Detection of a new interstellar molecular ion, H2COH+ (protonated formaldehyde)

A new interstellar molecular ion, H2COH+ (protonated formaldehyde), has been detected toward Sgr B2, Orion KL, W51, and possibly in NGC 7538 and DR21(OH). Six transitions were detected in Sgr B2(M). The 1(1,0)-1(0,1) transition was detected in all sources listed above. Searches were also made toward the cold, dark clouds TMC-1 and L134N, Orion (3N, 1E), and a red giant, IRC + 10216, without success. The excitation temperatures of H2COH+ are calculated to be 60-110 K, and the column densities are on the order of 10(12)-10(14) cm-2 in Sgr B2, Orion KL, and W51. The fractional abundance of H2COH+ is on the order of 10(-11) to 10-(9), and the ratio of H2COH+ to H2CO is in the range 0.001-0.5 in these objects. The values in Orion KL seem to be consistent with the "early time" values of recent model calculations by Lee, Bettens, & Herbst, but they appear to be higher than the model values in Sgr B2 and W51 even if we take the large uncertainties of column densities of H2CO into account. We suggest production routes starting from CH3OH may play an important role in the formation of H2COH+.     

Habitat associations of floating debris and marine birds in the North East Pacific Ocean at coarse and meso spatial scales

While many surface foraging seabirds ingest plastic, the spatial overlap of these far-ranging predators with debris aggregations at-sea is poorly understood. We surveyed concurrent distributions of marine birds and debris along a 4400 km cruise track within a debris accumulation area in the North East Pacific Ocean using line and strip transect methods. Analysis of debris and bird distributions revealed associations with oceanographic and weather variables at two spatial scales: daily surveys and hourly transects. Hourly bird abundance (densities; 0-9 birds km⁻²) was higher in lower wind and shallower water. Hourly debris abundance (densities; 0-15,222 pieces km⁻²) was higher in lower wind, higher sea-level atmospheric pressure and deeper water. These results suggest that debris and seabird abundance and community structure are influenced by similar environmental processes, but in opposing ways, with only three far-ranging seabird species (Black-footed Albatross, Cook’s Petrel and Red-tailed Tropicbird) overlapping with high debris concentrations over meso-scales.     

预知滑坡灾害的可能性

滑坡活动的预知预测可分两个阶段:即休止状态中的滑坡开始活动初期的预知.与缓慢运动中的滑坡达到急速崩坍时的预测两种.后者为从地表变位的蠕变曲线中计算其崩坍时刻.人们都知道有所谓斋藤公式之类.这种计算方法只要取得准确的记录在手.在进入第三蠕变时基本上是可以算出其崩坍时间的.然而,即使在这种情况下,认为已属于第三场变的运动,也有时忽又发生减速,或缓速交替运动,而不一定迅速出现崩坍现象,因此不可避免地也常产生时间推错情况.这总的来说不是从滑坡内部运动机制上计算出的结果.而只是依靠地表变位,这就难免出现失误.但如果从现象上看确实快要到达最终阶段出现加速.则在崩坍前30分钟时根据蠕变曲线推定的时刻.根据过去的经验有2~3例只出现过5分钟左右的误差.     

锰结核的化学组成与浓缩比

据最近分析,查出锰结核中含有56种元素(据Mckelvey,1983).其中品位在0.01%以上的28种.从下表可以看出,含1.8%~1%高品位的元素有Mn、Fe、Si、Al、Ca、Na、Mg;此外属于微量成分的,含1%~0.1%的有Cl、K、Ti、Ni、S、Cu、P.C、Co、Ba、Zn;含0.1%~0.01%的有Pb、Sr、Ce、Zr、V、Mo、Nd、La、Y、Li等元素.这些元素在地壳中的平均品位与在锰结核中所占品位相比较,从富集比来看,可知Mn、Ni、Cu、Co、Pb、Mo等金属元素正以253倍至74倍,Zn以17倍的比例富集于锰结核中.但是,锰结核的化学组成并非各处都是一样,据说与产地、产状、形态类型等方面的变化有关,即使是区域比例或结核内部显微镜下比例也有很大变化.象这样的化学组     

Role of container vessels in the introduction of exotic species

Ballast water exchange practices were monitored on 28 incoming container vessels at the Port of Montreal. Measurements on 15 vessels indicated 13 of 32 tanks had salinities of <30 per thousand. The 16 transits with a North Atlantic route visited 31 of 37 ports located on freshwater or near freshwater outflows. Ballast carried by this vessel type represents an important means for the introduction of species on a global scale because of its transit routes, dockside discharge and moving ballast between tanks. Container vessels represent about 15% of the world fleet, but account for 32% of all visits to global ports, and 46% of visits to the 25 largest ports. The 10 ports that handled the largest volumes of international cargo also included 8 that handled the most cargo containers. Large ports can receive over 100,000 visits by all vessel types annually, and serve as hubs for over 500 ports in 100 countries. Secondary transport of exotic species is also a concern because of frequent visits by regional vessels.     

Inhibition of coral fertilisation and larval metamorphosis by tributyltin and copper

Fertilisation and larval metamorphosis of reef-building corals are important life history events leading to recruitment of juvenile corals to reef populations. Little is known of the sensitivity of these early life phases to pollution, or their relative susceptibility to certain toxicants compared with established coral colonies. Inhibition of fertilisation and larval metamorphosis of the coral Acropora millepora (Ehrenberg, 1834) was assessed in response to solutions of the antifoulants tributyltin (TBT) and copper (Cu) using laboratory-based bioassays. Nominal concentrations that inhibited 50% fertilisation and metamorphosis (IC50) were calculated from 4 h fertilisation and 24 h metamorphosis assays and were based on introduced dose. Cu was most potent towards fertilisation with an IC50 of 17.4 micrograms/l. TBT however, proved more toxic to larval metamorphosis having an IC50 of 2.0 micrograms/l. Inert surfaces coated with either Cu- or TBT-based antifouling paint also inhibited fertilisation and metamorphosis. The degree of inhibition was correlated with surface area of the paint coating. These results indicate fertilisation and metamorphosis of coral can be sensitive to active components of antifouling paints.     

火山岩的化学成分与成因的研究

一、前 言 由岩浆固结而成的火成岩,是地壳的主要组成物质。火成岩有多种多样,从来都是按其产状、矿物组合的种类与所占比例进行分类命名,进而研究其成因的。自前世纪末开始建成了岩石矿物主成分定量分析法以来,岩石化学成分分析方面逐渐受到重视。但是由硅酸盐组成的岩石、矿物依然很难分析,直至最近,连主成分元素的定量分析在日本也只在有限的几处大学或研究所里能作。二十年来使用大型定量分析仪器的分析法,如萤光X射线装置、显微组分分析装置(电子探针)、质量分析计,甚至把使用原子反应堆或直线性加速器(linac)的中子放射化学或光子放射化学分析法引进了岩石学领域,自这以后,主成份、微量成份及稳定同位素等才能比较容易测定。如果这些方法能够同时并用,岩石矿物中约50种元素在短时间内作出定量分析并不困难。当然,这是要付出一笔巨额预算的。     

The demographic responses to famine: The case of China 1958–61

Pre-1949 China was The Sick Man of Asia, The Land of Famine. In 1949 Mao brought the communists to power and in the re-ordered world, all such problems were supposedly overcome — but not so. Thirty years ago China suffered one of the world's worst famines. Over the four years 1958–61, China suffered some 25–30 million more deaths and experienced some 30–35 million fewer births than might have been expected under normal conditions. Yet for almost a quarter of a century there would be few, outside of China, who were aware of the existence let alone the dimensions of the disaster. Access to Chinese census data since the mid-1980s has permitted a preliminary analysis of the demographic impact of the famine.Abbreviations JPRS-CEA-81-128 Joint Publications Research Service, China Economic Affairs Report 128, 1981 - JPRS-CPS-85-028 Joint Publications Research Service. China Report, Political, Sociological & Military Affairs 28, 1985     

SSI效应对大跨高墩桥梁弹塑性地震响应的影响

基于大型有限元分析软件ANSYS,根据大跨高墩桥梁的结构特点,利用水平和转动弹簧单元建立了考虑土结相互作用的大跨高墩桥梁的有限元计算分析模型,并结合现行的《铁路工程抗震规范》,合理地选取强震记录作为地震动输入,进行了大跨高墩桥梁的弹塑性地震响应分析。分析结果表明:较软的土质条件会导致大跨高墩桥梁弹塑性地震响应的增大;地基系数的比例系数则是影响数值计算结果增大的重要因素;土结构相互作用并没有改变地震动峰值加速度PGA对超高桥墩弹塑性地震响应的影响。研究结果可为大跨超高桥墩的抗震设计和验算提供参考。     

The British who are not British and the immigration policies that are not: the case of Hong Kong

"While 'closed-door' immigration policies are adopted by most countries, 'exceptionalist' legislation is often made to permit entry of special immigrant groups. An example is the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1990, which was passed in the run-up to the change in sovereignty of Hong Kong in 1997. Britain's increasingly restrictive immigration policies prior to 1990 [have] resulted in the majority of Hong Kong citizens having British nationality (as British Dependent Territories citizens) but without the right of abode in the U.K. The 1990 Act conferred full British citizenship status on 50,000 heads of households in Hong Kong." The authors conclude that "in a world of marked global inequalities, immigration pressure will become even more extreme and is likely to produce an increasing number of cases of exceptionalist immigration legislation in countries with both ?open' and 'closed'-door policies.'