A novel marine silk

The discovery of a novel silk production system in a marine amphipod provides insights into the wider potential of natural silks. The tube-building corophioid amphipod Crassicorophium bonellii produces from its legs fibrous, adhesive underwater threads that combine barnacle cement biology with aspects of spider silk thread extrusion spinning. We characterised the filamentous silk as a mixture of mucopolysaccharides and protein deriving from glands representing two distinct types. The carbohydrate and protein silk secretion is dominated by complex β-sheet structures and a high content of charged amino acid residues. The filamentous secretion product exits the gland through a pore near the tip of the secretory leg after having moved through a duct, which subdivides into several small ductules all terminating in a spindle-shaped chamber. This chamber communicates with the exterior and may be considered the silk reservoir and processing/mixing space, in which the silk is mechanically and potentially chemically altered and becomes fibrous. We assert that further study of this probably independently evolved, marine arthropod silk processing and secretion system can provide not only important insights into the more complex arachnid and insect silks but also into crustacean adhesion cements.     

Tracing the diet of the monitor lizard Varanus mabitang by stable isotope analyses (delta(15)N,delta(13)C)

In this study, we used analyses of stable isotopes of nitrogen ('¹⁵N) and carbon ('¹³C) to determine the trophic ecology of the monitor lizard Varanus mabitang. Stable isotopes from claws, gut contents, and soft tissues were measured from the type specimen. Samples from Varanus olivaceus, Varanus prasinus, Varanus salvator, the herbivorous agamid lizard Hydrosaurus pustulatus, and some plant matter were included for comparison. Our data show a rapid decrease in '¹³C (about10‰) from food plants towards gut contents and soft tissues of herbivorous species. For the varanids, we found a significant linear correlation of decreasing '¹³C and increasing '¹⁵N from herbivorous towards carnivorous species. In terms of trophic isotope ecology, the type specimen of V. mabitang is a strict herbivore. Thus it differs significantly in its isotopic composition from the morphologically next closest related species V. olivaceus. The most highly carnivorous species is V. salvator, while '¹⁵N values for V. prasinus and V. olivaceus are intermediate. Claws provide very valuable samples for such measurements, because they can be sampled from living animals without harm. Additionally, their range of variability is relatively small in comparison with measurements from soft tissues.     

中亚热带常绿阔叶林湿沉降过程中盐基离子变化特征

基于野外实验和室内实验相结合的方法,于2012年9月至2013年8月对四面山常绿阔叶林大气降水、穿透水、地表枯透水、土壤渗滤液进行了持续一年的森林不同层次盐基离子季节动态变化特征的研究.结果表明,四面山大气降水全年pH平均值为4.90,最大值为5.14,大气降水明显偏酸性;土壤层和林冠层能使降雨的p H值有所升高,其中土壤层对p H值的调升幅度最大,其次为森林冠层;森林冠层只对Na~+有一定的截留作用,降雨能够淋溶森林冠层的Ca~(2+)、Mg~(2+)、K~+;研究结果也表明,枯枝落叶的降解是导致各盐基离子质量浓度在枯透水中增加的主要原因;枯透水下渗的过程淋溶了森林土壤中的Ca~(2+)、Mg~(2+)、Na~+.四面山大气降水经过森林生态系统后Ca~(~(2+))、Mg~(2+)、Na~+、K~+的总截留率分别为33.82%、-7.06%、74.36%、42.87%,森林生态系统对Ca~(2+)、Na~+、K~+表现出了截留作用,其中对Na~+截留率最大.     

Chemical characteristics of acidified waters in southwest China

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Japanese Papilio butterflies puddle using Na+ detected by contact chemosensilla in the proboscis

Many butterflies acquire nutrients from non-nectar sources such as puddles. To better understand how male Papilio butterflies identify suitable sites for puddling, we used behavioral and electrophysiological methods to examine the responses of Japanese Papilio butterflies to Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, and Mg²⁺. Based on behavioral analyses, these butterflies preferred a 10-mM Na⁺ solution to K⁺, Ca²⁺, and Mg²⁺ solutions of the same concentration and among a tested range of 1?mM to 1?M NaCl. We also measured the ion concentrations of solutions sampled from puddling sites in the field. Na⁺ concentrations of the samples were up to 6?mM, slightly lower than that preferred by butterflies in the behavioral experiments. Butterflies that sipped the 10?mM Na⁺ solution from the experimental trays did not continue to puddle on the ground. Additionally, butterflies puddled at sites where the concentrations of K⁺, Ca²⁺, and/or Mg²⁺ were higher than that of Na⁺. This suggests that K⁺, Ca²⁺, and Mg²⁺ do not interfere with the detection of Na⁺ by the Papilio butterfly. Using an electrophysiological method, tip recordings, receptor neurons in contact chemosensilla inside the proboscis evoked regularly firing impulses to 1, 10, and 100?mM NaCl solutions but not to CaCl₂ or MgCl₂. The dose?Cresponse patterns to the NaCl solutions were different among the neurons, which were classified into three types. These results showed that Japanese Papilio butterflies puddle using Na⁺ detected by the contact chemosensilla in the proboscis, which measure its concentration.     

Evaluation of the use of Sr2+ in alginate immobilization of cells

In recent years the method of immobilization of living cells in Ca-alginate beads has gained a wide range of applications. In all cases high chemical stability of the immobilization material and mild conditions for the cells are prerequisites. However, in long-term experiments that may last for several days Ca-alginate may dissolve due to an exchange of Ca²⁺ with Na⁺, forming fluid Na-alginate. As well as Ca-alginate, the more chemically stable Sr-alginate and Ba-alginate are materials that have been used for the immobilization of living cells. In this study, the effects of Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺ and Ba²⁺ on growth, viability and intracellular free calcium concentration in a human leukemic T cell line (Jurkat) were investigated. The findings in this study, and the fact that Sr-alginate has a considerably higher chemical stability than Ca-alginate, led to the conclusion that Sr-alginate is a more suitable material for use in the entrapment of living cells in long-term studies.     

Effects of protein properties on ultrafiltration membrane fouling performance in water treatment

Protein-like substances always induce severe ultrafiltration (UF) membrane fouling. To systematically understand the effect of proteins, regenerated cellulose UF membrane (commonly used for protein separation) performance was investigated in the presence of bovine serum albumin (BSA) under various water conditions. Results showed that although trypsin enhanced the membrane flux via proteolysis, catalysis took a long time. Membrane fouling was alleviated at high solution pH and low water temperature owing to the strong electrostatic repulsion force among BSA molecules. Both Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ could increase membrane flux. However, Ca²⁺ played a bridging role between adjacent BSA molecules, whereas membrane fouling was alleviated via a hydration repulsion force with Na⁺. The order of influence on membrane fouling was as follows: Ca²⁺ concentration > Na⁺ concentration > pH > temperature > trypsin concentration. Furthermore, a polyvinylidene fluoride UF membrane experiment showed that Ca²⁺ could reduce the fouling induced by BSA. Thus, the differences in UF membrane performance will have application potential for alleviating UF membrane fouling induced by proteins during water treatment.     

新型环境材料提铯离子筛的铯离子交换性能初探

研究了提铯离子筛的颗粒性质对铯离子的交换容量和分配系数的影响，以及提铯离子筛在强酸介质中的稳定性和交换性能；探讨了在大量氢离子或钠离子存在时提铯离子筛对铯离子的选择性。实验结果表明提铯离子筛为多孔无定形物质，其对铯离子的交换容量和分配系数，随着颗粒粒度的减小而增加，但是酸度和钠离子的影响有限。在与模拟高放废液的静态交换中，提铯离子筛对铯离子的交换率可高达96％以上，基本达到了从高放废液中提取^137Cs的指标。     

植物叶钾离子渗出量在大气质量评价中的应用--Ⅱ.利用叶片K+渗出量和含硫量监测大气SO2污染的比较研究

以加拿大杨(Populus Canadensis)为材料,经熏气证实,SO₂浓度与叶片含硫量及K⁺渗出量之间呈密切正相关。按污染指数(IPC)法和统计法(μ+s)划分四个污染等级,用以评价沈阳市SO₂污染,K⁺渗出量法较叶片含硫量法更接近理化监测值。按95%置信度绘制预测图,经精度分析,K⁺渗出量法较叶片含硫量法更为精确。     

Behavior of a hammerhead ribozyme in aqueous solution at medium to high temperatures

The “RNA world” hypothesis proposes that—early in the evolution of life—RNA molecules played important roles both in information storage and in enzymatic functions. However, this hypothesis seems to be inconsistent with the concept that life may have emerged under hydrothermal conditions since RNA molecules are considered to be labile under such extreme conditions. Presently, the possibility that the last common ancestor of the present organisms was a hyperthermophilic organism which is important to support the hypothesis of the hydrothermal origin of life has been subject of strong discussions. Consequently, it is of importance to study the behavior of RNA molecules under hydrothermal conditions from the viewpoints of stability, catalytic functions, and storage of genetic information of RNA molecules and determination of the upper limit of temperature where life could have emerged. In the present work, self-cleavage of a natural hammerhead ribozyme was examined at temperatures 10–200?°C. Self-cleavage was investigated in the presence of Mg²⁺, which facilitates and accelerates this reaction. Self-cleavage of the hammerhead ribozyme was clearly observed at temperatures up to 60?°C, but at higher temperatures self-cleavage occurs together with hydrolysis and with increasing temperature hydrolysis becomes dominant. The influence of the amount of Mg²⁺ on the reaction rate was also investigated. In addition, we discovered that the reaction proceeds in the presence of high concentrations of monovalent cations (Na⁺ or K⁺), although very slowly. Furthermore, at high temperatures (above 60?°C), monovalent cations protect the ribozyme against degradation.     

Microstructural homogeneity of support silk spun by Eriophora fuliginea (C.L. Koch) determined by scanning X-ray microdiffraction

Scanning X-ray microdiffraction (SXD) permits the 'imaging' in-situ of crystalline phases, crystallinity and texture in whole biopolymer samples on the micrometre scale. SXD complements transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques, which reach sub-nanometre lateral resolution but require thin sections and a vacuum environment. This is demonstrated using a support thread from a web spun by the orb-weaving spider Eriophora fuliginea (C.L. Koch). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) shows a central thread composed of two fibres to which thinner fibres are loosely attached. SXD of a piece of support thread approximately 60 µm long shows in addition the presence of nanometre-sized crystallites with the #-poly(L-alanine) structure in all fibres. The crystallinity of the thin fibres appears to be higher than that of the central thread, which probably reflects a higher polyalanine content of the fibroins. The molecular axis of the polymer chains in the central thread is orientated parallel to the macroscopic fibre axis, but in the thin fibres the molecular axis is tilted by about 71° to the macroscopic fibre axis. A helical model is tentatively proposed to describe this morphology. The central thread has a homogeneous distribution of crystallinity along the macroscopic fibre axis.     

不同植被类型及土壤对径流水化学特征的影响

在不同植被类型覆盖条件下,对降雨形成地表径流和地下径流的化学成分变化及其与土壤剖面性质的关系进行分析,结果表明:地表径流和地下径流的化学特征与雨水基本相同,阳离子主要以Ca²⁺为主,离子排序为Ca²⁺>K⁺>Na⁺>Mg²⁺>NH₄⁺,阴离子以SO₄^2-为主,SO₄^2->NO₃^->Cl^-.降雨形成地表径流和地下径流后,各成分浓度发生了明显的变化,水体中主要的阴阳离子如Ca²⁺、Mg²⁺、K⁺、Na⁺、SO₄^2-、Cl^-等浓度增加,与雨水相比为内贮型化学成分,地下径流中Ca²⁺、Mg²⁺、SO₄^2-和Cl^-增加的幅度显著高于地表径流.相关分析结果显示,地下径流pH受到土壤pH的强烈影响,受土壤胶体吸附的影响,水体中Ca²⁺、Mg²⁺、K⁺、Na⁺等阳离子与土壤交换性阳离子之间一般呈负相关的关系,由于阴离子容易随水流失,水体中SO₄^2-、NO₃^-和Cl^-与土壤相关离子之间普遍呈正相关关系.     

pH和共存阳离子对草莓茎吸附水体氨氮的影响

为了开发新型氨氮吸附剂和探讨环境因素对氨氮吸附的影响,以草莓茎为吸附材料,通过批平衡法研究了不同初始pH、共存阳离子、初始浓度和温度下氨氮去除的特点.结果表明,等温吸附符合Langmuir和Freundlich这2种模型,理论最大吸附量qm在15、25和35℃下分别为3.05、4.24和4.79 mg.g-1.温度升高有利于草莓茎对氨氮的吸附.草莓茎吸附氨氮最适初始pH为4～8.低pH减少草莓茎表面负电荷,高pH减少溶液中NH 4+的含量,都减少氨氮的吸附.草莓茎对溶液pH的缓冲则缓和了两者对氨氮吸附的影响.共存阳离子K+、Na+、Ca2+、Mg2+对草莓吸附铵离子没有竞争作用,而Zn2+、Al3+则由于其水解降低溶液的pH而显著降低草莓茎对氨氮的吸附.草莓茎吸附氨氮的应用pH范围较广且不易受废水中常见金属阳离子的干扰,说明草莓茎不仅可以作为废水中氨氮的吸附剂原料,而且较大多数矿物原料还有其自身的优势.     

东莞石马河流域水化学特征时空差异及来源辨析

石马河流域对东江饮用水源地城镇供水具有重要战略意义.为研究石马河水化学特征,分别于2012年2月、6月和11月采集石马河河水水样共39个,分析测定了水体主离子(K+、Na+、Ca2+、Mg2+、Cl-、SO2-4和HCO-3)及营养盐(PO3-4、NO-3和NH+4)浓度,探讨了水化学组成的时空差异、控制因素并对其来源进行了初步辨析.结果表明,水化学组成的时空差异显著,不同时期的河水TDS及营养盐平均浓度排序为11月2月6月;河水阴离子以HCO-3为主,2月和11月时,河水阳离子以Na++K+为主,为HCO-3-Na+水,6月时则以Ca2+为主,为HCO-3-Ca2+水;营养盐浓度在空间上的差异主要受人类活动导致N、P废水排放影响,3个时期的石马河出水口处(R7)N∶P为18.4,有利于浮游植物的生长,河道出现了富营养化的现象;Gibbs图显示,2月和11月的河水主离子受蒸发岩溶解的影响较为显著,而蒸发岩和碳酸盐岩风化共同控制6月的水化学组分;海盐沉降对石马河河水物质的贡献率较小;部分Na+、Mg2+、Cl-和SO2-4来自化肥的施用和工业废水的排放;NH+4-N、PO3-4-P和NO-3-N主要分别来源于家禽养殖废水和生活废水.     

Adsorption of herbicide triclopyr on homoionic clays

ＡｄｓｏｒｐｔｉｏｎｏｆｈｅｒｂｉｃｉｄｅｔｒｉｃｌｏｐｙｒｏｎｈｏｍｏｉｏｎｉｃｃｌａｙｓＬｉｕＷｅｉｐｉｎｇ（ＤｅｐａｒｔｍｅｎｔｏｆＣｈｅｍｉｓｔｒｙ，ＺｈｅｊｉａｎｇＵｎｉｖｅｒｓｉｔｙ，Ｈａｎｇｚｈｏｕ３１００２７，Ｃｈｉｎａ）ＡｌｂａＰｕ...     

A new method for estimation of dry deposition of particles based on throughfall measurements in a forest edge

Throughfall measurements are very often used to calculate the atmospheric input to ecosystems. Such attempts are normally complicated by canopy interaction processes which are difficult to assess. This study presents an approach to calculate dry deposition and canopy leaching of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and K⁺ to forests. The calculations are based on throughfall measurements in a forest edge of a spruce stand and by use of Na⁺ as a model substance for dry deposition of particles. This ‘forest edge approach’ is compared with an approach based on equal Na⁺ to base cation ratios in wet and dry deposition (‘wet/dry ratio approach’), which has been widely used in the literature. Our calculations show that the wet/dry ratio approach may overestimate the dry deposition of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and K⁺ by up to 100% and leaching will correspondingly be underestimated. The assumptions underlying the different approaches and the use of throughfall measurements to estimate dry deposition are discussed and it is suggested that throughfall measurements in forest edges may be a valuable improvement to studies of atmospheric deposition in forests.     

Elements in the precipitation of S. Paulo City (Brazil)

Rainwater samples in S. Paulo city were collected on an event basis from October 1983 to October 1985 covering two dry and two rainy periods. Bulk samples only were obtained. At the same site and period, fine, coarse and inhalable particles were also collected. Na⁺, Ca²⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, NO₃⁻, SO₄²⁻ and NH₄⁺ contents were determined in rainwater samples, while Na, Ca, K, Cl and S concentrations were measured in aerosol samples. Rainwater is slightly acid (mean pH = 5.0), and contains high concentrations of Ca²⁺, NO₃⁻, SO₄²⁻ and NH₄⁺. Dry and wet fluxes and washout ratios were determined for some elements. Results obtained suggest that the atmospheric composition in this city is strongly influenced by anthropogenic sources.     

温敏性水凝胶对金属离子Y3+,UO2+2的浓集分离

利用合成的ＰＮＩＰＡＡｍ／ＡＡｃ交联共聚温敏性水凝胶分别对水溶液中微量的Ｙ＾２＋,ＣＵ２＾２＋离子进行浓集分离研究。实验结果表明,凝胶能有效浓集Ｙ＾２＋,ＵＯ２＾２＋离子,在ＰＨ＝１～４范围内,凝胶的溶胀比及对Ｙ＾３＋,ＵＯ２＾２＋的浓集率均随ＰＨ的增大而增大,浓集率分别达到８０％和９０％,凝胶溶胀比的增大浓集量分别为５．２９３ｍｇ．ｇ＾－１、３６．１６ｍｇ．ｇ＾－１凝胶的表面积也对浓集率有限大影     

Behavior of the herbicide dimepiperate with homoionic clays in aqueous solution

Ｂｅｈａｖｉｏｒｏｆｔｈｅｈｅｒｂｉｃｉｄｅｄｉｍｅｐｉｐｅｒａｔｅｗｉｔｈｈｏｍｏｉｏｎｉｃｃｌａｙｓｉｎａｑｕｅｏｕｓｓｏｌｕｔｉｏｎ￥ＬｉｕＷｅｉｐｉｎｇ；ＷａｎｇＱｉｑｕａｎ；ＳｈａｏＹｉｎｇ；ＪｉＪｉｎｇ（ＤｅｐａｒｔｍｅｎｔｏｆＣｈｅｍｉ...     

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) content of membranes determines molecular activity of the sodium pump: implications for disease states and metabolism

The omega-3 polyunsaturate, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), plays a number of biologically important roles, particularly in the nervous system, where it is found in very high concentrations in cell membranes. In infants DHA is required for the growth and functional development of the brain, with a deficiency resulting in a variety of learning and cognitive disorders. During adulthood DHA maintains normal brain function and recent evidence suggests that reduced DHA intake in adults is linked with a number of neurological disorders including schizophrenia and depression. Here we report a high positive correlation between the molecular activity (ATP min^–1) of individual Na⁺K⁺ATPase units and the content of DHA in the surrounding membrane bilayer. This represents a fundamental relationship underlying metabolic activity, but may also represent a link between reduced levels of DHA and neurological dysfunction, as up to 60% of energy consumption in the brain is linked to the Na⁺K⁺ATPase enzyme.