工业城市的末日及城市财政危机

本文论述了当代社会后工业化阶段经济需求和技术能力使得大城市、尤其是工业城市过多,从而出现了普遍的城市衰退以及城市购政危机等方面的问题。然而与“城市末日”这一理论相反,本文认为城市并非正在丧失经济基础,而是在转换其经济基础。过去城市是生产中心,而现在城市却成为生产、分配,消费协调中心。英国的一些实际情况可以说明这一论点。本文最后得出一些切实可行的政策结论。     

Detection of CO and Ethane in Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner: Evidence for Variable Chemistry in the Outer Solar Nebula

Ethane and carbon monoxide were detected in a short-period comet of probable Kuiper Belt origin. Ethane is substantially less abundant compared with Hyakutake and Hale-Bopp, two comets from the giant-planet region of the solar nebula, suggesting a heliocentric gradient in ethane in precometary ices. It is argued that processing by X-rays from the young Sun may be responsible.     

A Theoretical Light-Curve Model for the 1999 Outburst of U Scorpii

We report the detection of the Pb i lambda4057.8 line in the very metal-poor (&sqbl0;Fe&solm0;H&sqbr0;=-2.7), carbon-rich star, LP 625-44. We determine the abundance of Pb (&sqbl0;Pb&solm0;Fe&sqbr0;=2.65) and 15 other neutron-capture elements. The abundance pattern between Ba and Pb agrees well with a scaled solar system s-process component, while the lighter elements (Sr-Zr) are less abundant than Ba. The enhancement of s-process elements is interpreted as a result of mass transfer in a binary system from a previous asymptotic giant branch (AGB) companion, an interpretation strongly supported by radial velocity variations of this system. The detection of Pb makes it possible, for the first time, to compare model predictions of s-process nucleosynthesis in AGB stars with observations of elements between Sr and Pb. The Pb abundance is significantly lower than the prediction of recent models (e.g., Gallino et al.), which succeeded in explaining the metallicity dependence of the abundance ratios of light s-elements (Sr-Zr) to heavy ones (Ba-Dy) found in previously observed s-process-enhanced stars. This suggests that one should either (1) reconsider the underlying assumptions concerning the (13)C-rich s-processing site ((13)C pocket) in the present models or (2) investigate alternative sites of s-process nucleosynthesis in very metal-poor AGB stars.     

Interplanetary Network Localization of GRB 991208 and the Discovery of its Afterglow

The extremely energetic ( approximately 10-4 ergs cm-2) gamma-ray burst (GRB) of 1999 December 8 was triangulated to an approximately 14 arcmin2 error box approximately 1.8 days after its arrival at Earth with the third interplanetary network (IPN), which consists of the Ulysses, Near-Earth Asteroid Rendezvous, and Wind spacecraft. Radio observations with the Very Large Array approximately 2.7 days after the burst revealed a bright fading counterpart whose position is consistent with that of an optical transient source with a redshift of 0.707. We present the time history, peak flux, fluence, and refined 1.3 arcmin2 error box of this event and discuss its energetics. This is the first time that a counterpart has been found for a GRB localized only by the IPN.     

西藏札达地区上白垩统-下始新统达机翁组:对冈底斯弧前盆地演化的制约

冈底斯弧前区域地层沉积记录,对新特提斯洋消亡和印度-亚洲碰撞过程的研究具有十分重要的意义。位于西藏南部札达地区的达机翁组,北邻冈底斯岩浆弧,南靠雅鲁藏布江缝合带。岩石组成主要包括砾岩、岩屑砂岩、泥页岩和灰岩等。沉积环境分析认为达机翁组形成于扇三角洲相环境。火山灰锆石U-Pb定年、碎屑锆石最年轻年龄以及底栖有孔虫化石组合共同约束达机翁组的形成时代为晚白垩世-始新世早期(即ca.73～49Ma)。物源区分析结果表明达机翁组物源类似于区域上分布的日喀则弧前盆地沉积,直接以北侧冈底斯岩浆弧为主要物质源区。通过与区域弧前沉积对比,为冈底斯弧前盆地海相地层时代提供制约,结果显示新特提斯洋在亚洲大陆南缘的弧前海退存在东西方向上的穿时性,即海水自东向西逐渐退出,并最终在～49Ma退出冈底斯-拉达克弧前区域。     

Trend in Observed and Projected Maximum and Minimum Temperature over N-W Himalayan Basin

Recently, study in past trends of climate variables gained significant consideration because of its contribution in adaptions and mitigation strategies for potential future changes in climate, primarily in the area of water resource management. Future interannual and inter-seasonal variations in maximum and minimum temperature may bring significant changes in hydrological systems and affect regional water resources. The present study has been performed to observe past(1970-2010) as well as future(2011-2100)spatial and temporal variability in temperature(maximum and minimum) over selected stations of Sutlej basin located in North-Western Himalayan region in India. The generation of future time series of temperature data at different stations is done using statistical downscaling technique. The nonparametric test methods, modified Mann-Kendall test and Cumulative Sum chart are used for detecting monotonic trend and sequential shift in time series of maximum and minimum temperature. Sen’s slope estimator test is used to detect the magnitude of change over a period of time on annual and seasonal basis. The cooling experienced in annual TMax and TMin at Kasol in past(1970-2010) would be replaced by warming in future as increasing trends are detected in TMax during 2020 s and 2050 s and in TMin during 2020 s, 2050 s and 2080 s under A1 B and A2 scenarios. Similar results of warming are also predicted at Sunnifor annual TMin in future under both scenarios which witnessed cooling during 1970-2010. The rise in TMin at Rampur is predicted to be continued in future as increasing trends are obtained under both the scenarios. Seasonal trend analysis reveals large variability in trends of TMax and TMin over these stations for the future periods.     

Sicilian serpentinite xenoliths containing abiotic organics with nanodiamond clusters as key model for prebiotic processes

Rock fragments from the deepest parts of a buried hydrothermal system belonging to the Mesozoic Tethys Ocean entered as xenoliths in a Miocenic diatreme,hence brought to the surface,in the Hyblean Plateau(Sicily).Some xenoliths consist of strongly serpentinized ultramafic rocks bearing blebs of abiotic organic matter,where clusters of amorphous carbon nanoparticles,including nanodiamonds,are immersed.Such an occurrence conjures up established hypotheses that diamond surfaces are suitable catalytic platforms stimulating the assemblage of complex bio-organic molecules relevant to the emergence of life on Earth.The appearance of bio-organic molecules under primitive Earth conditions is one of the major unsolved questions on the origin of life.Here we report new micro-Raman spectra on blebs of abiotic organic matter from a selected xenolith.Diamond bands were related to hydrogenated nanocrystalline diamonds,with size of nearly 1-1.6 nm,formed from organics at low pressures and temperatures.In particular,diamond surfaces can give rise to crystalline interfacial water layers that may have played a fundamental role in the early biosphere evolution as a good medium for rapidly transporting positive charges in the form of hydrated protons.Nowadays,proton gradients in alkaline hydrothermal vents along oceanic ridges are generally viewed as key pre-biotic factors.In general,serpentinites span the entire geological record,including prebiotic times.These hydrous ultramafic rocks often display evidence of abiotic carbon species,both organic and inorganic,including nanodiamonds,being also capable to give rise to chemiosmotic processes and proton gradients necessary to the organisms,such as the"Last Universal Common Ancestor"(LUCA),in the prebiotic Earth.     

Petro Gram: An excel-based petrology program for modeling of magmatic processes

Petro Gram is an Excel?based magmatic petrology program that generates numerical and graphical models.Petro Gram can model the magmatic processes such as melting,crystallization,assimilation and magma mixing based on the trace element and isotopic data.The program can produce both inverse and forward geochemical models for melting processes(e.g.forward model for batch,fractional and dynamic melting,and inverse model for batch and dynamic melting).However,the program uses a forward modeling approach for magma differentiation processes such as crystallization(EC:Equilibruim Crystallization,FC:Fractional Crystallization,IFC:Imperfect Fractional Crystallization and In-situ Crystallization),assimilation(AFC:Assimilation Fractional Crystallization,Decoupled FC-A:Decoupled Fractional Crystallization and Assimillation,A-IFC:Assimilation and Imperfect Fractional Crystallization)and magma mixing.One of the most important advantages of the program is that the melt composition obtained from any partial melting model can be used as a starting composition of the crystallization,assimilation and magma mixing.In addition,Petro Gram is able to carry out the classification,tectonic setting,multi-element(spider)and isotope correlation diagrams,and basic calculations including Mg^#,Eu/Eu^*,εSrandεNdwidely used in magmatic petrology.     

Crushing and embedment of proppant packs under cyclic loading:An insigh to enhanced unconventional oil/gas recovery

Crushing and embedment are two critical downhole proppant degradation mechanisms that lead to a significant drop in production outputs in unconventional oil/gas stimulation projects.These persistent production drops due to the non-linear responses of proppants under reservoir conditions put the future utilization of such advanced stimulation techniques in unconventional energy extraction in doubt.The aim of this study is to address these issues by conducting a comprehensive experimental approach.According to the results,whatever the type of proppant,all proppant packs tend to undergo significant plastic deformation under the first loading cycle.Moreover,the utilization of ceramic proppants(which retain proppant pack porosity up to 75％),larger proppant sizes(which retain proppant pack porosity up to 15.2％)and higher proppant concentrations(which retain proppant pack porosity up to 29.5％)in the fracturing stimulations with higher in-situ stresses are recommended to de-escalate the critical consequences of crushing associated issues.Similarly,the selection of resin-coated proppants over ceramic and sand proppants may benefit in terms of obtaining reduced proppant embedment.In addition,selection of smaller proppant sizes and higher proppant concentrations are suggested for stimulation projects at depth with sedimentary formations and lower in-situ stresses where proppant embedment pre-dominates.Furthermore,correlation between proppant embedment with repetitive loading cycles was studied.Importantly,microstructural analysis of the proppant-embedded siltstone rock samples revealed that the initiation of secondary induced fractures.Finally,the findings of this study can greatly contribute to accurately select optimum proppant properties(proppant type,size and concentration)depending on the oil/gas reservoir char-acteristics to minimize proppant crushing and embedment effects.     

Biostratigraphy,Depositional and Diagenetic Processes in Carbonate Rocks from Southern Lebanon: Impact on Porosity and Permeability

Carbonate rocks contain prolific hydrocarbon reserves all over the world, particularly in the Middle East. For exploration and production strategies, it is essential to understand carbonate reservoirs in terms of their internal characteristics, depositional environment, relative age, diagenetic processes and impact on petrophysical properties. This study has been performed on exposed Cretaceous, Paleocene and Miocene marine carbonate sedimentary sequences in two localities (Maghdoucheh and Qennarit) near the city of Sidon (Southern Lebanon). It represents the first comprehensive study that takes into consideration the carbonate reservoir facies, diagenetic history and reservoir quality in the area. Rocks at Maghdoucheh are mainly dominated by limestone beds showing sedimentary structures and erosive bases alternating with microfossil-rich silty marls, related to a shallowing upward sequence in a restricted marine platform environment. Shells of benthic foraminifera and mollusks dominate the fossil assemblage extracted from the studied rocks. The microfossil and nannofossil assemblage detected in the Maghdoucheh sections indicates a middle Miocene age. Rocks at Qennarit are composed of mudstone/wackestone limestone beds rich in planktonic foraminifera and nannofossils related to open marine conditions. Based on the nannofossil content, rocks from Qennarit 1 and 2 are Paleocene and Cretaceous in age, respectively. Four main types of microfacies have been identified, i.e. (1) microbioclastic peloidal calcisiltite, (2) pelagic lime mudstone and wackestone with planktonic microfossils, (3) grainstone/packstone with abundant foraminifera and (4) fenestral bindstones, mudstones and packstones with porostromate microstructures. The porosity-permeability (poro-perm) analysis of representative samples reveals moderate to good porosity but very low permeability. This is mainly due to the presence of large moldic pores that are isolated in nature. The diagenetic features are dominated by micritization and dissolution (both fabric selective and non-fabric selective). Among all diagenetic features, dissolution in both localities contributes to porosity enhancement, while micritization, cementation, compaction and the filled fractures have negative impacts on permeability; hence the overall reservoir quality.