The Way Forward for Hong Kong to Combat Vessel Source Emissions in the Pearl River Delta Region

Air pollution has long been of great concern in both Hong Kong and the wider Pearl River Delta (PRD) region, where shipping pollution is a major contributor to poor air quality. This article addresses, first, the current global regulatory framework covering the main sources of vessel source pollution; second, the implementation and enforcement of the rules in Annex VI of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL); and third, the legal and policy measures for combating vessel source emissions in Hong Kong. In conclusion, the article offers suggestions on the way forward for Hong Kong to combat such vessel source emissions in the PRD region.     

Xishania的异物同名问题以及对Xishania fusiformis Hong,1981和Xishania longiusula Hu,2002的一些讨论

洪友崇1981年建立了京西早白垩世卢尚坟昆虫群,认为Xishania fusiformis(梭形西山蝽)为其中的代表类型,并由此建立1新科1新属1新种。胡世学2002年报道了昆明海口耳材村剖面澄江动物群蠕虫化石Xishania longiusula(长形西山虫),建立1新属1新种。因此,Xishania Hu,2002为Xishania Hong,1981的晚出异物同名,且Xishania fusiformis和Xishania longiusula的分类位置也存在很大争议。文中结合多年来收集的大量梭形西山蝽和长形西山虫标本对二者进行讨论,指出梭形西山蝽与Mesolygaeus laiyangensis(莱阳中蝽)存在区别,代表不同的种类。而长形西山虫属于澄江动物群中的火把虫类,但与模式种存在显著区别,可作为Facivermis(火把虫)一新种。     

An investigation into some physical and biotic effects of flooding on reservoir mud previously subjected to a period of aerial exposure

A series of laboratory experiments were carried out in order to investigate the effects of selected physical and biotic processes on the substratum of a recently flooded gently sloping marginal zone of Plover Cove Reservoir, Hong Kong. The physical effects of disturbance of the sediments promoted the redistribution of organic matter, as shown by differences in the percentage of organic matter in the supernatant and residue resulting when reservoir mud was stirred. It is suggested that such a process would promote the transfer of allochthonous organic carbon from the marginal zone (the area of input of such material) to the rest of the water body. Substrate characteristics were also influenced by the activities of two species of benthic gastropod,Sinotaia quadrata andMelanoides tuberculata. These animals increased the rate of production of particles from soaked blocks of parent mud when compared with experimental treatments in the absence of snails. Additionally both species enhanced the production of aggregates from fine sediments with a particle size of less than 125 µm. The magnitudes of both processes were statistically significant. Laboratory observations showed thatM. tuberculata had a significantly faster rate of aggregate and fine particulate production thanS. quadrata and it is possible that the former species may have the capacity to modify the substrate characteristics of the newly flooded marginal zone of Plover Cove.Department of Zoology, The University of Hong Kong     

红菜薹雄性不育系花药败育的细胞形态学观察

采用石蜡切片技术,在光学显微镜下系统研究了红菜薹(Brassica campestris L.ssp．chinensis L.var．utilis TsenetLee．)波里马胞质雄性不育系(Polima CMS)、红菜薹萝卜胞质雄性不育系(Ogura CMS)及相应保持系花药发育过程的细胞形态学特征。观察结果表明：红菜薹Polima CMS花药发育受阻于孢原细胞阶段,不形成花粉,属无花粉型,此不育系花药不形成绒毡层和中层;而红菜薹Ogura CMS花药败育发生于小孢子母细胞期或四分体时期,表现为绒毡层细胞异常,挤压四分体,导致四分体和绒毡层同时解体而败育。     

Thismia tentaculata （Burmanniaceae tribe Thismieae） from Hong Kong： first record of the genus and tribe from continental China

Populations of Thismia tentaculata （Burmanniaceae tribe Thismieae） are described and illustrated from Tai Mo Shan in Hong Kong, southern China. This represents the first report of the genus and tribe from continental China.     

A review on human influenza A H5N1 infections in Hong Kong

Avian influenza A H5N1 remains the most threatening virus that may cause another devastating pandemic in the foreseeable future. In 1997, Hong Kong was the first place to detect human infections due to this virus originated from birds. The experience and lessons learnt provide important information for controlling further outbreaks caused by avian influenza viruses.     

Effects of Tree Guards and Weed Mats on the Establishment of Native Tree Seedlings: Implications for Forest Restoration in Hong Kong, China

The effects of tree guards and weed mats on establishment and growth of native tree seedlings, Thick‐leaved oak (Cyclobalanopsis edithiae (Skan) Schott., Fagaceae), planted in an exposed hillside grassland in Hong Kong, were investigated. The natural regeneration of C. edithiae is poor due to a lack of seed dispersal agents and high seed predation, and therefore, this species is often targeted for forest restoration. The experiment lasted for 3.5 years during which the height, basal diameter, and crown diameter of individual seedlings were measured and survivorship recorded. The use of weed mats alone did not have a significant effect, but a combination of tree guards and weed mats led to a significant improvement in establishment, survivorship, and growth of the seedlings during the experimental period. Initially, the guards promoted rapid height growth of the seedlings, although lateral growth and secondary stem thickening were compromised. After the seedlings grew over the tree guards, the basal diameter and crown diameter increased at a notably faster rate. The combined effect of the tree guard and weed mat on the seedling growth pattern was found to be beneficial and contributed to the high survivorship of the seedlings. Comparing the survivorship data and the costs of various treatments, the use of tree guards in combination with the weed mats was demonstrated to be more cost‐effective than planting the seedlings without tree guards or weed mats. The potential for applying the technique in afforestation programs with native tree species for forest restoration in Hong Kong and other tropical regions is discussed.     

香港观赏植物资源及园林应用调查

采用实地调查和资料搜集的方法,对香港的公园和主要街道展开植物资源调查和编目,共记载香港观赏植物约70科260种,分析其观赏特性和园林应用,探讨观赏植物园林应用的不足之处,提出香港地区植物资源合理利用和保护的建议,为香港园林建设中的植物景观改良和建设提供参考。     

Assessment of Response of Kidney Tumors to Rapamycin and Atorvastatin in Tsc1+/− Mice

Atorvastatin is widely used to lower blood cholesterol and to reduce risk of cardiovascular disease–associated complications. Epidemiological investigations and preclinical studies suggest that statins such as atorvastatin have antitumor activity for various types of cancer. Tuberous sclerosis (TSC) is a tumor syndrome caused by TSC1 or TSC2 mutations that lead to aberrant activation of mTOR and tumor formation in multiple organs. Previous studies have demonstrated that atorvastatin selectively suppressed growth and proliferation of mouse Tsc2 null embryonic fibroblasts through inhibition of mTOR. However, atorvastatin alone did not reduce tumor burden in the liver and kidneys of Tsc2^+/? mice as assessed by histological analysis, and no combination therapy of rapamycin and atorvastatin has been tried. In this study, we used T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging to track changes in tumor number and size in the kidneys of a Tsc1^+/? mouse model and to assess the efficacy of rapamycin and atorvastatin alone and as a combination therapy. We found that rapamycin alone or rapamycin combined with atorvastatin significantly reduced tumor burden, while atorvastatin alone did not. Combined therapy with rapamycin and atorvastatin appeared to be more effective for treating renal tumors than rapamycin alone, but the difference was not statistically significant. We conclude that combined therapy with rapamycin and atorvastatin is unlikely to provide additional benefit over rapamycin as a single agent in the treatment of Tsc-associated renal tumors.     

四川西部川赤芍野生居群的表型多样性分析

为揭示四川西部川赤芍〔Paeonia anomala subsp.veitchii(Lynch)D.Y.Hong et K.Y.Pan〕表型性状的变异规律,对川赤芍6个野生居群的株高、茎基粗、叶片和花部性状等15个表型性状进行了比较;并在此基础上,对各表型性状进行了方差分析、变异系数(CV)分析、离散系数(R′)分析、Shannon-Weaver遗传多样性指数(H′)分析、主成分分析和聚类分析.结果表明:川赤芍15个表型性状在居群间均存在极显著差异;除顶小叶长宽比外,其他14个表型性状在居群内均存在极显著或显著差异.15个表型性状在居群内的F值均明显小于居群间.15个表型性状中,每枝着花量的CV平均值最大(33.68%),花瓣数的CV平均值最小(11.26%);6个居群中,阿坝州小金县两河乡(P1)和阿坝州小金县四姑娘山镇(P2)居群的CV平均值较大,阿坝州金川县万林乡(P4)和阿坝州马尔康县卓克基乡(P5)居群的CV平均值居中,阿坝州汶川县卧龙自然保护区(P3)和甘孜州炉霍县充古乡(P6)居群的CV平均值最小.15个表型性状中,株高的R′平均值最大(64.48%),萼片数和苞片数的R′平均值均最小(37.50%);6个居群中,P2居群的R′平均值最大(56.66%),P3居群的R′平均值最小(43.65%).川赤芍6个居群15个表型性状的CV值和R′值的平均值分别为18.70%和49.80%.川赤芍15个表型性状和6个居群的H′平均值均较高,分别为1.6475和1.4510.主成分分析结果显示:叶片形态和花部特征是川赤芍表型变异的主要因子.聚类分析结果显示:在欧氏距离7.12处,川赤芍6个居群被分成2支,其中,P6居群单独聚为一支,其他5个居群聚为另一支,表明生境相似的居群更早地聚在一起.研究结果显示:四川西部川赤芍表型性状在居群间变异丰富,这与其叶片形态、花部特征及生境关系密切.