Phyllophorus (Phyllophorus) maculatus, a new species of sea cucumber from the Yellow Sea (Echinodermata : Holothuroidea : Dendrochirotida)

Phyllophorus (Phyllophorus) maculatus new species is described from a depth of 22-45 meters near the western edge of the Yellow Sea. The body is cylindrical, with body wall ossicles present only in the anal region. Ossicles are four-pillared tables with low spires and indented disc margin. A revised key to the eleven phyllophorine (Family Phyllophoridae, Subfamily Phyllophorinae) species now known from China is presented.

Two trichodinid ectoparasites from marine molluscs in the Yellow Sea, off China, with the description of Trichodina caecellae n. sp (Protozoa : Ciliophora : Peritrichia)

The morphology and infraciliature of two ectoparasitic ciliates, Trichodina caecellae n. sp. and T. ruditapicis Xu, Song & Warren, 2000, parasitising the gills of marine molluscs from the Shandong coast of the Yellow Sea, China, were investigated following wet silver nitrate and protargol impregnation. T. caecellae was found on the small marine sand clam Caecella chinensis Deshayes and is distinguished mainly by the acute triangle-like blade, the very delicate central part and the needle-shaped ray. T. ruditapicis was studied based on four populations from three clams: two populations from Ruditapes philippinarum (Adams) and one each from Saxidomus purpuratus (Sowerby) and Solen grandis Dunker. All four populations fell within the range of morphometry and agreed closely in the overall appearance of the adhesive disc. However, variability was found in the denticle structure, especially in populations from different host clams. Our observations suggest that denticle morphology may be more or less variable between and within populations, and that such minor differences should not be overestimated. It should be emphasised that, except for the denticle morphology, the bright granules or circles in the centre of the adhesive disc represent another important feature facilitating the identification of this trichodinid species.

A new spirofilid ciliate from the yellow sea: Metastrongylidium distichum n gen, n sp (ciliophora, stichotrichia)

The morphology and infraciliature of a new ciliate, Metastrongylidium distichum, isolated from the Yellow Sea, are investigated using live observation and protargol impregnation. Metastrongylidium distichum is about 170 x 40 pm in vivo, clavate to elongate ellipsoidal with bluntly pointed posterior end, and has two macronuclear nodules, six distinctly large buccal and frontal cirri, three dorsal kineties and two each of spiralled ventral and marginal cirral rows. These features indicate a generic allocation in Strongylidium Sterki, 1878. However, the new ciliate has a distinct feature not recognizable in Strongylidiurn, viz., the presence of (three or four) transverse cirri. Thus, we propose a new genus Metastrongylidium for the new species, M distichum nov. gen., n. sp. Metastrongylidium belongs to the family Spirofilidae, where it differs from Mucotrichidium by the lack of postperistomial cirrus and the different frontal and ventral cirral pattern. Metastrongylidium distichum is easily distinguishable from the seemingly similar species Strongylidium californicum Kahl, 1932 by the macronuclear pattern (invariably 2 vs. many nodules). It highly resembles the poorly known species S. contortum (Gelei 1954) Borror, 1972 in the body outline and nuclear pattern, differing in the biotope, the posterior cirral pattern, and the arrangement of right marginal row.

Kiitricha minuta n. Sp., a peculiar hypotrichous ciliate (Ciliophora, Spirotrichea) from the Yellow Sea

The morphology and infraciliature of a new ciliate, Kiitricha minuta n. sp., isolated from the Yellow Sea, were investigated using live observation and protargol impregnation. Kiitricha minuta represents a third member of the rarely known order Kiitrichida. It is unique in the subclass Hypotrichia in having many rows of small uniform cirri along the right side of the body and the dorsal kineties composed of dikinetids, most of which bear two cilia. Kiitricha minuta n. sp. is ovoid and measures about 60 x 45 mu m in vivo. It has a huge buccal cavity occupying about 80% of the body length, numerous body extrusomes, one macronucleus and two micronuclei, 27-27 adoral membranelles, 9-12 frontoventral cirral rows, a submarginal row of 7-9 cirri, 6 or 7 transverse cirri, and roughly 7-9 dorsal kineties. This new species differs distinctly from its only congener Kiitricha marina by its smaller size (60 mu m vs. 80-150 mu m), the presence of body extrusomes (vs. absent), the different macronuclear pattern (one vs. two nodules), and the lower number of frontoventral cirral rows (9-12 vs. 21-26), which terminate at the anterior two-thirds of body (vs. extend to the posterior). The new term "submarginal cirral row" is introduced to distinguish from the marginal cirral row in typical hypotrichs sensu lato. Based on our new observations and the literature, an improved diagnosis for the genus Kiitricha is provided and its phylogenetic importance is discussed.

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.

Yellow perch strain evaluation I: Genetic variance of six broodstock populations

As a prelude to strain selection for domestication and future marker assisted selection, genetic variation revealed by microsatellite DNA was evaluated in yellow perch, Perca flavescens, from four wild North American populations collected in 2003-2004 (Maine, New York, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania,), and two captive populations (Michigan and Ohio). For the loci examined, levels of heterozygosity ranged from H-e=0.04 to 0.88, genetic differentiation was highly significant among all population pairs, and effective migration ranged from low (N(e)m=0.3) to high (N(e)m=4.5). Deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was regularly observed indicating significant departures from random mating. Instantaneous measures of inbreeding within these populations ranged from near zero to moderate (median F=0.16) and overall inbreeding levels averaged F-IS=0.18. Estimates of genetic diversity, Phi(ST), and genetic distance were highest between Michigan and all other broodstock groups and lowest between New York and Ohio. Genetic differentiation among groups did not correlate with geographic distance. Overall, the patterns of variation exhibited by the captive (Michigan and Ohio) populations were similar to patterns exhibited by the other wild populations, indicating that spawning and management practices to date have not significantly reduced levels of genetic variation. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

GEO-ECOLOGICAL TRANSECT STUDIES IN NORTHEAST TIBET (QINGHAI, CHINA) REVEAL HUMAN-MADE MID-HOLOCENE ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES IN THE UPPER YELLOW RIVER CATCHMENT CHANGING FOREST TO GRASSLAND

Geo-ecological transect studies in the pastures of the upper catchment of the HuangHe (99 degrees 30'-100 degrees 00'E/35 degrees 30'-35 degrees 40'N'; 3,000-4,000 in a.s.l., Qinghai province, China) revealed evidence that pastures replace forests. Plot-based vegetation records and fenced grazing exclosure experiments enabled the identification of grazing indicator plants for the first time. The mapping of vegetation patterns of pastures with isolated juniper and Spruce forests raise questions as to the origin of the grasslands, which arc widely classified as "natural" at present. Soil investigations and charcoal fragments of Juniperus (8,153 +/- 63 uncal BP) and Picea (6,665 +/- 59 uncal BP) provide evidence of the wider presence of forests. As temperatures and rainfall records undoubtedly represent a forest climate, it is assumed that the present pastures have replaced forests. Circumstantial evidence arising from investigations into the environmental history of the Holocene effectively substantiates this theory.

黄河下游花园口-夹河滩河段二维洪水模拟

黄河下游花园口至夹河滩河段系典型的游荡型河段。在该河段，黄河大堤内范围宽广，一般洪水频率年份，水流主要限制在主槽内，因此大堤内分布有不少居民点以及纵横交错的保护居民点的生产堤和不少高于地面的灌溉渠堤和公路，使洪水行洪范围受到了很大的限制。当洪峰流量很大时，洪水将造成生产堤溃决，极大地危害滩区居民的生活。因此，设计模拟模型计算网络时需要考虑大堤、生产堤、明显高于地面的道路等阻水建筑物的影响，使这些堤及公路成为计算格网的边。不规则四边形网格能够很好地拟合黄河这种复杂的计算域。数值模拟时采用有限体积法，为确保通量的单向性，文中使用Osher格式计算通量。通过对1982年洪水的模拟，模拟结果表明了模型的合理性。

Constitutive plasma membrane targeting and microdomain localization of Dok5 studied by single-molecule microscopy

In the present study, single-molecule fluorescence microscopy was used to examine the characteristics of plasma membrane targeting and microdomain localization of enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (eYFP)-tagged wild-type Dok5 and its variants in living Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. We found that Dok5 can target constitutively to the plasma membrane, and the PH domain is essential for this process. Furthermore, single-molecule trajectories analysis revealed that Dok5 can constitutively partition into microdomain on the plasma membrane. Finally, the potential mechanism of microdomain localization of Dok5 was discussed. This study provided insights into the characteristics of plasma membrane targeting and microdomain localization of Dok5 in living CHO cells. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Heterodimerization of integrin Mac-1 subunits studied by single-molecule imaging

Heterodimerization of integrin Mac-1 (alpha(M) beta(2)) Subunits plays important role on regulating leukocytes adhesion to extracellular matrix or endothelial cells. Here, using total internal reflection microscopy, we investigated the heterodimerization of integrin Mac-1 subunits at the single-molecule level in live cells. Individual alpha(M) subunit fused to the enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (eYFP) was imaged at the basal plasma membrane of live Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Through analysis of mean square displacement (MSD), diffusion coefficient, the size of restricted domain and fraction of molecules undergoing restricted diffusion, we found that as compared with the diffusion in the absence of beta(2) subunit, the diffusion of single-molecule of alpha(M)-YFP was suppressed significantly in the presence of beta(2) subunit. Thus, based on the oligomerization-induced trapping model, we suggested that in the presence of beta(2) subunit, the am subunit may form heterodimer with it. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Detection of constitutive heterodimerization of the integrin Mac-1 subunits by fluorescence resonance energy transfer in living cells

Macrophage differentiation antigen associated with complement three receptor function (Mac-1) belongs to beta(2) subfamily of integrins that mediate important cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions. Biochemical studies have indicated that Mac-1 is a constitutive heterodimer in vitro. Here, we detected the heterodimerization of Mac-1 subunits in living cells by means of two fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) techniques (fluorescence microscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy) and our results demonstrated that there is constitutive heterodimerization of the Mac-1 subunits and this constitutive heterodimerization of the Mac-1 subunits is cell-type independent. Through FRET imaging, we found that heterodimers of Mac-1 mainly localized in plasma membrane, perinuclear, and Golgi area in living cells. Furthermore, through analysis of the estimated physical distances between cyan fluorescent protein (CFP) and yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) fused to Mac-1 subunits, we suggested that the conformation of Mac-1 subunits is not affected by the fusion of CFP or YFP and inferred that Mac-1 subunits take different conformation when expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) and human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293T cells, respectively. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Optical properties of dye-doped zirconia films by spectroscopic ellipsometry

The optical properties of zirconia films doped with rhodamine 6G and oxazine 725 by the sol-gel process were investigated using spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE). Accurate refractive index n and the extinction coefficient k were determined using a three-oscillator classical Lorentz model in the wavelength range of 300-800 nm. The derived refractive index of dye-doped films exhibited anomalous dispersion in the absorption region. Wavelength tunable output lasing action yellow and near-infrared wavelength region was achieved by DFB configuration using zirconia films doped with R6G and oxazine 725. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Space-selective co-precipitation of silver and gold nanoparticles in femtosecond laser pulses irradiated Ag+, Au3+ co-doped silicate glass

We report on space-selective co-precipitation of silver and gold nanoparticles in Ag+, Au3+ co-doped silicate glasses by irradiation of femtosecond laser pulses and subsequent annealing at high temperatures. The color of the irradiated area in the glass sample changed from yellow to red with the increase of the annealing temperature. The effects of average laser power and annealing temperature on precipitation of the nanoparticles were investigated. A reasonable mechanism was proposed to explain the observed phenomena. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

熔制条件对铋酸盐玻璃性质的影响

采用传统的玻璃熔融法制备了组成为60Bi2O3-20B2O3-15SiO2-5La2O3(mol%)的铋酸盐玻璃， 系统研究了不同工艺过程对玻璃性能的影响. 分析了样品ICP的成分，扫描电镜，X-射线衍射谱， 差热分析和紫外-可见-近红外透过光谱测试. 结果表明：使用刚玉坩埚能提高玻璃的抗析晶稳定性 和透过率，陶瓷坩埚和白金坩埚均受到严重腐蚀，玻璃组分也随之发生很大变化. 当熔制温度从1 100 ℃变化到1 300 ℃时，玻璃的颜色从浅黄色变到深红棕色. 尤其是白金粒子被腐蚀进入玻璃液 后，玻璃中很容易形成纳米颗粒或者团聚形成胶体粒子，在玻璃中形成色散源，加深玻璃的颜色， 降低透过率. 1 300 ℃下，白金粒子起到晶核剂的作用，生成Bi2Pt2O7和BiB3O6晶相，导致玻璃失透.

Multicolor luminescence in oxygen-deficient Tb3+;doped calcium aluminogermanate glasses

In this paper, we report on the multicolor luminescence in oxygen-deficient Tb3+-doped calcium aluminogermanate glasses. A simple method was proposed to control oxygen-deficient defects in glasses by adding metal Al instead of the corresponding oxide (Al2O3), resulting in efficient blue and red emissions from Tb3+-undoped glasses with 300 and 380 nm excitation wavelengths, respectively. Moreover, in Tb3+-doped oxygen-deficient glasses, bright three-color (sky-blue, green or yellow, and red) luminescence was observed with 300, 380, and 395 nm excitation wavelengths, respectively. These glasses are useful for the fabrication of white light-emitting diode (LED) lighting.