Species identification in salted products of red snappers by semi-nested PCR-RFLP based on the mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene sequence

A molecular approach was developed to distinguish species of red snappers among commercial salted fish products. The specific fragments of the mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene, which were about 450bp, were obtained using the semi-nested polymerase chain reaction (semi-nested PCR). Subsequently, PCR arnplicons were sequenced, aiming to select restriction endonucleases that generated species-specific restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) profiles. Discrimination of red snappers Lutjanus sanguineus, Lutjanus erythopterus from Lutjanus argentimaculatus, Lutjanus malabarius and other morphologically similar fishes such as Lethrinus leutjanus and Pinjalo pinjalo was feasible by one restriction digestion reaction with three endonucleases Hae III, Sca I and SnaB I, however, for discrimination of L. sanguineus and L. erythopterus, another restriction digestion reaction with single restriction endonuclease Mae II was needed. The semi-nested PCR-RFLP was demonstrated to be reliable in species identification of salted fish products in this study. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Characterization and mapping of expressed sequence tags isolated from a subtracted cDNA library of Litopenaeus vannamei injected with white spot syndrome virus

A large number of polymorphic simple sequence repeats (SSRs) or microsatellites are needed to develop a genetic map for shrimp. However, developing an SSR map is very time-consuming, expensive, and most SSRs are not specifically linked to gene loci of immediate interest. We report here on our strategy to develop polymorphic markers using expressed sequence tags (ESTs) by designing primers flanking single or multiple SSRs with three or more repeats. A subtracted cDNA library was prepared using RNA from specific pathogen-free (SPF) Litopenaeus vannamei juveniles (similar to 1 g) collected before (0) and after (48 h) inoculation with the China isolate of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). A total of 224 clones were sequenced, 194 of which were useful for homology comparisons against annotated genes in NCBI nonredundant (nr) and protein databases, providing 179 sequences encoded by nuclear DNA, 4 mitochondrial DNA, and 11 were similar to portions of WSSV genome. The nuclear sequences clustered in 43 groups, 11 of which were homologous to various ESTs of unknown function, 4 had no homology to any sequence, and 28 showed similarities to known genes of invertebrates and vertebrates, representatives of cellular metabolic processes such as calcium ion balance, cytoskeleton mRNAs, and protein synthesis. A few sequences were homologous to immune system-related (allergens) genes and two were similar to motifs of the sex-lethal gene of Drosophila. A large number of EST sequences were similar to domains of the EF-hand superfamily (Ca2+ binding motif and FRQ protein domain of myosin light chains). Single or multiple SSRs with three or more repeats were found in approximately 61 % of the 179 nuclear sequences. Primer sets were designed from 28 sequences representing 19 known or putative genes and tested for polymorphism (EST-SSR marker) in a small test panel containing 16 individuals. Ten (53%) of the 19 putative or unknown function genes were polymorphic, 4 monomorphic, and 3 either failed to satisfactorily amplify genomic DNA or the allele amplification conditions need to be further optimized. Five polymorphic ESTs were genotyped with the entire reference mapping family, two of them (actin, accession #CX535973 and shrimp allergen arginine kinase, accession #CX535999) did not amplify with all offspring of the IRMF panel suggesting presence of null alleles, and three of them amplified in most of the IRM F offspring and were used for linkage analysis. EF-hand motif of myosin light chain (accession #CX535935) was placed in ShrimpMap's linkage group 7, whereas ribosomal protein S5 (accession #CX535957) and troponin I (accession #CX535976) remained unassigned. Results indicate that (a) a large number of ESTs isolated from this cDNA library are similar to cytoskeleton mRNAs and may reflect a normal pathway of the cellular response after im infection with WSSV, and (b) primers flanking single or multiple SSRs with three or more repeats from shrimp ESTs could be an efficient approach to develop polymorphic markers useful for linkage mapping. Work is underway to map additional SSR-containing ESTs from this and other cDNA libraries as a plausible strategy to increase marker density in ShrimpMap.

Geophysical signatures associated with fluid flow and gas hydrate occurrence in a tectonically quiescent sequence, Qiongdongnan Basin, South China Sea

Interpretation of high-resolution two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) seismic data collected in the Qiongdongnan Basin, South China Sea reveals the presence of polygonal faults, pockmarks, gas chimneys and slope failure in strata of Pliocene and younger age. The gas chimneys are characterized by low-amplitude reflections, acoustic turbidity and low P-wave velocity indicating fluid expulsion pathways. Coherence time slices show that the polygonal faults are restricted to sediments with moderate-amplitude, continuous reflections. Gas hydrates are identified in seismic data by the presence of bottom simulating reflectors (BSRs), which have high amplitude, reverse polarity and are subparallel to seafloor. Mud diapirism and mounded structures have variable geometry and a great diversity regarding the origin of the fluid and the parent beds. The gas chimneys, mud diapirism, polygonal faults and a seismic facies-change facilitate the upward migration of thermogenic fluids from underlying sediments. Fluids can be temporarily trapped below the gas hydrate stability zone, but fluid advection may cause gas hydrate dissociation and affect the thickness of gas hydrate zone. The fluid accumulation leads to the generation of excess pore fluids that release along faults, forming pockmarks and mud volcanoes on the seafloor. These features are indicators of fluid flow in a tectonically-quiescent sequence, Qiongdongnan Basin. Geofluids (2010) 10, 351-368.

A close phylogenetic relationship between Sipuncula and Annelida evidenced from the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Phascolosoma esculenta

Background: There are many advantages to the application of complete mitochondrial (mt) genomes in the accurate reconstruction of phylogenetic relationships in Metazoa. Although over one thousand metazoan genomes have been sequenced, the taxonomic sampling is highly biased, left with many phyla without a single representative of complete mitochondrial genome. Sipuncula (peanut worms or star worms) is a small taxon of worm-like marine organisms with an uncertain phylogenetic position. In this report, we present the mitochondrial genome sequence of Phascolosoma esculenta, the first complete mitochondrial genome of the phylum. Results: The mitochondrial genome of P. esculenta is 15,494 bp in length. The coding strand consists of 32.1% A, 21.5% C, 13.0% G, and 33.4% T bases (AT = 65.5%; AT skew = -0.019; GC skew = -0.248). It contains thirteen protein-coding genes (PCGs) with 3,709 codons in total, twenty-two transfer RNA genes, two ribosomal RNA genes and a non-coding AT-rich region (AT = 74.2%). All of the 37 identified genes are transcribed from the same DNA strand. Compared with the typical set of metazoan mt genomes, sipunculid lacks trnR but has an additional trnM. Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian analyses of the protein sequences show that Myzostomida, Sipuncula and Annelida (including echiurans and pogonophorans) form a monophyletic group, which supports a closer relationship between Sipuncula and Annelida than with Mollusca, Brachiopoda, and some other lophotrochozoan groups. Conclusion: This is the first report of a complete mitochondrial genome as a representative within the phylum Sipuncula. It shares many more similar features with the four known annelid and one echiuran mtDNAs. Firstly, sipunculans and annelids share quite similar gene order in the mitochondrial genome, with all 37 genes located on the same strand; secondly, phylogenetic analyses based on the concatenated protein sequences also strongly support the sipunculan + annelid clade (including echiurans and pogonophorans). Hence annelid "key-characters" including segmentation may be more labile than previously assumed.

Mitochondrial cytochrome b sequence variation and phylogenetics of the highly specialized schizothoracine fishes (Teleostei : Cyprinidae) in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

The complete 1140 bp mitochondial cytochrome b sequences were obtained from 39 individuals representing five species of all four genera of highly specialized schizothoracine fishes distributed in the Qinghai-Tibet plateau. Sequence variation of the cytochrome b gene was surveyed among the 39 individuals as well as three primitive schizothoracines and one outgroup. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that the group assignment based on 1140 bp of the cytochrome b sequence is obviously; different from previous assignments, and the highly specialized schizothoracine fishes (Schizopygopsis pylzovi, Gymnocypris przewalskii, G. eckloni, Chuanchia lablosa, and Platypharodon extremus) form a monophyletic group that is sister to the clade formed by the primitive schizothoracine fishes (Schizothorax prenanti, S. pseudaksaiensis, and S. argentatus). The haplotypes of Schizopygopsis pylzovi and G. przewalskii were paraphyletic based on cytochrome b data, which most likely reflected incomplete sorting of mitochondrial DNA lineages. The diploid chromosome numbers of Schizofhoracinae were considered in phylogenetic analysis and provided a clear pattern of relationships. Molecular dating estimated for highly specialized schizothoracine fishes suggested that the highly specialized schizothoracine fishes diverged in the late Miocene Pliocene to Pleistocene (4.5x10(4)-4.05x10(6) Years BP). The relationship between the cladogenesis of highly specialized schizothoracine fishes and geographical events of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau is discussed.

Phylogeography of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau endemic Juniperus przewalskii (Cupressaceae) inferred from chloroplast DNA sequence variation

The vegetation of the northeast Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau is dominated by alpine meadow and desert-steppe with sparse forests scattered within it. To obtain a better understanding of the phylogeography of one constituent species of the forests in this region, we examined chloroplast trnT-trnF and trnS-trnG sequence variation within Juniperus przewalskii, a key endemic tree species. Sequence data were obtained from 392 trees in 20 populations covering the entire distribution range of the species. Six cpDNA haplotypes were identified. Significant population subdivision was detected (G(ST) = 0.772, N-ST = 0.834), suggesting low levels of recurrent gene flow among populations and significant phylogeographic structure (N-ST > G(ST), P < 0.05). Eight of the nine disjunct populations surveyed on the high-elevation northeast plateau were fixed for a single haplotype (A), while the remaining, more westerly population, contained the same haplotype at high frequency together with two low frequency haplotypes (C and F). In contrast, most populations that occurred at lower altitudes at the plateau edge were fixed or nearly fixed for one of two haplotypes, A or E. However, two plateau edge populations had haplotype compositions different from the rest. In one, four haplotypes (A, B, D and E) were present at approximately equivalent frequencies, which might reflect a larger refugium in the area of this population during the last glacial period. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the most widely distributed haplotype A is not ancestral to other haplotypes. The contrasting phylogeographic structures of the haplotype-rich plateau edge area and the almost haplotype-uniform plateau platform region indicate that the plateau platform was recolonized by J. przewalskii during the most recent postglacial period. This is supported by the findings of a nested clade analysis, which inferred that postglacial range expansion from the plateau edge followed by recent fragmentation is largely responsible for the present-day spatial distribution of cpDNA haplotypes within the species.

A new species of Saussurea (Asteraceae) from Tibet and its systematic position based on ITS sequence analysis

A new species of Saussurea, S. erecta S. W Liu, J. T Pan A J. Q. Liu sp. nov., is described from Tibet. It resembles S. kingii but may be distinguished by having distinct stems and glabrous achenes. Saussurea kingii was placed in sect. Pseudoeriocoryne of subgen. Eriocoryne; this section was circumscribed by acaulescence and an inflorescence with congested capitula surrounded by a rosette of leaves. The discovery of S. erecta with distinct stems, cauline leaves and corymbose capitula blurred the delimitation of sect. Pseudoeriocoryne and suggested that the section may be polyphyletic. Both the close relationship and the significant difference between S. erecta and S. kingii were confirmed by analyses of nrDNA ITS sequences. The resulting phylogenies based on ITS data further suggest that Saussurea sect. Pseudoeriocoryne, as traditionally defined, does not constitute a monophyletic group. The rapid radiation and speciation of Saussurea in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, as inferred from ITS phylogeny, are discussed. (c) 2005 The Linnean Society of London.

白垩纪超静磁带地球磁场古强度测定

The long-term variations in the strength of the geomagnetic field provide important constraints on the chemical-physical processes of the Earth’s interior. Especially, the intensity of the geomagnetic field during the Cretaceous normal superchron (CNS) is crucial to understand the geodynamo. But a paucity of paleointensity further limits to obtain essential knowledge interior process in the deep earth. In order to improve the experimental efficiency, this study tried to apply two new rock magnetic methods (FORC diagram and low-temperature demagnetization technique) to determine the paleointensity. First, some problems in the theory and technique in paleointensity experiments were introduced. A combined palaeomagnetic and geochronologic study was further conducted on a basaltic lava sequence at Jianchang in Liaoning Province, northeastern China. Radiometric 40Ar/39Ar dating indicates that the volcanism occurred at about 119 Ma within the marine anomaly C34n in Cretaceous normal superchron (CNS). Rock magnetic investigations show that pseudo-single domain (PSD) titanium-poor titanomagnetite is dominant in the studied lava flows. Both stepwise thermal and alternating field demagnetizations isolate the well-defined normal characteristic remanent magnetization (ChRM) in three independent lava flows with a mean direction of D/I = 6.0/51.9 degree(a95 = 12.3degree). Palaeointensity was determined using the modified Thellier method with systematic partial thermoremanent magnetization (pTRM) checks on total 72 samples, but only 10 samples exhibit ideal linear behavior on the Arai-plot in the temperature interval of 300-560 C and yield an average paleointensity of (25.8+/-1.4)uT. In addition, slopes of the line defined by the initial and the final points on the Arai-plot for the other 18 samples with characteristic PSD features give an average paleointensity estimation value of (24.8+/-1.9)uT. The consistency of these two approaches confidently demonstrates the fidelity of our results. The overall mean field strength determined using both approaches are thus estimated to be (25.2+/-0.7 )uT. This value corresponds to the virtual dipole magnetic moments (VDM) of (4.5+/-0.1)E22 Am^2, which is about half of the value of present field. This finding suggests that palaeointensity just at the onset of the CNS is characterized by a weak magnetic field.

泥河湾盆地大长梁剖面岩石磁学和环境磁学研究

The fluvio-lacustrine sequence in the Nihewan Basin is an important archive of late Pliocene-Pleistocene climate and environment changes in temperate northern China, which provides excellent sources of early human settlements in high latitude East Asia. The recent years have witnessed a considerable progress in the paleomagnetic dating of its stratigraphy, which has notably increased our understanding of a series of important issues such as the early human occupation in the Old World, the infilling history of the Nihewan Basin, and the chronological sequence of the Nihewan faunas. Up to now, the long-term paleoenvironmental changes directly retrieved from this basin, which might influence the evolution and expansion of early humans in the Nihewan Basin, are still poorly constrained, although several paleoclimatic records have been retrieved from this area. In this study, a combined mineral-magnetic and geochemical investigation was carried out on the fluvio-lacustrine sequence from the Dachangliang section at the eastern margin of the basin in order to reveal its rock magnetic and environmental magnetic characteristics and its implications for early human evolution in East Asia. The major findings and conclusions are listed as the following: First, there is an increased cooling coupled with an intensified aridification recorded in the fluvio-lacustrine sequence of the Dachangliang section. The cooling is related to an up-section decrease in propensity to chemical weathering as inferred from an increase in low-field susceptibility after cycling to 700 °C. Close to 700 °C, reacting chlorite is providing the iron source for newly formed very fine-grained ferrimagnetic minerals which enhances the susceptibility signal. The reactivity of chlorite after annealing at temperatures above 600 °C is documented with X-ray diffraction. Second, degrees of chemical weathering in the Nihewan Basin are further estimated by clay mineralogy (i.e. chlorite and illite contents and chlorite/illite ratio) and a series of major element proxies (i.e. Na2O/Al2O3 versus K2O/Al2O3 diagram, Al2O3-(CaO + Na2O)-K2O ternary diagram (A-CN-K), chemical index of alteration (CIA), (CaO + Na2O + MgO)/TiO2, (CaO + Na2O + MgO + K2O)/(TiO2 + Al2O3), CaO/Al2O3 and CaO/TiO2). The up-section decrease in propensity to chemical weathering suggested by the aforementioned rock mangetic measurement is further confirmed by these geochemical analyses. Combining the chemical weathering records from the Nihewan Basin, Chinese Loess Plateau, South China Sea and eastern China, we find that the consecutive decreasing trend in chemical weathering intensity during the late Cenozoic is ubiquitous across China. This pattern may result from a long-term decreasing East Asian summer monsoon and increasing East Asian winter monsoon, and thus a consecutive increasing of aridification and cooling in Asia during the Quaternary. Furthermore, the chemical weathering intensity increased from South China to North China during the Quaternary, in line with the decreasing East Asian summer monsoon and increasing East Asian winter monsoon and thus the gradually intensified aridification and cooling from South China to North China. Third, a combined mineral-magnetic and geochemical investigation provides evidences that the large-amplitude alterations of concentration of magnetic minerals mainly result from preservation/dissolution cycles of detrital magnetic minerals in alternately oxic and anoxic depositional environments. The preservation/dissolution model implies that the high-magnetic and low-magnetic cycles of this sedimentary sequence represent glacial and interglacial climate cycles, respectively. This contribute significnatly to our understanding of the link between climate and magnetic properties. Finally, the paleoclimatic implications of these rock magnetic and geochemical characteristics significantly increase our understanding of the general setting of early humans in high northern latitude in East Asia. We propose that the cold and dry climate may have contributed significantly to the expansion and adaptation of early humans, rather than bringing hardship, as is often thought. The relationship between magnetic properties and climate possibly provides valuable information on the climatic context of the Paleolithic sites in the basin, especially whether the occupation occurred during an interglacial or glacial period.

晚中新世以来中国北方风成沉积的磁性地层学和沉积学研究

The past two decades have witnessed an unprecedented growth of interest in the palaeoenvironmental significance of the Pleistocene loess deposits in northern China. However, it is only several years ago that the Tertiary red clay sequence underlying Pleistocene loess attracted much attention. One of the major advances in recent studies of eolian deposits on the Loess Plateau is the verification of the eolian origin for the Tertiary red clay sediments. The evidence of the eolian origin for the red clay is mainly from geochemical and sedimentological studies. However, sedimentological studies of the red clay deposits are still few compared with those of the overlying loess sediments. To date, the red clay sections located near Xifeng, Baoji, Lantian, Jiaxian, and Lingtai have been studied, with an emphasis on magnetostratigraphy. These sections have a basal age ranging from ～4.3 Ma to ～7.0 Ma. The thickness of the sections varies significantly, depending perhaps on the development of local geomorphological conditions and the drainage system. Although the stratigraphy of the red clay sections has been recorded in some detail, correlation of the red clay sequences has not yet been undertaken. Geological records (Sun J. et al., 1998) have shown that during glacial periods of the Quaternary the deserts in northem China were greatly expanded compared with modern desert distribution. During interglacial periods, desert areas contracted and retreated mostly to northwestern China because of the increase in inland penetration of monsoonal precipitation. According to pedogenic characteristics of the red clay deposits, the climatic conditions of the Loess Plateau is warmer and wetter generally in the Neogene than in the late Pleistocene. Panicle analyses show that grain size distribution of the red clay sequence is similar to that of the paleosols in the Pleistocene loess record, thus implying a relatively remote provenance of the red clay materials. However, the quantitative or semiquantitative estimates of the distance from the source region to the Loess Plateau during the red clay development remains to be investigated. In this study, magnetostratigraphic and sedimentological studies are conducted at two thick red clay sequences-Jingchuan and Lingtai section. The objectives of these studies are focused on further sedimentological evidence for the eolian origin of the red clay, correlation of red clay sequences, provenance of the red clay, and the palaeoclimate reconstruction in the Neogene. Paleomagnetic studies show that the Jingchuan red clay has a basal age of 8.0 Ma, which is 1 million years older than the previously studied Lingtai section. The Lingtai red clay sequence was divided into five units on the basis of pedogenica characteristics (Ding et al., 1999a). The Jingchuan red clay sequence, however, can be lithologically divided into six units according to field observations. The upper five units of the Jingchuan red clay can generally correlate well with the five units of the Lingtai red clay. Comparison of magnetic susceptibility and color reflectance records of four red clay sections suggests that the Lingtai red clay sequence can be the type-section of the Neogene red clay deposits in northern China. Pleistocene loess and modem dust deposits have a unimodal grain-size distribution. The red clay sediments at Jingchuan and Lingtai also have a unimodal grain-size distribution especially similar to the paleosols in the Pleistocene loess record. Sedimentological studies of a north-south transect of loess deposits above S2 on the Loess Plateau show that loess deposits had distinct temporal and spatial sedimentary differentiation. The characteristics of such sedimentary differentiation can be well presented in a triangular diagram of normalized median grain size, normalized skewness, and normalized kurtosis. The triangular diagrams of the red clay-loess sequence at Lingtai and Jingchuan indicate that loess-paleosol-red clay may be transported and sorted by the same agent wind, thus extending the eolian record in the Loess Plateau from 2.6 Ma back to about 8.0 Ma. It has been recognized that during the last glacial maximum (LGM) the deserts in northern China had a distribution similar to the present, whereas during the Holocene Optimum the deserts retreated to the area west of the Helan Mountains. Advance-retreat cycles of the deserts will lead to changes in the distance of the Loess Plateau to the dust source regions, thereby controlling changes in grain size of the loess deposited in a specific site. To observe spatial changes in sedimentological characteristics of loess during the last glacial-interglacial cycle, the texture of loess was measured along the north-south transect of the Loess Plateau. Since the southern margin of the Mu Us desert during the LGM is already known, several models of grain size parameters versus the minimum distance from the source region to depositional areas were developed. According to these semiquantitative models, the minimum distance from the source region to Lingtai and Jingchuan areas is about 600 km during the Neogene. Therefore the estimated provenance of the Tertiary red clay deposits is the areas now occupied by the Badain Jaran desert and arid regions west of it. The ratio of the free iron to total iron concentration attests to being a good proxy indicator for the summer monsoon evolution. The Lingtai Fe_20_3 ratio record shows high values over three time intervals: 4.8-4.1 Ma, 3.4-2.6 Ma, and during the interglacial periods of the past 0.5 Ma. The increase in summer monsoon intensity over the three intervals also coincides with the well-developed soil characteristics. It is therefore concluded that the East-Asia summer monsoon has experienced a non-linear evolution since the late Miocene. In general, the East Asia summer monsoon was stronger in Neogene than in Quaternary and the strongest East Asia summer monsoon may occur between 4.1 and 4.8 Ma. The relatively small ice volume and high global temperature may be responsible for the strong summer monsoon during the early Pliocene.

矾山杂岩体成因及其与磷（铁）矿的成矿关系

The Fanshan complex consists of layered potassic ultramafic-syenite intrusions. The Fanshan apatite (-magnetite) deposit occurs in the Fanshan complex, and is an important style of phosphorus deposit in China. The Fanshan complex consists of three (First- to Third-) Phases of intrusion, and then the dikes. The First-Phase Intrusive contains ten typical layered rocks: clinopyroxenite, biotite clinopyroxenite, coarse-grained biotite clinopyroxenite, pegmatitic orthoclase-biotite clinopyroxenite, variegated orthoclase clinopyroxenite, interstitial orthoclase clinopyroxenite, biotite rock, biotite-apatite rock, biotite rock and magnetite-apatite rock. This layered intrusive consists of nine rhythmic units. Each rhythmic unit essentially comprises a pair of layers: clinopyroxenite at the bottom and biotite clinopyroxenite at the top. The apatite (-magnetite) deposit is situated near the top of rhythmic Unit no. 6 of the First-Phase Intrusive. The Second-Phase Intrusive contains three typical rocks: coarse-grained orthoclase clinopyroxenite, . coarse-grained salite syenite and schorlomite-salite syenite. The Third-Phase Intrusive includes pseudo-trachytic salite syenite, porphyritic augite syenite, fine-grained orthoclase clinopyroxenite and fine-grained salite syenite. The origin of the Fanshan complex is always paid attention to it in China. Because most layered igneous intrusion in the world not only have important deposit in it, but also carry many useful information for studying the formation of the intrusion and the evolvement of magma. Two sketch maps were drawn through orebodies along no. 25 cross-cut on 425 mL and no. 1 cross-cut on 491 mL in the Fanshan mine. Through this mapping, a small-scaled rhythmic layering (called sub-rhythmic layering in the present study) was newly found at the top of the rhythmic Unit no. 6. The concept of sub-rhythmic layering is defined in this article. The sub-rhythmic layering is recognized throughout this apatite-rich part, except for magnetite-apatite rock. Presence of the layered magnetite-apatite rock is one of the characteristics of the Fanshan apatite (-magnetite) deposit. Thus, from this layer downwards six units of sub-rhythmic layering are recognized in the present study. Each unit consists of biotite clinopyroxenite (or biotite rock and biotite-apatite rock) layer at the bottom and apatite rock layer at the top. To study this feature in detail is an important work for understanding the origin of the Fanshan complex and apatite (-magnetite) deposit. The origin of the Fanshan complex and the relation of the formation of the apatite(-magnetite)deposit will be interpreted by the study of sub-rhythmic layering on the basis of previous research works. The magma formed the Fanshan complex was rich in K2O, early crystallized pyroxene, and after this phase more biotite crystallized, but no amphibole appeared. This indicated that the activity of H2O in the magma was low. Major element compositions of biotite and clinopyroxene (on thin sections) in the sub-rhythmic layering were analyzed using electron microprobe analyzer. The analytical results indicate Mg/(Mg+Fe*+Mn) atomic ratios (Fe*, total iron) of these two minerals rhythmically changed in sub-rhythmic layering. The trends of Mg/(Mg+Fe*+Mn) atomic ratio (Fe*, total iron) of biotite and clinopyroxene indicate that the magma evolved markedly from relatively magnesian bottom layer to less magnesian top layer in each sub-rhythmic unit. A general trend through the sub-rhythmic layering sequence is both minerals becoming relatively magnesian upwards. The formation temperatures for sub-rhythmic layering yield values between 600 and 800 ℃, were calculated using the ratio of Mg/(Mg+Fe+Mn) in the salite and biotite assemblage. The equilibrium pressures in the rhythmic layers calculated using the contents of Al in the salite were plotted in the section map, shown a concave curve. This indicates that the magma formed the First-Phase Intrusive crystallized by two vis-a-vis ways, from its bottom and top to its centre, and the magnetite-apatite rock was crytallized in the latest stage. The values of equilibrium pressures in the sub-rhythmic layering were 3.6-6.8(xlO8) Pa with calculated using the contents of Al in the salite. The characteristics of geochemistry in various intrusive rocks and the rocks or apatite of sub-rhythmic layers indicated that the Fanshan complex formed by the comagmatic crystallization. The contents of immiscible elements and REEs of apatite rock at the top of one sub-rhythmic unit are more than biotite clinopyroxenite at the bottom. The contents of immiscible elements and REEs of apatite of biotite clinopyroxenite at the bottom of one sub-rhythmic unit are higher than apatite rock at the top. The curves of rocks (or apatite) in the upper sub-rhythmic units are between two curves of the below sub-rhythmic unit in the primitive mantle-normalized trace element abundance spider diagram and the primitive mantle-normalized REE pattern. The trend for the contents of immiscible elements and REEs inclines to the same contents from the bottom to the top in sub-rhythmic layering. These characteristics of geochemistry of rocks or apatites from sub-rhythmic layering indicate that the latter sub-rhythmic unit was produced by the residual magma after crystallization of the previous sub-rhythmic unit. The characteristics of petrology, petrochemistry, geochemistry in the Fanshan complex and sub-rhythmic layers and the trends of Mg/(Mg+Fe+Mn) atomic ratio of biotite and clinopyroxene in sub-rhytmic layering rejected the hypotheses, such as magma immiscibility, ravitational settling and multiple and pulse supplement of magma. The hypothesis of differentiation by crystallization lacks of evidences of field and excludes by this study. On the base of the trends of formation temperatures and pressures, the characteristics of petrology, petrochemistry, geochemistry for the Fanshan complex and the characteristics of geochemistry for the rocks (or apatites), the trends of Mg/(Mg+Fe+Mn) atomic ratio of biotite and clinopyroxene in sub-rhytmic layering, and the data of oxygen, hydrogen, strontium and neodymium isotopes, this study suggests that the magma formed the Fanshan complex was formed by low degree partial melting of mantle at a low activity of H2O, and went through the differentiation at the depth of mantle, then multiply intruded and crystallized. The rhythmic layers of the First-Phase Intrusive formed by the magma fractional crystallized in two vis-a-vis ways, from the bottom and top to the centre in-situ fractional crystallization. The apatite (-magnetite) deposit of the Fanshan complex occurs in sub-rhythmic layering sequence. The the origin of the sub-rhythmic layering is substantially the origin of the Fanshan apatite (-magnetite) deposit. The magma formed the rhythmic layers of First-Phase Intrusive was rich in H2O, F and P at the later stage of its in-situ fractional crystallization. The Fanshan apatite (-magnetite) deposit was formed by this residual magma in-situ fractional crystallization. The magnetite-apatite rock was crystallized by two vis-a-vis ways at the latest stage in-situ fractional crystallization in the rhythmic layers. The result was light apatite layer below heavy the magnetite-apatite layer, formed an "inversion" phenomenon.

Comonomer sequence distribution in metallocene-based ethylene/1-butene (S-34) and ethylene/1-hexene (S-43) copolymers

Metallocene based polyethylenes were prepared by SMOPEC's "metallocene adduct" technology in a gas phase fluidized bed model reactor. The C-13-NMR spectra of ethylene/1-butene (S-34) and ethylene/1-hexene(S-43) copolymers were studied in a manner analogous to that established by Hsieh and Cheng. The comonomer sequence distributions of copolymer samples were obtained. The results show that these metallocene based copolymers contain a small amount of butene and hexene, and the EE and EEE sequences are dominant.

Shaping Inputs to Reduce Vibration: A Vector Diagram Approach

This paper describes a method for limiting vibration in flexible systems by shaping the system inputs. Unlike most previous attempts at input shaping, this method does not require an extensive system model or lengthy numerical computation; only knowledge of the system natural frequency and damping ratio are required. The effectiveness of this method when there are errors in the system model is explored and quantified. An algorithm is presented which, given an upper bound on acceptable residual vibration amplitude, determines a shaping strategy that is insensitive to errors in the estimated natural frequency. A procedure for shaping inputs to systems with input constraints is outlined. The shaping method is evaluated by dynamic simulations and hardware experiments.

Sequence-Seeking and Counter Streams: A Model for Information Processing in the Cortex

This paper presents a model for the general flow in the neocortex. The basic process, called "sequence-seeking," is a search for a sequence of mappings or transformations, linking source and target representations. The search is bi-directional, "bottom-up" as well as "top-down," and it explores in parallel a large numbe rof alternative sequences. This operation is implemented in a structure termed "counter streams," in which multiple sequences are explored along two separate, complementary pathways which seeking to meet. The first part of the paper discusses the general sequence-seeking scheme and a number of related processes, such as the learning of successful sequences, context effects, and the use of "express lines" and partial matches. The second part discusses biological implications of the model in terms of connections within and between cortical areas. The model is compared with existing data, and a number of new predictions are proposed.

Homology Induction: the use of machine learning to improve sequence similarity searches

Karwath, A. King, R. Homology induction: the use of machine learning to improve sequence similarity searches. BMC Bioinformatics. 23rd April 2002. 3:11 Additional File Describes the title organims species declaration in one string [http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/supplementary/1471- 2105-3-11-S1.doc] Sponsorship: Andreas Karwath and Ross D. King were supported by the EPSRC grant GR/L62849.