Soil C and N models that integrate microbial diversity

Industrial agriculture is yearly responsible for the loss of 55–100 Pg of historical soil carbon and 9.9 Tg of reactive nitrogen worldwide. Therefore, management practices should be adapted to preserve ecological processes and reduce inputs and environmental impacts. In particular, the management of soil organic matter (SOM) is a key factor influencing C and N cycles. Soil microorganisms play a central role in SOM dynamics. For instance, microbial diversity may explain up to 77 % of carbon mineralisation activities. However, soil microbial diversity is actually rarely taken into account in models of C and N dynamics. Here, we review the influence of microbial diversity on C and N dynamics, and the integration of microbial diversity in soil C and N models. We found that a gain of microbial richness and evenness enhances soil C and N dynamics on the average, though the improvement of C and N dynamics depends on the composition of microbial community. We reviewed 50 models integrating soil microbial diversity. More than 90 % of models integrate microbial diversity with discrete compartments representing conceptual functional groups (64 %) or identified taxonomic groups interacting in a food web (28 %). Half of the models have not been tested against an empirical dataset while the other half mainly consider fixed parameters. This is due to the difficulty to link taxonomic and functional diversity.     

Catalytic activities and mechanism of formaldehyde oxidation over gold supported on MnO<Subscript>2</Subscript> microsphere catalysts at room temperature

MnO₂ microspheres with various surface structures were prepared using the hydrothermal method, and Au/MnO₂ catalysts were synthesized using the sol-gel method. We obtained three MnO₂ microspheres and Au/MnO₂ samples: coherent solid spheres covered with wire-like nanostructures, solid spheres with nanosheets, and hierarchical hollow microspheres with nanoplatelets and nanorods. We investigated the properties and catalytic activities of formaldehyde oxidation at room temperature. Crystalline structures of MnO₂ are the main factor affecting the catalytic activities of these samples, and γ-MnO₂ shows high catalytic performance. The excellent redox properties are responsible for the catalytic ability of γ-MnO₂. The gold-supported interaction can change the redox properties of catalysts and accelerate surface oxygen species transition, which can account for the catalytic activity enhancement of Au/MnO₂. We also studied intermediate species. The dioxymethylene (DOM) and formate species formed on the catalyst surface were considered intermediates, and were ultimately transformed into hydrocarbonate and carbonate and then decomposed into CO₂. A proposed mechanism of formaldehyde oxidation over Au/MnO₂ catalysts was also obtained.     

Trends in the development of Estonian coastal land cover and landscapes caused by natural changes and human impact

The structure of coastal land cover in Estonia is intricate and exhibits considerable differences from site to site. The diverse geomorphology of the seashores is one of the key factors affecting the speed and magnitude of land cover changes. Likewise, the history of human inhabitance on the coast has also shaped the character of land cover. The Estonian coastal zone has experienced abrupt and radical changes in land ownership and its related land use during the last century. The main objectives of this paper are: 1) to give an overview of land use and the trends of development of land cover pattern along different parts of the Estonian coast; and 2) to analyze the relationships of natural and human processes and their cumulative impact on the evolution of coastal land cover pattern in Estonia. This study is based on results obtained during fieldwork in the study areas and on the analysis of large-scale (1:10,000) historical maps. In agriculturally dominant coastal areas, the traditional open landscape of fields and grassland at the beginning of the 20th century had been replaced by woodland and grasslands with shrubs by the start of the 21st century. Expansion of reed beds in areas of former seashore grasslands is another striking phenomenon. The structure of land cover on forested coasts has been fairly stable during the last 100 years. Areas of urban sprawl are characterised by dramatic changes in land cover structure. Rapidly increasing population and expanding settlements imposes on the ecological balance of the fragile dune forests in the coastal zone.     

Chitosan-polypropylene imine dendrimer hybrid: a new ecological biomordant for cochineal dyeing of wool

The classical use of synthetic dyes is causing issues of environmental pollution and heath risk. As a consequence natural dyes are gaining interest, but the use of natural dyes still includes toxic reagents such as metals as mordants and acids to enhance color and yield. Therefore, we designed a new chitosan-polypropylene imine dendrimer hybrid at 0–2000 mg/L to treat wool before dyeing with cochineal. We compared dye exhaustion, color depth, color characteristics, and color fastness of the new process with dyed pristine and metal mordanted wool. Results show that wool pretreatment improved dye exhaustion from 48 to 88 %, shifted saturation point toward lower dye concentration from 3000 to 1000 mg/L, and improved color depth from 13.68 for pristine wool and 15.17 for metal mordanted wool to 23.89 for the new process.     

Feasibility of nanoscale zerovalent iron-loaded sediment-based biochar (nZVI-SBC) for simultaneous removal of nitrate and phosphate: high selectivity toward dinitrogen and synergistic mechanism

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In the process of water treatment, excessive nitrogen and phosphorus pollutants are of great concern. Therefore, we prepared nanoscale zerovalent iron...     

The spatial effect of fiscal decentralization on haze pollution in China

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The fiscal decentralization system under China’s political centralization affects local economic and environmental policies, and thus has an...     

NO2 catalytic formation,consumption, and efflux in various types of diesel particulate filter

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The high NO2/NOX ratio in the after-treatment system is beneficial to its performance and achieved by NO catalytic conversion in diesel oxidation...     

大庆市草原和湖泊生态保护建设研究

通过对大庆草甸草原和湖泊湿地发生发展自然生态过程的分析,以大庆生态环境的整体性特征为基础,提出草甸草原是大庆生态环境的基础,湖泊湿地是大庆生态环境的特色.以保护和恢复为主巩固草原生态基础地位,以生态重建为主突出湖泊湿地特色.对生态功能正常发挥的草原,以生态保护为主,对生态功能退化草原,以生态恢复为主.对油田生产区的草原,重视生态功能和景观效应.以生态重建为主突出湖泊湿地特色,通过地表水结构的调整增加生态系统的活力和生态服务功能.草甸草原和湖泊湿地的保护与利用要扬长补短、协同并进.     

变风量除尘系统在线节能控制技术研究

阐述了变风量除尘系统在线节能研究电气控制部分的设备、软件、控制等内容。根据实验的需求,通过采用变频控制、压力闭环控制、风量闭环控制等技术,实现在线节能技术的自动控制,并对实验数据进行采集,这对于该控制技术扩大到工程应用具有指导意义。     

煤矿甲烷涌出量估算方法及分类涌出系数研究

介绍了煤矿甲烷宏观涌出量的估算方法,选择使用原煤产量法,以煤矿甲烷的相对涌出量为基础,建立了"产量-涌出量函数模型",得到三种不同类型矿井煤矿甲烷的分类涌出系数。