A method for analyzing water toxicity, the method including: exposure experiment, sample collection, transcriptome detection, metabolome detection, screening of differentially expressed genes, screening of differentially expressed metabolites, and identification of commonly changed biological pathways in both the transcriptome and the metabolome.

Disclosed is an enhancement of a carbon sequestration process and method for calculating the quantity of atmospheric carbon sequestration manifested by enhanced oceanic photosynthetic productivity through the process of Iron fertilization. This method and process comprises (1) defining a project boundary, (2) obtaining certain baseline measurements, metrics and observations within and beyond the project boundary, (3) applying an Iron compound within the project boundary to enhance photosynthesis, (4) obtaining certain measurements, metrics and observations within and adjacent to the project boundary prior to and after the introduction of Iron compound and last, (5) applying a method based on the measurements from steps 2 and 4 to determine the net quantity of atmospheric carbon that is sequestered.

Disclosed is a method for constructing a sensory space of an individual, including: the individual performing a sensory evaluation with at least 4 basic stimuli representative of the sense to be studied, the stimuli having an intensity (or power or level) lower than or in the vicinity of the detection threshold of the sense to be studied; recording signals relating to at least one physiological indicator having reacted during the stimuli; extracting physiological parameters from the recorded signals of the at least one physiological indicator; identifying physiological parameters differentiating the physiological responses; constructing a sensory space based on the physiological responses (PRSS) from the identified differentiating physiological parameters by statistical treatment.

Provided is a small and simple automatic water quality surveillance apparatus that can automatically sense toxic substances, oil, mold, or the like contained in raw water. The apparatus includes an odor-sensing water tank through which the raw water circulates. The tank further includes an odor sensor sensing an odor, such as an oily odor, a mold odor, and so on. Upon having sensed the toxic substances, oil, mold, or the like, an alarm is automatically issued thereby.

A method and system for enabling the determination of kinetic rates within a fluid of interest including directing fluid flow exiting a test bed to a multi-port switching valve. The multi-port switching valve to switches the fluid to a number of channels connected to in in-flow extraction cartridge. Analytes of interest from the fluid flow our concentrated and captured on an extraction medium. Rates are determined by (i) sequentially channeling the fluid through the each of the plurality of channels for a preselected time duration, (ii) analyzing the extraction cartridges, and computing the kinetic rate of interest.

Contaminant mass collection in saturated sedimentary environments for bioavailability determination. A casing includes a screen between the environment that is subject to sampling, such as a saturated sediment and the device itself. The casing includes a water intake zone, a pump, and sorptive media. The water intake zone, the pump, the screen and the sorptive media, are all operably linked in sequence. The screened casing is secured to form an in situ device; the screen is in fluid communication with the water intake zone and excludes endemic sediments and aquatic life. The in situ device is deployed in the saturated sedimentary environment. The pump operates to concentrate analytes from the selected environment in the sorptive media, where the concentrated analytes include the analyte mass of time-weighted fluid samples.

The invention discloses a biological water-quality detection method using said obstructive multi-module biological water-quality detection device. This device includes an obstruction index-selecting device and a water-quality testing device, wherein the obstruction index-selecting device is used to select a qualified or valid stepped obstruction level combination, the water-quality testing device detects the water-quality of the water body to be tested depending on the behavior at each obstruction in the valid obstruction level combination after injecting indicator organisms into the water body to be tested. The relationship between the degree of water pollution and the distribution area of indicator organisms is established and the distribution area of indicator organisms is counted in this method based on the difference between the behaviors of indicator organisms in the clean water body and the polluted water body count, so as to determine the degree of water pollution. The invention can accurately and quickly detect the degree of water body pollution, does not need the processes such as chemical analysis and physical detection, and has the advantages of low cost, fast operation and accurate results, etc.

Improved methods and systems for image acquisition of small aquatic organisms at high resolution are disclosed. The methods and systems disclosed herein provide taxonomical classification of the small aquatic organisms through captured images. They also provide a platform that allows easy extension and/or adaptation and/or customization of properties of the instrument for specific imaging and sampling requirements based on the environment where the sampling is done, the amount of water that requires to be sampled, the speed with which sampling needs to be carried out, and the specific nature of organisms that need to be sampled around or below a 50 mm size range.

Improved methods and systems for image acquisition of small aquatic organisms at high resolution are disclosed. The methods and systems disclosed herein provide taxonomical classification of the small aquatic organisms through captured images. They also provide a platform that allows easy extension and/or adaptation and/or customization of properties of the instrument for specific imaging and sampling requirements based on the environment where the sampling is done, the amount of water that requires to be sampled, the speed with which sampling needs to be carried out, and the specific nature of organisms that need to be sampled around or below a 50 mm size range.

A device collects aquatic field metabolic rate data related to a water-breathing animal having at least one gill opening. The device has at least one oxygen probe, which measures and records oxygen consumption or oxygen extraction data at the at least one gill opening. The device is configured to collect metabolic data when the animal is in a natural environment. A method for determining a metabolic rate of the animal located in a water environment includes measuring metabolic rate data via at least one gill oxygen probe which is inserted into the at least one gill opening; measuring ambient data in the water environment via at least one ambient oxygen probe; and estimating a whole animal metabolic rate.