巴基斯坦山达克矿区ASTER遥感数据蚀变信息提取及找矿预测

巴基斯坦查盖火山岩浆岩带属于特提斯成矿域的重要组成部分之一,是巴基斯坦境内最重要的斑岩型铜矿带,但目前其相关的遥感研究还较少,制约了对该成矿带的找矿潜力分析。本文以山达克矿床及其周边为研究区,对先进星载热辐射与反射辐射计(Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer, ASTER)数据进行RBD (Relative absorption band depth)比值假彩色合成、主成分分析、光谱角制图等处理,获得蚀变遥感异常信息分布特征,通过对蚀变特征和主要控矿要素进行遥感研究,建立了山达克矿床遥感找矿模型并开展成矿预测,为该成矿带矿产勘查提供借鉴。根据建立的遥感找矿模型,圈定了找矿预测靶区10处。对矿区东矿体和矿区北部的2个靶区进行野外验证,证实了提取结果与实际地质事实吻合较好,对矿区岩石样品进行光谱实测,表明样品实测光谱曲线与标准矿物光谱曲线的吸收特征位置高度相似,证实了研究区绢云母化、青磐岩化等蚀变较强且分布较广。结果表明本次研究提取的矿化蚀变结果可信度较高,可为后续找矿勘查工作提供参考。     

Trends in copepod communities in the Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers,New Jersey: 1962–1992

The calanoid copepod community was surveyed semi-monthly, from May to July 1992, at three stations in the Navesink-Shrewsbury rivers system, the southernmost branch of the Hudson-Raritan estuary (New York-New Jersey). The dominant species collected during the survey wasAcartia hudsonica, followed byA. tonsa. A comparison of this survey with three earlier surveys suggests that the calanoid copepod community and relative abundance of dominant species have not changed substantially since the 1960s. Findings from a 1972 study, which noted the absence ofA. hudsonica andPseudodiaptomus coronatus as dominant species, were probably reflecting a temporary situation. The variations may have been related to a change in water quality, caused by an upgrade in sewage treatment, completed just prior to the 1972 survey, and/or resulted from the residual effects of Tropical Storm Agnes on this estuary.     

Chromium uptake by giant reed under rhizobacterial inhibition

The role of rhizospheric microbes of giant reed (Arundo donax L.) in Cr uptake from hydroponic culture was investigated. The control group was exposed to Cr in range of 25–100 mg L^?1 containing a control itself (with no metal addition). The experimental group received same Cr treatments, but in addition was exposed to antibiotic treatment in order to inhibit rhizospheric bacteria. The range of Cr accumulated in the roots was 3–7.65 mg L^?1; in stem it ranged 2.15–42.4 mg kg^?1; while in leaves, the range of Cr content was 13.7–15 mg kg^?1. Overall, Cr uptake in A. donax (without rhizobacterial inhibition) was root < leaf < stem. However, the amount of Cr uptake in plants with rhizobacterial inhibition was significantly less (~4.6-folds in 100 mg L^?1 Cr treatment) than those without such inhibition clearly highlighting that rhizobacterial inhibition decreased the Cr uptake. The experimental results clearly demonstrated that the inhibition of the rhizobacterial populations had great influence on the Cr uptake. However, Cr uptake could not be completely inhibited as some metal uptake was observed after the rhizobacterial inhibition although it was significantly less than the Cr uptake of plants without such inhibition.     

Pedo and biogeochemical studies of mafic and ultramfic rocks in the Mingora and Kabal areas,Swat, Pakistan

This study highlights the heavy metals (HMs) distribution in soils and their uptake by wild plants grown in the soils derived from the mafic and ultramafic terrains. Plant and soil samples were analyzed for Cu, Pb, Zn, Cr, Ni and Cd using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The data indicate that almost all the HMs in the soil samples collected from the study area exceeded the reference and normal agricultural soils. Greater variability was noticed in the uptake of HMs by various plants grown on the studied soils. High concentrations of Cu and Zn in Cannabis sativa L. (seft hemp), Pb in Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) (Ailanto), Ni and Cr in Indigofrra gerardiana Wall. ex Baker (sage), and Saccharum griffihii Munro ex Boiss. (plume grass) were noticed among the studied plants. The multifold enrichments of Cr and Ni in the Indigofrra gerardiana and Saccharum griffihii as compared to the other plants of the study area suggested that these plants have the ability to uptake and translocate high concentrations of Cr and Ni. The excessive concentrations of Cr and Ni in these plants can be used for mineral prospecting but their main concern could be of serious environmental problems and health risks in the inhabitants of the study areas.     

Assessing the impact of EI Niño southern oscillation index and land surface temperature fluctuations on dengue fever outbreaks using ARIMAX(<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>)-PARX(<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>)-NBARX(<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>) models

The dengue infectious disease remnants a human health problem in tropical and subtropical countries. In an Auto Regressive model to assess the role of climatic parameter El Niño Southern Oscillation and land surface mean monthly temperture on dengue outbreaks of the Karachi region over the monthly time interval January 2001 to December 2016, subsequent to stabilization of variance, we are able to apply and predict an Auto Regressive Integrated Moving Average Exogenous-Transfer Function model by using the order selection criteria namely Final Prediction Error and Akaike’s information. The results confirmed that ARIMAX (2,1,2) has fitted model, although an Auto Regressive model predicts a smaller decline in dengue data series than the auto Poisson Regression model. Additionally, we developed an alternative model for the Poisson Autoregressive Exogenous model in order (p) and Negative Binomial Auto Regressive Exogenous model, deliver the best fit as compared to the Poisson Auto Regressive Exogenous model whereas indicated by the deviances. The Pearson test showed a strong positive association between temperature and dengue, while ENSO inverse indication. High dengue outbreaks are detected in the months of September, October, and November. This comparative study exposed a significant relationship among monthly dengue and climatic variation by Auto Regressive Integrated Moving Average Exogenous (ARIMAX), Poisson and Negative-Binomial Autoregressive Exogenous (PARX-NBARX) models, while smallest values of AIC (3.89), Negative Binomial Auto Regressive Exogenous, are preferred more accurate model for the next 12 months forecasting. This study has provided useful information for the development of dengue predictions and future warning systems.     

Diurnal and nocturnal variations of trace metals in urban atmospheric particulate matter from Islamabad, Pakistan

Concentrations of Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Pb and Zn are measured in the atmospheric particulates from urban Islamabad, Pakistan during diurnal and nocturnal periods. On an average, the total suspended particulates and concentrations of Ca, Fe and Mg levels are considerably higher during day time and Cu concentrations are higher during night time. Significantly diverse correlations of elements are observed both during diurnal and nocturnal particulates. Multivariate principal component analysis reveals major anthropogenic contributions due to automobile emissions, combustion processes and industrial emissions. Enrichment factors show dominant anthropogenic contributions of Cd and Pb, followed by Co, Cu, Zn, Cr and Ca in diurnal and nocturnal atmospheric particulates. Comparison of metal concentrations observed in this study with those of previous studies from Islamabad and other urban areas around the world shows higher concentrations than those in some European cities but, in general, are lower than in large metropolitan cities.     

A bibliometric-based evaluation on environmental research in the Arab world

The Arab world’s environment is among the most vulnerable and harsh ones across the globe. This entails much efforts to mitigate the potential environmental risks. Analysing contributions of Arab scholars in environmental research in terms of quantity and quality can bring up insights on their endeavours in this regard. Bibliometric techniques are proposed to conduct such this analysis over publications originated from Arab world in a leading environmental journal “Science of the Total Environment”. Research productivity is being used as quantitative indicator, while citation rates and Hirsch index (h-index) are being used as qualitative indicators. The research outputs were compared with those obtained from non-Arab Middle Eastern countries (Iran, Turkey and Israel). Worldwide research productivity was 17,258 documents, while that from Arab countries, Iran, Turkey and Israel were 215, 34, 83 and 87 documents, respectively. The h-index of Arab world research was 31, and total citations were 3616 with an average of 16.8. The highest share of publications was recorded by Saudi Arabia (53 documents; 24.7%). Egypt and Saudi Arabia had highest h-index with 15 for each one. American University of Beirut in Lebanon was the highest productive institution (16; 7.4%). The most collaborated country with Arab world was France (29; 13.5%). In the conclusion, the study reveals a clear gap in terms of research productivity between Arab countries and other Middle Eastern countries, precisely Israel and Turkey. More research efforts through optimizing investments in environmental research, developing regional experiences and fostering international collaboration are required to eliminate these lags.     

巴基斯坦山达克矿区ASTER遥感数据、蚀变信息提取及找矿预测

巴基斯坦查盖火山岩浆岩带属于特提斯成矿域的重要组成部分之一,是巴基斯坦境内最重要的斑岩型铜矿带,但目前其相关的遥感研究还较少,制约了对该成矿带的找矿潜力分析。笔者等以山达克矿床及其周边为研究区,对先进星载热辐射与反射辐射计(Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer, ASTER)数据进行RBD (Relative absorption band depth)比值假彩色合成、主成分分析、光谱角制图等处理,获得蚀变遥感异常信息分布特征,通过对蚀变特征和主要控矿要素进行遥感研究,建立了山达克矿床遥感找矿模型并开展成矿预测,为该成矿带矿产勘查提供借鉴。根据建立的遥感找矿模型,圈定了找矿预测靶区10处。对矿区东矿体和矿区北部的2个靶区进行野外验证,证实了提取结果与实际地质事实吻合较好,对矿区岩石样品进行光谱实测,表明样品实测光谱曲线与标准矿物光谱曲线的吸收特征位置高度相似,证实了研究区绢云母化、青磐岩化等蚀变较强且分布较广。结果表明本次研究提取的矿化蚀变结果可信度较高,可为后续找矿勘查工作提供参考。     

Treating Leather Tanning Wastewater with Stone Cutting Solid Waste

This paper presents a new environmental approach for reducing environmental impacts of two local Palestinian industries: It implements the principle of “treating waste by waste.” The technical feasibility of chromium removal from wastewater in leather making by its treatment with solid waste from stone cutting industry is demonstrated experimentally, and found to be an efficient approach. Nearly full removal of chromium is obtained at optimum operating conditions using sufficient mass of solid waste (limestone) and allowing enough contact time between the two wastes. This study investigated effects of various parameters on the percentage relative decrease in concentration by using ultra violet (UV)/Vis spectrophotometry. Kinetic curves showed that percentage relative decrease in concentration increased with time until approaching a plateau (adsorption capacity). The adsorption capacity increased with increasing limestone to liquid ratio (solid content), until nearly full removal of chromium was obtained when the solid content was 5 g/100 mL or higher. This was accomplished within few days when the particles were settled. The adsorption capacity was pH dependent; adsorption at pH < 5 was obtained, as a finding which was not reported by previous investigators for Cr(III) adsorption using other particles. The percentage removal was nearly doubled at higher pH values (>5). Further research work is proposed to distinguish between the contributions of the two removal mechanisms of precipitation and adsorption.