Non‐spherical pearl layers in the Polynesian ‘black‐lipped’ Pinctada margaritifera: The non‐nacreous deposits compared to microstructure of the shell growing edge

Cultivated pearls frequently exhibit morphological irregularities making obvious that mineral deposition was irregularly distributed onto nucleus surface. Taking advantage of experimental cultivations with short durations (from 10 days to few months), these irregular deposits predating occurrence of the nacre were investigated in Polynesian pearls by biochemical characterizations and a series of physical methods. Diversity in the resulting data suggests that various in‐depth alterations of the biomineralization mechanism may have occurred during the grafting process, leading to diversity in the biochemical pathways to nacreous deposition. This allows a precise discussion of current views about pearl formation. The “reversed shell theory” is formally disproved through point to point comparison with development of the shell growing edge. Similarity of pearl formation with “regeneration” or “shell repair” is also discussed, emphasizing the differences between these concepts.     

喀斯特森林近地表层覆盖对碳酸盐岩红土蒸发过程的影响

蒸发是西南喀斯特地区薄层土壤水分损失的主要途径,浅层土壤水分的存蓄对喀斯特地区农业生产和生态恢复至关重要。以西南喀斯特森林碳酸盐岩红土为研究对象,基于室内蒸渗试验设置4个苔藓生物量(0,0.32,0.64,0.95 kg/m~2)和3个松针生物量(0,0.32,0.64 kg/m~2)共12种处理,分析森林近地表层覆盖对碳酸盐岩红土蒸发过程及表层温度时空分布的影响规律,并对比3种蒸发模型(Black、Rose、空气动力学蒸发模型)在喀斯特森林碳酸盐岩红土的适用性。结果表明:苔藓和松针覆盖显著降低累积蒸发量和蒸发速率(P0.05),接种苔藓0.95 kg/m~2和覆盖松针0.64 kg/m~2处理比裸土累积蒸发量小36.9%;苔藓和松针导致土壤含水量显著增加(P0.05);苔藓和松针增加了表层土壤的平均温度,松针对土壤温度的提升作用强于苔藓;Black、Rose和空气动力学模型均能较好地模拟碳酸盐岩红土蒸发过程,Black蒸发模型的拟合精度高于Rose和空气动力学蒸发模型。研究结果能为西南喀斯特地区的水量平衡分析提供理论支撑并加强对喀斯特森林地表水文过程的认知。     

Soil carbon increases with long-term cattle stocking in northern temperate grasslands

Grassland management aimed at enhancing carbon (C) in soil is an important tool in mitigation of rising atmospheric CO₂, yet little is known of how grassland soil C changes with livestock stocking rate (SR). We relate soil organic and inorganic C mass (t ha⁻¹ to 60 cm depth) with cattle stocking over periods of 7–27 year for 32 paddocks distributed across nine community pastures in the mixed-grass prairie of Saskatchewan, Canada. Initial analysis comparing Akaike information criterion models showed that cattle SR explained a greater proportion of variance in soil C, particularly soil organic C, than rainfall. Soil organic C mass increased with cattle SR (R² = .293; p = .001), even when the latter was normalized to account for differences in vegetation composition and growing conditions among pastures. Normalized SR varied from 0.49 to 2.30 times recommended levels, over which SOC increased from 24.7 to 57.4 t ha⁻¹. Increases in soil organic C under greater stocking coincided with increased abundance of introduced vegetation, particularly the rhizomatous grass Poa pratensis. Inorganic soil C accounted for 34.6% of total soil C, being particularly large below 30 cm soil depth, but did not vary with stocking rate. These findings indicate that both organic and inorganic C are important pools of C in northern temperate grassland soils, with soil organic C positively associated with long-term cattle SR. Further studies are recommended to understand more fully the mechanisms regulating grazing impacts on soil C mass in northern temperate grasslands.     

复杂盐碱条件对星星草种子萌发的影响

将2种中性盐NaCl、Na2SO4及2种碱性盐Na2CO3、NaHCO3按不同比例混合。模拟出24种盐度和碱度各不相同的复杂盐碱条件,并用以处理星星草种子,测定其发芽率、发芽势。结果表明,不同碱度的盐分组成对星星草种子萌发的影响基本一致,即均随着盐浓度的增高发芽延迟,发芽率降低,而且均在盐浓度超过300 mmol/L时发芽率降至零。对各胁迫因素与发芽率之间进行统计学分析,结果表明,盐浓度是影响星星草种子萌发的决定性因素,其他因素的作用很小。本实验结果表明,吸水是决定星星草种子萌动与否的关键,由于盐浓度决定水势进而决定种子吸水,所以盐浓度表现为影响种子萌发的关键因素。由于pH值、缓冲量等代表碱度的指标与水势没有直接关系,所以对星星草种子萌动阶段没有决定性影响。     

Na2CO3胁迫对非洲凤仙种子萌发及幼苗生长的影响

采用室内水培试验,以不同浓度(10,20,30,40,50,60,70 mmol/L)的Na2CO3对非洲凤仙种子和幼苗进行胁迫处理,测定其种子发芽率、发芽指数、发芽势和叶绿素含量等指标.结果表明:各项指标与Na2CO3胁迫浓度呈明显负相关.当Na2CO3浓度达到50 mmol/L时,发芽率、发芽指数和发芽势显著下降,说明高浓度Na2CO3溶液对种子的萌发具有强烈的抑制作用.Na2CO3胁迫使叶绿素含量显著降低,严重影响幼苗的光合能力,抑制幼苗的正常生长.     

Influence of biomineralization on the physico-mechanical profile of a tropical soil affected by erosive processes

Most of the soils of tropical countries are affected by erosion processes. As a result, much attention has been dedicated to the use of microorganisms to improve the geotechnical properties and stability of soils in the context of “bioengineering”. This work was carried out to analyze the effects of the use of a CaCO₃ precipitating nutrient on native microbiota with the aim of mitigating the erosion processes in a tropical soil profile. We observed that the use of nutrient B4 enabled native bacteria present in the soil to precipitate calcium carbonate, resulting in improvements in the physical, chemical, mineralogical and mechanical properties of the soil, which allowed the mitigation of the erosion processes that characterize the soil profile studied.     

Condensation reactions of phenolic resins V: cure-acceleration effects of propylene carbonate

Propylene carbonate (PC) is known as one of the cure accelerators for alkaline phenol–formaldehyde resins. To elucidate the cure-acceleration mechanisms, the effects of PC on the condensation reactions of monomeric hydroxymethylphenols (HMPs) were investigated and compared with those of PC hydrolysate, sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) and ethyl formate. Immediately after the reaction started, PC, decomposing itself simultaneously, accelerated the formation of the ortho-para methylene-bonded dimer of 2,4,6-trihydroxymethylphenol. This effect of PC was very similar to that of ethyl formate. To the contrary, PC hydrolysate accelerated the formation of the para-para methylene-bonded dimer throughout the course of the reaction. This effect of PC hydrolysate was identical to that of NaHCO₃. These results indicate that PC increases the reactivity of the ortho-hydroxymethyl group, presumably through transesterification. On the other hand, NaHCO₃ is formed by the hydrolysis of PC or decomposition of the transesterified HMPs and it increases the reactivity of the para-hydroxymethyl group.     

Chemical analysis of the product in acid-catalyzed solvolysis of cellulose using polyethylene glycol and ethylene carbonate

Degradation and decomposition of cellulose were studied in an acid-catalyzed solvolysis treatment of biomass using polyethylene glycol (PEG) and ethylene carbonate (EC). The solvolysis reaction was followed by a typical reaction system of wood liquefaction that uses sulfuric acid catalyst at 140° or 150°C at atmospheric pressure. The methods of fractionation and chemical analysis of the degraded cellulose in the solvolyzed product are discussed. The solvolyzed product was separated into several fractions, and they were hydrolyzed to release glucose and levulinic acid to determine the quantity of glucosides and levulinates in the solvolysis product. The data clearly showed that the solvolysis reaction had the same mechanism when using PEG or EC. Degradation of cellulose leads to the formation of glucosides, which then decompose, resulting in a levulinic acid structure, and producing a water-insoluble fraction. The conversion rates of both glucosides and levulinates strongly depend on the reaction conditions of the solvolysis. In particular, EC promotes faster conversion of the reactions. The method discussed here is a chemical analytical technique for characterization of the products of wood liquefaction.     

The origin of carbonates in termite mounds of the Lubumbashi area, D.R. Congo

The origin of carbonate accumulations in termite mounds is a controversial issue. This study is an attempt to elucidate the processes of carbonate precipitation in Macrotermes mounds built on Ferralsols in Upper Katanga, D.R. Congo, whereby a differentiation between pedogenic and inherited carbonates is considered. Carbonate features were investigated for a 9 m deep termite-mound profile, and for an 18 m wide cross-section through a termite mound and the adjacent soil, using field and laboratory techniques. Field evidence for a pedogenic origin includes morphological type (soft powdery materials, nodules, and coatings on ped surfaces) and distribution patterns of the carbonates. Thin-section studies reveal that the carbonates occur predominantly as impregnative orthic nodules and less commonly as coatings, both clearly pedogenic; calcareous pellets are interpreted as locally reworked pedogenic carbonates. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDS) and stable isotope (δ¹³C) analyses show that all isolated carbonate features consist of high-Mg calcite (4.9-12.3 mol% MgCO₃) with δ¹³C signatures ranging from − 13.2‰ to − 11.5‰. Weddellite (CaC₂O₄. 2H₂O) is identified in a thin-section and by XRD analysis, and appears to be locally transformed into calcite. The stable isotope composition of carbon suggests that calcite precipitated in equilibrium with soil CO₂ generated during decomposition of soil organic matter, and locally most likely during oxidation of oxalate. This study proves that carbonates which accumulated in Macrotermes mounds are pedogenic precipitates, whose deposition is partly related to microbial decay of organic matter, subsequently redistributed to some extent by abiotic dissolution-reprecipitation and termite activity.