Cytogenetic and cytotoxic effects in gill cells of the blue mussel Mytilus spp. from different zones of the Baltic Sea

Frequency of micronuclei (MN) and other nuclear abnormalities (nuclear buds, bi-nucleated and fragmented-apoptotic cells) was analysed in gill cells of the blue mussel (Mytilus spp.) from selected coastal sites in the Baltic Sea--Kv?d?fj?rden (Sweden), Klaipeda-Būtinge zone (Lithuania), Gulf of Gdansk (Poland) and Wismar Bay (Germany). Samples were collected from 650 specimens during bi-annual sampling campaigns in 2001 and 2002. The lowest frequency of MN (0.37 MN/1000 cells) was found in blue mussels from the reference site (Kv?d?fj?rden). The highest MN values (up to 6.7 MN/1000 cells) were registered in blue mussels from the Gulf of Gdansk in autumn 2001 and 2002, and at Wismar Bay in spring 2001 (up to 5.06 MN/1000 cells). Gradients of MN incidences were observed when comparing the three studied locations in Wismar Bay, and at the Lithuanian coast before the crude oil spill in the Būtinge oil terminal. Moreover, significant seasonal and inter-location differences in the responses were documented (P<0.0001). Nuclear abnormalities were observed most frequently in blue mussels from the Gulf of Gdansk.     

Contamination of Caribbean coastal waters by the antifouling herbicide Irgarol 1051

Irgarol 1051 is a s-triazine herbicide used in popular slime-resistant antifouling paints. It has been shown to be acutely toxic to corals, mangroves and sea grasses, inhibiting photosynthesis at low concentrations (>50 ng l(-1)). We present the first data describing the occurrence of Irgarol 1051 in coastal waters of the Northeastern Caribbean (Puerto Rico (PR) and the US Virgin Islands (USVI)). Low level contamination of coastal waters by Irgarol 1051 is reported, the herbicide being present in 85% of the 31 sites sampled. It was not detected in water from two oceanic reference sites. In general, Irgarol 1051was present at concentrations below 100 ng l(-1), although far higher concentrations were reported at three locations within Benner Bay, USVI (223-1,300 ng l(-1)). The known toxicity of Irgarol 1051 to corals and sea grasses and our findings of significant contamination of the Northeastern Caribbean marine environment by this herbicide underscore the importance of understanding, more fully, local and regional exposure of reef and sea grass habitats to Irgarol 1051 and, where necessary, implementing actions to ensure adequate protection of these important ecosystems.     

Exposure of inner-shelf reefs to nutrient enriched runoff entering the Great Barrier Reef Lagoon: post-European changes and the design of water quality targets

We used historical flood plume extent data (modelled) to quantify the typical spatial extent of the summer runoff-seawater mixing zone of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) lagoon. Spatially explicit analysis of the variability of in situ chlorophyll a concentrations (observed) across the runoff-seawater mixing zone, then allowed us to explore regional differences in the nutrient enrichment impact of runoff events from the various river systems that drain the GBR catchment. We demonstrate the existence of a discernable north-south gradient along the length of the GBR, such that for equivalent runoff:seawater dilutions ratios, lower levels of nutrient enrichment (as indicated by chlorophyll alpha observations) result from the river systems that drain the relatively undisturbed northern areas of the GBR catchment, compared to more human-impacted central and south areas. We identify a strong correlation between this north-south enrichment gradient and the flood concentration of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) entrained by the various river systems. By substituting the nutrient enrichment characteristics of the human-impacted river discharges with those of the undisturbed northern rivers, we provide a means to compare the short-term enriching 'footprint' for existing runoff intrusions with those that are likely to have occurred under pre-European catchment conditions. We demonstrate that under pre-European conditions, the nutrient enriching impact from river runoff was likely to have been largely constrained within 1-2 km of the coast, whereas existing conditions support the impact of reefs some 20-30 km off the coast. By using the developed spatial relations, we show that for the heavily human-impacted river systems, reductions in the end-of-river concentrations of DIN in the order 50-80% are needed in order to restore parity with pre-European conditions. We discuss these results in regard to developing end-of-catchment water quality targets for the region.     

中南半岛与南海热力差异对南海季风爆发的影响

利用1958-1998年NCEP/NCAR再分析资料和1975-1998年OLR资料,分析了中南半岛与南海热力差异的季节和年际变化特征,以及这种热力差异对南海季风爆发的影响.结果表明,中南半岛与南海热力差异存在明显的季节变化,从第3候歼始,感热加热的作用使中南半岛地表温度高于南海并一直持续到第25候,之后,中南半岛与南海热力差异发生逆转,这种逆转是由于第22-23候出现在中南半岛的对流及降水造成中南半岛地表温度降低所致.进一步研究指出,中南半岛与南海热力差异的上述季节变化特征还表现出最著的年际差异,这种年际差异对南海季风的爆发有着重要影响.首先,上述热力差异的逆转是南海季风爆发的一个必要条件:1958-1998年,逆转时间均早于(或等于)南海季风爆发时间;其次,中南半岛地表温度高于南海的持续时间与南海季风爆发日期之间呈显著正相关,即中南半岛地表温度高于南海的时间越早、转为低于南海的时间越迟,则南海季风爆发越迟.     

2009年黑龙江省主要粮食产区春播农情及气象服务调查

调研采取气象专家与地方气象局领导、农气人员、农业专家、农户面对面访谈的方式,并亲自到田间地头查看,结合当地农委的第一手材料,了解当前粮食主产区的春播开展情况、作物品种分布、土壤墒情、气象为农民服务的方式、满意度.通过调查找准今后气象服务的切入点,达到气象更好的服务于"三农".     

异常冷冬的短期气候预测方法探讨

本文通过对四川省广安市近50年冬季气候资料的聚类分析,研究冷冬气候的演变规律;结合太阳黑子活动资料、夏季极端异常气候事件分析,发现广安市异常冷冬年的发生发展和一月太阳黑子活动存在着密切的相关关系,与本市盛夏期间极端气候事件有明显的周期性对应关系;从而探索得出对异常冷冬年的短期气候预测方法,为准确预测冷冬,特别是预测异常冷冬将发挥重要的作用。     

使用NexION 300 ICP-MS按照加利福尼亚州65号法案测定钙制酸剂和膳食补充剂中的铅

美国药典(USP)提议的通用章节USP 232将替代原来的USP 231。在食品和膳食补充剂中使用的有效药物原料不可避免地包含许多元素,因此现代检测实验室已开始使用各种手段应对不断增加的食品和膳食补充剂产品中元素的检测需要。电感耦合等离子体质谱仪(ICP-MS)能够分析元素周期表中绝大多数的元素,而且检测浓度范围为μg/g~mg/g,这样的检测浓度范围表明在一次分析中可以对痕量污染物和重要的营养元素同时进行测定,因此是满足以上需求的理想选择。ICP-MS只能分析液体样品,因此在分析固体样品前首先要对样品进行消解,这就增加了分析时间,同时还存在污染的可能。而微波消解是对ICP-MS的完美补充,它     

Dust growth in protoplanetary disks - a comprehensive experimental / theoretical approach

More than a decade of dedicated experimental work on the collisional physics of protoplanetary dust has brought us to a point at which the growth of dust aggregates can-for the first time-be self-consistently and reliably modeled. In this article, the emergent collision model for protoplanetery dust aggregates, as well as the numerical model for the evolution of dust aggregates in protoplanetary disks, is reviewed. It turns out that, after a brief period of rapid collisional growth of fluffy dust aggregates...