Hopanoid Biosynthesis and Function in Bacteria

   Hopanoids are pentacyclic triterpenoid lipids occurring in bacteria. They are synthesized from isopentenyl units which are formed in a new biosynthetic route leading to isopentenyl diphosphate. Six C₅ units are joined to form squalene, the immediate precursor in hopanoid synthesis. In a highly complex cyclization reaction that shares considerable similarities with that of oxidosqualene to sterols, the hopane skeleton is formed from squalene by the squalene-hopene cyclase. Recent elucidation of the X-ray structure of this membrane-bound cyclase has shed some light on the properties of this unusual enzyme. The active site is located in a cavity within the enzyme. The squalene substrate diffuses through a channel structure from the membrane into this cavity and is there transformed into hopene. Polar side chains are attached to hopene resulting in the amphiphilic molecular structure of many hopanoids. These hopanoids are membrane components involved in regulating membrane fluidity and stability. However, the many structural variants of hopanoids indicate that they may have other interesting but as yet unknown functions.     

Seven suggestive quantitative trait loci influence hygienic behavior of honey bees

In 1964, Walter Rothenbuhler proposed a two-gene model to explain phenotypic variance in the remarkable behavior in which honey bee workers remove dead brood from their colonies. Rothenbuhler's model proposed that one locus controls the uncapping of brood cells containing dead pupae, while a second controls the removal of the cell contents. We show here, through molecular techniques and quantitative trait loci (QTL) linkage mapping, that the genetic basis of hygienic behavior is more complex, and that many genes are likely to contribute to the behavior. In our cross, we detected seven suggestive QTLs associated with hygienic behavior. Each detected QTL controlled only 9-15% of the observed phenotypic variance in the character.     

提高潜流式人工湿地氮去除率的方法研究进展

潜流式人工湿地能够有效地去除舍碳有机污染物。但一般对舍氮污染物的去除效果相对较弱。针对这一问题，在参考国内外前人研究的基础上。总结并提出了提高污水中氮去除率的方法。指出应根据实际情况选择合适的植物和基质来构造湿地系统．通过增加一些必要的工程措施和改变一些管理手段如间歇运作及其他方法可增加湿地系统内部的溶解氧量来创造去除氮所需环境．还可通过对湿地系统进行工艺优化设计等措施来提高潜流式人工湿地氮去除率。     

非程序升温色谱法分析CO/CO2加氢反应混合物

在非程序升温单桩色谱仪上，采用双柱温法对ＣＯ／ＣＯ２加氢反应混合物进行在线分析，设置条件为３ｍ长的色谱柱ＧＤＸ－４０３，柱前压和检测温度固定不变，氢气为载气，ＴＣＤ为检测器，结果表明：在柱温３１３Ｋ，可以分析ＣＯ、ＣＨ４、ＣＯ２。在柱温３６８Ｋ，可以分析Ｈ２Ｏ和甲醇。通过计算反应前后２组物质浓度的变化，可以快速、准确评价催化剂的活性和选择性。     

Simulating dairy liquid waste management options as a nitrogen source for crops

Large scale dairy operations are common. In many cases the manure is deposited on a paved surface and then removed with a flushing system, after which the solids are separated, the liquid stored in ponds, and eventually the liquid applied on adjacent crop land. Management of liquid manure to maximize the fertilizer value and minimize water quality degradation requires knowledge of the interactive effects of mineralization of organic N (ON) to NH₄⁺, crop uptake of mineral N, and leaching of NO₃⁻ on a temporal basis. The purpose of the research was to use the ENVIRO-GRO model to simulate how the amount of applied N, timing of N application, ON mineralization rates, chemical form of N applied, and irrigation uniformity affected (1) yields of corn (Zea mays) in summer and a forage grass in winter in a Mediterranean climate and (2) the amount of NO₃⁻ leached below the root zone. This management practice is typical for dairies in the San Joaquin Valley of California. The simulations were conducted for a 10-year period. Steady state conditions, whereby an equivalent amount of N applied in the organic form will be mineralized in a given year, are achieved more rapidly for materials with high mineralization rates. Both timing and total quantity of N application are important in affecting crop yield and potential N leaching. Major conclusions from the simulations are as follows. Frequent low applications are preferred to less frequent higher applications. Increasing the amount of N application increased both the crop yield and the amount of NO₃⁻ leached. Increasing irrigation uniformity increased crop yields but had variable effects on the amount of NO₃⁻ leached. A winter forage crop following a summer corn crop effectively reduced the leaching of residual soil N following the corn crop.     

陆架浅海沉积物-海水界面溶质通量的计算方法及其应用

陆架浅海沉积物—海水界面上的溶解态生源物质通量的准确估算是海洋生态系统动力学研究中的关键性问题之一。由于底栖生物活动以及海流、海浪及潮波与海底地形地物相互作用的影响 ,使得该通量的准确估算十分困难。本文综合分析讨论了近年来提出的各种计算该类通量的物理模型及参数的确定方法 ,并结合在中国黄、东海等陆架浅海水层—底栖生态动力学耦合模型研究的需要 ,比较深入地讨论了应用过程中应该考虑的几个问题     

半球形件粘性介质压力成形的数值模拟研究

粘性压力成形技术是金属板材成形领域里新近出现的一种先进的加工工艺。对双面施放粘性介质的板材胀形进行了模拟研究 ,在双面施放介质的板材粘性介质胀形时 ,排放孔位置分布对毛坯成形过程有明显的影响。排放孔位置分布的不同造成模腔内介质的速度场不同 ,进而导致板材不同部位的流动速度的方向大小发生变化 ,最终使成形件的厚度分布不同     

Inter and intra-population variation in shoaling and boldness in the zebrafish (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Danio rerio</Emphasis>)

Population differences in anti-predator behaviour have been demonstrated in several species, although less is known about the genetic basis of these traits. To determine the extent of genetic differences in boldness (defined as exploration of a novel object) and shoaling within and between zebrafish (Danio rerio) populations, and to examine the genetic basis of shoaling behaviour in general, we carried out a study that involved laboratory-raised fish derived from four wild-caught populations. Controlling for differences in rearing environment, significant inter-population differences were found in boldness but not shoaling. A larger shoaling experiment was also performed using one of the populations as the basis of a North Carolina type II breeding design (174 fish in total) to estimate heritability of shoaling tendency. A narrow-sense heritability estimate of 0.40 was obtained, with no apparent dominance effects.