全新世渤海泥质区的沉积物物质组成特征及其环境意义

本文通过对渤海泥质区不同位置岩芯的粒度、矿物、化学元素等方面的分析，结合浅地层地震剖面、AMS 14C测年、微体古生物分析、稳定同位素测量、古地磁数据等，对全新世渤海泥质区中沉积物物质组成特征、物质来源、形成历史其环境响应进行了探讨。 结果显示，在早全新世期间黄河曾流经渤海南部，其携带泥沙对渤海沉积作用造成一定影响，但不同位置沉积环境及所受黄河影响的大小存在差异。 渤海泥质区的主体部分从约6000 aBP开始形成。当时沉积记录存在突变现象，不仅显示了沉积环境氧化还原条件的改变，而且温度与盐度值的变化以及沉积速率的明显偏高以及浮游有孔虫的出现说明本区开始受到黄海暖流余脉的影响。4500 aBP以来，沉积物中重矿物组合、化学成分等与黄河沉积物已较为接近，说明此时黄河物质对渤海泥质沉积的影响已经占据主导地位。渤海泥质区虽然有着离黄河口较近的特点，但并未出现明显高于陆架其它泥质沉积区的沉积速率，说明受输运机制控制，黄河物质向泥质区的输送量不大，远不如向黄海的输出量。 北部记录着全新世期间发生的两次地磁极漂移，分别发生于2800~3100 aBP（对应Starno事件）和7500~8200 aBP。漂移发生前后，气候、物质来源与海平面均有较大变化，说明地磁极漂移对气候有着重要影响。

冲绳海槽黑潮流域近4万年以来的古海洋环境演化

本文采用取自冲绳海槽的91个站位的表层样品和2个柱状岩芯，通过微体古生物有孔虫分析、氧碳同位素测试、AMS~(14)C测年、沉积物粒度和地球化学分析，探讨了现代生物群落、表层沉积物氧同位素与现代海洋环境之间的关系，进而对冲绳海槽区域近4万年来的古海洋环境和古黑潮演化进行了详细的研究。表层沉积物中的浮游有孔虫氧同位素与现代海洋环境之间的关系密切，浮游有孔虫从G.ruber到G.sacculifer到N.dutertrei其δ~(18)O值由轻变重，表明三种有孔虫其生活水层依次由浅到深。在横穿海槽的剖面上浮游有孔虫δ~(18)O在近陆端因受冲淡小影响较强而变轻，而在东侧站位，受黑潮暖流或其支流的影响氧同位素同样有变轻的趋势。N. dutertrei和G.ruber的氧同位素差值表明了冲绳海槽北部区域黑潮支流对表层水体的影响要大于次表层水体，而在冲绳海槽南部区域，黑潮暖流对次表层水体有相对较强的影响。冲绳海槽南部表层沉积物中的浮游有孔虫整体上属于赤道区组合，溶解作用对该区的浮游有孔虫群落有显的影响，冲绳海槽北部区浮游有孔虫组合对具有温带群落的特征。浮游有孔虫分布与海洋环境密切相关，南北区的浮游有孔虫分布都明显受暖流的影响，在暖流的主流轴处浮游有孔虫丰度通常较高。冲绳海槽具有相对较浅的碳酸盐溶跃面，浮游有孔虫丰度和底栖有孔虫深水胶结壳的含量都进一步表明了该区碳酸钙溶跃面大约在1700 m水深左右，比开放大洋明显要浅得多。表层沉积物中的底栖有孔虫主要受水深和水团等因素的制约。水深制约着有孔虫属种的分带，也影响底栖有孔虫的组合。根据Q型因子分析，冲绳海槽南部表层沉积物中的底栖有孔虫从陆架连缘到海槽底部可以划分为5个特定的组合，分别对应黑潮表层水和次层水影响环境、黑潮中层水影响环境、溶跃面以上的黑潮深层水影响环境、黑潮底层水团影响环境和溶解作用较强的槽底环境；北部区的底栖有孔虫群落反映了四个组合，分别代表了陆架混合水团影响环境、黑潮暖流中层水影响环境、冷涡沉积和上升流区影响环境以及对马暖流水团影响下的环境。以氧同位素曲线为基础，结合AMS~(14)C测年和生物地层学对柱状岩芯进行了地层划分和对比，E107孔记录了冰消期以来大约15,000 a来的古环境演化记录，具有较高的沉积速率，DOC－42孔保存在主要是末冰期中40－10ka BP期间的古环境沉积记录，沉积物记录的分辨率相对较低。浮游有孔虫有碎壳比和底栖有孔虫深海胶结壳含量表明了现代冲绳海槽的浅溶跃面是大约最近2000 a BP才开始突然变浅形成的，碳酸盐的溶解作用从冰消期到现在逐增强。冲绳海槽南部E107孔的底栖有孔虫组合把映了15,000 a来的底层水团具有两种完全不同的营养状况，约6500 a BP以前有机质通量较高，6500 a BP以后有机质通量则明显降低。DOC－42孔的底栖有孔虫组合反映该区约4万年以来的底部水团演化主要受有机质通量和氧含量的共同制约，氧同位素3期主要为高有机质通量的沉积环境，伴随有氧含量水平的较大波动；氧同位素2期有机质通量有所降低，氧含量整体为中等水平；氧同位素1期早期义部水体则较高氧含量为主。浮游有孔虫温跃层转换函数反映了冲绳海槽中部的温跃层在约13100 a BP有一个明显的变化，在这之前产温跃层深度较浅，平均89 m，而在该时间以后，温跃层平均深度变为166 m。此外在160 cm处和100 cm的温跃层深度的两次明显的降低，分别对应于新仙女木事件和黑潮暖流的重新入侵，表明这两个事件导致了海洋上层水体结构的突然变化。冲绳海槽北部浮游有孔虫转换函数古温度和浮游有孔虫的低温、低盐特征种反映了在氧同位素3期早期约40000a BP和氧同位素2期间存在两个明显的低温、低盐阶段，可能与沿岸水在该期间加强有关。其中氧同位素3期早期的表层海水古水温比末次冰期还要低，反映了区域海洋环境的重大变化。冲绳海槽南部E107孔的沉积物粒度、地球化学特征、黑潮特征指示种、表层古水温以及底层水团的性质在6500 a BP左右发生了重大的改变，与冲绳海槽南部的其他岩芯反映的古环境化基本一致，表明了南部海槽在6500 a BP前后古黑潮流径发生了重大变化。而冲绳海槽北部区域2万年以来的古环境则与南部有明显差异，总结前人对冲绳海槽古黑潮流径的研究，笔者对未次冰盛期古黑潮流径提出了新的推测。

基于EDDL和FDT的设备描述技术研究及开发

化程度的不断提高，在过程控制的现场对设备的种类要求越来越广泛。在这种情况下，大量不同厂商不同类型的设备应用到实际现场中。由此带来的设备配置工作越来越烦索。电子设备描述技术（EDD）和现场设备类型管理技术（FDT/DTM）的出现解决了这个问题。EDDL是描述电子（仪表）设备的语言，是各个不同设备进行互操作的基础。EDDL提供了一整套可裁剪的基本结构元素，用于对简单、复杂或模块化的设备进行描述。EDD是一种统一的、独立于平台的设备操作的基础。FDT/DTM技术是基于软件的设备集成解决方案，采用具有统一接口规范的FDT框架和DTM软件组件，其基本思想是提供标准的方法来管理现场设备。国内外对这两种技术的研究和技术推广逐年升温，研究开发具有自主知识产权的解决方案具有十分重要的意义。本文通过深入研究协议，掌握其关键技术，实现其实际的应用，并开发相应的软件。 介绍了两种协议的原理及应用设计实现过程。根据对协议的研究以及国内外相关应用现状的分析提出设备集成方案设计的思路，以达到实际工程应用的目的。详细介绍了EDD协议与FDT/DTM协议的主要机制，包括设备描述语言、描述方法、编译解释原理、组件技术、COM/ActiveX控件、组件通信等。并以博微公司生产的变送器为例，实现了设备集成的具体应用，包括基于EDDL技术的压力变送器与AMS和PDM集成、基于FDT技术的与美名fdtContainer集成。详细描述了设备集成的原理、集成的方案、设备描述文件的编写、设备DTM的开发等。

渤海湾地区末次冰期古环境

The loess-paleosol sequence in China is one of the best archives for studying paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic processes. The loess deposits in the coast of the Bohai Sea are suitable for the study of aridification in the northern China during glacial periods (fig.2-1). In this paper, stratigraphy was correlated by using magnetic susceptibility, grain size, and thermoluminence (TL) and accelerater mass spectrometer (AMS) ~(14)C ages. Based on the loess records, an interpretation has been made for paleoenvironmental changes on the coast of the Bohai Sea during the last glacials. The results of magnetic susceptibility, grain size, biostratigraphy, TL and ~(14)C dating, suggest that the loess-paleosol sequence in the coast of the Bohai Sea is discontinuous. The loess deposits correlated with the marine δ~(18)O stage 2 are usually absent in some profiles. Also, the thickness of the loess deposits in the same period varied significantly in different sections. In the coast of the Bohai Sea, the higher magnetic susceptibility corresponds to the finer grain size, consistent with the results of the Loess Plateau. It is indicated that the changes in magnetic susceptibility and grain size may record the paleoclimatic fluctuations of the last glacial. Although the loess deposits during the last glacial have been slightly altered by slope runoff, they have still remained main characters as the representative loess deposits of the Loess Plateau. During the last glacial, the less accumulation rate in the coast of the Bohai Sea is similar to that of the desert-loess transition zone in the northwestern Loess Plateau, and the all section contain high concentrations of sand (>60μm), indicate that the aridification in the Bohai Sea occurred during the glacial. But the changes in sand content of loess deposits along a north-south transect of the Bohai Sea and the changes of magnetic susceptibility implicate that desertification might not occur in the shelf of the Bohai Sea during the last glacial. The frequent fluctuations of summer monsoon during the marine δ~(18)O stage 4 are demonstrated by magnetic susceptibility, frequency-dependent susceptibility and the abundance of foraminifera. 46 genera, 71 species of foraminifera were identified from 138 loess samples. Almost all of the foraminifera are present in the last glacial loess, but the distribution patterns of foraminifera show significant temporal changes. The results of magnetic susceptibility, grain size and XRD indicate that not only sea-level changes had influences on foraminifera abundance, but also variations in sediment flux by rivers when sea-level drops might control the abundance of foraminifera. In addition, the diversity and exquitability of the foraminifera suggest that the frequent fluctuations of foraminifera fossil abundance during the marine δ~(18)O stages could be partly attributed to leaching. In summary, the changes in foraminifera of abundance related to the paleoclimatic variations, and the aridification extends to the coast of the eastern China during the last glacial.

陇西盆地晚第三纪风尘沉积的地层学研究

In Asia, the significant environment changes in Cenozoic include: uplift of Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau, formation Asian monsoon system, Aridification in Central Asia. One of major advances in recent studies of eolian deposit on the Loess Plateau is the verification of the eolian origin for the Late Tertiary Hipparion Red-Earth (also called red-Clay) underlying the Quaternary loess. Thus, the Late Tertiary eolian deposit, which has been proven a nearly continuous terrestrial record and sensitive to climate change, provides us an important archive to understand these above Cenozoic environment events. The deposit in eastern Loess Plateau has been extensively studied, while the property and age of deposit underlying the Quaternary loess in western plateau remains unclear. In this paper, detail investigations were made on the Sedimentology, geochemistry of Longxi section, a typical section in western Loess Plateau, to address its origin, and on micromammalian fossils and magnetostratigraphy to address its age. The main conclusions are presented as following: 1. The sedimentological and geochemical properties in Longxi section are highly similar to typical Quaternary eolian deposit in Loess Plateau. Nearly 100 paleosols are recognized in the field, and the grain size are very fine with the median grain size centered at 4～7μm. There is a good agreement of both major and trace element compositions between Longxi deposit and the Quaternary Loess. The REE distribution patterns of Longxi deposit and the Quaternary loess are remarkably similar in shape, with enrichment LREE and fairly flat HREE profiles and clear negative Eu anomaly. The mangnetic minerals in Longxi deposit are mainly magnetite, hematite and maghematite, which are similar to those of the Hipparion Red-Earth and Quaternary Loess. The major difference among them is that the samples from Longxi section contain more hematite. The characteristics of anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) in Longxi deposit is highly consistent with that of Quaternary loess, while values of the major AMS parameters, e.g. anisotropy degree, magnetic foliation and lineation, are significantly lower than those of fluvial and lake deposits. These evidences indicate an eolian origin for the sediment. 2. An investigation of micromammalian fossils was firstly carried out for determining the approximate age of the sequence because of lack of materials for accurate isotope dating. Three fossil assemblages were obtained which indicate a chronological range from the Middle Miocene to Late Miocene. The magnetostratigraphical study suggests that it is a near continuous terrestrial record for the period from 13.23 to 6.23 MaB.P. The obtained chronology is highly consistent with fossils assemblages. This section is the oldest eolian deposit presently known in Loess Plateau. 3. The magnetic susceptibly value is high in paleosols than in surrounded weak-weathered layers, which suggests that it may be a climate index on orbital time scale. While it cannot be used as a proxy to address the long-term, change of climate on tectonic time scale, as content of the magnetic minerals is highly variable in different parts of the section. 4. The appearance of Middle Miocene eolian deposit in the Loess Plateau marks the strengthening of aridification of Central Asia. The high degree of similarity between the geochemical properties of Longxi eolian deposit, Hipparion Red-Earth and Quaternary loess a suggests that a rather similar source provenance. The dust accumulation rate (DAR) of Longxi section, which is widely used as a proxy to document the aridity in source areas in marine and terrestrial record studies, recorded the aridity condition in northwestern China over a period from Middle Miocene to Late Miocene. The DAR of the section shows that the continent aridity remains moderate and relative stable over that period.

库车坳陷第三纪磁性地层和磁组构的研究

The Tertiary Kuche depression, also known as one of the most economically important oil and gas prospecting regions in the Tarim Basin, is a foreland basin formed by flexural subsidence resulting from the southward thrusting of the southern Tianshan. Detailed geological and geophysical studies on the Tertiary sequence of the Kuche region would provide constraints not only on the Mesozoic and Cenozoic deformation patterns, and its controlling on the formation and distribution of oil and gas of the Kuche depression, but also on the India-Asia postcollisional uplift and continental deformation of the Tianshan regions. In this thesis, the Tertiary sequence of the Kuche depression, which is composed of the upper Kumukeliemu Formation, Suweiyi Formation, Jidike Formation, Kangcun Formation, and Kuche Formation, was selected for magnetostratigraphic and anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) study. Among a total of 697 collected sites, 688 sites gave magnetic fabric results and 686 sites yielded reliable paleomagnetic results, building up magenetostratigraphy for the Tertiary sequence of the Kuche depression. By correlating with international geomagnetic polarity timescale, the followings were concluded: 1) the time interval of the sampling sections is some 31-8.1 Ma; 2) the boundaries for Kangcun/Jidike Formations, Jidike/Suweiyi Formations, and Suweiyi/Kumukeliemu Formations are at about 13.5 Ma, 26 Ma and 29 Ma respectively; 3) the Jidike Formation might be formed in an interval between the late Upper Oligocene and middle Miocene, whereas the Suweiyi Formation was formed in the Upper Oligocene, in turn, the Paleogene/Neogene boundary is most likely to be at the bottom of the Jidike Formation in the Kuche depression; 4) the dramatic transition from the marine/lacustrine to fluvial/alluvial facies in the Suweiyi Formation and the lower Jidike Formation of the Kuche depression, which may indicate the initiation of Cenozoic thrusting in the Kuche depression, is probably occurred in the late Oligocene, i.e. at about 28-25 Ma. On the other hand, systematic differences of the AMS parameters, such as the corrected anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility, shape parameter of ellipsoids, q factors, angles between the intermediate and minimum magnetic susceptibility directions and bedding, indicate that a dramatic transition of tectonic strain is most likely to occur at about 16 Ma (middle Miocene) in the Kuche depression. Taking into account the initiation o f C enozoic thrusting in the Kuche d epression i s at about 2 8-25 M a, we argue that the intensive Cenozoic thrusting in the Kuche depression is mainly happened during a period between the late Oligocene to middle Miocene.

中国黄土的磁组构特征及其古风向指示意义

The transportation and deposition of eolian materials of Chinese loess is correlated and effected by the monsoon from the mid-high latitude. Therefore study of the winter monsoon evolution can help us to understand the dynamic mechanism to climate changes in the east-Asian areas. The anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) measurements have been carried out on the samples from the last 250ka wind -blown loess-paleosol sequences at Baicaoyuan and Luochuan. And the main conclusions are following:The magnetic foliation is almost horizontal of the two sections. AMS canthus be represented by an oblate ellipsoid with average K3 perpendicular to thebedding plane and Ki within the bedding plane. It has also shown that the ^-factor isless than 0.5 of the majority of samples. So the two sections are normal magneticfabric for sediments.The degree of anisotropy always shows a strong correlation with the foliationrather than with lineation, therefore the anisotropy is controlled by the foliation.Furthermore the foliation is nearly less than 1.02 and shows the typical wind-blownsediments anisotropy.The intensity of winter monsoon, grain size of the eolian inputs, the foliationand the degree of anisotropy are somewhat inter-related. Generally, the higherintensity of the winter monsoon will carry coarser-grained eolian material, therebyresulting in a larger foliation during deposition. Also the post-depositional compactioncontributes to the anisotropy.The AMS features between loess and paleosol are somewhat different. Wefound that the F, P values of paleosol are lower than that of its parent loess respectively. Moreover, the difference does also exists between the two sections. The anisotropy of Baicaoyuan is more significant than Luochuan section, which maybe related with the location and the intensity of the post-deposition reworks.5. We note that the declination of the long axis is NWW in Baicaoyuan section and the observed NWW direction of the winter monsoon winds based on AMS is consistent with the view that the winter monsoons prevail along the NW-SE direction. But at the Luochuan section, because of the strong affection of the post-deposition reworks, the direction of the long axis is nearly random in the foliation and hardly recognizes the paleowind direction since the last two interglacials.Correlation between the two loess-paleosol sequences implies that it is available in arid or semi-arid areas to take AMS to recognize the paleowind directions on the Loess Plateau.

我国部分南极陨石的分类和宇宙成因核素10Be和26Al的研究

随着我国南极陨石的大量回收，对陨石的研究也越来越深入。本文主要对我国部分南极陨石和沙漠陨石开展了三方面的工作：（1）我国部分南极陨石的分类；（2）陨石中宇宙成因核素10Be和26Al的化学分离、纯化实验；（3）我国部分南极陨石和沙漠陨石的全岩化学组成分析和宇宙成因核素10Be和26Al的初步研究。 1、我国部分南极陨石的分类研究 通过对我国19次南极科考队回收的4448块陨石中24块南极普通球粒陨石的矿物、岩石分析，将这24块陨石化学－岩石类型进行了划分，分别为1个H3型（GRV 021603）、2个H4型（GRV 020200和GRV 021493）、4个H5型（GRV 020048、GRV 020078、GRV 020129和GRV 020236）、2个H6型（GRV 020075和GRV 020226）、1个L4型（GRV 021563）、8个L5型（GRV 020047、GRV 020283、GRV 020297、GRV 021547、GRV 021547、GRV 021581、GRV 021615和GRV 023771）、5个L6型（GRV 020103、GRV 020155、GRV 021505、GRV 021711和GRV 022171）、1个LL4型（GRV 020029）和1个LL6型（GRV 021496）。在此基础上，将我国的南极陨石和美国的南极陨石进行了类型和质量分布模型的对比。结果表明，我国南极陨石比美国南极陨石具有相对高的L群丰度；我国的南极陨石质量分布模型与美国南极陨石一致。 2、陨石中宇宙成因核素10Be和26Al的化学分离、纯化实验 在前人关于陨石中宇宙成因核素10Be和26Al的分离方法基础上，通过多次模拟样品的分离实验，成功地将陨石中Be和Al进行了分离、纯化。并且进一步改善了前人的分离方法，将Be的淋洗液由原来的120ml减少为90ml。在此基础上，用空白样品和吉林陨石的硅酸盐样品对整个化学分离实验进行了检验，并将所获得的BeO和Al2O3粉末用加速器质谱（AMS）进行了10Be和26Al的测试。根据所测定的10Be和26Al数据，计算得到吉林陨石的暴露年龄为0.52Ma，这一结果与前人所获得的吉林陨石第二阶段的暴露年龄0.4Ma接近。这一结果再次证明了陨石中宇宙成因核素10Be和26Al的分离流程是成功的，同时也说明本次所测的吉林陨石样品为吉林陨石第二阶段暴露辐射的样品。 3、我国部分南极陨石和沙漠陨石的全岩化学组成分析以及宇宙成因核素10Be和26Al的初步研究 对我国13块南极陨石和3块沙漠陨石进行了全岩化学成分的分析，其结果进一步证明了这些陨石由岩石、矿物分析所划分的类型的正确性。在这些陨石类型和全岩分析的基础上，对它们进行了宇宙成因核素10Be和26Al的初步分析。得到其中4块南极陨石和2块沙漠陨石的暴露年龄和居地年龄，这些陨石暴露年龄的范围为2.09－3.05Ma，居地年龄为0－0.23Ma。

Climatologia do estado de Alagoas.

A região Nordeste apresenta clima semiárido associado a uma vegetação xerófita em cerca de 50% do seu território. Estudos sobre o clima indicam que fenômenos do tipo El Niño - Oscilação Sul (ENOS) e circulação geral da atmosfera seriam os responsáveis pela ocorrência de baixos totais pluviométricos. O Estado de Alagoas, em função da sua localização na região Nordeste, tem como principais características climáticas as irregularidades da precipitação pluviométrica e a pouca variação sazonal da radiação solar, do fotoperíodo e da temperatura do ar. A proximidade da linha do Equador é um fator que condiciona um número elevado de horas de incidência de sol por ano e índices acentuados de evapotranspiração.O Estado de Alagoas, em função da sua localização na região Nordeste, tem como principais características climáticas as irregularidades da precipitação pluviométrica e a pouca variação sazonal da radiação solar, do fotoperíodo e da temperatura do ar. A proximidade da linha do Equador é um fator que condiciona um número elevado de horas de incidência de sol por ano e índices acentuados de evapotranspiração.Em todo o estado não há grandes oscilações da temperatura média do ar, variando, no litoral, entre 23°C e 28°C, e no sertão, entre 17°C e 33°C. As condições térmicas da região Nordeste, de forma geral, não possuem importantes variações no decorrer do ano. Nas áreas de altitudes mais elevadas, em contato com as encostas do Planalto da Borborema e mais expostas aos ventos de Sudeste, as temperaturas médias do ar são mais amenas, em torno de 21ºC a 23ºC.De acordo com a classificação de Köppen, toda a metade oriental do estado possui clima do tipo As?, ou seja, tropical e quente com chuvas de outono/ inverno, com precipitação pluviométrica média anual entre 1.000 mm a 1.500 mm. Porém, parte do leste alagoano, próximo à divisa com o Estado de Pernambuco, possui clima Ams?, tropical com chuvas de outono a inverno e médias pluviométricas anuais entre 1.500 mm a 2.200 mm. Por outro lado, a metade ocidental do estado, que corresponde ao agreste e sertão, apresenta condições semiáridas, com clima BSh, isto é, seco e quente, com precipitação pluviométrica média anual no Sertão entre 400 mm a 600 mm e no agreste de 600 mm a 900 mm.

The lack of associations between alleles at the hypoxia-Inducible factor 1A C1772T loci and responses to acute hypoxia.

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between alleles of the hypoxia-inducible factor 1A (HIF1A) C1772T polymorphism and several physiological responses to hypoxia, including the hypoxic ventilatory response (HVR), and serum erythropoietin (EPO), arterial oxygen saturation (Sao2), and acute mountain sickness (AMS) responses during 8 hours of exposure to normobaric hypoxia. Methods A total of 76 males participated in the study; 52 participants completed an 8-hour exposure to 12.7% oxygen, during which time Sao2, EPO concentrations, and AMS scores were measured, while 62 individuals took part in an HVR trial (in total 38 individuals completed both protocols). DNA was obtained from leukocytes, and a 346-bp fragment of the HIF1A gene containing the C1772T polymorphism was amplified using polymerase chain reaction. Fragments were sequenced to reveal individual genotypes, and the associations between HIF1A genotype and EPO, Sao2, AMS responses to hypoxia and HVR were examined. Results The magnitude of the hypoxic responses was highly variable between individuals. The increase in participants' EPO responses ranged from 89% to 388% of baseline values following hypoxia, while Sao2 values during the exposure ranged from 71% to 89%. The HVR ranged from −0.04 to +2.18 L · min−1 · Sao2%−1 among participants. No significant differences in EPO, Sao2, AMS, or HVR results were observed between the HIF1A CC genotype and the combined CT/TT genotype group. Conclusion In this study, the HIF1A C1772T polymorphism does not appear to influence EPO, Sao2, or AMS responses during acute hypoxic exposure, or the magnitude of the HVR.

An evaluation of orogenic kinematic evolution utilizing crystalline and magnetic anisotropy in granitoids

The Silurian-Devonian Galway Granite Complex (GGC ~425-380Ma) is defined here as a suite of granitoid plutons that comprise the Main Galway Granite Batholith and the Earlier Plutons. The Main Batholith is a composite of the Carna Pluton in the west and the Kilkieran Pluton in the east and extends from Galway City ~130km to the west. The Earlier Plutons are spatially, temporally and structurally distinct, situated northwest of the Main Batholith and include the Roundstone, Omey, Inis and Letterfrack Plutons. The majority of isotopic and structural data currently available pertain to the Kilkieran Pluton, several tectonic models have already been devised for this part of the complex. These relate emplacement of the Kilkieran Pluton to extension across a large east-west Caledonian lineament, i.e. the Skird Rocks Fault, during late Caledonian transtension. No chronological data have been published that directly and accurately date the emplacement of the Carna Pluton or any of the Earlier Plutons. There is also a lack of data pertaining to the internal structure of these intrusions. Accordingly, no previous study has established the mechanisms of emplacement for the Earlier Plutons and only limited work is available for the Carna Pluton. As a consequense of this, constituents of the GGC have not previously been placed in a context relative to each other or to regional scale Silurio-Devonian kinematics. The current work focuses on the Omey, Roundstone and Carna Plutons. Here, results of detailed field and Anisotropy of Magnetic Susceptibiliy (AMS) fabric studies are presented. This work is complemented by geological mapping that focuses on fault dynamics and contact relationships. Interpretation of AMS data is aided by rock magnetic experiment data and petrographic microstructural evaluations of representative samples. A new geological map of the the Omey Pluton demonstrates that this intrusion has a defined roof and base which are gently inclined parallel to the fold hinge of the Connemara Antiform. AMS and petrographic data show the intrusion is cross cut by NNW-SSE shear zones that extend into the country rock. These pre-date and were active during magma emplacement. It is proposed that the Omey pluton was emplaced as a discordant phacolith. Pre-existing subvertical D5 faults in the host rock were reactived during emplacement, due to regional sinistral transpression, and served as centralised ascent conduits. A central portion of the Roundstone Pluton was mapped in detail for the first time. Two facies are identified, G1 forms the majority of the pluton and coeval G2 sheets cross cut G1 at the core of the pluton. NNW-SSE D5 faults mapped in the country rock extend across the pluton. These share a geometrical relationship with the distribution of submagmatic strain in the pluton and parallel the majoity of mapped subvertical G2 dykes. These data indicate that magma ascent was controlled by NNW-SSE conduits that are inherently related to those identifed in the Omey Pluton. It is proposed that the Roundstone Pluton is a punched laccolith, the symmetry and structure of which was controlled by pre-exising host rock structures and regional sinistral transpressive stress which presided during emplacement. Field relationships show the long axis of the Carna Pluton lies parallel to mulitple NNW-SSE shear zones. These are represented on a regional scale by the Clifden-Mace Fault which cross cuts the core of this intrusion. AMS and petrographic data show concentric emplacement fabrics were tectonically overprinted as magma cooled from the magmatic state due to this faulting. It is proposed that the Clifden-Mace Fault system was active during ascent and emplacement of the magma and that pluton inflation only terminated as this controlling structure went into compression due to the onset of regional transtension. U-Pb zircon laser ablation inductively coupled mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) data has been compiled from four sample sites. New geochronological data from the Roundstone Pluton (RD1 = ± 3.2Ma) represent the oldest age determination obtained from any member of the GGC and demonstrates that this pluton predates the Carna Pluton by ~10Ma and probably intruded synchronously with the Omey Pluton (~422.5 ± 1.7Ma). Chronological data from the Carna Pluton (CN2 = 412.9 ± 2.5Ma; CN3 = 409.8 ± 7.2Ma; CN4 = 409.6 ± 3.6Ma) represent the first precise magma crystallisation age for this intrusion. This work shows this pluton is 10Ma older than the Kilkieran Pluton and that the supply of magma into the Carna Pluton had terminated by ~409Ma. Chronological, magnetic and field data have been utilised to evaluate the kinematic evolution of the Caledonides of western Ireland throughout the construction of the GGC. It is proposed that the GGC was constructed during four distinct episodes. The style of emplacement and the conduits used for magma transport to the site of emplacement was dependent on the orientation of local structures relative to the regional ambiant stress field. This philosophy is used to critically evaluate and progress existing hypotheses on the transition from regional transpression to regional transtension at the end of the Caledonian Orogeny.

Application of semi-automated strain analysis techniques and anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility in fold and thrust belts

Quantitative analysis of penetrative deformation in sedimentary rocks of fold and thrust belts has largely been carried out using clast based strain analysis techniques. These methods analyse the geometric deviations from an original state that populations of clasts, or strain markers, have undergone. The characterisation of these geometric changes, or strain, in the early stages of rock deformation is not entirely straight forward. This is in part due to the paucity of information on the original state of the strain markers, but also the uncertainty of the relative rheological properties of the strain markers and their matrix during deformation, as well as the interaction of two competing fabrics, such as bedding and cleavage. Furthermore one of the single largest setbacks for accurate strain analysis has been associated with the methods themselves, they are traditionally time consuming, labour intensive and results can vary between users. A suite of semi-automated techniques have been tested and found to work very well, but in low strain environments the problems discussed above persist. Additionally these techniques have been compared to Anisotropy of Magnetic Susceptibility (AMS) analyses, which is a particularly sensitive tool for the characterisation of low strain in sedimentary lithologies.

Quaternary geology of the German North Sea and Western Irish Sea Mud Belt: revised stratigraphies, geotechnical properties, sedimentology and anthropogenic impacts

The climatic development of the Mid to Late Quaternary (last 400,000 years) is characterised by fluctuation between glacial and interglacial periods leading to the present interglacial, the Holocene. In comparison to preceding periods it was believed the Holocene represented a time of relative climatic stability. However, recent work has shown that the Holocene can be divided into cooler periods such as the Little Ice Age alternating with time intervals where climatic conditions ameliorated i.e. Medieval Warm Period, Holocene Thermal Optimum and the present Modern Optimum. In addition, the Holocene is recognised as a period with increasing anthropogenic influence on the environment. Onshore records recording glacial/interglacial cycles as well as anthropogenic effects are limited. However, sites of sediment accumulation on the shallow continental shelf offer the potential to reconstruct these events. Such sites include tunnel valleys and low energy, depositional settings. In this study we interrogated the sediment stratigraphy at such sites in the North Sea and Irish Sea using traditional techniques, as well as novel applications of geotechnical data, to reconstruct the palaeoenvironmental record. Within the German North Sea sector a combination of core, seismic and in-situ Cone Penetration Testing (CPT) data was used to identify sedimentary units, place them within a morphological context, relate them to glacial or interglacial periods stratigraphically, and correlate them across the German North Sea. Subsequently, we were able to revise the Mid to Late Quaternary stratigraphy for the North Sea using this new and novel data. Similarly, Holocene environmental changes were investigated within the Irish Sea at a depositional site with active anthropogenic influence. The methods used included analyses on grain-size distribution, foraminifera, gamma spectrometry, AMS 14C and physical core logging. The investigation revealed a strong fluctuating climatic signal early in the areas history before anthropogenic influence affects the record through trawling.

Antimicrobial stewardship in Ireland, with a focus on long term care facilities

Background: Antimicrobial resistance is a major public health concern, and its increasing incidence in the Long Term Care Facility (LTCF) setting warrants attention (1). The prescribing of antimicrobials in this setting is often inappropriate and higher in Ireland than the European average (2). The aim of the study was to generate an evidence base for the factors influencing antimicrobial prescribing in LTCFs and to investigate Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) strategies for LTCFs. Methods: An initial qualitative study was conducted to determine the factors influencing antimicrobial prescribing in Irish LTCFs. This allowed for the informed implementation of an AMS feasibility study in LTCFs in the greater Cork region. Hospital AMS was also investigated by means of a national survey. A study of LTCF urine sample antimicrobial resistance rates was conducted in order to collate information for incorporation into future LTCF AMS initiatives. Results: The qualitative interviews determined that there are a multitude of factors, unique to the LTCF setting, which influence antimicrobial prescribing. There was a positive response from the doctors and nurses involved in the feasibility study as they welcomed the opportunity to engage with AMS and audit and feedback activities. While the results did not indicate a significant change in antimicrobial prescribing over the study period, important trends and patterns of use were detected. The antimicrobial susceptibility of LTCF urine samples compared to GPs samples found that there was a higher level of antimicrobial resistance in LTCFs. Conclusion: This study has made an important contribution to the development of AMS in LTCFs. The complexity of care and healthcare organisation, and the factors unique to LTCFs must be borne in mind when developing quality improvement strategies.

In situ concentration of semi-volatile aerosol using water-condensation technology

The effect of concentrating semi-volatile aerosols using a water-condensation technology was investigated using the Versatile Aerosol Concentration Enrichment System (VACES) and the Aerodyne Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (AMS) during measurements of ambient aerosol in Pittsburgh, PA. It was found that the shape of the sulfate mass-weighed size distribution was approximately preserved during passage through the concentrator for all the experiments performed, with a mass enhancement factor of about 10-20 depending on the experiment. The size distributions of organics, ammonium and nitrate were preserved on a relatively clean day (sulfate concentration around 7μg/m3), while during more polluted conditions the concentration of these compounds, especially nitrate, was increased at small sizes after passage through the concentrator. The amount of the extra material, however, is rather small in these experiments: between 2.4% and 7.5% of the final concentrated PM mass is due to "artifact" condensation. An analysis of thermodynamic processes in the concentrator indicates that the extra particle material detected can be explained by redistribution of gas-phase material to the aerosol phase in the concentrator. The analysis shows that the condensation of extra material is expected to be larger for water-soluble semi-volatile material, such as nitrate, which agrees with the observations. The analysis also shows that artifact formation of nitrate will be more pronounced in ammonia-limited conditions and virtually undetectable in ammonia-rich conditions. © 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.