Body-mass-dependent cost of web-building behavior in an orb weaving spider,Zygiella x-notata

In numerous spider species, reproductive success of adult females has been shown to be positively correlated with their body mass. We suggest, however, that spiders may incur greater foraging costs as their body mass increases due to the numerous and complex locomotor bouts needed to build an orb-web. Such a body-mass-dependent cost should, in turn, affect the web-building decisions of spiders. In the laboratory, we tested the influence of body mass on energetic expenditure (measured as mass loss) during web-building behavior in Zygiella x-notata. Our results showed (1) that energetic costs associated with web-building were closely related to body mass and to web-building activity, and (2) that as their body mass increased, spiders reduced the amount of silk used per web, while their foraging effort simultaneously increased. This work gives new insights into web-building behavior and energy allocation strategies of weaving spiders.     

Case report: a prenatal case of Jarcho–Levin syndrome diagnosed during the first trimester of pregnancy

The Jarcho–Levin syndrome is a specific form of spondylocostal/spondylothoracic dysostosis. There have been various classifications of this syndrome. We present the case of a severe prenatal Jarcho–Levin syndrome, diagnosed by ultrasound examination during the first trimester of pregnancy in a family with no previous medical history of an affected child. X-ray exploration, high-resolution spiral computed tomography and autopsy confirmed the diagnosis. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The frontal gland in workers of Neotropical soldierless termites

The presence of the frontal gland is well established in termite soldiers of Rhinotermitidae, Serritermitidae, and Termitidae. It is one of their main defensive adaptations or even an exclusive weapon. The gland was also occasionally reported in alate imagoes, but never in the worker caste. Here, we report the first observation of a frontal gland in workers of several Neotropical and one African species of Apicotermitinae. The ultrastructure of Aparatermes cingulatus and Anoplotermes nr. subterraneus is described in detail. In these two species, the gland is well-developed, functional and consists of class 1 secretory cells. The presence of envelope cells, wrapping the gland, is an unusual feature, as well as the presence of several zonulae adherens, connecting neighbouring glandular cells. The frontal gland of workers is homologous to this organ in soldiers and imagoes, as evidenced by the same position in the head and its connection to the same muscle. However, the defensive role of the frontal gland in workers remains to be confirmed.     

The hunter becomes the hunted: when cleptobiotic insects are captured by their target ants

Here we show that trying to rob prey (cleptobiosis) from a highly specialized predatory ant species is risky. To capture prey, Allomerus decemarticulatus workers build gallery-shaped traps on the stems of their associated myrmecophyte, Hirtella physophora. We wondered whether the frequent presence of immobilized prey on the trap attracted flying cleptoparasites. Nine social wasp species nest in the H. physophora foliage; of the six species studied, only Angiopolybia pallens rob prey from Allomerus colonies. For those H. physophora not sheltering wasps, we noted cleptobiosis by stingless bees (Trigona), social wasps (A. pallens and five Agelaia species), assassin bugs (Reduviidae), and flies. A relationship between the size of the robbers and their rate of capture by ambushing Allomerus workers was established for social wasps; small wasps were easily captured, while the largest never were. Reduviids, which are slow to extract their rostrum from prey, were always captured, while Trigona and flies often escaped. The balance sheet for the ants was positive vis-à-vis the reduviids and four out of the six social wasp species. For the latter, wasps began by cutting up parts of the prey’s abdomen and were captured (or abandoned the prey) before the entire abdomen was retrieved so that the total weight of the captured wasps exceeded that of the prey abdomens. For A. pallens, we show that the number of individuals captured during attempts at cleptobiosis increases with the size of the Allomerus’ prey.     

高铝粉煤灰开发利用的意义及工艺技术对比分析

内蒙古中西部和山西北部等地区的部分煤炭资源中赋存丰富的含铝矿物,用于发电后产生的粉煤灰中氧化铝含量达40-50％,是一种宝贵的具有较高经济开发价值的含铝资源。本文首先介绍了加强高铝粉煤灰资源开发利用的意思及高铝粉煤灰资源现状,然后叙述了目前国内外利用高铝粉煤灰提取氧化铝主要生产工艺及工艺特点,并对不同工艺的能源消耗进行了对比分析。     

Virus Type-Specific Removal in a Full-Scale Membrane Bioreactor Treatment Process

We investigated removal of noroviruses, sapoviruses, and rotaviruses in a full-scale membrane bioreactor (MBR) plant by monitoring virus concentrations in wastewater samples during two gastroenteritis seasons and evaluating the adsorption of viruses to mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS). Sapoviruses and rotaviruses were detected in 25% of MBR effluent samples with log reduction values of 3- and 2-logs in geometric mean concentrations, respectively, while noroviruses were detected in only 6% of the samples. We found that norovirus and sapovirus concentrations in the solid phase of mixed liquor samples were significantly higher than in the liquid phase (P < 0.01, t test), while the concentration of rotaviruses was similar in both phases. The efficiency of adsorption of the rotavirus G1P[8] strain to MLSS was significantly less than norovirus GI.1 and GII.4 and sapovirus GI.2 strains (P < 0.01, t test). Differences in the adsorption of viruses to MLSS may cause virus type-specific removal during the MBR treatment process as shown by this study.     

Organic carbon accumulation capability of two typical tidal wetland soils in Chongming Dongtan, China

We measured organic carbon input and content of soil in two wetland areas of Chongming Dongtan (Yangtze River Estuary) to evaluate variability in organic carbon accumulation capability in di erent wetland soils. Observed di erences were investigated based on the microbial activity and environmental factors of the soil at the two sites. Results showed that the organic carbon content of wetland soil vegetated with Phragmites australis (site A) was markedly lower than that with P. australis and Spartina alterniflora (site B). Sites di erences were due to higher microbial activity at site A, which led to higher soil respiration intensity and greater carbon outputs. This indicated that the capability of organic carbon accumulation of the site B soils was greater than at site A. In addition, petroleum pollution and soil salinity were di erent in the two wetland soils. After bio-remediation, the soil petroleum pollution at site B was reduced to a similar level of site A. However, the culturable microbial biomass and enzyme activity in the remediated soils were also lower than at site A. These results indicated that greater petroleum pollution at site B did not markedly inhibit soil microbial activity. Therefore, di erences in vegetation type and soil salinity were the primary factors responsible for the variation in microbial activity, organic carbon output and organic carbon accumulation capability between site A and site B.     

门头沟煤矿区土壤有机污染特征与微生物特性

以自动索氏提取、GC-MS分析等复合方法体系对煤矿区土壤有机污染物特征、基本理化特性和微生物性质构成的土壤微生态环境进行了研究.结果表明,煤矿区土壤受到了不同程度的有机物污染,其含量分布在0.4～1.5 mg/g干土之间,为同地区背景土样的1.5～6倍.有机污染物中饱和烃和芳香烃等轻质组分含量超过40%,以C15以上的...     

Mechanisms of allicin exposure for the sludge fermentation enhancement: Focusing on the fermentation processes and microbial metabolic traits

As a frequently used product with antimicrobial activity, consumed allicin might be discharged and concentrated in waste-activated sludge (WAS). However, the influence of allicin (as an exogenous pollutant) on WAS fermentation has not been clearly revealed. This study aimed to disclose the impacts of allicin on volatile fatty acid (VFA) generation during WAS fermentation. The results showed that the appropriate presence of allicin (10 mg/g TSS) significantly enhanced the VFA yield (1894 versus 575 mg COD/L in the control) with increased acetate proportion (24.3%). Further exploration found that allicin promoted WAS solubilization, hydrolysis and acidification simultaneously. Metagenomic analysis revealed that the key genes involved in extracellular hydrolysis metabolism (i.e., CAZymes), membrane transport (i.e., gtsA and ytfT), substrate metabolism (i.e., yhdR and pfkC) and fatty acid synthesis (i.e., accA and accD) were all highly expressed. Allicin also induced the bacteria to produce more signalling molecules and regulate cellular functions, thereby enhancing the microbial adaptive and regulatory capacity to the unfavourable environment. Moreover, the variations in fermentative microbes and their contributions to the upregulation of functional genes (i.e., ytfR, gltL, INV, iolD and pflD) for VFA generation were disclosed. Overall, the simultaneous stimulation of functional microbial abundances and metabolic activities contributed to VFA production in allicin-conditioned reactors.     

浅谈环境审计在环境管理体系中的功能定位研究

在新形势下,环境管理制度体系表现出在一定程度上的不适应性.首先,缺乏制度保障,以经济为主的考核机制弱化了政府的生态职能.其次,各项环保制度和工作独立性较强,衔接力度不足,有些地方出现重复管理的现象,必然增加了政府和企业的环境保护成本,没有达到整体监管的效果.环境审计作为一项新型环境管理制度在环境保护工作中作用突出,主要源于环境审计能够更全面、更高效、更系统的对环境资源管理和经营行为进行科学统计评估,是国家环境治理的重要工具.