Effect of contact time on the acute toxicity of mercury to scale carp

The behaviour of metals in aquatic ecosystems is dependent on various environmental factors. Experiments were conducted in five different contact times (0.5, 2, 12, 24 and 48h) between soil sediment and mercury on Cyprinus carpio var communis. It was observed that contact time with soil sediment had significant effect in reducing the toxicity of mercury. Higher the time of contact, greater the effect. Medium hard water (150 mg/L CaC0 sub(3) of total hardness) had the highest effect as compared to other water in reducing the toxicity of mercury when combined with underlying soil sediment. With the increase in contact time, complexation and adsorption of inorganic mercury ions with the dissolved and particulate phases of water and soil sediment were increased; thereby bioaccumulation of mercury ions by scale carp was more. Applicability of the result of this experiment in natural ecosystems was also suggested.

On the stabilisation of turbulent lifted flames

This study explores the stabilisation mechanisms of turbulent lifted flames by examining the scalar dissipation rate (SDR) of both passive and reactive scalars and their cross dissipation (CDR) in the stabilisation region. DNS results of a laboratory scale hydrogen turbulent lifted flame has been used for this analysis. Various definitions of the flame leading edge (FLE) has been compared and differences are illustrated. Time and spatial averaged statistic of SDR and CDR were examined. It was found that the averaged SDR for the mixture fraction at FLE was well below the reference quenching value for stoichiometric mixture. The averaged SDR for the progress variable is in the same order of the unstrained premixed laminar flame value. It was observed that the averaged CDR changed from negative to weakly positive at FLE. The change in sign was explained by a change in the relative alignment of the gradients of mixture fraction and progress variable. It was thus evident that the CDR was a good marker for stabilisation region and an important quantity in stabilisation mechanism.

How polluted is the Yangtze River? Water quality downstream from the Three Gorges Dam

The concentrations of major anions and cations, nitrogen and phosphorus, dissolved and particulate trace elements, and organic pollutants were determined for the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River (Changjiang) from below the Three Gorges Dam (TGD) to the mouth at Shanghai in November 2006. The concentration of dissolved inorganic phosphate (DIP) was constant at a low level of 6-8 mu gP/L, but the concentration of nitrate (NO3-) approximately doubled downstream and was closely correlated with K+. This translated to a daily load of well over 1000 It of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) at Datong. The average concentrations of dissolved Pb (0.078 +/- 0.023 mu g/L), Cd (0.024 +/- 0.009 mu g/L), Cr(0.57 +/- 0.09 mu g/L), Cu (1.9 +/- 0.7 mu g/L), and Ni (0.50 +/- 0.49 mu g/L) were comparable with those in other major world rivers, while As (3.3 +/- 1.3 mu g/L) and Zn (1.5 +/- 0.6 mu g/L) were higher by factors of 5.5 and 2.5, respectively. The trace element contents of suspended particles of As (31 +/- 28 mu g/g), Pb (83 +/- 34 mu g/g), and Ni (52 +/- 16 mu g/g) were close to maximum concentrations recommended for rivers by the European Community (EC). The average concentrations of Cd (2.6 +/- 1.6 mu g/g), Cr (185 +/- 102 mu g/g), Cu (115 +/- 106 mu g/g), and Zn (500 +/- 300 mu g/g) exceeded the EC standards by a factor of two, and Hg (4.4 +/- 4.7 mu g/g) by a factor of 4 to 5. Locally occurring peak concentrations exceed these values up to fourfold, among them the notorious elements As, Hg, and Tl. All dissolved and particulate trace element concentrations were higher than estimates made twenty years ago [Zhang, J., Geochemistry of trace metals from Chinese river/estuary systems: an overview. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 1995; 41: 631-658.]. The enormous loads of anthropogenic pollutants disposed to the river were diluted by the large water discharge of the Yangtze even during the lowest flow resulting in the relatively low concentration levels of trace elements and organic pollutants observed. We estimated loads of e.g. As, Pb and Ni to the East China Sea to be about 4600 kg As d(-1), 3000 kg Pb d(-1), and 2000 kg Ni d(-1). About 6000 t d(-1) of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was delivered into the sea at the time of our cruise. We tested for 236 organic pollutants, and only the most infamous were found to be barely above detection limits. We estimated that the load of chlorinated compounds, aromatic hydrocarbons, phenols, and PAHs were between 500 and 3500 kg d(-1). We also detected eight herbicides entering the estuary with loads of 5-350 kg d(-1). The pollutant load, even when at low concentrations, are considerable and pose an increasing threat to the health of the East China Sea ecosystem. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Preferred growth of nanocrystalline silicon in boron-doped nc-Si : H Films

Preferred growth of nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si) was first found in boron-doped hydrogenated nanocrystalline (nc-Si:H) films prepared using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition system. The films were characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscope, X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectrum and Raman Scattering spectrum. The results showed that the diffraction peaks in XRD spectrum were at 2theta approximate to 47degrees and the exponent of crystalline plane of nc-Si in the film was (220). A considerable reason was electric field derived from dc bias made the bonds of Si-Si array according to a certain orient. The size and crystalline volume fraction of nc-Si in boron-doped films were intensively depended on the deposited parameters: diborane (B2H6) doping ratio in silane (SiH4), silane dilution ratio in hydrogen (H-2), rf power density, substrate's temperature and reactive pressure, respectively. But preferred growth of nc-Si in the boron-doped nc-Si:H films cannot be obtained by changing these parameters. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Nanofabrication of grid-patterned substrate by holographic lithography

The two-dimensional grid patterns on Si(001) in nanometer scale have been fabricated by holographic lithography and reactive ion etching, which can be used as a substrate for positioning Ge islands during self-assembled epitaxy to obtain an ordered Ge quantum dots matrix. By changing the configuration of the holographic lithography and the etching rate and time, we can control the grid period, the shape of the pattern cell, and the orientation of those shapes, respectively. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

三价金属离子（AE~(3+)、Al~(3+)）及其配合物与磷脂双分子膜的作用研究

本文用二维核磁共振、富利叶变换拉曼光谱和差示扫描量热等方法研究了：1）稀土离子与柠檬酸配体的溶液配位行为，并用顺磁位移试剂的方法计算了该条件下的配合物形成稳定常数；2）稀土离子及其配合物与不同种类的磷脂分子的作用；3）二氧化硅和柠檬酸铝与DPPC脂质体的作用。

Heteroepitaxial Growth of 3C-SiC Films on Maskless Patterned Silicon Substrates

Heteroepitaxial growth of 3C-SiC on patterned Si substrates by low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) has been investigated to improve the crystal quality of 3C-SiC films. Si substrates were patterned with parallel lines, 1 to 10μm wide and spaced 1 to 10μm apart, which was carried out by photolithography and reactive ion etching. Growth behavior on the patterned substrates was systematically studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). An air gap structure and a spherical shape were formed on the patterned Si substrates with different dimensions. The air gap formed after coalescence reduced the stress in the 3C-SiC films, solving the wafer warp and making it possible to grow thicker films. XRD patterns indicated that the films grown on the maskless patterned Si substrates were mainly composed of crystal planes with (111) orientation.

青杨组(Section Tacamahaca Spach)杨树不同种群对土壤干旱和重金属锰污染的生态生理响应

土壤是人类赖以生存的自然环境和农业生产的重要资源，世界面临的粮食、资源和环境问题与土壤密切相关，目前危害土壤的主要因素是干旱和重金属污染。杨树具有适应性强、生长快和丰产等特性，本论文以青杨组杨树为模式植物，采用植物生态、生理及生物化学等方法，研究杨树对土壤干旱和锰胁迫的生态生理反应以及种群间差异，研究成果可为我国干旱半干旱地区营造人工林、防止沙漠化提供理论依据，也为恢复与重建重金属污染地区退化生态系统提供科学指导。主要研究结果如下： 1. 青海杨不同种群对干旱胁迫的响应差异 干旱胁迫显著降低了两个青海杨种群（干旱种群和湿润种群）生物量积累，包括株高、基径、干物质积累等，通过植物结构的调整，有更多的生物量向根部分配。干旱胁迫还显著降低了叶绿素和类胡萝卜素含量，增加了游离脯氨酸和总氨基酸含量。另一方面，干旱胁迫诱导了活性氧的积累，作为第二信使，激活了抗氧化系统，包括抗坏血酸（ASA）含量和酶系统如超氧化物歧化酶（SOD），愈创木酚过氧化物酶（GPX），抗坏血酸过氧化物酶（APX）和谷胱甘肽还原酶（GR）。这样，杨树既有避旱机制又有耐旱机制，使其在干旱胁迫下有相当程度的可塑性。与湿润种群相比，干旱种群杨树有更多的生物量分配到根部，积累了更多的游离脯氨酸和总氨基酸来进行渗透调节，并且有更有效的抗氧化系统，包括更高含量的ASA 和更高活性的APX 和GR，这些使得干旱种群杨树比湿润种群杨树对干旱有更好的耐性。 2. 喷施硝普钠（SNP）对青海杨阿坝种群干旱胁迫耐性的影响 干旱胁迫显著的降低了青海杨阿坝种群的生长和生物量积累以及叶片相对含水量，还诱导了脯氨酸的合成以进行渗透调节。干旱胁迫下过氧化氢（H2O2）显著累积从而造成对膜脂和蛋白的伤害，使得丙二醛和蛋白羰基含量升高。干旱胁迫下喷施SNP可以减轻干旱胁迫造成的伤害，包括增加叶片的相对含水量，增加脯氨酸和总氨基酸的积累，并激活抗氧化酶系统如SOD，GPX和APX，从而减少丙二醛（MDA）和蛋白羰基（C＝O）的积累，但是在水分良好情况下SNP的效果不显著。 3. 青杨不同种群对锰胁迫的生长与形态响应差异 在同一锰浓度下，干旱种群的耐性指数都要高于湿润种群，这表明青杨对干旱和高锰胁迫具有交叉耐性。两个种群的株高，生物量和叶绿素含量都随锰浓度的升高而逐渐下降。就累积浓度而言，0 和0.1 mM 锰胁迫下，干旱种群积累的锰浓度要高于湿润种群，而在高浓度锰胁迫下(0.5 和1 mM)，湿润种群要高于干旱种群。在0，0.1 和0.5 mM下，锰大多积累在根中，叶片次之，茎中最少。而在1 mM，锰更多的积累在叶片中。就累积总量而言，在各个锰浓度胁迫下，根，茎和叶相比，两个种群青杨都是叶片累积的锰总量要高于根和茎。两个种群间比较，对照中没有显著区别，0.1 mM 锰胁迫下，湿润种群根中累积的锰要高于干旱种群，而在地上部中，干旱种群要高于湿润种群。而0.5 和1 mM 锰胁迫下，根、叶、茎+叶、根+茎+叶中，锰累积总量都是湿润种群高于干旱种群。锰胁迫下，青杨叶片数和叶面积包括总叶面积和平均叶面积都显著降低。叶片横切面的光学显微观察结果表明未经锰胁迫的栅栏组织的细胞饱满，海绵组织发达、清晰；胁迫后杨树叶片栅栏组织细胞出现不同程度的皱缩，海绵组织几乎不可见，此外还发现输导组织在胁迫下密度变小和分生组织严重割裂等现象。 4. 青杨不同种群对锰胁迫的生理与生化响应差异 青杨两个种群脱落酸（ABA）含量在锰胁迫下都显著增加，干旱种群的增幅更大。三种多胺含量在锰胁迫下显示了不同的响应趋势：腐胺在两个种群的各个锰处理下都增加，亚精胺只在干旱种群中显著增加，而精胺除了干旱种群在1 mM 下有所增加外，在锰胁迫下变化很小。谷胱甘肽含量随锰浓度升高而增加，在0.5 mM 锰时达到最高值，1mM 时有所下降。植物络合素（PCs）含量与非蛋白巯基（NP-SH）趋势相似，随锰浓度的升高而增加，且干旱种群中含量要高于湿润种群。锰处理还引起氧化胁迫，表现为过氧化氢和丙二醛含量增加。SOD 活性在湿润种群中，在0 到0.5 mM 锰胁迫下活性升高，但在1 mM 锰胁迫时，其活性有所下降。而在干旱种群中，SOD 活性变化较小，并始终维持在一个较高的水平。APX 活性在两个种群中都随锰浓度的升高而增加，干旱种群活性要高于湿润种群。锰胁迫还显著增加了酚类物质的含量，同时GPX 和多酚氧化酶（PPO）活性也随锰浓度的升高而增加。干旱种群的酚类含量和GPX 与PPO 活性都要高于湿润种群。锰胁迫还改变了氨基酸的含量和构成，根据锰胁迫下浓度变化的不同，可以将游离氨基酸分为三组：第一组包括，谷氨酸，丙氨酸和天门冬氨酸，这一组氨基酸含量在锰胁迫下有所下降。第二组包括缬氨酸，亮氨酸和苏氨酸含量在锰胁迫下基本不变化或变化很小。剩下的氨基酸为第三组，这组氨基酸含量在锰胁迫下显著增加，而根据增加的幅度又可以将它们分为两个亚组，丝氨酸，酪氨酸，苯丙氨酸，组氨酸和脯氨酸，在1 mM 下的含量是对照的4 倍以上。异亮氨酸，赖氨酸，精氨酸和甘氨酸含量在1 mM 下是对照含量的2 倍以下。同时，同一锰浓度下，干旱种群比湿润种群积累的氨基酸含量要高。 Soil is the indispensable environment for human survival and important resource foragriculture development. Food and environmental problems facing the world are all closelyrelated to soil and nowadays it is threatened by many factors, among which drought stress andheavy metal pollution are the most serious ones. Poplars (Populus spp.) are importantcomponents of ecosystem and suitable as a source of fuel, fiber and lumber due to their fastgrowth. In this study, different populations of Section Tacamahaca spach were used as modelplants to investigate the adaptability to drought stress and manganese toxicity and differencesbetween populations from dry and wet climate regions. Our results can provide theoreticalevidence for the afforestation and prevention of desertification in the arid and semi-arid areas,and also can supply scientific direction for the reconstruction and rehalibitation of ecosystemscontaminated by heavy metals. The results are as follows: 1. Differences in ecophysiological responses to drought stress in two contrastingpopulations of Populus przewalskii Drought stress not only significantly affected dry mass accumulation and allocation, butalso significantly decreased chlorophyll pigment contents and accumulated free proline andtotal amino acids. On the other hand, drought also significantly increased the levels ofabscisic acid and reactive oxygen species, as secondary messengers, to induce the entire set ofantioxidative systems including the increase of reduced ascorbic acid content and the activities of superoxide dismutase, guaiacol peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase and glutathioneredutase. Thus the combination of drought avoidance and tolerance mechanisms conferredpoplar a high degree of plasticity in response to drought stress. Compared with the wetclimate population, the dry climate population showed lower dry matter accumulation andallocated more biomass to root systems, and accumulated more free proline and total aminoacids for osmotic adjustment. The dry climate population also showed more efficientantioxidant systems with higher content of ascorbic acid and higher activities of ascorbateperoxidase and glutathione redutase than the wet climate population. All these made the dryclimate population superior in adaptation to drought stress than the wet climate population. 2. Effect of exogenous applied SNP on drought tolerance in Populus przewalskii Drought stress significantly increased hydrogen peroxide content and caused oxidativestress to lipids and proteins assessed by the increase in malondialdehyde and total carbonylcontents, respectively. The cuttings of P. przewalskii accumulated proline and other aminoacids for osmotic adjustment to lower water potential, and activated the antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, guaiacol peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase to maintain thebalance of generation and quenching of reactive oxygen species. Moreover, exogenous SNPapplication significantly heightened the growth performance of P. przewalskii cuttings underdrought treatment by promotion of proline accumulation and activation of antioxidant enzymeactivities, while under well-watered treatment the effect of SNP application was very little. 3. Morphological responses to manganese toxicity in the two contrasting populations ofPopulus cathayana High concentration of manganese caused significant decrease in shoot height andbiomass accumulation. The tolerance index of the dry climate population was significantlyhigher than that of the wet climate population, suggesting the superior Mn tolerance in theformer and the existence of cross-tolerance of drought stress and high Mn toxicity. Injuries tothe leaf anatomical features were also found as the reduced thickness in palisade and spongyparenchyma, the decreased density in the conducting tissue and the collapse and split in themeristematic tissue in the central vein. As for the Mn concentrations in the plant tissues, under0, 0.1 and 0.5 mM, most of the Mn accumulated in the roots, then leaves, and stem the least, while under 1 mM, most of the Mn accumulated in the leaves. As far as the total amounts ofMn extraction are concerned, the leaf extracted more Mn than the root and stem in the twopopulations under various Mn concentrations. There is no difference between the twopopulations under control. Under 0.1 mM, the wet climate population extracted higher Mn inthe root than the dry climate population, while in the shoot, the dry climate populationextracted much more Mn. Under 0.5 and 1 mM, the wet climate population translocated moreMn both in the root and the shoot than the dry climate population. 4. Physiological and biochemical responses to manganese toxicity in the two contrastingpopulations of Populus cathayana Mn treatment resulted in oxidative stress indicated by the oxidation to lipids, proteinsand DNA. A regulated network of defence strategies was employed for the chelation,detoxification and tolerance of Mn including the enhanced synthesis of ABA and polyamines,the accumulation of free amino acids, especially His and Pro, and the activation of theenzymes superoxide dismutase and guaiacol peroxidase. Contents of non-protein thiol,reduced glutathione, phytochelatins and phenolics compounds and activities of superoxide dismutase, guaiacol peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase also increased significantly forantioxidant or chelation functions. The wet climate population not only accumulated lessabscisic acid, free amino acids, phytochelatins and phenolics compounds, but also exhibitedlower activities of superoxide dismutase, guaiacol peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase thusresulting in more serious oxidative damage and more curtained growth.

Kinetics of acetic acid esterification with 2-ethoxyethanol over an Al-pillared clay catalyst

The Al-pillared clay catalyst obtained by exposing activated clay powder to sulfuric acid and aluminium salts and calcining in air at 373-673 K, was found to be highly active for the title reaction. The results indicated that pillared layer clay of the mixed oxide has been employed as parent catalysts for their definite structure and special properties which can be modified by the substitution of L and B acid sites cations. Solid acid catalyst of Supported aluminium was found to be highly active and selective at the 373-473 K temperature range for heterogeneous esterification. The activity is mainly attributed to the Lewis (and a considerably small number of Bronsted) acid sites whose number and strength increased due to pillaring. The water produced in the esterification can be induced by Al3+, which makes the catalyst surface to form strong B acid. Their acidities are obtained by pH measurement. If only B acid sites are > 70%, and pH < 1 in the 2-ethoxyethanol, there exists an activity of esterification. The used catalyst gave identical results with that of the fresh one. X-ray diffraction spectra show that the composition and active phase of the used catalysts are the same as the fresh ones. The kinetic study of the reaction was carried out by an integral method of analysis. The kinetic equation of surface esterification is y = 2.36x - 0.98.

坡地土壤养分迁移与流失影响因素研究进展

综合国内外有关文献,论述了坡地土壤养分迁移与流失的影响因素,包括降雨特征、下垫面条件、土壤特征、管理措施等,表明坡地土壤养分迁移与流失是一个复杂的物理化学过程;坡地养分迁移与流失的形态和途径,主要为吸附于泥沙颗粒表面的养分随径流液(溶解态)和泥沙(结合态)流出坡地和部分养分的淋溶;强调了坡地养分流失对环境污染的严重影响,而且污染范围很广,在污染河流和地下水的同时导致水体富营养化,同时因反硝化过程所产生的氮氧化合物对大气也形成了污染。最后介绍了坡地养分流失的预测预报模型,并在此基础上,讨论了坡地养分迁移与流失研究存在的问题和发展趋势。

Chain propagation kinetics on melt grafting reaction

Graft copolymerization in the molten state is of fundamental importance as a probe of chemical modification and reactive compatibilization. However, few grafting kinetic studies on reactive extrusion have been carried out because of the inherent difficulties, as expected. In this work, we have studied chain propagation kinetics on melt grafting using pre-irradiated linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) and three monomers, acrylic acid (AA), methacrylic acid (MAA), and methyl methacrylate (MMA), as the model system. We measured the apparent chain propagation rate coefficients of grafting (k(p,g)) and homopolymerization (k(p,h)) at an initial stage for the melt grafting by FT-IR spectroscopy and electron spin resonance spectroscopy. It was observed that the convective mixing affected the rate coefficients. The magnitude of k(p,h) and k(p,g) were in the same order, but k(p,h) was slightly larger than k(p,g) The k(p,g) of the three grafting systems increased in the order: LLDPE/MMA < LLDPE/MAA < LLDPE/AA. These results are explained in terms of phase separation, solubility, and inherent reactivity of the monomer.

A facile approach to biodegradable poly(epsilon-caprolactone)-poly(ethylene glycol)-based polyurethanes containing pendant amino groups

A novel biodegradable poly(epsilon-caprolactone)-poly(ethylene glycol)-based polyurethanes (PCL-PEG-PU) with pendant amino groups was synthesized by direct coupling of PEG ester of NH2-protected-(aspartic acid) (PEG-Asp-PEG diols) and poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) diols with hexamethylene dissocyanate (HDI) under mild reaction conditions and by subsequent deprotection of benzyloxycarbonyl (Cbz) groups. GPC, H-1 NMR, and C-13 NMR studies confirmed the polymer structures and the complete deprotection. DSC and WXRD results indicated that the crystallinity of the copolymer was enhanced with increasing PCL diols in the copolymer. The content of amino group in the polymer could be adjusted by changing the molar ratio of PEG-Asp-PEG diols to PCL diols. Thus the results of this study provide a good way to prepare polyurethanes bearing hydrophilic PEG segments and reactive amino groups without complicated synthesis.