Influence of Nitrogen Loading and Species Composition on the Carbon Balance of Grasslands

In a 12-year experimental study of nitrogen (N) deposition on Minnesota grasslands, plots dominated by native warm-season grasses shifted to low-diversity mixtures dominated by cool-season grasses at all but the lowest N addition rates. This shift was associated with decreased biomass carbon (C):N ratios, increased N mineralization, increased soil nitrate, high N losses, and low C storage. In addition, plots originally dominated by nonnative cool-season grasses retained little added N and stored little C, even at low N input rates. Thus, grasslands with high N retention and C storage rates were the most vulnerable to species losses and major shifts in C and N cycling.     

中国退耕还林背景和研究现状

对中国退耕还林工程的背景、效益研究、政策研究、技术研究、模式研究以及香港退耕还林情况予以介绍,并就中国退耕还林工程的研究情况进行了综合评述。     

Snail1/IGF-1 pathway mediates high glucose-induced EMT in renal tubular epithelial cells

AIM: To observe the expression of Snail1 and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in NRK-52E cells induced by high glucose, and to investigate the relationship of Snail1 and IGF-1 in the mechanism of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in diabetic kidney disease (DKD).METHODS: The NRK-52E cells were treated with Snail1 siRNA and IGF-1 siRNA after cultured with high glucose medium for 72 h, and divided into control group, high glucose group, non-targeting (NT) siRNA group, Snail1 RNAi group and IGF-1 RNAi group. The cells were harvested at 48 h and 72 h. Real-time PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of Snail1, IGF-1, E-cadherin and fibronectin (FN), and the protein levels were determined by immunofluorescence staining.RESULTS: Compared with control group, the expression of E-cadherin at mRNA and protein levels declined after stimulation with high glucose (P<0.01), while that of FN was elevated (P<0.01). Meanwhile, the mRNA and protein levels of Snail1 and IGF-1 were markedly increased (P<0.01).The expression of E-cadherin at mRNA and protein levels was improved in Snail1 RNAi group as compared with high glucose group(P<0.01), while that of FN, IGF-1 and Snail1 was significantly down-regulated (P<0.01). The same changes were observed in IGF-1 RNAi group (P<0.01). The protein expression of each factor in NT group had no significant change as compared with high glucose group (P>0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed a close positive relationship between the expression of Snail1 and IGF-1 protein (r=0.852, P<0.01).CONCLUSION: Snail1 may facilitate DKD development by regulating IGF-1 in the process of EMT.     

重组 yEGFP 发光酵母细胞检测牛尿中雌激素类药物

用重组人雌激素受体（hER）基因酵母细胞（W303-1A／hER-ERE-yEGFP）,分别对成年奶牛和犊牛尿样的雌激素药物残留进行检测测定。该重组酵母细胞是一种发光酵母细胞,其发光度与雌激素化合物具有剂量效应关系。结果显示,成年奶牛尿样中的雌激素类化合物高于犊牛尿样,分别为1．000×10－4和2．518×10－5雌二醇当量,但经统计分析无显著差异（P ＞0．05）。本研究所建立的方法高效、快速、高通量,可用于牛尿样中雌激素类药物残留分析。     

The artisanal fishery fleet of the lower Amazon

Abstract  The present study analyses temporal trends in the characteristics of the artisanal fleet landing at ports in the city of Santarém (lower Amazon) from 1993 to 2003. A total of 2714 boats visited the city, accounting for more than 76 000 landings. Of these, 1952 were fishing boats; the others were buyer boats, specialised in the purchase of fish in rural areas for resale in Santarém. The activity involves more than 13 000 fishermen. Fishing boats are made of wood, are on average 11 m long and powered by a 20 hp outboard motor. Boats operate with an average of six to seven fishermen, spending 6 days per trip and catching between 300 and 800 kg of fish. Most variability in yield can be explained by the ice consumed (70%), the number of fishermen trip⁻¹ (19%), fuel consumed (4%) and days spent fishing (3%). The yield changed according to the size, origin and type of boat. Fishing boats coming from more distant locations, in the state of Amazonas, performed better than those from Santarém. Total yield declined slightly during the study period. Mean age of fishing boats and fishing power is increasing. Consumption of ice and fuel by trip, number of fishermen trip⁻¹ and mean days fishing showed positive trends. Financial subsidies from governmental agencies are criticised. Fleet performance and management options are discussed.     

Effect of dietary calcium on growth and survival of silver catfish fingerlings, Rhamdia quelen (Heptapteridae), exposed to different water pH

The purpose of this study was to verify the effect of dietary Ca²⁺ on the growth and survival of silver catfish fingerlings (Rhamdia quelen) exposed to different water pH (5.5, 7.5 and 9.0). Silver catfish fingerlings were randomly placed in a thermoregulated water re‐use system with twelve 250 L‐tanks, two 1000 L‐biofilters and a 2000 L‐reservoir with a medium flow of 3.84 L min^?1 tank. Stocking density was 0.16 fingerlings L^?1. To prepare the treatment diets, the control diet (0.8 g kg^?1 Ca²⁺) was supplemented with CaCO₃ to yield experimental diets with 6.4, 9.5 and 23.9 g kg^?1 Ca²⁺. There were three replicates/treatments. Survival was more than 93.9% in all treatments. Exposure of silver catfish fingerlings to alkaline or acid water reduced growth, and this effect was not ameliorated by dietary Ca²⁺ supplementation. Moreover, when fingerlings were maintained in water with pH 7.5, the best dietary Ca²⁺ range for silver catfish fingerling growth was 0.8–6.4 g kg^?1.     

Particle-stabilized defect gel in cholesteric liquid crystals

Dispersions of colloidal particles in cholesteric liquid crystals form an unusual solid by stabilizing a network of linear defects under tension in the ideal layered structure of the cholesteric. The large length scales of the cholesteric liquid crystals allowed direct observation of the network structure, and its properties were correlated with rheological measurements of elasticity. This system serves as a model for a class of solids formed when particles are mixed with layered materials such as thermotropic and lyotropic smectic liquid crystals and block copolymers.     

东莨菪内酯对家蚕乙酰胆碱酯酶活性的影响

用不同浓度天然产物东莨菪内酯处理桑叶饲喂家蚕(Bombyx mori)后,通过测定家蚕头部乙酰胆碱酯酶(AChE)活性,研究东莨菪内酯对家蚕的影响。结果表明,12 h时家蚕出现摆头、吐液等轻微中毒症状,24 h时中毒症状减轻,48 h时中毒症状消失,家蚕恢复正常;5龄第三天家蚕饲喂浸过不同浓度东莨菪内酯的桑叶后,头部AChE比活力变化趋势与对照变化趋势相反,且除了药后24 h时的比活力高于对照外,其余时间段比活力均显著低于对照,表现为抑制作用;在一定浓度范围内,东莨菪内酯对家蚕头部离体AChE活性的抑制作用呈剂量效应关系,且抑制率随东莨菪内酯浓度的升高而升高。5.0×10-2、2.5×10-2mol/L东莨菪内酯对家蚕头部离体AChE活性的抑制率分别达到99.4%、90.6%,当东莨菪内酯浓度小于5.0×10-4 mol/L时,其对家蚕头部离体AChE活性的抑制趋势逐渐变缓,抑制中浓度IC50为4.03×10-3mol/L。     

不同滤料在循环水工厂化水处理系统中的应用效果分析

研究球形陶粒、无仿布、碳酸钙矿石3种不同滤料对工厂化循环水处理系统的处理效果比较,并对不同滤料组水处理后水体中氨氮、亚硝酸盐、磷酸盐的含量进行了比较分析,结果显示:在相同养殖环境条件下,3种不同滤料经过6个月的运行试验,水体中氨氮、亚硝酸盐、磷酸盐的含量最低组为无纺布滤料组,其次为球形陶粒组,研究还发现无纺布滤料组,杂交鲟增重最大,成活率最高,而且操作管理都要优于其他组。