Atmospheric dustfall exhibits consistent sedimentary sorting with height evidenced by grain size characteristics.

The grain size of aeolian deposits is a key property to understanding their sedimentary sorting characteristics, which determine the sedimentary dynamics of an airflow field. Although atmospheric dust sedimentary sorting processes are understood well in the horizontal direction, those in the vertical direction and their influencing factors remain unclear. Herein, modern atmospheric dustfall was collected using dust traps at heights of 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 m to reveal its sedimentary sorting characteristics.

Abrupt climatic shift at ~4000 cal. yr B.P. and late Holocene climatic instability in arid Central Asia: Evidence from Lop Nur saline lake in Xinjiang, China.

Although the trends and driving mechanisms of Holocene climate change in arid Central Asia (ACA) on various timescales have attracted much research interest over the past few decades, a major question remains regarding whether the changes were gradual or abrupt. We reconstructed the pattern of Holocene climate change at Lop Nur saline lake in northwestern China, ACA, using multiple climatic proxies (grain size, TOC, sediment color, and magnetic properties). The results demonstrate that the Holocene climatic pattern in the Lop Nur region during the past 8400 years can be divided into two distinct stages, with the boundary dated to ~4000 cal.

Similar effects as shade tolerance induced by dust accumulation and size penetration of particulates on cotton leaves.

Background: Dust accumulation covers the leaf's surface and influences foliar physiological activity. Two independent experiments were carried out to instigate the foliar responses to dust accumulation and the penetration limitation of small dust particles (< 1 μm) on the foliar surface, respectively. In experiment I, three dust accumulation intensities were achieved by a dust spraying treatment.

Transport of airborne pollen on the northern slope of Tianshan Mountains (Xinjiang, China) and its implication for paleoenvironmental reconstruction.

The understanding of airborne pollen transportation is crucial for the reconstruction of the paleoenvironment. Under favorable conditions, a considerable amount of long-distance-transported pollen can be deposited far from its place of origin. In extreme arid regions, in most cases, such situations occur and increase the difficulty to interpret fossil pollen records.

[Changes and analysis of soil quality under different land use types in oasis rim].

The aggravation process of oasisization leads to changes of land use type in oasis rim. In order to discuss the effects of different land use types on soil properties and soil quality, the four land use types located Cele oasis rim in south margin of Tarim Basin, which are the cotton field, orchard, and Caligonum mongolicum Turcz land use type reclaimed by people and nature state land use type covered by Alhagi sparsifolia SHAP, were selected as study object. The relative soil quality index (RI) and the soil quality synthesis index (SQI) were used to analyse the changes of soil quality between four land use types within 0-20 cm, 2040 cm, 40-60 cm soil depth, respectively.

Complexation between Hg(II) and biofilm extracellular polymeric substances: an application of fluorescence spectroscopy.

The three-dimensional excitation emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy was employed to investigate the interaction of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) from natural biofilm with Hg(II). The EEM spectra demonstrated that EPS with molecular weight over 14 kDa had two protein-like fluorescence peaks. The fluorescence intensity at both peaks was strongly dependent on the solution pH in the absence and presence of Hg(II), with the maximal fluorescence intensity at neutral pH.

[Assessment of farmland soil quality under different utilization intensity in arid area].

Based on the 2005-2007 experimental data in Cele oasis in the southern margin of Tarim Basin of Xinjiang, the soil quality of four typical types of farmland with different utilization intensity, i.e., farmland with high input, farmland with normal input, newly reclaimed farmland, and farmland in oasis' interior, was analyzed and assessed by using sustainable yield index, soil improvement index, and soil quality synthesis index.

EFFECT OF CHROMIUM(VI) ON PHOTOSYSTEM II ACTIVITY AND HETEROGENEITY OF SYNECHOCYSTIS SP. (CYANOPHYTA): STUDIED WITH IN VIVO CHLOROPHYLL FLUORESCENCE TESTS(1).

The inhibitory effect of Cr(VI) on the PSII of Synechocystis sp. was studied. Cr(VI) reduced O2 evolution and inhibited the water-splitting system in PSII.

Toxic effects of amoxicillin on the photosystem II of Synechocystis sp. characterized by a variety of in vivo chlorophyll fluorescence tests.

Amoxicillin is one of the widely used antibiotics of environmental concern. This study shows that amoxicillin has toxic effects on the photosynthesis of Synechocystis sp. Its inhibitory effects on photosystem II (PSII) of Synechocystis sp.