Hydrology and geomorphology of the Upper White Nile lakes and their relevance for water resources management in the Nile basin

Remote sensing data and digital elevation models were utilized to extract the catchment hydrological parameters and to delineate storage areas for the Ugandan Equatorial Lakes region. Available rainfall/discharge data are integrated with these morphometric data to construct a hydrological model that simulates the water balance of the different interconnected basins and enables the impact of potential management options to be examined. The total annual discharges of the basins are generally very low (less than 7% of the total annual rainfall). The basin of the shallow (5 m deep) Lake Kioga makes only a minor hydrological contribution compared with other Equatorial Lakes, because most of the overflow from Lake Victoria basin into Lake Kioga is lost by evaporation and evapotranspiration. The discharge from Lake Kioga could be significantly increased by draining the swamps through dredging and deepening certain channel reaches. Development of hydropower dams on the Equatorial Lakes will have an adverse impact on the annual water discharge downstream, including the occasional reduction of flow required for filling up to designed storage capacities and permanently increasing the surface areas of water that is exposed to evaporation. On the basis of modelling studies, alternative sites are proposed for hydropower development and water storage schemes. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

一种水产动物病毒现场检测免疫芯片的制备与应用

采用原子力显微镜对氨基化玻片及6种不同方法修饰玻片进行表面特征分析,并比较了硝酸纤维素(NC)膜、PVDF膜以及以上不同修饰玻片对抗体的固定效率、固定效果,最终选择琼脂糖修饰玻片作为芯片载体。将纯化后的兔抗血清(捕获抗体)点样至琼脂糖修饰玻片上,制备免疫芯片,与待检样品(病毒感染的靶器官组织)匀浆液孵育形成复合物,该复合物被辣根过氧化物酶(HRP)标记的特异性单克隆抗体(单抗)识别,经底物显色,得到肉眼可见的检测结果。通过改变芯片制备及应用过程中的具体条件参数,对各条件进行了优化,并采用生物素-链亲和素(BAS)标记特异性单抗作为检测抗体以提高检测灵敏度。基于此夹心免疫分析原理制备的WSSV、LCDV现场检测免疫芯片,病毒的最低检出量分别为82.50ng/ml、0.88μg/ml,在一定的抗原浓度范围内,病毒浓度的对数值与信号强度呈线性关系;采用BAS放大检测信号后,病毒的最低检出量为12.38ng/ml、0.22μg/ml。该免疫芯片与酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)及免疫荧光法(IFAT)对同种样品的检测结果高度一致。     

Equilibrium Structures of Differentially Rotating and Tidally Distorted White Dwarf Models of Stars

In this paper we present a method for computing the equilibrium structures and various physical parameters of a primary component of the binary system assuming that the primary is more massive than the secondary and is rotating differentially according to the law of the w² = b₀ + b₁ × s² + b₂ × s⁴, w being the angular velocity of rotation of a fluid element distant s from the axis of rotation and b₀, b₁, b₂ suitably chosen numerical constants. This method utilizes the averaging approach of Kippenhahn and Thomas (1997) and the concept of Roche equipotentials in a manner earlier used by Mohan et al. (1997) to incorporate the effects of rotation and tidal distortions on the equilibrium structures of certain rotationally and tidally distorted stellar models. The use of the method has been illustrated by applying it to obtain the structures and some observable parameters of certain differentially rotating and tidally distorted binary systems whose primary component is assumed to be a white dwarf star.     

虾蟹混养塘中WSSV对三疣梭子蟹(Portunus trituberculatus)致死效应的定量研究

采用实时荧光定量PCR法,在对白斑综合症多发的虾蟹混养塘内三疣梭子蟹体内病毒含量进行定量跟踪检测的基础上,结合电子显微镜及病理切片,对室内经口服、注射两种回感模式处理已感染白斑综合症病毒的濒死三疣梭子蟹体内病毒含量进行实验验证,并观察其体内主要器官组织的病理改变。结果表明,受白斑综合症病毒感染的三疣梭子蟹存活与死亡取决于蟹体内病毒含量,当病毒含量≥109拷贝/ml时均进入濒死或死亡阶段,其主要器官组织均有明显的病理改变。     

BOOK REVIEWS

Books reviewed in this article: Boundary Control and Legal Priniciples . Curtis M. Brown , Walter G. Robillard and Donald A. Wilson . Lost Initiatives: Canada's Forest Industries, Forest Policy, and Forest Conservation . R. Peter Gillis and Thomas R. Roach . The Navajo Atlas: Resources, People, and History of the Dine Bikeyah . James M. Goodman . The City and the Sign . M. Gottdiener AND Alexandros Ph . Lagopoulos , EDS. The Comfortable House: North American Suburban Architecture 1890–1930 . Alan Gowans . Arabic-Islamic Cities. Building and Planning Principles . Besim Salim Hakim . Contemporary Climatology . Ann Henderson -Sellers and Peter J. Robinson . A Trace of Desert Waters . Samuel G. Houghton . Geography, Resources and Environment. Vol. 1: Selected Writings of Gilbert F. White. Vol. 2: Themes from the Work of Gilbert F. White . Robert W. Kates AND Ian Burton , ED. Spatial Dimensions of Unemployment and Underemployment (A Case Study of Rural Punjab) . Gopal Krishan . Maps of the Holy Land: Cartobibliography of Printed Maps, 1475–1900 . Compiled by Eran Laor , assisted by Shoshana Klein . The Geography of Third World Cities . Stella Lowder . A Perspective on U.S. Farm Problems and Agricultural Policy . Lance Mc Kinzie , Timothy G. Baker AND Wallace E. Tyner . Soil Erosion and Its Control. R.P.C . Morgan , ED Geopolitics . Patrick O'Sullivan . Landscape, Meanings and Values . Edmund C. Penning -Rowsell AND David Lowenthal , EDS.     

矿物白度的影响因素与增白机理研究

白度是矿物的重要光学性质之一。为了深化矿物的光学性质及白色矿物功能材料的研究与应用,根据测试分析结果和叶大年的结构光性矿物学理论,系统研究了影响矿物白度的主要因素,以及矿物增白效果的差异性及其产生机理。研究结果表明:(1)晶体化学是决定不同种类透明矿物白度的最主要因素,但对于某种透明矿物来说,影响其白度的主要因素是矿物中的碳质有机质、含铁钛矿物杂质、杂质元素的价态与晶体化学环境、介质环境、矿物中的水和粒度大小等。(2)证明了透明矿物白度大小与折射率呈正相关。白度相同的不同矿物的增白效果存在很大差异性,其根本原因是由矿物折射率所决定的反射率存在很大差别。(3)提出了真白度和假白度的概念,即主要由自色产生的白度称为真白度,主要由假色产生的白度称为假白度;真白度高的矿物具有增白作用,而真白度低的矿物,即使粉末白度高,也没有增白作用。(4)在影响矿物白度的主要因素中,矿物中的碳质有机质、含铁钛矿物杂质、杂质元素的价态等杂质成分对矿物白度和增白效果起负面作用。(5)矿物中与晶体结构相关的水所产生的颜色属于自色,脱去结晶水、层间水和结构水都有利于提高矿物的真白度或增白效果,但脱去沸石水的效果正好相反;由矿物粒度大小变化产生的颜色属于假色;通过降低粉体粒度大小所提高的白度属于假白度,由此增加的白度没有增白作用。另外,矿物粉体与使用介质之间的折射率大小差别越大,增白效果越明显。     

Inferring Glacier Mass Balance Using Radarsat: Results From Peyto Glacier, Canada

The capability of RADARSAT synthetic aperture radar (SAR) for the purpose of snow-line/accumulation area mapping for a temperate alpine glacier is examined. In agreement with other orbital C-band SAR studies, RADARSAT can discriminate between firn and bare ice facies. Limited observations are reported with respect to the electromagnetic variability of the ice facies in the ablation area, but they are inconclusive. Operational considerations are discussed with respect to reconciling the uncertainties of late-summer weather and their possible impact on the dielectric and scattering properties of the glacier surface. Vagaries associated with other glacier settings, mass balance states and their associated facies configurations are discussed including the difficulty of using the transient snow-line to define the equilibrium line and the lower extent of the accumulation area for glaciers where superimposed ice may form.
The radar remote-sensing reconnaissance of equilibrium line altitude (ELA) and accumulation area ratio (AAR) for estimating glacier mass balance requires serious consideration in those instances where traditional ground measurements used in the direct glaciological method are absent. However, with respect to the ELA, such estimates can vary depending on the accuracy of the reference digital elevation information. Moreover, for many glacier configurations, where mass balance variations due to altitude are influenced or in some cases completely masked by local balance variations, defining the ELA may be an irreconcilable problem. Using the AAR may be more robust in this regard. It is further determined that the total error inherent in the reconnaissance method would have serious implications for the confident estimation of mass balance normals and climate-related trends if the method were to be utilized over the longer term.     

Using a Convection Model to Predict Altitudes of White Stork Migration Over Central Israel

Soaring migrants such as storks, pelicans and large birds of prey rely on thermal convection during migration. The convection model ALPTHERM was designed to predict the onset, strength, duration and depth of thermal convection for varying topographies for glider pilots, based on atmospheric conditions at midnight. We tested ALPTHERM predictions as configured for two topographies of central Israel, the Coastal Plains and the Judean and Samarian Mountains in order to predict altitudes of migrating white storks (Ciconia ciconia). Migrating flocks of white storks were tracked with a motorized glider, to measure maximum altitudes of migration during spring 2000. A significant positive correlation was found between the maximum daily altitudes of migration measured and the predicted upper boundary of thermal convection for the Coastal Plains and Samarian Mountains. Thirty-minute predictions for the Coastal Plains and Samarian Mountains correlated positively with measured maximum migration altitudes per thermal. ALPTHERM forecasts can be used to alter flight altitudes in both civil and especially military aviation and reduce the hazard of serious aircraft collisions with soaring migrants.     

Analysis of Winter and Summer Glacier Mass Balances

Seasonal mass balance components b_w (winter balance) and b_s (summer balance) as well as c_t (total accumulation) and a_t (total ablation), can be used directly to infer climate variables. In contrast, a_c (net balance of the accumulation area) and a_a (net balance of the ablation area), and b_a or b_n (annual or net balance) can not. The traditional Alpine system of observations of a_c and a_a , however, can be converted to true seasonal values b_w and b_s if both pairs of components are simultaneously observed for some years, because a correlation between the two pairs of components exists. We analyzed b_w and b_s data and their mean, standard deviations and ratios of these to the corresponding net or annual balances for 50 glaciers with relatively long records representing different regions in the northern hemisphere. We also investigated correlations between seasonal components. A negative correlation between b_w and b_s exists at many glaciers. About two-thirds of the glaciers show insignificant correlations (?0.3 < r < 0.3), implying independence of summer and winter balances. In a few unusual cases the correlations are positive. These different correlations, or lack thereof, may offer insight into feedback conditions that must exist in this climate-related system. The correspondence of the b_w and c_t , and b_s and a_t , appears to depend largely on the relative amounts of summer snowfall, a function of their climatic environment expressed as [α = (b_w+b_s)/2]. The contribution of variability of b_s to the net balance increases markedly with decreasing values of α. The variability of b_w and b_s , and therefore the net balance, has been increasing with time; whether this is due to an increase in climate variability or to other causes is not clear. It appears that b_w has been increasing with time at the highest altitudes, but b_s has been increasing more rapidly especially at low altitudes; the many-glacier average net balance is becoming more negative.