Rangeland dynamics of southern Ethiopia: (2). Assessment of woody vegetation structure in relation to land use and distance from water in semi-arid Borana rangelands

The structure and advancement of woody vegetation was studied in a semi-arid rangeland of southern Ethiopia under three land-use systems (communal land, a government ranch and a traditional grazing reserve enclosure) and along a distance gradient (near, middle and far) from water sources. A total of 54 woody plant species were identified. Based on the subjective opinions of the pastoralists, 85% of the identified woody plants have forage values to livestock. Cadaba farinsoa, Ormocarpum trichocarpum, Rhus natalensis, Acacia brevispica, Cordia gharaf and Hibiscus sparseaculeatus were reported to have fair to good palatability. Tree equivalent (TE) density of all woody plants combined was greater (P <0.01) in the government ranch (1) 188 TE ha(-1)) and the communal land (1083 TE ha(-1)) than in the traditional grazing reserve (419 TE ha(-1)), whereas this did not vary significantly (P >0.05) along the distance gradient from water. The most important encroaching woody plant species in the study areas were in descending order: Commiphora africana, Acacia drepanolobium, A. brevispica, Acacia. tortilis, Grewia tembensis and Lannea floccosa. The density of individual encroaching woody plant species along the distance gradient from water was not consistent. All encroaching woody species had the highest TE density in the communal land. The prevalence of these species followed the pattern of intensity of use within the communal grazing area. Most of the woody species had the highest abundance in the height class >0-2m regardless of land use and distance gradient from water. This study investigated the advance of severe woody encroachment in the communal and government sites as well as along the distance gradient from water. Some of the important contributing factors that can be suggested are heavy grazing pressure (in both the communal and government sites), expansion of cultivation and reduced mobility of livestock due to settlement of the pastoralists in the communal land.     

纳米氧化锌对大型溞肠道组织毒性效应及机理研究

研究了不同浓度纳米氧化锌（ZnONP）及其在水中释放的对应浓度的Zn²⁺溶液对大型溞（Daphnia magna）肠道组织显微和亚显微结构的影响,探讨了ZnONP对大型溞的肠道组织毒性效应特征和作用机理.结果表明,0.3 mg·L^-1-Zn²⁺组（Zn²⁺浓度0.170 mg·L^-1）和0.3 mg·L^-1 ZnONP溶液皆对大型溞的肠道造成损伤,主要导致大型溞中肠与直肠之间的连接处发生扭曲,其中ZnONP对肠道组织结构弯曲影响最为明显,0.3 mg·L^-1 ZnONP组引起大型溞个体最大肠道弯曲率高达42%.大型溞肠道组织HE染色结果显示,ZnONP暴露会造成大型溞肠道上皮组织断裂、胞间连接空泡化、纹状缘模糊及杯状细胞脱落等,而相对应浓度Zn²⁺组的毒性较弱.电子显微镜下对大型溞肠道组织亚显微结构观察发现,0.3 mg·L^-1 ZnONP处理组大型溞肠道上皮细胞组织出现微绒毛排列紊乱、脱落、溶解,上皮细胞松散,线粒体双层膜结构不完整,嵴溶解消失,核糖体增多等现象.0.3 mg·L^-1-Zn²⁺组大型溞肠道组织上皮细胞有损伤,但整体结构基本完整.从ZnONP和对应的Zn²⁺所产生的毒性效应特征和各组大型溞机体中Zn元素含量的测定分析,ZnONP对大型溞造成的肠道组织损伤不仅与其释放的Zn²⁺引起的毒性有关,更可能与大型溞对颗粒物摄取的方式或ZnONP在体内的积累量、排泄速率和作用的细胞器等有关.因此,ZnONP对肠道组织毒性效应产生的分子机制还需要 进一步研究.     

基于损伤等效的振动疲劳试验载荷转换

目的使用简谐激励替代随机平直谱激励进行振动疲劳试验。方法利用有限元仿真计算某典型铝合金试验件在简谐激励和随机平直谱激励下的疲劳寿命,分析2种工况下试验件寿命相等时激励的等效关系。进行一组定频激励试验和一组谱激励试验,对比试验结果,验证在某典型铝合金试验件上利用简谐激励替代随机平直谱激励进行振动疲劳试验的可行性。结果通过试验与仿真技术,对2024-T4铝合金试验件在一定频率非共振简谐激励和随机平直谱激励作用下的振动疲劳寿命规律进行研究,得出了不同激励作用下试验件寿命相同时载荷的等效关系。结论基于损伤等效,工程中可以使用简谐激励代替随机平直谱激励进行振动疲劳试验,从而解决了一类振动疲劳试验加载困难的问题,实现振动疲劳的试验加速。     

弹上电子部件加速因子估计方法研究

目的针对高可靠长寿命的弹上电子部件在实际贮存环境温度起伏变化的情况,研究基于等效温度的加速因子估计方法。方法首先剖析弹上电子部件失效机理,然后基于阿伦尼斯模型,分析加速应力与实际环境温度的对应关系,求解实际环境等效温度,进而估计加速因子,最后通过某型导弹综合控制器中的时序控制电路板,验证该方法的工程适用性。结果该方法能够真实反映环境温度情况,且与传统加权平均温度计算方法相比,加速因子估计和加速试验时间预测更准确,且随着实际环境温度起伏的增大,优势更加明显。结论该方法在实际贮存环境温度起伏变化的情况下,能够有效提高加速因子估计和加速寿命试验时间预测的准确性,为弹上电子部件加速寿命试验方案设计提供可靠依据,对其他高可靠长寿命产品的加速因子估计也具有一定的参考价值。     

鸭绿江（丹东段）江水中未知有机污染物分析鉴定与有毒有机物名录筛选

采用美国惠普公司MC/GS联用仪，对鸭绿江（丹东段）江水中有机污染物种类、组成进行了分析鉴定，进而采用高压液相色谱法对多环芳烃类进行定量测定与评价，进行了该江段有毒有机物名录筛选，提出由27种有毒有机污染物组成的名单。     

排污总量核定中的主要问题及解决途径

排放污染物总量核定是排放污染物总量控制中的一项难度很大的基础工作。文章针对目前排污总量核定中存在的环境监测硬件投入不足、体系不完善、可操作性不强、法律效力不够和规范化管理不力等问题 ,提出了排污总量核定应形成一项基本的工作制度 ,应加强排污总量核定体系的运行和监督管理。     

Risk assessment of xenoestrogens in a typical domestic sewage-holding lake in China

Release of domestic sewage leads to accumulation of xenoestrogens in holding waters, especially in closed or semi-enclosed waters such as lakes. In the study, the occurrence, distribution, estrogenic activity and risk of eight xenoestreogens were evaluated in Lake Donghu, China. Nonylphenol (NP), octylphenol (OP), and bisphenol A (BPA) were identified as the main xenoestrogens ranging from tens of ng L⁻¹ (in the surface water) or ng g⁻¹ dw (in the suspended particles and sediment) to tens of μg L⁻¹ or μg g⁻¹ dw. The sum of 17β-estradiol equivalents (∑EEQs) ranged from 0.32 to 45.02 ng L⁻¹ in the surface water, 0.53 to 71.86 ng g⁻¹ dw in the suspended particles, and 0.09 to 24.73 ng g⁻¹ dw in the sediment. Diethylstilbestrol (DES) was determined as the main contributor to ∑EEQs followed by NP. The risk assessment showed a higher risk in the surface water than in the suspended particles and sediment in such domestic sewage-holding lake.     

Impact of Invasive Cane Toads on Australian Birds

Abstract: The cane toad (Bufo marinus), a large, toxic, American anuran, was introduced to Australia in 1935. Populations of many of Australia's reptiles (snakes, varanid lizards, crocodiles) and carnivorous mammals (dasyurid marsupials) have declined because these predators are killed by the toad's powerful toxins. In contrast to these well‐studied species, little is known about the cane toads impacts on Australian birds. We reviewed published and unpublished data on behavioral interactions between Australian avian predators and cane toads and collated distributional and dietary information to identify avian taxa potentially at risk from cane toad invasion. Cane toads are sympatric with 172 frog‐eating bird species in Australia, and an additional 8 bird species overlap with the predicted future range of the toad. Although many bird species thus are potentially at risk, behavioral observations suggest the risk level is generally low. Despite occasional reports of Australian birds being killed when they ingest cane toads, most birds either ignore toads or survive the predation event. The apparently higher tolerance of Australian birds to toad toxins, compared with Australian reptiles and marsupials, may reflect genetic exchange between Australian birds and Asian populations that encounter other bufonid species regularly and hence have evolved the capacity to recognize or tolerate this toxic prey.     

Attenuation of divalent toxic metal ions using natural sericitic pyrophyllite

The present study investigated the effectiveness of an inexpensive and ecofriendly alumino silicate clay mineral, sericitic pyrophyllite, as an adsorbent for the possible application in the removal of some divalent toxic metal cations such as Pb(2+), Cu(2+)and Zn(2+) from aqueous systems. Batch scale equilibrium adsorption studies were carried out for a wide range of initial concentration from 24.1 to 2410mumolL(-1) for lead, 78.65 to 7865mumolL(-1) for copper and 76.45 to 7645mumolL(-1) for zinc solutions. The removal of Pb(2+) was almost complete at low concentration (maximum lead removal capacity, LRC, 32mg of lead/g of pyrophyllite) with 10gL(-1) of adsorbent in a 30min equilibration time. The effects of temperature on adsorption of heavy metal ions were studied. The applicability of the Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich adsorption models in each case of lead, copper and zinc adsorption was examined separately at different temperatures. The adsorption process was found to be endothermic and the Freundlich adsorption model was found to represent the data at different temperatures more suitably.     

Identification of rice cultivars with low brown rice mixed cadmium and lead contents and their interactions with the micronutrients iron, zinc, nickel and manganese

Paddy fields in mining areas are usually co-contaminated by a cocktail of mixed toxic heavy metals (e.g., Cd and Pb in Pb/Zn mines). However, previous studies on rice cultivars screened for effective metal exclusion have mostly focused on individual metals, and have been conducted under pot-trial or hydroponic solution conditions. This study identified rice cultivars with both low Cd and Pb accumulation under Cd-and Pb-contaminated field conditions, and the interactions of the toxic elements Cd and Pb with the micronutrient elements Fe, Zn, Mn and Ni were also studied. Among 32 rice cultivars tested, there were significant differences in Cd (0.06-0.59 mg/kg) and Pb (0.25-3.15 mg/kg) levels in their brown rice, and similar results were also found for the micronutrient elements. Significant decreases in concentrations of Fe and Mn were detected with increasing Cd concentrations and a significant elevation in Fe, Mn and Ni with increasing Pb concentrations. A similar result was also shown by Cd and Ni. Three cultivars were identified with a combination of low brown rice Cd and Pb, high micronutrient and grain yield (Wufengyou 2168, Tianyou 196 and Guinongzhan). Present results suggest that it is possible to breed rice cultivars with low mixed toxic element (Cd, Pb) and high micronutrient contents along with high grain yields, thus ensuring food safety and quality.