The Upper Devonian Kellwasser event recorded in a regressive sequence from inner shelf to lagoonal pond,Catalan Coastal Ranges,Spain

This study, conducted in the Catalan Coastal Ranges, north‐east Spain, describes the Upper Devonian Kellwasser event in a shallowing‐upward sequence of black shales, siltstones and quartz arenites. This sequence was deposited in a progradational and regressive coastal system where the sedimentary environment evolved from the inner shelf to a lagoonal pond located landward of the shoreline. Three anomalous succeeding steps have been identified by geochemical analysis. The first one, detected on the inner shelf, was characterized by oxygen depletion and high organic productivity. The second, detected in the nearshore, was caused by hydrothermal activity occurring under normal oxic conditions. The third and most intense step was identified in the muds of the lagoonal pond and has been linked to strong anoxic conditions, elevated clastic input derived from changes in the weathering regime at the source area and moderate hydrothermal activity. The Kellwasser event is thus defined in the study area as stepwise and multi‐causal. This is the first time that the Kellwasser event has been identified in a sedimentary environment behind the shoreline. It is also the first time that it has been reported in the Catalan Coastal Ranges.     

Organic carbon deposition and phosphorus accumulation during Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 in Tarfaya, Morocco

With a multi-proxy approach, an attempt was made to constrain productivity and bottom-water redox conditions and their effects on the phosphorus accumulation rate at the Mohammed Plage section on the Tarfaya coast, Morocco, during the Cenomanian-Turonian Anoxic Event (OAE 2). A distinct δ¹³C_org isotope excursion of +2.5‰ occurs close to the top of the section. The unusually abrupt shift of the isotope excursion and disappearance of several planktonic foraminiferal species (e.g. Rotalipora cushmani and Rotalipora greenhornensis) in this level suggests a hiatus of between 40–60 kyrs at the excursion onset. Nevertheless, it was possible to determine both the long-term environmental history as well as the processes that took place immediately prior to and during OAE 2. TOC% values increase gradually from the base of the section to the top (from 2.5% to 10%). This is interpreted as the consequence of a long-term eustatic sea-level rise and subsidence causing the encroachment of less oxic waters into the Tarfaya Basin. Similarly a reduction in the mineralogically constructed ‘detrital index’ can be explained by the decrease in the continental flux of terrigenous material due to a relative sea-level rise. A speciation of phosphorus in the upper part of the section, which spans the start and mid-stages of OAE 2, shows overall higher abundances of P_reactive mass accumulation rates before the isotope excursion onset and lower values during the plateau. Due to the probable short hiatus, the onset of the decrease in phosphorus content relative to the isotope excursion is uncertain, although the excursion plateau already contains lower concentrations. The C_org/P_total and V/Al ratios suggest that this reduction was mostly likely caused by a decrease in the available bottom oxygen content (probably as a result of higher productivity) and a corresponding fall in the phosphorus retention ability of the sediment. Productivity appears to have remained high during the isotope plateau possibly due to a combination of ocean-surface fertilisation via increased aridity (increased K/Al and Ti/Al ratios) and/or higher dissolved inorganic phosphorus content in the water column as a result of the decrease in sediment P retention. The evidence for decreased P-burial has been observed in many other palaeoenvironments during OAE 2. Tarfaya's unique upwelling paleosituation provides strong evidence that the nutrient recycling was a global phenomenon and therefore a critical factor in starting and sustaining OAE 2.     

Respiratory adaptations to oxygen lack in three species of Glossiphoniidae (Hirudinea) in Lake Esrom, Denmark

The weight-specific respiration rate (μl O₂ mg⁻¹ AFDW h⁻¹) of three species of leech from Lake Esrom, Denmark, Glossiphonia concolor, G. complanata and Helobdella stagnalis was measured in a closed stirred chamber with a micro electrode. At declining oxygen concentration (mg O₂ l⁻¹) all three species expressed moderate ability to regulate respiration, in G. concolor and G. complanata down to 2 mg O₂ l⁻¹, in H. stagnalis down to 0.75 mg O₂ l⁻¹. Survival in anoxia was measured in closed bottles. The time to 50% survival (LD₅₀) was 30 days in G. concolor at 20 °C and 30 and 4 days in H. stagnalis at 10 and 20 °C, respectively. The results were discussed in relation to habitat and spatial distribution of the three species in the lake.     

CFD investigations of OXYFLUX device,an innovative wave pump technology for artificial downwelling of surface water

No other environmental variable of such ecological importance to estuarine and coastal marine ecosystems around the world has changed so drastically, in such a short period of time, as dissolved oxygen in coastal waters. The prevalent methods for counteracting anoxic sea events are indirect measures which aim to cut-down anthropic loads introduced in river and marine environments. To date, no direct approaches, like artificial devices have been investigated except the WEBAP and OXYFLUX devices. The present paper adopts a numerical approach to the analysis of the pumped surface water as well as the analysis of the dynamic response of the OXYFLUX device. By means of a CFD-RANS code and through the application of overset grid method, the 1/16 OXYFLUX model’s dynamic response and pumping performance are evaluated. The appropriate grid is selected after an extensive sensitivity analysis carried out on 9 different grids. The CFD model is validated by comparing numerical and physical results of heave decay test, heave response, and surface water discharge under the action of regular waves. The extensive comparison with experimental results shows consistently accurate predictions. The main findings of the study show that nonlinear effects remarkable reduce the dynamic behaviour of the OXYFLUX and generate an unexpected second harmonic for pitch response intensifying the overtopping discharge also for small waves caused by the summer's low intensity winds.     

Depositional environment of a Kimmeridgian carbonate 'black band' (Akkuyu Formation, south-western Turkey)

The Upper Jurassic Akkuyu Formation of south-western Turkey consists of pale-coloured carbonate facies, but includes a peculiar ‘black band’ at its base. In order to characterize the depositional environment of this level, a sedimentological, organic and inorganic geochemical study was performed on 30 samples. Three units are distinguished. Unit 1 consists of black marlstones, very rich in organic carbon (22–30%) with HI (hydrogen index) values around 600. The organic matter is an amorphous homogeneous material even at nanoscopic scale. This unit is also characterized by a very high concentration of V ( >1000 p.p.m.) and a δ¹³C_org value around ?26·5‰. Unit 2 shows thin-bedded black limestones with chert layers. Its organic content varies from 2% to 6%. As in unit 1, the HI values are uniformly high (600), and gas chromatography shows a high quantity of hopanes. The V concentration is also high (≈400 p.p.m.). The unit has a high Sr/Ca ratio, an organic carbon isotopic ratio close to ?28·7‰ and diffuse, nanoscopically amorphous organic material that is closely associated with pyrite. Unit 3 corresponds to the white limestones overlying the ‘black band’. This calcitic facies is almost devoid of organic carbon (<0·1%). The δ¹³C_org values are similar to those of unit 1 (?25·5‰ to ?26‰). Deposition occurred in a basinal environment surrounded by a carbonate platform. Primary productivity was high but not exceptional; terrestrial organic inputs were scarce. Bottom waters were probably euxinic during the deposition of unit 1. The presence of both hopane-rich and sulphur-rich nanoscopically amorphous organic matter may be the result of strong sulphate-reducing bacterial activity. Coupled with low amounts of iron, this led to intense vulcanization of the organic matter and thus good preservation. With the onset of unit 2 deposition, environmental conditions became less extreme, perhaps because of cooler water temperatures. Finally, the depositional conditions became oxic, leading to the accumulation of pale-coloured organic-poor limestones of unit 3.     

Unusual intraclastic limestones in Lower Triassic carbonates and their bearing on the aftermath of the end-Permian mass extinction

Flat pebble conglomerates were a common carbonate facies in Cambrian to Early Ordovician open marine settings, but they become extremely rare in these environments after this time. However, the Early Triassic witnessed an anachronistic reappearance of flat pebbles, together with other intraclast types, in a range of carbonate depositional settings. In south China, flat pebble conglomerates are encountered in storm-dominated, platform carbonates to deep basinal settings, while prefossilized bivalve intraclasts and flat pebbles are common in mid-ramp facies of northern Italy. The emplacement mechanisms of the intraclast-bearing beds appear to have been diverse and to have included basinal turbidity flows and storm-generated hyperconcentrated flows: true storm beds, deposited under combined flow conditions, are rare. The cause of the widespread early lithification implied by the Early Triassic intraclasts appears to have been twofold: suppression of bioturbation, allowing the preservation of thin beds, and rapid submarine lithification. Both features appear to be a response to the widespread development of benthic dysoxia/anoxia during and following the end-Permian mass extinction. This event appears to have temporarily recreated the conditions that pertained in Cambro-Ordovician shelf seas. Flat pebble conglomerates may, therefore, constitute a proxy indicator of stressed environmental conditions associated with global anoxic/dysoxic events.     

Apparent redox potential discontinuity (aRPD) depth as a relative measure of sediment oxygen content and habitat quality

As hypoxic conditions spread in our oceans, indices that quickly and efficiently assess oxygen content in sediment pore water, and habitat quality are increasingly becoming desirable. Depth to the appa...     

Resistance of Lophelia pertusa to coverage by sediment and petroleum drill cuttings

In laboratory experiments, the cold-water coral Lophelia pertusa was exposed to settling particles. The effects of reef sediment, petroleum drill cuttings and a mix of both, on the development of anoxia at the coral surface were studied using O₂, pH and H₂S microsensors and by assessing coral polyp mortality. Due to the branching morphology of L. pertusa and the release of coral mucus, accumulation rates of settling material on coral branches were low. Microsensors detected H₂S production in only a few samples, and sulfate reduction rates of natural reef sediment slurries were low (<0.3 nmol S cm⁻³ d⁻¹). While the exposure to sediment clearly reduced the coral’s accessibility to oxygen, L. pertusa tolerated both partial low-oxygen and anoxic conditions without any visible detrimental short-term effect, such as tissue damage or death. However, complete burial of coral branches for >24 h in reef sediment resulted in suffocation.     

癌症的起源和防治

癌细胞与正常的人体细胞不同。根据体细胞突变理论（SMT）,癌细胞是基因突变的结果。该理论还采用达尔文主义的基本原理,假设癌细胞生长是自然选择下“适者生存”的结果。与此相反,我们采用Margulis的演化理论来解释癌症的起源,并提出癌细胞由遗传而来：癌基因组起源于寄生在原核生物宿主中的细菌;在大约20亿年前的“氧气革命”期间,癌基因组与原核生物基因组因内共生作用而融合;后来宿主演化成为真核生物（原生生物、真菌、植物和动物）,每种真核生物都具有其独特的基因组;经过同样的时间间隔,原寄生细菌基因组则演化成为真核生物内的癌干细胞基因组。当前SMT假设人类基因组的突变导致癌症,但该理论无法识别编码肿瘤生长的基因组序列,也无法解释：突变为何会造成癌细胞失控性生长及复制？癌症为何是一种代谢性疾病？癌症死亡率为何与亚硝酸盐污染有关？中国用不含亚硝酸盐的公共供水源的试验为何竟可以拯救许多癌症患者的生命？SMT没能充分回答许多“神秘”的癌症问题。相反,我们提出的生物演化理论可以回答这些相关事实,包括那些SMT不能充分解释的问题。我们的理论根据是：癌基因组图谱（TCGA）的科学家未能在正常的人类基因组序列中发现突变或未突变的癌基因组。是癌基因组编码了癌细胞的生长及复制和一种不同的代谢模式。我们的理论假设,癌症起源于“休眠中”的癌干细胞因为受亚硝酸盐的影响而被激活,其中一个癌基因组编码了厌氧或缺氧的代谢模式,为癌细胞的生长及复制提供能量和生物量,其他基因组则编码了癌细胞的失控性生长及复制和其他癌症特征。亚硝酸盐以10-9 级别的浓度干扰人体正常的代谢和复制等机能。事实说明,亚硝酸盐可被定义为一种毒药。识别慢性中毒的困难可以用孟加拉国公共供水造成的砷中毒作为例证。癌症应被视为由亚硝酸盐中毒引起的疾病来进行治疗是一个假说,它可以解释为什么当中国部分地区的正常公共供水改用标准化深井水（SDWW）时,癌症死亡率可以减半。这个假说需要另一个假设来解释亚硝酸盐中毒并不影响所有饮用公共供水的人,而只影响其中一部分人。我们必须假设癌症的产生是由于干细胞,其中包括一个癌干细胞,被召唤去以修复细胞的损伤。将这些打破常规的假说放在一起,很多专家认为我们的生物演化理论是天方夜谭而不予理会。实际上,这个假说已由中国过去的SDWW实验所证实。一些医院的试验也证实,若癌症晚期患者每天饮用不含亚硝酸盐的水,癌症可以被治愈。我们对癌症晚期不可治愈这一论断提出质疑,并假定癌症是慢性亚硝酸盐中毒所致。我们呼吁其他科学家进行实验和临床试验来验证这一假说,使至少一半的晚期癌症患者,当他们的饮用水供应源不含亚硝酸盐时,可以被治愈。与此同时,我们应该将过去半个世纪以来献身医学的科学家们的成果,整合为一个“新的体系”。     

Eiefsis Bay Anoxia: Nutrient Conditions and Benthic Community Structure

Abstract. The changes in the concentrations of silicate, phosphate, and inorganic nitrogen in Eiefsis Bay. an intermittently anoxic basin, arc described and related to the changes in the physical properties of the water. Winter convection resulted in a very small vertical gradient of temperature, salinity, oxygen, and nutrients. Stratification started to develop in May and persisted for about 6 months. High values of silicate, phosphate, and ammonia occurred during the anoxic conditions prevailing in summer. The vertical transport of particulate organic matter and decomposition of abundant pelagic and benthic organic matter during the summer produced a low oxygen level in the bottom layer below the pycnoclinc. A high sea water temperature and vertical stability contributed to the development of anoxic conditions during the summer in the near bottom layer and to mass mortality of benthic macrofauna. Also the Eiefsis Bay anoxia appears to have had significant ecological effects on many other marine species, including several of economic importance.