Aptamers are an innovative and promising tool for phytoplankton taxonomy and biodiversity research

Nucleic acid aptamers are small-size ligands that selectively bind to molecular segments even when they protrude from cell surfaces. Due to their high specificity, aptamers are widely used in biomedical research and as probes for different applications. Here, we tested whether aptamers can also discriminate among phytoplankton cells. As a proof of concept we focused on the widespread centric diatom Leptocylindrus danicus and generated two aptamers that selectively bind to its cell surface. The aptamers did not bind to other diatoms tested, which included both pennate (Pseudo-nitzschia multistriata) and centric (Skeletonema marinoi, Chaetoceros socialis) species. They also showed negative binding to closely related species (Tenuicylindrus belgicus, Leptocylindrus aporus, Leptocylindrus convexus), which are hardly recognizable with microscopy techniques. In addition, aptamers discriminated also among cells of the same clone, suggesting a potential use of aptamers as clone-specific/stage-specific probes to track phytoplankton life stages in their natural environment. While the method still needs to be tested with natural algal samples, it can complement in a unique way the existing approaches to discriminate among species and possibly life stages of marine phytoplankton. The method can find useful application in taxonomic and ecological studies as well as in environmental monitoring including early warning strategies.     

Impact of drought on the ecological and chemical status of surface water and on the content of arsenic and fluoride pollutants of groundwater in the province of Salamanca (Western Spain)

The impact of drought on the ecological and chemical status of surface and groundwaters of the River Tormes (River Duero basin, northwestern Iberian Peninsula) was studied to evaluate the evolution of the quality of the river during its passage through the city of Salamanca (Spain). The Water Quality Index (WQI) of the river revealed that the drought period of 2005 did not significantly affect water chemical quality. However, during the study period differences were found in surface water ecological quality, using phytoplankton quality as AN indicator. These differences may be accentuated as a result of regulation of the River Tormes by the Santa Teresa reservoir. Arsenic and fluoride concentrations were measured in water wells, finding higher arsenic concentrations after the drought period and no correlation between the arsenic and fluoride contents. The results are useful for an overall understanding of potential impact of climate change on the ecological and chemical status of water in regional systems.     

Multi-temporal land use and cover changing analysis: the environmental impact in Mediterranean area

ABSTRACT

Human activity shapes the levels of anthropogenic pressure that depend on the land management method adopted. This has a fundamental role in the transformation of traditional landscapes. This study focuses on a representative region of the Mediterranean area with the objective to analyse the landscape’s dynamics, to detect the spatial arrangement of class patches, to identify the main agroecosystem characters and to provide a framework to assess ecosystems services. In order to assess land use/land cover changes and landscape persistence, the period between 1960 and 2012 was analysed, taking into consideration the years 1960, 2000 and 2012 using comparable land use maps. Land use and land cover analysis show an urban area growth of 24% during 2000–2012 and of 523% over between 1960 and 2012. The very high levels of land abandonment up to the year 2000 (+7216%) have reversed their trend between 2000 and 2012 (?95%). The orchards showed a relevant increase, particularly after 2000, while the vineyards were linked to the highest value of surface erosion (?74%). The outcomes showed that urban settlements can damage the ecological network with negative effects on the landscape’s environmental sustainability in proximity of significant urban centres. Instead, the ecological network is well preserved and highly associated to the agricultural areas when there is the persistence of many land uses and low urban density, despite the presence of dynamic changes.     

林木外生菌根真菌彩色豆马勃巢式PCR检测

为探讨林木外生菌根真菌的分子检测方法,利用真菌通用引物ITS1-F/ITS4-B扩增了外生菌根真菌彩色豆马勃的核糖体DNA内转录间隔区并进行了序列测定.通过序列比较,设计了一对彩色豆马勃特异性引物PtF/PtR.利用该对特异性引物与ITS1-F/ITS4-B组合进行巢式PCR,能从供试的彩色豆马勃10个菌株中特异性地扩增出1条347 bp的条带,而供试的其他6个参比菌株未出现扩增产物.经分析,该巢式PCR检测技术的灵敏度可达到10 fg的DNA,是常规PCR检测的1 000倍.利用该技术从马尾松苗木菌根中检测到目的外生菌根真菌.这表明采用本研究设计的特异性引物,利用巢式PCR技术可以灵敏、准确地从林木外生菌根中检测出彩色豆马勃.     

基于3S技术的青藏公路改建工程环境影响评价方法

通过青藏公路格尔木至拉萨段改建完善工程的环境影响评价实践,凝练出以Landsat7 ETM+、Landsat5 TM、Geoeye等遥感影像为数据源,采用数据融合、GIS空间分析、光谱差值法和目视判读法等方法,对施工前后公路沿线土地利用变化信息进行提取,并构建干扰斑块数量、干扰强度和干扰幅度等评价大型线性工程施工期干扰强度的新指标和新思路.结果表明,研究区域内土地利用类型的变化主要是高寒草甸向裸地或建筑的转变,同时也提取出少量植被恢复斑块.变化斑块集中分布在公路两侧10~50m范围内,对区域干扰幅度较小.通过工程监理与实地考察数据的验证,该方法能准确提取评价区域土地利用变化斑块,提出的干扰指标能有效提高变化信息的分析精度.     

Optimum parameters for fault detection and diagnosis system of batch reaction using multiple neural networks

Batch process usually differs from the continuous process because of its time-varying variables and the process parameters. An early detection and isolation of faults in the process will help to reduce the process upsets and keep it safe and reliable. This paper discusses on the application of multi-layer perceptron neural network in detecting various faults in batch chemical reactor based on an esterification process that involves the reaction of ethanol and acetic acid catalyzed by sulfuric acid. A multi-layer feed forward neural network with double hidden layers has been used in the neural network architecture. The detection was based on the different patterns generated between normal and faulty conditions. An optimum network configuration was found when the network produced the minimal error with respect to the training, testing and data validation.     

棉垛早期阴燃火灾特性及棉花仓库主动吸气式复合探测研究

以棉花仓库消防安全为背景,在火灾探测标准燃烧室内开展了棉花垛早期阴燃特性试验和吸气式复合探测试验研究。分析棉花垛早期阴燃过程中的质量损失、烟气浓度以及图像特征变化,以棉花垛顶部着火为例,归纳了阴燃过程大致包括水平蔓延及竖直蔓延两个阶段,并分析了各阶段特性。利用吸气式复合烟气诊断,分别记录了吸气管道出口的CO体积分数变化以及吸气式探测器的输出信号。结果表明,CO的响应时间明显快于吸气式探测器且几乎不受采样孔位置的影响。由于阴燃温度低,羽流湍浮力相对较弱,而CO气体密度远小于烟颗粒密度,在吸气管道中表现出更好的迁移性。因此,针对大空间棉储仓库,可以采用吸气式感烟火灾探测器与CO气体探测器相结合的复合探测手段,也可以考虑在传统吸气式探测器内部整合CO探测部件以提高探测报警速度,同时有效降低误报、漏报率。     

双管板换热器的设计与制造

根据双管板换热器的结构特点,从设计、制造、监造与使用维护方面全过程要点剖析,对主要重点进行系统性进行阐述,并与业内人士全方位交流与要点探讨。     

采用遗传算法优化气体探测器布局策略研究

石油石化装置具有结构复杂且危险性高的特点,所加工物料多为易燃易爆有毒物质,且工艺单元之间集成度高,一旦发生泄漏若无法及时探测到则易形成气液积聚和火灾爆炸后果强化,装置拥塞度高使人员逃生困难。火气系统FGS作为安全关键系统,其中的气体探测网络如何快速可靠的实现对气体泄漏事件的探测显得尤为重要。已知探测时间,通过引入遗传算法利用其全局搜索的特点克服传统分支定界法的缺点,实现立体空间不同高度下设置探测网络达到场景全覆盖和缩短探测时间,同时求出探测时间附近的多组最优解,为探测器放置提供多种布置方案。通过与传统等间距探测器布置方案比较,从多种布置方案中选择更符合实际的最佳方案。通过海上浮式生产储油船的生产夹板气体探测案例,验证了所提方法的有效性。     

Integrated leakage detection and localization model for gas pipelines based on the acoustic wave method

With the development of natural gas transportation systems, major accidents can result from internal gas leaks in pipelines that transport high-pressure gases. Leaks in pipelines that carry natural gas result in enormous financial loss to the industry and affect public health. Hence, leak detection and localization is a major concern for researchers studying pipeline systems. To ensure the safety and improve the efficiency of pipeline emergency repair, a high-pressure and long-distance circular pipe leakage simulation platform is designed and established by similarity analysis with a field transmission pipeline, and an integrated leakage detection and localization model for gas pipelines is proposed. Given that the spread velocity of acoustic waves in pipelines is related to the properties of the medium, such as pressure, density, specific heat, and so on, this paper proposes a modified acoustic velocity and location formula. An improved wavelet double-threshold de-noising optimization method is also proposed to address the original acoustic wave signal collected by the test platform. Finally, the least squares support vector machine (LS-SVM) method is applied to determine the leakage degree and operation condition. Experimental results show that the integrated model can enhance the accuracy and precision of pipeline leakage detection and localization.