Model evaluation of different mechanisms driving freeze–thaw N2O emissions

N₂O emissions from soil contribute significantly to global warming. Pulse emissions of N₂O from soils during freeze-thawing were recently recognized as important atmospheric sources. In this modelling study we explore three different hypotheses for explaining freeze–thaw related N₂O emissions: (1) soil frost or snow cover may reduce gas diffusion and create anaerobic conditions that stimulate N₂O production via denitrification, (2) microbes that die of frost deliver easy decomposable organic carbon and nitrogen to the soil, which stimulates microbial growth and vigorous N₂O production during freeze–thaw, and (3) the enzyme nitrous oxide reductase, which is responsible for the reduction of N₂O to N₂ during denitrification, is more sensitive to low temperatures than other enzymes, so that N₂O becomes the dominating end-product of denitrification at low temperatures. These hypotheses were tested with a biogeochemical model that combines hydrology and physics calculations with a newly developed, parameter-poor biochemistry module. The model was first calibrated with field datasets on soil–atmosphere fluxes of N₂O, NO and CO₂ and soil NO₃ and NH₄ concentrations that were measured in a spruce forest in Southeast Germany in the years 1994–1997. Subsequently, additional model mechanisms were implemented that allow the model to describe the outlined mechanisms potentially driving freeze–thaw N₂O fluxes. After each implementation the model was recalibrated. We were able to mimic dimension and timing of high N₂O emissions when either one of the first two hypotheses were assumed, but found no confirmation for the third. The best model fit was achieved by combining hypothesis one and two, indicating that freeze–thaw N₂O emissions are not mono-causal.     

草原生物多样性监测指标体系构建的探讨

草原生物多样性监测目前已成为草原生物多样性研究和保护的热点问题。草原生物多样性监测指标则是一些简化的生物或环境特征参数,说明草原生物多样性现状和变化趋势,以及人类活动压力对草原生物多样性的影响,以促进科学界、政府和公众间的沟通,提高草原生物多样性管理水平。本文综述了草原生物多样性监测指标筛选的一般标准和指标体系构建的主要理论,梳理目前已提出或应用的主要生物多样性监测指标,以期为我国构建国家或区域尺度生物多样性监测指标体系提供参考。     

Potential Risk of Norovirus Infection Due to the Consumption of “Ready to Eat” Food

In this study, we investigated the presence of enteric viruses such as norovirus (NoV), hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis E virus (HEV), and adenovirus (HAdV), in vegetables available on the Italian markets. For this aim, 110 national and international ??ready to eat?? samples were collected and analyzed by biomolecular tests and positive samples were confirmed by sequencing. All samples (100?%) were negative for HAV, HEV, and HAdV, while 13.6?% (15/110) were positive for NoV. Actually there is not a formal surveillance system for NoV infections in Italy but we clearly demonstrated a potential risk associated with the consumption of ??ready to eat?? vegetables. This study confirmed for the first time in Italy the presence of norovirus in semi-dried tomatoes by PCR technique.     

Contributions of green infrastructure to enhancing urban resilience

After briefly reviewing key resilience engineering perspectives and summarising some green infrastructure (GI) tools, we present the contributions that GI can make to enhancing urban resilience and maintaining critical system functionality across complex integrated social–ecological and technical systems. We then examine five key challenges for the effective implementation of GI that include (1) standards; (2) regulation; (3) socio-economic factors; (4) financeability; and (5) innovation. We highlight ways in which these challenges are being dealt with around the world, particularly through the use of approaches that are both context appropriate and socially inclusive. Although progress surmounting these challenges has been made, more needs to be done to ensure that GI approaches are inclusive and appropriate and feature equally alongside more traditional ‘grey’ infrastructure in the future of urban resilience planning. This research was undertaken for the Resilience Shift initiative to shift the approach to resilience in practice for critical infrastructure sectors. The programme aims to help practitioners involved in critical infrastructure to make decisions differently, contributing to a safer and better world.     

Identification of oxygenated compounds in combustion systems

An attempt for the spectroscopic identification of oxygenated compounds produced in combustion processes under different environmental conditions is reported in this paper. A deeper knowledge about presence and evolution of such species in dependence of the operating conditions of practical burner represents a fundamental hint to the objective of an advancement of the control of combustion process and reduction of pollutant emissions. This paper mainly focuses on species characterized by the presence of carbonyl functionality since aldehydes, ketones and diketones are among the principal intermediate species and products of hydrocarbon oxidation. They are by themselves to be considered atmospheric pollutants and are also indicators of actual pathways followed during the chemical reactions occurring in the combustion process. For these reasons they are most suitable for the exploitation of the above indicated objectives. In this paper, a classification of spectroscopic features and markers of these classes of carbonyl compounds is presented on the basis of both literature and spectra collected from sample species. This interpretative scheme is then used for the attribution of fluorescence signals collected from a tetradecane spray in different environmental conditions.     

1株高耐性肠杆菌的筛选及对镉、砷同步钝化

从镉、砷复合污染农田土壤中筛选出1株具有硫酸盐还原功能的肠杆菌,通过去除率实验结合表征实验来探究其对镉、砷钝化机制.结果表明,经鉴定筛选出来的菌株M5为肠杆菌属(Enterobacter sp.),具有硫酸盐还原功能,对镉、砷最大耐受浓度为1.0 mmol·L^-1左右.在模拟体系中,菌株M5对镉去除率最大达94.13%,对砷去除率最大为27.26%.SEM-EDS和XRD的结果证实了Cd和As被固定成CdS和As₂S₃,XPS结果表明该菌表面的羧基、羟基和酰胺基主要参与生物吸附.结果为微生物应用修复重金属及类金属污染土壤提供思路和理论依据.     

长三角知识创新能力与城市化、工业化进程的协调关系研究

通过构建知识创新能力与城市化、工业化进程的评价指标体系,对长三角地区2000-2011年25个地级以上城市的知识创新能力指数及城市化与工业化进程系数进行测算,并利用协调度模型综合分析评价了知识创新能力与城市化、工业化进程的协调关系.结果显示：①知识创新能力与城市化整体协调度优于其与工业化的协调度;②知识创新能力与城市化协调度逐步磨合到相对理想状态;③知识创新能力与工业化协调度呈现出先上升后下降又上升的较大波动性.     

Sex ratio of juvenile loggerhead turtles in the Mediterranean Sea: is it really 1:1?

Sex ratios are a crucial parameter for evaluating population viability. In species with complex life history patterns and temperature sex determination mechanisms, such as the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), sex ratios may vary within a population and among populations. In the Mediterranean, juvenile sex ratios appear to not differ significantly from 1:1, although estimates for hatchling sex ratios are highly female biased. The immigration of males from the Atlantic has been suggested as a possible cause of such variation. Here, we present results of a multi-year investigation (2000–2011) on the sex ratios of loggerhead turtles foraging along the south Tyrrhenian coast, Western Mediterranean, with the aim of providing a better understanding of the potentially underlying forces that drive regional and age-dependent differences in sex ratios. Sex was determined through visual examination of the gonads in 271 dead turtles (curved carapace length range 29.5–89 cm). A fragment of the mitochondrial DNA control region was sequenced from 61 specimens to characterise the demographic composition of this foraging assemblage by applying a many-to-many mixed stock analysis approach. No significant association was found between sex ratios and years or size classes, although the largest size was male biased. Juvenile sex ratio was 1.56:1, which was different from an even sex ratio but still less female biased than hatchling sex ratios from Mediterranean beaches. Results of the mixed stock analysis indicate that juvenile sex ratios in the Mediterranean are largely unaffected by immigration of Atlantic individuals into the basin, as previously suggested. Continued long-term monitoring of juvenile sex ratios is necessary to detect biologically significant sex ratio shifts in the Mediterranean loggerhead turtle population.     

Food sources of macrobenthos in an estuarine seagrass habitat (Zostera noltii) as revealed by dual stable isotope signatures

Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis was used to examine the resources and position of macrobenthos in an estuarine seagrass food web in two sampling moments, during summer and winter. The contribution of each food source to the carbon requirements of consumers was estimated by a mixing model. The used carbon sources were largely seagrass associated, although seagrass tissues were utilized by only few species, and equally contributed to microphytobenthos and suspended particulate organic matter. Based on isotopic data, Lucinidae bivalves have an alternative trophic pathway via symbiosis with chemoautotrophic bacteria. Resource utilization inside and adjacent to seagrass beds did not differ significantly, implying that seagrass-associated inputs extend well beyond the borders of the vegetation patches.