Mono- and dicyclic unsaturated triterpenoid hydrocarbons in sediments from Lake Masoko (Tanzania) widely extend the botryococcene family

A mixture of C₃₃–C₃₇ botryococcenes and partially reduced derivatives was isolated from ca. 32,000 year old sediment from Lake Masoko, a freshwater crater lake in the Rungwe Range area (Tanzania). Botryococcenes and derivatives accounted for 246 μg/g dry sediment and for >92% of the hydrocarbon fraction; 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and mass spectrometry allowed the structure of the dominant botryococcene (43% of hydrocarbon fraction) to be established, after purification using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The compound is a novel tetraunsaturated dicyclic C₃₄ botryococcene and is named C₃₄ masokocene. Overall, the structures of six other novel botryococcenes and four partially reduced derivatives were tentatively assigned. The structures of the new biomarkers, three dicyclic C₃₄–C₃₆ botryococcenes (or masokocenes) and seven monocyclic C₃₄–C₃₇ analogues are discussed along with their biosynthetic relationship. The high abundance of such polyunsaturated compounds preserved in 32,000 year old sediment from the lake indicates an aquatic ecosystem dominated at the time by the green alga Botryococcus braunii, as well very good preservation of the organic matter.     

Millennium-long recession of limestone facades in London

Historical data on the temperature and precipitation data for London has been combined with output from the Hadley Model to estimate the climate of London for the period 1100–2100 CE. This has been converted to other parameters such as freeze–thaw frequency and snowfall relevant to the weathering of stone facades. The pollutant concentrations have been estimated for the same period, with the historical values taken from single box modelling and future values from changes likely given current policy within the metropolis. These values are used in the Lipfert model to show that the recession from karst weathering dominates across the period, while the contributions of sulphur deposition seem notable only across a shorter period 1700–2000 CE. Observations of the late seventeenth century suggest London architects witnessed a notable increase in the recession rate and attributed “fretting quality” to “smoaks of the sea-coal”. The recession rates measured in the late twentieth century lend some support to the estimates from the Lipfert model. The recession looks to increase only slightly, and frost shattering will decrease while salt weathering is likely to increase.     

Seabed Morphology and Pollution Along the Bagnoli Coast (Naples, Italy): a Hypothesis for Environmental Restoration

Abstract. The interaction of coastal and submarine morphology with the hydrodynamic regimes exerts a control on coastal dynamic processes, conditioning the dispersion of sediments and potential pollutants existing in the area. Thus, the study of such parameters is useful in order to define environmental threats. Within the submerged sector of the Bagnoli coast and particularly in the southern part of the investigated area, there are sediment groups composed of very fine sands located in low-energy zones due to wave refraction and diffraction; they can also be found on the sea bottom and on the man-made structures typical of this zone. These areas show high pollutant levels of N, P, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, Cd, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated bi-phenyls (PCBs). The northern area, a place of high-energy hydrodynamic processes, also shows high concentration levels of pollutants due to the presence of secondary cell circulation.
Morphological research and analysis of textural characteristics of bottom sediments along the Bagnoli coast allowed the actual processes and their evolution in space and time to be defined. It has also been possible to correlate such processes to the seabed morphology system, the wave formations which affect the coast, the complex system of sediment transport, as well as to the man-made interventions in the area. The results of recent chemical analyses of beach sediments and bottom sediments off the Bagnoli coast were also incorporated. They prove the presence of heavy metals, PAHs and PCBs in high and sometimes very high concentrations. Finally, based on the results of research and analyses, a hypothesis for an intervention for environmental restoration has been formulated in order to renaturalise the coast through dredging and treatment of the sand, both on the seabed and on the emerged beach.     

The role of schizogenesis in population dynamics of Timarete filigera (Polychaeta: Cirratulidae): 2-years observations in the Port of Bari (South Adriatic Sea)

Different aspects of reproductive biology of the polychaete Timarete filigera (Delle Chiaje) were studied during a period of 2 years (from September 2002 to August 2003 and from September 2004 to August 2005). Timarete filigera specimens were collected monthly in the port of Bari (South Adriatic Sea, Mediterranean Sea). For population analysis, regenerating and entire specimens were separately analyzed, the regenerating individuals were assigned to different categories related to the region of the body from which they derived. Regenerating individuals were present throughout the year. There were three to four times more individuals deriving from the middle part than the anterior and posterior regenerating portions. From the high percentage of regenerating individuals observed in the T. filigera population, it can be supposed that this species reproduces mainly asexually by schizogenesis. However, histological analysis revealed the presence of female gametes in a few individuals. In contrast, males were never collected, probably due to the limited number of reproductive individuals collected. The abundance has shown wide fluctuations during the year, with a decrease from Winter to Spring. The analysis of the size‐frequency histograms has shown a growing phase of whole specimens from Spring to Winter. The life cycle of the investigated species is discussed with the hypothesis that strategies could be linked to the colonized environments, agamic reproduction coupled with sexual reproduction assures the presence and expansion of the population after the colonization by a limited number of larvae.     

Evaluating soil erosion by water in a small alpine catchment in Northern Italy: comparison of empirical models

Acta Geochimica - To quantify water erosion rates and annual soil loss in mountainous areas, two different empirical models were used to estimate the effects of soil erosion in a small mountain...     

Excited lines in the H and K region of Ca ii in the solar flare on March 12, 1969

Many excited lines and a remarkable emission in the continuum were observed in the region around the H and K lines during a strong flare.     

The loop prominence of May 13, 1971 and its associated effects

A study is presented of the formation of a loop prominence system (LPS) on May 13, 1971. The development of the phenomenon is found to be consistent with the model of Jefferies and Orrall, and was associated with small radio bursts and several kind of SID. From the spectral analysis a temperature of 13200 K has been deduced and a density of hydrogen atoms n(H) 10¹⁰cm^-3 estimated. The existence of inclined emissions probably produced by rotatory motions is discussed. From the radio data analysis it was inferred that an impulsive and a thermal component were present; the length of the emitting plasma cloud was found to be about 56000 km. The LPS appeared, in accordance with previous results, in a region producing proton flares.     

Spaceborne long vertical wire as a self-powered ULF/ELF radiator

In December 1987, on the occasion of the first demonstration flight of the shuttle-borne Tethered Satellite System (T.S.S.), NASA will deploy in orbit a 20-km vertical conducting wire (electrodynamic tether) and will test, among other things, the wire's ability to function as generator of de electric power, through thenu times Bmechanism of interaction, as well as its capability to operate as a serf-powered radiator of ultra-low frequency/ extremely low frequency waves (ULF/ELF), through such mechanisms as the Alfvén Wings. The wire's ability to generate dc electric power up to the 100 kW level has been investigated by several authors and it is now considered to be a reasonable expectation. Concerning the wire's ability to radiate ULF/ELF waves, rigorous analytical evidence still has to be worked out. The expectation at this time is that this vertical radiator may be able to inject from above into the earth-ionosphere transmission line about 10 W at night and10^{-1}by day. Thus in the "hot spot" on the earth's surface, directly underneath (in a magneto-conjugate sense) the orbiting system, signal-to-noise ratios of practical interest may be achievable against natural micropulsation noise. The tether's ability to excite from above long-range propagation modes in the earth-ionosphere transmission line has still to be verified analytically. It is expected that by 1987-1989, comprehensively analytical and experimental evidence will be available to the ULF/ELF community, so that conclusions may be drawn as to the feasibility of strategic communications using orbiting wires. The advantage of the spaceborne placement for the ULF/ELF radiator, compared with the traditional ground-based placement, may be the avoidance of the potential environmental threat posed by the conventional siting.     

Mediterranean fin whales at risk from fatal ship strikes

This paper reviews and analyzes ship collision records for the relatively isolated population of fin whales in the Mediterranean Sea from 1972 to 2001. Out of 287 carcasses, 46 individuals (16.0%) were certainly killed by boats. The minimum mean annual fatal collision rate increased from 1 to 1.7 whales/year from the 1970s to the 1990s. Fatal strike events (82.2%) were reported in or adjacent to the Pelagos Sanctuary, characterized by high levels of traffic and whale concentrations. Among 383 photo-identified whales, 9 (2.4%) had marks that were attributed to a ship impact. The reported rates are unusually high for baleen whales. The high likelihood of unreported fatal strikes combined with other anthropogenic threats suggests an urgent need for a comprehensive, basin-wide conservation strategy, including ship strike mitigation requirements, like real-time monitoring of whale presence and distribution to re-locate ferry routes to areas of lower cetacean density, and reducing ship speed in high cetacean density areas.