Forming a tough shell via an intracellular matrix and cellular junctions in the tail epidermis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oikopleura dioica</Emphasis> (Chordata: Tunicata: Appendicularia)

A postanal tail is a major synapomorphy of the phylum Chordata, which is composed of three subphyla: Vertebrata, Cephalochordata, and Tunicata (Urochordata). Among tunicates, appendicularians are the only group that retains the tail in the adult, and the adult tail functions in locomotion and feeding in combination with a cellulose-based house structure. Given the phylogenetic position of tunicates, the appendicularian adult tail may possess ancestral features of the chordate tail. We assess the ultrastructural development of the tail epidermis of the appendicularian Oikopleura dioica. The epidermis of the larval tail is enclosed by the larval envelope, which is a thin sheet similar to the outer tunic layer of ascidian larvae. The epidermis of the adult tail seems to bear no tunic-like cellulosic integuments, and the tail fin is a simple folding of the epidermis. Every epidermal cell, except for the triangular cells at the edge of the tail fin, has a conspicuous matrix layer of fibrous content in the apical cytoplasm without enclosing membranes. The epidermis of the larval tail does not have a fibrous matrix layer, suggesting the production of the layer during larval development and metamorphosis. Zonulae adhaerentes firmly bind the epidermal cells of the adult tail to one another, and the dense microfilaments lining the cell borders constitute a mechanical support for the cell membranes. The intracellular matrix, cell junctions, and cytoskeletons probably make the tail epidermis a tough, flexible shell supporting the active beating of the oikopleuran adult tail.     

Tracking pigeons in a magnetic anomaly and in magnetically “quiet” terrain

Pigeons were released at two sites of equal distance from the loft, one within a magnetic anomaly, the other in magnetically quiet terrain, and their tracks were recorded with the help of GPS receivers. A comparison of the beginning of the tracks revealed striking differences: within the anomaly, the initial phase lasted longer, and the distance flown was longer, with the pigeons' headings considerably farther from the home direction. During the following departure phase, the birds were well homeward oriented at the magnetically quiet site, whereas they continued to be disoriented within the anomaly. Comparing the tracks in the anomaly with the underlying magnetic contours shows considerable differences between individuals, without a common pattern emerging. The differences in magnetic intensity along the pigeons' path do not differ from a random distribution of intensity differences around the release site, indicating that the magnetic contours do not directly affect the pigeons' routes. Within the anomaly, pigeons take longer until their flights are oriented, but 5 km from the release point, the birds, still within the anomaly, are also significantly oriented in the home direction. These findings support the assumption that magnetically anomalous conditions initially interfere with the pigeons' navigational processes, with birds showing rather individual responses in their attempts to overcome these problems.     

Effects of irrigation,fertilization and crop straw management on nitrous oxide and nitric oxide emissions from a wheat–maize rotation field in northern China

One-year winter wheat–summer maize rotation is the most popular double cropping system in north-central China, and this highly productive system is an important source of nitrous oxide (N₂O) and nitric oxide (NO) emissions due to the high fertilizer N and irrigation water inputs. To sustain the high crop production and mitigate the detrimental impacts of N₂O and NO emissions, improved management practices are extensively applied. The aim of this study is therefore to evaluate the effects of an improved management practice of irrigation, fertilization and crop straw on grain yield and N₂O and NO emissions for a wheat–maize rotation field in northern China. Using automated and manual chamber measuring systems, we monitored N₂O and NO fluxes for the conventional (CT, 2007–2008), improved (IT, 2007–2008), straw-amended (WS, 2008–2009), straw-not-amended (NS, 2008–2009), and no N-fertilizer treatments (WS–NN, 2008–2009), respectively, for one rotation-year. The grain yields were determined for CT and IT for three rotation-years (2005–2008) and for WS, NS and WS–NN for one rotation-year (2008–2009). The improved management of irrigation and fertilization reduced the annual N fertilization rate and irrigation amount by 17% and 30%, respectively; increased the maize yield by 7–14%; and significantly decreased the N₂O and NO emissions by 7% (p < 0.05) and 29% (p < 0.01), respectively. The incorporation of wheat straw increased the cumulative N₂O and NO emissions in the following maize season by 58% (p < 0.01) and 13%, respectively, whereas the effects of maize straw application were not remarkable. The N₂O and NO emission factors of applied N were 2.32 ± 2.32% and 0.42 ± 1.69% for wheat straw and 0.67 ± 0.23% and 0.54 ± 0.15% for chemical N-fertilizers, respectively. Compared to conventional management practices using high application rates of irrigation water and chemical N-fertilizer as well as the field burning of crop straw, the improved management strategy presented here has obvious environmentally positive effects on grain yield and mitigation of N₂O and NO emissions.     

低温A/O-MBR工艺启动试验研究

研究了A/O-MBR工艺低温(水温在5~12℃)启动效能,结果表明,低温下A/O-MBR工艺启动迅速,活性污泥的培养驯化时间较短。启动过程中根据出水水质情况,逐渐提高负荷,运行34 d,系统对COD的去除率能达到90%以上,系统对氨氮的去除率能达到96%以上,至稳定运行后氨氮的负荷平均可达到0.419kg/(m3.d),反硝化效果系统去除率基本能稳定在60%左右。     

Visible light responsive N-F-codoped TiO2 photocatalysts for the degradation of 4-chlorophenol

Visible light responsive N-F-codoped TiO₂ photocatalysts exhibit a higher catalytic activity than N-doped TiO₂ for the degradation of 4-chlorophenol due to the synergistic effect of nonmetal elements.     

Preliminary report on methane emissions from the Three Gorges Reservoir in the summer drainage period

Considerable variations may exist in CH4 emissions from the Three Gorges Reservoir.     

重金属离子快速检测技术研究与应用进展

在突发环境污染事件和区域生态风险筛查中迫切需要环境样品中重金属离子的快速检测技术手段。环境样品中重金属离子的快速检测技术有电化学方法和生物学方法。电化学检测方法主要是阳极溶出伏安法(AnodicStripping Voltammetry,ASV),可以同时检测多种重金属离子,有标准化认证的产品,但是检测成本相对较高。随着纳米粒子技术(Nanoparticles,NPs)和石英微天平分析技术(Quartz Crystal Microbalance,QCM)的引入,ASV法的检测成本将不断降低;生物检测方法包括免疫检测(Immunoassay,IA)和功能DNA(Functional DNA)检测技术。重金属离子的免疫检测技术样品通量大,检测成本低,已经广泛用于食品行业,其中汞离子的免疫检测方法已经成为环境样品标准检测方法之一。免疫检测传感器技术将拓展重金属离子的快速检测的应用空间。功能DNA传感器检测的研究为重金属离子的快速检测提供了新的技术手段,但是这些仅限于实验室研究,还没有达到实际应用的水平。     

Ti/SnO2-Sb2O5/PbO2阳极电化学氧化降解苯甲酸研究

文章研究了TI/SnO2-Sb2O5/Pbo2在两室电解池中氧化降解苯甲酸的性能,主要考察了电流密度、初始pH值、初始苯甲酸浓度和支持电解质这四个参数对TOC去除效率的影响。实验表明在电流密度为30 mA/cm2,初始苯甲酸浓度为0.5 mmol/L,支持电解质(Na2SO4)为0.1mol/L的条件下,经过6 h反应...     

水华蓝藻生物质对Cu~(2+)的吸附动力学及吸附平衡研究

文章初步研究了水华蓝藻生物质对重金属离子Cu2+的吸附特性,包括生物吸附动力学和吸附等温线。生物吸附动力学结果表明,Cu2+的生物吸附可分为两个阶段,第一个阶段能较快地达到平衡,而之后的阶段进行缓慢。透析袋处理的蓝藻生物质在不同pH(3,4,5,6)的铜离子溶液条件下,吸附效率依次为62.4%,78.1%,71.2%,60.35%,吸附最大值为7.81 mg/g。水华蓝藻生物质对Cu2+的生物吸附平衡等温线可以用Freundlich模型精确拟合。水华蓝藻生物质在处理低浓度的含Cu2+废水方面有潜力。湖泊富营养化的优势在于产生低成本的、大量的、可收集的水华,这说明自然环境中的藻类资源如蓝藻水华生物质,可能作为商业中使用的生物吸附剂。     

承德市室内环境质量污染现状调查与研究

对承德市160家宾馆、饭店、歌舞厅等公共场所,80个民用建筑工程项目,80余家个人家庭装修进行室内环境检测,发现不同场所室内主要超标污染物不同,新建公共场所主要超标污染物为挥发性有机物、甲醛;已建成的重点公共场所空气超标污染物主要为茵落总数和CO2;民用建筑工程超标污染物主要为氨、甲醛;个人家装超标污染物主要为总挥发性有机物,甲醛。