Simulation of environmental change in response to operation of dams in Huaihe Basin

This paper describes the model simulation of a portion of the Huaihe Basin upstream of the river mouth at Hongze Lake, with an area of 130 520 km2. The MIKE 11 modeling system was used to assess the flows and water quality in the Huaihe, Shayinghe, Honghe, Guohe, and Pihe rivers, The hydraulic part of the model was used to study the propagation of flows in the Huaihe River, which was calibrated with data from 2002-2003 and verified with data from 2004-2005. In general, there was agreement between measured and simulated discharges at all the hydrological stations. Except for some places close to large gates, there was reasonable agreement between measured and simulated water levels in the simulated rivers. The MIKE 11 WQ （water quality） model was used to study general sanitary parameters describing the river water quality in areas influenced by human activities. The water quality model simulated dissolved oxygen （DO）, chemical oxygen demand （COD） and ammonia nitrogen （NH3-N）. The difference between the simulated and observed concentrations was within the range that could be expected from water quality modeling, taking into account uncertainties such as pollution loads, and monitoring and sampling frequency. This model setup was also suitable for the subsequent scenario modeling of periods of water project operation. In the simulation of the Pihe River, increasing the discharge at Hengpaitou Dam was shown to cause a significant improvement in water quality downstream of Lu＇an City. In the Shayinghe and Huaihe rivers, the effect was less visible. This suggests that the poor water quality in the Huaihe Basin is mainly caused by extensive discharge of domestic and industrial wastewater.

In vivo investigation of antimicrobial effects of cinnamaldehyde using immunosuppressed ICR mice with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis

Objective:Invasive pulmonary Aspergillus infection has the characteristics of high morbidity,difficult to be treated,poor prognosis and high mortality.This study aims to investigate the effects of cinnamaldehyde on 1,3-β-D-glucans in the pulmonary Aspergillus fumigatus cell wall to provide a basis for developing novel antifungal drugs.Methods:Immunosuppressed ICR mice were intranasally inoculated with 50μL of A.fumigatus suspension(1×10~7 CFU/m L)and then separated into two groups,for the experimental group cinnamaldehyde was orally administered at 240 mg/kg/d consecutively for 14 d.While for the control group,voriconazole was used to treat the fungus infection.Pulmonary tissues were then extracted for 1,3-β-D-glucans assay and electron microscopy.Results:The concentration of 1,3-β-D-glucans was significantly different between the cinnamaldehyde and voriconazole groups,which was(1160.89±364.96)pg/m L and(3885.94±845.45)pg/m L,respectively(P<0.01).Electron microscopy showed that 2-3 outer layers(1,3-β-D-glucan layer)of A.fumigatus cell wall were damaged and fell off,resulting in serious defect of the cell wall,but the cell membrane was clear and intact.Conclusion:Cinnamaldehyde has a significant influence on the integrity of 1,3-β-D-glucans in the pulmonary A.fumigatus cell wall,but the cell membrane is unaffected,suggesting that cinnamaldehyde has unique antifungal properties depending on its action against the 1,3-β-D-glucans on the pulmonary A.fumigatus cell wall.

Effect of cinnamaldehyde on 1,3-β-D-glucans in cell wall of Candida albicans in immunosuppressed BALB/c mice

Objective： Invasive pulmonary candidiasis is a disease with high incidence, difficult treatment, poor prognosis, and high mortality. The present study analyzed the influence of cinnamaldehyde on 1,3-β-D-glucans in the cell wall of Candida albicans in order to provide a theoretical basis for the research of antifungal drugs.Methods： An immunosuppressed BALB/c mouse model with invasive pulmonary candidiasis was established by nasal perfusion of 50 μL of C. albicans suspension（107 cfu/mL）. 1,3-β-D-glucans examination and electron microscopy were carried out. Fluconazole was used as the control.Results： Cinnamaldehyde was administered at a dose of 240 mg/kg/d for 14 consecutive days, and the measured value of 1,3-β-D-glucans was（1160.62 ± 89.65） pg/mL, whereas that of fluconazole was（4285.87 ± 215.62） pg/m L. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant（P 〈 0.05）.Electron microscopy observation indicated that the 2-3 layers outside the cell wall of C. albicans（1,3-β-D-glucans layer） were rough, deformed, and incomplete, although the cell membrane was clear and intact.Conclusion： Cinnamaldehyde demonstrated special efficacy on 1,3-β-D-glucans in the cell wall of C. albicans.