Isotopic and anatomical evidence of an herbivorous diet in the Early Tertiary giant bird Gastornis. Implications for the structure of Paleocene terrestrial ecosystems

The mode of life of the early Tertiary giant bird Gastornis has long been a matter of controversy. Although it has often been reconstructed as an apex predator feeding on small mammals, according to other interpretations, it was in fact a large herbivore. To determine the diet of this bird, we analyze here the carbon isotope composition of the bone apatite from Gastornis and contemporaneous herbivorous mammals. Based on ¹³C-enrichment measured between carbonate and diet of carnivorous and herbivorous modern birds, the carbonate δ¹³C values of Gastornis bone remains, recovered from four Paleocene and Eocene French localities, indicate that this bird fed on plants. This is confirmed by a morphofunctional study showing that the reconstructed jaw musculature of Gastornis was similar to that of living herbivorous birds and unlike that of carnivorous forms. The herbivorous Gastornis was the largest terrestrial tetrapod in the Paleocene biota of Europe, unlike the situation in North America and Asia, where Gastornis is first recorded in the early Eocene, and the largest Paleocene animals were herbivorous mammals. The structure of the Paleocene terrestrial ecosystems of Europe may have been similar to that of some large islands, notably Madagascar, prior to the arrival of humans.     

Isotopic evidence for niche partitioning and the influence of anthropogenic disturbance on endemic and introduced rodents in central Madagascar

We applied a multi-isotope approach to examine aspects of niche partitioning, competition, and mobility for rodents in the Central Highlands of Madagascar. Specifically, we used carbon (δ¹³C), nitrogen (δ¹⁵N), and strontium (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) isotope ratios in bone to investigate diet and mobility for endemic tufted tail rats (Eliurus spp.), and introduced black rats (Rattus rattus) and house mice (Mus musculus) within and outside a fragment of montane humid forest in the Ambohitantely Special Reserve. There was a clear spatial segregation in trapping success for different species: Eliurus was only in the forest interior and edge, Mus only outside of the fragment in a marsh and park housing complex, and Rattus in all habitats except the housing complex. We find only moderate support for mobility of rodents among habitats. Mus may routinely move between the marsh and housing complex. However, regular movement between the forest edge and interior, or between the forest fragment and surrounding grassland is not supported. Taxa appear to target different foods: Rattus tends to feed at a higher trophic level than Eliurus, and Mus consumes some C₄ resources. To date, strontium isotopes have been underutilized in ecological research. Here, we show that they are highly complementary to carbon and nitrogen isotope data. Even in localities with relatively uniform underlying geology, it may be possible to distinguish individuals that regularly forage in different habitats.     

Immobilization of an enzyme from a Fusarium fungus WZ-I for chlorpyrifos degradation

The free enzyme extracted from WZ-I,which was identified as Fusarium LK.ex Fx,could effectively degrade chlorpyrifos,an organophosphate insecticide.The methods of immobilizing this free enzyme and determined its degradation-related characteristics were investigated.The properties of the immobilized enzyme were compared with those of the free enzyme.The optimal immobilization of the enzyme was achieved in a solution of 30 g/L sodium alginate at 4°C for 4-12 hr.The immobilized enzyme showed the maximal activity at pH 8.0,45°C.The maximum initial rate and the substrate concentration of the immobilized enzyme were less than that of the free enzyme.The immobilized enzyme,therefore,had a higher capacity to withstand a broader range of temperatures and pH conditions than the free enzyme.With varying pH and temperatures,the immobilized enzyme was more active than the free enzyme in the degradation reaction.In addition,the immobilized enzyme exhibited only a slight loss in its initial activity,even after three repeated uses.The results showed that the immobilized enzyme was more resistant to different environmental conditions,suggesting that it was viable for future practical use.     

污泥减容的关键技术—剩余活性污泥的气浮浓缩法

研究了溶气气浮法用于浓缩城市污水处理厂剩余活性污泥的工艺设计参数,并将它与传统的重力浓缩法相比较。通过小试及中试研究结果表明,在相同的进泥条件下（进泥浓度为2～4g/L）,采用气浮浓缩法获得的污泥含固率为3.5％～3.9％,而重力浓缩法仅为1.2％～2.5％;并且气浮浓缩法的水力负荷、固体负荷高达150～200m3/m2·d、350～450kg/m2·d,而重力浓缩法仅为10～15m3/m2·d、20～50ks/m2·d。研究结果还表明：剩余活性污泥的气浮浓缩法相比于重力浓缩法具有浓缩效果好、运行效率高等优点,另外对两种方法的经济技术分析也表明,气浮浓缩法更具有优越性。     

No evidence for an afrotherian-like delayed dental eruption in South American notoungulates

The fossil South American ungulates are of great interest relative to the new phylogenetic framework elaborated for living placental mammals. In particular, studies on these endemic taxa can allow for testing congruence between southern placental phylogeny and plate tectonics, beyond what has already been suggested in the Atlantogenata hypothesis based on extant afrotherians and xenarthrans. The presence of delayed dental eruption relative to skull growth is one feature characterizing the extant afrotherians and possibly the xenarthrans. Late dental eruption has been mentioned previously in South American notoungulates, thus suggesting possible resemblance with afrotherians and perhaps xenarthrans. We provide here a detailed study of the dental eruption pattern relative to the skull growth in the notoungulates. In contrast to previous statements, our results demonstrate that there is currently no evidence for an afrotherian-like delayed dental eruption in this group. For now, the inferred absence of a delayed dental eruption in notoungulates does not support atlantogenatan/afrotherian affinities for the Notoungulata, but other atlantogenatan/afrotherian characteristics remain to be explored in more detail in this group and other South American ungulates.     

福建省茶园土壤-茶叶的铅含量及铅同位素示踪

运用微波消解-电感耦合等离子体质谱法(ICP-MS)分析了福建省内9个市县的茶园土壤和茶叶的铅含量及铅同位素组成,评价铅污染情况并解析铅来源。结果表明,茶园土壤和茶叶的铅含量分别为23.00±0.099~55.43±0.032 mg/kg和0.53±0.126~1.47±0.058 mg/kg,地质累积指数法表明茶园土壤基本为无污染,单项因子指数法表明茶叶均为安全等级。茶园土壤和茶叶铅同位素组成具有区域性,茶叶铅同位素组成相对于茶园土壤具有较低的206Pb/207Pb和206Pb/208Pb。结合铅含量相关性分析和铅同位素示踪分析,福建省茶叶铅主要来源于茶园土壤和大气。福建省茶叶铅同位素组成的同地相似性和异地差异性特征可为茶叶产地溯源和鉴别提供一定的科学依据和参考价值。     

Ricinosomes: an organelle for developmentally regulated programmed cell death in senescing plant tissues

This review describes aspects of programmed cell death (PCD). Present research maps the enzymes involved and explores the signal transduction pathways involved in their synthesis. A special organelle (the ricinosome) has been discovered in the senescing endosperm of germinating castor beans (Ricinus communis) that develops at the beginning of PCD and delivers large amounts of a papain-type cysteine endopeptidase (CysEP) in the final stages of cellular disintegration. Castor beans store oil and proteins in a living endosperm surrounding the cotyledons. These stores are mobilized during germination and transferred into the cotyledons. PCD is initiated after this transfer is complete. The CysEP is synthesized in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) where it is retained by its C-terminal KDEL peptide as a rather inactive pro-enzyme. Large number of ricinosomes bud from the ER at the same time as the nuclear DNA is characteristically fragmented during PCD. The mitochondria, glyoxysomes and ribosomes are degraded in autophagic vacuoles, while the endopeptidase is activated by removal of the propeptide and the KDEL tail and enters the cytosol. The endosperm dries and detaches from the cotyledons. A homologous KDEL-tailed cysteine endopeptidase has been found in several senescing tissues; it has been localized in ricinosomes of withering day-lily petals and dying seed coats. Three genes for a KDEL-tailed cysteine endopeptidase have been identified in Arabidopsis. One is expressed in senescing ovules, the second in the vascular vessels and the third in maturing siliques. These genes open the way to exploring PCD in plants.     

Formic acid as an alternative reducing agent for the catalytic nitrate reduction in aqueous media

Formic acid was used for the nitrate reduction as a reductant in the presence of Pd:Cu/γ-alumina catalysts. The surface characteristics of the bimetallic catalyst synthesized by wet impregnation were investigated by SEM, TEM-EDS. The metals were not distributed homogeneously on the surface of catalyst, although the total contents of both metals in particles agreed well with the theoretical values. Formic acid decomposition on the catalyst surface, its influence on solution pH and nitrate removal efficacy was investigated. The best removal of nitrate (50 ppm) was obtained under the condition of 0.75 g/L catalyst with Pd:Cu ratio (4:1) and two fold excess of formic acid. Formic acid decay patterns resembled those of nitrate removal, showing a linear relationship between kf (formic acid decay) and k (nitrate removal). Negligible amount of ammonia was detected, and no nitrite was detected, possibly due to buffering effect of bicarbonate that is in situ produced by the decomposition of formic acid, and due to the sustained release of H2 gas.     

Development of an eco-ideation tool to identify stepwise greenhouse gas emissions reduction options for consumer goods

Pressure on consumer goods manufacturers to develop new products with significantly less environmental impact is growing, through increased consumer awareness of environmental issues and governments setting ambitious emissions reductions targets. A strategic response to this pressure is to prepare a portfolio of innovative product ideas to meet a range of future emissions reductions targets. However, although extensive work exists on ideation (the generation of novel product ideas) and eco-design (design for reduced environmental impact), eco-ideation (generation of ideas that particularly aim to reduce environmental impacts) has had little attention. The challenge of eco-ideation is to release the creativity of a broad range of employees, only few of whom may be familiar with the drivers of environmental impact.This paper proposes a novel tool to facilitate the generation of radical product and process ideas giving step-change reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. The features of products and processes that drive greenhouse gas emissions across the product life cycle were characterized with a set of indicators. A simple visual tool was created to show these indicators on a sliding scale between best and worst imaginable performance. A leading question associated with each slider was designed to stimulate lower impact ideas. The tool was iteratively refined and simplified through structured testing with individuals from across a range of roles and differing knowledge of environmental impacts. The final eco-ideation tool used 14 scales, with leading questions for each scale developed to stimulate idea generation.The tool’s effectiveness was evaluated through use in a series of 15 individual workshops and compared with the outcomes of an equal number of conventional 12-person group-brainstorming sessions. The comparison suggests that using the simple tool generally leads to a wider range of more radical ideas than emerge from group brainstorming.     

A risk assessment system for alien plant bio-invasion in Xiamen, China

Bio-invasion has caused serious ecosystem damage and enormous economic losses in China,and it has been the greatest factor to island bio-diversity reduction.Xiamen,as an important seaport with a relatively high conservation value,is particularly vulnerable to bio-invasion for its typical island ecosystem as well as frequent human-made disturbance.As a result of field surveys,literature review, and consultation with experts,a list of 67 alien plants identified as major invaders(12 species)and emerging inv...     

Nanomaterials for environmental burden reduction, waste treatment, and nonpoint source pollution control: a review

Nanomaterials are applicable in the areas of reduction of environmental burden, reduction/treatment of industrial and agricultural wastes, and nonpoint source (NPS) pollution control. First, environmental burden reduction involves green process and engineering, emissions control, desulfurization/denitrification of nonrenewable energy sources, and improvement of agriculture and food systems. Second, reduction/treatment of industrial and agricultural wastes involves converting wastes into products, groundwater remediation, adsorption, delaying photocatalysis, and nanomembranes. Third, NPS pollution control involves controlling water pollution. Nanomaterials alter physical properties on a nanoscale due to their high specific surface area to volume ratio. They are used as catalysts, adsorbents, membranes, and additives to increase activity and capability due to their high specific surface areas and nano-sized effects. Thus, nanomaterials are more effective at treating environmental wastes because they reduce the amount of material needed.     

Effects of TiO2 nanoparticles on the aquatic plant Spirodela polyrrhiza: Evaluation of growth parameters, pigment contents and antioxidant enzyme activities

Plants are essential components of all ecosystems and play a critical role in environmental fate of nanoparticles. However, the toxicological impacts of nanoparticles on plants are not well documented. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂-NPs) are produced worldwide in large quantities for a wide range of purposes. In the present study, the uptake of TiO₂-NPs by the aquatic plant Spirodela polyrrhiza and the consequent effects on the plant were evaluated. Initially, structural and morphological characteristics of the used TiO₂-NPs were determined using XRD, SEM, TEM and BET techniques. As a result, an anatase structure with the average crystalline size of 8nm was confirmed for the synthesized TiO₂-NPs. Subsequently, entrance of TiO₂-NP_S to plant roots was verified by fluorescence microscopic images. Activity of a number of antioxidant enzymes, as well as, changes in growth parameters and photosynthetic pigment contents as physiological indices were assessed to investigate the effects of TiO₂-NPs on S. polyrrhiza. The increasing concentration of TiO₂-NPs led to the significant decrease in all of the growth parameters and changes in antioxidant enzyme activities. The activity of superoxide dismutase enhanced significantly by the increasing concentration of TiO₂-NPs. Enhancement of superoxide dismutase activity could be explained as promoting antioxidant system to scavenging the reactive oxygen species. In contrast, the activity of peroxidase was notably decreased in the treated plants. Reduced peroxidase activity could be attributed to either direct effect of these particles on the molecular structure of the enzyme or plant defense system damage due to reactive oxygen species.     

Characterization, treatment and releases of PBDEs and PAHs in a typical municipal sewage treatment plant situated beside an urban river, East China

Characterization, treatment and releases of eight polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) congeners and sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in wastewater were evaluated along the treatment processes of a typical secondary treatment municipal sewage treatment plant (STP) (in Hefei City) situated the beside Nanfei River, East China. The findings showed that the average concentrations of the total PBDEs in raw wastewater and treated effluent were 188.578 and 36.884 ng/L respectively. Brominated diphenyl ether (BDE) 209 congener, the predominant PBDE in the STP and Nanfei River, could be related to the discharge of car-industry-derived wastes. For PAHs, the average concentrations in raw wastewater and treated effluent were 5758.8 and 2240.4 ng/L respectively, with naphthalene, benzo[a]pyrene and indeno[1,2,3-c,d]pyrene being detected at the highest concentrations. PAHs mainly originate from the combustion of biomass/coal and petroleum. The STP reduced about 80% of the PBDEs and 61% of the PAHs, which were eliminated mainly by sedimentation processes. The removal rates of PBDEs/PAHs increased with the increase of their solid-water partitioning coefficients. Accordingly, the STP's effluent, containing some PBDE congeners (e.g., BDE 47, 99 and 209, etc.) and low-molecular-weight PAHs, could be an important contributor of these contaminants' input to Nanfei River. It resulted in a significant increase of PBDE/PAH concentrations and PAH toxicological risk in the river water downstream. About 4.040 kg/yr of PBDEs and 245.324 kg/yr of PAHs could be released into the Nanfei River. The current conventional wastewater treatment processes should be improved to remove the relatively low-molecular-weight PBDEs/PAHs more effectively.     

Magnetically recoverable Fe3O4@polydopamine nanocomposite as an excellent co-catalyst for Fe3+ reduction in advanced oxidation processes

Advanced oxidation processes are widely applied to removal of persistent toxic substances from wastewater by hydroxyl radicals(·OH),which is generated from hydrogen peroxide(H_2O_2) decomposition.However,their practical applications have been hampered by many strict conditions,such as iron sludge,rigid pH condition,large doses of hydrogen peroxide and Fe~(2+),etc.Herein,a magnetically recyclable Fe_3O_4@polydopamine(Fe_3O_4@PDA) coreshell nanocomposite was fabricated.As an excellent reducing agent,it can convert Fe~(3+)to Fe~(2+).Combined with the coordination of polydopamine and ferric ions,the production of iron sludge is inhibited.The minimum concentration of hydrogen peroxide(0.2 mmol/L and Fe~(2+)(0.18 mmol/L)) is 150-fold and 100-fold lower than that of previous reports,respectively.It also exhibits excellent degradation performance over a wide pH range from 3.0 to 9.0.Even after the tenth recycling,it still achieves over 99% degradation efficiency with the total organic carbon degradation rate of 80%,which is environmentally benign and has a large economic advantage.This discovery paves a way for extensive practical application of advanced oxidation processes,especially in environmental remediation.