Fractal characterization of sediment particle-size distribution in the water-level fluctuation zone of the Three Gorges Reservoir, China

The combined effect of periodic water impoundment and seasonal natural flood events has created a 30 m high water-level fluctuation zone(WLFZ) around the Three Gorges Reservoir(TGR), China, forming a unique eco-landscape. Siltation, eutrophication, enrichment of heavy metals, and methane emissions in the WLFZ have been widely associated with sediment and soil particles generated from the upstream catchment or upland slopes. However, little attention has been paid to the complexity of sediment particle-size distributions in the WLFZ. In the present study, core samples(from a 345 cm thick sediment core from the base of the WLFZ), slope transect surface samples(across/up a WLFZ slope), and along-river/longitudinal surface samples(from the reservoir reaches) were collected. Laser granulometry and a volume-based fractal model were used to reveal the characteristics of sediment particle-size distributions. Results indicate that the alternation of coarse and fine particles in the sedimentary core profile is represented as a fluctuation of low and high values of fractal dimension(D), ranging from 2.59 to 2.77. On the WLFZ slope transect, surface sediment particles coarsen with increasing elevation, sand content increases from 3.3% to 78.5%, and D decreases from 2.76 to 2.53. Longitudinally, surface sediments demonstrate a downstream-fining trend, and D increases gradually downstream. D is significantly positively correlated with the fine particle content. We conclude that D is a useful measure for evaluating sediment particle-size distribution.

Effects of seasonal water-level fluctuation on soil pore structure in the Three Gorges Reservoir,China

Inundation of the Three Gorges Reservoir has created a 30-m water-level fluctuation zone with seasonal hydrological alternations of submergence and exposure, which may greatly affect soil properties and bank stability. The aim of this study was to investigate the response of soil pore structure to seasonal water-level fluctuation in the reservoir, and particularly, the hydrological change of wetting and drying cycles. Soil pore structure was visualized with industrial X-ray computed tomography and digital image analysis techniques. The results showed that soil total porosity(? 100 ?m), total pore number, total throat number, and mean throat surface area increased significantly under wetting and drying cycles. Soil porosity, pore number and throat numberwithin each size class increased in the course of wetting and drying cycles. The coordination number, degree of anisotropy and fractal dimension were indicating an increase. In contrast, the mean shape factor, pore-throat ratio, and Euler-Poincaré number decreased due to wetting and drying cycles. These illustrated that the wetting and drying cycles made soil pore structure become more porous, continuous, heterogeneous and complex. It can thus be deduced that the water-level fluctuation would modify soil porosity, pore size distribution, and pore morphology in the Three Gorges Reservoir, which may have profound implications for soil processes, soil functions, and bank stability.

Water-Level Fluctuations of Urmia Lake: Relationship with the Long-Term Changes of Meteorological Variables (Solutions for Water-Crisis Management in Urmia Lake Basin)

Urmia Lake in northwest of Iran, through the recent years has been extremely faced with the water crisis. Climate variations and anthropogenic impacts could be two main affiliated factors in this regard. We considered the long term data series of precipitation, temperature and evaporation in monthly and yearly scales in order to compare to water-level values of Urmia Lake. The statistics approaches such as: standard deviation, trend analysis, T test, Pearson and Spearman correlations, liner regression are used to analyze all variables. The results released that the water-level of Urmia Lake along with the precipitation and temperature of the lake’s basin have experienced the periodic changes through 1961 to 2010, as there are some gradual dryness trends on the study area according to precipitation and temperature variations. Urmia Lake periodic water-level fluctuations show more significant correlation to temperature than the precipitation. Whiles, the water-level’s decreasing behavior especially through 1998 to 2010 is more harsh and different than the rate that is considered for precipitation’s decrease and temperature’s increase. Thus, there could be some anthropogenic factors in the basin which produced some supplementary causes to shrink Urmia Lake. Extracting the double precipitation over the basin through introducing and categorizing of atmospheric synoptic systems in order to cloud seeding operation could be one of urgent and innovative solutions to mitigate water crisis in the basin.

Circadian fluctuations in three types of sensory modules in healthy subjects

This study was designed to observe and compare the circadian fluctuations in tactile sense, joint reposition sense and two-point discrimination in healthy subjects. Twenty-one healthy adult subjects received perceptual ability tests through these three different sensory modules at approximately 9：00, 13：00 and 18：00 in a day. The distribution of ranking for perceptual ability was significantly different among the three different time points in each individual, with highest perceptual ability in the evening compared with noon and morning, in terms of tactile sense and two-point discrimination. These findings suggest that the perceptual ability of healthy subjects fluctuates according to the time points in a day.

Non-stationary water-level fluctuation in China＇s Poyang Lake and its interactions with Yangtze River

Seasonal water-level fluctuations （WLF） play a dominate role in lacustrine ecosys- tems. River-lake interaction is a direct factor in changes of seasonal lake WLF, especially for those lakes naturally connected to upstream and downstream rivers. During the past decade, the modification of WLF in the Poyang Lake （the largest freshwater lake in China） has caused intensified flood and irrigation crises, reduced water availability, compromised water quality and extensive degradation of the lake ecosystem. There has been a conjecture as to whether the modification was caused by its interactions with Yangtze River. In this study, we investi- gated the variations of seasonal WLF in China＇s Poyang Lake by comparing the water levels during the four distinct seasons （the dry season, the rising season, the flood season, and the retreating season） before and after 2003 when the Three Gorge Dam operated. The Water Surface Slope （WSS） was used as a representative parameter to measure the changes in river-lake interaction and its impacts on seasonal WLF. The results showed that the magni- tude of seasonal WLF has changed considerably since 2003; the seasonal WLF of the Poy- ang Lake have been significantly altered by the fact that the water levels both rise and retreat earlier in the season and lowered water levels in general. The fluctuations of river-lake in- teractions, in particular the changes during the retreating season, are mainly responsible for these variations in magnitude of seasonal WLF. This study demonstrates that WSS is a rep- resentative parameter to denote river-lake interactions, and the results indicate that more emphasis should be placed on the decrease of the Poyang Lake caused by the lowered water levels of the Yangtze River, especially in the retreating season.

Morphological responses to water-level fluctuations of two submerged macrophytes, Myriophyllum spicatum and Hydrilla verticillata

Aims Myriophyllum spicatum and Hydrilla verticillata are common submerged macrophytes in the Yangtze River basin.To investigate their tolerances and adaptations to water-level fluctuations,an experiment was conducted in a pond.Methods We designed five different amplitudes of water-level fluctuations as static,615,630,660 and 690 cm during the 74 days of the experiment.In each amplitude treatment,two cultivation methods were examined as monoculture and mixed culture.Important Findings The results showed that M.spicatum had greater morphological responses to water-level fluctuations than H.verticillata.Fluctuating amplitude had significant effects on branch number,shoot length and root dry weight(DW)of M.spicatum,whereas it only had significant effect on branch number of H.verticillata.Both fluctuating amplitude and cultivation method had significant effects on total DW of M.spicatum,which was higher in monoculture than mixed culture.The total DW of H.verticillata was affected by fluctuating amplitude only,and the largest biomass was in the amplitude of 630 cm.Fruit DW of M.spicatum was largest in the amplitude of 630 cm,high amplitude of water-level fluctuations would inhibit flowering and seed production.Root DW proportion was significantly affected by fluctuating amplitude and cultivation method in both species,and the root DW proportion of M.spicatum was significantly higher in the amplitude-of 690 cm.We conclude that moderate amplitude of water-level fluctuations can promote the distribution and growth of both species,and in order to accelerate the restoration of both species in natural habitats,the optimum amplitude should be keep at 615 to 630 cm.

Impact of seasonal water-level fluctuations on autumn vegetation in Poyang Lake wetland,China

Water level fluctuations (WLF) are natural patterns that are necessary for the survival of various plants,and WLF guarantee both the productivity and the biodiversity of wetlands.However,the underlying mechanisms of how changes in vegetation are linked to seasonal WLF remain unclear.Using vegetation and hydrological data from 1989 to 2009,we identified the key seasonal fluctuations and their impacts on vegetation in the Poyang Lake wetland by utilizing a tree-based hierarchical model.According to our results: 1) WLF in summer had significant impacts on both sedges and reeds.The severe summer floods promoted the expansion of sedges,while they inhibited the expansion of reeds;2) WLF in autumn also greatly impacted sedges,while reeds were severely affected in spring.Specifically,we found that low water levels in autumn led to the expansion of sedges,and low water levels in spring led to the expansion of reeds.The results were well corroborated through comparisons of the vegetation distribution patterns over the last two decades (i.e.,the 1990s and 2000s),which may shed light on corresponding water resource and wetland management.

Role of the rhizosphere of a flooding-tolerant herb in promoting mercury methylation in water-level fluctuation zones

The water-level fluctuation zone(WLFZ) has been considered as a hotspot for mercury(Hg) methylation. Flooding-tolerant herbs are gradually acclimated to this water-land ecotone, tending to form substantial root systems for improving erosion resistance. Accompanying rhizosphere microzone plays crucial but unclear roles in methylmercury(Me Hg) formation in the WLFZ. Thus, we conducted this study in the WLFZ of the Three Gorges Reservoir, to explore effects of the rhizosphere of a dominant flooding-tolerant herb(bermudagrass) on Me Hg production. The elevated Hg and Me Hg in rhizosphere soils suggest that the rhizosphere environment provides favorable conditions for Hg accumulation and methylation. The increased bioavailable Hg and microbial activity in the rhizosphere probably serve as important factors driving Me Hg formation in the presence of bermudagrass. Simultaneously, the rhizosphere environments changed the richness, diversity, and distribution of hgc A-containing microorganisms. Here, a typical ironreducing bacterium( Geobacteraceae) has been screened, however, the majority of hgc A genes detected in rhizosphere, near-, and non-rhizosphere soils of the WLFZ were unclassified. Collectively, these results provide new insights into the elevated Me Hg production as related to microbial processes in the rhizosphere of perennial herbs in the WLFZ, with general implications for Hg cycling in other ecosystems with water-level fluctuations.

水位节律差异对三峡水库消落区不同物候类型1年生植物物种构成的影响

三峡水库蓄水后改变了原有长江自然的水位波动节律,并在三峡库区内形成了两种类型的消落区:蓄水前未经历过水淹的完全水库消落区,其水位节律夏低冬高;以及蓄水前属于自然消落区目前受蓄水和洪汛双重影响的消落区,其水位在冬季和夏季都存在高水位。这与自然消落区冬低夏高的水位节律均存在差别。1年生植物根据萌发结实特性可分为春萌秋实、冬萌夏实型植物和广适性植物3类。在不同消落区选取5个样地划分样带设置固定样方,涨水前和退水后调查发现:各消落区均存在3种1年生植物,但3种类型物种的比例和和优势度存在显著差异。只受夏季洪汛影响的自然消落区共发现1年生植物73种,冬萌夏实型植物以45种占优;而水位节律与之相反的完全水库消落区,1年生植物物种数为85种,其中春萌秋实型植物以45种以及较大的优势度成为该区域的优势1年生物种;双重影响消落区,1年生植物物种总数未明显下降,但是在蓄水和洪汛的双重影响下其种群大小相对较低。水位节律的巨大变化会引起1年生植物优势类型的显著改变,适合生长的1年生植物主要是因为其生长周期与淹没期不完全重叠而成为优势物种类型。

城市环境中白纹伊蚊密度时空分布与刺叮节律研究

目的探索城市环境中白纹伊蚊密度时空分布及刺叮节律。方法采用二氧化碳诱蚊灯法和人诱停落法定期、定点对白纹伊蚊密度进行持续监测。结果北京市城区环境全年白纹伊蚊密度消长呈单峰规律,7月上旬及之前密度低于1只/(灯·h),随后迅速上升,在8月中旬密度达到全年最高,为4.657只/(灯·h),随后密度逐步降低,在10月下旬下降至0。居民区密度最高,全年平均密度为2.435只/(灯·h),其次为医院0.417只/(灯·h)、公园0.373只/(灯·h),旅游景点密度最低,为0.214只/(灯·h)。8月北京城区白纹伊蚊的刺叮节律呈双峰规律,05:00为全天最高水平,06:00-8:00处于较高水平,停落指数为6~9只/(人·15 min),随着日照强度增加,停落指数迅速降低并维持到13:00,随后从14:00密度逐步升高,17:00升高至下午时段最高水平,并一直维持较高的叮咬强度至19:00,而在20:00迅速降低。结论北京市城区环境白纹伊蚊密度呈单峰型季节消长规律,居民区密度水平高于其他环境类型;刺叮节律呈双峰规律,基于上述规律可指导伊蚊密度监测与个人防护。

木材构造和生体节律的1/f型涨落谱

在综合现代木质环境学研究成果的基础上，就自然界中普遍存在着的涨落现象、涨落的分类、各种涨落谱的特征等做了一般性的说明。集中讨论了木材构造的涨落谱及生体节律的涨落谱特征，并就两者之间存在的共同点，即两者之间的相关性做了浅显说明，回答了为什么自古以来人们喜爱生物材料——木材及木材纹理构造这一问题的根本原因。

东亚大气环流的低频振荡及与韵律的关系

本文根据北半球500hPa高度场30年(1951—1980)平均的逐候格点资料,对气候平均的东亚各主要大气环流系统的年内变化进行了谐波分析和天气学分析.结果表明,东亚大气环流系统存在着三种主要的大气低频波:年波、半年波和30—50天的季内波;中、高纬度的大气环流以年波振荡为主,低纬度的大气环流以半年波振荡为主;30—50天的季内波是北半球各纬度上都存在的一种波,但它对总方差的贡献在低纬比中、高纬度大.此外,还讨论了年波和半年波这两种大气低频波与我国长期预报中常用的各种韵律指标特别是隔季相关现象的关系.

基于水位节律变动的城市消落带景观规划设计——以重庆南岸区为例

城市消落带是水位周期性涨落而形成的特殊环境承载体。文章通过分析重庆南岸区消落带历年水位节律变动信息,得出不同高程的设计参考线,进而对不同水位条件下的消落带竖向层域采取对应的工程治理、生态修复、景观美化、韧性承洪等综合规划设计措施,旨在为城市消落带的景观规划设计提供分析思路和设计参考。

参芪复方对2型糖尿病GK大鼠生理节律的影响

目的探讨参芪复方对2型糖尿病(type 2 diabetic,T2DM)GK大鼠生理昼夜节律的影响。方法 GK大鼠每日给予高脂饲料喂养,连续4周,随机从GK大鼠中选取大鼠检测随机血糖,验证2型糖尿病模型成功。实验分为4组:Wistar组、模型组、参芪复方组、西药(西格列汀)组。分别予5 mL/(kg·d)生理盐水、5 m L/(kg·d)生理盐水、1.44 g/(kg·d)参芪复方混悬液、16 mg/(kg·d)西格列汀混悬液灌胃,于灌胃后每周1次测一日内8:00、10:00、14:00、16:00、18:00五个时间点血糖水平;灌胃8周后,计算反映血糖波动的指标(MBG、SDBG、LAGE);运用双抗体夹心ABC-ELISA法检测大鼠血清胰岛素水平;运用基因芯片技术对各组大鼠胰腺组织进行差异基因检测;并对关键差异基因行PCR验证。结果参芪复方可减少大鼠血糖波动,增加胰岛素分泌,上调基因CRY1、DBP的表达。结论具有养阴益气活血功效的参芪复方可通过上调基因CRY1、DBP的表达,调控生理昼夜节律,以调节胰岛素分泌,维持葡萄糖稳态,防治T2DM。

国内水库消落带植被恢复影响因素研究进展

消落带研究的出发点和目的是消落带植被恢复,该恢复过程受各种因素的影响。为国内消落带植被恢复相关研究及工程实施提供参考,综述了消落带人工植被恢复各种影响因素的影响方式及特点、消落带类型的划分、植物的选择及配置等方面的研究进展;指出消落带类型的划分和植物的选择及配置是决定消落带植被恢复成败的2个最关键前提条件。

基于生物钟节律从“圆运动气机升降”探析血糖波动

现代研究表明,下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺轴调节失衡,无法顺应正常节律来维持血糖稳态,可导致神经内分泌轴异常的血糖波动。这种生物钟节律对血糖的调控与中医圆运动气机升降维持机体动态平衡的观点颇为相似。故文章从"圆运动气机升降"角度,动态阐释血糖波动的病机演变规律,土湿、水寒、火亢、木郁、金燥,脾胃-心肾-肝肺气机失衡,生物钟节律紊乱,是血糖波动的根本原因。有利于揭示中医调整生物节律、维持代谢稳态的科学内涵。

Spatial distribution,sources and ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in Shenjia River watershed of the Three Gorges Reservoir Area

Surface soil/sediment samples were collected from the Water-Level Fluctuation Zone(WLFZ), cultivated land and forest land at 50 different grid points from Shenjia watershed, the Three Gorges Reservoir area in August 2013. The spatial distribution, sources and ecological risk assessment for Arsenic(As), Cadmium(Cd),Chromium(Cr), Copper(Cu), Nickel(Ni), Lead(Pb)and Zinc(Zn) were analyzed in this study. The results showed all tested metals had similar distribution patterns except Ni and Cr, with areas of high concentrations distributed in the southwest(WLFZ and watershed outlet) of the study area. Ni and Cr,which were highly positively correlated and present in high concentrations, were primarily distributed in the south and middle zones of the study area. Lower concentration areas of all metals were uniformly distributed west of the high-elevation zones and forest land. Factor analysis(FA) and factor analysismultiple linear regression(FA-MLR) showed that the major sources of Cd were fertilizer and traffic sources,which together accounted for 87% of Cd. As, Zn and Cu levels were primarily supplied by industrial and domestic sources, accounting for 76% of As, 75% of Cu and 67% of Zn. Surface soils/sediments of the study watershed contaminated by Cd represent a high ecological risk, whereas other metals represent low ecological risks. The potential ecological risk index(PERI) analysis indicated that it had a low(widerange) ecological risk and a moderate(small-range)ecological risk primarily distributed in the outlet of the study watershed. Fertilizers and traffic are the primary sources of Cd pollution, which should be more closely controlled for the purposes of water quality and ecological conservation.

Heart Rate Variability, Standard of Measurement, Physiological Interpretation and Clinical Use in Mountain Marathon Runners during Sleep and after Acclimatization at 3480 m

Fluctuations in autonomic cardiovascular regulation during exposure to high altitude may increase the risk of heart attack during waking and sleep. This study compared heart rate variability (HVR) and its components during sleep at low altitude and after 30 - 41 hours of acclimatization at high altitude (3480 m) in five mountain marathon runners controlled for diet, drugs, light-dark cycle and jet lag. In comparison to sea level, RR-intervals during sleep at high altitude decreased significantly (P 0.001). The significant increase in sympathetic autonomic cardiovascular modulation at high altitude protects against excessive oxygen deprivation during sleep. Increases in R-R intervals can require longer periods of acclimatization at3480 m to mitigate the effects of altitude/hypoxia on sympathetic tone, thus reducing cardiovascular distress at rest during waking and sleep and probably before during and after athletic performance at altitude.

Tempo-spatial variations of sediment-associated nutrients and contaminants in the Ruxi tributary of the Three Gorges Reservoir, China

Ruxi River is a tributary of the Three Gorges Reservoir. This study examined the temporal and spatial dynamics in particle size characteristics and the associated nutrients and contaminants of the fluvial suspended and deposited sediments along the Ruxi River. Temporal variations in the particle size distribution of the suspended sediment are controlled mainly by differences in sediment source during different seasons. Total organic carbon （TOC）, total nitrogen （TN） and total phosphorous （TP） in the 〈 62 μm fraction of the suspended sediment exhibit considerably higher concentrations in spring, indicating high probability of algal blooms in the backwater areas. Downstream trends in the nutrient contents of 〈 62 pm deposited sediments imply the greatest potential for eutrophication in the backwater ends, where highest nutrient concentrations were detected. Assessment of metal contamination shows that the sediments deposited in the water-level fluctuation zone were moderately to strongly contaminated by Cadmium （Cd）, with a considerably high potential ecological risk. The findings reported have emphasized the impacts of reservoir impoundment on aquatic and/or terrestrial environment in this region. More information on physical, chemical and biological processes of sediment and sediment-associated materials are needed for developing ecologically sound policies management. environmentally and of water and sediment

旋回性沉积序列的形成机理分析

旋回性特征是沉积岩层最为重要的属性之一,尤其在对于区域地质背景波动做出敏感响应的陆相盆地沉积序列当中更是如此。沉积岩层的韵律性或旋回性特征由岩层的岩石学性质在纵向上的(随时间的)有规律变化所决定,这些变化主要由以下方面所体现,包括:组分变化、粒度变化、颜色变化、沉积补偿强度变化、氧化还原强度变化,以及化石群性质变化等。研究表明,沉积岩层的韵律性或旋回性特征在一定程度上受海(湖)平面变化影响,但从更加广泛的意义上来看,应是沉积过程对于区域地质背景波动的响应,其主控因素是构造波动。