An updated scheme of imposex for<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Cantharus cecillei</Emphasis> (Gastropoda: Buccinidae) and a new mechanism leading to the sterilization of imposex-affected females

The morphological expressions of imposex in gastropods have been classified into seven stages (S₀–S₆) with three types (a, b and c). This typical imposex scheme, however, fails to cover some new findings such as specimens with the proximal vas deferens section passing by the vaginal opening (VDSP) and aborted egg capsules. In the present study, Cantharus cecillei was sampled from the coastal waters of China from May to November in 2003. This species showed all the morphological expressions in the typical imposex scheme with the exception of S_1b and S_2b. In addition, specimens with VDSP occurred in all stages other than stage 4, and were documented for the first time with scanning electron micrographs or in histological sections. Besides VDSP, which was observed exteriorly, excrescent tissue, e.g. the vas deferens, also originated in the ventral channel or the inner wall of the pallial oviduct was extruded. Based on these new findings, the typical imposex scheme was modified to obtain one valid for C. cecillei. Types a*, b* and c* were added as new types corresponding to types a, b and c, respectively. S_4* was also rearranged to correspond to S₄; S_4*, thus, no longer represented the end of imposex development. The updated scheme was not only valid for describing diverse expressions of imposex development in C. cecillei and Nassarius reticulatus, but could also be generalized to define various forms of VDSP in other species. Histological observation indicated that egg capsules would be blocked by the tissues of the vas deferens section or the extrusion of the pallial oviduct wall. This new mechanism, leading to the sterilization of imposex-affected females, was first conclusively revealed and described in the present scheme.Communicated by T. Ikeda, Hakodate     

Predicting cutoff aerodynamic diameter and sharpness of single round-nozzle impactors with a finite impaction plate diameter

This investigation numerically examined the cutoff aerodynamic diameter (da50) and the sharpness (GSD) of the particle collection efficiency curve of impactors with a finite impaction plate diameter. Results revealed that the inertial impactors have a limited cutoff aerodynamic diameter at different air velocities. The extreme value of the cutoff aerodynamic diameter increases with the nozzle diameter (W)/the plate diameter (Dc). The computed da50/Dc values of the impactors increase with W/Dc at various Reynolds numbers (Re) and with the nozzle-toplate distance (S)/Dc when Re is 100. The value of GSD slightly increases with W/Dc for Re of 10 and 100, although the effect of S/Dc on GSD is not evident at various Res. The particle collection efficiency curve of the impactor with a lower Re is less sharp than that with a high Re at various W/Dc and S/Dc values. Statistical equations closely fitted the obtained numerical results for Res of 10-3000. The equations are useful for directly calculating the cutoff aerodynamic diameter and the sharpness of the particle collection efficiency curve for single round-nozzle impactors with a finite impaction Dc.     

Identification of weed plants excluding the uptake of heavy metals

Using the field pot-culture and sample-analysis method, 54 weed species belonging to 20 families and 31 weed species belonging to 17 families were systematically examined as to whether they can exclude the uptake of heavy metals. After a systematic identification, it was determined that Oenothera biennis and Commelina communis were Cd-excluders and Taraxacum mongolicum was a Zn-excluder. O. biennis is a potential Cd-excluder, but also a potential Cu-excluder. The research raises the possibility of making a major breakthrough in the application of metal excluders for safe agro-production in the future.     

Removal of heavy metals from a contaminated soil using tartaric acid

This study reports the feasibility of remediation of a heavy metal （HM） contaminated soil using tartaric acid, an environmentally-friendly extractant. Batch experiments were performed to test the factors influencing remediation of the HM contaminated soil. An empirical model was employed to describe the kinetics of riM dissolution/desorption and to predict equilibrium concentrations of HMs in soil leachate. The changes of HMs in different fractions before and after tartaric acid treatment were also investigated. Tartaric acid solution containing HMs was regenerated by chestnut shells. Results show that utilization of tartaric acid was effective for removal of riMs from the contaminated soil, attaining 50%-60% of Cd, 40%-50% of Pb, 40%-50% of Cu and 20%-30% of Zn in the pH range of 3.5-4.0 within 24 h. Mass transfer coefficients for cadmium （Cd） and lead （Pb） were much higher than those for copper （Cu） and zinc （Zn）. Sequential fractionations of treated and untreated soil samples showed that tartaric acid was effective in removing the exchangeable, carbonate fractions of Cd, Zn and Cu from the contaminated soil. The contents of Pb and Cu in Fe-Mn oxide fraciton were also significantly decreased by tartaric acid treatment. One hundred milliliters of tartaric acid solution containing HMs could be regenerated by 10 g chestnut shells in a batch reactor. Such a remediation procedure indicated that tartaric acid is a promising agent for remediation of HM contaminated soils. However, further research is needed before the method can be practically used for in situ remediation of contaminated sites.     

有机气溶胶组分对六氯苯光解的影响

以高压汞灯为光源,分别研究了六氯苯在正己烷和邻苯二甲酸二异辛酯(DIOP)为有机气溶胶表层模拟介质时的光解,发现六氯苯在正己烷和DIOP中的光解半衰期分别约为<5 min和5 h,相差70倍以上.研究发现蒽醌和甲氧酚类气溶胶组分对六氯苯的光解具有光敏化作用,其反应机制可能分别为能量转移和抽氢反应.六氯苯光解的主要产物是五氯酚.     

重型柴油车车载排放实测与加载影响研究

采用车载排放测试仪,对2辆重型柴油卡车在空载和加载条件下进行实际道路车载排放测试.通过分析获得了油耗与排放速率的速度-加速度及其工况点的分布,发现高油耗与高排放工况点主要集中在高速加速区域,加载时油耗与排放高值随工况点分布更广;车辆在(30±2.5)km·h^-1等速及加速行驶时受加载影响最大,此时加载油耗与排放约是空载的1.6～3.2倍左右;由实测结果发现,卡车Ⅰ和卡车Ⅱ加载时油耗及CO、HC、NO_x排放因子分别是空载的1.6倍、3.5倍、1.1倍、1.5倍以及1.2倍、1.0倍、0.9倍和1.5倍,加载对油耗与NO_x排放影响最为明显,对HC影响最小,CO影响取决于车辆保养水平;卡车Ⅱ较卡车Ⅰ车型更大,发动机功率更高,相同荷载时受加载影响较小,说明重型车在发动机负荷可承受的范围内合理装载,有助于避免油耗与排放恶化,提高燃油经济性和排放水平.     

Small-scale co-management for the sustainable use of Xilingol biosphere reserve, inner Mongolia

There exists a negative externality of livestock breeding due to the difference between private and social breeding cost in Xilingol Biosphere Reserve (XBR), Inner Mongolia, that has caused extensive ecological degradation of the grassland. The property rights regime, the household production responsibility system (HPRS), was adopted in the 1980s to increase livestock production in XBR. Although HPRS has successfully increased production by promoting private economic interests, it has led to grassland degradation due to inefficient enforcement of stock rate. Through interviews conducted with government representatives and herding families in all management units of XBR, we elucidate the shortfalls of the current management regime and the Fencing Grassland and Moving Users policy initiated in 2002 to restore grassland. We propose an alternative property rights regime, small-scale co-management, to concurrently promote both individual economic interests and grassland conservation by improving the enforcement of stock rate.     

Evaluation of the emission characteristics of PCDD/Fs from electric arc furnaces

Distribution of PCDD/F (polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and polychlorinated dibenzofuran) congeners at two electric arc furnaces (EAFs) in Taiwan is evaluated via intensive stack sampling and analysis. Two kinds of exhaust system in EAFs including stack system and shutter system are selected for measuring dioxin emissions. In addition, dioxin emissions during oxidation and reduction stages at EAF-A were characterized. Results indicate that the PCDD/F concentration of stack gas in EAF-A was 4.39 ng/N m³ while total Toxic Equivalent Quantity (TEQ) concentration was 0.35 ng I-TEQ/N m³. The PCDD/F concentration of stack gas in EAF-B was 2.20 ng/N m³ and the TEQ concentration was 0.14 ng I-TEQ/N m³. 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-H_pCDF, OCDD and OCDF are the major contributors of the dioxin concentrations for two EAFs investigated and the percentage of PCDD/F in particulate phase increases as the chlorination level of the PCDD/F congener increases. The results obtained on gas/particulate partitioning of PCDD/Fs in flue gases prior to the APCD in EAFs indicate that more than 90% exists in particulate phase. In EAF-A, the PCDD/F concentration during oxidation stage is slightly higher than that measured during reduction stage, including the sampling points of CO converter outlet, prior to bag filter and stack. Majority of PCDD/Fs emitted from steel-making processes exists in particulate-phase (about 60–70%) at both EAFs investigated.     

Effect of arsenic on chloroplast ultrastructure and calcium distribution in arsenic hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata L

This study investigated the impacts of arsenic (As) on the chloroplast ultrastructure and calcium (Ca) distribution in Chinese brake (Pteris vittata L.) mainly by histochemical methods, with an emphasis on the possible function of Ca in As detoxification and accumulation in P. vittata. P. vittata was grown in an artificially contaminated soil added with different concentrations of Na(2)HAsO(4) (0, 100, 300 and 800 mg kg(-1) As dry soil) for 24 weeks in a greenhouse. The addition of As did not affect the chloroplast ultrastructure of young pinna, meanwhile most of the membrane systems of chloroplasts in mature pinna were severely damaged under high As condition. Calcium concentration in the fronds of P. vittata was not significantly affected by the addition of As, but Ca concentration in the mature pinna significantly increased by As addition, consistent with the position appearing As toxicity. When no As was added, most of calcium precipitates distributed around the inner membrane of vacuole. But when the pinna appeared plasmolysis, more calcium precipitates resided outside the cell membrane and bigger particles evenly distributed in the cytoplasm. All the results indicated that Ca had a close relation with As toxicity in P. vittata.     

Zinc tolerance and accumulation in Pteris vittata L. and its potential for phytoremediation of Zn- and As-contaminated soil

A field investigation and pot experiments were conducted to determine the potential of arsenic (As) hyperaccumulator, Pteris vittata L., to remediate sites co-contaminated with zinc (Zn) and As. We found that P. vittata L. had a very high tolerance to Zn and grew normally at sites with high Zn concentrations. In addition, P. vittata L. could effectively take up Zn into its fronds, with a maximum of 737 mg kg(-1) under field conditions. In pot experiments, the accumulated Zn concentration increased significantly as the Zn treatment was raised from 0 to 2000 mg kg(-1), with a maximum Zn accumulation of 0.22 mg pot(-1). Although the concentration of As in P. vittata L. was reduced by the addition of Zn, total frond accumulation of As was elevated when the Zn treatment was increased from 0 to 1000 mg kg(-1), with a maximum As accumulation of 8.3 mg pot(-1) in the presence of 1000 mg kg(-1) Zn. The high Zn tolerance, relatively high ability to accumulate Zn, and great capacity to accumulate As under conditions of suppression by high Zn suggest that P. vittata L. could be useful for the remediation of sites co-contaminated with Zn and As.