Leaching behavior of lignite fly ash with shake and column tests

The maximum concentration of the majority of the trace metals in the leachates from shake and column test of lignite fly ash (LFA) was within the prescribed limits; however, total dissolved solids, total hardness, cations and anions (except K⁺), being above the prescribed limits, may lead to the increase in the hardness and salinity in the soil on the disposal of LFA. Present generation of huge amount of fly ash from thermal power plants (TPPs) is a big challenge concerning contamination of soil, crop produce and surface and ground water bodies due to the presence of some of the toxic trace metals in it. The leaching behavior of alkaline LFA (pH, 10.94), from TPP of Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC), India, was investigated by shake and column tests using water and sodium acetate buffer. The leaching of trace metals from LFA was governed by their concentrations, association with the ash particles, leaching duration and pH of the leachate (most influencing parameter). The leaching of metals followed the order: buffer column > aqueous column > aqueous shake > buffer shake test.     

GPS技术在地铁平面控制测量中的应用研究

简要说明了地铁GPS控制测量的重要性及GPS网形的优化设计问题,介绍了LGO结合科傻平差软件解算GPS的基本方法,讨论了GPS控制网复测较差限差取值问题。根据实际经验,总结了针对常见问题的相应解决办法。     

Identification of the Phytoremediation Potential of Indian mustard Genotypes for Copper,Evaluated from a Hydroponic Experiment

The effectiveness of 10 Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) genotypes (viz. Agrani, BTO, Kranti, Pusa Bahar, Pusa Basant, Pusa Bold, Pusa Jai Kisan, Vaibhav, Vardhan, and Varuna) were evaluated for their potential to phytoremediate copper from contaminated waters under laboratory controlled conditions. The genotypes were grown for 20 days in aqueous solutions containing various concentrations of copper sulfate (0–50 µM) in a hydroponic chamber. Throughout plant development, changes in growth variables, biomass accumulation, and total Cu content were evaluated. The results suggested that Indian mustard cv. Pusa Jai Kisan possesses the best capacities of Cu sequestration and tolerance amongst all the genotypes studied. Thus, Pusa Jai Kisan has the greatest potential to become a viable candidate in the development of practical phytoremediation technologies for Cu contaminated sites.     

Seismic response of structures with coupled vertical stiffness–strength irregularities

Several seismic design codes around the world restrict the use of theit Equivalent Lateral Force analysis method to structures satisfying structural regularity limits. These regularity limits are based on engineering judgement and lack quantitative justification. One common irregularity is that of a change in vertical stiffness over the building height. This stiffness irregularity is almost always associated with a change in vertical strength over the building height. For this reason, the effect of various realistic combinations of stiffness–strength irregularity in shear‐type buildings is evaluated to quantify regularity limits. Structures analysed had 3, 5, 9 and 15 storeys, and the floor mass at all the levels were kept the same. Both regular and irregular structures were designed in accordance with the Equivalent Lateral Force procedure to produce the same engineering demand parameter. Structural ductility factors of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6, and target (design) interstorey drift ratios ranging between 0.5 and 3%, were used in this study. The irregular structures were created by modifying specific storey lateral stiffnesses from that of the regular structure. Strengths at these storeys were also modified to ensure realistic relationships between stiffness and strength. The modified structures were then redesigned until the target interstorey drift ratio was achieved at the critical storey. Inelastic dynamic time‐history analysis was conducted to compare the maximum interstorey drift ratio demands of the regular and irregular structures. Simple equations were developed to estimate possible variations in demand due to vertical stiffness–strength irregularity applied at critical locations in structures. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Reproduction in Galaxias fasciatus Gray (Salmoniformes : Galaxiidae)

A study of the reproductive cycle was made on Galaxias fasciatus Gray from streams on Banks Peninsula, South Island, New Zealand. There was no spawning migration; adults remained in the usual adult habitat to breed. The course of gonad maturation showed that spawning occurred in the autumn, from the end of April to mid‐June. Most males matured at 2 years of age and most females at 4 years old. Egg numbers in the females varied from 3800 to 23 600. Males were predominant in age groups 1–4, females in the older age groups. Amongst fish of potential breeding age there was an excess of males. Circumstantial evidence suggested that eggs were laid among piles of water‐logged debris lodged in pools and backwaters. The larvae, which are briefly described, probably hatch during floods to be swept quickly downstream to the sea.     

Stratigraphy of a Lateglacial lake basin sediment sequence at Turret Bank,upper Glen Roy,Lochaber: implications for the age of the Turret Fan

New lithostratigraphical, pollen-stratigraphical and tephrostratigraphical data are presented for a sediment sequence at Turret Bank, a site that lies close to the confluence of the River Turret with the River Roy in Lochaber, the western Scottish Highlands. The site is also adjacent to the inner margin of a major gravel fan, the Glen Turret Fan, the age of which has been debated and has a crucial bearing on the overall sequence of events in Glen Roy, especially concerning the maximum limit of Loch Lomond Readvance (Younger Dryas) ice. Several lines of evidence point to the sediment sequence at Turret Bank having been wholly deposited during the Loch Lomond Stadial-early Holocene transition: (i) the pollen sequence is typical for this transitional period; (ii) varved deposits preserved in the sequence bear a strong resemblance to mid-Stadial varves in a regional master varve scheme for Glen Roy and vicinity (the Lochaber Master Varve Chronology); and (iii) an early Holocene tephra – the Askja-S Tephra – is preserved within the sequence. Some limitations with the new data are considered, but it is concluded that the coherent integration of lithostratigraphic, geomorphological, pollen-stratigraphical and tephrostratigraphical data point to the likelihood that Loch Lomond Readvance ice extended to the inner margin of the Glen Turret Fan, and that the fan was probably constructed by glacial meltwaters at this time.     

The gravel fans of upper Glen Roy,Lochaber, Scotland: their importance for understanding glacial,proglacial and glaciolacustrine dynamics during the Younger Dryas cold period in an Atlantic margin setting

Over the past 200 years significant research effort has gone into explaining the origin of the obvious former shorelines in Glen Roy (the so-called “Parallel Roads”). The large gravel deposit at the mouth of Glen Turret has attracted similar interest, but a solution to its origin and age remains contested: the same applies to the associated gravel fans in upper Glen Roy. This paper presents the results of systematic mapping and instrumental levelling of these features and new evidence from two previously unrecorded gravel fans in the nearby Allt Chonnal valley. Interpretation of altitudinal and lithofacies data indicates that all the fans (including the one at the mouth of Glen Turret) were deposited in a series of ice-dammed lakes during the Loch Lomond Stadial (Younger Dryas). The largest gravel fans were deposited in the shallow lake heads of the 260 m, 325 m and 350 m lakes in upper Glen Roy, infilling these areas to the extent that deposition was in part subaerial. The absence of foreset bedding from the deposits is explained by the relatively shallow depth of lake waters, which inhibited development of classic Gilbert-type deltas and encouraged Hjulström-type fans. The previous assumption that gravel deposition into the 325 m and 350 m lakes was relatively limited is shown to be erroneous. The Allt Chonnal gravel fans, deposited into these lakes, have an estimated combined volume of 6,000,000 m³ deposited in about 200 years. Significant gravel deposition into these former lakes continued at least until glaciers started to retreat in Glen Roy. When glacier retreat began, gravel deposition was reduced by over 85%. This research also concludes that the glacier which deposited the Turret fan emanated from Glen Gloy, supplied not only by ice from the south but also from ice that spilled into Glen Gloy from the adjacent Great Glen. The Loch Lomond Stadial (LLS) ice cap mapped in the Monadhliath Mountains was connected to the west Highland ice cap, which at the time filled the Great Glen. Regional equilibrium line altitude (ELA) estimates, based solely on the Monadhliath LLS ice cap evidence, may therefore be altitudinally too high.     

压力及温度对海洋动物生理影响的研究进展

随着海洋深度的增加,压力逐渐升高而温度逐渐降低。因此,应对压力和温度变化的能力直接影响着海洋动物的垂直分布模式。本文综述了近年来国际上关于压力及温度对海洋动物生理影响的研究进展,概述了3种常用的研究方法,包括直接比较不同深度近缘海洋动物的差异、使用加压装置培养海洋动物、在常压及原位温度下培养深海动物;然后归纳了压力及温度对海洋动物生理的影响,包括有机渗透调节物质浓度及蛋白质序列、胚胎及幼体发育速率和畸变率、行为模式及代谢速率、基因表达水平;最后讨论了海洋动物适应高压环境的生理机制,压力对海洋动物垂直分布的限制能力,以及浅海动物和深海动物的起源关系。     

Adaptation to high light irradiances enhances the photosynthetic Cu resistance in Cu tolerant and non-tolerant populations of the brown macroalgae Fucus serratus

The relationship between light acclimation and Cu²⁺ tolerance was studied in two populations of Fucus serratus known to be naturally non-tolerant and tolerant to Cu²⁺. Acclimation to high irradiances increased the photosynthetic tolerance to Cu²⁺. The xanthophyll cycle was apparently not involved in protecting the photosynthetic apparatus against Cu²⁺ toxicity, as results showed that Cu²⁺ did not induce dynamic photoinhibition. The higher photosynthetic Cu²⁺ resistance of high light algae did not result in increased growth. The excess energy acquired by high light-adapted algae appeared to be utilized in Cu²⁺ defense mechanisms in the Cu²⁺ non-tolerant population. The polyphenol content of the algae was reciprocal to the Cu_T content, suggesting that polyphenol may be the primary Cu²⁺ defense of non-tolerant low light algae, acting through secretion and extracellular chelating of Cu²⁺, while the compounds do not seem to be involved in the primary Cu²⁺ tolerance mechanism in Cu²⁺ tolerant algae.