The role of NH4+ toxicity in the decline of the submersed macrophyte Vallisneria natans in lakes of the Yangtze River basin, China

Experimental and field studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of NH4+ enrichment on growth and distribution of the submersed macrophyte, Vallisneria natans L, in lakes of the Yangtze River in China, based on the balance between free amino acids (FAA) and soluble carbohydrates (SC) in the plant tissue. Increase of NH4+ rather than NO3- concentrations in the water column caused FAA accumulation and SC depletion of the plant. The plant showed a unimodal pattern of biomass distribution along both FAA/SC ratios and external NH4+ concentrations, indicating that a moderate NH4-N concentration (< 0.3 mg L-1) benefited the plant, whereas the high NH4-N concentration (> 0.56 mg L-1) eliminated the plant completely. Therefore, 0.56 mg NH4-N mg L-1 in the water column was taken as the upper limit for V. natans in lakes of the Yangtze River basin. The mesocosm experiment showed that at a high external NH4-N (0.81 mg L-1), V. natans failed to propagate with a loss of half SC content (5 mg g(-1) DW) in the rhizomes, indicating that the consumption of carbohydrates for detoxification of excess NH4+ into non-toxic FAA significantly diminished carbohydrate supply to the rhizomes. This might consequently inhibit the vegetative reproduction of the plant, and also might be an important cause for the decline and disappearance of the plant with eutrophication. The present study for the first time reports substantial ecophysiological evidences for NH4+ stress to submersed macrophytes, and indicates that NH4+ toxicity arising from eutrophication probably plays a key role in the deterioration of submersed macrophytes like V. natans.

Biochemical and ultrastructural changes of the liver and kidney of the phytoplanktivorous silver carp feeding naturally on toxic Microcystis blooms in Taihu Lake, China

Many experimental studies have documented the impact of microcystins (MC) on fish based on either intraperitoneal injection, or oral gavaging via the diet, but few experiments were conducted by MC exposure through natural food uptake in lakes. In this study, the phytoplanktivorous silver carp were stocked in a large pen set in Meiliang Bay of Taihu Lake where toxic Microcystis blooms occurred in the warm seasons. Fish samples were collected monthly and MC concentrations in liver and kidney of the fish were determined by LC-MS. The maximum MC concentrations in liver and kidney were present in July when damages in ultrastructures of the liver and kidney were revealed by electron microscope. In comparison with previous studies on common carp, silver carp showed less damage and presence of lysosome proliferation in liver and kidney. Silver carp might eliminate or lessen cell damage caused by MC through lysosome activation. Recovery in the ultrastructures of liver and kidney after Microcystis blooms was companied with a significant decrease or even disappearance of MC. Catalase and glutathione S-transferase in liver and kidney of silver carp during Microcystis blooms were significantly higher than before and after Microcystis blooms. The high glutathione pool in liver and kidney of silver carp suggests their high resistance to MC exposure. The efficient antioxidant defence may be an important mechanism of phytoplanktivorous fish like silver carp to counteract toxic Microcystis blooms. (C) 2007 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Long-term (1956-1999) dynamics of phosphorus in a shallow, subtropical Chinese lake with the possible effects of cyanobacterial blooms

This paper describes the long-term dynamics of phosphorus concentrations in both the lake water and the sediment in a subtropical Chinese lake, Lake Donghu. The total phosphorus (TP) concentration in the lake water experienced an upward trend from the 1950s, and peaked in 1983/1984, but declined obviously afterwards. From the 1950s to the 1990s, TP content in the upper 10 cm sediment of the lake increased steadily from 0.307 to 1.68 mg Pg DW-1 at Station I and from 0.151 to 0.89 mg Pg DW-1 at Station II, respectively. The TP increase in the lake water before mid-1980s was mainly attributed to the massive input of sewage P. The outbreak of cyanobacterial blooms coincided with the peaks of TP and Orthophosphate (PO4-P) in the water in mid-1980s, and the maximum TP of the water reached as high as 1.349 mg/1 at Station I and 0.757 mg/l at Station II (in 1984), respectively. The declines of TP and PO4-P in the water after mid-1980s was coincident with the disappearance of cyanobacterial bloom. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Growth of Potamageton maackianus under low-light stress in eutrophic water

Decline of submersed macrophytes in Lake Donghu of China with the progress of eutrophication is assumedly due to low light stress by algae blooming. I conducted a laboratory experiment to study the impact of low-light stress on the growth of Potamogeton maackianus A. Been, a dominant submersed macrophyte of the lake before the 1970s. Plants were grown for six weeks in aquaria with Lake Donghu sediment and enriched water. Light delivered to aquaria was adjusted to simulate the typical Lake Donghu light intensities that exist at several water depths from 0.6m to 1.7m. Biomass growth of the plant was inversely related to light intensity at the simulated depths of greater than or equal to 1.0m (r = 0.96, p < 0.05, n=6) and was negative at the depths of greater than or equal to 1.4m. These results indicate that photosynthetic light saturation and compensation points of the plant in Lake Donghu should be ca. 0,9m and ca. 1.5m depths, respectively. Chlorophyll content, growth of main shoot, total shoot lengths and density of the plant all peaked at 1.2-1.3m simulated depths. These results indicate that P. maackianus responds to low light stress primarily by elongation of shoots, and increase of density. Its biomass growth and nutrient uptake rate did not correlate with the accelerated shoot growth. Below the light intensities of water deeper than 1.2-1.3m, shoot growth rate decreased. The flexible tolerant strategy of P. maackianus to low-light stress suggests that the disappearance of this plant from the lake was not mainly due to eutrophication-induced low-light stress.

ROLE OF PHOSPHORUS CYCLING IN ALGAL METABOLISM AND ALGAL SUCCESSION IN LAKE DONGHU, CHINA

The role of phosphorus cycling in algal metabolism was studied in a shallow lake, Donghu, in Wuhan using the methods of measuring cell quota C, N and P, and calculating nutrients uptake rate by algal photosynthesis. The mean daily phosphorus uptake rate of phytoplankton varied between 0.04-0.11 and 0.027-0.053 g/m2/d in station I and station II respectively. The turnover time of phosphorus in phytoplankton metabolism ranged from 0.75-5.0 days during 1979-1986. The available P was 0.176 (+/- 0.156) g/m3 (mean +/- SD) in 1982 and 0.591 (+/- 0.24) g/m3 in 1986. The relationship between P/B ratio (Y) and TP (X: mg/l) was described by the following regression equation Y = 1.163 + 0.512logX (r = 0.731, P < 0.001). The dynamics of algal biomass and algal species succession were monitored as the indicators of environmental enrichment. The small-sized algae have replaced the blue-green algae as the dominant species during 1979-1986. The small-sized algae include Merismopedia glauca, Cryptomonas ovata, Cryptomonas erosa, several species Cyclotella. There has been drastic decrease in algal biomass and an obvious increase in P/B ratio. A nutrient competition hypothesis is proposed to explain the reason of the disappearance of blue-green algae bloom. The drastic change in algal size and the results in high P/B ratio (reaching a maximum mean daily ratio of 1.09 in 1986) may suggest a transition of algal species from K-selection to r-selection in Lake Donghu.

Lineshape Analysis of the Beat Signal Between Optical Carrier and Delayed Sidebands

This paper presents the lineshape analysis of the beat signal between the optical carrier and the shifted and delayed side-bands produced by sinusoidal amplitude modulation. It is shown that the beat signal has a typical lineshape with a very narrow delta-peak superposed on a quasi-Lorentzian profile. Theoretical explanation for the appearance of this peak has been given based on optical spectral structure constructed by a large number of optical wave trains. It is predicted that the delta-peak is originated from the beat between the wave trains in the carrier and those in the delayed sidebands when their average coherence length is longer than the delay line. Experiments carried out using different delay lines clearly show that the delta-peak is always located at the modulation frequency and decreases with the increasing delay line. Our analysis explicitly indicates that the linewidth is related to the observation time. It is also suggested that the disappearance of the delta-peak can be used as the criterion of coherence elimination.

A ministop band in a single-defect photonic crystal waveguide based on silicon on insulator

This paper reports that a two-dimensional single-defect photonic crystal waveguide in the F-K direction with triangular lattice on a silicon-on-insulator substrate is fabricated by the combination of electron beam lithography and inductively coupled plasma etching. A ministop band (MSB) is observed by the measurement of transmission characteristics. It results from the coupling between the two modes with the same symmetry, which is analysed from the stimulated band diagram by the effective index and the two-dimensional plane wave expansion methods. The parameter working on the MSB is the ratio of the radius of air holes to the lattice constant, r/a. It is obtained that the critical r/a value determining the occurrence or disappearance of MSB is 0.36. When r/a is larger than or equal to 0.36, the MSB occurs. However, when r/a is smaller than 0.36, the MSB disappears.

Effect of ion-induced damage on GaNAs/GaAs quantum wells grown by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy

The effect of ion-induced damage on GaNAs/GaAs quantum wells (QWs) grown by molecular beam epitaxy employing a DC plasma as the N source was investigated. Ion-induced damage results in: (i) an observed disappearance of pendellosung fringes in the X-ray diffraction pattern of the sample; (ii) a drastic decrease in intensity and a broadening in the full-width at half-maximum of photoluminescence spectra. It was shown that ion-induced damage strongly affected the bandedge potential fluctuations of the QWs. The bandedge potential fluctuations for the samples grown with and without ion removal magnets (IRMs) are 44 and 63 meV, respectively. It was found that the N-As atomic interdiffusion at the interfaces of the QWs was enhanced by the ion damage-induced defects. The estimated activation energies of the N-As atomic interdiffusion for the samples grown with and without IRMs are 3.34 and 1.78 eV, respectively. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Suppression of self-sustained field domain oscillation in GaAs/AlAs superlattice by hydrostatic pressure at room temperature

The behavior of room temperature self-sustained current oscillations resulting from sequential resonance tunneling in a doped weakly-coupled GaAs/AlAs superlattice (SL) is investigated under hydrostatic pressure. From atmosphere pressure to 6.5 kbar, oscillations exist in the whole plateau of the I-V curve and oscillating characteristics are affected by the pressure. When hydrostatic pressure is higher than 6.5 kbar, the current oscillations are completely suppressed although a current plateau still can be seen in the I-V curve. The plateau disappears when the pressure is close to 13.5 kbar. As the main effect of hydrostatic pressure is to lower the X point valley with respect to Gamma point valley, the disappearance of oscillation and the plateau shrinkage before Gamma - X resonance takes place are attributed to the increases of thermoionic emission and nonresonant tunneling components determined by the lowest Gamma - X barrier height in GaAs/AlAs SL structure.

PASSIVATION OF COPPER BY LITHIUM IN P-TYPE GAAS

We report the passivation of two deep copper-related acceptor levels in Cu-diffused p-type GaAs by the group-I element lithium. The deep-level-transient-spectroscopy (DLTS) signals of the well-known Cu-related levels with apparent activation energies 0.15 eV and 0.40 eV disappear in Cu-diffused samples when they are diffused with Li, but can be reactivated by annealing. Photoluminescence measurements show a corresponding disappearance and reappearance of the copper-related luminescence at 1.36 eV. Also we observe with DLT'S an energy level at E(V) + 0.32 eV in the Cu-Li-diff-used samples. The level is neither present in the Cu-diffused samples before Li diffusion nor in Cu-Li-diffused samples after annealing. As the level is not observed in starting materials or solely Li-diffused samples we suggest that it is related to a Cu-Li complex.

Photoluminescence and photostimulated luminescence of BaFBr:Eu2+,Eu3+

In the photoluminescence (PL) of BaFBr:Eu2+,Eu3+, the emissions of Ea(2+), carrier electron-hole (e-h) recombination, and Eu3+ are observed, while in the photostimulated luminescence (PSL) only the emission of Eu2+ is exhibited. This disappearance of e-h recombination in PSL is considered to be caused by carrier migration during photo-stimulation. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.

若尔盖自然保护区高原林蛙(Rana kukunoris)扩散模型与景观连接分析

揭示水体中繁殖的两栖动物在异质性景观中的空间扩散特点，探讨景观面积丧失和破碎化对于两栖动物的影响，为两栖动物的保护提供理论依据。本文以四川西北部若尔盖湿地自然保护区的高原林蛙(Rana kukunoris)为研究对象，通过运用地理信息系统及建立景观模型等方法，在分析若尔盖湿地自然保护区范围内现有景观格局的基础上，建立了高原林蛙的景观扩散模型，并模拟了“沼泽→草甸”的湿地逆演化过程下高原林蛙的空间分布与景观连接的变化特点。主要结果是： 1．若尔盖湿地自然保护区呈典型的沼泽—草甸式斑块—基质景观格局。草甸面积占整个景观面积的79.42%，景观蔓延度指数（CONTAG）为79.00远离最小值0而更趋向于最大值100，面积和景观蔓延度指数表明草甸是整个景观中面积占绝对优势且景观连接好的类型，构成了景观的基质，对景观的动态格局演变起主导作用。沼泽面积仅占整个景观面积的18.08%，但却是整个景观中斑块数目最多的单元，占所有斑块数的82.9%。因此沼泽斑块与草甸基质之间的动态结构对高原林蛙的扩散起着决定性的作用。 2．空间扩散模型表明，其它类型的景观不但扩展了高原林蛙的活动范围，而且也为高原林蛙在不同沼泽斑块间的连接提供了通道。高原林蛙的空间扩散区域使得彼此间成斑块化隔离状分布的沼泽形成了潜在景观功能连接，促进了不同斑块间物种的交流。小型沼泽作为垫脚石（stepping-stone），使得整个景观中的相隔距离较远的大型斑块联结为一个功能整体，促进了高原林蛙在整个景观中的相互动态联系。 3．模拟“沼泽→草甸”的湿地逆演化过程表明，大量小型沼泽湿地的消失将会 对在沼泽中繁殖并扩散到其它景观类型中去的高原林蛙造成潜在影响。逆演化过程不仅使沼泽斑块的分布范围，沼泽源斑块的面积和空间扩散面积减少，而且对景观连接也有很大影响。小型沼泽的消失，将使得景观斑块的功能连接变小，使得依靠小型沼泽作为跳板的动物在沼泽斑块之间的移动将变得更加困难。 本文是对生境丧失与破碎化影响下两栖动物的行为反应的一种尝试。影响模型的因素很多，包括动物对各种类型景观的偏好程度，地理数据的精度，及模型的可靠程度都是制约模型准确度的因素。 The spatial diffusion of water—breeding amphibian through heterogeneous landscape and the effects of landscape losing and fragmentation to amphibian were the core theory of the landscape ecology of amphibian. Geographical information system (GIS) and landscape model were used to model the diffused area of Rana kukunoris in Zoige Wetland Natural Reserve. Model was also used to analysis the spatial distribution variation of R. kukunoris and the change of landscape connectivity when simulated the retrogressive succession of landscape. The main results are below: 1. There was peatland—meadow pattern which was typical patch—matrix landscape pattern in Zoige Natural Reserve. The meadow area occupied 79.42% of the entire landscape area, contagion index (CONTAG) was 79.00 which was far away the minimum value (0) but tend to the maximum value (100). Both of these showed that meadow was the largest part and the most continue units. It was shown that meadow was matrix of the landscape, which evolved the leading role to the landscape dynamic pattern. Though their area only occupies 18.08% of entire landscape area, peatlands were according to 82.9% of the total patches. Dynamic of the pattern between peatlands and meadows decided the spatial diffusion of R. kukunoris. 2．The model indicated that the other types of landscape not only expanded diffusion of R. kukunoris, but also have provided the potential channels for frog's connections among different peatlands. The spatial diffusion zone of R. kukunoris forced isolated patch peatlands to be potential landscape functional connectivity. The small peatlands, as stepping-stone, made the large peatlands connect as a functional one and promoted the integrated and dynamic connectivity of R. kukunoris in the whole landscape. 3. The simulation of “peatlands→meadows”retrogressive succession process indicated that the decrease of small peatlands will have potential effect to R. kukunoris because they must bred in peatlands and diffuse to other type of the landscape. Retrogressive succession process not only made the decrease of distribution of peatlands, patches number of peatlands and diffused area of R. kukunoris, but also reduced the connectivity among source patches. As stepping-stone, the disappearance of small peatlands will made the migration of R. kukunoris among patches more difficult. The model was an experiment of the amphibian behavior reaction to habitat losing and fragmentation. There were many factors that could influence the accuracy of model, such as the preference of animals to each type of landscape, the geographical data precision, reliable degree of model.

Collective Transverse Flow in Intermediate Energy Heavy-Ion Collisions

Within the hadronic transport model IBUU04, we study the density-dependent symmetry energy by using the neutron-proton differential flow from the Sn-132+Sn-124 reactions at beam energies of 200, 400, 600 and 800MeV per nucleon. The strong effect of the symmetry energy is shown at the incident beam energy of 400 MeV/A. The small medium-effect of the neutron-proton differential flow is also found. We also study the neutron-proton differential flows with impact parameters of 3, 5, 7 fm. It is found that in semi-central collisions the sensitivity of the neutron-proton differential flow to the symmetry energy is larger.

Probing balance energy using momentum- and isospin-dependent potential

Using the momentum- and isospin-dependent Boltmann-Uehling-Uhlenbeck (BUU) model, we investigate the transverse flow and balance energy in two isotopic colliding systems Ca-48+Fe-58 and Cr-48+Ni-58 by adopting different symmetry potentials. By comparing the results between the two colliding systems, we find that the difference between the balance energies of two isotopic systems can be considered as a sensitive probe to the density dependence of symmetry energy.

Thermal and mechanical properties of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) crosslinked with gamma radiation in the presence of triallyl isocyanurate

Poly(epsilon-caprolactone) was crosslinked by gamma radiation in the presence of triallyl isocyanurate. The influence of gamma-radiation crosslinking on the thermal and mechanical properties of poly(epsilon-caprolactone)/triallyl isocyanurate was investigated. Differential scanning calorimetry analyses showed differences between the first and second scans. Dynamic mechanical analysis showed an increase in the glass-transition temperature as a result of the radiation crosslinking of poly(epsilon-caprolactone). Thermogravimetric analysis showed that gamma-radiation crosslinking slightly improved the thermal stability of poly(epsilon-caprolactone). The 7 radiation also strongly influenced the mechanical properties. At room temperature, crosslinking by radiation did not have a significant influence on the Young's modulus and yield stress of poly(E-caprolactone). However, the tensile strength at break and the elongation at break generally decreased with an increase in the crosslinking level. When the temperature was increased above the melting point, the tensile strength at break, elongation at break, and Young's modulus of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) were also reduced with an increase in the crosslinking level. The yield stress disappeared as a result of the disappearance of the crystallites.