Characterization of microbial communities associated with African desert dust and their implications for human and ecosystem health

Desert winds aerosolize several billion tons of soil-derived dust each year, including concentrated seasonal pulses from Africa and Asia. Huge dust events create an atmospheric bridge over continents and oceans, and eject a large pulse of soil-associated microorganisms into the atmosphere. These dust events might therefore have a role in expanding the biogeographical range of some microorganisms by facilitating rare long-distance dispersal events. The goal of this study is to characterize the microbes associated with African dust events and determine if they pose a risk to humans or downwind ecosystems. Air samples were collected by vacuum filtration in a source region （Mali, West Africa） during dust events and plated on R2A media to culture microorganisms. These organisms were compared to those in similar samples collected in the Caribbean during Saharan/Sahelian dust events. A high-volume liquid impinger is currently being tested in Barbados, collecting aerosol samples during African dust events. Over 100 bacteria and fungi （19 genera of bacteria and three genera of fungi） have been characterized from source region dust events.     

Natural siliceous dust and human health： Pathways, toxicity, and impact

Fine atmospheric dust includes mineral particles and aggregates, fibrous minerals and fibrous organic material. Generation, dislodgement and transport （deflation） of natural dust with the finer （〈4 microns） components suspended as silt-size aggregates, is widespread in and adjacent to the world＇s drylands, as well as deriving from volcanic vents. Silica is a highly fibrogenic agent in lung tissue. Long-term inhaling of siliceous dusts can lead to a number of fibrotic lung diseases, including natural （non-occupational） pneumoconioses （notably silicosis, but including asbestosis and others）. Different polymorphs of silica show different levels of toxicity in interaction with lung tissue. Particles with highly active surfaces may release radicals, causing cell damage. Some types of inhaled particulates are degraded by macrophages, but many are highly resistant and persist in the lungs, some stimulating fibroblastic cells to deposit collagen. Silicosis is an inflammation of the lung commonly caused by silicate mineral particles, leading to fibrosis. Three types are recognized： nodular pulmonary fibrosis （simple or chronic silicosis）, acute silicosis, and accelerated silicosis. Generally, finer particulates have greater oxidative capacity than the coarser fractions. They contain more reactive oxygen species, their greater bioreactivity making them more toxic to pulmonary tissue. Nevertheless, inhalation of large dust particles （〉 10μm） may constitute a health risk if the mineralogy is toxic, regardless of where the grains lodge in the respiratory system. Dust may absorb harmful gases, disease-generating bacteria and carcinogenic hydrocarbon compounds. Silica-related respiratory disease may also an exacerbate cardiac problem, and epidemiology suggests a link with tuberculosis. Quantification of dust loading and exposure requires study of spatial and temporal patterns, supported by meteorological analysis, airflow modeling and satellite-borne imagery. Some acute, short-term health impacts have been assessed using atmospheric and health records both before and after a dust storm or by comparison of populations within and outside such events. Analysis of the size, shape, mineralogy and geochemistry of ambient dust particulates provides information on natural dust sources, dust concentrations, and potential particulate toxicity, as well as providing a datum for assessment of human exposure levels.     

世界环境日主题锁定“沙漠和荒漠化”

联合国环境规划署（UNEP）在阿尔及利亚首都阿尔及尔宣布，2006年世界环境日庆典将在这里举行。这也是世界环境日庆典首次在北非国家举行。今年世界环境日的主题是“沙漠和荒漠化”。     

日本著名沙漠研究专家访问中国科学院新疆生态与地理研究所

应中国科学院新疆生态与地理研究所的邀请,原日本沙漠学会会长、联合国大学学术顾问、81岁高龄的小崛岩(Iwao Kobori)教授在参加北京“第八届国际干旱区大会”之后偕夫人来疆访问和学术交流。小崛岩先生是日本著名的沙漠研究专家,在沙漠和坎尔井研究方面卓有成就,国际上知名度很高,并在多个国际学术组织任职,国际学术交流十分活跃。小崛岩先生第一次来新疆是1981年,也是改革开放后第一位来新疆生地所访问的外国客人,从那时起他一直关注和支持着新疆的坎尔井研究。在他的帮助下,开展了中日联合坎尔井研究并举办了第一届坎尔井国际学术研讨会…     

基于遥感技术的中国北方沙漠及沙质荒漠化土地区划研究

根据影响沙漠、沙质荒漠化土地的地质地貌、植被、气候和人类活动等特征,通过确定地域分异、发生学、多级序列等区划原则,建立了以地质地貌类型组合、气候为沙漠、沙质荒漠化土地区(Ⅰ级区)划分和以沙质荒漠化土地类型空间分布特征为沙漠、沙质荒漠化土地亚区(Ⅱ级区)划分的指标体系。采用遥感方法,将中国北方沙漠、沙质荒漠化土地划分为贺兰山以西干旱沙漠、沙质荒漠化区;贺兰山-大兴安岭干旱、半干旱沙漠、沙质荒漠化区和大兴安岭以东半干旱、半湿润沙质荒漠化区等3个区和17个亚区。并对沙漠、沙质荒漠化土地区进行了现状分析。     

人为土的概念、特征及其工程研究意义

本文提出了人为土的工程概念,从其成因的角度给出了人为土明确的科学定义,归纳和总结了人为土的基本特征,为人为土的工程分类体系建立、合理评价、工程利用和环境整治提供科学依据。     

冬小麦夏玉米土壤水分预报及优化灌溉模型

利用土壤水分平衡方程，结合河南省冬小麦和夏玉米的生长规律和1994～2000年冬小麦、夏玉米田实测土壤湿度资料，建立了河南省冬小麦、夏玉米土壤水分预报及优化灌溉的计算机模型。用1998～1999年郑州市麦田实测土壤湿度资料验证该模型模拟结果，未来10、20、30天土壤湿度相对误差分别为-7．3％～7．7％、-8．3％～6．8％、-7．6％～7．7％，表明利用该模型，可以较为准确地预报未来1个月的土壤水分变化，并可根据小麦、玉米不同发育期特点，给出以最高产量和最佳经济效益为目标的灌溉建议。     

中尺度模式中的边界层特征量分析

在中尺度数值天气预报模式MM4中，用level3及E-ε-l两种湍流闭合方法对原总体边界层参数化方案进行改进，使得中尺度模式中可以直接输出有关湍流量，并对地表通量参数化方案进行改进，进而对不同下势需如沙漠，植被上的有关湍流量和边界层特征量进行分析。研究中尺度系统中边界层结构的特征，本文主要从地表通量，湍流交换系数，湍流动能（q^2)，温度脉动方差（θ^2)及风温廓线等几个方面进行研究，结果表明，新方案能更好地反映边界层特征。     

土钉墙技术在长春市北方大厦基坑工程中的应用实践

结俣长春市北方大厦基坑支护工程实际，着重介绍了土钉墙支护方案的设计，施工及应用情况，为土钉墙支护技术在长春市深基开挖工程中的推广应用积累了经验。     

土壤剖面元素分布及其地质、环境意义

土壤垂直剖面上物化性质，矿物和化学组成的深入研究，可以提供有关成土母质，成壤演化作用的重要信息，识别人类活动叠加的污染强度和影响深度，为土壤地球化学背景值调查，土壤污染及其生态环境影响的评价，环境地球化学灾害的监控与预菟研究提供科学的方法和依据。根据广东珠江三角洲，湖北江汉平原，四川成都盆地部分土壤剖面实测资料，分析研究了土壤化学组成的剖面变化与成土母质类型及组成，土壤成熟度和污染影响的关系。探讨了土壤剖面地球化学特征的地质与环境指示意义，判断分析了土壤受到的污染叠加作用及其影响深度。