Model Evaluation of Dry Deposition to Vegetation for Volatile and Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds in a Multimedia Environment

Gas-phase atmospheric deposition wasevaluated in a screening level model of themultimedia environmental distribution of toxics(MEND-TOX). Algorithmic additions to MEND-TOXfor the estimation of gas-phase depositionvelocity over vegetated surfaces were analyzedusing recently published dry deposition fluxmeasurements for nitric acid. Model outputs arecompared to similar estimates from the NOAAmultilayer dry deposition model. Results of theevaluation indicate that MEND-TOX performs wellas a screening level model for the estimation ofgas-phase dry deposition velocity of nitric acidover soybeans. The present study expandsprevious laboratory results for organic speciesto include an inorganic species and open fieldand dry leaf, conditions.(On assignment to the National Exposure Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency); (author for correspondence, e-mail     

长期有机无机肥配合施用土壤中添加不同肥料养分后土壤微生物短期变化

为了阐明改变肥料养分投入后土壤微生物特性的短期变化,采集长期定位有机无机肥配施的红壤水稻土,通过室内培育试验,观测添加不同肥料养分后土壤微生物生物量碳及BIOLOG群落功能多样性的变化.结果表明,长期有机无机肥配施土壤中添加无机肥料养分短期内( 185 d)降低了15％～22％的微生物生物量碳含量和55.6％的微生物群落平均光密度；添加有机肥料养分短期内提高了8％～42％的微生物生物量碳含量和992％的微生物群落平均光密度；而不添加肥料养分短期内提高了501％的微生物群落平均光密度,降低了微生物群落均一性,但对微生物生物量碳含量影响不大.此外,添加不同肥料养分均改变了土壤微生物群落碳源代谢模式.长期配施有机无机肥土壤中添加不同肥料养分后土壤微生物生态特征发生明显变化,其差异体现在微生物生物量碳与微生物碳源利用特性的变化上.     

First-trimester screening: dealing with the fall-out

The articles collected together in this issue describe first-trimester screening for a variety of complications. With the advance of both technology and research, early pregnancy screening is becoming ever more sophisticated and complex. While there are clear benefits to most women receiving early reassurance that their baby is developing as expected, there is no evidence to suggest that an earlier prenatal diagnosis has less long-term emotional impact than at later gestations. The poignancy of ultrasound images for many parents means that it can be especially difficult to manage the anxiety when an ultrasound marker is highlighted as potential cause for concern. They can then face a journey of anxiety-laden uncertainty, which can extend through much of the pregnancy, and even beyond. Professionals involved in screening need to recognise and acknowledge such adverse side-effects and develop the skills necessary to help parents understand and cope with the uncertainties inherent in the process. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Application of next-generation sequencing technologies to conservation of wood-inhabiting fungi

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has significantly increased knowledge of microbial communities and their distribution. However, it is still not common to apply NGS technology to microbial conservation. We sought to use NGS technologies to evaluate conservation strategies for wood-inhabiting fungi. Evaluating a deadwood experiment 3 years after it was established, we specifically examined which tree species combinations promoted the highest richness of wood-inhabiting fungi. Deadwood enrichment was an effective strategy and logs of 6 tree species, either those with the highest wood-inhabiting fungal α and γ diversity or those with the highest β diversity, maintained >1,000 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) spread over a wide range of taxonomic groups. In comparison, a conservation strategy based only on the results of sporocarp surveys yielded 591 OTUs. This result highlights the need to use NGS approaches to inform microbial conservation strategies. We also determined that 5 tree species with the highest saproxylic beetle γ diversity simultaneously conserved wood-inhabiting fungi. Apart from deadwood volume, we suggest data on deadwood quality and species also be included as indicators, especially for wood-inhabiting fungal diversity, and incorporated quickly in forest assessment and monitoring systems in Central Europe.