Rheum palaestinum (desert rhubarb), a self-irrigating desert plant

The rare plant Rheum palaestinum (Polygonaceae) is a perennial hemicryptophyte that grows during the rainy winter in desert mountainous areas in Israel and Jordan that receive an average annual rainfall of ca. 75 mm. It produces between one and four large round leaves that are tightly attached to the ground and form large rosettes of up to 1 m². These leaves differ markedly from the typical small leaves of most desert plants. Moreover, they have a unique 3D morphology resembling a scaled-down mountainous area with well-developed steep drainage systems, raising the question which selective agents were involved in their evolution. We propose that the large leaves collect rainwater that then infiltrates the soil surrounding the root. We measured the seasonal course of leaf growth, examined the area of wet soil surrounding the root after actual and simulated rain, and modeled the water harvesting capacity using the plant leaf area and the weekly precipitation. We show that even in the slightest rains, water flows above the veins to the leaf’s base where it irrigates the vertical root. A typical plant harvests more than 4,100 cm³ of water per year, and enjoys a water regime of about 427 mm/year, equivalent to the water supply in a Mediterranean climate. This is the first example of self-irrigation by large leaves in a desert plant, creating a leaf-made mini oasis. All authors contributed equally to this paper.     

Effect of lead on survival, locomotion and sperm morphology of Asian earthworm, Pheretima guillelmi

To provide basic toxicity data for formulating risk characterization benchmarks, the effects of lead on survival, locomotion, and sperm morphology were investigated in the Asian earthworm Pheretima guillelmi. The LC50 of P. guillelmi for 7 and 14 d were 4285±339 mg/kg and 3207±248 mg/kg, which shows P. guillelmi can tolerate a higher concentration of lead nitrate. The average weight of the surviving earthworms decreased at concentration of 2800 mg Pb/kg soil, and the locomotor ability of earthworms exposed ...     

湿喷混凝土支护强度影响规律探究及改进*

为探究普朗铜矿湿喷混凝土技术应用中出现的喷层强度低、易开裂等问题原因,针对水灰比、养护温度2个因素对湿喷混凝土强度发展规律展开研究,采用扫描电子显微镜（SEM）观察湿喷混凝土的微观形貌、EDS和XRD进行物相分析。结果表明:温度是影响湿喷混凝土强度增长关键因素;水灰比越大,硬化水泥石浆体内孔隙越多,混凝土强度越低;温度和水灰比通过影响水化反应造成界面过渡区不同程度微缺陷,是影响混凝土强度根本原因。通过提高养护温度、优化配比及改进施工工艺,改进后喷层28 d强度提高约30%,生产效率提高约8%。     

Queue up, please! Spermathecal filling in the rove beetle Drusilla canaliculata (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae)

Most studies on insect sperm motility have been conducted in vitro using artificial environments outside the animal’s body. Only little is known about the function of motile insect sperm at different sites within the male or female genital tracts. We dissected genital tracts of female rove beetles (Drusilla canaliculata) to show that spermatozoa use their own motility to migrate from the spermatophore into the spermatheca. Our dissection method allowed direct observation and filming of the spermathecal filling process inside the female’s genital tract. Spermatozoa were found to enter the spermatheca individually, sometimes in groups of two or three. Although exhibiting only weak motility and no progressive motion in buffer solution, the spermatozoa inside the female show vigorous lashing and reach an average velocity of 47.5 μm s⁻¹. To gain mobility and speed, the spermatozoa likely utilize the relatively small diameter of the spermathecal duct to push themselves off the duct walls, rather than swimming freely in seminal fluid. The spermatozoa (approximately 1,250 μm) are considerably longer than the distance they have to travel along the spermathecal duct (approximately 800 μm). Our study provides the first direct observation of active sperm migration within the female of an insect stressing the importance of the genital tract as a prerequisite for functional sperm motility.     

模拟扰动条件下太湖水体悬浮物的结构特性

设计了1个水体扰动模拟实验装置, 通过该装置中的光散射分析仪和图象采集、分析系统,能在线记录底泥受到不同强度扰动时水体中悬浮颗粒物的变化过程.利用该装置,研究了太湖梅梁湾3个采样点的底泥在受到不同强度扰动后,水体浊度变化规律和悬浮颗粒物结构特性.结果表明,底泥含水率及粒度分布对底泥受扰动后再悬浮的潜力有较大影响,含水率越高,再悬浮的潜力越大.随着扰动强度增大,水体的浊度相应增加,水体中悬浮颗粒物中值粒径也增大,分别从6.63, 5.79, 5.51 μm上升到12.49, 11.38, 13.33 μm.悬浮颗粒物图象分析表明,颗粒物在扰动中发生聚集、絮凝过程.颗粒物图象的形态学分析表明,悬浮颗粒物形状呈现分形现象,颗粒物的长短比在1.27～1.52之间,分形维数D₂则在1.72～1.94之间.     

土壤容重改变对锌/镉超累积植物遏兰菜根系特征及吸镉的影响

为了探讨土壤容重的变化对锌/镉超累积植物遏兰菜(Thlaspi caerulescens)根系形态特征及吸收土壤中镉、锌的影响,采用土壤盆栽方法,研究了土壤结构改良剂(EB.a)对镉污染土壤(2.12 mg.kg-1)的容重和遏兰菜提取镉/锌效率的影响.EB.a用量分别为0、0.1%和2%,植物种植100 d后收获.结果表明,EB.a可有效地降低土壤容重,2%EB.a处理土壤容重从1.27g.cm-3降至1.09 g.cm-3;土壤容重的降低,促进了遏兰菜根系和地上部的生长;植物的总根长、根毛长、根冠比均显著提高(p0.05).随着植物根长的增加,遏兰菜地上部提取镉/锌总量均显著提高(p0.05).与对照相比,2%EB.a处理致使遏兰菜总根长增加了2.6倍,植物地上部镉浓度和提取总量分别提高了20%和30%,镉提取效率由15%提高至19%;但遏兰菜的地上部锌浓度和提取总量并没有显著变化.研究结果证实了改善土壤结构可以促进遏兰菜根系的生长从而提高植物对镉的提取效率.     

九龙江口湿地表层沉积物微观形貌特征与成因分析

基于沉积物N2吸附脱附曲线,通过不同植被沉积物采样、扰动模拟和化学清洗实验,分析河口滨海湿地表层沉积物的微观形貌特征与形成原因.研究表明,光滩(A)的沉积物比表面积最低(17.07m2/g),表面分形维数也是最低(2.5177);互花米草(E)沉积物的比表面积和表面分形维数次之,分别为20.82m2/g、2.5354;而湿地中间的红树(D)、互花米草(B)及其二者混交(C)的3种沉积物的比表面积和表面分形维数较高.其原因可能是光滩(A)和互花米草(E)由于靠近河边,受到河流与潮水影响较大,较其他长有植被且离河流较远的沉积物,更易受到扰动与污染,空间填充能力弱化所致.相关关系分析表明,沉积物比表面积与表面分形分数同沉积物无机氮磷形态显著正相关,这表明沉积物比表面积和表面分形维数较低的沉积物,其表面吸附能力和空间填充能力较弱,而使得吸附的无机氮磷形态污染物减少.另外,受扰动的沉积物具有较低的比表面积和表面分形维数,污染程度较轻的沉积物具有较高的比表面积和表面分形维数.可见,受潮汐、河流扰动和污染程度的不同是九龙江口湿地表层沉积物微观形貌差异形成的主要原因.     

压裂钻孔孔壁破坏行为与注水流量相关性试验研究

为分析流量对水力压裂钻孔起裂特征的影响,开展了不同注水流量水力压裂实验,得到了煤体起裂过程的孔壁压缩应变-水压曲线。结果表明,流量的增大使破裂形态趋于复杂,表现在裂缝的数目及宽度会变多增大,而原煤则更易于沟通原生裂隙;对于无明显节理的配比型煤,随着注水流量增大,孔壁应变速率和起裂压力均增高;对于含明显节理的原煤,孔壁应变速率及起裂压力变化具有一致性,但与流量变化不一致,原煤内部的节理会影响试块起裂行为,降低钻孔内能量积聚速率和煤体破裂强度。研究成果对于揭示钻孔起裂行为具有重要理论意义,为水力压裂实验研究提供了一种新思路。     

Assessment of the in vivo genotoxicity of a new formulation of Bacillus thuringiensis var israelensis SH-14

Biological control agents have become a useful alternative for the reduction of the use of chemical insecticides. LABIOFAM (Cuba) is developing a new formulation of a biolarvicide that possesses as active biological agent Bacillus thuringiensis var israelensis serotype H14. In order to evaluate the genotoxicity of this new formulation, an in vivo battery test was used: micronucleus (MN), chromosome aberrations (CAs), and sperm morphology (SM) assays. A dose of 6.45?×?10⁸ spores was administered per animal via oral administration. Bone marrow cells were collected 24?h after a two day treatment for the MN assay, and 24?h after a unique treatment for the CA assay, using cyclophosphamide as the positive control. Sperm cells were collected at 5 weeks from the first of five administrations for the SM test, using acrylamide as positive control. Bacillus thuringiensis var israelensis serotype H14 failed to show either a significative increase of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes, chromosomal aberrations, or sperm abnormalities. Acute oral administration of a high dose of Bacillus thuringiensis var israelensis serotype H14 did not produce mutagenic effects in bone marrow or sperm cells.     

Oxidative stress and changes in locomotor behavior and gill morphology of Gambusia affinis exposed to chromium

Sublethal effects of chromium trioxide on mosquito fish, Gambusia affinis, were carried out for 28 days on day 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, and 28. The sublethal effects of chromium (LC₁₀, 77.62?mg?L^?1) on antioxidant enzymes, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), locomotor behavior, and gill morphology were studied. The antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase were induced throughout the exposure span of 28 days. Percent induction was also increase with the days of exposure. Lipid peroxidation product, malondialdehyde was enhanced in the viscera tissue of chromium-exposed fish. Perturbation of locomotor behavior like decrease in distance travelled (m?min^?1) and in swimming speed (cm?s^?1) was observed in exposed fish. Chromium toxicity caused alterations in gill morphology like hypertrophy and hyperplasia in secondary lamellae followed by detached epithelium with severe necrosis. It can be concluded from the results that Cr intoxication in Gambusia fish, caused induction in antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation, plus changes in gill morphology and locomotor behavior.