pH track of expanding bacterial populations

A method of pH distribution measurements in agar nutrient media containing expanding bacterial populations is described. It is based on measuring pH microsamples taken at different points of the media. The sample volume was 10 microliters. A pH sensitive field effect transistor was used as a measuring electrode. Acidification was found to occur in glucose media, while alkalization occurred in the media containing peptone.     

Do non‐native species invasions lead to biotic homogenization at small scales? The similarity and functional diversity of habitats compared for alien and native components of Mediterranean floras

Although a number of recent studies have demonstrated biotic homogenization, these have mainly focused on larger spatial scales. Homogenizing effects are equally important at finer resolutions, e.g. through increasing similarity between habitats, which may result in a simplification of ecosystem structure and function. One major cause of homogenization is the expanding ranges of alien species, although it is not clear whether they are inherently homogenizing at smaller scales. We therefore assessed whether the alien flora is less complex across habitats than the resident native flora of Mediterranean Islands. From a regional data base, we examined floristic lists for between‐habitat taxonomic and functional similarity, and within‐habitat functional diversity, using resampled data sets to control for sample size biases. Aliens and natives showed equivalent complexity in most respects. At the taxonomic level, between‐island and between‐habitat similarities were almost identical, and when ecosystem function was measured by a functional group classification system, this was also true of between‐habitat similarities and within‐habitat diversities. When ecosystem function was measured using Grime's CSR classification, aliens were found to be more functionally homogenous between‐habitats and less functionally diverse within habitats. However, since the CSR profiles of aliens and natives differed, simplification is not inevitable due to ecological segregation of the two floras (aliens tend to be recruited to disturbed habitats rather than displacing natives). One deficiency is a lack of large scale species abundance data. A simple simulation exercise indicated that this is likely to lead to substantial overestimation of true levels of similarity, although would only influence the comparison between aliens and natives if they have different abundance distribution curves. The results indicate that alien floras are not intrinsically more simple than natives, but a higher proportion of competitive strategists among aliens may still cause small‐scale homogenization as these include many strong competitors that are likely to dominate communities.     

Ecological risk assessment in a tropical wetland contaminated with gasoline: Tier 1

To assess natural attenuation and the efficiency of remediation actions after more than two years a large accident with gasoline spill contaminated a wetland in a tropical region, an Ecological Risk Assessment based on the Dutch Triad was applied. In total, eight surface water-sampling points were distributed randomly in the affected area and on reference area upstream the contaminated site, with similar ecological characteristics. Risks based on chemical, ecotoxicological, and ecological lines of evidence (LoE) were calculated to integrate the environmental risk indexes. The chemical risk was derived from toxic pressure coefficients based on the total BTEX and naphthalene concentrations. Ecotoxicological LoE based on acute toxicity with Daphnia similis and Aliivibrio fischeri bioassays and chronic toxicity with Desmodesmus subspicatus bioassay contributed to raise uncertainty due to low sensitivity of acute assays. Genotoxicity and endocrine disruption biomarkers of Oreochromis niloticus were used to calculate the Biomarker Stress Index (BSI) assumed as Ecological Risk Index. The integration of the Chemical Risk Index with BSI to estimate the Biological Vulnerability Index allowed a meaningful analysis of the threats to the aquatic ecosystem, thereby supporting managers and decision-makers.     

旋转磁场治疗印^60CO辐射造血损伤小鼠生存分析的实验研究

目的：初步探讨旋转恒定磁场治疗急性骨髓型放射病的效果。方法：BALB／C小鼠按体重随机分为磁疗组和对照组，每组再各分为4组．分别接受0Gy、6．0Gy、8．0Gy、10．0Gy ^60COγ射线全身辐射，照后，对照组不作任何处理，磁疗组接受磁场处理30d，每天2次，每次1．5h，旋转磁场强度为0．6T，比较两组小鼠30d的存活率和存活期。结果：单纯磁场处理对正常小鼠生存状态及存活率无明显影响；10．0Gy组和8．0Gy组小鼠生存率磁疗组与对照组之间比较均无统计学差异（P〉0．05）；6．0Gy组生存率磁疗组和对照组之间比较有统计学差异（P〈0．05），其磁疗组30d平均存活率为71．43％，平均存活期为（24．93±8．43）d，对照组30d平均存活率21．4l％．平均存活期为（17．07±7．70）d。结论：旋转恒定磁场不能提高10．0Gy及8．0Gy剂量所致极重度急性骨髓型放射病小鼠的生存率，但对6．0Gy所致重度急性骨髓型放射病有明显的保护作用，从而为旋转恒定磁场应用于临床治疗重度急性骨髓型放射损伤提供了实验依据。     

Evolution of antigenic diversity in the tick‐transmitted bacterium Borrelia afzelii: a role for host specialization?

Antigenic diversity in pathogenic microbes can be a result of at least three different processes: diversifying selection by acquired immunity, host–pathogen coevolution and/or host specialization. Here, we investigate whether host specialization drives diversity at ospC (which encodes an immunodominant surface protein) in the tick‐transmitted bacterium Borrelia afzelii. We determined prevalence and infection intensity of ospC strains in naturally infected wild mammals (rodents and shrews) by 454 amplicon sequencing in combination with qPCR. Neither prevalence nor infection intensity of specific ospC strains varied in a species‐specific manner (i.e. there were no significant ospC × host species interactions). Rankings of ospC prevalences were strongly positively correlated across host species. Rankings of ospC infection intensities were correlated more weakly, but only in one case significantly < 1. ospC prevalences in the studied mammals were similar to those in ticks sampled at the study site, indicating that we did not miss any mammal species that are important hosts for specific ospC strains. Based on this, we conclude that there is at best limited host specialization in B. afzelii and that other processes are likely the main drivers of ospC diversity.     

Changes in biosynthesis of exopolysaccharide in Lactococcus lactis subspecies cremoris treated by moderate pulsed electric field treatment

Metabolome analysis and physicochemical analyses were executed with cell extracts of a Lactococcus lactis subspecies cremoris strain treated by moderate pulsed electric field (PEF) to elucidate the mechanism of enhanced production of exopolysaccharide (EPS) by the treatment. Metabolome analysis by capillary electrophoresis time of flight mass spectrometry annotated 224 metabolites from the cytoplasmic extract of the strain, which, however, showed no significant changes in metabolites related to the EPS production. Electron microscopic observation and chemical analysis of undecaprenoids as carrier of EPS biosynthetic intermediates suggested that PEF treatment dissociated immature EPSs from the intermediates due to the focal electro-condensation of hydrogen ions at the cell surface. Thus, liberated undecaprenyl phosphates were recycled efficiently, which resulted in mass increase of EPS with smaller molecular weight. The study suggested the feasibility of moderate PEF treatment as a food processing technique and revealed the mechanism of enhanced production of EPS by the treatment.     

Response of Picea rubens seedlings to intermittent mist varying in acidity, and in concentrations of sulfur-, and nitrogen-containing pollutants

Two-year-old red spruce seedlings ( Picea rubens Sarg .) growing in. field chambers were repeatedly exposed to acidic mist with a factorial combination of 3 fluctuating levels of acidity: median pH values of 3.0 (range of 2.5 to 3.5), 3.5 (range of 3.0 to 4.0), and 4.0 (range of 3.5 to 4.5). and 3 ion compositions: sulfate. nitrate and ammonium, and a combination of all 3 ions. The experiment was performed during the growing season over a period of 3.5 months. Mist exposures were intermittent with 5 wet-dry cycles for each 16-h overnight exposure period, Foliar necrosis occurred on seedlings treated with the most acidic mist and was most severe when the mist contained sulfate. At a median pH of 3.5, a value close to that of cloud water occurring in the eastern United States, injury developed with sulfuric acid mist, but not. when the mist contained nitric acid. The combination of high acidity and sulfate significantly decreased volume of aboveground tissues, while high acidity and nitrate increased volume. Root and needle dry weights were not affected. However, high acidity of mist was associated with increased leader shoot length. These results indicate, that there is a risk of foliar injury and changes in growth of red spruce with cloud water at a median acidity of pH 3.5 or below, especially when there are high concentrations of sulfate and low concentrations of nitrate.     

土地整理项目区的景观格局及其生态效应

目前项目角度的土地整理生态效应评价较少,受到研究幅度的制约,而且已有研究中对景观格局优化目标和生态效应的系统分析较少.选择典型的土地整理项目作为研究案例,以GIS和景观指数为研究手段,结合景观格局优化目标建立相应的指标体系,对土地整理的生态效应进行评价.研究表明,土地整理项目的生态效应指标体系包括提升生物多样性、维持物质和能量流通、维持景观格局稳定、提升生活环境品质、提高生态服务价值等5个方面.研究区土地整理具有正效应和负效应,最大斑块面积提高、斑块密度减少、聚集度提高、廊道宽度和连通度提高、缓冲区宽度增加、植被覆盖增加、合理功能分区是土地整理的正效应,而景观多样性降低、分维数减少和生态服务价值降低是其负效应.因此,在土地整理规划和设计时应融入景观设计和生态保育思想.