Changes in mid-troposphere snow accumulation on Mt. Logan, Yukon, over the last three centuries

EXTRACT (SEE PDF FOR FULL ABSTRACT): A net snow accumulation time series is presented. It is derived from a 102.5 m ice core retrieved from Mt. Logan at an altitude of 5340 m a.s.l. Annual increments are identified using stable isotopes, trace chemistry, and beta activity. ... The resulting time series of nearly 300 years seems to indicate a lower mean accumulation from AD 1700 to the mid-19th century than after that time. The last 100 years of the series correlates significantly with certain instrumental station records at mid-northern latitudes.

Snow accumulation time series and their climatic interpretation

EXTRACT (SEE PDF FOR FULL ABSTRACT): Several snow accumulation time series derived from ice cores and extending over 3 to 5 centuries are examined for spatial and temporal climatic information. ... A significant observation is the widespread depression of net snow accumulation during the latter part of the "Little Ice Age". This initially suggests sea surface temperatures were significantly depressed during the same period. However, prior to this, the available core records indicate generally higher than average precipitation rates. This also implies that influences such as shifted storm tracks or a dustier atmosphere may have been involved. Without additional spatial data coverage, these observations should properly be studied using a coupled (global) ocean/atmosphere GCM.

A novel proline rich bombesin-related peptide (PR-bombesin) from toad Bombina maxima

A novel bombesin-related peptide was isolated from skin secretions of Chinese red belly toad Bombina maxima. Its primary structure was established as pGlu-Lys-Lys-Pro-Pro-Arg-Pro-Pro-Gln-Trp-Ala-Val-Gly-His-Phe-Met-NH2. The amino-terminal (N-terminal) 8-residue segment comprising four prolines and three basic residues is extensively different from bombesins from other Bombina species. The peptide was thus named proline rich bombesin (PR-bombesin). PR-bumbesin was found to elicit concentration-dependent contractile effects in the rat stomach strip, with both increased potency and intrinsic activity as compared with those of [Leu(13)]bombesin. Analysis of different bombesin cDNA structures revealed that an 8 to 14- nucleotide fragment replacement in the peptide coding region (TGGGGAAT in the cDNAs of multiple bombesin forms from Bombina orientalis and CACCCCGGCCACCC in the cDNA of PR-bombesin) resulted in an unusual Pro-Pro-Arg-Pro-Pro motif in the N-terminal part of PR-bombesin. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.

Status of the shore area from Tiengiang to Camau: causes of accumulation and erosion

The paper presents some results of the research programs which had been performed during 1996-1999 (“Studying of river-sea interaction in the mouth of Tien river” and KHCN.06.08). Based on these results the morphological schemes of the shore areas from Tiengiang to Camau were compiled; causes and mechanics of accumulation and erosion were also determined. These results may be used as scientific basis for forecasting the development of the shoreline, it will contribute to the management, protection and reasonable exploitation the shore areas.

Chronic Morphine Treatment Impaired Hippocampal Long-Term Potentiation and Spatial Memory via Accumulation of Extracellular Adenosine Acting on Adenosine A(1) Receptors

Chronic exposure to opiates impairs hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) and spatial memory, but the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. Given the well known effects of adenosine, an important neuromodulator, on hippocampal neuronal excitability and synaptic plasticity, we investigated the potential effect of changes in adenosine concentrations on chronic morphine treatment-induced impairment of hippocampal CA1 LTP and spatial memory. We found that chronic treatment in mice with either increasing doses (20-100 mg/kg) of morphine for 7 d or equal daily dose (20 mg/kg) of morphine for 12 d led to a significant increase of hippocampal extracellular adenosine concentrations. Importantly, we found that accumulated adenosine contributed to the inhibition of the hippocampal CA1 LTP and impairment of spatial memory retrieval measured in the Morris water maze. Adenosine A(1) receptor antagonist 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine significantly reversed chronic morphine-induced impairment of hippocampal CA1 LTP and spatial memory. Likewise, adenosine deaminase, which converts adenosine into the inactive metabolite inosine, restored impaired hippocampal CA1 LTP. We further found that adenosine accumulation was attributable to the alteration of adenosine uptake but not adenosine metabolisms. Bidirectional nucleoside transporters (ENT2) appeared to play a key role in the reduction of adenosine uptake. Changes in PKC-alpha/beta activity were correlated with the attenuation of the ENT2 function in the short-term (2 h) but not in the long-term (7 d) period after the termination of morphine treatment. This study reveals a potential mechanism by which chronic exposure to morphine leads to impairment of both hippocampal LTP and spatial memory.

The effect of organic matter accumulation on phosphorus release in sediment of Chinese shallow lakes

The effects of organic matter in sediment on phosphorus release were studied by field investigations in eight Chinese shallow freshwater lakes with different trophic status and a laboratory experiment. The sediment organic matter content paralleled the trophic status, ranging from 6.1 to 173.0 g kg(-1) (dry weight), with the mean value of 63.1 g kg(-1) (dry weight). It was positively proportional to Soluble reactive phosphorus concentration in the interstitial water in a form of exponential function, but inversely related to the sediment Fe/P ratio. The sediment alkaline phosphatase activity was significantly related not only to the organic matter content (r = 0.829, P < 0.01, n = 120), but also to the soluble reactive phosphorus concentration in interstitial water (r = 0.454, P < 0.01, n = 42). In the laboratory experiment, the addition of organic matter (dry materials of an aquatic macrophyte) into the sediment significantly enhanced alkaline phosphatase activity and soluble reactive phosphorus release. However, in the treatment with organic matter added and aeration, this release was generally prevented in spite of an increase in APA. Hence, sediment organic matter can effectively accelerate phosphorus release by enzymatic hydrolysis and anaerobic desorption. The latter mechanism seems to be more important.

The accumulation of alkylphenols in submersed plants in spring in urban lake, China

The concentrations of alkylphenols (APs) were investigated in water, sediments and submersed macrophytes from the Moon Lake, Wuhan city, China. The water samples contained APs, ranging up to 26.4 mu g l(-1) for nonylphenol (NP) and 0.68 mu g l(-1) for octylphenol (OP). APs were found in the sediment samples with concentrations ranging from 4.08 to 14.8 for NP and from 0.22 to 1.25 mu g l(-1) dry weight for OP. The samples from the site near former sewage inlet showed the highest concentrations of APs in both water and sediments. The results of distribution pattern and dynamics of NP and OP in submersed macrophytes of the Moon Lake showed that the two pollutants were all found in Myriophyllum verticillatum, Elodea nuttallii, Ceratophyllum oryzetorum, and Potamageton crispus collected from the Moon Lake. For NP, M. verticillatum had the highest capacity of accumulation, followed by E. nuttallii, C. oryzetorum and P. crispus. However the distribution pattern of OP differed from that of NP, and the highest amount of accumulation was observed in E. nuttallii, followed by M. verticillatum, P. crispus, and C. oryzetorum. The temporal pattern of APs was also observed in submersed macrophytes from March to May, and the highest accumulation period was in May. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Accumulation of hepatotoxic microcystins in freshwater mussels, aquatic insect larvae and oligochaetes in a large, shallow eutrophic lake (Lake Chaohu) of subtropical China

This paper studied the seasonal changes of two common microcystins (MCs), MC-RR and -LR, in the commercially important mussel Corbicula fluminea in Lake Chaohu, where there occurred dense cyanobacteria. Occasional measurements were also made for MC in the mussel Arconaia lanceolat, the oligochaete Limnodilus hoffineisteri and the insect larva Chironomus sp. Mean MC of C. fluminea was much higher in hepatopancreas than in intestine and foot. Our study is the first to report accumulation of MCs in oligochaetes and aquatic insect larvae. The hi-h contents of MCs in the insect larvae suggest a great possibility for the transfer of MCs to benthos-feeding omnivores like common carp. According to the provisional standard by the WHO, 28.6% of the collected C. fluminea were harmful for human consumption, assuming a daily consumption of 300 by a person. It is recommended that edible mussels should not be collected for human consumption during toxic cyanobacterial blooms in Lake Chaohu.

The accumulation and metabolism of astaxanthin in Scenedesmus obliquus (chlorophyceae)

The biosynthesis and metabolism of astaxanthin in coenobium alga Scenedesmus obliquus were investigated using a two-stage culture. The first stage was for the analysis of biosynthesis and accumulation of astaxanthin in alga cells which were cultured under induction conditions (incubation at 30 degrees C and illumination of 180 mu mol m(-2) s(-1)) for 48 h. The composition of the secondary carotenoids in algal cells was analyzed and seven ketocarotenoids were identified. The results implied that S. obliquus synthesized astaxanthin from beta-carotene through three possible pathways. In the second stage, the cultures were transferred to normal conditions (incubation at 25 C and illumination of 80 mu mol m(-2) s(-1)) for 72 h. Algal cells accumulated more chlorophyll and biosynthesis of secondary carotenoids terminated, the content of secondary carotenoids decreased from 59.48 to 6.57%. The results inferred that accumulation and metabolism of astaxanthin could be controlled by cultivated conditions which also could lead the mobilization of secondary carotenoids to support the algal cell growth. The results also implied that presumed conversions from astaxanthin to lutein or antheraxanthin could be modulated by culturing conditions. (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Microcystin accumulation in freshwater bivalves from Lake Taihu, China, and the potential risk to human consumption

The potential risk through ingestion of microcystins (MC) in contaminated mollusks has not been well studied. The present paper studied seasonal changes of MC content (determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry) in various organs of three species of bivalves (Cristaria plicata, Hyriopsis cumingii, and Lamprotula leai) in Lake Taihu, China, where toxic cyanobacterial blooms occurred. Coinciding with peaks of seston MC (maximum, 5.7 mu g/L) and MC in cyanobacterial blooms (maximum, 0.534 mg/g), most organs showed sharp MC peaks during the summer, indicating both fast uptake and fast depuration by bivalves. Because hepatopancreas and intestine had considerably higher MC content than other organs, they are the most dangerous for human consumption. Both the present and previous studies show that the hepatopancreatic MC and total tissue MC often are correlated in various aquatic invertebrates. During the peak of the cyanobacterial blooms, C. plicata had higher hepatopancreatic MC content than the other bivalves, whereas H. cumingii had higher intestinal MC content than the other bivalves. Estimated daily intakes for humans from the consumption of whole tissues of the three bivalves were 0.48 to 0.94 mu g MC-LR equivalent/kg body weight (12- to 23.5-fold the tolerable daily intake value proposed by the World Health Organization), which indicates a high risk for humans consuming these bivalves.