Detecting genotoxicity using the Comet assay following chronic exposure of Manila clam Tapes semidecussatus to polluted estuarine sediments

Sediments frequently cause damage to biota due to the accumulation of toxic compounds and the bioavailability of sediment-bound contaminants. Damage can be assessed using biomarkers, such as the degree of genotoxic impact following in vivo exposure to pollutants. Genotoxic damage, expressed as single-strand DNA breaks, was measured in cells isolated from haemolymph, gill and digestive gland from the clam Tapes semidecussatus, using the single cell gel electrophoresis (Comet assay). Clams were exposed for three weeks to sediment samples collected from a polluted site and a ‘clean’ reference site.

The level of DNA damage was assessed using an image analysis package and expressed as Tail Moment. Throughout the study, significant differences in DNA damage were recorded for each tissue type between clams exposed to the two sediment samples. We conclude that the Comet assay is a useful tool for the detection of DNA damage in clams chronically exposed to polluted sediments.     

Variational characteristics of shear-wave splitting on the 2001 Shidian earthquakes in Yunnan, China

Introduction In the crust there exist widely vertical nearly-parallel fluid-saturated microcracks, which are nearly parallel. Shear-wave splitting can be observed when shear-wave travels through this kind of microcrack structure. Shear-wave splitting could be adopted to monitor the earthquake activity since its pattern is very sensitive to variation of crustal stress (GAO, et al, 1995, 1996), however, it needs lots of reliable 3-component waveform data. Previous studies mainly used some temp…     

引潮力对显著地震触发作用与大震关系的机理讨论

初步讨论了引潮力对显著地震触发作用与大震关系的机理。 结果表明, 这一机理是比较复杂的。 地震发生时水平引潮力方位与地震断层面走向接近, 可能增加断层面上的剪应力, 有利于地震的发生; 水平引潮力方位与地震主张应力轴T轴接近, 可能减小断层面上的正应力, 从而减小断层面上的摩擦力, 也会有利于地震的发生。 所讨论的3个震例中有2个共同点: 其一为大震前显著地震发生时水平引潮力方位相互比较接近; 其二为显著地震破裂面走向和大震破裂面走向基本一致。     

Industrial pollution at Bagnoli (Naples, Italy): benthic foraminifera as a tool in integrated programs of environmental characterisation

In the 20th century an important industrial plant operated on the coastal area of Bagnoli. After its closing, an integrated study of environmental characterisation aimed at restoration started. The survey conducted was based on chemical and sedimentological analyses integrated with benthic foraminifera analyses. Statistical analysis of the data shows sectors with a distinct type and degree of pollution. Particularly, pollution linked to the silty sediment fraction, mainly due to Pb and Zn, was recognised in front of the southern sector of the plant. The study of benthic foraminifera provides evidence for a pollution-tolerant character in some species like Haynesina germanica and Quinqueloculina parvula. In addition, two species among the 113 recognised show high percentages of abnormal specimens. These percentages show a statistical correlation with some pollutants (PAHs, Mn, Pb and Zn). In addition, Energy Dispersive Spectrometry shows small amounts of Fe ions included in deformed tests of Miliolinella subrotunda. Because the number of these deformations is positively correlated to the concentration of PAHs, Mn and Zn, the inability of some specimens to exclude the foreign elements from the crystalline reticulum of the test could be attributed to the potential toxic effect of these pollutants.     

全球浅源巨大地震序列统计特征

系统研究了1976年以来全球58次M_W≥7.8浅源地震序列的统计特征。结果显示:(1)在58次巨大地震中,板间地震45次,板内地震13次,板内地震强度低于板间地震。(2)74.1%的板间地震为逆断层错动,61.5%的板内地震为走滑型错动。(3)58次地震序列中,82.8%为主-余型,17.2%为多震型;与5级以上地震序列不同,巨大地震没有孤立型,其余震比较活跃;板内地震中,多震型占7.7%,而板间地震中多震型占20%。(4)对于主-余型序列,75%的主震与最大余震的震级差为1.0～2.0级;震级差与主震震源错动类型有关,走滑型的震级差明显大于逆冲型;68%的最大余震发生在主震后3天内,其次为10天左右与1个月左右; 49%的D_(max-aft)(最大余震震中与主震震中间的距离)不超过余震区长轴的1/3,31%的D_(max-aft)为余震区尺度的1/3～1/2;最大余震的发生时间、最大余震震中与主震震中间的距离同主震断层错动类型间的关系不明显。(5)应用ETAS模型计算了46个序列参数后发现,b值、p值和a值均呈Beta分布,b值平均为1.164±0.211,p值平均为1.559±0.412,a值平均为1.673±0.911; p值和a值分布分散;对于不同的序列类型、震源错动类型及板内、板间地震,b值差异不显著;逆冲型序列p值明显大于走滑型和正断层型;板间地震序列a值明显小于板内地震;逆冲型序列a值明显小于走滑型和正断层型;这表明,与板内地震相比,板间地震具有较强的"余震激发余震"的能力;逆冲型破裂虽然会导致序列衰减较快,但触发次级余震的能力相对较强。(6)逆冲型巨大地震余震区长轴L的对数与主震震级M_W间的拟合关系式为lg L=(-1.399±0.306)+(0.470±0.037) M_W。     

论统计相关性和因果性: 以中国油价上涨与全球大地震关系为例

近些年中国油价上调时间与全球大震的发生出现同步, 引起地震学家和相关人员的关注。 这两者在物理上是毫无联系的事件, 然而通过对2003—2015年的相关资料进行分析, 发现两者发生时间具有较好的一致性, 即油价上调与全球大震发生具有相关性, 这种相关性甚至通过了严格的统计检验, 超出99%的置信区间。 这个看似荒谬的结论背后隐藏的是一个容易被忽略的统计误区: 对事后数据进行统计检验, 如果有足够多的样本, 通过精心挑选则一定能找到一些样本是统计相关的, 即使他们之间没有任何因果关系。 揭示这一统计误区对于目前地震预报使用的统计方法有重要意义, 上述研究表明仅仅依靠统计检验不能判定某种现象或者异常是否与地震存在必然的因果关系, 是否存在物理上的关联, 因为所考察的现象或者异常有可能是大量样本中的一个被精心挑选出来的特例。 在大数据大量积累和使用的今天, 为了避免走入上述统计误区, 需要在分析相关性的基础上, 对每一种可能的前兆现象进行向前预报检验, 同时探求其与地震的内在因果关系, 即阐明前兆现象的物理机制。     

Morlet小波变换在2020年新疆于田6.4级地震预测中的应用研究

2020年6月26日新疆于田6.4级地震发生在新疆和田至西藏日土 6.0级左右年度地震重点危险区内部,中期(年度)预测正确,其中核心依据之一为该地区6级以上地震准周期特征.Morlet小波变换定量计算显示11.7年、5.8年和79.5年为主要周期成分,其中11.7年和5.8年周期通过了 90％置信度检验,具有显著性.本...     

2020年4月1日四川石渠5.6级地震总结

系统梳理2020年4月1日四川石渠5.6级地震震前地震活动异常特征、地球物理观测异常以及区域构造情况,结果如下:①地震活动:石渠5.6级地震震中区域属于历史弱震区,震前出现前兆震群,也是其前震活动;②地球物理观测:出现8项异常,其中形变5项,电磁3项,且电磁异常对于该地震具有预测意义;③综合方法:地震发生前,震中附近存...