Effects of long-term fertilization on soil gross N transformation rates and their implications

Application of fertilizer has been found to significantly affect soil N cycling. However, a comprehensive understanding of the effects of long-term fertilization on soil gross N transformation rates is still lacking. We compiled data of observations from 10 long-term fertilization experiments and conducted a meta-analysis of the effects of long-term fertilization on soil gross N transformation rates. The results showed that if chemical fertilizers of N, P and K were applied in balance, soil p H decreased very slightly. There was a significantly positive effect of long-term fertilization, either chemical or organic fertilizers or their combinations, on gross N mineralization rate compared to the control treatment（the mean effect size ranged from 1.21 to 1.25 at 95% confidence intervals（CI） with a mean of 1.23）, mainly due to the increasing soil total N content. The long-term application of organic fertilizer alone and combining organic and chemical fertilizer could increase the mineralization-immobilization turnover, thus enhance available N for plant while reduce N losses potential compared to the control treatment. However, long-term chemical fertilizer application did not significantly affect the gross NH4＋ immobilization rate, but accelerated gross nitrification rate（1.19; 95% CI： 1.08 to 1.31）. Thus, long-term chemical fertilizer alone would probably induce higher N losses potential through NO3– leaching and runoff than organic fertilizer application compared to the control treatment. Therefore, in the view of the effects of long-term fertilization on gross N transformation rates, it also supports that organic fertilizer alone or combination of organic and chemical fertilizer could not only improve crop yield, but also increase soil fertility and reduce the N losses potential.

A class of transformation rate models for recurrent event data

Recurrent event data frequently occur in longitudinal studies, and it is often of interest to estimate the effects of covariates on the recurrent event rate. This paper considers a class of semiparametric transformation rate models for recurrent event data, which uses an additive AMen model as its covariate dependent baseline. The new models are flexible in that they allow for both additive and multiplicative covariate effects, and some covariate effects are allowed to be nonparametric and time-varying. An estimating procedure is proposed for parameter estimation, and the resulting estimators are shown to be consistent and asymptotically normal. Simulation studies and a real data analysis demonstrate that the proposed method performs well and is appropriate for practical use.

Cooling rate effects on the structure and transformation behavior of Cu-Zn-Al shape memory alloys

Different fragments of a hot-rolled and homogenized Cu–Zn–Al shape memory alloy（SMA） were subjected to thermal cycling by means of a differential scanning calorimetric（DSC） device. During thermal cycling, heating was performed at the same constant rate of increasing temperature while cooling was carried out at different rates of decreasing temperature. For each cooling rate, the temperature decreased in the same thermal interval. During each cooling stage, an exothermic peak（maximum） was observed on the DSC thermogram. This peak was associated with forward martensitic transformation. The DSC thermograms were analyzed with PROTEUS software： the critical martensitic transformation start（Ms） and finish（Mf） temperatures were determined by means of integral and tangent methods, and the dissipated heat was evaluated by the area between the corresponding maximum plot and a sigmoid baseline. The effects of the increase in cooling rate, assessed from a calorimetric viewpoint, consisted in the augmentation of the exothermic peak and the delay of direct martensitic transformation. The latter had the tendency to move to lower critical transformation temperatures. The martensite plates changed in morphology by becoming more oriented and by an augmenting in surface relief, which corresponded with the increase in cooling rate as observed by scanning electron microscopy（SEM） and atomic force microscopy（AFM）.

Gross nitrogen transformations and N2O emission sources in sandy loam and silt loam soils

The soil type is a key factor influencing N(nitrogen)cycling in soil;however,gross N transformations and N_(2)O emission sources are still poorly understood.In this study,a laboratory 15N tracing experiment was carried out at 60%WHC(water holding capacity)and 25℃to evaluate the gross N transformation rates and N_(2)O emission pathways in sandy loam and silt loam soils in a semi-arid region of Heilongjiang Province,China.The results showed that the gross rates of N mineralization,immobilization,and nitrification were 3.60,1.90,and 5.63 mg N/(kg·d)in silt loam soil,respectively,which were 3.62,4.26,and 3.13 times those in sandy loam soil,respectively.The ratios of the gross nitrification rate to the ammonium immobilization rate(n/ia)in sandy loam soil and silt loam soil were all higher than 1.00,whereas the n/ia in sandy loam soil(4.36)was significantly higher than that in silt loam soil(3.08).This result indicated that the ability of sandy loam soil to release and conserve the available N was relatively poor in comparison with silt loam soil,and the relatively strong nitrification rate compared to the immobilization rate may lead to N loss through NO_(3)–leaching.Under aerobic conditions,both nitrification and denitrification made contributions to N_(2)O emissions.Nitrification was the dominant pathway leading to N_(2)O production in soils and was responsible for 82.0%of the total emitted N_(2)O in sandy loam soil,which was significantly higher than that in silt loam soil(71.7%).However,the average contribution of denitrification to total N_(2)O production in sandy loam soil was 17.9%,which was significantly lower than that in silt loam soil(28.3%).These results are valuable for developing reasonable fertilization management and proposing effective greenhouse gas mitigation strategies in different soil types in semiarid regions.

MICROSTRUCTURE TRANSFORMATION IN THE WELDING HEAT AFFECTED ZONE OF 800MPa GRADE ULTRA FINE STRUCTURED STEEL

The transformation behavior and microstructure development in the heat affected zone(HAZ)of 800MPa grade ultra fine structured steel was investigated.It was found that the HAZ has intermediate temperature transformation characteristics in a wide range of cooling rates,with the bainite sheaves consisting of bainite ferrite plates without carbide precipitation and retained austenite in the fast cooling regime.At relatively high cooling rates,which corresponded to low heat inputs,the hardness of the simulated HAZ was above that of the base metal.When the cooling rate was below 9C/s,the welding HAZ would have an obvious softening.The analysis of transformation rates in continuous cooling processes was completed by numerical differential method.The result indicated that the microstructure transformation rate of the HAZ in 800MPa grade ultra fine structured steel changed sharply to slow speeds when the cooling time t8/5 is longer than 7s.

Effects of Echinacea Compound on the Immune Function of Weaned Piglets

[Objective] This study aimed to investigate effects of Echinacea compound on the immune function of weaned piglets. [Method] Eighty Duroc x Landrace x Yorkshire crossbred piglets were randomly divided into four groups： control group （drug-free group）, 1.5% close group, 1.0% dose group and 0.5% dose group. Blood samples of piglets were collected at 20, 35, 50, 60, 70 and 80 days old, respective- ly, to determine neutrophil leukocyte percentage in peripheral blood, lymphocyte trapsformation rate and the levels of antibodies against classical swine fever, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome disorder. [Result] Applying a certain dose of Echinacea compound could significantly increase neutrophil leukocyte per- centage in peripheral blood and lymphocyte transformation rate （P〈0.05）, and ex- tremely significantly improve the levels of antibodies against classical swine fever, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome disorder （P〈0.01）. [Conclusion] Echi- nacea compound has played a certain role in promoting nonspecific and specific im- mune function of piglets.

Accumulation of 2-Keto-L-Gulonate at 33℃ by a Thermotolerant Gluconobacter Oxydans Mutant Obtained by Ion Beam Implantation

To obtain thermotolerant mutants of G. oxydans, which can enhance the transformation rate of L-sorbose to 2-Keto-L-gulonate （2-KLG） at 33℃ in a two-step process of vitamin C manufacture, ion beam was used as a mutation source. Gluconobacter oxydans GO and Bacillus megaterium B0 were used in this study. The original strain Gluconobacter oxydans GO was mutated by the heavy ion implantation facility at the Institute of Plasma Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Several mutants including Gluconobacter oxydans GI13 were isolated and cocultured with Bacillus megaterium B0 at 33℃ in shaking flasks. The average transformation rate of the new mixed strain GI13-B0 in per gram-molecule reached 94.4% after seven passages in shaking flasks, which was increased by 7% when compared with the original mixed strain G0-B0 （Gluconobacter oxydans GO and Bacillus megaterium B0）. Moreover, the transformation rate of I13B0 was stable at 94% at temperatures ranging from 25℃ to 33℃, which would be of much value in reducing energy consumption in the manufacture of L-ascorbic acid, especially in the season of summer. To clarify some mechanism of the mutation, the specific activities of L-sorbose dehydrogenase in both GO and GI13 were estimated.

Effect of Cu on Discontinuous Precipitation of a Symmetrical AlZn Alloy

The effect of Cu additions on discontinuous precipitation of AlZn alloy were studied with optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. It is found that the effect of addition of 2 at. pct Cu on cellular nucleation site is not remarkable, while the effect of aging temperature on cellular nucleation site of AlZn and AIZn-2Cu alloys is fairly obvious. The cell growth rate of discontinuous precipitation of AlZn alloy is remarkably accelerated with the addition of 2 at. pct Cu. The discontinuous precipitation microstructure of AlZn alloy is not apparently affected with the addition of 2 at. pct Cu and the cellular front is still fine microstructure of spinodal decomposition. The phase constituents consist of a fcc Al-rich phase, a hcp Zn-rich phase and a CuZn4 phase. The transformation rate of discontinuous precipitation of AlZn alloy is remarkably accelerated with the addition of 2 at. pct Cu.

Relationship between Microbial Activity and the Formation of Polymetallic Concretions in the Central Pacific Ocean

Using the concept of the interactive water rock- microbe system of ocean floor, the microbialmineralization of ocean-floor polymetallic concretions in the central Pacific Ocean has been studied for the firsttime. Through the correlation and study of the microbial activity and formation mechanism of polymetallicconcretions, the microbial and chemical processes for. transforming mineralizing materials and the observationand determination of the concentration of mineralizing material in the system and the variation ofenvironmental parameters, this paper reveals the reaction rate and evolutionary direction of mineralizing com-ponents caused by microbial activity, expounds the microbial mineralization mechanism and formation modelof polymetallic concretions from the angle of microbial geochemical action, and suggests a threefold division ofthe microbial mineralization stages

Optimization of C/N ratio preparation of protein-rich and multi-enzymes feed thallus through synergic fermentation of mixed distillers'grains

A new procedure of determining optimal C/N (the rate of carbon source to nitrogen source) of mixed distillers' grains for combined bacteria synergic fermentation is established. At the same time an improved method evaluating bacteria growth, called method of dry cell weighing by filtering is developed. For each combination of C and N, their initial and residual contents before and after fermentation respectively are determined. Then followed the calculation of utilization of C and N sources by the compound bacteria. The optimal C/N is finally located from among the utilization of C and N of several combinations and the weight of produced mass of oven dried thallus. The conditions of fermentation are: inoculum size 10%, temperature 30 0℃, rotational speed 170 r/min, shake culture time 48h. The best results obtained from orthogonal experiments are: maximum mass of oven dried thallus is 14 693g in a liter liquid medium, maximum utilization rate of carbon source is 98 13% and maximum utilization rate of nitrogen is 78 14%. Optimal C/N is 5 1.

STRESS－STBAIN FIELD NEAR CRACK TIP AND CALCULATION OF CRITICAL STRESS OF CRACK PROPAGATION IN A PURE BENDING BEAM OF RECTANGULAR SECTION WITH ONE－SIDED MODEICRACK

This paper studies the stress-sirain field near crack tip in a pure bending beam ofrectangular section with one-sided mode I crack by the analytic method of Rej [1],then it gives the stress and strain components at the crack tip when the crackpropagates and further it obtains the formulas of calculating the elastic deformed areawidth, the deformed intensity, area width and the equation groups of calculating thecritical stress of crack propagation, last the equation group of calculating criticalstress of crack propagation is verified by calculating instance. The maximum error is0. 18%.

Penny-shaped interfacial crack between dissimilar magnetoelectroelastic layers

A penny-shaped interfacial crack between dissimilar magnetoelectroelastic layers subjected to magnetoelectromechanical loads is investigated,where the magnetoelectrically impermeable crack surface condition is adopted. By using Hankel transform technique,the mixed boundary value problem is firstly reduced to a system of singular integral equations,which are further reduced to a system of algebraic equations. The field intensity factors and energy release rate are finally derived. Numerical results elucidate the eects of crack configuration,electric and/or magnetic loads,and material parameters of the magnetoelectroelastic layers on crack propagation and growth. This work should be useful for the design of magnetoelectroelastic composite structures.

Effect of orchard age on soil nitrogen transformation in subtropical China and implications

A better understanding of nitrogen transformation in soils could reveal the capacity for biological inorganic N supply and improve the efficiency of N fertilizers. In this study, a15 N tracing study was carried out to investigate the effects of converting woodland to orchard, and orchard age on the gross rates of N transformation occurring simultaneously in subtropical soils in Eastern China. The results showed that inorganic N supply rate was remained constant with soil organic C and N contents increased after converting woodland into citrus orchard and with increasing orchard age. This phenomenon was most probably due to the increase in the turnover time of recalcitrant organic-N, which increased with decreasing soil p H along with increasing orchard age significantly. The amo A gene copy numbers of both archaeal and bacterial were stimulated by orchard planting and increased with increasing orchard age. The nitrification capacity（defined as the ratio of gross rate of nitrification to total gross rate of mineralization） increased following the Michaelis–Menten equation, sharply in the first 10 years after woodland conversion to orchard, and increased continuously but much more slowly till 30 years. Due to the increase in nitrification capacity and unchanged NO3-consumption, the dominance of ammonium in inorganic N in woodland soil was shifted to nitrate dominance in orchard soils. These results indicated that the risk of NO3-loss was expected to increase and the amount of N needed from fertilizers for fruit growth did not change although soil organic N accumulated with orchard age.

Influence of cooling rate on magneto-structural transition and magnetocaloric effect of Ni_(30)Cu)8Co_(12)Mn_(37)Ga_(13) alloy

The influence of heat treatment with different cooling rates on phase transition behaviors and magnetocaloric effect is systematically studied.Difference in atomic order is induced by changing cooling rates,where ordered phase is obtained in the furnace cooled（FC）sample while disordered phase is reserved in the water quenched（WQ）sample.The coupled magneto-structural transition is detected in both samples but the characteristic temperature significantly shifts to lower temperatures with increasing atomic order.Giant magnetic entropy change（ΔS_（mag））derived from magnetic field induced martensitic transformation is confirmed for both samples,and can be remarkably enhanced by the atomic ordering.The largestΔS_（mag） of 20.9J/（kg·K）is obtained at 307.5Kunder 5Tin the FC sample.

Input-Output Production Structure and Non-Linear Production Possibility Frontier

Input-output(Leontief)production function is widely used in economic analysis.And diminishing marginal rate of return is a very well accepted economic fact.Leontief production function normally results in a linear production possibility frontier(PPF)due to its linear feature,whereas diminishing marginal rate of return implies a non-linear PPF.In this paper,the authors aim to fix this problem by considering multiple primary inputs in a simplified two-sector economy.The authors find that it is possible to curve a non-linear PPF by using Leontief production function when the authors add heterogeneous primary inputs.The authors also discuss the PPF using non-linear production function.Furthermore,the authors propose that three commonly used economic presumptions cannot hold in the same framework.These presumptions are"single primary input","fixed-proportion inputs"and"law of diminishing marginal returns".