Distribution of Ultraviolet solar Radiation at Riyadh Region, Saudi Arabia

The ultraviolet UV solar radiation flux is monitored over a fixed time interval to study the daily, monthly and annual variations for a nearly one decade in Riyadh. Mathematical expressions will be presented based on a comparison between theoretical and experimental values. It is believed that the present analysis of UV radiation suggest that the environmental effects led to a better understanding of UV scattering, UV reflection, ozone and clouds layers in Riyadh and other selected areas in the mid-east region.     

分光光度法测定大气颗粒物和柴油尾气中的砷含量

介绍了测定砷含量的分光光度法,该方法可以应用于大气颗粒物中的痕量砷的敏感性测定。测定、考察了北方城市大气中砷浓度及日变化规律,结果表明,分光光度法显色稳定,灵敏度高。将此方法获得的结果与原子吸收法所得到的结果进行比较,两者高度吻合。进行了柴油机动车尾气中砷含量的测定,结果表明,其尾气中含有一定量的砷。     

Potential direct fitness consequences of ornament-based mate choice in a butterfly

Female mate choice has been shown to provide direct mating benefits in several animal groups. In butterflies, for which there are increasing reports of fine-scale color-based mate choice, the evolutionary benefits that accrue from such mating biases, if any, are largely unknown. We addressed this issue in the butterfly Colias eurytheme, a species in which females choose mates on the basis of iridescent ultraviolet (UV) wing ornamentation and in which males donate reproductively beneficial nuptial gifts. In the first experiment, we assessed the mass of gifts donated to 77 virgin females by males sampled directly from a field encounter site. Despite large variance in the male adult phenotype and ejaculate, no single aspect of dorsal wing coloration, including UV brightness, chroma, or hue, was related to ejaculate mass. There was, however, an interesting interaction between the effects of male body size and copula duration upon ejaculate mass, with size scaling positively with ejaculate mass among males involved in shorter copulations (those lasting <70 min) but negatively among males in longer copulations. In the second experiment, we assessed the lifetime fecundity, fertility, and longevity of 85 females mated under similar circumstances to free-flying wild males. Although several wing color parameters proved subtly informative in more sophisticated multivariable models, no model predicted more than about 20% of the variation in any single female fitness parameter. The duration of copulation, which ranged from 35 min to over 16 h and which carries putative costs for females, was, again, only very weakly predicted by male wing color parameters (i.e., R ² = 0.089). Given the overall minor predictive power of male wing coloration in general and of UV brightness in particular, our results do not strongly support the hypothesis that female C. eurytheme prefer bright UV males to obtain direct benefits or to minimize the costs associated with lengthy copulations.     

Carotenoid-based ornamentation as a dynamic but consistent individual trait

Carotenoid-based ornaments act as signals of quality in many animal species. In contrast to feathers, which are relatively stable structures, carotenoid-pigmented integuments (e.g. bills, lores, tarsi) can change colour rapidly and may better reflect changes in physiological condition. I studied the seasonal variations in plasma carotenoids in red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa) kept on a constant diet and free of intestinal parasites. Furthermore, I analyzed whether seasonal changes in circulating carotenoids were mirrored by the carotenoid-based coloration of eye rings and bill of this species. Plasma carotenoids showed seasonal variation, with higher levels coinciding with the end of the mating and the start of the laying season. Eye ring pigmentation was related to plasma carotenoid levels, and changes in bill hue (but not changes in UV or red bill chroma) mirrored the variation in plasma carotenoids during the breeding season. Despite the seasonal variation, individual differences in eye ring pigmentation and bill hue, UV and red chroma were consistent throughout the breeding season. Similarly, individual differences in eye ring pigmentation and bill hue and red chroma remained consistent between consecutive years. These results suggest that carotenoid based integumentary colorations act as dynamic traits that accurately reflect the carotenoid-status of individuals, thus reliably indicating consistent differences in individual quality. Furthermore, variability in signal expression appears to have a relevant genetic/phenotypic basis independently of environmental conditions. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

基于TUV模式的对流层光解速率影响因子的研究

应用TUV辐射传输模式进行了一系列的敏感性试验,以期确定影响对流层O₃和NO₂光解速率的关键性因子.结果表明,气溶胶的光学性质对光解速率的影响存在明显差异.在气溶胶光学厚度（AOD）一定的情况下,散射性越强,近地面光解速率越大;当AOD从0.5增加至2.5,J[O¹D]和J[NO₂]极大值分别下降30.3%和13.1%.光解速率对较小的云光学厚度的变化比较敏感.云对J[NO₂]的影响存在明显的时间差异,在早晨和傍晚,J[NO₂]的衰减可以达到12%,而午时,J[NO₂]的衰减不足4%;在垂直方向上,云层的存在能够减小通过云层的光化辐射通量,有效降低云下光解速率,而云滴的后向散射特性能增大云上的光解速率.臭氧能够吸收300nm左右的紫外辐射,因而臭氧柱浓度变化对J[O¹D]有显著的影响,臭氧柱浓度从200DU增加至400DU,J[O¹D]极大值下降了53.1%,J[NO₂]极大值仅降低了1.0%.同时发现,气溶胶和云相对位置的改变对光解速率的垂直分布有较大的影响,气溶胶在云上时,高层的光解速率明显增大,且气溶胶的散射性越强,光解速率的增幅越大;当吸收性气溶胶位于云上时,使得高层光化辐射通量大量衰减,此时云层对于光解速率的影响比较微弱.     

Selective elimination of chromophoric and fluorescent dissolved organic matter in a full-scale municipal wastewater treatment plant

Effluent organic matter (EfOM) from municipal wastewater treatment plants potentially has a detrimental effect on both aquatic organisms and humans. This study evaluated the removal and transformation of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) and fluorescent dissolved organic matter (FDOM) in a full-scale wastewater treatment plant under different seasons. The results showed that bio-treatment was found to be more efficient in removing bulk DOM (in terms of dissolved organic carbon, DOC) than CDOM and FDOM, which was contrary to the disinfection process. CDOM and FDOM were selectively removed at various stages during the treatment. Typically, the low molecular weight (MW) fractions of CDOM and protein-like FDOM were more efficiently removed during bio-treatment process, whereas the humic-like FDOM exhibited comparable decreases in both bio-treatment and disinfection processes. Overall, the performance of the WWTP was weak in terms of CDOM and FDOM removal, resulting in enrichment of CDOM and FDOM in effluent. Moreover, the total removal of the bulk DOM (P < 0.05) and the protein-like FDOM (P < 0.05) displayed a significant seasonal variation, with higher removal efficiencies in summer, whereas removal of CDOM and the humic-like FDOM showed little differences between summer and winter. In all, the results provide useful information for understanding the fate and transformation of DOM, illustrating that sub-fractions of DOM could be selectively removed depending on treatment processes and seasonality.     

Monitoring trihalomethanes in water by differential ultraviolet spectroscopy

Ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy is a valid surrogate for monitoring the formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs). Sodium thiosulphate is commonly used to remove disinfectant residual. However, it produces interferences with absorbance in the UV region. Relationship between trihalomethane (THM) formation and differential UV absorbance (−ΔA _λ ) was explored in the presence of sodium thiosulphate. Chlorination of two synthetic and five natural waters was carried out. Sodium thiosulphate showed high UV absorption at 254 nm. This effect can be overcome selecting a higher wavelength. Optimum wavelength varied being about 290 nm for fulvic acid and 300 nm for humic acid type natural organic matter. Correlation between THMs formation and −ΔA _λ was linear for all the analysed samples. Regression curves do not pass through zero indicating the existence of a threshold absorbance decreasment. Once it is surpassed THM release begins. Chlorination of surface waters showed that the presence of bromide significantly increases THMs vs. −ΔA _λ slope. Furthermore, slope decreased with the aromaticity–hydrophobicity of organic matter.     

土壤悬浮液中五氯酚钠（PCP-Na）的分析方法研究

探索了利用紫外分光光度法测定土壤悬浮液中五氯酚钠的方法。采用紫外可见分光光度计,选定在波长255．6nm处测定土壤悬浮液中五氯酚钠的含量,所得线性回归方程为Y=0．0287X＋0．0022,相关系数r=0．9999,检测限为0．016mg／L,加标回收率为93．357％～95．907％,实验结果表明此法简单、快速,准确性较高。     

Book reviews

AUTOMATIC METHODS OF ANALYSIS by M. Valcárcel and M. D. Luque de Castro, Volume 9 in series Techniques and Instrumentation in Analytical Chemistry, Elsevier Science Publishers, Amsterdam (1988), 560 pages, US$ 131.50

SELF‐DIFFUSION IN ELECTROLYTE SOLUTIONS: A CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF DATA COMPILED FROM THE LITERATURE by R. Mills and V. M. M. Lobo, Volume 36 published in the series Physical Sciences Data, Elsevier, Amsterdam (1988), 354 pages, US$ 134.25