Is the contribution of bacteria to terrestrial carbon budget greatly underestimated?

Some commonly found species of soil bacteria use low molecular weight organic acids as their sole source of carbon and energy. This study shows that acids such as citrate and oxalate (produced in large amounts by fungi and plants) can rapidly be consumed by these bacteria. Two strains, Ralstonia eutropha and Xanthobacter autotrophicus, were cultured on acetate- and citrate-rich media. The resulting CO₂ and/or HCO₃^- reacted with calcium ions to precipitate two polymorphs of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), calcite and vaterite, depending on the quantity of slime produced by the strains. This production of primary calcium carbonate crystals by oxalate- and citrate-degrading bacteria from soil organic carbon sources highlights the existence of an important and underestimated potential carbon sink.     

Alcoholism in cockchafers: orientation of male Melolontha melolontha towards green leaf alcohols

Chemical orientation of the European cockchafer, Melolontha melolontha L., a serious pest in agriculture and horticulture, was investigated by field tests and electrophysiological experiments using plant volatiles. In total, 16 typical plant volatiles were shown to elicit electrophysiological responses in male cockchafers. Funnel trap field bioassays revealed that green leaf alcohols (i.e. (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol, (E)-2-hexen-1-ol and 1-hexanol) attracted males, whereas the corresponding aldehydes and acetates were behaviourally inactive. Furthermore, male cockchafers were attracted by volatiles from mechanically damaged leaves of Fagus sylvatica L., Quercus robur L. and Carpinus betulus L. However, volatiles emitted by damaged leaves of F. sylvatica attracted significantly more males than those from the other host plants. Odour from intact F. sylvatica leaves was not attractive to M. melolontha males. Females were not attracted by any of the tested volatile sources. The results suggest that plant volatiles play a similar role as a sexual kairomone in mate finding of M. melolontha, as has been shown for the forest cockchafer, Melolontha hippocastani F. Nevertheless, both species show remarkable differences in their reaction to green leaf alcohols.     

军用S-4烟幕酸雾污染的清除

提出了环保型军事训练的概念，针对大量使用的S-4烟幕的严重污染，构建了基于引射技术利用碳酸钠细粉和直接通过三通阀利用氨水的2种清除方法。通过实验确定，碳酸钠的最佳粒径为150目过筛，不同浓度氨水均有好的清除效果，碳酸钠、氨的最佳用量分别为S-4发烟剂的1．35和0.433倍。     

Chemical profiles, division of labor and social status in Pachycondyla queens (Hymenoptera: formicidae)

Queens of the neotropical ponerine ant Pachycondyla cf. 'inversa' may co-operate during colony founding. One of several co-founding queens specializes in foraging, whereas the others remain in the nest and guard the brood. Division of labor is achieved by aggressive interactions, which result in the formation of dominance hierarchies. Gas chromatography and mass spectrometry of cuticular hydrocarbons obtained from live queens by SPME revealed consistent differences between the patterns of cuticular hydrocarbons of queens with high versus low rank: only high-ranking queens showed considerable amounts of cuticular pentadecane (n-C₁₅) and heptadecene (n-C₁₇:1). These two substances presumably originate from the queens' Dufour glands.     

二甲基硫醚光解及二甲基二硫醚生成速率研究

用低压汞灯照射二甲基硫醚（ＤＭＳ）,在２０ｍ的长光池中用富里叶红外光谱仪测量其光解产物,结果表明二甲基硫醚光解生成二甲基二硫醚（ＤＭＤＳ）和乙烷。测量其不同光照时间的光解产物,结果表明Ｉｎ＾ｃ０／ｃｔ在直解坐标上是一条直线,说明了二甲基二硫醚生成按生一极反应进行,其生成的速率常数为８．７０×１０＾－５ｓ＾－１用低压汞灯照射ＤＭＳ＋Ｈ２Ｏ２体系,富里叶红外光谱检测其产物,在有足够的Ｈ２Ｏ２情况下,生     

Transferability of HIV by arthropods supports the hypothesis about transmission of the virus from apes to man

The primate Pan troglodytes troglodytes, a chimpanzee subspecies, has recently been defined as a natural animal host of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Apes are traditionally hunted in Africa and are offered for sale in open-air meat markets. The bloody carcasses are regularly covered with blood-feeding flies, amongst them possibly the stable fly (Stomoxys calcitrans L.), a cosmopolitically occurring biting fly. This fly is the effective vector for the retrovirus causing equine leukemia. According to laboratory experiments, the infectivity of ingested HIV is not reduced in the regurgitates of this fly. These findings are combined to explain the mechanism for a possible primary transmission of HIV from ape to man.     

Effect of phosphogypsum and dicyandiamide as additives on NH3, N2O and CH4 emissions during composting

A laboratory scale experiment of composting in a forced aeration system using pig manure with cornstalks was carried out to investigate the effects of both phosphogypsum and dicyandiamide (DCD, C2H4N4) as additives on gaseous emissions and compost quality. Besides a control, there were three amended treatments with different amounts of additives. The results indicated that the phosphogypsum addition at the rate of 10% of mixture dry weight decreased NH₃ and CH₄ emissions significantly during composting. The addition of DCD at the rate of 0.2% of mixture dry weight together with 10% of phosphogypsum further reduced the N₂O emission by affecting the nitrification process. Reducing the phosphogypsum addition to 5% in the presence of 0.2% DCD moderately increased the NH₃ emissions but not N₂O emission. The additives increased the ammonium content and electrical conductivity significantly in the final compost. No adverse effect on organic matter degradation or the germination index of the compost was found in the amended treatments. It was recommended that phosphogypsum and DCD could be used in composting for the purpose of reducing NH₃, CH₄ and N₂O emissions. Optimal conditions and dose of DCD additive during composting should be determined with different materials and composting systems in further study.     

冬季猪粪固体堆放过程中NH3、N2O和NO排放特征研究

针对农村猪粪典型处理方式中的固体堆放管理,研究猪粪在冬季(2012年11月~2013年2月)固体堆放过程中NH3、N2O和NO排放特征.实验共设两个处理——无覆盖(non-covered,NC)和水稻秸秆覆盖(covered,C),堆放时间为73 d,期间进行了3次翻堆操作.实验观测了3种含氮气体(NH3、N2O和NO)的排放通量和堆体剖面N2O浓度变化.结果表明,猪粪固体堆放过程中NH3、N2O和NO排放累积量(以N计)分别占初始TN的比例为2.1%~2.6%、0.02%和~0.000 25%.两个处理的含氮气体排放通量变化趋势基本一致,且有覆盖堆体的含氮气体的排放量略低于无覆盖堆体.在堆放初期,NH3排放量最先出现峰值,之后N2O和NO排放开始增加.NH3和NO在固体堆放的中前期呈现互为消长的变化趋势;到堆放后期,N2O开始出现比前期高出两倍的排放高峰,而NH3和NO出现小幅增长.翻堆前后,NH3的排放无明显变化,而N2O排放在翻堆后均出现降低的变化,NO排放却出现升高的变化.     

Structural differences in the drone olfactory system of two phylogenetically distant Apis species, A. florea and A. mellifera

Male insects that are attracted by sex pheromones to find their female mates over long distances have specialized olfactory subsystems. Morphologically, these subsystems are characterized by a large number of receptor neurons sensitive to components of the female's pheromones and hypertrophied glomerular subunits ('macroglomeruli' or 'macroglomerular complexes') in the antennal lobes, in which the axons of the receptor neurons converge. The olfactory subsystems are adapted for an increased sensitivity to perceive minute amounts of pheromones. In Apis mellifera, drones have 18,600 olfactory poreplate sensilla per antenna, each equipped with receptor neurons sensitive to the queen's sex pheromone, and four voluminous macroglomeruli (MG1-MG4) in the antennal lobes. In contrast, we show that drones of the phylogenetically distant species, Apis florea, have only 1,200 poreplate sensilla per antenna and only two macroglomeruli in their antennal lobes. These macroglomeruli are homologous in anatomical position to the two most prominent macroglomeruli in A. mellifera, the MG1 and MG2, but they are much smaller in size. The morphological and anatomical differences described here suggest major modifications in the sex-pheromone processing subsystem of both species: (1) less pheromone sensitivity in A. florea and (2) a more complex sex-pheromone processing and thus a more complex sex-pheromone communication in A. mellifera.     

The flavo-enzyme xanthine oxidase is under circadian control in the marine alga Gonyaulax

The activity of xanthine oxidoreductases (xanthine oxidase, XO, EC 1.2.3.2 and xanthine dehydrogenase, XDH, EC 1.1.1.204) in partially purified extracts of Gonyaulax polyedra was measured over 24 h both in a light:dark cycle and in constant light. This is the first demonstration of xanthine oxidoreductase in a unicellular alga. The activity of the O₂-dependent form (XO) was found to be 15 times higher in light than in darkness. The same time-of-day specific differences persisted in constant light, demonstrating a control of XO by the circadian clock. In contrast, the activity of the NAD-dependent form (XDH) is not under circadian control. Because pharmacological inhibition of XO also blocks the effect of blue light on the Gonyaulax circadian clock, the possible relationship between XO and light reception in this unicellular alga will be discussed.     

流化床中RDF焚烧时CO、SO2和HCl的生成

在非均匀布风流化床中进行了垃圾衍生燃料(RDF)与煤的混烧试验，测量了H2O、CO、CO2、NO、N2O、HCl、SO2等污染物质的排放特性．结果表明与单纯燃烧RDF相比，混烧时的CO生成量大大下降；SO2生成浓度较低，而HCl的生成量比单纯烧煤时明显增加．     

A novel sex-specific and inducible monoterpene synthase activity associated with a pine bark beetle,the pine engraver,<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Ips pini</Emphasis>

Ecological interactions of conifers and coniferophagous bark beetles are determined in part by terpenoids (isoprenoids), which are major defense metabolites of conifer oleoresin. Curiously, similar compounds are important aggregation pheromones of conifer-attacking bark beetles. Terpene synthases are responsible for generating the enormous variety of terpenoid carbon skeletons found in nature. These catalysts convert short-chain prenyl diphosphates to a diverse assortment of hemiterpene, monoterpene, sesquiterpene, and diterpene natural products. While terpene synthases have frequently been characterized from plant and microbial sources, they have not yet been described in animals. Here we report the discovery of a monoterpene synthase activity in an insect, the pine engraver, Ips pini (Say) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae). Cell-free assays of I. pini revealed that geranyl diphosphate (GDP) is converted to the acyclic monoterpene myrcene in whole-body extracts from males, but not females. Furthermore, the monoterpene synthase activity in males can be induced by prior treatment with juvenile hormone III (JH III) or by feeding on phloem from the host trees, Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi Grev. &; Balf.) or red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.). The sex-specificity and endocrine induction of this activity argue for its involvement in the biosynthesis of monoterpenoid pheromones mediated by enzymes from insect tissue. This discovery is the first example of a monoterpene synthase in the Metazoa and evokes exciting new questions about the origin, evolution, and occurrence of terpene synthases.     

NO conversion by positive streamer discharge-effects of gas compositions and reaction conditions

The effects of gas compositions and reaction conditions on NO conversion by positive streamer discharge were experimentally investigated by using a link tooth wheel-cylinder reactor. The results showed that NO conversion increased with increasing O₂ concentration and NH₃ concentration, but decreased with increasing inlet NO concentration and gas flow rate. The addition of CO₂ or H₂O to the feed gas promoted NO conversion by increasing the maximum discharge voltage, and NH₄NO₃ was formed in the presence of NH₃. There was a most suitable range interval between discharge tooth wheels if both NO conversion and energy consumption were considered. Increasing applied voltage resulted in the increase in the amount of O₃ generated by streamer discharge.     

Thermoregulation and ventilation of termite mounds

Some of the most sophisticated of all animal-built structures are the mounds of African termites of the subfamily Macrotermitinae, the fungus-growing termites. They have long been studied as fascinating textbook examples of thermoregulation or ventilation of animal buildings. However, little research has been designed to provide critical tests of these paradigms, derived from a very small number of original papers. Here I review results from recent studies on Macrotermes bellicosus that considered the interdependence of ambient temperature, thermoregulation, ventilation and mound architecture, and that question some of the fundamental paradigms of termite mounds. M. bellicosus achieves thermal homeostasis within the mound, but ambient temperature has an influence too. In colonies in comparably cool habitats, mound architecture is adapted to reduce the loss of metabolically produced heat to the environment. While this has no negative consequences in small colonies, it produces a trade-off with gas exchange in large colonies, resulting in suboptimally low nest temperatures and increased CO₂ concentrations. Along with the alteration in mound architecture, the gas exchange/ventilation mechanism also changes. While mounds in the thermally appropriate savannah have a very efficient circular ventilation during the day, the ventilation in the cooler forest is a less efficient upward movement of air, with gas exchange restricted by reduced surface exchange area. These results, together with other recent findings, question entrenched ideas such as the thermosiphon-ventilation mechanism or the assumption that mounds function to dissipate internally produced heat. Models trying to explain the proximate mechanisms of mound building, or building elements, are discussed.     

NOx在长江三角洲地区冬小麦农田与大气间的交换

利用4动态箱体系测定了NOx(NO NO2)在长江三角洲平原地区典型冬小麦农田与大气间的交换通量.NO和NO2的平均交换通量分别为169.7ng·m-2·s-1和-18.5ng·m-2·s-1,表明该地区麦田是大气中NO的一个重要源,是NO2的汇.在冬小麦主要生长期(拔节-抽穗期),NO的交换通量与地表土壤温度呈指数关系.NO2的交换通量与其在环境中的浓度存在明显的负线性关系,其在农田与大气间交换的补偿点(交换通量为0时环境大气中NO2浓度)为11.9μg·m-3.正常耕作的小麦农田以NO-N方式排放的N占施肥总N的2.3%,表明NO挥发为农田氮肥损失的重要形式.追加尿素木质素混合肥料虽然提高了小麦产量,但也显著刺激了农田对NO的排放.     

Indirect interactions between a phytopathogenic and an entomopathogenic fungus

Slow growth in herbivores may lead to higher mortality, due to prolonged exposure to natural enemies. A number of studies has tested the 'slow-growth, high-mortality' hypothesis using predators or parasitoids as natural enemies of the herbivore, but the possible role of pathogens is poorly documented. We provide evidence that phytopathogenic infection of a plant enhances the susceptibility of herbivore larvae to a generalist entomopathogen. Larvae of the mustard leaf beetle Phaedon cochleariae grow more slowly when feeding on Chinese cabbage leaves infected by the phytopathogenic fungus Alternaria brassicae than larvae feeding on healthy leaves. Treatment of such larvae feeding on diseased plants with an LD₅₀ of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae resulted in 100% mortality, compared with a mortality rate of 54% in the control larvae feeding on uninfected leaves. This is the first demonstration of an interaction between a phyto- and an entomopathogenic fungus.     

Attractants from Bartlett pear for codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.), larvae

The alkyl ethyl and methyl esters of (2E,4Z)-2,4-decadienoic acid found in head-space samples of ripe Bartlett pear (Pyrus communis L.) stimulated a response from neonate larvae of the codling moth (CM), Cydia pomonella (L.), in both static-air Petri-plate and in upwind Y-tube and straight-tube olfactometer bioassays. In comparison with the known CM neonate attractant, (E,E)-!-farnesene, ethyl (2E,4Z)-2,4-decadienoate was attractive at 10-fold and 1,000-fold lower threshold dosages in the Petri-plate and in the Y-tube bioassays, respectively. Methyl (2E,4Z)-2,4-decadienoate was attractive to CM neonates in these bioassays at much higher doses than ethyl (2E,4Z)-2,4-decadienoate. Other principal head-space volatiles from ripe pear fruit and pear leaves, including butyl acetate, hexyl acetate, (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate, and (E)-#-ocimene, were not attractive to CM neonates. The potential uses of these pear kairomones for monitoring and control of CM in walnuts and apple are discussed.     

简捷硝化-反硝化过程处理焦化废水的研究

简捷硝化-反硝化过程处理焦化废水具有去除负荷高、出水浓度低、可节省反硝化碳源等优点.试验表明,当系统进水COD、NH₃-N和TN浓度分别为1204.8、274.3和443mg/L,系统总水力停留时间为26.2h时,系统出水COD、NH₃-N、NO₂^--N、NO₃^--N和TN浓度分别为36.3、12.1、9.25、2.46和44.4mg/L.试验结果还证明本文所采用的系统确实处于简捷硝化-反硝化状态.     

Tracing the diet of the monitor lizard Varanus mabitang by stable isotope analyses (delta(15)N,delta(13)C)

In this study, we used analyses of stable isotopes of nitrogen ('¹⁵N) and carbon ('¹³C) to determine the trophic ecology of the monitor lizard Varanus mabitang. Stable isotopes from claws, gut contents, and soft tissues were measured from the type specimen. Samples from Varanus olivaceus, Varanus prasinus, Varanus salvator, the herbivorous agamid lizard Hydrosaurus pustulatus, and some plant matter were included for comparison. Our data show a rapid decrease in '¹³C (about10‰) from food plants towards gut contents and soft tissues of herbivorous species. For the varanids, we found a significant linear correlation of decreasing '¹³C and increasing '¹⁵N from herbivorous towards carnivorous species. In terms of trophic isotope ecology, the type specimen of V. mabitang is a strict herbivore. Thus it differs significantly in its isotopic composition from the morphologically next closest related species V. olivaceus. The most highly carnivorous species is V. salvator, while '¹⁵N values for V. prasinus and V. olivaceus are intermediate. Claws provide very valuable samples for such measurements, because they can be sampled from living animals without harm. Additionally, their range of variability is relatively small in comparison with measurements from soft tissues.     

Population risk assessment of ambient benzene and evaluation of benzene regulation in gasoline in Japan

The aggregate population cancer risk due to ambient benzene was evaluated for the entire Japanese population. This was done using data of ambient NO_x levels measured at as many as 2000 air pollution monitoring stations nationwide and the regression equation between the levels of benzene and NO_x obtained by continuous monitoring. The population-weighted exposure levels for the roadside population and general-environment population were calculated to be 2.1 ppb and 1.0 ppb, respectively. Eighty-four percent of the entire population was exposed to a lifetime cancer risk level of 1᎒^-5 or greater, and the annual number of cancer deaths was estimated to be 29.6 cases at the 1997 benzene level. Due to the regulation which established the upper limit of benzene content in gasoline to be 1 vol. % by January 2000, the total emission of benzene was estimated to be reduced by 27%, compared to 1993. The annual number of cancer deaths was expected to be reduced by 8.8 cases through the regulation of benzene in gasoline. Japanese petroleum companies have estimated the annual cost of the reduction of the benzene content in gasoline to be 25.6 billion yen. The cost per life saved by the regulation of benzene in gasoline is estimated to be 2.9 billion yen. The method implemented in this study to predict population risk is useful for identifying potential risk management options and evaluating their effectiveness before making decisions.