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In August 2017, severe powdery mildew was observed on Potentilla indica in Minhe, Qinghai province, China. The identification of fungal species was performed by morphological study using an optical microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM), supplemented by sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA. Based on a combination of morphology, ITS sequence, and host, the powdery mildew on Potentilla indica was identified as Erysiphe thuemenii, a species belonging to the E. aquilegiae complex. This is the first report of E. thuemenii causing powdery mildew on a new host species, P. indica, in China and also worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The origin of dolostones from the Lei 4 Member (T2l4) of the Middle Triassic Leikoupo Formation in the Western Sichuan Depression is unclear. The occurrence and genetic evolution of dolostones in T2l4 were analysed by polarised thin-sections and cathodoluminescence, major- and trace-element, scanning electron microscope, and carbon, oxygen and strontium isotope analyses. The study results are summarised as follows. (1) The dolostones were mainly precipitated in three stages of <40 °C, 40–60 °C and 60–80 °C, corresponding with three paleodepth ranges of 167–300 m, 433–1000 m and 1067–1433 m. The micritic dolostones and the fabric-retentive dolostones (algal dolostone, granular dolostone) mainly formed in a near-surface–shallow-burial environment, and the crystalline dolostones were mainly formed under intermediate burial conditions. (2) 87Sr/86Sr ratios are equivalent to that of the Middle Triassic seawater, Sr/Ba and V/Ni ratios >1, Na notably higher than that in coexisting limestones of T2l4, and the dolostones always coexist with evaporative minerals such as gypsum, indicating that dolomitisation fluids mainly originated from evaporative concentrated seawater. (3) The dolostones mainly inherit materials from precursor limestones based on trace-element distribution patterns, and carbon and oxygen isotope values that are consistent with coexisting limestones of T2l4. (4) Mediated by micro-organisms during the syngenetic period, micritic dolostones and some algal dolostones were formed by replacing aragonites and calcites. During shallow burial, concentrated seawater rich in Mg2+ from the supratidal–intertidal zone flowed downward owing to gravity along the platform and replaced the underlying carbonate rocks, promoting continuous growth of the early dolomites. In the intermediate burial period, the Mg2+-depleted dolomitisation fluid caused the early micritic and silt-crystalline dolostones to recrystallise into silt- or fine-crystalline dolostones with larger crystals and altered the fabric-retentive dolostones into crystalline dolostones. (5) The evaporative dolostones deposited in the near-surface environment are characterised by maximal enrichment of Fe, Sr and Na, the highest δ18O values, the lowest order degree and the highest Ca/Mg ratios. The reflux dolostones formed in a shallow-burial environment characterised by the lowest Fe, medium δ18O values and the lowest order degree. The burial dolostones that developed in the intermediate burial environment are characterised by relative enrichment of Fe and Mn, minimal Na, the lowest δ18O values, the highest order degree and medium Ca/Mg ratios. The fabric-retentive dolostones mainly formed in a near-surface–shallow-burial environment, and the crystalline dolostones mainly formed under intermediate burial conditions. Dolomitisation fluids mainly originated from the evaporative concentrated seawater, and the dolostones inherit materials from the precursor limestones. Micritic dolostones were formed by evaporative dolomitisation; algal dolostone and granular dolostone were formed by evaporative dolomitisation and reflux dolomitisation; and silt-crystalline dolostone were formed by reflux dolomitisation and burial dolomitisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atmospheric heavy metals are seriously harmful, and porous materials have unique advantages in the control of air pollutants. However, the direct use of plant porous materials to purify atmospheric heavy metals are rare. So agricultural waste corn silk with porous structures was selected to analyze the retention capability and mechanism to the atmospheric lead. The results show that the corn silk can effectively retain atmospheric lead in natural growing state or fixed experimental conditions. The analysis of a total of 765 corn silk samples from 17 different regions in Shandong province, China, shows that atmospheric lead is the main source of lead in the corn silk, and corn silk can be used for biological monitoring of atmospheric lead to some extent. Based on the analysis with different techniques including scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy spectrum dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS), Fourier infrared spectrometer (FTIR) and Zeta potential, the effective retention of lead by corn silk is due to a variety of mechanisms, including physical adsorption, electrostatic adsorption, complexation, chelation and ion exchange. So agricultural waste corn silk has great potential in the application of biosorption or preparation of porous materials in purification of atmospheric heavy metals. (1) Atmospheric lead is the main source of lead in the corn silk based on the analysis of a total of 765 corn silk samples from 17 different regions in Shandong province, China. (2) The pore diameter in the corn silk is 1.62–3.51 μm, suitable for lead retention, and the functional groups –OH, –COOH and –O– of the corn silk play a vital role in the lead retention process. (3) The potential value of agricultural waste corn silk was firstly revealed in the purification of atmospheric heavy metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the microscopic mechanism underpinning the dynamic characteristics of saturated loess, dynamic triaxial tests were conducted on saturated loess in Xianyang City, China. The tests were performed under dynamic loads of different waveforms, confining pressures, frequencies and amplitudes. Under each dynamic load, the test included two states: one stopped after 12 loading cycles, and the other is to vibrate to the failure state. Furthermore, a scanning electron microscope test was carried out on the undisturbed samples and the sheared dynamic triaxial samples. In this paper, the dynamic elastic modulus of samples is used to represent the dynamic characteristics, and parameters such as the diameter, average abundance, average fractal dimension, and directional probability entropy of the structural units and pores are selected to describe the microstructural characteristics of samples. The results show that the dynamic elastic modulus of samples decreases with increasing number of loading cycles or axial strain and finally stabilises when different types of dynamic loads are applied. The types of dynamic loads exert a significant influence on the microstructural parameters of structural units and pores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Yellow River Delta is one of the most abundant offshore energy areas in China, and the construction of offshore projects is rapidly developing. In this paper, four typical regions of the Yellow River Delta in different periods were selected as research objects. In-situ cone penetration tests (CPTs), geotechnical testing, electron microscope scanning testing, and soil type indexing (Ic) was used to classify and identify the soil layers. At the same time, a modified calculation model based on CPT for the shear wave velocity of fine-grained seabed soil was sought and verified with the measured values. The results showed that: (1) the obtained soil layers are mainly classified by clay and silty soil, which is in line with the conclusions of previous scholars on the classification of the Yellow River Delta soil layer. (2) The measured shear wave velocity is generally between 100 m/s and 250 m/s, and it gradually increases with depth. (3) The depth, cone resistance, and soil behavior index are directly related to the calculation of the shear wave velocity in this area. (4) Discrete analysis of measured and calculated shear wave velocity provides theoretical support for the change of shear wave velocity under different conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smithiomyces is reported for the first time from tropical regions in China, thus expanding its known native geographic range from the Neotropics to tropical Asia. Phylogenetic evidence from four nuclear loci supports the monophyly of Smithiomyces and a close evolutionary relationship with the nonmonophyletic genera Melanophyllum and Cystolepiota in the Agaricaceae. Detailed morphological descriptions are provided for three newly described species from China: S. asiaticus, S. heterosporus, and S. lepiotoides. Illustrations of fresh basidiomata in the field, line drawings of key anatomical features, microscopic images of anatomical features, scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of basidiospores, and a key to known species of Smithiomyces are also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new species of Hannaea Patrick from the Hengduan Mountains in China are formally described herein, based on light and scanning electron microscope observations. Hannaea yalaensis sp. nov. has three continuous inflations along the ventral margin, resulting in an undulate outline compared to the outline of the most commonly reported Hannaea species. The valve of Hannaea hengduanensis sp. nov. is narrower, asymmetrical about the apical axis with capitate apices, dorsal and ventral sides almost parallel. On the ventral side of valve is an unornamented central area. The valve of Hannaea clavata sp. nov. is clavate. Valve margin is straight or slightly curved. The apices of the valve constrict sharply to form the capitate ends. In addition, we also briefly described other Hannaea from this region. Here, we document the morphologies of these new species and discuss the biogeographic distribution of the genus Hannaea in Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present light and scanning electron microscope observations on a new species of the diatom genus Sellaphora, Sellaphora wangii Y.Liu & Kociolek, sp. nov., described from Hainan Island, China. This species has a raised conopeum with an axial groove or trough on either side of the axial area containing striae extending into the trough, and round depressions (i.e. pits) on the valve mantle at both apices. Our new species is distinctive and separated from other Sellaphora taxa by a unique combination of features that includes its valve outline, undulate raphe, and bow-tie shaped hymenes of the internal areola openings. The uncertainty and dynamic nature of the classification of Sellaphora prompted a review of the ultrastructural features found in species assigned to the genus. Based on this review, we identify four distinct groups of Sellaphora taxa organized by different combinations of ultrastructural features: stria structure, external and internal openings of the areolae, conopeum, polar bars, and apical pits. Based on the features present in our new species, it would be placed in the group that includes S. pupula, the generitype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate pore networks of the lower Cambrian Niutitang Shale in the Cen-gong Block, multiple techniques, including geochemical analysis, low-pressure gas (CO2 and N2) adsorption, mercury intrusion capillary porosimetry (MICP) and field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), were performed to investigate pore structure, including pore-size distribution (PSD), pore volume and surface area of black organic-rich shales from two wells to better understand the mechanism of shale-gas accumulation. Geochemical analysis shows that equivalent vitrinite reflectance ranges from 2.1 to 3.5% and are overmature. Surface areas and pore volumes of micropores calculated from CO2 adsorption, which vary from 8.23 to 37.39 m2/g and from 3.06  10−3 to 10.89  10−3 cm3/g, respectively, can provide large amounts of adsorptive sites for shale-gas accumulation. N2 adsorption shows reversed S-shaped isotherms, which are classified into type H2 and H3 hysteresis loops, indicative of ink-bottle pores and slit-or plate-like pores. N2 adsorption and MICP analysis indicates that the inorganic-associated pores in shales may play a significant role in the storage and production of hydrocarbons. High-resolution FE-SEM analysis suggests that OM pores (OMPs) are common in Niutitang samples with a dominant diameter less 50 nm, but a sample with the highest total organic carbon (TOC) of 10.01 wt% has few OMPs, whereas a sample with the TOC of 7.51 wt% has more OMPs. The percentage of OMP area vs total organic matter area (Øs) ranges from 1.70 to 7.92%. The pore structure characteristics of TX1 well, calculated by multiple techniques, are better than samples from TM1 well. In addition, pore types are dominated by interparticle, intraparticle and organic matter pores, and the minor amounts of OMPs in TM1 well indicates that most of the organic matter may have lost the potential to generate hydrocarbons owing to the release of formation pressure with some graphitisation and high-angle fractures larger in the TX1 well. TOC content, mineral composition and tectonically related thermal maturity may be the main controlling factors of the pore structure and the lower Cambrian Niutitang Shale demonstrates the greatest potential for shale-gas production in South China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the light of recent archaeological finds in China, a jade and gold pectoral in the collection of the Freer Gallery of Art, dating to the Eastern Zhou dynasty, was examined to determine if its present configuration is correct. The pectoral consists of 10 jades attached to a linked gold chain, and is thought to come from the Eastern Zhou site of Jincun, near Luoyang, Henan Province, China. All 10 jades were found to have similar soil encrustations and similar major and minor elemental composition, as determined by X-ray fluorescence analysis. However, a scanning electron microscope (SEM) study of the gold wires attaching the jades to the gold chain showed that four different types of wire were used. The Freer pectoral was found to be a reconfiguration of genuine jades on the gold chain, probably effected shortly after excavation in the late 1920s. The Freer pectoral was compared to another jade-and-gold necklace, also thought to be from the Eastern Zhou site of Jincun. The necklaces have different styles of chain, but both could have been made in China or the Western Steppes region in antiquity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]