Algal biotechnology industries and research activities in China

In old China there were very few people engaged in the study of the algae, but in new China, freshwater and marine algae are studied by over one hundred old and new phycologists. There is now an algal biotechnology industry consisting of an aquaculture industry, producing large amounts of the seaweeds Laminaria, Porphyra, Undaria, Gracilaria, eucheumoids, and the microalgae Dunaliella and Spirulina. There is also a phycocolloid industry, producing algin, agar and carrageenan; an industry producing chemicals and drugs, such as iodine, mannitol, phycocyanin, beta -carotene, PSS (propylene glycol alginate sulfate) and FPS (fucose-containing sulfated polysaccharides) and an industry producing food, feed and fertilizer. The Laminaria cultivation industry produces about 900,000 t dry Laminaria, probably the largest producer in the world and 13,000 t algin, undoubtedly one of the largest algin producer in the world.

Preliminary study on a potential antibacterial peptide derived from histone H2A in hemocytes of scallop Chlamys farreri

Histone H2A is reported to participate in host defense response through producing novel antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) from its N-terminus in vertebrates and invertebrates, while the AMPs derived from H2A have not to our knowledge been reported in mollusca. In the present study, gene cloning, mRNA expression of H2A from scallop Chlamys farreri, and the recombinant expression of its N-terminus were conducted to investigate whether a similar mechanism exists in mollusca. The full-length DNA of H2A was identified by the techniques of homology cloning and genomic DNA walking, The full-length DNA of the scallop H2A was 696 bp long, including a 5'-terminal untranslated region (UTR) of 90 bp, a 3'-terminal UTR of 228 bp with a stem-loop structure and a canonical polyadenylation signal sequence AATAAA, and an open reading frame of 375 bp encoding a polypeptide of 125 amino acids. The mRNA expression of H2A in the hemocytes of scallop challenged by microbe was measured by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The expression of H2A was not upregulated after stimulation, suggesting that H2A did not participate in immunity response directly. The DNA fragment of 117 bp encoding 39 amino acids corresponding to the N-terminus of scallop H2A, which was homologous to buforin I in vertebrates, was cloned into Pichia pastoris GS115. The transformants (His(+) Mut(+)) containing multi-copy gene insertion were selected with increasing concentration of antibiotic G418. The peptide of 39 amino acids was expressed by induction of 0.5% methanol. The recombinant product exerted antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive (G(+)) and Gram-negative (G(-)) bacteria. The antibacterial activity toward G(+) bacteria was 2.5 times more than that against G(-) bacteria. The results elucidated that N-terminus of H2A was a potential AMP and provided a promising candidate for a new antibiotic screening. However, whether H2A is really involved in scallop immune response mechanisms needs to be further investigated. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Isotopic feature and uranium dating of the volcanic rocks in the Okinawa Trough

Volcanic rocks from the northern and middle Okinawa Trough were dated by uranium-series dating method. Differential fractions using magnetic procedure were designed to separate samples. New report on the ages and isotopic data of rocks in the northern trough (especially black pumice) was discussed. Based on the uranium dates and Sr-Nd isotopic ratio, magmatic evolution process of the Okinawa Trough was noted. Firstly, there have been wide silicic volcanic activities in the Okinawa Trough from late Pleistocene to present, and the volcanic rocks can be divided into three subgroups. Secondly, magma generally came from PREMA source area under the Okinawa Trough. Magmatic evolution in the northern trough was similar to the middle, but different to the south. Finally, volcanic activities indicated that opening of the southern Okinawa Trough did not happen due to the collision between Luson Arc and Eurasian Plate until the early Pleistocene.

A comparison of future increased CO2 and temperature effects on sympatric Heterosigma akashiwo and Prorocentrum minimum

Very little is known about how global anthropogenic changes will affect major harmful algal bloom groups. Shifts in the growth and physiology of HAB species like the raphidophyte Heterosigma akashiwo and the dinoflagellate Prorocentrum minimum due to rising CO2 and temperature could alter their relative abundance and environmental impacts in estuaries where both form blooms, such as the Delaware Inland Bays (DIB). We grew semi-continuous cultures of sympatric DIB isolates of these two species under four conditions: (1) 20 degrees C and 375 ppm CO2 (ambient control), (2)20 degrees C and 750 ppm CO2 (high CO2),(3) 24 degrees C and 375 ppm CO2 (high temperature), and (4) 24 degrees C and 750 ppm CO2 (combined). Elevated CO2 alone or in concert with temperature stimulated Heterosigma growth, but had no significant effect on Prorocentrum growth. P-Bmax (the maximum biomass-normalized light-saturated carbon fixation rate) in Heterosigma was increased only by simultaneous CO2 and temperature increases, whereas P-Bmax in Prorocentrum responded significantly to CO2 enrichment, with or without increased temperature. CO2 and temperature affected photosynthetic parameters alpha, Phi(max), E-k, and Delta F/F'(m) in both species. Increased temperature decreased and increased the Chl a content of Heterosigma and M Prorocentrum, respectively. CO2 availability and temperature had pronounced effects on cellular quotas of C and N in Heterosigma, but not in Prorocentrum. Ratios of C:P and N:P increased with elevated carbon dioxide in Heterosigma but not in Prorocentrum. These changes in cellular nutrient quotas and ratios imply that Heterosigma could be more vulnerable to N limitation but less vulnerable to P-limitation than Prorocentrum under future environmental conditions. In general, Heterosigma growth and physiology showed a much greater positive response to elevated CO2 and temperature compared to Prorocentrum, consistent with what is known about their respective carbon acquisition mechanisms. Hence, rising temperature and CO2 either alone or in combination with other limiting factors could significantly alter the relative dominance of these two co-existing HAB species over the next century. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

青海胡麻新品种选引及适宜播量试验初报

从胡麻主产区引进19个新育成的品种(系),2005年进行预备试验,综合其产量、农艺性状和抗病性,从中筛选出晋亚8号、8858、陇亚9号、97047、0144(甘肃)、91-197-8和3号胡麻7个表现较好的品种(系);2006年进行播种量试验.结果表明各引进胡麻品种(系)的产量在总体上都比作为对照的青海当地品种的产量高;晋亚8号、97047和陇亚9号是表现最好的3个品种,其适宜播种量为375～450 万粒/hm~2,具体为:晋亚8号和97047为375～450 万粒/hm~2,陇亚9号为375 万粒/hm~2左右.

种植密度对莜麦产量及其构成因素的影响

为给莜麦新品种（系）的推广种植提供依据，研究了种植密度对6个引进莜麦品种的产量及其构成因素的影响。结果表明，品种、种植密度及二者的互作对莜麦产量影响均不显著，但品种对穗粒数和千粒重影响极显著，种植密度及其与品种的互作对穗数和穗粒数影响显著或极显著。增加密度有降低产量的趋势。其中，8711-12-1-58、989D-11和坝莜1号的产量受种植密度的影响相对较大，而坝莜6号的产量受种植密度的影响相对较小。它们的适宜种植密度，8711—12-1-58为600万粒／ha，989D-11、坝莜1号和坝莜6号为375万粒／ha。

液相色谱/质谱大气压化学电离源鉴定深海鱼油中长链不饱和脂肪酸

以1,2-苯并-3,4-二氢咔唑-9-乙基苯磺酸酯为衍生化试剂,在充氮的气氛下对鱼油进行皂化处理,所得皂化产物经正己烷萃取处理后进行柱前衍生化,再以HPLC/MS分离和鉴定。通过对长链脂肪酸分子的标记处理,其衍生物分子在质谱分析中呈现出双键位置的规范信息。通过建立模型计算式,借助不饱和脂肪酸的分子离子峰和特征碎片离子峰的质量数,计算不饱和的碳碳双键位置。共鉴定出23种脂肪酸。结果表明深海鱼油主要由C12-C22的脂肪酸组成,多不饱和脂肪酸含量占67.08%（峰面积百分比,下同）,其中C16∶19-十六碳烯酸（11.7%）;C16∶44,7,10,13-十六碳四烯酸（2.91%）;C18∶112-十八碳烯酸（11.1%）;C18∶46,9,12,15-十八碳四烯酸（3.62%）;C20∶113-二十碳烯酸（1.21%）;C20∶55,8,11,14,17-二十碳五烯酸（16.71%）;C22∶62,5,8,11,14,17-二十二碳六烯酸（10.53%）。所建立的方法为不饱和脂肪酸碳链中双键位置的确定提供了新的技术手段。

青海地表始冻期和解冻期对气候变化的响应

通过对青海省8个农气观测站的土壤表面始冻期和解冻期连续观测资料的分析,结果表明:青海各地土壤表面始冻期和解冻期存在着明显的地域差异,多数站点的封冻期呈现出缩短的趋势,互助、德令哈略有延长.始冻期变化受气候变化的明显影响,当3-9月平均气温升高1℃,除贵德、诺木洪、互助站响应不明显外,其余站点的始冻期推迟1.5～7.5d,平均推迟2.3d;当3-9月日照时数增多10h,诺木洪地区始冻期提早0.5d,其余站点的响应不明显;当上年10月至当年2月平均气温升高1℃,除门源、德令哈站的解冻期响应不明显外,其余站点提前2～13d,平均提早2.5d;降水量增多10mm,除诺木洪推迟12d,其余站点推迟2～6d,平均推迟2.3d;当上年10月至当年2月平均气温升高1℃,封冻期日数除河南、门源、贵德响应不明显外,其余缩短2.4～23.1d,平均缩短1.8d.

LC determination of amino acids in rat plasma with fluorescence detection: Application to exercise physiology

An LC method for the determination of 20 amino acids (AAs), using 1,2-Benzo-3,4-dihydrocarbazole-9-ethyl chloroformate (BCEOC) as fluorescent labeling reagent, has been validated and applied for the analysis of AAs in rat plasma at three different states concerning exercise physiology. Identification of AA derivatives was carried out by LC-MS with electrospray ion (ESI), and the MS-MS cleavage mode of the representative tyrosine (Tyr) derivative was analyzed. Gradient elution on a Hypersil BDS C-18 column gave good separation of the derivatives. Excellent linear responses were observed and good compositional data could be obtained from as little as 50-200 mu L of plasma samples. The contents of 20 AAs in rat plasma of three groups (24 rats, group A: quiet state, group B: at exercising exhaust, group C: 12 h after exercising exhaust) exhibited evident difference corresponding to the physiological states. Facile BCEOC derivatization coupled with LC-FLD-ESI-MS analysis allowed the development of a highly sensitive method for the quantitative analysis of trace level of AAs from plasma or other biochemical samples.

Blood-gas properties of plateau zokor (Myospalax baileyi)

Plateau zokor (Myospalax baileyi) is one of the blind subterranean mole rats that spend their life solely underground in scaled burrows. It is one of the special species of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau. In their burrows, oxygen is low and carbon dioxide is high and their contents fluctuate with the change of seasons, soil types, rain and depth of burrows. However, plateau zokors show successful adaptation to that extreme environment. In this study, their adapting mechanisms to the hypoxic hypercapnic environment were analyzed through the comparison of their blood-gas properties with that of pikas (Ochotona curzniae) and Sprague-Dawley rats. The results indicated that plateau zokors had higher red blood corpuscle counts (8.11 +/- 0.59 (10(12)/L)) and hemoglobin concentrations (147 +/- 9.85 g/L), but hematocrit (45.9 +/- 3.29%) and mean corpuscular volume (56.67 +/- 2.57 fL) were lower than the other rodents. Their arterial blood and venous blood pH were 7.46 +/- 0.07 and 7.27 +/- 0.07. Oxygen pressure in arterial blood of plateau zokors was about 1.5 times higher than that of pikas and rats, and it was 0.36 and 0.26 times in their venous blood. Partial pressure for carbon dioxide in arterial and venous blood of plateau zokors was 1.5-fold and 2.0-fold higher, respectively, than in rats and pikas. Oxygen saturation of plateau zokors was 5.7 and 9.3 times lower in venous blood than that of pikas and rats, respectively. As result, the difference of oxygen saturation in arterial blood to venous blood was 2- and 4.5-fold higher in plateau zokors as that of pikas and rats, respectively. In conclusion, plateau zokors had a high tolerance to pH changes in tissues, together with strong capabilities to obtain oxygen from their hypoxic-hypercapnic environment. (c) 2006 Published by Elsevier Inc.

New taxa, names, and combinations in Saxifraga (Saxifragaceae) for the Flora of China

The following new species, new variety, new name, and four new combinations are published for the forthcoming account of Saxifraga L. in the Flora of China, Volume 8: S. epiphylla Gornall & H. Ohba, sp. nov., S. gemmigera Engler var. gemmuligera (Engler) J. T. Pan & Gornall, comb. nov., S. heterotricha Marquand & Airy-Shaw var. anadena (H. Smith) J. T. Pan & Gornall, comb. et stat, nov., S. hypericoides Franchet var. aurantiascens (Engler & Irmscher) J. T. Pan & Gornall, comb. nov., S. hypericoides var. rockii (Mattfeld) J. T. Pan & Gornall, comb. et stat. nov., S. sinomontana J. T. Pan & Gornall, nom. nov., and S. sinomontana var. amabilis H. Smith ex J. T. Pan, var. nov. In addition, the names S. mengtzeana Engler & Irmscher and S. mengtzeana var. cordatifolia Engler & Irmscher are lectotypified here.

用DADAS程序研究环肽构象

<正>DADAS方法采用逐次目标函数法有效地克服局部极值,利用二面角空间寻求分子构象,以减少运算量。该法是进行大分子多肽及蛋白质构象研究的最好方法之一。但,由于DADAS算法本身和数据结构按标准残基的连结方

固溶体矿物的性质对计算河南西峡红柱石矿形成条件的影响

自然界的大多数造岩矿物是由两种或多种组分混合而成的固溶体。因此，在矿物、岩石和矿床等地质体的平衡热力学研究中不可避免地要涉及固溶体矿物热力学行为的问题。河南省西峡县杨乃沟红柱石矿泥质片岩中仅出现红柱石而没有蓝晶石和夕线石，红柱石矿物包裹体测温结果为+’! / (!!0。通过矿物共生平衡!"# 曲线所计算出的片岩形成温度和压力条件也应位于上述岩石学和岩相学等特征所限定的范围内。以此为基础，通过构筑矿物共生!"# 平衡曲线的方法，对片岩中若干固溶体矿物理想性1 非理想性问题进行了研究。其中斜长石必须以非理想固溶体处理，而石榴子石、黑云母和白云母视作理想固溶体的计算结果同片岩的岩石学和岩相学等特征相一致。

硝化和反硝化对湖泊有机质沉积成岩前降解作用的研究

贵州红枫湖10月叶绿素a(chla)和NO3^-含量均比7月明显降低。利用氮同位素等数据对此进行了研究，结果表明，含量的降低是由不同的生物地球化学作用引起的。chla含量的降低主要是水体中有机质降解(硝化)所致，而NO3^- 含量的降低则是缺氧季节湖泊沉积物表层反硝化作用的结果。缺氧季节表层水体仍然能发生较强烈的硝化作用。硝化作用和反硝化作用分别发生在热分层湖泊的上层和沉积物表层。反硝化作用不仅消耗大量的NO3^-，而且还造成了一定量的有机质降解(有机碳作为电子受体)。据估算，在红枫湖后五测点和大坝测点，总有机碳在沉积成岩前分别降解了78％和68％。其中由硝化作用引起的总有机质降解量分别为35．8%和25．9％，而反硝化作用则分别为13．4％和9．2％.