Effects of benzene and dimethylnaphthalene on homeostatic processes in two species of crabs

Long-term exposure of animals to sub-lethal doses of toxicants such as benzene (B) and dimethylnaphthalene (DMN) may result in subtle changes in their physiology and biochemistry. In crustaceans such changes include decreased rate of limb regeneration, extended time to molt and decreased growth increment at molt.^1,2 These processes depend upon an adequate supply of stored nutrients in the tissues and appropriate release of neuroendocrine substances from the central nervous system.^3,4 We are examining the effects of sub-lethal doses of B and DMN on osmotic and ionic regulation and on nutrient storage in the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, and the green crab, Carcinus maenas. Disturbances in these physiological processes may reflect alterations in neuroendocrine functions brought about by the presence of toxicants. We find that exposure of C. maenas to B or DMN, followed by transfer to a dilute medium, results in impaired osmoregulatory capacity, while addition of these compounds to a dilute medium to which the animal is already acclimated does not affect their regulatory ability. Storage of carbohydrate in the midgut gland (hepatopancreas) is decreased by B or DMN, while the accessory storage tissues (gill, muscle) are not significantly affected.     

Regeneration of sand waves after dredging

Sand waves are large bed waves on the seabed, being a few metres high and lying hundreds of metres apart. In some cases, these sand waves occur in navigation channels. If these sand waves reduce the water depth to an unacceptable level and hinder navigation, they need to be dredged. It has been observed in the Bisanseto Channel in Japan that the sand waves tend to regain their shape after dredging. In this paper, we address modelling of this regeneration of sand waves, aiming to predict this process. For this purpose, we combine a very simple, yet effective, amplitude-evolution model based on the Landau equation, with measurements in the Bisanseto Channel. The model parameters are tuned to the measured data using a genetic algorithm, a stochastic optimization routine. The results are good. The tuned model accurately reproduces the measured growth of the sand waves. The differences between the measured weave heights and the model results are smaller than the measurement noise. Furthermore, the resulting parameters are surprisingly consistent, given the large variations in the sediment characteristics, the water depth and the flow field. This approach was tested on its predictive capacity using a synthetic test case. The model was tuned based on constructed predredging data and the amplitude evolution as measured for over 2 years. After tuning, the predictions were accurate for about 10 years. Thus, it is shown that the approach could be a useful tool in the optimization of dredging strategies in case of dredging of sand waves.     

Formation of dust ion-acoustic solitary waves in a dusty plasma with two-temperature trapped electrons

We look for particular solutions to the restricted three-body problem where the bodies are allowed to either lose or gain mass to or from a static atmosphere. In the case that all the masses are proportional to the same function of time, we find analogous solution to the five stationary solutions of the usual restricted problem of constant masses: the three collinear and the two triangular solutions, but now the relative distance of the bodies changes with time at the same rate. Under some restrictions, there are also coplanar, infinitely remote and ring solutions.     

Contrasting geochemical signatures on land from the Middle and Late Permian extinction events

The end of the Palaeozoic is marked by two mass‐extinction events during the Middle Permian (Capitanian) and the Late Permian (Changhsingian). Given similarities between the two events in geochemical signatures, such as large magnitude negative δ¹³C anomalies, sedimentological signatures such as claystone breccias, and the approximate contemporaneous emplacement of large igneous provinces, many authors have sought a common causal mechanism. Here, a new high‐resolution continental record of the Capitanian event from Portal Mountain, Antarctica, is compared with previously published Changhsingian records of geochemical signatures of weathering intensity and palaeoclimatic change. Geochemical means of discriminating sedimentary provenance (Ti/Al, U/Th and La/Ce ratios) all indicate a common provenance for the Portal Mountain sediments and associated palaeosols, so changes spanning the Capitanian extinction represent changes in weathering intensity rather than sediment source. Proxies for weathering intensity chemical index of alteration, ?W and rare earth element accumulation all decline across the Capitanian extinction event at Portal Mountain, which is in contrast to the increased weathering recorded globally at the Late Permian extinction. Furthermore, palaeoclimatic proxies are consistent with unchanging or cooler climatic conditions throughout the Capitanian event, which contrasts with Changhsingian records that all indicate a significant syn‐extinction and post‐extinction series of greenhouse warming events. Although both the Capitanian and Changhsingian event records indicate significant redox shifts, palaeosol geochemistry of the Changhsingian event indicates more reducing conditions, whereas the new Capitanian record of reduced trace metal abundances (Cr, Cu, Ni and Ce) indicates more oxidizing conditions. Taken together, the differences in weathering intensity, redox and the lack of evidence for significant climatic change in the new record suggest that the Capitanian mass extinction was not triggered by dyke injection of coal‐beds, as in the Changhsingian extinction, and may instead have been triggered directly by the Emeishan large igneous province or by the interaction of Emeishan basalts with platform carbonates.     

Seismic observations at an overstep of the western North Anatolian Fault (Abant–Sapanca region, Turkey)

The course of the active North Anatolian Fault system from Lake Abant to Lake Sapanca was traced by its high micro-earthquake activity. If approaching from the east this section includes a broad south to north overstep (fault offset) of the main fault. Local seismicity has been recorded in this area by a semi-permanent network of 8 stations since 1985 within the frame of the Turkish–German Joint Project for Earthquake Research. The effect of the overstep and its complex fracture kinematics are reflected by the seismicity distribution, the variations of composite fault-plane solutions, and by the spatial coda-Q distribution. Areas of different stress orientation can be distinguished and assigned to different groups of faults. The stresses and the tectonic pattern only in part correspond to a simple model of an extensional overstep and its correlative pull-apart basin. Other types of deformation involved are characterized by normal faulting on faults parallel to the general course of the main strike-slip fault and by synthetic strike-slip faults oriented similar to Riedel shears. Shear deformation by this fault group widely distributed in an area north and east of the main fault line may play an important role in the evolution of the overstep. The development of a pull-apart basin is inhibited along the eastern half of the overstep and compatibility of both strands of the main fault (Bolu–Lake Abant and Lake Sapanca– Izmit–Marmara Sea) seems to be achieved with the aid of the fault systems mentioned. The extension of the missing part of the pull-apart basin seems to be displaced to positions remote from the Lake Abant–Lake Sapanca main fault line, i.e. to the Akyaz?–Düzce basin tract. Highest Q-values (lowest attenuation of seismic waves) were found in the zone of highest seismicity north and west of the overstep which is the zone of strongest horizontal tension. If high coda-Q is an indicator for strong scattering of seismic waves it might be related to extensional opening of fractures.     

POSITION OF ARSENIC MINERALS IN THE METALLOGENIC SERIES.

The fact that there is certain definite order in the distribution of metallic ores around a central magma has now been generally recognized by economic geologists and its effects on the geographic distribution as well as     

Active wrench faults of Iran,Afghanistan and Pakistan

The fault pattern of Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan has been mapped from air-photo-mosaics. The Herat, Chaman, Shahrud, Doruneh, and Zagros are the five major active faults and are wrench in character. With the exception of the Chaman fault, which lies to the east, the faults or their extensions spiral out from a centre in the Dasht Lut Depression of eastern Iran, the dextral faults spiralling out clockwise and the sinistral faults anticlockwise. The spiral fault pattern is consistent with that expected from a central force, and from the relation between the sense of horizontal displacement and the direction of outspiralling it is inferred that the crustal blocks west of the Chaman fault are moving in towards the Lut Centre. Similar spiral fault patterns can be recognized at many places in the world, and their centres are probably critical for explaining present day tectonics.-- , , , . — , , , — . , , , .

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Zusammenfassung Auf einer beigegebenen Karte wird der Verlauf von aktiven und von vermutlichen Hauptverwerfungen in Afghanistan, Pakistan und im Iran gezeigt, wie er anhand von Luftbild-Mosaikkarten und Luftaufnahmen bestimmt wurde. Die fünf wichtigsten aktiven Dislokationen sind die Herat-, Chaman-, Sharud-, Doruneh- und die Zagros-Verwerfung.Die deutlich sichtbare Herat-Verwerfung erstreckt sich in ENE-Richtung über 800 km durch den Nordteil Afghanistans zur chinesischen Grenze. Ihre Verschiebung erfolgte rechtsläufig, so daß die nördliche Scholle relativ zur südlichen nach E versetzt wurde.Die etwa 700 km lange nach SSW weisende Chaman-Verwerfung zieht sich in zwei schwach gegensinnig geschwungenen Bögen von der Herat-Verwerfung wenig N Kabul die afghanisch-pakistanische Grenze entlang, um in zahlreiche Zweigverwerfungen aufzuspalten, die in Westpakistan nach W umbiegen. Die Verschiebung erfolgte linksläufig und ist gut sichtbar.Die Sharud-Verwerfung im Iran erstreckt sich nach ENE durch die Achse des Elburs-Gebirges und biegt dann nach SE parallel zur russischen Grenze ab. Die Verwerfung ändert häufig ihre Richtung und ist nur schwer zu verfolgen. Sie hat eine sichere Länge von 800 km und ist linksläufig.Die gut sichtbare Doruneh-Verwerfung verläuft in Kurven 250 km südlich der Sharud-Verwerfung derselben parallel. Nach E spaltet sie sich auf, nach W vereinigt sie sich vermutlich mit der Sharud-Verwerfung. Sie ist 600 km lang und linksläufig.Die Zagros-Verwerfung tritt auf Luftaufnahmen am wenigsten hervor, auf geologischen Karten ist sie jedoch eine Hauptverwerfung. Sie erstreckt sich vom Schnittpunkt der drei Grenzen des Iran, Irak und der Türkei 950 km nach SE bis fast zur pakistanischen Grenze, wo sie wahrscheinlich anfangs nach NW, später nach N umbiegt. Die Verwerfung ist wahrscheinlich rechtsläufig.Die fünf Hauptverwerfungen, zusammen mit vier kleineren Verwerfungen, deren horizontaler Verschiebungssinn bekannt ist, bilden ein relativ einfaches Strukturmuster.Mit Ausnahme der Chaman-Verwerfung, die im E liegt, verlaufen die Verwerfungen oder ihre Ausläufer ausgehend von einem in der Dasht Lut-Senke gelegenen Zentrum in Gestalt einzelner Spiralen sternförmig nach allen Seiten; die in ihrem Verschiebungssinn rechtsläufigen im Uhrzeigersinn gebogen, die linksläufigen in Gegenrichtung gekrümmt. Die übrigen geologischen und morphologischen Hauptlinien zeigen ebenfalls eine derartige Anordnung mit demselbenZentrum. Das damit gegebene Strukturmuster läßt die Einwirkung einer zentralen Kraft vermuten. Aus dem Zusammenhang zwischen horizontalem Verschiebungssinn und der Richtung der einzelnen Spiralen ist zu schließen, daß sich die westlich der Chaman-Verwerfung liegenden Krustenblöcke in Richtung auf das Lut-Zentrum bewegten.Derartige Verwerfungssysteme sternförmig-spiraler Anordnung scheinen kritische Punkte im heutigen tektonischen Bild der Erde zu sein, wobei das Westende der Poebene und die Banda-See zwei der auffallendsten Zentren sind. Ebenso verlaufen die pazifischen Inselbögen in Spiralen, die sich gleichfalls in solchen Zentren treffen könnten.

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Résumé Une carte des failles actives de la Perse, de l'Afghanistan, et de la Pakistan a été dressée d'après des photos-aériennes et des photos-mosaïques. Les ruptures des filets et des rivières montrent que le rejet net est presque horizontal. Cinq failles sont dextrales, et quatre sont sinistrales. Des lignes qui montrent la direction de la maximum contraction horizontale, déterminée par les failles, encerclent la Dasht Lut dépression dans la Perse orientale.