Copper isotope fractionation during surface adsorption and intracellular incorporation by bacteria

Copper isotopes may prove to be a useful tool for investigating bacteria-metal interactions recorded in natural waters, soils, and rocks. However, experimental data which attempt to constrain Cu isotope fractionation in biologic systems are limited and unclear. In this study, we utilized Cu isotopes (δ⁶⁵Cu) to investigate Cu-bacteria interactions, including surface adsorption and intracellular incorporation. Experiments were conducted with individual representative species of Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria, as well as with wild-type consortia of microorganisms from several natural environments. Ph-dependent adsorption experiments were conducted with live and dead cells over the pH range 2.5-6. Surface adsorption experiments of Cu onto live bacterial cells resulted in apparent separation factors (Δ⁶⁵Cu_{solution-solid} = δ⁶⁵Cu_solution − δ⁶⁵Cu_solid) ranging from +0.3‰ to +1.4‰ for B. subtilis and +0.2‰ to +2.6‰ for E. coli. However, because heat-killed bacterial cells did not exhibit this behavior, the preference of the lighter Cu isotope by the cells is probably not related to reversible surface adsorption, but instead is a metabolically-driven phenomenon. Adsorption experiments with heat-killed cells yielded apparent separation factors ranging from +0.3‰ to −0.69‰ which likely reflects fractionation from complexation with organic acid surface functional group sites. For intracellular incorporation experiments the lab strains and natural consortia preferentially incorporated the lighter Cu isotope with an apparent Δ⁶⁵Cu_{solution-solid} ranging from ∼+1.0‰ to +4.4‰. Our results indicate that live bacterial cells preferentially sequester the lighter Cu isotope regardless of the experimental conditions. The fractionation mechanisms involved are likely related to active cellular transport and regulation, including the reduction of Cu(II) to Cu(I). Because similar intracellular Cu machinery is shared by fungi, plants, and higher organisms, the influence of biological processes on the δ⁶⁵Cu of natural waters and soils is probably considerable.     

Simulating ground water-lake interactions: approaches and insights

Approaches for modeling lake-ground water interactions have evolved significantly from early simulations that used fixed lake stages specified as constant head to sophisticated LAK packages for MODFLOW. Although model input can be complex, the LAK package capabilities and output are superior to methods that rely on a fixed lake stage and compare well to other simple methods where lake stage can be calculated. Regardless of the approach, guidelines presented here for model grid size, location of three-dimensional flow, and extent of vertical capture can facilitate the construction of appropriately detailed models that simulate important lake-ground water interactions without adding unnecessary complexity. In addition to MODFLOW approaches, lake simulation has been formulated in terms of analytic elements. The analytic element lake package had acceptable agreement with a published LAKI problem, even though there were differences in the total lake conductance and number of layers used in the two models. The grid size used in the original LAKI problem, however, violated a grid size guideline presented in this paper. Grid sensitivity analyses demonstrated that an appreciable discrepancy in the distribution of stream and lake flux was related to the large grid size used in the original LAKI problem. This artifact is expected regardless of MODFLOW LAK package used. When the grid size was reduced, a finite-difference formulation approached the analytic element results. These insights and guidelines can help ensure that the proper lake simulation tool is being selected and applied.     

Impacts of human activities on coral reef ecosystems of southern Taiwan: a long-term study

In July 2001, the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium, co-sponsored by the Kenting National Park Headquarters and Taiwan's National Science Council, launched a Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) program to monitor anthropogenic impacts on the ecosystems of southern Taiwan, specifically the coral reefs of Kenting National Park (KNP), which are facing an increasing amount of anthropogenic pressure. We found that the seawater of the reef flats along Nanwan Bay, Taiwan's southernmost embayment, was polluted by sewage discharge at certain monitoring stations. Furthermore, the consequently higher nutrient and suspended sediment levels had led to algal blooms and sediment smothering of shallow water corals at some sampling sites. Finally, our results show that, in addition to this influx of anthropogenically-derived sewage, increasing tourist numbers are correlated with decreasing shallow water coral cover, highlighting the urgency of a more proactive management plan for KNP's coral reefs.     

Analysis of recharge-induced geochemical change in a contaminated aquifer

Recharge events that deliver electron acceptors such as O2, NO3, SO4, and Fe3+ to anaerobic, contaminated aquifers are likely important for natural attenuation processes. However, the specific influence of recharge on (bio)geochemical processes in ground water systems is not well understood. The impact of a moderate-sized recharge event on ground water chemistry was evaluated at a shallow, sandy aquifer contaminated with waste fuels and chlorinated solvents. Multivariate statistical analyses coupled with three-dimensional visualization were used to analyze ground water chemistry data (including redox indicators, major ions, and physical parameters) to reveal associations between chemical parameters and to infer processes within the ground water plume. Factor analysis indicated that dominant chemical associations and their interpreted processes (anaerobic and aerobic microbial processes, mineral precipitation/dissolution, and temperature effects) did not change significantly after the spring recharge event of 2000. However, the relative importance of each of these processes within the plume changed. After the recharge event, the overall importance of aerobic processes increased from the fourth to the second most important factor, representing the variability within the data set. The anaerobic signatures became more complex, suggesting that zones with multiple terminal electron-accepting processes (TEAPs) likely occur in the same water mass. Three-dimensional visualization of well clusters showed that water samples with similar chemical associations occurred in distinct water masses within the aquifer. Water mass distinctions were not based on dominant TEAPs, suggesting that the recharge effects on TEAPs occurred primarily at the interface between infiltrating recharge water and the aquifer.     

Overlap between Atlantic bluefin tuna spawning grounds and observed Deepwater Horizon surface oil in the northern Gulf of Mexico

The 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill impacted the northern Gulf of Mexico (GOM) during the spring spawning season of Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT). Overlap between BFT spawning habitat and surface oil in the northern GOM was examined using satellite-derived estimates of oil coverage, and spawning habitat models. Results suggested that although eggs and larvae were likely impacted by oil-contaminated waters in the eastern GOM, high abundances of larvae were located elsewhere, especially in the western GOM. Overall, less than 10% of BFT spawning habitat was predicted to have been covered by surface oil, and less than 12% of larval BFT were predicted to have been located within contaminated waters in the northern GOM, on a weekly basis. Our results provide preliminary but important initial estimates of the effects of the spill on larval BFT mortality, as concern continues over the appropriate management responses to impacts of the spill.     

盾构近距离穿越施工的工作面土压力研究

盾构近距离穿越已建地下构筑物位移场的影响因素及其敏感性与常规施工有较大的不同。结合上海地铁四号线隧道超近距离穿越运营地铁隧道的工程实例发现当盾构接近上方近距离（净距为1.05 m）地铁隧道时地层土压力发生较大变化,相应的盾构土舱管理压力需作相应调整。根据隧道受荷机理及弹性力学原理,找到了这一问题的理论依据,便推导了相关理论公式,并在实际工程中设计了盾构土仓管理压力分步台阶控制方案,对盾构控制起到了很好的指导作用,成功地将地铁位移控制在5 mm之内。土压力实测结果与理论推算的数值大小及分布相当接近,说明所采用的理论方法是正确可靠的,在盾构超近距离穿越施工中具有重要指导意义。     

二叠纪末期生物危机期间海洋和陆地生态体系同时经历的快速崩溃

二叠—三叠纪（Ｐ—Ｔｒ）期间出现的生物危机是整个显生届时期此类事件最大的一次 ,对我们正确地了解古生物变异大有裨益。虽然人们提出了许多可能的生物死亡机制 ,但至今尚无达成一致的意见。有人认为应该根据海洋记录或大陆记录来找出答案 ,但过去很少有人将两个记录进行对比。笔者在此使用了取自格陵兰的完整的Ｐ—Ｔｒ剖面 ,既含有丰富的海洋生物群和植物群 ,也有少见的大陆花粉记录。这是第一次用同一剖面的相同的样品来重建海洋和大陆生态体系崩溃时期的事件层序。生态体系崩溃是一种群体结构的变迁 ,起因于优势动植物的消亡和幸存物…     

高氧化率难选氧化锌矿的浮选试验研究

针对低品位、高氧化率氧化锌矿的回收技术难题,对兰坪某难选氧化锌矿进行了大量的试验和研究。该矿中锌的品位为3.223%,氧化率高达91.26%。工艺矿物学研究结果表明,原矿中含大量钙、镁类矿物,不适宜采用脂肪酸浮选法。采用硫化-胺盐浮选方法效果较好,不仅使锌得到有效的富集,而且有害元素的含量也有所降低。药剂制度确定为:硫化钠6 kg/t,六偏磷酸钠1 kg/t,KZF 300 g/t。得到最终指标为氧化锌精矿中锌品位为32.65%,回收率为80.11%,获得了较好的浮选指标。