Identification of a silicatein(-related) protease in the giant spicules of the deep-sea hexactinellid Monorhaphis chuni

Silicateins, members of the cathepsin L family, are enzymes that have been shown to be involved in the biosynthesis/condensation of biosilica in spicules from Demospongiae (phylum Porifera), e. g. Tethya aurantium and Suberites domuncula. The class Hexactinellida also forms spicules from this inorganic material. This class of sponges includes species that form the largest biogenic silica structures on earth. The giant basal spicules from the hexactinellids Monorhaphis chuni and Monorhaphis intermedia can reach lengths of up to 3 m and diameters of 10 mm. The giant spicules as well as the tauactines consist of a biosilica shell that surrounds the axial canal, which harbours the axial filament, in regular concentric, lamellar layers, suggesting an appositional growth of the spicules. The lamellae contain 27 kDa proteins, which undergo post-translational modification (phosphorylation), while total spicule extracts contain additional 70 kDa proteins. The 27 kDa proteins cross-reacted with anti-silicatein antibodies. The extracts of spicules from the hexactinellid Monorhaphis displayed proteolytic activity like the silicateins from the demosponge S. domuncula. Since the proteolytic activity in spicule extracts from both classes of sponge could be sensitively inhibited by E-64 (a specific cysteine proteinase inhibitor), we used a labelled E-64 sample as a probe to identify the protein that bound to this inhibitor on a blot. The experiments revealed that the labelled E-64 selectively recognized the 27 kDa protein. Our data strongly suggest that silicatein(-related) molecules are also present in Hexactinellida. These new results are considered to also be of impact for applied biotechnological studies.

Descriptions of Protospathidium serpens (Kahl, 1930) and P-fraterculum n. sp (Ciliophora, Haptoria), two species based on different resting cyst morphology

Protospathidium serpens (Kahl, 1930) is frequent in semiterrestrial and terrestrial habitats worldwide. Conventionally, all populations are considered as conspecific because they have very similar overall morphologies and morphometrics. We studied in detail not only the morphology of the vegetative cells but also the resting cysts using live observation, protargol impregnation, and scanning electron microscopy. These revealed a cryptic diversity and biogeographic pattern in details of the dorsal brush and cyst wall morphology. The cyst wall is spiny in the Austrian specimens, while smooth in the South African and Antarctic populations. Accordingly, P. serpens consists of at least two species: P. serpens (with spiny cyst wall) and P. fraterculum n. sp. (with smooth cyst wall); the latter is probably composed of two distinct taxa differing by the absence (South African)/presence (Antarctic) of a monokinetidal bristle tail in brush row 3, the number of dikinetids comprising brush row 1 (seven versus three), and the total number of brush dikinetids (29 versus 17). Protospathidium serpens is neotypitied with the new population from Austria. The significance of resting cyst morphology is discussed with respect to alpha-taxonomy and overall ciliate diversity.

栽培唐古特大黄蒽醌含量的季节动态变化

采用高效液相色谱法,测定3、4年生生长季节内不同月份的青海栽培唐古特大黄中芦荟大黄素、大黄酸、大黄素、大黄酚、大黄素甲醚等5种蒽醌类化合物的含量.结果表明,3年、4年生大黄总蒽醌含量在5～6月份生长初期增加,并于6月初达到最大值,6～9月份生长旺盛期间明显降低,10月份又略有回升;3年和4年生大黄总蒽醌含量分别在0.8%～2.5%和1.3%～2.1%范围内波动.

青春期雌性根田鼠初次择偶行为与雄性优势等级

在实验室条件下，研究了性刚成熟的雌性根田鼠对一对互为同胎同胞的以体重划分为优势和从势的雄性个体的择偶行为，目的在于检验雄性社会等级是否影响其配偶选择。结果发现： (1)根田鼠存在显著的偏雄性二型，而雄性动物优势度与体重大小成正比； (2)在Y字型迷宫中，初次发情雌鼠对优势雄鼠的访问时间、社会探究频次和友好频次等显著大于从属雄鼠；(3)在随后24 h的一雌二雄共居中，优势雄优先交配；从属雄的干扰不能中断优势雄鼠的交配。这些结果说明，体重差异可以作为划分雄性优势的指标，社会等级可以作为择偶行为的一个依据。优势雄鼠与处于从属地位的同胞相比，能获得优先交配机会。同胎同胞虽具有遗传相似性，但雄性竞争的结果表现在体重和社会等级上具有显著差异，表明配偶选择在发挥着作用。根田鼠是一雄多雌制，而且具有较大的偏雄性二型，提示社会等级、雌性选择和婚配制度有密切关联。

一种新蛋白源──青海钩虾（Gammarus suifunensis,Ueno,1940）营养价值的初步研究

对青海钩虾的营养价值进行了初步的研究。首先分析三种不同品级的青海钩虾，一般营养成分及氨基酸含量，并同两种鱼粉比较；第二，养鸡试验的结果表明，钩虾组在平均增量和总增重量等方面都优于鱼粉；第三，真鲷Pagrosomusmajor（Temminck＆Schlegel）的实验是按照逐次降低钩虾的含量的方法，分为4组。Ⅰ．钩虾：鱼粉＝6：4，Ⅱ．钧虾：鱼粉＝4：6，Ⅲ．钩虾：鱼粉＝2：8，Ⅳ．钩虾：鱼粉＝0：10。实验结果显示在其鲷的成活率、体长平均增长率、增重率和饲料系数等方面，含钩虾组较无钩虾（Ⅳ）为佳，而Ⅱ组具有最好的促增重效果和最经济的特点。最后，根据上述分析和实验结果，作者认为青海钩虾是一种可以代替鱼粉的新蛋白源，值得开发利用和推广。

Infrared heater arrays for warming ecosystem field plots

There is a need for methodology to warm open-field plots in order to study the likely effects of global warming on ecosystems in the future. Herein, we describe the development of arrays of more powerful and efficient infrared heaters with ceramic heating elements. By tilting the heaters at 45 degrees from horizontal and combining six of them in a hexagonal array, good uniformity of warming was achieved across 3-m-diameter plots. Moreover, there do not appear to be obstacles (other than financial) to scaling to larger plots. The efficiency [eta(h) (%); thermal radiation out per electrical energy in] of these heaters was higher than that of the heaters used in most previous infrared heater experiments and can be described by: eta(h) = 10 + 25exp(-0.17 u), where u is wind speed at 2 m height (m s(-1)). Graphs are presented to estimate operating costs from degrees of warming, two types of plant canopy, and site windiness. Four such arrays were deployed over plots of grass at Haibei, Qinghai, China and another at Cheyenne, Wyoming, USA, along with corresponding reference plots with dummy heaters. Proportional integral derivative systems with infrared thermometers to sense canopy temperatures of the heated and reference plots were used to control the heater outputs. Over month-long periods at both sites, about 75% of canopy temperature observations were within 0.5 degrees C of the set-point temperature differences between heated and reference plots. Electrical power consumption per 3-m-diameter plot averaged 58 and 80 kW h day(-1) for Haibei and Cheyenne, respectively. However, the desired temperature differences were set lower at Haibei (1.2 degrees C daytime, 1.7 degrees C night) than Cheyenne (1.5 degrees C daytime, 3.0 degrees C night), and Cheyenne is a windier site. Thus, we conclude that these hexagonal arrays of ceramic infrared heaters can be a successful temperature free-air-controlled enhancement (T-FACE) system for warming ecosystem field plots.

Reproductive biology of great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis) in the qinghai-tibet plateau

There have been no detailed studies on reproductive biology of the Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis) in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. We conducted such investigations during the breeding seasons of 1999 and 2000 in Qinghai-Lake Bird Isle, China. Great Cormorants began to migrate to Qinghai-Lake for reproduction from the middle of March and left from early October at the end of reproduction. Nesting periods were from early April to mid June and took 50 days. Egg-laying occurred during the three weeks from the end of April to 20 May. Females typically laid an egg every 1-2 days until clutch completion. Mean clutch size in the study area over two years was 3.3 (SE +/- 0.13, N = 68, range 1-5) and most (66.18%) fell within the range 3-4 eggs. Length of eggs averaged 61.01 mm and breadth averaged 34.13 mm. Fresh egg weight averaged 57.34 g (SE +/- 0.36, range 46.0-73.7 g, N = 179). Hatching success was 48.7% and fledging success was 64.9% over two years. Decline of available fish resources in Qinghai-Lake might be one of main causes of lower reproductive success. The causes of chick loss were possibly high altitude, high winds and prolonged rain.

一种星球探测系统多机器人通信机制研究

分析了一种可重构星球探测系统中多机器人通信的特点.根据多机器人系统的功能要求,在TDMA(时分多址)分时共享信道原理和击鼓传花机制的启发下,提出了一种新颖的多机器人无线通信机制.详细介绍了该通信机制和通信协议.仿真和通信实验同时验证了该机制的可行性和实用性.

红枫湖、百花湖沉积物全氮、可交换态氮和固定铵的赋存特征

氮是引起湖泊水体富营养化的关键营养元素之一。本次工作从贵州两个重要水库（红枫湖和百花湖）采集了未受扰动的沉积物样品性，分析了分层沉积物样品中的总氮，无机交换性氮和固定铵的含量及垂直剖面分布，研究表明，红枫湖和百花湖沉积物中具有较高的全氮含量，平均含量约为沉积物干重的0.36%～0.40%，其垂直分布在埋藏过程中受到成岩作用改造，沉积物交换性氮在沉积物中的赋存受到全氮含量和埋藏环境的双重控制，红枫湖和百花湖沉积物具有较强的吸持固定铵的能力，沉积物固定铵的绝对含量的平均值分别为434.05mg/kg和416.94mg/kg，分别占全氮的13.53%和12.53%。

安图红松树轮稳定碳同位素记录的低云量信息

分析了安图红松树轮碳同位素和与之临近的敦化市气象站气象记录间的相关关系，发现树轮碳同位素与上年5－7月平均低云量间存在显著的负相关关系，重建了该近200年来5－7月平均低云量变化。功率谱分析表明，δ^13C序列，重建的低云量序列均包含明显的厄尔厄诺－南方涛动周期（ENSO）和准2年振荡周期（QBO），反映了ENSO以及东亚季风对该区气候的影响。分析了安图红松树轮碳同位素和与之临近的敦化市气象站气象记录间的相关关系，发现树轮碳同位素与上年5－7月平均低云量间存在显著的负相关关系，重建了该近200年来5－7月平均低云量变化。功率谱分析表明，δ^13C序列，重建的低云量序列均包含明显的厄尔厄诺－南方涛动周期（ENSO）和准2年振荡周期（QBO），反映了ENSO以及东亚季风对该区气候的影响。

铅锌矿山开发导致的重金属在环境介质中的积累

以连续提取法和相关性分析研究了土法冶炼锌、铅锌和矿山开采导致的重金属在废渣及环境介质土壤、溪流沉积物中的积累,并分析了其环境危害性。结果显示,贵州赫章土法炼锌导致的重金属Pb、Zn、Cd 在环境介质中的积累相当高。水城杉树林铅锌矿山开采引起的重金属积累则相对较低,但也明显高于背景值;土壤和沉积物中的铁矿物对重金属有强烈的固定作用。除残渣态外,Pb、Zn 在土壤、炼锌废渣中主要呈铁锰氧化物结合态,沉积物中则为碳酸盐结合态。可交换态Pb、Zn 含量变异较大,但在炼锌废渣、土壤中含量明显高于河流沉积物,暗示铅锌矿开发对土壤环境的潜在危害更大。

临沧锗矿褐煤的稀土元素地球化学

采用ICP—MS测定了临沧锗矿中51件古矿煤、5件无矿煤的稀土元素和锗含量，并与含矿煤层中热水成因燧石及基底白云母花岗岩进行对比．探讨了古矿煤与无矿煤的稀土元素地球化学及其与锗超常富集的关系，得出几点初步认识：c1)无矿煤和含矿煤的稀土元素主要来自基底白云母花岗岩：(2)无矿煤属正常沉积产物，含矿煤组成叠加了热水活动产物；【3)形成临沧锗矿的锗可能主要由热水活动带来。

滇西北中旬松诺含矿斑岩的锆石SHRIMP U-Pb年龄及地质意义

位于义敦岛弧南端的中甸岛弧中广泛发育印支期斑岩及斑岩型和矽卡岩型铜矿床。松诺（或称松诺力赞）复式岩体位于东斑岩带中部，由石英闪长玢岩、黑云石英二长斑岩、闪长玢岩和含矿石英二长斑岩组成，其南部为普朗超大型斑岩铜矿床，北部为地苏嘎铜矿点。本文对含矿石英二长斑岩进行了岩相学和锆石SHRIMPU-Pb定年研究，结果表明所有锆石颗粒自形较好且均发育规则的韵律环带，Th含量为180-854μg／g，U含量为270-709μg／g，Th／U比值为0．77-1．24，为典型岩浆成因锆石。获得了含矿石英二长斑岩的侵位年龄为220．9±3．5Ma（n=9，MSWD=1．6），这与中甸岛弧洋壳俯冲造山作用的时限（210-235Ma）相吻合。

分散元素铟富集的矿床类型和矿物专属性

文章研究了我国一些铁锰矿床、铜矿床及铅锌硫化物矿床矿石及矿物中铟的含量变化特点，发现In在不同类型的铅、锌、铜、铁、锰等矿床中并不大量富集，在这些矿床中矿石平均ωIn大都低于10×10^-6；在锡石硫化物矿床和富含锡的铅锌多金属矿床中，矿石中ωIn平均可达80×10^-6以上，这类矿床中铟的工业储量可达数百吨甚至数千吨，80％以上的铟都富集在闪锌矿中。研究结果表明，铟的富集成矿具有矿床类型和矿物专属性，这种专属性对铟资源的寻找与利用具有重要意义.