Microbial Remediation of Heavy Metal(loid)Contaminated Soil: A Review

Because of the rapid development of industrial processes, increased urban pollution and agricultural chemicals applied in recent years, heavy metal(loid) pollution in soil has been very serious, and there is an urgent need for fast and efficient removal of heavy metal(loid) pollution. Currently, environmental microorganisms are always used to perform biological alteration or improvement of soils and sewage. Using functional microorganisms that are resistant to toxic heavy metal(loid) ions for alteration and transformation of heavy metal(loid)s in ionic form is an effective measure for microbial remediation of heavy metal(loid)contaminated soil. This paper reviewed the microbial remediation mechanism of heavy metal(loid) contaminated soils, and the approaches for breeding bacteria those can be used for highly efficient removal of heavy metal(loid)s, as well as the application examples of microbial remediation and transformation of heavy metal(loid) contaminated soil, and finally described the future trends and further research work of heavy metal(loid) contaminated soils by microbial remediation.

Integrating Automatic Patch Snatching System by the Concept of Generalized Mechanisms

An automatic patch snatching system is described which has three machine cells including dividing equipment, tackling equipment and patch removing equipment. The electromechanical integration design of in-piece tackling system based on the concept of generalized mechanisms is introduced. The design of the dividing equipment, the design of micro-feeding machine equipped with micro-level pressure sensor, and the realizing of computer path for patch snatching are investigated.

Imagery in Pride and Prejudice

Within the theoretical framework of English rhetoric, this paper analyzes the effect of imagery as a rhetorical device by Jane Austenin the novel Pride and Prejudice （2006）. Instances are cited with the use of imagery respectively in character portraits, dialogues, and scenes. It proves that an integrated use of this rhetorical device is an important means for vivid and impressive accounts in literary works, for it helps to build up the context for characterization, presenting the characters alive and distinctive, and effectively reveal the theme of the novel, bringing about authentic feelings to readers.

The Changes in World Oil Prices, Monetary Factors, and Foreign Index Toward Composite Index Movement： Indonesian Case for the Period of 2005-2011

Capital market is one of the drivers of the economy through the formation of capital investor excess as well as an indicator of a country＇s economy. Movement of stock price index is often influenced by many factors, derived from the company＇s performance, monetary factor, and changes in world oil prices. This study highlights the problem in world oil prices due to political turmoil in the Middle East. The samples are taken from the Jakarta Composite Stock Price Index （JCI）, oil prices, Indonesian inflation rate, Certificate of Bank Indonesia＇s （CBI） rate, and the reserve assets, during the period from January 2005 to December 2011 （84 months）. Using the data published by the Bank of Indonesia, reports of the Central Bureau of Statistics （Biro Pusat Statistik, BPS）, and other relevant sources, the data analyzed through the Eviews 7.1. The main objective of this study is to examine the effect of oil prices, foreign stock price index, and monetary variables （inflation rate, CBI rate, country＇s foreign reserves, and others） toward the JCI analyzed through the error correction model （ECM）. Hypothesis testing with the F-test for the 95% confidence level indicates that the oil price, exchange rate （Indonesian Rupiah （IDR）/United States Dollar （USD））, CBI rate, foreign exchange reserves, the Dow Jones Index, and the Taiwan stock index, both simultaneously as well as partially have a significant influence on the JCI.

Ecological Remediation of Hydrocarbon Contaminated Soils with Weed Plant

Considerable efforts have been undertaken to accelerate the breakdown of existing anthropogenic petroleum hydrocarbons （PHCs） by appropriate in situ remediation technologies. In situ phytoremediation, using higher plants to remove, stabilize, degrade, and/or metabolize hazardous contaminants, has emerged as a promising green technology for cleaning up environments contaminated with PHCs. Weed plants are generally considered to have great potential for use in phytoremediation due to their extensive fibrous root systems and relatively robust characteristics, thus helping establish a strong rhizosphere through contaminated soils. In this review, some important mechanisms involved in phytoremedation of PHC contaminated soils, including phytoaccumulation, phytostabilization, phytodegradation, phytovolatilization, and rhizodegradation, were summarized and discussed. In recent years, a large number of laboratory approaches have been developed to further enhance the phytoremediation efficiency of PHC contaminated soils. The success of these laboratory studies has encouraged researchers to attempt phytoremediation of PHC contaminated soils in the field. However, many limitations still exist in order to successfully apply laboratory experiments to trials in the field.

许厂煤矿“考试酷”让职工学习无忧

3月16日,山东能源淄矿集团许厂煤矿综修分区职工李兆胜上井来到学习室,立即拿出手机打开“考试酷”进行安全知识练习。“这是我们矿上新编的安全知识学习软件,随时随地都可以上网练习安全试题,再也不用为培训发愁了。”李兆胜说。

Remediation of Heavy Metal-Polluted Agricultural Soils Using Clay Minerals： A Review

Heavy metal contamination of agricultural soils poses risks and hazards to humans. The remediation of heavy metal-polluted soils has become a hot topic in environmental science and engineering. In this review, the application of clay minerals for the remediation of heavy metal-polluted agricultural soils is summarized, in terms of their remediation effects and mechanisms, influencing factors, and future focus. Typical clay minerals, natural sepiolite, palygorskite, and bentonite, have been widely utilized for the in-situ immobilization of heavy metals in soils, especially Cd-polluted paddy soils and wastewater-irrigated farmland soils. Clay minerals are able to increase soil pH, decrease the chemical-extractable fractions and bioavailability of heavy metals in soils, and reduce the heavy metal contents in edible parts of plants. The immobilization effects have been confirmed in field-scale demonstrations and pot trials. Clay minerals can improve the environmental quality of soils and alleviate the hazards of heavy metals to plants. As main factors affecting the immobilization effects, the pH and water condition of soils have drawn academic attention. The remediation mechanisms mainly include liming, precipitation, and sorption effects. However, the molecular mechanisms of microscopic immobilization are unclear. F^ture studies should focus on the long-term stability and improvement of clay minerals in order to obtain a better remediation effect.

Effect of modified Taohongsiwu decoction on patients with chemotherapy-induced hand-foot syndrome

OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of the Traditional Chinese Medicine,modified Taohongsiwu decoction,versus pyridoxine on patients with hand-foot syndrome(HFS)from capecitabine,sorafenib,and gefitinib chemotherapy for gastric,lung,breast,colon,or rectal cancer.Also,to compare quality of life of patients in each group.METHODS:Patients were assigned randomly to group A or B.Group A was given modifiedTaohongsiwu decoction to soak hands and feet for 30 min,once daily.Group B was given 100 mg pyridoxine orally,twice daily.After a 2-week treatment,thetherapeutic effect was assessed by observing three major symptoms,including pain,ulceration,and muscular atrophy.This was assessed with the HFS-14 questionnaire.RESULTS:Significant differences were observed between the two groups in pain relief,and improvement of daily life,walking,and interpersonal communication(P<0.01).No significant differences in driving ability or interpersonal relationships were found.After 2 weeks,the effective rate was 88.3%in group A,which was significantly higher than the50%in group B(P=0.00).CONCLUSION:Modified Taohongsiwu decoction is effective in the treatment of patients with HFS.It improves patients'quality of life according to the HFS-14.

Effects of modified Lingguizhugan decoction combined with weekend fasting on metabolic syndrome

OBJECTIVE:To assess the therapeutic effect of weekend fasting and administration of a modified Lingguizhugan decoction on metabolic syndrome(MetS).METHODS:Twenty-one patients with MetS were recruited from the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University.Fasting plasma glucose(FPG),30-min and 2-h post-prandial blood glucose(PG),fasting serum insulin(FINS),blood pressure(BP),body mass index(BMI),waist circumference(WC),homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance index(HOMA-IR),and levels of triglyceride(TG),total cholesterol(TC),low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol(LDL-C),and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)were tested.Patients were allowed to drink only water and a Chinese herbal decoction during weekends.All samples were tested again after 12 weeks of treatment.RESULTS:FPG,30-min PG,2-h PG,FINS,LDL-C,systolic BP,diastolic BP,BMI,WC,and HOMA-IR de-creased significantly(P<0.05)compared with before treatment.Levels of TG,TC,and HDL-C did not change significantly.CONCLUSION:Weekend fasting improved glucose metabolism,lowered BP,reduced LDL-C levels,BMI,and WC.These data suggest that weekend fasting may be an effective therapy for MetS by protection against coronary atherosclerosis.