PTR-MS measurements and analysis of models for the calculation of Henry's law constants of monosulfides and disulfides

Sulfides are known for their strong odor impact even at very low concentrations. Here, we report Henry’s law constants (HLCs) measured at the nanomolar concentration range in water for monosulfides (dimethylsulfide, ethylmethylsulfide, diethylsulfide, allylmethylsulfide) and disulfides (dimethyldisulfide, diethylsulfide, dipropylsulfide) using a dynamic stripping technique coupled to Proton Transfer Reaction-Mass Spectrometry (PTR-MS). The experimental data were compared with literature values and to vapor/solubility calculations and their consistency was confirmed employing the extra-thermodynamic enthalpy-entropy compensation effect. Our experimental data are compatible with reported literature values, and they are typically lower than averaged experimental literature values by about 10%. Critical comparison with other freely available models (modeled vapor/solubility; group and bond additivity methods; Linear Solvation Energy Relationship; SPARC) was performed to validate their applicability to monosulfides and disulfides. Evaluation of theoretical models reveals a large deviation from our measured values by up to four times (in units of M atm⁻¹). Two group contribution models were adjusted in view of the new data, and HLCs for a list of sulfur compounds were calculated. Based on our findings we recommend the evaluation and adaption of theoretical models for monosulfides and disulfides to lower values of solubility and higher values of fugacity.     

氯氰菊酯的酶促降解研究

从氯氰菊酯高效降解真菌镰孢霉属（Fusarium）菌株TS-203中提取了降解酶,研究了降解酶对氯氰菊酯的降解特性。结果表明,胞内酶对氯氰菊酯的降解率高达59．8％,细胞碎片对氯氰菊酯的降解率为47．6％,而由（NH。）：sO。沉淀法提取到的胞外酶对氯氰菊酯的降解率仅为10．3％,由此确定菌株TS-203产生的降解酶为胞内酶。以牛血清白蛋白为标准蛋白测得胞内粗酶液中可溶性蛋白质含量为3．24mg／mL;该酶对氯氰菊酯酶促降解的最适pH为7．0,最适温度为30℃,降解酶的米氏常数K。为6．8120×10^-4mmol／mL,最大反应速度Vmax为1．1799×10^-4mmol／min。研究结果表明,该酶具有较好的热稳定性和pH稳定性,对热和pH均具有较好的耐受力,对氯氰菊酯降解效果较好。     

First trimester serum screening for down's syndrome

Screening for Down's Syndrome has been shown to be effective at 10 weeks of pregnancy. A multicentre study (the First trimester serum screening study) has shown that there are two biochemical markers of choice at this time in pregnancy, namely pregnancy associated placental protein A (PAPP-A) and the free β-sub-unit of human chorionic gonadotrophin (free β-hCG). When used together with maternal age these two biochemical markers have an estimated detection rate of 62% and a 5% false-positive rate. The results are consistent with those obtained from a systematic review of the world literature. Other markers are less predictive of Down's syndrome though there is still some uncertainty over the value of dimeric inhibin-A at 10 weeks of pregnancy. Nuchal translucency measurement, from an ultrasound examination performed at about 10 weeks of pregnancy, is associated with Down's syndrome and is emerging as an important potential screening marker. At present there is uncertainty over its quantitative performance and performance when combined with biochemical markers. The resolution of these issues is currently the subject of active research. Ten week screening for Down's syndrome is an advance that is now technically possible though there is still insufficient information to justify its use in routine screening practice.     

对“三北”防护林体系工程的思考与展望

“三北”防护林体系工程是一项宏伟的工程,她不仅是中国生态环境建设的伟大创举,也是全球生态环境建设的重要组成部分。始于1978年的这项生态工程,23年来累计造林保存面积2203.72×104hm₂,“三北”地区的森林覆盖率已从工程开始实施时的5.05%提高到目前的9%,一些重点地区的区域性防护林体系已初具规模,生态效益、经济效益、社会效益都有了不同程度的提高。这一工程体系突破了传统的单一模式,实行带、片、网相结合,人工造林、飞播造林、封山封沙育林相结合,造(林)、封(育)、管(护)相结合,丰富了防护林体系建设的科学内涵。21世纪前50年是“三北”防护林体系建设的攻坚期,也是决战期,必须重视科技成果的推广运用,加快工程建设步伐,并采取切实措施巩固建设成果。     

中国土地沙漠化、水土流失和盐渍化的原因和驱动力:总体分析

论文收集了102篇沙漠化、79篇水土流失和64篇盐渍化的案例研究(共245篇),运用总体分析方法,把造成3种生态环境问题的因素归结为四类原因(农业扩张、资源利用、基础设施建设和自然因素)和五类驱动因子(经济、制度、技术、文化和人口)。分析结果表明,生态环境问题绝大多数由多因子所引起;在原因层面上,对沙漠化、水土流失和盐渍化案例影响最频繁的因子分别是农业扩张因子(92%)、资源利用因子(90%)和自然因素(86%);从驱动因子的层面上看,对沙漠化、水土流失和盐渍化案例影响最频繁的都是经济因素,影响频率分别为86%、81%和89%;总体来看,在发生生态环境问题的区域中,往往以经济因素的影响最为常见(85%),其次为技术(69%)和人口因素(62%)。因此,不适当地发展经济是造成我国沙漠化、水土流失和盐渍化日益严重的重要原因。     

Brain modulation of Dufour’s gland ester biosynthesis in vitro in the honeybee (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Apis mellifera</Emphasis>)

Caste-specific pheromone biosynthesis is a prerequisite for reproductive skew in the honeybee. Nonetheless, this process is not hardwired but plastic, in that egg-laying workers produce a queen-like pheromone. Studies with Dufour’s gland pheromone revealed that, in vivo, workers’ gland biosynthesis matches the social status of the worker, i.e., sterile workers showed a worker-like pattern whereas fertile workers showed a queen-like pattern (production of the queen-specific esters). However, when incubated in vitro, the gland spontaneously exhibits the queen-like pattern, irrespective of its original worker type, prompting the notion that ester production in workers is under inhibitory control that is queen-dependent. We tested this hypothesis by exposing queen or worker Dufour’s glands in vitro to brain extracts of queens, queenright (sterile) workers and males. Unexpectedly, worker brain extracts activated the queen-like esters biosynthesis in workers’ Dufour’s gland. This stimulation was gender-specific; queen or worker brains demonstrated a stimulatory activity, but male brains did not. Queen gland could not be further stimulated. Bioassays with heated and filtered extracts indicate that the stimulatory brain factor is below 3,000 Da. We suggest that pheromone production in Dufour’s gland is under dual, negative–positive control. Under queenright conditions, the inhibitor is released and blocks ester biosynthesis, whereas under queenless conditions, the activator is released, activating ester biosynthesis in the gland. This is consistent with the hypothesis that queenright workers are unequivocally recognized as non-fertile, whereas queenless workers try to become “false queens” as part of the reproductive competition.     

嘉兴市环境库兹涅茨曲线特征分析

环境库兹涅茨曲线(EKC)暗含了对经济增长和环境之间的发展战略。运用EKC理论模型,对嘉兴市工业"三废"排放量与人均GDP之间关系进行分析,发现工业废水、工业废气、工业固体废弃物排放量与人均GDP之间的关系分别为N型、倒U型左侧上升阶段、倒U型左侧接近拐点,表明嘉兴市经济增长还处在加重环境负担的阶段,还未实现环境与经济的协调发展。引起工业废水、工业废气排放量居高不下的原因分别是嘉兴市产业结构特点和能源结构特点。建议优化产业结构,调整能源结构,推进循环经济发展,争取早日跨越环境库兹涅茨曲线拐点,实现环境经济的协调发展。     

新中国成立至改革开放前我国应对海洋灾害的实践及启示

梳理和总结新中国初期我国应对海洋灾害的实践,有助于我们了解海洋灾害的应对措施并为当今提供借鉴。通过对我国海洋灾害史料的分析和总结,得知从新中国成立至改革开放前这一时期内,"防重于救"是我国应对海洋灾害的的主要指导思想,在海洋灾害预测预警、建设防护性工程、群众自救和政府辅以必要救济等方面发挥了重要作用,并为之后我国应对海洋灾害打下了一定基础。     

中国居民生活碳排放的区域差异及影响因素分析

论文在总结划分居民生活碳排放（HCEs）类别的基础上,以中国HCEs量为测度指标,从时间和空间两个角度对1997-2012年人均HCEs进行分析,同时对2012年人均HCEs的空间格局分布及影响因素进行分析。基本结论如下：根据划分方法,HCEs按照碳排放源可分为直接和间接碳排放;按照基本生活需求可分为基本和发展碳排放;按照人类消费行为可分为交通、居住、食品、商品及服务碳排放五大类。从时间尺度来看,中国各类别人均HCEs均呈现逐年上升趋势。从空间差异来看,1997-2012年,我国各省人均HCEs表现出共同的空间分布特征。从空间格局分布来看,2012年中国人均居民生活碳排放呈现从东到西递减的趋势。从空间计量模型角度看,2012年,人均居民生活基本碳排放比重是影响人均HCEs空间差异的主要驱动因子。此外,各地区人均收入和人均GDP的差异也对人均HCEs的空间差异起到正相关作用。基于对中国人均HCEs的时空格局及影响因素分析,为我国制定碳减排举措提供科学依据并提出有效建议。     

Using a model selection criterion to identify appropriate complexity in aquatic biogeochemical models

Aquatic biogeochemical models are widely used as tools for understanding aquatic ecosystems and predicting their response to various stimuli (e.g., nutrient loading, toxic substances, climate change). Due to the complexity of these systems, such models are often elaborate and include a large number of estimated parameters. However, correspondingly large data sets are rarely available for calibration purposes, leading to models that may be overfit and possess reduced predictive capabilities. We apply, for the first time, information-theoretic model-selection techniques to a set of spatially explicit (1D) algal dynamics models of varying parameter dimension. We demonstrate that increases in complexity tend to produce a better model fit to calibration data, but beyond a certain degree of complexity the benefits of adding parameters are diminished (the risk of overfitting becomes greater). The particular approach taken here is computationally expensive, but several suggestions are made as to how multimodel methods may practically be extended to more sophisticated models.