Effects of limestone and gypsum application to a Malaysian ultisol on soil solution composition and yields of maize and groundnut

A field experiment was conducted on an Ultisol in Malaysia to assess changes in soil solution composition and their effects on maize and groundnut yields, resulting from limestone and gypsum application. The results showed that soil solution Ca in the lime treatment remained mainly in the zone of incorporation, but in the gypsum treatment some Ca moved into 15–30 cm zone. Al³⁺ and AlSO₄ ⁺ were dominant Al species in the soil solution of nil treatment. Liming decreased Al³⁺ and AlSO₄ ⁺, but increased hydroxy-Al monomer activities. However, gypsum application resulted in an increase of AlSO₄ ⁺ activity and in a decrease of Al³⁺ activity. Relative maize and groundnut yields were negatively correlated with Al³⁺, Al(OH)²⁺ and Al_sum activities. Likewise, relative yields were negatively correlated with Al concentration and the Al concentration ratio and positively correlated with soil solution Mg concentration and Ca/Al ratio.     

Effect of demecolcine (colcemid) on goldfish oocyte meiosis in Vitro

Germinal vesicle migration (GVM) and dissolution (GVD) were studied in goldfish oocytes treated with 17-α,20–β-dihydroxyprogesterone (DHP) and/or demecolcine (DE; a colchicine derivative also known as colcemid) in vitro. DE (100 μg/ml) in the presence of DHP, enhanced steroid-induced GVM, after both 24 and 48 hr of incubation and significantly reduced the DHP ED₅₀ value for GVM. Similarly, administration of DE alone elicited a significant, dose-related increase in GVM after 24 or 48 hr of incubation. The presence of DE, either alone or in combination with DHP, was without effect on GVD. The effect of DE was also tested on ooplasmic viscoelasticity in goldfish follicles subjected to a centrifugal force (160g for 1 min). Preincubation (24 hr) of goldfish follicles in DE significantly influenced the direction and the extent of the centrifugally induced GV movement along the axis of centrifugal force in a dose-related fashion. The present results provide support for the hypothesis that cytoskeletal components, such as microtubules that are sensitive to DE, are involved in the mechanism of GVM in goldfish oocytes.     

On some formulas in a partnership model from the perspective of a semi-Markov process

Many deterministic models of sexually transmitted diseases, as well as population models in general, contain elements of stochastic or statistical reasoning. An example of such a model is that of Dietz and Hadeler (1988) concerning sexually transmitted diseases in which there is partnership formation and dissolution. Among the interesting formulas in this paper, which enter into the analysis of the model, are those for the expected number of partners a male or female has during a lifetime. To a probabilist such formulas suggest the possibility that some stochastic process may be constructed so as to yield these formulas as well as others that may be of interest. The principal purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that such a stochastic process does indeed exist in the form of a three state semi-Markov process in continuous time with stationary laws of evolution and with a one-step density matrix determined by four parameters which were interpreted as constant latent risk functions in the classical theory of competing risks. This construction of a semi-Markov process not only provides a framework for the systematic derivation of the formulas of Dietz and Hadeler but also suggests pathways,for extensions to the age-dependent case.This research was partially supported by NATO Grant D.890350     

Dissolution of sulphur particles by Thiobacillus ferrooxidans: substrate for unattached cells

The growth of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans on sulphur is known to proceed through the attachment of cells to the sulphur particles. Experiments, However, show that the cells in the liquid phase, which are not attached to the sulphur particles, also grow. It has been shown through the use of a two-compartment membrane reactor that this increase is partially due to the release of ions, corresponding to partially oxidized of sulphur, into the solution by the attached cells. The main soluble ion has been found to the thiosulphate, but traces of sulphite have also been detected. (c) 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

西双版纳石灰岩森林的植物区系地理研究

西双版纳石灰岩森林植物区系经调查有维管束植物１５３科,６４０属,１３９４种及变种,其中,种子植物占１２９科５５８属１２６９种及变种。种子植物的分布区类型组成是热带和主产热带的科占总科数的７１．３％;热带分布属占总属数的９０．１％;热带分布种超过总种数的９０％。热带分布属中又以热带亚洲分布属最多,占总数的３５．３％;热带分布种中则以热带亚洲分布及其变型的种类占总种数的６４．５％为特点。这表明该石灰岩森林植物区系是热带性质的植物区系,属于热带亚洲区系的一部分。由于特殊的地理位置,西双版纳地区是许多典型热带植物的分布北界,同时又是几种地理成分的交汇地带,这又使该石灰岩区系带有明显热带边缘性质和多种地理成分交汇的特点。     

黄单胞菌R5产黄原胶的工艺条件研究

本文报道了黄单胞菌（Ｘａｎｔｈｏｍｏｎａｓｃａｍｐｅｓｔｒｉｓ）ＸＣ—８２·５的诱导株Ｒ５发酵生产黄原胶的最适工艺条件。探讨了培养基中不同的碳源、发酵溶氧状况、发酵温度、ｐＨ值、菌龄对产胶水平的影响,向时发现：以菜油替代ＰＰＥ作消泡剂有其独特的优越性;Ｈ２Ｏ２水不能改善溶氧水平。     

安徽南陵下三叠统青龙组鲎类足迹化石的发现

这是在我国首次发现的鲎类足迹化石,标本采自安徽南陵下三叠统青龙组薄层灰岩。除对它们的形态特征加以描述、分析和比较外,还就其形成环境及保存特点作了初步的探讨。     

Magnesium isotope fractionation during microbially enhanced forsterite dissolution

Bacillus subtilis endospore‐mediated forsterite dissolution experiments were performed to assess the effects of cell surface reactivity on Mg isotope fractionation during chemical weathering. Endospores present a unique opportunity to study the isolated impact of cell surface reactivity because they exhibit extremely low metabolic activity. In abiotic control assays, ²⁴Mg was preferentially released into solution during forsterite dissolution, producing an isotopically light liquid phase (δ²⁶Mg = ?0.39 ± 0.06 to ?0.26 ± 0.09‰) relative to the initial mineral composition (δ²⁶Mg = ?0.24 ± 0.03‰). The presence of endospores did not have an apparent effect on Mg isotope fractionation associated with the release of Mg from the solid into the aqueous phase. However, the endospore surfaces preferentially adsorbed ²⁴Mg from the dissolution products, which resulted in relatively heavy aqueous Mg isotope compositions. These aqueous Mg isotope compositions increased proportional to the fraction of dissolved Mg that was adsorbed, with the highest measured δ²⁶Mg (?0.08 ± 0.07‰) corresponding to the highest degree of adsorption (~76%). The Mg isotope composition of the adsorbed fraction was correspondingly light, at an average δ²⁶Mg of ?0.49‰. Secondary mineral precipitation and Mg adsorption onto secondary minerals had a minimal effect on Mg isotopes at these experimental conditions. Results demonstrate the isolated effects of cell surface reactivity on Mg isotope fractionation separate from other common biological processes, such as metabolism and organic acid production. With further study, Mg isotopes could be used to elucidate the role of the biosphere on Mg cycling in the environment.