A two-stage water allocation strategy for developing regional economic-environment sustainability.

In this study, a new two-stage stochastic interval-parameter fuzzy programming strategy model is developed for regional economic-environment sustainability, considering the planning and management of water-resources and water-environment systems under uncertainty. The model is capable in addressing the complexity and uncertainties of the water system，which contains the concepts of economics and environment within an optimization framework. The objective of this research is to develop a participatory integrated assessment model, based on the water benefit and water environment security, with an application in the Sanjiang Plain area, China. The methodology intendeds to capture the complexity and scarcity of water management problems, incorporating the relevant sectors, as well as the different levels of water involved in water management decision. The model is applied through maximizing the benefits of water during livelihood, production and ecology. In addition, the model considers the constraints of water quantity and water quality. Then, a variety of decision results are calculated under different conditions of water shortage. The developed method is applied to plan resources management and develop regional environment sustainability. The generated results can assist the decision makers in not only making resources allocation strategies but also gaining insights into the benefit between economic and environment objective.

Role of electricity production in the anaerobic decolorization of dye mixture by exoelectrogenic bacterium Shewanella oneidensis MR-1.

This study investigated the anaerobic decolorization of the dye mixture containing methyl orange (MO) and naphthol green B (NGB) by Shewanella oneidensis MR-1. S. oneidensis MR-1 showed a strong ability to decolorize the dye mixture. MO was easier to get the electrons and inhibited the reduction of NGB, despite of its lower redox potential than NGB. The Mtr respiratory pathway played an important role in this process. Meantime, addition of extracellular electron shuttles accelerated the decolorization. Those results suggest that the decolorization capacity of S. oneidensis MR-1 is associated with the electricity production. The operating parameters, such as electron acceptors, temperature, and pH, were also investigated in this study. Thus, this work may facilitate a better understanding of the extensive nonspecific reduction capacity of exoelectrogens and is beneficial for promoting their application in bioremediation.

[Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM affects host adhesion-related gene expression after adhering to host].

OBJECTIVE: Adhering to the intestinal epithelial cells is one of the beneficial functions exerting by probiotics. We tested and verified the expression of adhesion-related genes in vivo and in vitro to understand the influence from Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM on host cells. METHOD: We selected the adhesion-related genes through GO (gene ontology) category from the Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0 Array analysis. These genes were verified by in vitro Caco-2 cells culture model and in vivo mouse model using Real-time PCR method. RESULTS: After L. acidophilus NCFM adhering to Caco-2, we found that 12 adhesion-related genes were up-regulated. The up-regulation was confirmed in vivo and in vitro by Real-time PCR assay. Among them, the up-regulated expression of chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) gene was the most distinguished one. CONCLUSION: Our research showed that L. acidophilus NCFM, adhering to Caco-2 cells, could cause the differential expression of the host adhesion-related genes. Results of this study seemed to provide some useful data for further revealing its effect on intestinal epithelial cells.

[Expression of PTX3 gene in Caco-2 cells treated with Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM].

OBJECTIVE: To study the expression of immunity and inflammatory mediator factor PTX3 in intestinal epithelial cells treated with Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM and further to reveal the regulatory mechanism. METHODS: Caco-2 cells were cocultured with Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM for 0, 2, 4, 8, 12 h and 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4 h respectively, then the total RNA and protein were extracted. The expression of PTX3 gene was analyzed by Real Time RT-PCR. The phosphorylation levels of NF-kappaB was analyzed by Western Blot. Caco-2 cells were pretreated with PDTC for 30 min before cocultured with Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM for 2 h, then the total RNA was extracted and the expression of PTX3 gene was analyzed by Real Time RT-PCR. RESULTS: Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM could induce the expression of PTX3 in Caco-2 cells. The PTX3 expression peaked at 4 h after coculture. Then its expression gradually waned out. Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM could rapidly activate the phosphorylation of NF-kappaB, and the expression of PTX3 was decreased notably after pretreated with PDTC for 30 min. CONCLUSION: Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM could transiently regulate the immunity and inflammatory mediator factor PTX3 expression through rapidly activating NF-kappaB signaling pathway in Caco-2 cells.

[Expression profile analysis of intestinal Caco-2 cells treated with Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM].

OBJECTIVE: Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM is a probiotic strain that promotes human health. We evaluated the influence of Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM on the genetic expression patterns in the Caco-2 cells. METHODS: Caco-2 cells were treated with Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM for 2h. The total RNA of cells was extracted. Hybridization with Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0 Array was performed. The image scanning and data analysis were performed subsequently. Genes with significant expression changes were selected and analyzed. To support the microarray data, three striking difference genes were studied using Real-time RT PCR. RESULTS: Microarrays analysis showed that the expression levels of 508 genes were altered as compared with the control 473 of them were up-regulated, and 35 were down-regulated. It was supposed that many genes in Caco-2 cell were induced, so that Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM could play a part in immune system process, antioxidant activity, biological adhesion, cholesterol absorption and so on. Three striking difference genes CCL2, PTX3 and TNFRSF9 which involved immune system process were validated by Real-time RT PCR. And the results of Real-time RT PCR showed the same expression trend as in microarray. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of gene expression alterations, the beneficial function of Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM could be more greatly and deeply understood than ever before, and the mechanism of lactic acid bacteria would be revealed.

[Simulation of rice canopy evapotranspiration and water use efficiency under free-air CO2 enrichment].

By using FACE system, the microclimate in rice canopy and related physiological indices were observed continuously from the elongation to the maturing stage of rice growth, and the effects of FACE on the rice canopy evapotranspiration and water use efficiency were studied and simulated with energy balance analysis. The results showed that using P-M equation to describe the quantitative relationships of rice leaf stomatal conductance with photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and vapour pressure deficit (VPD) could better simulate rice canopy evapotranspiraton under FACE and ambient conditions. During observation period, the total water use of rice in FACE plot had a 10 mm decrease, compared with that in control plot. Considering of the 12% increase of total biomass, the water use efficiency of rice under FACE condition was increased by 12%.