Why did the ancient inhabitants of Palmyra suffer fluorosis?

The skeletal remains uncovered from the 2nd and 3rd century underground tombs of Palmyra, Syria, retain traces of arthritis and mottled enamel. A brown discoloration was also observed in the teeth. In order to clarify that these facts can be related to fluorosis, the teeth excavated from Tomb C and F in the Southeast Necropolis were analyzed. The fluoride contents of the fluorosis-suspected teeth (0.56 ± 0.16% (n = 7)) were higher than those of normal teeth (0.16 ± 0.18% (n = 7)). The highest content (0.85%) proved that 22% of the hydroxide in apatite was substituted by fluoride. The fluoride concentrations of the natural water including deep well water available today in this area ranged from 0.3 to 3.0 mg l⁻¹. The highest fluoride concentration was found to be regulated by the dissolution equilibrium of fluorite, CaF₂, through the process of evaporation and concentration in this arid region. Because of the common ion effect by calcium ions in a high concentration, the fluoride concentration was lower than that expected from the solubility product of fluorite (8.2 mg l⁻¹). The mechanism of this process has probably remained unchanged since ancient times and therefore the drinking water used by the ancient people of Palmyra was estimated to contain fluoride at a level causing fluorosis.     

The Key Role of Water Resources Management in Ecological Restoration in Western China

The interactions of nature and society are intimately reflected in the degradation of the vast, yet diverse, landscapes and ecosystems of arid western China. The development of agriculture, especially irrigation, has altered rivers, soils and ecosystems so much that major ecological rehabilitation and restoration efforts have been needed since 1950. The catchments of the Tarim River in southern Xinjiang (the Tarim Basin) and of the Black River (Hei He) in Gansu Province and western Inner Mongolia provide examples of the benefits, difficulties and conflicts involved in dryland water management. In the early stages of the human development of these catchments, agriculture depending on irrigation using water from these inland rivers was encouraged. The over‐exploitation of these water resources led to such ecological problems as desiccation of lakes, drying out of rivers, degradation of soils and vegetation and lowering of groundwater levels, with consequent environmental and economic impacts. Since 1990 several high‐cost, national projects to re‐establish ecosystems have been initiated. Water is now released from dams in the headwaters of the rivers in order to restore water flows to the dried out lake basins. Such schemes have inevitably led to social problems and difficulties for the people who depended on the water from the dams for local irrigation. The contrasts in adjustments and attitudes over the use of water for agriculture and other economic activities, as opposed to schemes of restoration of ecosystems and ecological engineering, stem largely from two issues; inconsistent provision of information from the scientific community, and differing ideologies, namely environmental protection versus economic development.     

Private Profits – Public Drought: The Creation of a Crisis in Water Management for West Yorkshire

This paper examines the political and corporate constructions of the 1995–96 drought crisis in West Yorkshire, when an unprecedented public furore was provoked by the threat of water-supply cut-offs. A key outcome of this process was a profound crisis of confidence over the governance of water resources, which can be linked to the privatization of the industry and, more broadly, to the processes of redrawing the boundaries of the state. The water industry illustrates the contestability of neoliberal reforms seeking to inspire market-led growth with minimal government intervention. In particular, political dogma about the anticipated benefits of market competitiveness failed adequately to take into account public concern for the 'common good'.     

The China Museum Boom: soft power and cultural nationalism

ABSTRACT

We document major changes in museum supply in China between 1996 and 2015. These years have seen the opening of many small, low budget and locally managed museums; an increase in the average size and expenditure of all museums; and significant investments in a few large and centrally managed superstar museums. Chinese people have access to larger and better museums and pay lower admission fees. Regional inequalities in museum growth are smaller than inequalities in GDP growth. We relate these findings with the small literature on Chinese museums and specifically the notions of soft power and cultural nationalism.     

20世纪50年代初期长江中下游地区乡村劳动力市场探微

从土改结束到集体化高潮前,从土地均分造成的土地和劳动力等生产要素的非均衡配置、农业生产的季节性特征以及国家政策的影响等这些劳动力市场的供给、需求因素来看,当时的确存在着一个广大的乡村劳动力市场——雇佣市场。与土改前不同的是,尽管这一时期雇工农户的数量较多、比重较大,但单位农户的雇工数量却很少。在雇佣形式上,长工数量、佣期急剧下降和短工数量显著增加是这段时期的一大特点。从阶层构成来看,雇佣关系主要发生在普通劳动者之间,并且雇工工资的涨落主要取决于各地乡村的劳动力实际供给和需求状况。     

客家毛村水运经济际遇的变迁

经济生产方式的变化在一定程度上折射出社会变迁的信息与轨迹。通过阐述一个客家村落——广西桂林毛村的水运经济的兴衰变迁,看到素以水运为命脉的毛村,一旦失去旧有的生产方式,他们的命运又将如何呢。     

白鹤梁题刻保护问题及其与水域环境的关系

白鹤梁题刻是三峡库区唯一的国家级文物保护单位,受三峡水库淹没影响。在简单介绍和评价白鹤题刻现有保护方案的基础上,本文旨在探讨白鹤梁题刻及其与水域环境的相互关系,提出在进行白鹤梁题刻保护时,除了应注意保护白鹤梁题刻本身,还应恢复白鹤梁题刻赖以生存的水域环境及其所形成的独特的人文景观。     

峰值期国内旅游市场供需关系研究——以1999年国庆假日旅游潮为例

本文以 1999年国庆旅游市场为例 ,在对峰值期国内旅游市场特点进行了较为全面调查分析的基础上 ,总结出国庆峰值期国内旅游市场的基本特点 ,指出峰值期国内旅游市场存在的问题 ,并分析了产生问题的主要原因。笔者认为 ,峰值期问题的出现反映了国内旅游市场供需关系的矛盾 ,为使国内旅游健康发展 ,对此必须采取相应的对策。主要对策有突破交通“瓶颈” ,进行以市场为导向旅游产品的开发与升级换代 ,全面开展旅游总量控制及旅游地容量预测 ,加强旅游行业管理 ,建立旅游信息系统 ,对国民进行旅游消费教育等     

近年来中国旅游开发与管理态势研究

本文对处于产业结构剧烈转型时期的中国旅游业的发展态势进行了较深入的阐述,这一观察主要从旅游区(点)和旅游资源的开发与管理这一特定角度切入,重点从假日峰值压力、旅游目的地营销、旅游规划、旅游产品创新、旅游支持系统等几个方面加以讨论。     

Origins of formation waters in the Llanos foreland basin of Colombia: geochemical variation and fluid flow history

Wells located in the Colombian Andean foreland often produce biodegraded hydrocarbons and relatively fresh water (total dissolved solids concentrations of 2000 mg l^?1 dominate across most of the basin). The ratio of water to hydrocarbon in the produced fluids is high and has often been interpreted by explorationists and simulation engineers as being due to massive meteoric water invasion. To challenge this hypothesis, previously published and existing data are compiled here, along with 68 new water samples collected from both the surface (rivers) and subsurface (production wells), which are analyzed for major elements, salinity, and stable isotope compositions. The data indicate a mixed origin for the water, which involves formation water, meteoric water, and a third source that we interpret as being related to diagenetic processes (such as clay dehydration). Analyses of the variation of the parameters from north to south and west to east allow us to define the mixtures as coming from waters of different origins and make it possible to determine the relative contribution of each source.