Major human Hepatitis A virus genotype in Hong Kong marine waters and detection by real-time PCR

Marine waters from seven sites around Hong Kong with varying levels of sewage pollution were analyzed for Hepatitis A virus (HAV) by PCR cloning and DNA sequencing of the highly variable VP1/2A junction of the HAV genome. Phylogenetic analysis of 10 PCR clones from each of the HAV-positive marine sites indicated that human HAV genotype IB is the most widely distributed type in Hong Kong waters. A sensitive and quantitative TaqMan-based PCR method targeting the 5′-noncoding region (5′-NCR) of HAV was used to quantify HAV particles in marine water samples along with the total Escherichiacoli counts being enumerated on TBX medium for comparison. Our results showed that no correlation of any significance between HAV and E. coli counts was observed which underscores the inadequacy in using E. coli as a sanitary standard to predict the levels of HAV in marine waters.     

Distribution and source apportionments of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in mariculture sediments from the Pearl River Delta, South China

Surface and core sediments collected from six mariculture farms in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) were analyzed to evaluate contamination levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The ∑PCBs (37 congeners) concentrations ranged from 5.10 to 11.0 ng g(-1) (mean 7.96 ng g(-1)) in surface and 3.19 to 22.1 ng g(-1) (mean 7.75 ng g(-1)) in core sediments, respectively. The concentrations were significantly higher than that measured in the sediments of their corresponding reference sites, whereby the average enrichment percentages were 62.0% and 42.7% in surface and core sediments, respectively. Significant correlations (R2=0.77, p<0.05) of PCB homologue group proportions between fish feeds and surface mariculture sediments suggested that fish feed input was probably the main source for the enrichment of PCBs. Due to the fact that PCBs could be transferred along food chains, PCB contamination in fish feeds and mariculture sediments should not be overlooked.     

Assessment of risk of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs in marine and freshwater fish in Pearl River Delta, China

Fish consumption is known to be beneficial to human health. However since the age of industrialization, the released/disposed chemical pollutants into water systems make fish a source of various environmental toxicants to humans. In oceanic cities with heavy industrial activities, fish products contribute the greatest proportion of exposure to pollutants. In this study, risks and potential effects of dioxins to health of coastal populations in the Pearl River Delta were assessed. Concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were measured in common fish species purchased at local markets. Concentrations of total dioxins in fish ranged from 0.481 to 9.05 pg TEQ/g wet weight were similar to the lesser concentrations reported for fish from other countries. The greatest concentrations of dioxins were measured in mandarin fish, a carnivorous freshwater fish. Exposure of murine primary leydig and ovarian cells to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (2,3,7,8-TCDD) reduced the synthesis of progesterone, testosterone and/or estrogen. The reductions were probably via inhibitory effects on the expression of the steroidogenic enzymes, steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) and cytochrome P450 side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc). Based on these reproductive parameters, the concentrations of dioxins and dioxin-like residues represent a moderate health risk due to consumption of fish.     

Formation of iron plaque on mangrove roots receiving wastewater and its role in immobilization of wastewater-borne pollutants

Iron (Fe) plaque formed on mangrove root increased with wastewater discharge, but the extent was species-specific. For Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Fe plaque concentration was 0.80 mg g(-1) root d.wt at Day 0 and increased to 4.59, 6.84 and 7.52 mg g(-1) at Day 75 in the fresh water control (FW), synthetic wastewater with pollutant concentrations five times of municipal sewage (5SW) and double of 5SW (10SW) treatments, respectively; the respective increases in Excoecaria agallocha were from 0.70 to 2.37, 10.73 and 13.21 mg g(-1). For Acanthus ilicifolius, similar increase was found in 5SW, but all of the plants were dead in 10SW at Day 75. The concentrations of heavy metals and phosphorus immobilized were positively correlated with the amounts of Fe plaque formed, but the regression coefficients varied among species. The performance of mangrove plants in wastewater treatments was related to the Fe plaque formed and its immobilized wastewater-borne pollutants.     

超低渗透率测量仪的测试标定及初步测量结果

低渗-超低渗透率测量是流体渗流力学和岩石物理学研究领域的热点问题.断层带流体输运的定量化研究对于了解断层的力学性质和预测地下流体的流动具有重要意义.文中介绍了新研制的超低渗透率测量系统和工作原理.这套设备使用稳态法和目前逐渐流行的孔隙压力振荡法进行测量,其孔隙流体为蒸馏水和氮气,最高围压可达200M Pa,孔隙压上限为...     

WRF模式三维变分中背景误差协方差估计

利用WRF模式2008年5-10月逐日预报结果,通过NMC方法进行背景误差协方差(B)估计.给出其结构特征,进行单点数值试验,并利用不同B进行1个月的数值模拟试验,检验模拟降水效果.结果表明:通过单点数值试验验证估算的B结构合理.不同的B,资料同化过程差别较大,应用重新统计的B,同化效率更高,目标函数收敛更稳定.模式模...     

青海省天峻县木里煤田聚乎更矿区构造轮廓和地层格架

木里煤田聚乎更矿区是全球陆上中纬度、高海拔冻土带天然气水合物的发现地,也是当前青藏高原地质研究的热点地区之一。依据近年来的煤炭地质勘查资料,对聚乎更矿区的构造轮廓、含煤地层、沉积相和聚煤作用进行深入分析．认为聚乎更矿区位于祁连坳褶带西段,受大通山北缘和托莱山南缘对冲断裂组的制约,构造线总体方向为北西一南东向,构造轮廓表现为南北2个向斜,其中北向斜的煤炭赋存条件优于南向斜。聚乎更矿区含煤地层为中侏罗统木里组和江仓纽。主要可采煤层赋存于木里组上段,聚煤作用主要发生于木里组沉积期的辫状河淤浅之后发育的泥炭沼泽和湖泊、水下三角洲淤浅而发育的泥炭沼泽。     

Laboratory Validation of Ultra-Soft Soil Deformation Model

Ultra-soft soil with high moisture content will experience large strain deformation under one-dimensional compression with little or no gain in effective stress. Such deformation behaviour does not comply with Terzaghi’s effective stress gain theory. The e-log s_v^￠ \sigma_{v}^{\prime } relationship of ultra-soft soil is non-linear with large compression index in the first order of log cycle. This paper proposes three compression indices (C_c1^* C_{c1}^{*} , C_c2^* C_{c2}^{*} and C_c3^* C_{c3}^{*} ) for stresses covering three log cycles. Good prediction of settlement magnitude is possible with these newly proposed compression parameters for ultra-soft soil. In addition, implicit finite difference model applying the large strain theory is also proposed and validated with results from laboratory measurements. The time factor curves for ultra-soft soil with large strain compression are also proposed and validated.     

塔里木盆地西北缘海相白垩系-古近系界线沉积物环境指标研究

发生于中生代-新生代之间的事件是地质历史上一次重大灾变和异常事件,因此白垩系-古近系之间的界线(K/T界线)就成为全球最重要的地质界线之一.通过对塔里木盆地西北缘乌恰地区库孜贡苏河剖面海相上白垩统-古新统地层的岩性和沉积环境变化以及地球化学特征研究,重点利用沉积物色度、有机碳含量、碳酸钙和碳、氧稳定同位素的明显异常变化...     

罗布莎蛇绿岩地幔橄榄岩同位素特征及其成因

罗布莎蛇绿岩岩石单元出露齐全,以地幔橄榄岩为主,构造变形强烈;在堆积杂岩中上部产出有仰冲型斜长花岗岩小岩块;辉绿岩以脉状形式产出于地幔橄榄岩的方辉橄榄岩中;壳层岩石相对很薄且比较复杂.Sr、Nd和Pb同位素组成研究表明:罗布莎地幔橄榄岩绝大多数样品具有高ISr值(0.705489～0.714625);低INd值(0.5...