Geochemical characterization of the fire-fountain fed deposits of Las Herrerias volcano (Campo de Calatrava Volcanic Field, Ciudad Real)

The Las Herrerias volcano (Bolanos de Calatrava, Campo de Calatrava Volcanic Field) is characterized by the great amount and variety of fire-fountain fed deposits. All these deposits are compositionally similar, being constituted by magnesium-rich (MgO = 11.58-4.19%), aluminium-poor (Al2O3 = 9.64-10.99%) highly sodic (Na2O = 2.24-3.81%) melanephelinites, with high contents in rare earth-elements (10x-200x chondrite), particularly in light-rare earth elements with respect to the heavy ones [(La/Lu)(N) = 32-35]. Contrary to the equivalent melanephelinites of this volcanic field, the relatively low contents in Ni (233-286 ppm), Cr (393-520 ppm) and magnesium number (Mg* = 45-54) indicate that these rocks do not correspond with primary melts. On the other hand, the variable distribution of clinopyroxene in the magma during eruption would be responsible for the slight compositional differences observed in the studied samples. Finally, we argue that these fire fountains were developed in a continental intraplate setting.

Avaliação do potencial remineralizante de pastas e soluções com compostos bioativos no esmalte dental bovino submetido a ciclos de desafio erosivo

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar in vitro por meio da Fluorescência de Raios X por Dispersão de Energia (XRF), Microdureza Vickers (MV) e Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura (MEV) o efeito remineralizante de diferentes princípios bioativos, tais quais, nanopartículas de hidroxiapatita de cálcio (nanoHAp) associadas ou não a fluoreto, fosfopeptídeos de caseína do leite e fosfato de cálcio amorfo (CPP-ACP) associados ou não a fluoreto, fluoreto de sódio e saliva no esmalte dental bovino submetido a ciclagem des-remineralizante simulando lesão erosiva por alto desafio ácido. Foram obtidos 58 corpos de prova (CP) a partir de 58 incisivos bovinos que foram divididos aleatoriamente em 8 grupos, com 7 CP cada um e 2 CP para obtenção de imagem em MEV do esmalte hígido. Cada grupo foi denominado conforme os respectivos tratamentos a serem utilizados. Grupo 1 (G1) Controle; Grupo 2 (G2) Desensibilize Nano P experimental (nanopartículas de hidroxiapatita de cálcio); Grupo 3 (G3) Desensibilize Nano P (nanopartículas de hidroxiapatita de cálcio e flúor); Grupo4 (G4) GC Tooth Mousse (CPP-ACP, fosfopeptídios de caseína e fosfato de cálcio amorfo Recaldent ); Grupo 5 (G5) GC Tooth Mousse Plus (CPP-ACP, fosfopeptídios de caseína e fosfato de cálcio amorfo Recaldent + 900 ppm de flúor); Grupo 6 (G6) solução aquosa de fluoreto de sódio (0,05%); Grupo 7 (G7) solução aquosa de nanopartículas de hidroxiapatita de cálcio (0,375%) e Grupo 8 (G8) solução aquosa de nanopartículas de hidroxiapatita de cálcio (0,375%) + flúor (0,05%). Foram obtidos os valores de XRF e MV antes e depois do tratamento. Durante um período experimental de 10 dias, os CPs foram submetidos a um processo cíclico de des-remineralização incluindo vários ataques diários com ácido cítrico 0,05M (pH 2,3), 6 vezes de 2 minutos ao dia, bem como as aplicações das soluções teste e períodos de remineralização em saliva artificial. O tempo entre os ciclos era de 1,5 h. Foram obtidas imagens em MEV para análise da superfície após o tratamento. Através da análise estatística pelo teste t student (p = 0,05), foram encontrados os seguintes resultados: o grupo controle teve uma desmineralização considerada severa; houve aumento na contagem de P em todos os grupos que receberam tratamento, exceto o G1, igualando ou até mesmo aumentando no caso do G5, em relação a contagem inicial; houve aumento na contagem de Ca em todos os grupos que receberam tratamento, exceto no G1, igualando ou até mesmo aumentando no caso do G4, em relação a contagem inicial; houve perda de microdureza superficial em todos os grupos; o G7 teve comportamento similar ao G1 e o G3 teve comportamento inferior ao G5 em relação ao P. E todos os outros grupos tiveram comportamento superior ao controle; o G4 e o G5 tiveram um comportamento superior ao G2 em relação ao Ca. O G5 teve comportamento superior ao G3 também em relação ao Ca e todos os grupos foram superiores ao controle; o G7 teve comportamento similar ao controle em relação a microdureza superficial e todos os outros grupos foram superiores ao controle.

Effect of diazinon 60 EC on Anabas testudineus, Channa punctatus and Barbodes gonionotus

Anabas testudineus, Channa punctatus and Barbodes gonionotus were exposed to 5.62, 6.25, 6.87, 7.50, 8.12 and 8.75 ppm; 1.13, 2.26, 3.39, 4.52, 5.65 and 6.78 ppm; and 2.00, 2.50, 3.00, 3.50, 4.00 and 4.50 ppm of Diazinon 60 EC, respectively. The median lethal concentration (LC50) values of Diazinon 60 EC on A. testudineus, C. punctatus and B. gonionotus were 6.55, 3.09 and 2.72 ppm for 96 hrs of exposure. The fish species showed several abnormal behaviors which included restlessness, arena movements, loss of equilibrium, increased opercular activities, strong spasm, paralysis and sudden quick movements during the exposure. For histopathological studies, A. testudineus, C. punctatus and B. gonionotus were exposed for 7 days to sublethal concentrations of 1.13 and 3.75 ppm; 1.13 and 2.26 ppm; and 1.13 and 2.26 ppm of Diazinon 60 EC, respectively. Hypertrophy, necrosis and pyknosis of hepatocytes, pyknosis and degenerative changes such as necrosis of tubular and haematopoietic cells of kidney were the major histopathological effects.

Avaliação de aditivos para remoção catalítica de SOx em unidades de fcc

Os óxidos de enxofre (SOx) são um dos maiores poluentes atmosféricos e um dos precursores da chuva ácida. Um levantamento feito na Petrobrás mostrou que cerca de 17% dos SOx emitidos numa refinaria são oriundos do processo de FCC. Com o avanço dos controles ambientais, traduzido numa legislação mais restritiva, a técnica de incorporação de aditivos para remoção de SOx em UFCCs apresenta-se como a alternativa de menor custo frente outras tecnologias de abate das emissões de SOx. No presente trabalho, foram estudados aditivos constituídos por compostos derivados de hidrotalcitas com a substituição parcial do magnésio e do alumínio por cobre e/ou manganês, sendo estes impregnados ou não por dióxido de cério. Estes aditivos foram submetidos a testes de desempenho em uma unidade multi-propósito acoplada a um micro-GC/TCD. Em todos os testes, a corrente gasosa para a etapa de adsorção oxidativa foi de 1700 ppm de SO2 e 1,5% O2 em He e, para a etapa de regeneração, 30% H2/He. No primeiro conjunto de testes, realizou-se uma adsorção a 720C de 10 min e regeneração com um patamar a 530C, seguido de um TPR até 800C. Observou-se que as amostras impregnadas com cério apresentaram o melhor desempenho na remoção de SO2, indicando que o cério pode ter um papel de promotor da oxidação de SO2 a SO3. Os resultados do TPR mostram que as amostras com cério e com manganês parecem apresentar menores temperaturas de redução dos sulfatos, apesar das maiores liberações de H2S serem identificadas nas amostras com cobre. No segundo conjunto de testes, a adsorção foi a 720C durante 35 min e a regeneração a 650C por 5 minutos em um patamar de 5 minutos, seguida de um TPR até 800C. Para os tempos de sulfatação curtos (5 e 10 min), os resultados confirmaram o efeito positivo que a incorporação de CeO2 apresenta sobre a adsorção oxidativa do SO2. Todavia, para tempos de reação maiores (35 min), não se observou uma correlação clara entre a composição química do catalisador e a quantidade total de SOx removida. Os aditivos foram ainda testados em ciclos de reação-regeneração em condições equivalentes ao segundo conjunto de testes descrito. De um modo geral, os aditivos que contêm cobre têm uma vida útil superior aos demais, possivelmente, pelo fato do cobre ter importante papel na regeneração do aditivo

Domoic acid contamination within eight representative species from the benthic food web of Monterey Bay, California, USA

Benthic food webs often derive a significant fraction of their nutrient inputs from phytoplankton in the overlying waters. If the phytoplankton include harmful algal species like Pseudo-nitzschia australis, a diatom capable of producing the neurotoxin domoic acid (DA), the benthic food web can become a depository for phycotoxins. We tested the general hypothesis that DA contaminates benthic organisms during local blooms of P. australis, a widespread toxin producer along the US west coast. To test for trophic transfer and uptake of DA into the benthic food web, we sampled 8 benthic species comprising 4 feeding groups: filter feeders (Emerita analoga and Urechis caupo); a predator (Citharichthys sordidus); scavengers (Nassarius fossatus and Pagurus samuelis) and deposit feeders (Neotrypaea californiensis, Dendraster excentricus and Olivella biplicata). Sampling occurred before, during and after blooms of P. australis in Monterey Bay, CA, USA during 2000 and 2001. DA was detected in all 8 species, with contamination persisting over variable time scales. Maximum DA levels in N. fossatus (674 ppm), E. analoga (278 ppm), C. sordidus (515 ppm), N. californiensis (145 ppm), P. samuelis (56 ppm), D. excentricus (15 ppm) and O. biplicata (3 ppm) coincided with P. australis blooms, while DA levels in U. caupo remained above 200 ppm (max. = 751 ppm) throughout the study period. DA in 6 species exceeded levels thought to be safe for higher level consumers (i.e. ≥20 ppm) and thus is likely to have deleterious effects on marine birds, sea lions and the endangered California sea otter, known to prey upon these benthic species.

松嫩平原南部主要耐盐碱植物群落生物生态学机制的初步探讨

本文采用野外调查分析和室内室验相结合的方法，初步探讨了松嫩平原南部主要耐盐碱植物群落形成和分布的生物生态学机制，得出如下结论： （1）土壤盐碱含量是决定耐盐碱植物群落组成和分布的主导因素。当土壤盐碱含量逐渐增大时，依次分布着虎尾草、羊草、星星草和碱蓬植物群落，并且这些植物群落的种类组成不同。虎尾草、羊草的生态幅度较广，星星草和碱蓬生态幅度较窄。 （2）在野外不同土壤条件下采集的星星草，体内脯氨酸含量有规律地变化。说明在盐碱生境下，植物通过调节体内某些生理反应来适应盐碱生境。 （3）在实验室控制条件下，研究植物对盐碱因素的反应，碱蓬、星星草、虎尾草在生理指标上表现出对盐碱生境的适应性依次减弱。这种适应特性的不同是植物群落形成和分布的主导因素。在盐碱生境下，碱蓬的发芽势、发芽率、呼吸强度、ATP含量和生长量普遍高于其它植物，有一定盐碱（500PPm Na2CO3）存在时，生命活动受促进，在较宽盐碱浓度范围（低于3000PPm Na2CO3）内，受抑制不显著，且以稀盐机制避盐，所以在高含量盐碱土上，碱蓬竞争力强，形成耐盐碱性强的碱蓬群落。星星草在一定盐碱(250 PPm Na2CO3)存在时，生命活动得到促进，在较低浓度的盐碱溶液（1000PPm Na2CO3）中，生命活动被明显抑制，且星星草以拒盐机制躲避盐的伤害，所以在较低含量的盐碱土上，生长良好，形成耐盐碱的群落，该群落耐盐碱性低于碱蓬群落。由于碱蓬和星星草生命活动要求一定量的盐碱，所以在盐碱含量很低的土壤上，生长不好，生态幅度较窄。虎尾草在盐碱存在下，生命活动受到抑制，所以虎尾草只有在盐碱含量很低的土壤上生长良好，形成虎尾草群落。由于在很宽的盐碱浓度范围内，虎尾草受抑制作用不明显，所以虎尾草在其它许多耐盐碱植物群落中，作为伴生种存在，生态幅度较宽。

A comparative study on the hatching of common carp eggs in hapa and hatchery (model CIFE D-80)

Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) eggs were incubated to study the efficiency of hatching in hapa and hatchery. During incubation the recorded temperature was 21-28 degree C and 20-31 degree C, dissolved oxygen 6-9 ppm. and 3-5 ppm., total alkalinity 180-250 ppm. and 28-62 ppm. respectively in the hatchery (model C.I.F.E. D-80) and hapa. CO sub(2) was totally absent in the hatchery, but recorded 3-10 ppm. in the hapa. The flow of water was maintained at 1.25 l/minute/jar in the hatchery. Under the above environmental conditions the eggs hatched in 42-51 hrs. in the hatchery and 61-81 hrs. in the hapa from egg to spawn thereby establishing the hatchery to be a better hatching system for carp eggs.

Acute effect of sumithion on certain blood parameters and mortality rate of fish, Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch)

The acute toxic effect of the toxicant sumithion (50% E.C.) on mortality rate (after 24, 48, 72, and 96 h), total RBC count and haemoglobin content (after 48 and 72 h) on Heteropneustes fossilis was investigated at four concentrations (9.7, 10.7 and 11.1 ppm). The sumithion treated fishes showed lower RBC and Hb levels than the untreated ones. A gradual decrease in the total RBC counts and Hb contents was recorded with increasing concentration of toxicant after 72 h but the blood showed fluctuating values after 48 h of treatment.

Studies on the status of pollution in certain estuarine areas in Kakinada

The BOD levels and saprotrophication of 2 stations in an estuarine habitat at Kakinada India, was studied during one full tidal cycle. Both the stations were found to be heavily polluted by sewage with BOD values ranging between 10.8 and 12.8 ppm at the commercial canal (station 1) and between 4.8 and 8.8 ppm at the mangrove creek (station 2). Tides did not seem to have much influence on the dilution of the pollutants. Based on planktonic indicator species observed and saprobity index which worked out to be 2.75, both the sampling areas are considered as heavily polluted alpha-mesosaprobic zones.

Toxicity of methyl amine on Catla catla (Ham) fingerlings

The toxicity of methyl amine was studied by finding out its LC 50 values for Catla catla fingerlings. On the basis of LC 50 values, the harmless concentration of methyl amine was found to be 12.8 ppm. This indicates that methyl amine is fairly toxic to C. catla fingerlings and needs care for its disposal in aquatic environment.

Hydrological studies of Matatilla Reservoir, Uttar Pradesh

Matatilla Reservoir, located in semi arid region, (Lat. 25 degree 15'N and Long. 78 degree 23'E) has an area (at FRL) of 13,893 ha, volume and shore development 0.663 and 1.65, shoreline 73.6 km. Volume and shore development indicate that greater part of the reservoir is shallow, which is a favourable point for fish productivity. Temperature and dissolved oxygen gradually decreased with the increase in depth. Carbon dioxide was absent from the surface but invariably present in the bottom (3.6 ppm) pH remained alkaline (7.2-8.4 ppm) throughout the year. Alkalinity, chloride, calcium, magnesium, hardness and priductivity was maximum in pre-monsoon and minimum in monsoon except for calcium and manganesium in post-monsoon. Phosphate, nitrogen and ammonical nitrogen were found in traces. These variations may be due to influx and outflow of water and use of reservoir water for multipurpose activities.

Effect of aureomycin on the behaviour of certain free amino acids in oil sardine (Sardinella longiceps) held in ice storage

The course of development of a few free amino acids under the influence of aureomycin in oil sardine (Sardinella lingiceps) held in ice storage was investigated. The levels of leucines and valine regularly increased in the control and aureomycin treated fush throughout the storage period. Alanines and threonine showed similar trend in both control and fish treated with 20ppm aureomycin. These amino acids however showed a gradual fall in fish treated at 5 ppm level. The changes in tyrosine+tryptophane were found to be irregular. Most of the amino acids studied indicated a remarkable change in trend by about the 16th day of ice storage in the case of fish treated with 50ppm aureimycin.

Preliminary trials on the toxicity of "Algistat" to fish and algae

Preliminary toxicity trials conducted with "Algistat" (an algicide) indicated that a dose of 0,66ppm of the compound was highly toxic to fish and 0.8ppm was the general lethal level for Spirogyra sp. The blue green algae, Oscillatoria sp., Mycrocystis sp. and Anabaena sp. were adversely affected by dosages higher than 0.5 ppm Euglena sp. was not affected even at 1.0 ppm.

Studies on blackening of canned prawns. Pt. 1. Influence of copper and iron on product blackening

A linear relationship was observed between the copper content and intensity of blackening in commercially canned prawn meat. Average copper and iron contents of non-blackened canned prawn meat were 9.6 and 32.5 ppm on dry weight basis respectively. In the blackened product copper content ranged from 15.8 to 63.9 ppm and iron content between 43.7 and 71.45 ppm depending on the intensity of blackening. But incorporation of copper in the above range to experimental cans produced blackening while iron up to 250 ppm did not impart any blackening under standard conditions of canning.

Toxicity of four therapeutic compounds to fry of Indian major carps

Toxicity of four therapeutic compounds: sodium chloride, potassium permanganate, potassium dichromate and acriflavine to fry of Catla calla, Labeo rohita and Cirrhinus mrigala was tested. Bioassays were conducted in 5 and 10 liters glass jars in the laboratory for periods of 24-48 hrs. at temperatures of 26° and 32°C. LC 50 values of the chemicals were in the ranges of 5500 to 7500 ppm, 37.5 to 48 ppm, 92.5 to 125 ppm and 47.5 to 80 ppm respectively. The results obtained are of value in evolving cheap control methods against some common fish diseases. Sodium chloride and acriflavine can be widely used for chemotherapy and potassium dichromate is preferable to potassium permanganate for prophylaxis.