贵阳市表层土壤中镉的环境地球化学基线研究

以土壤环境地球化学研究为主线,以贵州省贵阳市8 046 km^2为研究区域,将土壤重金属污染元素镉的空间分布规律与环境地球化学机理研究相结合,建立区域土壤环境地球化学基线,选用合适的判别指标判识自然作用过程与人类活动过程对土壤环境的影响.通过对487个样品的镉含量的统计分析,结果表明,贵阳市表层土壤中镉的基线值为0.068 mg/kg,镉元素含量大于1.010 mg/kg的样品可能遭受人为污染的影响.地质累积指数分析结果显示,贵阳市40%的表层土壤未受镉污染,19%的表层土壤在无污染与中度污染之间,14%受中度污染,19%的表层土壤介于中度污染到强污染之间,7%受强污染,1%的表层土壤介于强污染到极强污染之间.污染程度指数分析则显示,贵阳市57.9%的表层土壤未受到镉污染,镉的污染程度最大为12.1,96%的表层土壤污染程度小于4,总污染程度大于0,即总体受到污染.[

贵阳市中心城区大气中不同形态汞的研究

汞，是一种人体非必需的有毒重金属元素，一种全球性污染物，其全球生物地球化学循环演化规律的研究是目前环境科学领域的热点问题。汞在大气中的行为对其全球生物地球化学循环起着极其重要的控制作用。因此，关于大气汞循环演化规律的研究已经成为目前汞全球生物地球化学研究的热点问题。大气中的汞主要分为三类，即气态单质汞（GEM）、活性气态汞（RGM）和颗粒态汞（TPM）。各种形态汞的物理化学性质不同，在大气中的行为存在显著的差异。研究大气中不同形态汞的分布特征，对于正确认识汞在大气中的循环演化规律意义重大。目前中国是全球人为活动向大气释汞最多的国家，而城市区域是人为活动的中心地带，城市大气汞污染形势严峻。因此，开展城市大气中不同形态汞的研究对于评价与预测城市环境汞污染特征以及正确认识大气汞的局地、区域、全球循环演化规律具有重要的理论与实际意义。 本论文选取贵州省省会贵阳市的中心城区作为研究区域。贵阳市（东经106º07´~107º17´，北纬26º11´~27º22´）位于中国西南地区正好处在环太平洋汞矿化带中，能源消耗以煤炭为主，大气环境污染属煤烟型污染，常年影响大气环境质量的主要污染物是二氧化硫和可吸入颗粒物。本论文的研究工作包括：⑴2004年4月～12月在中国科学院地球化学研究所建立与完善了大气中气态总汞（TGM）、GEM、RGM、TPM的采集与分析方法，并测定了大气和雨水中不同形态汞的含量，对大气汞的干、湿沉降通量进行了估算；⑵2005年4月～2006年1月在贵阳市中心城区的居民区、商业区、工业区、游览区4个功能区各设1个研究点，农村设1个对照点，按春、夏、冬3个季节研究了大气中GEM、RGM、TPM的分布特征，估算了贵阳市中心城区大气汞的干沉降通量，并利用高分辨透射电子显微镜（HR–TEM）分析技术对冬季各采样点TPM的来源作了定性识别；⑶测量了中心城区表层土壤和某些植物的总汞（THg）含量，探讨了大气汞对中心城区地表生态系统的污染效应。通过本论文的研究，得出以下主要结论： 1.在国内外研究基础上，建立了金捕汞管–冷原子荧光光谱法（CVAFS）测定大气中TGM的方法、微型捕集管–CVAFS测定大气中TPM的方法、镀KCl直形扩散管–金捕汞管串联采集RGM与GEM的方法。每种形态汞的测量技术水平都在pg•m-3量级。并在国内首次实现了对城市大气中GEM、RGM、TPM的同步测量。 2.2005 ~ 2006年间贵阳市中心城区大气中GEM、RGM、TPM的平均浓度分别是9.11 ng•m-3、132.4 pg•m-3、1.02 ng•m-3，均为对照点的1.5倍，都显著高于全球背景参考值1.5 ~ 2.0 ng·m-3、< 10 pg•m-3、1 ~ 86 pg•m-3。3种形态汞的季节、昼夜与空间分布特征如下：⑴GEM：①季节平均浓度表现为冬季＞夏季＞春季，居民采暖燃煤释放是造成冬季GEM浓度高的主要原因。②春、夏非采暖季受释放源及其排放方式、自身物理化学性质与气候条件等因素的影响一般是夜间高于白天；冬季则受居民白天采暖燃煤影响主要表现为白天高于夜间。③年平均浓度，工业区＞居民区＞商业区＞游览区＞对照点。⑵RGM：①季节平均浓度表现为春季＞夏季＞冬季，气候条件对RGM的影响较大。②受白天释放源、自身物理化学性质、大气氧化强度与气候条件等因素的影响，春、夏、冬3季一般都为白天高于夜间。③年平均浓度，商业区＞工业区、居民区＞游览区、对照点。⑶TPM：①季节平均浓度表现为冬季＞夏季＞春季，居民采暖燃煤释放是造成冬季TPM浓度高的主要原因。②受释放源及其排放方式、自身物理化学性质与气候条件等因素的影响，春、夏、冬3季一般都为夜间高于白天。③年平均浓度，工业区＞居民区＞商业区＞对照点＞游览区。④TPM受局地释放源的影响显著，而燃煤释放是其冬季的普遍来源。 3.2005 ~ 2006年间不同形态汞在贵阳市中心城区大气中的含量分布为GEM（89.8 %）> TPM（8.8 %）> RGM（1.5 %），其中（RGM + TPM）占大气总汞（TAM）的比例略高于对照点的10.0 %，但显著高于全球背景参考值1 ~ 5 %，说明贵阳市中心城区大气汞向地表生态系统的沉降通量相对背景区较大。因为尽管RGM、TPM在大气中的含量很低，但正是它们控制了大气汞向地表生态系统的沉降速率。 4.2005 ~ 2006年间贵阳市中心城区各功能区及对照点大气中不同形态汞日均浓度的相关关系大多数都表现为不显著，表明在贵阳市中心城区及对照点大气中不同形态汞的来源可能是多元化的。 5.2005 ~ 2006年间贵阳市中心城区大气中GEM、RGM、TPM的干沉降通量平均值分别为28.7 μg•m-2•yr-1、10.4 μg•m-2•yr-1、160.9 μg•m-2•yr-1，均为对照点的1.5倍，其中TPM控制了大气汞向地表生态系统的干沉降通量；TAM干沉降通量平均值为200.1 μg•m-2•yr-1，其时空差异表现为冬季＞春季＞夏季和工业区＞居民区＞商业区＞对照点＞游览区。 6.经估算，2005 ~ 2006年间在贵阳市中心城区面积范围内大气汞干、湿沉降总量为54.7 kg•yr-1，它仅占燃煤向大气排汞量（以2003年为例，贵阳市中心城区燃煤向大气排汞量为334 kg•yr-1）的16.4 %，说明贵阳市中心城区的大部分大气汞仍然停留在大气中，最终将经由大气进行长距离迁移，散布到更广的区域。 7.在中国科学院地球化学研究所，2000 ~ 2006年间的大气TGM污染程度呈逐年递增趋势；2004年大气汞的干沉降通量为16.5 ng•m-2•h-1，高于湿沉降通量12.2 ng•m-2•h-1。 8.贵阳市中心城区及对照点不同类型土壤THg含量的几何平均值分别是0.370和0.276 mg•kg -1，都高于贵阳市土壤汞背景值0.201 mg•kg -1。土壤释汞是贵阳市大气气态总汞的一个重要自然源，而土壤THg含量是土壤释汞的最主要影响因子。因此，为了提高城乡居民的生活环境质量，更为了保护城乡居民的健康，非常有必要采取防治措施来降低贵阳市中心城区及对照点的土壤汞污染。 9.贵阳市中心城区苔藓THg平均含量为0.258 mg•kg -1，为对照点的1.5倍；中心城区某些常见的木本植物叶片THg含量范围是 0.068 ~ 0.181 mg•kg -1，木本植物叶片吸收大气汞的能力表现为落叶植物＞常绿植物。苔藓、梧桐叶片中的THg含量与其生长时期的大气汞浓度密切相关，能够指示区域大气汞的污染现状与空间分布规律。

Adaptabilidade e estabilidade de híbridos comerciais de milho no Meio-Norte brasileiro, na safra 2007-2008.

Na safra 2007/2008, 42 híbridos comerciais de milho foram submetidos a nove ambientes do Meio-Norte brasileiro, visando conhecer a adaptabilidade e a estabilidade para fins de recomendação. Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental em blocos ao acaso com duas repetições. Constataram-se, na análise de variância conjunta, diferenças entre os híbridos e os ambientes e um comportamento inconsistente desses ante as variações ambientais, no tocante ao caráter rendimento de grãos. Os municípios de Teresina, Urucuí e Bom Jesus ,PI, e São Raimundo das Mangabeiras, Colinas e Paraibano, MA, mostraram-se mais propícios ao cultivo do milho. Os híbridos que apresentaram rendimentos médios de grãos acima da média geral (8.068 kg ha-1), expressaram melhor adaptação. Os híbridos 2 B 688 e P 30 S 40, por serem exigentes nas condições desfavoráveis e responderem à melhoria ambiental, destacaram-se para os ambientes favoráveis. Os híbridos que evidenciam adaptabilidade ampla, a exemplo dos híbridos 2 B 688,2 B 710, P 30 P 70, DAS 8480, AG 7088, DKB 177 entre outros, consubstanciamse em alternativas importantes para a agricultura regional.

The use of transvaginal synthetic mesh for anterior vaginal wall prolapse repair: a randomized controlled trial

The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy and safety of transvaginal trocar-guided polypropylene mesh insertion with traditional colporrhaphy for treatment of anterior vaginal wall prolapse.This is a randomized controlled trial in which women with advanced anterior vaginal wall prolapse, at least stage II with Ba a parts per thousand yenaEuro parts per thousand+1 cm according to the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) classification, were randomly assigned to have either anterior colporrhaphy (n = 39) or repair using trocar-guided transvaginal mesh (n = 40). the primary outcome was objective cure rate of the anterior compartment (point Ba) assessed at the 12-month follow-up visit, with stages 0 and I defined as anatomical success. Secondary outcomes included quantification of other vaginal compartments (POP-Q points), comparison of quality of life by the prolapse quality of life (P-QOL) questionnaire, and complication rate between the groups after 1 year. Study power was fixed as 80 % with 5 % cutoff point (p < 0.05) for statistical significance.The groups were similar regarding demographic and clinical preoperative parameters. Anatomical success rates for colporrhaphy and repair with mesh placement groups were 56.4 vs 82.5 % (95 % confidence interval 0.068-0.54), respectively, and the difference between the groups was statistically significant (p = 0.018). Similar total complication rates were observed in both groups, with tape exposure observed in 5 % of the patients. There was a significant improvement in all P-QOL domains as a result of both procedures (p < 0.001), but they were not distinct between groups (p > 0.05).Trocar-guided transvaginal synthetic mesh for advanced anterior POP repair is associated with a higher anatomical success rate for the anterior compartment compared with traditional colporrhaphy. Quality of life equally improved after both techniques. However, the trial failed to detect differences in P-QOL scores and complication rates between the groups.

SOLO AND CHAMBER CLARINET WORKS BY AMERICAN- BORN WOMEN COMPOSERS: 1990-2005

During the period of 1990-2005, American-born women composers have contributed significantly to the standard clarinet repertoire. Pioneering composers such as Joan Tower, Margaret Brouwer, and Libby Larsen have created staples for clarinet literature. Yet, there is very little scholarly research on women composers of clarinet music, most being concentrated on Joan Tower. Through my research, I have discovered over seventy-five works by more than fifty composers in the following genres: solo clarinet; clarinet and piano; clarinet and voice, with or without piano; and small chamber pieces for up to five players. This performance dissertation project consists of three recitals featuring solo and chamber works by nine living women composers, and program notes containing pertinent biographical and compositional information. My intent is to increase recognition women composers, both prominent and lesser known, who are writing high-quality, accessible clarinet literature. Each woman selected is making a full or partial living from the sales of her compositions, has received recognition through awards, commissions, grants, and frequent performances, and has composed works that are both performer and audience accessible. Recital 1: Trios for Clarinet, Violin, and Piano Commissioned by the Verdehr Trio and Composed by American-Born Women Composers. Composers: Jennifer Higdon, Joan Tower, Margaret Brouwer, and Libby Larsen. Recital II: Programmatic Clarinet Works by American-Born Women Composers. Composers: Andrea Clearfield, Stella Sung, and Karen Amrhein. Recital III: Works for Solo Clarinet, Clarinet and Piano, and Clarinet Concerto Genres by American-Born Women Composers. Composers: Persis Parshall Vehar, Jenni Brandon, Margaret Brouwer, and Libby Larsen.

Relating sardine recruitment in the Northern Benguela to satellite-derived sea surface height using a neural network pattern recognition approach

Processes of enrichment, concentration and retention are thought to be important for the successful recruitment of small pelagic fish in upwelling areas, but are difficult to measure. In this study, a novel approach is used to examine the role of spatio-temporal oceanographic variability on recruitment success of the Northern Benguela sardine Sardinops sagax. This approach applies a neural network pattern recognition technique, called a self-organising map (SOM), to a seven-year time series of satellite-derived sea level data. The Northern Benguela is characterised by quasi-perennial upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich water and is influenced by intrusions of warm, nutrient-poor Angola Current water from the north. In this paper, these processes are categorised in terms of their influence on recruitment success through the key ocean triad mechanisms of enrichment, concentration and retention. Moderate upwelling is seen as favourable for recruitment, whereas strong upwelling, weak upwelling and Angola Current intrusion appear detrimental to recruitment success. The SOM was used to identify characteristic patterns from sea level difference data and these were interpreted with the aid of sea surface temperature data. We found that the major oceanographic processes of upwelling and Angola Current intrusion dominated these patterns, allowing them to be partitioned into those representing recruitment favourable conditions and those representing adverse conditions for recruitment. A marginally significant relationship was found between the index of sardine recruitment and the frequency of recruitment favourable conditions (r super(2) = 0.61, p = 0.068, n = 6). Because larvae are vulnerable to environmental influences for a period of at least 50 days after spawning, the SOM was then used to identify windows of persistent favourable conditions lasting longer than 50 days, termed recruitment favourable periods (RFPs). The occurrence of RFPs was compared with back-calculated spawning dates for each cohort. Finally, a comparison of RFPs with the time of spawning and the index of recruitment showed that in years where there were 50 or more days of favourable conditions following spawning, good recruitment followed (Mann-Whitney U-test: p = 0.064, n = 6). These results show the value of the SOM technique for describing spatio-temporal variability in oceanographic processes. Variability in these processes appears to be an important factor influencing recruitment in the Northern Benguela sardine, although the available data time series is currently too short to be conclusive. Nonetheless, the analysis of satellite data, using a neural network pattern-recognition approach, provides a useful framework for investigating fisheries recruitment problems.

Ecological And Metabolic Studies On Free-Living Nematodes From An Estuarine Mud-Flat

Nematodes from a mud-flat in the river Lynher estuary, Cornwall, U.K., have a population density ranging between 8 and 9 × 106 m−2 in the winter months, corresponding to a dry weight of 1·4 and 1·6 g m−2. They reach a peak abundance of 22·86 × 106 m−2 (3·4 g) in May. About 40 species are present, and the species composition remained seasonally stable over the period of study. Analysis of age-structure suggests that the major species have continuous asynchronous reproduction. Respiration rates of 16 species have been determined at 20 °C using Cartesian diver respirometry. For five species, respiration/body size regressions were obtained in the form log10R = log10a+b log10V, where R = respiration in nl O2 ind−1 h−1 and V = body volume in nl: Mesotheristus setosus (log10a = −0·04,b = 0·74), Sphaerolaimus hirsutus (log10a = 0·11, b = 0·68), Axonolaimus paraspinosus (log10a = 0·00, b = 0·79), Metachromadora vivipara (log10a = −0·59, b = 1·07), Praeacanthonchus punctatus (log10a = 0·00, b = 0·55). For the remaining 11 species, several animals were used in each diver and, by assuming b = 0·75, log10a′ values were calculated: Viscosia viscosa (log10a′ = 0·188), Innocuonema tentabundum (−0·012), Ptycholaimellus ponticus (−0·081), Odontophora setosa (−0·092), Sphaerolaimus balticus (−0·112), Dichromadora cephalata (−0·133), Atrochromadora microlaima (−0·142), Cylindrotheristus normandicus (−0·150), Terschellingialongicaudata (−0·170), Sabatieria pulchra (−0·197), Terschellingia communis (−0·277). These values are compared with recalculated values for other species from the literature. Annual respiration of the nematode community is 28·01 O2 m−2, equivalent to 11·2 g carbon metabolised. Community respiration is compared with figures from N. American saltmarshes. At 20 °C, a respiration of about 61 O2 m−2 year−1 g−1 wet weight of nematodes appears to be typical. Annual production is estimated to be 6·6 g C m−2. The correlation between feeding-group, body-size, habitat and the repiration rate of individual species is discussed.

Three primary kinetic characteristics observed in a pulse-response TAP experiment

The state-by-state transient screening approach based on a pulse-response thin-zone TAP experiment is further developed whereby single-pulse kinetic tests are treated as small perturbations to catalyst compositions and analyzed using integral method of moments. Results on three primary kinetic characteristics, termed basic kinetic coefficients, are presented. These three coefficients were introduced as main observables from experimentally measured TAP-responses in a kinetic-model-free manner. Each was analytically determined from moments of responses with no assumption about the detailed kinetic model. In this paper, the inverse question of how well these coefficients represent the time evolution of the observed responses is addressed. Sets of three basic kinetic coefficients are calculated from model and experimental responses and these calculated values are used to generate 3-coefficient curves in a kinetic-model-free manner. The comparison of these 3-coefficient curves with original responses shows that three basic kinetic coefficients can be sufficient to describe the observed kinetics of exit flow time dependencies with no assumption regarding the detailed kinetic model.

The closed orbits and the photo-excitation scaled spectrum of the hydrogen atom in crossed fields

In a recent Letter to the Editor (J Rao, D Delande and K T Taylor 2001 J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 34 L391-9) we made a brief first report of our quantal and classical calculations for the hydrogen atom in crossed electric and magnetic fields at constant scaled energy and constant scaled electric field strength. A principal point of that communication was our statement that each and every peak in the Fourier transform of the scaled quantum photo-excitation spectrum for scaled energy value epsilon = -0.586 538 871028 43 and scaled electric value (f) over tilde = 0.068 537 846 207 618 71 could be identified with a scaled action value of a found and mapped-out closed orbit up to a scaled action of 20. In this follow-up paper, besides presenting full details of our quantum and classical methods, we set out the scaled action values of all 317 closed orbits involved, together with the geometries of many.

New molecular targets in radiotherapy: DNA damage signalling and repair in targeted and non-targeted cells

Ionising radiation plays a key role in therapy due to its ability to directly induce DNA damage, in particular DNA double-strand breaks leading to cell death. Cells have multiple repair pathways which attempt to maintain genomic stability. DNA repair proteins have become key targets for therapy, using small molecule inhibitors, in combination with radiation and or chemotherapeutic agents as a means of enhancing cell killing. Significant advances in our understanding of the response of cells to radiation exposures has come from the observation of non-targeted effects where cells respond via mechanisms other than those which are a direct consequence of energy-dependent DNA damage. Typical of these is bystander signalling where cells respond to the fact that their neighbours have been irradiated. Bystander cells show a DNA damage response which is distinct from directly irradiated cells. In bystander cells, ATM- and Rad3-related (ATR) protein kinase-dependent signalling in response to stalled replication forks is an early event in the DNA damage response. The ATM protein kinase is activated downstream of ATR in bystander cells. This offers the potential for differential approaches for the modulation of bystander and direct effects with repair inhibitors which may impact on the response of tumours and on the protection of normal tissues during radiotherapy. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Plasma HDL cholesterol and risk of myocardial infarction: A mendelian randomisation study

Background: High plasma HDL cholesterol is associated with reduced risk of myocardial infarction, but whether this association is causal is unclear. Exploiting the fact that genotypes are randomly assigned at meiosis, are independent of non-genetic confounding, and are unmodified by disease processes, mendelian random isation can be used to test the hypothesis that the association of a plasma biomarker with disease is causal.
Methods: We performed two mendelian randomisation analyses. First, we used as an instrument a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the endothelial lipase gene (LIPG Asn396Ser) and tested this SNP in 20 studies (20 913 myocardial infarction cases, 95 407 controls). Second, we used as an instrument a genetic score consisting of 14 common SNPs that exclusively associate with HDL cholesterol and tested this score in up to 12 482 cases of myocardial infarction and 41 331 controls. As a positive control, we also tested a genetic score of 13 common SNPs exclusively associated with LDL cholesterol.
Findings: Carriers of the LIPG 396Ser allele (2·6% frequency) had higher HDL cholesterol (0·14 mmol/L higher p=8×10-13) but similar levels of other lipid and non-lipid risk factors for myocardial infarction compared with noncarriers. This difference in HDL cholesterol is expected to decrease risk of myocardial infarction by 13% (odds ratio [OR] 0·87, 95% CI 0·84-0·91). However, we noted that the 396Ser allele was not associated with risk of myocardial infarction (OR 0·99, 95% CI 0·88-1·11, p=0·85). From observational epidemiology, an increase of 1 SD in HDL cholesterol was associated with reduced risk of myocardial infarction (OR 0·62, 95% CI 0·58-0·66). However, a 1 SD increase in HDL cholesterol due to genetic score was not associated with risk of myocardial infarction (OR 0·93 95% CI 0·68-1·26, p=0·63). For LDL cholesterol, the estimate from observational epidemiology (a 1 SD increase in LDL cholesterol associated with OR 1·54, 95% CI 1·45-1·63) was concordant with that from genetic score (OR 2·13 95% CI 1·69-2·69, p=2×10 -10).
Interpretation: Some genetic mechanisms that raise plasma HDL cholesterol do not seem to lower risk of myocardial infarction. These data challenge the concept that raising of plasma HDL cholesterol will uniformly translate into reductions in risk of myocardial infarction.

Do obesity and sleep problems cluster in the workplace?:A multivariate, multilevel study

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the co-occurrence of obesity and sleep problems among employees and workplaces. METHODS: We obtained data from 39 873 men and women working in 3040 workplaces in 2000-2002 (the Finnish Public Sector Study). Individual- and workplace-level characteristics were considered as correlates of obesity and sleep problems, which were modelled simultaneously using a multivariate, multilevel approach. RESULTS: Of the participants, 11% were obese and 23% reported sleep problems. We found a correlation between obesity and sleep problems at both the individual [correlation coefficient 0.048, covariance 0.047, standard error (SE) 0.005) and workplace (correlation coefficient 0.619, covariance 0.068, SE 0.011) level. The latter, but not the former, correlation remained after adjustment for individual- and workplace-level confounders, such as age, sex, socioeconomic status, shift work, alcohol consumption, job strain, and proportion of temporary employees and manual workers at the workplace. CONCLUSIONS: Obese employees and those with sleep problems tend to cluster in the same workplaces, suggesting that, in addition to targeting individuals at risk, interventions to reduce obesity and sleep problems might benefit from identifying "risky" workplaces.

Development of M13 bacteriophage-based SPR detection using Salmonella detection as a case study

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based biosensor is a popular platform for real-time monitoring and sensitive detection for a myriad of targets. However, only a few studies have reported the use of bacteriophages as specific binders for SPR-based detection. This study aimed to demonstrate how filamentous M13 bacteriophages expressing 12-mer peptides can be employed in an SPR-based assay, using a Salmonella-specific bacteriophage as a model binder to detect the foodborne bacterium Salmonella. Several important factors (immobilization buffers and methods, and interaction buffers) for a successful bacteriophage-based SPR assay were optimized. As a result, a Salmonella-specific bacteriophage-based SPR assay was achieved, with very low cross reactivity with other non-target foodborne pathogens and detection limits of 8.0 × 10⁷ and 1.3 × 10⁷ CFU/mL for one-time and five-time immobilized sensors, respectively. This proof-of-concept study demonstrates the feasibility of using M13 bacteriophages expressing target-specific peptides as a binder in a rapid and label-free SPR assay for pathogen detection.