The role of plants in channel-dyke and field irrigation systems for domestic wastewater treatment in an integrated eco-engineering system

Eight kinds of plants were tested in channel-dyke and field irrigation systems. The removal rates of TP, phosphate, TN, ammonia, CODcr and BOD, in the channel-dyke system with napiergrass (Pennisetum purpurem Schumach, x Pennisetum alopecuroides (L.) Spreng American) were 83.2, 82.3, 76.3, 96.2, 73.5 and 85.8%, respectively. The field irrigation systems with rice I-yuanyou No.1(88-132) (Oryza sativa L.) and rice II- suakoko8 (Oryza glaberrima) had high efficiency for N removal; the removal rate were 84.7 and 84.3%, respectively. The mass balance data revealed that napiergrass, rice I and II were the most important nutrient sinks, assimilating more than 50% of TP and TN. Plant uptake of N and P as percentage of total removal from wastewater correlated with biomass yield of and planting mode. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

New results on Xi'an-AMS and sample preparation systems at Xi'an-AMS center

IEECAS SKLLQG

Modern sedimentary environments and dynamic depositional systems in the southern Yellow Sea

Based on analyses of more than 600 surface sediment samples together with large amounts of previous sedimentologic and hydrologic data, the characteristics of modern sedimentary environments and dynamic depositional systems in the southern Yellow Sea (SYS) are expounded, and the controversial formation mechanism of muddy sediments is also discussed. The southern Yellow Sea shelf can be divided into low-energy sedimentary environment and high-energy sedimentary environment; the low-energy sedimentary environment can be further divided into cyclonic and anticyclonic ones, and the high-energy environment is subdivided into high-energy depositional and eroded environments. In the shelf low-energy environments, there developed muddy depositional system. In the central part of the southern Yellow Sea, there deposited the cold eddy sediments under the actions of a meso-scale cyclonic eddy (cold eddy), and in the southeast of the southern Yellow Sea, an anticyclonic eddy muddy depositional system (warm eddy sediment) was formed. These two types of sediments showed evident differences in grain size, sedimentation rate, sediment thickness and mineralogical characteristics. The high-energy environments were covered with sandy sediments on seabed; they appeared mainly in the west, south and northeast of the southern Yellow Sea. In the high-energy eroded environment, large amounts of sandstone gravels were distributed on seabed. In the high-energy depositional environment, the originally deposited fine materials (including clay and fine silt) were gradually re-suspended and then transported to a low-energy area to deposit again. In this paper, the sedimentation model of cyclonic and anticyclonic types of muddy sediments is established, and a systematic interpretation for the formation cause of muddy depositional systems in the southern Yellow Sea is given.

Is there chaotic synchronization in space extend systems

Based on coupled map lattice (CML), the chaotic synchronous pattern in space extend systems is discussed. Making use of the criterion for the existence and the conditions of stability, we find an important difference between chaotic and nonchaotic movements in synchronization. A few numerical results are presented.

Chaotic dynamic analysis of viscoelastic plates

The dynamic buckling of viscoelastic plates with large deflection is investigated in this paper by using chaotic and fractal theory. The material behavior is given in terms of the Boltzmann superposition principle. in order to obtain accurate computation results, the nonlinear integro-differential dynamic equation is changed into an autonomic four-dimensional dynamical system. The numerical time integrations of equations are performed by using the fourth-order Runge-Kutta method. And the Lyapunov exponent spectrum, the fractal dimension of strange attractors and the time evolution of deflection are obtained. The influence of geometry nonlinearity and viscoelastic parameter on the dynamic buckling of viscoelastic plates is discussed.

Two mechanisms for population inversion via two-colour coherent excitation in three-level systems

We analyse the physical origin of population inversion via continuous wave two-colour coherent excitation in three-level systems by dressing the inverted transition. Two different mechanisms are identified as being responsible for the population inversion. For V-configured systems and cascade (E) configured systems with inversion on the lower transition, the responsible mechanism is the selective trapping of dressed states, and the population inversion approaches the ideal value of 1. For Lambda-configured systems and Xi-configured systems with inversion on the upper transition, population inversion is based on the selective excitation of dressed states, with the population inversion tending towards 0.5. As the essential difference between these two mechanisms, the selective trapping of dressed states occurs in systems with strong decay into dressed states while the selective excitation appears in systems with strong decay out of dressed states.

Localization and tracking of phonating finless porpoises using towed stereo acoustic data-loggers

Cetaceans produce sound signals frequently. Usually, acoustic localization of cetaceans was made by cable hydrophone arrays and multichannel recording systems. In this study, a simple and relatively inexpensive towed acoustic system consisting of two miniature stereo acoustic data-loggers is described for localization and tracking of finless porpoises in a mobile survey. Among 204 porpoises detected acoustically, 34 individuals (similar to 17%) were localized, and 4 of the 34 localized individuals were tracked. The accuracy of the localization is considered to be fairly high, as the upper bounds of relative distance errors were less than 41% within 173 m. With the location information, source levels of finless porpoise clicks were estimated to range from 180 to 209 dB re 1 mu Pa pp at 1 m with an average of 197 dB (N=34), which is over 20 dB higher than that estimated previously from animals in enclosed waters. For the four tracked porpoises, two-dimensional swimming trajectories relative to the moving survey boat, absolute swimming speed, and absolute heading direction are deduced by assuming the animal movements are straight and at constant speed in the segment between two consecutive locations.

Differentiate performance of eight filter media in vertical flow constructed wetland: Removal of organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus

A comparative study was conducted to reveal the differentiate effects of eight different filter media including gravel, zeolites, anthracite, shale, vermiculite, ceramic filter media, blast furnace steel slag and round ceramsite. The study mainly related to the eight different filter media's removal performances of organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus in the vertical flow constructed wetland simulated system, which treating wastewater at hydraulic loading rate of 1000-2500 mm/d. The results indicated that the removal effects were closely related to the physical and chemical properties of medium materials. Anthracite-filled system had the highest removal rate for the total organic carbon (TOC), up to 70%, and the removal rates of other systems ranged from 20% to 30%. As for the five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), anthracite-filled and steel slag-filled systems had the highest removal rates, also up to 70%, as well as other systems all exceeded 50%. At the same time, for the total nitrogen (TN) and NH4(+)-N, the zeolites-filled and ceramic-filled systems had the best performances with the removal rates of more than 70%, the other way round, the removal rates of other systems were only about 20%. The distinguishable effects were also observed in removal performances of total phosphorus (TP) and total dissoluble phosphorus (TDP). The removal rates of TP and TDP in steel slag-filled systems were more than 90%, a much higher value, followed by that of the anthracite-filled system, more than 60%, but those of other systems being the less. Our study provided a potential mechanism to optimize the filter media design for the vertical flow constructed wetlands.

Performance and mechanism of phosphorus removal in an integrated vertical flow constructed wetland treating eutrophic lake water

Phosphorus removal performance and a possible mechanism for the phosphorus removal from an eutrophic lake water were investigated using a medium-scale integrated vertical constructed wetland (combined vertical and reverse-vertical systems) from April, 11, 2001 to September, 28, 2004. Environmental factors affecting phosphorus removal and release profiles were monitored simultaneously under hydraulic loads from 400 to 2000 mm per day. The phosphorus removal rate varied with the environmental conditions. The removal rate for acidic influent water was superior to that for alkaline influent water. The substrate in the wetland chamber acted as a buffer to regulate the pH value of the water sample. As regards the water temperature, no significant differences were observed for the removal rate of total phosphorus (TP) and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) between low (lower than 15 degrees C) medium (16-25 degrees C) and high temperature (higher than 26 degrees C) conditions. Under a hydraulic load of 400 mm per day, the removal rate reached over 70%, the highest value achieved in this work. In addition, the highest hydraulic load of 2000 mm/d did not result in the lowest removal rate, as had been expected. After a two-year high hydraulic load test, the removal rate decreased significantly. Phosphorous release from the substrate was examined using a spatial sampling method. Depth profiles of total phosphorus and different states of phosphorus present in the substrate were recorded. This further study demonstrated that binding of phosphorus by iron and calcium might be another major factor in the removal and release of TP and SRP in this wetland system. The distribution of the speciated phosphorus showed that the amount of phosphorus captured in the substrate of the down-flow chamber was significantly higher than that captured in the up-flow chamber, suggesting that the up-flow chamber was the main source of phosphorus release in this constructed wetland.

The next-generation sequencing technology: A technology review and future perspective

As one of the most powerful tools in biomedical research, DNA sequencing not only has been improving its productivity in an exponential growth rate but also been evolving into a new layout of technological territories toward engineering and physical disciplines over the past three decades. In this technical review, we look into technical characteristics of the next-gen sequencers and provide prospective insights into their future development and applications. We envisage that some of the emerging platforms are capable of supporting the $1000 genome and $100 genome goals if given a few years for technical maturation. We also suggest that scientists from China should play an active role in this campaign that will have profound impact on both scientific research and societal healthcare systems.

Mean-field study of Fe2+- and Co2+-doped diluted magnetic semiconductors

Based on a modified mean-field model, we calculate the Curie temperatures of Fe2+- and Co2+-doped diluted magnetic semiconductors (DMSs) and their dependence on the hole concentration. We find that the Curie temperatures increase with an increase in hole concentration and the relationship T(C)proportional to p(1/3) also approximately holds for Fe2+- and Co2+-doped systems with moderate hole concentration. For either low or high hole concentrations, however, the p(1/3) law is violated due to the anomalous magnetization of the Fe2+ and Co2+ ions, and the nonparabolic nature of the hole bands. Further, the values of T-C for Fe2+- and Co2+-doped DMSs are significantly higher than those for Mn2+-doped DMSs, due to the larger exchange interaction strength.