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This study investigated the influence of corn straw application on soil microbial communities and the relationship between such communities and soil properties in black soil. The crop used in this study was maize (Zea mays L.). The five treatments consisted of applying a gradient (50, 100, 150, and 200%) of shattered corn straw residue to the soil. Soil samples were taken from May through September during the 2012 maize growing season. The microbial community structure was determined using phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis. Our results revealed that the application of corn straw influenced the soil properties and increased the soil organic carbon and total nitrogen. Applying corn straw to fields also influenced the variation in soil microbial biomass and community composition, which is consistent with the variations found in soil total nitrogen (TN) and soil respiration (SR). However, the soil carbon‐to‐nitrogen ratio had no effect on soil microbial communities. The abundance of PLFAs, TN, and SR was higher in C1.5 than those in other treatments, suggesting that the soil properties and soil microbial community composition were affected positively by the application of corn straw to black soil. A Principal Component Analysis indicated that soil microbial communities were different in the straw decomposition processes. Moreover, the soil microbial communities from C1.5 were significantly different from those of CK (p < 0.05). We also found a high ratio of fungal‐to‐bacterial PLFAs in black soil and significant variations in the ratio of monounsaturated‐to‐branched fatty acids with different straw treatments that correlated with SR (p < 0.05). These results indicated that the application of corn straw positively influences soil properties and soil microbial communities and that these properties affect these communities. The individual PLFA signatures were sensitive indicators that reflected the changes in the soil environment condition.

Under the framework of the DAISIE consortium, whose main mission is to make an inventory of the alien invasive species of Europe and its islands, we review the current state of knowledge and provide an up-to-date catalogue and distributional status for alien seed beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) in Europe. This work is based on studies of the species detected from the last century to the present, but with greater emphasis on the beginning of the 21st century, during which new biological studies have been carried out and findings made in European countries. The main objective of this paper is to focus on this last fact, which has promoted new views on the existing and potential threat of exotic bruchids in relation to climate change. This must now be regarded as a matter of concern for European agricultural and environmental policies. Only species of exotic origin introduced in European regions outside their native range were considered. Therefore, species of European origin spreading to new countries within Europe are not treated. Also, we provide a new approach to classifying alien seed beetle species according to their ability to become established, distinguishing between the well-established and those that may appear in seed stores but are not capable of invading natural and agricultural ecosystems. We present a taxonomic characterization of the alien bruchids found in Europe, providing an illustrated key based on external morphological characters of adults. The key facilitates the identification of the sixteen most frequently recorded genera, which represent 37 of the 42 species of exotic species recorded in Europe up to the present, whether established, not established or occasional. Finally, we provide a summary of the state of knowledge of the taxonomy and biology of the 20 most worrying species as pests, both established and non-established. This includes, where appropriate, an illustrated key for the identification of species. The study reveals that the majority of exotic bruchid species in Europe originate in Asia and Africa, from host plant species imported for ornamental or forestry purposes, and that a greater effort in European customs control is advisable.

The antibacterial composite chitosan/poly(vinyl pyrrolidone)/Ag/Fe3O4 was prepared to treat drinking water. The results show that the optimal conditions for preparing composite with the best antibacterial activity are C(AgNO3) = 0.8%, C(chitosan) = 1.5%, C(poly(vinyl pyrrolidone)) = 2%, and C(Fe3O4) = 2.5%. The FT‐IR spectrum suggests that hydrogen bands are formed between acetyl in PVP and hydroxyl in chitosan. The NH and OH groups of the chitosan have some interactions with silver nano‐particles. The SEM and XRD data show that Ag (I) is reduced to metal Ag nanoparticles. Vibrating sample magnetometer testing indicated that the composites have excellent magnetic performance. Their utility in storing drinking water shows that this composite is a safe and durable durative antibacterial. The composite has good antibacterial activity in water. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 36: 1067–1073, 2017

In this paper, we report for the first time that Candida melibiosica 2491 yeast strain expresses enhanced phytase activity when used as a biocatalyst in biofuel cells. The polarization also results in an increase of the yeast biomass. Higher steady-state electrical outputs, assigned to earlier production of an endogenous mediator, were achieved at continuous polarization under constant load. The obtained results prove that the C. melibiosica yeast-based biofuel cell could be used for simultaneous electricity generation and phytate bioremediation. In addition, the higher phytase activity obtained by interruptive polarization suggests a new method for increasing the phytase yield from microorganisms.

The mechanism of anionic pollutant removal in an ion exchange membrane bioreactor (IEMB) was studied for drinking water denitrification. This hybrid process combines continuous ion exchange transport (Donnan dialysis) of nitrate and its simultaneous bioreduction to gaseous nitrogen. A nonporous mono-anion permselective membrane precludes direct contact between the polluted water and the denitrifying culture and prevents secondary pollution of the treated water with dissolved nutrients and metabolic products. Complete denitrification may be achieved without accumulation of NO3(-) and NO2(-) ions in the biocompartment. Focus was given to the effect of the concentration of co-ions, counterions, and ethanol on the IEMB performance. The nitrate overall mass transfer coefficient in this hybrid process was found to be 2.8 times higher compared to that in a pure Donnan dialysis process without denitrification. Furthermore, by adjusting the ratio of co-ions between the biocompartment and the polluted water compartment, the magnitude and direction of each individual anion flux can be easily regulated, allowing for flexible process operation and control. Synthetic groundwater containing 135-350 mg NO3(-) L(-1) was treated in the IEMB system. A surface denitrification rate of 33 g NO3(-) per square meter of membrane per day was obtained at a nitrate loading rate of 360 g NO3(-) m(-3)d(-1), resulting in a nitrate removal efficiency of 85%.

Large-scale revegetation practices have lasted approximately two decades in the agro-pastoral ecotone of northern China (AENC), and their impacts on hydrological and ecological effects remain poorly understood. Previous studies largely focused on assessing water yield service (WYs) based on several fixed time points, whereas time series information-continuous WYs dynamics were more reliable and valuable in decision-making about water sustainability goals. This study analyzed the interannual WYs trend and relative roles of its drivers in the last 20 years based on a newly proposed approach, and revealed the past, present and future impacts of revegetation on WYs. The final results indicated that the annual WYs averaged approximately 97 mm and exhibited an increasing trend of 1.96 mm year-1 (p = 0.086) during 2000-2019, in which climate and land-use changes were responsible for 88% and 12% of WYs variations, respectively. From 2000 to 2019, WYs was pronouncedly 1.47 mm year-1 (p = 0.119) lower in the afforestation area than in the nonafforestation area, but the precipitation in the two regions had a statistically insignificant difference (p = 0.97). Future revegetation scenarios showed great potential for the shrinkage of WYs provision, even approaching a maximum of 50 mm at a local scale. Even so, the afforestation-induced reductions in blue water and benefits in green water both should receive equal attention. Specifically, any attempts to assess WYs or other climate-driven ecosystem services using discontinuous years as the study period must be taken with extreme caution.

The results of the studies within the framework of the international expedition onboard R/V Vladimir Parshin in September–October 2005 are presented. Intensive development of Bacillariophyceae and Dynophyceae was recorded in the coastal waters of Bulgaria, Turkey, and in the Danube River Delta during the period of the investigations. The increase in the algae population was accompanied by rising of the Chlorophyll a concentration up to 2.0–5.5 mg m−3. In the deep water region, it did not exceed 0.54 mg m−3. The phytoplankton growth rate in the surface water layer varied from 0.1 to 1.0 day−1. The phytoplankton growth rate and NO2+NO3 concentration, as well as the silicon concentration, were correlative, as was described by the Michaelis-Menten equation. The phytoplankton growth was affected by the integral impact of basic nutrients. The zooplankton grazing varied from 0.10 to 0.69 day−1, and the average values in different regions may vary by 1.5 times. The microalgae size range is one of the major factors of the grazing regulation. The rate of the phytoplankton consumption was decreasing according the increasing of the largest diatom Pseudosolenia calcaravis impact on the total biomass of the nano- and microphytoplankton.

In this research, sawdust was modified with chemical reagents to produce an adsorbent from byproduct, namely, Al‐based nanoparticle‐impregnated sawdust (ANIS) to remove arsenate [As(V)] from aqueous solutions. Several methods, including scanning electron microscopy with an energy‐dispersive spectrometry, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis, were performed to characterize this material. Results showed that Al‐based nanoparticles were successfully impregnated in the sawdust and thus significantly changed their surface characteristics. Batch adsorption studies were conducted to determine the properties and mechanisms of As(V) adsorption onto ANIS. The maximum adsorption capacity of As(V) was 17.76 mg/g, which was higher than that of most adsorbents from byproducts. However, the adsorption of As(V) was adversely affected by alkaline conditions. Some interfering anions, especially phosphate, inhibited the ANIS‐induced As(V) removal. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy suggested that the oxygen‐containing functional groups of Al oxides were the main contributors to As(V) adsorption, and the main adsorption mechanism was surface complexation. Approximately 2664 bed volumes of simulated groundwater containing 150 µg/L As(V) were treated before a breakthrough was observed in the small‐scale column experiments. Thus, ANIS could be an efficient material for As(V) removal. This study indicated that ANIS can be used as a reliable option for As decontamination. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 36: 1314–1322, 2017