Thermal Evolution of Organic Matter and Secondary Hydrocarbon Generation from Upper Paleozoic Coal Deposits in Northern China

The metamorphism and hydrocarbon generation from the Upper Paleozoic coal-bearing strata in Northern China have been widely studied by Chinese geologists since the 1990s. Based on a large amount of data of Ro values,combined with geological background,we have systematically analyzed the thermal evolutionary characteristics of or-ganic matter and the stages of hydrocarbon generation from the Permo-Carboniferous coal deposits and discussed the condition of secondary hydrocarbon generation. The distribution range of secondary hydrocarbon generation in North-ern China is thus determined. It is shown that the coal ranks of the Upper Paleozoic coal deposits are higher in the southern and western belts than those in the northern and eastern belts. Really significant secondary hydrocarbon gen-eration is mainly related to the thermal evolution of organic matter during the Himalayan Period. Profitable areas for secondary hydrocarbon generation should be buried at 3000-4000 m up to the present. Maturity of the Permo-Carbon-iferous source rocks is not very high. It is suggested that the Bohai Bay depression is favourable for secondary hydro-carbon generation and has good oil and gas prospects.

The trophic state of lake water regulates spatial-temporal variations of bloom-forming Microcystis

Although biomass variations in Microcystis and microcystin have been widely reported,few studies have addressed whether different trophic states of natural lake water affect the spatial-temporal variations in abundances of microcystin-producing Microcystis in a given bloom.In this study,we used a harmful algal bloom in Chaohu Lake,eastern China,as an example to investigate the mutual relationship between different nutrient states and environmental factors,and the impact on Microcystis.Overall,cyanobacteria and Microcystis were more abundant in the middle and western parts of the lake under high nutrients levels,while in the eastern part,nutrient concentrations were low enough to limit biomass,and their fluctuations affected the contents of toxic Microcystis.Moreover,microcystin concentration was correlated positively to nutrient levels and Microcystis biomass during bloom developing in 2013 from June to August.Temporally,the cellular content of total microcystin was lowest when the bloom peaked in intensity.Our results suggest that lake eutrophication not only results in cyanobacterial blooms,but may also increase the proportion of toxic Microcystis species and their cell-bound MCs contents(i.e.microcystin cell quotas) under mild eutrophication.The present investigation provided molecular evidence for the selection of MC-producing and non-MC-producing genotypes.The current study provides new evidence advocating the monitoring of partitions of large lakes when studying cyanobacteria and toxin-contaminated freshwaters,which will be beneficial for both water agencies and water researchers.

Qualitative analysis and quantitative simulation on Yin-Huang water salinization mechanism in Bei-Da-Gang Reservoir

Yellow River water transfer for Tianjin is important in solving the water shortage in Tianjin, which facilitate economic development and social progress for many years. Fresh water drawn from Yellow River（ i. e., Yin-Huang water） becomes saltier and saltier when being stored in the Bei-Da-Gang reservoir. We qualitatively analyze the water salinization mechanism based on mass transfer theory. The main factors are salinity transfer of saline soil, evaporation concentrating, and the agitation of wind. A simulative experimental pond and an evaporation pond were built beside the Bei-Da-Gang reservoir to quantitatively investigate the water salinization based on water and solute balance in the simulative pond. 80% of increased [Cl^-] is due to the salinity transfer of the saline soil and the other 20% is due to evaporation concentrating, so the former is the most important factor. We found that the salinization of Yin-Huang water can be described with a zero-dimension linear model.

Diesel oil infiltration in soils with selected antecedent water content and bulk density

The effects of soil texture, initial water content and bulk density on diesel oil infiltration in fine sand and silty clay loam materials were evaluated. Three physical and two empirical equations express diesel oil infiltration through soils with time, with coefficients of determination greater than 0.99. Diesel oil infiltrates more quickly in the fine sand than in the silty clay loam material. Diesel oil infiltration rates are found to decrease with increasing initial water content and bulk density for the silty clay loam material. The infiltration rate of diesel oil in the fine sand material increases slightly with increasing initial water content. The diesel oil saturated conductivity(Kdiesel) decreases with increasing bulk density for the silty clay loam column. Diesel oil sorptivity(S) decreases linearly with increased initial water content and bulk density of the silty clay loam material. Changes in empirical parameters relative to initial water content and bulk density are similar to the parameter S.

Study on Non-Collision Mineralizing Mechanism of Froth Cyclone

On the basis of the mineralizing mechanism of froth cyclone, this paper expounds that the froth cyclone flotation process is accomplished in a limited centrifugal field. The main feature of air bubble mineralizing in the froth cyclone is a synthetic mineralizing process, of which the non collision mineralization of minute air bubble separated out dominates, supplemented with the collision mineralization. Moreover, this paper points out that the hydrophobic separated out and centrifugal force strengthen the selectivity of fine coal particle, accelerate the flotation speed and improve the slime recovery.

Influence of phosphorus availability on the community structure and physiology of cultured biofilms

Biofilms have important effects on nutrient cycling in aquatic ecosystems.However,publications about the community structure and functions under laboratory conditions are rare.This study focused on the developmental and physiological properties of cultured biofilms under various phosphorus concentrations performed in a closely controlled continuous flow incubator.The results showed that the biomass（Chl a）and photosynthesis of algae were inhibited under P-limitation conditions,while the phosphatase activity and P assimilation rate were promoted.The algal community structure of biofilms was more likely related to the colonization stage than with the phosphorus availability.Cyanobacteria were more competitive than other algae in biofilms,particularly when cultured under low P levels.A dominance shift occurred from non-filamentous algae in the early stage to filamentous algae in the mid and late stages under P concentrations of 0.01,0.1 and 0.6 mg/L.However,the total N content,dry weight biomass and bacterial community structure of biofilms were unaffected by phosphorus availability.This may be attributed to the low respiration rate,high accumulation of extracellular polymeric substances and high alkaline phosphatase activity in biofilms when phosphorus availability was low.The bacterial community structure differed over time,while there was little difference between the four treatments,which indicated that it was mainly affected by the colonization stage of the biofilms rather than the phosphorus availability.Altogether,these results suggested that the development of biofilms was influenced by the phosphorus availability and/or the colonization stage and hence determined the role that biofilms play in the overlying water.

Chemical Composition of Hydrilla Verticillata （L. f.） Royle in Taihu Lake

Hydrilla verticillata （Linn. f.） Royle is a submerged plant for phytoremediation on Taihu Lake, China. The planted submerged plant should be harvested in every autumn to reduce the nutrition burden of the lake. Five compounds were firstly isolated by column chromatography and purified from the extractions of Hydrilla verticillata （Linn. f.） Royle. 1-（5＇-Hydroxy-4＇-hydroxymethyl-1＇-methyl-1H-pyrrol-2＇-yl）-henicosa-2,12,15-trien-1-one （2） and thymidine （3） were identified by EIMS, 1H NMR, laC NMR and IR spectra. Crystal loliolide （1） and sulfur-gamma （4） were identified by X-ray diffraction. Octadecanedioic acid （5） was also elucidated. Among them, compound 2 is a new natural compound, loliolide （1） and thymidine （3） are known bioactive substances. The results provided basic research data for exploring their application as medical materials.

A Point Mutation in the Pentatricopeptide repeat Motif of the AtECB2 Protein Causes Delayed Chloroplast Development

AtECB2 encodes a pentatricopeptide repeat（PPR） protein that regulates the editing of the plastid genes accD and ndhF.The ecb2-1 knockout shows an albino phenotype and is seedling lethal.In this study, we isolated an allelic mutant of the AtECB2 gene,ecb2-2,which showed delayed greening phenotype but could complete their life cycle.In this mutant,the Thr^500 is converted to Ile^500 in the 13^th PPR motif of the AtECB2 protein.Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated that chloroplast development was delayed in both the cotyledons and leaves of the mutant.An investigation of the chloroplast gene expression profile indicated that PEP（plastid-encoded RNA polymerase） activity in ecb2-2 cotyledons was not obviously affected,whereas it was severely impaired in ecb2-1.This result suggests that the PEP activities cause the different phenotypes of the ecb2-1 and ecb2-2 mutants.The editing efficiency of the three editing sites of accD（C794 and C1568） and ndhF（C290） in the mutant was dynamically altered, which was in agreement with the phenotype.This result indicates that the editing efficiency of accD and ndhF in the ecb2-2 mutant is associated with a delayed greening phenotype.As ecb2-2 can survive and set seeds,this mutant can be used for further investigation of RNA editing and chloroplast development in arabidopsis.

Competition between toxic and nontoxic Microcystis (Cyanophyceae) under different light and temperature conditions

Dear Editor,In aquatic environments,cyanobacteria usually proliferate faster than other phytoplankton assemblages during warm seasons,particularly in eutrophic waters(Ma et al.,2015).Microcystis,a common cyanobacterial genus that potentially produces microcystins(MCs)and nontoxic strains,dominates in eutrophic freshwater bodies,and its biomass increases quickly during the warm period;these changes result in increased water turbidity and changes in light quality and quantity in the water column(Li and Li,2012).Additionally,