Unusual Salinity Conditions in the Yangtze Estuary in 2006: Impacts of an Extreme Drought or of the Three Gorges Dam?

During the extreme dry year of 2006, abnormal salinity conditions in the Changjiang Estuary of the Yangtze River occurred in partial coincidence with the second impoundment phase of the TGD (Three Gorges Dam). Analysis of discharge observations in the upper reaches of the estuary and of salinity observations in the estuary as a whole reveals that in 2006 salinity was over 100 mg/l during 275 days, over 250 mg/l during 75 days and over 400 mg/l during 48 days. It is well known that this is due to extreme low discharges from the upper catchment area into the estuary. Moreover, large amounts of water consumed along the lower reaches of the Yangtze River can also aggravate the low discharges that lead to stronger saltwater intrusion in the estuary. Of the 75 days that salinity was over 250 mg/l, the low discharge was decreased further by 10 to 20% due to water consumption. The additional impact of the impoundment phase of the TGD (lasting 37 days in autumn) was noticeable only during 7 days in 2006. During that period, the relative contributions of the TGD and the water consumption in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River amounted to 70 and 30%, respectively. It may be concluded that the impact of the second impoundment phase of the TGD on salinity intrusion in the estuary was modest, while the extreme drought of 2006 was the dominant cause.     

Tissue bioaccumulation patterns, xenobiotic biotransformation and steroid hormone levels in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) fed a diet containing perfluoroactane sulfonic or perfluorooctane carboxylic acids

In the present study, groups of juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) were fed gelatine capsules containing fish-food spiked with PFOA or PFOS (0.2 mg kg⁻¹ fish) and solvent (methanol). The capsules were given at days 0, 3 and 6. Blood, liver and whole kidney samples were collected prior to exposure (no solvent control), and at days 2, 5, 8 and 14 after exposure (Note: that day 14 after exposure is equal to 7 d recovery period). We report on the differences in the tissue bioaccumulation patterns of PFOS and PFOA, in addition to tissue and compound differences in modulation pattern of biotransformation enzyme genes. We observed that the level of PFOS and PFOA increased in the blood, liver and kidney during the exposure period. Different PFOS and PFOA bioaccumulation patterns were observed in the kidney and liver during exposure- and after the recovery periods. Particularly, after the recovery period, PFOA levels in the kidney and liver tissues were almost at the control level. On the contrary, PFOS maintained an increase with tissue-specific differences, showing a higher bioaccumulation potential (also in the blood), compared with PFOA. While PFOS and PFOA produced an apparent time-dependent increase in kidney CYP3A, CYP1A1 and GST expression, similar effects were only temporary in the liver, significantly increasing at sampling day 2. PFOA and PFOS exposure resulted in significant decreases in plasma estrone, testosterone and cortisol levels at sampling day 2, and their effects differed with 17α-methyltestostrerone showing significant decrease by PFOA (also for cholesterol) and increase by PFOS. PFOA significantly increased estrone and testosterone, and no effects were observed for cortisol, 17α-methyltestosterone and cholesterol at sampling day 5. Overall, the changes in plasma steroid hormone levels parallel changes in CYP3A mRNA levels. Given that there are no known studies that have demonstrated such tissue differences in bioaccumulation patterns with associated differences in toxicological responses in any fish species or lower vertebrate, the present findings provide some potential insights and basis for a better understanding of the possible mechanisms of PFCs toxicity that need to be studied in more detail.     

Synthesis of core-shell magnetic molecular imprinted polymer by the surface RAFT polymerization for the fast and selective removal of endocrine disrupting chemicals from aqueous solutions

In this study, we present a general protocol for the making of surface-imprinted core-shell magnetic beads via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization using RAFT agent functionalized iron oxide nanoparticles as the chain transfer agent. The resulting composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The surface-imprinted magnetic beads were demonstrated with a homogeneous polymer films (thickness of about 22 nm), spherical shape, and exhibited magnetic property (Ms = 0.41 mA m² g⁻¹) and thermal stability. Rebinding experiments were carried out to determine the specific binding capacity and selective recognition. The as-synthesized surface-imprinted core-shell magnetic beads showed outstanding affinity and selectivity towards bisphenol A over structurally related compounds, and easily reach the magnetic separation under an external magnetic field. In addition, the resulting composites reusability without obviously deterioration in performance was demonstrated at least five repeated cycles.     

Environmental fate and non-target impact of glyphosate-based herbicide (Roundup) in a subtropical wetland

Mai Po Nature Reserve (Hong Kong) is an internationally important wetland for waterbirds. Roundup, a formulation based on glyphosate, has been used to control the widespread weeds within the reserve for many years but the fate and non-target impact of the herbicide is unknown. To fill this knowledge gap, we applied Roundup by hand-held sprayer to an estuarine and a freshwater pond in the dry season of year 2002. The surface water and sediment were sampled routinely for glyphosate concentrations following one month of application. In situ bioassays using local edible fish species were performed along with the herbicide application. Up to 52% of glyphosate in the surface water was transported to the unapplied regions by wind-driven current in the estuarine pond at 1 DPT (day post treatment). For both ponds, glyphosate concentrations in the water decreased rapidly after 1-3 DPT, but then decreased gradually over time. Both physical adsorption to the bottom sediments and microbial degradation are thought to contribute to these decreases. Interestingly, the persistence of glyphosate in the freshwater pond was longer than in the estuarine system, which is likely due to the considerably higher concentrations of chelating metals (i.e. Cu and Fe) present in the sediment (4.5 and 11-fold higher, respectively) which potentially reduced the bioavailability of glyphosate to the microbial decomposers. Lastly, fishes used in the in situ bioassays (both in applied and unapplied areas) showed similar survival rates, indicating that the use of Roundup at the provided application rate posed no serious hazard.     

油田生态环境修复技术研究综述

随着油田的持续开发,油气开采总量逐年增加,导致生态环境恶化加剧。文章综述了油田开发对油田生态环境的影响,并针对油田开发对水环境、土壤环境的污染,重点介绍了国内外油田生态环境污染的修复技术。     

寒冷地区应用人工湿地处理污水研究进展＊

低温影响人工湿地污水的处理效果,限制了人工湿地在寒冷地区的推广应用。文章综合分析了影响寒冷地区人工湿地污水处理效果的因素,提出:潜流式的人工湿地具有一定的保温特点,在潜流湿地土壤上面铺盖一定厚度的覆盖物可以提高保温效果,再选择科学合理的工艺流程——复合垂直流等可提高人工湿地的污水处理效率。有关实例也证明:通过合理的设计,人工湿地可以在寒冷地区成功越冬。     

Enhanced ozonation of simulated dyestuff wastewater by microbubbles

The ozonation of synthetic wastewater containing azo dye, CI Reactive Black 5, was investigated using a microbubble generator and a conventional bubble contactor. The microbubble generator produced a milky and high intensity microbubble solution in which the bubbles had a mean diameter of less than 58 microm and a numerical density of more than 2.9 x 10(4) counts ml(-1) at a gas flow rate of less than 0.5 l min(-1). Compared with the bubble contactor, the total mass transfer coefficient was 1.8 times higher and the pseudo-first order rate constant was 3.2-3.6 times higher at the same initial dye concentration of 100 mg l(-1), 230 mg l(-1) and 530 mg l(-1) in the proposed microbubble system. The amount of total organic carbon removed per g of ozone consumed was about 1.3 times higher in the microbubble system than in the bubble contactor. The test using terephthalic acid as the chemical probe implied that more hydroxyl radicals were produced in the microbubble system, which contributed to the degradation of the dye molecules. The results suggested that in addition to the enhancement of mass transfer, microbubbles, which had higher inner pressure, could accelerate the formation of hydroxyl radicals and hence improve the oxidation of dye molecules.     

中国代表性滑雪场网络关注度时空演变及影响因素

基于百度指数数据,运用指数测度、空间地理分析、回归模型和地理探测器,对2011—2019年中国大陆26个代表性滑雪场网络关注度的时空演变特征及影响因素进行分析。结果表明:(1)时间演化上,网络关注度呈先增后减且逐渐平稳的规律。2015年、2016年为峰值年份,季节性差异明显,共两个波动峰值且为“南北为单,中东为双”的分布格局。(2)空间特性上,全国和地区均为先增后减特征,地区差异显著;变异程度先降后增并趋于稳定,全国分布相对稳定平衡,地区分布呈不稳定集聚特性。省区冷热区域分布总体呈“东北热—西南冷”格局,层级变化以稳定型为主。(3)滑雪场层面上,滑雪场总体偏好层级变动较大,高偏好保持稳定领先,其余层级以下降变动为主。滑雪场冷热点分级呈“北热南冷”的格局,东北、华北两个热点集聚区域演变较为稳定。(4)影响因素上,需求侧影响因素排序为滑雪消费吸引力>受教育程度>经济发展水平>信息化水平>滑雪场建设水平。供给侧的滑雪人次占比、滑雪经济贡献、客运承载力、冰雪旅游资源丰度、官方媒体建设水平解释力较强,其他因素影响并不显著。     

Character in organizational research: past directions and future prospects

Character (ethos) refers to those interpenetrable habitual qualities within individuals, and applicable to organizations that both constrain and lead them to desire and pursue personal and societal good. In our Incubator article, we undertake two objectives. First, we provide our conceptualization of character; briefly specifying what character is and is not. Second, we introduce several promising directions for organizationally based research on character. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.