Gulf War agents trigger discrete transcriptional changes in human neuronal cells

Reports on Gulf War illness (GWI) implicated the use of the pesticide permethrin (PER), and the insect repellent N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET), in its etiology, as well as pyridostigmine bromide (PB), which was given as a prophylactic treatment against nerve agent exposure. Using Affymetrix microarrays the genomic response of human neuronal SHSY-5Y cells to 10 days of exposure to these agents was characterized and profiles of gene modulation unique to each treatment were demonstrated. In particular, a significantly greater impact of PER was observed compared to the other treatments. The Ingenuity Pathway Analysis knowledgebase was used to analyze the genomic datasets and attribute functional consequences to the effects of related genes, which were significantly up- or down-regulated in response to different treatments. Canonical pathways shown to be significantly modulated at the genomic level in response to exposure included cellular mechanisms, which might contribute to the clinical presentation in GWI patients and thus be targeted for further investigation as potential targets for therapeutic intervention.     

Managing a protected marine area for the conservation of critically endangered vaquita (Phocoena sinus Norris, 1958) in the Upper Gulf of California

We analysed fisheries trends in the northern region of the Gulf of California, within the Biosphere Reserve of the Upper Gulf of California and Colorado Delta River and the Vaquita Refuge Area, and suggest measures to protect the vaquita, Phocoena sinus. We compiled and analysed catch reports of artisanal fishermen in the three fishing communities of the Upper Gulf of California (San Felipe in the State of Baja California, and Golfo de Santa Clara and Puerto Peñasco in the State of Sonora) from 1995 to 2007. This information was categorised with respect to geographic information systems, and all fishing sites within two marine protected areas in the region were identified. In addition, from a survey based on direct interviews with artisanal fishermen in each of the three ports, we identified that 23% of fishermen will continue fishing despite on-going fishing buy-out programmes in the region. We suggest several specific courses of action to decrease the fishing impact on this critically endangered cetacean. However, given the critical situation of this critically endangered species, it is very uncertain whether enforcing a no-take zone within the biosphere reserve and the Vaquita Refuge Area, or even a wider fishing moratorium, will be enough to save this endangered species from extinction.     

Contamination of lead (Pb) in the coastal sediments of north and south of Iran: a review study

Coastal areas of Iran are heavily affected by urbanisation, industrialisation, and maritime activities. One consequence of this environmental pressure is the contaminants accumulation, as heavy metals, into the marine ecosystem. In this review, the coastal areas in the north and south of the country were assessed for lead (Pb) contamination of, one of the most toxic metals found in the environment. All studies conducted during 2006–2016 with at least 10 specimens that reported the mean and standard deviation of Pb were considered in this review. Heterogeneity between studies was assessed using the Q and I² statistics. The Pb mean concentration overall studies was estimated to be 21.88?µg/g (95% CIs: 16.25–27.50). Random effect model showed no statistical difference in mean Pb concentration levels between south and north coasts. However, the variability in Pb mean concentrations within southern coasts was considerable and statistically significant. Moreover, the Pb concentrations in the northern coasts of Persian Gulf and Oman Sea, in south of Iran, decreased in the following order Hormozgan > Khuzestan > Sistan-VA-Balluchestan > Bushehr while in the southern coasts of Caspian Sea, in north of Iran, decreased in the order Guilan > Mazandaran > Golestan.     

Modeling estuarine-shelf exchanges in a deltaic estuary: Implications for coastal carbon budgets and hypoxia

The export of wetland-derived materials to the coastal ocean (i.e., the “Outwelling” hypothesis) has received considerable attention over the past several decades. While a number of studies have shown that estuaries export appreciable amounts of nutrients and carbon, few studies have attempted to estimate the importance of estuarine sources for the coastal carbon budgets in river-dominated coastal ecosystems. A novel tidal prism model was developed to examine estuarine-shelf exchanges in the Barataria estuary, a deltaic estuary located in the north-central Gulf of Mexico. This estuary has been the site of a massive wetland loss, and it has been hypothesized that carbon export from the eroding coastal wetlands supports the development of a large hypoxic zone in the coastal Gulf of Mexico. The model results show that the Barataria estuary receives nitrogen through the tidal passes and releases carbon to the coastal ocean. The mean calculated tidal water discharge of 6930 m³ s⁻¹ is equivalent to about 43% of the lower Mississippi River discharge. The annual total organic carbon (TOC) export is 109 million kg, or 57 gC m² yr⁻¹ when prorated to the total water area of the estuary. This carbon export is equivalent to a loss of 0.5 m of wetland soil horizon over an area of 8.4 km², and accounts for about 34% of the observed annual wetland loss in the estuary between 1978 and 2000. Compared to the lower Mississippi River, the Barataria estuary appears to be a very small source of TOC for the northern Gulf of Mexico (2.7% of riverine TOC), and is unlikely to have a significant influence on the development of the Gulf's hypoxia.     

北部湾海域江豚体内重金属含量及分布

应用原子吸收分光光度计对北部湾海域江豚的肌肉、脂肪、肝脏、胰脏、心脏、肺脏、肾脏、胃和肠管道等器官组织样品中的Cd、Cu、Zn、Pb、Cr、Ni、 Fe、Mn、Hg和As的含量进行测定,并使用标准物作了对照分析.结果显示,江豚体内各器官组织中的Cd、Cu、Zn、Pb、Cr、Ni、Fe、Mn、Hg和As的平均含量分别为(0.05～37.9)×10-6、(6.20～101.9 )×10-6、(24.38～181.5) ×10-6、(ND～1.85) ×10-6、(10.60～13.35)×10-6、(1.68～3.15)×10-6、(111.45～1413.8)×10-6、(0.35～12.43)×10-6、(0.21～34.36)×10-6和(0.28～3.81)×10-6(干重).江豚体内重金属含量高低的基本趋势是Fe>Zn>Cu>Cr>Ni>Cd>Mn> Hg>As>Pb.肝、肾脏等内脏器官中的重金属含量普遍高于肌肉及脂肪组织中的含量;胃组织中没有测出Pb的存在.与渤海和黄海江豚比较,北海湾海域江豚体内各种重金属的含量介于渤海和黄海江豚之间,说明该地区海域已受到重金属污染.     

中晚全新世泰国湾Chanthaburi海岸Welu河口区沉积物的敏感粒级组分及其对季风气候变化的指示意义

对泰国湾Chanthaburi海岸Welu河口区三根沉积物柱样（WLE08、WLE10和WLE12）进行了²¹⁰Pb测年分析、AMS¹⁴C测年分析和粒度分析。粒度分析结果表明,研究区三根柱样的沉积物类型均属于粘土质粉砂,包含部分贝壳及生物碎屑,分选差,呈正偏态,属于中晚全新世以来形成的沉积物。通过粒级-标准偏差方法对沉积物敏感粒级进行提取,每根柱样各获得两个敏感粒级,分别为S_A1和S_A2、S_B1和S_B2以及S_C1和S_C2。将S_A2/S_A1、S_B2/S_B1以及S_C2/S_C1作为中晚全新世以来亚洲夏季风相对强度变化的替代指标,比值升高可以指示夏季风强度增强,反之则减弱。结合测年结果得出研究区的亚洲夏季风自中晚全新世以来经历了强盛-减弱-增强-减弱-稳定-波动的过程。其中,8.5～6.5 cal.ka BP期间S_C2/S_C1值较高,表明该时期处于亚洲夏季风强盛期,6.5～3 cal.ka BP期间S_B2/S_B1值较低且变化较小,表明该时期亚洲夏季风处于较弱的稳定期,而1.5 cal.ka BP以来S_A2/S_A1值有升高趋势表明亚洲夏季风在这一时期有所增强。此外,在8.2 cal.ka BP期间敏感粒级S_C2/S_C1值急剧下降,表明夏季风存在一次较大的衰弱期,响应了8.2 cal.ka BP全球范围的气候突变事件,这与阿曼石笋和董歌洞石笋δ¹⁸O记录所显示的结果相一致,体现了气候变化具有区域性乃至全球性的联系。     

NUTRIENT LOAD CHARACTERIZATION FROM INTEGRATED SOURCE DATA FOR THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI RWER1

ABSTRACT: Nutrient data from all available sources for the lower Mississippi River were examined for potential differences among sampling agencies and geographic locations for the period between 1960 and 1998. Monthly means grouped by parameter, sampling location and agency, were calculated and compared as paired sets, excluding those months where data were not available for both sets. Some significant differences were found between various agencies collecting nutrient data on the river, as well as between various stretches of river, especially in the case of phosphorus nutrient data. Results were used to synthesize data sets from which a history of nutrient loading in the Mississippi River was determined. General trends in nitrate+nitrite, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, orthophosphate, total phosphorus and silica loads, as well as changes in nutrient proportions and the specific limiting nutrient (by month) are reported. This study provides a useful summary of contemporary and historical nutrient data that may assist in the evaluation of Mississippi River water quality and its potential effect on the Gulf of Mexico.     

Importance of jumbo squid Dosidicus gigas (Orbigny, 1835) in the pelagic ecosystem of the central Gulf of California

The Humboldt squid is an important predator in the pelagic ecosystem of the central Gulf of California and the commercial catch of this species has increased over the past decade, probable due to a decrease of several top predators (sharks, large pelagic fish and the marine mammals) and the optimal feeding conditions in this area. Its high abundance and important position in the pelagic food web was quantified through two trophic models of the pelagic ecosystem of the central Gulf of California. Models represented conditions in 1980 and 2002, to document the decadal changes in ecosystem structure and function. The models were composed of 18 functional groups, including marine mammals, birds, fish, mollusks, crustaceans, and primary producers. Model results show direct negative effects on principal prey groups such as myctophids and pelagic red crab and positive effects on sharks, marine mammals and specifically sperm whales. It thus appears that the jumbo squid has an important role in the ecosystem and plays a central part in the overall energy flow as main food item for most top predators, and due to its predation of organisms on lower tropic levels.     

辽东湾湿地重金属污染及潜在生态风险评价

对辽东湾湿地采集的 1 6处水和 2 0处沉积物样品进行镉、铅、铜和锌含量分析 ,并用Haknson生态风险指数法对其污染程度进行潜在生态风险评价。结果表明 ,大凌河口、辽河口处污染程度和潜在生态风险略高 ,双台子河口及小凌河口等处污染程度及潜在生态风险较低。从总的污染程度看 ,各污染物对生态风险影响程度从大到小的顺序为 :Cd>Pb、Cu >Zn。     

Total Mercury Distribution in Different Tissues of Frigate Tuna (Auxis thazard thazard) from the Atlantic Coastal Waters of Ghana, Gulf of Guinea

Total mercury concentrations in different tissues of frigate tuna fish (Auxis thazard thazard) was determined by the cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry technique using an automatic mercury analyzer. A mixture of HNO₃, HClO₄ and H₂SO₄ was used for complete oxidation of organic tissue. The concentration of mercury obtained was in the order Gills < Stomach < Gonads < Intestine < Heart < Duodenum < Liver < Muscle. The concentration of total mercury detected in the edible muscle tissue of the tuna fish tested ranged from 0.044 to 0.201 μg g⁻¹ (mean = 0.108 μg g⁻¹) wet weight. These levels are all within the maximum allowed/recommended level in fish (0.5 μg g⁻¹ wet weight) set by the Food and Agriculture Organisation/World Health Organisation (FAO/WHO) and are therefore unlikely to constitute any significant mercury exposure to the general population because of consumption of tuna fish. The results of the study suggest a relatively clean marine environment that has not been significantly impacted by mercury contamination probably due to minimal industrial activity in the region.