Computer simulations of terrestrial carbon and atmospheric interactions

Terrestrial carbon modelling shows that the Goudriaan and Ketner and Esser simulations fit historical data well, but the results are sensitive to the decomposition rate coefficient of old sediment carbon. Modification of this rate constant over time, weighted by emission increases or linear increases, changes the model results to fit historic ice core data. Very old sediment carbon decomposition has an effect on the model postdictions only when the rate constant is 10 times greater than that predicted from sediment studies. Future estimates show that a maximum change from agriculture to forest has a small effect on abating emission increases. Controlling emission rates at 5.1 x 10(15) g C/a will result in almost a 50% increase in atmospheric CO(2) in 200 years, and reducing emission rates to 1960 levels (approximately 2.5 x 10(15) g C/a) immediately will still result in an increase in atmospheric CO(2).     

甲醛诱导哮喘的一种分子机理：对GSNO还原酶的上调作用

为了研究气态甲醛对GSNO还原酶(GSNOR)的上调作用是否通过GSH途径,以昆明雄性小鼠为实验材料,采用动态吸入染毒方式,检测了0、3.0mg·m-3甲醛暴露小鼠以及3.0mg·m-3甲醛暴露同时腹腔注射α-硫辛酸小鼠的肺泡灌洗液中GSH浓度和GSNOR活力.结果表明,3.0mg·m-3甲醛暴露小鼠与对照组小鼠相比,其肺泡灌洗液中GSNOR活力极显著上升(p<0.01),同时GSH浓度极显著下降(p<0.01);α-硫辛酸注射组小鼠肺泡灌洗液中GSNOR活力较3.0mg·m-3甲醛暴露小鼠有极显著下降(p<0.01),同时GSH浓度极显著上升(p<0.01).甲醛暴露下,GSNOR与GSH呈相反的变化趋势.以上结果表明,气态甲醛可以通过GSH途径调节GSNOR表达.甲醛对GSNOR的上调作用可能是通过诱导氧化胁迫进行的,这可能是理解GSNOR在气道中调控的基础.     

Garden sharing and garden stealing in fungus-growing ants

 Fungi cultivated by fungus-growing ants (Attini: Formicidae) are passed on between generations by transfer from maternal to offspring nest (vertical transmission within ant species). However, recent phylogenetic analyses revealed that cultivars are occasionally also transferred between attine species. The reasons for such lateral cultivar transfers are unknown. To investigate whether garden loss may induce ants to obtain a replacement cultivar from a neighboring colony (lateral cultivar transfer), pairs of queenright colonies of two Cyphomyrmex species were set up in two conjoined chambers; the garden of one colony was then removed to simulate the total crop loss that occurs naturally when pathogens devastate gardens. Garden-deprived colonies regained cultivars through one of three mechanisms: joining of a neighboring colony and cooperation in a common garden; stealing of a neighbor's garden; or aggressive usurpation of a neighbor's garden. Because pathogens frequently devastate attine gardens under natural conditions, garden joining, stealing and usurpation emerge as critical behavioral adaptations to survive garden catastrophes. Received: 16 June 2000 / Accepted in revised form: 14 September 2000     

腐殖酸负载羟基磷灰石对废水中Cd2+吸附性能的影响

以硝酸钙、磷酸氢二铵和腐殖酸为原料,制备了腐殖酸负载羟基磷灰石(HA/HAP)复合吸附剂.同时,利用SEM、BET、FT-IR、XRD对复合吸附剂结构和形貌进行表征,研究了HA/HAP对废水中Cd~(2+)的吸附工艺.结果表明,腐殖酸使羟基磷灰石孔容和孔径增大、比表面积减小,从而提高了羟基磷灰石的吸附性能.在pH=6、吸附剂投加量为800 mg、接触时间为180 min时吸附率最佳,为98.3%.HA/HAP对废水中Cd~(2+)的吸附是自发的、吸热的、可持续的化学吸附,反应前120 min适合采用准一级动力学伴随着内扩散模型描述,后120 min适合采用准二级动力学伴随着内扩散模型描述,Dubinin-Radushkevich(D-R)等温线模型拟合的吸附数据在不同温度下效果最好(R~20.98),吸附量分别为259.15、266.05和264.66 mg·g~(-1).研究表明,静电吸附到腐殖酸活性位点后Cd~(2+)主要以络合反应被吸附到羟基磷灰石的表面和两个羟基中间.     

Purification and biochemical characterization of recombinant alcohol dehydrogenase from the psychrophilic bacterium <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">frederiksbergensis</Emphasis>

A gram-negative psychrophilic bacterium, with potential for biodegradation of long-chain n-alkanes was isolated from ice samples collected in Spitzbergen, Denmark. On the basis of results of biochemical and morphological tests and sequence analysis of 16S rRNA, the strain was identified as Pseudomonas frederiksbergensis. In this work, a short-chain NAD⁺-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase (alcDH) (Accession number: AAR13804) from the P. frederiksbergensis was cloned and transformed in E. coli BL21 (3DE) competent cells. The alcDH activity was highest in the crude extract of cells induced with 1.0 mM IPTG. The recombinant alcDH enzyme was purified to 93.4% homogeneity using three consecutive purification steps including ammonium sulphate, Q-Sepharose Fast Flow column and gel filtration chromatography employing Superdex 200 10/30 HR column. Enzyme enrichment and yield levels of 31.4 folds and 25.5%, respectively, were achieved. While the subunit molecular mass of the enzyme was determined on SDS-PAGE to be ~38 kDa, the aggregated native form of the enzyme had a molecular mass of ~238 kDa by gel filtration analysis. Reaction conditions optima for the recombinant alcDH were determined with propan-1-ol as the substrate. While the optimum pH was 9, the optimum temperature was 35 °C. The alcDH enzyme exhibited moderate thermal stability with half-lives of 150 min at 55 °C, 27 min at 65 °C and 8 min at 75 °C. Results for kinetic parameters indicated that the apparent K _m value for alcDH with propan-1-ol as the substrate was found to be 1.42 mM and the V _max value was 0.63 mmol mg⁻¹ min⁻¹. Experimental evidence revealed that the recombinant alcDH exhibited a wide range of substrate specificity, with higher levels of specific activity for aliphatic alcohols as compared to secondary alcohols. Taken together, the present study highlights the potential of alcDH as a member of cold-adapted enzymes in several key biotechnological applications including environmental bioremediation and biotransformations. It is envisaged that, with the ongoing screening of microorganisms and metagenomes, directed evolution approaches and the subsequent overexpression of recombinant proteins, more enzymes will be found that are suitable for bioremediation purposes.     

TCE plume remediation via ISCR‐enhanced bioremediation utilizing EHC® and KB‐1®

Groundwater below an operating manufacturing facility in Portland, Oregon, was impacted by chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs), with concentrations indicative of a dense, nonaqueous‐phase liquid (DNAPL) release. The downgradient plume stretched under the adjacent Willamette River, intersecting zones of legacy impacts from a former manufactured gas plant (MGP). An evaluation of source‐area and downgradient plume treatment remedies identified in situ bioremediation as most likely to be effective for the CVOC plume, while leaving the legacy impacts for other responsible parties. With multiple commercially available products to choose from, the team developed and implemented a bench test to identify the most appropriate technology, which was further evaluated in a field pilot study. The results of the testing demonstrated conclusively that bioremediation enhanced by in situ chemical reduction (ISCR) using EHC® and KB‐1® was most appropriate for this site, providing outstanding results. The following describes the implementation and results of the tests. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

分布式光纤传感器用于桥梁和路面的健康监测

介绍了两类先进的分布式光纤传感器技术,即光纤光栅(FBG)和布里渊光时域反射计(BOTDR);分别在 T型RC简支梁和连续配筋混凝土路面(CRCP)中布置了FBG和BOTDR分布式光纤传感系统,对简支梁混凝土动、静应变以及路面板中连续钢筋和混凝土应变进行了实时监测。研究结果表明,FBG和 BOTDR在桥梁和路面等一些土木工程结构的健康监测中具有重要的应用前景。     

土壤水分对土壤中硝态氮水平运移的影响

对硝态氮示踪的风沙土和黄潮土中水分及其扩散率进行了研究.结果表明,硝态氮水平运移速率受土壤含水量的影响较大,并随土壤含水量增加而增加.硝态氮水平运移速率随土壤水分扩散率的变化呈指数曲线变化趋势.硝态氮水平运移浓度随土壤含水量的增加而减少,并呈幂函数曲线变化,硝态氮水平运移浓度与含水量的相关系数达到极显著水平.硝态氮水平运移浓度还受到土壤水分扩散率的影响,随土壤水扩散率的升高而下降,并在湿润锋(土壤干湿交界)面上达到最大值.     

基于SCS模型的跨界小流域物质通量估算

为研究无观察资料跨界小流域的降雨－径流过程,物质通量及生态补偿问题,采用SCS(Soil Conservation Service)模型计算东莞石马河流域的月径流量,通过分析不同断面水样化学指标并结合径流量,估算了2012年石马河主要物质通量以及不同行政区污染物贡献百分比.结果表明,石马河流域最大月径流量出现在2008年6月,为9.12×108m3,最小值为8.61×106m3;不同时期的流域水质污染类型差异显著,2012年2月的水样重金属Mn、Zn、Cu和Fe的浓度范围分别为0.38~0.75、0.09~0.49、n.d.~0.09和0.55~9.86mg/L,6和11月则受N和P的污染,TN和TP浓度范围分别为6.66~30.05mg/L和0.05~2.49mg/L;2012年石马河重金属、N和P通量为318.16、12029和203.35t;在3次调查中,行政区对石马河N和P贡献率为惠州(59.78%和45.22%)>东莞(35.50%和38.92%)>深圳(4.71%和15.86%),重金属平均贡献率的排序为东莞(43.90%)>惠州(42.57%)>深圳(13.52%).