The Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) model: applicability for investigating the immunosuppressive effects of the aquatic pollutant benzo[a]pyrene (BaP)

Despite the fact that BaP is a carcinogen, mammalian immunosuppressant, and ubiquitous aquatic pollutant, knowledge regarding the effects of BaP on the immune system of fish is still lacking. To begin to fill this gap, studies were conducted in medaka to examine the effects and mechanisms by which BaP exposure might alter host immunocompetence. Fish, exposed by IP injection of BaP (2-600 microg/g BW), were examined after 48 h for effects upon immune function and CYP1A expression/activity. Benzo[a]pyrene, at a concentration below that which increased levels of CYPIA expression/activity (2 microg BaP/g BW) suppressed lymphocyte proliferation. Concentrations of BaP at 20 and 200 microg/g BW. suppressed antibody-forming cell (AFC) numbers, superoxide production, and host resistance against bacteria. In contrast, exposure to the low affinity aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonist, benzo[e]pyrene (BeP), neither induced CYP1A expression nor altered immune function. Given the lack of immunosuppressive effects produced by BeP, and the fact that exposure to the AhR antagonist (and CYP1A inhibitor) alpha-naphthoflavone (ANF) ameliorated the suppressive effects of BaP upon AFC numbers, the AhR pathway (including CYP1A-mediated production of reactive BaP metabolites) appears important in mediating BaP-induced immunotoxicity in fish, as in mammals. In the past, the medaka has proven a successful model for assessing carcinogenic agents. These studies have demonstrated its utility for also determining the immunosuppressive effects of an important aquatic contaminant.     

国际卫星陆面气候计划(ISLSCP)简介

1979年制订的世界气候计划(WCP)由四个部分组成:1.世界气候资料计划(WCDP),2.世界气候应用计划(WCAP),3.世界气候影响计划(WCIP),4.世界气候研究计划(WCRP)。作为世界气候影响计划的一个重要部分——国际卫星陆面气候计划(ISLSCP),是1983年由空间研究委员会(COSPAR)和     

《高原气象》创刊十周年——回顾与展望

1《高原气象》办刊十周年历程回顾高原地形是影响大气运动和天气、气候变化的重要因素之一。占我国陆地面积四分之一的青藏高原,对亚洲和北半球都有重要影响,对全球的天气、气候变化也有较大影响。因此,关于青藏高原地形影响的研究,对我国长中短期天气预报有着重要的实际意义,对气象学科的发展也有其深远意义。随着广大气象业务、科研人员所进行的科学考察活动的加强,观测资料的不断增加,人们对青藏高原大地形影响的研究正在逐步深入,高原上各不同尺度的地形与大气运动相互作用的研究也有进一步的开展。为了加速这方面的研究和促进国内外的学术交     

首都圈地区重力场的时空变化

首都圈地区的高精度重力测量工作已开展多年．本文叙述该地区近８年(1981－1988年)来的重力场主要变化特征．南部及东南部有较大的重力变化，其最大量级可达10－6 ms－2；北部地区相对较稳定，如承德，以及测网西侧的太行山区边缘完县．重力变化显著的地区是天津、霸县、任丘等地，且和垂直形变相吻合．重力变化的主要原因在于抽取地下水和石油所致．      

利用相当位涡诊断条件性对称不稳定区

条件性对称不稳定（ＣＳＩ）是一个用于诊断和预报冬季气旋内中等到强降水的中尺度雨带的重要的大气特征．在ＣＳＩ区域内，倾斜对流能够增大狭窄区域内的降雪总量．典型的情况是，在一个垂直于对流层中层热成风方向的剖面上，利用Ｍｇ（绝对地转动量）和θｅ（相当位温）来进行ＣＳＩ的估算，在等Ｍｇ面比等θｅ面坡度小的区域为ＣＳＩ区．本文描述了一种量度ＣＳＩ的客观方法，称为相当位涡（ＥＰＶ）方法，它可以快速有效地计算ＣＳＩ。通过两次实例比较了Ｍｇ剖面对θｅ剖面的方法和ＥＰＶ方法，从而说明了利用ＥＰＶ剖面诊断ＣＳＩ的有效性．上述实例还说明了倾斜对流与垂直对流的区别。     

Finnish strategies for reduction and control of effluents to the marine environment--examples from agriculture,municipalities and industry

The most serious environmental problem encountered in the Baltic Sea is eutrophication. Finland finalised in spring 2002 its national Programme for the Protection of the Baltic Sea. The programme contains more than 30 measures for improving the state of the Baltic Sea and protecting the marine environment. Total national investments during the next 10-15 years will amount to EUR 300-370 million. The highest annual cost will be environmental support to agriculture. The bulk of the rest of the money will be used for nitrogen purification of municipal wastewater, improvement of water protection in dispersed settlement areas, and investments to improve maritime safety and decrease the risks of oil spills.     

Habitat continuity effects on gradients of fish biomass across marine protected area boundaries

Marine protected areas (MPAs) could be useful as fisheries management tools for the exportation of pelagic eggs, larvae and adult fish. A decreasing gradient of fish biomass across MPAs boundary may indicate export. We determine whether gradients of decreasing biomass of fish assemblage occurred in Tabarca Marine Reserve over two habitats with different continuity across the boundaries, to test if the patchy nature of the marine environment might act as a barrier for the fish export. In general, significant decreasing gradients in total fish biomass and biomass of some species were observed on P. oceanica and rocky substrates, independently of their different continuity through the reserve boundaries. Changes in the multivariate structure of the fish assemblage were correlated with the distance from integral reserve. All of these results support the hypothesis that the exportation of adult fish from Tabarca Marine Reserve occurs, and this process may influence the surrounding fished areas.     

Summary results from a pilot study conducted around an oil production platform on the Northwest Shelf of Australia

The Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) conducted a pilot study around the Harriet A oil production platform on the Northwest Shelf of Australia. We evaluated hepatic ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity, fluorescent aromatic compounds (FACs) in bile and immunodetection of CYP1A-like proteins in two Australian tropical fish species, Gold-Spotted Trevally (Carangoides fulvoguttatus) and Bar-Cheeked Coral Trout (Plectropomus maculatus) to assess exposure to petroleum hydrocarbons associated with produced formation water (PFW). Additionally, the incidence of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria isolated from the liver and bile of all fish captured was examined. Low EROD activity was found in both species, with EROD activity in C. fulvoguttatus showing significant site differences. FACs and CYP1A protein levels in C. fulvoguttatus showed a clear trend in hydrocarbon exposure consistent with hydrocarbon chemistry data: Harriet A>Harriet C>reference site. P. maculatus showed elevated levels of FACs at Harriet A as compared to the reference site and demonstrated detectable levels of CYP1A-like proteins at these two sites. Hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria were found in the liver and bile of both species, yet there was no correlation by sites. Our results demonstrate that C. fulvoguttatus and P. maculatus have potential as indicator species for assessing the effects from exposure to petroleum hydrocarbons. Both FACs and CYP1A are providing warning signs that there is potential for biological effects on fish populations exposed to PFW around the Harriet A production platform.     

Origin of magnetite in oxidized CV chondrites: in situ measurement of oxygen isotope compositions of Allende magnetite and olivine

Magnetite in the oxidized CV chondrite Allende mainly occurs as spherical nodules in porphyritic-olivine (PO) chondrules, where it is associated with Ni-rich metal and/or sulfides. To help constrain the origin of the magnetite, we measured oxygen isotopic compositions of magnetite and coexisting olivine grains in PO chondrules of Allende by an in situ ion microprobe technique. Five magnetite nodules form a relatively tight cluster in oxygen isotopic composition with delta 18O values from -4.8 to -7.1% and delta 17O values from -2.9 to -6.3%. Seven coexisting olivine grains have oxygen isotopic compositions from -0.9 to -6.3% in delta 18O and from -4.6 to -7.9% in delta 17O. The delta 17O values of the magnetite and coexisting olivine do not overlap; they range from -0.4 to -2.6%, and from -4.0 to -5.7%, respectively. Thus, the magnetite is not in isotopic equilibrium with the olivine in PO chondrules, implying that it formed after the chondrule formation. The delta 17O of the magnetite is somewhat more negative than estimates for the ambient solar nebula gas. We infer that the magnetite formed on the parent asteroid by oxidation of metal by H2O which had previously experienced minor O isotope exchange with fine-grained silicates.