Implications of using On-Farm Flood Flow Capture to recharge groundwater and mitigate flood risks along the Kings River, CA

Two large hydrologic issues face the Kings Basin, severe and chronic overdraft of about 0.16M ac-ft annually, and flood risks along the Kings River and the downstream San Joaquin River. Since 1983, these floods have caused over $1B in damage in today’s dollars. Capturing flood flows of sufficient volume could help address these two pressing issues which are relevant to many regions of the Central Valley and will only be exacerbated with climate change. However, the Kings River has high variability associated with flow magnitudes which suggests that standard engineering approaches and acquisition of sufficient acreage through purchase and easements to capture and recharge flood waters would not be cost effective. An alternative approach investigated in this study, termed On-Farm Flood Flow Capture, involved leveraging large areas of private farmland to capture flood flows for both direct and in lieu recharge. This study investigated the technical and logistical feasibility of best management practices (BMPs) associated with On-Farm Flood Flow Capture. The investigation was conducted near Helm, CA, about 20 miles west of Fresno, CA. The experimental design identified a coordinated plan to determine infiltration rates for different soil series and different crops; develop a water budget for water applied throughout the program and estimate direct and in lieu recharge; provide a preliminary assessment of potential water quality impacts; assess logistical issues associated with implementation; and provide an economic summary of the program. At check locations, we measured average infiltration rates of 4.2 in/d for all fields and noted that infiltration rates decreased asymptotically over time to about 2 – 2.5 in/d. Rates did not differ significantly between the different crops and soils tested, but were found to be about an order of magnitude higher in one field. At a 2.5 in/d infiltration rate, 100 acres are required to infiltrate 10 CFS of captured flood flows. Water quality of applied flood flows from the Kings River had concentrations of COC (constituents of concern; i.e. nitrate, electrical conductivity or EC, phosphate, ammonium, total dissolved solids or TDS) one order of magnitude or more lower than for pumped groundwater at Terranova Ranch and similarly for a broader survey of regional groundwater. Applied flood flows flushed the root zone and upper vadose zone of nitrate and salts, leading to much lower EC and nitrate concentrations to a depth of 8 feet when compared to fields in which more limited flood flows were applied or for which drip irrigation with groundwater was the sole water source. In demonstrating this technology on the farm, approximately 3,100 ac-ft was diverted, primarily from April through mid-July, with about 70% towards in lieu and 30% towards direct recharge. Substantial flood flow volumes were applied to alfalfa, wine grapes and pistachio fields. A subset of those fields, primarily wine grapes and pistachios, were used primarily to demonstrate direct recharge. For those fields about 50 – 75% of water applied was calculated going to direct recharge. Data from the check studies suggests more flood flows could have been applied and infiltrated, effectively driving up the amount of water towards direct recharge. Costs to capture flood flows for in lieu and direct recharge for this project were low compared to recharge costs for other nearby systems and in comparison to irrigating with groundwater. Moreover, the potentially high flood capture capacity of this project suggests significant flood avoidance costs savings to downstream communities along the Kings and San Joaquin Rivers. Our analyses for Terranova Ranch suggest that allocating 25% or more flood flow water towards in lieu recharge and the rest toward direct recharge will result in an economically sustainable recharge approach paid through savings from reduced groundwater pumping. Two important issues need further consideration. First, these practices are likely to leach legacy salts and nitrates from the unsaturated zone into groundwater. We develop a conceptual model of EC movement through the unsaturated zone and estimated through mass balance calculations that approximately 10 kilograms per square meter of salts will be flushed into the groundwater through displacing 12 cubic meters per square meter of unsaturated zone pore water. This flux would increase groundwater salinity but an equivalent amount of water added subsequently is predicted as needed to return to current groundwater salinity levels. All subsequent flood flow capture and recharge is expected to further decrease groundwater salinity levels. Second, the project identified important farm-scale logistical issues including irrigator training; developing cropping plans to integrate farming and recharge activities; upgrading conveyance; and quantifying results. Regional logistical issues also exist related to conveyance, integration with agricultural management, economics, required acreage and Operation and Maintenance (O&M).

Preparação, caracterização e avaliação de nanocompósitos de PBAT/amido de milho e vermiculita organofilizada

Nos últimos 20-30 anos polímeros biodegradáveis vêm sendo estudados e desenvolvidos e atualmente já são comercializados. Contudo, o custo, a processabilidade e algumas propriedades ainda dificultam a penetração desses polímeros no mercado e a competição com as chamadas commodities. Não são poucos os autores que se dedicam a desenvolver aditivos e formulações para superar essas limitações. Desta forma, esta Tese se dedicou ao desenvolvimento de compósitos de Ecobras, fabricado pela Basf e comercializado pela Corn Products, utilizando como carga mineral resíduo da extração da bauxita, no município de Santa Luzia/PB, o qual consiste em sua totalidade de vermiculita. Esta vermiculita foi quimicamente modificada com sais de alquil fosfônio para melhorar a compatibilidade com a matriz polimérica e também espaçar as camadas de aluminossilicato. De fato, a modificação com o brometo de hexadecil tributil fosfônio resultou na esfoliação da vermiculita tornando-a potencialmente apropriada para a obtenção de nanocompósitos. A preparação dos compósitos foi realizada pelo método de intercalação no estado fundido e foram comparadas a utilização da câmara interna de mistura e da mini extrusora de dupla rosca, sendo esta última mais eficaz na dispersão da vermiculita, conforme revelado pela microscopia eletrônica de varredura, difração de raios-X e reometria de placas. O grau de dispersão também foi influenciado pela estrutura química do modificador da vermiculita e pelo teor dessa carga incorporada à matriz. Teores mais elevados levaram a formação de aglomerados, enquanto a modificação da carga implicou na formação de micro e nanocompósitos. Ainda houve alterações das propriedades térmicas com aumento dos valores da temperatura de transição vítrea, de cristalização e fusão, embora o grau de cristalinidade tenha sido mantido. Nitidamente, foram obtidos materiais mais rígidos, com maior módulo e menor capacidade de deformação. Cerca de 58% de perda de massa foi observada para os micro e nanocompósitos obtidos após 17 semanas de enterro em solo simulado para avaliação da biodegradabilidade, valor bem próximo ao Ecobras puro. De modo geral, a incorporação das diferentes vermiculitas retardou nas primeiras semanas a biodegradação, provavelmente em função de modificações na estrutura cristalina, conforme sugerido pelos maiores valores de temperatura de fusão observados durante o acompanhamento do processo de biodegradação. No entanto, após 7 semanas os perfis de biodegradação dos micro e nanocompósitos se aproximaram bastante do Ecobras puro. Desta forma, foi possível nesta Tese obter um nanocompósito de Ecobras com vermiculita modificada com brometo de hexadecil fosfônio utilizando ferramentas comuns de processamento no estado fundido com biodegradabilidade próxima ao polímero de partida, porém mais rígido e menos deformável

青蒿的遗传转化及青蒿素生物合成的调控

利用发根农杆菌(Agrobacterium rhizogenes)1601，1000，1500，15834，A4，均成功地转化了中药青蒿(Artemisia annua L.)并且建立了pRi1601，pRi15834，pRiA4诱导的发根培养。pRi1601，pRi15834的发根诱导率比其它质粒高。太老或太幼的叶片不利子发根的诱导;发根主要从叶脉的伤口处萌发;带顶芽或带侧芽的叶片容易诱导根，但不一定是发根。光照有利于发根的诱导和发根的生长。以每个发根的“绝对生长速率”(Gtowth Ratio，GR)和绝对“侧根”数量(Number of Side Roots，NSR），通过大量的发根系的筛选，建立了8个发根系，1601-L-1, 1601-L-2, 1601-L-3, 1601-L-4, 15834-L-1, 1601-P-I, 16 01-P-2，15834-L-2。Southern分子检测表明，160l-1-1，1801-L-2, 1601-L-3，1601-L-4，1601-P-1，1601-P-2均为转化子。8个建立的发根系之间无论生长或者QHS的合成存在明显的差异。比较光／暗(16/8hrs)，25℃条件下培养的16 01-L-1，1601-L-2，1601-L-3，1601-L-4，1601-P-l，和1601-P-2，其中16 01-L-3的生长最快，160l-L-1的生长最慢;但是，1601-L-1的QHS的含量最高（可达1. 048%），1601-1-3的QHS的含量最低。160Z-L-3，15834 -L-1和2583:1-L-2的生长速率相差不大。用盛有l000mLMS液体培养基的3000mL的锥形瓶扩大培养1601-L -3，15834-L-1和15834-L-2，转速为ll0rlpm，培养过程中发根容易形成发根球（Hairy Root Balis，HRB），HRB的形成严重影响发根的生长和QHs的合成，HpLC分析表明扩大培养发根中QHS的含量比较低。 改变MS基本培养基中的无机离子的浓度，研究不同无机离子对发根生长和QHS的合成的影响。 l、KN03为18.79×10-3M时有利于1601- L-1生长，为14. 84×10-3M时有利于QHS的合成。NH-4N0-3浓度在10.93-12. 49×10—3M范围内有利于1601-L-1生长，在0-20.62×10-3M范围内对QHS的合成影响不大，大于20. 62×lO-3M不利QHS的合成。培养基中NH-4+／N0-3-比值为0. 37-0. 4-0.52:1时有利于发根的生长，比值为0.52 - 0.58:1时有利于QHS的合成。 2、H-2P0-4-浓度为2.498×10-3M时有利于发根的生长在0-2. 498×l0-3M范围内，随着浓度的提高，促进发根的生长。培养基中的H2P4 -的浓度在0-1.249×lO-3M的范围内，随着浓度的提高，促进QHS的合成，为1.249×10-3M时QHS的含量最高。 3、培养基中最适16 01-L-1生长的Ca-2+浓度为0.198- 0.766×10-3M，大于或小于该浓度范围，显著地抑制发根的生长。但是，在0-3.695×10-3M范围内，随着培养基中Ca-2+浓度提高，促进QHS的合成，最适Ca-2+浓度为3.695×l0-3M。 4、培养基中不加Mg-2+时，完全抑制发根生长，在0. 142×10-3M-7.506×l0-3M浓度范围内，对发根生长影响没有明显的差别。但是，HPLC和UV分析发根中QHS含量，培养基中不加Mg-2+时，发根中QHS含量最高。 5、培养基中的Fe-2+浓度在0. 25 -1．0×10-3M范围内，同时有利于16 01- L-1的生长和QHS的形成。 6、培养基中最适合予16 01- L-3生长的KI浓度为2.5ppm，大于或小予该浓度均显著地抑制发根的生长，培养基中加入KI明显地降低发根中的QHS的含量。 7、H2BO3对l601-L-l生长影响不大，HPLC分析QHS的含量，培养基中的H3BO3浓度为100ppm和400ppm，QHS的含量分别为1.69mg/g和1.80mg/g(DW)。 8、Cu-2+对1601-L-3的生长影响显著，最适合1601-L-3生长的Cu-2+浓度为1.00ppm，在0 -1.00ppm的浓度范围内，随着培养基中的Cu+浓度的提高，发根的生物量不断增加。培养基中QHS合成的最适Cu2+浓度为0.05ppm，大于或小于该浓度均显著地抑制发根中QHS的合成。 比较光培养和暗培养对发根生长的影响，结果表明光照明显地促进1601-L-l的生长，暗培养明显不利于发根的生长。最适合于发根生长的温度为25℃，大于35℃显著地抑制发根的生长，影响发根的根尖细胞的正常分裂。 改变培养基中的蔗糖浓度和在发根培养的不同时期给培养基中添加蔗糖，试验结果表明蔗糖作为碳源对1601-L-3和1601-L-1的生长具有显著的影响。 (1)培养基中缺少蔗糖显著地抑制发根的生长。 (2)发根培养的前5天时间内，蔗糖浓度为30- 60glL昀培养基最有利于发根的生长，50glL的培养基中的发根生长最快，培养基中的蔗糖浓度大于60g/L小于30g／L时，发根的生物量增加较少。 (3)发根培养至第15天时，蔗糖浓度为60g/L的培养基最有利予发根的生物量的增加。发根培养至30天时，蔗糖浓度为60-90g/L的培养基，发根的生物量的增加相差不大，但是为蔗糖浓度为30-40g/L的培养基中的发根生物量一倍。 (4)发根培养过程中，分别于第5和15天给蔗糖浓度为30g/L的培养基中添加一次或二次蔗糖，使培养基中的蔗糖终浓度相当于60g/L或90g/L，培养至30天时，添加蔗糖的培养基中的发根的干重生物量相当于不添加蔗糖培养基中的发根生物量一倍，相当于初始蔗糖浓度为60g/L和90g/L培养基中发根的生物量。 (5)随着培养基中蔗糖浓度的提高，发根干重/鲜重比显著增加。培养基中的蔗糖的消耗量与发根生物量的增加呈正相关，蔗糖消耗越多，发根生物量的增加越大。 比较pH值对发根生长和QHS合成的影响表明，灭菌前pH值在5.O-6.5范围内的培养基适合予1601-L-1的生长，小于5.O不利于发根的生长，pH5.8有利于1601-1-1生长和QHS的生物合成。发根收获时培养基中的pH值一般为4.5-5.2. pH7.O抑制发根的生长，pHl0.O对发根具有强烈的致死作用。发根在培养过程中，对培养基中的pH值具有显著的调节作用，发根能在很短的时间内(24- 48hrs)使pl:l值为5.8、6.4、7.0培养基降低到pH4. 5-5.2，pH为5.8的培养基有利于QHS合成。 比较不同基本培养基对发根生长和QHS合成的影响，试验结果表明N6、DCR、Litvay培养基有利于1601-L-1的生长，WS、White、B5培养基不利于发根的生长。DCR培养基中的QHS含量最高。 根据三水平试验选用三水平正交表来安排试验的原则，选用三水平正交表L7(3-)，研究多因子效应对发根生长和QHS合成的影响，试验结果表明，Mg2+，Fe2+，Mn-2+，NH4NO3，KN03 ,KI,Ca-2+为发根生长的主要因子，NH4N03，KNOs，Mg2+，Ca2+，肌醇为QHS合成的主要因子。 通过TLC分析发根中QHS和其它化学成分，同时比较发根和无菌苗及野生植株的化学成分，发根和无菌苗均能合成包括QHS在内的野生青蒿叶片中的大部分非挥发性的化台 物。 研究青蒿植株在发育过程中QHS的含量的变化以及发根、无菌苗和野生青蒿中QHS的合成，HP分析结果表明，l、不同的单株青蒿之间的QHS量相差很大。2、同一植株幼 叶的QHS含量比老叶的QHS含量高。3、不同单株青蒿之间达到最高QHS含量的时间不一样，开花期或开花之前。4、无菌苗（带根）或者不带根丛生芽均能合成QHS，但是带根的无菌蕾的QHS量比丛生芽中的QIS的含量高。5、不同发根农杆菌转化的发根系1601-L-1和15834-L-1都能合成ＱＨＳ。

Growth, recruitment, and abundance of juvenile striped mullet (Mugil cephalus) in South Carolina estuaries

Growth, recruitment, and abundance of young-of-the-year (YOY) striped mullet (Mugil cephalus L.) in estuarine habitats in South Carolina from 1998 to 2000 were examined and compared to historical data (1986–91) of growth, recruitment, and abundance. Daily growth increments from the sagittal otoliths of juvenile striped mullet were validated by using fish immersed in oxytetracycline hydrochloride (OTC) for five hours from the Charleston Harbor Estuary system. The distribution of back-calculated birthdates indicated that striped mullet spawn from October to late April and estuarine recruitment occurs from January through May. Juveniles were more abundant in mesohaline and polyhaline salinity regimes but were found throughout the estuary. Juvenile growth after recruitment into the estuary can be described by the relationship Total length (mm) = 0.341 (Age)1.04 (r2=0.741, P=0.001). Growth of juveniles according to the analysis of size-frequency data from historical surveys (1986 to 1991) in the same estuaries gave the relationship Total length (mm) = 8.77 (month)1.12 (r2=0.950, P=0.001). The similarity in the growth curves for both groups of fish suggests that juvenile striped mullet in South Carolina have consistent annual growth during the first year of life.

理化因子诱导的CP43和CP47结构与功能变化规律的研究

CP43和CP47是PSII中位于类囊体膜上的两种内周天线色素蛋白复合体，它们都是由六个跨膜的α-螺旋和五个膜外环组成。CP43和CP47的主要功能是把光系统II(PSII)外周天线色素蛋白复合体(LHCII)吸收的能量传给反应中心(RC)，从而引起光化学反应。因此，研究CP43和CP47的结构与功能对于揭示植物光合作用高效吸能、传能的分子机理具有重要意义。由于CP43和CP47的分离纯化比较困难，所以相对于其它的光合膜蛋白来说，人们对CP43和CP47的研究比较少。在本文中，我们在分离、纯化CP43和CP47的基础上，采用多种光谱学和波谱学技术对CP43和CP47在GuHCl和高温作用下的变性过程及其结构与功能的变化规律进行了比较深入的研究，获得了如下结果： 1. CP43和CP47膜外区的结构特点及盐酸胍(GuHCl)引起的变性研究 我们用荧光光谱、园二色(CD)光谱研究了GuHCl引起CP43和CP47的变性过程及其膜外区的结构特点。研究发现：CP43和CP47的膜外区具有一定的有序结构，而不是一种没有规则的伸展状态;和CP43相比，CP47的三级结构及Chl a的微环境对GuHCl更敏感。在GuHCl作用下，从β-Car到Chl a的能量传递变化和三级结构的变化密切相关，而与二级结构变化的相关性则较小;和大多数水溶性蛋白不一样，CP43和CP47对GuHCl变性有一定的抵抗力，而且其变性过程不表现为二态过程，这些都是膜蛋白的特点。 2 CP43和CP47中与芳香族氨基酸有关的能量传递研究 我们用吸收光谱、荧光光谱并参照PSII的3.5 Å的晶体结构分析结果研究了CP43和CP47中与芳香族氨基酸有关的能量传递。发现：和水溶性蛋白不一样，CP43和CP47中的酪氨酸(Tyrs)并不能有效的把其能量传给色氨酸(Trps);CP43和CP47中的芳香族氨基酸能通过Föster机制和Dexter机制把其能量传给Chl a，并且CP47中的传递效率要大于CP43;在CP47中Föster机制是芳香族氨基酸和Chl a之间能量传递的主要方式，而在CP43中Dexter机制则是主要方式。这些结果也暗示了，太阳光中的紫外辐射对植物来说除了其伤害作用以外也有一定的益处。 3 GuHCl诱导CP43和CP47变性的太赫兹（THz）光谱研究 THz时域光谱技术(THz-TDS)是研究分子构型状态的一个新工具。近年来，已被应用于物理或化学分子的研究中。我们首次把这个技术应用到光合膜蛋白CP43和CP47的GuHCl变性研究上。研究发现，在小于1.5 THz时，THz吸收光谱强度随着频率的增加而增加可以看作是蛋白质变性的标志。在GuHCl作用下频域光谱中出现的1.8 THz峰应来源于Chl a和GuHCl之间的相互作用。实验结果表明，THz光谱是区分蛋白分子的不同构型状态以及监测蛋白变性过程的有力工具。 4 CP43热变性的傅立叶变换红外光谱和THz光谱研究 我们用傅立叶变换红外光谱技术(FT-IR)、SDS聚丙稀凝胶电泳(SDS-PAGE)和THz光谱技术对CP43的热变性过程进行了研究。结果表明，在高温处理下，CP43的二级结构发生了变化，且其跃变点发生在59℃。随着温度的逐渐升高，CP43先发生凝集，接着又发生降解;CP43的低频振动模随着温度的升高和分子量的减小也发生变化。我们还证实THz光谱技术在监测膜蛋白的热变性时既有它的优越性，也存在一些不足之处。这些结果为THz-TDS技术在生物样品上的应用提供了基本的资料，并完善了相关的理论。

Water quality of two semi-closed areas in the United Arab Emirates Coast along the Arabian Gulf:a comparative study

A comparative study was carried out between the two biggest creeks along the Arabian Gulf coast of the United Arab Emirates to evaluate impacts of sewage and industrial effluents on their hydrochemical characteristics. Surface and bottom water samples were collected from Abu Dhabi and Dubai creeks during the period from October 1994 to September 1995. The hydrochemical parameters studied were: temperature (21.10-34.00°C), salinity (37.37-47.09%), transparency (0.50-10.0 m), pH (7.97-8.83), dissolved oxygen (1.78-13.93 mg/l) and nutrients ammonia (ND- 13.12,ug-at N/1), nitrite (ND-6.66 ,ug-at N/1), nitrate (ND- 41.18 ,ug-at N/1), phosphate (ND- 13.06 ,ug-at P/1), silicate (0.68-32.50 ,ug-at Si/1), total phosphorus (0.26- 21.48 ,ug-at P/1), and total silicon (0.95- 40.32 ,ug-at Si/1). The present study indicates clearly that seawater of Abu-Dhabi Creek was warmer (28.l2°C) than Dubai (27.56°C) resulting in a higher rate of evaporation. Owing to more evaporation, salinity levels showed higher levels at Abu Dhabi (43.33%) compared to Dubai (39.03%) seawater. The study also revealed higher secchi disc readings at Abu Dhabi Creek (4.68 m) as compared to Dubai Creek (2.60 m) suggesting more transparency at Abu Dhabi Creek. Whereas, seawater of Dubai exhibited higher levels of pH (1.03 times), and dissolved oxygen (1.05 times) than Abu Dhabi seawater due to an increase in productivity. Meantime, seawater of Dubai showed higher tendency to accumulate ammonia (8.22 times), nitrite (10.93 times), nitrate (5.85 times), phosphate (10.64 times), silicate (1.60 times), total phosphorus (3.19 times), and total silicon (1.54 times) compared to Abu Dhabi seawater due to the enrichment of seawater at Dubai with domestic sewage waters which has distinctly elevated the levels of the nutrient salts particularly in inner-most parts of the creek leading to eutrophication signs. The changes occurred in the receiving creek water of Dubai as a result of waste-water disposal that have also reflected on the atomic ratios of nit: Effect of pollution rogen: phosphorus: silicon.

Purification and properties of Aspartate aminotransferase (E.C. 2.6.1.1) from skeletal muscle of Cirrhina mrigala

Aspartate aminotransferase (E.C. 2.6.1.1.) from the skeletal muscle of fresh water fish Cirrhina mrigala has been purified 40 fold by ammonium sulphate fractionation, adsorption on alumina Csub(8) gel and chromatography using DEAE-cellulose column and the properties of the purified enzyme studied. The pH optimum of the enzyme is 7.8. The Km value of aspartic acid and 2-oxoglutaric acid are found to be 2.8 x 10sub(-3) M and 1.0 x 10sub(-4) M respectively. The activity of enzyme is inhibited by p-chloromercurybenzoate, hydroxylamine hydrochloride and sodium cyanide. The inhibition by pchloromercurybenzoate is reversed by reduced glutathione, B-mercaptoethanol and cysteine. Dicarboxylic acids such as maleic acid, malic acid and succinic acid inhibit the enzyme activity. The enzyme is not activated by any of the metal ions tested and heavy metal ions such as mercury and silver strongly inhibit the enzyme activity.

A new observation on large scale disintegration of eggs of Indian major carps during development

While carp themselves may destroy carp eggs by sucking from outside the happa, destruction in the absence of carp also occurs. During observations of the effect of electrical field on developing carp eggs it was seen that the egg membrane ruptured prematurely under certain potential differences. In natural waters and mud potential differences occur in the presence of high concentrations of certain salts compared with the internal concentration. Temperature and pH fluctuations following strong sun or heavy rain accelerates the diffusion of ions along side water through the egg membrane. The egg cells expand rapidly and the embryos were rapidly dropped.

Isolation of bile from fish and identification by thin layer chromatography

The paper deals with the collection of gall bladders, isolation of bile and identification of the constituents of the bile salts from different fishes. The yield of bile contents from fresh water fishes rohu, mrigal and catla was compared with that from marine fishes seer, tuna, shark and sardine. Considerable variation in yield was showed between marine and fresh water fish as well as between the species in both groups. It ranged from 0.04 to 0.06% of the body weight of fish in calla, mrigal and rohu. The bile constituents from rohu and mrigal were analysed by thin layer chromatography. The result showed that bile of rohu and mrigal contains mainly taurine derivative of lithocholic acid.

The dynamics of hippocampal sensory gating during the development of morphine dependence and withdrawal in rats

The effects of morphine on hippocampal sensory gating (N40) during the development of morphine dependence and withdrawal were investigated in the double click auditory evoked potential (EP) suppression paradigm. Rats were made dependent upon morphine hydrochloride by a series of injections (every 12h) over 6 days, followed by withdrawal after stopping morphine administration. Hippocampal gating was examined during the development of dependence and withdrawal. Moreover, the DA antagonist haloperidol was used to assess the contribution of dopamine to hippocampal gating induced by morphine. Our results showed that the morphine-treated rats exhibited significantly disrupted hippocampal gating during the development of morphine dependence and this disrupted gating was partially reversed by haloperidol pretreatment. In contrast, there was significantly enhanced hippocampal gating at the fifth and sixth days of withdrawal. The dynamics of hippocampal gating during the development of morphine dependence and withdrawal suggests the interaction between the hippocampus and opioids. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Composite electrospun gelatin fiber-alginate gel scaffolds for mechanically robust tissue engineered cornea.

A severe shortage of good quality donor cornea is now an international crisis in public health. Alternatives for donor tissue need to be urgently developed to meet the increasing demand for corneal transplantation. Hydrogels have been widely used as scaffolds for corneal tissue regeneration due to their large water content, similar to that of native tissue. However, these hydrogel scaffolds lack the fibrous structure that functions as a load-bearing component in the native tissue, resulting in poor mechanical performance. This work shows that mechanical properties of compliant hydrogels can be substantially enhanced with electrospun nanofiber reinforcement. Electrospun gelatin nanofibers were infiltrated with alginate hydrogels, yielding transparent fiber-reinforced hydrogels. Without prior crosslinking, electrospun gelatin nanofibers improved the tensile elastic modulus of the hydrogels from 78±19 kPa to 450±100 kPa. Stiffer hydrogels, with elastic modulus of 820±210 kPa, were obtained by crosslinking the gelatin fibers with carbodiimide hydrochloride in ethanol before the infiltration process, but at the expense of transparency. The developed fiber-reinforced hydrogels show great promise as mechanically robust scaffolds for corneal tissue engineering applications.

Composite electrospun gelatin fiber-alginate gel scaffolds for mechanically robust tissue engineered cornea

A severe shortage of good quality donor cornea is now an international crisis in public health. Alternatives for donor tissue need to be urgently developed to meet the increasing demand for corneal transplantation. Hydrogels have been widely used as scaffolds for corneal tissue regeneration due to their large water content, similar to that of native tissue. However, these hydrogel scaffolds lack the fibrous structure that functions as a load-bearing component in the native tissue, resulting in poor mechanical performance. This work shows that mechanical properties of compliant hydrogels can be substantially enhanced with electrospun nanofiber reinforcement. Electrospun gelatin nanofibers were infiltrated with alginate hydrogels, yielding transparent fiber-reinforced hydrogels. Without prior crosslinking, electrospun gelatin nanofibers improved the tensile elastic modulus of the hydrogels from 78±19. kPa to 450±100. kPa. Stiffer hydrogels, with elastic modulus of 820±210. kPa, were obtained by crosslinking the gelatin fibers with carbodiimide hydrochloride in ethanol before the infiltration process, but at the expense of transparency. The developed fiber-reinforced hydrogels show great promise as mechanically robust scaffolds for corneal tissue engineering applications. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

Variables affecting melanoidins removal from molasses wastewater by coagulation/flocculation

Coagulation/flocculation process was applied in the polishing treatment of molasses wastewater on a bench-scale. Important operating variables, including coagulant type and dosage, solution pH, rapid mixing conditions as well as the type and dosage of polyeletrolytes were investigated based on the maximum removal efficiencies of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and color, residual turbidity and settling characteristics of flocs. HPSEC was utilized to evaluate the removal of molecular weight fractions of melanoidins-dominated organic compounds. Experimental results indicate that ferric chloride was the most effective among the conventional coagulants, achieving 89% COD and 98% color eliminations; while aluminum sulfate was the least effective, giving COD and color reductions of 66% and 86%, respectively. In addition to metal cations, counter-ions exert significant influence on the coagulation performance since Cl--based metal salts attained better removal efficiency than SO42--based ones at the optimal coagulant dosages. Coagulation of molasses effluent is a highly pH-dependent process, with better removal efficiency achieved at lower pH levels. Rapid mixing intensity, rather than rapid mixing time, has relatively strong influence on the settling characteristics of flocs formed. Lowering mixing intensity resulted in increasing settling rate but the accumulation of floating flocs. When used as coagulant aids, synthetic polyelectrolytes showed little effects on the improvement in organic removal. On the other hand, cationic polyacrylamide was observed to substantially enhance the settleability of flocs as compared to anionic polyacrylamide. The effects of rapid mixing conditions and polymer flocculants on the coagulation performance were discussed. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Aerobic biodegradation of hexachlorobenzene by an acclimated microbial community

The aerobic degradation of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) by an acclimated microbial community which isolated from a contaminated site and acclimated in our laboratory was investigated. The enriched microbial community was capable of biodegrading HCB when cultivated in minimal salts medium and supplied HCB as the sole carbon source. The efficiencies of microbial community in the degradation of HCB under different pH and temperatures were examined. The phylogenetic analysis for the nearly complete sequences of 16S rDNA demonstrated that the bacteria assemblage in the microbial community was dominated by Azospirillum and Alcaligenes groups.

Headspace solid-phase microextraction with novel sol-gel permethylated-beta-cyclodextrin/hydroxyl-termination silicone oil fiber for determination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in soil

A simple, sensitive, and accurate method for determination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in soil has been developed based on headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Permethylated-beta-cyclodextrin/hydroxyl-termination silicone oil (PM-beta-CD/OH-TSO) fiber was first prepared by sol-gel technology and employed in SPME procedure. By exploiting the superiorities of sot-gel coating technique and the advantages of the high hydrophobic doughnut-shaped cavity of PM-beta-CD, the novel fiber showed desirable operational stability and extraction ability. After optimization on extraction conditions like water addition, extraction temperature, extraction time, salts effect, and solvents addition, the method was validated in soil samples, achieving good linearity (r>0.999), precision (R.S.D. < 10%), accuracy (recovery>78%), and detection limits (S/N =3) raging from 13.0 to 78.3 pg/g. (c) 2007 Published by Elsevier B.V.