Automated voltammetric system for shipboard determination of metal speciation in sea water

An automated and semi-intelligent voltammetric system is described for trace metal analysis. The system consists of a voltammeter interfaced with a personal computer, a sample changer, 2 peristaltic pumps, a motor burette and a hanging mercury drop electrode. The system carries out fully automatically approximately 5 metal determinations per hour (including at least 3 repetitive scans and calibration by standard addition) at trace levels encountered in clean sea water. The computer program decides what level of standard addition to use and evaluates the data prior to switching to the next sample. Alternatively, the system can be used to carry out complexing ligand titration with copper whilst recording the labile copper concentration; in this mode up to 8 full titrations are carried out per day. Depth profiles for chromium speciation in the Mediterranean Sea and a profile for copper complexing ligand concentrations in the North Atlantic Ocean measured on board-ship with the system are presented. The chromium speciation was determined using a new method to differentiate between Cr(III) and Cr(VI) utilizing adsorption of Cr(III) on silica particles.

Long-lasting properties of rare earth-doped Y2O2S phosphors

The aim of this presentation is to report a new result of afterglow materials. The Y2OS: Ln(3+) (Ln = Sm, Tm) phosphors show bright reddish orange and orange-yellow colors when excited by UV or visible light. The main spectroscopic characterizations of Sin(3+) and Tin(3+) in yttrium oxysulfide and their long-lasting phosphorescence were measured and discussed in this presentation. Their long-lasting phosphorescence can be seen by the naked eyes clearly for about one hour in the dark room after the Irradiation light sources were removed. XRD and photoluminescence (PL) spectra as well as the luminance decay were used to characterize these long-lasting phosphorescence phosphors. The results of XRD indicate that the products synthesized through the flux fusion method tinder 1050 degreesC, for 6 It have a good crystallization without any detectable amount of impurity phase. Both the PL spectra and luminance decay results reveal that these phosphors have efficient luminescent and good long-lasting properties. We believe that the experimental data gathered in our present work will be. useful in finding some new long-lasting phosphors with different colors.

Copolymerization of carbon dioxide and propylene oxide with neodymium trichloroacetate-based coordination catalyst

The copolymerizations of carbon dioxide (CO2) and propylene oxide (PO) were performed using new ternary rare-earth catalyst, It was found that the rare-earth coordination catalyst consisting of Nd(CCl3COO)(3), ZnEt2 and glycerine was very effective for the copolymerization of PO with CO2. The effects of the relative molar ratio and addition order of the catalyst components, copolymerization reaction time, and operating pressure as well as temperature on the copolymerization were systematically investigated. At an appropriate combination of all variables, the yield could be as high as 6875 g/mol Nd per hour at 90 degreesC in a 8 h reaction period.

A mica-modified quartz resonator for a quartz crystal microbalance study

Mica, as a bridge of the study for combining between quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and atomic force microscope (AFM), was successfully modified onto the piezoelectric quartz crystal (PQC). This mica-modified piezoelectric quartz crystal (mica-PQC) can be stably oscillated with a shift frequency of +/-1 Hz per half an hour in air. Using this mica-PQC, the processes of DNA adsorbed onto the mica surface were studied in liquid phase. The results show that a bivalent cation, such as Mn2+, can be used as an ionic bridge to immobilize DNA on mica surface. The image of DNA on the mica surface was also obtained by AFM. Mica-PQC gives the possibility of a combination between QCM and AFM in situ.

Effect of surface state properties of TiO2 nanoparticle film on its photocatalytic activity

TiO2 nanoparticle film catalysts with different thicknesses were prepared by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition(PECVD) method and the surfaces were subsequently treated by TiCl4 or O-2 plasma. Two kinds of TiO2 films with different surface properties were obtained. Their surface microstructures and energy levels of surface states were tested by AFM, XRD, SPS, The photocatalytic activities of the catalysts were determined via photodegradation experiments of phenol. The results demonstrated that photocatalytic activities of samples whose surface was treated by O-2 plasma were greater than those treated by TiCl4 plasma. Moreover, photodegradation ratio of phenol during the first hour catalyzed by 0. 17 mu m thickness TiO2 nanoparticle film was greater than other samples. Especially, the difference of photocatalytic activities of TiO2 nanoparticle films treated by TiCl4 or O-2 plasma was respectively explained by energy band theory.

Cloning and expression of glucose regulated protein 78 (GRP78) in Fenneropenaeus chinensis

GRP78 (78 kDa glucose-regulated protein), also known as BiP (immunoglobulin heavy-chain-binding protein), is an essential regulator of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis because of its multiple functions in protein folding, ER calcium binding, and controlling of the activation of transmembrane ER stress sensors. In this report, we cloned the full length cDNA of GRP78 (FcGRP78) from Chinese shrimp Fenneropenaeus chinensis. This cDNA revealed a 2,325 bp with 1,968 bp open reading frame encoding 655 amino acids. This is the first reported GRP78 gene in Crustacea. The deduced amino acid sequence of FcGRP78 shared high identity with previously reported insect GRP78s: 86, 87 and 85% identity with GRP78s of Drosophila melanogaster, Aedes aegypti and Bombyx mori, respectively. Northern blot analysis shows that FcGRP78 is ubiquitously expressed in tissues of shrimp. Heat shock at 35A degrees C significantly enhanced the expression of FcGRP78 at the first hour, reached the maximum at 4 h post heat shock, dropped after that and resumed to the normal level until 48 h of post recovery at 25A degrees C. Additionally, differential expression of FcGRP78 was detected in haemocytes, hepatopancreas and lymphoid organ when shrimp were challenged by white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). We inferred that FcGRP78 may play important roles in chaperoning, protein folding and immune function of shrimp.

Development of rRNA and rDNA-targeted probes for fluorescence in situ hybridization to detect Heterosigma akashiwo (Raphidophyceae)

Heterosigma akashiwo (Hada) is a fragile, fish-killing alga. Efforts to understand and prevent blooms due to this harmful species to mitigate the impact on aquaculture require the development of methods for rapid and precise identification and quantification, so that adequate warning of a harmful algal bloom may be given. Here, we report the development and application of rRNA and rDNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to aid in the detection and enumeration of H. akashiwo. The designed probes were species specific, showing no cross-reactivity with four common HAB causative species: Prorocentrum micans Ehrenberg, P. minimum (Pavillard) Schiller, Alexandrium tarmarense (Lebour) Balech, and Skeletonema costatum (Greville) Cleve, or with four other microalgae, including Gymnodinium sp. Stein, Platy-monas cordiformis (Karter) Korsch, Skeletonema sp.1 Greville and Skeletonema sp.2. The rRNA-targeted probe hybridized to cytoplasmic rRNA, showing strong green fluorescence throughout the whole cell, while cells labeled by rDNA-targeted probe exhibited exclusively fluorescent nucleus. The detection protocols were optimized and could be completed within an hour. For rRNA and rDNA probes, about a corresponding 80% and 70% of targeted cells could be identified and quantified during the whole growth circle, despite the inapparent variability in the average probe reactivity. The established FISH was proved promising for specific, rapid, precise, and quantitative detection of H. akashiwo. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Cultivation of the brown alga Hizikia fusiformis (Harvey) Okamura: stress resistance of artificially raised young seedlings revealed by chlorophyll fluorescence measurement

Commercial farming of the intertidal brown alga Hizikia fusiformis (Harvey) Okamura in China and South Korea in the sea depends on three sources of seedlings: holdfast-derived regenerated seedlings, young plants from wild population and zygote-derived seedlings. Like many successfully farmed seaweed species, the sustainable development of Hizikia farming will rely on a stable supply of artificial seedlings via sexual reproduction under controlled conditions. However, the high rate of detachment of seedlings after transfer to open sea is one of the main obstacles, and has limited large-scale application of zygote-derived seedlings. To seek the optimal condition for growing seedlings on substratum in land-based tanks for avoidance of detachment in this investigation, young seedlings were grown in both outdoor tanks exposed directly to sunlight and in indoor raceway tanks in reduced, filtered sunlight. Results showed that young seedlings, immediately after fertilization, could withstand a daily fluctuation of direct solar irradiance up to a level of 1800 mu mol photons m(-1)s(-1), and maintained a faster growth rate than seedlings grown in indoor tanks. Detailed experiments by use of chlorophyll fluorescence measurements further demonstrated that the overnight (12 h) recovery of optimal fluorescence quantum yield (F-v/F-m) of seedlings after 1 h treatment at 40 degrees C was 98%, and the 48 h recovery of F-v/F-m of seedlings after 1 h exposure to 1800 mu mol m(-2)s(-1) was 92%. Forty-one-day-old seedlings showed no significant decrease of optimal fluorescence quantum yield at salinity ranging from 30 to 5 ppt for a treatment up to 17 h. Six-hour desiccation treatment did not have any influence on the optimal fluorescence quantum yield. Exposure to 18 mmol L-1 sodium hypochlorite for 10 min did not damage the PSII efficiency, and thus could be used to remove epiphytic algae. The strong tolerance of young seedlings to high temperature, high irradiance, low salinity and desiccation found in this investigation supports the view that mass production of Hizikia seedlings should be performed in ambient light and temperature instead of in shaded greenhouse tanks.

Early development of Costaria costata (C. Agardh) Saunders and cultivation trials

Costaria costata (C. Agardh) Saunders is one of common kelps distributed in many coastal areas worldwide; however, in China, no reports have been made on cultivation of the genus. To investigate potential cultivation of the species in the northern part of China, trials on isolation and preservation of the gametophytes were conducted using C. costata from Korea; growth and development of the gametophytes were observed. We showed that at 10 +/- 1A degrees C, 60 mu mol m(-2)s(-1) and 12:12 h (L:D), freshly released zoospores settled down within 1 hour, and then developed into the primary cell during the following 2 days. After a vegetative growth phase lasting 6-8 days, female gametophytes became 3-4 times larger in diameter than that of the primary cell, but still remained at a unicellular stage, while male gametophytes divided into 4-10 cells with only a slight change in size. Fertilization occurred within 10 days after the zoospores were released from the sporangia, and the apical and basal tissues of the juvenile sporophyte divided and differentiated into the blade and stipe. Temperature and irradiance influenced gametophytic vegetative growth and developmental patterns. Generally, low irradiance (15 mu mol m(-2)s(-1) and 30 mu mol m(-2)s(-1)) was unfavorable to the induction of fertility, but it enhanced female gametophyte division. The optimal conditions for vegetative growth were 15A degrees C and 30 mu mol m(-2)s(-1). After transplantation of the juvenile seedlings and after eight months cultivation, the harvested mature blade reached 194 cm in length and 32.7 cm in width. Our study proves that it is feasible to implement propagation and large scale cultivation of C. costata in northern China.

Numerical simulation on the process of saltwater intrusion and its impact on the suspended sediment concentration in the Changjiang (Yangtze) estuary

To study the relationship between sediment transportation and saltwater intrusion in the Changjiang (Yangtze) estuary, a three-dimensional numerical model for temperature, salinity, velocity field, and suspended sediment concentration was established based on the ECOMSED model. Using this model, sediment transportation in the flood season of 2005 was simulated for the Changjiang estuary. A comparison between simulated results and observation data for the tidal level, flow velocity and direction, salinity and suspended sediment concentration indicated that they were consistent in overall. Based on model verification, the simulation of saltwater intrusion and its effect on sediment in the Changjiang estuary was analyzed in detail. The saltwater intrusion in the estuary including the formation, evolution, and disappearance of saltwater wedge and the induced vertical circulation were reproduced, and the crucial impact of the wedge on cohesive and non-cohesive suspended sediment distribution and transportation were successfully simulated. The result shows that near the salinity front, the simulated concentrations of both cohesive and non-cohesive suspended sediment at the surface layer had a strong relationship with the simulated velocity, especially when considering a 1-hour lag. However, in the bottom layer, there was no obvious correlation between them, because the saltwater wedge and its inducing vertical circulation may have resuspended loose sediment on the bed, thus forming a high-concentration area near the bottom even if the velocity near the bottom was very low during the transition phase from flood to ebb.

The effect of acute salinity change on white spot syndrome (WSS) outbreaks in Fenneropenaeus chinensis

In order to observe the effect of salinity on disease resistance and white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) proliferation in Fenneropenaeus chinensis, shrimps with latent WSSV were subjected to two acute salinity changes from the original salinity of 22 ppt to 18 and 14 ppt in an hour, respectively. The total haemocyte count (THC) of the challenged group showed no evident change under salinity adjustments, but the phenoloxidase (PO) index declined significantly (P<0.05) corresponding to continuing acute salinity changes from the 24th to the 72nd hour. According to the WSSV load detected by quantitative real-time PCR method, it was found that WSSV carried by the challenged group and control group were significantly different (P<0.05); acute salinity change from 22 to 14 ppt led to the WSSV carried in the challenged group being significantly higher (P<0.05) than that of those surviving in 22 ppt, but salinity change from 22 to 18 ppt had no such effect. At the end of the 72-h experiment, the challenged group subjected to salinity change from 22 to 14 ppt had nearly 3 times the WSSV load as the control group with no salinity change. Therefore, salinity changes over a particular range could result in a decrease of immunocompetence and obvious WSSV proliferation in the shrimps, leading to white spot syndrome developing from a latent infection to an acute outbreak. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.

去甲肾上腺素刺激高原鼠兔CRF的分泌

We studied the effect of neuro transmitter no repin ephrine (N E) on immuno reactive cortico trop inreleasing factor (CRF) of median eminence (M E) in the native pika (Ochotona cu rz oniae). At one hour after intra cerebrovent ricular ( icv) adm inistrat ion of N E in doses of 3.75,7.5, 15 and 30 μg/100 g BW , the CRF level ofM E increased. And the plasma cortico sterone concent rat ion also increased. Two and six days after adrenalectomy (ADX) , N E concent ration in hypothalamus declined to 76.32% and 76.27% of those in intact pika, plasma cortico rsterone concent ration also decreased to 16.57 and 2.05% of the control. These results indicated that N E have a effect on activating HPA axis through activating hypothalamic CRF in Ochotona curzoniae.

Three phases of dark-recovery course from photoinhibition resolved by the chlorophyll fluorescence analysis in soybean leaves under field conditions

The chlorophyll fluorescence in soybean leaves was observed by a portable fluorometer CF-1000 under field conditions. On clear days, F-0 increased while F, and F-v/F-m decreased gradually in the morning. At midday F-O reached its maximum while F-v and F-v/F-m reached their minimum. The reverse changes occurred in the afternoon. At dusk these parameters could return to levels near those at dawn. Following exposure to a strong sunlight for more than 3 h, the dark-recovery process displayed three phases: (1) slow increases in F-0, F-v and F-v/F-m within the first hour; (2) a faster decrease in F-0 and faster increases in F-v and F-v/F-m within subsequent two hours; (3) a slow decrease in F-0 and slow increases in F-v and F-v/F-m within the fourth hour. In comparison with darkness, weak irradiance had no stimulating effect on the recovery from photoinhibition. Hence the photoinhibition in soybean leaves is mainly the reflection of reversible inactivation of some photosystem 2 reaction centres, but not the result of D1 protein loss.

流体地球化学：成因、流动和流体-岩石相互作用及塔里木盆地实例研究

Geofluid in sedimentary basins is related to petroleum generation, migration, accumulation and preservation, and is a topic of geological frontier. By integrating the multi-discipline methods of petroleum geochemistry, sedimentology, hydrogeology, petroleum geology and experimental geochemistry, the thesis has carried out experiments of microcline dissolution in solutions with organic acids, crude oil, brines with high total dissolved solids (TDS), and has dealt with Al distribution between the crude oil and the brines after the experiments. Cases for study includes Central Tarim, Hetianhe Gas Field and Kucha forland basin with data containing fluid chemistry and isotopic compositions, thin sections of sandstones and carbonates, homogenization temperatures and salinities of fluid inclusions, isotopic compositions of bulk rock and autigenic minerals. The aims are to elucidate fluid origin and flow in the three areas, effect of hydrocarbon emplacement on diagenesis, and to show occurrence of microbe-mediated, and thermochemical sulfate reduction in the Tarim Basin. Microcline dissolution experiments show that after 100 hour, part of the dissolved Al distributes in the crude oil, and the Al concentrations in the crude oil rise when organic acids are added. The result can be used to explain that most oilfield waters in the Tarim Basin are characterized by less than 3mg/L Al. Crude oil added to the solutions can enhance microcline dissolution, which is also observed in the case - Silurian sandstones with early crude oil emplacement in the Central Tarim. Al and Si have higher concentrations in the experiments of oxalic acid than of acetic acid under the same pH conditions, suggesting that there exist Al-oxalate and Si-oxalate complexes. Presence of acetate can enhance the activity of Ca and Al, but Al concentrations have not been increased significantly due to formation of small Al-acetate complex during the experiments. Relationships between δD and δ~(18)O in conjunction with chemistry of oilfield waters show that the waters are evaporated connate waters, which subsequently mixed with meteoric water, and were influenced by water-rock interactions such as salt dissolution, dolomitization of calcite, albitization of feldspar. In the Hetianhe Gas Field where salt dissolution took place, δD and δ~(18)O values can be used to trace nicely meteoric water recharge area and flow direction, but TDS can not. Part of the waters have high TDS but very light δD and δ~(18)O. When combined with paleo-topography, or fluid potentials, meteoric water is suggested to flow eastward in the Hetianhe Gas Field, which is the same with the Central Tarim. Whist in the Kuche forland basin, meteoric water may have permeated Cambrian-Ordovician strata. Relationship between ~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr and 1/Sr can be used to indicate migration and mixing of brines from carbonate strata (low ~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr ratio but high Sr content), clastic strata (high ~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr ratio but low Sr content) and crystalline basement (high ~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr ratio and heavy δ~(18)O value). Using this approach, it can be found that ~(87)Sr-depleted brine from Ordovician carbonates have migrated up to and mixed with ~(87)Sr-enriched waters from Silurian and Carboniferous sandstones, and that Silurian brines have mixed with meteoric water. In the Kuche forland basin, brines from the Cambrian and Ordovician carbonates have higher ~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr ratios than those from the overlying sandstones, when combined with chemistry, δ~(15)N and ~3He/~4He ratios of the coexisting natural gases, suggesting that the brines were derived from the basement. There exists some debate on the effect of hydrocarbon emplacement on mineral diagenesis. Case-study from Silurian sandstones in the Central Tarim show that quartz has kept overgrowing secondarily when oil saturation was decreased by meteoric water flushing subsequently to hydrocarbon emplacement. Silicon precipitates on the water-wet quartz surface, leading to decreased Si concentration close to the surface. A Si grads can result in Si diffusion, which supplies Si for quartz overgrowth. Hydrocarbon oxidation-sulfate reduction is an important type of organic-inorganic interaction. Not only can it make secondary alteration of hydrocarbons, but generate H_2S and CO_2 gases which can improve reservoir property. Thermochemical sulfate reduction took place at the temperatures more than 125 ℃ to 140 ℃ in the Cambrian-Ordovician carbonates, the products - H_2S and CO_2 gases migrated up to the Silurian, and precipitated as pyrite and calcite, respectively. The pyrite has an average δ~(34)S value close to those of Ordovician seawater and anhydrite, and calcite has δ~(13)C value as low as -21.5‰. In the Hetianhe Gas Field, sulfate reduction bacteria carried by meteoric water flowing eastward may have preferentially depleted ~(12)C of light hydrocarbon gases, and results in heavier δ~(13)C values of the residual hydrocarbon gases and higher molar CO_2 in the natural gases in the west than in the east. Coexisting pyrite has δ~(34)S values as low as -24.9‰.

三峡库区滑坡的时空分布、成因及其预报模式

Landslides are widely distributed along the main stream banks of the Three Gorges Reservoir area. Especially with the acceleration of the human economic activities in the recent 30 years, the occurrence of landslide hazards in the local area trends to be more serious. Because of the special geological, topographic and climatic conditions of the Three Gorges areas, many Paleo-landslides are found along the gentle slope terrain of the population relocation sites. Under the natural condition, the Paleo-landslides usually keep stable. The Paleo-landslides might revive while they are influenced under the strong rainfall, water storage and migration engineering disturbance. Therefore, the prediction and prevention of landslide hazards have become the important problem involving with the safety of migration engineering of the Three Gorges Reservoir area.The past research on the landslides of the Three Gorges area is mainly concentrated on the stability analysis of individual landslide, and importance was little attached to the knowledge on the geological environment background of the formation of regional landslides. So, the relationship between distribution and evolution of landslides and globe dynamic processes was very scarce in the past research. With further study, it becomes difficult to explain the reasons for the magnitude and frequency of major geological hazards in terms of single endogenic or exogenic processes. It is possible to resolve the causes of major landslides in the Three Gorges area through the systematic research of regional tectonics and river evolution history.In present paper, based on the view of coupling of earth's endogenic and exogenic processes, the author researches the temporal and spacial distribution and formation evolution of major landslides(Volume^lOOX 104m3) in the Three Gorges Reservoir area through integration of first-hand sources statistics, .geological evolution history, isotope dating and numerical simulation method etc. And considering the main formation factors of landslides (topography, geology and rainfall condition), the author discusses the occurrence probability and prediction model of rainfall induced landslides.The distribution and magnitude of Paleo-landslides in the Three Gorges area is mainly controlled by lithology, geological structure, bank slope shape and geostress field etc. The major Paleo-landslides are concentrated on the periods 2.7-15.0 X 104aB.R, which conrresponds to the warm and wettest Paleoclimate stages. In the same time, the Three Gorges area experiences with the quickest crust uplift phase since 15.0X 104aB.P. It is indicated that the dynamic factor of polyphase major Paleo-landslides is the coupling processes of neotectonic movement and Quaternary climate changes. Based on the numerical simulation results of the formation evolution of Baota landslide, the quick crust uplift makes the deep river incision and the geostress relief causes the rock body of banks flexible. Under the strong rainfall condition, the pore-water pressure resulted from rain penetration and high flood level can have the shear strength of weak structural plane decrease to a great degree. Therefore, the bank slope is easy to slide at the slope bottom where shear stress concentrates. Finally, it forms the composite draught-traction type landslide of dip stratified rocks.The susceptibility idea for the rainfall induced landslide is put forward in this paper and the degree of susceptibility is graded in terms of the topography and geological conditions of landslides. Base on the integration with geological environment factors and rainfall condition, the author gives a new probabilistic prediction model for rainfall induced landslides. As an example from Chongqing City of the Three Gorges area, selecting the 5 factors of topography, lithology combination, slope shape, rock structure and hydrogeology and 21 kinds of status as prediction variables, the susceptibility zonation is carried out by information methods. The prediction criterion of landslides is established by two factors: the maximum 24 hour rainfall and the antecedent effective precipitation of 15 days. The new prediction model is possible to actualize the real-time regional landslide prediction and improve accuracy of landslide forecast.