壳聚糖对小麦发芽及生根效应的研究

利用壳聚糖浸泡小麦种子,通过考察小麦的出芽率、发芽指数、活力指数、生根数量和根的长度等各项指标的变化,探讨壳聚糖对小麦发芽和生根生理效应的影响.结果表明,当pH值6.5、壳聚糖浓度为4-6mg/mL时能显著提高小麦种子活力,促进幼苗生长;当壳聚糖浓度低于8mg/mL时,小麦的出芽率、发芽指数、活力指数随壳聚糖处理浓度的增大而明显提高;当壳聚糖浓度为4mg/mL、浸泡时间为10h时,小麦种子生根效应最为明显.     

壳聚糖改性膨润土对邻苯二甲酸二乙酯的吸附研究

以膨润土为载体,壳聚糖为改性剂,制备了壳聚糖-膨润土复合吸附剂,研究了其吸附效果。实验结果表明:pH值为4~6.8,复合吸附剂用量为2.5 g,温度为25℃,吸附时间为10 min,初始浓度为20 mg/L的邻苯二甲酸二乙酯(DEP)废水去除率可达到59%。相对于原土,改性膨润土吸附效果有明显提高。     

壳聚糖对酸性染料的吸附性能

在不同的壳聚糖浓度、pH和温度条件下，采用分光光度法测得吸附后的染料浓度，得到了壳聚糖对酸性染料的最佳吸附条件，即在固定染料浓度和体积的情况下，壳聚糖的投入量在500mg、pH值为6、温度为室温、吸附时间为2h左右条件下吸附最佳，其结果将为利用壳聚糖处理印染废水提供一定的理论根据。     

壳聚糖对废水中蛋白质的吸附作用

在不同的蛋白质浓度、壳聚糖浓度、吸附时间、温度及pH值条件下,采用Bradford染色法测得吸附后蛋白质浓度,得到了壳聚糖对蛋白质的最佳吸附条件,其结果将为壳聚糖在工业废水处理中的应用提供一定的理论基础.     

冻干壳聚糖微球固定化纤维素酶的研究

分别以冻干壳聚糖微球和湿壳聚糖微球为载体,戊二醛为交联剂进行纤维素酶的固定化研究,并对2种固定化酶的热稳定性、米氏常数、重复利用次数、pH值加以对比分析。确定酶固定化的适宜条件为：0．03g冻干壳聚糖微球与10mL4g/L戊二醛交联4h后,加入10mg酶固定2h,酶活力回收率为96．3％;0．1g湿壳聚糖微球与10mL 2g／L戊二醛交联2h后,加入6mg酶固定4h,酶活力回收率为62．4％。与游离酶相比,2种固定化酶的米氏常数均降低;具有很好的热稳定性;最适酶解温度分别为60℃,50℃;酶解反应适宜pH范围3．0—4．0,最适pH值均向酸性方向移动。冻干载体更易与酶分子结合,酶活力回收率高于湿载体固定化酶。     

壳聚糖处理对大豆幼苗生理指标的影响

以“齐黄28”大豆种子为试验材料,研究不同质量浓度的壳聚糖溶液对大豆幼苗生理指标的影响.结果表明,壳聚糖对大豆幼苗的生长具有促进作用,促进作用的大小因壳聚糖浓度不同而表现出较大差异.在一定范围内随壳聚糖溶液浓度的升高,大豆幼苗的可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白质、叶绿素含量和株高均有所提高.当壳聚糖质量浓度为4g/L时,对各项指标的促进作用最明显,为最适壳聚糖浓度,但随着壳聚糖溶液处理浓度的进一步加大,则对大豆幼苗表现出一定的抑制作用.     

壳聚糖处理印染废水的研究

在不同的壳聚糖浓度、pH和温度条件下，采用分光光度法测得吸附后染料的浓度，得到了壳聚糖对染料的最佳吸附条件，结果为：壳聚糖的投入量在红3B为2％，兰2BG和黄3GE为3％时，pH8．4在碱性范围内，温度为50℃效果最佳。其结果将为壳聚糖在印染废水处理提供一定的理论基础。     

低分子量壳聚糖Nd~(3+)配合物的合成及抑菌性研究

通过将高分子量壳聚糖经双氧水氧化降解制得低分子量壳聚糖,再与Nd3+配位制得低分子量壳聚糖Nd3+配合物,通过IR,UV,TG-TDA和GPC分析对L-CTS的分子量及L-CTS-Nd的结构进行了表征,考察了对金黄色葡萄球菌和大肠杆菌的抑菌性能。结果表明,低分子量壳聚糖与Nd3+形成了稳定的配合物,对金黄色葡萄球菌和大肠杆菌均有良好的抑菌效果。     

壳聚糖吸附处理废水的研究进展

壳聚糖吸附处理废水的研究包括其对废水吸附性能和吸附机理的研究两个方面。壳聚糖表现出了良好的吸附废水中重金属离子、染料分子和其它易引起变异物质的能力;壳聚糖对金属离子和染料的吸附机理模型研究理论意义重大,它将进一步推动壳聚糖的实际工程应用。     

低分子量壳聚糖Nd3＋配合物的合成及抑菌性研究

通过将高分子量壳聚糖经双氧水氧化降解制得低分子量壳聚糖,再与Nd3＋配位制得低分子量壳聚糖Nd3＋配合物,通过IR,UV,TG—TDA和GPC分析对L—CTS的分子量及L—CTS—Nd的结构进行了表征,考察了对金黄色葡萄球菌和大肠杆菌的抑菌性能。结果表明,低分子量壳聚糖与Na3＋形成了稳定的配合物,对金黄色葡萄球菌和大肠杆菌均有良好的抑菌效果。     

Conversion of temperate forests into heaths: Role of ecosystem disturbance and ericaceous plants

Fire and logging in nutrient-poor temperate forests with certain ericaceous understory plants may convert the forests into heaths. The process of disturbance-induced heath formation is documented by using examples ofCalluna in western Europe,Kalmia in Newfoundland, andGaultheria (salal) in coastal British Columbia. In a cool, temperate climate, rapid vegetative growth ofCalluna, Kalmia, and salal following disturbance results in increasing organic accumulation (paludification), nutrient sequestration, soil acidification, and allelochemicals. These are thought to be the main reasons to conifer regeneration failure in disturbed habitats. If continuation in forest is a land-use objective, then temperate forests with an ericaceous understory should not be logged unless effective silvicultural methods are devised to control the ericaceous plants and restore forest regeneration. Preharvest vegetation control may be considered as an option. Failure to control the understory plants may lead to a long-term vegetation shift, from forest to heathland, particularly in nutrient-poor sites. Successful methods of controllingKalmia andGaultheria, however, have yet to be developed. While theKalmia- andGaultheria- dominated heathlands are undesirable in Canada and the Pacific Northwest, a wide range ofCalluna heathlands of western Europe are being conserved as natural and seminatural vegetation.     

Urban ecological systems: scientific foundations and a decade of progress

Urban ecological studies, including focus on cities, suburbs, and exurbs, while having deep roots in the early to mid 20th century, have burgeoned in the last several decades. We use the state factor approach to highlight the role of important aspects of climate, substrate, organisms, relief, and time in differentiating urban from non-urban areas, and for determining heterogeneity within spatially extensive metropolitan areas. In addition to reviewing key findings relevant to each state factor, we note the emergence of tentative "urban syndromes" concerning soils, streams, wildlife and plants, and homogenization of certain ecosystem functions, such as soil organic carbon dynamics. We note the utility of the ecosystem approach, the human ecosystem framework, and watersheds as integrative tools to tie information about multiple state factors together. The organismal component of urban complexes includes the social organization of the human population, and we review key modes by which human populations within urban areas are differentiated, and how such differentiation affects environmentally relevant actions. Emerging syntheses in land change science and ecological urban design are also summarized. The multifaceted frameworks and the growing urban knowledge base do however identify some pressing research needs.     

Using Paleo Reconstructions to Improve Streamflow Forecast Lead Time in the Western United States

In water stressed regions, water managers are exploring new horizons that would help in long‐range streamflow forecasts. Oceanic‐atmospheric oscillations have been shown to influence streamflow variability. In this study, long‐lead time streamflow forecasts are made using a multiclass kernel‐based data‐driven support vector machine (SVM) model. The extended streamflow records based on tree ring reconstructions were used to provide a longer time series data. Reconstructed data were used from 1658 to 1952 and the instrumental record was used from 1953 to 2007. Reconstructions for oceanic‐atmospheric oscillations included the El Niño‐Southern Oscillation, Pacific Decadal Oscillation, Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation, and North Atlantic Oscillation. Streamflow forecasts using all four oscillations were made with one‐year to five‐year lead times for 21 gages in the western United States. This is the first study that uses both instrumental and reconstructed data of oscillations in SVM model to improve streamflow forecast lead time. SVM model was able to provide “satisfactory” to “very good” forecasts with one‐ to five‐year lead time for the selected gages. The use of all the oscillation indices helped in achieving better predictability compared to using individual oscillations. The SVM modeling results are better when compared with multiple linear regression model forecasts. The findings are statistical in nature and are expected to be useful for long‐term water resources planning and management.     

Neighbourhood characteristics and urban gardens in the Toledo metropolitan area: staffing and voluntarism,food production,infrastructure, and sustainability practices

Urban gardens are important sources of sustenance for communities with limited access to food. Hence, this study focuses on food production in gardens in the Toledo metropolitan area in Northwest Ohio. We administered surveys to 150 garden managers from November 2014 to February 2015 in our attempt to better understand how neighbourhood racial composition and poverty levels are related to staffing and voluntarism, food production and distribution, the development of infrastructure, and the adoption of sustainability practices in urban gardens. The results from 30 gardens are presented in this paper. We used Geographic Information Systems to map the gardens and overlay the map with 2010 census data so that we could conduct demographic analyses of the neighbourhoods in which the gardens were located. Though the gardens were small – two acres or less – up to 46 varieties of food were grown in a single garden. Gardens also operated on small budgets. Food from the gardens was gifted or shared with friends, family, and neighbourhood residents. Gardens in predominantly minority neighbourhoods tended to have fewer institutional partners, less garden infrastructure, and had adopted fewer sustainable practices than gardens in predominantly White neighbourhoods. Nonetheless, residents of predominantly minority and high-poverty neighbourhoods participated in garden activities and influenced garden operations. Volunteering and staffing were racialised and gendered.     

Predicting deer-vehicle collisions in an urban area

Collisions with deer and other large animals are increasing, and the resulting economic costs and risks to public safety have made mitigation measures a priority for both city and wildlife managers. We created landscape models to describe and predict deer-vehicle collision (DVCs) within the City of Edmonton, Alberta. Models based on roadside characteristics revealed that DVCs occurred frequently where roadside vegetation was both denser and more diverse, and that DVCs were more likely to occur when the groomed width of roadside right-of-ways was smaller. No DVCs occurred where the width of the vegetation-free or manicured roadside buffer was greater than 40 m. Landscape-based models showed that DVCs were more likely in more heterogeneous landscapes where road densities were lower and speed limits were higher, and where non-forested vegetation such as farmland was in closer proximity to larger tracts of forest. These models can help wildlife and transportation managers to identify locations of high collision frequency for mitigation. Modifying certain landscape and roadside habitats can be an effective way to reduce deer-vehicle collisions.     

MANGANESE CYCLE IN IMPOUNDMENT WATER

Manganese entering impounded water will undergo a cyclic transformation. Oxidation precipitates manganese from top waters. At the bottom of the lake, biological activity will render manganese soluble by both intracellular as well as extracellular activity. The study was made to demonstrate that biological reduction and transformation, organometallic complexation, together with the presence of carbon dioxide and the lowering of pH all have some effect on the solubility of manganese. Dissolved manganese may be brought back to top waters during the lake overturn and therefore deteriorates the water quality.     

AN APPLICATION RUNOFF MODEL STRATEGY FOR UNGAGED WATERSHEDS1

ABSTRACT: Mathematical models for predicting watershed surface flow responses are available, most of which are elaborate nonlinear numerical surface and channel flow models linked with infiltration models. Such models may be used to make predictions for ungaged areas, assuming an acceptable fitting of the model to the topography and roughness of the real system. For some application purposes, these models are impractical because of their complexity and expensive computer solutions. A procedure is developed that uses a complex model of an ungaged area to derive a simpler parametric nonlinear system model for repetitious simulation with input sequences. The predicted flow outputs are obtained with the simpler model at significant savings of money and time. The procedures for constructing a complex kinematic model of a 40 acre (161,880 m²) reference watershed and deriving the simpler system model are outlined. The results of predictions from both models are compared with a selected set of measured events, all having essentially the same initial conditions. Peak discharges ranged from 3 to 118 ft³/sec (0.085 to 3.34 m³/sec), which includes the largest event of record. The inherent limitations of lumped systems models are demonstrated, including the bias caused by their inability to model infiltration losses after rainfall ceases. Computer costs and times for the models were compared. The derived simple model has a cost advantage when repeated use of a model is required. Such an applications hydrologic model has an engineering tradeoff of reduced accuracy, and lumping bias, but is more economical for certain design purposes.     

Surface applied water treatment residuals affect bioavailable phosphorus losses in Florida sands

Water treatment residuals (WTR) can reduce runoff P loss and surface co-application of P-sources and WTR is a practical way of land applying the residuals. In a rainfall simulation study, we evaluated the effects of surface co-applied P-sources and an Al-WTR on runoff and leacheate bioavailable P (BAP) losses from a Florida sand. Four P-sources, namely poultry manure, Boca Raton biosolids (high water-soluble P), Pompano biosolids (moderate water-soluble P), and triple super phosphate (TSP) were surface applied at 56 and 224kgPha(-1) (by weight) to represent low and high soil P loads typical of P- and N-based amendments rates. The treatments further received surface applied WTR at 0 or 10gWTRkg(-1) soil. BAP loss masses were greater in leachate (16.4-536mg) than in runoff (0.91-46mg), but were reduced in runoff and leachate by surface applied WTR. Masses of total BAP lost in the presence of surface applied WTR were less than approximately 75% of BAP losses in the absence of WTR. Total BAP losses from each of the organic sources applied at N-based rates were not greater than P loss from TSP applied at a P-based rate. The BAP loss at the N-based rate of moderate water-soluble P-source (Pompano biosolids) was not greater than BAP losses at the P-based rates of other organic sources tested. The hazards of excess P from applying organic P-sources at N-based rates are not greater than observed at P-based rates of mineral fertilizer. Results suggest that management of the environmental P hazards associated with N-based rates of organic materials in Florida sands is possible by either applying P-sources with WTR or using a moderate water-soluble P-source.     

Sources and Transport of Phosphorus to Rivers in California and Adjacent States,U.S., as Determined by SPARROW Modeling

The SPARROW (SPAtially Referenced Regression on Watershed attributes) model was used to simulate annual phosphorus loads and concentrations in unmonitored stream reaches in California, U.S., and portions of Nevada and Oregon. The model was calibrated using de‐trended streamflow and phosphorus concentration data at 80 locations. The model explained 91% of the variability in loads and 51% of the variability in yields for a base year of 2002. Point sources, geological background, and cultivated land were significant sources. Variables used to explain delivery of phosphorus from land to water were precipitation and soil clay content. Aquatic loss of phosphorus was significant in streams of all sizes, with the greatest decay predicted in small‐ and intermediate‐sized streams. Geological sources, including volcanic rocks and shales, were the principal control on concentrations and loads in many regions. Some localized formations such as the Monterey shale of southern California are important sources of phosphorus and may contribute to elevated stream concentrations. Many of the larger point source facilities were located in downstream areas, near the ocean, and do not affect inland streams except for a few locations. Large areas of cultivated land result in phosphorus load increases, but do not necessarily increase the loads above those of geological background in some cases because of local hydrology, which limits the potential of phosphorus transport from land to streams.     

Animal Consciousness and Ethics in Asia and the Pacific

The interactions between humans, animals and the environment have shaped human values and ethics, not only the genes that we are made of. The animal rights movement challenges human beings to reconsider interactions between humans and other animals, and maybe connected to the environmental movement that begs us to recognize the fact that there are symbiotic relationships between humans and all other organisms. The first part of this paper looks at types of bioethics, the implications of autonomy and the value of being alive. Then the level of consciousness of these relationships are explored in survey results from Asia and the Pacific, especially in the 1993 International Bioethics Survey conducted in Australia, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, The Philippines, Russia, Singapore and Thailand. Very few mentioned animal consciousness in the survey, but there were more biocentric comments in Australia and Japan; and more comments with the idea of harmony including humans in Thailand. Comparisons between questions and surveys will also be made, in an attempt to describe what people imagine animal consciousness to be, and whether this relates to human ethics of the relationships. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.