Isolated effects of number of acquisition trials on extinction of rat conditioned approach behavior

Four conditioned approach experiments with rats assessed for effects of number of acquisition trials on extinction of conditioned responding, when number of acquisition sessions and total acquisition time were held constant. In Experiment 1, 32 trials per acquisition session led to more extinction responding than did 1 or 2 trials per session but less than did 4 trials per session. In Experiment 2, 2 trials per acquisition session led to more spontaneous recovery than did 32 trials per session. These latter findings are reminiscent of the overtraining extinction effect (OEE). Experiment 3 attempted to reduce the OEE with a preconditioning phase of partial reinforcement. Experiment 4 attempted to reduce the beneficial within-subject effects of increasing the number of acquisition trials on extinction observed by Gottlieb and Rescorla (2010) by extinguishing stimuli in different sessions. Overall, results suggest a procedural asymmetry: between-subject, increasing the number of trials between any pair of trials does not lead to greater persistence of responding during extinction; within-subject, it does. Results are discussed from an associative perspective, with a focus on explanations involving either frustration or comparator mechanisms, and from an information processing perspective, with a focus on Rate Estimation Theory.     

The granule size distribution in an anammox-based granular sludge reactor affects the conversion--implications for modeling

Mathematical models are useful tools to optimize the performance of granular sludge reactors. In these models, typically a uniform granule size is assumed for the whole reactor, even though in reality the granules follow a size distribution and the granule size as such affects the process performance. This study assesses the effect of the granule size distribution on the performance of a granular sludge reactor in which autotrophic nitrogen removal is realized through one-stage partial nitritation-anammox. A comparison is made between different approaches to deal with particle size distributions in one-dimensional biofilm models, from the use of a single characteristic diameter to applying a multiple compartment model. The results show a clear impact on the conversion efficiency of the way in which particle size distribution is modeled, resulting from the effect of the granule size on the competition between nitrite oxidizing and anammox bacteria and from the interaction between granules of different sizes in terms of the exchange of solutes. Whereas the use of a uniform granule size is sufficient in case only the overall reactor behavior needs to be assessed, taking into account the detailed granule size distribution is required to study the solute exchange between particles of different sizes. For the latter purpose, the application of the widespread software package Aquasim is limited and the development of dedicated software applications is required.     

Morphological evolution through integration: a quantitative study of cranial integration in Homo, Pan, Gorilla and Pongo

Morphological integration refers to coordinated variation among traits that are closely related in development and/or function. Patterns of integration can offer important insight into the structural relationship between phenotypic units, providing a framework to address questions about phenotypic evolvability and constraints. Integrative features of the primate cranium have recently become a popular subject of study. However, an important question that still remains under-investigated is: what is the pattern of cranial shape integration among closely related hominoids? To address this question, we conducted a Procrustes-based geometric morphometrics study to quantify and analyze shape covariation patterns between different cranial regions in Homo, Pan, Gorilla and Pongo. A total of fifty-six 3D landmarks were collected on 407 adult individuals. We then sub-divided the landmarks corresponding to cranial units as outlined in the ‘functional matrix hypothesis.’ Sub-dividing the cranium in this manner allowed us to explore patterns of covariation between the face, basicranium and cranial vault, using the two-block partial least squares approach. Our results suggest that integrated shape changes in the hominoid cranium are complex, but that the overall pattern of integration is similar among human and non-human apes. Thus, despite having very distinct morphologies the way in which the face, basicranium and cranial vault covary is shared among these taxa. These results imply that the pattern of cranial integration among hominoids is conserved.     

Deciphering the oxygen isotope composition of nitrous oxide produced by nitrification

The ability to use δ¹⁸O values of nitrous oxide (N₂O) to apportion environmental emissions is currently hindered by a poor understanding of the controls on δ¹⁸O–N₂O from nitrification (hydroxylamine oxidation to N₂O and nitrite reduction to N₂O). In this study fertilized agricultural soils and unfertilized temperate forest soils were aerobically incubated with different ¹⁸O/¹⁶O waters, and conceptual and mathematical models were developed to systematically explain the δ¹⁸O–N₂O formed by nitrification. Modeling exercises used a set of defined input parameters to emulate the measured soil δ¹⁸O–N₂O data (Monte Carlo approach). The Monte Carlo simulations implied that abiotic oxygen (O) exchange between nitrite (NO₂^?) and H₂O is important in all soils, but that biological, enzyme‐controlled O‐exchange does not occur during the reduction of NO₂^? to N₂O (nitrifier‐denitrification). Similarly, the results of the model simulations indicated that N₂O consumption is not characteristic of aerobic N₂O formation. The results of this study and a synthesis of the published literature data indicate that δ¹⁸O–N₂O formed in aerobic environments is constrained between +13‰ and +35‰ relative to Vienna Standard Mean Ocean Water (VSMOW). N₂O formed via hydroxylamine oxidation and nitrifier‐denitrification cannot be separated using δ¹⁸O unless ¹⁸O tracers are employed. The natural range of nitrifier δ¹⁸O–N₂O is discussed and explained in terms of our conceptual model, and the major and minor controls that define aerobically produced δ¹⁸O–N₂O are identified. Despite the highly complex nature of δ¹⁸O–N₂O produced by nitrification this δ¹⁸O range is narrow. As a result, in many situations δ¹⁸O values may be used in conjunction with δ¹⁵N–N₂O data to apportion nitrifier‐ and denitrifier‐derived N₂O. However, when biological O‐exchange during denitrification is high and N₂O consumption is low, there may be too much overlap in δ¹⁸O values to distinguish N₂O formed by these pathways.     

新异养硝化菌Colloidessp. JZ1-1的鉴定及其硝化性能

从驯化后的活性污泥中筛分、诱变出一株性能较好的异养硝化菌JZ1-1.经形态及生理生化特性分析,鉴定菌株JZ1-1为胶样菌属(Colloides sp.).分别考察了碳源、C/N、pH、溶解氧、温度和铵态氮初始浓度对JZ1-1硝化性能的影响.结果表明: 菌株对柠檬酸钠的利用较好;C/N为10～14、30 ℃、pH 6-9和转速150 r·min^-1以上有利于铵态氮的降解;菌株对中高浓度铵态氮废水（100 mg·L^-1≤铵态氮浓度≤500 mg·L^-1）的降解效果显著.经5次继代培养,菌株的稳定性较好.     

硝化抑制剂DCD、 DMPP对褐土氮总矿化速率和硝化速率的影响

采用15N库稀释-原位培养法研究了硝化抑制剂DCD、DMPP对华北盐碱性褐土氮总矿化速率和硝化速率的影响.试验在山西省运城市种植玉米的盐碱性土壤上进行,设单施尿素、尿素+DCD、尿素+DMPP 3个处理.结果表明:施肥后2周,DCD、DMPP分别使氮总矿化速率和氮总硝化速率减少了25.5％、7.3％和60.3％、59.1％,DCD对氮总矿化速率的影响显著高于DMPP,两者对氮总硝化速率的影响无显著差异;而在施肥后7周,不同硝化抑制剂对氮总硝化速率的影响存在差异.施肥后2周,3个处理的土壤氮总矿化速率和硝化速率分别是施肥前的7.2 ～10.0倍和5.5 ～21.5倍;NH4+和NO3-消耗速率分别是施肥前的9.1 ～12.2倍和5.1 ～8.4倍,这是由氮肥对土壤的激发效应所致.硝化抑制剂使氮肥更多地以NH4+形式保持在土壤中,减少了NO3-的积累.土壤氮总矿化速率和总硝化速率受硝化抑制剂的抑制是N2O减排的主要原因.     

水稻根系通气组织与根系泌氧及根际硝化作用的关系

通过根箱土培试验研究了不同产量籼稻品种中旱22(ZH,高产品种)及禾盛10号(HS,低产品种)苗期根系生长、通气组织发育、根系径向泌氧量(radial oxygen loss,ROL)以及根表和根际土壤硝化强度差异。结果表明,除水稻播种40 d时二者根数量和根干重无显著差异外,ZH根直径、根数量和根干重均显著高于HS,二者差异尤其表现在根系生物量差异。两个水稻品种在距根尖20 mm处均可见辐射状通气组织,ZH皮层薄壁细胞已经完全崩溃形成连接中柱和外皮层的纵向气腔,而HS皮层薄壁细胞未发生完全离解,但仍能观察到明显的连接中柱和外皮层的纵向气腔的形成。同时ZH外皮层厚壁细胞体积较小,排列紧密,细胞壁增厚程度大;而HS外皮层厚壁细胞体积相对较大,排列疏松,细胞壁增厚程度相对较小。表明高产品种通气组织发育比低产品种更加完善,表现为ZH根孔隙度(porosity of root,POR)显著高于HS,且高产品种对水稻根系ROL的屏蔽作用较低产品种更强,为根系提供更充足的氧气供应,促进根系生长。除了水稻播种后40 d时ZH和HS单根ROL无显著差异外(P<0.05),ZH单株、单位重量以及单根ROL均显著高于HS(P<0.01)。两个水稻品种硝化强度均表现为根际土壤显著高于根表土壤 (P<0.01),前者大约是后者的3-6倍。两个品种根表土壤硝化强度无显著差异,而ZH根际土壤硝化强度均显著高于HS。相关性分析结果表明水稻根际土壤硝化强度和整株水稻ROL呈极显著正相关关系(r=0.803,P<0.01),和水稻POR也呈现极显著正相关关系(r=0.808,P<0.01),同时和根系直径、数量和干重均呈极显著正相关关系(P<0.01)。而根表土壤硝化强度和以上指标均无相关关系。由于硝化作用是好氧过程,因此高产品种由于根系发达,通气组织发育好,相应ROL也较大,造成根际土壤氧气含量高,从而可能导致根际土壤硝化强度显著高于低产品种。     

湖泊氮素氧化及脱氮过程研究进展

自然界中氮的生物地球化学循环主要由微生物驱动,由固氮作用、硝化作用、反硝化作用和氨化作用来完成。过去数十年间,随着异养硝化、厌氧氨氧化和古菌氨氧化作用的发现,人们对环境中氮素循环认识逐步深入,提出了多种脱氮途径新假说。对湖泊生态系统中氮素的输入、输出及其在水体、沉积物和水土界面的迁移转化过程进行了概括,对湖泊生态系统中反硝化和厌氧氨氧化脱氮机理及脱氮效率的最新研究进展进行了探讨,并对以后的氮素循环研究进行了展望。     

83 例肝包虫外囊完整剥除术的临床分析

目的:评价外囊完整剥除术治疗肝包虫病的临床疗效。方法:将226例接受手术治疗的肝脏囊性包虫病患者分为两组:143例行内囊摘除术,83例行外囊完整剥除术,比较两组临床疗效及预后。结果:全囊摘除组的术后住院时间、带管时间、术后并发症及复发率均明显少于内囊摘除组(P均<0.05)。结论:外囊完整剥除术是一种安全、方便、损伤小的根治性术式,有利于降低包虫复发和胆瘘等并发症,关键在选择适应征及正确认知和处理包虫外囊周围管道。     

小鼠肝部分切除模型

小鼠肝部分切除模型是在经典的大鼠模型基础上发展起来的。随着显微外科技术的发展和小鼠腹部手术围手术期管理的完善,快速、可靠、重复性高的小鼠模型得以建立。因为成本较低,且存在大量为研究肝切除后肝再生的转基因小鼠,小鼠已经成为研究肝再生的重要动物模型。肝再生的调控相当复杂,且不是由单一因素控制的,因此需要多种类的转基因小鼠进行肝切除后肝再生研究来明确各因子在肝再生过程中的确切作用与机制。通过小鼠肝切除后肝再生的研究,目前已证实的参与调控肝再生的细胞因子和生长因子有:肝再生增强因子(ALR)、肿瘤坏死因子α(TNFα)、白介素6(IL-6)、白介素1(IL-1)、肝细胞生长因子(HGF)、去甲肾上腺素(NE)、卵泡抑素(FS)、转化生长因子α(TGF-α)、转化生长因子β-1(TGF-β-1)等。