Wintertime Stratospheric Anomalies-Part I: Warm Pools

The stratospheric worm pools, called the 4-day wave also, are mainly the temperature anomalies in the polar regions of winter hemisphere. It will be shown that their occurrence, propagation speed and specific structure can be explained by the lower frequency coherent heating resulting from the wave interaction in the breaking layers of the stratosphere. Although their vertical phase slope is negligibly small, the warm pools cannot be considered as a barotropic anomaly.     

一种甲烷连续测量系统的开发并用于某些源区甲烷分布的研究

为了调查大气甲烷的区域分布，我们用火焰离子检测器（ＦＩＤ）制成了一台连续测量系统。由于ＦＩＤ几乎对所有的烃类都敏感，故而让样气通过一个装有Ｐｔ催化剂的加热柱体以除去非甲烷烃，得到低达０．００４×１０＾－６Ｖ的检出限和短达１０ｓ的响应时间。我们把该系统装配在汽车上，测量了两个典型源区－稻田和天然气田上大气甲烷的区域分布。在气田的实例中，我们依据所观测的甲烷柱剖面估算了甲烷的逸散率。     

The Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) model: applicability for investigating the immunosuppressive effects of the aquatic pollutant benzo[a]pyrene (BaP)

Despite the fact that BaP is a carcinogen, mammalian immunosuppressant, and ubiquitous aquatic pollutant, knowledge regarding the effects of BaP on the immune system of fish is still lacking. To begin to fill this gap, studies were conducted in medaka to examine the effects and mechanisms by which BaP exposure might alter host immunocompetence. Fish, exposed by IP injection of BaP (2-600 microg/g BW), were examined after 48 h for effects upon immune function and CYP1A expression/activity. Benzo[a]pyrene, at a concentration below that which increased levels of CYPIA expression/activity (2 microg BaP/g BW) suppressed lymphocyte proliferation. Concentrations of BaP at 20 and 200 microg/g BW. suppressed antibody-forming cell (AFC) numbers, superoxide production, and host resistance against bacteria. In contrast, exposure to the low affinity aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonist, benzo[e]pyrene (BeP), neither induced CYP1A expression nor altered immune function. Given the lack of immunosuppressive effects produced by BeP, and the fact that exposure to the AhR antagonist (and CYP1A inhibitor) alpha-naphthoflavone (ANF) ameliorated the suppressive effects of BaP upon AFC numbers, the AhR pathway (including CYP1A-mediated production of reactive BaP metabolites) appears important in mediating BaP-induced immunotoxicity in fish, as in mammals. In the past, the medaka has proven a successful model for assessing carcinogenic agents. These studies have demonstrated its utility for also determining the immunosuppressive effects of an important aquatic contaminant.