Morphological variation and reproductive biology of Polaskia chende (Cactaceae) under domestication in Central Mexico

The columnar cactus Polaskia chende, endemic to Central Mexico, occurs in the wild and in silviculturally managed populations where artificial selection for better edible fruits operates by sparing and favouring desirable phenotypes during vegetation clearance. Wild and managed populations were compared in morphology and reproductive biology to analyse if human selection has influenced phenotypic divergence, if it has modified breeding systems and if reproductive isolation exists between them. Fruits from managed populations were larger (6·36±0·17 cm³), heavier (19·62±1·32), sweeter (9·07±0·25 °Brix), and with thinner peel (2·09±0·13 mm) than those from wild populations (5·77±0·18 cm³, 15·73±0·85 g, 8·23±0·31 °Brix, and 2·58±0·14 mm, respectively). Both population types bloom synchronically, show diurnal anthesis, with bees as the most likely pollinators, and have breeding system predominantly self-incompatible. Spatial and temporal barriers to pollen exchange between wild and managed populations are unlikely, and morphological differences would be related with an ongoing process of artificial selection.     

Distribution and effectiveness of nivation in Mediterranean mountains: Peñalara (Spain)

Snow accumulation is responsible for geomorphic and biogeographic processes taking place in the southern sector of the Peñalara massif in central Spain (40°51′N, 3°57′W; max. altitude 2428 m at Pico de Peñalara). This work compares the intensity of nivation on the eastern slope, leeward of the prevailing westerly winds and heavily eroded by glacial activity during the Pleistocene, to that of the western slope on the windward side, unaffected by glacial erosion and completely covered by a thick weathering mantle. On the eastern slope, nivation is effective only where the weathering mantle is exposed or on morainic formations. It does not occur on the landforms derived from glacial erosion. In contrast, the western side shows almost no evidence of snow action except where catastrophic mass movements have altered the regularity of the slope. During the post-glacial epoch, nivation cirques formed in the scars left by mass wasting. In the last 30 years, spring temperatures have increased and this activity has diminished. The pattern of evolution observed at Peñalara can be extrapolated to other Mediterranean mountains with similar characteristics such as marginal glacial activity during the Pleistocene, unconsolidated formations on the summits caused by chemical weathering, and dry, hot summers that can increase the effectiveness of nivation.     

Sand harm in Taklimakan Desert highway and sand control

Reputed as a wonderful achievement of the world's highway construction history, the Taklimakan Desert highway is now facing serious sand drift encroachment problems due to its 447- km-long passage of sand sea consisting of crescent dunes, barchan chains, compound transverse dune ridges and complex megadunes. To solve some technical problems in the protection of the highway from sand drift encroachment, desert experts have been conducting the theoretical and applied studies on sand movement laws; causes, severities and time-space differentiation of sand drift damages; and control ways including mechanical, chemical and biological measures. In this paper the authors give an overall summary on the research contents and recent progress in the control of sand drift damages in China and hold that the theoretical research results and practices in the prevention of sand drift encroachment on the cross-desert highway represent a breakthrough and has an epoch-making significance. Since the construction of protective forest along the cross-desert highway requires large amount of ground water, what will be its environmental consequence and whether it can effectively halt sand drift encroachment on the highway forever are the questions to be studied urgently.     

Microbial production of CO2 in red soil in Stone Forest National Park

Lunan stone forest is a kind of typical karst in China, which is mainly developed under red soil. In the winter of 1999, three study sites were chosen in stone forest national park according to vegetation cover, geomorphologic location and soil types. CO2 concentration was measured with Gastec pump at different depths of soil (20, 40, 60 cm) and at the same time soil samples were gathered and soil properties such as soil moisture, pH, soil organic content were analyzed and the total number of viable microbes were counted in laboratory. In the study, dependent variable was chosen as the mean soil log (PCO2), and soil properties were chosen as the independent variables. Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that the total amount of microbes and soil moisture are the best indicators of the CO2 production, with the equation LOG(PCO2) = - 0.039(TNM) - 0.056(Mo) + 1.215 accounting for 86% of the variation of the soil CO2 concentration, where TNM is the total number of microbes in the soil and Mo is the moisture of soil sample.     

不同浓度Li2SO4水溶液结构的X射线衍射研究

用θ～ 2θ型粉末衍射仪反射法精确测量了不同浓度的Li2 SO4水溶液的衍射数据 ,通过数据处理给出了溶液的结构函数和径向分布函数 ,由几何结构模型的最小二乘法精修 ,得到了溶液中阳离子和阴离子第一、二水合层的结构参数。     

某地平板玻璃原料用石英砂的提纯研究

某地石英矿砂通过磁选分离法、稀酸浸泡法处理后，矿砂不同程度地降低了铁、铝、钙镁的含量；采用磁选分离 稀酸浸泡法联合处理后，使该地石英砂的化学成分达到了优质的生产平板玻璃用硅质原料的国家标准。     

大洋多金属结核中1nm锰矿相的相变及其主要控制因素研究

多金属结核样品在室温中放置或加热干燥后 ,其中的 1nm锰矿相会部分或全部地相变为 0 7nm锰矿相 ,这说明 0 7nm锰矿相可能不是多金属结核的原生锰矿相 ,而仅仅是 1nm锰矿相的相变产物。研究结果表明 :1nm锰矿相结构中的Cu2 + 、Co2 + 、Ni2 + 等金属阳离子的含量与其结构稳定性有正相关关系 ,即金属离子含量越高 ,其结构越稳定 ,1nm锰矿相越不易相变为 0 7nm锰矿相 ,反之亦然 ;另外 ,不同金属阳离子稳定 1nm锰矿相结构的能力也不同 ,结核中几种主要金属阳离子对 1nm锰矿相结构的稳定能力从大到小为 :Ni2 + >Cu2 + >Co2 + >Zn2 + >Ca2 + =Mg2 + 。     

灰色系统理论预测大气氮氧化物污染的应用

根据中国南方某省所辖城市近年来N0x污染指数的测量数据的统计资料，建立了GM(1，1）灰色预测模型，通过预测探讨了大气中氮氧化物指数的变化趋势。所建模型残差仅1．17％，关联系数为0．9067，精度较高，具有较好的可行性和适应性，可以为管理规则提供决策依据。     

光催化氧化法处理难降解废水的研究进展

综述了光催化氧化处理难降解废水的研究现状及发展趋势。介绍了影响光催化氧化反应速率的因素及光催化氧化法在处理难降解废水中的应用。     

四川盆地白垩纪沙漠石英沙颗粒表面特征

石英具有较大的硬度和较高的化学稳定性，因而其颗粒表面特征能很好地反映沉积环境。而通过扫描电镜研究石英颗粒表面微细特征是分析沉积环境行之有效的方法。虽然多数人认为四川盆地白垩纪地层存在沙漠沉积(打儿凼组和夹关组)，但仍有人对沙漠沉积的存在持怀疑态度，并认为是河流成三角洲沉积。过去关于其沉积环境的判别主要是根据沉积结构和构造，并未对其石英沙颗粒表面特征进行过系统分析。笔者对采自四川盆地白垩系不同层位地层的样品进行了石英沙颗粒表面特征系统分析。结果表明，石英沙颗粒表面特征分析可以成功地将石英沙区分为风成和水成沉积。因此，本文从石英沙颗粒表面特征方面进一步肯定了四川盆地白垩纪古沙漠的存在。