Alteration of arsenopyrite in soils under different vegetation covers

The weathering of arsenopyrite (FeAsS) has been monitored in soils using an in situ experimental approach. Arsenopyrite in nylon experimental bags was placed in individual horizons in soils in spruce (litter, horizons A, B, and C), beech (litter, horizons A, B, and C) and unforested (horizons A, B, and C) areas and left in contact with the soil for a period of 1 year. The individual areas on the ridge of the Krušné hory Mts., Czech Republic, had the same lithology, climatic and environmental conditions. Scorodite (FeAsO₄·2H₂O) was identified as a principal secondary mineral of arsenic (As) formed directly on the surface of the arsenopyrite. Scorodite was formed in all the areas in all soil horizons. The amount of scorodite formed decreased in the series beech, spruce and unforested areas. In forested areas, there was a larger amount of scorodite on arsenopyrites exposed in organic horizons (litter, A horizon). The greater rate of arsenopyrite alteration in organic horizons in the beech stand compared to spruce stand is probably a result of faster mineralization of organic material with resulting production of nitrate and better seepage conditions of soil in this area. Speciation of As determined using the sequential extraction technique demonstrated that As was bonded in the soils primarily in the residual fractions prior to the experiment. The As content in the mobile fractions increased in the organic horizon in the forested areas after the experiments.     

The effects of changing water flow velocity on the formation of biofilms and water quality in pilot distribution system consisting of copper or polyethylene pipes

We studied the effects of flow velocity on the formation of biofilms and the concentration of bacteria in water in copper and plastic (polyethylene, PE) pipes. The formation of biofilms increased with the flow velocity of water. The increase in microbial numbers and contents of ATP was clearer in the PE pipes than in the copper pipes. This was also seen as increased consumption of microbial nutrients in the pipeline system. This indicates that the mass transfer of nutrients is in major role in the growth of biofilms. However, the increased biomass of biofilms did not affect microbial numbers in the water. Rapid changes in water flow rate resuspended biofilms and sediments which increased the concentrations of bacteria and copper in water. The disturbance caused by the changing water flow was also seen as an increase in the particle counts and water turbidity recorded with online instrumentation.     

Health assessment of artisanal gold miners in Indonesia

Small scale miners use mercury to extract gold from ore in many countries. An environmental and health assessment was performed in Indonesia in two regions, Galangan in Central Kalimantan and Talawaan in Northern Sulawesi. The environmental assessment showed severe mercury contamination of the sediments, and increased mercury levels in local fish. For the health investigation 281 volunteers were recruited and examined by a standardized questionnaire, a neurological examination and neuro-psychological tests. A medical score was used consisting of significant factors of mercury intoxication. Mercury exposed workers showed typical symptoms of mercury intoxication, such as movement disorders (ataxia, tremor, dysdiadochokinesia, etc.). Blood, urine and hair samples were taken from any participant and analyzed for mercury. The mercury concentration in the biomonitors was high, partly extreme high in the working population, increased in the population living in the same habitat and low in the control group. By a standard protocol which includes a combination of threshold values of mercury in the biomonitors and a medical sum score the diagnosis of chronic mercury intoxication was made for highly burdened workers (amalgam smelters) in 55% in Sulawesi and in 62% in Kalimantan. Less exposed mineral processors and the general population in the mining areas were also intoxicated to a high percentage.     

Ecological succession in mountain lake ecosystems of Southern Siberia after the introduction of the peled – Coregonus peled (Gmeli, 1778)

Abstract

This article summarizes a long-standing study of the process of introduction of the peled to the Southern Siberian mountain lake ecosystems. The peled has adapted to changes in food supply. Pressure of the euryphagous peled caused the substitution of larger forms of zooplankton by smaller ones. Similar changes occurred in the content of phytoplankton. Succession of zoobenthos in the littoral part of the lakes manifested itself as the decrease in the total biomass, in its part of zoobenthos (Gammarus) and as the increase in the biomass of other groups. The opposite changes were encountered in the profundal zone of zoobenthos (the decrease in the total biomass owing to the existence of larger forms of alpha-polysaprobes). The restructuring observed in various communities signifies the substantial changes in the whole process of generation and transformation of organic substance in the mountain ecosystems with the dominance of the introduced peled.     

在革新与现代主义之间:夏昌世与德国(英文)

夏昌世,中国第一代建筑师,1920年代在德国卡尔斯鲁厄留学。1932年,他在图宾根完成了博士论文之后重返祖国。1940年代后期,他在广州成为教授,1973年与妻子一同重返德国,并在那里生活直至1996年逝世。他的设计方法不仅受到那个时代欧洲现代主义运动氛围的熏陶,还来自他对中国传统景观与建筑艺术历史的研究。他是引领岭南区域形成岭南学派建筑的主导力量之一。同时,作为一建筑学教授,他在广州培养了新一代青年建筑师。     

未来高校图书馆建筑空间构成及设计特点初探

从高校图书馆发展的外部动因,使用主体的心理、行为特征和现代化设备对图书馆的影响三个方面来分析研究图书馆建筑发展的趋势和特点,归纳出未来高校图书馆建筑的功能布局及空间组织结构特点,总结出设计中要考虑的诸多因素,以期更好地指导高校图书馆的设计与建设。     

Urban environmental mercury in Changchun, a metropolitan city in Northeastern China: source, cycle, and fate

Mercury concentrations in each environmental compartment in Changchun City had obvious spatial and temporal trends. Particulate Hg (HgP) and total gaseous mercury (TGM) concentrations in air, total Hg (HgT) concentrations in precipitation and ratios of HgP to HgT (total Hg in air) in the atmosphere in heating season were higher than those in non-heating season, which resulted from civil heating. In contrast, reactive Hg (HgR) concentrations in precipitation were higher in non-heating season than those in heating season. TGM and SO2 in air had good agreement. HgP concentrations in the atmosphere were correlated with HgT concentrations in precipitation. Based on Hg concentrations in each environmental compartment, Hg exchange fluxes between environmental interfaces were estimated. Only 11.6% of Hg, emitted from coal combustion, deposited into land surface in urban district and the rest part participated in regional or global cycle, so urban district was the source of Hg global and regional cycle. Net fluxes of Hg into land surface and water were 34.26 kg year(-1) and 0.051 kg year(-1), respectively, which were clearly accumulated in the water and soil. Therefore considering urban local Hg cycle, each environmental compartment of urban ecosystem (water, air and soil) was the sink of Hg.     

The potential for gender equality in architecture: an Anglo-Spanish comparison

The practice of architecture is very similar in different national settings despite what may be very different sociological and cultural origins of the profession, the attendant variances in how work is organized and distinctions in equality and gender roles. The aim of this paper is to examine the quest for equality in architecture for women in the UK and Spain reporting the findings of a comparative study into women architects’ careers in the two countries. Within the qualitative paradigm, semi-structured in-depth interviews were carried out with a total of 55 women architects in the UK and Spain. Findings indicate surprising differences in levels and terms of equality for women in the two countries and marked differences in women’s experiences of working as an architect. Women have come to the profession in Spain much later than their British counterparts and, somewhat surprisingly, are present in greater numbers. However, despite there being more of a ‘critical mass’ this has not served to improve their situation; they report much higher levels of discrimination and find it difficult to progress in their careers. Conclusions argue for a stronger approach by the professional bodies to help improve the position of women.     

Heterotrophic and mixotrophic growth of Micractinium pusillum Fresenius in the presence of acetate and glucose: effect of light and acetate gradient concentration

The main objective of this study was to determine the importance of secondary mechanism of organic carbon utilization (mixotrophic and heterotrophic modes) in addition to CO2 fixation (photoautotrophic mode) in the green alga, Micractinium pusillum Fresenius (chlorophyta), isolated from a waste stabilization pond. The growth was studied in the presence of acetate and glucose. The incorporation rate of 14C- acetate was measured in the light and in the dark at different concentrations. Finally, in order to underline the role of photosynthesis and respiration processes in the acetate assimilation, the effect of two specific metabolic inhibitors, a specific inhibitor of photosystem II (DCMU) and an uncoupler respiratory (DNP), has been studied. The obtained results showed that M. pusillum grows in the presence of organic substrates, i.e., glucose and acetate, in the light (mixotrophic growth) as well as in the dark (Heterotrophic growth). The growth was much more important in the light than in the dark and more in the presence of glucose than of acetate. In the light, the presence of acetate led to a variation of growth parameters mumax, iotaopt, and beta. The effect of acetate gradient on the growth of the microalga was severe as soon as its concentration in the medium was higher. The acetate uptake followed a Michaelis-Menten kinetic in the light as well as in the dark. The capacity of assimilation was slightly higher in the dark. The utilization of DNP and DCMU indicates that acetate incorporation is an active process depending on both anabolic (photosynthesis) and catabolic (respiration) metabolisms, corroborating the model of the Michaelis-Menten kinetic.     

探究“虚实”空间关系，创造个性化的城市空间场所

作者利用空间的“虚、实”概念,结合格斯塔心理学的“图底”关系,类比分析中国水墨画的留白艺术手法及生态系统中的细胞繁衍规律,通过张家界城市绿化广场周边地段的概念设计的创作实践,提出创造个性化的城市空间场所工作中虚实空间的理念与原则目标。