Heterogeneous catalysts for biodiesel production

The production of biodiesel is greatly increasing due to its enviromental benefits. However, production costs are still rather high, compared to petroleum-based diesel fuel. The introduction of a solid heterogeneous catalyst in biodiesel production could reduce its price, becoming competitive with diesel also from a financial point of view. Therefore, great research efforts have been underway recently to find the right catalysts. This paper will be concerned with reviewing acid and basic heterogeneous catalyst performances for biodiesel production, examining both scientific and patent literature.

乔木蒸腾耗水量研究方法述评与展望

参阅了大量国内外有关乔木蒸腾研究方法文献,认为乔木蒸腾量研究方法主要有二大类,即组织器官测定、单木测定;分类对典型研究方法(快速称重法、气孔计法、整株容器称重法、同位素示踪法、热脉冲法、树干热平衡法、热扩散探针法)进行了述评,对比分析了各种方法间的优缺点及其适用范围;展望了乔木蒸腾耗水作用研究方法的应用前景,认为热技术法是未来几年内的主要测定方法。

黄土丘陵区纸坊沟流域近70年农业生态安全评价

在国内外已有研究的基础上,结合黄土丘陵区纸坊沟流域近70a来农业生态经济系统演变过程,参考PSR模型,从生态环境、社会经济和综合功能3方面构建黄土丘陵区流域农业生态安全评价指标体系,基于层次分析法赋权的综合指数评价方法,对纸坊沟流域1938～2005年农业生态安全状况进行评价。结果表明:该流域农业生态安全状况发生了先降后升的变化,1938年处于较安全状况,1958年为极不安全状况,1975年和1985年都处于较不安全状况,1995年处于临界安全状况,2005年属于较安全状况。评价结果表明纸坊沟流域还需要进一步优化农业系统结构,实现农业生态安全。

A nitrogen budget of the Changjiang river catchment

Based on 1997-1998 field investigations in the Changjiang river mouth, rain sampling from the river's upper reaches to the mouth, historical data, and relevant literature, the various sources of Total Nitrogen (TN) and Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen (DIN) in the Changjiang river catchment and N transport in the Changjiang river mouth were estimated. The export fluxes of various form of were mainly controlled by the river runoff, and the export fluxes of NO3-N, DIN and TN in 1998 (an especially heavy flood year) were 1438 103 tonnes (t) yr(-1) or 795.1 kg km(-2) yr(-1) 1746 10(3) t yr(-1) or 965.4 kg km(-2) yr(-1) and 2849 10(3) t yr(-1) or 1575.3 kg km(-2) yr(-1), respectively. The TN and DIN in the Changjiang river came mainly from precipitation, agricultural nonpoint sources, N lost from fertilizer and soil, and point sources of industrial waste and residential sewage discharge, which were about 56.2% and 62.3%, 15.4% and 18.5%, 17.1% and 14.4%, respectively, of the N outflow at the Changjiang river mouth; maximum transport being in the middle reaches.

Kiitricha minuta n. Sp., a peculiar hypotrichous ciliate (Ciliophora, Spirotrichea) from the Yellow Sea

The morphology and infraciliature of a new ciliate, Kiitricha minuta n. sp., isolated from the Yellow Sea, were investigated using live observation and protargol impregnation. Kiitricha minuta represents a third member of the rarely known order Kiitrichida. It is unique in the subclass Hypotrichia in having many rows of small uniform cirri along the right side of the body and the dorsal kineties composed of dikinetids, most of which bear two cilia. Kiitricha minuta n. sp. is ovoid and measures about 60 x 45 mu m in vivo. It has a huge buccal cavity occupying about 80% of the body length, numerous body extrusomes, one macronucleus and two micronuclei, 27-27 adoral membranelles, 9-12 frontoventral cirral rows, a submarginal row of 7-9 cirri, 6 or 7 transverse cirri, and roughly 7-9 dorsal kineties. This new species differs distinctly from its only congener Kiitricha marina by its smaller size (60 mu m vs. 80-150 mu m), the presence of body extrusomes (vs. absent), the different macronuclear pattern (one vs. two nodules), and the lower number of frontoventral cirral rows (9-12 vs. 21-26), which terminate at the anterior two-thirds of body (vs. extend to the posterior). The new term "submarginal cirral row" is introduced to distinguish from the marginal cirral row in typical hypotrichs sensu lato. Based on our new observations and the literature, an improved diagnosis for the genus Kiitricha is provided and its phylogenetic importance is discussed.