Sarcodia suae modulates the immunity and disease resistance of white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei against Vibrio alginolyticus via the purine metabolism and phenylalanine metabolism.

Red seaweeds have several biofunctional properties, including immunomodulatory, antitumor, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities. In this study, we examined the effects of diets containing Sarcodia suae on the immune response, immune-related gene expressions, and disease resistance against Vibrio alginolyticus in white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei. In addition, 1H NMR metabolomics was applied to analyze the metabolites extracted from shrimp fed with S. suae and their functions in regulating immunity. A diet containing only fish meal was used as the control diet (S0), and three diets containing different concentrations of S. suae powder, 2.5% (S2.5), 5% (S5), and 7.5% (S7.5) were used as experimental diets. Shrimp were fed diets for 20 days. Compared to the control group (S0), results showed that (1) shrimp fed diets supplemented with 5-7.5% of S. suae powder significantly increased anti-V. alginolyticus activity; (2) phagocytic activity (PA) increased in all shrimp fed with S. suae, but total haemocyte count (THC) only increased in S7.5 group; and (3) the expression of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in haemocyte were significantly higher in S7.5 groups. Results from the 1H NMR analysis revealed that 19 heapatopancreatic metabolites were matched and identified among groups. Based on the KEGG enrichment analysis, the up-regulated metabolites in the shrimp fed S5 and S7.5 diets were primarily due to the metabolism of purine and phenylalanine and their respective pathways. Results from these trials reveal that diets containing S. suae can increase immune response, thereby increasing shrimp resistance to V. alginolyticus. The purine and phenylalanine metabolic pathways may be considered as the relevant pathways for optimizing immunomodulatory responses.

[Sensitivity Study of Aerosol Properties from Observation of Atmospheric Ring Effect].

Ring effect is defined as the phenomenon that the depth of solar Fraunhofer lines in scattered light is less than those observed in direct sunlight. The aerosol could change the light path and the scattering properties in the atmospheric, and influence Raman Scattering Possibility of the photons, and finally affect the filling-up effect. Aerosol parameters (aerosol optical depth, boundary layer height, single scattering albedo, asymmetric factor) could be obtained by observation of the Ring effect in different aerosol condition. The Ring effect is measured by ground-based MAX-DOAS instrument under clear days and the measurement results is compared with McAritim results. The comparison has a good agreement. Radiation transfer model McArtim is used to study the sensitivity of the Ring effect to the aerosol parameters. The study shows that in most conditions, aerosol optical depth (AOD) and boundary layer (bh) height has a great influence to RSP, and in 90 degree elevation angle, RSP has a decrease of 24.6% when AOD varies from 0.1 to 1, and a decrease of 4.4% when bh varies from 1km to 3 km. The study shows RSP is more sensitive to AOD and boundary layer height, which may provide a new method for aerosol profile.

[Retrieval of NO2 total vertical columns by direct-sun differential optical absorption spectroscopy].

An appropriate reference spectrum is essential for the direct-sun differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DS-DOAS). It depends on the real reference spectrum to retrieve the total vertical column density (VCD). The spectrum detected at the time with minimum sun zenith angle under the relative clear atmospheric condition in the measurement period was conventionally selected as the reference spectrum. Because there is still untracked NO2 absorption structure in the reference spectrum, the VCD retrieved based on the above spectrum is actually relative VCD, which results in larger error. To solve this problem, a new method was investigated. A convolution of extraterrestrial high-precision solar Fraunhofer spectrum and the instrumental function of the spectrometer was computed and chosen as the reference spectrum. The error induced by NO2 absorption structure in the reference spectrum was removed. Then the fitting error of slant column density (SCD) retrieved by this method was analyzed. The correlation between the absolute SCD and the differential slant column density (dSCD) was calculated. The result shows that the error of SCD retrieved by this new method is below 1.6 x 10(16) molecules x cm(-2) on March 7, 2011, while the error generated by the normal method is about 4.25 x 10(16) molecules x cm(-2). The new method decreased more than 62% error. In addition, the results throughout the day were compared to the troposphere VCD from MAX-DOAS and they are in good agreement. It indicates that the new method could effectively reduce the VCD error of the common way.

Highly selective extraction of uranium from wastewater using amine-bridged diacetamide-functionalized silica.

A major environmental concern related to nuclear energy is wastewater contaminated with uranium, thus necessitating the development of pollutant-reducing materials with efficiency and effectiveness. Herein, highly selective mesoporous silicas functionalized with amine-bridged diacetamide ligands SBA-15-ABDMA were prepared. Different spectroscopy techniques were used to probe the chemical environment and reactivity of the chelating ligands before and after sorption. The results showed that the functionalized SBA-15-ABDMA had a strong affinity for uranium at low pH (pH = 3) with desirable sorption capacity (68.82 mg/g) and good reusability (> 5). It showed excellent separation performance with a high distribution coefficient (Kd,U > 105 mL/g) and separation factors SFU/Ln > 1000 at a pH of 3.5 in the presence of lanthanide nuclides, alkaline earth metal and transition metal ions. In particular, SiO2spheres-ABDMA was used as a column material, which achieved excellent recovery of U(VI) (> 98%) and good reusability for samples of simulated mining and nuclear industries wastewater. XPS and crystallography studies clearly illustrated the tridentate coordination mode of U(VI)/PEABDMA and the mechanism and origin behind the high selectivity for U.

[Studies on the remote measurement of the distribution of city gaseous pollutant by mobile passive differential optical absorption spectroscopy].

An optical remote sensing method based on passive differential optical absorption spectroscopy for the measurement of the distribution of city gaseous pollutant was studied. The passive DOAS system, which was installed in a car, successively measures the interested area (such as city, industrial area) and the column density was obtained by DOAS fitting process using the zenith scattered sunlight. The mobile DOAS was applied to measurement in Shenzhen City during the continuous six days and got the distribution of SO2, NO2 in this paper. It showed that the pollution in the west is higher than in the east. The average concentration in the west is 2.0 times higher than the eastern for SO2 and 3.6 times for NO2. And comparison of the values between mobile DOAS and the point instrument was carried out in Baguang site. There was an agreement between the two instruments, the correlation coefficient was 0.86 for SO2, while 0.57 for NO2. The results indicate that this optical remote sensing method based on passive DOAS is an effective means of rapidly determining the distribution of city gaseous pollutant.

[Atmospheric HCHO gradient monitoring and analysis in Beijing City with a scanning DOAS system].

Scanning differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS) technique combined with meteorological tower was used for monitoring vertical profiles of SO2, NO2, O3, HCHO and HONO along three light paths in Beijing City during July 28, 2009 to August 13, 2009. As a result, the time series of concentrations and vertical gradient of HCHO as well as other gases were acquired. By analyzing the vertical distribution frequency characteristics of HCHO, data of other gases and meteorological data, it was concluded that the main source of HCHO is vehicles emissions around the measurement site. The photochemical reaction as the secondary source accounts for a significant proportion of the source of HCHO at certain times of day (around noon, for a few hours).

[Studies on the remote measurement of the emission of formaldehyde by mobile differential optical absorption spectroscopy].

Formaldehyde (HCHO) is the most abundant carbonyl compounds that play an important role in atmospheric chemistry and photochemical reactions. Formaldehyde is an important indicator of atmospheric reactivity and urban atmospheric aerosol precursors. In the present paper, the emission of formaldehyde from chemical area was measured using the mobile differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS). This instrument uses the zenith scattered sunlight as the light source with successful sampling in the area loop. Vertical column density was retrieved by this system, combined with the meteorological wind field and car speed information, the emission of formaldehyde in the area was estimated. The authors carried out the measuring experiment in one chemical plant in Beijing using this technology. The result showed that the average value of the flux of formaldehyde in this area was 605 kg x h(-1) during the measuring period.

Docosahexaenoic acid is superior to eicosapentaenoic acid as the essential fatty acid for growth of grouper, Epinephelus malabaricus.

Juvenile grouper (Epinephelus malabaricus) were fed seven experimental diets, one control diet and one reference diet for 12 wk to determine the dietary requirement of grouper for docosahexaenoic (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic (EPA) acids. Each of the seven diets contained 1 g/100 g DHA and EPA in various combinations and 9 g/100 g tristearin. The control diet contained 1 g/100 g trilinolenin and trilinolein (3:1, wt/wt), and no supplemental EPA or DHA. The reference diet contained only natural oils from a mixture of cod liver oil, linseed oil and safflower oil at a ratio of 2:1:1 (wt/wt/wt). Significant differences (P < 0.05) in growth were observed among the dietary treatments but not in survival rate or relative liver weight. Only the diet with the highest DHA/EPA ratio (3:1) promoted significantly greater growth than the control diet. Purified EPA and DHA did not perform better in promoting growth than did the impure EPA and DHA oils. Enhanced growth was observed when the dietary DHA/EPA ratio was greater than 1, indicating that DHA was superior to EPA in promoting fish growth. Neutral lipid (NL) was the predominant lipid fraction (>70%) in both liver and muscle. Tissue NL/polar lipid did not differ among groups except the reference diet group that had a higher ratio (P < 0.05). DHA and EPA levels in the grouper tissues, especially muscle, were highly reflective of dietary levels of DHA and EPA, indicating that direct incorporation was likely. In addition, the 20:1(n-9), concentration in NL fractions seems to be an appropriate indicator of dietary essential fatty acid deficiency in grouper.