Phosphatic microspherules and their geobiological implications from the Frasnian-Famennian transition at the Yangdi section,Guilin, South China

Abundant perfectly-preserved phosphatic microspherules have been discovered across the Frasnian-Famennian(F-F)transition from the Yangdi section in Guilin,Guangxi,South China.They are mostly spherical or elliptical in shape and about 150μm in diameter with smooth exterior surfaces.Each microspherule consistently possesses a small dimple on the surface.The internal texture of microspherules consists of concentric light-colored apatite and dark-colored organic matter bands alternating around a central core.Conodonts have also been found preserved together with phosphatic microspherules in the same horizon,and the abundance of the former is obviously higher than that of the latter.Laser Raman spectral studies show close similarities in spectral patterns between the outer shells of phosphatic microspherules and the blade of the conodont genus Palmatolepis sp.,as well as between the microspherule nucleus and the platform of the same conodont genus.Furthermore,the statistical results and geochemical data demonstrate that the elevated abundance of phosphatic microspherules roughly coincides with the blooms of bacteria and algae,but is later than the sharp increase of oceanic nutrients.The phosphatic microspherules are interpreted here to be the‘otoliths’secreted by conodont animals based on the compositional similarities between phosphatic microspherules and conodonts and their interrelated abundances.In addition,an analogous study reveals morphological and textural similarities between fish otoliths and phosphatic microspherules.The formation of phosphatic microspherules is probably related to seawater eutrophication.We speculate that the explosive growth of bacteria and algae is probably caused by the enrichment of nutrients that is most likely associated with the increase of terrestrial inputs,submarine hydrothermal activities or the upwelling anoxic bottom waters in the late Devonian,which would stimulate the conodont animals to secrete phosphatic microspherules—the‘otoliths’of conodont animals.This study reveals the coupling relationship between organisms and environments from the perspective of phosphatic microspherules and provides new evidence for the cause of faunal crisis during the Late Devonian F-F transition.     

A pleistocene mummified ostracod from the Wairarapa district

A mummified specimen of Scottia insularis Chapman is recorded from beds of Upper Nukumaruan age (Pleistocene) at Gladstone in the Wairarapa Valley. This is the first record of a mummified species from New Zealand.     

概率性分析在黄土场地动力沉降评价中的应用

天然黄土动残余应变研究主要依赖室内动三轴试验,如何将有限室内试验数据合理地应用于场地动力沉降的定量评价,是岩土地震工程领域中研究涉足尚少的重要科学问题。应用概率统计与蒙特卡洛模拟等非确定性分析方法,借助综合考虑固结应力、结构强度、空间体积特性和地震动荷载等动残余应变关键影响参量的估算模型,提出有效弱化土体物性参量不确定性（离散性与随机性）的场地动力沉降概率性评价的思路与方法。应用结果显示,利用该方法得出的场地动力沉降的概率分布特征,能够反映天然黄土动残余应变的基本认知特点,对明晰地震作用下天然黄土场地精细动力沉降特性以及据此采用适当合理的地基处理方法,具有理论意义与实用价值。     

Rock warming and drying under simulated intertidal conditions,part II: weathering and biological influences on evaporative cooling and near‐surface micro‐climatic conditions as an example of biogeomorphic ecosystem engineering

The way in which rocks and engineering materials heat‐up and dry‐out in the intertidal zone is of relevance to both weathering and ecology. These behaviours can be measured in the laboratory under controlled conditions designed to replicate those occurring in the field. Previous studies have demonstrated differences in thermal behaviours between rock types and through time as a result of soiling in terrestrial environments, but the influence of weathering and colonization on rock behaviours in the intertidal zone has not been previously assessed. We measured the warming and drying of blocks of rock (limestone and granite) and marine concrete during ‘low‐tide’ events simulated in the laboratory, before and after a period of exposure (eight months) on rock platforms in Cornwall, UK. As well as differences between the material types, temperatures of control (unexposed) and field‐exposed blocks differed in the order of 1 to 2 °C. Drying behaviours were also different after field exposure. Differences during the first few hours of exposure to air and heat were attributed to discolouration and albedo effects. Over longer periods of time, changes in the availability of near‐surface pore water as a result of micro‐scale bioerosion of limestone and the development of bio‐chemical crusts on marine concrete [observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM)] are suggested as mechanisms enhancing and reducing, respectively, the efficiency of evaporative cooling. The retention of moisture by epilithic biofilms may also influence thermal and drying behaviours of granite. These observations represent one of the first examples of cross‐scalar biogeomorphic linkages in the intertidal zone. The significance of the results for the subsequent efficiency of weathering, and near‐surface micro‐climatic conditions experienced by colonizing organisms is discussed. The involvement of microorganisms in the creation of more (or less) ecologically stressful conditions through the alteration of substratum geomorphic properties and behaviours is suggested as an example of ‘biogeomorphic ecosystem engineering’. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Changes in vertical distribution and aggregative behaviour in response to population density for larval sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) and sea stars (Asterias rubens)

We examined the effects of the presence of larval conspecifics on larval vertical distribution of four‐arm and six‐arm plutei of Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis and bipinnaria of Asterias rubens, in laboratory experiments, by manipulating population density. Larvae were introduced to experimental columns (10 × 10 × 30 cm) at one of two or three population densities (S. droebachiensis: 0.1 and 10 larvae·ml^?1; A. rubens: 0.1, 1 and 10 larvae·ml^?1). Subsequent changes in vertical distribution were determined from images of the larvae in the columns illuminated by a 532‐nm laser and captured by a high‐resolution camera. Larvae of both species were found higher in the water column in the high than in the low and intermediate population densities. The relationship between vertical swimming velocity and nearest neighbour distance (NND) was measured for four‐arm plutei of S. droebachiensis, and used to determine a range in distances among individuals that may affect potential interactions. The variation in swimming velocity decreased with increasing proximity below a threshold distance among individuals of 10 mm, which was greater than the estimated distance in the high population density. We suggest that the increased larval aggregation near the water surface under high population density is the result of a behavioural response to conspecifics.     

城市热岛效应下浅层土中混凝土的酸腐蚀试验研究

针对城市热岛效应引起城区浅层土地温场升高这一观测结果,采用室内快速模拟试验方法,对城区酸性土壤腐蚀混凝土材料的温度效应开展了试验研究。试验研究了在温度为5℃、20℃和40℃条件下,混凝土试样在酸浓度分别为0%、5%和10%的沙土介质中放置30d、90d后的抗压强度变化规律,并对混凝土试样在腐蚀过程中的腐蚀系数变化规律和微观机理进行了分析;最后,对南京城区热岛效应环境下浅层土中混凝土材料酸腐蚀的强度变化规律进行了分析。试验结果表明,在同一腐蚀浓度下,混凝土试样抗压强度的下降速度随着温度的升高而不断加快,其腐蚀系数也随着温度的升高而不断增大;腐蚀介质的浓度越大,环境温度对混凝土腐蚀系数的影响就越明显;在温度为40℃、硫酸浓度为10%的沙土中放置30 d后,混凝土的腐蚀系数K达到45.21%,约是在5℃条件下腐蚀系数的2倍,相当于环境温度每上升1℃,混凝土腐蚀系数平均增加0.64%。该研究成果对于减轻城市热岛效应对岩土工程的影响具有重要意义。     

太湖疏浚底泥堆场黏土防渗层阻隔污染物的试验研究

底泥疏浚是治理太湖污染的必要途径之一。限于目前国内的经济与技术条件以及疏浚底泥的数量巨大,太湖雪浪底泥堆场只能直接采用下部的天然黏性土层作为防渗层而不加任何处理。为了确保疏浚污染底泥在堆放期间不对周围环境和地下水造成污染,采用渗透与阻隔、静态吸附、动态土柱等试验测定和分析了黏土层对底泥中主要污染物（总氮、氨氮、硝氮、亚硝氮、总磷、化学耗氧量（COD））渗透和运移的阻隔能力,同时得到了可用于分析污染物在土层中运移和转化规律的一些重要参数。试验结果表明,雪浪堆场下部的黏土层对疏浚底泥中的主要污染物具有较强的吸附和阻隔能力。     

美国阿波罗月球样品的处理与保存

中国嫦娥工程三期将进行月球样品的采集与返回,这是继美国Apollo和前苏联Luna之后,国际上最新的月球样品返回计划。月球样品的存储与管理方法将成为中国探月工程中亟待解决的重要问题之一。特别是如何最大程度地保持月球样品的科学研究价值,避免或减少可能的样品污染等问题,不仅为工程部门所关心,也是月球科学家所极为关注的问题。文中主要回顾和总结了美国Apollo月球样品的处理与保存方法,包括月球样品实验室简况、月球样品初步处理方法、月球样品初步测试分析及相关实验简介和月球样品的保存方法等内容,以期为中国月球样品的返回和地面存储提供有益的借鉴。     

双源CT诊断兔急性肺栓塞实验研究

目的:应用双源CT探讨新西兰兔耳缘静脉注入明胶海绵制造急性肺动脉栓塞(PE)模型的可行性。方法:新西兰兔24只随机分为实验组(n=22只,按栓塞后检查时间分为2h、1d、3d和7d组)与对照组(n=2只)。实验组22只采用经耳缘静脉快速注射明胶海绵栓子制成急性PE模型,栓塞前后均行CTPA及肺灌注检查,检查结束后全部处死。对照组2只新西兰兔经耳缘静脉注入等渗盐水后立即处死。全部行病理检查。结果:22只实验组新西兰兔制模成功20只,其中有2只分别因为栓塞过量和麻醉过量而未取得数据,模型制备成功率为90%。以肺叶为单位,在CT图像上分析100个肺叶影像表现,可见栓塞后2h组对应的肺叶纹理稀疏12叶;1d及3d组对应肺叶呈磨玻璃改变22叶;7d组对应肺叶实变3叶。DEPI均呈现低灌注。病理检查发现:2h组相应肺组织呈鲜红色,未见结构破坏及肺泡渗出;1d组对应肺组织呈水肿、淤血、出血及炎细胞浸润改变;3d组部分肺组织轻度梗死,对应肺组织呈深红色,肺泡间隔增宽,大量炎细胞浸润;7d组肺泡腔被渗出物填充,对应肺组织呈暗红色,实变坏死。实验组共发现3只新西兰兔肺动脉管腔内含明胶海绵。结论:经新西兰兔耳缘静脉注射明胶海绵制作急性肺栓塞动物模型操作简单,成本低廉,成功率较高,是肺栓塞影像学研究较容易制作的实验模型。