Field Evaluation of Mulberry Root Structure with Regard to Phytoremediation

The root structure of a mature 12-year-old mulberry tree growing in a former waste disposal basin and the relationship of the tree's root system to the distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil/sludge beneath the tree were examined. Root excavation showed that large roots were restricted to the upper 60?cm of the root zone, whereas medium-sized (0.3 to 2.5?cm) and fine (<0.3?cm) roots were present throughout the root zone reaching depths of 110 cm. Comparison of the concentrations of PAHs in the root zone with those in the sludge beneath the root zone (>2.0?m) showed dramatic differences. In the upper 60?cm of the root zone, where roots have prevailed for potentially 12 years, the PAH concentrations were approximately 10 to 20% of those in the sludge. At lower rooting depths 60 to 100?cm, where fewer roots have been present for a shorter time period, the PAH concentrations have decreased but to a lesser degree. These field results provide evidence that the mulberry root system develops gradually over time in a vertical direction with fine roots serving as the leading edge of a moving front. The degradative properties of this biological front (root-microbe combination) toward toxic chemicals hold great importance for successful development of phytoremediation technology designed to degrade deep contaminants in former sludge basins.     

Effect of thiamine on the by-products formation byYarrowia lipolytica

Organic acid production as by-products during citric acid production under low thiamine concentration byY. lipolytica was analyzed using HPLC. Main by-products were pyruvic acid and alpha-keto glutaric acid. From the analysis of byproduct formation, it was proposed that oxaloacetate synthesis via TCA cycles remained as important as synthesis from pyruvate carboxylation pathway during the citric acid production.     

The Relationship Between the Nariations of Fruit-Bearing Organic Characters in Natural Aneurolepidium chinense Population and the Climatic Factors in the Songnen Plain of China

Based on eight years continuous observation and measurement on the ways and intensity of utilization of three fixed plots of the meadow of natural Aneurolepidium chinense in the Songnen Plain of China at definite stage of annual growth season the quantitative analysis on the relationship between the variations of fruit-bearing organic characters of A. chinense population and the climatic factors was investigated. Change of climate was one of the comprehensive factors which led to the variations of fruit-bearing organic characters of the population in different plots, but variations on the characters of the population among the plots and on the degree of correlation or functional relationships between the character and the climatic factor in different stages were only caused by the ways and intensity utilization. The characters of the spike organ were more affected by climatic factors in the stage of growth and development of the winterness plants of the population. There were universal ecological effects of time lap in the climatic factors.     

官亭水库黄尾鲴食性的初步研究

黄尾鲴仔幼鱼阶段的食性是随着鳃耙和肠管形态的变化而变化。体长11.8—12.3mm,鳃耙形状开始分化,肠呈1—2弯曲,仔鱼吞食小型枝角类,主要是裸腹溞;体长15.8—17.4mm,口端位,鳃耙成筛网,肠呈4—8弯曲,前肠膨大,主要食物是腐屑,摇蚊幼虫,“水华”型的裸藻与蓝绿藻。体长18mm的幼鱼,口下位,鳃耙与肠管进一步发育,幼鱼转入底栖,其前肠内含物主要为泥沙、腐屑、摇蚊幼虫,浮游动物与浮游植物。黄尾鲴成鱼的主要食物为大量的腐屑和极少数的着生硅藻、颤藻。成鱼食物营养价值很差,其总N含量为0.372%,有机质为4.8%,每克湿重的热值为146.35卡,成鱼周年摄食,摄食量大,这是黄尾鲴摄食的特点。       

浙江天童植物群落演替对土壤化学性质的影响

对浙江天童植物群落演替过程的土壤腐殖质层、0～10cm层和10～20cm层化学因子的比较研究结果表明,随着进展演替,土壤全氮含量呈明显增长趋势,但硝态氮、氨态氮、速效氮、速效磷和速效钾含量除演替初期的裸地、灌丛较小外,森林群落阶段增长趋势一般不明显;土壤pH值则缺乏明显的规律性,但有机质含量呈明显增长趋势,而富里酸和胡敏酸含量,除栲树木荷林和栲树林较高,裸地最低外,其它演替阶段增长趋势也不明显;HA/FA在腐殖质层缺乏明显的规律性,但在0～10cm和10～20cm层则呈减少趋势。可见,常绿阔叶林次生演替能增加土壤有机物质含量,促进土壤有机物质的矿化和再合成作用;而土壤化学性状的改善,也为常绿阔叶林的进展演替奠定了基础。     

有机溶剂对脂肪酶LipozymeIM催化活性的影响

脂肪酶LipozYmeIM经有机溶剂浸泡处理后活性显著提高。该文系统地探讨了有机溶剂特性、有机溶剂水含量以及有机溶剂浸泡温度和浸泡时间对LipozymeIM催化活性的影响。发现LipozymeIM经疏水性较强的有机溶剂浸泡处理后活性成倍增长;浸泡的最佳温度为60℃左右;浸泡时间对酶活影响不大;随着有机溶剂水含量的增加,酶活性急剧下降。     

广州市空气可吸入性颗粒物的污染水平

用安德森双道采样器,Ｔｅｆｌｏｎ膜在广州市城区采集大气细颗粒物（Φ〈２．５μｍ,ＰＭ２．５）和粗颗粒物（２．５≤Φ〈１０μｍ,ＰＭ２．５－１０）两者之和为ＰＭ１０。每季度采样一次,连续采样１５－３０ｄ,每天采一个２４ｈ样品,污染点１９９５,１９９６年的污染水平接近,对照点１９９６年的污染水平明显低于１９９５年,１９９５,１９９６年污染点ＰＭ２．５的２４ｈ均值分别为０．０２５－０．５０６和０．０１７     

Use of organic solvents and small molecules for locating binding sites on proteins in solution*

Application of a modified ePHOGSY and other novel NMR experiments to an H2O-DMSO solution of the protein FKBP12 identified the presence of one molecule of DMSO bound in the substrate binding site. It occupies the same spatial region occupied by the pipecolidine moiety of the immunosuppressive drugs FK506 and Rapamycin complexed to the protein. The binding constant KD for this DMSO molecule was only 275 mM. A substructure search of small molecules similar to DMSO resulted in the identification of molecules with improved binding affinity. This work represents a clear example of the powerful interplay of molecular modelling and NMR.     

INTRACELLULAR DIMETHYLSULFOXIDE (DMSO) IN UNICELLULAR MARINE ALGAE: SPECULATIONS ON ITS ORIGIN AND POSSIBLE BIOLOGICAL ROLE

Recent studies have established that aqueous phase concentrations of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) often exceed those of dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) and dimethylsulfide (DMS). Yet, in comparison to DMSP and DMS, DMSO remains a poorly understood component of the marine sulfur cycle. Much of what is known about the mechanisms for the formation and loss for DMSO is inferred from laboratory experiments, and no explanation exists to rationalize how a large pool of DMSO is maintained. One formation pathway that, until very recently, has been ignored involves the direct synthesis of DMSO by marine phytoplankton. This review examines some of the circumstantial evidence for DMSO in marine particulate material and recent reports containing preliminary data for particulate DMSO (DMSO_p) in the marine environment. Drawing on literature from a range of scientific disciplines, speculations on the possible origins and biological functions of intracellular DMSO are also made. On the basis of its physicochemical properties, intracellular DMSO could have a potential role as a cryoprotectant, a specialist cryo-osmoregulator in extreme environments, an intracellular electrolyte modifier, and a free-radical scavenger. The review also assesses the impact of DMSO_p at both the organism and the global level. Consideration is given to the marine biogeochemical cycling of sulfur and potential links to climate control.     

Effects of cultivation practice on floristic and flowering diversity of spontaneously growing plant species on arable fields

In the past, the floristic diversity of arable fields has been described in terms of species diversity (SD) and their degree of coverage (C), but never in combination with the recording of the actually flowered species (FS) and their flowering intensity (FI) to striking differences in the cultivation methods on arable land. In relation to SD and C, however, FS and FI may provide important additional information on the functional biodiversity of fields. The aim was therefore to investigate the effects of (a) conventional, (b) organic, and (c) smallholder (never application of herbicides) on the floristic diversity. Using a region in Germany, we investigated SD, C, FS, and FI synchronously in (a), (b), and (c), by 356 vegetation surveys (5 × 5 m plots) conducted in spring and summer in 2019 in winter cereals. Statistical tests were used to analyze the differences between (a), (b), and (c). The medians were used to compare the floristic diversity of (a), (b), and (c) and finally relationships of FS and FI to SD were analyzed in relation to the cultivation methods. Significant differences in SD, C, FS, and FI were found between the (a), (b), and (c) in spring and summer characterized by sharp declines from (c) to (b) to (a). A drastic reduction in floristic diversity from (c) 100 to (b) 52 to (a) 3 was determined. Plants in flower (FS, FI) were very poorly in (a), moderately well to well in (b), and well to very well represented in (c). (C) to (a) was characterized by a sharp decline and from (a) to (b) by sharp increase in floristic diversity. With current acreage proportions of (a) in mind, this would affect, about one third of land area in Germany, associated with a drastic reduction in functional biodiversity for insects.