Microorganisms linked to Neoproterozoic microspar carbonate sedimentation in the Jilin-Liaoning area

Molar-tooth carbonate refers to a sort of rock that has ptygmatical folded structure comparable to the ivory. This kind of carbonate exists in a special time range (from Middle to Neoproterozoic). Its origin and the possibility to use it in stratigraphic correlation of the paleocontinent is the key task of the IGCP447, a project on Proterozoic molar tooth carbonates and the evolution of the earth (2001-2005). The importance lies in that the molar-tooth structure is the key to solving problems related to Precambrian biological and global geochemical events. The molar-tooth structure is associated with microorganisms. Development and recession of such carbonates have relations with the evolution process of early lives and abrupt changes in sea carbonate geochemistry. In recent years, based on researches on petrology, geochemistry and Sr isotope of molar-tooth carbonate in the Jilin-Liaoning and Xuzhou-Huaiyang area, the authors hold that it can be used as a marker for stratigraphic sequence and sedimentary facies analyses.

Microorganisms linked to Neoproterozoic microspar carbonate sedimentation in the Jilin-Liaoning area

Molar-tooth carbonate refers to a sort of rock that has ptygmatical folded structure comparable to the ivory. This kind of carbonate exists in a special time range (from Middle to Neoproterozoic). Its origin and the possibility to use it in stratigraphic correlation of the paleocontinent is the key task of the IGCP447, a project on Proterozoic molar tooth carbonates and the evolution of the earth (2001-2005). The importance lies in that the molar-tooth structure is the key to solving problems related to Precambrian biological and global geochemical events. The molar-tooth structure is associated with microorganisms. Development and recession of such carbonates have relations with the evolution process of early lives and abrupt changes in sea carbonate geochemistry. In recent years, based on researches on petrology, geochemistry and Sr isotope of molar-tooth carbonate in the Jilin-Liaoning and Xuzhou-Huaiyang area, the authors hold that it can be used as a marker for stratigraphic sequence and sedimentary facies analyses.

An unidentified haplosporidian parasite of bay scallop Argopecten irradians cultured in the Shandong and Liaoning provinces of China

Since 1988 growers of bay scallop Argopecten irradians in China have been experiencing mortality in their cultured stocks. Although poorly documented, mortality apparently began near Qingdao and has since spread to other areas of Shandong and Liaoning provinces. Samples of cultured scallops were collected from several growing areas in these provinces and analyzed by histological methods for pathogens. An unidentified haplosporidian parasite was observed in a high proportion of scallops from two of the stocks examined. Most infections were of low intensity, but one heavy infection was also observed. Only plasmodia stages were observed; they occurred intercellularly in connective tissues throughout the scallops. Plasmodia were spherical to oval, varied from 4.0 to 17.0 mu m in diameter and contained from 2 to 18 nuclei. Absence of spores prevented generic assignment of the parasite. The source and pathogenicity of the haplosporidian could not be assessed without additional research. No other microbial parasites (i.e. rickettsia-like, chlamydia-like or kidney coccidia) were observed in any of the scallops examined.

The Wuzhen Theatre, Zhejiang, China: An architectural review

Designed by Taiwanese architect Kris Yao of Artech Architects for the Wuzhen Tourism Development Company, the Wuzhen Theatre is situated in Wuzhen, a historic scenic water town located in east China's Zhejiang Province. This theatre stands as an architectural beacon for Wuzhen, and is to be considered an important place on the global atlas of theatre and China's epicentre of theatre, culture and arts.

Strong visible up-conversion emissions and thermometric applications of Er3+-Yb3+ codoped Al2O3 prepared by the sol-gel method

The Er3+-Yb3+ codoped Al2O3 has been prepared by the sol-gel method using the aluminium isopropoxide [Al(OC3H7)(3)]-derived Al2O3 sols with addition of the erbium nitrate [Er(NO3)(3) center dot 5H(2)O] and ytterbium nitrate [Yb(NO3)(3) center dot 5H(2)O]. The phase structure, including only two crystalline types of doped Al2O3 phases, theta and gamma, was obtained for the 1 mol% Er3+ and 5 mol% Yb3+ codoped Al2O3 at the sintering temperature of 1,273 K. By a 978 nm semiconductor laser diodes excitation, the visible up-conversion emissions centered at about 523, 545, and 660 nm were obtained. The temperature dependence of the green up-conversion emissions was studied over a wide temperature range of 300-825 K, and the reasonable agreement between the calculated temperature by the fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR) theory and the measured temperature proved that Er3+-Yb3+ codoped Al2O3 plays an important role in the application of high temperature sensor.

中国辽宁西部早白垩世松科球果的解剖学研究

早白垩世到早第三纪这段时期是松科早期起源和其后进行分支演化的关键时期。球果因为是重要的雌性生殖器官，而在松科演化问题上具有显著的研究价值。对早白垩世到早第三纪这段时间所发现的松科球果的研究经因一个半世纪的逐渐演变，现在划分为三个属：松属（Pinus），假南洋杉型属（Pseudoaraucaria），和松型球果属（Pityostrobus）。本文对采自辽宁义县早白垩世沙海组火山灰形成的凝灰质砂砾岩层中的一批硅化松科球果进行了详细的解剖学研究。将它们划分到松型球果属Pityostrobus中，并在此属下另立了4个新种：Pityostrobus hsuii, P. liaoningensis, P. yixianensis, P. borealis,以及五个暂时不能确切定种的类型。这些种以及类型根据鳞片基部树脂道的分布方式，划分为两类：一类包括Pityostrobus hsuii, P. liaoningensis，为在鳞片基部树脂道分布在鳞片迹的远轴面类型，它俩之间的区别主要在苞鳞复合体基部鳞片迹的形状上的显著差异，以及鳞片中上部树脂道的分布方式上的不同;另一类包括P. yixianensis以及与其相类似的四个类型和P. borealis以及一个与其相类似的类型，两个种在鳞片基部，树脂道分布在鳞片迹近轴面和远轴面，它们之间的差别主要在苞鳞复合体基部远轴面树脂道分布方式的不同而划分。通过与那些已发现的出产于欧洲和北美洲的种类进行对比，发现这批标本的结构性状上所体现出的多样性与欧美的标本有显著的不同。因此，在早白垩世，东亚为松科早期起源演化的一个重要中心。