Emergent effects of heavy metal pollution at a population level: Littorina brevicula a study case

Changes in genetic variability and allele frequency can be responses from natural populations when encountering a novel contaminated environment. The genetic diversity and population structuring of natural populations of the gastropod Littorina brevicula from heavy-metal polluted and unpolluted environments along the southeast coast of Korea were examined using two mtDNA markers, cyt b and ND6. This study applied a nested clade analysis to test the existence of structuring association of haplotype distribution with environments (polluted and unpolluted). No genetic differences within cyt b mtDNA were detected between environments. On the other hand, differences in population haplotype diversity and structuring were found within ND6 mtDNA between polluted and unpolluted environments. The ND6-mtDNA haplotype (=genetic) diversity was significant lower in polluted environments. This decreased genetic diversity along with differences in the haplotype distribution within heavy-metal polluted environments compared to those unpolluted ones stand out as emergent effects from pollution at a population level. In this study, we propose the use of different approaches, such as the NCA, that takes into account the rare haplotypes, when assessing the effects of pollution on population genetic structuring.     

Biomarker responses in caged rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli) from Masan Bay and Haegeumgang, South Korea

The purpose of this study was to compare enzymatic biomarker activities in fish caged at two sites, Masan Bay (contaminated) and Haeguemgang (reference). In the present study, ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD), brain acetyl cholinesterase (bAChE), muscle acetyl cholinesterase (mAChE) and butyryl cholinesterase (mBChE) in caged rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli) were measured 0, 1, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 30 days after caging. The level of CYP1A mRNA and Protein expression was induced higher in Masan Bay at 1, 3, 7, 14 and 30 days after caging. EROD activity in the caged fish was significantly higher in Masan Bay than in Haeguemgang 3 and 7 days after caging, but not at 14 and 30 days after caging. bAChE activity was significantly inhibited at 7 and 14 days after caging in Masan Bay. However, mBChE activity was not significantly inhibited during the experiment. Taken together, the data suggest that the caged fish were exposed, at least transiently, to CYP1A inducers and ChE inhibitors, which is consistent with our previous observations.     

用离散单元法评价采煤巷道地面建筑适宜性

根据建筑物下部采煤巷道的断面尺寸、位置及埋深等地质条件,针对地面拟建建筑物的特点,分别应用二维及三维离散单元方法,对工程场地的地面变形进行了定量评价,得出了地面建筑物在巷道影响下的水平位移量及竖向位移量。结果分析认为,地下巷道的存在不会对上部建筑物造成威胁,仅会产生微小沉降变形。同时提出了一些工程安全措施,为工程建设的顺利实施提供了必要依据。      

亚洲最大规模的3维勘探

亚洲最大规模的３维勘探Ｇｅｃｏ－ｐｒａｋｌａ去年１２月５日宣称，他们已获得了菲律宾近海巴拉望盆地３５００ｋｍ２的３维地震项目，这将是目前亚洲最大规模的３维地震规划。澳大利亚的ＳＯＣＤＥＴ和菲律宾的Ｐｈｉｌｏｄｒｉｌｌ钻井公司与Ｇｅｃｏ－ｐｒａｋｌａ签...