Tracing origins of sewage and organic matter using dissolved sterols in Masan and Haengam Bay,Korea

Masan and Haengam Bays in Korea are highly polluted and semi-enclosed. Domestic and industrial effluents are directly or indirectly discharged into the bays through sewage treatment plants (STP) and creeks. In this study, 15 dissolved sterol compounds were determined in order to understand their sources and relative contribution. Freshwater samples were taken from 13 creeks and at two STP sites on a monthly basis. Total dissolved sterol concentrations ranged from 993 to 4158 ng/L. The concentrations of sterols in winter were higher than in summer. Among the sterols analyzed, cholesterol, β-sitosterol, coprostanol and cholestanone were major compounds in creek water. Seawater samples were concurrently collected at 21 stations in Masan Bay. Total sterol concentrations ranged 118–6,956 ng/L. Inner bay showed high concentrations of sterols in summer, while outer bay showed high sterol concentrations in winter. Among the sterols, cholesterol, β-sitosterol and brassicasterol were major compounds in seawater. In order to examine the contribution of urban sewage, the concentration of coprostanol and fecal sterol ratios were calculated. Most of the creek water, inner bay and near STP outlet samples were affected by sewage. Terrestrial organic matters accounted for a high proportion of dissolved organic matter origin. Fecal origins were relatively high in the inner bay areas and in the STP outlet, while sterols of marine origin were high in the outer bay areas.     

What factors are responsible for the Beijing storm?

The Beijing storm of 21 July attracted public and social attention widely. Recently, some scientists expressed their opinion that urbanization has exacerbated the storm. However, our analysis suggests that while urbanization might have played some role, it is mainly the topographic effect that made the storm intense. Our conclusion is that the Beijing storm of 21 July is generated due to natural climatic factors in a changing climate system. Moreover, we think that the factor that contributes to the tremendous flooding disaster of 21 July is the low standards for mountain torrents control for medium and small rivers in the affected region. Therefore, the mountain torrents disasters control and medium and small rivers harnessing should be the foremost task in China’s water conservancy construction in the future, and effective adaptation strategies should also be developed and implemented to cope with the climate change impacts.     

Biomarker responses in caged rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli) from Masan Bay and Haegeumgang, South Korea

The purpose of this study was to compare enzymatic biomarker activities in fish caged at two sites, Masan Bay (contaminated) and Haeguemgang (reference). In the present study, ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD), brain acetyl cholinesterase (bAChE), muscle acetyl cholinesterase (mAChE) and butyryl cholinesterase (mBChE) in caged rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli) were measured 0, 1, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 30 days after caging. The level of CYP1A mRNA and Protein expression was induced higher in Masan Bay at 1, 3, 7, 14 and 30 days after caging. EROD activity in the caged fish was significantly higher in Masan Bay than in Haeguemgang 3 and 7 days after caging, but not at 14 and 30 days after caging. bAChE activity was significantly inhibited at 7 and 14 days after caging in Masan Bay. However, mBChE activity was not significantly inhibited during the experiment. Taken together, the data suggest that the caged fish were exposed, at least transiently, to CYP1A inducers and ChE inhibitors, which is consistent with our previous observations.     

Elevated sedimentation in lake records linked to agricultural activities in the Ishikari River floodplain,northern Japan

The purpose of this study was to examine the historical change in sedimentation rates in lakes that have been impacted by river regulation and agricultural activities in the Ishikari River floodplain. We dated sediment cores using caesium‐137 (¹³⁷Cs) dating and tephrochronology, and we estimated sediment sources from ¹³⁷Cs concentrations in the topsoil of representative land covers. We found that, between 1739 and 1963, the distance between the lake and the main river channel and whether or not the lake was connected to the river affected the sedimentation rates. After 1963, agricultural drainage systems were established in the Ishikari River floodplain. The average sedimentation rate before and after the construction of drainage ditches varied between 1–66 and 87–301 mg cm^–2 a^–1, respectively. The increase in the sedimentation rate after 1963 was caused by the construction of a number of drainage networks, as well as extensive cultivation activity and/or fragmentation of the swamp buffers surrounding the lakes. The ¹³⁷Cs activities at the surfaces of the lake as well as the catchment‐derived ¹³⁷Cs contributions and ¹³⁷Cs inventory in the lake profiles were used to examine the sediment influx from the various drainage areas after the establishment of the drainage system. Our results indicate that the majority of the lake sediments were derived from cultivated areas, and therefore the catchment‐derived ¹³⁷Cs contribution in the lakes was strongly correlated with the sedimentation rate. The ¹³⁷Cs inventory across all of the lake profiles was also significantly greater than the atmospheric fallout. We identified a negative correlation between the ¹³⁷Cs lake profile inventory and the sedimentation rate. This is because the sediment originating from the drainage areas contained low ¹³⁷Cs concentrations, which diluted the overall concentration of ¹³⁷Cs in the lake sediment. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Wind flow and wind loads on the surface of a towershaped building: Numerical simulations and wind tunnel experiment

Flow structure and wind pressure distribution caused by obtuse obstacles are usually the focuses in Computational Wind Engineer researches (CWE). By solving the non-hydrostatical dynamic equations, PUMA model (Peking University Model of Atmospheric Environment) was developed and applied to simulating the flow structure and wind pressure distribution around a tower-shaped building. Evaluation about the wind environment and wind loads around the building was obtained through the analysis of the numerical simulation results and wind tunnel data. Comparisons between the simulation and wind tunnel study indicate that numerical simulation results agree well in the flow field and wind pressure distribution around the tower-shaped building. On the other hand, the horizontal grid interval of 2 m and the vertical grid of 3 m were still too crude to simulate the flow structure and wind pressure distribution on the building surface more exactly in detail; and the absence of suitable pressure perturbation parameterization scheme between the solid and the adjacent space also limits the accuracy of the numerical simulation. The numerical simulation model can be used to evaluate the wind environment and wind load around high buildings.     

Biodegradation of Crude Oil by Individual Bacterial Strains and a Mixed Bacterial Consortium Isolated from Hydrocarbon Contaminated Areas

A preliminary study was undertaken to determine the optimal conditions for the biodegradation of a crude oil. Among 57 oil‐degrading bacterial cultures isolated from oil‐contaminated soil samples, Bacillus sp. IOS1‐7, Corynebacterium sp. BPS2‐6, Pseudomonas sp. HPS2‐5, and Pseudomonas sp. BPS1‐8 were selected for the study based on the efficiency of crude oil utilization. Along with the selected individual strains, a mixed bacterial consortium prepared using the above strains was also used for degradation studies. The mixed bacterial consortium showed more growth and degradation than did individual strains. At 1% crude oil concentration, the mixed bacterial consortium degraded a maximum of 77% of the crude oil. This was followed by 69% by Pseudomonas sp. BPS1‐8, 64% by Bacillus sp. IOS1‐7, 45% by Pseudomonas sp. HPS2‐5, and 41% by Corynebacterium sp. BPS2‐6. The percentage of degradation by the mixed bacterial consortium decreased from 77 to 45% as the concentration of crude oil was increased from 1 to 12%. Temperature of 35°C and pH 7 were found to be optimum for maximum degradation.     

大别山超高压变质岩的退变质赤微构造：折返过程的启示

大别山超高压变质岩中发现了一系列退变质显微构造,其主要类型有：①由于出溶而产生的定一包裹物;②由于多型转变而产生的假像替代;③固→固反应产生的冠状体;④涉及流体的退变质反应产生的冠状体或后成合晶。借助显微构造关系,可以建立超高压变质岩的退变质演化阶段,从而构筑其ＰＴ演化趋势、识别出碰撞造山和超高压变质峰期之后的两阶段隆升历史;早期为“挤出”作用诱发的近等温减压退变质;晚期则是地壳伸展体制下的退变质     

不均匀地表产生的中尺度通量的数值试验

采用北京大学三维的复杂地形中尺度模式,结合陆面过程模式(SiB),模拟了草原和沙漠并存的下垫面的边界层大气运动.利用SiB模式计算了地表辐射、感热、潜热通量,并且预报地表温度.中尺度模式则模拟了沙漠地区受热抬升,形成的辐合运动,垂直速度的分布,不同高度上水平流场的变化以及中尺度动量和热量通量,把中尺度通量跟湍流通量进行了比较,以确定这种中尺度运动在GCM模式的参数化过程中的重要性.试验表明中尺度通量尤其是热量通量要比湍流通量大很多.     

应用~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar定年技术研究清原花岗岩-绿岩地体的形成时代

辽宁清原绿岩地层自下而上分为榆树底组、红透山组和南天门组。小莱河铁矿区榆树底组斜长角闪岩岩石化学性质和稀土元素分布曲线表明,该岩石的原岩属太古代亏损型(DAT)拉斑玄武岩。此斜长角闪岩中的角闪石的两个~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar年龄谱给出该岩石的变质作用发生在29.9亿年。清原绿岩地层形成时代可能在30亿年或稍早一些。全球范围绿岩地层的年龄是35—19亿年,峰值是27亿年.清原绿岩地层的早期形成年龄则大于全球绿岩的峰值年龄。     

SNT地区氡法勘查砂岩型铀矿的应用效果

为了减小我国北方隐盲型砂岩铀矿找矿中钻孔布设的盲目性,实现快速评价,在二连盆地SNT地区开展了土壤氡法寻找砂岩型铀矿工作。经测量数据的统计处理,在测区内固定了有一定规模的氡异常晕6个。通过氡异常评价并结合该区地质、地球物理和地球化学条件,预测了3个远景段,经钻探在其中的一个远景段中发现了砂岩型铀矿化,表明在我国北方中一新生代盆地中开展土壤氡法寻找隐盲型砂岩铀矿是有效且可行的。