Correlation of PCDD/F and PCB concentrations in soil samples from the Swiss soil monitoring network (NABO) to specific parameters of the observation sites

Concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/F) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) were determined in 23 soil samples collected at reference sites of the Swiss national soil monitoring network (NABO). Total PCDD/F and PCB concentrations are well correlated and proportional (R2=0.720). The total PCDD/F levels were between 72 and 703 ng/kg corresponding to 1.1-11 ng I-TEQ/kg, total PCB concentrations (sum of seven congeners IUPAC no. 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153, and 180) were from 1.1 to 12 microg/kg. In all samples, the PCDD/F and PCB concentrations were in the range of background levels for these contaminants in Central Europe. Ninteen samples revealed PCDD/F levels below the guide value of 5 ng I-TEQ/kg set by the Swiss ordinance relating to impacts on the soil (OIS); concentrations for the remaining four samples were below the trigger value (20 ng I-TEQ/kg). All PCB concentrations were below the guide value of 100 microg/kg. The elevated PCDD/F and PCB levels in some of the samples originating from forested sites could be attributed to the scavenging effect of forest canopies for semivolatile organic compounds. This interpretation could be substantiated by the observed distortion of the congener and homolog patterns of PCDD/F and PCB which is characteristic for forested sites.     

Schwermetallgehalte von Straßenlaub und seine Kompostierung

Loads of Pb, Cd, Ni, Cu and Zn in litter from trees of representative roads in Kiel are analyzed by means of atom-absorption spectroscopy (Chapter 1). The heavy metal loads are far beyond relevant quality measures (Chapter 2). Consequently, the litter-compost could be used for horticulture and need not be stored, for instance, at waste deposits. No statistically significant correlations exists between the litter’s heavy metal loads and boundary conditions such as density of traffic, spatial structure of allocation of buldings, micro-climatic situation, tree species or allocation of streets within Kiel.     

Water management strategies against toxic Microcystis blooms in the Dutch delta.

To prevent flooding of the Dutch delta, former estuaries have been impounded by the building of dams and sluices. Some of these water bodies, however, experience major ecological problems. One of the problem areas is the former Volkerak estuary that was turned into a freshwater lake in 1987. From the early 1990s onward, toxic Microcystis blooms dominate the phytoplankton of the lake every summer. Two management strategies have been suggested to suppress these harmful algal blooms: flushing the lake with fresh water or reintroducing saline water into the lake. This study aims at an advance assessment of these strategies through the development of a mechanistic model of the population dynamics of Microcystis. To calibrate the model, we monitored the benthic and pelagic Microcystis populations in the lake during two years. Field samples of Microcystis were incubated in the laboratory to estimate growth and mortality rates as functions of light, temperature, and salinity. Recruitment and sedimentation rates were measured in the lake, using traps, to quantify benthic-pelagic coupling of the Microcystis populations. The model predicts that flushing with fresh water will suppress Microcystis blooms when the current flushing rate is sufficiently increased. Furthermore, the inlet of saline water will suppress Microcystis blooms for salinities exceeding 14 g/L. Both management options are technically feasible. Our study illustrates that quantitative ecological knowledge can be a helpful tool guiding large-scale water management.     

Evaluation of ionic fluids as lubricants in manufacturing

Ionic fluids are liquid salts that have been investigated for a number of applications, including catalysis, their use as solvents and electrically conducting fluids. Chemically, they consist of ionically bonded species, and depending on the cation and anion, can be extremely valuable in the chemical processing industry. Another characteristic that makes them useful is a high viscosity and good lubrication properties. This paper examines a number of ionic fluids, and determines their suitability as lubricants. This involves determining rheological properties, including viscosity and high-pressure viscosity, generally using a Barus law. In addition, their traction behavior is measured to evaluate their lubricating properties. Since metalworking fluids (and lubricants in general) are used in non-isothermal situations, the thermal conductivity of these fluids have also been measured.     

Mycorrhizal fungal identity and diversity relaxes plant-plant competition

There is a great interest in ecology in understanding the role of soil microbial diversity for plant productivity and coexistence. Recent research has shown increases in species richness of mutualistic soil fungi, the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), to be related to increases in aboveground productivity of plant communities. However, the impact of AMF richness on plant-plant interactions has not been determined. Moreover, it is unknown whether species-rich AMF communities can act as insurance to maintain productivity in a fluctuating environment (e.g., upon changing soil conditions). We tested the impact of four different AMF taxa and of AMF diversity (no AMF, single AMF taxa, and all four together) on competitive interactions between the legume Trifolium pratense and the grass Lolium multiflorum grown under two different soil conditions of low and high sand content. We hypothesized that more diverse mutualistic interactions (e.g., when four AMF taxa are present) can ease competitive effects between plants, increase plant growth, and maintain plant productivity across different soil environments. We used quantitative PCR to verify that AMF taxa inoculated at the beginning of the experiment were still present at the end. The presence of AMF reduced the competitive inequality between the two plant species by reducing the growth suppression of the legume by the grass. High AMF richness enhanced the combined biomass production of the two plant species and the yield of the legume, particularly in the more productive soil with low sand content. In the less productive (high sand content) soil, the single most effective AMF had an equally beneficial effect on plant productivity as the mixture of four AMF. Since contributions of single AMF to plant productivity varied between both soils, higher AMF richness would be required to maintain plant productivity in heterogeneous environments. Overall this work shows that AMF diversity promotes plant productivity and that AMF diversity can act as insurance to sustain plant productivity under changing environmental conditions.     

The reconstitutional performances of the Leptomedusa Campanularia jonstoni

The reconstitutional abilities of the Leptomedusa Campanularia jonstoni (Alder) were studied by means of isolating various regions and sectors of the animals. All such fragments first restore the typical bell-shape by a rapid morphodynamic process, the mechanisms of which are not yet understood. In a second, much slower step, the missing organs such as manubrium, radial and circular canals, tentaces, statocysts and gonads are regenerated to a varying extent. The original radial symmetry is practically never restored. The manubrium plays a key role in these processes. When it is present in the fragment isolated, the regeneration of the peripheral components of the vascular system (radial canals) originates from the manubrium. When the fragment is devoid of a manubrium, the latter is first reconstituted by the subumbrellar tissues including ectoderm and entoderm. Interradial sectors lacking radial and circular canals, as well as a manubrium, are capable of reconstituting a small medusa using exumbrellar and subumbrellar tissues alone. Gonads are regenerated along with the reconstitution of radial canals. The histodynamics of these processes have, so far, not been investigated.     

Biotechnology in Japan and other Asian countries

By combining information about Biotechnology in Japan manually retrieved from Chemical Abstracts (Biochemical Section) with information obtained from Japanese sources, Japanese scientific meetings and from appropriate magazines such as Nikkei Biotech, a basis was formed for a better understanding of the status and perspectives of this field. Through the development of a "biotechnology abstract analyzer" program, these data were further refined and prepared for continuous up-date. Thus, assessment of changes in institute structures and trends in research goals became possible. It is evident that similar procedures can be applied to any field of science in other geographic areas.     

1,2,4-三氯苯矿化菌的鉴定与功能分析

采用同位素示踪法从氯苯污染土壤中筛选到能高效降解1,2,4-三氯苯(1,2,4-TCB)为CO₂的细菌E3和F2,根据其表型特征、16S rDNA序列和荧光原位杂交(FISH)分析,鉴定E3和F2为博德特氏菌（Bordetella sp.）.E3和F2的16S rDNA序列相似性为100%;它们与菌株Bordetella sp. QJ2-5同源性最高,与Bordetella petrii(GDH030510)最接近,同源性分别为100%和99.4%.E3和F2能在含1,2,4-TCB的无机盐培养基中彻底降解1,2,4-TCB生成CO₂,30 d降解率达到90%以上,其中58%和46%矿化为CO₂,同时形成一定量的微生物生物量.