Long-lasting consequences of elevated yolk testosterone levels on female reproduction

Maternal yolk androgens in bird eggs represent an important pathway along which offspring phenotype is shaped. Most of the hormone-mediated maternal effects are highly important in the context of sibling competition. However, there is also increasing evidence for long-lasting effects far beyond the nestling period, and these effects may have important consequences on the reproductive success of the offspring. Here, we investigated the effects of experimentally elevated yolk testosterone concentrations on growth and reproduction in female canaries. Elevated yolk testosterone concentrations enhanced the post-natal growth rate, but not the asymptotic mass, and reduced the survival probability. The latter may be a consequence of the higher growth rate, which may have rendered females hatching from testosterone-treated eggs (T-females) more vulnerable to harsh environmental conditions. Adult T-females made a larger investment in their clutch by laying more but not heavier eggs than females hatching from control-treated eggs. Our results suggest that the observed long-lasting effect on clutch size relates to changes in the growth trajectory rather than being a direct consequence of testosterone, since studies manipulating early growth conditions obtained similar results. Clearly, further studies are now required in order to investigate the intriguing relationship between yolk testosterone, elevated growth rates, and clutch size.     

Two-dimensional numerical and eco-toxicological modeling of chemical spills

The effects of chemical spills on aquatic nontarget organisms were evaluated in this study. Based on a review of three types of current eco-toxicological models of chemicals, i.e., ACQUATOX model of the US-EPA, Hudson River Model of PCBs, and critical body residual (CBR) model and dynamic energy budget (DEBtox) model, this paper presents an uncoupled numerical ecotoxicological model. The transport and transformation of spilled chemicals were simulated by a chemical transport model (including flow and sediment transport), and the mortalities of an organism caused by the chemicals were simulated by the extended threshold damage model, separately. Due to extreme scarcity of data, this model was applied to two hypothetical cases of chemical spills happening upstream of a lake. Theoretical analysis and simulated results indicated that this model is capable of reasonably predicting the acute effects of chemical spills on aquatic ecosystems or organism killings.     

Turbulent air–water flows in hydraulic structures: dynamic similarity and scale effects

In hydraulic structures, free-surface aeration is commonly observed: i.e., the white waters. The air bubble entrainment may be localised (hydraulic jumps, plunging jets) or continuous along an interface (water jets, chutes). Despite recent advances, there are some basic concerns about the extrapolation of laboratory results to large size prototype structures. Herein the basic air bubble entrainment processes are reviewed and the relevant dynamic similarities are discussed. Traditionally, physical studies are conducted using a Froude similitude which implies drastically smaller laboratory Reynolds numbers than in the corresponding prototype flows. Basic dimensional analyses are developed for both singular and interfacial aeration processes. The results are discussed in the light of systematic investigations and they show that the notion of scale effects is closely linked with the selection of relevant characteristic air–water flow properties. Recent studies of local air–water flow properties highlight that turbulence levels, entrained bubble sizes and interfacial areas are improperly scaled based upon a Froude similitude even in large-size models operating with the so defined Reynolds numbers ρ _w × q _w/μ _w up to 5 E+5. In laboratory models, the dimensionless turbulence levels, air–water interfacial areas and mass transfer rates are drastically underestimated.     

A statistical model to forecast the profile of the index structure constant $${C_N^2}$$

A statistical study was performed over 145 profiles of meteorological balloons, equipped with microthermal sensors, from the ground to the midstratosphere. This study put into evidence the lognormal distribution of the fluctuations of the structure constant of temperature, the fluctuations of the buoyancy force and the vertical shear of the horizontal wind speed. We show that these quantities, computed over a large scale (100 m), are correlated up to the midstratosphere. A model is adjusted to estimate the optical turbulence strength from the macroscopic meteorological parameters. The model performances, to estimate and forecast the strength and the altitude of the optical turbulent layers, are quantified and compared with other already defined models. This model was shown to have the best performances and put into evidence a new relation to describe the turbulence on a large scale.     

玉米赤霉烯酮暴露导致的秀丽隐杆线虫生殖及发育毒性的世代间比较

利用模式生物秀丽隐杆线虫(Caenorhabditis elegans,C.elegans)对玉米赤霉烯酮(zearalenone,ZEN)暴露导致的生殖、发育缺陷在世代间的可传递性进行了研究。对亲代染毒,后代断毒恢复,实验结果显示,ZEN暴露导致的体长发育缺陷可在线虫后代中得到恢复,而生殖毒性可产生严重缺陷,且这种缺陷在后代中没有明显的恢复。通过多代持续染毒实验,发现ZEN对亲代P0、子一代F1和子二代F2线虫产生的生殖和发育毒性存在差异,其毒性作用强度为P0F2F1。线虫世代之间的发育缺陷和生殖缺陷表现出逐代修复的规律,但修复程度不同,推测与线虫自身修复的复杂应激活动有关。     

四溴双酚A亚慢性呼吸暴露对Wistar雄性大鼠的毒性效应

为研究四溴双酚A(TBBPA)亚慢性呼吸暴露对大鼠的毒性效应,将36只健康的无特定病原菌级别(SPF级)Wistar雄性大鼠分为6组,分别为空白对照组、控制对照组和129、546、1 216、4 550μg·m-3TBBPA气溶胶染毒组,采用经口鼻呼吸暴露方式连续染毒90 d。暴露实验期间每天观察大鼠状态,每10天记录1次大鼠体重,于第91天解剖受试大鼠,分离主要脏器,并对肺组织进行病理检查。结果显示,与对照组比较,各暴露组大鼠肾脏及脾脏的脏器系数均有显著降低(P0.05);TBBPA工业品气溶胶暴露组大鼠肺部病变程度和病变发生率高于空白对照组及控制对照组。研究结果表明Wistar大鼠经亚慢性呼吸暴露TBBPA颗粒后,可能造成一定程度的肾、脾脏毒性效应和肺部炎症。     

Investigating the potential for different scooter and car exhaust emissions to cause cytotoxic and (pro-)inflammatory responses to a 3D in vitro model of the human epithelial airway

The aim of this study was to compare the cytotoxicity and the (pro-)inflammatory responses of two-stroke (direct injection and carburetor technology) and four-stroke scooter and diesel car exhaust emissions on lung cells in vitro. This was analyzed by exposing a 3D in vitro model of the epithelial airway (consisting of human bronchial epithelial cells (cell line 16HBE14o^?) combined with human whole blood monocyte-derived macrophages and dendritic cells) to physically characterized exhaust emissions. Biological endpoints of cytotoxicity (lactate dehydrogenase release), as well as pro-inflammatory cytokine (tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α) and inflammatory chemokine (interleukin(IL)-8) stimulation were examined. Two-stroke direct injection scooter exhaust contained the highest particle number concentration and nitrogen oxides (NO _x ) concentrations and the emissions from the two-stroke carburetor scooter contained the highest hydrocarbon and lowest NO _x concentrations. The four-stroke scooter emitted the highest carbon monoxide concentration whereas the cars emitted the lowest. The combination of various technical optimizations for the two-stroke direct injection scooter (particle filter, oxidative catalyst, better oil and fuel) reduced the total emissions strongly and the TNF-α concentration significantly (p?相似文献   

Effects of Coffee Management on Deforestation Rates and Forest Integrity

Knowledge about how forest margins are utilized can be crucial for a general understanding of changes in forest cover, forest structure, and biodiversity across landscapes. We studied forest‐agriculture transitions in southwestern Ethiopia and hypothesized that the presence of coffee (Coffea arabica)decreases deforestation rates because of coffee's importance to local economies and its widespread occurrence in forests and forest margins. Using satellite images and elevation data, we compared changes in forest cover over 37 years (1973–2010) across elevations in 2 forest‐agriculture mosaic landscapes (1100 km² around Bonga and 3000 km² in Goma‐Gera). In the field in the Bonga area, we determined coffee cover and forest structure in 40 forest margins that differed in time since deforestation. Both the absolute and relative deforestation rates were lower at coffee‐growing elevations compared with at higher elevations (?10/20% vs. ?40/50% comparing relative rates at 1800 m asl and 2300–2500 m asl, respectively). Within the coffee‐growing elevation, the proportion of sites with high coffee cover (>20%) was significantly higher in stable margins (42% of sites that had been in the same location for the entire period) than in recently changed margins (0% of sites where expansion of annual crops had changed the margin). Disturbance level and forest structure did not differ between sites with 30% or 3% coffee. However, a growing body of literature on gradients of coffee management in Ethiopia reports coffee's negative effects on abundances of forest‐specialist species. Even if the presence of coffee slows down the conversion of forest to annual‐crop agriculture, there is a risk that an intensification of coffee management will still threaten forest biodiversity, including the genetic diversity of wild coffee. Conservation policy for Ethiopian forests thus needs to develop strategies that acknowledge that forests without coffee production may have higher deforestation risks than forests with coffee production and that forests with coffee production often have lower biodiversity value. Efectos de la Administración Cafetalera sobre las Tasas de Deforestación y la Integridad de los Bosques     

Media and bushfires: A community perspective of the media during the Grampians Fires 2006

This paper examines the ways residents in the Grampians area in the Australian state of Victoria used their local and their state and national based media before, during and after the 2006 bushfires (wildfires). The researchers were particularly concerned to understand how residents evaluated media sources as trustworthy and credible in relation to bushfire warnings and information about the fires delivered in the media.

Analysis of data derived from two separate focus group sessions conducted by the researchers reveals four main themes. (1) The media are perceived as part of a broader information gathering process. (2) Local knowledge is the most important aspect in broadcast information. (3) Members of small communities can feel disenfranchised and resentful of the media when media coverage focuses on larger towns, and (4) the effects of media reporting, including specific warnings, are both immediate and long lasting.

The paper explores some of the tensions that result from the ways rural residents use and distinguish between local/regional and metropolitan and out-of-state bushfire information; and it encourages better use of the local/regional media to increase community safety and awareness in relation to bushfire mitigation, preparedness and crisis management issues before, during and after the fires. It is suggested that risk communications professionals need to understand that when mediated risk-related communications are provided, a key evaluative criterion is whether or not those media and the messages represent and reflect local knowledge.     

广州番禺大气成分站挥发性有机物的污染特征

应用GC/FID在线挥发性有机物(VOCs)检测仪,于2011年6月~2012年5月在中国气象局广州番禺大气成分观测站进行了1a的连续监测,获得了具有高时间分辨率的VOCs组成、含量及其时间变化规律.结果表明:VOCs浓度月变化范围是(40.99~65.400)×10-9,月平均浓度48.10×10-9,冬季VOCs浓度高于夏季.VOCs日浓度变化范围是(35.10~59.13)×10-9.VOCs组分随季节变化所占比例不同,烷烃、烯烃和芳香烃全年平均所占比例分别为58%、16%和26%.采样点在7月份没有周末效应,而在12月份表现出显著周末效应.国庆长假期间的大气VOCs浓度比国庆节放假前、后均有大幅度降低,降幅分别达到39.3%和56.7%.采样点的大气VOCs浓度与风速呈负相关性.当风向为NNE、NE和SSW时,风速较大,VOCs的浓度较低;当风向为WNW和ENE时则相反.由于夏季温度高使溶剂挥发性和植物排放增强,所以导致BTEX(苯、乙苯、甲苯和二甲苯)和异戊二烯的浓度在夏季明显高于冬季.