Unveiling the chemistry of hot protostellar cores with ALMA

High angular resolution mm-wave observations of the Orion-KL region, made with the IRAM Plateau de Bure interferometer (PdBI), reveal the presence of several cores of size 10³ AU, which have distinct spectral signatures. Complex molecules such as ethanol, vinyl cyanide and dimethyl ether show different distributions and their relative abundance varies from core to core by orders of magnitude. The molecular column densities derived in the cores also differ widely from the beam-averaged column densities observed with large single-dish telescopes. Obviously, the predictions of hot core chemistry models must be checked against high resolution observations. ALMA, which allies sensitivity and high angular resolution, will be a key instrument for this type of studies. The PdBI observations were part of a search for interstellar glycine, also carried out with the IRAM 30-m telescope and the Green Bank Telescope. We derive a 3σ upper limit on the column density of glycine of 1×10¹⁵ cm⁻² per 2″×3″ beam in the Orion Hot Core and Compact Ridge. Based on observations made with the IRAM PdB Interferometer, the IRAM 30-m telescope and the NRAO Green-Bank telescope. IRAM is supported by CNRS, MPG and IGN.     

Circumnuclear Star Forming Activity in NGC 3982

We present a study of the nearby Seyfert galaxy NGC 3982 using optical,infrared and X-ray data acquired by SDSS,Spitzer and Chandra.Our main results are as follows:(1) A simple stellar population synthesis on the nuclear and circumnuclear SDSS spectra gives unambiguous evidence of young stellar components in both the nuclear and circumnuclear regions.(2) The Spitzer Infrared Spectrograph (IRS) spectrum of the central region (～3") shows a power-law continuum,a silicate emission feature at 9.7 μm,and significant PAH emission features at 7.7,8.6,11.3 and 12.7/zm,suggesting the coexistence of AGN and starburst activities in the central region of NGC 3982.(3) We estimate the star formation rate (SFR) of the circumnuclear (～5"-20") region from the Ha luminosity to be for the active nucleus of NGC 3982 from radio to X-ray,and obtain a bolometric luminosity of Lbol=4.5×1042 erg s-1,corresponding to an Eddington ratio (Lbol/LEdd) of 0.014.The HST image of NGC 3982 shows a nuclear mini-spiral between the circumnuclear starforming region and the nucleus,which could be the channel through which gas is transported to the supermassive black hole from the circumnuclear star-forming region.     

全新世时期北京-张家口地区与黄土高原地区风成系统的差异

近年来,中国北方的沙尘暴对北京地区的影响越来越受到人们的重视,从地质记录上分析研究北京—张家口地区沙尘暴的粉尘来源对确定重点治理区、改善北京地区的大气环境质量具有积极意义。黄土是地质时期沙尘暴形成的风成沉积物,其粒径分布蕴含了粉尘搬运过程中的大气环境信息,本文利用黄土-古土壤沉积的粒径分布特征,分析了北京—张家口地区和黄土高原地区风成系统的差异,并根据粉尘动力学原理,结合遥感信息揭示的地面风蚀痕迹,探讨了北京—张家口地区黄土粉尘的主要来源,指出北京—张家口地区和黄土高原地区分属不同的风成系统,有不同的粉尘源区和不同的大气动力条件。北京—张家口地区大气动力强度大,粉尘源区近,粉尘主要来自阴山以北的内蒙古苏尼特右旗—二连浩特方向,与浑善达克沙地关系不大,也与黄土高原地区主要粉尘物源区不同     

植硅体形态测量学研究与应用概述

植硅体形态测量学是植硅体研究的重要方向之一,随着学科交叉研究的深入,植硅体形态测量学在植物分类与生态学、环境考古学、全球变化与生态响应等领域得到快速发展。综合已有研究成果表明,长鞍型植硅体形态测量学在日本、中国的竹亚科属一级竹类生态学具有独特的指示作用,而扇型和长鞍型形态测量学在中国西南西双版纳竹亚科木本竹子属一级分类中具有重要的参考价值;稻亚科扇型形态测量学可以有效区分籼稻与粳稻,且扇型鱼鳞状纹饰与颖壳双峰植硅体形态测量学结合可以准确判别亚洲栽培稻与普通野生稻;黍亚科树状表皮长细胞形态测量学被成功运用到区分中国西北黍和粟及其亲缘物种的关系,葫芦科南瓜属刻面球型植硅体形态测量学揭示了野生种、半驯化种和驯化种之间植硅体形态大小及其关系,证实南美洲低地地区早全新世出现的南瓜驯化历史;中国东北不同环境条件下的禾本科羊草、芦苇植硅体形态测量学研究反映了陆生植物对全球变化的生理生态响应,为研究陆地生态系统对全球变化的响应及古环境重建提供了重要参考。     

Changes in run‐off and sediment load in the three parts of the Yellow River basin,in response to climate change and human activities

Hydrological regimes in the Yellow River have changed significantly because of climate change and intensive human interventions. These changes present severe challenges to water resource utilization and ecological development. Variation of run‐off, suspended sediment load (SSL), and eight precipitation indices (P1: 0–12 mm·day^?1, P12: 12–25 mm·day^?1, P25: 25–50 mm·day^?1, P50: P ≥ 50 mm·day^?1 and corresponding rainfall day: Pd1, Pd12, Pd25, Pd50 day year^?1) in three critical parts of the Yellow River basin (source region: SRYRB, upper reaches: URYRB, middle reaches: MRYRB) were investigated for the period from 1960 to 2015. The results show that run‐off and SSL significantly decreased (P < 0.01) in the URYRB and the MRYRB, whereas their decline in the SRYRB was insignificant (P > 0.05). Moreover, run‐off in the URYRB had one change point in 1987, and SSL in the URYRB as well as run‐off and SSL in the MRYRB had two change points (in the 1970s and the 1990s). Over the same period, only Pd1 and Pd12 in the SRYRB showed significant increasing trends, and an abrupt change appeared in 1981. The optimal precipitation indices for assessing the effects of precipitation on run‐off and SSL in the URYRB and MRYRB were Pd50 and P12, respectively. A double‐mass curve analysis showed that precipitation and human activities contributed to approximately 20% and 80% of the reduction in run‐off, respectively, for both the SRYRB and the MRYRB. However, the contribution rate of precipitation and human activities on SSL reduction was approximately 40% and 60% in the URYRB and 5% and 95% in the MRYRB, respectively. Human activities, primarily soil and water conservation measures and water extraction (diversion), were the main factors (>50%) that reduced the run‐off. However, the dominant driving factors for SSL reduction were soil and water conservation measures and reservoir interception, for which the contribution rate was higher than 70% in the MRYRB. This work strengthens the understanding of hydrological responses to precipitation change and provides a useful reference for regional water resource utilization.     

Unraveling the multi-scalar residential segregation and socio-spatial differentiation in China: A comparative study based on Nanjing and Hangzhou

Residential segregation is a dual process of socio-spatial differentiation in residents and spatio-temporal heterogeneity in dwelling.However,most of the existing studies are es-tablished from the single perspective of urban residents based on demographic data,which is difficult to reveal the dynamics and complex spatial reconstruction within and between cities.With the characteristics of both stability and timeliness,the rapidly changing housing market is one of the processes and results of socio-spatial reconfiguration,and it is undoubtedly a better lens to observe residential segregation.This paper adopts methods such as multi-group segregation index,multi-scalar segregation profiles,and decomposition of segregation index,with Nanjing and Hangzhou as case cities,and establishes multi-scalar segregation profiles and comparative models based on three geographical scales of census tract,block and grid,and different residential types.A quantitative study was conducted on the degree and pattern of multi-scalar residential segregation in Nanjing and Hangzhou from 2009 to 2018.The pa-per found that the spatial segregation index is an improvement of the non-spatial segregation index.There are differences between Nanjing and Hangzhou in the evolution process of residential segregation.Nanjing has a higher degree of spatial differentiation as a whole,among which spatial components have a more significant impact.     

Precise orbit and baseline determination for maneuvering low earth orbiters

GPS Solutions - Orbital maneuvers are usually performed as needed for low earth orbiters to maintain a predefined trajectory or formation-flying configuration. To avoid unexpected discontinuities...     

The Performance of MEFOS, the ESO Multi-Object Fibre Spectrograph

We are describing a new multi-fibre positioner, MEFOS, that was in generaluse at the La Silla Observatory, and implemented at the prime focus of theESO 3.6 m telescope. It is an arm positioner using 29 arms in a one degreefield. Each arm is equipped with an individual viewing system for accuratesetting and carries two spectroscopic fibres, one for the astronomical objectand the other one for the sky recording needed for sky subtraction. Thespectral fibres intercept 2.5 arcsec on the sky and run from the prime focusto the Cassegrain, where the B&C spectrograph is located. Afterdescribing the observational procedure, we present the first scientificresults.     

Detecting abrupt dynamic change based on changes in the fractal properties of spatial images

Theoretical and Applied Climatology - Many abrupt climate change events often cannot be detected timely by conventional abrupt detection methods until a few years after these events have occurred....