Morphological characterization of suspended particles under wind-induced disturbance in Taihu Lake, China

Sediments are disturbed by wind frequently, especially in the shallow lakes. The characteristics of resuspended sediment particles in Taihu Lake were studied under different wind velocities. It showed that sediment particles suspended obviously and particle number in overlying water increased directly under high wind-induced disturbance. Suspended solid (SS) concentration was less than 50 mg/l when the wind velocity was below 3.0 m/s, however, it increased to more than 300 mg/l when the wind velocity was 10.0 m/s. Two methods were used to measure the fractal characteristics of particles. One was light scattering and the other was image analysis. The three-dimensional fractal dimensions of suspended particles, measured by light scattering, were between 2.26 and 2.44; correspondingly, the two-dimensional fractal dimensions, calculated by image analysis, were between 1.44 and 1.77. Moreover, the three-dimensional fractal dimensions were directly proportional to two-dimensional fractal dimensions. The characteristic length of particles was calculated by image analysis. The minimum characteristic length was close to 8.5 μm when the wind velocity was 1.5 m/s at 50 cm beneath lake surface, while, the maximum characteristic length was approximate to 24 μm when the wind velocity was 10 m/s at the depth of 150 cm.     

Shape dependence of support for NOx storage and reduction catalysts

Pt/BaO/Al_2O_3 catalysts with different BaO loadings prepared from Al_2O_3 nanorods(Pt/BaO/Al_2O_3-nr) and irregular Al_2O_3 nanoparticles(Pt/BaO/Al_2O_3-np) were investigated for NOx storage and reduction(NSR). The Pt/BaO/Al_2O_3 materials derived from Al_2O_3 nanorods always exhibited much higher NOx storage capacity(NSC) over the whole temperature range of 100–400°C than the corresponding Pt/BaO/Al_2O_3-np samples containing the same BaO loading, giving the maximum NSC value of 966.9 μmol/gcatat 400°C, 1.4 times higher than that of Pt/BaO/Al_2O_3-np. Higher catalytic performance of nanorod-supported NSR samples was also observed during lean-rich cyclic conditions(90 sec vs. 5 sec), giving more than 98% NOx conversion at 300–450°C over the Pt/BaO/Al_2O_3-nr sample with 15% BaO loading. To reveal this dependence on the shape of the support during the NSR process, a series of characterization techniques including the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller(BET) method,X-ray diffraction(XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS), H_2 temperature programmed reduction(H2-TPR), and in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy(DRIFTS) were also conducted. It was found that intimate contact of Ba–Al and Ba–Pt sites was achieved over the Pt/BaO/Al_2O_3 surface when using Al_2O_3-nr as a support.This strong interaction among the multi-components of Pt/BaO/Al_2O_3-nr thus triggered the formation of surface nitrite and nitrate during the lean period, and also accelerated the reverse spillover of ad-NOxspecies onto the Pt surface, enhancing their reduction and leading to high NSR performance.     

用透射电镜研究聚硅氯化铝混凝剂的结构形貌

用透射电镜观察比较了聚硅氯化铝（PASC）与聚合氯化铝（PAC）混凝剂的结构形貌，探讨了碱化度（B）、Al/Si摩尔比、及制备工艺对PASC结构形貌的影响，研究结果表明，PASC较PAC具有更大的聚集度和枝化度，PASC的聚集度随B值的升高和Al/Si摩尔比的降低而增大，共聚法制备的PASC较复合法制备的PASC具有更大的聚集度。     

冬季大气中PM_(10)和PM_(2.5)污染特征及形貌分析

2008年冬季采集大气中PM10和PM2.5样品,利用SPSS软件进行分析。结果表明,PM10质量浓度在92.87～384.7μg/m3之间,平均值为201.09μg/m3,超标率71.43%。PM2.5浓度跨度为57.27～230.21μg/m3,平均值为133.82μg/m3,超标率89.47%。PM10和PM2.5空间分布略有差异。PM2.5/PM10在29.10%～94.76%之间,均值为66.55%。PM2.5与PM10质量浓度之间有显著相关性,相关方程:PM2.5=0.7993×PM10-55.984(R2=0.9524,置信度为95%)。通过颗粒物形貌分析,初步判定冬季大气主要污染源为燃煤和机动车尾气排放。     

Morphological changes at Vellar estuary, India--impact of the December 2004 tsunami

Coastal subsystems formed by interaction of various processes, impacted by natural hazards like tsunami and storms, pose irreversible morphological changes. Vellar estuary, located on the southeast coast of India, with huge sand dunes (of 3-6m height and spread to 560ha) and barrier islands, has undergone extensive morphological changes due to the giant Indian Ocean tsunami that occurred on 26th December 2004. The damage caused by the tsunami has been quantified using extensive field data collected during pre- and post-tsunami periods through Real Time Kinematic GPS (for mapping coastal features and beach profiles) and Geographic Information System (GIS) couple. The tsunami with a wave height as high as 4m not only inundated the entire coastal land up to a maximum of 2km but also eroded the sand dunes and deposited the eroded material at the inlet, which ultimately formed as a vast tidal flat spread over 31ha. The estuary has suffered immensely due to the tsunami especially in terms of (i) loss of natural protection barriers (sand dunes), which made this coastal area more vulnerable to storm attack, and (ii) shallowness of inlet creating hindrance to navigation of fishing vessels. Based on the observations made at Vellar coast and past recovery experiences of tsunami/hurricanes elsewhere in the world, we contend that the morphological loss might take at least two annual cycles to regain its original form and the rebuilding of sand dunes may even take a decade.     

Temporal reproductive isolation and gametic compatibility are evolutionary mechanisms in the<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Acropora humilis</Emphasis> species group (Cnidaria; Scleractinia)

Patterns of interbreeding between individuals are fundamental to the structure and maintenance of evolutionary boundaries between species. In corals, both hybridisation and reproductive isolation appear to be important evolutionary mechanisms. In this study, I examine evolutionary boundaries using morphological, molecular and reproductive criteria within the Acropora humilis species group at Lizard Island on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Five species and seven morphs are recognised on the basis of morphological appearance of features traditionally used to identify corals of the genus Acropora. In a molecular phylogenetic analysis, I examine relationships for the mitochondrial DNAs putative control region, using maximum-parsimony and maximum-likelihood methods. The reproductive criteria explore whether species and morphs are reproductively isolated on the basis of temporal or fertilisation barriers. Timing of gamete maturity is surveyed for each species and morph, from the month prior to and 3 months after the mass spawning. Time of spawning is documented at the levels of night and hour of spawning, and time taken for egg-sperm bundles to separate. Laboratory fertilisation experiments tested the potential of species and morphs to interbreed. High levels of intraspecific and extremely low or zero fertilisation levels between the five species indicated that they are valid species. Based on the combined assessment of morphological, molecular and reproductive criteria, A. humilis and A. gemmifera appear to be the most closely related species, which are most closely related to the remaining species in the following order: A. samoensis, A. monticulosa and A. digitifera. Evidence derived from one or more of these criteria suggest that the morphs (1) are at various stages of divergence from the species with which they share morphological characters, and (2) may indicate possible zones of speciation and hybridisation. Identification of morphs avoided the possibility of taxonomic error and was essential for accurate interpretation of evolutionary boundaries. Confirmation of morphology as an informative character of evolutionary boundaries is of great significance because most coral research projects rely on morphology as the primary tool for identification of species.Communicated by M.S. Johnson, Crawley     

Fungal spores and pollen in particulate matter collected during agricultural activities in the Po Valley (Italy)

Airborne particulate matter (PM) containing fungal spores and pollen grains was sampled within a monitoring campaign of wheat threshing, plowing and sowing agricultural operations. Fungal spores and pollen grains were detected and identified on morphological basis. No studies were previously available about fungal spore and pollen content in agricultural PM in the Po Valley. Sampling was conducted in a Po Valley farmland in Mezzano (Ferrara, Italy). The organic particles collected were examined by scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer. Fungal spores and pollen grains were identified when possible at the level of species. The most frequent components of the organic particles sampled were spores of Aspergillus sp., which could represent a risk of developing allergies and aspergillosis for crop farmers.     

Alterations observed in the endothelial HUVEC cell line exposed to pure Cylindrospermopsin

The cyanobacterial toxin Cylindrospermopsin (CYN) is receiving great interest due to its increasing presence in waterbodies, which has lead to recognize it as a potential threat to drinking water safety. CYN is a potent inhibitor of protein and glutathione synthesis. The present work studies for the first time the effects of CYN in endothelial cells. The basal cytotoxicity endpoints studied at 24 and 48 h were total protein content (PC), neutral red (NR) uptake and the tretazolium salt, MTS, reduction. Moreover, the effect of subcytotoxic concentrations of CYN on the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), the activity of γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (GCS) and glutathione (GSH) content have been investigated. In addition, morphological alterations of HUVEC cells subsequent to CYN exposure were recorded.The cytotoxicity endpoints revealed a decrease in the cellular viability in a time and concentration-dependent way. The most sensitive cytotoxicity endpoint was NR uptake assay, with reductions in cell viability of 95% at 48 h of exposure to 40 μg mL⁻¹ CYN. Intracellular ROS production was increased only at the lowest concentration assayed, while GCS activity and GSH content underwent concentration-dependent enhancements. The most remarkable morphological alterations observed were: nucleolar segregation with altered nuclei, degenerated Golgi apparatus, increases in the presence of granules and apoptosis.     

Retention capacities of several bryophytes for Hg(II) with special reference to the elevation and morphology of moss growth

Hg(II) Retention capacities of nine bryophyte species, collected from Jinfo Mountains (JFM) in Chongqing, China, had been investigated with special reference to the effect of morphology and elevation of moss growth. Results indicated that adsorption capacities of bryophytes for Hg(II) became stronger with the increase of multi-branches and leafy-shoots, as well as the elevation of moss growth, which was observed both in adsorption isotherm and adsorption kinetics experiments. Contrarily, the desorption kinetics showed a decrease tendency with the increase of multi-branches and leafy-shoots and the elevation of moss growth. The results demonstrated that bryophytes with higher multi-branches and leafy-shoots and higher growth elevation had a stronger adsorption capacity and a weaker desorption tendency, and therefore had a stronger retention capacity to Hg(II). The results disclosed the different relative sensitivity and retention capacity of mosses to pollution resulting from heavy metals, due to the differences in growth elevation and morphology. These should be considered when bryophytes were chosen as a tool for biomonitoring materials to environmental pollution, especially caused by Hg(II).     

Using X-ray computed tomography and micro-Raman spectrometry to measure individual particle surface area, volume, and morphology towards investigating atmospheric heterogeneous reactions

Heterogeneous reactions on the aerosol particle surface in the atmosphere play important roles in air pollution, climate change, and global biogeochemical cycles. However, the reported uptake coefficients of heterogeneous reactions usually have large variations and may not be relevant to real atmospheric conditions. One of the major reasons for this is the use of bulk samples in laboratory experiments, while particles in the atmosphere are suspended individually. A number of technologies have been developed recently to study heterogeneous reactions on the surfaces of individual particles. Precise measurements on the reactive surface area, volume, and morphology of individual particles are necessary for calculating the uptake coefficient, quantifying reactants and products, and understanding the reaction mechanism better. In this study, for the first time we used synchrotron radiation X-ray computed tomography(XCT) and micro-Raman spectrometry to measure individual CaCO_3 particle morphology, with sizes ranging from 3.5–6.5 μm. Particle surface area and volume were calculated using a reconstruction method based on software threedimensional(3-D) rendering. The XCT was first validated with high-resolution fieldemission scanning electron microscopy(FE-SEM) to acquire accurate CaCO_3 particle surface area and volume estimates. Our results showed an average difference of only 6.1% in surface area and 3.2% in volume measured either by micro-Raman spectrometry or X-ray tomography. X-ray tomography and FE-SEM can provide more morphological details of individual Ca CO3 particles than micro-Raman spectrometry. This study demonstrated that X-ray computed tomography and micro-Raman spectrometry can precisely measure the surface area, volume, and morphology of an individual particle.