Integration in a depot‐based decentralized biorefinery system: Corn stover‐based cellulosic biofuel

The current or “conventional” paradigm for producing process energy in a biorefinery processing cellulosic biomass is on‐site energy recovery through combustion of residual solids and biogas generated by the process. Excess electricity is then exported, resulting in large greenhouse gas (GHG) credits. However, this approach will cause lifecycle GHG emissions of biofuels to increase as more renewable energy sources (wind, solar, etc.) participate in grid‐electricity generation, and the GHG credits from displacing fossil fuel decrease. To overcome this drawback, a decentralized (depot‐based) biorefinery can be integrated with a coal‐fired power plant near a large urban area. In an integrated, decentralized, depot‐based biorefinery (IDB), the residual solids are co‐fired with coal either in the adjacent power plant or in coal‐fired boilers elsewhere to displace coal. An IDB system does not rely on indirect GHG credits through grid‐electricity displacement. In an IDB system, biogas from the wastewater treatment facility is also upgraded to biomethane and used as a transportation biofuel. The GHG savings per unit of cropland in the IDB systems (2.7–2.9 MgCO₂/ha) are 1.5–1.6 fold greater than those in a conventional centralized system (1.7–1.8 MgCO₂/ha). Importantly, the biofuel selling price in the IDBs is lower by 28–30 cents per gasoline‐equivalent liter than in the conventional centralized system. Furthermore, the total capital investment per annual biofuel volume in the IDB is much lower (by ~80%) than that in the conventional centralized system. Therefore, utilization of biomethane and residual solids in the IDB systems leads to much lower biofuel selling prices and significantly greater GHG savings per unit of cropland participating in the biorefinery system compared to the conventional centralized biorefineries.     

Numerical simulation of the pyrolysis zone in a downdraft gasification process

Models of the gasification process are mostly based on lumped analysis with distinct zones of the process treated as one entity. The study presented here was conducted to develop a more useful model specifically for the pyrolysis zone of the reactor of a downdraft gasifier based on finite computation method. Applying principles of energy and mass conservation, governing equations formed were solved by implicit finite difference method on the node of 100 throughout the length of the considered pyrolysis range (20 cm). Heat transfer considered convection, conduction, and the influence of solid radiation components. Chemical kinetics concept was also adopted to simultaneously solve the temperature profile and feedstock consumption rate on the pyrolysis zone. The convergence criteria were set at 10⁻⁶ and simulation used Fortran Power Station 4.0. Validation experiments were also conducted resulting in maximum deviation of 24 °C and 0.37 kg/h for temperature and feedstock feed rate, respectively.     

Genotypic variation in transpiration of coppiced poplar during the third rotation of a short‐rotation bio‐energy culture

The productivity of short‐rotation coppice (SRC) plantations with poplar (Populus spp.) strongly depends on soil water availability, which limits the future development of its cultivation, and makes the study of the transpirational water loss particularly timely under the ongoing climate change (more frequent drought and floods). This study assesses the transpiration at different scales (leaf, tree and stand) of four poplar genotypes belonging to different species and from a different genetic background grown under an SRC regime. Measurements were performed for an entire growing season during the third year of the third rotation in a commercial scale multigenotype SRC plantation in Flanders (Belgium). Measurements at leaf level were performed on specific days with a contrasted evaporative demand, temperature and incoming shortwave radiation and included stomatal conductance, stem and leaf water potential. Leaf transpiration and leaf hydraulic conductance were obtained from these measurements. To determine the transpiration at the tree level, single‐stem sap flow using the stem heat balance (SHB) method and daily stem diameter variations were measured during the entire growing season. Sap flow‐based canopy transpiration (E_c), seasonal dry biomass yield, and water use efficiency (WUE; g aboveground dry matter/kg water transpired) of the four poplar genotypes were also calculated. The genotypes had contrasting physiological responses to environmental drivers and to soil conditions. Sap flow was tightly linked to the phenological stage of the trees and to the environmental variables (photosynthetically active radiation and vapor pressure deficit). The total E_c for the 2016 growing season was of 334, 350, 483 and 618 mm for the four poplar genotypes, Bakan, Koster, Oudenberg and Grimminge, respectively. The differences in physiological traits and in transpiration of the four genotypes resulted in different responses of WUE.     

黄土高原旱塬区土壤贮水量对冬小麦产量的影响

选择黄土高原旱塬区最具代表性的董志塬所在地西峰站冬小麦2 m土层20 a土壤贮水量与产量资料,从大气降水-土壤水-作物循环系统的理论观点出发,研究土壤贮水量对冬小麦产量的影响。结果表明:土壤贮水量减少是旱塬区现代气候暖干化的重要特征,冬小麦生长年度2 m土层土壤贮水量历年平均值为351 mm,总体变化呈下降趋势,每10 a约减少21.4 mm,生长关键阶段的拔节期和孕穗-开花期变化最大,每10 a约减少32.1 mm和54.2 mm;而秋季底墒和返青期变化较平缓,每10 a约减少12.2 mm和7.6 mm,愈往生殖生长阶段干旱出现频率愈大。土壤贮水量突变年与气候产量突变年均发生在1994-1995年。不孕小穗率和千粒重与产量的相关性非常密切,是影响产量的主要要素。不孕小穗率对土壤贮水量的反应尤为敏感,其次是千粒重,最小是穗粒数。不同生育期2 m土壤贮水量与千粒重均呈正相关,其中拔节期与千粒重呈极显著直线相关,每增加10 mm千粒重提高0.8 g,当土壤贮水量在320-500 mm时,千粒重≥30 g,出现频率为80%。土壤贮水量是影响产量最重要的因素,拔节期2 m土壤贮水量与气候产量关系最密切。苗期主要利用浅层土壤水,营养生长中后期至生殖生长阶段主要利用中层和深层土壤水,而且愈往生长后期所利用的土层愈有加深的趋势。在产量形成过程中,不同深度土壤贮水量均起到重要作用,但浅中层(50 cm至1 m)具有突出作用;生殖生长阶段深层(2 m)土壤水向浅中层输送,对产量形成起重要的"补偿作用"。秋季底墒和返青至拔节期土壤贮水量是冬小麦需水和供水矛盾最突出的时期,对产量影响最显著。土壤贮水量对冬小麦产量贡献非常显著,产量年际波动主要受土壤贮水量的影响,气候变干前后的土壤贮水对产量的贡献不同,变干前平均气候产量为 604.4 kg/ hm²,变干后平均气候产量为 -154.2 kg/hm²,下降了758.6 kg/hm²,125.5%。气候变干后,干旱年份出现的频率增大,丰产年型减少20%,而歉收年型增加12%。建立冬小麦前期气候产量预测模式, 应选用浅中层底墒作预测因子; 中期模式应选用浅中层拔节期土壤贮水量作预测因子;綜合最佳模式应选用浅中层底墒和拔节期深层土壤贮水量的复合预测因子。因此,创建旱塬区现代农业发展模式,建立一整套旱作农业生产机制来应对气候暖干化,确保冬小麦安全生产。     

Vegetative and reproductive responses,oil yield and composition from olive trees (Olea europaea) under contrasting water availability during the dry winter‐spring period in central Argentina

In Argentina, the climatic pattern of the olive production areas is characterised by a marked water deficit during winter and spring months. A field experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of water availability during the pre‐flowering–flowering period on vegetative, reproductive and yield responses of olive trees grown in central Argentina. From the end of autumn to mid‐spring, four irrigation treatments were imposed to olive trees (Olea europaea, cv. Arbequina and Manzanilla) at 0, 25, 50 and 75% estimated crop evapotranspiration (ETc). Also, a control treatment was kept at 100% ETc for the entire year. For the first crop year evaluated, water deficit applied at early June, approximately 4 months prior to bloom, reduced the vegetative shoot growth and delayed the flowering time, resulting in shortening of the fruit maturation period and, ultimately, decreased fructification. Trees irrigated with high (75% of ETc) and full (100% of ETc) winter‐spring water supply presented significantly higher values of flower density, fruit density and final fruit yield which resulted in water productivity (kg fruits mm^?1 of irrigation/ha) enhancements of about 500% (cv. Arbequina) and 330% (cv. Manzanilla) with respect to those obtained from the corresponding unirrigated treatments. Differences between treatments in oil content and composition were primarily attributed to variations in fruit maturity. Differences in fatty acid composition were stronger in cv. Arbequina where a gradual increase in oleic acid content was registered in parallel to the increase in irrigation water supply. From a practical stand point, results obtained from most of the analysed parameters were quite similar for both T75 and T100 treatments. Thus, the possible convenience of irrigation at T75% ETc should be considered since it may warrant profitable olive production while saving a considerably quantity of irrigation water in the olive production area in central Argentina.     

Temporal patterns in the intertidal faunal community at the mouth of a tropical estuary

The use of intertidal sandy beaches by fish and macrocrustaceans was studied at different temporal scales at the mouth of a tropical estuary. Samples were taken along the lunar and diel cycles in the late dry and rainy seasons. Fish assemblage (number of species, density and biomass), crustaceans and wrack biomass, showed significant interactions among all studied factors, and the combination of moon phase and diel cycle, resulting in different patterns of environmental variables (depth, water temperature and dissolved oxygen), affected habitat use by the different species. Variances in faunal community were detected between seasons, stimulated by salinity fluctuations from freshwater input during the rainy season. These differences suggest an important cycling of habitats and an increase in connectivity between adjacent habitats (estuary and coastal waters). Moreover, the results showed that this intertidal sandy beach also provides an alternative nursery and protected shallow‐water area for the initial development phase of many marine and estuarine species. In addition, this intertidal habitat plays an important role in the maintenance of the ecological functioning of the estuarine–coastal ecosystem continuum.     

Discovery of a multispecies shark aggregation and parturition area in the Ba Estuary,Fiji Islands

Population declines in shark species have been reported on local and global scales, with overfishing, habitat destruction and climate change posing severe threats. The lack of species‐specific baseline data on ecology and distribution of many sharks, however, makes conservation measures challenging. Here, we present a fisheries‐independent shark survey from the Fiji Islands, where scientific knowledge on locally occurring elasmobranchs is largely still lacking despite the location's role as a shark hotspot in the Pacific. Juvenile shark abundance in the fishing grounds of the Ba Estuary (north‐western Viti Levu) was assessed with a gillnet‐ and longline‐based survey from December 2015 to April 2016. A total of 103 juvenile sharks identified as blacktip Carcharhinus limbatus (n = 57), scalloped hammerhead Sphyrna lewini (n = 35), and great hammerhead Sphyrna mokarran (n = 11) sharks were captured, tagged, and released. The condition of umbilical scars (68% open or semihealed), mean sizes of individuals (±SD) (C. limbatus: 66.5 ± 3.8 cm, S. lewini: 51.8 ± 4.8 cm, S. mokarran 77.4 ± 2.8 cm), and the presence of these species over recent years (based on fishermen interviews), suggest that the Ba Estuary area is a critical habitat for multiple species that are classified as “Near Threatened” or “Endangered.” Specifically, the area likely acts as a parturition ground over the studied period, and potentially as a subsequent nursery area. We identified subareas of high abundance and found that temperature, salinity and depth acted as small‐scale environmental drivers of shark abundance. The data suggests a tendency for species‐specific spatial use, both horizontally (i.e., between sampling areas) and vertically (i.e., across the water column). These results enhance the understanding of shark ecology in Fiji and provide a scientific basis for the implementation of local conservation strategies that contribute to the protection of these threatened species.     

Constraining the formation of authigenic carbonates in a seepage‐affected cold‐water coral mound by lipid biomarkers

Cold‐water coral (CWC) mounds are build‐ups comprised of coral‐dominated intervals alternating with a mixed carbonate‐siliciclastic matrix. At some locations, CWC mounds are influenced by methane seepage, but the impact of methane on CWC mounds is poorly understood. To constrain the potential impact of methane on CWC mound growth, lipid biomarker investigations were combined with mineralogical and petrographic analyses to investigate the anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) and authigenic carbonate formation in sediment from a seep‐affected CWC mound in the Gulf of Cadiz. The occurrence of AOM was confirmed by characteristic lipids found within a semi‐lithified zone (SLZ) consisting of authigenic aragonite, high‐magnesium calcite and calcium‐excess dolomite. The formation of high‐Mg calcite is attributed to AOM, acting as a lithifying agent. Aragonite is only a minor phase. Ca‐excess dolomite in the SLZ and upper parts may be formed by organoclastic sulphate reduction, favouring precipitation by increased alkalinity. The AOM biomarkers in the SLZ include isoprenoid‐based archaeal membrane lipids, such as abundant glycerol dibiphytanyl glycerol tetraethers (GDGTs) dominated by GDGT‐2. The δ¹³C values of GDGT‐2, measured as ether‐cleaved monocyclic biphytanes, are as low as ?100‰ versus V‐PDB. Further, bacterial dialkyl glycerol diethers with two anteiso‐C₁₅ alkyl chains and δ¹³C values of ?81‰ are interpreted as biomarkers of sulphate‐reducing bacteria. The lipid biomarker signatures and mineralogical patterns suggest that anaerobic methane‐oxidizing archaea of the ANME‐1 group thrived in the subsurface at times of slow and diffusive methane seepage. Petrographic analyses revealed that the SLZ was exhumed at some point (e.g. signs of bioerosion of the semi‐lithified sediment), providing a hard substrate for CWC larval settlement. In addition, this work reveals that AOM‐induced semi‐lithification likely played a role in mound stabilization. Lipid biomarker analysis proves to be a powerful tool to disentangle early diagenetic processes induced by microbial metabolisms.     

层次分析法对南水北调中线水源区的水质评价

层次分析法(AHP)是一种多指标多因素综合评价法,其理论内容深刻而表现形式简单,包括递阶层次结构模型、判断矩阵的建立及其求值、一致性检验和综合指数计算等运算过程.在南水北调中线水源区3个采样点进行了2a的水体浮游植物和9项理化指标的检测,并应用层次分析法通过季节4因素和6项理化指标对水质进行综合评价.结果表明:层次分析综合指数PI在3采样点有差异并且变化灵敏,渠首 (陶岔S1 ) PI=0.5697,水质属于污染;库心 (小太平洋S2 ) PI=0.3619,水质属于尚清洁;丹江入库上游 (大石桥S3 ), PI=0.7755,水质属于中污染;AHP分析结果与实际基本相符.根据结果分析认为:层次分析法做为综合评价法对水质评价有重要性,值得推广应用;丹江口水库是重要的水资源,但目前水质状况并不理想,因此做好水源区的长期生态监测,加强理论和技术研究,改善水质,极为重要.     

生态需水在输水工程生态影响评价中的应用

以南水北调工程为例的输水管道工程在解决我国水资源供需矛盾和地域分配不均的问题中发挥着重要作用,输水管道工程的建设在产生巨大社会、经济、生态效益的同时,也给工程建设区域、调水相关区域脆弱的生态环境带来新的问题。工程建设的环境影响评价往往关心工程建设、运行时期对相关区域内主要环境要素的影响、响应及评价,而对工程建设相关的关键生态系统的影响关注较小。而南水北调等输水管道工程是与水密切相关的国家级大型工程,对工程建设区域、影响区域的水生生态系统产生较大的影响,如何科学、定量地评价输水工程对关键生态系统的影响是输水工程建设管理人员关注的热点之一。基于对生态需水评价理论与方法的总结及输水工程生态影响定量评价难点的分析,对生态需水与水生生态系统健康之间相辅相成的关系进行研究,提出了将生态需水引入输水工程生态影响评价的技术路径与评价模型。以南水北调中线工程为例,对其影响范围内的生态需水量进行评价,进而判断工程建设运行对相关区域关键生态系统的影响。     

High yield process for the production of active human α‐galactosidase a in CHO‐K1 cells through lentivirus transgenesis

Fabry disease is an X‐linked recessive disorder caused by a deficiency in lysosomal α‐Galactosidase A. Currently, two enzyme replacement therapies (ERT) are available. However, access to orphan drugs continues to be limited by their high price. Selection of adequate high‐expression systems still constitutes a challenge for alleviating the cost of treatments. Several strategies have been implemented, with varying success, trying to optimize the production process of recombinant human α‐Galactosidase A (rhαGAL) in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO‐K1) cells. Herein, we describe for the first time the application of a strategy based on third‐generation lentiviral particles (LP) transduction of suspension CHO‐K1 cells to obtain high‐producing rhαGAL clones (3.5 to 59.4 pg cell^?1 d^?1). After two purification steps, the active enzyme was recovered (2.4 × 10⁶ U mg^?1) with 98% purity and 60% overall yield. Michaelis‐Menten analysis demonstrated that rhαGAL was capable of hydrolyzing the synthetic substrate 4MU‐α‐Gal at a comparable rate to Fabrazyme®, the current CHO‐derived ERT available for Fabry disease. In addition, rhαGAL presented the same mannose‐6‐phosphate (M6P) content, about 40% higher acid sialic amount and 33% reduced content of the immunogenic type of sialic acid (Neu5Gc) than the corresponding ones for Fabrazyme®. In comparison with other rhαGAL production processes reported to date, our approach achieves the highest rhαGAL productivity preserving adequate activity and glycosylation pattern. Even more, considering the improved glycosylation characteristics of rhαGAL, which might provide advantages regarding pharmacokinetics, our enzyme could be postulated as a promising alternative for therapeutic use in Fabry disease. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 33:1334–1345, 2017     

宁夏河东沙地生物土壤结皮对土壤性质及入渗过程的影响

为了揭示沙漠化治理过程中生物土壤结皮覆盖对土壤入渗过程的影响规律,以宁夏河东沙地人工沙漠治理区4种典型地表覆盖类型：裸沙(BS)、藻类结皮(AC)、藓类结皮(MC)、草本-藓类结皮(H-MC)为研究对象,基于野外双环入渗试验与室内模拟,分析了3种生物土壤结皮覆盖下土壤性质的变化与土壤入渗特征。结果表明：(1)与BS相比,3种结皮覆盖下表层土壤砂粒含量减少2.0%—5.1%,粉粒含量增加3.6%—5.8%,有机质含量增加了5—6倍,AC和MC覆盖下土壤总孔隙度与饱和含水量降低,而H-MC与之相反;(2)平均入渗速率表现为BS>H-MC>AC>MC,1h累计入渗量表现为H-MC>BS>AC>MC,与BS相比,AC、MC和H-MC的初渗速率依次减少了14.3%、37.2%、11.8%,AC、MC的稳渗速率分别降低了14.4%和18.3%,H-MC的稳渗速率增加了4.5%;(3)三种模型中,Kostiakov模型最适用于模拟生物土壤结皮覆盖下土壤水分入渗过程。综上,研究区内不同发育程度生物土壤结皮改变了下层土壤的性质以及土壤的入渗特征,MC与AC阻碍水分入渗...     

Evidence that P36, a human sperm acrosomal antigen involved in the fertilization process is triosephosphate isomerase

P36 is one of the immunodominant sperm antigens identified by antibodies eluted from the spermatozoa of infertile men. In a previous study, we isolated and characterized this auto-antigen as a glycoprotein with several isoforms. Specific rabbit antibodies were produced to investigate sperm topography and the role of P36 in the fertilization process and we showed that P36 is present on the equatorial segment of acrosome-reacted spermatozoa and is involved in sperm-binding and the penetration of zona-free hamster oocytes. In the present study, we demonstrated, by means of immunofluorescence and electron microscopy, that P36 is present all over the acrosomal membranes of non-reacted spermatozoa. We also investigated the role of P36 in the acrosome reaction and sperm binding to the zona pellucida (ZP). The exposure of capacitated spermatozoa to rabbit anti-P36 antibodies had no effect on primary fixation to the ZP, but inhibited secondary binding to the ZP and the Ca2+ ionophore-induced acrosome reaction. These results suggest that P36, an acrosomal antigen, is involved in several steps of the fertilization process. On two-dimensional Western blots, human anti-sperm antibodies (ASA) and rabbit anti-P36 antibodies recognized five to six isoforms of P36, all 36/37 kDa in size, with a pI between 5.1 and 5.7. Two major spots were identified as human triosephosphate isomerase (TPI) by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Anti-TPI antibodies were shown to react with the isoforms recognized by human and rabbit anti-P36 antibodies. We also demonstrated the presence of TPI in human sperm heads. Further studies are underway to establish whether there is a sperm-specific isoform of TPI and its role in sperm function.     

Testing the Equality of the Intra‐Subject Treatment Covariance Matrices in a Crossover Study

In a 2 × 2 crossover bioavailability study, the sets of estimates of the pharmacokinetic parameters quite often have a symmetric covariance structure between the two treatments. For testing the equality of the intra‐subject covariance matrices for the two treatments in such studies, we suggest in this paper some statistical tests. When the response vectors are bivariate, we propose an exact test. Since the statistical procedures depend on the assumption of a symmetric covariance structure between the two treatments, we put forth some statistical tests for this assumption. We then apply the discussed tests to real data from a crossover bioavailability trial.     

基于生态需水保障的农业用水安全评价——以山东省引黄灌区为例

保障农业用水安全和生态安全是流域水资源管理的重点,针对黄河口和山东引黄灌区的用水矛盾,采用阈值分析与地统计学方法,考虑作物蒸散发和有效降雨计算山东省引黄灌区灌溉需水量,在优先保障黄河口不同等级生态需水条件下分析灌区（划分为不同调控区）可用水量的响应特征,以地理信息系统（GIS）为平台计算具有时空差异的山东省引黄灌区农业用水安全压力指数,进而评价多时空尺度下的山东省引黄灌区农业用水安全。结果表明,在平水年,保障适宜等级的生态需水后大概有33%的年份农业用水安全存在压力,保障最低等级的生态需水约有27%的农业用水面临短缺,但是大部分情况下农业用水安全压力指数都在30%之下,然而保障最高等级生态需水后,有50%以上的年份存在农业用水安全压力,这种压力无论是从出现频次还是在指数强度上都有明显增加。在空间尺度上,以打渔张、刘春家、麻湾和簸箕李等灌区为代表的调控区2、11、13、14和17的农业用水压力显著,代表年内保障最低等级的生态需水后调控区的农业用水安全压力指数超过了20%,保障适宜等级的生态需水后,大部分调控区的农业用水安全压力指数超过了20%,调控区2和13的压力指数超过了30%,保障最高等级的生态需水后大部分调控区的农业用水安全压力指数超过了60%。在引黄水量调配过程中,应该按照水文年的不同保障合理的生态水量,同时充分考虑水文气象因子的空间差异性,在不同调控区细化分配方案,平水年份保障适宜等级生态需水后农业用水短缺由55.28降低到18.25亿m³。该评价方法反映了优先保障生态需水后灌区农业水资源保障情况,并能有效降低农业和生态用水之间的矛盾,为管理部门进行"精细配水"提供依据。