A proteomic approach to the study of the marine mussels Mytilus edulis and M. galloprovincialis

In this study, a proteomic approach was applied for the generation of reference maps and subsequently to detect, quantify and compare the global protein expression between two related species of marine mussels, Mytilus edulis and Mytilus galloprovincialis, growing in their own geographical habitats. A comparative study of the protein profiles generated from analytical two-dimensional electrophoresis gels was performed, and changes in protein expression were analysed quantitatively by computer analysis. An average of 1,278 spots per gel was detected in 16 individuals (8 M. edulis and 8 M. galloprovincialis); however, not all spots were included in the study. Expression of 420 spots was compared, and significant differences in the intensity levels were detected in 37 protein spots (8.8%). Fifteen proteins showed higher expression in M. edulis, and 22 proteins, in M. galloprovincialis. The technique of peptide mass fingerprinting using MALDI-TOF (matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation/time-of-flight) and/or nanoelectrospray double subfragmentation mass spectrometry enabled the unambiguous identification of 15 of these 37 differentially expressed proteins. Most of the identified proteins can be grouped basically into four broad functional classes: cytoskeletal and myofibrillar proteins, proteins associated with stress response, proteins associated with the storage or production of energy, and proteins related to rearrangement in the synthesis of native structures. These results expand our understanding of the molecular differentiation of the two mussel taxa and serve as a useful base for future ecological, physiological and genetic studies.     

Formation of initial daily increments in sagittal otoliths of reared and wild Sardina pilchardus yolk-sac larvae

Daily deposition of growth increments in sagittal otoliths of reared and wild Sardina pilchardus (Walbaum, 1792) larvae from hatching to complete yolk-sac absorption is reported. Increments laid down prior to hatching were observed. A distinct growth increment, 1 m wide and located 5 to 7 m from the focus is laid down on the day of hatching. Subsequently, narrower increments (<1 m) are laid down daily throughout the yolk-sac stage. Measurements were made on the maximum radius of the sagittal otoliths of two groups of larvae: 83 larvae reared from fertilized eggs sampled from Ría de Muros (NW Spain), and 239 wild individuals sampled along the northern coasts of the Iberian peninsula. Counting of daily ring increments can provide a direct and valid estimation of larval age without the necessity for later correction.     

上海佘山国家森林公园空气负离子动态及其主要影响因子

以上海佘山国家森林公园为研究地,通过定点观测,对比分析了林内与空地的空气负离子在日变化和季节变化上的规律。研究结果表明:在一日内的上午、中午、下午3个时段,林内与空地的空气负离子浓度和安培空气离子评价系数(CI)值均无显著性差异;而在这3个时段,林内的空气负离子浓度和CI值均显著高于空地;季节上,林内与空地的负离子浓度、CI值以及空气清洁程度均为夏秋季大于春季大于冬季,林内和空地在夏秋两季负离子浓度和CI值都显著大于空地。同时林内的空气清洁程度在4个季节皆高于空地。通过多元回归分析得出,总悬浮颗粒物(TSP)是影响夏秋两季林内负离子浓度和CI值的主要影响因素;相对湿度是影响夏秋两季空地空气负离子浓度和CI值的主要影响因素。     

河西走廊石羊河下游地区盐碱土中放线菌多样性

为了解甘肃省河西走廊石羊河流域地区盐碱土中放线菌种群结构及多样性,采用非培养法对河西走廊石羊河下游流域的3种不同类型土样(原生盐碱土、次生盐碱土和农田土)的总DNA进行提取,用放线菌特异性引物对16S rRNA基因进行扩增,构建放线菌16S rRNA克隆文库.用HaeⅢ和HhaⅠ两种限制性内切酶对阳性克隆子进行16S rDNA扩增片段限制性内切酶分析(Amplifed Ribosomal DNA Restriction Analysis,ARDRA),提取酶切带型不同的菌液进行测序,构建其系统发育树并进行多样性指数分析.结果显示:原生盐碱土克隆文库中90个阳性克隆分归于20个OTUs,分属于微球菌科(Micrococcaceae)、中村氏菌科(Nakamurellaceae)、类诺卡氏菌科(Nocardioidaceae)、链霉菌科(Streptomycetaceae)、棒状杆菌科(Corynebacteriaceae)、诺卡氏菌科(Nocardiaceae)和未知类群;次生盐碱土克隆文库中98个阳性克隆分归于32个OTUs,分属于纤维素单胞菌科(Cellulomonadaceae)、微球菌科(Micrococcaceae)、地嗜皮菌科(Geodermatophilaceae)、类诺卡氏菌科(Nocardioidaceae)、小单孢菌科(Micromonosporaceae)、伪诺卡氏菌科(Pseudonocardiaceae)、链霉菌科(Streptomycetaceae)、链孢囊菌科(Streptosporangiaceae)、高温单孢菌科(Thermomonosporaceae)、动孢囊菌科(Kineosporiaceae)、糖霉菌科(Glycomycetaceae)和未知类群;农田土克隆文库中98个阳性克隆分归于10个OTUs,分属于微球菌科(Micrococcaceae)、博戈里亚湖菌科(Bogoriellaceae)、地嗜皮菌科(Geodermatophilaceae)、中村氏菌科(Nakamurellaceae)、类诺卡氏菌科(Nocardioidaceae)和未知类群.其中,微球菌亚目(Micrococcineae)是3种不同类型土壤中的优势类群.多样性指数和稀释性曲线分析结果显示,3种不同类型土壤中放线菌多样性为次生盐碱土>原生盐碱土>农田土.     

滇池流域蔬菜地土壤氮素分布与转移特征

选取滇池流域蔬菜设施保护地油麦菜（Lactuca sativa var.ramosa）种植区进行研究,分为高量组和低量组两个组别进行,每组分别设置9个施肥处理。试验结果表明：土壤总氮在各水平处理之间并没有规律性变化,在垂直梯度上（0-20、20-40、40-60cm）,土壤养分随深度增加而递减;高量组和低量组在生长期和成熟期,土壤总氮积累量和施氮量表现出了显著正向线性相关,相关系数R分别为0.9873、0.9901、0.9881和0.9880;适量施氮,土壤氮积累量表现出减少,而过量施氮则表现出了盈余;高量组氮损失量均大于低量组,且高量组在不同生育期的氮损失量与施氮量表现出极显著的线性正相关,相关系数R分别为0.9823、0.9719。高量组与低量组氮素损失率生长期均高于成熟期,而各处理之间未表现出明显的变化规律,最大损失率为39.79%,在适宜施肥量的处理中,损失率也达到了20%以上。     

Photocatalytic pre-treatment with food-grade TiO2 increases the bioavailability and bioremediation potential of weathered oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico

Using the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico as an impetus, we explored the potential for TiO₂-mediated photocatalytic reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation to increase the bioavailability (solubility) and biodegradability of weathered oil after a spill. Food grade TiO₂, which is FDA approved for use as food additive in the United States, was tested as a photocatalyst for this novel application. Photocatalytic pre-treatment (0.05 wt.% TiO₂, UV irradiation 18 W m^?2, 350–400 nm) for 24 h in a bench top photoreactor increased the soluble organic carbon content of weathered oil by 60%, and enhanced its subsequent biodegradation (measured as O₂ consumption in a respirometer) by 37%. Photocatalytic pre-treatment was also tested outdoors under sunlight illumination, but no significant increase in solubility or biodegradation was observed after 11 d of exposure. Although sunlight irradiation of food-grade TiO₂ generated ROS (assessed by the degradation of 4-chlorophenol as a probe compound), the efficacy of weathered oil pre-treatment was apparently hindered by sinking of the photocatalysts under quiescent conditions and illumination occlusion by the oil. Overall, results indicate that photocatalytic pre-treatment to stimulate bioremediation of weathered oil deserves further consideration, but controlling the buoyancy and surface hydrophobicity of the photocatalysts will be important for future efforts to enable ROS generation in proximity to the target compounds.     

Bottom sediment as a source of organic contaminants in Lake Mead, Nevada, USA

Treated wastewater effluent from Las Vegas, Nevada and surrounding communities’ flow through Las Vegas Wash (LVW) into the Lake Mead National Recreational Area at Las Vegas Bay (LVB). Lake sediment is a likely sink for many hydrophobic synthetic organic compounds (SOCs); however, partitioning between the sediment and the overlying water could result in the sediment acting as a secondary contaminant source. Locating the chemical plumes may be important to understanding possible chemical stressors to aquatic organisms. Passive sampling devices (SPMDs and POCIS) were suspended in LVB at depths of 3.0, 4.7, and 6.7 (lake bottom) meters in June of 2008 to determine the vertical distribution of SOCs in the water column. A custom sediment probe was used to also bury the samplers in the sediment at depths of 0-10, 10-20, and 20-30 cm. The greatest number of detections in samplers buried in the sediment was at the 0-10 cm depth. Concentrations of many hydrophobic SOCs were twice as high at the sediment-water interface than in the mid and upper water column. Many SOCs related to wastewater effluents, including fragrances, insect repellants, sun block agents, and phosphate flame retardants, were found at highest concentrations in the middle and upper water column. There was evidence to suggest that the water infiltrated into the sediment had a different chemical composition than the rest of the water column and could be a potential risk exposure to bottom-dwelling aquatic organisms.     

Characterization of municipal solid waste from the main landfills of Havana city

The city of Havana, the political, administrative and cultural centre of Cuba, is also the centre of many of the economic activities of the nation: industries, services, scientific research and tourism. All of these activities contribute to the generation of municipal solid waste (MSW), which also impact other Cuban cities. Inadequate handling of waste and the lack of appropriate and efficient solutions for its final disposal and treatment increase the risk and possibility of contamination. The main difficulty in the development of a system of management of MSW lies in the lack of knowledge of the chemical composition of the waste that is generated in the country as a whole, and especially in Havana, where solid waste management decisions are made. The present study characterizes MSW in Havana city during 2004. The Calle 100, Guanabacoa and Ocho Vías landfills were selected for physical-chemical characterization of MSW, as they are the three biggest landfills in the city. A total of 16 indicators were measured, and weather conditions were recorded. As a result, the necessary information regarding the physical-chemical composition of the MSW became available for the first time in Cuba. The information is essential for making decisions regarding the management of waste and constitutes a valuable contribution to the Study on Integrated Management Plan of MSW in Havana.     

Factors that affect the quality of the bio-waste fraction of selectively collected solid waste in Catalonia

The present study determines the composition of the bio-waste fraction of waste and establishes correlations between the quality of this fraction and socio-economic/demographic variables. According to the Catalan Waste Agency [Agència de Residus de Catalunya (2004). Statistical data. Available from: ], the quantities of glass, paper/cardboard, light packaging and biodegradable material (those components of municipal waste that can be recovered, and have a separate collection) that were selectively collected in 2004 represent 25.6% by weight of the total municipal waste generated. There is a large spread of values from different cities. It is important to bear in mind that this percentage was calculated using the total weights of all of the materials present in the different bins used for selective solid waste collection, without taking account of the fact that many of these bins contain a certain amount of other, undesirable waste. In order to be able to determine the actual quantities that are recovered, it is necessary to establish the quality of the waste collected. To establish the quality of the waste collected, 350 samples were analysed, corresponding to the bins for the bio-waste fraction of solid waste in 193 different cities in Catalonia. Seven levels of quality were established for the study, depending on the amount of undesirable waste present. The results show certain correlations between the socio-economic/demographic factors studied and the percentage of undesirable waste present in the samples. The correlations presented here are not intended to be predictive, but rather indicative of a tendency, which should help us gain a better understanding of the behaviour of the society studied with respect to the separation of solid household waste at origin.