Effects of pollution on the nutrient return via litterfall for Pinus radiata plantations in the Basque Country

The effects of atmospheric pollution on two 10 year old Pinus radiata D. Don forests (Manzanal and Posadero) was studied in the Basque country, analysing the concentration of different nutrients and nutrient input via litterfall. Litterfall production peaked in autumn, and 97.5% of the litterfall consisted of pine needles at Posadero (the less-polluted area), whereas this figure was found to be 88.6% at Manzanal (the polluted area). Posadero had a higher production of litterfall than Manzanal due to the higher tree density. Nutrient concentration showed a similar seasonal variation over the year at both sites. Pine litterfall in the polluted area, Manzanal, had significantly higher concentrations of iron, copper, zinc, sulphur, calcium, sodium and magnesium than in Posadero, while the concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium did not differ between sites. Calcium, sodium, magnesium, sulphur, iron and copper input to the forest via litterfall was significantly higher for the polluted area, but the inputs of nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and zinc did not significantly differ between sites. Both sites showed high nutrient use efficiencies for phosphorous and calcium compared with other coniferous forests. The highest efficiency was for phosphorous, possibly due to the low availability of this ion in the soil. Trees at Posadero were consistently more efficient for calcium than at Manzanal due to the effect of pollution on the latter site. Molar ratios between aluminium and the basic cation nutrients calcium and magnesium in soil were higher at the polluted area, as a result of the increased inputs of anions to the forest soil (Al:Ca = 1.9:1 and Al:Mg = 6.9:1 at Posadero and Al:Ca = 5.7:1 and Al:Mg = 14:1 at Manzanal). The current pollution level of Manzanal is leading to a loss of cations that may cause future changes in the functioning of this forest.     

武汉东湖沉积物的环境地球化学

武汉东湖沉积物的地球化学过程受到人类活动的较大影响。本文报道该湖沉积物的沉积性状和ＣＮ、Ｐ、Ｓｉ、Ｃａ、Ｍｇ、Ｆｅ、Ａｌ、Ｍｎ、Ｃｕ、Ｐｂ、Ｚｎ、Ｃｄ诸元素在沉积层序中的分布,研究了这些元素的地球化学。通过对东湖污染状况和类型的分析,指出营养物质的积累是导致湖泊生态环境恶化的重要原因,提出可用磷含量作为划分东湖沉积物污染程度的指标的观点。     

Quantification of risk from fetal exposure to diagnostic ultrasound

Biomedical ultrasound may induce adverse effects in patients by either thermal or non-thermal means. Temperatures above normal can adversely affect biological systems, but effects also may be produced without significant heating. Thermally induced teratogenesis has been demonstrated in many animal species as well as in a few controlled studies in humans. Various maximum ‘safe’ temperature elevations have been proposed, although the suggested values range from 0.0 to 2.5° C. Factors relevant to thermal effects are considered, including the nature of the acoustic field in situ, the state of perfusion of the embryo/fetus, and the variation of sensitivity to thermal insult with gestational stage of development. Non-thermal mechanisms of action considered include acoustic cavitation, radiation force, and acoustic streaming. While cavitation can be quite destructive, it is extremely unlikely in the absence of stabilized gas bodies, and although the remaining mechanisms may occur in utero, they have not been shown to induce adverse effects. For example, pulsed, diagnostic ultrasound can increase fetal activity during exposure, apparently due to stimulation of auditory perception by radiation forces on the fetal head or auditory structures. In contrast, pulsed ultrasound also produces vascular damage near developing bone in the late-gestation mouse, but by a unknown mechanism and at levels above current US FDA output limits. It is concluded that: (1) thermal rather than nonthermal mechanisms are more likely to induce adverse effects in utero, and (2) while the probability of an adverse thermal event is usually small, under some conditions it can be disturbingly high.     

Evaluation of cognitive performance in the heat by functional brain imaging and psychometric testing

Military operations in tropical environments have imposed a significant challenge to the Australian Defence Forces (ADF). The hot and humid conditions are known to cause debilitating effects on soldiers deployed to northern regions of Australia, with the consequence that the effectiveness and efficiency of operations are severely compromised. While the adverse effects of thermal stress on soldiers' physiological capability are well established, this has not been confirmed for cognitive performance. A select range of psychometric tests were administered and functional brain electrical activity imaging was performed to investigate the impact of thermal stress on cognitive performance. The brain electrical activity of subjects was measured while undertaking a range of cognitive tasks. Steady State Probe Topography (SSPT), a novel brain imaging technology, was employed to monitor the changes in regional brain activity and neural processing speed of subjects under thermal stress. The psychometric test batteries included the following tasks; Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test; Inspection Time; Digit Span test; a spatial working memory task; and the AX-continuous performance task. These tasks measure a range of cognitive processes including attention, memory, verbal learning, information processing and concentration. The functional brain imaging provided topographical information, which showed changes in electrical activity in response to thermal stress during cognitive performance. These changes in brain electrical activity and neural speed induced by thermal stress may help to identify the type of cognitive functions that are likely to be impaired under operational conditions. Results indicated that subjects experienced increasing cardiovascular strain through thermally neutral to thermally straining conditions. The results from the psychometric test battery showed some promising effects given the small sample size including deficits in working memory, in information retention and in information processing. There was also marked differences in the electrical responses of the brain when subjects were thermally strained. The Steady-State Visual Evoked Potential recordings showed an increase in amplitude and a decrease in latency, suggesting an increase in the utilisation of neural resources or effort by subjects to maintain the same level of performance as under thermally neutral conditions. The data are suggestive of the high sensitivity of brain imaging techniques with high temporal resolution to identify important decrements in cognitive performance in hostile environments.     

An efficient methodology for the purification of date palm peroxidase: Stability comparison with horseradish peroxidase (HRP)

In the present study, Peroxidase from date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) leaves was purified to homogeneity by three-step procedure including aqueous two-phase system, hydrophobic and Ion-exchange chromatography. The enzyme migrated as single band on SDS-PAGE giving molecular weight of 68?±?3?kDa. The purification factor for purified date palm peroxidase was 68 with high 41% yield. Enzymatic assays together with far-UV circular dichroism (CD), intrinsic and extrinsic fluorescence studies were carried out to monitor the structural stability of date palm and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) against various pH and temperatures. Activity measurements illustrated different pH stability for date palm and HRP. Both peroxidases are more susceptible to extreme acidic conditions as suggested by 4 & 15?nm red shift in date palm and HRP, respectively. Secondary structure analysis using far UV-CD exhibited predominance of α-helical (43.8%) structure. Also, pH induces loss in the secondary structure of date palm peroxidase. Thermal stability analysis revealed date palm peroxidase is more stable in comparison to HRP. In summary, date palm peroxidases could be promising enzymes for various applications where extreme pH and temperature is required.     

“环境污染的生物修复”课程教学改革探索与实践

“环境污染的生物修复(Bioremediation of Environmental Pollution)”是环境科学、环境工程、农业资源与环境等专业的专业选修课,在专业人才培养体系中具有重要地位。针对课程前期教学中存在的问题,任课教师结合高质量人才培养需求,从课程教学目标优化、课程教学内容重构与知识整合、教学方法改革与创新等环节对课程教学进行了改革探索。实践结果表明,改革后的课程教学不仅显著提升了课程教学目标的达成度,还有效提高了学生自主学习能力、思维能力和知识综合运用能力,取得了较好的教学效果。     

北小麝鼩的代谢产热和体温调节特征

为探讨食虫目小型哺乳动物的代谢产热和体温调节特征,本文采用封闭式流体压力呼吸仪测定了北小麝鼩在环境温度5 ～ 30℃下的静止代谢率(RMR),结果显示:在环境温度(Ta)为17 5 ～25℃ 的范围内,北小麝鼩的体温基本维持恒定,平均体温为36.55 ± 0.38℃ ;热中性区(TNZ) 为20 ～ 25℃ ;基础代谢率BMR 为5.46 ±0.23 (mLO₂ /g· h),其中环境温度在25℃ 时静止代谢率最低,为4.84 ± 0.39 (mLO₂ /g· h)。在5 ～ 25℃环境温度范围内,热传导值保持稳定;在此温度范围内,北小麝鼩的热传导率(C) 最低,平均为0.42 ± 0.01mLO₂ / (g·h·℃ )。总之,北小麝鼩的产热和体温调节特征为较高的BMR,中等的热传导率,较低的体温和较宽的热中性区。这些特征可能与该物种体型小、夜行性、主要以无脊椎动物为食等生活习性密切相关。     

根田鼠的活动代谢率

在15～30℃温度范围内, 运用踏车呼吸室以5 m/min, 10 m/min 和15 m/min 的运动速度, 对栖息于青海高原的根田鼠的代谢率、体温、蒸发失水进行了测定, 并计算了每个温度和运动速度时的热传导率。根田鼠的体温在任一速度时, 随环境温度的增加而增加, 当环境温度一定时, 体温随运动强度而升高, 代谢率随运动速度增加而增加。活动产热在低温条件下, 可能是对寒冷产热的替代, 而在比较缓和的温度时, 可能是对冷诱导产热的附加。温度一定时, 蒸发失水随运动速度增加而增加, 热传导也呈相似的变化趋势(15℃除外)。热传导在任一运动速度下, 随环境温度增加而增加。结果表明蒸发散热在高温或活动期间对根田鼠的体温调节有不可替代的作用。     

笼养普通朱雀适应北方冬季气候的体温调节特征

内温动物的能量代谢和体温调节表现出普遍的季节性适应,这对于动物的能量分配、存活和繁殖等具有积极意义.本研究中,利用陆生动物呼吸代谢测量系统,测定了在北方适应了3年(2018至2020年)的普通朱雀(Carpodacus erythrinus)冬季代谢产热特征,以期理解该物种对北方冬季气候的响应.结果 发现,普通朱雀冬季...     

西藏羊八井废弃热井沉积物中的真核微生物多样性

【目的】研究西藏羊八井废弃热井沉积物中的真核微生物多样性。【方法】采用ITS-rRNA基因分析法构建了沉积物中真核微生物的ITS-rRNA基因文库, 随机抽取文库中的克隆子进行扩增rDNA限制性酶切片段分析(ARDRA), 并对ITS-rRNA基因进行了系统发育分析。【结果】沉积物中主要的真核微生物有子囊菌、壶菌、担子菌、丝足虫、后生动物和非培养真菌。其中壶菌Chytridiales sp.、Physoderma maydis和Powellomyces sp., 子囊菌的假丝酵母(Candida parapsilosis)、鲁氏接合酵母(Zygosaccharomyces rouxii)和短梗霉(Aureobasidium pullulans)以及后生动物的轮虫(Lecane bulla)均未有报导存在于热泉或热井中。【结论】羊八井热井沉积物中具有丰富的真核微生物多样性。