负热电离质谱法测定黄土钙结核酸溶相硼同位素

黄土沉积中生物成因的钙结核是在古土壤的发育阶段由上层的碳酸盐淋滤并在古土壤的下部形成的次生碳酸盐。探讨了黄土钙结核硼同位素样品的处理方法，并利用负热电离质谱法（NTIMS）测定低含量黄土钙结核中同位素组成，实验表明采用稀盐酸溶解样品、硼特效树脂分离提取样品中的硼是适宜的。黄土钙结核酸溶相的硼含量变化范围为3．4－5．7μg/g，δ^11B值变化为－3．3‰－＋16．9‰。硼含量和硼同位素组成有正相关关系。黄土和钙结核之间硼同位素组成有较大的差异，其原因可能与钙结核中更高的碳酸钙含量及水体的pH值有关，黄土钙结核酸溶相中的硼同位素组成的初步结果表明其示踪黄土沉积环境的可能性。     

Mass spectrometric study of three-body ion-molecule clustering reactions of CpHq+ ions with N2 or CH4 in N2-CH4 mixtures

Thermochemical data for several ion-molecule clustering of hydrocarbon ions with N2 or CH4 were obtained from clustering equilibria studies in gas mixtures irradiated by alpha-particles. High-pressure mass spectrometry was used to determine the enthalpy and entropy changes of clustering (delta H0 and delta S0, respectively) for the reactions X+(N2)n-1 + 2N2 <==> X(+)(N2)n + N2 with X = CH5, n = 1-2; X = C2H5, n = 1-4; and X = C3H7, n = 1. For X = CH5, the values (delta H0; delta S0) are found to be (-6.8 kcal mol-1; -19.7 cal mol-1 K-1) for n = 1, and (-5.3 kcal mol-1; -15.9 cal mol-1 K-1) for n = 2. For X = C2H5, (delta H0; delta S0) = (-6.9 kcal mol-1; -18.2 cal mol-1 K-1), for n = 1, and (-4.6 kcal mol-1; -20.8 cal mol-1 K-1) for n = 2. From the equilibrium measurements at 129 K, estimates of the thermochemical values could be obtained for n = 3-4. The results obtained for the free energy, delta G0, were -1.4 kcal mol-1 for n = 3, and -1.1 kcal mol-1 for n = 4. For X = C3H7 we found delta G0 = -0.7 kcal mol-1 at 213 K. The association reactions X+ + 2CH4 <==> X+(CH4) + CH4 with X = CH5, C2H5, C2H7, and C3H7 were also studied, resulting in free energy values at 206 K of -3.1, -1.9, -0.5 and -1.3 kcal mol-1, respectively. The results for CH5, C2H5 and C3H7 are compared with previously reported measurements.     

Insoluble organic material of the Orgueil carbonaceous chondrite and the unidentified infrared bands

Deuterium abundance measurements and the 13C NMR spectrum of the HF/HCl insoluble residue of the Orgueil carbonaceous chondrite indicate the presence of an extensive component of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) that is of possible interstellar origin or is similar to PAH hypothesized to exist in interstellar space. Infrared spectra have been obtained using an FTIR spectrometer of the acid insoluble residue, the residue after heating in vacuum, and condensate. Bulk acid insoluble residue was pressed into KBr pellets and also heated under high vacuum to sublimate a volatile component onto KBr disks. The remaining non-volatile organic component of the Orgueil meteorite from such evaporations pressed into KBr pellets exhibits a spectral signature similar to that observed in emission from the Orion Nebula and found in Raman spectra of interplanetary dust particles (IDPs). In addition it has an 11.3 microns (885 cm-1) band indicating PAH having single hydrogens per peripheral aromatic ring. We conclude the nonvolatile material is similar to interstellar PAH because the observed 11.3 microns (885 cm-1) unidentified infrared (UIR) emission suggests interstellar PAH have single hydrogens per peripheral aromatic ring. The volatile fraction of the Orgueil shows an aliphatic CH stretch feature and its spectrum in the 2-25 microns range is similar to that of the bulk residue.     

Extremely alkaline (pH > 12) ground water hosts diverse microbial community

Chemically unusual ground water can provide an environment for novel communities of bacteria to develop. Here, we describe a diverse microbial community that inhabits extremely alkaline (pH > 12) ground water from the Lake Calumet area of Chicago, Illinois, where historic dumping of steel slag has filled in a wetland. Using microbial 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid gene sequencing and microcosm experiments, we confirmed the presence and growth of a variety of alkaliphilic beta-Proteobacteria, Bacillus, and Clostridium species at pH up to 13.2. Many of the bacterial sequences most closely matched those of other alkaliphiles found in more moderately alkaline water around the world. Oxidation of dihydrogen produced by reaction of water with steel slag is likely a primary energy source to the community. The widespread occurrence of iron-oxidizing bacteria suggests that reduced iron serves as an additional energy source. These results extend upward the known range of pH tolerance for a microbial community by as much as 2 pH units. The community may provide a source of novel microbes and enzymes that can be exploited under alkaline conditions.     

General database for ground water site information

In most cases, analysis and modeling of flow and transport dynamics in ground water systems require long-term, high-quality, and multisource data sets. This paper discusses the structure of a multisite database (the H+ database) developed within the scope of the ERO program (French Environmental Research Observatory, http://www.ore.fr). The database provides an interface between field experimentalists and modelers, which can be used on a daily basis. The database structure enables the storage of a large number of data and data types collected from a given site or multiple-site network. The database is well suited to the integration, backup, and retrieval of data for flow and transport modeling in heterogeneous aquifers. It relies on the definition of standards and uses a templated structure, such that any type of geolocalized data obtained from wells, hydrological stations, and meteorological stations can be handled. New types of platforms other than wells, hydrological stations, and meteorological stations, and new types of experiments and/or parameters could easily be added without modifying the database structure. Thus, we propose that the database structure could be used as a template for designing databases for complex sites. An example application is the H+ database, which gathers data collected from a network of hydrogeological sites associated with the French Environmental Research Observatory.     

Distinguishing sources of ground water recharge by using delta2H and delta18O

Stable isotope values of hydrogen and oxygen from precipitation and ground water samples were compared by using a volumetrically based mixing equation and stable isotope gradient to estimate the season and location of recharge in four basins. Stable isotopes were sampled at 11 precipitation sites of differing elevation during a 2-year period to quantify seasonal stable isotope contributions as a function of elevation. Supplemental stable isotope data collected by the International Atomic Energy Association during a 14-year period were used to reduce annual variability of the mean seasonal stable isotope data. The stable isotope elevation relationships and local precipitation elevation relationships were combined by using a digital elevation model to calculate the total volumetric contribution of water and stable isotope values as a function of elevation within the basins. The results of these precipitation calculations were compared to measured ground water stable isotope values at the major discharge points near the terminus of the basins. Volumetric precipitation contributions to recharge were adjusted to isolate contributing elevations. This procedure provides an improved representation of recharge contributions within the basins over conventional stable isotope methods. Stable isotope values from wells and springs at the terminus of each basin were used to infer the elevations of precipitation important for recharge of the regional ground water flow system. Ancillary climatic, geologic, and stable isotope values were used to further constrain the location where precipitation is entering the ground water flow system.     

鹿角珊瑚δ^180，Sr／Ca和Mg／Ca比值与海水表面温度的相关性研究——不同海水温度下的珊瑚养殖实验

珊瑚δ^18Oc,Sr／Ca和Mg／Ca比值是海水表面温度SST的指示剂,需要采用室内的珊瑚养殖实验给于验证．本文利用新型的室内珊瑚养殖水循环系统和新生长珊瑚培植方法,进行了不同海水温度孔21—28℃）下的鹿角珊瑚的养殖实验,对养殖珊瑚δ18Oc,Sr／Ca和Mg／Ca进行了测定．结果表明,养殖珊瑚δ18Oc,Sr／Ca和Mg／Ca与r均呈现出明显的相关性,线性回归曲线为δ18Oc（‰）=-0．1427×孔℃）-0．1495（n=18,r=-0．955,P〈0．0001）,斜率-0．1427％d℃落在文献发表值范围（-0．13—0．29％d℃）的低端,Sr／Ca比值随r的上升而下降．而对Mg／Ca比值则相反,随丁的升高而增加,Sr／Ca与Mg／Ca呈现负相关关系,其线性回归曲线分别为Sr／Ca（mmol／m01）=-O．04156×T＋10．59（n=15,r=-0．789,P〈0．005）,Mg／Ca（mmol／m01）=0．04974×T＋2．339（n=17,r=-0．457,P〈0．05）,表明Mg／Ca和Sr／Ca每增加1mmol／mol时,记录的丁分别升高5．19℃和降低15．62℃,这些数值均明显低于文献所发表值,文章对此进行了初步讨论．     

Mercury levels in feathers of Magellanic penguins

Feathers are useful to determine mercury (Hg) contamination. We evaluated the mercury concentration in feathers of Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) age 1.5 years to 25 years at Punta Tombo, Argentina before and during their molt. Mercury ranged between <1.4 and 367 ng/g dry weight, with three extreme high values (8996 ng/g, 3011 ng/g and 1340 ng/g) all in young adults. The median concentration was lowest for juveniles and significantly higher for adults but with high variation among older adults. Males and females had similar mercury loads. Compared with other penguin species, concentrations in Magellanic penguins were low. Mercury levels for Magellanic penguins in the Southwest Atlantic for older adults averaged 206±98 ng/g, and serve as a baseline for biomonitoring and/or ecotoxicological studies.