High-resolution optical and infrared spectroscopic observations of Cir X-1

We present new optical and infrared (IR) observations of Cir X-1 taken near apastron. Both sets of spectra show asymmetric emission lines. Archival optical observations show that an asymmetric H α emission line has been in evidence for the past 20 years, although the shape of the line has changed significantly. We present an eccentric ( e ∼0.7–0.9) low-mass binary model, where the system consists of a neutron star orbiting around a (sub)giant companion star of 3–5 M_⊙. We suggest that the broad components of the emission lines arise in a high-velocity, optically thick flow near the neutron star, while the narrow components of the optical and the IR lines arise near the companion star and a heated ejecta shell surrounding the binary respectively. In this model, the velocity of the narrow component reflects the space velocity of the binary; the implied radial velocity (+430 km s⁻¹ after correcting for Galactic rotation) is the highest velocity known for an X-ray binary.     

中国南方山地的土地荒漠化初探

我国的土地沙漠化已不仅仅在北方干旱、半干旱、包括部分半湿润地区, 而且在我国不少湿润和半湿润地带的东部平原(如黄淮海平原等)、沿海地区以及南方山地区也有发生, 其环境退化过程所包括的内容已不局限于"风沙化", 还包括了"砂石化"的类似砾质荒漠景观和山地丘陵斜坡的流水侵蚀造成的劣地景观, 内容较为丰富, 因此对我国南方山区的环境趋向于类似荒漠条件的退化过程, 我们采用了较广义的土地荒漠化的含义。     

东胜煤田矿区绿化初见成效

本文介绍了矿区荒漠化土地对东胜煤田开发的危害, 东胜露天矿开发对该区荒漠化土地的影响, 以及为了保证东胜煤田顺利开发, 对矿区荒漠化土地的综合治理现状。     

塔克拉玛干沙漠地下水矿化度与电导率关系的研究

用数理统计的方法推导水质矿化度与电导率的回归方程, 并绘制其关系曲线。经测定, 新疆塔克拉玛干沙漠84°E沿线水化学类型主要为Cl^-·SO₄^2--Na⁺, 通过推导得出, 25℃情况下, 当电导率为4.5~12ms/cm, 矿化度依电导率的回归方程为: y=-0.3016+0.6936x; 当电导率<5.4ms/cm, y=-0.171+0.6833x, 建立矿化度与电导率的关系后, 测定地下水的电导率, 即可获得待测样的矿化度, 为野外考察或定点观测提供获得地下水矿化度的简便、快速而准确的方法。     

汾渭与贝加尔裂谷系相似性的统计分析

在野外观测与遥感综合解译的基础上,充分利用区内已积累的地质与地球物理资料,应用统计分析方法,从7个方面分别计算分析了汾渭与贝加尔裂谷系的相似性系数。显著性统计检验表明,两裂谷系在几何形态、三维构造格局、历史与现今活动性各方面都存在显著的相似性。
结合空间测量与两裂谷系现今构造应力场的实测资料分析,推断汾渭与贝加尔裂谷系高度相似性产生的动力学机制与东亚大陆这一地带南、北块体间不等速西向运动所造成的大规模S形张裂作用存在成因联系。      

人地关系与脆弱带的研究

兴起于80年代后期的生态脆弱带研究,标志着"持续发展"的现代人地关系理论对人类生存环境哲学思考的深化。侧重于植物生态领域的脆弱带概念现已被拓宽,生态学、人口承载力、害灾学、荒漠化成为其四个主要的研究方面;由人地关系矛盾所决定的性质的不稳定性为脆弱带的主要特征;界面性、波动性、基质性是脆弱带的主要成因类型。     

土高压三轴仪及数据自动处理

本文较详细地介绍了适于研究深层基础持力层力学特性的大型试验设备——土高压三轴仪。并结合三轴固结不排水试验实例,介绍了系统的自动化全过程(包括数据实时采集、自动处理、结果输出和图表绘制),以及系统的软、硬件等。     

自动与人工雨量计观测降水量的差异分析

通过对东胜国家基准气候站自动与人工两年观测数据资料的实时对比,分析判断出自动观测雨量计相对人工观测雨量计来说,误差率比较稳定。     

Seasonal and interannual variations in the velocity field of the South China Sea

A three-dimensional numerical model is used to simulate sea level and velocity variations in the South China Sea for 1992–1995. The model is driven by daily wind and daily sea surface temperature fields derived from the NCEP/NCAR 40-year reanalysis project. The four-year model outputs are analyzed using time-domain Empirical Orthogonal Functions (EOF). Spatial and temporal variations of the first two modes from the simulation compare favorably with those derived from satellite altimetry. Mode 1, which is associated with a southern gyre, shows symmetric seasonal reversal. Mode 2, which contributes to a northern gyre, is responsible for the asymmetric seasonal and interannual variations. In winter, the southern and northern cyclonic gyres combine into a strong basin-wide cyclonic gyre. In summer, a cyclonic northern gyre and an anticyclonic southern gyre form a dipole with a jet leaving the coast of Vietnam. Interannual variations are particularly noticeable during El Niño. The winter gyre is generally weakened and confined to the southern basin, and the summer dipole structure does not form. Vertical motions weaken accordingly with the basin-wide circulation. Variations of the wind stress curl in the first two EOF modes coincide with those of the model-derived sea level and horizontal velocities. The mode 1 wind stress curl, significant in the southern basin, coincides with the reversal of the southern gyre. The mode 2 curl, large in the central basin, is responsible for the asymmetry in the winter and summer gyres. Lack of the mode 2 contribution during El Niño events weakens the circulation. The agreement indicates that changes in the wind stress curl contribute to the seasonal and interannual variations in the South China Sea.     

A Sensitive and Versatile Multiplex PCR System for the Rapid Detection of Enterotoxigenic (ETEC), Enterohaemorrhagic (EHEC) and Enteropathogenic (EPEC) Strains of Escherichia coli

Although Escherichia coli is widely distributed in the marine environment, only a small percentage are pathogenic to humans. Nonetheless, the widespread occurrence of waterborne infections of E. coli origin in humans has become one of the major health problems worldwide. To date, several types of enterovirulent E. coli have been recognized as the aetiologic agents of various gastrointestinal infections in humans. The most commonly encountered are those belonging to the enterotoxigenic (ETEC), enteroinvasive (EIEC), enterohaemorrhagic (EHEC) and enteropathogenic (EPEC) subtypes. In order to better determine the health risks that are associated with exposure to some of these specific subtypes, we have developed a very sensitive multiplex PCR system for the rapid detection and typing of ETEC, EHEC and possibly EPEC strains of E. coli in the aquatic environment. The target genes chosen for this investigation included: the PHO-A housekeeping gene (present in all E. coli); the LT1, LT2 and ST1 genes of ETEC; the VT1 and VT2 verotoxin, and EAE virulence genes of EHEC and EPEC, respectively. Six pairs of oligonucleotide primers were designed to simultaneously amplify internal fragments of these genes by multiplex PCR to generate PCR products that could be analysed and confirmed with relative ease by gel electrophoresis and HincII enzyme digestion. The results showed that the six sets of PCR primers were highly specific for their target genes and produced specific amplimers of the expected size from several control strains of E. coli – ATCC 35401 (LT1+/ST1+); SA53 (LT2+/VT2+); and O157 (VT1+/VT2+/EAE+). The detection sensitivity of the multiplex PCR system for the six target genes in an E. coli cell mixture was optimized and enhanced by preincubating serially diluted cells in Luria-Bertani broth for 6 h prior to PCR analysis. The results obtained indicated a detection sensitivity of 10° CFU (of each strain) per 100 μl reaction. Multiplex PCR analysis of seawater samples collected from four sewage-polluted sites in Hong Kong indicated the presence in all four samples of E. coli bacteria that were positive for LT1, ST1, VT1 and EAE virulence genes. Overall, the data indicated that the multiplex PCR system described in this study is a potentially very useful and powerful method for routine monitoring and risk assessment of water quality.