Reproductive characteristics and steroid levels in the scleractinian coral Oculina patagonica inhabiting contaminated sites along the Israeli Mediterranean coast

In this study we compared reproductive characteristics and steroid hormone levels in the non-indigenous scleractinian coral, Oculina patagonica, inhabiting contaminated vs. uncontaminated reference sites along the Israeli Mediterranean coast. Our results indicate significantly higher steroid levels in both seawater and coral tissue samples from contaminated sites as compared to reference sites, suggesting that corals tend to accumulate steroids from the surrounding waters. Despite their higher steroid levels, corals from the contaminated sites showed reproductive potential comparable to those of the reference sites. Interestingly, a clear distinction could be seen between corals exposed to pollution for long vs. short durations, with the latter showing a failure to complete gametogenesis. This suggests that reproduction in O. patagonica is susceptible to acute rather than chronic stress. The involvement of adjustment/adaptation processes may explain this species tolerance, and may reflect the ability of O. patagonica to successfully invade new areas in the Mediterranean Sea.     

可用于地震早期预警的家用地震仪

日本气象厅(JMA)已开始推出一项地震早期预警(EEW)的实际服务,预计在不久的未来,将非常密集地布设安装信号接收装置。地震早期预警的接收/预警装置配有中央处理器和内存,并通过互联网进行连接。再加上一个便宜的地震仪和模数(A/D)转换器,该装置就变成了一个实时的地震观测系统,我们称之为家用地震仪(Home Seismometer)。如果这种家用地震仪与地震早期预警的标准接收装置相连接,那么地震观测系统的数量就会极大地增多。在房间里,由人的活动所引起的背景噪声可能非常大,为此我们专门编写了软件,从而能够使用该家用地震仪进行现场预警。我们对软件做了检验,发现该软件能够准确地将噪声和地震分辨开来,并适用于几乎所有的地震事件。     

离子交换树脂在地质样品Sr-Nd同位素测定中的应用

Rb-Sr和Sm-Nd同位素测年及同位素示踪方法在同位素地质年代学和同位素地球化学中有非常广泛的应用。目前,Rb-Sr和Sm-Nd同位素质谱测试方法通常需要对Rb、Sr和Sm、Nd进行分离纯化,因此,如何对地质样品中的Rb、Sr、Sm和Nd进行分离富集对测试结果准确与否起到至关重要的作用。离子交换分离法是SrNd同位素化学前处理阶段应用最广泛的分离方法,本文结合笔者近几年的研究工作,系统介绍离子交换树脂在Sr-Nd同位素测试中应用的发展过程和现状,重点介绍几类使用率较高的离子交换树脂(Dowex50W树脂、AG50W树脂、锶特效树脂、LN树脂、P507树脂等)的优缺点,以及各自的萃取反应机理,探索和讨论未来离子交换树脂在Sr-Nd同位素测试中应用的发展趋势。     

Concentrations of 137Cs, 90Sr, 108m Ag, 239+240 Pu and atom ratio of 240Pu/239Pu in tanner crabs, Chionoecetes japonicus and Chionoecetes opilio collected around Japan

The anthropogenic radionuclides, ¹³⁷Cs, ⁹⁰Sr, ^108mAg, ^239+240Pu, were measured in two Chionoecetes species, red queen crab (Chionoecetes japonicus) and snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) collected around Japan during 1996–2007. There was no increase in the concentrations of these radionuclides and no large variation of the atom ratio of ²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu during this research period. These results indicated that the source of the radionuclides was not the radioactive wastes dumped by the former USSR and Russia and originated from past nuclear weapon tests. The higher atom ratio in the crab species than that from global fallout would be contributed by the Pacific Proving Grounds close-in fallout. The variability of the concentration of radionuclides in the crab species would result from the variability of the composition and quantity in the diet. However, the decrease in the concentration of radionuclides with sampling depth would depend on the concentration in the seawater and diet.     

利用H/V谱比法辨识场址非线性反应(英文)

The horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio has become popular in studies of the site effect and the determination of the predominant period of a site.     

2009年日本骏河湾地震后东海俯冲带上应力转移之探讨

日本西南部位于菲律宾海俯冲板块和欧亚上冲板块交界处。1944年和1946年,东南海和南海分别发生一次8级大逆冲型地震,但与该板块边界相邻的东海却仍保持闭锁状态[1]。因此,东海地区有可能会发生一次大逆冲型地震。2009年,骏河湾发生6.4级地震,地震位于菲律宾海俯冲板块内,靠近东海地区。在此,我们利用断层滑动模型来研究由骏河湾地震引起的应力变化[2]对东海地区的影响。我们发现在这次地震之后,板块边界的地震活动发生率有所上升。东海地区推测的强闭锁地段大都位于应力逐渐增大的地区。其中一小块闭锁地段的破裂——发生在地震应力达到临界值之后——就会引起整个东海地区的破裂,最终引发一场大逆冲型地震。     

用激光烧蚀多接收器等离子体质谱仪(LA-MC-ICPMS)测定锆石U-Pb同位素年龄的研究

天津地质矿产研究所同位素实验室新近安装了一套激光烧蚀多接收器电感耦合等离子体质谱仪(LA.MC.ICPMS)系统.该套系统的多接收器电感耦合等离子体质谱仪为Thenno Fisher公司制造的Neptune,其离子光学通路采用能量聚焦和质量聚焦的双聚焦设计,并采用动态变焦(ZOOM)使质量色散达到17%;仪器配有9个法拉第杯接收器和4个离子计数器接收器,除了中心杯和离子计数器外,其余8个法拉第杯配置在中心杯的两侧,并以马达驱动进行精确的位置调节,4个离子计数器捆绑在L4法拉第杯上.     

Statistical moment-based structural damage detection method in time domain

A novel structural damage detection method with a new damage index,i.e.,the statistical moment-based damage detection(SMBDD) method in the frequency domain,has been recently proposed.The aim of this study is to extend the SMBDD method in the frequency domain to the time domain for building structures subjected to non-Gaussian and non-stationary excitations.The applicability and effectiveness of the SMBDD method in the time domainis verified both numerically and experimentally.Shear buildings with various damage scenarios are first numerically investigated in the time domain taking into account the effect of measurement noise.The applicability of the proposed method in the time domain to building structures subjected to non-Gaussian and non-stationary excitations is then experimentally investigated through a series of shaking table tests,in which two three-story shear building models with four damage scenarios aretested.The identified damage locations and severities are then compared with the preset values.The comparative results are found to be satisfactory,and the SMBDD method is shown to be feasible and effective for building structures subjected to non-Gaussian and non-stationary excitations.     

Induction of tributyltin-binding protein type 2 in Japanese flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus, by exposure to tributyltin-d27

In this study, individual Japanese flounder were intraperitoneally injected with 2 μg tributyltin-d27 (TBT-d27) fish⁻¹. Blood samples were collected on day 7 after injection. TBT-binding protein types 1 and 2 (TBT-bp1, -bp2) in the blood serum were quantified by western blotting analysis. As a result, the concentration of TBT-bp2 in TBT-d27 treated group increased to 220% of that in the solvent control, whereas the TBT-bp1 concentration decreased to 65% of that in the solvent control. Additionally, a positive relationship between the concentrations of TBT-bp2 and TBT was observed in blood sera of wild and cultured flounder. We suggest that TBT-bp2 is produced in response to TBT exposure and may play an important role in fish physiology.