Trends in Organochlorine Residue Concentrations in Ringed Seal (Phoca hispida) from Holman, Northwest Territories, 1972-91

Samples of blubber for organochlorine (OC) analysis were collected from ringed seals (Phoca hispida) taken during subsistence hunts at Holman, Northwest Territories, in 1972, 1981, 1989, and 1991. DDT-group residue burdens did not change appreciably between 1972 and 1981, but after 1981 concentrations of p,p'-DDE and p,p'-DDT began to fall. By 1991, p,p'-DDE concentrations were less than half, and p,p'-DDT concentrations about 20%, of their 1972 values. Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) fell to about one-third of their 1972 values by 1981, and then stayed constant until 1991; small but significant changes in the relative proportions of individual congeners, probably resulting from metabolism, occurred between 1981 and 1991. Concentrations of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) fell by 40 to 50% between 1981 and 1991, but those of alpha and beta hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCH) did not change. Only minor changes were seen in the distribution of other OC pesticides (oxychlordane, cis- and trans-chlordane, cis- and trans-nonachlor, mirex, heptachlor epoxide and dieldrin). Female ringed seals consistently had lower blubber DDT-group and PCB concentrations than males. These temporal trends are consistent with changes in the production and use pattern of some OCs, and with their expected environmental behaviour as inferred from their physico-chemical properties.En 1972, 1981, 1989 et 1991, on a prélevé des échantillons de lard de phoques annelés (Phoca hispida) pris durant des chasses de subsistance à Holman (Territoires du Nord-Ouest), en vue d'en analyser les organochlorés. Les charges des résidus du groupe DDT n'ont pas changé de façon appréciable entre 1972 et 1981, mais après 1981 les concentrations de p,p'-DDE et de p,p'-DDT ont commencé à chuter. En 1991, les concentrations de p,p'-DDE étaient de plus de 50 p. cent inférieures à leurs valeurs de 1972, et celles de p,p'-DDT, d'environ 20 p. cent. En 1981, les concentrations de diphényles polychlorés (PCB) avaient baissé pour atteindre environ un tiers de leurs valeurs de 1972, puis elles se sont stabilisées jusqu'en 1991; des changements faibles mais significatifs dans les proportions relatives des congénères analysés individuellement, résultant probablement du métabolisme, se sont produits entre 1981 et 1991. Les concentrations d'hexachlorobenzène (HCB) ont diminué de 40 à 50 p. cent entre 1981 et 1991, mais celles des I- et K-hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCH) n'ont pas varié. Seuls des changements mineurs ont été observés dans la distribution d'autres pesticides organochlorés (oxychlordane, cis- et trans-chlordane, cis- et trans-nonachlore, mirex, époxyde d'heptachlore et dieldrine). Les concentrations de substances du groupe DDT et celles de PCB dans le lard des phoques annelés femelles étaient systématiquement moindres que dans celui des mâles. Ces tendances temporelles sont en harmonie avec les changements survenus dans la production et le schéma d'utilisation de certains organochlorés, ainsi qu'avec le comportement environnemental que leurs propriétés physico-chimiques laissent prévoir

Current-voltage characteristic of parallel-plane ionization chamber with inhomogeneous ionization

The balances of particles and charges in the volume of parallel-plane ionization chamber are considered. Differential equations describing the distribution of current densities in the chamber volume are obtained. As a result of the differential equations solution an analytical form of the current-voltage characteristic of parallel-plane ionization chamber with inhomogeneous ionization in the volume is got.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure

The Principal Pauline Epistles: A Collation of Old Latin Witnesses

This collation presents the evidence for the earliest Latin versions of Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians and Galatians, enabling scholars to examine the development of the biblical text at an important early stage in its history. Readership: Scholars of the New Testament text, the development of Christian theology, the history of the Latin language, translation studies. An important reference work for research institutes and academic libraries

Amphibia: Anura: Hylidae Scarthyla vigilans (Solano 1971): Range Extension and New Country Record for Trinidad, W.I. With Notes on Tadpoles, Habitat, Behaviour and Biogeographical Significance.

We report a range extension and new country record for Scarthyla vigilans in Trinidad, West Indies. The species was previously known only from populations on mainland South America. We include notes on behavior, habitat and tadpole development, and discuss the biogeographical significance of the species’ presence in Trinidad, particularly with respect to consequences for understanding colonization events on this Caribbean island

Quantum field theory on a growing lattice

We construct the classical and canonically quantized theories of a massless scalar field on a background lattice in which the number of points--and hence the number of modes--may grow in time. To obtain a well-defined theory certain restrictions must be imposed on the lattice. Growth-induced particle creation is studied in a two-dimensional example. The results suggest that local mode birth of this sort injects too much energy into the vacuum to be a viable model of cosmological mode birth.Comment: 28 pages, 2 figures; v.2: added comments on defining energy, and reference

Forest landscape restoration in the drylands of Latin America

Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) involves the ecological restoration of degraded forest landscapes, with the aim of benefiting both biodiversity and human well-being. We first identify four fundamental principles of FLR, based on previous definitions. We then critically evaluate the application of these principles in practice, based on the experience gained during an international, collaborative research project conducted in six dry forest landscapes of Latin America. Research highlighted the potential for FLR; tree species of high socioeconomic value were identified in all study areas, and strong dependence of local communities on forest resources was widely encountered, particularly for fuelwood. We demonstrated that FLR can be achieved through both passive and active restoration approaches, and can be cost-effective if the increased provision of ecosystem services is taken into account. These results therefore highlight the potential for FLR, and the positive contribution that it could make to sustainable development. However, we also encountered a number of challenges to FLR implementation, including the difficulty of achieving strong engagement in FLR activities among local stakeholders, lack of capacity for community-led initiatives, and the lack of an appropriate institutional and regulatory environment to support restoration activities. Successful implementation of FLR will require new collaborative alliances among stakeholders, empowerment and capacity building of local communities to enable them to fully engage with restoration activities, and an enabling public policy context to enable local people to be active participants in the decision making process. © 2012 by the author(s). Published here under license by the Resilience Alliance

Reduced risk of clinical malaria in children infected with multiple clones of Plasmodium falciparum in a highly endemic area: a prospective community study

A prospective community study in a highly malaria endemic area of Papua New Guinea found that infection with multiple Plasmodium falciparum genotypes was an indicator of lowered risk of subsequent clinical attack. The results suggest that concurrent or very recent infections provide protection from superinfecting parasites. The finding of an association between reduced risk of clinical malaria and infection with parasites of merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP-1) type RO33 or MSP-2 type 3D7 further suggests that the concomitant immunity is, at least in part, a consequence of a response to these major merozoite surface protein