Accumulation of some metals in Morinda lucida from Nigeria

Transfer coefficients of the four metals As, Cd, Hg, and Pb were determined in the leaves and barks of Morinda lucida collected in Nigeria, with the view to quantify relative differences in the bioavailability of the metals to these parts of the plant. Samples were acid digested and the levels of the metals in the digestates were determined using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Certain properties of the soils, i.e., pH, clay fraction, electrical conductivity, cation exchange capacity, and organic matter, were also determined. The latter influence the bioavailability of the metals. All parameters correlated with the concentrations of the metals in soils. Transfer coefficient values recorded for Cd and Pb in various tissues of M. lucida Benth were within the expected ranges, while those of As and Hg showed elevated topsoil concentrations of metals. The order of bioavailability of the metals and their bioaccumulation in the tissues of M. lucida Benth was Hg > Cd > As > Pb. Stem barks of the plant showed the least bioaccumulation of all four metals and hence are most suitable for therapeutic purposes. Vegetative parts of M. lucida Benth used for therapeutic purposes should be sourced at sites that will give low transfer coefficient in order to reduce human exposure to toxicity associated with ingestion of heavy metals.     

台湾集集7.6级强震前粤东地区的重力中短期异常

基于广东东部地区流动重力观测资料,分析了1999年台湾集集7.6级地震前后重力场的时空动态演化过程,发现1996年起出现的群体性重力测值偏离长趋势的变化,可视为7.6级地震前中期异常的开始,而1998年中出现的反向变化则是中期异常向短期异常的转折。作为强震前的远场重力异常,其时间、空间变化表现出的不一致和非均匀性变化形态,可能主要与测区内不同断层在区域应力场和震源应力场共同作用下产生的局部形变不同有关。     

树脂吸附-NaClO曝气氧化法处理促进剂M废水的研究

研究了苯胺法生产促进剂M废水的治理 ,通过采用树脂吸附 NaClO曝气氧化二级处理工艺 ,分步去除有机污染物和硫化物 ,废水出水可达到国家一级排放标准。根据实验确定了适宜的工艺参数 ,氧化阶段的实验结果还证实Na ClO曝气氧化较NaClO搅拌氧化具有更高的去除效率     

基于国内外灾害经济研究与管理实践的启示

中外学者从不同视域对灾害经济与管理问题进行了研究,形成了一些有代表性的观点。各国政府在防灾减灾、灾后重建等方面也积累了大量的经验。这些观点和经验为我们深入研究灾害管理机制奠定了基础,结合汶川8.0级地震导致的惨重损失及灾后重建出现的问题,阐述了构建我国以人为本的灾害管理机制和可持续重建地震灾区的基本对策。     

新《防震减灾法》浅议——以汶川8.0级地震为例

以汶川8.0级地震为例,对新《防震减灾法》进行了解读,新《防震减灾法》在旧法的基础上,主要完善了防震减灾规划制度、建设工程抗震设防制度,增加了对学校医院等重要建筑和农村民居、乡村公共设施的抗震设防要求的规定,强化了防震减灾群测群防制度以加强对地震灾害的预防;完善了地震应急救援机制;进一步规范了地震灾后过渡性安置和恢复重建制度;加强了政府在防震减灾工作中的领导和协调作用。同时文中也指出了新《防震减灾法》存在的不足。     

滇池水华特征及成因分析

滇池水华的规模大,持续时间长。水华的主要种类是蓝藻门的微囊藻属,其中以铜绿微囊藻占绝对优势。每年4～11月为水华发生期,常在外草海南部、海埂、灰湾一带形成大面积水华,盛时可遍及全湖,水体表层藻类叶绿素含量高达5 000 mg/m3。滇池水体中高含量的N和P营养物在水华的形成中起着关键作用,适宜的温度及充足的光照为水华的频发提供了有利条件,并且随着滇池富营养化的加剧及水温逐年升高,将促使水华暴发日趋严重。      

PZT的EMI技术在土木工程健康监测中的研究进展

PZT(P iezoe lectric-ceram ic)的EM I(E lectro-m echan ica l im pedance)技术以其适于在线监测的诸多优点受到越来越多的关注。本文系统地阐述了PZT的E/M(电-机)耦合特性、PZT与本体结构的相互作用模型、EM I技术的基本原理及其在土木工程中的研究应用。利用PZT的EM I技术进行健康监测是具有广泛应用前景的一种方法,但由于其研究应用的时间不长,目前仍然处于试验室研究阶段,文中对该项技术中尚需解决的几个问题进行了总结。     

Local and Landscape Correlates of Primate Distribution and Persistence in the Remnant Lowland Rainforests of the Upper Brahmaputra Valley,Northeastern India

Habitat fragmentation affects species distribution and abundance, and drives extinctions. Escalated tropical deforestation and fragmentation have confined many species populations to habitat remnants. How worthwhile is it to invest scarce resources in conserving habitat remnants within densely settled production landscapes? Are these fragments fated to lose species anyway? If not, do other ecological, anthropogenic, and species‐related factors mitigate the effect of fragmentation and offer conservation opportunities? We evaluated, using generalized linear models in an information‐theoretic framework, the effect of local‐ and landscape‐scale factors on the richness, abundance, distribution, and local extinction of 6 primate species in 42 lowland tropical rainforest fragments of the Upper Brahmaputra Valley, northeastern India. On average, the forest fragments lost at least one species in the last 30 years but retained half their original species complement. Species richness declined as proportion of habitat lost increased but was not significantly affected by fragment size and isolation. The occurrence of western hoolock gibbon (Hoolock hoolock) and capped langur (Trachypithecus pileatus) in fragments was inversely related to their isolation and loss of habitat, respectively. Fragment area determined stump‐tailed (Macaca arctoides) and northern pig‐tailed macaque occurrence (Macaca leonina). Assamese macaque (Macaca assamensis) distribution was affected negatively by illegal tree felling, and rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) abundance increased as habitat heterogeneity increased. Primate extinction in a fragment was primarily governed by the extent of divergence in its food tree species richness from that in contiguous forests. We suggest the conservation value of these fragments is high because collectively they retained the entire original species pool and individually retained half of it, even a century after fragmentation. Given the extensive habitat and species loss, however, these fragments urgently require protection and active ecological restoration to sustain this rich primate assemblage. Correlaciones Locales y de Paisaje de la Distribución y Persistencia de Primates en los Bosques Lluviosos Remanentes en el Valle del Alto Brahmaputra, Noreste de India     

(M)VOC and composting facilities. Part 1: (M)VOC emissions from municipal biowaste and plant refuse

GOAL, SCOPE AND BACKGROUND: Malodorous volatiles derived from the decomposition of biowaste within the process of composting might pose a risk to human health. Different techniques of process engineering have been developed to minimise the burden of malodorous compounds in air possibly affecting compost workers and residents in the vicinity. METHODS: In the present study, three different composting facilities were examined for the emission of volatiles to estimate the impact of process engineering on the dispersal of odorous compounds and to discuss its relevance for human health. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Concentrations of single compounds belonging to alcohols, ketones, furanes, sulfur-containing compounds and especially terpenes ranged from 10(2) up to nearly 10(6) ng/m3 depending on the sampling sites and the process engineering. The ratio of MVOC and total VOC measured changed throughout the process of biodegradation. A certain combination of volatile compounds coincided with the occurrence of typical compost odour. CONCLUSION: The type of process engineering seemed to have a major impact on the emission of volatiles, as amounts of (microbial) volatiles emitted were characteristic for the different techniques used. Thus, the MVOC emission basically depends on the degree of biodegradation. It is likely that the concentrations workers are exposed to can have an impact on human health. RECOMMENDATIONS AND OUTLOOK: It is obvious that less sophisticated types of process engineering give rise to greater amounts of bioaerosols and volatiles and, therefore, technical devices have to be improved and controlled regularly to minimise adverse health effects on workers.