Cloning of a chub metallothionein cDNA and development of competitive RT-PCR of chub metallothionein mRNA as a potential biomarker of heavy metal exposure

Metallothionein has been assayed in a range of aquatic animal tissues as an indicator of metal exposure. We sequenced chub (Leuciscus cephalus) metallothionein cDNA which showed over 90% homology to common carp, goldfish and stone loach and 77% homology to rainbow trout sequences for metallothionein. We then used the extended primer method to develop an accurate quantitative competitive RT-PCR assay for metallothionein mRNA. RT-PCR was used to measure metallothionein mRNA in feral chub from a range of field sites, with different levels of heavy metal pollution, in the West Midlands, UK. Measurements were complemented by analysis of liver and gill metallothionein protein by capillary electrophoresis. There was no significant difference in the metallothionein protein levels between fish of different rivers and there was no evidence of elevation of mRNA at the sites of highest metal exposure. The level of metal exposure (e.g. zinc, nickel and cadmium each ranging between 15 and 28 microg/l ) at the pH (7.5-8.5) of these rivers appears insufficient to elevate hepatic or gill metallothionein in chub. A lack of elevation of hepatic metallothionein mRNA in chub exposed to zinc, copper and manganese for 24 h and 10 days in the laboratory also suggests a non-responsiveness of this species.     

Phytoremediation of small-scale oil spills in fresh marsh environments: a mesocosm simulation

Research was conducted to assess the impact of oiling on fresh-marsh plant communities and to test the efficacy of techniques that may be used to enhance the bioremediation of crude oil spills in these environments while minimizing secondary anthropogenic impacts. To emulate field conditions, a mesocosm facility was used that houses 120 mesocosm vessels, each of 200-1 capacity. A five-way factorial treatment arrangement was used that included two substrates (inorganic, organic), two nutrient regimes (fertilized, not fertilized), two aeration levels (substrate aeration, no aeration), three oiling concentrations (0-, 5-, 10-1 m(-2) of South Louisiana Sweet Crude oil), and four vascular plant species (Alternanthera philoxeroides, Panicum hemitomon, Phragmites australis, Sagittaria lancifolia, and an unplanted control). Under the 5- and 10-1 m(-2) oiling concentrations, S. lancifolia displayed a short-term response of increased productivity, whereas P. hemitomon had the highest biomass production and photosynthetic rates at the end of the 18-month experiment. Overall plant growth and productivity, as well as oil degradation, were significantly higher in the inorganic substrate, indicating that biodegradation of oil spills in organic substrates may require a longer time period. Time-released fertilizer also stimulated plant productivity and resulted in higher soil respiratory quotients, suggestive of greater microbial activity, particularly in aerated mesocosms. The amount of oil remaining after 18 months was lowest in aerated and fertilized mesocosms containing either P. hemitomon or S. lancifolia and a substrate of low organic matter content.     

Regional trends in crude birth,death, and natural increase rates in Russia and the USSR: 1897-1989

"This paper establishes and discusses briefly regional patterns and trends in crude birth, death, and natural increase rates in Russia and the USSR from the turn of the century to 1989. The study is based on a comparable regional framework and placed in the context of the demographic transition theory. It discusses sources, collection, and quality of data, as well as necessary estimating procedures. An attempt also is made to examine briefly regional age-standardized rates."     

微量物质对海洋的大气输入

在过去的十年中，显而易见，大气是许多自然物质和污染物从大陆输送到海洋的重要途径。这些物质的大气输入对海洋生物过程和海洋化学循环有正或负的影响。例如：很明显，大气是许多区域的重要营养成分如铁，氮等的重要输送途径。在本报告中，我们评价了这些地区的期的数据，发展向海洋的微量元素，矿物气溶胶，含氮物质合成有机物的大气通量的全球范围的估算值；比较了这些物质通过大气和河流输入的海洋比率。     

湘南骑田岭矿集区的深部构造特征 及其对区域成矿的制约

湘南骑田岭矿集区是我国重要的有色金属基地之一,具有断裂构造异常发育,存在多期次岩浆活动、多类型矿床和矿种组合的特点。为了揭示深部地壳结构对区域成矿特征的制约,本文布置了穿越黄沙坪铅锌矿床和骑田岭花岗岩体的人工地震剖面,数据采集采用了直线多次叠加的技术方法,采取大炮和小炮相结合的激发方式进行实验工作,共完成物理点651个。实验结果表明,骑田岭矿集区深、中、浅部存在着比较明显的地震构造波组,莫霍面深度约为33~38km;在骑田岭岩体深部存在明显的莫霍面不连续性,呈现出类似于"逆断层"的构造特征和无反射波组或弱波组异常;反射速度反演结果也表明骑田岭岩体深部存在着下凹状低速度异常。这些深部构造特征说明区域存在幔源物质上涌和参与成岩成矿作用的通道,该构造通道可对应于茶陵-郴州-临武深大断裂带,暗示地幔物质的混入可能是湘南骑田岭矿集区发生大规模成矿作用的内在原因之一。而且,莫霍面"逆断层"构造特征显示区域上曾遭受较强烈的构造挤压作用,是区域中生代多次构造挤压作用的体现。这种构造挤压作用致使岩石圈增厚,发生较大规模的拆沉作用和深部岩浆上侵活动,为区域成矿作用提供必要的物质和能量。     

中国土壤盐渍化研究的现状及未来(英文)

With the environmental deterioration caused by the advance of climate change, soil salinization is a serious and growing global problem. Currently about 7% of the world's land surface is threatened by salinization. China is a country whose soils are severely affected by this problem, which, due to its extensive area, and wide distribution poses a serious threat to regional agricultural development. In this review, we summarize the framework for soil salinization research in China over the past 70 years, assess the weaknesses of existing research in both a domestic and international context, highlight the trends and key findings of global research about saline soils over the past 30 years, and propose six major fields and directions for future research on saline soil.     

钱家店铀矿床表生含氧含铀流体与深层酸性含烃流体的耦合成矿作用——来自岩心蚀变矿物填图的证据

以岩心光谱蚀变矿物填图为主要研究手段,结合野外地质编录、偏光显微镜、扫描电镜、电子探针能谱分析、氢氧同位素测试等方法,对开鲁盆地钱家店砂岩型铀矿床85个有效钻孔岩心开展了系统的蚀变矿物填图和矿物学研究。结果表明:①主要含矿层上白垩统姚家组蚀变矿物主要有黏土矿物(高岭石、蒙脱石、伊利石、伊/蒙混层及局部绿泥石)、铁的三价氧化物、黄铁矿、碳酸盐(方解石、白云石、铁白云石)等,它们呈现明显的分带特征:氧化带为高含量的"高岭石+Fe³⁺氧化物"组合、过渡带为中等含量的"高岭石+蒙脱石(伊/蒙混层)"+高含量的"黄铁矿+铁白云石"组合;还原带则主要为高含量的"蒙脱石(伊/蒙混层)+伊利石+黄铁矿"组合,矿体主要分布在氧化-还原过渡带和高岭石变化的梯度带上,并见有明显的高岭石、黄铁矿、铁白云石富集。②含氧含铀流体主要来自于WS、WN方向,其次为ES方向(也可能是WS向流体的分支),酸性含烃流体主要来自于NE向的断裂构造,流体温度介于40～120℃,两种不同性质流体的耦合作用是该地区的主成矿作用。③主成矿事件应发生在白兴吐"天窗"构造隆升之后,构造天窗在成矿系统中主要承担着还原...     

遥感综合信息找矿模型与找矿预测——以二连浩特北部地区为例

总结回顾了近30年来遥感信息获取技术、遥感找矿模型的发展历程和特点,提出了遥感综合信息找矿模型的基本概念及找矿预测方法。认为遥感综合信息找矿模型更加突出综合信息与找矿标志的系统组合,指出模型构建的关键是实现"地质找矿要素"向"遥感信息要素"的相互转换。以二连浩特北部地区为例,构建了该地区以遥感信息为主要数据源的遥感地质信息获取技术方法及找矿预测模型,圈定了5个重要的钨钼铜多金属矿找矿靶区,取得了较好的找矿应用效果。     

顶层设计驱动质量分级认证

正在国家出台系列政策的推动下,质量强国、质量兴企的理念已成为企业实现精细化管理或管理升级的重要指导思想。北京中设认证服务有限公司(以下简称"中设认证")在勘察设计行业创造性地建立特色认标体系的框架,并且率先开展了质量管理体系特色分级认证活动。长春市市政工程设计研究院(以下简称     

The influence of 70 and 120 kHz tonal signals on the behavior of harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in a floating pen

Two harbor porpoises in a floating pen were subjected to five pure tone underwater signals of 70 or 120kHz with different signal durations, amplitudes and duty cycles (% of time sound is produced). Some signals were continuous, others were intermittent (duty cycles varied between 8% and 100%). The effect of each signal was judged by comparing the animals' surfacing locations and number of surfacings (i.e. number of respirations) during test periods with those during baseline periods. In all cases, both porpoises moved away from the sound source, but the effect of the signals on respiration rates was negligible. Pulsed 70kHz signals with a source level (SL) of 137dB had a similar effect as a continuous 70kHz signal with an SL of 148dB (re 1muPa, rms). Also, a pulsed 70kHz signal with an SL of 147dB had a much stronger deterring effect than a continuous 70kHz signal with a similar SL. For pulsed 70kHz signals (2s pulse duration, 4s pulse interval, SL 147dB re 1muPa, rms), the avoidance threshold sound pressure level (SPL), in the context of the present study, was estimated to be around 130dB (re 1muPa, rms) for porpoise 064 and around 124dB (re 1muPa, rms) for porpoise 047. This study shows that ultrasonic pingers (70kHz) can deter harbor porpoises. Such ultrasonic pingers have the advantage that they do not have a "dinner bell" effect on pinnipeds, and probably have no, or less, effect on other marine fauna, which are often sensitive to low frequency sounds.