An in vitro procedure for evaluation of early stage oxidative stress in an established fish cell line applied to investigation of PHAH and pesticide toxicity

Oxidative stress by increased production of reactive oxygen species such as superoxide has been implicated in the toxicity of PCB's and non-target toxicity of many pesticides. We report the development of a microplate-based method for determination of early stage oxidative stress using an established cell line (EPC) from a skin tumour of carp Cyprinus carpio L. and 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (H(2)-DCFDA) as a fluorescent probe for detection of reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. Sublethal concentrations of the herbicide Paraquat, an established redox cycling agent and a crude PCB mixture, Arochlor 1254 elicited a linear increase in ROS formation over 2 h exposure which was some 45- and 10-fold higher, respectively, than attributable to basal respiration, confirming the suitability and response of the test system. Whilst in vivo studies in mammals have implicated early stage oxidative stress in the toxicity of pesticides, we did not observe an increase in ROS production after exposure of EPC cells to sublethal concentrations of Carbaryl, 2,4-DDT, Lindane or Malathion implying that this is not the causative mechanism of acute toxicity in this fish cell line. The apparent involvement of oxidative stress in their mammalian toxicity may therefore be an indirect effect or dependent upon compound metabolism.     

Using Large-Eddy Simulations to Define Spectral and Coherence Characteristics of the Hurricane Boundary Layer for Wind-Energy Applications

Offshore wind-energy development is planned for regions where hurricanes commonly occur, such as the USA Atlantic Coast. Even the most robust wind-turbine design (IEC Class I) may be unable to withstand a Category-2 hurricane (hub-height wind speeds >50 m s\(^{-1}\)). Characteristics of the hurricane boundary layer that affect the structural integrity of turbines, especially in major hurricanes, are poorly understood, primarily due to a lack of adequate observations that span typical turbine heights (<200 m above sea level). To provide these data, we use large-eddy simulations to produce wind profiles of an idealized Category-5 hurricane at high spatial (10 m) and temporal (0.1 s) resolution. By comparison with unique flight-level observations from a field project, we find that a relatively simple configuration of the Cloud Model I model accurately represents the properties of Hurricane Isabel (2003) in terms of mean wind speeds, wind-speed variances, and power spectra. Comparisons of power spectra and coherence curves derived from our hurricane simulations to those used in current turbine design standards suggest that adjustments to these standards may be needed to capture characteristics of turbulence seen within the simulated hurricane boundary layer. To enable improved design standards for wind turbines to withstand hurricanes, we suggest modifications to account for shifts in peak power to higher frequencies and greater spectral coherence at large separations.     

China’s metropolises in transformation: neoliberalizing politics,land commodification,and uneven development in Beijing

ABSTRACT

Existing theory of urban transformation under neoliberalization describes cities as the institutional arena in and through which neoliberal strategies of urbanism emanate and are contested. Emphasis is placed on the interaction between state and market without paying adequate attention to their internal dynamics. This study of urban transformation in the Beijing metropolis identifies a distinct trajectory whereby commodification of urban land has been actively pursued in response to the decentralization of developmental responsibilities and recentralization of tax revenue collection instituted by the central state. An urban development strategy is practiced whereby land commodification, city planning, and mega event hosting are integrated and mutually reinforcing. The research shows a pattern of land commodification and development dominated by newly developed construction land in the near suburbs, and reveals a picture of increased spatial inequality and intensified social discontent as a consequence of city-centered land development. Contrary to popular perception of the state and market as diametrically opposed principles of political organization, the Chinese state is found to have transformed and reshuffled itself to embrace and take advantage of the market for its developmental agenda.     

Molecular iodine reduction by natural and model organic substances in seawater

The reactivity of 2 µM molecular iodine in seawater toward various organic compounds containing aromatic, -keto, amino, olefinic and sugar functional groups was investigated. More detailed studies have been made of the reduction kinetics with salicylic acid, -ketoglutaric acid and the polypeptide oxidized glutathione, particularly to establish whether variation over the pH range 4–9 would provide a similar reduction reactivity or fingerprint to that of molecular iodine added to natural seawater. The data indicates that compounds with only one functional group react with first order kinetics whereas compounds with multiple functional groups show more complex behaviour. Kinetic and thermodynamic modelling indicates that HOI is the main iodine species reacting with organic matter at seawater pH of 8.2. Based on the pH fingerprints, peptides and compounds containing carbonyl or -keto groups are the key reductants of molecular iodine added to seawater. These compounds form C-I and N-I bonds which can allow for a rich organic iodine chemistry in seawater. The model compound results are discussed in relation to oceanic processes.     

Experimental determination of HONO mass accommodation coefficients using two different techniques

The mass accommodation coefficient _HONO of gaseous nitrous acid on water surfaces has been determined in a cooperation between the Universities of Strasbourg and Bonn. The droplet train technique (Strasbourg) yielded 0.04<_HONO<0.09 for an estimated surface temperature of 245 K, while the liquid jet technique (Bonn) yielded 0.03<_HONO<0.15 for a surface temperature of 297 K. The uncertainty ranges allow for experimental scatter and estimated uncertainties in diffusion coefficients. The same HONO source and analytical equipment were used for both experiments, which were run in parallel. The results indicate that the exchange rate of HONO between atmospheric water droplets and interstitial air is not inhibited by interfacial resistance.     

Determination of inorganic sulphur speciation with polarographic techniques: Some preliminary results for recent hypersaline anoxic sediments

Polarographic techniques have been used to determine reduced inorganic sulphur speciation in recent anoxic marine sediments from two hypersaline basins, the Tyro and the Bannock Basins, in the Eastern Mediterranean. The following phases were determined: acid volatile sulphur (AVS), pyritic sulphur and zerovalent sulphur. The determination of AVS and pyrite was based respectively on the acidification and Cr(II) reduction of these sulphur components to H₂S. H₂S was collected in base and the sulphide concentration was measured by polarography. Standard Na₂S and pyrite gave recoveries of 99.6% ± 3.9% and 97% ± 12% respectively. Total zerovalent sulphur in a sediment sample was measured by the reaction of sulphite with thiosulphate. Thiosulphate was measured directly by polarography.

Pyrite is the main phase of inorganic reduced sulphur in the sediments from the Tyro and the Bannock Basins, and it has about the same average level (125 υmoles per gramme dry weight) in the cores recovered from the two areas. However, the distribution of pyrite in the top 100 cm of the two cores differs significantly. In the Bannock Basin a sharp increase is observed with depth, whereas in the Tyro Basin there is a small decrease with depth.

The total amount of reduced inorganic sulphur is less than the total amount of sulphur in the sediments. This indicates that there must be additional sulphur-bearing phases. One of these phases may be gypsum, and indeed, gypsum crystals have been observed in the Bannock Basin.

In neither basin is there a significant correlation between reduced sulphur and organic carbon. The pyrite that occurs in these basins may have been formed syngenetically at the interface of the anoxic brine and oxic seawater. Diagenetic pyrite may have been formed within the sediments of the basins. AVS and total zerovalent sulphur are still observed at depth. We therefore suggest that this may be due to the incomplete transformation of AVS and zerovalent sulphur into pyrite.     

Is long-term change in the abyssal Northeast Atlantic driven by qualitative changes in export flux? Evidence from selective feeding in deep-sea holothurians

The Porcupine Abyssal Plain (NE Atlantic) time-series has shown large, wide-scale, changes in the composition of the benthic community at 4800 m depth (48°50′N, 16°30′W). The abundance of holothurians has increased significantly since 1996 and one species in particular, Amperima rosea, has increased in abundance by three orders of magnitude. Environmental forcing in the form of phytodetrital food supply to the benthos is believed to be driving these changes. Chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments were determined from the gut sediments of seven species of abyssal holothurian, sampled from the Porcupine Abyssal Plain during Autumn 2000 and Spring 2002. These two samples fell either side of the main phytoplankton bloom in the NE Atlantic, providing an opportunity for seasonal comparisons. Significant inter-species differences in pigment profiles were observed among the seven species. Seasonal differences were noted among four species sampled in both time periods. All seven species were collected from the same geographical area and depth. As algal pigments cannot be synthesised by the holothurians, they provide good biomarkers for the composition of the phytodetritus. Differences in pigments from gut sediment profiles are indicative of selective feeding among the holothurians. A. rosea had a gut profile dominated by the pigments zeaxanthin, chlorophyll a/echineone and β-carotene; these pigments were all present in significantly smaller quantities in the other species. The high quantities of these pigments are indicative of a diet rich in cyanobacteria. The gut sediments of A. rosea also lacked many chloropigments characteristic of other phytoplankton groups, which were observed in the guts of other holothurian species. Ovarian tissue for the five species taken in the pre-spring bloom 2002 sample were examined. All species showed similar carotenoid profiles, dominated by zeaxanthin, echinenone and β-carotene, all of which are important compounds for reproductive success in echinoderms. The differences in gut pigment profiles highlight the potential for several species of deposit-feeding holothurians to partition the same phytodetrital food source, possibly providing a mechanism for maintaining the high diversity of deposit feeders at abyssal depths. The dominance of reproductively important carotenoids in the guts and gonads of A. rosea may highlight the ability of this species to rapidly utilise any change in the composition of the phytodetrital flux and translate that advantage into a successful reproductive and recruitment event. The results are discussed in relation to work on bathyal holothurians and the potential for food-driven regime shifts in both the abyssal and bathyal Northeast Atlantic.     

不透明矿物之光性在偏光中所受接物镜旋转之影响

1940年M.N.Short在其Microscopic D termination of theOre Minerals一书(第二版)中会首先指出Van der veen andFarnham所创之矿物旋转色(rotation color)或偏光色(Polarizationcolor)表,并不尽合实用,因偏光色可因Nicols之装置,光源(弧     

Assessing water erosion in Mediterranean tree crops using GIS techniques and field measurements: the effect of climate change

In this work, a dynamic GIS modeling approach is presented that incorporates: a) geoinformatic techniques, b) 55-year historical meteorological data, and c) field measurements, in order to estimate soil erosion risk in intensively cultivated regions. The proposed GIS-based modeling approach includes the estimation of soil erosion rates due to surface water flow under current and future climate change scenarios A2 and B1 for the years 2030 and 2050. The soil erosion was estimated using the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE). The proposed soil erosion model was validated using field measurements at different sites of the study area. The results show that an extended part of the study area is under intense erosion with the mean annual loss to be 4.85 t/ha year⁻¹. Moreover, an increase in rainfall intensity, especially for scenario B1, can generate a significant increase (32.44 %) in soil loss for the year 2030 and a much more (50.77 %) for the year 2050 in comparison with the current conditions. Regarding the scenario A2, a slight decrease (1.85 %) in soil loss was observed for the year 2030, while for 2050 the results show an adequate increase (7.31 %) in comparison with the present. All these approaches were implemented at one of the most productive agricultural areas of Crete in Greece dominated by olive and citrus crops.

     

LPI-based approach for calibrating the severity of liquefaction-induced failures and for assessing the probability of liquefaction surface evidence

Liquefaction Potential Index (LPI) is used as an assessing tool of liquefaction susceptibility. Based on the existing correlation of the LPI values with the liquefaction potential of a site, liquefaction hazard maps have been compiled. The evaluation of liquefaction susceptibility of the soil layers that had been taken into account for the calculation of LPI value, on the existing classifications, was based on the “Chinese criteria”. However, Seed et al. [Seed, R.B., Cetin, K.O., Moss, R.E.S., Kammerer, A.M., Wu, J., Pestana, J.M., Riemer, M.F., Sancio, R.B., Bray, J.D., Kayen, R.E., Faris, A., 2003. Recent advances in soil liquefaction engineering: a unified and consistent framework. 26th annual ASCE L.A. Geotechnical Spring Seminar, Long Beach, California. 71 pp.] concluded that those criteria are conservative and proposed a modification of them.The basic aim of this paper is to examine the impact of these modifications to the existing LPI-based calibrations of severity scale of liquefaction-induced failures and to propose a new one if it is needed, using box–whisker plot method. The data set that was analyzed is compiled by borings with SPT from liquefied and non-liquefied sites in Taiwan, in Turkey and in Greece.Moreover, a LPI-based formula is proposed, as an outcome from the application of logistic regression analysis to the data set, which can be used for predicting the liquefaction surface occurrence. In addition, a discriminant function is suggested for classifying a site as liquefiable or not. In this approach, the LPI and the thickness of the non-liquefiable cap layer are taken into account as the classification parameters.