The effects of gas flaring on crops in the Niger Delta,Nigeria

Flaring of associated gas from oil exploitation has several consequences on the environment. This study explores the spatial variability effects of gas flaring on the growth and development of cassava (Manihot esculenta), waterleaf (Talinum triangulare), and pepper (Piper spp.) crops commonly cultivated in the Niger Delta, Nigeria. Data was collected on soil and atmospheric temperature and moisture at a 20-m interval, starting at 40 m from the flare point to a distance of 140 m. Lengths and widths of crop leaves, height of crop plants and cassava yields were measured at the specified distances. The amino acid, ascorbic acid, starch, and sugar constituents of the cassava yields were determined. The results suggest that a spatial gradient exists in the effects of gas flares on crop development. Retardation in crop development manifests in decreased dimensions of leaf lengths and widths of cassava and pepper crops closer to the gas flare point. Statistical analysis also confirms that cassava yields are higher at locations further away from the flare point. In addition, the amount of starch and ascorbic acid in cassava decreased when the plant is grown closer to the gas flare. High temperatures around the gas flare appear to be the most likely cause of this retardation. The waterleaf crop, on the other hand, appears to thrive better around the gas flare point.     

Magnetic fields,loop prominences and the great flares of August, 1972

Lines of magnetic force, computed under the assumption that the solar corona is free of electric currents, have been compared with loop prominence systems associated with three flares in August, 1972. The computed fields closely match the observations of loops at a height of 40000 km at times 3–4 h after onset of the associated flares. Inferred magnetic field intensities in the loops range from 1300 G where the loops converge into a sunspot to 50–80 G at 40 000 km above the photosphere. The first-seen and lowest-lying loops are sheared with respect to the calculated fields. Higher loops conform more closely to the current-free fieldlines. A model of Barnes and Sturrock is used to relate the degree of shear to the excess magnetic energy available during the flare of August 7. On various lines of evidence, it is suggested that magnetic energy was available to accelerate particles not only during the impulsive phase of the flare, but also during the following 2–3 h. The particle acceleration region seems to be in the magnetic fields just above the visible loops. The bright outer edges of the flare ribbons are identified as particle impact regions. The dense knots of loop prominence material fall to the ribbons' inner edges.On leave from Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.     

Lentil Straw: A Novel Adsorbent for Removing of Hazardous Dye – Sorption Behavior Studies

Sorption behavior of Lanaset Red (LR) G on lentil straw (LS) was studied as a function of particle size, adsorbent dose, initial pH value, initial dye concentration, and contact time. Sorption kinetics data was well described by logistic model. Modified logistic equation can be used to explain effects of initial dye concentrations and contact time on the sorption of LR G with high R² value. Freundlich model was found to be excellent in representing the equilibrium data. Thermodynamic parameters like free energy (ΔG⁰), enthalpy (ΔH⁰), and entropy (ΔS⁰) were calculated by the use of Langmuir constant. Thermodynamic data showed that the sorption processes were spontaneous and endothermic in nature. Desorption process suggested that strong binding and weak interactions could be formed between adsorbent surface and dye molecules. Results revealed that LS has a remarkable potential for the sorption of LR G.     

DC resistivity and seismic refraction survey across the SE margin of Lake Ngami,NW Botswana

Seismic refraction survey and DC resistivity measurements were made across the margin of the Lake Ngami. The structure and stratigraphy at the lake were determined. High resolution aeromagnetic data showed a prominent anomaly coinciding with the Kunyere Fault. Estimated depths to magnetic sources are increasing towards the lake. Two velocity layers were mapped. The top layer (500 m/s) is thin outside the lake and thicker inside the lake. The underlying layer (3125 m/s) has undeterminable thickness. Resistivity sounding results inside the lake showed that the low velocity layer has four sub-units: dry hard clays; diatomaceous earth; soft clays interlayered with silts; and wet whitish clays interlayered with silts. Normal faults were mapped along the profile with a total displacement up to 50 m. The results of the study indicate that the formation of the Lake Ngami basin was structurally controlled and probably initiated by the tectonics of the Okavango Rift Zone.     

Genotoxic impacts in Klaip da Marine port and B ting oil terminal areas (Baltic Sea)

Genotoxic effects were evaluated in the somatic and gonadal cells of bivalve and gastropod molluscs inhabiting different sites of Klaip da port area in Lithuania. The occurrence of aneuploidy and polyploidy of cells, meiotic injures, centromere dissociation and fragmented polyploid nuclei as cytogenetic indicators of environmental stressors was assessed in snails Lymnaea ovata . The highest level of environmental genotoxicity (in 43.2 and 46.2% of studied cells) was observed in the tissues of snails inhabiting Malk Bay in 1995 and 1996. Dredging and thus removal of contaminated sediments from Malk Bay resulted in significant decrease (up to 27.2% in 1999) of cytogenetic injures in molluscs studied over the period from 1997 to 1999. However, the frequency of cytogenetic disturbances in molluscs from Vilhelmo Channel was increasing (1.8 times) from 1995 to 1999. Therefore, the ecological safety of the biggest drinking water supply for Klaip da population became questionable. Assessment of cytogenetic damage in Mytilus edulis (MN test) and the crustacean, Balanus improvisus, (aneugenic effects) inhabiting the Baltic Sea at B ting oil terminal has shown the highest genotoxicity level in the zone of sewage effluents from Palanga town and Ma eikiai oil refinery plant. Extensive cytogenetic injuries in gonadal cells indicated the potential long-term hazards of pollutants to ecological health and integrity of aquatic species.     

Geographical distribution of the Soviet-Jewish new immigrants in Israel

The State of Israel is facing now one of the most difficult absorption challenges it has ever had. About 250.000 Soviet-Jewish immigrants have arrived to the country since 1989 and another million are waiting in the Soviet Union for immigration. A direct absorption plan around an absorption basket of a few thousand dollar per family of three for the first year enables the immigrants to choose their place of habitation. They concentrate in big cities and veteran settlements along the coastal plain where employment possibilities are better. This trend is against the government's plans to direct them to peripheral regions. The current mass-immigration creates an unexpected change in the population and settlement pattern of Israel.     

Fossil hunting in the Neolithic: Shells from the Taurus Mountains at Çatalhöyük,Turkey

The Neolithic site of Çatalhöyük in Turkey contains thousands of mollusk shells, among them about 200 fossils. About 25 fossil gastropods and bivalvesoriginate in a Miocene fauna from the Mediterranean Tethys province, and are known from several localities in the Taurus Mountains, dating to the Miocene. The rest are scaphopods belonging to two species of Dentalium and dating to the Pliocene. The gastropods and bivalves were likely collected in the Karaman‐Mut Basin at adistance of about 50km from Çatalhöyük, while the scaphopods were brought from the Hatay Basin. Most of the fossil mollusks at the site were discovered in the upper phases, that is, late in the Pre‐Pottery Neolithic B sequence, and are associated with feasting activities. They may have been collected and brought to the site by the inhabitants as part of transhumance activities, or by visitors. © 2010Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Sex identification of Carcinus maenas by analysis of carapace geometrical morphometry

The European green crab Carcinus maenas is a widely spread invasive species. Studying the most recently introduced population of the species in the Atlantic coast off Patagonia, it became apparent to us that carapaces (the dorsal cover of the visceral-cavity detaching from the rest of the exoskeleton after ecdysis) accumulated on the intertidal may be used as a valuable complementary material to analyze the size structure of crabs. However, since growth rate (and consequently size at instar) of crabs differs between males and females, finding a method to distinguish crab sex by observation of carapace morphology was necessary to allow the construction of independent size frequency distributions for each sex. In this work, we examined the shape of the carapaces from both sexes of C. maenas, and using Elliptical Fourier Analysis successfully identified sexual dimorphism. Thus, a reliable method to identify sexes by visual observation of the carapace was developed. Based on our results, we discuss the evolutionary significance of carapace form differentiation of both sexes.     

Geography of alarm zoning in Israel

During the Gulf War Israel was divided into six alarm zones to enable the people to be released gradually from their shelters according to the rate of damage and danger which has been in the different regions. These zones were outlined superficially, neither according to basic geographical elements, nor to the ballistic behaviour of the Iraqi missiles. A modified division into ten alarm zones was announced in September 1992 following the blockade which the USA had laid on military aviation in southern Iraq. A different division of alarm zones, based on ballistic and geographical parameters is proposed should there be missile attacks on the country in the future.