Analysis of PM2.5 concentrations in Heilongjiang Province associated with forest cover and other factors

Atmospheric particulate matter(PM2.5) seriously influences air quality. It is considered one of the main environmental triggers for lung and heart diseases. Air pollutants can be adsorbed by forest. In this study we investigated the effect of forest cover on urban PM2.5 concentrations in 12 cities in Heilongjiang Province,China. The forest cover in each city was constant throughout the study period. The average daily concentration of PM2.5 in 12 cities was below 75 lg/m^3 during the non-heating period but exceeded this level during heating period. Furthermore, there were more moderate pollution days in six cities. This indicated that forests had the ability to reduce the concentration of PM2.5 but the main cause of air pollution was excessive human interference and artificial heating in winter. We classified the 12 cities according to the average PM2.5 concentrations. The relationship between PM2.5 concentrations and forest cover was obtained by integrating forest cover, land area,heated areas and number of vehicles in cities. Finally,considering the complexity of PM2.5 formation and based on the theory of random forestry, we selected six cities and analyzed their meteorological and air pollutant data. The main factors affecting PM2.5 concentrations were PM10,NO_2, CO and SO_2 in air pollutants while meteorological factors were secondary.

High-throughput sequencing analysis of the regulation of intestinal flora in giant pandas with indigestion using a probiotic agent LyPB

This study aimed to investigate the eff ect of LyPB on the intestinal microfl ora of giant pandas with indigestion,using high-throughput sequencing(HTS)technology.The species distribution and microfl oral density and diversity before and after administration of the LyPB probiotic agent were analyzed.LyPB evidently has the ability to adjust the fl oral imbalance in the panda’s intestine.To test the eff ects of LyPB on the microfl ora of the panda gut,fecal samples were taken from a healthy giant panda(Anan)without administration of LyPB and from a dyspeptic giant panda Yangyang before and after LyPB administration.Compared with the sample obtained from healthy Anan(anan-c)and that obtained from dyspeptic Yangyang before LyPB administration(yangyang1),the sample taken from Yangyang(yangyang2)after LyPB administration displayed a signifi cant increase in the operational taxonomic unit index.An increase in the Chao index indicated an increase in the microfl oral richness,while an increase in the Shannon index indicated an increase in microfl oral diversity.At phylum and genus levels,a signifi cant increase was observed in the density of probiotic bacteria of phylum fi rmicutes,genus Streptococcus,while a drastic reduction in the density of Escherichia coli/Escherichia coli Shigella/bacteria of genus Shigella was observed.Data obtained in this study shows that LyPB preparations successfully improve the microbial structure within the panda’s intestinal canal by signifi cantly increasing the eff ective microbial community and decreasing the number of pathogenic microbes.

Extraction optimization of insecticidal compounds from Lysurus mokusin by response surface methodology

We optimized the extraction process of Lysurus mokusin(L.)Fr.insecticidal compound(LMIC)using response surface methodology with ultrasonic extraction(UE).The surface morphologies of maceration extract(ME)and UE residues were compared by scanning electron microscopy,and then the activity of LMIC on Lymantria dispar(Asian gypsy moths)larvae was determined.Results showed that the optimal condition of UE was followed by 80 min of extraction time,60%of ethanol concentration and 80 mL g^-1 of liquid–solid ratio.The surface morphologies of UE residue were looser and rougher than ME residue.The corrected mortalities of LMIC on L.dispar larvae was 59.77%.This result indicated that L.mokusin was a good candidate as pesticide for pest management.

Larvicidal activity and microencapsulation of tobacco(Nicotiana tabacum)extract on Malacosoma neustria testacea larvae

To understand and improve the stability of the insecticidal activity of tobacco extract,the 3 rd instar larvae of Malacosoma neustria testacea was determined by the leaf film method.Spectrophotometry identified extract effects on activities of several enzymes.In addition,to improve the stability of the extract,microcapsules were prepared by complex coacervation and phase separation with the extract as core material,and gelatin and gum arabic as wall material.With the embedding rate as the evaluation index,the response surface method was used to optimize the preparation process of the microcapsules.The results show that the extract had a strong insecticidal activity on the larvae,with inhibitory effects on several enzymes examined of carboxylesterase,acetylcholinesterase,glutathione-S transferase,catalase,and superoxide dismutase.The inhibition rate increased with time.The best preparation process of tobacco extract microcapsules was 25% mass fraction of emulsifier,2.05% mass fraction of gelatin,3% mass fraction of gum arabic,1.34 wall core ratio,36 min of complex coacervation time.The embedding rate was 58.4% which is approximately the theoretical embedding rate(58.9%).The microcapsules prepared by this method have a smooth surface,good combining form and particle size distribution,and a median diameter of 8.6 μm.Infrared characteristic peaks of the extracts were preserved at 877.55 cm^(-1) and2922.13 cm^(-1).Microencapsulation can improve the thermal stability of the tobacco extract.Indoor toxicity tests showed that LC_(50) of extract microcapsules was 20.2 mg·mL^(-1),equivalent to the toxicity level of the tobacco extract itself,indicating that microencapsulation did not reduce extract insecticidal effects.This research may provide a reference for the optimization of the tobacco extract microcapsule preparation process.

Molecular cloning, characterization, and antioxidant function of catalase in Lymantria dispar asiatic (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) under avermectin stress

The critical antioxidant catalase(CAT)breaks down hydrogen peroxide induced by environmental stresses.Here we cloned full length catalase cDNA from Lymantria dispar asiatic(LdCAT).Bioinformatic analyses showed that open reading frames of LdCAT contains 1524 bp,encoding 507 amino acids with molecular weight of 126.99 kDa,theoretical pI of 5.00,aliphatic index of 29.92,grand average of hydropathicity of 0.764,and instability index(II)of 46.56.Protein BLAST and multiple sequence alignment indicated that LdCAT had high identity with CAT from other insects,especially lepidopterans.In a phylogenetic analysis,LdCAT was most similar to CAT from Spodoptera litura and S.exigua.Quantitative realtime polymerase chain reaction showed that LdCAT transcripts in all instar larvae and the five tissues tested,verifying the ubiquity of LdCAT in L.disapr.Moreover,LdCAT of third instar larvae was significantly upregulated after they fed on avermectin at sublethal and LC10 doses.The highest relative transcript levels were found 2 h after an avermectin spray at LC90,and in the cuticula,rather than heads,fat bodies,malpighian tubes,and midguts after a spray avermectin at a sublethal concentration.The expression level of LdCAT under pesticide stresses here suggested that CAT is an important antioxidant enzyme of L.disapr defensing against pesticide stress and may be a good target for controlling this pest.

The effects of electrical heating and additives on the microbial remediation of petroleum-contaminated soils

Although petroleum is an important source of energy and an economic driver of growth,it is also a major soil pollutant that has destroyed large swathes of vegetation and forest cover.Therefore,it is vital to develop affordable and efficient methods for the bioremediation of petroleum-contaminated forest soils to restore vegetation and improve tree survival rates.In this study,bioremediation experiments were performed in an electrically heated thermostatic reactor to test the effects of organic matter additives,surfactants,and oxygen providers of nine hydrocarbon-degrading fungal strains on crude oil removal rates.In the three soil temperatures tested(20℃,25℃,and 30℃),the highest average crude oil removal rate was at 25℃(74.8%)and the lowest at 30℃(49.4%).At each temperature,variations in the addition of organic matter and oxygen providers had significant effects on crude oil removal rate.Variations in surfactant addition was significant at 20℃ and 25℃ but insignificant at 30℃.Given the same surfactant treatment,variations in temperature,organic additives,and oxygen providers was significant for crude oil removal rate.Treatments without surfactants and treatments with Tween80 exhibited their highest crude oil removal rates at 25℃.However,treatments that included the SDS surfactant exhibited their highest crude oil removal rates at 30℃.Amongst the treatments without surfactants,treatments with corn cob addition had the highest crude oil removal rates,and with surfactants,treatments that included the organic fertilizer exhibited the highest crude oil removal rates.Given the same organic fertilizer treatment,the highest crude oil removal rate was at 25℃.At each level of oxygen availability,the maximum crude oil removal rate always occurred at 25℃,and the treatments that included organic fertilizer exhibited the highest crude oil removal rates.Amongst the treatments without oxygen providers,treatments without surfactants had the highest crude oil removal rates,and with an oxygen provider,treatments with SDS addition exhibited the highest crude oil removal rates.Based on the crude oil removal rates of the treatments,we determined that S_(1)W_(1)O_(1)(addition of Tween80,organic fertilizers,and H_(2)O_(2))was optimum for remediating petroleum-contaminated forest soils in cold,high-altitude regions.This study is helpful to vegetation restoration and reforestation on petroleum contaminated forestlands.

Green synthesis of Chlorin e6 and tests of its photosensitive bactericidal activities

Phototoxic treatments of pathogenic bacteria and fungi of trees induce oxidative damage that is preferable to toxic chemical treatment.Here,we used green methods to synthesize Chlorin e6 from chlorophyll a,which was extracted from crude silkworm excrement using concentrated(strong)alkali hydrolysis and acidification.The photosensitive bactericidal activities of the new chlorin were tested in vitro,and possible mechanisms of action are discussed.The results showed that Chlorin e6 can be lightactivated to have bactericidal activity against Escherichia coli,Bacillus subtilis and Fusarium oxysporum,but it had little bactericidal effect in the dark.This kind of chlorin compounds has great potential as a natural phototoxic antimicrobial compound to control harmful bacteria on the leaves in forestry systems.

Stress response of Lymantria dispar asiatica(Lepidoptera:Erebidae)larvae and its gut microbiota to manganese ion

To study the effect of manganese exposure on the herbivorous insect Lymantria dispar asiatica,fourthinstar larvae were fed a MnCl_(2)-amended diet(LdMn)for 84 h(0.40 mmol MnCl_(2)/g diet).Larvae were weighed before and after the diet administration to assess larval gain in mass under manganese exposure.The whole bodies of half of the survivors were ground in liquid nitrogen for measuring enzyme activities and total antioxidant capacity(T-AOC).The intestinal tracts of the remaining survivors were collected and immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen for 16S rDNA sequencing of gut microbiota.Larvae under manganese stress lost significant mass(p<0.05).The activities of digestive and antioxidant enzymes and T-AOC,but not trehalase and polyphenol oxidase,were significantly higher after Mn exposure,(p<0.05).A Venn diagram illustrated that the gut microbial OTU composition in the larvae also changed.Community pies and correlation heatmaps also showed different relative abundances of gut microbes.In other words,species quantity and relative abundance of gut microbes agreed with PCoA visualization and indicated that the gut microbial community in L.dispar asiatica larvae differed significantly between control and LdMn.Functional classification also suggested that exposure to manganese stress significantly decreased gut microbial coenzyme transport and metabolism in L.dispar asiatica larvae.These results further our understanding about stress response of L.dispar asiatica larvae.