Multivariate analysis of Kenya's urban system

The study analyzes the structure, spatial interaction, and dimension of the post-colonial urban systems of Kenya using component factor analysis and based on selected socio-cultural, economic, and demographic variables. The study identified seven major dimensions of variation accounting for 72.0%. The analysis of the urban spatial variation is compared and intertwined with studies done in other countries to find out the regional variation of the loadings. Finally, a seven-order characteristics of Kenya urban systems is suggested, based on the study. The accurate knowledge of these salient characteristics of Kenya urban sub-systems is important before any viable spatial planning should be implemented.     

静应力变化对南加州地震位置的影响

地震引起邻近断层的静应力变化有推迟，加速，甚至触发以后的地震（ＤａｓａｎｄＳｃｈｏｌｚ，１９８１；ＳｔｅｉｎａｎｄＬｉｓｏｗｓｋｉ，１９８３；Ｈｕｄｎｕｔｅｔａｌ。，１９８９；Ｒｅａｓｅｎｂｅｒｇｅｔａｌ。，１９９２；ＤｕａｎｄＡｙｄｉｎ，１９９３；Ｈａｒｒｉｓｅｔａｌ。。，１９９２；Ｊｏｕｍｅｅｔａｌ。１９９２；Ｓｔｅｉｎｅｔａｌ。，１９９２；Ｓｉｍｐｓｏｎｅｔａｌ。，１９９４；Ｈａｒｒｉｓａｎ     

喜马拉雅碰撞早期含有机碳地层的剥蚀和全球变暖

印度和亚洲大陆碰撞早期新特提斯被动与活动大陆边缘上海相沉积物中含有机碳地层的剥蚀和氧化，可能影响到新世至早始新世海相碳酸盐中碳同位素比率向轻的比率转化，并通过温室效应导致全球性变暖。碰撞时间的最新确定和喜马拉雅沉积物源中有机碳含量的降低，允许我们估计古新世纯有机碳的输出。我们的计算表明，大陆碰撞通过含有机碳地层的剥蚀和埋藏，在全球碳旋回和气候变化中起着重要作用。     

Food intake and body measurements of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncates) in captivity

The food consumption (recorded in kg of individual fish species), body length and mass of 11 Atlantic bottlenose dolphins kept first at Windsor Safari Park, UK (1979-1993/1994), and later at Harderwijk Marine Mammal Park, The Netherlands (1993/1994-1995) are reported. This broad-scale, longitudinal study is based on historical data that were originally recorded for short-term husbandry purposes. The chemical composition and caloric value of the diet were variable and were not recorded. The food intake quantities should therefore be viewed as rough weight estimates of what wild conspecifics might eat (depending on their diet). The average annual food consumption of adult males and non-pregnant, non-lactating females was approximately 2000 kg of fish (estimated at 176 x 10(5) kJ). Food consumption showed little increase during gestation, but was 58-97% higher during lactation than during similar periods in non-reproductive years. All six calves began to eat solid food within a year of birth although suckling continued for 14-37 months after birth. The pattern of food intake of mothers and calves varied substantially between suckling periods. No seasonal changes in food consumption were detected, although there were small seasonal changes in water temperature. Births occurred at various times of year, since the timing of mating varied between years. The animals' body length increased rapidly during the first 3 years of life after which the growth rate decreased. Body length reached asymptote at approximately 270 cm. Adults of both sexes weighed around 260 kg. The relationship between standard body length (in cm) and body mass (in kg), although based on a small sample size (n = 16), can be expressed as body mass = 17.261e(0.0156(body length-100)). Animals weighing 155-225 kg consumed between 2 and 4% of their body mass per day.     

Detection distances of bottom-set gillnets by harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)

Many odontocetes die annually in gillnet fisheries. Why they become entangled is not yet clear. Maybe some species detect the nets too late to avoid collision. Therefore, the target strength of 11 types of bottom-set gillnets was measured under 0 and 45 degrees angles of incidence. From these target strengths and from knowledge on the echolocation abilities of two odontocete species (harbour porpoises, bottlenose dolphins), the detection ranges of the nets by these small cetaceans could be estimated. The 90% detection range by echolocating harbour porpoises, approaching the nets at right (perpendicular) angles under low noise level conditions, varied between 3 and 6 m depending on the net type. For bottlenose dolphins, under high noise conditions, the 90% detection range varied between 25 and 55 m. At other angles of approach, the estimated detection ranges are shorter. The study suggests that echolocating bottlenose dolphins can detect nets in time to avoid collision, whereas echolocating harbour porpoises cannot in most cases. Suggestions for future research to reduce small cetacean bycatch by improving the nets' detectability by echolocation are given.     

Flow cytometry and pigment analyses as tools to investigate the toxicity of herbicides to natural phytoplankton communities

Characterisation of natural phytoplanktonic communities is currently being advanced through flow cytometry and high resolution pigment analyses. To date, toxicological methods to assess impacts of herbicides on natural phytoplankton populations are lacking. Here, we report the novel use of these techniques in combination to study changes in phytoplankton populations exposed to 2-methylthio-4-tertiary-butylamino-6-cyclopropylamino-s-triazine (Irgarol 1051), a herbicide used in antifouling paints. Flow cytometry results revealed that following a 72-h exposure to approximately 100 ngL(-1), eukaryote abundance was less than half that in the controls. High performance liquid chromatographic analyses of pigments demonstrated that 19'-hexanoyloxyfucoxanthin was selectively lost relative to the control. This carotenoid is specific to the prymnesiophytes which are key constituents of phytoplanktonic communities within temperate marine waters. Values of EC(50) (72 h) as low as 70 ngL(-1) were calculated from the selective reduction in this compound. Concentrations substantially exceeding this level have been reported in UK and other European coastal waters.     

Dissolved gases in perennially ice-covered lakes of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica

Measurements of dissolved N2, O2, Ar, CO2, and CH4 were made in perennially ice-covered Lake Hoare. Results confirm previous reports that O2 concentrations in the upper water column exceed atmospheric equilibrium and that N2 and Ar are supersaturated throughout the water column. The mean supersaturation of N2 was found to be 2.0 (+/- 0.37) and Ar was 3.8 (+/- 1.1). The ratios of N2/Ar (20.3 +/- 13.8), and O2/Ar (22.5 +/- 4.0) at the ice-water interface are consistent with those previously measured, suggesting that bubble formation is the main process for removing gas from the lake. However, the saturations of N2 and Ar greatly exceed those previously predicted for degassing by bubble formation only at the ice-water interface. The data support the hypothesis that removal of gas by bubbles occurs in the water column to a depth of 11 m in Lake Hoare. CO2 concentration increases from near zero at the ice-water interface to 80-100 times saturation at and below the chemocline at c. 28 m. There is considerable variability in the gas concentrations throughout the water column; samples separated in depth by one metre may vary by more than 50% in gas content. It is likely that this phenomenon results from the lack of turbulent mixing in the water column. Methane (c. 2 micrograms l-1) was detected below the chemocline and immediately above the sediment/water interface at a depth of 30 m. Samples from lakes Vanda, Joyce, and Miers, also show supersaturations of O2, N2, and Ar at levels similar to levels found in Lake Hoare.     

Geographical characteristics of migration linkages in the Moscow capital region

"A study of migration processes in the Moscow Capital Region over the period 1970-1985 begins by assessing their contribution to overall population growth within the region vis-a-vis natural increase and territorial and administrative changes. Attention then is turned toward movements both within the Moscow Capital Region and between it and other oblasts of the European RSFSR. Although the overall volume of migration within the Moscow capital Region and between it and remaining oblasts of the European RSFSR declined, the relative popularity of the former as a destination among migrants in European Russia remained unchanged."