http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987111001320

Ectomycorrhizal fungi,a group of widcspread symbiotic fungi with plant,obtain carbon source from trees and improve plant mineral nutrient uptake with their widespread hyphal network.Ectomycorrhizal fun...     

Predicting size effect on diffusion-limited current density of oxygen reduction by copper wire

The size effect of copper wire radius (0.04–0.82 mm) on the diffusion-limited current density of an oxygen reduction reaction in stagnant simulated seawater (naturally aerated 0.5 mol/L NaCl) is investigated by potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and compared with the results obtained in 0.5 mol/L H2SO4. In the oxygen diffusion-limited range, size effect is found to occur independent of electrolytes, which is attributed to non-linear diffusion. Additionally, to satisfy application in a marine setting, an empirical equation correlating oxygen diffusion-limited current density to copper wire radius is proposed by fitting experimental data.     

Effects of sand grain size and morphological traits on running speed of toad-headed lizard Phrynocephalus frontalis

We conducted a manipulative experiment to investigate the influential factors of locomotor ability in steppe toad-headed lizards. By using a video-base method, we measured running speed of the lizards when they run on sands of different grain sizes. We also considered body condition, tail length and sex as fixed factors to analyze their effects on running speed of the lizard. Results showed that running speed of the lizard significantly differed among different trials of sand grain size. Specifically, the peak and the nadir values of the running speed were found on sands of 0.5-1 mm and 0.075-0.25 mm grains, respectively. When lizards ran on sands of different grain size their running speed changed significantly. Body condition and tail length also had significant effects on running speed. The findings indicated that locomotor ability of lizards depended on both body condition and the external environment. We hypothesized that sand grain size is one of the factors that influence the habitat selection in steppe toad-headed lizards. Moreover, this lizard may be used as an indicator of the development of sand dunes.     

阿拉伯海超级气旋风暴“查帕拉”（2015）快速加强过程中环境场特征

利用美国联合台风警报中心(JTWC)发布的北印度洋热带气旋数据、NOAA 0.25 °×0.25 °逐日OISST资料以及ERA5提供的0.25 °×0.25 °逐小时的再分析资料分析了阿拉伯海超级气旋风暴“查帕拉”（2015）快速加强过程中的环境场特征,结果表明：较常年平均偏暖3.0~3.5 ℃的暖水区,为“查帕拉”的快速加强提供了水汽和能量条件;“查帕拉”北侧的副热带西风急流和南侧的高空出流通道的建立是其快速加强的重要高空强迫条件,高层辐散风的增强促进质量流出形成强上升运动,这也伴随着旋转风动能的快速增长;在“查帕拉”快速增强时段,高层150 hPa以上存在显著的正位涡异常,高层的正位涡异常能够调整引起低层气旋性环流加强,同时中层400 hPa有显著的正位涡平流输入,正涡度在垂直方向快速增长,300 hPa附近显著增暖,内核区的垂直对流运动达到最强。     

Carbon cycle in the epikarst systems and its ecological effects in South China

The carbon cycle in a global sense is the biogeochemical process by which carbon is exchanged among the biosphere, pedosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere of the earth. For epikarst systems, it is the exchange of carbon among the atmosphere, water, and carbonate rocks. Southern China is located in the subtropical zone; its warm and humid weather creates favorable conditions for the dynamic physical, chemical, and ecological processes of the carbon cycle. This paper presents the mechanisms and characteristics of the carbon cycle in the epikarst systems in south China. The CO₂ concentration in soils has clear seasonal variations, and its peak correlates well with the warm and rainy months. Stable carbon isotope analysis shows that a majority of the carbon in this cycle is from soils. The flow rate and flow velocity in an epikarst system and the composition of carbonate rocks control the carbon fluxes. It was estimated that the karst areas in south China contribute to about half of the total carbon sink by the carbonate system in China. By enhancing the movement of elements and dissolution of more chemical components, the active carbon cycle in the epikarst system helps to expand plant species. It also creates favorable environments for the calciphilic plants and biomass accumulation in the region. The findings from this study should help in better understanding of the carbon cycle in karst systems in south China, an essential component for the best management practices in combating rock desertification and in the ongoing study of the total carbon sink by the karst flow systems in China.     

Comprehensive Utilization of Vanadium–Titanium Magnetite Deposits in China Has Come to a New Level

There are two production areas for vanadium-titanium magnetite deposits in China:the Panzhihua area in Sichuan Province and the Chengde area in Hebei Province. The Panzhihua vanadium titanomagnetite iron ore deposits are hosted by a mafic-ultramafic intrusive complex,and belong to late magmatic differentiation condensation of crystalline iron deposits.The rock mass is characterized by good differentiation,clear and differentiated facies zones and rhythm.The rock assemblage can be divided into the following rock facies combination:gabbro,gabbro-norite,gabbro troctolite,gabbro-plagioclase,gabbro-eclogite-olivine pyroxenite,and diabase types.The orebodies occur mostly as close-bedded,distributed in the dark facies zone in the bottom layers of the middle or lower part of the stratiform rock mass.The main ore minerals are granular ilmenite,magnetite,ilmenite spar,and magnesium aluminum spinel,with small amounts of pyrrhotite,pyrite and cobalt,nickel and copper sulfide.The ores have siderite and mosaic textures and occur as compact massive,banded and disseminated structures;they consist of TFeO 20％-45％,TiO2 3％-16％,V2O50.15％-0.5％,Cr2O30.1％-0.38％,associated with trace amounts of Cu,Co,Ni,Ga,Mn,P,Se,Te,Sc and Pt group elements.     

Aftershock of the Wenchuan Earthquake in Sichuan Triggers Large Earthquake in Minxian County, Gansu

Because of the confining compression of the Pacific,Eurasian and Indian plates,the Chinese mainland is frequently stricken with earthquakes,especially in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and surrounding areas and along the NS-trending tectonic zone from Yinchuan to Lanzhou,Chengdu,and finally to the Kunming tectonic belt (Fig.1).Historical records show that there are 14 earthquakes of＞Ms 8 occurring in the two regions,eight of which occurred along the latter tectonic belt.The 2008 Wenchuan earthquake located on both the NS tectonic zone and the Longmenshan fault zone along the eastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.