Relaxation of yeast mitochondrial functions after whole-genome duplication

Mitochondria are essential for cellular energy production in most eukaryotic organisms. However, when glucose is abundant, yeast species that underwent whole-genome duplication (WGD) mostly conduct fermentation even under aerobic conditions, and most can

Allelopathic interactions between the Potamogeton spp and toxic cyanobacteria (Microcystis aeruginosa)

This study aimed to investigate the allelopathic activities between 3 Potamogeton spp. (Potamogeton maackianus, Potamogeton malaianus and Potamogeton pectinatus) and the toxic cyanobacteria (Microcystis aeruginosa). All Potamogeton spp inhibited the growth of M. aeruginosa in both coexistence and exudates experiments. Inhibition of M. aeruginosa growth by plant exudates depended strongly on the biomass of P malaianus. Initial pH (6.5-9.8) did not influence the inhibitory effects of P. malaianus exudates. However, the M. aeruginosa inhibited the net photosynthesis and respiration of all three pondweed test spp.. The decreases in photosynthesis and respiration were probably caused by the toxic compounds released by M. aeruginosa, rather than its shading effects. The M. aeruginosa also decreased the nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen) uptake rates of macrophytes. The absorption rates of phosphorus and nitrogen and net photosynthesis were decreased sharply. These results will help to restore submerged plants in eutrophic waters.

Influence of Potamogeton crispus growth on nutrients in the sediment and water of Lake Tangxunhu

An incubation experiment was performed on Potamogeton crispus (P. crispus) using sediment collected from Lake Tangxunhu in the center of China, in order to determine the effects of plant growth on Fe, Si, Cu, Zn, Mn, Mg, P, and Ca concentrations in the sediments and overlying waters. After 3 months of incubation, Ca, Mg, and Si concentrations in the water column were significantly lower, and P and Cu concentrations were significantly higher than in unplanted controls. The effect of P. crispus growth on sediment pore waters and water-extractable elements varied. Concentrations of Ca, Mg, Si, Fe, Cu, and Zn were significantly higher, and P was significantly lower, than in pore waters of the control. Water-extracted concentrations of Fe, Mg, and Si in the sediments were lower, and P was higher, than in the control. Presence of P. crispus generally enhanced concentration gradients of elements between pore waters and overlying waters but not for P. The growth of P. crispus was associated with an increase in water pH and formation of root plaques, resulting in complex effects on the sediment nutritional status.

Effects of ammonium on growth, nitrogen and carbohydrate metabolism of Potamogeton maackianus A. Benn

Growth, nitrogen and carbohydrate metabolism in relation to eutrophication were studied for a submerged plant Potamogeton maackianus, a species common in East Asian shallow lakes. The plants were grown in six NH4+-N concentrations (0.05, 0.50, 1.00, 3.50, 5.00 and 10.00 mg/L) for six days. NH4+-N levels in excess of 0.50 mg/L inhibited the plant growth. The relationships between external NH4+-N availability and total nitrogen (TN), protein-N, free amino acid-N (FAA-N) and NH4+-N in plant tissues, respectively, conformed to a logarithmic model suggesting that a feedback inhibition mechanism may exist for ammonium uptake. The response of starch to NH4+-N was fitted with a negative, logarithmic curve. Detailed analysis revealed that the influx NH4+-N had been efficiently incorporated into organic-N and eventually stored as protein at the expense of starch accumulation. These data suggest that this species may be able to tolerate high levels of ammonium when dissolved oxygen is sufficient.

Nonylphenol and octylphenol in urban eutrophic lakes of the subtropical China

The paper studied two estrogenic pollutants, 4-nonylphenol (NP) and 4-tert-octylphenol (OP) in water, suspended particle (SP) and sediments in urban eutrophic lakes. The concentrations of NP ranged from 1.94 to 32.85 mu g/l, 0.876 to 31.13 mu g/l and 3.54 to 32.43 mu g/g dry weight (dw) in water, suspended particle (SP) and sediments, respectively, and that of OP from 0.027 to 1.44 mu g/l, 0.008 to 1.777 mu g/l and 0.058 to 1.245 mu g/g dw in water, suspended particle (SP) and sediments, respectively. An increasing trend in the concentration was noticed in all matrices close to the sewage inlets, which was found to be the major factor affecting the spatial distribution of alkylphenols (APs) in the lakes. Due to restoration of submerged macrophytes, which might accumulate APs, the contaminations of APs in the Little Moon Lake (LML) and the Little Lotus Lake (LLL) were lower than those in the Big, Moon Lake (BML) and the Bier Lotus Lake (BLL). A reasonable correlation of NP and OP was obtained among water, suspended particle and sediment. The possible environmental stress of APs concentration on aquatic organisms in Wuhan urban lakes was also discussed.

The restoration of aquatic macrophytes for improving water quality in a hypertrophic shallow lake in Hubei Province, China

This paper deals with a case study of the restoration of submerged macrophytes for improving water quality in a hypertrophic shallow lake, Lake Donghu of Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Macrophyte restoration experiments were conducted in large-scale enclosures established in three sublakes of different trophic status, and the effectiveness for water quality improvement was tested by using the enclosure experiment in the hypertrophic sublake. Water quality was remarkably improved after the reestablishment of aquatic macrophytes. It is suggested that the submerged vegetation of less polluted sublakes could be capable of recovering spontaneously once the stocking of herbivorous fishes has been ceased, and the K-selected plants such as Potamogeton maackianus should be introduced into these sublakes to enhance the stability of aquatic vegetation. However, it may not be possible and economical to restore the submerged macrophytes in severely polluted basins unless external pollution has been cut off and internal nutrient loadings considerably reduced. In this case, the r-selected submerged plants should be used as the pioneer species for macrophyte recovery. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Photosynthetic bicarbonate utilization by a terrestrial cyanobacterium, Nostoc flagelliforme (Cyanophyceae)

The photosynthetic characteristics of the terrestrial cyanobacterium, Nostoc flagelliforme, after complete recovery by rewetting, was investigated to see whether it could use bicarbonate as the external inorganic carbon source when submerged. The photosynthesis-pH relationship and high pH compensation point suggested that the terrestrial alga could use bicarbonate to photosynthesize when submerged. The photosynthetic oxygen evolution rates were significantly inhibited in Na+-free and Na+ + Li+ media but were not affected by the absence of Cl-, implying that the bicarbonate uptake was associated with Na+/HCO3- symport rather than Cl-/HCO3- exchange system.

Macrozoobenthos in 2 shallow mesotrophic Chinese lakes with contrasting sources of primary production

Comparative studies on macrozoobenthos were done in 2 shallow mesotrophic lakes in the middle basins of the Yangtze River, China: Lake Biandantang where macrophytes were abundant, and Lake Houhu where macrophytes were scarce Samples were taken monthly at 4 stations in each lake from April 1997 to March 1999, and a total of 67 and 31 tara of macrozoobenthos were recorded in Lake Biandantang and Lake Houhu, respectively. Both annual mean density and biomass of macrozoobenthos were higher in Lake Biandantang than in Lake Houhu: 780 vs 532 indivials/m(2) and 37.1 vs 25.9 g wet mass/m(2), respectively. Abundance of functional feeding groups followed the order: scraper > collector > predator > shredder in Lake Biandantang, and collector > predator > scraper > shredder in Lake Houhu. Only 1 density peak occurred from winter to early spring in Lake Houhu; however, in Lake Biandantang, there were 2 peaks, the winter peak and spring peak. K-dominance curves and Shannon-Wiener, Simpson, and Margelef indices indicated that macrozoobenthos were more diverse in Lake Biandantang than in Lake Houhu Our study suggests that, in shallow lakes, submerged macrophytes are essential for the maintenance of biodiversity of macrozoobenthos mainly because the macrophytes increase habit heterogeneity and availability of suitable food, and may also decrease predation by fish on the macrozoobenthos.

A comparative study of benthic nematodes in two Chinese lakes with contrasting sources of primary production

Ecological studies on benthic nematodes were conducted in two small, shallow lakes in the middle Yangtze basin, China; Lake Houhu, where the main source of primary production is phytoplankton and Lake Biandantang where it is predominantly macrophytic in origin. Monthly sampling was carried out from April 1996 to March 1997. A total of 36 species of nematodes was found in Lake Houhu and 51 species in Lake Biandantang. The dominant trophic groups of nematodes were algophages in Lake Houhu and bacteriophages associated with omniphages and phytophages in Lake Biandantang. Community analyses based on K-dominance curves, Shannon-Wiener and Simpson diversity indices, demonstrate that the benthic nematodes are more diverse in Lake Biandantang than in Lake Houhu. The results suggest that the abundance of submerged vegetation is essential for maintenance of habitat heterogeneity and biodiversity of nematodes in shallow lakes.

CONTRIBUTION OF BACTERIOPLANKTON, PHYTOPLANKTON, ZOOPLANKTON AND DETRITUS TO ORGANIC SESTON CARBON LOAD IN A CHANGJIANG FLOODPLAIN LAKE (CHINA)

The relative compositions of bacterioplankton, phytoplankton, zooplankton and detritus of seston were studied during the course of inundation in a floodplain lake of central Changjiang (China). Peaks in bacterial biomass developed shortly after flooding, coinciding with the initial leaching of organic nutrients from vegetation submerged under floodwater, and again at high water, shortly before the climax of phytoplankton biomass. Rods predominated the bacterial carbon biomass. Phytoplankton developed a postflood bloom at initial falling, corresponding to the drainage of the lake water into the river. While minimal biomass occurred during the advent of flooding, most likely due to disturbance and dilution. Algal biomass was usually dominated by Chlorophyta. Highest biomass of zooplankton was recorded at the end of the flooding in connection with the decline in turbidity, and once again at early drainage, closely associated with high phytoplankton biomass. Copepods (mainly nauplii) always constituted the majority of zooplankton carbon biomass. Peaks in detrital carbon concentrations were recorded at rising and falling water phases, corresponding respectively to the riverine discharge and decomposition of macrophyte mats. At rising water phase, CPOC was abundant. While during other water phases, this predominance was shifted to FPOC alone. Taken together, average contribution of bacterioplankton, phytoplankton, zooplankton and detritus to total seston carbon was 3.29, 21.21, 6.83 and 68.67 %, respectively.

H+ISFET-based biosensor for determination of penicillin G

A biosensor based on an H+ ion sensitive field effect transistor (H+-ISFET) and penicillin G acylase has been developed. The response time of the sensor to different concentrations of penicillin G was 30 s. In a 20 mM phosphate buffer at pH 7.0, the linear range of the calibration curve was from 0.5 to 8 mM. The coefficients of variation for three samples with 20 repeated measurements were below 5%. Stability of the sensor could reach about 6 months and more than 1000 runs were performed without a significant decrease of the output value. The sensor was tested for measurement of the penicillin G content in penicillin fermentation broth. Forty samples with low and high concentrations of penicillin G were chosen for the correlation test. The values assayed by the sensor method were compared with the values assayed by HPLC method, the correlation coefficient (r) was 0.9944 and the regression equation was y = 1.034X - 2083.7 respectively. The different measuring methods are discussed in the text. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.

广东典型藻类特点及其能源利用可能性研究

大型海藻的生产力高，生产成本低，是一种理想的能源作物。广东省是我国海洋大省之一，约35万平方公里的海域，海藻物种丰富，为海藻养殖提供了有利的条件。我省是能源消耗大省，大部分依靠外省调入和进口，发展海藻能源技术是缓解能源问题的重要途径之一。目前，海藻作为生物质的利用技术还不成熟。在本论文中，选用我省常见的江蓠、马尾藻和麒麟菜三种的大型的海藻进行热解和发酵实验。 首先，对海藻在不同温度下（400℃～900℃）热解得到的各产物（气体、焦油和残渣）产率和热值以及气体组分进行了分析，研究了各热解产物产率、热值和气体组分随温度的变化规律，分析热解过程中的K、Ca、Na、Mg等元素的析出和迁移规律。用去离子水和稀盐酸对海藻进行洗滤预处理，研究其热解特性，进行热重分析，建立海藻热解的反应动力学模型，并计算海藻的动力学参数。分析结果表明：热解气体中的主要成分为H2、CO、CH4、C2H4、C2H6等，热解气低位热值介于5～15 MJ/m3之间。海藻本身具有灰分含量较高和热值较低的特点，水洗可以有效地脱除部分的碱金属，并可以减少灰分含量，改善海藻的热解特性。 其次，以江蓠和马尾藻为底物进行发酵。结果表明：海藻中含有大量金属阳离子，直接发酵容易溶解到料液中，抑制微生物生长，影响发酵效果。用淡水浸泡以后的海藻能容易进行发酵。江蓠的产气率要高于马尾藻。在发酵温度为35℃，简单破碎，料液浓度为5%的条件下，江蓠TS（总固体）产气率是390.6L/kg 。在55℃，颗粒大小0.6～0.9mm，料液浓度为5%的条件下，马尾藻TS产气率是173.1L/kg。 通过对比海藻热解和发酵过程及结果的比较可以发现，海藻热解产气率低，碱金属容易析出；海藻发酵可以直接利用湿原料，产气率高，但发酵时间较长，需要合适的菌种。在目前没有特殊专有技术的情况下，采用发酵比采用热解实现海藻的能源化利用可能性更大。 最后，对本论文的研究探讨进行总结，并对今后进一步完善该工作提出了建议。

城市生活有机垃圾厌氧降解的过程机理与工程应用研究

首先进行城市生活有机垃圾典型组分的厌氧发酵产甲烷和产氢特性研究，在此基础上，设计厌氧发酵联产氢气和甲烷的组合工艺提高能源回收效率，并采用厨余垃圾和废纸联合厌氧消化的方式避免厨余垃圾单独厌氧消化的挥发性脂肪酸抑制。其次，结合国内近年出现的城市生活垃圾分选技术，分别以机械干分选有机垃圾和水分选有机垃圾为原料进行厌氧发酵产甲烷实验，并根据实验结果设计日处理500吨城市生活垃圾厌氧沼气工程及进行经济性评价。主要结论如下：（1）糖和淀粉类的生化产甲烷能力为260 mL/gVS，纤维素，粗纤维、蛋白类和脂类分别为244、145、258 、757 mL/gVS；蛋白质类原料在厌氧消化过程中容易形成“抑制型稳态”；脂类原料容易导致长链脂肪酸抑制。（2）碳水化合物（糖、淀粉和纤维素）是最佳的厌氧发酵制氢原料，蛋白类、脂类和木质纤维类均不适宜作为厌氧发酵制氢原料。采用厌氧发酵联产氢气和甲烷的组合工艺可以显著提高能源回收率。（3）厨余垃圾单独厌氧发酵容易受到VFAs的强烈抑制，采用厨余垃圾与废纸联合厌氧发酵，能够避免VFAs抑制。（4）水分选有机垃圾的生物可降解性优于机械干分选有机垃圾，在原料TS浓度为11%~16%时的甲烷产率为273~314 L/kgVS。（5）国家财政补贴，税收优惠和CDM额外收益决定了城市生活垃圾的厌氧消化与热电肥联产工程的经济可行性。

Interaction of linear waves with an array of infinitely long horizontal circular cylinders in a two-layer fluid of infinite depth

The linear water wave scattering and radiation by an array of infinitely long horizontal circular cylinders in a two-layer fluid of infinite depth is investigated by use of the multipole expansion method. The diffracted and radiated potentials are expressed as a linear combination of infinite multipoles placed at the centre of each cylinder with unknown coefficients to be determined by the cylinder boundary conditions. Analytical expressions for wave forces, hydrodynamic coefficients, reflection and transmission coefficients and energies are derived. Comparisons are made between the present analytical results and those obtained by the boundary element method, and some examples are presented to illustrate the hydrodynamic behavior of multiple horizontal circular cylinders in a two-layer fluid. It is found that for two submerged circular cylinders the influence of the fluid density ratio on internal-mode wave forces is more appreciable than surface-mode wave forces, and the periodic oscillations of hydrodynamic results occur with the increase of the distance between two cylinders; for four submerged circular cylinders the influence of adding two cylinders on the wave forces of the former cylinders is small in low and high wave frequencies, but the influence is appreciable in intermediate wave frequencies.

Response amplitude and hydrodynamic force for a buoy over a convex

A buoy as an offshore structure is often placed over a convex such as a caisson or a submerged island. The hydrodynamic fluid/solid interaction becomes more complex due to the convex compared with that on the flat. Both the buoy and the convex are idealized as vertical cylinders. Linear potential theory is used to investigate the response amplitude and the hydrodynamic force for a buoy over a convex due to diffraction and radiation in water of finite depth. These are derived from the total velocity potential. A set of theoretical added mass, damping coefficient, and exciting force expressions have been proposed. Analytical results of the response amplitude and hydrodynamic force are given. Finally, the numerical results show that the effect of the convex on the response amplitude and hydrodynamic force for the buoy is ignored if the size of the convex is relatively smaller.