Bioenhancement of cadmium transfer along a multi-level food chain

Previous studies have shown that metal partitioned to a subcellular compartment containing trophically available metal (TAM) is readily available to predators and may be enhanced by increased binding of metal to heat-stable proteins (HSP - e.g., metallothioneins). The aim of the current investigation was to determine the influence of TAM on the trophic transfer of Cd along an experimental, three-level food chain: Artemia franciscana (brine shrimp)-->Palaemonetes pugio (grass shrimp)-->Fundulus heteroclitus (mummichog). P. pugio were fed for 7 days on A. franciscana exposed to Cd in solution (including (109)Cd as radiotracer) and subjected to subcellular fractionation or fed to F. heteroclitus. An HSP-driven increase in the percentage of Cd associated with TAM (TAM-Cd%) in A. franciscana exposed to 1 muM Cd resulted in a bioenhancement (i.e., a greater than linear increase with respect to A. franciscana exposure) of Cd trophic transfer to P. pugio. Increased dietary Cd exposure did not affect TAM-Cd% in P. pugio nor trophic transfer to F. heteroclitus.     

Fatal attraction: synthetic musk fragrances compromise multixenobiotic defense systems in mussels

We studied interactions of nitromusk compounds musk ketone and musk xylene and polycyclic musks Galaxolide trade mark (HHCB), Celestolide trade mark (ADBI), Tetralide trade mark (AHTN), and Traseolide trade mark (AITI) with multixenobiotic resistance (mxr) transporters in gill tissue of the marine mussel Mytilus californianus (Conrad, 1837). A competitive substrate transport test with rhodamine B was used to assay modulation of transport activity by musks. All tested musks inhibited the transport activity in the low microm range as indicated by increased accumulation of rhodamine B in the tissue. Compared to known substrates of mxr transporters, the effective concentration range was similar to quinidine and about 100 times higher than verapamil. Musk ketone and musk xylene also inhibited efflux of rhodamine B from gill tissue which was loaded with the dye and subsequently incubated with these compounds. Synthetic musk compounds are persistent environmental pollutants in aquatic environments with a high potential to bioaccumulate. As potent inhibitors of mxr transporters they may also play a role as chemosensitizers that enable toxic mxr substrates to accumulate in cells of aquatic organisms.     

Total content and chemical speciation of arsenic in the polychaete Sabella spallanzanii

An unusual feature has been observed in polychaetes regarding their capacity to accumulate high levels of relatively toxic forms of arsenic in specific tissues. Basal levels of arsenic and distribution of its compounds were investigated in tissues of the Mediterranean polychaete Sabella spallanzanii. Particularly high concentrations were measured in the branchial crown (1036+/-136 microg/g d.w.) and chemical speciation revealed that the predominant form was the relatively toxic dimethylarsinate (DMA). These data suggest a potential role of As as anti-predatory strategy in polychaetes.     

Barents海巨大的海底火山口中潜在的水合物丘状体

穿过Barents海“火山口区”的多次调查资料的解释结果提供了该区火山口（大洼地，直径300－500m，深10－30m)，与距今大约15000年冰消作用后气体逸出相关联的进一步证据。为山口的位置表明气体的流动受到三叠纪粉砂岩基岩断裂的控制。数个火山口内的地形高处（由棱角状的岩石组成，局部隆升于火山口壁围岩之上），被解释为水合物丘状体，说明了在火山口形成之后气体仍持续不断地流动。这可能是最早报道的在岩化沉积物中存在的水合物丘状体。假定这种气体为甲烷，海底温度与现今的相似，那么，当海底位于海平面之下280－340m时（比现今低10－80m)就会形成水合物丘状体。地化研究为紧邻火山口区海底浅层中气体水合物随季节性温度变化而分解这一论点提供了证据。     

Estrogenic responses of larval sunshine bass (Morone saxatilis x M. Chrysops) exposed to New York City sewage effluent

To determine the estrogenicity of effluents from sewage treatment plants (STPs) to larval fish, 2-day-old sunshine bass were exposed to effluents from three STPs serving New York City (NYC), varying in size and treatment level. Estrogenic response was evaluated by measuring vitellogenin (VTG) and estrogen receptor (ER) expression in cytosolic fractions of whole body homogenates. Concentrations of the presumptive endocrine disruptors in the effluents were also measured. VTG and ER levels in sewage-exposed fish were 3-5 times that observed in controls. Combined concentrations of estradiol and estrone ranged from 5 to 13 ng/l and nonylphenol-ethoxylate metabolites (NPEOs: 4-nonylphenol, and 1-, 2-, and 3-nonylphenol-ethoxylates) ranged from 180 to 470 microg/l in chlorinated effluent. Results indicate that both ER and VTG can be used as biomarkers for endocrine disruption in larval fish, and that 4-day exposure to sewage effluent is sufficient to elicit significant expression of these markers in sunshine bass larvae. The extremely higher concentrations of NPEOs found in effluent relative to hormones (approximately 40,000-fold) indicates that surfactant metabolites may be contributing significantly to the estrogenic effects observed.     

Esterases as biomarkers in Nereis (Hediste) diversicolor exposed to temephos and Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis used for mosquito control in coastal wetlands of Morbihan (Brittany,France)

Since 1998, a biomonitoring programme has been implemented to assess the potential impact of chemical mosquito control on macroinvertebrates of the coastal wetlands of Morbihan (Brittany, France). Acetylcholinesterase and carboxylesterases were used as biomarkers to assess the effects of Abate 500e (a.i. temephos) and Vectobac 12 AS (a.i. endotoxins of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis, Bti) in Nereis (Hediste) diversicolor. Esterase inhibition revealed a marked impact of temephos, suggesting preferential contamination of the worms through the food. In Bti-exposed N. diversicolor, random variations of esterase activities were observed, that could not be attributed to the larvicide. However, esterases only reflected indirect physiological effects of Bti, and further investigations are needed to identify biomarkers more specific of Bti endotoxins.     

井底测井技术探测气体水合物

用井底测井技术来确定海洋沉积中气体水合物和地震信号与气体水合物下面游离气的联系已衩证明为非常有效。最近在布来克脊的钻探中,大洋钻探计划（ODP）记录到的现场测得速度和电阻率测井提示在温压稳定带内水合物含量深度的加大而增大。对应的剪切刚度（Vp/Vs比率减小）变小,含水合物层声波幅度减小是由于沉积物中的颗粒被水合物胶结,这解释了布来克脊地区采集的地震剖面普遍存在的振幅空白带现象。 将来的钻探活动中,采用安置在钻头正上方的随钻测井（LWD）传感器将改进孔隙度、气体水合物的横向变化和储层潜力现象精度估计。     

底层框架-多层组合墙房屋抗震变形分析

本文研究了底层框架一多层组合墙房屋在地震作用下的弹塑性变形状态。文中研究了二层与底层的不同刚度比对层间变形的影响,且以概率统计的方法为基础提出了关于刚度比的恰当值的建议。     

通过对重力波曳力的参数化来减小数值天气预报和大气环流模式中的系统性误差

一、引 言 由于地形性激发的中尺度重力波的中断,在加拿大气候中心大气环流谱模式中有时候采用了波的曳力效应的参数化。这一参数化的细节以及它在大气环流模式气候模拟中影响的讨论,可见Boer等人(1985)的工作。 最近,人们利用激发重力波次尺度地形的更好的描绘,来修改这一参数化方案。还有,使用Lindzen(1981)的波饱和概念来描述曳力效应。这一关于地形重力波曳力参数化的作法已在加拿大气候中心的大气环流谱模式中广泛试验,在加拿大气象中心的业务的谱数值预报模式中也正在普遍进行试验。本文的目的所在于概述在这些模式中正在普遍使用的波的曳力方案,并且证明这一方案在消除中期预报和大气环流模拟的系统性误差方面的用处。     

邯郸市西部岩溶地下水的利用与开发

根据区域内岩溶地下水供需水现状，特别是通过对岩溶地下水最新开采动态资料分析，认为邯郸市西部岩溶水区尚具有一定的开发潜力，并提出了解决岩溶山区(革命老区)人畜用水的可行性和拦蓄滞洪、人工补给的有效途径，为地方经济持续发展提供决策依据，也可为北方类似岩溶地区所借鉴。