Genetic mapping of size-related quantitative trait loci (QTL) in the bay scallop (Argopecten irradians) using AFLP and microsatellite markers

We constructed genetic linkage maps for the bay scallop Argopecten irradians using AFLP and microsatellite markers and conducted composite interval mapping (CIM) of body-size-related traits. Three hundred seventeen AFLP and 10 microsatellite markers were used for map construction. The female parent map contained 120 markers in 15 linkage groups, spanning 479.6 cM with an average interval of 7.0 cM. The male parent map had 190 markers in 17 linkage groups, covering 883.8 cM at 7.2 cM per marker. The observed coverage was 70.4% for the female and 81.1% for the male map. Markers that were distorted toward the same direction were closely linked to each other on the genetic maps, suggesting the presence of genes important for survival. Six size-related traits, shell length, shell height, shell width, total weight, soft tissue weight, and shell weight, were measured for QTL mapping. The size data were significantly correlated with each other. We subjected the data, log transformed firstly, to a principle component analysis and use the first principle component for QTL mapping. CIM analysis revealed one significant QTL (LOD=2.69, 1000 permutation, P<0.05) in linkage group 3 on the female parent map. The mapping of size-related QTL in this study raises the possibility of improving the growth of bay scallops through marker-assisted selection. (c) 2007 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Identification and mapping of amplified fragment length polymorphism markers linked to shell color in bay scallop, Argopecten irradians irradians (Lamarck, 1819)

Amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLP) were used to study the inheritance of shell color in Argopecten irradians. Two scallops, one with orange and the other with white shells, were used as parents to produce four F-1 families by selfing and outcrossing. Eighty-eight progeny, 37 orange and 51 white, were randomly selected from one of the families for segregation and mapping analysis with AFLP and microsatellite markers. Twenty-five AFLP primer pairs were screened, yielding 1138 fragments, among which 148 (13.0%) were polymorphic in two parents and segregated in progeny. Six AFLP markers showed significant (P < 0.05) association with shell color. All six loci were mapped to one linkage group. One of the markers, F1f335, is completely linked to the gene for orange shell, which we designated as Orange1, without any recombination in the progeny we sampled. The marker was amplified in the orange parent and all orange progeny, but absent in the white parent and all the white progeny. The close linkage between F1f335 and Orange1 was validated using bulk segregation analysis in two natural populations, and all our data indicate that F1f335 is specific for the shell color gene, Orange1. The genomic mapping of a shell color gene in bay scallop improves our understanding of shell color inheritance and may contribute to the breeding of molluscs with desired shell colors.

Chromosomal mapping of major ribosomal rRNA genes in the hard clam (Mercenaria mercenaria) using fluorescence in situ hybridization

Karyotype and chromosomal location of the major ribosomal RNA genes were studied in the hard clam (Mercenaria mercenaria Linnaeus) using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Metaphase chromosomes were obtained from early embryos. Internal transcribed spacers (ITS) between major RNA genes were amplified and used as FISH probes. The probes were labeled with digoxigenin-11-dUTP by polymerase chain reaction and detected with fluorescein-labeled anti-digoxigenin antibodies. FISH with the ITS probes produced two to four signals per nucleus or metaphase. M. mercenaria had a haploid number of 19 chromosomes with a karyotype of seven metacentric, four metacentric or submetacentric, seven submetacentric, and one submetacentric or subtelocentric chromosomes (7M + 4M/SM + 7SM + 1SM/ST). Two ITS loci were observed: one located near the centromere on the long arm of Chromosome 10 and the other at the telomere of the short arm of Chromosome 12. FISH signals on Chromosome 10 are strong and consistent, while signals on Chromosome 12 are variable. This study provides the first karyotype and chromosomal assignment of the major RNA genes in M. mercenaria. Similar studies in a wide range of species are needed to understand the role of chromosomal changes in bivalve evolution.

Chromosomal mapping of the major ribosomal RNA genes in the dwarf surfclam (Mulinia lateralis Say)

Chromosomal location of the major ribosomal RNA genes (rRNA) were studied in the dwarf surfclam (Mulinia lateralis, Say) using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). FISH probes for the rRNA genes were made by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), labeled with digoxigenin-11-dUTP and detected with fluorescein-labeled antidigoxigenin antibodies. Mulinia lateralis had a diploid number of 38 chromosomes and all chromosomes were telocentric. FISH with the rRNA probe produced positive and consistent signals on two pairs of chromosomes: Chromosome 15 with a relative length of 4.6% and Chromosome 19, the shortest chromosome. Both loci were telomeric. The rRNA location provides the first physical landmark of the M. lateralis genome.

Assessing the potential of VEGETATION sensor data for mapping snow and ice cover: a Normalized Difference Snow and Ice Index

The VEGETATION (VGT) sensor in SPOT 4 has four spectral bands that are equivalent to Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) bands (blue, red, near-infrared and mid-infrared spectral bands) and provides daily images of the global land surface at a 1-km spatial resolution. We propose a new index for identifying and mapping of snow ice cover, namely the Normalized Difference Snow/Ice Index (NDSII), which uses reflectance values of red and mid-infrared spectral bands of Landsat TM and VGT. For Landsat TM data, NDSII is calculated as NDSIITM =(TM3 -TM5)/(TM3 +TM5); for VGT data, NDSII is calculated as NDSIIVGT =(B2- MIR)/(B2 + MIR). As a case study we used a Landsat TM image that covers the eastern part of the Qilian mountain range in the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibetan) plateau of China. NDSIITM gave similar estimates of the area and spatial distribution of snow/ice cover to the Normalized Difference Snow Index (NDSI=(TM2-TM5)/(TM2+TM5)) which has been proposed by Hall et al. The results indicated that the VGT sensor might have the potential for operational monitoring and mapping of snow/ice cover from regional to global scales, when using NDSIIVGT.

大陆地壳岩石结构重建：方法与实例

The composition of the continental crust has long been a subject of interest to earth scientists as it can provide key information about the crustal growth and evolution of the continents. In this paper we make a comparative study on the lithological discrimination schemes featuring with the use of different seismic attributes, such as P-wave velocity, P- to S-wave velocity ratio, acoustic or elastic impedances, Lame impedances and high-sensitive identification factors. The results demonstrate that Lame impedances have more powerful constrains than other seismic attributes. In order to fully take the advantage of make the best of the different seismic response of crustal rock, we firstly use seismic attribute that have weak distinguish power to construct loose constrained lithological model, then use seismic attributes that have stronger distinguish power to tighten the constrains of lithological discrimination. We propose a joint scheme (chain constrain technique) by combing all available constrains to reduce the non-uniqueness in mapping rock distribution. We adopt chain constrain technique to construct lithological model beneath Tunxi-Wenzhou transect, Southeastern China, Manzhouli-Suifenhe transect, Northeastern China, and geophysical profile in Bohai Bay Basin, North China. The results can be suumarized as the follows: (1) We compare the sensitivity of different seismic factor constraints on rock types, and conclude that Lame impedances have tighter constrains than seismic velocity, Vp/Vs, density. (2) We propose chain constrains to construct lithological model from integrated geophysical data, and reduce the non-uniqueness in mapping rock distribution. (3) We reconstruct crustal lithological model beneath Tunxi-Wenzhou transect, Southeastern China. The results suggested that Jiangshan-Shaoxing fault is a crust-scale, and it is the boundary between Cathaysia and Yanthze blocks. (4) We construct crustal lithological model beneath Manzhouli-Suifenhe transect, Northeastern China. (5) We map the petrologic distribution along a geophysical profile in Bohai Bay Basin, North China, and construct a three-layered petrology model from the depth 2 km to about 10 km, consisted of basalt (the first layer), pelitic siltstone (the second layer), and silty mudstone and fine sandstone (the third layer).

乍得西南部中新生代火山作用与盆地演化

Located in the Central and West African, Chad, which is not well geological explored, is characterized by Mesozoic- Cenozoic intra-continental rift basins. The boreholes exposed that, during Mesozoic-Cenozoic times, volcanic activities were intense in these basins, but study on volcanic rocks is very weak, especially on those embedded in rift basins, and so far systematic and detailed work has still no carried out. Based on the project of China National Oil and Gas Exploration and Development Corporation, “The analysis of reservoir condition and the evaluation of exploration targets of seven basins in block H in Chad”, and the cooperative project between Institute of Geology and Geophysics, CAS and CNPC International (Chad) Co. Ltd., “Chronology and geochemistry studies on Mesozoic-Cenozoic volcanic rocks from southwestern Chad Basins”, systematic geochronology, geochemistry and Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic geochemistry studies on volcanic rocks from southwestern Chad basins have been done in the thesis for the first time. Detailed geochronological study using whole-rock K-Ar and Ar-Ar methods shows the mainly eruption ages of these volcanic rocks are Late Cretaceous- Paleogene. Volcanic rocks in the well Nere-1 and Figuier-1 from Doba basin are products of the Late Cretaceous which majority of the K-Ar (Ar-Ar) ages fall in the interval 95-75 Ma, whereas volcanic rocks in the well Ronier-1 from Bongor Basin and the Well Acacia-1 from Lake Chad Basin formed in the Paleogene which the ages concentrated in 66-52Ma. Two main periods of volcanic activity can be recognized in the study area, namely, the Late Cretaceous period and the Paleogene period. Volcanic activities have a general trend of south to north migration, but this may be only a local expression, and farther future studies should be carried on. Petrology study exhibits these volcanic rocks from southwestern Chad basins are mainly tholeiitic basalt. Major- and trace elements as well as Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic geochemistry studies show that the late Cretaceous and the Paleogene basalts have a definitely genetic relationship, and magmas which the basalts in southwestern Chad basins derived from were produced by fractional crystallization of olivine and clinopyroxene and had not do suffered from crustal contamination. These basalts are prominently enriched light rare earth elements (LREE), large-ion lithophile elements (LILE) and high field strength elements (HFSE) and depleted compatible elements. They have positive Ba, Pb, Sr, Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf anomalies and negative Th, U, P,Y anomalies. It is possible that the basalts from southwestern Chad basins mainly formed by mixing of depleted mantle (DM) and enriched mantle (EMⅡ) sources. The late Cretaceous basalts have higher (87Sr/86Sr)i ratios than the Paleogene basalts’, whereas have lower (143Nd/144Nd)i ratios than the latter, showing a significant temporal evolution. The mantle sources of the Late Cretaceous basalts may have more enriched mantle(EMⅡ) compositions, whereas those of the Paleogene basalts are relatively more asthenospheric mantle (DM) components. The mantle components with temporal change observed in basalts from Chad basins were probably correlated with the asthenospheric mantle upwelling and lithospheric thinning in Central and Western Africa since Mesozoic. Mesozoic- Cenozoic Volcanism in Chad basins probably is a product of intra- plate extensional stress regime, corresponded to the tectonic setting of the whole West and Central African during Cretaceous. Volcanism is closely correlated with rifting. As time passed from early period to late, the basaltic magma of Chad basins, characterized with shallower genetic depth, higher density and smaller viscosity, probably indicates the gradual strengthening evolution of the rifting. In the initial rife stage, volcanic activities are absent in the study area. Volcanic activities are basiccally corresponded with the strong extensional period of Chad basins, and the eruption of basalts was slightly lagged behind the extensional period. In the post-rift stage (30-0Ma), these basins shifted to the thermal sag phase, volcanic activities in the study area significantly decreased and then terminated.

弱各向异性介质中传播的地震波及其速度重建

We begin our studies to make the best of information of seismic data and carry out the description of cracks parameters by extracting anisotropic information. The researching contents are: (1) velocity and polarization anomaly of seismic wave (qP and qSV wave) in weak anisotropic media; (2) reflection seismic synthetic record in anisotropic media; (3) multiple scattering induced by cracks; (4) anisotropic structure inversion and velocity reconstruction with VSP (Vertical Seismic Profile) data; (5) multi-parameters analysis of anisotropy in time-domain and depth-domain. Then we obtain results as follows: (1) We achieve approximate relation of qP and qSV wave's velocity and polarization property in weak anisotropic media. At the same time, we calculate anisotropic velocity factors and polarization anomaly of several typical sedimentary rocks. The results show there are different anisotropic velocity factors and polarization anomaly in different rocks. It is one of the primary theoretical foundation which is expected to identify lithology; (2) We calculate reflection seismic synthetic record with theoretical model; (3) We simulate scattering induced by cracks with Boundary Element Method. Numerical studies show that in the presence of cracks; spatial and scale-length distributions are important and cannot be ignored in modeling cracked solids; (4) From traveltimes information of VSP data, we study the velocity parameter inversion of seismic wave under isotropic and anisotropic models, and its result indicate that the inversion imaging under anisotropic model will not destroy the original features of isotropic model, but it will bring on some bigger error if we adopt the method of isotropic model for anisotropic model data. Further more, basing on the study we develop the CDP mapping technology of reflecting structure under isotropic and anisotropic models, and we process real data as a trial of the methods; (5) We study the problem of initial model reconstruction of anisotropic parameters structure represented by Anderson parameter in depth domain for surface data.

基于刺激－反应相容性的汉语拼音和弦键盘的实验研究

Stimulus-Response Compatibility is a key concept in human-machine interaction. It is proved that to map stimulus to response according to salient-feature coding principle will get a compatible pair. In the designing of Chinese Pinyin Code inputting devices, stimulus-response compatibility will bring the device with features of ease of use and ease of learning. In this research, Response time and error rates of two designs of salient-feature coding principle and one design of random mapping were tested along with the QWERTY keyboard. Cross-modal Compatibility Effects were found, and no significant difference between two salient-feature coding types, both on response time and error rates; but response time has shown difference between salient-feature coding designs and random mapping design. Compared with the QWERTY keyboard group, the error rates of subjects of chord keyboard group showed no significant differences. But subjects assigned to the QWERTY keyboard group have a shorter response time. One possible reason is the subjects of chord keyboard group only at beginner skill after at most 6 hours practice whereas subjects of QWERTY group were at least at novice level after take a foundation of computer class at their own college.

Direct synthesis of highly ordered Fe-SBA-15 mesoporous materials under weak acidic conditions

Iron-substituted SBA-15 (Fe-SBA-15) materials have been synthesized via a simple direct hydrothermal method under weak acidic conditions. The powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), NZ sorption and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) characterizations show that the resultant materials have well-ordered hexagonal meso-structures. The diffused reflectance UV-vis and UV resonance Raman spectroscopy characterizations show that most of the iron ions exist as isolated framework species for calcined materials when the Fe/Si molar ratios are below 0.01 in the gel. The presence of iron species also has significant salt effects that can greatly improve the ordering of the mesoporous structure. Different iron species including isolated framework iron species, extraframework iron clusters and iron oxides are formed selectively by adjusting the pH values of the synthesis solutions and Fe/Si molar ratios. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.