Use of Rhodamine water tracer in the marshland upwelling system

Rhodamine water tracer (RWT) was used to characterize the migration of waste water within the saline subsurface of a marshland upwelling system (MUS), which is an alternative on-site waste water treatment system for coastal areas. Field tracer studies were performed to investigate the fresh waste water plume movement within the saline ground water. Pore velocities were calculated using first detection times and ranged from 0.68 to 10.7 x 10(-4) cm/sec for the loamy sandy soil matrix present at the site. Use of RWT in the field also allowed determination of main and preferential flowpaths. One- and two-dimensional laboratory experiments were performed using silica sand to investigate the interactions of the organically rich waste water with RWT within the zone surrounding the point of injection (one-dimensional) and the impact of background salinity on plume movement (two-dimensional). The results from these studies were used to help explain the field data. One-dimensional breakthrough curves revealed retardation factors for the RWT in the waste water mixture of 1.73 to 1.90. These results were similar to other researchers, indicating little interaction between the waste water and RWT. Variations in pore water salinity (5, 15, 25, and 35 ppt) were found to have a significant effect on pore water velocities of the fresh water plume (two-dimensional), indicating the need to incorporate background salinities into the design process for MUS.     

Biochemical alterations in juvenile carp (Cyprinus carpio) exposed to zinc: glutathione reductase as a target

The aim of this study was to investigate biochemical changes in juvenile carp (Cyprinus carpio) exposed to zinc chloride (10, 30 and 100 microM) for a period of 48 h. Zinc exposure caused a concentration-dependent reduction in glutathione reductase (GR) activity in gills, liver and brain. Gill glutathione S-transferase (GST) was reduced when animals were exposed to the highest concentration of 100 microM zinc. The phosphorylation of p38(MAPK) increased in the brain of fish exposed to zinc 100 microM, while phosphorylation of the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase 1/2 (JNK1/2) remained unchanged. Expression of proteins HSP60 and HSP70 were not affected by zinc exposure. Considering the significant concentration-dependent inhibition of GR in all tissues analyzed, this enzyme could be a potential biomarker of exposure to zinc, which has to be confirmed.     

Monitoring of toxic substances in the Hong Kong marine environment

A long-term programme for monitoring toxic substances in the marine environment was established in Hong Kong in 2004, focusing on chemicals of potential ecological and health concern. The programme ran on 3-year cycles, with the first two years monitoring marine water, sediment, biota, and the third year monitoring pollution sources. Twenty-four priority chemicals were measured, including dioxins/furans, dioxin-like PCBs, total PCBs, PAHs, DDTs, HCHs, TBTs, phenol, nonylphenol (NP), NP ethoxylates, PBDEs and metals. Results from the first three years of monitoring indicate that toxic substances in the Hong Kong marine environment were within the range reported for the coastal waters in China and other regions, but generally lower than in the Pearl River Estuary. The levels met the standards for protecting aquatic life and human consumption. Sewage effluent, stormwater and river water were possible sources of phenolic compounds; whereas air deposition or regional pollution, rather than local discharges, may contribute to the dioxins/furans, PAHs and PCBs found in the marine environment.     

大地震远程触发小地震的首次证据

就在去年6月28日破晓以前,位于洛杉矶以东200km的莫哈维沙漠发生了7.3级地震。这次地震以距震中最近的小城的名字命名为兰德斯地震。该地震虽然比三年前旧金山发生的地震强烈,但由于这一地区人口稀少,没有引起人们太大的注意。但是,这次地震却对地震学史有贡献。80年代期间,在美国极西部地区建立的高密度、分布广的地震台网提供了令人信服的证据:兰德斯地震引发了一系列的继发性地震。最远的在其东北1250km处的黄石国家公园。     

关于人科进化环境因素的探讨

环境因素,特别是气候波动,广泛地被认为对进化途径有着重要的控制作用。人科进行途中的两个适应性转变与主要的气候事件有着广泛的一致性,这就支持气候驱动进化的这一模式。首先,人科的起源与地中海地区的Ｍｅｓｓｉｎｉａｎ干燥期紧密相联。第二个更令人信服的事实是,人属（Ｈｏｍｏ）的起源及与北半球冰川作用始期同时的石器技术的首次出现都发生于上新世。然而,对资料的详细分析表明,要把这种大范围的动力环境与人科进化的     

台湾西南近海地区构造特征

台湾岛位于沿菲律宾海西缘展布的琉球岛弧和吕宋岛弧的结合处．台湾岛以南，南海岩石圈向东俯冲到吕宋岛弧之下．台湾岛以东，菲律宾海板块向北俯冲到琉球岛弧之下．晚新生代，由于吕宋岛弧与亚洲大陆的碰撞，形成了台湾山带，台湾山带的构造走向为NNE－SSW，其弧凸向亚洲大陆．台湾岛内，西缘一系列的叠加精皱和推覆体很好地显示了造山构造特征，这些造山构造特征被认为向南延伸至台西南近海地区．然而，由于它们被较厚的第四纪沉积物所覆盖，台西南近海地区的构造模式多数尚属未知．据最近的一项海洋地球物理调查，马尼拉海沟沿NNW向…