Spatial distribution of roots of pearl millet on sandy soils of Niger

Root sampling in crop stands of low planting density requires reliable information on horizontal distribution of roots. This applies particularly to pearl millet in the Sahel, which is sown at a rate of less than two pockets of seed per m². The objective of this study was to investigate the spatial variability of root length density (RLD) among sampling positions in an improved management system with ridging and under traditional sowing. RLD between ridges (bR) was lower compared to sampling positions within ridges (wR) at soil depth layers from 0 to 80 cm soil depth. We found a highly significant, positive correlation between the sum of the root length (RL) of four sampling dates (tillering, booting, flowering, and maturity) with shoot dry mass (SDM) at maturity. The square of the correlation coefficient was highest when calculation of RL was based on RLD at all four sampling positions. While SDM exhibited significant differences among three pearl millet varieties, sole root sampling wR at a lateral distance of 60 cm relative to the pocket would not allow for the detection of varietal differences in RL, while all other sampling positions did. The correlation between RL and SDM was considerably improved if information of RLD bR was included. Under traditional sowing, RLD directly under the plant was lower compared to sampling positions at lateral distance 25 and 50 cm from the centre of the pocket, but this effect of sampling position was not significant. RLD estimates within deeper soil layers were not systematically affected by direction and lateral distance. To obtain accurate information about depth of rooting and RL under traditional sowing, samples should be taken from lateral distances between 20 and 40 cm from the pocket centre.     

Modelling the faecal coliform concentrations in the Bilbao estuary

Since 1984, an ambitious sewerage scheme is being implemented in the metropolitan area of Bilbao City (North Spain) in order to recover the environment of the highly polluted Bilbao estuary. To check the efficiency of this scheme, the performance of the sewer system and the water quality in the Bilbao estuary and beaches have been simulated during a future hypothetical bathing season. The system has been tested under dry and wet weather conditions, using selected historical rainfall records, in order to evaluate the effect of the faecal pollution arising from Combined Sewer Overflows on the water quality of the beaches located in the outer part of the estuary. The results obtained indicate that under dry weather and optimal operational conditions of the sewer and treatment works, the mandatory European standards on bathing waters will be met in all beaches. The discharges caused by storm overflows will increase the faecal contamination in the beaches compromising the compliance with the guideline standards. Therefore, a disinfection of the treatment works effluent, the main faecal discharge to the estuary, may be needed.     

Restoration ecology of riverine wetlands: A 5-year post-operation survey on the Rhône River, France

Bibliographical study of articles published in scientific journals over the last 10 years, and of books published over the last 20 years, reveals a clear increase in the number of publications dealing with ecological engineering, particularly on aquatic ecosystems, which today are becoming a major topic. The concept of ecological restoration must be clearly defined scientifically and include adequate pre- and post-restoration monitoring of various performance indicators, to allow for restoration, evaluation and increase its success. A restoration experiment was carried out in a former channel of the Rhône River according to a scientifically based decision framework. Long-term monitoring of aquatic vegetation (17 years of data) on two former channels (reference and restored ecosystem) clearly demonstrated human impacts on aquatic ecosystems. A channel exhibiting rapid terrestrialization and eutrophication processes after completion of a hydroelectric scheme construction was restored. In keeping with the hypothesis, the increase in groundwater supply led the restored ecosystem to return to a less advanced and self-sustainable successional stage, whereas vegetation monitoring in the reference channel did not show significant changes over this 17-year of period, supporting long-term studies to determine the effects of restoration on the biota.     

An update of the vegetation classification in China北大核心CSCD

The vegetation classification in China was updated by referring to recent advances for vegetation classification worldwide and on the basis of our former paper Recognition and Proposal on the Vegetation Classification System of China (hereafter, "Recognition and Proposal"). In this revision, the criteria for vegetation classification were discussed and unified, and a quantified standard for high, medium, and low level units in a new hierarchical classification scheme was supplemented. Compared with the old classification scheme in "Recognition and Proposal", the units at the level of vegetation type were substantially changed. Finally, in order to improve mutual communication among international peers, a comparison was carried out between the new revised scheme and each of International Classification and Mapping of Vegetation of UNESCO, The National Vegetation Classification Standard of United States, and The Braun-Blanquet Classification Scheme.     

High Efficiency Photocatalytic Water Splitting Using 2D α‐Fe2O3/g‐C3N4 Z‐Scheme Catalysts

Photocatalysis is the most promising method for achieving artificial photosynthesis, but a bottleneck is encountered in finding materials that could efficiently promote the water splitting reaction. The nontoxicity, low cost, and versatility of photocatalysts make them especially attractive for this application. This study demonstrates that small amounts of α‐Fe₂O₃ nanosheets can actively promote exfoliation of g‐C₃N₄, producing 2D hybrid that exhibits tight interfaces and an all‐solid‐state Z‐scheme junction. These nanostructured hybrids present a high H₂ evolution rate >3 × 10⁴ µmol g^‐1 h^‐1 and external quantum efficiency of 44.35% at λ = 420 nm, the highest value so far reported among the family of g‐C₃N₄ photocatalysts. Besides effectively suppressing the recombination of electron–hole pairs, this Z‐scheme junction also exhibits activity toward overall water splitting without any sacrificial donor. The proposed synthetic route for controlled production of 2D g‐C₃N₄‐based structures provides a scalable alternative toward the development of highly efficient and active photocatalysts.     

陕北地区不同植被改善方案对环境影响的数值模拟

植被一直是地气相互作用研究的重点。数值模拟是目前研究植被对大气反馈作用的主要方法。全球和区域气候模式的网格距较大 ,以致于不能真实地描述地表植被覆盖差异 ,因而模拟结果存在一定的不确定性。目前 ,耦合陆面植被模式的中尺度气象模式已成为研究实际的植被建设方案影响天气过程的唯一有效手段。运用中尺度气象模式 MM5 ,模拟了陕北黄土高原地区一次区域性降雨过程及局地环境要素对两种不同的退耕还林方案的敏感性。模式的中心点定于 (37.8°N、1 0 8.8°E) ,模拟区域为(1 0 4 .0 2～ 1 1 3.5 8°E ,33.93～ 4 1 .4 8°N) ,水平分辨率 9km,垂直分层 2 3层 ,时间积分步长 30 s,以美国国家环境预测中心(NCEP)再分析资料作为大尺度背景场。模拟结果表明 ,陕北地区下垫面植被改善后 ,能够使区域降雨的雨带北移 ,降雨量增加 ,降雨过程延长 ,这对于改善陕北地区干旱的气候环境 ,扩展动植物的生存区域具有重要的意义。此外 ,陕北地区植被改善还能够使区域的地表径流减少 ,对于减少黄河输沙量 ,清洁黄河水源 ,保持当地水土具有积极的意义。由于下垫面的变化 ,局地的环境要素也发生了一些相应的变化 :空气湿度增加 ,土壤湿度在短时间内有一定程度的减少 ,长期有增加的趋势 ,气温和土壤温度有一定程度升高 ,     

Probing the dynamics of restriction endonuclease NgoMIV‐DNA interaction by single‐molecule FRET

Many type II restriction endonucleases require two copies of their recognition sequence for optimal activity. Concomitant binding of two DNA sites by such an enzyme produces a DNA loop. Here we exploit single‐molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (smFRET) of surface‐immobilized DNA fragments to study the dynamics of DNA looping induced by tetrameric endonuclease NgoMIV. We have employed a DNA fragment with two NgoMIV recognition sites and a FRET dye pair such that upon protein‐induced DNA looping the dyes are brought to close proximity resulting in a FRET signal. The dynamics of DNA ‐ NgoMIV interactions proved to be heterogeneous, with individual smFRET trajectories exhibiting broadly different average looped state durations. Distinct types of the dynamics were attributed to different types of DNA ‐ protein complexes, mediated either by one NgoMIV tetramer simultaneously bound to two specific sites (“slow” trajectories) or by semi‐specific interactions of two DNA‐bound NgoMIV tetramers (“fast” trajectories), as well as to conformational heterogeneity of individual NgoMIV molecules.     

The ω‐transaminase engineering database (oTAED): A navigation tool in protein sequence and structure space

The ω‐Transaminase Engineering Database (oTAED) was established as a publicly accessible resource on sequences and structures of the biotechnologically relevant ω‐transaminases (ω‐TAs) from Fold types I and IV. The oTAED integrates sequence and structure data, provides a classification based on fold type and sequence similarity, and applies a standard numbering scheme to identify equivalent positions in homologous proteins. The oTAED includes 67 210 proteins (114 655 sequences) which are divided into 169 homologous families based on global sequence similarity. The 44 and 39 highly conserved positions which were identified in Fold type I and IV, respectively, include the known catalytic residues and a large fraction of glycines and prolines in loop regions, which might have a role in protein folding and stability. However, for most of the conserved positions the function is still unknown. Literature information on positions that mediate substrate specificity and stereoselectivity was systematically examined. The standard numbering schemes revealed that many positions which have been described in different enzymes are structurally equivalent. For some positions, multiple functional roles have been suggested based on experimental data in different enzymes. The proposed standard numbering schemes for Fold type I and IV ω‐TAs assist with analysis of literature data, facilitate annotation of ω‐TAs, support prediction of promising mutation sites, and enable navigation in ω‐TA sequence space. Thus, it is a useful tool for enzyme engineering and the selection of novel ω‐TA candidates with desired biochemical properties.     

Bacterial responses to natural organic inputs in a marine subAntarctic area

Quantitative investigations of bacteriological and organic matter parameters were conducted regularly at least once a week for a year at three subAntarctic benthic stations. The different bacteriological methods used (direct counts, viable counts and heterotrophic potentials) gave complementary results. Despite substantial differences in organic matter content of the different sediments, the bacterial communities were of similar density. Seasonal variations observed in the studied area were regular enough to allow a detailed analysis. A general scheme describing the reactions of the bacterial microflora to the different periods of organic input is discussed. This model, which includes three parts (lag phase, growing phase and return to the initial state), allows the interpretation of the bacterial responses observed during the benthic surveys.     

A microscopic model for the current-voltage behaviour of the Na,K-pump

The current voltage characteristic of the Na, K pump is described on the basis of a modified Post-Albers cycle. The voltage dependence of the rate constants is derived from the elementary chargetranslocations associated with the single reaction steps. Charge displacements result from movements of the sodium- or potassium-loaded binding sites, as well as from motions of polar groups in the pump molecule. If part of the transmembrane voltage drops between the alkali-ion binding sites and the aqueous solution, the binding constants become voltage-dependent. Depending on the values of the microscopic parameters, the current-voltage characteristic may assume a variety of different shapes. Saturating behaviour results when one or more voltage-independent reaction steps become rate limiting. Non-monotonic current-voltage curves exhibiting regions of negative pump conductance are predicted when, at least in one of the transitions, charge is moved against the direction of overall charge-translocation. The theoretical predictions are compared with recent experimental studies of voltage-dependent pump currents.