Chemical composition of individual aerosol particles from working areas in a nickel refinery

Individual aerosol particles (n = 1170) collected at work stations in a nickel refinery were analyzed by wavelength-dispersive electron-probe microanalysis. By placing arbitrary restrictions on the contents of sulfur and silicon, the particles could be divided into four main groups. Scanning electron images indicated that most of the particles examined were relatively small (< or = 2 microm, equivalent projected area diameter), and that their morphology suggested formation from a melt. There was an absence of well-defined phases and simple stoichiometries, indicating that exposures to pure substances such as nickel subsulfide or specific oxides appeared not to occur. Although the elemental composition of particles varied greatly, a rough association was evident with the known elemental content of the refinery intermediates. The implications of the findings for aerosol speciation measurements, toxicological studies and interpretation of adverse health effects are explored.     

Study of heavy metal pollution in seawater of Kepez harbor of Canakkale (Turkey)

In this work, the heavy metals cadmium and lead in Kepez harbor were studied with regard to the determination of the environmental pollution levels. Seawater samples of the Dardanelles (Canakkale Strait) were collected from the nearest station to Kepez harbor in July 2007. Then, the concentrations of these metals were determined after simple pretreatment of samples by the proposed inductively coupled plasma?Catomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) method. The analysis of a given sample is completed in about 15 min by the ICP-AES method, and the concentrations of Cd and Pb were found to be 73.80 mg L^???1 (relative standard deviation [RSD], 1.07%) and 9.39 mg L^???1 (RSD, 0.70%), respectively. The accuracy of the applied ICP technique was checked by recovery studies, and good recoveries were obtained. The pollution levels of Cd and Pb recorded in this study were compared with those in other studies to analyze the water sample in Kepez harbor.     

Mapping loci that control lateral spike development in Tibetan barley by bulked segregant analysis (BSA)北大核心CSCD

Fertility of lateral spikelets determines the two-rowed or six-rowed spikes of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), which results in significantly different grain yields. The change in row type from two-rowed to six-rowed shows remarkable domestication characteristics. The Qinghai-Tibet plateau has abundant resources of wild and cultivated barley, and is considered one of the centers of domestication and genetic diversity of cultivated barley. In order to obtain a primary understanding of the genetic basis of lateral spike development regulation and the domestication process in cultivated Tibetan barley, an F2 segregation population was constructed by crossing the two-rowed wild barley accession ZYM0083 with the six-rowed landraces Linzhiheiliuleng. Genetic analysis showed that the row type was controlled by a single gene. Using the specific-locus amplified fragment sequencing (SLAF-seq) technology and bulked segregant analysis (BSA), two DNA pools from 22 two-rowed spike individuals and 22 six-rowed spike individuals of the F2 population were constructed and sequenced. A total of 456 691 SLAF tags were obtained. By adopting the ED and SNP index for association analysis, three candidate regions with a 53.84-Mb interval and containing 536 genes were obtained. Four-hundred thirteen, 189, and 160 annotated genes were acquired by GO, KEGG, and COG libraries, respectively. Loci that control lateral spike development in Tibetan barley were primarily mapped by SLAF-seq, and the results presented in this study will facilitate the fine mapping and cloning of target genes. © 2018 Science Press. All rights reserved.     

Fine root decomposition and nutrient release in Toona sinensis plantation under the reconstruction mode of low-efficiency cypress forest gaps北大核心CSCD

Fine root decomposition is an important way in which nutrients are returned to plantation soil; thus, further study of this process will be helpful for understanding material cycling in forest ecosystems. We investigated a Toona sinensis plantation in the central Sichuan hilly region using litter bags containing T. sinensis fine roots to evaluate the dynamics of fine root decomposition and nutrient release for one year in forest gaps of 50 m2 (L1), 100 m2 (L2), and 150 m2 (L3). The results showed that T. sinensis fine root decomposition was fastest in the first 90 days. As time passed, the decomposition rate slowed. One year later, the residue rate was 75.44%, 73.92%, and 72.07%, respectively. The fine root decomposition rate of L3 was greater than that of L2, which was greater than that of L1. During fine root decomposition, the dynamics of the fine root nutrient concentrations changed. C, P, and K concentrations of the fine roots declined in forest gaps, while N, Ca, and Mg concentrations increased overall in the fine roots. In conclusion, forest gaps had effects on the fine root decomposition and nutrient release of T. sinensis, and different sized forest gaps produced different results. © 2018 Science Press. All rights reserved.     

Genetic heterogeneity among New Zealand species of hydrothermal vent mussels (Mytilidae: Bathymodiolus)

Molecular systematic studies provide evidence for three new species of Bathymodiolus-like hydrothermal vent mussels (Bivalvia: Mytilidae) from relatively shallow waters (depth less than 750 m) associated with the Kermadec Arc off northern New Zealand. Mitochondrial COI sequences from the three putative new species differed substantially from those of other known bathymodiolin species from the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Population genetic analysis of one of these species (Bathymodiolus new species NZ-1) revealed heterogeneity in allozyme gene frequencies between samples collected from two seamounts about 50 km apart. Factors that might contribute to genetic differentiation between neighbouring seamounts are discussed.Communicated by M.S. Johnson, Crawley     

Patterns of serum calcium fractions,magnesium, phosphates and albumin in non‐insulin dependent diabetics (Nidd)

Blood level of calcium fractions (ionized and bound), phosphates, magnesium and albumin were measured in non‐insulin dependent diabetic patients (NIDD). Results were compared with healthy controls to elucidate the pathogenesis of probable changes of these elements. Total ionized calcium and magnesium showed significant decrease (p<0.001, p<0.05 and p<0.05) respectively. Phosphates showed non‐significant decrease while albumin reported nearly similar results. Positive correlation between inorganic phosphates and ionized calcium (r = 0.48, p<0.05) was observed only in healthy control group, not in diabetics. This may be attributed to alteration of ions excretions under diabetic condition through unknown mechanism. Additive increase of heparin sodium units in vitro to normal blood resulted in progressive fall in ionized calcium. Significant decrease was only observed upon addition of higher unit (5IU/ml). This must be taken into consideration biochemically for plasma determination of ionized calcium.     

Conducting conservation social science surveys online

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is affecting the environment and conservation research in fundamental ways. Many conservation social scientists are now administering survey questionnaires online, but they must do so while ensuring rigor in data collection. Further, they must address a suite of unique challenges, such as the increasing use of mobile devices by participants and avoiding bots or other survey fraud. We reviewed recent literature on online survey methods to examine the state of the field related to online data collection and dissemination. We illustrate the review with examples of key methodological decisions made during a recent national study of people who feed wild birds, in which survey respondents were recruited through an online panel and a sample generated via a project participant list. Conducting surveys online affords new opportunities for participant recruitment, design, and pilot testing. For instance, online survey panels can provide quick access to large and diverse samples of people. Based on the literature review and our own experiences, we suggest that to ensure high-quality online surveys one should account for potential sampling and nonresponse error, design survey instruments for use on multiple devices, test the instrument, and use multiple protocols to identify data quality problems. We also suggest that research funders, journal editors, and policy makers can all play a role in ensuring high-quality survey data are used to inform effective conservation programs and policies.     

A Rainfall Simulator for Laboratory Use in Acidic Precipitation Studies

A rainfall simulator, developed on the principle of droplet formation from needle tips, is described. The simulator is designed for laboratory experimentation to examine the effects of acidic precipitation on terrestrial plants. Droplet diameter can be varied from 2.5 to 3.4 mm with different gauge needles, and rainfall intensities from 0.50 to 1.25 cm h^-1 can be attained by a variable speed peristaltic pump. Uniform distribution of rainfall was achieved by rotating the target area and by spacing needles, using an empirical cumulative probability distribution function, along eight radial tubular arms. Variation in rainfall distribution across a 1.2 m diameter circular target area was < 5 % . Integrity of solution chemistry was maintained upon passage through the simulator with variations in cation concentrations <10%, anion concentrations <5 % and pH <0.2. The system offers sufficient flexibility to simulate a range of rainfall characteristics by varying needle diameter, changing pump speed and/or altering the number of radial arms on each unit.     

Enhanced degradation of chlorinated ethylenes in groundwater from a paint contaminated site by two-stage fluidized-bed reactor

Groundwater, used in this study, contaminated predominantly with aromatic compounds, was biologically treated in a fluidized-bed reactor (FBR) with immobilized cells. The aromatics were completely decomposed, while cis-1,2-dichloroethylene (cis-DCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE) were decomposed only approximately 20% and 5%, respectively. In these studies a significant improvement of the decomposition efficiency for chlorinated ethylenes was achieved by utilizing cometabolism. Methanol (MeOH) and toluene were used as the substrate in the case of one-stage reactor (Single Reactor). MeOH (187 mg l(-1)) increased the decomposition efficiency up to 40% and 60% for cis-DCE and TCE, respectively, while toluene (20 mg l(-1)) increased the decomposition efficiency of cis-DCE to 92% and the decomposition efficiency of TCE to 76%. In the case of two-stage reactor system (Reactor 1 and Reactor 2), MeOH and methane (CH4) were used as the substrate. In this system, cells grown on MeOH or CH4 in the Reactor 1 were continuously fed into Reactor 2 and groundwater was fed into Reactor 2 only. When MeOH (384 mg l(-1) d(-1)) was used as substrate the decomposition efficiency of cis-DCE and TCE were 60% and 70%, respectively. Similar decomposition efficiency was observed for a small amount of CH4 (19.3 mg l(-1) d(-1)).