Estrogenic responses of larval sunshine bass (Morone saxatilis x M. Chrysops) exposed to New York City sewage effluent

To determine the estrogenicity of effluents from sewage treatment plants (STPs) to larval fish, 2-day-old sunshine bass were exposed to effluents from three STPs serving New York City (NYC), varying in size and treatment level. Estrogenic response was evaluated by measuring vitellogenin (VTG) and estrogen receptor (ER) expression in cytosolic fractions of whole body homogenates. Concentrations of the presumptive endocrine disruptors in the effluents were also measured. VTG and ER levels in sewage-exposed fish were 3-5 times that observed in controls. Combined concentrations of estradiol and estrone ranged from 5 to 13 ng/l and nonylphenol-ethoxylate metabolites (NPEOs: 4-nonylphenol, and 1-, 2-, and 3-nonylphenol-ethoxylates) ranged from 180 to 470 microg/l in chlorinated effluent. Results indicate that both ER and VTG can be used as biomarkers for endocrine disruption in larval fish, and that 4-day exposure to sewage effluent is sufficient to elicit significant expression of these markers in sunshine bass larvae. The extremely higher concentrations of NPEOs found in effluent relative to hormones (approximately 40,000-fold) indicates that surfactant metabolites may be contributing significantly to the estrogenic effects observed.     

The concentration and isotopic composition of carbon in basaltic glasses from the Juan de Fuca Ridge, Pacific Ocean

The abundance and 13C/12C ratios of carbon were analyzed in basaltic glass from twenty locations along the Juan de Fuca Ridge using a 3-step combustion/extraction technique. Carbon released during the first two combustion steps at 400-500 degrees C and 600-650 degrees C is interpreted to be secondary, and only the carbon recovered during a final combustion step at approximately 1200 degrees C is thought to be indigenous to the samples. For carbon released at approximately 1200 degrees C, glasses analyzed as 1-2 mm chips contained 23-146 ppm C with delta 13C values of -4.8 to -9.3%, whereas samples crushed to 38-63 microns or 63-90 microns yielded 56-103 ppm C with delta 13C values of -6.1 to -9.2%. The concentrations and isotopic compositions of the primary carbon dissolved in the glasses and present in the vesicles are similar to those previously reported for other ocean-ridge basalts. The Juan de Fuca basaltic magmas were not in equilibrium with respect to carbon when they erupted and quenched on the sea floor. Evidence of disequilibrium includes (1) a large range of carbon contents among glasses collected at similar depths, (2) a highly variable calculated carbon isotopic fractionation between melt and vapor determined by comparing crushed and uncrushed splits of the same sample, and (3) a lack of correlation between vesicle abundance, carbon concentration, and depth of eruption. Variations in carbon concentration and delta 13C ratios along the ridge do not correlate with major element chemistry. The observed relationship between carbon concentrations and delta 13C values may be explained by late-stage, variable degrees of open-system (Rayleigh-like) degassing.     

Measurements in N2-CH4(C2H2) discharges of reaction rates and thermochemical constants for Titan atmosphere study

The kinetic reactions in N2-xCH4(C2H2) gas discharges with x less than 1% have been studied by emission spectroscopy in the afterglow of D.C. discharges and by mass spectroscopy from radiolysis ionization using alpha particles. The pressure range is from several Torr to 100 Torr. At the end of N2 D.C. discharges at room temperature, for a residence time of about 10(-2) s, the dominant active species are the N atoms with density of 10(14)-10(15) cm-3 for N2 density of about 10(17) cm-3 (3 Torr), the N2(X,V) vibrational molecules with for example [N2(X,V = 10)] approximately 10(14) cm-3 and the electronic metastable molecules N2(A 3 sigma u +) with a density of 10(12) cm-3. In such conditions, the following kinetic reactions have been studied: N2(A) + N2(A) --> N2(C,B,V') + N2(X), N2(A) + N2(X,V>5) --> N2(X) + N2(B,V') in pure N2 post-discharges and N2(A) + CH4 --> products, C + N + M2 --> CN(B,V') + M2, N2(X,V>4) + CN --> N2(X) + CN(B,A,V'), in N2-1% CH4 post-discharges. The clustering reactions of N2-(1-5%)CH4(C2H2) gas mixtures after radiolysis ionization have been studied for the H2CN+ nN2 ions and the equilibrium constants have been determined in the temperature range T = 140-300 K.     

临沧超大型锗矿床有机质与锗矿化的地球化学特征

临沧锗矿床是一产于第三系含煤岩系中的超大型矿床。矿床的最初锗源与盆地西缘的二云母花岗岩有关。主矿体产于下煤组沉积旋回的早期地层中，每一沉积阶段早期形成的褐煤和碳质泥岩中富含锗，最高含量达１４７０×１０＾－６。褐煤和碳质泥岩在矿化过程中平均富集了１６４－１６９倍。根据锗含量，褐煤和碳质泥岩可分为锗含量小于１２×１０＾－６的低锗煤（泥岩）和大于９０×１０＾－６的高锗煤（泥岩）。高锗煤中有机质富含氧官能     

Synchronous response of sedimentary organic carbon accumulation on the inner shelf of the East China Sea to the water impoundment of Three Gorges and Gezhouba Dams

Coastal seas,located between continents and the open ocean,are an important active carbon pool.The sedimentary total organic carbon(TOC)in these areas is a mixture of terrestrial and marine sources,and can be a powerful proxy for tracing natural processes and human activities.In this study,one fine-grained sediment core(DH5-1) from the inner shelf of the East China Sea was systematically analyzed for TOC and black carbon(BC) contents and TOC stable carbon isotope ratios(d13 C).By combining these data with 210~Pb dating,an improved carbon correction model and a two end-member mixing model,we reconstructed century-scale high-resolution sequences of corrected TOC,terrestrial TOC and marine TOC contents and identified two carbon depletion events in the DH5-1 record.The two events,shown as two minima in the TOC profiles,correspond temporally to 1985-1987 AD and 2003-2006 AD,which exactly matches the water impoundment of the Gezhouba Dam and Three Gorges Dam,respectively.In addition,the variations in TOC contents and δ~(13)C values before,during or after the minima demonstrate a relationship between the depletion events and water impoundment of the dams on the Changjiang River.The TOC reductions may represent synchronous responses of sedimentary TOC and resultant ecological ef fects on the inner shelf of the East China Sea to the water impoundment of the dams.These new TOC records reflect the interaction between natural and anthropogenic processes and,accordingly,provide a deep insight and important references for assessing marine ecological ef fects resulting from water impoundment of largescale dams.