Three-photon-excited upconversion luminescence of Ce3+: YAP crystal by femtosecond laser irradiation

Infrared to ultraviolet and visible upconversion luminescence was demonstrated in trivalent cerium doped YAlO3 crystal (Ce3+: YAP) under focused infrared femtosecond laser irradiation. The fluorescence spectra show that the upconverted luminescence comes from the 5d-4f transitions of trivalent cerium ions. The dependence of luminescence intensity of trivalent cerium on infrared pumping power reveals that the conversion of infrared radiation is dominated by three-photon excitation process. It is suggested that the simultaneous absorption of three infrared photons pumps the Ce3+ ion into upper 5d level, which quickly nonradiatively relax to lowest 5d level. Thereafter, the ions radiatively return to the ground states, leading to the characteristic emission of Ce3+. (c) 2005 Optical Society of America.

红外飞秒激光诱导Ce^3＋掺杂闪烁晶体的上转换发光研究

本文研究了红外飞秒激光照射下Ce^3＋ 掺杂的YAP和LSO两种闪烁晶体的上转换发光现象.实验发现在飞秒激光泵浦下,这两种晶体的荧光均来自于Ce^3＋离子的5d-4f跃迁.荧光强度与泵浦光功率之间的依赖关系揭示了Ce^3＋：YAP和Ce^3＋：LSO晶体的上转换过程皆由三光子吸收过程所主导.分析表明,Ce^3＋：YAP和Ce^3＋：LSO晶体中的三光子吸收是三光子同时吸收.

Ⅰ濒危植物银杉幼树对生长光强的适应研究、Ⅱ滴灌棉田根区水分对棉花根系生长的调节研究

一． 濒危植物银杉幼树对生长光强的适应研究 银杉（Cathaya argyrophylla）是我国松科中的特有单种属植物，被认为处于濒危状态。在对银杉群落多年调查研究的基础上，针对银杉幼树生长过程对光强的需求特性，开展了银杉幼树对光的适应性研究。试验在人工培育的银杉苗圃地，采用遮荫的方法，设置不同的光环境处理（100%、45%和3%自然光强），利用气体交换技术和叶绿素荧光技术测定了3种光强下银杉叶片光合生理指标的变化，探讨了不同光环境下银杉幼树光合能力在不同季节的变化及对生长光强的响应等。结果表明，在夏季银杉生长旺盛时期，遮荫导致叶片最大光合速率（Pnmax）、羧化效率(CE)明显下降。不同叶龄叶片的下降幅度不同，在3%低光环境下，当年生叶片较1年生叶片降低幅度大。银杉幼树光补偿点(LCP)和光饱和点(L．SP)随生长光强的下降均有所降低，但低光强（3%自然光强）条件下，全晴天时实际的光辐射量高于当年生叶片光补偿点的累积时间约6h，而且距离光饱和的区域相差极大，造成全天碳同化量低，同化物累积少，严重影响了银杉幼树的正常生长：在不同处理中全光强条件下银杉幼树长势最好，45%光强条件下幼树生长减慢。冬季银杉最大光合速率（Pnmax）、羧化效率(CE)值均低于夏季，光补偿点(LCP)和光饱和点(L．SP)也较夏季降低。全光照条件下无论是当年生叶片和1年生叶片，在冬季均出现了轻微光抑制现象，适度遮荫有利于银杉抵御冬季光抑制。无论在遮荫或不遮荫条件下，冬季银杉叶片将所吸收的相对过多光能通过非辐射途经耗散出去，表现出一种光保护策略。 二．滴灌棉田根区水分对棉花根系生长的调节研究 为了探讨膜下滴灌棉花根区土壤水分对棉花根系生长的影响及地上部的关系，揭示膜下滴灌棉花节水高产的生理机理，本试验通过设置不同滴水量处理，控制根区水分供应，研究膜下滴灌棉花根区水分变化对根系生长的调节效应。结果表明，限量滴灌条件下0-40cm土层内相对田间持水率在每次滴水前下降到50%以下，难以满足棉花正常生长对水分的要求;常规滴灌在每次滴水前，根区水分保持在临界水平下限以上，可基本满足棉花根系正常生长的需要，而充分滴灌量处理根区水分偏多。水分对根系生物量的影响表现为，充分滴灌与常规滴灌处理根系生物量差异不显著，两者均显著高于限量滴灌处理。随滴水量的增加，土层中根系分布集中，土壤浅层根量所占比重增加;根系在水平方向上以棉株为中心10cm区域内根量约占总根量的80%以上。根区水分对棉株生理特性也具有一定的调节作用，常规滴灌量的根系活力在生育后期高于充分滴灌量和限量滴灌处理，且深层根系活力所占比例较高。根区水分能够调节棉花根系与地上部生长比例，限量滴灌条件下棉花受到严重的干旱胁迫，虽然根冠比升高，但根系及地上部生物量均明显降低;充分滴灌量条件下单位面积根系总量、总生物学产量在各生育时期均高于常规滴灌量和限量滴灌处理，有较高铃数，但营养器官生物量占总生物量的比例较常规滴灌量处理高，最终实收棉花产量较常规滴灌量处理的低;常规滴灌在各生育时期根冠比适宜，单位重量根系的生产力较高，棉花经济产量高和水分利用效率均较高，增产潜力大。

A laboratory study on risk assessment of microcystin-RR in cropland

The persistence time and risk of microcystin-RR (MC-RR) in cropland via irrigation were investigated under laboratory conditions. In order to evaluate the efficiency of the potential adsorption and biodegradation of MC-RR in cropland and the persistence time of MC-RR for crop irrigation, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to quantify the amount of MC-RR in solutions. Our study indicated that MC-RR could be adsorbed and biodegraded in cropland soils. MC-RR at 6.5 mg/L could be completely degraded within 6 days with a lag phase of 1 - 2 days. In the presence of humic acid, the same amount of MC-RR could be degraded within 4 days without a lag phase. Accordingly, the persistence time of MC-RR in cropland soils should be about 6 days. This result also suggested the beneficial effects of the organic fertilizer utilization for the biodegradation of MC-RR in cropland soils. Our studies also demonstrated that MC-RR at low concentration (< 10 mu g/L) could accelerate the growth of plants, while high concentration of MC-RR (> 100 mu g/L) significantly inhibited the growth of plants. High sensitivity of the sprouting stage plants to MC-RR treatments as well as the strong inhibitory effects resulting from prolonged irrigation further indicated that this MC-RR growth-inhibition may vary with the duration of irrigation and life stage of the plants. (c) 2007 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Man-made desert algal crusts as affected by environmental factors in Inner Mongolia, China

Man-made desert algal crusts were constructed on a large scale (3000m(2)) in Inner Mongolia, China. Microcoleus vaginatus was mass cultivated and inoculated directly onto unconsolidated sand dune and irrigated by automatic sprinkling micro-irrigation facilities. The crusts were formed in a short time and could resist the erosion of winds and rainfalls 22 days after inoculation. The maximum biomass in the man-made algal crusts could also reach 35 mu g Chl a/cm(2) of soil. Effects of environmental factors such as temperature, irrigation, rainfall and soil nutrients on algal biomass of man-made algal crusts were also studied. It was found that rainfalls and lower light intensity had significantly positive effects on the biomass of man-made algal crusts. The preliminary results suggested that man-made algal crusts could be formed rapidly, and thus it might be a new feasible alternative method for fixing unconsolidated sand. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effects of microcystins on the growth and the activity of superoxide dismutase and peroxidase of rape (Brassica napus L.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Microcystins are naturally occurring hepatotoxic cyclic heptapeptides produced by some toxic freshwater cyanobacterial species. In this study, crude extract of toxic cyanobacterial blooms from Dianchi Lake in southwestern China was used to determine the effects of microcystins on rape (Brassica napus L.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.). Experiments were carried out on a range of doses of the extract (equivalent to 0, 0.024, 0.12, 0.6 and 3 mug MC-LR/ml). Investigations showed that exposure to microcystins inhibited the growth and development of both rice and rape seedlings, however, microcystins had more powerful inhibition effect on rape than rice in germination percentage of seeds and seedling height. Microcystins significantly inhibited the elongation of primary roots of rape and rice seedlings. Determination of the activities of peroxidase and superoxide dismutase demonstrated that microcystin stress was manifested as an oxidative stress. Using ELISA, microcystins were examined from the extract of exposed rape and rice seedlings, indicating that consumption of edible plants exposed to microcystins via irrigation route may have health risks. Significantly different levels of recovered microcystins between exposed rice and rape seedlings Suggested that there might be different tolerant mechanisms toward microcystins. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Heavy metal pollution in China: Origin, pattern and control

Goal, Scope and Background. Heavy metal is among one of the pollutants, which cause severe threats to humans and the environment in China. The aim of the present review is to make information on the source of heavy metal pollution, distribution of heavy metals in the environment, and measures of pollution control accessible internationally, which are mostly published in Chinese. Methods. Information from scientific journals, university journals and governmental releases are compiled focusing mainly on Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn. Partly Al, As, Cr, Fe, Hg, Mn and Ni are included also in part as well. Results and Discussion. In soil, the average contents of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn are 0.097, 22.6, 26.0 and 74.2 mg/kg, respectively. In the water of. the Yangtze River Basin, the concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn are 0.080, 7.91, 15.7 and 18.7 pg/L, respectively. In reference to human activities, the heavy metal pollution comes from three sources: industrial emission, wastewater and solid waste. The environment such as soil, water and air were polluted by heavy metals in some cases. The contents of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn even reach 3.16, 99.3, 84.1 and 147 mg/kg, respectively, in the soils of a wastewater irrigation zone. These contaminants pollute drinking water and food, and threaten human health. Some diseases resulting from pollution of geological and environmental origin, were observed with long-term and non-reversible effects. Conclusions. In China, the geological background level of heavy metal is low, but with the activity of humans, soil, water, air, and plants are polluted by heavy metals in some cases and even affect human health through the food chain. Recommendations and Outlook. To remediate and improve environmental quality is a long strategy for the polluted area to keep humans and animals healthy. Phytoremediation would be an effective technique to remediate the heavy metal pollutions.

Xenobiotics removal from polluted water by a multifunctional constructed wetland

Removal efficiencies on xenobiotics from polluted water in a twin-shaped constructed wetland consisting of a vertical flow chamber with the crop plant Colocasia esculenta L. Schott and a reverse vertical flow one with Ischaemum aristatum var. glaucum Honda, were assessed by chemical analysis and bioassays. After a four-month period of application, removal efficiencies of the applied pesticides parathion and omethoate were 100%, with no detectable parathion and omethoate in the effluent. For the applied herbicides, the decontamination was less efficient with removal efficiencies of 36% and 0% for 4-chloro-2-methyl-phenoxyacetic acid and dicamba, respectively. As shown by toxicity assay with duckweed Lemna minor L., growth retardation may occur if the water treated for herbicide removal is used in irrigation of sensitive cultivars in agriculture or horticulture. In contrast to I. aristatum var. glaucum Honda, the crop C esculenta L. Schott has a high yield in biomass production as a valuable source of renewable energy. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Ecballocystopsis dichotomus sp. nov. (Chlorococcales, Chlorophyceae) from China

Ecballocystopsis dichotomus sp. nov. is the third described species of Ecballocystopsis that grows on rock under water and epiphytically on the filaments of Cladophora and Mougeotia (green algae) collected in a small irrigation ditch in Chong-yang county, Hubei Province (East longitude 29 degrees 30', North latitude 114 degrees 10') and in Zhu-xi county, Hubei Province (East longitude 32 degrees 20', North latitude 109 degrees 45'). The new species differs from E. indica IYENGAR (1933) in having dichotomous branching and its smaller sized thallus; it differs from the second species, E. desikacharyi PRASAD (1985), in having looped filaments, dichotomous branching and smaller cells. Three patterns of cell divisions were observed in E. dichotomus sp. nov. (transverse, longitudinal and oblique). It may be that the new species is evolutionary a more advanced species based upon the structure of its thallus and the manner of spore formation. The systematic position of the genus, based on the comparative studies of the genus Ecballocystis BOHLIN with Cylindrocapsopsis IYENGAR, is discussed.

STUDIES ON THE PURIFICATION AND RECLAMATION OF WASTE-WATER FROM A MEDIUM-SIZED CITY BY AN INTEGRATED BIOLOGICAL POND SYSTEM

The feasibility of an inexpensive wastewater treatment system is evaluated in this study. An integrated biological pond system was operated for more than 3 years to purify the wastewater from a medium-sized city, Central China. The experiment was conducted in 3 phases with different treatment combinations for testing their purification efficiencies. The pond system was divided into 3 functional regions: influent purification, effluent upgrading and multi-utilization. These regions were further divided into several zones and subzones. Various kinds of aquatic organisms, including macrophytes, algae, microorganisms and zooplankton, were effectively cooperating in the wastewater treatment in this system. The system attained high reductions of BOD5, COD, TSS, TN, TP and other pollutants. The purification efficiencies of this system were higher than those of most traditional oxidation ponds or ordinary macrophyte ponds. The mutagenic effect and numbers of bacteria and viruses declined significantly during the process of purification. After the wastewater flowed through the upgrading zone, the concentrations of pollutants and algae evidently decreased. Plant harvesting did not yield dramatic effects on reductions of the main pollutants, though it did significantly affect the biomass productivity of the macrophytes. The effluent from this system could be utilized in irrigation and aquaculture. Some aquatic products were harvested from this system and some biomass was utilized for food, fertilizer, fodder and some other uses. The wastewater was reclaimed for various purposes.