RESEARCH: Shrub Propagation Techniques for Biological Control of Invading Tree Species

Cornus stolonifera, Salix petiolaris, and Spiraea alba clones already located within the corridor of an electrical power line. To establish the efficiency of treatments, we examined the statistical differences of growth traits between species and treatments. An analysis of the effects of layering shows, after the first growth season, differences for all growth traits in only one species, Spiraea alba. After the second growth season, we observed the development of new aerial stems. Layering favors horizontal expansion of shrubs over height development. The third year after treatment, the effect of layering is reduced except for Cornus stolonifera, which continuously increases, as shown by the significant progression of the clone issued from the layer even five years after treatments. With the cutting back technique, we expected a distinct vertical growth of the shrubs at the expense of increasing the crown diameter. This technique would be best associated with the rejuvenation of clones, followed by a layering of new shoots to allow a horizontal expansion of the shrubs. Therefore, the formation of a dense shrub community by layering should be considered a valuable approach for the biological control of undesirable trees in powerline rights-of-way.     

Citrulline in amniotic fluid and the prenatal diagnosis of citrullinemia

We report relatively high citrulline concentration in amniotic fluid of a citrullinemic fetus suggesting that prenatal detection of this condition could be done on this basis in conjunction with a direct or an indirect determination of argininosuccinate synthetase activity in amniotic fluid cells.     

湖南罕见的一次低温雨雪冰冻灾害天气分析及预警预报

2008年1月中旬至2月初,湖南出现历史上罕见的低温、雨雪、冰冻灾害天气。对此次冰冻灾害进行了分析并与历史同期进行了比较,结果表明：此次冰冻灾害天气的主要特征是影响范围广、持续时间长、灾害强度大。＂拉尼娜＂事件和大气环流异常为此次持续的灾害性天气提供了重要的气候背景,在此背景下欧亚大气环流的持续稳定则是此次湖南持续低温雨雪灾害的直接原因。通过对这次冰冻灾害的成因分析,得出了冰冻预报的着眼点,提出了各级气象台站如何做好预报预警服务的基本思路,为冰冻灾害天气的准确预报、预警服务提供参考,对各级台站重大灾害性天气的预报服务和应急响应,具有重要的指导意义。     

Dissolved organic matter fractions formed during composting of winery and distillery residues: evaluation of the process by fluorescence excitation-emission matrix

The aim of the present paper is to assess the maturity degree reached by different samples of several mixtures from winery and distillery residues composted using the Rutgers composting system, by means of excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy. The composts were sampled once a week for about 200d. EEM spectra indicate the presence of different fluorophores. The fluorescence intensities of these peaks show trends related to the maturity of the composting samples selected. The "contour density" of EEM maps is strongly modified through time. We have used the quantitative method of fluorescence regional integration (FRI). The EEMs were delineated into five excitation-emission regions. The degree of compost maturity could be correlated with the percentage of the volumetric integration under the EEM within each region. Further refinement of these techniques should provide a relatively rapid method for assessing the suitability of the compost to soil application.     

Comparison of Soil Extraction Isotherms of Soil Samples Saturated With Nonpolar Liquids

In multiphase systems capillary pressures play a significant role on fluid movement and retention. The facility to predict the effect of different thermal remediation strategies requires the knowledge of the effect of temperature on capillary pressure-saturation relationships in the soils. The objective of recent study was (a) to develop a technique for routinely measuring the pressure-saturation curves of soil samples saturated with a nonpolar liquid at different regulated temperatures (b) to build a database using the measured pressure-saturation curves and the physical, chemical properties of the model soils (c) to establish the dependence of nonaqueous phase liquid retention on the soil properties and the temperature. The retention curves (extraction isotherms) with nonaqueous phase liquid were determined using a modified pressure plate extractor. The wetting phase was a non-aromatic hydrocarbon distillation product. Pressure plates were designed and constructed in the laboratory of our department. The temperature was held constant at 20, 40 and 60 ^∘C. Statistical analysis was performed involving selected soil parameters and the measured nonaqueous phase liquid retention data. The results show that knowing some easily measurable soil parameters (bulk density, particle size distribution, humus and lime content) we can estimate the nonaqueous phase liquid retention of the soils. The measured “extraction isotherms” provide essential information about the temperature-dependency of pressure-saturation curves.     

基于决策树的辽宁省北部沙漠化信息提取研究

以沙漠化问题较突出的辽宁省北部地区为例,选取2007年Landsat 5 TM遥感影像作为基本数据源,通过对影像中耕地、林地、草地、水域等常见地物及典型沙漠化土地进行光谱特征分析和波段间的相互运算,将修改型土壤调整植被指数（MSAVI）、归一化差异水体指数（NDWI）和遥感图像缨帽变换后的土壤亮度指数（SBI）、绿度植被指数（GVI）及湿度指数（WVI）等特征变量融入决策树分类模型后进行分层分离,从而实现对沙漠化信息的高精度提取。结果显示,决策树分类法可排除提取地物时的干扰信息,是保证沙漠化土地信息快速自动提取的方法之一。