Structure and formation of conifer stands in the upper timberline ecotone on the North Chuya Ridge,Central Altai

The structure of Siberian stone pine (Pinus sibirica Du Tour.) and Siberian larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.) stands and specific features of their formation have been studies in the forest-tundra ecotone on the North Chuya Ridge (2235–2475 m a.s.l.). Changes in the structure of these stands along the transition from the upper boundary of closed forests to the high-mountain tundra have proved to have an ambiguous pattern. Both tree species form mixed clusters of similar-aged trees in the lower part of the ecotone but grow singly, in scatters, in its upper part. The formation of conifer stands (tree clusters) in the lower part of the ecotone, on the slopes of the Aktru River valley, began during climate warming in the second half of the 19th century. The expansion of confers to its upper part took place markedly later, in the early 20th century (Siberian larch) or even in the 1930s (Siberian stone pine).     

The dispersal and storage of sediment-associated metals in an arid river system: the Leichhardt River, Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia

This paper details the distribution of Cu, Pb and Zn in aquatic systems draining Mount Isa Ag-Cu-Pb-Zn Mine in arid northern Queensland, Australia. Sediment-metal concentrations in the <2mm grain-size fraction adjacent to and downstream of the mine significantly exceed background concentrations (Cu, 159; Pb, 36; Zn, 86 ppm) as well as Australian government sediment quality low trigger guidelines (Cu, 65; Pb, 50; Zn, 200 ppm). Overbank sediments are more contaminated than channel sediments with mean values of Cu, 480; Pb, 540; Zn, 750 ppm. Mean concentrations in cut riverbank samples from the <2mm fraction were Cu, 195; Pb, 724; Zn, 807 ppm. Corresponding <180 microm samples returned concentrations of Cu, 321; Pb, 995; Zn, 1110 ppm. Delivery of contaminants during wet seasons from Mount Isa Mine and historically contaminated riverbanks remains an ongoing issue. The ease of dust entrainment in arid zones means that sediments enriched in toxic concentrations of metals may be widely dispersed and ultimately ingested and absorbed by biota.     

Coal mining and the resource community cycle: A longitudinal assessment of the social impacts of the Coppabella coal mine

Two social impact assessment (SIA) studies of Central Queensland's Coppabella coal mine were undertaken in 2002–2003 and 2006–2007. As ex post studies of actual change, these provide a reference point for predictive assessments of proposed resource extraction projects at other sites, while the longitudinal element added by the second study illustrates how impacts associated with one mine may vary over time due to changing economic and social conditions. It was found that the traditional coupling of local economic vitality and community development to the life cycle of resource projects—the resource community cycle—was mediated by labour recruitment and social infrastructure policies that reduced the emphasis on localised employment and investment strategies, and by the cumulative impacts of multiple mining projects within relative proximity to each other. The resource community cycle was accelerated and local communities forced to consider ways of attracting secondary investment and/or alternative industries early in the operational life of the Coppabella mine in order to secure significant economic benefits and to guard against the erosion of social capital and the ability to cope with future downturns in the mining sector.     

Subcellular distribution op neurotoxic esterase activity in lamb and mouse brain

Abstract

Brain tissue samples of nice (7.5 g from 25 mouse brains and lamb (25 g) were homogenized and subcellular fractions prepared in order to assay the distribution of neurotoxic esterase (NTE) activity. The specific inhibitor, N,N‐diisopropylphosphorodiamidic fluoride (mipafox) was synthesized and purified. Maximum specific activity of NTE was reached in the microsomal fraction (110,000 g) while the enzyme activity in the soluble fraction (110,000 g) was extremely low. This subcellular distribution of NTE activity in mammal brains is an original contribution. Brain microsomal fraction is suggested to be a more reliable source for the highest activity of NTE. The specific activity of NTE of lamb brain was much higher than that of mouse brain. This night help interpretation of the characteristic species variation in susceptibility to NTE inhibitors which are known to be potent delayed neurotoxic agents.     

Degradation of refractory organics in concentrated leachate by the Fenton process: Central composite design for process optimization

• 90% total COD, 95.3% inert COD and 97.2% UV₂₅₄ were removed. • High R² values (over 95%) for all responses were obtained with CCD. • Operational cost was calculated to be 0.238 €/g COD_removed for total COD removal. • Fenton oxidation was highly-efficient method for inert COD removal. • BOD₅/COD ratio of leachate concentrate raised from 0.04 to 0.4. The primary aim of this study is inert COD removal from leachate nanofiltration concentrate because of its high concentration of resistant organic pollutants. Within this framework, this study focuses on the treatability of leachate nanofiltration concentrate through Fenton oxidation and optimization of process parameters to reach the maximum pollutant removal by using response surface methodology (RSM). Initial pH, Fe²⁺ concentration, H₂O₂/Fe²⁺ molar ratio and oxidation time are selected as the independent variables, whereas total COD, color, inert COD and UV₂₅₄ removal are selected as the responses. According to the ANOVA results, the R² values of all responses are found to be over 95%. Under the optimum conditions determined by the model (pH: 3.99, Fe²⁺: 150 mmol/L, H₂O₂/Fe²⁺: 3.27 and oxidation time: 84.8 min), the maximum COD removal efficiency is determined as 91.4% by the model. The color, inert COD and UV₂₅₄ removal efficiencies are determined to be 99.9%, 97.2% and 99.5%, respectively, by the model, whereas the total COD, color, inert COD and UV₂₅₄ removal efficiencies are found respectively to be 90%, 96.5%, 95.3% and 97.2%, experimentally under the optimum operating conditions. The Fenton process improves the biodegradability of the leachate NF concentrate, increasing the BOD₅/COD ratio from the value of 0.04 to the value of 0.4. The operational cost of the process is calculated to be 0.238 €/g COD_removed. The results indicate that the Fenton oxidation process is an efficient and economical technology in improvement of the biological degradability of leachate nanofiltration concentrate and in removal of resistant organic pollutants.     

Limited contributions of released animals from zoos to North American conservation translocations

With the loss of biodiversity accelerating, conservation translocations such as reintroductions are becoming an increasingly common conservation tool. Conservation translocations must source individuals for release from either wild or captive-bred populations. We asked what proportion of North American conservation translocations rely on captive breeding and to what extent zoos and aquaria (hereafter zoos) fulfill captive breeding needs. We searched for mention of captive breeding and zoo involvement in all 1863 articles included in the North American Conservation Translocations database, which comprises journal articles and grey literature published before 2014 on conservation translocations in Canada, the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America before 2014 as identified by a comprehensive literature review. Conservation translocations involved captive breeding for 162 (58%) of the 279 animal species translocated. Fifty-four zoos contributed animals for release. The 40 species of animals bred for release by zoos represented only 14% of all animal species for which conservation translocations were published and only 25% of all animal species that were bred for releases occurring in North America. Zoo contributions varied by taxon, ranging from zoo-bred animals released in 42% of amphibian conservation translocations to zero contributions for marine invertebrates. Proportional involvement of zoos in captive-breeding programs for release has increased from 1974 to 2014 (r = 0.325, p = 0.0313) as has the proportion of translocation-focused scientific papers coauthored by zoo professionals (from 0% in 1974 to 42% in 2013). Although zoos also contribute to conservation translocations through education, funding, and professional expertise, increasing the contribution of animals for release in responsible conservation translocation programs presents a future conservation need and opportunity. We especially encourage increased dialogue and planning between the zoo community, academic institutions, and governments to optimize the direct contribution zoos can make to wildlife conservation through conservation translocations.     

基于卫星观测的中三角地区吸收性气溶胶的时空演化解析

基于臭氧检测仪(Ozone Monitoring Instrument,OMI)的遥感数据,利用ArcGIS10.2对2005—2020年中三角地区(湖北省、湖南省、江西省)紫外吸收性气溶胶指数(Ultraviolet Aerosol Index,UVAI)的时空变化进行分析,结合气溶胶颗粒物(PM_2.5、PM₁₀)和气态污染物(CO)数据,利用HYSPLIT(Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory model)方法研究主要污染城市气溶胶颗粒物的来源与传输路径,通过核密度估计法、相关性分析、聚类分析,研究其影响因素.结果表明：(1)在空间分布上,中三角地区吸收性气溶胶的高值区集中在襄阳市北部、孝感市东部、武汉市西部;在时间分布上,2008年UVAI最低,2014年达到最大值;季节分布具有明显变化,2005—2020年吸收性气溶胶指数季均值为冬季>春季>秋季>夏季.(2)UVAI与人口增长率、第二产业产值占总产值的比重呈正相关性,与节能环保预算支出呈显著负...     

The consequences of poaching and anthropogenic change for forest elephants

Poaching has devastated forest elephant populations (Loxodonta cyclotis), and their habitat is dramatically changing. The long‐term effects of poaching and other anthropogenic threats have been well studied in savannah elephants (Loxodonta africana), but the impacts of these changes for Central Africa's forest elephants have not been discussed. We examined potential repercussions of these threats and the related consequences for forest elephants in Central Africa by summarizing the lessons learned from savannah elephants and small forest elephant populations in West Africa. Forest elephant social organization is less known than the social organization of savannah elephants, but the close evolutionary history of these species suggests that they will respond to anthropogenic threats in broadly similar ways. The loss of older, experienced individuals in an elephant population disrupts ecological, social, and population parameters. Severe reduction of elephant abundance within Central Africa's forests can alter plant communities and ecosystem functions. Poaching, habitat alterations, and human population increase are probably compressing forest elephants into protected areas and increasing human–elephant conflict, which negatively affects their conservation. We encourage conservationists to look beyond documenting forest elephant population decline and address the causes of these declines when developing conversation strategies. We suggest assessing the effectiveness of the existing protected‐area networks for landscape connectivity in light of current industrial and infrastructure development. Longitudinal assessments of the effects of landscape changes on forest elephant sociality and behavior are also needed. Finally, lessons learned from West African elephant population loss and habitat fragmentation should be used to inform strategies for land‐use planning and managing human–elephant interactions.     

十三陵地震台观测技术系统优化改造

在北京十三陵地震台建设了一个高度集成的地震观测监控系统，将原来分散的观测项目（如测震、GPS、气氡、气汞、电磁波、地电场等测项），改造为集中到一台服务器管理，在一个监控平台上统一实现了对台站数据的收集、入库、管理、处理、监控等业务；对这些观测项目可以在控制台上直接取数并将数据入库；初步实现了观测数据的收集、数据处理、数据管理、数据监控的软件管理系统，减少了系统维护工作量，方便台站工作人员操控。监控系统的地震前兆数据监管软件系统DataMonitor可准实时监视数据，检查数据的异常和到达情况，并向台站数据管理人员告警；可对数据库数据进行统计，包括数据到达情况统计、缺数统计、数据连续率统计等。该系统还提供多种前兆数据处理方法，实现对前兆数据的各种常规分析处理。     

利用水泥迴转窑处理可燃性危险废物

本文评述了国外利用可燃性危险废物作为生产水泥燃料的经验技术，说明这是一项既可处理危险废物，又回收废物资源的成功之举。结合我国具体情况，指出它将是我国进行区域性集中处理某些可燃性危险废物的有效之路。