Histopathological biomarkers in estuarine fish species for the assessment of biological effects of contaminants

The increasing emphasis on the assessment and monitoring of estuarine ecosystems has highlighted the need to deploy appropriate biological indices for these locations. Fish diseases and histopathology, with a broad range of causes, are increasingly being used as indicators of environmental stress since they provide a definite biological end-point of historical exposure. This study reports on the histopathological alterations observed in selected organs and tissues of three species of estuarine fish (Platichthys flesus, Pomatoschistus minutus and Zoarces viviparus), captured from four British estuaries (the Tyne, Tees, Mersey and Alde), differently impacted by contaminants, including PAHs. A biannual sampling regime was used to identify the important seasonal variations that occur in terms of the observed biological effects. Inflammatory lesions and hepatocellular fibrillar inclusions attained their highest prevalence in P. flesus captured from the Tyne, Tees and Mersey. The presence of pre-neoplastic and neoplastic toxicopathic lesions was highest in P. flesus captured from these sites, when compared to fish from the Aide reference site. In particular, the prevalence of hepatic foci of cellular alteration (up to 43.3%) and hepatocellular adenoma (up to 10%) were highest in P. flesus captured from the Mersey estuary. Intersex (ovotestis) was only recorded in male P.flesus captured from the Mersey estuary (up to 8.3%) and from male Z. viviparous captured from the Tyne estuary (25%). Pathologies associated with the gill and the kidney were also most prevalent in fish captured from the Tyne, Tees and Mersey estuaries. This study has successfully applied histopathology to an estuarine monitoring program, both for the recording of toxicopathic lesions in the liver and other organs, and for the detection of the endpoint of endocrine disruption, intersex. As such, it provides a powerful integrative tool for the assessment of biological effects of contaminants in these environments.     

深水条件下海底天然气水合物稳定带内的甲烷迁移

１引言海底天然气水合物温压稳定带 (下称水合物带 )这个术语被用来说明某地质剖面的一部分 ,将现有条件下能够存有天然气水合物的海底与上面的水体界定开。事实上 ,由于现有条件复杂多变 ,所以很难精确地估计该带的厚度。这些变化主要指气体成分、水体盐度、海底温度、地热及水压梯度。通常是用深度 (压力 )、温度图来确定该带底部 ,其数值在地热曲线和纯水或海水为均衡状态的甲烷水合物稳定曲线的交会点上。的确 ,甲烷是海底天然气水合物中主要的烃类成分 ,其浓度要百倍于其它的碳氢化合物气体 ,在其它因素相同的情况下 ,水合物带的厚度随…     

Using UCODE_2005 and PHREEQC to determine thermodynamic constants from experimental data

This article presents a method for estimating chemical thermodynamic constants from experimental data using the two computer programs UCODE_2005 and PHREEQC. As an example, the conditional stability constant for lead (Pb) complexation by a remediation agent (carboxymethyl-beta-cyclodextrin) is estimated, but the method can be applied to estimate other thermodynamic parameters such as sorption constants and degradation rate constants. Advantages of this technique include estimation of uncertainties associated with estimated parameters, evaluation of information content of observations, statistical evaluation of the appropriateness of the conceptual model, and statistical-based comparison of different models.     

GEOLOGICAL MARKS OF A POSSIBLE EXTRATERRESTRIAL IMPACT EVENT ON THE BOUNDARY BETWEEN SINIAN/CAMBRIAN IN TIANMENSHAN IN WESTERN HUNAN

Geologic marks related to extraterrestrial impact events, such as impact split gravels, impact brecciate layers, impact dikes, microirghizites, microtektites, especially meteoritic residues, were discovered on the boundary between Sinian/Cambrian at Tianmenshan of Western Hunan, which may possibly demonstrate that an extraterrestrial impact event has ever occurred there on the S/C boundary.     

A geochemical record of the mining history of the Erme Estuary, south Devon, UK

The concentration of selected trace metals (Cu, Pb and Zn) in salt-marsh sediments from within the Erme Estuary have been measured in order to assess possible historical sources of pollution. The Erme Estuary, south Devon, UK is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and has remained largely unaffected by industrialisation, although a number of small silver–lead mines were in operation in the 1800s. Five cores reveal comparable geochemical profiles. An increase of lead at 40 cm depth is observed, reaching maximum values of 427 ppm. Less distinct trends are revealed by zinc and copper, probably reflecting the lack of widespread mining for ores of these elements within the catchment and possible post-depositional mobility rendering the metal concentrations non-contemporaneous with the chemostratigraphy of lead. The geochemical analysis of the salt-marsh sediments provides a fairly robust chemostratigraphic scheme and the likely sources of mine waste can be pinpointed within the catchment. Based upon reference to the historical mining record of these mines chemostratigraphic dating of the sediments can be achieved in order to provide an estimate of salt-marsh accretion rates and sea-level rise.     

A search for endogenous amino acids in the Martian meteorite EETA79001

The Antarctic shergottite EETA79001 is believed to be an impact-ejected fragment of the planet Mars. Samples of the carbonate (white druse) and the basaltic (lithology A) components from this meteorite have been found to contain amino acids at a level of approximately 1 ppm and 0.4 ppm, respectively. The detected amino acids consist almost exclusively of the L-enantiomers of the amino acids commonly found in proteins, and are thus terrestrial contaminants. There is no indication of the presence of alpha-aminoisobutyric acid, one of the most abundant amino acids in several carbonaceous chondrites. The relative abundances of amino acids in the druse material resemble those in Antarctic ice, suggesting that the source of the amino acids may be ice meltwater. The level of amino acids in EETA79001 druse is not by itself sufficient to account for the 600-700 ppm of volatile C reported in druse samples and suggested to be from endogenous martian organic material. However, estimates of total terrestrial organic C present in the druse material based on our amino acid analyses and the organic C content of polar ice can account for most of the reported putative organic C in EETA79001 druse.     

国外无线电-声探测系统概况

一、概述为了国防和国民经济的各个领域对雷达的不同要求,世界上许多国家对改善现有的常规的雷达探测方法以及探索新的探测技术进行了大量的研究工作。目前正处在完善阶段并已逐步投入业务使用的无线电-声探测系统(RASS,Radio-Acoustic     

国外天气多普勒雷达发展概况

序言天气多普勒雷达发展至今已有近二十五年的历史了,在设备本身性能、资料处理、终端显示以及发挥作用等方面,都已居于目前普遍使用的非相干雷达的统治地位,成为气象工作者进行定量降水测量和研究大气变化规律的重要探测工具。了解和研究其发展过程,掌握其技术水平,对于发展我国自己的天气多普勒雷达将会大有裨益。一、发展历史多普勒雷达是人们根据运动物体会造成电磁波或声波频率变化这一多普勒效应制成的。早在三十多年前已在军事和航空上得到应用,由于多普勒雷达有着探测目标运动速度的能力,气象学者极感兴趣和重视,利用云、雨粒子运动会造成雷达电磁波的频率变化,进一步发展成为气象上用的脉冲多普勒雷达。从1958年就开始用连续波多普勒雷达进     

用地面激光雷达探测气象要素的铅直分布

在对大气参数进行测量的遥感方法中,使用了声波或电磁波与大气中的分子和粒子的相互作用的原理。遥感测量法与常规方法相比有若干优点,特别是在自动操作方面。通过对视野的扫描能够得到一个大范围的图。可以由高时间分辨率连续获取真实的垂直廓线,而不用移动感应元件,且几乎消除了感应元件对大气的影响。自动无人操作,即低成本的操作补偿了投资的不足。在本文中,我们将叙述激光雷达(LIDAD)对于探测大气的使用。激光雷达是雷达的光学对应物。1960年激光发明以后,激光雷达技术得到迅速发展。光辐射与大气中的分子和气溶胶粒子的相互