Relationship between spatio-temporal evolution of soil pH and geological environment/surface cover in the eastern Nenjiang River Basin of Northeast China during the past 30 years

To illuminate the spatio-temporal variation characteristics and geochemical driving mechanism of soil pH in the Nenjiang River Basin,the National Multi-objective Regional Geochemical Survey data of topsoil,the Second National Soil Survey data and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index(NDVI)were analyzed.The areas of neutral and alkaline soil decreased by 21100 km^(2)and 30500 km^(2),respectively,while that of strongly alkaline,extremely alkaline,and strongly acidic soil increased by 19600 km^(2),18200 km^(2),and 15500 km^(2),respectively,during the past 30 years.NDVI decreased with the increase of soil pH when soil pH>8.0,and it was reversed when soil pH<5.0.There were significant differences in soil pH with various surface cover types,which showed an ascending order:Arbor<reed<maize<rice<high and medium-covered meadow<low-covered meadow<Puccinellia.The weathering products of minerals rich in K_(2)O,Na_(2)O,CaO,and MgO entered into the low plain and were enriched in different parts by water transportation and lake deposition,while Fe and Al remained in the low hilly areas,which was the geochemical driving mechanism.The results of this study will provide scientific basis for making scientific and rational decisions on soil acidification and salinization.

A Two-stage pH and Temperature Control with Substrate Feeding Strategy for Production of Gamma-aminobutyric Acid by Lactobacillus brevis CGMCC 1306

Methods to optimize the production of gamma-aminobutyric acid （GABA） by Lactobacillus brevis CGMCC 1306 were investigated. Results indicated that cell growth was maximal at pH 5.0, while pH 4.5 was pref-erable to GABA formation. The optimal temperature for cell growth （35 °C） was lower than that for GABA forma-tion （40 °C）. In a two-stage pH and temperature control fermentation, cultures were maintained at pH 5.0 and 35 °C for 32 h, then adjusted to pH 4.5 and 40 °C, GABA production increased remarkably and reached 474.79 mmol·L-1 at 72 h, while it was 398.63 mmol·L-1 with one stage pH and temperature control process, in which cultivation con-ditions were constantly controlled at pH 5.0 and 35 °C. In order to avoid the inhibition of cell growth at higher L-monosodium glutamate （L-MSG） concentrations, the two-stage control fermentation with substrate feeding strat-egy was applied to GABA production, with 106.87 mmol （20 g） L-MSG supplemented into the shaking-flask at 32 h and 56 h post-inoculation separately. The GABA concentration reached 526.33 mmol·L-1 at 72 h with the fer-mentation volume increased by 38%. These results will provide primary data to realize large-scale production of GABA by L. brevis CGMCC 1306.

Effects of Lead on pH and Temperature-Dependent Substrate-Activation Kinetics of ATPase System and its Protection by Thiol Compounds in Rat Brain

Lead (Pb) inhibited the activities of Na+ -K+ ATPase (IC50= 2.0×10^(-6) M), K + -Para-Nitrophenyl phosphatase (PNPPase) (IC50= 3.5×10^(-6) M) and [3H]-ouabain binding (IC50 = 4.0×10^(-5) M) in rat brain P2 fraction. A variable temperature or pH significantly elevated the inhibition of Na+-K+ ATPase by Pb in buffered acidic, neutral and alkaline pH ranges. Noncompetitive inhibition with respect to activation of Na+ -K+ ATPase by ATP was indicated by a variation in Vmax values with no significant changes in Km values at any temperature studied. In the presence of Pb, for Na+ -K+ ATPase at pH 6.5 and 8.5, Vmax was decreased with an increase in Km values suggesting a mixed type of inhibition. Sulfhydryl agents such as dithiothreitol (DTT) and cvsteine (Cyst), but not glutathione (GSH) offered varied levels of protection against Pb-inhibition of Na + -K+ ATPase at pH 7.5 and 8.5. The present data suggest that inhibition of Na+ -K+ ATPase by Pb is both temperature and pH-dependent. These results also indicate that Pb inhibited Na + -K + ATPase by interfering with phosphorylation of enzyme molecule and dephosphorylation of the enzyme-phosphoryl complex and exerted an effect similar to that of SH-blocking agents.

Impacts of soil organic matter, pH and exogenous copper on sorption behavior of norfloxacin in three soils

Norfloxacin sorption and the factors （soil organic matter （SOM）, pH, and exogenous copper （Cu） influencing the sorption were investigated in a black soil （soil B）, a fluvo-aquic soil （soil F）, and a red soil （soil R）. With increasing norfloxacin concentrations, sorption amount of norfloxacin increased in both the bulk soils and their SOM-removed soils, but the sorption capacity of SOM-removed soils was higher than that of their corresponding bulk soils, indicating that the process of norfloxacin sorption in soil was influenced by the soil properties including SOM. The sorption data in all bulk soils and SOM-removed soils were fitted to Freundlich and Langmuir models. The correlation coefficients suggested that the experimental data fitted better to Freundlich equation than to Langmuir equation. Furthermore, the data from soil F and SOM-removed F could not be described by Langmuir equation. The norfloxacin sorption amount decreased in soil B and soil F, whereas it increased in soil R as solution pH increased. The maximum KD and Koc were achieved in soil R when the equilibrium solution pH was 6. The norfloxacin sorption was also influenced by the exogenous Cu^2＋, which depended on the soil types and Cu^2＋ concentrations. With increasing Cu^2＋ concentrations in solution, generally, sorption amount, KD and Koc for norfloxacin in soils increased and were up to a peak at 100 mg/L Cu^2＋, and then the sorption amount decreased regardless of norfloxacin levels.

Influence of CO_2 pneumoperitoneum on intracellular pH and signal transduction in cancer cells

Object: The authors studied the influence of CO2 pneumoperitoneum on intracellular pH and signal transduction arising from cancer cell multiplication in laparoscopic tumor operation. Method: They set up a simulation of pneumoperitoneum under different CO2 pressure, and then measured the variation of intracellular pH (pHi) at different time and the activity of protein kinase C (PKC) and protein phosphatase 2a (PP2a) at the end of the pneumoperitoneum. After 1 week, the concentration of cancer cells in the culture medium was calculated. Result: When the pressure of CO2 pneumoperitoneum was 0, 10, 20, 30 mmHg respectively, the average pHi was 7.273, 7.075, 6.783, 6.693 at the end of the pneumoperitoneum; PKC activity was 159.4, 168.5,178.0, 181.6 nmol/(g.min) and PP2a was 4158.3, 4066.9, 3984.0, 3878.5 nmol/(g.min) respectively. After 1 week, the cancer cells concentration was 2.15×105, 2.03×105, 2.20×105, 2.18×105 L-1. Conclusion: CO2 pneumoperitoneum could promote acidosis in cancer cells, inducing the activation of protein kinase C and deactivation of protein phosphatase 2a, but it could not accelerate the mitosis rate of the cancer cells.

Effects of temperature, pH and NaCl on protease activity in digestive tract of young turbot, Scophthalmus maximus

The protease activity in digestive tract of young turbot Scophthalmus maximum was studied, and the optimal pH, temperature and NaCl concentration were determined for different portions of the fish’s internal organs. The optimal activity in the fish’s stomach was at pH of 2.2, while that in the intes- tinal extracts was within the alkaline range from 9.5 to 10.0. In hepatopancreas, the optimal pH was in low alkalinity at 8.5. The optimal reaction temperature was above 40℃ in stomach, intestine and hepato- pancreas. With increasing temperature, the pH value increased in stomach, while in the intestine, an op- posite tendency was observed due to combined effect of pH and temperature. NaCl concentration showed inhibitory impact on protein digestion in hepatopancreas. The main protease for protein digestion in turbot seemed to be pepsin. Moreover, the maximum protease activity in different segments of intestine existed in the hindgut.

Spatial and temporal variations in pH and total alkalinity at the beginning of the rainy season in the Changjiang Estuary, China

The results of field observation carried out in May 2003 were used to examine pH and total alkalinity behaviors in the Changjiang Estuary. It was showed that pH and total alkalinity took on clear spatial variations in values with the minima in the low salinity region. Like salinity, transect distributions of pH and total alkalinity （TA） in a downriver direction had a sharp gradient each. These gradients appeared in such a sequence that the TA gradient was earlier than salinity and pH gradients, and the salinity gradient was earlier than the pH gradient. These distribution characteristics seemed to be strongly influenced by the mixing process of freshwater and seawater, for both pH and total alkalinity had significant linear relationships with salinity and temperature. For pH, phytoplankton activities also had a significant impact upon its spatial distribution. During a period of 48 h, pH and total alkalinity changed within wide ranges for every layer of the two anchor stations, namely, Stas 13 and 20, which were located at the mixed water mass and seawater mass, respectively. For both Stas 13 and 20, pH and TA fluctuation of every layer could be very wide during a 4 h period. As a whole, the data of the two anchor stations showed that neither variations in salinity and temperature nor phytoplankton activities were the main factors strongly influencing the total alkalinity temporal variability on a small time scale. The data of Sta. 20 implied that both salinity variation and phytoplankton activities had a significant influence on pH temporal variability, but the same conclusion could not be drawn from the data of Sta. 13.

Osmotic concentration of succinic acid by forward osmosis:Influence of feed solution pH and evaluation of seawater as draw solution

In this study, we investigated the essential role of feed solution pH so as to gain insights into the transport mechanisms of succinic acid concentration by osmotically-driven forward osmosis （FO） process. FO performances including water flux and bidirectional transport of succinate and chloride anions were systematically examined using cellulose triacetate-based FO membrane. Additionally, real seawater was explored as draw solution. Experimental results revealed that the pH-dependent speciation of succinic acid can affect the FO performances. Ionization of succinic acid at higher solution pH enhanced the osmotic pressure of feed solution, thus leading to lower water flux performance. A strong effect was pointed out on the succinate rejection for which nearly 100% rejections were achieved at pH above its pKa2 value. The rejection of succinate increased in the following order of chemical form： C2H4C2O4H2 〈 C2H4C2OH- 〈 C2H4C2O24-. With real seawater as the draw solution, low to moderate water fluxes （〈4 L. m- 2. h- 1 ） were observed. The divalent succinate anion was highly retained in the feed side despite differences in the succinic acid feed concentration at pH of approximately 6.90.

Adsorption and Transport of Ciprofloxacin in Quartz Sand at Different pH and Ionic Strength

Effects of pH and ionic strength on ciprofloxacin adsorption in quartz sand were studied through a batch equilibrium adsorption experiment in this paper. The experimental data were fitted by empirical formulas from Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isothermal curves, and the transport experiments in quartz sand at different pH and ionic strength were conducted to investigate the transport characteristics of ciprofloxacin. It was found that with the increase of pH value or ionic strength, adsorption capacity of ciprofloxacin decreased, so that it could move easier. The results indicated that low pH or ionic strength was conductive to the adsorption of ciprofloxacin in quartz sand. Meanwhile, a higher initial concentration or stronger ionic strength could result in a smaller linear distribution coefficient of ciprofloxacin, which meant a low adsorption capacity. According to the fitting results, the adsorption of ciprofloxacin in quartz sand could be described well by both Langmuir and Freundlich equations, of which Freundlich equation had a better efficacy.

Influence of Soil pH and Temperature on Atrazine Bioremediation

Present study was conducted to clarify soil pH and temperature influence on different atrazine bioremediation techniques. For this purpose, sodium citrate, Arthrobactor sp. strain DNS10, sawdust and animal manure were selected to clarify their atrazine remediation efficiency under pH 5, 7 and 9 and temperatures 20, 30 and 40℃, respectively. Results showed that atrazine remediation was generally optimized at pH 7 and 30℃ for all the treatments except sodium citrate as soil treated with sawdust was not temperature dependant, but at pH 5 remediation process was determined slower. Atrazine remediation in soil with no additional amendment was only 34%, while in soil treated with sawdust, DNS10, sodium citrate and animal manure were 75.17%, 89%, 74.17% and 76.83% at optimized pH and temperature. Overall atazine removal rate was significantly（≥0.01） higher with increasing in temperature at all the selected pH.

Treatment of Aged Skin with a pH 4 Skin Care Product Normalizes Increased Skin Surface pH and Improves Barrier Function: Results of a Pilot Study

The physiological skin surface pH is just below 5. With age the skin surface pH increases up to 6. An increased pH correlates with reduced barrier integrity/cohesion. The present pilot study assesses possible normalization of an increased skin surface pH of the elderly and improvement of barrier function via application of ≈pH 4.0 skin care products. Baseline skin surface pH was determined in elderly (80+ years old;n = 15) compared to middle aged adults (31 - 50 years old;n = 15). The effect of o/w emulsions at pH-values of 3.5, 4.0, 4.5 and 5.5 on the skin surface pH was determined in both groups. Further, the effect of a 4-week treatment with a pH 4.0 skin care product on the skin surface pH, skin hydration and barrier integrity was assessed. Thirteen elderly females were involved in this home-in-use test. Increased baseline skin surface pH of the elderly normalizes to the physiological pH of 4.5 - 5.0 over 7 hours after single application of o/w-emulsions with a given pH of 3.5 or 4.0. A 4 week treatment employing the pH 4.0 skin care product improves the epidermal barrier integrity of the elderly significantly (p = 0.005). Reduction of the increased baseline skin surface pH of the elderly is accompanied by improved epidermal barrier integrity. Skin care products for the elderly have to be adjusted in the pH range of 3.5 to 4.0.

Polymorph and morphology of CaCO_3 in relation to precipitation conditions in a bubbling system

Simulating the typical carbonation step in a mineral CO_2 sequestration, precipitated calcium carbonate(PCC) was prepared by bubbling CO_2 gas into a rich Ca solution. These carbonation reactions were conducted at three p H ranges, namely 10.0–9.0, 9.0–8.0, and 8.0–7.0, in which temperature and CO_2 flow rate are additional experimental variables. The PCC obtained in experiments was examined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR)and X-ray diffraction(XRD). It was found that supersaturation determined by p H value and flow rate of CO_2 has significant influence on polymorph of PCC. Vaterite was preferably formed at high supersaturation, while dissolution of metastable vaterite and crystallization of calcite occurred at low supersaturation. High temperature is a critical factor for the formation of aragonite. At 70 °C, vaterite, calcite and aragonite were observed to coexist in PCC because transformation from vaterite to aragonite via calcite occurred at this temperature. Scanning electron microscopy(SEM) technology was performed on prepared PCC, and various morphologies consistent with polymorphs were observed.

Partial least square modeling of hydrolysis: analyzing the impacts of pH and acetate

pH and volatile fatty acids both might affect the further hydrolysis of particulate solid waste, which is the limiting-step of anaerobic digestion. To clarify the individual effects of pH and volatile fatty acids, batch experiments were conducted at fixed pH value （pH 5-9） with or without acetate （20 g/L）. The hydrolysis efficiencies of carbohydrate and protein were evaluated by carbon and nitrogen content of solids, amylase activity and proteinase activity. The trend of carbohydrate hydrolysis with pH was not affected by the addition of acetate, following the sequence ofpH 7〉pH 8〉pH 9〉pH 6〉pH 5; but the inhibition of acetate （20 g/L） was obvious by 10%-60 %. The evolution of residual nitrogen showed that the effect of pH on protein hydrolysis was minor, while the acetate was seriously inhibitory especially at alkali condition by 45%-100 %. The relationship between the factors （pH and acetate） and the response variables was evaluated by partial least square modeling （PLS）. The PLS analysis demonstrated that the hydrolysis of carbohydrate was both affected by pH and acetate, with pH the more important factor. Therefore, the inhibition by acetate on carbohydrate hydrolysis was mainly due to the corresponding decline of pH, but the presence of acetate species, while the acetate species was the absolutely important factor for the hydrolysis of protein.

EFFECT OF ANTHROPOGENIC CO_2 ON THE pH AND THE SATURATION STATES OF CALCITE AND ARAGONITE OF SEAWATER

Growth of phytoplankton, zooplankton and probably most other marine organisms as well, is likely to be affected by the pH of seawater. Growth of calcareous shells and skeletons is less likely to be affect ed by the saturation states of calcite and aragonite but the dissolution is. The increase of CO2 in the oceans due to burning of fossil fuel and clearing of forests is decreasing the pH of seawater and the degress of saturation for calcite and aragonite worldwide. This paper presents the results of the first attempt to estimate the vertical distribution of anthropogenic CO2, and the decreases in pH and the degrees of saturation of calcite and aragonite in seawater near Taiwan. Most ef fects are very small except for the possible dissolution of aragonite on the upper continental slope starting around 2050 AD.

THE INFLUENCES OF SOLUTION PH AND CURRENT DENSITY ON COERCIVITY OF ELECTROPLATING CoNdNiMnP PERMANENT MAGNETIC ALLOY FILM ARRAYS

The influences of plating bath solution PH and current density on coercivity of electroplating CoNdNiMnP permanent magnetic film arrays were studied. The experiment results show that both for solution PH and current density there were the best depositing parameters. Too high and too low plating bath solution PH or current density both result in decreasing of the film array coercivity. When solution PH is 3.5 and current density is 5mA/cm2, the prepared film array coercivity can reach the maximum.

Effect of pH and temperature on acidogenic and hydrogenic activities of glucose-degrading bio-granules

Series batch experiments were made to investigate the influences of pH and temperature on the activity of acidogenus and acidogenus in glucose-degrading bacteria cultured in an UASB(up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket) reactor for glucose fermentation and hydrogen production. The bacteria exhibited different capability to recover to produce hydrogen at different initial pH and temperature. Hydrogen production, VFA production, COD removal and COD balance were measured at different pH and 20, 37 ℃ respectively with the same glucose and VSS in vials. Results showed that there are different influences on the activity of acidogenic bacteria at varied pH and result in a variety of amount of hydrogen production, specific hydrogen production and VFA production, etc. Through the present study, when nonmalized to the weight of VSS, a maximal biogas and hydrogen production of 1 717 1 ml/g and 870 0 ml/g were obtained when pH equals 9 at 37 ℃ and 679 00 ml/g of biogas, 246 35 ml/g of hydrogen were also got when pH equals 5 at 20 ℃ respectively. The maximal specific hydrogen production (SHA) was 116 56 ml/h,g around 8 of pH value at 37 ℃ and 6 46 ml/h,g around 4 of pH value at 20 ℃, which were obtained by calculating the slope of the accumulated hydrogen gas via time. Butyric acid fermentation was important for hydrogen production. Large quantity of unknown COD was found in the vials when a small quantity of bio-gas was produced, but relative less unknown COD was determined when there was large quantity of hydrogen produced. This revealed a better engineering foreground for application of hydrogen bio-production.

Temperature coefficient of seawater pH as a function of temperature,pH,DIC and salinity

pH is a measure of the hydrogen ion activity in a solution,which is a function of temperature.Under normal seawater conditions,it is well constrained.Nowadays,with an increasing interest in complex environments(e.g.,sea ice),a better understanding of the temperature change on pH under extreme conditions is needed.The objective of this paper was to investigate the temperature coefficient of the seawater pH(△pH/△T)over a wide range of temperature,pH,dissolved inorganic carbon(DIC)and salinity by a method of continuous pH measurement with the temperature change,and to verify the application of CO2SYS for pH conversion under extreme conditions(on the National Bureau of Standards(NBS)scale and the total proton scale).Both experimental results and CO2SYS calculations showed that△pH/△T was slightly affected by temperature over the range of 0℃ to 40℃ and by pH(at 25℃)from 7.8 to 8.5.However,when pH was out of this range,△pH/△T varied greatly with pH value.According to the experimental results,changes in DIC from 1 mmol/kg to 5 mmol/kg and salinity from 20 to 105 had no significant effect on△pH/△T.CO2SYS calculations showed a slight increase in△pH/△T with DIC on both the NBS scale and the total proton scale;and underestimated△pH/△T at high salinity(i.e.,beyond the oceanographic range)on the NBS scale.Nevertheless,CO2SYS is still suitable for pH conversion even under extreme conditions by simply setting the input values of DIC and salinity in CO2SYS within the oceanographic range(e.g.,DIC=2 mmol/kg and S=35).

Effects of pH and Temperature on Biogas Production Using Three Kinds of Animal Dung

[Objective] This study was conducted to perform harmless resourceful treatment to animal dung. [Method] With fresh cow dung, rabbit dung and bear dung as fermentation materials, the effects of different temperatures and initial pH values of materials on the biogas production process and biogas yield were investi- gated. [Result] The fermentation of cow dung, rabbit dung and bear dung all pro- duced biogas, and the biogas yield was in positive correlation with carbon-nitrogen ratio. The methane-producing bacteria were very sensitive to the initial pH of fer- mentation material. The adjustment of the temperature and initial pH of fermentation materials had no greater effect on the gas production cycle, but could change the gas production process and total biogas yield. [Conclusion] This study will provide a data basis for the production of biogas from the fermentation of animal dung.

Analysis of the Relationship between Soil pH and Clubroo of Mustard

[Objective]The paper was to study the severity of mustard clubtoot under different pH conditions and to clear the relationship between pH and mustard clubroot.[Method] Totally 288 soil samples were collected from the infected patches of clubroot in Fuling District,Chongqing City,and their pH were measured.Meanwhile,the germination rate of resting spores,the incidence rate of clubroot and vegetative growth of mustard was measured under different pH conditions,to figure out the relationship between pH and mustard clubroot.[Result] The pH of 288 pathogenic soil samples distributed from 4.0 to 7.0.The germination rates of resting spores were higher than 50% when the pH was 5.0-6.5,and the germination rates were low when the pH was 3.0,4.0,8.0,8.5,9.0 and 10.0.Greenhouse pot test showed that the incidence rate of mustard clubroot in acidic environment was higher than that in alkaline environment.The incidence of mustard clubroot was severe when the pH was 4.5-6.5; the incidence was the severest at the pH of 6.0,and the disease index reached 84.22; mustard was not attacked by clubroot at the pH of 8.0.Measurement results of various growth indicators of mustard under different pH conditions demonstrated that mustard had better growth at the pH of 5.0-7.5,and the growth was the best at the pH of 6.5,while the growth was suppressed at the pH of 4.0 and 8.0.[Conclusion]Clubroot of mustard is likely to happen under weak acidic condition.The suitable pH for the vegetative growth of mustard is 5.0-7.5.

Drinking Water Treatment: pH Adjustment Using Natural Physical Field

Water has a pH of around (7.0), making it neither alkaline nor acidic. Alkaline is defined as a pH value greater than (7.0). The power of water to neutralize acids is measured by its alkalinity. The pH scale ranges from (pH = 0 to 14), with anything above (pH = 7.0) being alkaline, and anything below (7.0) being acidic. Much of the research up to now has been investigating the effect of adding alkaline substances to the water to increase the pH levels. Recent evidence suggests that using baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), which is an alkaline substance with a pH of about (9). While studies have shown that adding soda to water increases its alkalinity, it has a number of negative health consequences. For instance, Hypokalemia, Hypochloremia, High levels of sodium in the blood, Worsening kidney disease, Worsening heart failure, Muscle weakness and spasm, and Increased stomach acid production. The main aim of this study is to investigate a natural substance consisting of environmental elements i.e., it is derived from silica by the thermal fusion method (prepared by the authors) that raises the pH of water with a physical field of 80 cm without adding any components to the water. The results showed the effectiveness of this natural substance in its solid and liquid forms in raising the pH of water to reach 8.5 from a distance range = 80 cm, without any side effects on human health.