dichtomously branched stigma in each carpel of the Tricyrteae is supplied by a bifurcated dorsal bundle.     

Enterovirus 71 3C proteolytically processes the histone H3 N-terminal tail during infection

Highlights
1. The N-terminal tail of histone H3 is specifically cleaved during EV71 infection.
2. Viral protease 3C is identified as a protease responsible for proteolytically processing the N-terminal H3 tail.
3. Our finding reveals a new epigenetic regulatory mechanism for Enterovirus 71 in virus-host interactions.     

Detection of EBV and HHV6 in the Brain Tissue of Patients with Rasmussen’s Encephalitis

Rasmussen’s encephalitis (RE) is a rare pediatric neurological disorder, and the exact etiology is not clear. Viral infection may be involved in the pathogenesis of RE, but conflicting results have reported. In this study, we evaluated the expression of both Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human herpes virus (HHV) 6 antigens in brain sections from 30 patients with RE and 16 control individuals by immunohistochemistry. In the RE group, EBV and HHV6 antigens were detected in 56.7% (17/30) and 50% (15/30) of individuals, respectively. In contrast, no detectable EBV and HHV6 antigen expression was found in brain tissues of the control group. The co-expression of EBV and HHV6 was detected in 20.0% (6/30) of individuals. In particular, a 4-year-old boy had a typical clinical course, including a medical history of viral encephalitis, intractable epilepsy, and hemispheric atrophy. The co-expression of EBV and HHV6 was detected in neurons and astrocytes in the brain tissue, accompanied by a high frequency of CD8⁺ T cells. Our results suggest that EBV and HHV6 infection and the activation of CD8⁺ T cells are involved in the pathogenesis of RE.     

Perinatal Vertical Transmission of Chikungunya Virus in Ruili,a Town on the Border between China and Myanmar

正Dear Editor,Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), an arbovirus in the family of Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus, is transmitted by the A.aegyptii or A. albopictus mosquito, and causes disease in humans characterized by fever, rash, and arthralgia (Silva and Dermody 2017; Suhrbier 2019). It was first reported in 1953 in Tanzania, and caused only a few outbreaks and sporadic cases in Africa and Asia in last century. However, in the epidemic in 2004, CHIKV acquired mutations that conferred enhanced transmission by the A. albopictus mosquito(Schuffenecker et al. 2006). Since then, it has successively caused outbreaks in Africa, the Indian Ocean, South East Asia, the South America, and Europe (Zeller et al. 2016).     

Development of a Novel Reverse Transcription Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Method for Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV-2

In conclusion, the novel visual RT-LAMP assay is a simple, rapid, and sensitive approach for detection of SARS-CoV-2, and it is ready for application in primary care and community hospitals or health care centers, and even patients' own houses in response to the current SARS-CoV-2 epidemic because the assay does not require sophisticated equipment and skilled personnel. Furthermore, it is also ready to be used in fields for screening samples from wild animals and environments to facilitate the identification of potential intermediate hosts that mediate the cross-species transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from bats to humans.