Integrated use of biomarkers in the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis for assessing off-shore gas platforms in the Adriatic Sea: results of a two-year biomonitoring program

Despite a large number of gas platforms existing in the Adriatic Sea, which is a semi-enclosed basin characterized by a slow turnover rate and increasing industrial as well as other anthropogenic activities, the effects of these structures on the aquatic ecosystem require further investigation. Since 1998, multidisciplinary studies have been performed by CNR-ISMAR to comply with legislation and to support the development of protocols for the monitoring of offshore activities in the Adriatic Sea. The present study was developed to implement a biomonitoring plan to assess the ecotoxicological effects of the extraction activities of an off-shore gas platform. Biomarkers were evaluated in mussels collected from the platform in relation to physiological stress, DNA damage, cellular damage, oxidative stress and exposure effects. Organic contaminants and trace element bioaccumulation were also assessed in the soft body of the mussels to correlate bioaccumulation of pollutants with biomarker responses. The results indicate an absence of platform-related environmental stress.     

A linear regression model (LRM) for groundwater chemistry in and around the Vaniyambadi industrial area, Tamil Nadu, India

A linear regression model in conjunction with cluster analysis was applied to the groundwater quality parameters for the Vaniyambadi industrial area, Tamil Nadu, India. These physico-chemical parameters were collected from 25 wells by intensive groundwater sampling conducted during January 2010. All the major ions, pH and electrical conductivity were analyzed. The abundances of cations were in the order of Na 相似文献   

A Review of the Tetrapod Track Record in China,with Special Reference to Type Ichnospecies:Implications for Ichnotaxonomy and Paleobiology

<正>"Splitting" and "lumping" are perpetual problems in vertebrate,especially dinosaur, ichnotaxonomy.Chinese dinosaur ichnotaxonomy,which began in 1940,provides a series of interesting case studies,highlighting the dual problems of historical and dubious ichnotaxonomy. Chinese Mesozoic tetrapod track types have been placed into 63 ichnospecies(one Triassic,28 Jurassic,and 34 Cretaceous),exclusive of other,non-type ichnospecies or ichnotaxa identified from China.Fifty-two(～83%) of these 63 tetrapod ichnospecies were placed in monospecific ichnogenera. At the ichnogenus level,we prune—either by recognizing nomina dubia or by synonymy—17 from the list of 53 dinosaurian ichnogenera(a 32%reduction),leaving 36 ichnotaxa that we consider valid. Most of the cuts affect Jurassic theropod ichnotaxa,which are reduced from 23 to only nine because most ichnogenera are subjective junior synonyms of Grallator and Eubrontes.Fewer Chinese Cretaceous ichnotaxa(only six of 21 ichnogenera) are obvious nomina dubia or subjective synonyms, suggesting greater east Asian endemism during this time.Because ichnospecies differences are subtle, we provisionally retain ichnospecies as valid pending detailed comparative analyses of congeneric ichnospecies.This synthesis is long overdue and is necessary to address problems of historical and provincial ichnotaxonomy,which severely hamper comparisons of tetrapod ichnofaunas in space and time.     

南极冰层取心钻探酯基钻井液抗低温性能试验

钻井液的选择是顺利进行极地科学钻探工程的关键技术之一。为寻找一种新型安全、环保的耐低温钻井液,笔者深入分析一元脂肪酸酯与二元脂肪酸酯分子结构特点,对三种不同混合酯的耐低温性能进行了试验研究,测试了三种混合酯的黏度与密度随温度的变化。试验发现,当温度下降时,混合酯的黏度都存在一个稠化温度,稠化温度的高低受酯的分子结构、分子量及分子间作用力的影响。混合酯的组成、分子结构及分子间作用力大小不影响密度随温度的变化关系,但对密度的大小与密度增加的速度影响较大。     

可操作的地震预报/预测

与地震预报/预测以及地震危险性评估有关的可操作和决策问题是当今争议非常大的问题,特别是因为对近期大多数破坏性地震的概率性的地震危险性评估的总体表现令人非常不满意。尽管人们已经认识到必须通过严格的检验和验证过程来证实可操作的手段预测大地震与相关的地面震动的能力,但到目前为止只有很少几种方法被证明是有效的。鉴于对可预测性的预测具有内在的不确定性,任何地震预报/预测方法的有效性,只有在考虑到(从加强戒备到撤离的)不同层次的大范围的可能减灾行动后才能够得到判断。本文旨在展开讨论,并对拉奎拉地震(M=6.3,2009年4月6日)后建立的国际地震预报委员会所做报告的总结和建议部分做补充。所讨论的问题涉及地震预报/预测方法论的定义、验证和可能的应用,并着重以意大利现有的可操作实践予以说明。     

Parkes脉冲星数据库使用方法

Parkes脉冲星数据库目前已经收集了从1991年至今由Parkes望远镜观测的165755个数据文件。数据文件及其存取方法遵循虚拟天文台协议。介绍了脉冲星数据库的使用方法,以及使用在线界面进行数据获取的例子。     

Deep-seated structure and gold content of Russia and China contiguous territories

On the contiguous territories of southeastern Russia and northeastern China,many gold-bearing areas are conjugate in space with the gradient zones of the gravity field.Large gold-ore districts,defining in many respects the metallogenic signature of the region,are located on the joints of differently oriented gradient zones.In the best-studied districts,the Precambrian protrusions,staged distribution of magmatic chambers (by vertical) above the Mohorovicic discontinuity and restriction to the peripheral parts of intrusive massifs have been recognized.Different-type gold deposits in the studied ore-placer districts and nodes are often located on the areas of joint of the granitoid massifs and subvolcanic bodies with depressions.Availability of areals of metasomatic alterations of rocks,placers,and ore occurrences of precious metals on such but poorly studied areas can serve as the basis for the revision and detailed forecasting-prospecting works to develop the mineral-raw material base of the region for precious metals.     

An inventory of trees in Dublin city centre

While urban areas are often considered to be comprised chiefly of artificial surfaces, they can contain a substantial portion of green space and a great diversity of natural habitats. These spaces include public parks, private gardens and street trees, all of which can provide valuable environmental services, such as improved air quality. Trees play a particular role in cities as they are often placed along roadsides and in the median strip of busy streets. As such they regulate access to sunshine, restrict airflow, provide shelter, scavenge air pollutants and manage noise at the street level. A tree planting policy can be an important part of a broader environmental strategy aimed at improving the quality of life in urban areas but this requires up-to-date knowledge of the current tree stock, which does not exist for Dublin. This article presents an inventory of trees in Dublin's city centre, defined as the area between the Grand and Royal canals. The results show that there are over 10,000 trees in the study area representing a density of 684 trees km-2 or one tree to approximately every 50 residents of the city centre. The tree canopy extent when in full foliage was nearly 1 km2 in extent or 6% of the study area. A more detailed analysis of those trees planted along streets shows little species variation but clear distinction in the sizes of trees, which is indicative of the age of planting. These data are used to estimate the carbon stored in Dublin's trees.     

Managing nitrogen inputs into seagrass meadows near a coastal city: flow-on from research to environmental improvement plans

Increased human habitation has led to a 30 to 50-fold increase in nutrient loads to the coastal waters of Adelaide, resulting in the loss of over 5000 ha of seagrass meadows. The rate of loss since the 1940s has been irregular, averaging 85 ha yr(-1), marked by a substantial peak between 1971 and 1977. A modelling approach allowed comparison of the annual input with the annual uptake rates for the different biotic components in the seagrass bed. In 2005, the estimated uptake of ammonium (465 t yr(-1)) and nitrate (3.04 t yr(-1)) by the seagrass and associated epiphytes in the Adelaide region accounted for 31% of the ammonium and <1% of the nitrate that is currently discharged into the coastal waters. Environment Improvement Programs, such as the one implemented in 1996, may reduce the total nitrogen loads to 700 t yr(-1), possibly stemming further losses and facilitating recolonisation of new seagrass.