红喉歌鸲在韩国雪岳山国立公园大青峰地区的生境选择

自2001年5月至10月间,在韩国雪岳山国立公园大青峰地区进行了红喉歌鸲(Luscinia calliope)的生境选择研究。繁殖种群的调查结果表明,该研究地区可分成此种鸟的高、中、低3种密度分布区。红喉歌鸲多选择岳桦(Betula ermanii)和雪松(Pinus pumila)林为其栖息地,并喜欢在矮丛林和稠密灌丛中活动。表1参9。     

Characteristics of bird communities between slope and valley in natural deciduous forest, South Korea

本研究在弄清韩国桂坊山(374030N,128301E)天然落叶阔叶林斜坡和山谷中鸟类群落间的特征差异。调查结果表明:两地鸟类群落的种类组成、丰富度、鸟种多样性及群落结构都有不同。森林的垂直结构特别是林下覆被度及胸高直径分布多显不同。两地生境结构的不同必然影响着鸟类对可利用生境的选择。表6图2参19。     

Biotransformation of 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol, a main product of the insecticide fenitrothion, by Aspergillus niger

Biotransformation of the environmental pollutant 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol (MNP), a newly characterized estrogenic chemical, and the primary breakdown product of the heavily used insecticide fenitrothion was investigated using a common soil fungus. In 96 h, daily culture sacrifice, extraction, and analysis showed that the filamentous fungus, Aspergillus niger VKM F-1119, removed more than 85% of the MNP present in solution (original concentration = 25 mg/L), mostly through biodegradation. Additionally, in 16-day time-course studies, A. niger was capable of biotransformation of MNP at concentrations as high as 70 mg/L. Gas chromatography mass spectroscopy (MS) analyses of culture fluid extracts indicated the formation of four metabolites: 2-methyl-1,4-benzenediol, 4-amino-3-methylphenol, and two singly hydroxylated derivatives of MNP. Culture scale up and metabolite analysis by liquid chromatography MS resulted in the confirmation of the original metabolites plus the detection of an azo derivative metabolite that has not been previously reported before during MNP biodegradation by any micro-organisms.     

保水剂特性测定及其在农业中的应用

高分子化学材料的保水剂,具有高倍吸水和保水能力,种类较多。该研究测定了钠类保水剂主要化学特性改土保土效应。通过田间试验,分析其对作物产量和肥料利用率的影响。研究表明,保水剂溶液钠离子和电导度随其浓度增加而增加,但增幅较小,对pH值影响不大。钙、镁等二价离子对聚丙稀酸钠保水剂的吸水力拮抗作用明显,与尿素混用无不良效果。土壤加入保水剂后,其保水能力增加,改善结构,沙壤土较重壤土更显著。当土壤中保水剂含量在0.005%～0.01%范围时,土壤团聚体增加量明显。在-0.5MPa土壤水势压内,含保水剂0.5%的土壤中90%水分可为植物根系利用。研究认为,保水剂保水作用主要表现4方面:自身保水、改良土壤结构增加土壤保水、促进植物生长提高肥料利用率、缓慢释水减少蒸发。田间试验发现,穴施15kg/hm²的保水剂的玉米和马铃薯分别增产22%和16%,投产比为1∶3.5和1∶4.2。保水剂与尿素或尿素磷肥混合使用于玉米,可分别提高尿素和磷肥利用效率18.72%和27.06%。     

Using Synchronous Fluorescence Technique as a Water Quality Monitoring Tool for an Urban River

This paper presents a study performed to evaluate the feasibility of implementing a series of heating rods within a zero-valent iron permeable reactive barrier (ZVI-PRB) to enhance the conventional design of PRBs, and thus to improve the barrier’s removal efficiency, and reduce construction and reactive material costs. A numerical modeling approach is undertaken where a hypothetical case is introduced and typical site values are assigned to it. The amount of electrical energy required to heat the barrier from an initial temperature, T ₁, to a final temperature, T ₂ is assessed. Through different simulation cases, the effect of (1) initial temperature of the groundwater entering the PRB, (2) different amounts of total heat injected, (3) distribution of the heating rods, and (4) different types of porous media, on the temperature increase within the PRB are evaluated. Results show that the amount of energy required to increase the temperature of our hypothetical case by 10°C is approximately 935 W, which could be provided by renewable energies such as solar. It is explained that there are multiple benefits for increasing the temperature within the PRB. Apart from boosting reaction rates, temperature increase can reduce water viscosity and increase flow within the barrier, which broadens a barrier’s catch area. It can enhance solubility of gases to reduce blockage caused by gas generation. An upward flow is formed inside the wall which can also help reduce gas blockage. By implementing heating rods, design widths are reduced, which could potentially reduce the materials (thus cost) used and/or justify the use of more expensive reactive material in PRBs. Heating the PRB was found to generate a heat plume of 20 m length downstream of the PRB after one year, which would increase biodegradation of the residual contaminants leaving the PRB within this zone. Overall, it is concluded that implementing the proposed technology within a ZVI-PRB can be justified, and is found to be beneficial in many aspects.     

Accumulation of Cadmium and Antioxidant and Hormonal Responses in the Indian Major Carp <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cirrhinus mrigala</Emphasis> During Acute and Sublethal Exposure

Acute (24 h) and sublethal (35 days) effects of cadmium chloride (CdCl₂) were examined in Cirrhinus mrigala using various endpoints (accumulation pattern, thyroid hormones (THs), and antioxidants). The mean concentrations of CdCl₂ for 24 and 96 h were found to be 35.974 and 22.387 mg L^?l, respectively. LC50 concentration of CdCl₂ for 24 h (35.97 mg L^?l) was used for the acute study. For the sublethal studies, fish were exposed to 3.59 mg L^?1 (Treatment I) and 7.19 mg L^?1 (Treatment II) corresponding to 1/10th and 1/5th of 24 h LC50 of the CdCl₂. During acute exposure, higher accumulation of CdCl₂ was noticed in the gill, liver, and kidney of C. mrigala, which is found in the order gill > liver > kidney tissues. Similarly, in sublethal treatments (Treatment I and II), a concentration and time-dependent increase of CdCl₂ accumulation was noticed in the order of gill > liver > kidney. GSH, GST, and GPx activities were found to be relatively lower from the treated groups in both acute and sublethal treatments. However, LPO activity was significantly increased in CdCl₂-treated fish C. mrigala. Further, plasma T₃ reduction was more pronounced than T₄ in acute study. During sublethal treatments, both T₄ and T₃ levels showed a continuous decrease as the exposure period extended. All the values in this study were statically significant (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05).     

Electrical activation enhances pre-implantation embryo development following sperm injection into in vitro matured pig oocytes

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of electrical stimulation (EST) on pronuclear formation, chromosomal constitution, and developmental capability among in vitro matured pig oocytes following intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). After ICSI, the oocytes were randomly distributed and cultured into 3 groups: the EST activated ICSI group, non-activation ICSI group, and in vitro fertilization (IVF) group. The proportion of oocytes in which 2 pronuclei were formed in ICSI groups was significantly higher in the former groups than in the IVF group (96.2 and 93.5 vs. 64.5%, respectively, P<0.05). The cleavage rate was significantly higher in EST activated ICSI group (78.6%) than in the IVF and non-activated ICSI groups (51.8 and 46.0%, respectively, P<0.05), as was the proportion of oocytes that developed to the blastocyst stage at day 7 (18.9 vs. 11.6 and 9.1%, respectively, P<0.05). Diploid blastocysts were observed in 52.4, 63.0, and 65.2% of oocytes in the IVF, activated, and non-activated ICSI groups, respectively. Eight out of 23 gilts (34.8%) were confirmed to be pregnant in activated ICSI groups, but none of these pregnancies were carried to term. These results show that oocyte activation after ICSI is effective in elevating the cleavage rate and blastocyst development, while ensuring normal chromosome composition. Further research is needed to determine the pregnancy maintenance requirements for ICSI-embryos in pigs.     

Development of a novel live vaccine delivering enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli fimbrial antigens to prevent post-weaning diarrhea in piglets

The efficacy of a novel, live delivery vaccine was examined for protection against post-weaning diarrhea in pigs. An expression/secretion plasmid harboring genes encoding enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K88ab, K88ac, FedA and FedF fimbriae was constructed and harbored in an attenuated Salmonella, which was used as the vaccine candidate. Groups A (n=3) and B (n=3) sows were orally immunized with the candidate vaccine and PBS as a control, respectively, at 8 and 11 weeks of pregnancy. All group piglets were challenged with two challenge strains at 5-week-old. All immunized sows had significantly increased IgG and IgA levels in both serum and colostrum to individual adhesins compared to the control (p ≤ 0.05). Immune response in Group A piglets were significantly increased (p ≤ 0.05). Furthermore, no clinical signs were observed in Group A piglets after the challenge and no challenge strains were detected in rectal swabs, while diarrhea was observed in 47.8% control piglets and challenge strains were isolated from all the diarrheic piglets. These results show that immune response of sucking piglets can maintain at higher levels through the milk of the immunized sows and vaccination of sows with the candidate may protect colibacillosis in weaned piglets.     

Differentiation of hamster liver oval cell following Clonorchis sinensis infection

Oval cells which appear in the liver after hepatic injuries are suspected to be progenitor cells for both hepatocytes and bile duct cells. Oval cell isolated from the livers of the hamsters treated with diethylnitrosamine and 2-acetylaminofluorene and infected with Clonorchis sinensis (CS). cultured for 2 weeks and evaluated for differentiation and plasticity by electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry. In the CS-uninfected group, glycogen granules and peroxisomes were noted in the cells that were cultured for 2 weeks. Starting at 1 week postculture, immunoreactivity of the cells to cytokeratin 19 markedly decreased but that to albumin and alpha-fetoprotein gradually increased. This means that oval cells isolated from hamsters that were not infected with CS differentiated toward hepatocyte lineage. However, in the CS-infected group, cultured cells contained numerous rough endoplasmic reticulum and showed immunoreactivity that was generally in reverse to that of CS-uninfected group, meaning that cells isolated following CS infection were primed by CS and differentiated toward bile duct cell lineage. The results of this study suggested that oval cells are indeed bipolar progenitor cells for hepatocytes and bile duct cells and can differentiate toward either lineage depending upon the priming factor.