Causes of rockfalls in AI-Huwayshah area, Yemen

According to topography of Yemen, most areas and villages are located at obligated crest, toe of mountain and under cliffs. Therefore Al-Huwayshah consisting of Tawilah sandstone group is characterized by steep slope reach to 90℃ in some areas. This area is affected by strong tectonic movements and faults that occurred during the geological epochs. This effect enhances to find out fractures and joints as well as the rocks become brittle and ready to slide depending on the position of area. And there are some fractures and joints on the surface of the areas due to tectonic movement associated with opening the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The rainfalls, fractures, joints, earthquakes, gravity, vegetations, temperatures and human activities play a big role in the processes of rockfalls and landslides in this area. All those factors are considered as the basic causes and catalyzed factors for occurrence of rockfall in the studide area. In addition, the authors carried out laboratory test for many rock samples to get the physical properties of the rocks.     

Petrogenesis and tectonic setting of granite porphyry in Keyouzhongqi area,Inner Mongolia

The authors studied the geochemistry, zircon U-Pb ages, Hf isotope of the granite porphyry and its petrogenesis and tectonic setting in the studied area. The zircon U-Pb dating indicates the formation of the granite porphyry is in Early Cretaceous （ 125.1 ± 1.5 Ma）. The granite porphyry has high-SiO2 and alkali-rich features, which belongs to high-K talc-alkaline series rocks （ A/CNK = 0. 95%-1. 25% ）. The analyses of trace elements show the characteristics of a swallow-shaped REE distribution pattern with enrichment in LREEs and most of LILEs and HFSEs, depletion in Ba, Sr, Nb, P and Ti, and especially strong depletion in Eu, which indicates the granite porphyry belongs to the aluminous A-type granite. Their εHf（t） range from 5.94 to 8.80 with Hf two-stage model ages （TDM2 ） of 620 Ma to 803 Ma. Combining with the regional tectonic background, we conclude that the source of the rocks is the new crust materials accreted from depleted mantle in Neoproterozoic and is the product of partial melting of middle and lower crustal rocks, which may be suffered from the dual impact of the subduction of the Palaeo-Pacific Ocean and the closure of the Mongol-Okhotsk Ocean.     

Application of artificial slope stability evaluation of improved response surface method in Donggang Power Plant

The study of artificial slope stability has been a key item of geological engineering projects. Though more evaluation methods are available, result of stability evaluation simulation does not explain the actual problem owing to the diversified geological engineering factors and complexity. The author made a detailed study based on surveys of large amount of geological engineering research on Donggang Power Plant slope project, discussed the comprehensive factors influencing the project, and gave analytical calculation and evaluation to the improved response surface of the slope project. The study result shows that the slope is stable, which can provide scientific basis for designing the slope.     

Acoustic numerical simulation for VTI media

The generality to anisotropy of the earth media can be proved by a lot of research and observation, which is shown by the elastic parameters of the seismic wave changes with the direction of propagation. Actually, computational efficiency is very low, when simulating on the elastic anisotropie media, for the complicated and multi-parameters computation, which becomes a disadvantage to the succeeding migration and imaging pro-cedure. Using acoustic approximation in the VT[ media is an advisable simplification for the elastic wave simu-lation in that setting S-velocity into zero can greatly reduce the computational amount as well as get the same simulation effect. The authors get an acoustic approximation formula, then gain an anisotropic wave equation with 2-order in time and 4-order in space by inverse Fourier transformation, and dispel with the dispersion by adopting the high order finite difference operator in space and remove the edge reflection using the absorption attenuation boundary. Finally, the feasibility and effectiveness of this algorithm can be proved by the snaps and synthetic records.     

Several boundary identification methods of gravity data and application in Vientiane of Laos area

The authors studied the potential field boundary identification of the new technology in order to find out the possible fractures or contact zones using the following methods such as tilt derivative, horizontal derivative of tilt derivative, normalized standard deviation and normalized differential method. Combined with Euler deconvolution and small subdomain filtering, the actual data processing results show that these methods are all a- ble to identify wider range extending fractures and obtain abundant geological information. The horizontal derivative of tilt derivative and normalized differential method have a better resolution for the small cutting fractures and lacunae in the studied area. They provide a reliable basis for study of the cutting relationship between fractures.     

Sedimentary environment of Middle Permian Zhesi Formation in Solon area of Inner Mongolia

Through a sampling analysis of trace elements and REE in the section of Middle Permian Zhesi For- mation in Solon area of Inner Mongolia, it is found that the overall sandstone and mudstone samples are charac- terized by LREE-enrichment. By analysis of the discriminant index of the sedimentary environment, the tectonic setting of Zhesi Formation is determined to be a continental island arc environment. Meanwhile, according to the sedimentary structure and lithology combination, Zhesi Formation is divided into the neritic-bathyal reten- tion-reduction environment as well as the delta front and prodelta sedimentary systems.     

Holocene Temperature Records from the East China Sea Mud Area Southwest of the Cheju Island Reconstructed by the U^K_37 and TEX86 Paleothermometers

As an important marginal sea under the influences of both the Changjiang River and the Kuroshio, the East China Sea （ECS） environment is sensitive to both continental and oceanic forcing. Paleoenvironmental records are essential for understanding the long-term environmental evolution of the ECS and adjacent areas. However, paleo-temperature records from the ECS shelf are currently very limited. In this study, the U^K_37 and TEX86 paleothermometers were used to reconstruct surface and subsurface temperature changes of the mud area southwest of the Cheju Island （Site F10B） in the ECS during the Holocene. The results indicate that temperature changes of F 10B during the early Holocene （11.6-6.2 kyr） are associated with global climate change. During the period of 6.2-2.5 kyr, the similar variability trends of smoothing average of AT （the difference between surface and subsurface temperature） of Site F10B and the strength of the Kuroshio suggest that the Kuroshio influence on the site started around 6.2kyr when the Kuroshio entered the Yellow Sea and continued to 2.5 kyr. During the late Holocene （2.5-1.45 kyr）, apparent decreases of U^K_37 sea surface temperature （SST） and AT imply that the direct influence of the Kuroshio was reduced while cold eddy induced by the Kuroshio gradually controlled hydrological conditions of this region around 2.5 kyr.     

Immunotoxicity Effect of Benzo[α]Pyrene on Scallop Chlamys f arreri

The toxic effects of benzo[α]pyrene （B[α]P） at different concentrations （0.1, 0.5, 1, 2.5 and 7.5 μgL^-1） on scallop （Chlamys farreri） immune system were studied. The results showed that B[α]P had significant toxic effects on the haemocyte counts, neutral red uptake, phagocytosis, bacteriolytic and antibacterial activity （P〈0.05）, while the seawater control and acetone control had no significant differences. The haemocyte counts, neutral red uptake, phagocytosis and bacteriolytic activity in all B[α]P treatment groups as well as antibacterial activity in groups of 0.5, 1, 2.5 and 7.5 μgL^-1·B[α]P decreased significantly （P〈0.05）. Some of these indices tended to be stable on the sixth day and others on the ninth day, and the indices showed clear time- and concentration-response to B[α]E Bactenolytic activity in 0.1 μgL^-1 B[α]P treatment group and antibacterial activity in 0.1 ggLl and 0.5 μgL^-1 B[α]P treatment groups increased at the beginning of exposure and reached their peaks on day 1 and day 6, respectively. Following that, both activities decreased gradually and became stable after day 9. When all the indices reached stability, they were significantly lower than those in control group （P〈0.05）, except for antibacterial activity in 0.1 μgLl B[α]P treatment group （P〉0.05）. Thus, B[α]P has evident toxic effects on scallop immune system, which supports the view that a relationship exists between pollution and lmmunomodulation in aquatic organisms.     

Responses to two-way selection on growth in mass-spawned F1 progeny of Argopecten irradians concentricus (Say)

A bstract In the present study,the effect of one-generation divergent selection on the growth and survival of the bay scallop(Argopecten irradians concentricus)was examined to evaluate the effi cacy of a selection program currently being carried out in Beibu Bay in the South China Sea.A total of 146 adult scallops were randomly selected from the same cultured population of A.i.concentricus,and divided into two groups in shell length(anterior-posterior measurement): large(4.91–6.02 cm,n=74)and small(3.31–4.18 cm,n=72).At the same time,a control group was also randomly sampled(4.21–4.88 cm,n=80).Mass-spawned F 1 progenies from the three size groups were obtained and reared under identical conditions at all growth phases.The effects of two-way(or upward-downward)selection on fertilization rate,hatching rate,survival rate,daily growth in shell length and body weight were assessed in the three size groups.Results show that signifi cant differences(P0.01)were found in hatching rate,survival rate and daily growth of F 1 progenies,but not in fertilization rate(P0.05),among the three groups.The hatching rate,survival rate and daily growth of the progeny of large-sized parents were greater than those of the control group(P0.05),which in turn were larger than those of small-sized group(P0.05).Responses to selection by shell length and body weight were 0.32±0.04 cm and 2.18±0.05 g,respectively,for the upward selection,and-0.14±0.03 cm and-2.77±0.06 g,respectively,for the downward selection.The realized heritability estimates of shell length and body weight were 0.38±0.06 cm and 0.22±0.07 g for the upward selection,and 0.24±0.06 cm and 0.37±0.09 g for the downward selection,respectively.The change in growth by bidirectional selection suggests that high genetic variation may be present in the cultured bay scallop population in China.     

Observed water current and transport through Qiongzhou Strait during August 2010

The velocity structure of the residual current across an entire section of the Qiongzhou Strait(QS) in summer is presented for the fi rst time. Shipboard Acoustic Doppler Current Profi le measurements, from the mid-region of the QS(110.18°E), were collected on 1–4 August 2010. The diurnal tidal currents had their maximum amplitudes between 4.24 and 20.24 m. Their amplitude along the major axis ranged from approximately 0.55 m/s in the middle part of the strait(20.15°N) to 0.84 m/s in the north part of the strait(20.20°N). Both anticlockwise and clockwise tidal current rotations exist in the QS. During the observation period(neap tide), a signifi cant westward residual current occupied almost the entire study section. Two velocity cores of westward current were observed at the northern part and near the deepest trough, although an eastward current appeared in the middle part of the transect. The deepest core was located near 62 m at 20.13°N, with a maximum velocity of-0.34 m/s. The shallower core was located at approximately 16 m at 20.20°N, with a maximum velocity of-0.33 m/s. The estimated total volume of water transported through the QS was-0.16 Sv. This value is an important boundary condition, applicable to numerical models studying coastal ocean circulation in the northwestern South China Sea.     

Remote forcing of Indian Ocean warming on Northwest Pacific during E1 Nino decaying years： a FOAM model approach

This paper attempts to analyze in detail the remote influence of the Indian Ocean Basin warming on the Northwest Pacific （NWP） during the year of decaying E1 Nifio. Observation data and the Fast Ocean- Atmosphere coupled Model 1.5 were used to investigate the triggering conditions under which the remote influence is formed between the positive sea surface temperature （SST） anomaly in the North Indian Ocean and the Anomalous Northwest Pacific anticyclone （ANWPA）. Our research show that it is only when there is a contributory background wind field over the Indian Ocean, i,e., when the Indian Summer Monsoon （ISM） reaches its peak, that the warmer SST anomaly in the North Indian Ocean incites significant easterly wind anomalies in the lower atmosphere of the Indo-West tropical Pacific. This then produces the remote influence on the ANWPA. Therefore, the SST anomaly in the North Indian Ocean might interfere with the prediction of the East Asia Summer Monsoon in the year of decaying E1 Nifio. Both the sustaining effect of local negative SST anomalies in the NWP, and the remote effect of positive SST anomalies in the North Indian Ocean on the ANWPA, should be considered in further research.     

Promotive Effects ofAlginate-Derived Oligosaccharides on the Inducing Drought Resistance of Tomato

In order to determine the role of alginate-derived oligosaccharides （ADO） in drought stress resistance of tomato （Lycopersicon esculentum Miller） seedlings, the leaves were exposed to different concentrations of ADO （0.05%, 0.10%, 0.20%, 0.30% and 0.50%） after drought stress was simulated by exposing the roots to 0.6molL^-1 PEG-6000 solution for 6h. Changes in biomass, electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde （MDA）, free proline, total soluble sugars （TSS） and abscisic acid （ABA）, the enzyme activities of catalase （CAT）, superoxide dismutase （SOD）, peroxidase （POD） and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase （PAL） were measured to investigate the effects of ADO treatment. The results showed that the treatment with an ADO concentration of 0.20% exhibited the highest performance of drought stress resistance in the tomato seedlings by decreasing the electrolyte leakage and the concentration of MDA, increasing the contents of free proline, TSS and ABA, and increasing the activities of CAT, SOD, POD and PAL after treatment with ADO. It is suggested that changes in electrolyte leakage, MDA, osmotic solutes, ABA, anti-oxidative enzyme and PAL activities were responsible for the increased drought stress resistance in tomato seedlings. To our best knowledge, this is the first report of the effect of ADO treatment on enhancing the drought stress resistance of tomato seedlings.     

Response of Microbial Community to Petroleum Stress and Phosphate Dosage in Sediments of Jiaozhou Bay,China

The dynamic microcosms were used to evaluate the effect of oil spills on microbial ecological system in marine sedi- ment and the enhancement of nutrient on the oil removal. The function and structure of microbial community caused by the oil pollu-tion and phosphate dosage were simultaneously monitored by dehydrogenase activity assay and PCR-denaturing gradient gel elec- trophoresis （DGGE） techniques. The results indicated that the amount of total bacteria in all dynamic microcosms declined rapidly with incubation time. The number of petroleum-degrading bacteria and the activity of sediment dehydrogenase were gradually en-hanced by petroleum in the oil-treated microcosms, while they both showed no obvious response to phosphate dosage. In comparison, phosphate spiked heterotrophic bacteria and they showed a significant increase in amount. DGGE profiles indicated that petroleum dosage greatly changed community structure, and the bacteria belonged to class Deltaproteobacteria, and phyla Bacteroidetes and Chlorobi were enriched. This study demonstrated that petroleum input greatly impacted the microbial community structure and con- sequently the marine sediment petroleum-degrading activity was enhanced. Phosphate dosage would multiply heterotrophic bacteria but not significantly enhance the petroleum degradation.     

A Rapid Assessment of Scleractinian and Non-Scleractinian Coral Growth Forms Along the Saudi Arabian Coast,Red Sea

In this study we assessed the current status of coral reefs along the Saudi Arabian coast of the Red Sea. Among the three growth forms of Acroporid corals, the branching forms were found to dominate in the Farassan Islands （44.55%±11.10% cover） fol-lowed by tabular forms in the Doga Islands （ranging between 18%±6.47% and 18.30%±9.47% cover）. Digitate forms were rarely found along the coast except at Maqna. Among the five growth forms of non-Acroporid corals, we observed maximum cover of branching forms in the Yanbu offshore area （58.89%±15.11% cover） followed by the Jeddah coast （24.76%±14.04% cover）. The Millepora spp., a non-Scleractinian coral, was abundant at all the near-shore sites, such as Jeddah （10.70%±8.21%） and A1-Wajh （9.81%±6.69%）. The live coral cover （including both Scleractinian and non-Scleractinian corals） of Saudi Red Sea coast was seen to be higher in the north and gradually decrease towards the south. Principal Component analysis showed that the contribution of Acro- porid corals was greater in the southern region than in the northem and middle regions, but vice-versa in the case of non-Acroporid corals. Bray-Curtis cluster analysis categorized all the study sites into two major clusters with 60% similarity. Among them, one cluster-forming sites from Maqna to Masturah （Northem region） and the second one comprised the middle and southem regions （Jeddah to Farassan Islands）, and one outlier Rabigh.     

Inter-annual variation of streamflow,precipitation and evaporation in a small humid watershed (Chengcun Basin,China)

For sustainable water resource management,it is important to determine the relationship between streamfl ow and other variables that infl uence availability of water resources.However,many catchments do not have suffi cient data to allow for a more detailed study of these relationships.We faced a similar challenge in the Chengcun Basin(limited historical data: from 1986–1999); and therefore we used a new approach to overcome this.We found that,using nonparametric trend methods in conjunction with the climate elasticity analyses and the 2D visualization of hydrologic data,it is possible to assess the relationships between streamfl ow and other hydro-climatic variables.In the past,streamfl ow trends in the basin were more correlated with precipitation than with potential evapotranspiration(PET).In addition,there is a gradual shift in the hydrological regime of the catchment,which may affect the occurrence of available water resources and activities that depend on them.In addition,based on our climate sensitivity analyses,the streamfl ow is dependent and more sensitive to variations in precipitation than to PET(δQ=0.79δP+0.42δE; precipitation elasticity,ε P=1.32; PET elasticity,ε E=-2.10).Therefore pending more detailed studies,the use of our approach will provide a rapid means to assess the variation of water resources(streamfl ow)in a watershed.In the future,we hope to carry out related research in other watersheds and also perform a more detailed studies to improve upon the results of this study.     

Optimization of Preparative Separation and Purification of Total PolyphenoJs from Sargassum tenerrimum by Column Chromatography

Polyphenols from the ethanol extracts of Sargassum tenerrimum （ST） with potent antiallergic effects were studied to optimize separation process through column chromatography. The adsorption and desorption characteristics of three widely used adsorbents： macroporous resin, silica gel, and polyvinylpolypyrrolidone （PVPP）, were critically evaluated respectively and studied for the optimization of preparative separation of polyphenols. Static operations on these adsorbents showed that macroporous resin had the best adsorption and desorption capability among the three adsorbents. Dynamic adsorption and desorption with macroporous resin packed column were also conducted to optimize the parameters such as： with the optimal values shown in brackets, the concen- tration of extract solution （4 times diluted）, pH value （6-7）, adsorption speed （3BVh-1, bed volumes/per hour）, concentration of ethanol （80%）, elution speed （3 BV ht） and elution volume （7 BV）. The chromatographic process so optimized gave a purity of 62.43% from the crude polyphenols, providing a promising basis for large scale preparation of bioactive polyphenols upon further scaling up tests.     

Optimization of Stocking Density for the Sea Cucumber,Apostichopusjaponicus Selenka,Under Feed-Supplement and Non-Feed-Supplement Regimes in Pond Culture

Optimal stocking densities were investigated for the sea cucumber Apostichopusjaponicus Selenka under feed-supplement and non-feed-supplement regimes in net enclosures for 333 d. Substantial weight loss occurred during the aestivation phase （AE）. Decreased growth rates were also observed during the winter phase （WT）. In contrast, sea cucumbers showed rapid growth during the spring （SP） and autumn （AU） phases. Feeding regimes considerably influenced the growtb performance, i.e., sea cucumbers grew faster under feed-supplement regime than under non-feed-supplement regime （P 〈 0.05）. The average survival rates of sea cucumbers under feed-supplement regime were higher than those under non-feed-supplement regime for both the autumn phase and spring phase, but the differences were only significant for the latter phase （P〈 0.05）. The fitted B-N curves showed that the optimal stocking densities, in terms of net production, were 22.3 ind. m^-2 for feed-supplement regime and 14.1 ind. m^-2 for non-feed-supplement regime.     

Nitrogen and Phosphorus Budget of a Polyculture System of Sea Cucumber （Apostichopus japonicus）, Jellyfish （Rhopilema esculenta） and Shrimp （Fenneropenaeus chinensis）

The nitrogen(N) and phosphorus(P) budget and the ecological efficiency of a polyculture system of sea cucumber(Apostichopus japonicus), jellyfish(Rhopilema esculenta) and shrimp(Fenneropenaeus chinensis) were studied in a cofferdam, 120.2 ha in size. The nutrients were supplied by spring tide inflow. In total, 139600 kg N yr-1 and 9730 kg P yr-1 input to the system; while 118900 kg N yr-1 and 2840 kg P yr-1 outflowed from the system concurrently, thus the outflow was 85.7%(N) and 29.2%(P) of inflow. The production of N and P was 889.5 kg yr-1 and 49.28 kg yr-1(sea cucumber) and 204 kg yr-1 and 18.03 kg yr-1(jellyfish and shrimp), respectively. The utilization rate of N and P by polycultured animals was 7.8‰ and 6.9‰, respectively, 21.9% and 38% higher than that of monocultured sea cucumber. Our results indicated that the polyculture system was an efficient culture system of animals and a remediation system of coastal environment as well; it scavenged 14.3% and 70.8% of N and P, respectively. Such an ecological efficiency may be improved further by increasing either the stocking density or the size of sea cucumber or both.     

Pyropia yezoensis can utilize CO2 in the air during moderate dehydration

Pyropia yezoensis,an intertidal seaweed,experiences regular dehydration and rehydration with the tides.In this study,the responses of P.yezoensis to dehydration and rehydration under high and low CO 2 concentrations((600–700)×10-6 and(40–80)×10-6,named Group I and Group II respectively)were investigated.The thalli of Group I had a signifi cantly higher effective photosystem II quantum yield than the thalli of Group II at 71% absolute water content(AWC).There was little difference between thalli morphology,total Rubisco activity and total protein content at 100% and 71% AWC,which might be the basis for the normal performance of photosynthesis during moderate dehydration.A higher effective photosystem I quantum yield was observed in the thalli subjected to a low CO 2 concentration during moderate dehydration,which might be caused by the enhancement of cyclic electron fl ow.These results suggested that P.yezoensis can directly utilize CO 2 in ambient air during moderate dehydration.     

Adsorption of Heavy Metal Ions, Dyes and Proteins by Chitosan Composites and Derivatives- A Review

Chitosan composites and derivatives have gained wide attentions as effective biosorbents due to their low costs and high contents of amino and hydroxyl functional groups. They have showed significant potentials of removing metal ions, dyes and pro- teins from various media. Chemical modifications that lead to the formation of the chitosan derivatives and chitosan composites have been extensively studied and widely reported in literatures. The aims of this review were to summarize the important information of the bioactivities of chitosan, highlight the various preparation methods of chitosan-based active biosorbents, and outline its potential applications in the adsorption of heavy metal ions, dyes and proteins from wastewater and aqueous solutions.