Quantifying the efficiency of soil sampling designs: A multivariate approach

The objective of this paper is to quantify and compare the loss functions of the standard two-stage design and its composite sample alternative in the context of multivariate soil sampling. The loss function is defined (conceptually) as the ratio of cost over information and measures design inefficiency. The efficiency of the design is the reciprocal of the loss function. The focus of this paper is twofold: (a) we define a measure of multivariate information using the Kullback013;Leibler distance, and (b) we derive the variance-covariance structure for two soil sampling designs: a standard two-stage design and its composite sample counterpart. Randomness in the mass of soil samples is taken into account in both designs. A pilot study in Slovenia is used to demonstrate the calculations of the loss function and to compare the efficiency of the two designs. The results show that the composite sample design is more efficient than the two-stage design. The efficiency ratio is 1.3 for pH, 2.0 for C, 2.1 for N, and 2.5 for CEC. The multivariate efficiency ratio is 2.3. These ratios primarily reflect cost ratios; influence of the information is small.     

Is there a relationship between soil and groundwater toxicity?

Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 requires environmental regulators to assess the risk of contaminants leaching from soils into groundwater (DETR, 1999). This newly introduced legislation assumes a link between soil and groundwater chemistry, in which rainwater leaches contaminants from soil into the saturated zone. As the toxicity of both groundwater and overlying soils is dependent upon the chemicals present, their partitioning and their bioavailability, similar patterns of soil, leachates and groundwater toxicity should be observed at contaminated sites. Soil and groundwater samples were collected from different contaminated land sites in an urban area, and used to determine relationships between soil chemistry and toxicity, mobility of contaminants, and groundwater chemistry and toxicity. Soils were leached using water to mimic rainfall, and both the soils and leachates tested using bioassays. Soil bioassays were carried out using Eisenia fetida, whilst groundwater and leachates were tested using the Microtox^0"> test system and Daphnia magna 48 h acute tests. Analysis of the bioassay responses demonstrated that a number of the samples were toxic to test organisms, however, there were no significant statistical relationships between soil, groundwater and leachate toxicity. Nor were there significant correlations between soil, leachates and groundwater chemistry.     

The effect of diesel fuel on common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) plants

When petroleum hydrocarbons contaminate soil, the carbon:nitrogen (C:N) ratio of the soil is altered. The added carbon stimulates microbial numbers but causes an imbalance in the C:N ratio which may result in immobilization of soil nitrogen by the microbial biomass, leaving none available for plant growth. As members of Leguminosae fix atmospheric nitrogen to produce their own nitrogen for growth, they may prove more successful at growing on petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated sites. During a wider study on phytoremediation of diesel fuel contaminated soil, particular attention was given to the performance of legumes versus other plant species. During harvesting of pot experiments containing leguminous plants, a recurring difference in the number and formation of root nodules present on control and contaminated Common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) plants was observed. The total number of nodules per plant was significantly reduced in contaminated plants compared to control plants but nodules on contaminated plants were more developed than corresponding nodules on control plants. Plant performance of Common vetch and Westerwold's ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) was compared to illustrate any difference between the ability of legumes and grasses to grow on diesel fuel contaminated soil. Common vetch was less affected by diesel fuel and performed better in low levels of diesel fuel contaminated soil than Westerwold04155k8974/xxlarge8217.gif" alt="rsquo" align="BASELINE" BORDER="0">s ryegrass. The total amount of diesel fuel remaining after 4 months in Common vetch planted soil was slightly less than in Westerwold04155k8974/xxlarge8217.gif" alt="rsquo" align="BASELINE" BORDER="0">s ryegrass planted soil.     

Dynamics of Turbulence in Low-Speed Oscillating Bottom-Boundary Layers of Stratified Basins

This paper focuses on the impact of an oscillating low-speed current on the structure and dynamics of the bottom-boundary layer (BBL) in a small stratified basin. A set of high-resolution current profile measurements in combination with temperature-microstructure measurements were collected during a complete cycle of the internal oscillation (`seiching') in the BBL of Lake Alpnach, Switzerland. It was found that even a relatively long seiching period of 24 hours significantly changed the form of the near-bottom current profiles as well as the dynamics of the turbulent dissipation rate compared to the steady-state law-of-the-wall. A logarithmic fit to the measured current profiles starting at a distance of 0.5 m above the sediment led to inconsistent estimates of both friction velocity and roughness length. Moreover, a phase lag between the current and the turbulent dissipation of 1.5 hours and a persistent maximum in the current profile at a height of 2.5 to 3 m above the sediment were observed. The experimental findings were compared to the results of a k-03x0g82559w35q6/xxlarge949.gif" alt="epsi" align="BASELINE" BORDER="0"> turbulence model and showed good agreement in general. Specifically, the inconsistent logarithmic fitting results and the observed phase lag were reproduced well by the model.     

Dufour’s gland pheromone as a reliable fertility signal among honeybee (Apis mellifera) workers

When a colony becomes queenless and without the possibility of requeening, honeybee workers initiate reproduction and lay male eggs about a week later. Assays in which two bees were confined in a small arena revealed that they establish a reproductive dominance hierarchy, i.e., one worker demonstrates greater ovarian development than her paired bee. Reproductive dominance is independent of relatedness, and can be established between full sisters, cousins, or random nestmates. A social environment, however, is obligatory, as singly housed bees fail to develop ovaries on the same time scale. Allowing varying degrees of social interactions between the paired bees revealed that olfaction of volatile bee compounds, as well as tactile communication, seem to provide the necessary social environment. Ovarian development was accompanied by the production of queen-like Dufour057131uv9102/xxlarge8217.gif" alt="rsquo" align="BASELINE" BORDER="0">s gland secretion in these workers. Especially notable was the increase in the queen-like esters. This increase was tightly linked to ovarian development and not necessarily to the dominance status of the bees in the pair. Thus, the occurrence of queen-like esters can serve as a reliable fertility signal. Advertising ovarian status may recruit helper workers with less developed ovaries (and which are less likely to successfully reproduce before colony breakdown) to assist their nestmates and thereby gain inclusive fitness. Revealing the role of Dufour057131uv9102/xxlarge8217.gif" alt="rsquo" align="BASELINE" BORDER="0">s gland secretion as a fertility signal adds another dimension to our understanding of how queen pheromones operate. The mandibular-gland secretion is a good predictor of dominance hierarchy, being correlated with false-queen characteristics but not fertility, whereas Dufour057131uv9102/xxlarge8217.gif" alt="rsquo" align="BASELINE" BORDER="0">s gland secretion is a good predictor of fertility but not dominance hierarchy.Communicated by R.F.A. Moritz     

钢板力学性能对FLD0影响的试验研究

对上海宝钢公司生产的15种冷轧冲压用钢进行了力学和FLD试验,探讨了σs/σb、δ、n值、r值对成形极限平面应变特征点(FLD0)的影响.研究表明FLD0随σs/σb上升而下降,随着δ、n值、r值的上升而提高.在板材力学性能指标中,n值对FLD0的影响最为显著.     

赤潮防治剂对中国对虾的毒性研究

为研究赤潮防治剂对中国对虾的影响,进行了粘土、Ｃａ（ＣＩＯ）２、ＡＩＣＩ３、ＦｅＣＩ３对中国对虾的毒性实验。结果表明：（１）粘土对对虾基本无毒性;（２）Ｃａ（ＣＩＯ）２在低浓度下对对虾无毒,在高浓度下对对虾有急性和慢性毒性;（３）ＡＩＣＩ３和ＦｅＣＩ３在对虾体内有一定的积累,但其毒性效应有待于进一步分析。     

恶臭假单胞菌原位还原Pd(0) NPs对微生物电子传递性能及活性的影响

微生物原位合成零价金属纳米颗粒在材料合成和环境应用领域引起了广泛关注和研究.本研究利用Pseudomonas putida(P.putida)合成Pd(0)纳米颗粒(NPs),通过FESEM、TEM、XPS等对合成的纳米颗粒进行形貌、价态表征,并对其电化学性能及微生物抑制作用进行分析.结果表明,在厌氧条件下,P.putida在胞外及细胞周质空间可原位合成粒径约10 nm的Pd(0)NPs.CV实验表明,相比P.putida,含Pd(0)NPs的P.putida有更高的氧化还原电流;随着初始反应Pd(Ⅱ)浓度增加至0.07和0.1 mmol·L~(-1),恒电位实验中的乳酸氧化电流分别升至(10.6±5.2)和(22.5±9.7)nA,分别为P.putida((5.7±2.8)nA)的1.85和3.95倍;TTC-ETS和INT-ETS分别提升至89.02和209.09μg·mg~(-1)·h~(-1),分别是P.putida的1.64和1.34倍.以上结果证明了Pd(0)NPs对微生物胞外电子传递(Extracellular Electron Transfer,EET)的正面影响.抑菌圈实验和激光共聚焦图像表明,低量Pd(0)NPs具有较好的生物相容性,过多Pd(Ⅱ)和Pd(0)NPs对微生物有一定的毒性.     

Oxidation state specific analysis of arsenic species in tissues of wild-type and arsenic (+ 3 oxidation state) methyltransferase-knockout mice

Arsenic methyltransferase(As3mt) catalyzes the conversion of inorganic arsenic(i As) to its methylated metabolites, including toxic methylarsonite(MAs~Ⅲ) and dimethylarsinite(DMAs~Ⅲ). Knockout(KO) of As3 mt was shown to reduce the capacity to methylate i As in mice. However, no data are available on the oxidation states of As species in tissues of these mice. Here, we compare the oxidation states of As species in tissues of male C57BL/6 As3mt-KO and wild-type(WT) mice exposed to arsenite(iA s~Ⅲ) in drinking water. WT mice were exposed to50 mg/L As and As3mt-KO mice that cannot tolerate 50 mg/L As were exposed to 0, 15, 20, 25 or30 mg/L As. iA s~Ⅲaccounted for 53% to 74% of total As in liver, pancreas, adipose, lung, heart, and kidney of As3mt-KO mice; tri- and pentavalent methylated arsenicals did not exceed 10% of total As. Tissues of WT mice retained iA s and methylated arsenicals: iA s~Ⅲ, MAs~Ⅲand DMAs~Ⅲ represented 55%‐68% of the total As in the liver, pancreas, and brain. High levels of methylated species, particularly MAs~Ⅲ, were found in the intestine of WT, but not As3mt-KO mice,suggesting that intestinal bacteria are not a major source of methylated As. Blood of WT mice contained significantly higher levels of As than blood of As3mt-KO mice. This study is the first to determine oxidation states of As species in tissues of As3mt-KO mice. Results will help to design studies using WT and As3mt-KO mice to examine the role of iA s methylation in adverse effects of iA s exposure.     

Rapid degradation of dyes in water by magnetic Fe/Fe3O4/graphene composites

Magnetic Fe⁰/Fe₃O₄/graphene has been successfully synthesized by a one-step reduction method and investigated in rapid degradation of dyes in this work. The material was characterized by N₂ sorption–desorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), vibrating-sample magnetometer (VSM) measurements and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results indicated that Fe⁰/Fe₃O₄/graphene had a layered structure with Fe crystals highly dispersed in the interlayers of graphene, which could enhance the mass transfer process between Fe⁰/Fe₃O₄/graphene and pollutants. Fe⁰/Fe₃O₄/graphene exhibited ferromagnetism and could be easily separated and re-dispersed for reuse in water. Typical dyes, such as Methyl Orange, Methylene Blue and Crystal Violet, could be decolorized by Fe⁰/Fe₃O₄/graphene rapidly. After 20 0;min, the decolorization efficiencies of methyl orange, methylene blue and crystal violet were 94.78%, 91.60% and 89.07%, respectively. The reaction mechanism of Fe⁰/Fe₃O₄/graphene with dyes mainly included adsorption and enhanced reduction by the composite. Thus, Fe⁰/Fe₃O₄/graphene prepared by the one-step reduction method has excellent performance in removal of dyes in water.