Effects of PCBs on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by the immune cells of Paracentrotus lividus (Echinodermata)

The impact of four PCB congeners: 3,3',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl (IUPAC congener #77), 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (IUPAC #126), 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (IUPAC #153) and 3,3',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (IUPAC #169) was investigated on the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by coelomocytes of the echinoid Paracentrotus lividus, an important species in marine benthic ecosystems. PCBs were found to increase ROS production and to delay the time of peak production. These effects were stronger on bacteria-stimulated cells and were congener-specific: coplanar congeners (#77, 126 and 169) had more effect than the non-coplanar PCB #153. Among coplanar congeners, PCB #169 showed dose-dependent effects whereas PCB #77 and 126 were more toxic at high and low doses, respectively. The relative immunotoxicity of the different PCB congeners is discussed in the light of their structural properties and biological affinities.     

Changes in zoobenthic community structure after pollution abatement from fish farms in the Archipelago Sea (N. Baltic Sea)

Long-term changes in sediment macrofauna communities at two sites affected by fish farming in the Archipelago Sea, south-west Finland have been investigated. Sampling stations in the S?rk?nsalmi Strait and Kaukolanlahti Bay, previously investigated 1982-1991, were revisited in 1994, 1995 and 1998 to detect signs of recovery following a decrease in organic load since 1990 and 1991, respectively. The results indicate a partial recovery in S?rk?nsalmi during post-pollution years, whereas no improvement has taken place in Kaukolanlahti. The improvement in S?rk?nsalmi is shown by a significant increase in the number of species and total abundance, and by the community structures becoming more similar over time. On the other hand, a significantly decreased number of species, abundance and biomass values over time as well as the occurrence of defaunated anoxic sediments, are clear signs of continued deterioration in Kaukolanlahti. Differences in the recovery potential of the two water areas are interpreted as consequences of topography and water exchange patterns causing differences in oxygen saturation.     

Water Discharge and Sediment Load from the Western Slopes of the Colombian Andes with Focus on Rio San Juan

Small rivers draining high-rainfall basins and mountainous terrain west of the Cordilleras in South America have disproportionately high water discharge and sediment load. Fifteen rivers in western Colombia discharge a combined 254 km3 yr-1 or 8020 m3 s-1 of water into the Pacific. Sediment yield is strongly correlated with basin area (R2=0.97), and sediment load is correlated with water discharge (R2=0.73). Rio San Juan occupies a 16,465-km2 basin with a mean annual rainfall of 7277 mm. It has the highest water discharge (2550 m3 s-1), sediment load (16x106 t yr-1), and basin-wide sediment yield (1150 t km-2 yr-1) on the entire west coast of South America. Rio Patía drains a 23,700-km2 basin with a mean annual rainfall of 2821 mm. Its water discharge, sediment load, and basin-wide sediment yield are 1291 m3 s-1, 14 t yr-1, and 972 t km-2 yr-1, respectively. Rio San Juan and Rio Patía deliver 30x106 t of suspended sediment annually into the Pacific. Analysis of data for an additional 22 rivers in Colombia that drain into the Caribbean Sea indicates that the Pacific rivers have at least twice the sediment yield compared with the larger Rio Magdalena. Our results confirm that the Pacific rivers of Colombia need to be accounted for in global sediment budgets.     

Extended Far-Infrared CO Emission in the OMC-1 Core of Orion

We report the discovery of quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) at roughly 187 and 150 Hz in the X-ray intensity of X-ray nova XTE J1859+226. The source was observed during a recent outburst with the Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer. Besides these high-frequency QPOs, we have also detected QPOs (and sometimes their harmonics) at 6-7 Hz and significant broadband variability at low frequencies. These properties, as well as the observed hard X-ray spectrum, make XTE J1859+226 a black hole candidate (BHC). The detection of QPOs at two distinct frequencies greater, similar100 Hz in two observations separated by about 4 hr provide additional insights into the high-frequency QPO phenomenon in BHCs. The importance lies in the proposed interpretations, which invariably involve the effects of strong gravity near a black hole. We compare our results to those of other BHCs and discuss the impact of the observational data on the models in a global context.     

6Li from Solar Flares

By introducing a hitherto ignored 6Li producing process, due to accelerated 3He reactions with 4He, we show that accelerated particle interactions in solar flares produce much more 6Li than 7Li. By normalizing our calculations to gamma-ray data, we demonstrate that the 6Li produced in solar flares, combined with photospheric 7Li, can account for the recently determined solar wind lithium isotopic ratio, obtained from measurements in lunar soil, provided that the bulk of the flare-produced lithium is evacuated by the solar wind. Further research in this area could provide unique information on a variety of problems, including solar atmospheric transport and mixing, solar convection and the lithium depletion issue, and solar wind and solar particle acceleration.     

可降水份的误差分析

分析了由无线电探空数据计算可降水份中逼近误差和观测误差的影响 ,利用香港的无线电探空资料计算出逼近误差和观测误差的影响分别为 0 .5mm和 1 .2mm ,两者的综合影响为 1 .3mm。     

奥斯特/GPS掩星与地面雷达联合观测电离层电子密度的初步结果

1999年2月丹麦发射了一颗奥斯特小卫星,它装载了两台GPS接收机,其中一台用于电离层和中性大气掩星测量,另一台用于自主定位。本文给出了1999年10月奥斯特/GPS掩星与日本MU雷达和数字测高仪的联合观测结果。奥斯特掩星反演得到的电子密度剖面与地面雷达观测的进行了比较,结果表明:天基和地基雷达观测的电子密度是一致的。文章还给出利用GPS的单频信号反演电离层电子密度剖面技术和3维射线追踪技术模拟掩星结果。     

矿业与社区:为社会可持续发展而共同努力

针对公司社会责任的政策应如何制定,尤其是矿业方面的政策应如何制定,一直是一个争论不休的问题。作者认为,“学院式的老传统观念”——只从技术和经济的角度看待矿床的开采——早已消亡。矿业公司也必须履行其社会责任。 本文围绕近年来世界范围内的趋势和动态,如:全球化、经济互相依赖和政策权力下放以及民间团体作为一个政治因素的兴起,讨论了矿业的新政策。这些趋势与联合国寻求可持续发展的政策以及过去十年中一些国际会议上所达成的共识一起,提高了全社会的认识,筑起了私营 部门为社会多尽义务的舞台。对社会负责的公司政策包括:将决策权下放到矿区,直到各利益集团和持股人支持政府提供“官方发展援助”,进行有效管理,建立广泛的协作伙伴关系,减少社会曝光。