武汉阳逻化石木及砾石层研究进展

阳逻砾石层及所含的大量的化石木,在古植物学、长江中游的古环境和古长江的形成与演化研究中具有重要意义。随着1984年阳逻被子化石木的发现,武汉阳逻化石木和阳逻砾石层就一直为学者们所关注。先后发现的硅化木化石已达200余件。在阳逻化石木鉴定、植物分类、植物生态学和古环境研究方面,在阳逻砾石层的时代及年龄、成因和物源等方面,做了大量的研究,发表了许多重要成果。然而,在一些基础问题研究上还存在着明显的分歧。建议:(1)在化石木的来源和砾石层物源分析方面,开展系统的沉积学、岩石学、矿物学以及地球化学的综合研究;(2)通过综合地层学研究,即生物地层(植物化石组合)、岩石地层(长江中游岩石地层对比)、地貌地层(长江中游地貌对比)和年代地层的综合对比,重点尝试宇生核元素、化石自旋共振(ESR)等测年技术的应用,以查明化石木和砾石层的形成时代;(3)加强化石木和砂砾层环境信息深入挖掘和综合对比分析。在查明化石木植物树种的组合全貌的基础上,通过古植被类型的恢复,特别是应加强化石木的显微结构分析,通过观察其构造特征和生长轮(木轮、年轮)的宽窄等信息,分析其古气候环境。     

室内外空气污染对学龄儿童呼吸系统影响的研究

通过对污染区和对照区 2 0 0 0多名学龄儿童呼吸系统症状、疾病患病率比较 ,并运用非条件 Logistic回归分析方法 ,就室内外空气污染对学龄儿童呼吸系统健康的影响 ,进行了研究。结果显示 ,污染区室内外空气污染较严重 ,大气中TSP、SO2 和 NOx 的浓度均超过国家二级标准 ,其儿童呼吸系统症状、疾病患病率明显高于对照区。对儿童呼吸系统发病有显著影响的环境因素是 :大气污染、被动吸烟、家庭燃煤、冬季取暖和室内油烟污染程度。其中咳嗽与以上五个因素有显著的正相关关系 (P<0 .0 5) ;除被动吸烟外 ,支气管炎与其它四个因素呈显著正相关 (P<0 .0 5) ;咳痰与大气污染、被动吸烟、冬季取暖和室内油烟污染程度 ,气喘和呼吸系统疾病住院率与大气污染和室内油烟污染正相关关系显著 (P<0 .0 5)。哮喘与室内外空气污染无显著的统计学联系     

Leaf age affects the responses of foliar injury and gas exchange to tropospheric ozone in Prunus serotina seedlings

We investigated the effect of leaf age on the response of net photosynthesis (A), stomatal conductance (g_wv), foliar injury, and leaf nitrogen concentration (N_L) to tropospheric ozone (O₃) on Prunus serotina seedlings grown in open-plots (AA) and open-top chambers, supplied with either carbon-filtered or non-filtered air. We found significant variation in A, g_wv, foliar injury, and N_L (P < 0.05) among O₃ treatments. Seedlings in AA showed the highest A and g_wv due to relatively low vapor pressure deficit (VPD). Older leaves showed significantly lower A, g_wv, N_L, and higher foliar injury (P < 0.001) than younger leaves. Leaf age affected the response of A, g_wv, and foliar injury to O₃. Both VPD and N_L had a strong influence on leaf gas exchange. Foliar O₃-induced injury appeared when cumulative O₃ uptake reached 8-12 mmol m⁻², depending on soil water availability. The mechanistic assessment of O₃-induced injury is a valuable approach for a biologically relevant O₃ risk assessment for forest trees.     

Sea Otters (Enhydra lutris L.) of Bering Island, the Commander Islands: Age and Sex Composition of Dead Animals and Spatial Distribution

Animal censuses and assessment of mortality in the sea otter subpopulation of Bering Island (the Commander Islands) have shown that indices of seasonal mortality may be used as a criterion for estimating well-being of this animal group. In 1999, the subpopulation of Bering Island entered a phase of stabilization of its spatial, age, and sex structure, with the stabilization process proper taking approximately three years after a peak of mortality. Mortality in the course of this process proved to be relatively high in age groups older than eight years but insignificant among middle-aged reproductive animals. As the age and sex structure of the insular group varies during the year and in different coastal areas, the data obtained by collecting dead animals cannot be used for estimating the structure of the whole population.     

Derivated fetal haemoglobin as a marker for red cell age in the human fetus reflecting stimulated or impaired red blood cell production

We have determined whether derivated fetal haemoglobin (dHbF, consisting of glycated and acetylated HbF) can be used as a cell age marker for fetal red blood cells (RBCs). Cord blood was obtained between 19 and 39 weeks of gestation from 28 alloimmunised anaemic fetuses (23 RhD+ and 5 Kell) and from 20 non-anaemic fetuses and newborns (controls). Density gradient centrifugation was applied to 36 samples (20 RhD+, 15 controls and 1 Kell) to obtain fractions of increasing cell age. Blood samples were used for measurements of mean cellular volume (MCV), mean cell haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), pyruvate kinase activity (PK) and derivated fetal haemoglobin (dHbF) by cation-exchange HPLC. Reticulocytes were counted only in the whole blood samples. In all density gradient separated RBC fractions, the values for MCV, MCH and PK activity decreased and those of MCHC and dHbF increased with increasing density (equivalent to increasing cell age). The mean density was lower for RBCs of the anaemic RHD group (1.072±0.007 g/ml) than for the non-anaemic controls (1.077±0.005 g/ml) (p<0.05) The RBC density of the Kell sensitised fetus did not differ from those of the controls. In the control group, the values of the cell age markers in whole blood changed significantly with the gestational age, showing an increase of mean age of the erythrocyte population. The best linear relationship was found for dHbF (y=6.28+0.17*weeks; r=0.84; p<0.001). In the anaemic RhD+ fetuses, the RBC age markers did not change with gestational age; the dHbF percentages were lower, and the MCV, MCH, PK values and the reticulocyte counts were higher than in the controls (0.05<p<0.001). The dHbF values of the Kell sensitised fetuses were above (p<0.01) and the reticulocyte counts were below normal (p<0.05) for gestational age. For the anaemic fetuses, a significant number of the dHbF values (86%) and of the reticulocyte counts (78%) differed from the values of the controls (p<0.01). The dHbF percentages in RhD+ fetuses showed the best correlation with the Hb deficit, which is a measure for anaemia (r=−0.81, p<0.0001). We conclude that the percentage derivated HbF may indicate whether the RBC production is normal for gestational age. It may in that sense reflect stimulated or impaired erythropoiesis in alloimmunised haemolytic anaemia. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Spatial Distribution of Sables in the Middle Ob Region

Results of stationary studies on the spatial location of sables (Martes zibellinaL.) belonging to different age and sex groups are summarized. Mapping the sites where 388 animals were taken, it was found that young animals tended to live near floodplains; adult animals, on watersheds. Analysis of sables taken by commercial hunters (n= 1833) made it possible to estimate the age composition and the degree and spatial distribution of the hunting pressure on sable populations in three areas of the Ob region. The spatial separation of young and reproductive animals is interpreted as a group adaptive response to the specific distribution pattern of different habitats typical of this species and to the pattern of animal elimination. It is proposed to use the specific pattern of animal distribution for maintaining the size of the population that is subject to hunting. Specifically, reserve (reproductive) territories should be organized in watershed areas.     

天然林林龄的模拟估算及案例

林龄是森林生态系统的一个重要特征,具有生态学意义.但是目前生态学调查中对天然林林龄的估算方法有一定缺陷.在特定的环境条件下,森林有着相应的演替过程.已有林窗研究表明.长白山森林是按照一定次序演替,森林的径级结构也是有规律可循的.由于总是缺乏足够的长期系统观测数据,因此作者采用数值模拟作为替代方法.应用校正过的林窗模型模拟0～600 a的森林演替序列,比较对长白山原始天然林的采样的结果,发现目前的林龄最接近400 a.这个估测结果可以从本地区历史资料记载得到印证.     

Automatic control strategy for step feed anoxic/aerobic biological nitrogen removal process

Control of sludge age and mixed liquid suspended solids concentration in the activated sludge process is critical for ensuring effective wastewater treatment. A nonlinear dynamic model for a step-feed activated sludge process was developed in this study. The system is based on the control of the sludge age and mixed liquor suspended solids in the aerator of last stage by adjusting the sludge recycle and wastage flow rates respectively. The simulation results showed that the sludge age remained nearly constant at a value of 16 d in the variation of the influent characteristics. The mixed liquor suspended solids in the aerator of last stage were also maintained to a desired value of 2500 g/m^3 by adjusting wastage flow rates.