Observations of OCS and a search for OC3S in the interstellar medium

Observations of OCS and a search for OC3S are reported, with particular reference to cold dust clouds. OCS has been detected for the first time in dark clouds with a mean fractional abundance relative to hydrogen of approximately 3 x 10(-9); this is approximately 4 times greater than that observed for giant molecular clouds. This results is discussed in the context of molecule formation mechanisms. Observations of the J = 1 --> 0 transition of OCS indicate that this transition is amplifying the background continuum radiation in the direction of Sgr B2.     

Dry deposition of reactive nitrogen to marine environments: recent advances and remaining uncertainties

Many highly productive marine ecosystems exhibit nitrogen limitation or co-limitation. This article is a status review of research into the exchange of nitrogen between the atmosphere and these ecosystems with a particular focus on reactive nitrogen compounds. A summary of research conducted over the past ten years is presented and a perspective given as to remaining uncertainities and research needs. Looking toward development of coastal management modeling tools, we illustrate the processes that need to be resolved in order to accurately simulate the flux from the atmosphere and provide guidance on the required resolution of such models.     

Lead in the southern East China Sea

At present, in most oceans the lead (Pb) biogeochemical cycling has been disturbed by anthropogenic Pb through atmospheric input. The Pb concentrations in the upper water positively correlate with atmospheric input fluxes of Pb. The North Pacific is affected greatly by atmospheric substances via long-range transport from eastern Asia, especially from Mainland China. Mainland China may export considerable amounts of pollutants into the seas via rivers and the atmosphere owing to its recent fast growth in industry and economy. The East China Sea lies in an important geographical position--a transit between Mainland China and the western North Pacific. However, no data are available for seawater concentrations of Pb, a representative element with anthropogenic origin. In this work seawater samples from both 5 and 30-50 m water layers of 15 stations occupied over a cyclonic eddy in the southern East China Sea were analyzed for particulate Pb (PPb) and dissolved Pb (DPb). The Mean concentration of DPb (approximately 128 ng/l) in the southern East China Sea upper waters (< or = 50 m) is approximately several times higher than those in the Pacific; the high DPb concentrations in the southern East China Sea waters correspond to much higher atmospheric supplies of Pb to the East China Sea. Thus, this study partly fills the 'data gap' of the marginal seas. Also, it indicates that the East China Sea may be considerably contaminated by deposited polluted aerosols. Spatial distributions of DPb in the surface water show a tendency of increasing concentrations with distance offshore, that depends on the magnitudes of atmospheric Pb inputs and on particle scavenging processes. In contrast to DPb, spatial distributions of PPb basically display an 'omega'-like picture and a tendency of decreasing concentrations with distance offshore. These are related to riverine and scavenging sources and to the drive by the eddy. Additionally, the residence times of DPb in the surface water were estimated to be about 2 years, agreeing well with the reported data.     

Exposure to hydrocarbons 10 years after the Exxon Valdez oil spill: evidence from cytochrome P4501A expression and biliary FACs in nearshore demersal fishes

Three biomarkers of hydrocarbon exposure, CYP1A in liver vascular endothelium, liver ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD), and biliary fluorescent aromatic compounds (FACs), were examined in the nearshore fishes, masked greenling (Hexagrammos octogrammus) and crescent gunnel (Pholis laeta), collected in Prince William Sound, Alaska, 7-10 years after the Exxon Valdez oil spill (EVOS). All biomarkers were elevated in fish collected from sites originally oiled, in comparison to fish from unoiled sites. In 1998, endothelial CYP1A in masked greenling from sites that were heavily oiled in 1989 was significantly higher than in fish collected outside the spill trajectory. In 1999, fishes collected from sites adjacent to intertidal mussel beds containing lingering Exxon Valdez oil had elevated endothelial CYP1A and EROD, and high concentrations of biliary FACs. Fishes from sites near unoiled mussel beds, but within the original spill trajectory, also showed evidence of hydrocarbon exposure, although there were no correlations between sediment petroleum hydrocarbon and any of the biomarkers. Our data show that 10 years after the spill, nearshore fishes within the original spill zone were still exposed to residual EVOS hydrocarbons.     

B[a]P-DNA binding in early life-stages of Atlantic tomcod: population differences and chromium modulation

Atlantic tomcod (Microgadus tomcod) from the Hudson River (HR) are resistant at the molecular and organismic levels to the effects of exposure to dioxin-like aromatic hydrocarbon (AH) compounds, but much less so to benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P). The aims of this study were to determine in early life-stages of tomcod exposed to B[a]P: (1) if DNA binding levels differed between fish from the HR and Miramichi River (MR), and (2) if co-exposure to chromium could modulate this genotoxic effect. After exposure to [(3)H]B[a]P alone, DNA-bound radioactivity was 5-10-fold higher in embryos and larvae of MR than HR descent. Co-exposure to chromium modulated DNA binding levels in offspring of both populations. In MR embryos, co-exposure to chromium inhibited B[a]P uptake. These results demonstrated resistance to the genotoxic effects of B[a]P in early life stages of HR tomcod at an ecologically important endpoint and suggest the ability of chromium to modulate AH-induced genotoxicity.     

Post-fire primary production and plant community dynamics in chaparral stands exposed to varying levels of nitrogen deposition

High levels of atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition to southern California chaparral shrublands may interact with fire to affect biomass production and plant species composition during secondary succession. To determine the potential interactions between post fire recovery and N deposition we compared rates of aboveground net primary production (ANPP), shrub growth, and the relative abundance of Adenostoma fasciculatum, other sub-dominant shrubs, and herbaceous species of three chaparral stands exposed to different levels of atmospheric N deposition over the first 3 years of post-fire succession. Our data suggest that rates of ANPP (gdw m(-2) month(-1)) and aboveground N storage (gN m(-2) month(-1)) for these chaparral stands were not related to N deposition even though sites exposed to high levels of N deposition had significantly higher rates of shrub growth (gdw plant(-1) month(-1)) and N uptake (gN plant(-1) month(-1)). However, high-N stands were composed of larger shrubs with a lower density, and this trade-off between shrub size and density may explain the low correlation between N deposition and post-fire ANPP. Differences in relative plant species abundance between sites were significantly correlated with N deposition exposure, where stands exposed to high N deposition had a lower relative abundance of A. fasciculatum and a higher relative abundance of other shrub and herbaceous species. While many factors can affect rates and patterns of post-fire recovery, these results suggest that chronic exposure to N deposition may significantly alter plant growth and species composition in successional chaparral stands.     

水与铝硅酸盐岩浆之间的相互作用

本文提出了各种干的和含水铝硅酸盐玻璃的＾２０Ｓｉ、＾２７Ａｌ和＾２３Ｎａ的核磁共振（ＮＭＲ）资料。对＾２９Ｓｉ和＾２７Ａｌ进行的光谱分析表明，干的和含水玻璃间只有微小的差异，但对＾２３Ｎａ的光谱却观察到明显的变化。正如我们早期对含水钠长石玻璃进行研究时所发现的一亲，数据与水溶解机理的模型是一致的，从该水溶解机理看，Ｔ－Ｏ－Ｔ键未发生破裂。对根据其它研究所获得的粘度、相平衡和振动谱学数据也进行了讨论