Studies on the restoration succession of PFU microbial communities in a pilot-scale microcosm

In order to imitate the restoration succession process of natural water ecosystem, a laboratory microcosm system of constant-flow-restoration was designed and established. A eutrophycation lake, Lake Donghu, was selected as the subject investigated. Six sampling stations were set on the lake, among which the water of station IV was natural clean water, and others were polluted with different degrees. Polyurethane foam unit microbial communities, which had colonized in the stations for a month, were collected from these stations and placed in their respective microcosms, using clean water of station IV to gradually replace the water of these microcosms. In this process, the healthy community in clean water continuously replaced the damaged communities in polluted water, the restoration succession of the damaged communities was characterized by weekly determination of several functional and structural community parameters, including species number (S), diversity index (DI), community pollution value (CPV), heterotrophy index (HI), and similarity coefficient. Cluster analysis based on similarity coefficient was used to compare the succession discrepancies of these microbial communities from different stations. The ecological succession of microbial communities during restoration was investigated by the variable patterns of these parameters, and based on which, the restoration standards of these polluted stations were suggested in an ecological sense. That was, while being restored, the water of station 0 (supereutrophycation) should be substituted with natural clean water by 95%; station I (eutrophycation), more than 90%; station II (eutrophycation), more than 85%; station III (eutrophycation), about 85%; station V (mesoetitrophycation), less than 50%. The effects of the structural and functional parameters in monitoring and assessing ecological restoration are analyzed and compared. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

An improved method for the extraction of low molecular weight organic acids in variable charge soils

Due to specific adsorption to variable charge soils, low molecular weight organic acids (LMWOAs) have not been sufficiently extracted, even if common extractants, such as water and 0.1 M sodium hydroxide (NaOH), were employed. In this work, the method for extracting LMWOAs in soils with 0.1 M NaOH was improved for variable charge soils; e.g. 1.0 M potassium fluoride (KF) with pH 4.0 was applied as an extractant jointed with 0.1 M NaOH based on its stronger ability to change the electrochemical properties of variable charge soils by specific adsorption. With the proposed method, the recoveries of oxalic, tartaric, malic, citric and fumaric acids were increased from 83 4, 93 1, 22 2, 63 +/- 5 and 84 +/- 3% to 98 +/- 2, 100 +/- 2, 85 +/- 2, 90 +/- 2 and 89 +/- 2%, respectively, compared with NaOH alone. Simultaneously, the LMWOAs in Agri-Udic Ferrosol with field moisture were measured with a satisfactory result.

Optimization of an effective extraction procedure for the analysis of microcystins in soils and lake sediments

Microcystin analysis in sediments and soils is considered very difficult due to low recovery for extraction. This is the primary limiting factor for understanding the fate of toxins in the interface between water and sediment in both the aquatic ecosystem as well as in soils. In the present study, a wide range of extraction solvents were evaluated over a wide range of pH, extraction approaches and equilibration time to optimize an effective extraction procedure for the analysis of microcystins in soils and lake sediments. The number of extractions required and acids in extraction solutions were also studied. In this procedure, EDTA-sodium pyrophosphate solution was selected as an extraction solvent based on the adsorption mechanism study. The optimized procedure proved to be highly efficient and achieved over 90% recovery. Finally, the developed procedure was applied to field soil and sediment sample collected from Chinese lakes during bloom seasons and microcystins were determined in six of ten samples. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Identification of differentially expressed genes in Tetrahmena thermophila in response to dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) by suppression subtractive hybridization

The insecticide dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) is persistent in the environment, and continues to cause health problems. Tetrahymena has potential as a model organism for assaying low levels of DDT and for analysing the mechanisms of its toxicity. We constructed the suppression subtractive hybridization library of T thermophila exposed to DDT, and screened out 90 Expressed Sequence Tags whose expressions were significantly up- or downregulated with DDT treatment. From this, a series of important genes related to the DDT metabolism and detoxification were discovered, such as P450 gene, glutathione S-transferase gene and sterol carrier protein 2 gene. Furthermore, their expressions under different concentrations of DDT treatment were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR. The results show that Tetrahymena is a relevant and useful model organism for detecting DDT in the environment and for discovering biomarkers that can be used to develop specific bio-reporters at the molecular and genomic levels.

Molecular identification and expression analysis of natural resistance associated macrophage protein (Nramp) cDNA from Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus)

Natural resistance associated macrophage protein (Nramp) controls partially innate resistance to intracellular parasites. Its function is to enhance the ability of macrophages to kill pathogens. However, little is known about the structure and function of Nramp in lower vertebrates such as teleosts. We have recently isolated a cDNA encoding Nramp from Japanese flounder (Paratichthys olivaceus). The full-length cDNA of the Nramp is 3066 bp in length, including 224 bp 5' terminal UTR, 1662 bp encoding region and 1180 bp 3' terminal UTR. The 1662-nt open reading frame was found to code for a protein with 554 amino acid residues. Comparison of amino acid sequence indicated that Japanese flounder Nramp consists of 12 transmembrane (TM) domains. A consensus transport motif (CTM) containing 20 residues was observed between transmembrane domains 8 and 9. The deduced amino acid sequence of Japanese flounder had 77.30%, 82.71%, 82.67%, 79.64%, 80.72%, 90.97%, 91.16%, 60.14%, 71.48%, 61.69%, 72.37% identity with that of rainbow trout Nramp alpha and beta, channel catfish Nramp, fathead minnow Nramp, common carp Nramp, striped sea bass Nramp, red sea bream Nramp, mouse Nramp 1 and 2, human Nramp 1 and 2, respectively. RT-PCR indicated that Nramp transcripts were highly abundant in spleen, head kidney, abundant in intestine, liver and gill, and less abundant in heart. The level of Nramp mRNA in embryos gradually increases during embryogenesis from 4 h (8 cell stage) to 80 h (hatched stage) after fertilization. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Use of PFU protozoan community structural and functional characteristics in assessment of water quality in a large, highly polluted freshwater lake in China

Structural and functional parameters of protozoan communities colonizing on PFU (polyurethane foam unit) artificial substrate were assessed as indicators of water quality in the Chaohu Lake, a large, shallow and highly polluted freshwater lake in China. Protozoan communities were sampled 1, 3, 6, 9 and 14 days after exposure of PFU artificial substrate in the lake during October 2003. Four study stations with the different water quality gradient changes along the lake were distinguishable in terms of differences in the community's structural (species richness, individual abundance, etc.) and functional parameters (protozoan colonization rates on PFU). The concentrations of TP, TN, COD and BOD as the main chemical indicators of pollution at the four sampling sites were also obtained each year during 2002-2003 for comparison with biological parameters. The results showed that the species richness and PFU colonization rate decreased as pollution intensity increased and that the Margalef diversity index values calculated at four sampling sites also related to water quality. The three functional parameters based on the PFU colonization process, that is, S-eq, G and T-90%, were strongly related to the pollution status of the water. The number of protozoan species colonizing on PFU after exposure of 1 to 3 days was found to give a clear comparative indication of the water quality at the four sampling stations. The research provides further evidence that the protozoan community may be utilized effectively in the assessment of water quality and that the PFU method furnishes rapid, cost-effective and reliable information that may be useful for measuring responses to pollution stress in aquatic ecosystems.

Growing 20 cm Long DWNTs/TWNTs at a Rapid Growth Rate of 80-90 mu m/s

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Optical properties of alloy states in GaNxAs1-x (x < 0.01)

A set of GaNxAs1-x samples with a small content of nitrogen (N) (< 1%) were investigated by continuous-wave photoluminescence (PL), pulse-wave excitation PL, and photo reflectance technology. Temperature-and excitation-dependence of PL disclosed the intrinsic band gap properties of alloy states in GaNxAs1-x, which was extremely different from the N-related impurity states. At the same time, PR spectra were also studied in this work.

Calculation of energy levels in InGaAs/GaAs quantum dot array

The subbands of the ground state E-c1, the first excited state E-c2 and heavy hole state E-HH1 are calculated by solving the eigenvalues of effective-mass Hamiltonian H-0 which is derived from eight-band k . p theory and the calculations are performed at k(x) = k, = k = 0 for the three-dimensional array of InGaAs/GaAs quantum dots (QDs). With indium content in InGaAs QDs gradually increasing from 30% to 100%,the intersubband transition wavelength of E-c2 to E-c1, blue-shifts from 18.50 to 11.87 mu m,while the transition wavelength of E-c1, to E-HH1, red-shifts from 1. 04 to 1. 73 mu m. With the sizes of Ir-0.5 Ga-0.5 As and InAs QDs increasing from 1.0 to 5.0 nm, the intersubband transition from E-c1, to E-C2 transforms from bound-state-to-continuum-state to bound-state-to-bound-state, and the corresponding intersubband transition wavelengths red-shift from 8.12 pm (5.90 pm) to 53.47 mu m (31.87 pm), respectively, and the transition wavelengths of E-C1 to E-HH1 red-shift from 1. 13 mu m (1.60 mu m) to 1.27 mu m (2.01 mu m), respectively.

Silicon thin films prepared in the transition region and their use in solar cells

Diphasic silicon films (nc-Si/a-Si:H) have been prepared by a new regime of plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition in the region adjacent of phase transition from amorphous to microcrystalline state. Comparing to the conventional amorphous silicon (a-Si:H), the nc-Si/a-Si:H has higher photoconductivity (sigma(ph)), better stability, and a broader light spectral response range in the longer wavelength range. It can be found from Raman spectra that there is a notable improvement in the medium range order. The blue shift for the stretching mode and red shift for the wagging mode in the IR spectra also show the variation of the microstructure. By using this kind of film as intrinsic layer, a p-i-n junction solar cell was prepared with the initial efficiency of 8.51 % and a stabilized efficiency of 8.01% (AM 1.5, 100 mw/cm(2)) at room temperature. (c) 2006 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Silicon thin films prepared in the transition region and their use in solar cells

Diphasic silicon films (nc-Si/a-Si:H) have been prepared by a new regime of plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition in the region adjacent of phase transition from amorphous to microcrystalline state. Comparing to the conventional amorphous silicon (a-Si:H), the nc-Si/a-Si:H has higher photoconductivity (sigma(ph)), better stability, and a broader light spectral response range in the longer wavelength range. It can be found from Raman spectra that there is a notable improvement in the medium range order. The blue shift for the stretching mode and red shift for the wagging mode in the IR spectra also show the variation of the microstructure. By using this kind of film as intrinsic layer, a p-i-n junction solar cell was prepared with the initial efficiency of 8.51 % and a stabilized efficiency of 8.01% (AM 1.5, 100 mw/cm(2)) at room temperature. (c) 2006 Published by Elsevier B.V.

La2Zr2O7的增韧及陶瓷纤维的制备

La2Zr2O7是一种近年来才提出的新型热障涂层材料，该材料熔点高，在熔点以下不发生相变，热导率低，抗烧结及没有氧传输发生，这些特点使得它作为一种高温下应用的热障涂层材料越来越引起人们的重视。但是，由于该材料的热膨胀系数和断裂韧性比较低，它的实际应用受到了限制。 在本论文中，使用高压烧结的方法获得了致密化的纳米La2Zr2O7块体材料，并对其断裂韧性和热膨胀系数进行了研究。得到的La2Zr2O7纳米材料的断裂韧性和热膨胀系数分别为1.98MPam1/2和9.6×10-6K-1 (200-1000℃)，这些数值明显高于非纳米的La2Zr2O7陶瓷(断裂韧性和热膨胀系数分别为1.40 MPam1/2 和 9.1×10-6 K-1，该结果表明纳米化是一种提高材料断裂韧性和热膨胀系数的有效方法。在La2Zr2O7纳米粉末中加入8YSZ纳米颗粒，高压烧结后使其颗粒充分生长，在得到的复相化合物中观察到形成了类似棒状晶体的自增韧相，使得复合材料的断裂韧性(1.88 MPam1/2)比La2Zr2O7有所提高，甚至超过了同样条件下制备的8YSZ样品的断裂韧性。 La2Zr2O7的断裂韧性也可以通过在基体中添加BaTiO3铁电材料得到明显的提高。当添加BaTiO3的体积含量达到10vol％时，4.5GPa，1450℃高压烧结10min得到的复合材料断裂韧性达1.98 MPam1/2，明显高于同条件下烧结的La2Zr2O7 (1.60MPam1/2)。应力诱导下BaTiO3的电畴转向是主要的增韧原因。随着BaTiO3颗粒添加的体积含量增加，复相化合物的热膨胀系数也明显提高。当掺杂20vol％BaTiO3时，得到的复合材料平均热膨胀系数达到10.2×10-6K-1 (150~1200℃)。 我们通过在4.5GPa, 1650℃高压烧结5min的方法还获得了掺杂YAG纳米颗粒的La2Zr2O7纳米复相陶瓷。在室温下测量了材料的维氏硬度，并通过压痕裂纹长度计算出了材料的断裂韧性。随着YAG纳米颗粒体积含量的增加，纳米复相陶瓷的断裂韧性和维氏硬度都依次增加，当添加20vol％的YAG纳米颗粒时达到最大，分别为1.93 MPam1/2和11.45GPa。断裂韧性增加的机理可归结为以下三点：一是YAG纳米颗粒的添加提高了La2Zr2O7基体的晶界强度，二是基体晶粒尺寸变化的影响，三是YAG纳米颗粒对裂纹的偏转和钉扎作用。添加微米YAG颗粒的复相化合物因为和纳米复相陶瓷具有不同的增韧机制，因此断裂韧性的变化趋势也不相同，在掺入10vol％的YAG微米颗粒时，复合材料的断裂韧性最大，而后降低，当掺入YAG微米粒子的体积含量达到20vol％时，断裂韧性甚至低于La2Zr2O7。 从20世纪90年代开始，电纺作为一种合成纤维的办法越来越吸引人们的注意。其合成的纤维长度长，直径均匀，并且组成范围很广。最初，电纺只是被用来合成一些有机聚合物的纤维，最近，很多研究组开始致力于使用电纺的方法合成复合纤维或者陶瓷纤维。 在本论文中，我们使用电纺的方法获得了La2Zr2O7纳米纤维和SiC单晶纳米线。1000℃煅烧得到的La2Zr2O7纳米纤维具有烧绿石结构，直径在200~500nm之间。同样的温度煅烧时得到的La2Zr2O7纳米纤维的比表面积要明显高于粉末样品的，表明纤维的抗烧结性能比粉末的高。得到的SiC纳米线直径在50~100nm之间，表面有一约5nm厚的无定形的SiO2薄层。 使用电纺的方法，恰当的控制煅烧条件，我们获得了La2Ce2O7， La2(Zr0.745Ce0.386)2O7.524和8YSZ中空纤维。这种中空结构减小了粒子之间的接触面积，提高了材料的抗烧结性能。在扫描电镜分析的基础上，我们总结了这些中空纤维的形成过程。

塔城黑白仰鼻猴（Rhinopithecus bieti）的觅食生态学和社会

从 1999 年4 月至2002 年六月间，对黑白仰鼻猴种群(Rhinopithecus bieti ) 的分布和生境状况进行了调查。与十年前的调查结果相比，本次调查新发现了4 个亚种群（指存在生境走廊的若干群体），但有5 个以前存在的群已经消失，现 存猴群数量为13 群，总体数量约为1200-1700 只。从西藏的芒康到云龙的龙马 山，随着海拔的降低，猴群可利用的植被类型也随之多样化。但由于砍伐、放牧、 开矿等因素的影响，猴群生境破碎化程度较高，连接猴群的生境走廊状况极差， 多数猴群孤立分布，并且存在小种群问题，生境走廊的维护和恢复已成为该物种 保护成功与否的关键。种群的总体数量下降了32%（不含4 个新发现的亚种群）， 其中4 群数量下降，4 群持平，1 群有所增长，5 群消失，这不容乐观的状况给 我们保护敲响了警钟。此外，基于以前的研究结果，暗针叶林、针阔混交林和栎 树林均为其适宜生境，夏季高山牧场则是由当地居民为放牧而砍伐、焚烧高海拔 带的暗针叶林而形成的林间空地。我们使用了1997 年的卫星影像和1958 年的航 拍地图来估算适宜生境和夏季高山牧场的面积。结果表明；1）在1997 年，黑白 仰鼻猴的适宜生境面积为4169 km2，夏季高山牧场的面积为1923 km2。2）在近 40 年中，黑白仰鼻猴的适宜生境面积下降了31％（约1887 km2），而夏季高山牧 场的面积则增加了204％（约1291 km2）。3）森林斑块的平均面积从15.6 km2 下降到5.4 km2。此外，夏季高山牧场的面积与当地居民的人口数量增长之间呈 正相关关系 (R2 ≥ 0.53，p < 0.05)。除非当地居民的人口数量增长模式或者传统 的生产生活方式发生改变，这种破碎化趋势将继续下去。 从1999 年三月至2000 年十二月对云南塔城(99o18’E, 27 o36’N, 活动范围在 2,700 – 3700 m asl)的一群黑白仰鼻猴收集了食性和时间预算的数据。通过状态 行为扫描的方式，主要记录了树冠中单雄组食用植物种类—部位。同时用显微镜对每个月的粪便样本进行了显微分析，以此作为食性的补充数据。仰鼻猴食用属 于28 科、42 属的59 种植物，共计90 个食用的植物种类—部位，其中冬季利用 21 个植物种类—部位，春季38 个，夏季39 个，秋季47 个。另一方面，该群年 平均花费日活动时间的35％进食，33％休息，15％移动，13％社会行为。日活 动时间预算分配、摄食不同食物类别的时间、粪便中食物残留物及食用植物种 类―部位的数目存在着季节性变化。食物种类与时间分配之间和之内的相关显然 是为了最大化觅食效率与最小化能量消耗。考虑到来自北面与南面的群的相关报 道，这个种对生境的适应性似乎与其他疣猴没什么区别，并无特化之处。因此， 这个种的最终生存预期要比以前乐观。 我们利用整个塔城猴群沿地面通过开阔地或喝水的机会，使我们能记录野外 种群的大小和组成（如性比等）以及通过分析依次经过个体间的时间间隔以量化 反映社会组织单元之间和之内的空间距离，用统计分析的方式来量化描述社会组 织的模式，发现塔城猴群由9 个单雄单元（OMUs）、5 个多雄单元（MMUs）和2 个全雄单元（AMUs）组成， 单雄单元、多雄单元和全雄单元内的个体分别约占 总数的58％、34％和8％，无论在开阔峡谷地域或水潭旁，单元内的时间间隔显 著短于单元间的时间间隔（开阔峡谷地域：非配对 t 检验，df = 49; p < 0.01， 水潭：非配对t 检验，df = 35; p < 0.01）。 在单雄单元的成年不等性比和成 年雌性与婴猴的比例显著大于多雄单元（开阔峡谷地域：非配对t 检验，df = 40; p < 0.05，水潭：非配对t 检验，df = 16; p < 0.05）。在全雄单元中有大量的 性别不明的未成年个体。此外，加之某些个案描述，论述了多雄单元存在的可能 性及与全雄单元和单雄单元之间的关系。