Optimizing electron spin resonance detection of hydroxyl radical in water

The parameters affecting the electron spin resonance (ESR) detection of hydroxyl free radical in water are studied and optimized. The hydroxyl radical is generated by the Fenton reaction with iron (II) ammonium sulfate and hydrogen peroxide reacting in a phosphate buffer using N-tert-butyl-alpha-phenylnitron as the spin trap. The concentrations of Fe²⁺, H₂O₂, and phosphate buffer are the parameters studied. The Taguchi method and the orthogonal experiment design were used to evaluate the effects of these parameters on the ESR signal intensity. By the analysis of the signal-to-noise ratio and the analysis of variance, the order of importance of the various parameters on the hydroxyl radical formation is determined for optimal ESR detection of hydroxyl radical. The results will help the development of water purification technologies using hydroxyl free radical as a green oxidant.     

氟碳涂层体系在我国水环境中防腐性能研究

通过现场曝露试验,获得氟碳涂层体系在我国淡水、海水和盐湖水环境中4年腐蚀结果,总结了它们的腐蚀行为。无论是在自然环境下的曝露试验,还是实验室条件下的盐雾试验和紫外光老化试验结果,都表明氟碳涂层具有优异的耐候性和耐水性;水气渗透性试验也表明氟碳涂层具有较低的渗水率;氟碳涂层虽具有低的表面能,但在淡水和海水环境中,其抗水生物附着性能仍不理想。     

Cover crop effects on nitrous oxide emission from a manure-treated Mollisol

Agriculture contributes 40–60% of the total annual N₂O emissions to the atmosphere. Development of management practices to reduce these emissions would have a significant impact on greenhouse gas levels. Non-leguminous cover crops are efficient scavengers of residual soil NO₃, thereby reducing leaching losses. However, the effect of a grass cover crop on N₂O emissions from soil receiving liquid swine manure has not been evaluated. This study investigated: (i) the temporal patterns of N₂O emissions following addition of swine manure slurry in a laboratory setting under fluctuating soil moisture regimes; (ii) assessed the potential of a rye (Secale cereale L.) cover crop to decrease N₂O emissions under these conditions; and (iii) quantified field N₂O emissions in response to either spring applied urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) or different rates of fall-applied liquid swine manure, in the presence or absence of a rye/oat winter cover crop. Laboratory experiments investigating cover crop effects N₂O emissions were performed in a controlled environment chamber programmed for a 14 h light period, 18 °C day temperature, and 15 °C night temperature. Treatments with or without a living rye cover crop were treated with either: (i) no manure; (ii) a phosphorus-based manure application rate (low manure): or (iii) a nitrogen-based manure application rate (high manure). We observed a significant reduction in N₂O emissions in the presence of the rye cover crop. Field experiments were performed on a fine-loamy soil in Central Iowa from October 12, 2005 to October 2, 2006. We observed no significant effect of the cover crop on cumulative N₂O emissions in the field. The primary factor influencing N₂O emission was N application rate, regardless of form or timing. The response of N₂O emission to N additions was non-linear, with progressively more N₂O emitted with increasing N application. These results indicate that while cover crops have the potential to reduce N₂O emissions, N application rate may be the overriding factor.     

Estimated trends and patterns of road traffic fatalities in China, 2002–2012

Objective: This study examined the time trends and age distribution patterns of estimated road traffic fatalities (RTFs) in China over the period 2002–2012. Methods: Data on age-, sex-, and region-specific RTF rates were provided by the Chinese Ministry of Health. The crude rates were standardized and the Mann-Kendall test was used to test the significance of time trends. Annual number of RTFs was calculated. To minimize the effect of yearly variations, magnitude of changes in and age distribution patterns of the RTFs were examined using mean values of 2 years. Results: RTFs increased significantly in China during the study period. Several features were identified for the RTFs in China. First, RTF rates skyrocketed in rural areas including towns and counties. Second, a significant increase in RTFs was also observed in cities even though the change in RTF rates was not statistically significant there. Third, individuals aged 20–24, 40–49, and 55–64, especially in rural areas, were particularly at risk for RTFs in recent years. Finally, RTFs became more common among middle-aged and older adults than young Chinese, with roughly 57% of all RTFs occurring among individuals aged 45 and above during 2011–2012. Conclusions: RTFs increased dramatically in China during the past decade, especially in rural areas. Age distribution patterns of RTFs have changed there. Community-based public health education and intervention programs are warranted.     

Trophic relationships of hydrothermal vent and non-vent communities in the upper sublittoral and upper bathyal zones off Kueishan Island,Taiwan: a combined morphological,gut content analysis and stable isotope approach

This study used morphological, gut content analysis and carbon- and nitrogen-stable isotope analysis to investigate the trophic structure of upper sublittoral (15–30 m deep) and upper bathyal (200–300 m deep) hydrothermal vents and the adjacent non-vent upper bathyal environment off Kueishan Island. The sublittoral vents host no chemosynthetic fauna, but green and red algae, epibiotic biofilm on crustacean surfaces, and zooplankton form the base of the trophic system. Suspension-feeding sea anemones and the generalist omnivorous vent crab Xenograpsus testudinatus occupy higher trophic levels. The upper bathyal hydrothermal vent is a chemoautotrophic-based system. The vent mussel Bathymodiolus taiwanensis forms a chemosynthetic component of this trophic system. Bacterial biofilm, surface plankton, and algae form the other dietary fractions of the upper bathyal fauna. The vent hermit crab Paragiopagurus ventilatus and the vent crab X. testudinatus are generalist omnivores. The vent-endemic tonguefish Symphurus multimaculatus occupies the top level of the trophic system. The adjacent non-vent upper bathyal region contains decapod crustaceans, which function as either predators or scavengers. The assemblages of X. testudinatus from sublittoral and upper bathyal vents exhibited distinct stable isotope values, suggesting that they feed on different food sources. The upper bathyal Xenograpsus assemblages displayed large variations in their stable isotope values and exhibited an ontogenetic shift in their δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N stable isotope signatures. Some individuals of Xenograpsus exhibited δ¹⁵N values close to those of non-vent species, suggesting that the highly mobile Xenograpsus may transfer energy between the upper bathyal hydrothermal vents and the adjacent non-vent upper bathyal environment.     

Numerical modelling of horizontal sediment-laden jets

Sediment-laden turbulent flows are commonly encountered in natural and engineered environments. It is well known that turbulence generates fluctuations to the particle motion, resulting in modulation of the particle settling velocity. A novel stochastic particle tracking model is developed to predict the particle settling out and deposition from a sediment-laden jet. Particle velocity fluctuations in the jet flow are modelled from a Lagrangian velocity autocorrelation function that incorporates the physical mechanism leading to a reduction of settling velocity. The model is first applied to study the settling velocity modulation in a homogeneous turbulence field. Consistent with basic experiments using grid-generated turbulence and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) calculations, the model predicts that the apparent settling velocity can be reduced by as much as 30 % of the stillwater settling velocity. Using analytical solution for the jet mean flow and semi-empirical RMS turbulent velocity fluctuation and dissipation rate profiles derived from CFD predictions, model predictions of the sediment deposition and cross-sectional concentration profiles of horizontal sediment-laden jets are in excellent agreement with data. Unlike CFD calculations of sediment fall out and deposition from a jet flow, the present method does not require any a priori adjustment of particle settling velocity.     

Phylogeography of the seaweed Ishige okamurae (Phaeophyceae): evidence for glacial refugia in the northwest Pacific region

Although benthic marine algae are essential components of marine coastal systems that have been influenced profoundly by past and present climate change, our knowledge of seaweed phylogeography is limited. The brown alga Ishige okamurae Yendo occurs in the northwest Pacific, where it occupies a characteristic belt in the exposed intertidal zone. To understand the patterns of genetic diversity and the evolutionary history of this species, we analyzed mitochondrial cox3 from 14 populations (221 individuals) throughout its range. The 17 haplotypes found in this study formed five distinct clades, indicating significant genetic structure. The high differentiation and number of unique (private) haplotypes may result from the recolonization of the species from glacial refugia. Three putative refugia, each with high genetic diversity, were identified: southern Korea (including Jeju Island), northern Taiwan, and central Pacific Japan. Recolonization of I. okamurae was probably determined by ocean currents and changes in sea level during the last glacial period.     

湛江特呈岛红树林植物群落的结构和动态特征

对特呈岛红树林植被进行多次和全面的调查,通过采用格子样的方法,选取面积为100～800 m^2的样地,每片样地再分成若干10 m×10 m的样方,对红树林样地内的植物进行每木测量,记录各植物的种名、胸径、高度、冠幅等,并进行重要性以及多样性等常规的群落分析,判定该地区植被的生长特征以及研究其演替动态变化。结果表明：①面积较大的群落主要有3个类型,即白骨壤群落（Avicennia marina）、白骨壤＋红海榄群落（Avicennia marina＋Rhizophora stylosa）、白骨壤-桐花树群落（Avicennia marina-Aegiceras corniculatum）;其它面积较小的群落有：白骨壤＋红海榄-木榄＋桐花树群落（vicennia marina＋Rhizophora stylosa-Bruguiera gymnorrhiza＋Aegiceras corniculatum）、红海榄＋木榄群落（Rhizophora stylosa＋Bru-guiera gymnorrhiza）;②在3个主要群落中,优势种的苗木和小树相对较少,优势种群的年龄结构均为衰退型;③各群落的Simpson指数关系为：白骨壤＋红海榄群落﹥红海榄＋木榄群落﹥白骨壤＋红海榄—木榄＋桐花树群落﹥白骨壤—桐花树群落﹥白骨壤群落;白骨壤群落的重要值为300,为典型的单优群落;④特呈岛的白骨壤群落是中国该类群落中面积最大的,目前长势良好,无病虫害,并且红树林外缘的白骨壤枝干在波浪冲刷或人为原因下,受到较严重的侵蚀,其幼树在林外缘基本无法存活,需要加强保护,对其生理生态学特征也值得进一步深入研究。