Measurement of flow speed in the channels of novel threadlike structures on the surfaces of mammalian organs

There have been several reports on novel threadlike structures (NTSs) on the surfaces of the internal organs of rats and rabbits since their first observation by Bonghan Kim in 1963. To confirm this novel circulatory function, it is necessary to observe the flow of liquid through the NTS as well as the structurally corroborating channels in the NTS. In this article, we report on the measurement of the flow speed of Alcian blue solution in the NTSs on the organ surfaces of rabbits, and we present electron microscopic images depicting the cribrous cross-section with channels. The speed was measured as 0.3 ± 0.1 mm/s, and the flow distance was up to 12 cm. The flow was unidirectional, and the phase contrast microscopic images showed that the NTSs were strongly stained with Alcian blue. The ultrastructure of the NTSs revealed by cryo-scanning electron microscopy and high-voltage electron microscopy showed that (1) there were cell-like bodies and globular clumps of matter inside the sinus of the channel with thin strands of segregated zones which is a microscopic evidence of the liquid flow, (2) the sinuses have wall structures surrounded with extracellular matrices of collagenous fibers, and (3) there exists a cribriform structure of sinuses. To understand the mechanism for the circulation, a quantitative analysis of the flow speed has been undertaken applying a simplified windkessel model. In this analysis, it was shown that the liquid flow through the NTSs could be due to peristaltic motion of the NTS itself. Baeckkyoung Sung and Min Su Kim contributed equally to this work.     

海洋环境中的Fe及其对浮游植物的限制

在海洋环境中,痕量元素Fe成为了继N、P、Si三大生源要素后又一限制浮游植物初级生产力的重要元素.本文介绍了海洋中Fe的各种存在形态、生物可利用性,以及Fe的多种途径的输入来源、沉降过程.着重探讨了Fe对浮游植物初级生产力的限制作用以及对生物量、生长率、生化组成等的影响.了解海洋中Fe的生物地球化学特征对阐明海洋生态系统的循环机制有着深远的意义,并可为赤潮治理提供有益的帮助.     

南黄海中部表层沉积物中多环芳烃含量分布及来源分析

采用气相色谱与质谱联用(GC/MS)技术,在一个航次内对南黄海表层沉积物中16种优先监控的PAHs的污染状况进行了调查,采用菲/蒽、荧蒽/芘、荧蒽/(荧蒽+芘)、吲哚芘/(吲哚芘+苯并(g,h,i)菲)等特定比值对PAHs来源进行了分析.结果表明,南黄海表层沉积物中检出PAHs的总含量为90.4～732.65ng·g-1,各站点均以4～6环为主;与其它站位相比,倾废区的HOI站位受到PAHs污染较为明显,无论是16种PAHs总量还是高分子量组分最高值都出现在该站点,虽然该海区沉积物中PAHs的含量没有超出生物影响低值,但苯并(b)荧蒽、吲哚芘和苯并(g,h,i)芘等一些没有最低安全标准的PAHs也有不同程度的检出,对海洋生物具有潜在的毒副作用.PAHs可能来源于原油、生物和煤燃烧造成的污染.     

Application of ferrate（VI） in the treatment of industrial wastes containing metal-complexed cyanides ： A green treatment

Ferrate(VI) was employed for the oxidation of cyanide (CN) and simultaneous removal of copper or nickel in the mixed/complexed systems of CN-Cu, CN-Ni, or CN-Cu-Ni. The degradation of CN (1.00 mmol/L) and removal of Cu (0.095 mmol/L) were investigated as a function of Fe(VI) doses from 0.3–2.00 mmol/L at pH 10.0. It was found that Fe(VI) could readily oxidize CN and the reduction of Fe(VI) into Fe(III) might serve e ciently for the removal of free copper ions. The increase in Fe(VI) dose apparently favoured the CN oxidation as well as Cu removal. Moreover, the pH dependence study (pH 10.0–13.0) revealed that the oxidation of CN was almost una ected in the studied pH range (10.0–13.0), however, the maximum removal e ciency of Cu was obtained at pH 13.0. Similarly, treatment was carried out for CN-Ni system having the initial Ni concentration of 0.170 mmol/L and CN concentration of 1.00 mmol with Fe(VI) dose 2.00 mmol at various pH values (10.0–12.0). Results showed a partial oxidation of CN and partial removal of Ni. It can be observed that Fe(VI) can partially degrade the CN-Ni complex in this pH range. Further, Fe(VI) was applied for the treatment of simulated industrial waste/e uent waters treatment containing CN, Cu, and Ni.     

Evaluation of non-point source pollution reduction by applying Best Management Practices using a SWAT model and QuickBird high resolution satellite imagery

This study evaluated the reduction e ect of non-point source pollution by applying best management practices (BMPs) to a 1.21 km2 small agricultural watershed using a SWAT (Soil andWater Assessment Tool) model. Two meter QuickBird land use data were prepared for the watershed. The SWAT was calibrated and validated using daily streamflow and monthly water quality (total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), and suspended solids (SS)) records from 1999 to 2000 and from 2001 to 2002. The average Nash and Sutcli e model e ciency was 0.63 for the streamflow and the coe cients of determination were 0.88, 0.72, and 0.68 for SS, TN, and TP, respectively. Four BMP scenarios viz. the application of vegetation filter strip and riparian bu er system, the regulation of Universal Soil Loss Equation P factor, and the fertilizing control amount for crops were applied and analyzed.     

Control of petroleum-hydrocarbon contaminated groundwater by intrinsic and enhanced bioremediation

In the first phase of this study, the e ectiveness of intrinsic bioremediation on the containment of petroleum hydrocarbons was evaluated at a gasoline spill site. Evidences of the occurrence of intrinsic bioremediation within the BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes) plume included (1) decreased BTEX concentrations; (2) depletion of dissolved oxygen (DO), nitrate, and sulfate; (3) production of dissolved ferrous iron, methane, and CO2; (4) deceased pH and redox potential; and (5) increased methanogens, total heterotrophs, and total anaerobes, especially within the highly contaminated areas. In the second phase of this study, enhanced aerobic bioremediation process was applied at site to enhance the BTEX decay rates. Air was injected into the subsurface near the mid-plume area to biostimulate the naturally occurring microorganisms for BTEX biodegradation. Field results showed that enhanced bioremediation process caused the change of BTEX removal mechanisms from anaerobic biodegradation inside the plume to aerobic biodegradation. This variation could be confirmed by the following field observations inside the plume due to the enhanced aerobic bioremediation process: (1) increased in DO, CO2, redox potential, nitrate, and sulfate, (2) decreased in dissolved ferrous iron, sulfide, and methane, (3) increased total heterotrophs and decreased total anaerobes. Field results also showed that the percentage of total BTEX removal increased from 92% to 99%, and the calculated total BTEX first-order natural attenuation rates increased from 0.0092% to 0.0188% per day, respectively, after the application of enhanced bioremediation system from the spill area to the downgradient area (located approximately 300 m from the source area).     

Isolation,identification, Pb(Ⅱ) biosorption isotherms and kinetics of a lead adsorbing Penicillium sp. MRF-1 from South Korean mine soil

A heavy metal contaminated soil sample collected from a mine in Chonnam Province of South Korea was found to be a source of heavy metal adsorbing biosorbents. Chemical analyses showed high contents of lead (Pb) at 357 mg/kg and cyanide (CN) at 14.6 mg/kg in the soil. The experimental results showed that Penicillium sp. MRF-1 was the best lead resistant fungus among the four individual metal tolerant fungal species isolated from the soil. Molecular characterization of Penicillium sp. MRF-1 was determined using ITS regions sequences. E ects of pH, temperature and contact time on adsorption of Pb(II) by Penicillium sp. MRF-1 were studied. Favorable conditions for maximum biosportion were found at pH 4 with 3 hr contact time. Biosorption of Pb(II) gradually increased with increasing temperature. E cient performance of the biosorbent was described using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. Adsorption kinetics was studied using pseudo first-order and pseudo second-order models. Biosorbent Penicillium sp. MRF-1 showed the maximum desorption in alkali conditions. Consistent adsorption/desorption potential of the biosorbent in repetitive cycles validated the e cacy of it in large scale. SEM studies given notes on surface modification of fungal biomass under metal stress and FT-IR results showed the presence of amino groups in the surface structure of the biosorbent. In conclusion, the new biosorbent Penicillium sp. MRF-1 may potentially be used as an inexpensive, easily cultivatable material for the removal of lead from aqueous solution.     

Spatial distribution of phosphorus forms in sediments with different distances to the estuary of the Dianchi Lake, China

Effects of human activity on the distribution of phosphorus (P) forms were investigated for the sediments and porewaters in Daqinghe Estuary of Dianchi Lake, China. The concentrations of total P (TP), inorganic-P (I-P),and organic-P (Org-P), and the ratio of iron-bound P (Fe-P)/calcium-bound P (Ca-P) in the sediments decreased with the increasing distance from the sampling site to the estuary. This is probably due to the flocculant materials, e.g., ferric and aluminous salts, usually being added in the wastewater treatment processes. The concentration of ammonia in the sediment porewaters significantly decreased with the increasing distance from the sampling site to the estuary. Both concentrations of total nitrogen and nitrogen in the sediment porewaters decreased to some content with the increasing distance from the sampling site to the estuary. However, the concentrations of nitrate, dissolved total P (DTP), and TP did not have strong relationship with the distances from the sampling sites to the estuary. Pollution load and water quantity also had an important influence on the concentrations of P in sediments and its interstitial water in estuary sedimentary area.     

关于危险源与隐患的新见解

为统一危险源和隐患的分歧,本文首先分析2个术语概念混乱的原因,然后根据2个术语的本质特征,给出它们的新定义、新分类和新分级,最后基于新的分类分级体系,给出新的隐患管理模式.研究表明:2个术语服从内外因作用原理,即危险源是内因,隐患是外因.危险源按源头可划分为3类,按载体形式可划分为4类;隐患按安全防护功能可划分为7类,根据产生阶段,可将这7类隐患再归为3类,若按内容和表现形式可将隐患划分为3类.根据隐患影响安全防护功能的程度将隐患分为1、2、3级.隐患管理新模式可简化现行隐患管理体制机制,有助于让政府、企业/单位等落实各自的安全生产主体责任.