Susceptibility to oxidative stress of mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) in the Venice Lagoon (Italy)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the susceptibility to pollutant mediated oxidative stress of the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis in the Venice lagoon (Italy).

In June 2003, mussels from a farm were transplanted to eight sites in the lagoon for five weeks. Oxidative stress responses were measured by: (i) total oxyradical scavenging capacity (TOSC) assay, for an overall evaluation of the oxidative stress response capability; (ii) catalase (CAT), as a key enzyme involved in the antioxidant defence system; (iii) malondialdehyde (MDA), as an indicator of lipid peroxidation, to evaluate an oxidative damage; (iv) metallothioneins (MTs), as they play a role in the antioxidant defence.

The TOSC analysis revealed a reduced capability to eliminate: (i) peroxyl radical in mussels transplanted at Palude della Rosa, Valle Millecampi and Chioggia; (ii) hydroxyl radical at Campalto and Valle Millecampi; (iii) peroxynitrite at Valle Millecampi.

Inhibition in CAT activity, observed in all the monitored sites, confirms the presence of an oxidative pressure in transplanted mussels.

In addition, Pearson correlation analysis was performed in order to observe possible links between the various parameters. The PCA was a powerful tool to discriminate impacted sites, suggesting that the mussels transplanted throughout the Venice lagoon were subjected to different levels of oxidative pressure. Furthermore, it provided an easy and useful tool to summarize the obtained results.     

Large Proper-Motion Infrared

When some magnetic field lines connect a Kerr black hole with a disk rotating around it, energy and angular momentum are transferred between them. If the black hole rotates faster than the disk, ca&solm0;GMH>0.36 for a thin Keplerian disk, then energy and angular momentum are extracted from the black hole and transferred to the disk (MH is the mass and aMH is the angular momentum of the black hole). This way, the energy originating in the black hole may be radiated away by the disk. The total amount of energy that can be extracted from the black hole spun down from ca&solm0;GMH=0.998 to ca&solm0;GMH=0.36 by a thin Keplerian disk is approximately 0.15MHc2. This is larger than approximately 0.09MHc2, which can be extracted by the Blandford-Znajek mechanism.     

Linear Free Energy Relationships for Metal-Ligand Complexation: Bidentate Binding to Negatively-Charged Oxygen Donor Atoms

Stability constants for metal complexation to bidentate ligands containing negatively-charged oxygen donor atoms can be estimated from the following linear free energy relationship (LFER): log K_ML = χ_OO(α_O log K_HL,1 + α_O log K_HL,2) where K_ML is the metal-ligand stability constant for a 1:1 complex, K_HL,1 and K_HL,2 are the proton-ligand stability constants (the ligand pK_a values), and α_O is the Irving-Rossotti slope. The parameter χ_OO is metal specific and has slightly different values for five and six membered chelate rings. LFERs are presented for 21 different metal ions and are accurate to within approximately 0.30 log units in predictions of log K_ML values. Ligands selected for use in LFER development include dicarboxylic acids, carboxyphenols, and ortho-diphenols. For ortho-hydroxybenzaldehydes, α-hydroxycarboxylic acids, and α-ketocarboxylic acids, a modification of the LFER where log K_HL,2 is set equal to zero is required. The chemical interpretation of χ_OO is that it accounts for the extra stability afforded to metal complexes by the chelate effect. Cu-NOM binding constants calculated from the bidentate LFERs are similar in magnitude to those used in WHAM 6. This LFER can be used to make log K_ML predictions for small organic molecules. Since natural organic matter (NOM) contains many of the same functional groups (i.e. carboxylic acids, phenols, alcohols), the LFER log K_ML predictions shed light on the range of appropriate values for use in modeling metal partitioning in natural systems.     

中国西部壳幔结构与动力学过程及其对资源环境的制约:"羚羊计划"研究进展

为系统、深入地研究中国西部盆(盆地)、山(山脉)、原(高原)的壳幔结构与深部动力学过程,2003年我们提出并领导实施了“羚羊计划”(ANTILOPE-Array Network of Tibetan International Lithospheric Observation and Probe Experiments),在青藏高原先后完成了羚羊-I(ANTILOPE-I)到羚羊-IV(ANTILOPE-IV)4条二维宽频带台阵剖面,而在青藏高原东西构造结则实施了羚羊-V和羚羊-VI两个三维宽频带台阵探测。另外,我们将前期在准噶尔盆地、天山造山带、塔里木盆地、阿尔金造山带和柴达木盆地开展的九条综合地球物理观测剖面也纳入羚羊计划的总体框架中来。 通过“羚羊计划”的实施,我们在中国西部(包括西北部的环青藏高原盆山体系以及西南部的青藏高原)取得了大量的、高质量的、综合的第一手观测数据,获得了中国西部盆、山、原精细的壳幔结构,系统地揭示了中国西部盆山原的深部地球动力学过程。主要结论总结如下:确定了准噶尔盆地基底的结构与属性,优化了盆地的基底构造格架;建立了天山造山带“层间插入削减”新的陆内造山模式,揭示了印欧碰撞在天山岩石圈缩短44%的去向以及由洋-陆俯冲到陆-陆碰撞俯冲的转换机制;揭示了塔里木盆地、阿尔金造山带和柴达木盆地的盆山接触关系;获得了塔里木盆地顺时针旋转的深部几何学、运动学和动力学证据;确定了青藏高原之下印度板块与欧亚板块的碰撞边界;发现目前的青藏高原由南部的印度板块、北部的欧亚板块和夹持于二者之间的巨型破碎区——西藏“板块”构成,首次确定了各自的岩石圈底边界;修正了高原变形的两个端员模型;建立了深部构造对地表地形的制约关系;系统地揭示了印度板块沿喜马拉雅造山带俯冲的水平距离与俯冲角度的变化规律与控制因素。 “羚羊计划”以其巨大的观测网络与综合地球物理探测技术,采用地球物理学、地质学、地球化学等不同学科相结合的分析方法,揭示了印度板块俯冲、西藏巨型破碎区发育、塔里木板块顺时针旋转、西部水汽通道提前关闭、中国西北部干旱、沙漠化提前这一深部结构、动力学过程及其对地表地形、油气资源和环境变化的制约关系,推动了青藏高原地球系统科学理论的发展。     

Towards sustainable groundwater use: setting long-term goals, backcasting, and managing adaptively

The sustainability of crucial earth resources, such as groundwater, is a critical issue. We consider groundwater sustainability a value-driven process of intra- and intergenerational equity that balances the environment, society, and economy. Synthesizing hydrogeological science and current sustainability concepts, we emphasize three sustainability approaches: setting multigenerational sustainability goals, backcasting, and managing adaptively. As most aquifer problems are long-term problems, we propose that multigenerational goals (50 to 100 years) for water quantity and quality that acknowledge the connections between groundwater, surface water, and ecosystems be set for many aquifers. The goals should be set by a watershed- or aquifer-based community in an inclusive and participatory manner. Policies for shorter time horizons should be developed by backcasting, and measures implemented through adaptive management to achieve the long-term goals. Two case histories illustrate the importance and complexity of a multigenerational perspective and adaptive management. These approaches could transform aquifer depletion and contamination to more sustainable groundwater use, providing groundwater for current and future generations while protecting ecological integrity and resilience.     

用接收函数方法反演青藏高原东北缘地壳结构

利用ASCENT计划于2007年布设在青藏高原东北缘的18个宽频带流动台站约一年的观测资料获得了2547个接收函数.使用H-?域的搜索算法,得到了14个台站下方的地壳厚度.对于数据质量较差的3个台站,通过Moho的Ps转换波的到时估算出地壳厚度值.计算结果表明,研究区的地壳结构复杂,Moho深度变化范围为40~60 km.海原断裂附近Moho模糊,而且较两侧明显地加深.秦祁地块由西向东Moho逐渐变浅,105°E以东,Moho平均深度约为45 km,以西则在50 km以上.结合面波研究结果推测,在105°E附近可能存在一个秦岭与祁连分界线.以Crust 2.0作为初始模型,把计算得到的地壳厚度值作为约束,用线性反演方法得到了15台站下方的S波速度结构.通过与研究区人工源地震测深结果比较,发现二者具有较好的一致性,表明反演结果可靠.综合分析认为:在青藏高原区,青藏高原与西秦岭过渡带和西秦岭北段均存在中下地壳低速层,推测它们可能与附近断裂和深部物质运移有关.从青藏高原内部到边缘,中下地壳速度逐渐升高.再结合研究区地壳的速度(尤其是低速层)的分布特点以及与地壳物质成分相关的泊松比的变化规律等综合分析,认为地壳流在青藏高原东北部的边缘地带可能不存在,地壳可能是通过在挤压方向上的缩短而加厚.     

根据周围山地第四纪地貌特征估计渤海第四纪构造活动幕的发生时间

渤海位于渤海湾新生代裂陷盆地中段的东部。最近用大量三维地震勘探资料对渤海第四系及其构造所做的精细解释和分析,发现地层内普遍存在4个不整合（角度和平行不整合）面,表明曾发生过4期构造活动。但因渤海缺少完整的第四系岩芯剖面,无法对其进行系统分层和断代,更无从确定构造活动的时间。为解决这一难题,文章基于渤海湾盆地阶段性沉降和其周围山地间歇性抬升的相关性,以及它们具有统一的形成机制和同一动力学过程的认识,通过研究盆地周围山地第四纪构造运动塑造的多级河流阶地,并结合火山活动研究资料,推测渤海第四系内4个不整合面形成的时间是900～400kaB·P·,100～80kaB·P·,50～40kaB·P·和10～8kaB·P·,即早更新世晚期-中更新世早期、晚更新世早期和中期、全新世早期。     

S变换谱分解技术在深反射地震弱信号提取中的应用

在深反射地震资料处理中,当来自深部的有效弱信号和噪声干扰频带差异较小且难以区分时,传统滤波方法的应用会受到限制.谱分解方法是一种使用离散傅里叶变换,基于信号的频率-振幅谱等信息生成高分辨率地震图像的方法,通常用来识别介质物性横向分布特征,处理复杂介质内频谱变化和局部相位的不稳定性等问题,包括定位复杂断层和小尺度断裂等.S变换作为一种新的时频分析方法,具有自动调节分辨率的能力,近些年来被广泛应用到勘探地震、大地电磁等数据处理中,逐渐成为地球物理方法中噪声压制的有效方法之一.与常规石油反射地震资料相比,深反射主动源地震为了探测深部结构信息,常采用大药量激发方式、长排列观测系统等,导致深部有效信号基本湮灭在噪声干扰之中.针对深反射数据特点,本文结合谱分解和S变换技术,首先设计了简单的脉冲函数实验数据,证实S变换方法的有效性,同时说明谱分解方法的效果受所用时频分析方法影响较大,而其中决定分辨能力的变换窗函数的选取尤为重要.在此基础上,分别应用到深反射地震资料的单道和叠加剖面实际数据上,对比分析了传统变换谱分解和S变换谱分解的应用效果,单道资料对比结果表明:相比传统谱分解,S变换谱分解方法具有自动调节分辨率的能力,能够精确的标定深反射地震资料中弱信号不同时刻的频率分量;叠加剖面资料应用结果表明:由S变换谱分解得到的剖面结果与其他谱分解方法结果整体上具有较高的一致性,同时清晰地刻画出原叠加剖面上被噪声湮灭的低频细节特征,提高了剖面的分辨率及同相轴连续性;对比结果明显看出,Gabor变换谱分解方法得到的结果同相轴较为破碎,分析原因认为这是由Gabor变换的时频分解方法的定长窗函数所致,窗口大小不会随着信号频率的变化来调节长度,只能在处理的过程中根据一定的记录长度范围选取窗函数参数,而S变换谱分解方法在窗函数的选取时,通过时变信号的局部频率特征自动调节窗口长度,能够更好的刻画各个频段的细节特征,在深反射剖面成像应用中效果尤为明显.本文结果表明S变换谱分解技术在深地震叠加剖面上的应用有效地提高了来自深部弱反射信号的信噪比和分辨率,并刻画出了叠加剖面上所不具有的低频细节特征,在实际深反射地震资料处理中能有效保护低频弱信号获得更好的成像效果.本文为深地震反射资料中弱信号的保护处理找到一种有效的方法.     

日本上地壳S波衰减成像

地球介质的衰减特性可以从地震波中的频谱信息中获取,并且能够提供地球内部结构非均匀性的重要信息.与大量的速度结构研究相比,对衰减结构的研究却较少,且大多仅对日本群岛局部地区做研究.本文运用M_L振幅层析成像技术反演获得了整个日本群岛上地壳的品质因子Q₀值（1 Hz时的Q值）.计算中共利用了日本Hi-net台网971个台站记录到的5559个地震事件,超过60000 条Sg波最大振幅-频率数据,并且满足震中距小于2°、震源深度小于10 km.计算结果表明,低Q₀值区域主要存在于日本群岛的中央火山带,与日本新生代以来的火山分布非常一致;同时,位于从神户到京都东北地区、以及四国岛东部等地的非火山区,断层密集,对应的Q₀值也很低;另外,西太平洋俯冲海沟与日本群岛东海岸之间的区域也是低Q₀值区,这说明高温、岩石强烈破碎、深厚的沉积物是造成地震波强烈衰减的主要原因.高Q₀值主要分布在中央火山带前缘与日本东海岸之间.     

Temporal and spatial variations in nutrient stoichiometry and regulation of phytoplankton biomass in Hong Kong waters: influence of the Pearl River outflow and sewage inputs

In 2001, the Hong Kong government implemented the Harbor Area Treatment Scheme (HATS) under which 70% of the sewage that had been formerly discharged into Victoria Harbor is now collected and sent to Stonecutters Island Sewage Works where it receives chemically enhanced primary treatment (CEPT), and is then discharged into waters west of the Harbor. The relocation of the sewage discharge will possibly change the nutrient dynamics and phytoplankton biomass in this area. Therefore, there is a need to examine the factors that regulate phytoplankton growth in Hong Kong waters in order to understand future impacts. Based on a historic nutrient data set (1986-2001), a comparison of ambient nutrient ratios with the Redfield ratio (N:P:Si=16:1:16) showed clear spatial variations in the factors that regulate phytoplankton biomass along a west (estuary) to east (coastal/oceanic) transect through Hong Kong waters. Algal biomass was constrained by a combination of low light conditions, a rapid change in salinity, and strong turbulent mixing in western waters throughout the year. Potential stoichiometric Si limitation (up to 94% of the cases in winter) occurred in Victoria Harbor due to the contribution of sewage effluent with high N and P enrichment all year, except for summer when the frequency of stoichiometric Si limitation (48%) was the same as P, owing to the influence of the high Si in the Pearl River discharge. In the eastern waters, potential N limitation and N and P co-limitation occurred in autumn and winter respectively, because of the dominance of coastal/oceanic water with low nutrients and low N:P ratios. In contrast, potential Si limitation occurred in spring and a switch to potential N, P and Si limitation occurred in eastern waters in summer. In southern waters, there was a shift from P limitation (80%) in summer due to the influence of the N-rich Pearl River discharge, to N limitation (68%) in autumn, and to N and P co-limitation in winter due to the dominance of N-poor oceanic water from the oligotrophic South China Sea. Our results show clear temporal and spatial variations in the nutrient stoichiometry which indicates potential regulation of phytoplankton biomass in HK waters due to the combination of the seasonal exchange of the Pearl River discharge and oceanic water, sewage effluent inputs, and strong hydrodynamic mixing from SW monsoon winds in summer and the NE monsoon winds in winter.