Occurrence of hydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyls in the brain of cetaceans stranded along the Japanese coast

Levels of hydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyls (OH-PCBs) and PCBs were measured in the brain of melon-headed whales (MW: Peponocephala electra), striped dolphins (SD: Stenella coeruleoalba) and finless porpoises (FP: Neophocaena phocaenoides) stranded along the Japanese coast during 2002-2003. Levels of OH-PCBs (including identified and unknown OH-P(5)CB, -H(6)CB, -H(7)CB and O(8)CB congeners) in the brain of MW, SD and FP were in the range of 20-290, 21-330 and 170-240pg/g wet wt., respectively. Observed OH-PCB levels were 2-3 orders of magnitude lower than PCBs in the same individuals. OH-PCBs/PCBs ratios in MW, SD and FP brain were lower than those in blood of humans and wildlife and in the brain of polar bears reported previously. OH-PCBs were also detected in maternal and fetal brain of SD (1 pair), suggesting transfer of OH-PCBs into the fetal brain of odontocete cetaceans. When fetus/dam concentration ratios of OH-PCB congeners detected in maternal and fetal brain were estimated, the values were higher than those of PCB congeners, implying that OH-PCBs in maternal blood could be more easily transferred into fetal brain via placenta than PCBs.     

IN VITRO STUDY ON CYTOTOXIC EFFECTS OF THE ORGANOPHOSPHOROUS PESTICIDE PROFENOFOS ON THE GILL CELL LINE,FG-9307, OF THE FLOUNDER （PARALICHIHYS OLIVACEUS）

The FG-9307 cell line derived from the gill of flounder Paralichthys olivaceus was used in the present study to determine the acute cytotoxic effects of the organophosphorous pesticide, profenofos. It was found that the cell growth rate was markedly reduced by profenofos at the concentrations of 2.5, 5 and 7.5 mg/L tested; and that the fine structures of the cells were also altered by profenofos, as evidenced by dilation of nuclear membranes and mitochondria cristae, and presence of enlarged lysoscrneswith engulfed organelles and numerous vacuoles in the cytoplama. Probably, mitochondria, the cell ener-gy-generating sites, are the most prcrninent sites of profenofos cytotoxity in the cells. This seems to be the first report of the use of marine fish cell line for evaluation of the acute in vitro cytotoxicity of organophos-phorus pesticide.     

IN VITRO STUDY ON CYTOTOXIC EFFECTS OF THE ORGANOPHO SPHOROUS PESTICIDE PROFENOFOS ON THE GILL CELL LINE, FG-9307, OF THE FLOUNDER (PARALICHTHYS OLIVACEUS)

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Change in habitat selection by Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) and habitat fragmentation analysis using temporal remotely sensed data in Niigata Prefecture,Japan

The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in macaque habitat selection during a 29-year period. We focused on the 1970s, when little crop damage was caused by Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata), and the 2000s, when the damage became remarkable. Landsat/MSS from 1978 and ALOS/AVNIR-2 from 2007 were employed for land-cover mapping. For the 2007 land-cover classification, we applied an object-oriented image classification and a classification and regression tree. The Kappa coefficient of the 2007 land-cover map was 0.89. For the 1978 land-cover classification, change detection using principal component analysis and object-oriented image classification were applied to reduce resolution difference errors. The Kappa coefficient of the 1978 land-cover map was 0.84. We applied a Random Forest model for machine learning and data mining to predict the habitat selection of macaques. Several important environmental factors were identified for macaque habitat selection: the ratio of coniferous forest to farmland, distance to farmland, and maximum snow depth. The Random Forest model was extrapolated to the 1978 land-cover map. Over the 29-year period, coniferous forest changed to broad-leaved forest and/or mixed forest within the macaque habitat area. Coniferous forests were not selected as food resources by Japanese macaques. Furthermore, large-scale patches of farmland were used as food resources over the 29-year period. These changes indicated that habitat selection by Japanese macaques changed over the study period. The results show that the home range of macaques expanded, and macaques may now be distributed over a wider area as a result of changes in landscape configuration. Thus, forest planning, such as sustainable management of artificial conifer forests, is important for reducing crop damage.     

Project management of mapping projects in developing countries in Africa

Abstract

Most projects which involve planning of rural areas and towns in developing countries require maps, but many of these countries do not have sufficient large-scale mapping suitable for this purpose, or maps which are up-to-date. With environmental-friendly projects becoming highly desirable, up-to-date and accurate maps are vital. As most large scale mapping projects require technical assistance, this paper discusses aid agreements with donor countries. These opportunities could be of benefit to private entrepreneurs. This paper also examines the project management approach for introducing mapping projects to developing countries. It makes special reference to a large mapping project in Zimbabwe in which the author was personally involved.     

Tephrostratigraphy of the Pliocene to Middle Pleistocene Series in Honshu and Kyushu Islands,Japan

The Pliocene to Pleistocene Series in each sedimentary basin or area of Japan has been investigated and described; however, their stratigraphic correlation is difficult because of complex geological structures. Regional stratigraphy has therefore been established using many intercalated tephra beds, i.e. by correlating tephra beds between distant areas. A standardized stratigraphic model of the Pliocene to Middle Pleistocene Series in Japan is put forward in this paper on the basis of tephrostratigraphy, magnetostratigraphy, and biostratigraphy. This stratigraphic model is important for studies of environmental changes and explosive volcanism in this period around the Japanese island‐arc.     

日本交通体系的特征与经验借鉴

作为发达国家的典型代表,日本在交通体系的规划布局比较完善,已经形成了快速便捷、四通八达的交通体系。结合笔者去日本考察的实际经历,总结了日本在交通路网结构、快速轨道交通的布局、交通换乘、交通工具的人性化设计以及交通规章制度方面的先进经验。并结合中国交通体系建设中存在的问题和不足提出今后需要改进和完善的几个主要方面,为中国的交通体系建设提供经验借鉴。     

中日东海石油之争及对我国的启示

随着世界经济的发展,各国对石油的依赖程度越来越高,于是石油被成为经济的“晴雨表”。在石油领域的争夺也日趋激烈,各国纷纷建立自己的石油储备体系,以保障自己的石油安全。中日东海石油之争愈演愈烈,其不仅涉及到我国的石油安全、经济安全,还涉及到政治安全乃至国家安全。关注东海问题,既是维护我国经济和政治安全的需要,更是建立我国能源安全战略的重要组成。