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.     

基于实测的燃煤电厂细颗粒物排放特性分析与研究

选取我国6个有代表性的燃煤电厂对烟尘、PM10和PM2.5的排放情况进行实测,根据所测数据计算各电厂对烟尘、PM10和PM2.5除尘效率以及排放因子,并分析得到其排放特性.6个受检燃煤电厂静电除尘及湿法脱硫设备对烟尘总除尘效率最高为99.88%,最低为99.75%,平均去除率为99.82%;除尘前,烟气中PM10含量范...     

Modeling assessment for ammonium nitrogen recovery from wastewater by chemical precipitation

Chemical precipitation to form magnesium ammonium phosphate (MAP) is an effective technology for recovering ammonium nitrogen (NH4 +-N). In the present research, we investigated the thermodynamic modeling of the PHREEQC program for NH4 +-N recovery to evaluate the effect of reaction factors on MAP precipitation. The case study of NH4 +-N recovery from coking wastewater was conducted to provide a comparison. Response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to assist in understanding the relative significance of reaction factors and the interactive effects of solution conditions. Thermodynamic modeling indicated that the saturation index (SI) of MAP followed a polynomial function of pH. The SI of MAP increased logarithmically with the Mg2+/NH4 + molar ratio (Mg/N) and the initial NH4 +-N concentration (CN), respectively, while it decreased with an increase in Ca2+/NH4 + and CO3 2??/NH4 + molar ratios (Ca/N and CO3 2??/N), respectively. The trends for NH4 +-N removal at different pH and Mg/N levels were similar to the thermodynamic modeling predictions. The RSM analysis indicated that the factors including pH, Mg/N, CN, Ca/N, (Mg/N) (CO3 2??/N), (pH)2, (Mg/N)2, and (CN)2 were significant. Response surface plots were useful for understanding the interaction effects on NH4 +-N recovery.     

小型燃煤工业锅炉NO_x形成与释放规律模拟研究

NOx是我国十二五期间重点控制的污染物,燃煤工业锅炉是其重要来源。为了研究燃煤工业锅炉NOx的形成与释放规律,在实验室模拟了不同煤种的燃烧过程。采用原煤/焦炭燃烧法分别研究挥发分氮和焦炭氮生成NOx的反应,探讨燃料型NOx的形成与释放规律,并解释试验模拟条件下燃煤NOx产污系数和现场实测值的差异。结果表明,试验中烟煤、无烟煤、煤焦的NO转化率平均值分别为25.77%,22.17%和11.98%,产污系数平均值分别为4.31,5.08和2.00kg/t,高于现场实测结果核算值。燃煤工业锅炉NOx以燃料型为主,燃料型NOx的形成和释放是一个复杂的多相反应过程,由挥发分氮的氧化还原反应和焦炭氮的氧化还原反应组成,煤种、温度、空气流量、粒径、氧含量等因素对4种反应各自影响及影响程度并不相同。     

稀释接种法测BOD5考核样品的一些注意点

用稀释接种法测定BOD5时,由于操作繁琐,全部实验时间需要5d,任一环节出现问题都会影响实验结果。在进行考核实验时,由于时间紧,样品量有限,因此每个实验操作步骤都要谨慎仔细。通过实践经验,就BOD,考核实验总结了一些注意点。     

浅谈热泵技术在兖矿集团的应用

通过对兖矿集团所属煤矿供暖小区的现状以及能耗进行调查、分析,本文就如何采用先进的热泵技术,对矿区燃煤小锅炉进行节能技术改造展开探讨,对类似节能改造有较高借鉴作用。     

胞外聚合物磷酸盐形态对生物除磷过程的影响研究

以不同DO条件下污泥龄(SRT)分别为10 d和30 d的两组实验室A/O-SBR反应器活性污泥为研究对象,探讨了胞外聚合物(EPS)磷酸盐形态对生物除磷过程的影响.结果表明,污泥絮体中的磷主要分布于EPS中,PO3-4-P和聚磷酸盐(Poly-P,包括低分子量聚磷酸盐LMW PolyP和高分子量聚磷酸盐HMW Poly-P)是EPS磷的主要形态;EPS对生物除磷的影响明显大于细菌细胞,EPS磷的厌氧降低量和好氧升高量为胞内磷变化量的2.8~6.4倍.EPS中的LMW Poly-P和HMW Poly-P含量均表现厌氧降低和好氧升高的变化规律;对于相同SRT的污泥,中DO(2.5~3.5 mg·L-1)条件较低DO(0.7~1.0 mg·L-1)条件下EPS的LMW Poly-P和HMW Poly-P有更大的厌氧降低量和好氧升高量,对应着更明显的生物除磷过程,说明EPS不仅是生物除磷过程的中转站,而且参与了生物聚磷过程.     

滹沱河冲洪积扇地下水中酞酸酯的污染现状与分布特征

2014年9月采集石家庄地区滹沱河冲洪积扇地下水水样,采用气相色谱-质谱法测定了US EPA优先控制的6种酞酸酯(PAEs),对PAEs分布特征与风险进行了分析.结果表明,研究区内51个点位仅1个点位未检出PAEs,检出的ΣPAEs范围为nd~28 873.1 ng·L~(-1),与国内其他研究区相比,研究区地下水中PAEs污染水平较重.PAEs及各组分的空间分布存在显著差异.3个地下水单元PAEs的平均污染水平总体表现为山间沟谷河谷裂隙孔隙水单元(G1)滹沱河冲洪积扇扇顶部孔隙水单元(G2)滹沱河冲洪积扇扇中部孔隙水单元(G3).在G2、G3单元共计39个点位中,有23个点位地下水中的PAEs以邻苯二甲酸甲酯(DMP)为主,而其余点位均因临近周边污染源,地下水中PAEs含量较高,且以邻苯二甲酸(2-乙基己基)酯(DEHP)、邻苯二甲酸丁酯(DBP)为主.研究区人群饮用受PAEs污染地下水的总非致癌风险指数和总致癌风险指数范围分别为7.6×10-9~1.1×10-2、nd~1.2×10-6,均小于US EPA推荐的可接受的水平,风险较小.     

An estimated 400–800 million tons of prey are annually killed by the global spider community

Spiders have been suspected to be one of the most important groups of natural enemies of insects worldwide. To document the impact of the global spider community as insect predators, we present estimates of the biomass of annually killed insect prey. Our estimates assessed with two different methods suggest that the annual prey kill of the global spider community is in the range of 400–800 million metric tons (fresh weight), with insects and collembolans composing >90% of the captured prey. This equals approximately 1‰ of the global terrestrial net primary production. Spiders associated with forests and grasslands account for >95% of the annual prey kill of the global spider community, whereas spiders in other habitats are rather insignificant contributors over a full year. The spider communities associated with annual crops contribute less than 2% to the global annual prey kill. This, however, can be partly explained by the fact that annual crop fields are “disturbed habitats” with a low buildup of spider biomass and that agrobiont spiders often only kill prey over short time periods in a year. Our estimates are supported by the published results of exclusion experiments, showing that the number of herbivorous/detritivorous insects and collembolans increased significantly after spider removal from experimental plots. The presented estimates of the global annual prey kill and the relative contribution of spider predation in different biomes improve the general understanding of spider ecology and provide a first assessment of the global impact of this very important predator group.