Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) predation on adult thick-billed murres (Uria lomvia) at Coats Island, Nunavut, Canada

Although the diet of walrus ( Odobenus rosmarus ) is considered varied, records of walrus consuming marine birds are rare in the published literature. In 2001 and 2002 we observed walrus foraging on adult thick-billed murres ( Uria lomvia ) at Coats Island in Nunavut, Canada. Approximately 46% of the attacks on murres were successful, and as many as 67 murres may have been killed in one day in August 2002. All soft parts of the murres were sucked out, with carcasses of only bones, feathers and skin left floating on the water. The extent to which predation on seabirds by walrus occurs across the eastern Arctic is unknown, but it could represent an important source of mortality for murres at some breeding colonies.     

Examining the aerosol indirect effect over China using an SO2 emission inventory

The relationship between SO₂ emissions and the effective particle radius of low-level water clouds (r_e) over China was investigated to determine anthropogenic effects on clouds. Sulfur dioxide emission values were obtained from a statistical inventory, and r_e origins were retrieved by satellite remote sensing on a 0.5° grid. Comparisons between annual mean SO₂ emissions and r_e showed generally decreasing r_e values, explained by the Twomey effect. The existence of the Twomey effect is supported by comparisons with simulated aerosol optical depths. Results further suggest that clouds over land show sensitivity to the Twomey effect as well as clouds over the ocean.     

Effect of train dynamics on seismic response of steel monorail bridges under moderate ground motion

This study is intended to investigate the seismic response of steel monorail bridges using three‐dimensional dynamic response analysis. We particularly consider monorail bridge–train interaction when subjected to ground motion that occurs with high probability. A monorail train car with two bogies with pneumatic tires for running, steering and stabilizing wheels is assumed to be represented sufficiently by a discrete rigid multi‐body system with 15 degrees of freedom (DOFs). Bridges are considered as an assemblage of beam elements with 6 DOFs at each node. Modal analysis is used for dynamic response analysis under moderate earthquakes. The seismic response of an advanced monorail bridge that adopts a simplified structural system and composite girders is investigated through comparison with seismic responses of a conventional bridge. The acceleration response of a monorail train is also calculated to investigate the effect of structural types of bridges on the train's dynamic response during earthquakes. Results show that the seismic responses of the advanced bridges are greater than those of the conventional monorail bridge because of the simplified structural system and increased girder weight that is attributable to composite girders of the advanced bridge. Moreover, the train on the advanced bridge shows greater dynamic response than that on the conventional bridge. Observations reveal that the dynamic monorail train system acts as a damper on the monorail bridge. That fact shows that the existing design, which considers a train as additional mass, yields a conservative result. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Shaking table tests on a high‐rise RC building model having torsional eccentricity in soft lower storeys

A series of shaking table tests on a 1:12‐scale model using scaled TaftN21E earthquake records were conducted to investigate the seismic performance of a 17‐storey high‐rise reinforced concrete structure with a high degree of torsional eccentricity and soft‐storey irregularities in the bottom two storeys. Based on the analysis of test results, the following conclusions were drawn: (1) the model responded mainly in the coupled mode of translation and torsion or in the torsional mode. Under severe table shaking, the flexible side underwent large inelastic deformation, and the predominant mode of the model changed from the coupled mode to the torsional mode, resulting in greatly increased torsional stiffness, thereby limiting damage in the flexible frame; (2) the shear force and deformation of the flexible side were governed by the torsional behaviour, whereas those of the stiff side were affected mainly by the overturning deformation. The lateral stiffness of the shear wall in the torsional mode was about four times that in the coupled mode because the warping deformation due to torsion counteracted the flexural deformation due to overturning moment in the torsional mode; and (3) the reversed cyclic overturning moments predicted by linear elastic dynamic analysis in the direction transverse to the table excitations contradicted unilateral overturning moments of the serviceability‐level test results, which showed a bias towards tension or compression in the columns. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Degradation of crude oil in a contaminated tidal flat area and the resilience of bacterial community

Crude oil spills, Hebei Spirit in South Korea, is considered as one of the worst environmental disasters of the region. Our understanding on activation of oil-degrading bacteria and resilience of microbial community in oil contaminated sites are limited due to scarcity of such event. In the present study, tidal flat sediment contaminated by the oil spill were investigated for duration of 13 months to identify temporal change in microbial community and functional genes responsible for PAH-degradation. The results showed predominance of previously known oil-degrading genera, such as Cycloclasticus, Alcanivorax, and Thalassolituus, displaying significant increase within first four months of the accident. The disturbance caused by the oil spill altered the microbial community and its functional structures, but they were almost restored to the original state after 13 months. Present study demonstrated high detoxification capacity of indigenous bacterial populations in the tidal flat sediments and its resilience of microbial community.     

Antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing potential of 3β-hydroxy-△5-steroidal congeners purified from the soft coral Dendronephthya putteri

The exploration and identification of antiproliferative phytochemicals have received increased attention in medicinal chemistry.In particular,research focused on the toxicology of marine natural products has increased in recent years.Terpenoids,among many secondary metabolites,have been demonstrated to act as effective anticancer agents.Soft corals,a group of marine invertebrates,produce a variety of terpenoids with biofunctional properties.The current study presents the extraction,purification,and identification of sterol congeners from the soft coral Dendronephthya putteri.The method involves 50%chloro form-methanol extraction,polar column fractionation,and analy sis through GC-MS~n.Do se-dependent antiproliferative activity was observed within the sterol-rich fraction(DPCMH 2-4),which consisted of3β-hydroxy-A5-steroidal congeners.This fraction inhibited the growth of HL-60 and MCF-7 cells with IC_(50) values of 25.27±1.43 and 22.81±0.15 μg/mL,respectively.Apoptotic body formation,DNA damage,cell cycle arrest,and apoptotic cell signaling pathway activation were also observed,reinforcing the dosedependent antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing activity of 3β-hydroxy-A5-steroidal congeners.To our knowledge,this is the first report of anticancer agent identification from the soft coral D.putteri.Based on the observations,these steroidal congeners are promising candidates for the development of anticancer drugs.     

The Interactive Effects of Elevated CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> and Ammonium Enrichment on the Physiological Performances of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccharina japonica</Emphasis> (Laminariales,Phaeophyta)

Environmental challenges such as ocean acidification and eutrophication influence the physiology of kelp species. We investigated their interactive effects on Saccharina japonica (Laminariales, Phaeophyta) under two pH conditions [Low, 7.50; High (control), 8.10] and three NH ₄ ⁺ concentrations (Low, 4; Medium, 60; High, 120 μM). The degree of variation of pH values in the culture medium and inhibition rate of photosynthetic oxygen evolution by acetazolamide were affected by pH treatments. Relative growth rates, carbon, nitrogen, and the C:N ratio in tissue samples were influenced by higher concentrations of NH ₄ ⁺ . Rates of photosynthetic oxygen evolution were enhanced under elevated CO₂ or NH ₄ ⁺ conditions, independently, but these two factors did not show an interactive effect. However, rates of NH ₄ ⁺ uptake were influenced by the interactive effect of increased CO₂ under elevated NH ₄ ⁺ treatment. Although ocean acidification and eutrophication states had an impact on physiological performance, chlorophyll fluorescence was not affected by those conditions. Our results indicated that the physiological reactions by this alga were influenced to some extent by a rise in the levels of CO₂ and NH ₄ ⁺ . Therefore, we expect that the biomass accumulation of S. japonica may well increase under future scenarios of ocean acidification and eutrophication.     

中国之雷雨

第一章雷雨之定义成因及分类第一节雷雨之定义降雨而同时有雷电现象者,谓之雷雨。故有雨,纵甚急暴,但若无闪电及雷声者,不得谓之雷雨;反之,如沙漠旋风、森林大火、火山爆发等,只有雷电交作而无雨者,亦不得称曰雷雨。但雷电现象,并非雷雨之因,实为雷雨之果,此可由下列事实证明之。 (一)一定高度间之电位差,全球各处几皆相等,然雷雨之数目与     

ARD generation and corrosion potential of exposed roadside rockmass at Boeun and Mujoo,South Korea

Acid rock drainage (ARD) is a longstanding problem often associated with the resulting corrosion due to the acidity generated from sulfidic oxidation. To evaluate characteristics of ARD and corrosion, samples from the road side rock mass of Boeun and Mujoo were analysed using X-ray diffraction, acid/base accounting and Leaching tests. The results indicated that many samples had a pyritic origin and can be regarded as acid-generating rocks. The Leaching test showed that the average pH of the leachates of samples from both Boeun and Mujoo were moderately acidic, ranging from 3 to 4. Interestingly, as acidity increases from pH 4, the SO₄₋, Fe, Al and Mg concentrations increase abnormally. Samples from roadside slope of Mujoo showed high corrosive potential. Maximum sulfide oxidation rate of a sample taken from Mujoo was as high as 5,166 mg/kg/week.     

A study on the treatment of antifouling paint waste from shipyard

A study on the treatment of antifouling paint waste from shipyards, including sandblast waste and ship hull washing wastewater, was performed. The sandblast waste could be effectively detoxified by heat treatment, and the efficiency was affected by the temperature of the heating vessel and treatment time. The removal efficiency of total organotin compounds from the sandblast waste was over 99% at 1000 °C and treatment for 1 h. For the treatment of ship hull washing wastewater by the solvent extraction, ship diesel was a good solvent for the tributyltin (TBT) extraction, and the proper amount of solvent was about 10 mL for TBT extraction from 1 L of wastewater. The extraction efficiency of TBT was significantly affected by the agitation intensity. The TBT in the wash wastewater was rapidly extracted within 1 h. The level of the TBT residual in the wastewater extracted for 1 h was 2.8 μg L⁻¹, and this was further decreased to 0.8 after 5 h extraction.