Milt quality determination of a critically endangered fish, olive barb (Puntius sarana, Ham.) in Bangladesh

The present study was aimed to evaluate the characteristics of the olive barb sperm. Milt was collected fortnightly from 49 male fish (mean weight 90.8 g and length 18.64 cm) from April to July in 2008. In the olive barb ejaculated milt, volume (µl/g), motility (%), duration of motility (s), concentration (x 10 super(10)/ml) and pH values were found to be 6.06±0.32, 88.27±0.71, 171.41±7.41, 5.16±0.05 and 7.75±0.04, respectively. Milt volume was significantly (P<0.05) correlated with sperm concentration. Milt volume, sperm concentration, motility and duration of motility significantly varied (P<0.05) during spawning season.

Photodegradation of 2-naphthol in aqueous solutions in the presence of humic acid and ferric ions

In this work, the photodegradation of the carcinogenic pollutant 2-naphthol in aqueous solution containing Aldrich humic acid (HA) and ferric ions (Fe(III)) under 125 W and 250 W high pressure mercury lamp (HPML, lambda >= 365 nm) irradiation was investigated. The photooxidation efficiencies were dependent on the pH values, light intensities and Fe(III)/HA concentration in the water, with higher efficiency at pHs 3-4, and 50 mu mol l(-1) Fe(III) with 20 mg l(-1) HA under 250 W HPML. The initial rate of photooxidation increases with increasing, the initial concentration of 2-naphthol from 10 mu mol l(-1) to 100 mu mol l(-1), while do not change at 50 and 100 mu mol l(-1). However, higher removal efficiency of 2-naphthol is achieved at its lower initial concentration of 10 mu mol l(-1), and initial rate of photooxidation is 0.193 mu mol l(-1) min(-1). Dissolved oxygen (DO) plays an important role in the system containing Fe(III)-HA complexes in which Fenton and photo-Fenton reactions were enhanced in the environment. Hydroxyl radicals produced in HA solution with or without ferric ions were determined by using benzene as free radical scavenger and phenol as scavenging products proportional to hydroxyl radicals. By using UV-Vis and excited fluorescence spectrum techniques, the main photooxidation products, which have higher absorption in the region of 240-340 nm, were found, and the mechanisms for the oxidative degradation is proposed.

Analysis of steric mass-action model for protein adsorption equilibrium onto porous anion-exchange adsorbent

The ion-exchange equilibrium of bovine serum albumin (BSA) to an anion exchanger, DEAE Spherodex M, has been studied by batch adsorption experiments at pH values ranging from 5.26 to 7.6 and ionic strengths from 10 to 117.1 mmol/l. Using the unadjustable adsorption equilibrium parameters obtained from batch experiments, the applicability of the steric mass-action (SMA) model was analyzed for describing protein ion-exchange equilibrium in different buffer systems. The parametric sensitivity analysis was performed by perturbing each of the model parameters, while holding the rest constant. The simulation results showed that, at high salt concentrations or low pHs close to the isoelectric point of the protein, the precision of the model prediction decreased. Parametric sensitivity analysis showed that the characteristic charge and protein steric factor had the largest effects on ion-exchange equilibrium, while the effect of equilibrium constant was about 70%-95% smaller than those of characteristic charge and steric factor under all conditions investigated. The SMA model with the relationship between the adjusted characteristic charge and the salt concentration can well predict the protein adsorption isotherms in a wide pH range from 5.84 to 7.6. It is considered that the SMA model could be further improved by taking into account the effect of salt concentration on the intermolecular interactions of proteins. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effects of CO2 enrichment on the bloom-forming cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa (Cyanophyceae): Physiological responses and relationships with the availability of dissolved inorganic carbon

Microcystis aeruginosa Kutz. 7820 was cultured at 350 and 700 muL.L-1 CO2 to assess the impacts of doubled atmospheric CO2 concentration on this bloom-forming cyanobacterium. Doubling Of CO2 concentration in the airflow enhanced its growth by 52%-77%, with pH values decreased and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) increased in the medium. Photosynthetic efficiencies and dark respiratory rates expressed per unit chl a tended to increase with the doubling of CO2. However, saturating irradiances for photosynthesis and light-saturated photosynthetic rates normalized to cell number tended to decrease with the increase of DIC in the medium. Doubling of CO2 concentration in the airflow had less effect on DIC-saturated photosynthetic rates and apparent photosynthetic affinities for DIC. In the exponential phase, CO2 and HCO3- levels in the medium were higher than those required to saturate photosynthesis. Cultures with surface aeration were DIC limited in the stationary phase. The rate of CO2 dissolution into the liquid increased proportionally when CO2 in air was raised from 350 to 700 muL.L-1, thus increasing the availability of DIC in the medium and enhancing the rate of photosynthesis. Doubled CO2 could enhance CO2 dissolution, lower pH values, and influence the ionization fractions of various DIC species even when the photosynthesis was not DIC limited. Consequently, HCO3- concentrations in cultures were significantly higher than in controls, and the photosynthetic energy cost for the operation of CO2 concentrating mechanism might decrease.

镉、铅排异大白菜品种的筛选和鉴定及安全生产调控技术

随着工农业的快速发展，土壤重金属尤其Cd和Pb污染日益严重。筛选和培育具有重金属低积累特性的农作物排异品种被认为是当前应对土壤重金属污染最为合理和有效的途径之一。本文通过盆栽试验、大田试验和砂培试验，研究了大白菜品种对Cd和Pb的吸收和积累的品种差异、对Cd、Pb胁迫的响应以及大白菜安全生产的调控技术，得出以下结论： 1) 盆栽梯度试验中，80种大白菜地上部对Cd的吸收存在显著差异(p < 0.05)。在3种Cd处理下(1.0, 2.5和5.0 mg/kg)，80种大白菜Cd含量浓度范围分别为(mg/kg) 0.22–2.46, 0.90–14.10和2.03–18.01, 其平均值分别为 0.79, 3.76 和6.79 mg/kg DW。大白菜对Cd胁迫具有较强的耐性。大田试验中，15种大白菜的富集系数和转运系数与盆栽梯度试验的结果基本一致。排异植物的筛选和鉴定标准包括：(1)该植物的地上部和根部的Cd含量都很低或者可食部位低于有关标准；(2) 富集系数(BF) < 1.0；(3) 转运系数(TF) < 1.0；(4)该植物具有较高的Cd耐性，在较高的Cd污染下能够正常生长且生物量无显著下降。采用此标准，结合盆栽梯度试验和大田试验结果，北京新3号、绿星70和丰源新3号可鉴定为Cd排异品种。秋傲和赛新5号具有排异Cd特性，但其对Cd的耐性较差。 2) 盆栽梯度试验中，在Pb投加浓度为500和1500 mg/kg处理下，30种大白菜地上部对Pb的吸收存在显著差异 (p < 0.05)，其Pb浓度的范围分别为：0.52–8.68 和1.86–16.20 mg/kg, 其平均值分别为3.01 和6.87 mg/kg DW。并且，随着Pb浓度的增加，白菜地上部Pb含量有随之增加的趋势。大白菜对Pb具有较强的耐性。低浓度的Pb处理对大白菜的生物具有一定的促进作用。结合盆栽试验和大田试验的结果，秋傲、世博秋抗和福星80可鉴定为Pb排异大白菜品种。 3) 砂培试验中，在Cd和Pb胁迫下，大白菜地上部的丙二醛(MDA)含量增加，随着Cd处理浓度的增加，超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性呈现先下降后上升接着下降的趋势，酸菜王的SOD活性要高于北京新3号SOD的活性。随着Pb处理浓度的增加，福星80地上部的SOD活性随之增加，而绿星大棵菜地上部的SOD活性先下降后增加。在不同梯度的Cd处理下，大白菜地上部的可溶性蛋白(SP)含量未见显著降低，甚至有所增加，而在不同梯度的Pb处理下，大白菜地上部的SP含量有所降低。 4) 施用改良剂可升高土壤的pH值和降低土壤中的有效态Cd，从而对大白菜的生长具有促进作用。施用改良剂可显著降低大白菜对Cd和Pb的吸收和累积。

青杨(Populus cathayana Rehd.)对逆境胁迫的反应及lea基因的表达分析

杨树具有分布广、适应性强，在生态环境治理和解决木材短缺方面均占有重要位置。青杨(Populus cathayana Rehd.)是青杨派树种的重要成员之一，也是我国的特有种。本研究通过对不同水分梯度的干旱胁迫下青杨形态和生理生化的反应，不同pH值盐碱胁迫下不同海拔和不同气候地区的四个青杨种群在生理生态上的反应差异，以及在干旱和低温胁迫下青杨lea2, lea3组基因表达差异的研究，从形态、生理、生化和分子生物学水平系统地研究了青杨在不同逆境胁迫下的反应和青杨不同种群在盐碱胁迫下的反应差异。主要研究结果如下： 1. 青杨在干旱胁迫下的反应机制：中度和重度干旱胁迫下植株的生长受到明显抑制。表现在光合系统上青杨的净光合同化速率(A)下降，主要原因是气孔导度(gs)，胞间二氧化碳浓度(Ci)下降。另外最大量子产量(Fv/Fm)、光化学猝灭效率(qP)降低反应了干旱胁迫下光合系统II(PSII)受到严重损伤, 而且非光化学猝灭效率(qN)上升，导致可利用化学能产量下降，叶绿体产生淀粉的量减少。qP降低qN上升导致产生的过量电子对光合系统的伤害造成活性氧以及丙二醛(MDA)的含量增加。超微解剖结构显示，干旱胁迫增强时，叶绿体内淀粉粒的数目减少，而且叶绿体、线粒体等细胞器中嗜锇颗粒的数目增加。为清除细胞内的活性氧，植物一般的反应是抗氧化系统酶活性增加，对青杨来讲超氧化物歧化酶(SOD), 抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APx)活性的增加远大于过氧化物酶(POD)，这显示了在青杨中SOD、APx酶在清除活性氧的作用上大于POD。另外同工酶研究结果显示这些酶活性的升高主要是由于各条同工酶带表达量的增加，而不是诱导新酶带的产生。另外，75% FC水分处理下有些指标非但没有下降，像A和有效光量子产量(Y)的值都略有增加，而且gs同时增加。另外，100% FC比75% FC细胞内淀粉粒的数目少一些，但有少量的嗜锇颗粒。这证明100% FC土壤水分也许并非最适合青杨生长。 2. 盐碱胁迫对不同海拔地区青杨种群的反应差异：青杨高海拔和低海拔种群的各种生理特性随着pH值上升都受到了很大的影响。两种群叶和根中Na+、K+ 含量, Na+/K+比率随着pH值的上升影响显著。在pH值高于10.4时高海拔种群叶和根中Na+/K+比率急剧下降但是低海拔种群中却一直维持在较高水平。两种群中MDA、脯氨酸(Proline)的含量，抗氧化系统酶的活性都受到了严重的影响，证明两个种群都属于盐碱胁迫敏感类型但是高海拔的种群对盐碱胁迫的耐性要高于低海拔。这主要是由于高海拔种群一般具有耐干旱、低温胁迫的能力，而植物的抗逆机制一般都有共通之处。 3. 盐碱胁迫对不同气候地区青杨种群的反应差异：盐碱胁迫下两种群的光合作用受到明显的抑制，具体表现在叶绿素的含量和A 显著下降。净光合速率的下降主要是由于叶片gs，Ci 值降低引起的。与湿润地区的种群相比盐碱胁迫增强时，干旱地区的种群叶绿素含量和光合能力的升高与K+离子含量增加有关。植物维持细胞质高K+/Na+值对植物的抗盐性有很重要的作用。为清除盐碱胁迫产生的活性氧，抗氧化系统酶活性增加。盐碱胁迫下干旱地区的种群在SOD、CAT 和谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)等酶的活性均显著上升，而湿润地区种群只有谷胱甘肽氧化酶(GST)的活性明显增加，说明干旱种群的抗氧化酶系统在较高盐碱胁迫下的保护作用要强于湿润种群。这主要是由于植物抗盐碱胁迫与抗干旱胁迫在一些方面的机制是一致的，抗旱种群一般也能抵抗一定程度的盐碱胁迫。 4. 青杨lea2、lea3 基因在干旱和低温胁迫下的表达差异：通过荧光定量PCR 分析，lea2、lea3 组基因在干旱和低温胁迫下在mRNA 水平的瞬时表达量明显升高，说明了两基因在青杨耐干旱和低温胁迫上都起显著的作用。而且两基因在干旱胁迫下，表达量的升高和降低的时间近乎同步，表明两基因在干旱胁迫下对植物应急保护机制的启动都发挥着重要的作用。低温胁迫下lea3 基因在mRNA 水平上表达量显著上升的时间要早于lea2，而且lea3 基因的持续作用时间明显长于lea2 组基因，说明了低温胁迫开始时lea3基因在植物应对逆境的作用上要大于lea2 基因。 Poplars play an important role in lumber supply, and are important components of ecosystems due to their wide distribution and well adaptation. Populus cathayana Rehd., which belongs to Populus Sect. Tacamahaca Spach, is one of the most important resources of poplars and is specialist to china. In this study, different altitudes and climates populations of P. cathayana were used as experiment materials to investigate the adaptability to drought and salt-alkali stresses. And the cultures of P. cathayana were used to analyze the lea2 and 3 group genes expression when exposed to drought and low temperature stresses. The results are as follows: 1. A large set of parallel responses to drought stress: Drought stress caused pronounced growth inhibition. A decreased significantly and was mainly the result of gs and Ci down. Besides, Fv/Fm, qP decreased and that reflected the harmful effects to PSII of drought stress. In accordance with qN increasing, decreased useful energy production caused the starch numbers reduction in chloroplast. The qP up and qN down improved the levels of ROS and MDA. Starch numbers in chloroplast reduced and plastoglobuli numbers increased when soil water content decreased. To reduce ROS, the activities of SOD, APX, CAT and PPO were activated. The isozymes results show that the rising activities of the antioxidant enzymes resulted from certain isoform content increased, and not from the new band produced. Interestingly, morphological results show 100%FC maybe wasn’t the favorite water content for P. cathayana growth. 2. Effect of salt-alkali stress on morphological and physiological changes in two different altitudes populations of P. cathayana: We compared the physiological responses of two populations of Populus cathayana Rehder, originating from altitudes 2,840 m and 1,450 m. Our results demonstated that Na+ and K+ contents, and Na+/K+ ratios in leaves and roots are greatly affected by pH values. At pH 10.4, the Na+/K+ ratios in both leaves and roots sharply dropped in the higher altitude population but were always maintained at higher levels in the lower altitude population. The pH values causing maximum malondialdehyde (MDA) level, free proline content and antioxidant enzyme activities were significantly different in two populations. These results indicated that the higher altitude population exhibits greater tolerance to alkalinity stress than does the lower altitude population. 3. Morphological and physiological changes in two different climates populations of P. cathayana when exposed to salt-alkali stress. Salt-alkali stress caused pronounced inhibition of the growth and especially in photosystem. Pigments content and A decreased significantly and at the same time gs and Ci decreased too. Compared with wet climate population, the Chlorophyll content and A increased in drought climate population as pH value rising was related to the K+ content increasing. It is important to resist salt-alkali stress that the K+/Na+ ratio matained at high level in cytoplasm. To reduce ROS content, the SOD, CAT and GR activities rised significantly in drought population but only GST increased in wet population. The drought population showed higher salt-alkali tolerance than the wet population mainly resulted from the fact that drought tolerance was in accordance with salt-alkali tolerance to some extent. 4. The different expressional model of lea2 and lea3 gene when P. cathayana was exposed to drought and cold stress. RT-PCR results show both lea2 and lea3 suddenly expressed significantly in mRNA level under drought and cold stress. The expression level of two genes reached optimal level at the same time. But under cold stress, the earlier significantly rising expressional time and the longer maintained higher level time in lea3 than lea2 elucidated that lea3 may be more important than lea2 in resisting cold stress in short time in P. cathayana.

Monolithic column with zwitterionic stationary phase for capillary electrochromatography

A capillary electrochromatography (CEC) monolithic column with zwitterionic stationary phases was prepared by in situ polymerization of butyl methacrylate, ethylene dimethacrylate, methacrylic acid, and 2-(dimethyl amino) ethyl methacrylate in the presence of porogens. The stationary phases have zwitterionic functional groups, that is, both tertiary amine and acrylic acid groups, so the ionization of those groups on the zwitterionic stationary phase was affected by the pH values of the mobile phase, and further affects the strength and direction of the electroosmotic flow (EOF). Separations of alkylbenzenes and polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons based on the hydrophobic mechanism were obtained. Separation of various types of polar compounds, including phenols, anilines, and peptides, on the prepared column were performed under CEC mode with anodic and cathodic EOF, and different separation selectivities of those polar analytes were observed on the monolithic capillary column by using mobile phases with different pH values.

Specific Adsorption of Trace Amounts of Calcium and Strontium by Hydrous Oxides of Iron and Aluminum1

Freshly prepared Fe and Al hydrous oxide gels and the amorphous product of heating gibbsite selectively adsorbed traces of Ca and Sr from solutions containing a large excess (∼1M) of NaNO3. The fraction of the added Ca (Sr) adsorbed depended principally on the suspension pH, the amount of solid present, and to a lesser extent on the NaNO3 concentration. Significant Ca and Sr adsorption occurred on the Fe and Al gels, and heated gibbsite, at pH values below the points of zero charge (8.1, 9.4, and 8.3±0.1, respectively), indicating specific adsorption. The pH (± 0.10) at which 50% of the Ca was adsorbed (pH50) occurred at pH 7.15 for the Fe gel (0.093M Fe), 8.35 for the Al gel (0.093M Al), and 6.70 for the heated gibbsite (0.181M Al); for Sr, the pH50 values were 7.10, 9.00, and 6.45, respectively. For the Fe gel and heated gibbsite, an empirical model based on the law of mass action described the pH dependence of adsorption reasonably well and suggested that for each Ca or Sr fraction adsorbed, approximately one proton was released. Failure of the Al gel to fit this model may have resulted from its rapid aging.

Microchip Micellar Electrokinetic Chromatography Based on One Functionalized Ionic Liquid and Its Excellent Performance on Proteins Separation

Herein, one water-soluble functionalized ionic liquid (IL), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium dodecanesulfonate (BAS), was designed, investigated and successfully applied to microchip micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) construction. It possessed the properties of both IL and surfactant. A fairly stable pH value similar to 7.4, which was fit to pH values of general biological buffers, was nicely placed at the optimum concentration of 20 mM BAS solution. While applying BAS solution as running buffer in poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microfluidic systems, significantly enhanced electroosmotic flow (8-fold) and resolutions between analytes were obtained than that using other supporting electrolytes or surfactants.

Controllable Synthesis and Luminescence Properties of La(OH)(3) and La(OH)(3):Tb3+ Nanocrystals with Multiform Morphologies

One-dimensional La(OH)(3) nanocrystals with multiform morphologies have been successfully synthesized by a facile bydrothermal process without using any surfactant, catalyst, or template. It can be found that the pH values of the initial solutions and the alkaline sources play a crucial role in controlling the morphologies of the products. The possible formation process of the 1D samples was investigated in detail, Furthermore, the as-prepared Tb3+-doped La(OH)(3) samples show a strong green emission corresponding to D-5(4)-F-7(5) transition of the Tb3+ ions under ultraviolet or low-voltage excitation.

Facile Synthesis and Assemblies of Flowerlike SnS2 and In3+-Doped SnS2: Hierarchical Structures and Their Enhanced Photocatalytic Property

Novel flowerlike SnS2 and In3+-doped SnS2 hierarchical structures have been successfully synthesized by a simple hydrothermal route using biomolecular L-Cysteine-assisted methods. The L-cysteine plays an important role both as assistant and as sulfur source. Experiments with various parameters indicate that the pH values have a strong effect on the morphology of the assembly. Based on the experiments, a growth mechanical process was proposed. The synthetic samples were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM (HRTEM), BET measurement, TGA, and XPS in detail.

Removal of Cr(III, VI) by quaternary ammonium and quaternary phosphonium ionic liquids functionalized silica materials

A series of silica-based organic–inorganic hybrid materials were prepared by the sol–gel process for Cr(III) and Cr(VI) adsorption. These silica materials generally had high surface areas, good physical–chemical stability and high thermal stability. Trialkylmethylammonium bis 2,4,4-trimethylpentylphosphinate ([A336][C272]) and trihexyl(tetradecyl)phosphonium bis 2,4,4-trimethylpentylphosphinate (Cyphos IL 104) were explored as porogens to prepare porous silica and as extractants to extract chromium ions. Cyphos IL 104 and [A336][C272] functionalized silica sorbents (SG-2, SG-5) can be effectively used for the removal of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions by adjusting pH values, whereas trialkylmethylammonium chloride (Aliquat 336) and bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)phosphinic acid (Cyanex 272) functionalized silica sorbents (SG-3, SG-4) can only be used for the removal of the single chromium species, Cr(VI) or Cr(III).

Controlled Synthesis of Ln(3+) (Ln = Tb, Eu, Dy) and V5+ Ion-Doped YPO4 Nano-/Microstructures with Tunable Luminescent Colors

YPO4 nano/microcrystals with multiform crystal phases and morphologies, such as hexagonal nano/submicroprisms, spherical-like nanoparticles, and nanorods with different length/diameter ratios as well as tetragonal nanospindles, have been synthesized via a facile hydrothermal route. A series of controlled experiments indicate that the pH values in the initial solution, phosphorus sources, and the organic additive trisodium citrate (Cit(3-)) are responsible for crystal phase and shape determination of final products. It is found that Cit(3-) as a ligand and shape modifier has the dynamic effect by adjusting the growth rate of different facets under different experimental conditions, resulting in the formation of various geometries of the final products. The possible formation mechanisms for products with diverse architectures have been presented.

Synthesis and characterization of Eu-doped hydroxyapatite through a microwave assisted microemulsion process

Europium doped hydroxyapatite (Eu:HAp) nanosized particles with multiform morphologies have been successfully prepared via a simple microemulsion-mediated process assisted with microwave heating. The physicochemical properties of the samples were well characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), photoluminescence (PL) spectra, and the kinetic decays, respectively. The results reveal that the obtained Eu:HAp particles are well assigned to the hexagonal lattice structure of the hydroxyapatite phase. Additionally, it is found that samples exhibit uniform morphologies which can be controlled by altering the pH values. Furthermore, the samples show the characteristic D-5(0)-F-7(1-4) emission lines of Eu3+ excited by UV radiation.

Shape-controllable synthesis and upconversion properties of lutetium fluoride (doped with Yb3+/Er3+) microcrystals by hydrothermal process

Lutetium fluorides with different compositions, crystal phases, and morphologies, such as beta-NaLuF4 hexagonal microprisms, microdisks, mirotubes, alpha-NaLuF4 submicrospheres, LuF3 octahedra, and NH4Lu2F7 icosahedra, prolate ellipsoids and spherical particles have been successfully synthesized via a facile hydrothermal route. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, and photoluminescence spectra were used to characterize the samples. The intrinsic structural feature of lutetium fluorides, the solution pH values, F- sources, and organic additives (Cit(3-) and EDTA) account for the ultimate shape evolutions of the final products. The possible formation mechanisms for products with various architectures have been presented. Additionally, we investigated the upconversion luminescence properties of beta-NaLuF4: 20% Yb3+/2% Er3+ with different morphologies.