Levels of Metabolic Enzymes and Nitrogenous Compounds in the Swimming Crab Portunus trituberculatus Exposed to Elevated Ambient Ammonia-N

This study investigated the effects of ammonia-N(control and 1 and 5 mg L~(-1)) on the changes of metabolic enzymes activities and nitrogenous compounds levels in the gills, hepatopancreas, muscles, and hemolymph of the swimming crab Portunus trituberculatus. Results showed that the levels of hemolymph ammonia increased significantly at 6 h and then decreased to control level at 12 h. The activities of key enzymes involved in biosynthesis pathways of glutamine(Gln) and urea, such as glutamate dehydrogenase(GDH), glutamine synthetase(GS), and arginase(ARG), increased remarkably in different tissues of P. trituberculatus. Gln level was the highest in muscles, while urea content was the largest in hepatopancreas. The m RNA expression level of xanthine dehydrogenase(XDH) was downregulated sharply in gills but upregulated in the hepatopancreas and muscles. A small amount of uric acid was detected in the hemolymph. This result suggests that Gln in muscles may be used as an intermediary nitrogen repository, while urea may be primarily synthesized in the hepatopancreas and then transferred to other tissues via the hemolymph. Uric acid could be synthesized by the anabolism of purine nucleotides, in additon to the inhibitory activities of gills. In addition, the levels of Gln, urea and uric acid exhibited dose-and time-dependent effects with ammonia content. Therefore, P. trituberculatus could possibly convert ammonia into Gln, urea, or uric acid to detoxify ammonia during high ambient ammonia-N stress.     

An approach to mass movements in the Jiuzhaigou catchment

This paper presents a preliminary study of the main types, features, genesis, and countermeasures of mass movements in the Jiuzhaigou catchment, which is one of the most scenic regions in China. The main features are debris flows, rock-segment flows, landslides, and avalanches. Rough relief, fractured rocks, drifts, steep slopes, intensive rainstorms, and earthquakes produced their geneses. Countermeasures should include the integration of engineering and biological projects.     

A New Categorization of Types of Slope Collapse in Mountain Areas

Regarding the collapse of a special type of soil erosion in mountain areas. Studying its types, processes and stages can provide a scientific basis for prediction. Collapses can be classified into three types, natural, man-made and compound, and each type can be subdivided into four kinds, break-falling, pull-splitting, toppling and slipping. The processes of collapse are creep-deformation, deformation-development and break-out. The second one is subdivided into two periods, the gentle and intense.     

渝东平行岭谷区土壤的蠕移灾害及防治措施

渝东平行岭谷区土壤的蠕移,主要发生在侏罗系中自统自流井组（Ｊ１－２ｚ）地层中,在水体和重力作用下,风化岩层和上覆土层沿斜坡缓慢向下蠕移,对农地,民房及水利设备等产生严重破坏。分析测定表明研究区的粘性岩土被为低膨胀性粘性土,粘接矿物以高岭石为主,蒙脱石为次,化学成分以ＳｉＯ２胶粒含量最高,最后提出建筑物的地基处理和湿度指标控制,农田基本建设采用区域环境绿化增强土壤排水能力等方面的防治措施。     

Cause investigation of ground sliding during tunneling in sloping and stratified stratum

Natural Hazards - This paper presents a case study of investigating the cause of ground sliding during tunneling in the mountain with sloping and stratified stratum, which is implemented by field...