The assessment of vitellogenin as a biomarker of exposure to estrogenic compounds in two Australian perciformes

Vitellogenin (Vtg) is a yolk protein precursor that has been identified as a sensitive biomarker for exposure to estrogenic compounds. We evaluated specific monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies for reactivity with plasma Vtg from two Australian Perciformes, the tropical barramundi (Lates calcarifer) and the temperate black bream (Acanthopagrus butcheri). Blood plasma from 17beta-estradiol exposed (E2) male barramundi (20 mg kg(-1)) and male black bream (2.5-5.0 mg kg(-1)) were sent to Biosense Laboratories (Norway) for cross-reactivity testing using their extensive anti-Vtg antibody selection. Indirect ELISA results determined barramundi plasma displayed the highest binding affinities to ND-3G2 (monoclonal-Mab) and PO-1 (polyclonal-Pab). Black bream was most cross-reactive with ND-1C8 (Mab) and PO-2 (Pab). Next, plasma was assessed for Vtg induction in E2-dosed (5 mg kg(-1)), hatchery-reared barramundi and black bream versus a non-injected control group. Vtg production was assessed by Western blot and indirect ELISA using ND-3G2 and ND-1C8 Mabs, respectively. A prominent band was identified in the range of 100-200 kDa for all female black bream and for all E2-treated barramundi and black bream males, which was confirmed as Vtg by Western blot. Indirect ELISA results for barramundi demonstrated highly significant differences in E2-dosed fish as compared to control fish (Student t, P<0.001). E2 male black bream were significantly different than control males (Student t, P<0.001) and control and E2 females displayed highly significant differences (Student t, P<0.001). These results indicate that exposure to 17beta-estradiol induces significant Vtg production in males of the two Australian Perciformes, with potential use as a biomarker for exposure to estrogenic compounds.     

Sonophotocatalysis of endocrine-disrupting chemicals

Sonolysis and photolysis often exhibit synergistic effects in the degradation of organic molecules. An assay of fish oocyte maturation provides an appropriate experimental system to investigate the hormonal activities of chemical agents. Oocyte maturation in fish is triggered by maturation-inducing hormone (MIH), which acts on receptors on the oocyte surface. A synthetic estrogen, diethylstilbestrol (DES), possesses inducing activity of fish oocyte maturation, and a widely used biocide, pentachlorophenol (PCP), exhibits a potent inhibitory effect on fish oocyte maturation. In this study, the effects of the combined treatment by sonolysis with photolysis (sonophotocatalysis) to diminish the hormonal activity of DES and the maturation preventing activity of PCP was examined. By sonophotocatalysis, hormonal activity of DES was completely lost within 30min and the inhibiting activity of PCP was lost within 120min. These results demonstrated that sonophotocatalysis is effective for diminishing the endocrine-disrupting activity of chemical agents.     

Outflow of Pacific water from the Chukchi Sea to the Arctic Ocean

Pacific water exits the Chukchi Sea shelf through Barrow Canyon in the east and Herald Canyon in the west, forming an eastward-directed shelfbreak boundary current that flows into the Beaufort Sea. Here we summarize the transformation that the Pacific water undergoes in the two canyons, and describe the characteristics and variability of the resulting shelfbreak jet, using recently collected summertime hydrographic data and a year-long mooting data set. In both canyons the northward-flowing Pacific winter water switches from the western to the eastern flank of the canyon, interacting with the northward-flowing summer water. In Barrow canyon the vorticity structure of the current is altered, while in Herald canyon a new water mass mode is created. In both instances hydraulic effects are believed to be partly responsible for the observed changes. The shelfl）reak jet that forms from the canyon outflows has distinct seasonal configurations, from a bottom-intensified flow carrying cold, dense Pacific water in spring, to a surface-intensified current advecting warm, buoyant water in summer. The current also varies significantly on short timescales, from less than a day to a week. In fall and winter much of this mesoscale variability is driven by storm events, whose easterly winds reverse the current and cause upwelling. Different types of eddies are spawned from the current, which are characterized here using hydrographic and satellite data.     

朝鲜海峡南部中陆架海侵沙脊在高能环境中的形成和发育

1　地质背景研究区为韩国海南部水深 60 ~ 100 m 的中陆架中部。韩国海南部陆架为构造上稳定、冰后期被淹没的浅水陆架(水深<120 m),陆源碎屑沉积厚。这些厚层沉积物显示了区域倾斜的前积层层理,表明它们为三角洲来源或浅水来源,尤其是晚第四纪沉积形成高频沉积层序,包含了一套与末次海平面循环(< 30 000aBP)相响应的低海面、海侵和高海面沉积(Yooand Park,2000)。低海面和高海面沉积分别位于外陆架和内陆架,而海侵沉积在陆架上分布广。海侵沉积可分为 5 个地层单元(Yoo andPark,2000),包括:①中陆架海侵层;②中陆架沙脊;③横切水道填…     

末次盛冰期以来冲绳海槽中段岩心中黏土粒级沉积物地球化学特征及物质来源的阶段性

测定了冲绳海槽DGKS9603孔21个样品中黏土粒级沉积物的常、微量元素组分,利用因子分析的方法,识别出对冲绳海槽中段沉积物物源有重要影响的陆源成因因子、生物成因因子及火山作用和海底热液因子.陆源成因因子的元素组合为Fe₂O₃,Al₂O₃,V等惰性元素及K₂O,MgO等氧化物;生源因子的元素组合为CaO,Sr,Ba,Mn,P;火山和海底热液成因因子的元素组合为Na,Co,Ni.据样品的因子得分将柱样由上而下划分出物源的4个不同阶段:A段生物成因因子得分高,沉积物质主要是本地生物沉积,但也有富含生物成因物质的陆源物质的贡献;B段火山作用所产生的沉积物质特征显著,Na,Co,Ni呈现高含量;C段以陆源物质和生源物质沉积混杂为特征,元素垂向上变化不大;D段主要为陆源物质,其他来源物质相对较少,且可能主要来自在末次冰期最盛期所出露的陆架沉积.提出了冲绳海槽物源具有阶段性的论点.由于末次盛冰期以来全球气候呈现冷暖交替的阶段性变化,本区物源的阶段性变化是这一时期气候和古环境阶段性变化的良好反映.     

Overall-effective Measures for Sustainable Water Resources Management in the Coastal Areas of Shandong Province, China ——Case Study： the Huangshuihe River Catchment of Longkou City

In the coastal catchments of Shandong Province the water scarcity is aggravated due to saltwater intrusion, reducing the usability of water resources available. Such a situation calls for sustainable integrated water resources management （IWRM）. The idea for the objectives and implementation of the IWRM are explained in this paper. The general objective of the planned project disscussed in the present study is to bring together German traditional expertise in water resources management and newer developments in the context of the European Water Framework Directive; the research efforts aim to relieve the desperate water scarcity situation in the costal area of Shandong Province.     

Preliminary Observations in the Neighbourhood of Urumuchi; Sinkiang

In May 1945, the author flew to Urumuchi vis the Kansu Corridor. There are evidently streamflood cournes on the no 'thern front the Chilienshan and great pediments have been formed. Former erosional surface on the Chilienshan were seen in two localities. They ars well preserved flat-topped benches sloping towards the north; and flanked by gullies, These lie at the altitude 3,200 meters above the sea.     

Confirming Ground Geophysical Survey for Mineralization in Al Bayda Area,Yemen

1IntroductionThe study area lies in the northern part of Al Jarra village in Di Naim-Al Bayda District (Fig. 1). The area under investigation is characterized by rugged topography and generally covered by base-ment rocks. The northern part of the study ar…     

Numerical Study on Dry Deposition Processes in Canopy Layer

A coupling model between the canopy layer(CL) and atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) for the study of dry deposition velocity is developed. The model consists of six parts: chemical species conservation equation including absorptive factor; the species uptake action including detailed vertical variation of absorptive element in CL; momentum exchange in CL which is represented by a first-order closure momentum equation with an additional larger-scale diffusive term; momentum exchange in ABL which is described by a complete set of the ABL turbulent statistic parameters; absorptivity (or solubility or reflection) at the surface including effects of the physical and chemical characters of the species, land type, seasonal and diurnal variations of the meteorological variables; and deposition velocity derived by distributions of the species with height in CL. Variational rules of the concentration and deposition velocity with both height and time are simulated with the model for both corn and forest canopies. R