高硫酸盐矿井水综合处理产业化技术研究

由于高硫酸盐矿井水离子组分复杂且含量高,使单一的水处理技术应用受到很大的限制,同时也使水处理部门承受昂贵的运行费及设备维护费。本文从废水综合处理产业化角度出发,依据无机化学反应中的溶度积规则,利用钡试剂净化高硫酸盐矿井水,在达到净化目标的同时,又能回收具有较高经济价值的沉淀性BaSO₄,从而反向支持水处理工程的运行,使一个单一的矿井水处理项目变成一个具有商品水、商品沉淀性BaSO₄收益的综合产业部门。     

Homochirality as the signature of life: the SETH Cigar

A characteristic hallmark of life is its homochirality: all biomolecules are usually of one hand, e.g. on Earth life uses only L-amino acids for protein synthesis and not their D mirror images. It is therefore suggested that a search for extra-terrestrial life can be approached as a Search for Extra-Terrestrial Homochirality (SETH). A novel miniaturized space polarimeter, called the SETH Cigar, is described which could he used to detect optical rotation as the homochiral signature of life on other planets. Moving parts are avoided by replacing the normal rotating polarizer by multiple fixed polarizers at different angles as in the eye of the bee. It is believed that homochirality will be found in the subsurface layers on Mars as a relic of extinct life.     

Migrating to learn and learning to migrate: a study of the experiences and intentions of international student migrants

"The research reported here evaluates whether students come to the UK mainly for educational reasons, and therefore perceive their stay as temporary, or whether emigration for study is being used as part of a conscious strategy by people intending to become future labour migrants.... The simplest interpretation of the results appears to be that migration, experienced as a result of international moves for study purposes, does not influence planning of further migration moves. But the research also indicates that migration for education is closely tied to other types of population redistribution and should be treated by population geographers as an integral part of international migration systems." Data were collected by questionnaire survey from 349 engineering students at Hong Kong universities and 82 Hong Kong students studying engineering in the UK.     

Recovery of polluted ecosystems: the case for long-term studies

Recovery of marine ecosystems from pollution has tended to receive less attention than the study of new or continuing impacts, but such studies are important in charting recovery from acute incidents and following legislation to deal with chronic contamination. Recovery is inevitably a long-term process, and where such studies have been made they are often too short-lived. Interest quickly wanes following an acute incident and governmental bodies rapidly switch to new legislative priorities for chronic inputs. We review three case studies: recovery of dogwhelk populations after local extinction by tributyl tin leachates from anti-fouling paints; recovery of rocky shore communities from oil spills; and recovery of estuarine ecosystems from industrial and urban development. We then make some generalisations about recovery processes before making a plea for long-term studies of polluted areas.     

Array technology as a tool to monitor exposure of fish to xenoestrogens

A variety of anthropogenic chemicals are capable of binding to the estrogen receptor of vertebrate species. Binding of these compounds can interfere with homeostasis by disrupting normal gene expression patterns. The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of applying array technology as a monitoring tool for detecting the presence and distribution of estrogenic compounds in coastal habitats using sheepshead minnows as our model. cDNA clones that were isolated from differential display, including vitellogenin alpha and beta, vitelline envelope protein (ZP2), and transferrin, among others, were spotted on the macroarray. The results of these experiments demonstrate a characteristic expression pattern of estrogen responsive genes in sheepshead minnows exposed to 17 beta-estradiol (E2).     

Evaluation of toxicity in tributaries of the Mersey estuary using the isopod Asellus aquaticus (L.)

Increasing numbers of industrial, agricultural and natural chemicals are present in sewage effluent and are known to elicit toxic effects in laboratory exposures, but little is known of their combined sub-lethal effect in the field. In this study, a combination of esterase activity and ventilation rate assays was performed to determine the neurological and physiological function of the freshwater crustacean Asellus aquaticus (L.) at sites above and below a sewage treatment works (STW). Cholinesterase and carboxylesterase activities were significantly inhibited (n=8, P<0.05) and ventilation rates increased (n=8, P=0.0001) in A. aquaticus at STW sites compared to those from reference sites, indicating a decrease in neurological and physiological function. The ecological relevance of these findings for the population dynamics of the organisms in the field is discussed.     

孟加拉湾地区大陆边缘盆地勘探概况与油气富集主控因素

孟加拉湾位于印度大陆以东、缅甸-安达曼-苏门答腊以西、孟加拉国南部海上地区,该区存在主动和被动两种不同类型的大陆边缘,并发育众多大陆边缘含油气盆地。根据板块位置和构造特征将其划分为三大类,分别是:被动大陆边缘盆地(马哈纳迪、K-G和高韦里盆地);主动大陆边缘盆地(若开、缅甸中央、马达班、安达曼和北苏门答腊盆地);残留洋盆地(孟加拉盆地)。根据火山岛弧带分布情况进一步将主动大陆边缘盆地划分为:①海沟型——若开盆地;②弧前型——缅甸中央盆地;③弧后型——马达班、安达曼和北苏门答腊盆地。对这些盆地油气勘探情况的统计与分析表明,该区大陆边缘盆地的油气分布主控因素为:烃源岩类型与有机质丰度决定了流体性质与资源强度;大型河流—三角洲形成富油气区;盆地类型、性质及晚期构造活动强度决定区带勘探潜力。     

Monitoring the development of intertidal habitats on former agricultural land after the managed realignment of coastal defences at Tollesbury, Essex, UK

The managed realignment of coastal defences and subsequent creation of intertidal habitats is one of several 'soft' engineering options that could reduce the costs of maintaining embankments and at the same time deliver environmental benefits. The managed realignment at Tollesbury was one of the first in the UK, undertaken as an experimental test case to improve understanding of the practical techniques and processes involved. Independent studies were undertaken on the development of soils, benthic invertebrates and vegetation within the site in addition to methods of enhancing the process of natural colonisation of saltmarsh plants. Bathymetric and vegetation monitoring were undertaken on the adjacent estuary to determine any breach effect that may be attributed to the realignment. This paper summarises the results from the vegetation, sedimentation and invertebrate monitoring and discusses the implications for other managed realignment schemes in the UK.     

The significance of dilution in evaluating possible impacts of wastewater discharges from large cruise ships

In response to public concerns about discharges from large cruise ships, Alaska's Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) sampled numerous effluents in the summer of 2000. The data showed that basic marine sanitation device (MSD) technology for black water (sewage) was not performing as expected. Untreated gray water had high levels of conventional pollutants and surprisingly high levels of bacteria. Both black water and gray water discharges sometimes exceeded state water quality standards for toxicants. The state convened a Science Advisory Panel (the Panel) to evaluate impacts associated with cruise ship wastewater discharges. The effluent data received wide media coverage and increased public concerns. Consequently, legislative decisions were made at the State and Federal level, and regulations were imposed before the Panel completed its evaluation. The Panel demonstrated that following the rapid dilution from moving cruise ships, the effluent data from the Summer of 2000 would not have exceeded water quality standards, and environmental effects were not expected.