Changes in earth’s dipole

The dipole moment of Earth’s magnetic field has decreased by nearly over the past 150 years and by about 30% over the past 2,000 years according to archeomagnetic measurements. Here, we explore the causes and the implications of this rapid change. Maps of the geomagnetic field on the core–mantle boundary derived from ground-based and satellite measurements reveal that most of the present episode of dipole moment decrease originates in the southern hemisphere. Weakening and equatorward advection of normal polarity magnetic field by the core flow, combined with proliferation and growth of regions where the magnetic polarity is reversed, are reducing the dipole moment on the core–mantle boundary. Growth of these reversed flux regions has occurred over the past century or longer and is associated with the expansion of the South Atlantic Anomaly, a low-intensity region in the geomagnetic field that presents a radiation hazard at satellite altitudes. We address the speculation that the present episode of dipole moment decrease is a precursor to the next geomagnetic polarity reversal. The paleomagnetic record contains a broad spectrum of dipole moment fluctuations with polarity reversals typically occurring during dipole moment lows. However, the dipole moment is stronger today than its long time average, indicating that polarity reversal is not likely unless the current episode of moment decrease continues for a thousand years or more.     

Cosmic vacuum energy decay and creation of cosmic matter

In the more recent literature on cosmological evolutions of the universe, the cosmic vacuum energy has become a nonrenouncable ingredient. The cosmological constant Λ, first invented by Einstein, but later also rejected by him, presently experiences an astonishing revival. Interestingly enough, it acts like a constant vacuum energy density would also do. Namely, it has an accelerating action on cosmic dynamics, without which, as it appears, presently obtained cosmological data cannot be conciliated with theory. As we are going to show in this review, however, the concept of a constant vacuum energy density is unsatisfactory for very basic reasons because it would claim for a physical reality that acts upon spacetime and matter dynamics without itself being acted upon by spacetime or matter.     

A lake classification concept for a more accurate global estimate of the dissolved inorganic carbon export from terrestrial ecosystems to inland waters

The magnitude of lateral dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) export from terrestrial ecosystems to inland waters strongly influences the estimate of the global terrestrial carbon dioxide (CO₂) sink. At present, no reliable number of this export is available, and the few studies estimating the lateral DIC export assume that all lakes on Earth function similarly. However, lakes can function along a continuum from passive carbon transporters (passive open channels) to highly active carbon transformers with efficient in-lake CO₂ production and loss. We developed and applied a conceptual model to demonstrate how the assumed function of lakes in carbon cycling can affect calculations of the global lateral DIC export from terrestrial ecosystems to inland waters. Using global data on in-lake CO₂ production by mineralization as well as CO₂ loss by emission, primary production, and carbonate precipitation in lakes, we estimated that the global lateral DIC export can lie within the range of \( {0.70}_{-0.31}^{+0.27} \) to \( {1.52}_{-0.90}^{+1.09} \) Pg C yr^?1 depending on the assumed function of lakes. Thus, the considered lake function has a large effect on the calculated lateral DIC export from terrestrial ecosystems to inland waters. We conclude that more robust estimates of CO₂ sinks and sources will require the classification of lakes into their predominant function. This functional lake classification concept becomes particularly important for the estimation of future CO₂ sinks and sources, since in-lake carbon transformation is predicted to be altered with climate change.     

Effect of wastewater composition on the calcium carbonate precipitation in upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactors

Calcium carbonate often precipitates in anaerobic reactors treating wastewater with high calcium content. The aim of this paper is to study the effect of wastewater composition on calcium carbonate precipitation in upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors. Two laboratory-scale UASB reactors were operated with calcium-containing influents using acetate and carbohydrate as substrate, respectively. There was an obvious accumulation of inorganic precipitate observed in the biogranules. Observations via scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) showed that the acclimated biogranules in the two reactors differed in microstructure. Calcium carbonate was found to have precipitated on the surface of acetate-degrading biogranules, but precipitated at the core of the carbohydrate-degrading biogranules. The results indicated that substrates had significant influence on the location of calcium carbonate precipitation in anaerobic granular sludge, which was expected due to the different methanogens distribution and pH gradient within the granular sludge degrading various substrates. Moreover, the location of calcium carbonate precipitation substantially affected the specific methanogenic activity (SMA) of the granular sludge. The SMA of the acetate-degrading biogranules dropped from $ 1.96 gCOD_{CH_4 } \cdot gVSS^{ - 1} \cdot d^{ - 1} $ 1.96 gCOD_{CH_4 } \cdot gVSS^{ - 1} \cdot d^{ - 1} to $ 0.61 gCOD_{CH_4 } \cdot gVSS^{ - 1} \cdot d^{ - 1} $ 0.61 gCOD_{CH_4 } \cdot gVSS^{ - 1} \cdot d^{ - 1} after 180-d of operation in the reactor. However, the SMA of the carbohydrate-degrading biogranules was not adversely affected by calcium carbonate precipitation.     

Problems of modern cosmology: how dominant is the vacuum?

It would be hard to find a cosmologist today who does not believe that the vast bulk of the Universe (95% or more) is hidden from our eyes. We review the evidence for this remarkable consensus, and for the latest proposal, that the mysterious dark matter consists of as many as four separate ingredients: baryons, massive neutrinos, new "exotic" dark matter particles, and vacuum energy, also known as the cosmological constant (L\Lambda ). Of these, only baryons fit within standard theoretical physics; the others, if their existence is confirmed, will mean rewriting textbooks. Fresh experimental evidence has recently appeared for and against all four components, so that the subject is in a state of turmoil and excitement. The past 3 years in particular have seen the fourth (vacuum) component come into new prominence, largely at the expense of the third (exotic dark matter). We conclude our review by exploring the possibility that the energy density of the vacuum is in fact so dominant as to leave little room for significant amounts of exotic dark matter.     

Imprints from the global cosmological expansion to the local spacetime dynamics

We study the general relativistic spacetime metrics surrounding massive cosmological objects, such as suns, stars, galaxies or galaxy clusters. The question addressed here is the transition of local, object-related spacetime metrics into the global, cosmological Robertson-Walker metrics. We demonstrate that the answer often quoted for this problem from the literature, the so-called Einstein-Straus vacuole, which connects a static outer Schwarzschild solution with the time-dependent Robertson-Walker universe, is inadequate to describe the local spacetime of a gravitationally bound system. Thus, we derive here an alternative model describing such bound systems by a metrics more closely tied to the fundamental problem of structure formation in the early universe and obtain a multitude of solutions characterising the time-dependence of a local scale parameter. As we can show, a specific solution out of this multitude is able to, as a by-product, surprisingly enough, explain the presently much discussed phenomenon of the PIONEER anomaly.     

Potential effects of climate change and rising CO2 on ecosystem processes in northeastern U.S. forests

Forest ecosystems represent the dominant form of land cover in the northeastern United States and are heavily relied upon by the region’s residents as a source of fuel, fiber, structural materials, clean water, economic vitality, and recreational opportunities. Although predicted changes in climate have important implications for a number of ecosystem processes, our present understanding of their long-term effects is poor. In this study, we used the PnET-CN model of forest carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and water cycling to evaluate the effects of predicted changes in climate and atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) on forest growth, C exchange, water runoff, and nitrate ( $ {\text{NO}}^{ - }_{3} $ ) leaching at five forest research sites across the northeastern U.S. We used four sets of statistically downscaled climate predictions from two general circulation models (the Hadley Centre Coupled Model, version 3 and the Parallel Climate Model) and two scenarios of future CO₂ concentrations. A series of model experiments was conducted to examine the effects of future temperature, precipitation, CO₂, and various assumptions regarding the physiological response of forests to these changes. Results indicate a wide range of predicted future growth rates. Increased growth was predicted across deciduous sites under most future conditions, while growth declines were predicted for spruce forests under the warmest scenarios and in some deciduous forests when CO₂ fertilization effects were absent. Both climate and rising CO₂ contributed to predicted changes, but their relative importance shifted from CO₂-dominated to climate-dominated from the first to second half of the twenty-first century. Predicted runoff ranged from no change to a slight decrease, depending on future precipitation and assumptions about stomatal response to CO₂. Nitrate leaching exhibited variable responses, but was highest under conditions that imposed plant stress with no physiological effects of CO₂. Although there are considerable uncertainties surrounding predicted responses to climate change, these results provide a range of possible outcomes and highlight interactions among processes that are likely to be important. Such information can be useful to scientists and land managers as they plan on means of examining and responding to the effects of climate change.     

吉南元古宙FCN球粒

产在吉南元古宙石英岩内的宇宙尘是一个宇宙尘系列 ,由 4亚型 4小类组成 :①金属球粒 :a .纯铁球粒 ;b .FCN(Fe、Cr、Ni)球粒 ;②氧化物球粒 :c.普通磁性铁质球粒 ;d .FCS(FeO、Cr2 O3、SiO2 )球粒 ;③玻璃质球粒 ;④氧化物 -金属过渡型球粒。其中FCN球粒和FCS球粒为富铬球粒 ,在地球上属首次发现 ;FCN球粒为天然的奥氏体不锈钢球粒。FCN球粒的发现表明冶金学与地外源事件地球化学有一定联系。富铬宇宙尘的发现 ,预示着地球上可能有铁铬镍型铁陨石存在。     

Factors determining presence of passerines breeding within White Stork <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ciconia ciconia</Emphasis> nests

Nests of White Stork Ciconia ciconia are commonly used by various passerines as nesting sites. In this study, we investigated factors determining presence and number of pairs of species breeding within White Stork nests in an extensive farmland in NE Poland. In 133 (57%) out of 233 White Stork nests, we found at least one breeding pair of passerine bird. These were from three species: House Sparrows Passer domesticus (68% of 133 nests with co-breeding), Tree Sparrows Passer montanus (65%), and Starlings Sturnus vulgaris (30%). The probability of breeding passerines within White Stork nests increased with increasing nest thickness, and was significantly higher in currently occupied nests. Sparrows were more likely to breed in White Stork nests located on electricity poles, situated closer to settlements and surrounded mainly by arable fields where meadows were not prevalent. In this paper, we show that White Stork nests are favorable nesting sites for passerines, as they are well insulated and provide an anti-predatory shield.     

UASCB-SMBR处理垃圾渗滤液的试验研究

研究了厌氧污泥复合床 (UASCB) 序批式膜生物反应器 (SMBR)串联工艺 ,处理垃圾渗滤液的工艺性能及影响因素 ,并与单纯的SMBR工艺进行了对比。试验结果表明 ,在进液COD浓度平均为 2 50 0mg/L ,NH+ 4-N平均浓度为 360mg/L ,厌氧反应器COD的负荷为 7～2 0kgCOD/m3·d ,SMBR负荷为 1～ 5kgCOD/m3·d,系统总水力停留时间为 1 4～ 2 8h时 ,该串联工艺COD去除率达到 92 %以上 ,NH+ 4-N的去除率在 80 %以上     

Hydrogen storage methods

Hydrogen exhibits the highest heating value per mass of all chemical fuels. Furthermore, hydrogen is regenerative and environmentally friendly. There are two reasons why hydrogen is not the major fuel of todays energy consumption. First of all, hydrogen is just an energy carrier. And, although it is the most abundant element in the universe, it has to be produced, since on earth it only occurs in the form of water and hydrocarbons. This implies that we have to pay for the energy, which results in a difficult economic dilemma because ever since the industrial revolution we have become used to consuming energy for free. The second difficulty with hydrogen as an energy carrier is its low critical temperature of 33 K (i.e. hydrogen is a gas at ambient temperature). For mobile and in many cases also for stationary applications the volumetric and gravimetric density of hydrogen in a storage material is crucial. Hydrogen can be stored using six different methods and phenomena: (1) high-pressure gas cylinders (up to 800 bar), (2) liquid hydrogen in cryogenic tanks (at 21 K), (3) adsorbed hydrogen on materials with a large specific surface area (at T<100 K), (4) absorbed on interstitial sites in a host metal (at ambient pressure and temperature), (5) chemically bonded in covalent and ionic compounds (at ambient pressure), or (6) through oxidation of reactive metals, e.g. Li, Na, Mg, Al, Zn with water. The most common storage systems are high-pressure gas cylinders with a maximum pressure of 20 MPa (200 bar). New lightweight composite cylinders have been developed which are able to withstand pressures up to 80 MPa (800 bar) and therefore the hydrogen gas can reach a volumetric density of 36 kg·m^–3, approximately half as much as in its liquid state. Liquid hydrogen is stored in cryogenic tanks at 21.2 K and ambient pressure. Due to the low critical temperature of hydrogen (33 K), liquid hydrogen can only be stored in open systems. The volumetric density of liquid hydrogen is 70.8 kg·m^–3, and large volumes, where the thermal losses are small, can cause hydrogen to reach a system mass ratio close to one. The highest volumetric densities of hydrogen are found in metal hydrides. Many metals and alloys are capable of reversibly absorbing large amounts of hydrogen. Charging can be done using molecular hydrogen gas or hydrogen atoms from an electrolyte. The group one, two and three light metals (e.g. Li, Mg, B, Al) can combine with hydrogen to form a large variety of metal–hydrogen complexes. These are especially interesting because of their light weight and because of the number of hydrogen atoms per metal atom, which is two in many cases. Hydrogen can also be stored indirectly in reactive metals such as Li, Na, Al or Zn. These metals easily react with water to the corresponding hydroxide and liberate the hydrogen from the water. Since water is the product of the combustion of hydrogen with either oxygen or air, it can be recycled in a closed loop and react with the metal. Finally, the metal hydroxides can be thermally reduced to metals in a solar furnace. This paper reviews the various storage methods for hydrogen and highlights their potential for improvement and their physical limitations.     

大港油田千米桥潜山奥陶系凝析气藏成藏地球化学研究

千米桥潜山构造位于黄骅坳陷北大港构造带。位于该构造的板深 7井在奥陶系地层试油 ,获日产凝析油 143 .36吨 ,日产气 2 75 30 9m3。这一重大发现标志着大港油田古潜山的勘探获得重大突破。千米桥潜山凝析油气主要来自板桥凹陷Es33 段偏腐殖型烃源岩 ,油气在沙一段沉积时期进入潜山 ,明化镇组沉积时期是油气大量运聚、成藏时期。千米桥潜山属于气侵型凝析气藏 ,并具多期成藏的特点。板深 4井油气藏受到扩散作用的影响。气侵是造成凝析油高含蜡的主要原因。     

生物滴滤床净化二甲苯废气的性能研究

分别以大小两种拉西环作为生物滴滤床填料净化二甲苯废气,研究入口负荷、气体停留时间、营养液喷淋密度及营养液中氯化铵的质量浓度对生物滴滤床净化效果的影响.实验结果表明:随着入口负荷的增加,去除负荷也呈增加趋势,但二者并非线性关系.气体停留时间越长,去除效果越好.营养液中氯化铵的质量浓度对去除效果有显著影响,充足的氮源是高去除率的保证.在氮源充足的前提下,营养液喷淋密度对去除效果无显著影响.      

基于序列模式的土地利用变化分析——以广西壮族自治区为例

土地利用变化是一个长期的过程,同时具有一定的复杂性。传统的转移矩阵方法只能在两期土地利用数据之间相互比较而不能总结长期整体的变化规律,频繁项集不能导出变化序列。针对这些方法的不足,本文提出了基于序列模式的土地利用变化序列分析模型。首先给出土地序列数据库的定义,然后根据土地序列数据实际特点和垂直格式的序列模式SPADE算法,给出土地变化序列模式的计算过程和方法。在以中国广西为实例的研究中,计算了1970s—2015年共7期22种二级土地利用类型的变化序列。研究区土地利用变化主要发生在林地之间,部分林地转换为厂矿、采石场、交通道路等建设用地类型;城镇用地主要由旱地和水田转换而来;在研究期内没有任何一个土地单元转化成水田。     

催化电解法处理垃圾渗滤液的研究

对垃圾渗滤液的SBR处理出水进行了催化电解的正交实验研究。结果表明 ,其最佳工艺条件 :pH为 8,电极材料为RuO2 IrO2 TiO2 /Ti,电流密度为 1 0A/dm2 ,电极间距为 0 .5cm ,[Cl- 1 ]为 1 0 0 0 0mg/L ,SA /L为 50cm2 /L。在此条件下 ,电解 48min时 ,COD去除率达 82 .6 % ,电流效率为 31 .6 % ,耗电量为 32 .4kwh/t水。     

Influence of interspecific competition on the recruitment behavior and liquid food transport in the tramp ant species Pheidole megacephala

This study was conducted on the reactions of Pheidole megacephala scouts when finding liquid food sources situated on territories marked by competing dominant ant species or on unmarked, control areas to see if the number of recruited nestmates is affected and if soldiers behave in ways adapted to the situation. We show that scouts recruit more nestmates, particularly soldiers, on marked rather than on unmarked areas. This recruitment allows P. megacephala to organize the defence and rapid depletion of these food sources prior to any contact with competitors. Soldiers can carry liquid foods both (1) in their crops like other Myrmicinae and (2), in a new finding concerning myrmicine ants, under their heads and thoraxes like certain poneromorph genera because the droplets adhere through surface tension strengths. Later, the liquids stored in the crop are distributed to nestmates through regurgitations during trophallaxis and the external droplets are distributed through social buckets, or the mode of liquid food transfer common in poneromorphs. Their flexibility to use or not use the latter technique, based on the situation, corroborates other reports that Pheidole soldiers have a relatively large behavioral repertoire.     

A cost of alarm pheromone production in cotton aphids, Aphis gossypii

The sesquiterpene, (E)--farnesene, is used by many aphid species as an alarm pheromone to warn related individuals of predation. Disturbed cotton aphids, Aphis gossypii Glover, released (E)--farnesene into the air as detected by solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Solvent extracts of cotton aphids of various life stages and weights also were analyzed by GC–MS for sums of ions 69 and 93, which discriminated (E)--farnesene from coeluting compounds. Aphids of all life stages and sizes reared on cotton plants in both an environmental chamber and glasshouse contained (E)--farnesene in amounts ranging from 0.1 to 1.5 ng per individual. The quantities of (E)--farnesene in aphids increased in relation to increasing body weight, and variation in individual weights explained about 82% of the variation in alarm pheromone. However, the concentrations (ng/mg fresh weight) declined exponentially with increasing body weight. These findings indicate that aphid nymphs try to compensate for their smaller size by producing relatively more pheromone per weight than adults but still cannot approach an evolutionary optimal load, as assumed in adults with the greatest total amounts. This suggests that young aphids need to balance costs of growth and maturation with costs of producing the alarm pheromone.     

F-对弱吸附间苯二酚光催化降解效率的提升:游离·OH的作用

传统的光催化降解机制认为是光激发产生的氧化活性物质优先对吸附在催化剂表面的污染物分子进行降解,因此,弱吸附性有机物难以接触到光催化剂并发生降解.为探究提升弱吸附有机物光催化降解的机理,本文构建了一个高暴露{001}晶面TiO_2({001}-TiO_2)降解弱吸附间苯二酚(RE)的光催化体系.实验结果表明,所制备的{001}-TiO_2具有强亲水性,并能提供大量的F~-吸附位点.RE在{001}-TiO_2表面的吸附能力很弱,并且光催化降解效果很差.F~-的加入可使RE的光催化降解速率提升近3倍.通过自由基猝灭实验发现,RE的降解主要取决于溶液中游离羟基自由基(·OH)的作用,由于F~-能与{001}-TiO_2亲水表面的羟基及·OH形成强烈的竞争吸附,从而使·OH游离到溶液中氧化降解RE.EPR测试进一步证实了F~-不仅可以促使TiO_2产生更多的游离·OH,同时也能激发产生更多超氧自由基(·O~-_2),推测·O~-_2主要由有效分离的光生电子与O_2或·OH反应生成.综上,本研究明确了游离·OH对弱吸附RE的光催化降解效率起决定作用,F~-促使游离自由基产生的机制可为弱吸附有机污染物的降解提供新思路.     

Symmetry is in the eye of the ‘beeholder’: innate preference for bilateral symmetry in flower-naïve bumblebees

Bilateral symmetry has been considered as an indicator of phenotypic and genotypic quality supporting innate preferences for highly symmetric partners. Insect pollinators preferentially visit flowers of a particular symmetry type, thus leading to the suggestion that they have innate preferences for symmetrical flowers or flower models. Here we show that flower-naïve bumblebees (Bombus terrestris), with no experience of symmetric or asymmetric patterns and whose visual experience was accurately controlled, have innate preferences for bilateral symmetry. The presence of color cues did not influence the bees original preference. Our results thus show that bilateral symmetry is innately preferred in the context of food search, a fact that supports the selection of symmetry in flower displays. Furthermore, such innate preferences indicate that the nervous system of naïve animals may be primed to respond to relevant sensory cues in the environment.     

纳米CeO2催化氧化甲苯的形貌效应研究

采用水热法合成CeO2纳米棒、纳米颗粒和纳米立方体,利用XRD、BET-N2、TEM/HRTEM、Raman、O2-TPD和H2-TPR等表征手段进行表征,并利用连续流固定床反应法研究各催化剂对甲苯的催化氧化性能.结果表明,CeO2纳米棒因具有高比表面积和细颗粒尺寸,且表面主要暴露高活性的{100}/{110}晶面,拥有更多的氧空位和高活性氧物种,因此,催化活性最高,CeO2纳米颗粒次之,立方体最低.原位红外甲苯催化氧化机理分析进一步表明,CeO2纳米颗粒和纳米立方体上生成的羧酸盐物质难以进一步深度氧化,而纳米棒能在贫氧和低温条件下诱导甲苯的完全氧化和产物脱附,使甲苯得以快速降解.