Competition for the general cargo transports of Sweden's foreign trade

The object of the paper is to analyze changes in modal and port allocation of general cargo flows in Sweden's foreign trade between 1960 and 1976. It summarizes some results of a forthcoming report on the project ‘Tendencies in Liner Shipping’ financed by the ‘Transport Research Delegation’, Stockholm.     

Monitoring and predicting land use change in Tripoli Metropolitan City using an integrated Markov chain and cellular automata models in GIS

The rapid development of cities in developing countries results in deteriorating of agricultural lands. The majority of these agricultural lands are converted to urban areas, which affects the ecosystems. In this research, an integrated model of Markov chain and cellular automata models was applied to simulate urban land use changes and to predict their spatial patterns in Tripoli metropolitan area, Libya. It is worth mentioning that there is not much research has been done about land use/cover change in Libyan cities. In this study, the performance of integrated CA–Markov model was assessed. Firstly, the Markov chain model was used to simulate and predict the land use change quantitatively; then, the CA model was applied to simulate the dynamic spatial patterns of changes explicitly. The urban land use change from 1984 to 2010 was modelled using the CA–Markov model for calibration to compute optimal transition rules and to predict future land use change. In validation process, the model was validated using Kappa index statistics which resulted in overall accuracy more than 85 %. Finally, based on transition rules and transition area matrix produced from calibration process, the future land use changes of 2020 and 2025 were predicted and mapped. The findings of this research showed reasonably good performance of employed model. The model results demonstrate that the study area is growing very rapidly especially in the recent decade. Furthermore, this rapid urban expansion results in remarkable continuous decrease of agriculture lands.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface sediments of Binacional Itaipu Lake,Brazil: characteristics,sources and toxicity evaluation

Itaipu Lake, which includes the Itaipu hydroelectric power plant, is one of the largest dams in the world and has a strong relationship with its surroundings. The flooded area has multiple uses such as navigation, recreation, water abstraction for industrial, urban and agricultural irrigation. The lake is located at the frontier between Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. In this study, superficial sediments collected from nine sampling sites were analysed for grain size, organic matter and 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detector. The total concentration of PAHs in the dry sediment ranged from 35.21 to 685.37 µg kg^?1. Diagnostic ratios showed that the possible source of PAHs in the Itaipu Lake could be pyrolitic and petrogenic. The potential toxicity of sediment of PAHs varied from not detected to 127.70 µg g^?1, suggesting that some adverse ecological effects would arise due to PAHs in these sediments.     

Vibrational spectra of olivine composition glasses: The Mg-Mn join

The vibrational frequencies of a series of splatquenched, olivine glasses spanning the compositional range from Mg₂SiO₄ to Mn₂SiO₄ have been determined using both infrared and Raman spectroscopies. The spectra of all glasses show evidence of tetrahedral coordination of silicon (possibly with some slight distortions), and largely octahedral coordination of magnesium. Spectra of Mn-rich glasses indicate that there is some manganese in 4 or 5-fold coordination. The frequencies observed for the fundamental vibrations of the silica tetrahedra are similar to those previously observed for SiO₄ groups in both crystalline and glassy orthosilicates. Additionally, there is evidence for a small amount of silicate polymerization in all glasses characterized: vibrations attributable to Si₂O₇ groups are visible in both infrared and Raman spectra.     

Larval settlement behavior in the jellyfishAurelia aurita (Linnaeus) (Scyphozoa: Semaeostomeae)

The distribution of sessile marine invertebrates is often the consequence of the selection of a suitable substrate by motile larvae. Motile planulae larvae ofAurelia aurita (Linnaeus) are exposed to an artificial substrate in the laboratory to determine if they possess the capacity both for specific orientation and for discrimination of surface texture at time of attachment. More than 90% (P<0.001) of the planulae fasten to the underside of objects. As a result, developing scyphistomae hang with the oral surface downward as commonly encountered in the field. The effect of surface texture on planula attachment is equivocal; this may reflect an indifference to surface texture, a limited capacity to locomote across rough substrate, or a mechanism of response sensitive only to large surface irregularities. These results are compared with those obtained for the planulae ofCyanea capillata (Linnaeus). The planular effected orientation of the scyphistoma may be generally true for coastal representatives of the Semaeostomeae, and perhaps for other shallow water Scyphozoa (including the Class Cubozoa).     

Cl and Na Fluxes in an Andean Foreland Basin of the Peruvian Amazon: An Anthropogenic Impact Evidence

The dissolved load of the Amazon River is generally considered to be lowly impacted by anthropogenic activities. In this work, based on the chemical and hydrological database of the Environmental Research Observatory—HYBAM (http://www.ore-hybam.org), we explore the importance of the Peruvian Foreland petroleum activity on the dissolved Na and Cl fluxes of the Amazon River. The main result of this study allows us suggesting that oil extraction activity, concentrated in the El Tigre River basin, a small foreland watershed in the Peruvian Amazon, influenced drastically the Na and Cl exportation of the Amazon River during the 2006–2007 period. During these years,  the dissolved exportations of this basin represented almost 20 % of the annual dissolved Cl Amazon flux and almost 12 % of the annual dissolved Na Amazon flux for a mean annual discharge <1 % of the Amazon River discharge. Since the last decades, the anthropogenic activities are increasing over the whole Amazon basin, especially in Andean countries. In this context, our results demonstrate that extractive activity cannot be considered as negligible on the hydro-chemistry of the Amazonian Rivers especially for the weathering budget estimation based on river-dissolved loads. Moreover, Cl and Na can be used to trace the formation waters derived from oil extraction at a large spatial scale. The environmental impacts of contaminants associated with deep water released to the hydrosystem (polycyclic aromatics hydrocarbons, metallic trace elements, etc.) at local and regional scales are still underestimated and should be monitored to map their local and regional influence and to prevent their risks on human health.     

P’yŏngyang — ancient and modern —the capital of North Koreangyang — ancient and modern —the capital of North Korea

The capital of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) is both the oldest and the newest settlement in Korea. The basic concepts in its early urban development made it the model for Korean cities of later ages. In the 6th and 7th century AD P’yôngyang was one of the largest cities in Asia, second only to the imperial capital of China, but it later declined. It partly recovered its former position when it became the capital of North Korea after World War II. Its reconstruction since the Korean War has made it one of the most striking examples of socialist city planning.     

Levels and distributions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in middle reach of Huaihe River,China: anthropogenic influences and ecological risks

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of aromatic hydrocarbons with high toxicity to human health. PAH emissions from industrial activities have become the primary sources of PAH contamination in Chinese watersheds. Here, we analyzed 10 individual priority PAHs in 120 water samples taken from middle reach of Huaihe River, China. The results show that the PAH levels in studied watershed are significantly lower as compared to other Chinese watersheds, approaching or slightly exceeding the PAH levels in watersheds from selected European and North American countries. We observe rather large variation in spatial and vertical PAH distributions, pointing to PAH inputs from local industrial emissions, and PAH cycle among atmosphere, water and sediment. Individual PAH ratios (i.e., phenanthrene/anthracene and fluorene/pyrene) and principal components analysis suggest a primarily pyrolytic PAH sources (combustion of coal and coke) in water column. Other accompanying PAH sources include emissions from steel industry and gasoline. Total toxic benzo[a]pyrene equivalent of PAHs in studied water column indicates that PAHs in watershed of middle reach of Huaihe River pose limited toxicity to the environment.     

Adaptation policy and adaptation realities: local social organization and cross-scale networks for climate adaptation on Mount Kilimanjaro

Least developed countries have prepared national adaptation programs of action (NAPAs) to coordinate international adaptation funding to reduce social vulnerability to climate change. The adaptation programs have been written for consistency with existing sectoral policies and development agendas—policies which have thus far led to inequitable and incomplete decentralization of responsibility to organize and manage adaptation at the local level. The capacity of local social organization and of cross-scale networks and flows of knowledge and resources from higher levels of government is insufficient to facilitate socially equitable and sustainable adaptation to climate change. Tanzania’s NAPA, poverty reduction strategy paper, and sectoral policies for forest, water, and agriculture/livestock illustrate the coordination of adaptation plans with existing policies. National and regional statistics and a survey of households on Mount Kilimanjaro—a regional priority for climate adaptation in Tanzania—demonstrate significant gaps in local social organization and cross-scale networks for adaptation. Challenging existing structural causes of vulnerability will be difficult under adaptation plans written for complementarity with the very policies that have produced social inequality. Outside of a few development projects of limited geographic extent, there is limited evidence for socially equitable and sustainable adaptation outcomes. Sustainable adaptation will require substantial new commitments to developing local capacity and cross-scale networks.     

A Sm-Nd isotopic study of the South Harris Igneous Complex,the Outer Hebrides

Sm-Nd geochronology may be used to bracket the age of metamorphism in rocks which are difficult to date by other methods. By coupling whole rock Sm-Nd analyses of the principal members of the South Harris Igneous Complex, with Sm-Nd mineral isochrons on two anothositic gabbros, the age of granulite facios metamorphism has been defined. Whole rock analyses of three pairs of closely spaced samples of the anorthosite give consistent ages averaging 2.18±0.06 Gyr, but in general the data from the anorthosite do not define an isochron as a result of variable contamination of the evolving magma chamber. Whole rock data on the tonalite indicate that it is younger than 2.06 Gyr; its mean T_CHUR age is 1.86±0.05 Gyr. Garnet-pyroxene-amphibole-plagioclase mineral isochrons on two anorthosite samples give identical 1.87±0.04 Gyr ages which date cooling after the high pressure granulite facies metamorphism. Together with the tonalite whole rock data this defines the age of that metamorphism and confirms Dearnley's original assignment of an early Laxfordian age.     

Tourism and gambling

Gambling by tourists occurs in many places around the world. More regions and countries are establishing casinos, regarded as attractions. How are gambling and tourism related? Why and how do casinos attract tourists? The characteristics of gambling games can be compared with the gambles of normal life, to help explain why such games are popular. Aligning that analysis with two types of tourism, wanderlust and sunlust, leads to a conclusion that the former type is not prone to gambling games. Evidence from several countries also suggests that the proximity to a political border with a neighbouring country or province that outlaws casinos can be a factor behind the success of tourist destinations offering gambling facilities for sunlust tourists. To overcome objections by local residents to proposals for establishing gambling facilities, pro-casino lobbies appear to use “tourism” as a kind of Trojan Horse, disguising the point that the major gambler market is in the local population. New Zealand is a recent case where this appears to be happening.     

Some examples of the Middle-Triassic Marine transgression in South-Western Mediterranean Europe

In Southwestern Mediterranean Europe (NE Spain, Sardinia and NW Apennines e. g. Monti Pisani and Punta Bianca) the Middle-Triassic transgression on a margin of an intracratonic basin appears to be controlled by the different morphology and tectonic activity of the margin itself. The analysis of some sequences leads to recognize three different kinds of margins:

1. margin with a narrow shelf sloping toward a very shallow restricted basin (Central and Southwestern Sardinia);
2. margin with a broad shelf gently sloping toward a shallow basin (NE Spain, Monti Pisani, NW Sardinia);
3. margin with a narrow shelf and steep slope marked by tectonic and volcanic activity (Punta Bianca).

     

The structural role of Al2O3 and TiO2 in immiscible silicate liquids in the system SiO2-MgO-CaO-FeO-TiO2-Al2O3

The effects of the addition of Al₂O₃ on the large stable two liquid field in the SiO₂-TiO₂-CaO-MgO-FeO system were experimentally determined. The increase of Al₂O₃ content in the starting composition results in the decrease of critical temperature, phase separation and liquidus temperature of the two liquid field until it is rendered completely metastable. The shrinkage of the two liquid field indicates that Al₂O₃ is acting in the role of a network former and homogenizes the structure of the two melts. In this alkali-free system Al⁺³ utilizes the divalent cations, Ca⁺² and Mg⁺², for local charge balance with a preference for Ca⁺² over Mg⁺². Thus, AlO₄ tetrahedra combine with SiO₄ tetrahedra to form an aluminosilicate framework which polymerizes the SiO₂-poor melt and makes it structurally more similar to the SiO₂-rich melt. However, Ca⁺² and Mg⁺² are not as efficient in a charge balancing capacity as the monovalent K⁺ and Na⁺ cations. The lack of alkalis in this system limits the stability of AlO₄ tetrahedra in the highly polymerized SiO₂-rich melt and results in the preference of Al₂O₃ for the SiO₂-poor melt. The partitioning systematics of Ti are virtually identical to those of Al. It is concluded that Ti occurs in tetrahedral coordination as a network forming species in both the high — and low — SiO immiscible melts.     

Rainfall input of toxaphene to a South Carolina estuary

Toxaphene concentrations in rainfall over a South Carolina salt marsh were monitored from 1976–1978. This insecticide is toxic to some organisms in the low μg/kg range and causes sublethal effects in the very low ng/kg range. Rainfall was sampled by both continuously exposed collectors and by collectors which were exposed only during actual precipitation. Toxaphene concentrations in individual rainstorms showed a high day-to-day variation, and in general were 10–100 times higher than PCB and DDT levels. Washout ratios for toxaphene were higher than those reported for other chlorinated hydrocarbons, but lower than those of trace metals. During and immediately following the summer use season, toxaphene levels in rain exceeded by several times those concentrations reported to produce bone damage to young fish in laboratory experiments. The estimated aerial input of toxaphene to the 26 km² estuary was 1.2 kg over a 4-month period. Most of this input appeared to be due to rainfall rather than dry deposition. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** A01BY010 00007     

Phylogenetic Problems in Polynesian Simuliidae (Diptera: Culicomorpha): A progress report

As a basis for eventual control of the vicious anthropophilic and ornithophilic simuliid females of the Marquesas Islands, a taxonomic revision of Polynesian Simuliidae is in progress. Cytotaxonomic studies reveal two simuliid species in Rarotonga, Cook Islands; nine species in Tahiti, Society Islands, and two in the Marquesas Islands. A cytophylogeny is now available. Polynesian Simuliidae are unique in possessing heterogametic females. A reconstructed phylogeny, based mainly on morphological character states of larvae and pupae, agrees well with the cytophylogeny. One of the new species which is closely related to Simulium oviceps Edwards has larvae with highly reduced, non-functional cephalic fans. Ages of the Polynesian islands are discussed in relation to possible dispersal of Simuliidae into Polynesia.     

An overview of climate models

Climate models and results, especially for paleo-climatic scale are reviewed. It is concluded that the climatic system is more stable than it was thought to be when Budyko-Sellers type models first came into existence. Even a 2% decrease in solar radiation may not result in White Earth due to negative feed-backs. A decrease in CO₂ to about 200 ppm can result in White Earth. A doubling of CO₂ increases the surface temperature by an order of 1°C. The total climatic system which is nonlinear can exhibit very long period internal oscillations, even of the order of 1,00,000 years though none of the time constants involved are in that range individually.     

Zircon and sphene as fission track geochronometer and geothermometer: A reappraisal

The data published earlier on zircon and sphene fission track ages and annealing are discussed in the light of different etching conditions used for age determination and annealing experiments in order to explain the age discordances of some zircon and sphene pairs, as well as numerous closing temperatures obtained for individual minerals. Using the new set of simple etching conditions, zircon (KOH melt) and sphene (HF+HCl), the annealing experiments indicate that tracks in sphene are annealed more easily than in zircon. The closing temperature of zircon and sphene have been calculated at 300° and 250° C respectively. The study reveals that both the fission track age and the closing temperature of a mineral can vary considerably if different etchants are used. For different etching conditions the closing temperatures (T) of sphene have the following order: ^T NaOH> ^T HF+HCl+HNO₃+H₂O> ^THF+HCl>^THCl. An alternative method can be used to obtain thermal histories of rocks by selectively applying various etchants on the same mineral.     

Electrical conductivity measurements on olivines and pyroxenes under defined thermodynamic activities as a function of temperature and pressure

Electrical conductivities of Ni₂SiO₄, Fe₂SiO₄, and MgSiO₃ were measured on synthetic powders in the temperature range 340° to 1,100° C and at pressures up to 20 kbars. For ternary compounds such as olivines and pyroxenes the control of two further variables, like the chemical activities of two components are needed, besides temperature and pressure. The activities of the corresponding binary oxides were controlled by equilibrating the samples with their neighbour-phases. Control of the oxygen partial pressure was achieved by buffer techniques. From the slopes of the lg σ vs. 1/T lines the activation energies were calculated for 10 kbar: 0.56 eV and 2.7 eV for Ni₂SiO₄ in equilibrium with SiO₂ and Ni/NiO-buffer for the temperature range 500°–800°C and 800°–1,000°C resp. 0.52 eV for Fe₂SiO₄ in equilibrium with SiO₂ and metallic iron, and 0.38 eV in equilibrium with SiO₂ and magnetite; 1.11 eV for MgSiO₃ in equilibrium with SiO₂, and 1.25 eV in equilibrium with Mg₂SiO₄.