Expression and localization of a novel phosducin-like protein from amphioxus Branchiostoma belcheri

A full length amphioxus cDNA, encoding a novel phosducin-like protein (Amphi-PhLP), was identified for the first time from the gut cDNA library of Branchiostoma belcheri. It is comprised of 1 550 bp and an open reading frame (ORF) of 241 amino acids, with a predicted molecular mass of approximately 28 kDa. In situ hybridization histochemistry revealed a tissue-specific expression pattern of Amphi-PhLP with the high levels in the ovary, and at a lower level in the hind gut and testis, hepatic caecum, gill, endostyle, and epipharyngeal groove, while it was absent in the muscle, neural tube and notochord. In the Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells transfected with the expression plasmid pEGFP-N1/Amphi-PhLP, the fusion protein was targeted in the cytoplasm of CHO cells, suggesting that Amphi-PhLP is a cytosolic protein. This work may provide a framework for further understanding of the physiological function of Amphi-PhLP in B. belcheri.

Cold event at 5 500 a BP recorded in mud sediments on the inner shelf of the East China Sea

A 700-year record (1.0-1.5 a resolution) of the East Asian winter monsoon (EAWM), based on grain-size analysis and AMS(14)C dating of Core EC2005 from the inner-shelf mud wedge of the East China Sea (ECS), was compared with the Dongge stalagmite delta O-18 record during the mid-Holocene. The upper muddy section of Core EC2005 has been formed mainly by suspended sediments derived from the Changjiang (Yangtze) River mouth since 7.3 ka BP. High precipitation and a strengthened EAWM might have played key roles in the high sedimentation rate (1 324-1 986 cm/ka) between 5.9-5.2 ka BP. The EAWM strengthened when the Asian summer monsoon weakened, especially around 5 500 a BP, which corresponded to a worldwide cold event. The EAWM during the mid-Holocene shows statistically significant solar periodicities at 62 and 11 a. The 5 500 a BP cold event might be resulted from orbital forcing and changes in solar activity.

Effective response of a non-linear composite in external AC electric field

A general effective response is proposed for nonlinear composite media, which obey a current field relation of the form J = sigmaE + chi\E\(2) E when an external alternating current (AC) electrical field is applied. For a sinusoidal applied field with finite frequency omega, the effective constitutive relation between the current density and electric field can be defined as, = sigma(e) + chi(e) <\E(x, omega, t)\(2) E(x, omega, t)> + (. . .), where sigma(e) and chi(e) are the general effective linear and nonlinear conductive responses, respectively. The angled brackets <(. . .)> denotes the ensemble average. As two examples, we have investigated the cylindrical and spherical inclusions embedded in a host and also derived the formulae of the general effective linear and nonlinear conductive responses in dilute limit. For higher volume fraction of inclusions, we have proposed a nonlinear effective medium approximation (EMA) method to estimate the general effective response of nonlinear composites in external AC field. Furthermore, the effective nonlinear responses at harmonics are predicted by using the general effective response. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

单细胞多核管状绿藻原生质团聚及发育研究

在实验室条件下研究了三种单细胞多核管状绿藻（藓羽藻、刺松藻和齿形蕨藻）原生质的团聚和发育过程。结果表明： 藓羽藻原生质团聚过程中，Na+或Ca2+浓度分别为0.5M和0.2 M时形成的藓羽藻亚原生质体数量最多，在原生质体团聚过程中细胞核发生了形变；藓羽藻无成熟叶绿体原生质能够在海水中团聚，并形成无成熟叶绿体的亚原生质体，该亚原生质体有细胞膜形成，但是无细胞壁形成，72小时后会死亡，分离纯化的线粒体在海水中不能团聚，分离纯化的叶绿体在海水中的团聚不是很明显，只是有2-3个叶绿体形成团聚体，而且数量也很少；在藓羽藻团聚过程中外源壳孢子和藓羽藻原生质会很快分开，这样壳孢子就不会被包围到藓羽藻原生质团聚体中，即使有的壳孢子被团聚进藓羽藻亚原生质体中，最后也是以藓羽藻亚原生质体的破裂而壳孢子发育而告终，同时加入壳孢子后还导致藓羽藻亚原生质体的发育方式发生了一定的变化，从以前的单极萌发变成二极萌发；在实验室条件下继代培养了藓羽藻原生质体三代，而且在团聚数量、大小和发育能力方面能够稳定遗传；野生藓羽藻原生质在6-12月份能够团聚，但是只能在8-12月份间发育； 刺松藻原生质体在碱性人工海水中会团聚形成亚原生质体，但是亚原生质体在72h内全部破裂，酶学和染色实验显示刺松藻原生质团聚过程中的絮凝胶状物质含有蛋白质和多糖类物质，松藻是一种非常合适的研究亚原生质体形成的实验模式材料；刺松藻的营养芽、游动细胞、丝状体和果胞都能够再生，刺松藻片断生长的最佳碳和氮浓度分别为：HCO3—C 3mM和NO3—N 70μM，刺松藻对所研究的不同氮源吸收能力基本相同； 齿形蕨藻的光饱和点为200 μmol/m2 s，最佳生长温度为25-30℃；齿形蕨藻片断的再生与光照强度成反比，而且只能在20-35℃间再生。齿形蕨藻原生质在碱性海水中能够团聚，但是与藓羽藻相比较数量非常的少。

Characteristics of the microzooplankton community in Jiaozhou Bay, Qingdao, China

The species composition and abundance of microzooplankton at 10 marine and five coastal stations (Hongdao, Daguhe, Haibohe, Huangdao and Hangxiao) in the Jiaozhou Bay (Qingdao, China) were studied in 2001. The microzooplankton community was found to be dominated by Tintinnopsis beroidea, Tintinnopsis urnula, Tintinnopsis brevicollis and Cvdonellopsis sp. The average abundance of microzooplankton was highly variable among stations. Specifically, the abundance of microzooplankton was higher at inshore stations and lower in the center of the bay (St. 5), bay mouth (St. 9) and outside the bay (St. 10). The highest average annual densities (346 ind./L) was observed at St. 3, while the lowest (55 ind./L) was at St. 10. Two abundance peaks were recorded in May (324 ind./L) and February (300 ind./L). The distribution of microzooplankton in three sampling layers at the 10 stations was relatively homogenous and the abundance decreased slightly as the water depth increased. At coastal stations, the highest average annual density was recorded at Hongdao Station (677 ind./L), followed by Daguhe Station (616 ind./L), Haibohe Station (400 ind./L), Huangdao Station (275 ind./L) and Hangxiao Station (73 ind./L). Furthermore, a 24-h sampling analysis conducted at Hangxiao Station revealed that the microzooplankton assemblages were characterized by a bimodal diel vertical migration pattern, with the highest densities occurring at dusk (154 ind./L), followed by dawn (146 ind./L), noon (93 ind./L) and midnight (77 ind./L). The density of microzooplankton in the Jiaozhou Bay was in the middle range of the densities of temperate coastal waters worldwide.

Trace metal concentrations in suspended particles, sediments and clams (Ruditapes philippinarum) from Jiaozhou Bay of China

Suspended particulate matter (SPM), sediments and clams were collected at three sites in Jiaozhou Bay to assess the magnitude of trace metal pollution in the area. Metal concentrations in SPM (Cu: 40.11-203; Zn: 118-447; Pb: 50.1-132; Cd: 0.55-4.39; Cr: 147.6-288; Mn: 762-1670 mu g/g), sediments (Cu: 17.64-34.26; Zn: 80.79-110; Pb: 24.57-49.59; Cd: 0.099-0.324; Cr: 41.6-88.1; Mn: 343-520 mu g/g) and bivalves (Cu: 6.41-19.76; Zn: 35.5-85.5; Pb: 0.31-1.01; Cd: 0.51-0.67; Mn: 27.45-67.6 mu g/g) are comparable to those reported for other moderately polluted world environments. SPM showed a less clear pattern. Metal concentrations in sediments displayed a clear geographical trend with values increasing with proximity to major urban centers. The clams (on dry weight) showed a complex pattern due to the variability introduced by age-related factors. Cd showed an apparent reverse industrial trend with higher concentrations in clams collected at distant stations. Zn, Pb and Mn showed no clear geographical pattern, whereas Cu increased in the clams collected in the most industrialized area. In addition, the bioaccumulation factors (BAF) were calculated. The result indicated that the studied Ruditapes philippinarum in Jiaozhou Bay possessed different bioaccumulation capacities for Cd, Zn, Cu, Pb and Mn, and Cd, Zn had a relatively high assimilation of those metals from sediment particles. A significant relationship with clam age was observed for Zn (positive) and Cu (negative) suggesting different physiological requirements for both metals with age. Trace metal concentrations measured in the tissue of the investigated clam were in the range considered safe by the WHO for human use.

Trichodinid ectoparasites (Ciliophora, Peritrichia) from the tiger puffer Takifugu rubripes in the Yellow Sea, with revision of Trichodina jadranica Raabe,1958

Two ectoparasitic ciliates, Trichodina fugu Imai et al., 1997 and T. jadranica Raabe, 1958, found on the gills and skin of the maricultured tiger puffer Takifugu rubripes on the China coast of the Yellow Sea, were studied using the dry silver nitrate method. Trichodina fugu is distinguished by its almost rod-shaped denticle blades. Trichodina jadranica is usually described as a small trichodinid with a clear central circle in the adhesive disc and with a low number of denticles. However, the data available suggest that the species is highly variable in morphometry and the Chinese population represents the largest in body size and denticle dimensions found to date. Based on the revision of T. jadranica, two major morphotypes, each represented by several populations are classified, differing in the shape of the blades, viz., distinctly curved and sickle-shaped with pointed distal ends (as in the classical T. jadranica) vs. less curved and more or less rectangle-like with rounded distal ends (as in T. domerguei gobii). Trichodina domerguei gobii Raabe,.1959, which was synonymised with T. jadranica, is thus elevated to species rank. Furthermore, Trichodina jadranica noblei Lom, 1970 has straight and stout blades with broadly rounded distal ends and is raised to species rank: T noblei Lom, 1970. Trichodina jadranica sensu Xu et al., 1995 shows high similarities in denticle shape and dimensions as well as the central granule pattern with T chlamydis Xu et al., 1999. Thus, it is synonymised with the latter species.

鼠类粪便中类固醇的荧光标记及质谱鉴定

利用新型荧光试剂1,2-苯并-3,4-二氢咔唑-9-乙基肼基甲酸酯(BCEC)作柱前衍生化试剂, 在Hypersil BDS C_(18) (4.6 mm * 200 mm, 5 μm) 色谱柱上，采用梯度洗脱对皮质醇、皮质酮、睾酮、孕酮4种类固醇荧光衍生物进行了优化分离。65℃下在乙腈溶剂中以三氯乙酸作催化剂,衍生反应2 h后获得稳定的荧光产物。激发和发射波长分别为333 nm和390 nm。采用大气压化学电离源(APCI)正离子模式, 实现了黑线姬鼠粪便中４种类固醇化合物的定性及定量测定。线性回归系数均在0.9999以上,检出限为47.3～71.2 fmol。

凯氏蒸馏法和元素分析仪法测定沉积物中全氮含量的异同及其意义

氮循环是生物地球化学研究领域中最重要的课题之一，全氮含量的测定是农业、生物和环境等多领域研究中的常规测试项目。凯氏蒸馏法和元素分析仪法作为常规方法通用于上述领域的全氮含量测定，但两种方法在实际应用中的差异却常被忽视。通过对中国北方某盐湖沉积物序列近百个样品的全氮含量分析，对两种方法测定结果的异同进行了对比研究。凯氏蒸馏法的分析精密度高于元素分析仪法(前者标准偏差为0.007,后者为0.024)，但在样品硝态和亚硝态氮的含量较高时，凯氏蒸馏法所测结果显著低于元素分析仪法的测定结果，此时选择元素分析仪法进行全氮含量的测定更为可靠和准确；对硝态和亚硝态氮含量极低的样品，两种方法的测定结果无显著差异。研究表明，选择全氮含量的测定方法，必须对所测样品的无机氮含量有初步的了解。对于中国北方的多数盐湖和地表环境样品，由于其无机氮的含量较高，选择凯氏蒸馏法进行全氮含量的测定是不适当的。尽管如此，对所研究的湖泊沉积物剖面而言，两种方法的对比却可以提供有价值的气候和环境演变信息。随着沉积物剖面的由深到浅，两种方法的测定结果由一致变化到存在显著差异，表明了湖泊水体从早期的淡水向今天的盐湖演化的过程。因此，凯氏蒸馏法和元素分析仪法测定结果的差异可以作为一种独立的地球化学气候代用指标。

重庆城口地区早前寒武系黑色岩系研究：（3）巴山组硅质岩中PGE异常的地球化学研究

以猪草河剖面和羊儿坝剖面为例，进行硅质岩的PGE与微量元素等地球化学分析，结果表明：槽区硅质岩中的PGE异常受控于硅质岩中火山物质（蚀变成粘土矿物）的多少，PGE与Se、Rb、Cs、Ti、Cr、Zr等具有良好的相关性；猪草河剖面远离陆源区，沉积厚度大，更靠近火山活动区域，接受火山粗碎屑物质的量多；羊儿坝剖面远离火山活动中心，主要接受了火山灰等细碎屑物质，更接近陆源区，受一定量的陆源碎屑物质影响。根据Cr／Co、Nb／Ta、Pd／Ir-Ni／Cu及Ni／Pd-Cu／h对岩浆性质的约束，当时岩浆性质为基性玄武岩。根据La-Y-Nb图解和Th-Hf-Ta图解的进一步约束，表明当时的火山岩浆性质为钙碱性的火山弧玄武岩。

陆相热水沉积成因硅质岩与超大型锗矿床的成因—— 以临沧锗矿床为例

临沧锗矿床的硅质岩中存在大量的热水沉积构造和植物化石, 该硅质岩富SiO2 , 低TiO 2和Al2O3, Al/(Al+Fe+Mn)比值平均为0.010, 明显富集Ge, Sb, As, W; 其次Cs, U, Mo和Tl有不同程度的富集, 稀土总量一般小于1 μg/g, 最大2.324 μg/g , 相对富集LREE; δ Eu为0.452 ~ 5.141, δ Ce为 0.997 ~ 1.174; 稀土元素北美页岩标准化模式呈平坦状或向左倾斜; 氧同位素组成与热泉硅华类似. 上述特征表明本区硅质岩属陆相热水沉积成因. 硅质岩作为中寨锗矿体的顶板或夹层, 在空间上与锗矿体紧密接触. 硅质岩中含锗5.6 ~ 360 μg/g, 平均78 μg/g. 靠近硅质岩的煤中锗含量明显升高. 随着煤中锗含量的不断升高, 含矿煤的特征微量元素比值及稀土元素的球粒陨石标准化分配模式与硅质岩越来越相似. 临沧锗矿床煤中锗可能主要由与煤层形成近同时的、以热水成因硅质岩为标志的热水活动带入.