SENSITIVITY OF MALARIA, SCHISTOSOMIASIS AND DENGUE TO GLOBAL WARMING

Global assessment of the potential impacts of anthropogenically-induced climate change on vector-borne diseases suggests an increase in extent of the geographical areas susceptible to transmission of malarial Plasmodium parasites, dengue Flavivirus and Schistosoma worms. The transmission potential of the three associated vector-borne diseases studied is highly sensitive to climate changes on the periphery of the currently endemic areas and at higher altitudes within such areas. Our findings vis-à-vis the present endemic areas indicate that the increase in the epidemic potential of malaria and dengue transmission may be estimated at 12–27% and 31–47%, respectively, while in contrast, schistosomiasis transmission potential may be expected to exhibit a 11–17% decrease.     

Impact of soil and water conservation measures on catchment hydrological response—a case in north Ethiopia

Impact studies of catchment management in the developing world rarely include detailed hydrological components. Here, changes in the hydrological response of a 200‐ha catchment in north Ethiopia are investigated. The management included various soil and water conservation measures such as the construction of dry masonry stone bunds and check dams, the abandonment of post‐harvest grazing, and the establishment of woody vegetation. Measurements at the catchment outlet indicated a runoff depth of 5 mm or a runoff coefficient (RC) of 1·6% in the rainy season of 2006. Combined with runoff measurements at plot scale, this allowed calculating the runoff curve number (CN) for various land uses and land management techniques. The pre‐implementation runoff depth was then predicted using the CN values and a ponding adjustment factor, representing the abstraction of runoff induced by the 242 check dams in gullies. Using the 2006 rainfall depths, the runoff depth for the 2000 land management situation was predicted to be 26·5 mm (RC = 8%), in line with current RCs of nearby catchments. Monitoring of the ground water level indicated a rise after catchment management. The yearly rise in water table after the onset of the rains (ΔT) relative to the water surplus (WS) over the same period increased between 2002–2003 (ΔT/WS = 3·4) and 2006 (ΔT/WS >11·1). Emerging wells and irrigation are other indicators for improved water supply in the managed catchment. Cropped fields in the gullies indicate that farmers are less frightened for the destructive effects of flash floods. Due to increased soil water content, the crop growing period is prolonged. It can be concluded that this catchment management has resulted in a higher infiltration rate and a reduction of direct runoff volume by 81% which has had a positive influence on the catchment water balance. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Trace Telescope Point Spread Function for the 171 Å Filter

We perform an analysis of the TRACE telescope blur from EUV images. Theblur pattern is discussed in terms of the telescope point-spread function (PSF) for the 171 Å filter. The analysis performed consists of two steps. First, an initial shape for the PSF core is determined directly from TRACE EUV images. Second, the blind-deconvolution method is used for obtaining the final PSF shape. The PSF core peak is fitted by analytical functions to determine its parametric characteristics. The determined PSF includes the core central peak and peaks caused by diffraction effects inherent in TRACE EUV data. The diffraction portion of the PSF is studied theoretically in the Fraunhofer diffraction limit. The temperature dependence of the TRACE PSF shape is investigated for a selected temperature range. We also discuss general properties of the obtained PSF and its possible applications.     

Karyological and Ecological Evolution of the Monocelididae (Platyhelminthes, Proseriata)

Abstract. The karyology and ecology of 76 species of Monocelididae arc discussed. Species with a basic karyotype are mainly limited to low dynamic subtidal areas: this is considered to be the ancestral habitat of the group. From there, parallel evolution resulted in colonization of more stressed environments. In all lineages, the colonization of new environments is correlated with karyotype rearrangements such as translocations and Robertsonian mechanisms of fusion and fission.     

Natural background levels and threshold values for groundwater in fluvial Pleistocene and Tertiary marine aquifers in Flanders,Belgium

Aquifers from the same typology can have strongly different groundwater chemistry. Deducing the groundwater quality of less well-characterized aquifers from well-documented aquifers belonging to the same typology should be done with great reserve, and can only be considered as a preliminary approach. In the EU’s 6th FP BRIDGE project “Background cRiteria for the IDentification of Groundwater thrEsholds”, a methodology for the derivation of threshold values (TV) for groundwater bodies is proposed. This methodology is tested on four aquifers in Flanders of the sand and gravel typology. The methodology works well for all but the Ledo-Paniselian aquifer, where the subdivision into a fresh and saline part is disproved, as a gradual natural transition from fresh to saline conditions in the aquifer is observed. The 90 percentile is proposed as natural background level (NBL) for the unconfined Pleistocene deposits, ascribing the outliers to possible influence of pollution. For the Tertiary aquifers, high values for different parameters have a natural origin and the 97.7 percentile is preferred as NBL. The methodology leads to high TVs for parameters presenting low NBL, when compared to the standard used as a reference. This would allow for substantial anthropogenic inputs of these parameters.     

Preflare energy build-up in a filament circuit

The two-dimensional Van Tend and Kuperus (1978) scenario for pre-flare energy build-up is extended to a fully three-dimensional model and applied to the 16 May, 1981 flare observed at Debrecen. It is shown that there is plenty of free energy (10³³ erg) available to explain the ensuing large two-ribbon flare. This estimate is an order of magnitude larger than the simple estimate made by Van Tend, as a result of the three-dimensional character of the present model. It is further confirmed that the global form of the preflare circuit is decisive for determining the amount of energy stored in the preflare configuration, while the internal structure of the filament is of little importance. This is in accordance with the similar claims of Alfvén and Van Tend and Kuperus.Order of magnitude estimates are derived for all the lumped circuit parameters of the preflare filament-return current circuit; self-inductance, resistance, current strength, and applied voltage. It is found that the model gives correct predictions for the independently observed photospheric flow velocity and current strength in filaments.NAS/NRC Resident Research Associate.     

Lead-210 sediment geochronology in a changing coastal environment

Sediment accumulation rate studies utilizing excess ²¹⁰Pb and ¹³⁷Cs were conducted as part of recent investigations of biogeochemical cycling at a single site in Cape Lookout Bight, a rapidly changing coastal basin on the Outer Banks of North Carolina (U.S.A.). Cores three meters in length reveal a depositional history for the bight interior characterized by a gradual transition in texture from coarse-grained to fine-grained material over the period 1946–1979. This transition is controlled by progressive enclosure of the bight by an active northerly migrating recurved spit. The textural gradation is periodically interrupted by layers of well-sorted sand associated with major storm events. Lead-210 data indicate that the upper meter of the sediment has accumulated at a rate of 3.35 to 4.71 g · cm^?2 · yr^?1 or approximately 8.4 to 11.8 cm · yr^?1 (at ø = 0.84). Below 120 cm depth, dilution of clay and silt by low activity sand necessitates correction of the ²¹⁰Pb profile in order to establish a geochronology. Grain size ²¹⁰Pb distribution measurements at three depths reveal that the specific activity (dpm · g^?1) of clay is 3.2 times that of silt and 24.7 times that of sand. Corrections of bulk sediment excess ²¹⁰Pb activities based on these measurements lead to dates for textural changes which are consistent with charted changes in basin morphology and major storm events.Sixteen ¹³⁷Cs measurements between 33–241 cm depth reveal a peak activity at 105–115 cm and indicate a minimum sedimentation rate of approximately 2.7 g · cm^?2 · yr^?1.     

Primary minerals of Zn-Pb mining and metallurgical dumps and their environmental behavior at Plombières,Belgium

The primary phases and minerals of the Plombières dumps include typical smelting furnace products such as metallic Fe, Pb, Cu, Zn, Fe-Zn alloys, carbides, phosphides, sulfides of Fe, Zn, Pb, Cu, Mn (alabandite), and FeAs. Spinels, mainly of Fe and Al, are common constituents of the primary assemblage; substitution by Zn, V, Cr, Ti, Mg, and Ca occurs. Primary phases also include the most common Zn-rich fayalite, Zn-rich Ca-Fe silicates, melilite, corundum, and apatite. Most of the Zn is incorporated in iron silicates, ZnO and ZnS. Lead occurs mainly as PbS, metallic lead, and is also present in coal residues. Cadmium is found mainly in metallic zinc and its alloys and in ZnO. The dumps also contain mining wastes composed of pyrite, melnikovite, and iron oxides produced by natural weathering of Zn-Pb ores. Melnikovite and iron oxides are rich in As, Pb, and Zn and possess an increased content of Tl. Leaching tests carried out on the surfaces of polished sections indicate that acid rain (solutions I and II) will mobilize mainly Zn and Cd and, to a much smaller extent, Pb and Sb. Leaching of metals by sulfate-chloride fluids present in the pore network of dumps (solutions III, IV, and V) depends on the pH, which in the dumps is controlled by the proportion of carbonates to sulfides. The more acid fluids leach both sulfides and silicates.     

The point spread function of the soft X-ray telescope aboard Yohkoh

The point spread function of the SXT telescope aboardYohkoh has been measured in flight configuration in three different X-ray lines at White Sands Missile Range. We have fitted these data with an elliptical generalization of the Moffat function. Our fitting method consists of ² minimizationin Fourier space, especially designed for matching of sharply peaked functions. We find excellent fits with a reduced ² of order unity or less for single exposure point spread functions over most of the CCD. Near the edges of the CCD the fits are less accurate due to vignetting. From fitting results with summation of multiple exposures we find a systematic error in the fitting function of the order of 3% near the peak of the point spread function, which is close to the photon noise for typical SXT images in orbit. We find that the full width to half maximum and fitting parameters vary significantly with CCD location. However, we also find that point spread functions measured at the same location are consistent to one another within the limit determined by photon noise. A best analytical fit to the PSF as function of position on the CCD is derived for use in SXT image enhancement routines. As an aside result we have found that SXT can determine the location of point sources to about a quarter of a 2.54 arc sec pixel.This paper is dedicated to the memory of our friend and colleague Kermit Smith, who died in June 1993, after a valient fight with leukemia.