Experimental demonstration of femtosecond switching of a fully packaged all-optical switch

We experimentally demonstrate femtosecond switching of a fully packaged hybrid-integrated Mach-Zehnder switch. A record switching window of 620fs at fult-width-half-maximum is achieved. © 2004 Optical Society of America.

Patterns of orographic uplift in the Sierra Nevada and their relationship to upper-level atmospheric circulation

We examine monthly and seasonal patterns of precipitation across various elevations of the eastern Central Valley of California and the Sierra Nevada. A measure of the strength of the orographic effect called the “precipitation ratio” is calculated, and we separate months into four groups based on being wet or dry and having low or high precipitation ratios. Using monthly maps of mean 700-mb height anomalies, we describe the northern hemisphere mid-tropospheric circulation patterns associated with each of the four groups. Wet months are associated with negative height anomalies over the eastern Pacific, as expected. However, the orientation of the trough is different for years with high and low precipitation ratios. Wet months with high ratios typically have circulation patterns factoring a west-southwest to east-northeast storm track from around the Hawaiian Islands to the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Wet months with low precipitation ratios are associated with a trough centered near the Aleutians and a northwest to southeast storm track. Dry months are marked by anticyclones in the Pacific, but this feature is more localized to the eastern Pacific for months with low precipitation ratios than for those with high ratios. Using precipitation gauge and snow course data from the American River and Truckee-Tahoe basins, we determined that the strength of the orographic effect on a seasonal basis is spatially coherent at low and high elevations and on opposite sides of the Sierra Nevada crestline.

3.0～2.0Ma B. P.南海南部深海沉积物孢粉记录及其对全球变化的响应

为了重建东亚季风区域2.5MaB.P.前后植被和气候变化的历史，更好地了解低纬度地区植被变化及其对全球变化的响应，本研究选择了南海南部ODP1143站深海沉积物中的孢粉样品进行研究。通过高分辨率（7ka）的孢粉样品的分析研究，建立起3.0～2.0MaB.P.时段南海深海沉积孢粉组合序列，系统建立了这一时段植被演替序列。在此基础上，重点研究了2.5MaB.P.前后气候变化在南海周边地区植被演替中的响应，为探索和揭示东亚古季风及古环境演变提供了孢粉学依据。 ODP 1143站位于南沙海区，北纬9º22´，东经113º17´，深海柱状样采于水深2772m的大陆坡。本研究以生物地层学和氧同位素年代学为依据建立了年龄框架，对1143站135～95m（3.0～2.6 Ma B. P.）深海沉积中的孢粉样品进行了分析，建立了3.0～2.0MaB.P.时段南海深海沉积孢粉组合序列。孢粉样品处理方法主要是用盐酸去掉钙质和氢氟酸浸泡溶解硅质后，再用筛子将样品在超声波发生器中震荡过滤。孢粉的鉴定和统计在光学透视显微镜下完成。研究结果表明： 1、孢粉谱的主要特征是沉积率变化显著。与3.0～2.6 Ma B. P. 相比，2.6～2.0 Ma B. P.各类型花粉及孢子沉积率均有显著提高。该结果表明2.6 Ma B. P.南海海平面有显著下降，可与北半球冰盖形成、东亚季风增强相对应。 2、2.6 Ma B. P.以来，各类型孢粉沉积率变化与深海氧同位素分期相对应，代表了多次冰期-间冰期旋回。该结果表明南海海平面曾有多次上升和下降。 3、频谱分析结果表明，3.0～2.0 Ma B. P.存在0.1 Ma（偏心率）和46.9ka（斜率）的周期。

全缘叶绿绒蒿的谱系生物地理学研究

青藏高原是我国植物多样性和特有性最高的地区，其中横断山区由于复杂的地质变迁历史和独特的地貌已成为研究物种多样性的一个热点。全缘叶绿绒蒿是分布于青藏高原及其周边地区的高山植物，该物种的谱系生物地理学研究不仅有助于揭示横断山区的物种分化机制及地理分布格局的形成过程，而且有助于探讨青藏高原隆升及新生代晚期气候变化对横断山区物种遗传结构的影响。 本研究对全缘叶绿绒蒿的12 个群体、153 个个体的叶绿体DNA trnS-trnfM片段进行了序列测定，比对校正后该片段的长度为877－962 bp，其中含6 个突变位点和5 个插入缺失（两个7 bp，两个39 bp，一个6 bp）。根据这些变异，可分为12 种叶绿体单倍型（H1-H12）。全缘叶绿绒蒿在物种水平上的核苷酸多态性分别为π = 0.00152 和θ = 0.00122，单倍型多样性为HE 为0.791，群体之间的遗传分化系数FST 为0.46579。中性检测结果显示无论在物种水平还是在群体水平，都没有显著偏离中性模式，说明该物种近期没有经历明显的瓶颈效应或奠基者效应等历史事件。我们从地理上将全缘叶绿绒蒿的群体分为四个地区，即云南、川西、川北和青海地区。AMOVA 分析显示群体间的遗传分化系数FST为0.46579，大多数的核苷酸多态性来自群体内（53.42%），其次来自于地区内的群体间（40.44%），而四个地区之间的分化非常小，仅占6.14%。失配分析显示在整个物种的分布范围内呈现单峰式样（r = 0.0475, P = 0.07924），这种分布虽然是不显著的，但P 值接近显著的临界，说明可能存在不明显的扩散，但在各个地区内的群体都没有扩散的迹象。 比较单倍型的地理分布和单倍型之间的进化关系，发现川西和川北地区存在明显差异，这两个地区都拥有比较古老的单倍型，也具有地区特异的稀有单倍型，因此很可能是全缘叶绿绒蒿在冰期时的避难所。云南地区只具有一个古老单倍型H1，这种分布可能是由川西和川北避难所的南迁造成的，也可能该地区自身就是古老单倍型H1 的发源地。青海地区只有两种古老的单倍型，由于冰期后物种有往高纬度迁移的趋势，因此这个地区的单倍型可能是在冰期后由川西和川北迁移过去的。全缘叶绿绒蒿在横断山区单倍型的片段化分布及多个避难所的存在可能与该地区独特的高山低谷相间地貌以及受多次冰期影响有密切关系。

Atlas of the shallow-water benthic habitats of Majuro Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands

Digital maps of the shallow (<~30m deep) coral reef ecosystems of Majuro Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands, were created through visual interpretation of remote sensing imagery acquired between 2004 and 2006. Reef ecosystem features were digitized directly into a Geographic Information System. Benthic features were categorized according to a classification scheme with attributes including zone (location such as lagoon or forereef, etc.), structure (bottom type such as sand or patch reef, etc.) and percent hard bottom. This atlas consists of 27 detailed maps displaying reef zone and structure of coral ecosystems around Majuro. Adjacent maps in the atlas overlap slightly to ensure complete coverage. Maps and associated products can be used to support science and management activities on Majuro reef ecosystems including inventory, monitoring, conservation, and sustainable development applications. Maps are not to be used for navigation.