Effects of 17beta-estradiol on the reproduction of Java-medaka (Oryzias javanicus), a new test fish species

17β-estradiol (E2) is a female hormone which is known to be one of the strongest estrogenic chemicals in the environment. The present study investigated the effects of E2 on the reproduction of the estuarine fish, Java-medaka (Oryzias javanicus). Starting from the embryonic stages, Java-medaka was exposed for 6 months to 9.5, 16, 68, 159 and 243 ng/l of E2. The fecundity of Java-medaka exposed to E2 levels >16 ng/l was significantly lower than that of the control. The appearance of secondary sexual characteristics seemed to be inhibited by exposure to 159 and 243 ng/l E2. Vitellogenin concentrations in the liver of male fish exposed to 68, 159 and 243 ng/l were significantly higher than that of the control. Thirty-three and sixty percent of male fishes exposed to 159 and 243 ng/l, respectively, had testis-ova. These results suggest that reproduction in the Java-medaka, especially the male fish, could be affected by exposure to E2 concentrations greater than 16 ng/l.     

Small-Amplitude Disturbances In A Radiating And Scattering Grey Medium Ii. Solutions Of Given Real Wave Number <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">k</Emphasis>

We study the fundamental modes of radiation hydrodynamic waves arising from one-dimensional small-amplitude initial fluctuations with wave number k in a radiating and scattering grey medium using the Eddington approximation. The dispersion relation analyzed is the same as that of Paper I (Kaneko et al., 2000), but is solved as a quintic in angular frequency ω while a quadratic in k ² in Paper I. Numerical results reveal that wave patterns of five solutions are distinguished into three types of the radiation-dominated and type 1 and type 2 matter-dominated cases. The following wave modes appear in our problem: radiation wave, conservative radiation wave, entropy wave, Newtonian-cooling wave, opacity-damped and cooling-damped waves, constant-volume and constant-pressure diffusion modes, adiabatic sound wave, cooling-damped and drag–force-damped isothermal sound waves, isentropic radiation-acoustic wave, and gap mode. The radiation-dominated case is characterized by the gap between the isothermal sound and isentropic radiation-acoustic speeds within which there is not any acoustic wave propagating with real phase speed. One of the differences between type 1 and type 2 matter-dominated cases is the connectivity of the constant-volume diffusion mode, which originates from the radiative mode in the former case, while from the Newtonian-cooling wave in the latter case. Analytic solutions are derived for all wave modes to discuss their physical significance. The criterion, which distinguishes between radiation-dominated and type 1 matter-dominated cases, is given by Γ₀ = 9, where Γ₀ = C _p ^(tot)/C _V ^(tot) is the ratio of total specific heats at constant pressure and constant volume. Waves in a scattering grey medium are also analyzed, which provides us some hints for the effects of energy and momentum exchange between matter and radiation.     

1992 compilation of analytical data for rare-earth elements, scandium, yttrium, zirconium and hafnium in twenty-six GSJ reference samples

Abstract: Analytical data for fourteen rare-earth elements, scandium, yttrium, zirconium and hafnium, received by May 1992, have been compiled on twenty-six GSJ (Geological Survey of Japan) reference samples. Seventeen of them are 'Igneous rock series' and nine are "Sedimentary rock series". The reported data including personal communication were evaluated under the consideration on analytical methods and geochemical evidences. No significant difference has been observed between the values obtained by the different analytical methods. Based on the selected available data, 1992 compilation values were tabulated.     

ESR dating of quaternary tephra from Mt. Osore-zan using Al and Ti centres in quartz

Quaternary tephra of Mt. Osore-zan was dated by electron spin resonance. Quartz grains were separated from the tephra and ESR signals of Al and Ti centres were measured at 77 K. The signals of Al and Ti centres which have a complicated hyperfine structure were simplified by using wider field modulations width (5 gauss) than usually used (0.5–1 gauss). The influence of 5 gauss modulation width on the measurement of the signal intensity of Al and Ti centres was investigated. The intensity of the signal increases linearly with gamma irradiation and total doses obtained were 178 to 273 Gy and ESR ages were 0.19 to 0.32 Ma. These ages agree with the estimated age of about 0.3 Ma from the correlation of volcanic ash and terrace level.     

Nd and Sr isotopic variations in acidic rocks from Japan: significance of upper-mantle heterogeneity

Initial Nd and Sr isotopic ratios have been measured for Cretaceous acidic and related intermediate rocks (24 volcanic and two plutonic rocks) from the Inner Zone of Southwest Japan (IZSWJ) to investigate the genesis of acidic magmas. The initial Nd and Sr isotopic ratios for these rocks show three interesting features: (1) _Nd values for acidic rocks (+2 to –9) are negatively correlated with _Sr values (+10 to +90) together with those for intermediate rocks ( _Nd=+3 to -8; _Sr=0 to +65). (2) The _Nd values for silica rich rocks (>60% SiO₂) correlate with the longitude of the sample locality, decreasing from west to east in a stepwise fashion: Four areas characterized by uniform _Nd values are discriminated. (3) Low silica rocks (<60% SiO₂) in a certain area have distinctly different _Nd values from those of the high silica rocks in the same area.These results as well as those deduced from the additional samples collected, for comparison, from other provinces in Japan suggest that the acidic rocks can be formed neither by fractional crystallization processes from more basic magmas nor by crustal assimilation processes. The isotopic variations of the acidic rocks may reflect regional isotopic heterogeneity in the lower crust, and this heterogeneity may ultimately be attributed to the regional heterogeneity of the uppermost-mantle beneath the Japanese Islands.     

Fine structures of mutually normalized rare-earth patterns of chondrites

REE abundances in ten chondrites (nine falls and one find) were determined very accurately by mass-spectrometric stable isotope dilution techniques. All of the chondrites have different relative and absolute REE patterns. Except for Eu and, rarely, for Ce, the REE abundances in chondrites are smoothly fractionated from sample to sample. Notwithstanding differences in the abundances of common REE, four of five L6 chondrites have very similar absolute Eu abundances; their mutually-normalized REE patterns are not curved, but are composed of two rectilinear segments.The Leedey-normalized REE pattern for St. Séverin (LL6) is composed of two concave curves. Yonozu's (H4,5) pattern shows negligibly concave curvature on both sides of Eu. Kesen's (H4) pattern is unusual in its overall pattern but also in irregularities for particular elements. The irregularity may be connected with the unusually high vapor pressure of metallic Yb. The REE pattern for the Allende bulk sample shows a discontinuity, presumably reflecting its considerable heterogeneity of composition and structure. It is evident that any pattern of ordinary chondrites cannot be produced from the Allende bulk pattern. A comparison is also made with the results on the chondrite composites previously investigated.     

1996 COMPILATION OF ANALYTICAL DATA ON NINE GSJ GEOCHEMICAL REFERENCE SAMPLES, "SEDIMENTARY ROCK SERIES"

Analytical data compiled on nine Geological Survey of Japan (GSJ) reference samples, "Sedimentary rock series" received by February 1996 are reported. After excluding outliers and examining critically the analytical procedures employed, the data were evaluated statistically. Recommended or preferable values for fifteen major and sixty minor and trace elements are proposed.     

Flood and alluviation caused by iron sand minings (kanna-nagashi) in the Chugoku mountains, southwestern Japan

The rapid development of the western Okayama plain between 1600 and 1900 was largely influenced by much supply of tailings derived from the iron sand mining in the upper reaches of the river Takahashi. This is evidenced by the high frequency of floods in this period and the high percentage of granitic materials including iron slag grains in the alluvial sediments.     

Shear instabilities in arrested salt-wedge flows

‘One-sidedness’ in arrested salt-wedge flows is investigated with theoretical models based upon two-layer approximations. These models include the effects of rigid bottom boundaries and the effects of density interface displacement with respect to the centre of the shear layer. The results indicate that inclusion of both interface displacement and rigid boundaries in the model greatly contribute to the ‘one-sidedness’ phenomenon and influence the wave characteristics, especially their stability criteria. Data from laboratory experiments agreed well with the results produced by these models.