bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Response of the freshwater alga Chlorella vulgaris to trichloroisocyanuric acid and ciprofloxacin
Authors: Nie Xiangping , Wang Xiang , Chen Jufang , Zitko Vladimir , An Taichen
Published: December 2007

The effects of trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA) and ciprofloxacin (CPFX) on the freshwater alga Chlorella vulgaris were assessed by toxicity bioassays and by the values of biomarkers in phase I and phase II. The biomarkers included growth rate, concentration of chlorophyll a, activities of 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-dealkylases (EROD), glutathione S-transferase (GST), catalase (CAT), and total glutathione (GSH). Ciprofloxacin was a weaker growth inhibitor than TCCA but, at a concentration of greater than 12.5 mg/L, decreased the growth of C. vulgaris. Concentration of chlorophyll a showed a similar trend. The 96-h median effective concentration (EC50; i.e., 50% reduction in growth relative to the control) of CPFX was 20.6 mg/L. Trichloroisocyanuric acid was a strong growth inhibitor and, at concentrations of greater than 0.80 mg/L, caused 100% inhibition on 24-h exposure. The 96-h EC50 of TCCA was 0.313 mg/L. Ciprofloxacin and TCCA affected the phase I and phase II enzyme activities differently. On exposure to CPFX, both EROD and GSH decreased at low CPFX concentrations (<5.0 mg/L) and increased at high CPFX concentrations (>12.5 mg/L), and CAT and GST exhibited induction at low concentrations and inhibition at high concentrations. In TCCA exposure, GST activity was significantly stimulated, and GSH concentration was increased. Catalase activity increased only at TCCA concentrations of greater than 0.12 mg/L, and no change in EROD activity was observed.
Characterization and loading estimation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in road runoff from urban regions of Beijing, China
Authors: Zhang Wei , Zhang Shucai , Yue Dapan , Wan Chao , Ye Youbin , Wang Xuejun
Published: December 2007

This paper reports an initial study regarding our quantitative understanding of the characteristics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination and loading estimation from road runoff in Beijing (China). The concentrations of 16 PAHs were measured in road runoff and rainwater in a composite commercial and residential catchment of Beijing in 2006. In road runoff samples, geometric mean concentrations of Σ16 PAHs (the sum of 16 PAH concentrations) in the dissolved and particle phases were 548.2 and 3,872.2 ng/L, respectively, and in rainwater samples, the concentrations in the dissolved and particle phases were 172.9 and 274.6 ng/L, respectively. An analysis on spatial variation among the sampling sites showed that PAH concentrations at the branch road (with low traffic volume) were higher than those at the trunk road (with high traffic volume) and that PAH contamination at the bicycle lane was comparable to that at the vehicle lane. Dimensionless cumulative analyses indicated that first flush effect did not occur in all cases, but rather depended on storm event characteristics. According to the annual unit loading rate and the planned road area, the relative magnitude of PAH loading in road runoff was in the following order: Vehicle lane of trunk road > branch road > bicycle lane of trunk road.
Fate of estrogens and xenoestrogens in four sewage treatment plants with different technologies
Authors: Ying Guang-Guo , Kookana Rai S , Kumar Anu
Published: December 2007

The fate and removal of the estrogens 17β-estradiol (E2), estrone (E1), and 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2) and of the xenoestrogens bisphenol A (BPA), 4-tert-octylphenol (4-t-OP), 4-nonylphenol (4-NP), and nonylphenol mono- and diethoxylate (NPEO1 and NPEO2, respectively) were investigated in four South Australian sewage treatment plants (STPs; plants A–D) with different treatment technologies. The concentrations in the effluent from the two-year survey were similar to those reported in other studies. In the effluent, 4-NP, NPEO1, and NPEO2 had total concentrations up to 8 μg/L, which were much higher than those of BPA and 4-t-OP. Estrone had the highest concentrations among the three estrogens, ranging between 13.3 and 39.3 ng/L, whereas the concentrations for E2 and EE2 varied between 1.0 and 4.2 ng/L and between 0.1 and 1.3 ng/L, respectively. The removal rates for the estrogens and xenoestrogens were variable but consistent with the plant performance parameters (biochemical oxygen demand, suspended solids, and ammonia). Considering all the estrogenic compounds analyzed in the present study, plant D, with a series of anaerobic and aerobic lagoons, was the least efficient of the four STPs in the removal of these compounds. The removal rates for 4-NP, NPEO1, and NPEO2 within the plants were 92% for plant A, with conventional activated sludge treatment; 80% for plant B, with two oxidation ditches; 70% for plant C, with three bioreactors; and 64% for plant D, with 10 lagoons in series. Comparatively, the removal of estrogens was lower, with rates ranging between 47 and 68% for E2 at the four plants. Both E1 and EE2 were more persistent during treatment, especially in plants C and D.
A two-hybrid yeast assay to quantify the effects of xenobiotics on thyroid hormone-mediated gene expression
Authors: Li Jian , Ma Mei , Wang Zijian
Published: December 2007

Over the last few years, increasing evidence has become available that some chemicals may have thyroid hormone-disrupting potencies. The effects exerted via thyroid hormone receptors (TR) have not been studied thoroughly. The present study investigates chemical thyroid hormone disruption at the level of TR functioning. To this end the (ant)agonistic action of a series of xenobiotics was tested in the newly developed yeast two-hybrid assay. This assay makes use of recombined TRβ gene and reporter gene yeast, which specifically expresses β-galactosidase when incubated with exogenous 3,3′,5-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3). Agonistic and antagonistic actions were studied in the absence and presence of 5 × 10−6 mol/L T3, which induced maximal β-galactosidase activity. The compounds tested included the specific TR-antagonist amiodarone, as well as a series of phenols, phthalate, organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (PHAHs) with structural similarity to T3, and 3,3′,5,5′-tetraiodo-L-thyronine (T4). The results obtained reveal that only 2-t-butylphenol and 2-isopropylphenol are specific agonists. Interestingly, some compounds showed potentiated antagonistic effects when tested in combination with T3, which suggests that TR-mediated transcription may be disrupted in vivo. The 20% relative inhibitory concentration (RIC20) values of phenols, ester and OCPs were more than 10−7 mol/L, but the values for PHAHs with metabolization were lower than 5 × 10∼7 g/L. These results suggest that PHAHs pose a serious threat to the human thyroid system. Altogether the results of the present study show that the newly developed, yeast two-hybrid assay can be used as a valuable tool for identification and quantification of compounds active in disturbing thyroid hormone homeostasis at the level of TR. The results are further evidence of thyroid-related effects of environmentally relevant PHAHs.
Seasonal variations of estrogenic compounds and their estrogenicities in influent and effluent from a municipal sewage treatment plant in China
Authors: Jin Shiwei , Yang Fangxing , Liao Tao , Hui Yang , Xu Ying
Published: December 2007

The seasonal variations of estrogenic compounds and the estrogenicities of influent and effluent were investigated by chemical analysis and in vitro assay in a municipal sewage treatment plant in Wuhan (China). The levels of eight estrogenic compounds, including 17β-estradiol (E2), estrone (E1), estriol (E3), diethylstilbestrol (DES), 17α-ethinylestradiol, nonylphenol (NP), 4-tert-octylphenol (OP), and bisphenol A (BPA), were measured by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Total estrogenic activity of sewage was quantitatively assessed using primary cultured hepatocytes of male Megalobrama amblycephala Yih using vitellogenin as a biomarker. The E2 equivalents (EEQs) obtained from the chemical analysis were consistent with those measured by bioassay. The natural (E1, E2, and E3) and synthetic (DES) estrogens, as well as NP, were the main contributors of the total EEQs of influent and effluent in the present study. The levels of natural estrogens E1 and E3 in the influent and effluent were higher in winter than in summer, whereas the situation for NP and OP was the reverse. The levels of E2, DES, and BPA varied little among different seasons. 17α-Ethinylestradiol was not detected in the influent and effluent. The estrogenicities of the influent and of the primary and secondary effluents were all higher in summer than in winter. Estrogenic activities in winter mainly originated from natural (E1, E2, and E3) and synthetic (DES) estrogens, whereas the increase of EEQs in summer was contributed by NP. The results from chemical analysis and bioassay demonstrate that estrogenic compounds cannot be entirely removed by the existing sewage treatment process, which should be further improved to protect aquatic ecosystems and human health.
Oxidative damage in unfertilized eggs of Chinese rare minnow (Gobiocypris rarus) exposed to nonylphenol
Authors: Zhang Xian , Yang Fangxing , Cai Ya Q , Xu Ying
Published: December 2007

In the present study, female Chinese rare minnows (Gobiocypris rarus) were used as in vivo models and exposed to nonylphenol (NP) at concentrations of 1 to 200 μg/L for 21 d under semistatic conditions. Molecular biomarkers of oxidative stress were measured in unfertilized eggs and included reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation products (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances [TBARS] and protein carbonyl), superoxide dismutase activity, and glutathione. Cathepsin D activity as an indicator of egg viability also was assayed. Nonylphenol induced ROS formation in unfertilized eggs in all exposed groups compared to the controls. The levels of protein carbonyl and TBARS in unfertilized eggs were significantly increased (p < 0.05) at 10 to 200 and 100 to 200 μg/L, respectively. Good positive correlations were shown between ROS induction and levels of TBARS and protein carbonyl in eggs (R = 0.918, p < 0.05 and R = 0.784, p < 0.05, respectively). Superoxide dismutase activity in eggs was significantly inhibited (p < 0.05) in the 50 to 200 μg/L exposure groups. Glutathione levels in eggs were significantly depleted (p < 0.05) at 100 to 200 μg/L concentrations. In addition, ROS induction resulted in oxidative damage to lipid and protein in chorions. Significant reductions (p < 0.05) of the protein and lipid contents in chorions were both found in the 50 to 200 μg/L exposure groups. A previous study found that NP exposure could lead to chorion thinning in zebra fish. Thus, the reductions in protein and lipid contents in chorion could be the reason for chorion thinning by NP exposure. Meanwhile, cathepsin D activity was significantly inhibited (p < 0.05) in all exposure groups. The results demonstrated that NP-induced oxidative stress could damage the chorion of unfertilized eggs and lead to a decline in gamete quality in female Chinese rare minnow.
Deriving site-specific sediment quality guidelines for Hong Kong marine environments using field-based species sensitivity distributions
Authors: Kwok Kevin W. H , Bjorgesæter Anders , Leung Kenneth M. Y , Lui Gilbert CS , Gray John S , Shin Paul K. S , Lam Paul K. S
Published: December 2007

Field data of benthic communities and contaminant loadings in marine sediments measured in parallel can be used to derive sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) using a field-based species sensitivity distribution (f-SSD) approach. Recently, SQGs have been successfully derived from f-SSDs for the Norwegian continental shelf with an extensive survey (>1 million km2) and a large data set (1,902 sampling stations with 1,944 species). The present study examined the practicality of this approach in deriving SQGs for a much smaller geographical area, namely, the marine environment of Hong Kong (sea area: 1,651 km2), making use of databases of the government of Hong Kong special administrative region. As the construction of f-SSDs requires the use of a collection of responses from individual species to a chemical gradient in sediment, data screening criteria on the minimum abundance of the species were evaluated and optimized to ensure sufficient statistical power for estimating these responses. Sediment quality guidelines were derived for nine trace metals, total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and total polychlorinated biphenyls and compared with current SQGs in developed countries. The community-adjusted hazardous concentrations of 5% and 10% of the f-SSDs were adopted to represent the threshold effects level (TEL) and predicted effects level (PEL), respectively. The TELs derived from this f-SSD approach compares favorably with current SQGs, while the derived PELs were generally lower than the current SQGs, indicating that they are more protective. The f-SSDs can be directly utilized for probabilistic risk assessment, while the field-based SQGs can be used as site-specific guidelines or integrated into current SQGs. Our results suggest that the f-SSD approach can also be applicable to small areas such as Hong Kong.
Genotoxicity of total and fractionated extractable organic matter in fine air particulate matter from urban Guangzhou: Comparison between haze and nonhaze episodes
Authors: Xu Haijuan , Wang Xinming , Pöschl Ulrich , Feng Shaolong , Wu Dui , Yang Ling , Li Shuxian , Song Wei , Sheng GUOYING , Fu Jiamo
Published: December 2007

To investigate the genotoxic potencies of extractable organic matter (EOM) in aerosols, fine air particulate matter (PM2.5) was collected simultaneously at a roadside (1.2 m above ground) and at a rooftop location (50 m above ground) in urban Guangzhou (China) during a nonhaze period in September 2006 and a haze period in October 2006. Particle-bound organics were extracted and separated into aliphatic, aromatic, and polar fractions. The genotoxicity of total and fractionated extracts were tested by single-cell electrophoresis (comet assay) with human blood lymphocytes. The PM2.5 concentrations usually exceeded the U.S. National Ambient Air-Quality Standard level (65 μg/m3) at both the roadside and the rooftop. During nonhaze days, the roadside samples showed substantially higher PM2.5 levels (108–130 μg/m3) and significantly higher genotoxic effects of total and fractionated EOM (p < 0.05 for >10 m3 air equivalent/ml) than the rooftop samples. During haze days, however, PM2.5 levels and genotoxic potencies of rooftop samples were drastically elevated and comparable to those of roadside samples, implying that during haze episodes, most people in the urban area are exposed to PM2.5 pollution as serious as in the heavily polluted roadside microenvironment. All total EOM samples showed significant (p < 0.05) dose–response effects, and their effects as olive tail moment were less than the sums of the three fractions. Aromatic fractions of EOM exhibited the greatest genotoxic potencies, but polar fractions also contributed substantially to DNA-damaging effects. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and nitrated derivatives likely are the most important species responsible for the genotoxicity of EOM in PM2.5.
Distribution of polycyclic musks in surface sediments from the Pearl River Delta and Macao coastal region, South China
Authors: Zeng Xiangying , Mai Bixian , Sheng Guoying , Luo Xiaojun , Shao Wenlan , An Taicheng , Fu Jiamo
Published: December 2007

Polycyclic musks were measured in surface sediments collected from the Pearl River Delta and Macao coastal region, South China, to investigate contamination from domestic sewage. Three polycyclic musk compounds—4-acetyl-1,1-dimethyl-6-tert-butylindan, 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethylcyclopenta(g)-2-benzopyran (HHCB), and 7-acetyl-1,1,3,4,4,6–hexa-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene (AHTN)—were detected in sediment samples. Two polycyclic musks, HHCB and AHTN, were dominant components in sediment, consistent with the use pattern of polycyclic musks by perfume industries in the Pearl River Delta region. The concentrations of total polycyclic musks ranged from 5.76 to 167 u,g/kg. Because of the large amount of domestic sewage and industrial wastewater discharged from the city of Guangzhou, the highest concentration of polycyclic musks was found in sediments from the Zhujiang River. The significant positive correlation between the HHCB to AHTN ratios and the concentrations of polycyclic musks suggested that the HHCB to AHTN ratio could be used as a tracer for source discrimination and for the degree of degradation in the environment.
Induction of hepatic cytochrome P4501A1/2B activity and disruption of thyroglobulin synthesis/secretion by mono-ortho polychlorinated biphenyl and its hydroxylated metabolites in rat cell lines
Authors: Yang Fangxing , Xu Ying , Pan Hongmei , Wu Desheng
Published: December 2007

As the active metabolites of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs), hydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyls (OH-PCBs) are found in wildlife and human tissues. They have been proposed as main contributors for endocrine disruption of PCBs in living organisms. In this study, mono-ortho PCB 156 and its hydroxylated metabolites 4′-OH-PCB 159, 4′-OH-PCB 121, and 4′-OH-PCB 72 were selected to investigate the toxic effects on rat hepatoma H4IIE cell line and rat thyroid follicle FRTL-5 cell line at concentrations of 1, 102, 104 nM. 7-Ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) and 7-pentoxyresorufin-O-dealkylase (PROD) activities were determined with micro-EROD/PROD to indicate cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1) and cytochrome P4502B (CYP2B) induction in the H4IIE cell after exposure for 72 h. To assess thyroid disruption of these compounds, thyroglobulin concentrations also were detected inside FRTL-5 cell with immunocellularchemistry and in its medium with radioimmunoassay after exposure for 24 h. Significant inductions of EROD activity by PCB156 at 102 and 104 nM (p < 0.05) were observed, but no effects by the three OH-PCBs in H4IIE cell line. 7-Pentoxyresorufin-O-dealkylase activities were induced only by 104 nM of PCB156 and the three OH-PCBs (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, significant increases of thyroglobulin concentrations were observed in the medium of FRTL-5 cell exposed to 4′-OH-PCB 121 and 4′-OH-PCB 72 at all of the test concentrations (p < 0.05), but not to the other compounds. The results demonstrated that mono-ortho PCBs mainly could be metabolized to hydroxylated metabolites through CYP1A1 instead of CYP2B. Moreover, after being metabolized, OH-PCBs still sustained the ability to induce PROD activity and did exhibit the disruption on thyroglobulin synthesis/excretion in rat cells.
Modeling polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon composition profiles of sources and receptors in the Pearl River Delta, China
Authors: Lang Chang , Tao Shu , Wang Xuejun , Zhang Gan , Fu Jiamo
Published: December 2007

Changes in concentration profiles of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from emission sources to various environmental media in the Pearl River Delta, China were investigated using fugacity modeling under steady state assumption. Both assumed evenly and observed unevenly distributed PAH moles emission profiles were applied. Applicability of the fugacity model was validated against the observed media PAH concentrations and profiles. At equal emission rates, the differences of media concentrations among various PAHS were as high as three (air) to seven (soil and sediment) orders of magnitude. Dramatic changes of PAH profiles from emission sources to various bulk environmental media also were demonstrated by using the actual emission rates. In general, the fractions of higher molecular weight PAHs in air and water were much lower than those at the emission sources, although the PAH profiles in soil and sediment were characterized by a significant reduction of lower molecular weight PAHs. It is likely that the field-measured median concentration profiles cannot be adopted directly for source apportionment without rectification. The most influential parameters affecting PAH profiles in the study area were emission rates, degradation rates, adsorption coefficient, Henry's law constant, PAH concentrations in upstream surface water, fugacity ratio, vapor pressure, and diffusion coefficient in air.
Distribution of persistent toxic substances in benthic bivalves from the inshore areas of the Yellow Sea
Authors: Liu Wen X , Hu Jing , Chen Jiang L , Fan Yong S , Xing Baoshan , Tao Shu
Published: December 2007

A baseline survey of trace metals and organic pollutants in bivalves from the coastal areas of the Yellow Sea (China) showed the the concentrations of Cd and Pb in the bivalves from more than 85 and 73%, respectively, of the total sites (30 sites in all) exceeded the low limits of the national quality standards for marine organisms. At three sites, the contents of Cd in three species were even higher than the median limit, and a similar case with Pb occurred at another site. The tissue concentrations of As at four sites and of Hg at one site were above the low and the median limits, respectively, of the quality standards. At 43% of all sites, the levels of petroleum hydrocarbons were higher than the low limit of the quality standards, and the tissue concentrations at two sites even went beyond the median limit at one site and the high limit at the other. The concentrations of phthalate esters and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the collected bivalves were not high, as shown by peak values of 305 and 302 ng/g, respectively. The contents of polychlorinated biphenyls for all the species were much lower than the low limit of the quality standards. The compositional properties and isomeric ratios of PAHs indicated various pyrolytic procedures as the dominant origins. The sites with higher tissue contents of DDT and its metabolites (DDTs) over the low or the median quality limit were located mainly in the South Yellow Sea. The fractions and specific ratios of DDTs suggested that new inputs of DDT existed at two sites in the North Yellow Sea, and the potential sources involved technical DDT, technical dicofol, and their mixture.
Separation and aquatic toxicity of enantiomers of the pyrethroid insecticide lambda-cyhalothrin
Authors: Xu Chao , Wang Jiajia , Liu Weiping , Sheng G. Daniel , Tu Yunjie , Ma Yun
Published: December 2007

Chiral pollutants are receiving growing environmental concern due to differential biological activities of their enantio-mers. In the present study, enantiomeric separation of the pyrethroid insecticide lambda-cyhalothrin (LCT) was investigated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using the columns of Chiralpak AD (amylase tris[3,5-dimethyl-phenylcarbamate]), Chiralpak AS (amylase tris[(S)-1-phenyl carbamate]), Chiralcel OD (cellulose tris[3,5-dimethylphenyl carbamate]), and Chiralcel OJ (cellulose tris[4-methyl benzoate]) with different chiral stationary phases. The differential toxicities of the enantiomers in aquatic systems were evaluated using the acute zebrafish (Danio rerio) toxicity test and the zebrafish embryo test. The enantiomers of LCT were separated completely on all the columns tested and detected by circular dichroism at 236 nm. Better separations were achieved at lower temperatures (e.g., 20°C) and lower levels of polar modifiers (≤5%) in mobile phase. Ethanol was found to be a good modifier of the mobile phase for all the columns, although isopropanol acted better for the Chiralcel OD column. The (—)-enantiomer was >162 times more toxic than its antipode to zebrafish in the acute test. The embryo test indicated that the exposure to LCT enantioselectively induced crooked body, yolk sac edema, and pericardial edema and that the (—)-enantiomer was 7.2 times stronger than the (+)-enantiomer in 96-h mortality. The malformations were induced by the racemate and its (—)-enantiomer at lower concentrations tested (e.g., 50 μg L−1), whereas the (+)-enantiomer induced malformations at relatively higher concentrations (≥100 μg L−1). These results suggest that the toxicological effects of chiral pesticides must be evaluated using their individual enantiomers.
Congener-specific distribution of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in fish of China: Implication for input sources
Authors: Meng Xiang-Zhou , Yu Liping , Guo Ying , Mai Bi-Xian , Zeng Eddy Y
Published: December 2007

A total of 390 individual fish, including seven species of freshwater-farmed fish, three species of seawater-farmed fish, and three species of wild marine fish, from China were analyzed to determine the concentrations and congener distribution of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). The levels of Σ10PBDEs (sum of BDEs 28, 47, 66, 100, 99, 85, 154, 153, 138, and 183) in seawater-farmed fish (median, 13.6 ng/g) were significantly higher than those in freshwater-farmed fish (median, 10.1 ng/g) and in wild marine fish (median, 4.5 ng/g) on a lipid-weight basis. Lipid contents positively correlated with Σ10PBDEs concentration (wet wt) in all fish species except for tilapia, bighead carp, bluntsnout bream, and common mullet; however, no significant relationship was found between fish length or weight and Σ10PBDEs concentration except for one fish species. In general, BDE 47 was the dominant congener, with a mean contribution of 53.2%. Brominated diphenyl ether 209 was only detected in 14 samples, reflecting its low bioavailability or high degree of debromination. In addition, the ratios of BDE 47 to BDE 99 and of BDE 100 to BDE 99 in freshwater-farmed fish were significantly higher than those in seawater-farmed and wild marine fish. Freshwater-farmed fish had a relatively higher proportion of BDE 28, whereas seawater-farmed and wild marine fish contained more abundant BDE 66, BDE 100, and BDE 99. The difference in congener distribution might be indicative of different exposure pathways for PBDEs in three types of fish.
Distribution of dissolved metals in seawater of Jinzhou Bay, China
Authors: Wan Li , Wang Nianbin , Li Qingbo , Sun Bing , Zhou Zunchun , Xue Ke , Ma Zhiqiang , Tian Jin , Song Lun
Published: December 2007

Based on the datum line survey in August 2005 and June and August of 2006, water samples were collected in 30 sites to examine the trend of spatial distribution and temporal change of dissolved metals in seawater of Jinzhou Bay, China. The results showed that copper (Cu), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), and cadmium (Cd) concentrations ranged from 1.71 to 3.49, 0.38 to 1.19, 21.77 to 39.16, and 1.65 to 2.01 μg/L, respectively. Except for Zn, the dissolved metal concentrations in August 2006 were much higher than those in August 2005. The concentrations in June 2006 were also higher than those in August 2006. The highest concentrations of dissolved metal were determined in samples collected from southwest of the Bay near sewage outfalls of Huludao Zinc Plant and Bohai Shipyard and the mouths of Wuli and Cishan rivers. The concentrations of dissolved metals increased inshore as compared with offshore. The principal contaminated factors were Zn, Cd, and Pb in the Jinzhou Bay. Significant positive correlations existed between the concentrations of Cu and Cd (0.016), as well as Zn and Cd (0.000). The overall results revealed that the Bohai Sea was one of the most contaminated areas by dissolved metals compared to other coastal areas in China.
Release of adsorbed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons under cosolvent treatment: Implications for availability and fate
Authors: Chen Wei , Cong Lili , Hu Hualing , Zhang Ping , Li Jing , Feng Zhenzhen , Kan Amy T , Tomson Mason B
Published: December 2007

During laboratory and field studies, a fraction of contaminants in soils or sediments often is observed to be highly resistant to desorption. This desorption-resistant fraction may have significant effects on long-term fate and exposure of soil/sediment-bound contaminants in particular, causing much reduced availability and contaminant persistence. Previous work by many research groups has indicated that this nonideal desorption behavior could be better predicted with biphasic desorption models. The present study further investigated the release of naphthalene and phenanthrene from sediments during and after cosolvent treatment. Experimental results indicate that release of these two compounds under cosolvent conditions can be accurately predicted with a previously developed, biphasic desorption model when the solubility enhancement effect of cosolvent is accounted for using standard activity coefficient ratios. In addition, desorption of the residual contaminants after cosolvent treatment follows the original biphasic desorption model very well, suggesting that cosolvent treatment increases only the aqueous solubility and has little effect on the nature of the desorption-resistant fraction and that cosolvent desorption is a valuable analytical tool for quickly measuring the magnitude of the desorption-resistant fraction. The present findings might have important implications for the mechanisms controlling resistant desorption of hydrophobic organic compounds and for predicting the availability and long-term fate of contaminants in soils and sediments.
Taxonomy and genetic divergence of Paranoplocephala kalelai (Tenora, Haukisalmi et Henttonen, 1985) (Cestoda, Anoplocephalidae) in the grey-sided vole Myodes rufocanus in northern Fennoscandia
Authors: Haukisalmi Voitto , Hardman Lotta , Niemimaa Jukka , Henttonen Heikki
Published: December 2007

Paranoplocephala kalelai (Tenora, Haukisalmi et Henttonen, 1985) is an anoplocephalid cestode that primarily parasitizes the grey-sided vole Myodes rufocanus (syn. Clethrionomys rufocanus) in northern Fennoscandia. In a preliminary molecular phylogenetic analysis, the cytochrome oxidase I (mtDNA) sequences of P. kalelai formed two divergent sublineages originating from two different localities in northern Finland and northern Norway. The present data confirm the existence of two strongly supported clades and show that their geographic distributions are overlapping in northernmost Finland. Relatively deep genetic divergence and coexistence of the two main clades at one of the localities suggest that the material may include two biological species. However, because the specimens representing the two mtDNA clades of P. kalelai are not morphometrically sufficiently differentiated and because the mtDNA clade of the specimens from the type locality is unknown, they are not assigned to different species. Comparison with the existing phylogeographic data of M. rufocanus suggests that the genetic structure of this host-specific cestode reflects the glacial and post-glacial history of its primary host. A redescription is presented for P. kalelai.
A new species of genus Hysterothylacium Ward et Magath, 1917 (Nematoda, Anisakidae) from Liparis tanakae (Scorpaeniformes, Liparidae) from the Yellow Sea, China
Authors: Li Liang , Xu Zhen , Zhang Luping
Published: December 2007

A new anisakid nematode, Hysterothylacium liparis sp. nov., is described from the intestine and stomach of the fish, Liparis tanakae (Gilbert et Burke, 1912) (Scorpaeniformes, Liparidae), a fish endemic to the Yellow Sea, China. The new species can be distinguished from the congeners by the absence of lateral alae, the length of the intestinal caecum (1.94–3.35 mm, 58.84–82.47% of oesophageal length), the number and arrangement of the caudal papillae (20–29 precloacal subventral pairs, 1 adcloacal pair and 4 postcloacal pairs), the size of the spicules (1.94–3.74 mm, 4.85–7.30% of body length) and the morphology of the tail tip. This is the first species of adult ascaridoid nematodes to be reported from fishes of the family Liparidae in northern China.
A new species of Aplectana (Nematoda, Cosmocercidae) in Platymantis boulengeri (Anura, Ceratobatrachidae) from Papua New Guinea
Authors: Bursey Charles , Goldberg Stephen
Published: December 2007

Aplectana krausi sp. nov. (Ascaridida, Cosmocercidae) from the intestines of Platymantis boulengeri (Anura, Ceratobatrachidae) is described and illustrated. Aplectana krausi represents the 42nd species assigned to the genus, the 4th species reported from the Australo-Papuan region. It is easily separated from the three species previously reported from the region by the distribution pattern of male caudal papillae: A. macintoshii and A. novaezelandiae have irregular patterns; A. zweifeli and A. krausi have defined patterns. Aplectana zweifeli has 8–10 precloacal, no adcloacal, and 9 postcloacal pairs of papillae, there is a single median papillae just anterior to the cloaca; A. krausi has 5 precloacal, 1 adcloacal, and 5 postcloacal pairs of papillae, a median papillae is absent.
Furcocercous cercariae (Trematoda) from freshwater snails in Central Finland
Authors: Faltýnková Anna , Niewiadomska Katarzyna , Santos Maria , Valtonen E.
Published: December 2007

A total of eight species of furcocercous cercariae of four families (Strigeidae, Diplostomidae, Schistosomatidae and Sanguinicolidae), were found in 2005 in Lake Konnevesi in Central Finland in four snail species (Valvata macrostoma, Lymnaea stagnalis, Bathyomphalus contortus and Planorbarius corneus). Australapatemon burti (Miller, 1923), Australapatemon sp., Cotylurus brevis Dubois et Rausch, 1950, Cercaria spinulosa Ginetsinskaya, 1959 and Sanguinicola sp. are new species records for Finland. Ichthyocotylurus variegatus (Creplin, 1825) and Bilharziella polonica (Kowalewski, 1895) were first recorded as cercariae in Finland. The most common cercariae were A. burti (prevalence 13.3%) and Diplostomum pseudospathaceum Niewiadomska, 1984 (10.0%). Our study represents the first host record of Valvata macrostoma for larval stages of Australapatemon sp. and Sanguinicola sp.
Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) associations, antibody titers and circulating immune complexes in patients with cystic echinococcosis
Authors: Chakhtoura Marita , Al-Awar Ghassan , Abdelnoor Alexander
Published: December 2007

Cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by the parasite Echinococcus granulosus, is a prominent disease in Lebanon. The objectives of this study were to determine HLA allele-CE association in patients, and relate its presence to high anti-Echinococcus antibody titers and the presence of circulating immune complexes (CIC). Thirty patients and 20 controls were included. HLA profiles were determined by DNA-SSP typing. Relative risk and P-values were determined for each allele using Statcalc (EpiInfo, Version 6). Linkage disequilibrium was determined for associated alleles using SPSS 12.0 for Windows. Antibody titers were determined by indirect hemagglutination (IHA) and CIC by polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation. HLA-B*14 and HLA-DRB1*01 appeared to associate with protection against CE (P1 = P2 = 0.007 and P1 = P2 = 0.0007, respectively). However, it appeared that linkage disequilibrium did not exist between these 2 alleles (P = 0.250). HLA-B*35 was found to associate with susceptibility to disease (RR = 1.70, P = 0.02). Twenty five patients had anti-Echinococcus antibodies and 9 patients had CICs. However, there did not appear to be a correlation between the presence of HLA-B*35 and high antibody titers, or the presence of CICs. In conclusion, 2 HLA alleles that associate with resistance and 1 that associates with susceptibility to E. granulosus infection have been identified. The joint pain reported by some of the patients might be attributed to CIC deposits.
Larval survival strategy during winter of Chordodes nobilii Camerano, 1901 (Gordiida, Nematomorpha)
Authors: Zanca Fernanda , Villalobos Cristina , Rumi Alejandra
Published: December 2007

There are numerous open questions concerning the life cycle of Gordiida (Nematomorpha), especially about egg development and viability of larvae during winter, when the temperature of freshwater environments where they inhabit is low. On the basis of experimental studies we demonstrate that egg development of Chordodes nobilii takes 20–25 days at 22°C and 45–55 days at 5°C. We also observed that larvae of C. nobilii obtained from egg strings at 5°C and maintained at that temperature during six months remained inside their egg shells as a survival strategy.
Ecological study of the wood mouse helminth community in a burned Mediterranean ecosystem in regeneration five years after a wildfire
Authors: Fuentes Màrius , Sainz-Elipe Sandra , Galán-Puchades M.
Published: December 2007

Parasites are used as biological tags in environmental impact studies. However, terrestrial systems in general and small mammals in particular are rarely considered in these ecological studies. Based on the effects of a wildfire which occurred in the Spanish Serra Calderona Natural Park — a typical Mediterranean ecosystem — the regeneration process of the wood mouse population and its helminth community is analysed. A total of 217 individuals of Apodemus sylvaticus were studied in a five year period, from the second to the fifth post-fire year: 152 mice originating from the burned area and 65 from the control — non-burned — area. The helminth community for both burned and non-burned areas as well as the effect of intrinsic (host age and sex) and extrinsic (site, period and season of capture) factors on helminth prevalences and abundances were analysed. Taking into account the most important results of this study, various aspects of the helminth community dynamics of the wood mouse are postulated as biological tags of the environmental impact of a wildfire, such as the changes in the frequency distribution of the helminth species, the higher diversity in the burned area, and the prevalences of helminth species having biological cycles directly affected by climatic conditions and the vegetal regeneration process. Consequently, the helminth species of A. sylvaticus should be considered suitable biological tags of environmental perturbations, such as a wildfire, and the wood mouse/helminth model can be applied to predict the consequences for helminth species in general.
Choanocotyle platti sp. nov. from the northern long-necked turtle, Chelodina rugosa (Pleurodira, Chelidae) in Australia
Authors: Tkach Vasyl , Snyder Scott
Published: December 2007

Choanocotyle platti sp. nov. (Digenea, Choanocotylidae) is described from the northern long-necked turtle, Chelodina rugosa (Pleurodira, Chelidae) from the Daly and Mary Rivers, Northern Territory, Australia. This is the fifth known member of Choanocotyle. Choanocotyle platti sp. nov. differs from Choanocotyle nematoides Jue Sue et Platt, 1998 and Choanocotyle hobbsi Platt et Tkach, 2003 by smaller body length, larger oral sucker, relatively greater distance between tests, and prepharynx with an infolded posterior region. In addition the new species does not have the looped cirrus sac characteristic of Choanocotyle nematoides. Comparison of sequences of 18S, ITS (ITS1, 5.8S, ITS2) and partial 28S regions of nuclear rDNA among all 3 species strongly supports the status of Choanocotyle platti sp. nov. as a new species.
Morphisms of Certain Banach C*-Modules
Authors: Bagarello Fabio , Trapani Camillo
Published: December 2007

Morphisms and representations of a class of Banach C*-modules, called CQ*-algebras, are considered. Together with a general method for constructing CQ*-algebras, two different ways of extending the GNS-representation are presented.
Hilbert Space Theory for Reflectionless Relativistic Potentials
Authors: Ruijsenaars Simon N. M.
Published: December 2007

We study Hilbert space aspects of explicit eigenfunctions for analytic difference operators that arise in the context of relativistic two-particle Calogero–Moser systems. We restrict attention to integer coupling constants

g/ℏ

, for which no reflection occurs. It is proved that the eigenfunction transforms are isometric, provided a certain dimensionless parameter

a

varies over a bounded interval

(0,a_{\max})

, whereas isometry is shown to be violated for generic

a

larger than

a_{\max}

. The anomaly is encoded in an explicit finite-rank operator, whose rank increases to

∞

as

a

goes to

∞

.
Asymptotic Distribution of Eigenfrequencies for Damped Wave Equations
Authors: Sjöstrand Johannes
Published: December 2007

The eigenfrequencies associated to a damped wave equation, are known to belong to a band parallel to the real axis. We establish Weyl asymptotics for the distribution of the real parts of the eigenfrequencies, we show that up to a set of density 0, the eigenfrequencies are confined to a band determined by the Birkhoff limits of the damping coefficient. We also show that certain averages of the imaginary parts converge to the average of the damping coefficient.
On the Approximation of Blow-up Time for Solutions of Nonlinear Parabolic Equations
Authors: Ushijima Takeo K.
Published: December 2007

There are many nonlinear parabolic equations whose solutions develop singularity in finite time, say
T
. In many cases, a certain norm of the solution tends to infinity as time
t
approaches
T
. Such a phenomenon is called blow-up, and
T
is called the blow-up time. This paper is concerned with approximation of blow-up phenomena in nonlinear parabolic equations. For numerical computations or for other reasons, we often have to deal with approximate equations. But it is usually not at all clear if such wild phenomena as blow-up can be well reflected in the approximate equations. In this paper we present rather simple but general sufficient conditions which guarantee that the blow-up time for the original equation is well approximated by that for approximate equations. We will then apply our result to various examples.
Asymptotic Expansion of Singular Solutions and the Characteristic Polygon of Linear Partial Differential Equations in the Complex Domain
Authors: Ōuchi Sunao
Published: December 2007

Let

P(z, ∂)

be a linear partial differential operator with holomorphic coefficients in a neighborhood

Ω

of

z = 0

in

ℂ^{d+1}

. Consider the equation

P(z, ∂)u(z) = f(z)

, where

u(z)

admits singularities on the surface

K = \{z_0 = 0\}

and

f(z)

has an asymptotic expansion of Gevrey type with respect to

z_0

as

z_0 → 0

. We study the possibility of asymptotic expansion of

u(z)

. We define the characteristic polygon of

P(z, ∂)

with respect to

K

and characteristic indices. We discuss the behavior of

u(z)

in a neighborhood of

K

, by using these notions. The main result is a generalization of that in [6].
Bounds of Operator Functions and Furuta Inequalities
Authors: Lin Chia-Shiang
Published: December 2007

In this paper we shall find bounds of operator functions of the Furuta types, and bounds of the monotone decreasing function F_p,t_(
A, B, r, s
) of operators in particular. Consequently, we obtain bounds of Furuta inequalities.
The Generalized Fock Implementation of Complex Orthogonal Transformations
Authors: Robinson Paul Lee
Published: December 2007

We determine precise necessary and sufficient conditions for a complex orthogonal transformation to admit a generalized implementing operator in a Fock representation, extending classical results due to Shale–Stinespring and Carey–Palmer.
Zero actions and energy functions for perfect crystals
Authors: Baker Timothy H.
Published: December 2007

We give a combinatorial description of the action of the crystal operators

\tilde e_0

,

\tilde f_0

on certain perfect crystals of

U'_q(C_n^{(1)})

,

U'_q(D_n^{(1)})

and

U'_q(D_{n+1}^{(2)})

, by means of Dynkin diagram automorphisms and Schensted column insertion. Also, for certain level 1 perfect crystals of these algebras we give a definition of a combinatorial “charge” related to the energy function on homogeneous paths in such crystals.
Real Forms of the Radon–Penrose Transform
Authors: D'Agnolo Andrea , Marastoni Corrado
Published: December 2007

The complex Radon correspondence relates an
n
-dimensional projective space with the Grassmarm manifold of its
p
-dimensional planes. This is the geometric background of the Radon–Penrose transform, which intertwines cohomology classes of homogeneous line bundles with holomorphic solutions to the generalized massless field equations. A good framework to deal with such problems is provided by the recently developed theory of integral transforms for sheaves and
D
-modules. In particular, an adjunction formula describes the range of transforms acting on general function spaces, associated with constructible sheaves.

The linear group
SL
(
n
+ 1,C) naturally acts on the Radon correspondence. A distinguished family of function spaces is then the one associated with locally constant sheaves along the closed orbits of the real forms of
SL
(
n
+ 1,C). In this paper, we systematically apply the above-mentioned adjunction formula to such function spaces. We thus obtain in a unified manner several results concerning the complex, conformal, or real Radon transforms.
Extended Affine Root System IV (Simply-Laced Elliptic Lie Algebras)
Authors: Saito Kyoji , Yoshii Daigo
Published: December 2007

Let

(R, G)

be a pair consisting of an elliptic root system

R

and a marking

G

of

R

. Assume that the attached elliptic Dynkin diagram

Γ(R, G)

is simply-laced. To the simply-laced elliptic root system, we associate three Lie algebras, explained in 1), 2) and 3) below. The main result of the present paper is to show that all three algebras are isomorphic.
Blowing Ups of 3-dimensional Terminal Singularities, II
Authors: Hayakawa Takayuki
Published: December 2007

We study blowing ups of 3-dimensional terminal singularities of type (cD/2) such that the exceptional loci are prime divisors and have discrepancies 1/2. We determined such blowing ups completely.
Cauchy Problems for Mixed-Type Operators
Authors: Uchikoshi Keisuke
Published: December 2007

We give a general theory of the Cauchy problems for various types of operators, containing hyperbolic operators, elliptic operators, and mixed-type operators. We will give a necessary and sufficient condition for the Cauchy problems to be well-posed.
Harmonic Function Spaces of Probability Measures on Fusion Algebras
Authors: Hayashi Tomohiro
Published: December 2007

In this note, we study harmonic function spaces of probability measures on fusion algebras of
C
*-tensor categories and show that almost ergodicity is equivalent to ergodicity for amenable fusion algebras, which generalizes a result due to S. Popa for probability measures associated to subfactors.
Schur Products and Module Maps on $B(\mathscr H)$
Authors: Itoh Takashi , Nagisa Masaru
Published: December 2007

We describe the isometry which induces a Schur product on

B(\mathscr H)

and characterize Schur product maps as completely bounded module maps from

K(\mathscr H)

to

B(\mathscr H)

.
The First Fundamental Theorem of Coinvariant Theory for the Quantum General Linear Group
Authors: Goodearl Kenneth R. , Lenagan Thomas H. , Rigal Laurent
Published: December 2007

We prove First Fundamental Theorems of Coinvariant Theory for the standard coactions of the quantum groups

\mathcal O_q(\mathit{GL}_t(K))

and

\mathcal O_q(\mathit{SL}_t(K))

on the quantized algebra

\mathcal O_q(M_{m,t}(K)) \otimes \mathcal O_q(M_{t, n}(K))

. (Here

K

is an arbitrary field and

q

an arbitrary nonzero scalar.) In both cases, the set of co-invariants is a subalgebra of

\mathcal O_q(M_{m,t}(K)) \otimes \mathcal O_q(M_{t, n}(K))

, which we identify.
Conjugacy of $Z^2$-subshifts and Textile Systems
Authors: Aso Hiroshi
Published: December 2007

It will be shown that any topological conjugacy of

Z^2

-subshifts is factorized into a finite number of bipartite codes, and that in particular when textile shifts which are

Z^2

-subshifts arising from textile systems introduced by Nasu are taken each bipartite code appearing in this factorization is given by a bipartite graph code of textile shifts which is defined in terms of textile systems. The latter result extends the Williams result on strong shift equivalence of

Z^1

-topological Markov shifts to a

Z^2

-shift case.