In vitro study of neuroendocrine regulation over the testicular development in mud crabs Scylla serrata

1 INTRODUCTION Ovarian development of female crustaceans is under the direct regulations of two neurohormones: gonad-inhibiting hormone (GIH) secreted by optic ganglia and gonad-stimulating hormone (GSH) se- creted by brain and thoracic ganglia (Fingerman…     

Exploration of Antifouling Potential of the Brown Algae Laminaria ‘Sanhai’

Seaweeds are one of the largest producers of biomass in the marine environment.It has been well known that marine algae,especially brown algae was a rich source of biogenic compounds with antifouling potential that could be ideal alternatives of tributyltin(TBT).In this paper,antifouling potential of the brown algae Laminaria ‘sanhai' was explored.Firstly,the dried alga was extracted and the antialgal and antilarval activities were investigated.The EC_(50) and LC_(50) values of crude extract of Laminaria ‘sanhai' against diatom(Skeletonema costatum) and barnacle larval(Chthamalus challengeri) were 8.9 μg mL~(-1) and 12.0 μg mL~(-1) respectively.Then,guided by bioassay,the bioactive substances were isolated by liquid-liquid extraction.The antialgal and antilarval activities of isolated fraction were improved with the EC_(50) value of 7.4 μg mL~(-1) against S.costatum and LC_(50) value of 9.7 μg m L~(-1) against C.challengeri larvae.Identification by IR,Q-TOFMS and GC-MS of the isolated bioactive substances revealed the abundance of fatty acids.These fatty acids,most with 16,18 or 20 carbon atoms,contained myristic,hexadecanoic,oleic,linolenic,arachidonic and eicosapentaenoic acids.The results indicated that both the crude extract and the isolated bioactive substances had high antialgal and antilarval activities with no highlighted cytotoxicity which made the brown algae Laminaria ‘sanhai' a promising source of the environmentally friendly antifoulants.     

Size-dependent responses of zooplankton to submerged macrophyte restoration in a subtropical shallow lake

To explore the size-dependent responses of zooplankton to submerged macrophyte restoration, we collected macrophyte, zooplankton and water quality samples seasonally from a subtropical shallow lake from 2010 to 2012. Special attention was given to changes in rotifers and crustaceans(cladocerans and copepods). The rotifers were grouped into three size classes(200 μm, 200 μm–400 μm, 400 μm) to explore their size-related responses to macrophyte restoration. The results showed that during the restoration, the annual mean biomass and macrophyte coverage increased significantly from 0 to 637 g/m~2 and 0 to 27%, respectively. In response, the density and biomass of crustaceans and the crustacean-to-rotifer ratio increased significantly, while the rotifer density decreased significantly. Moreover, rotifers showed significant sizedependent responses to macrophyte restoration. Specially, rotifers 400 μm were significantly suppressed, while those ≥400 μm were significantly encouraged. Overall, the population of large-sized zooplankton tended to boom, while that of small rotifers was inhibited during macrophyte restoration. Redundancy analysis(RDA) revealed positive correlations between macrophytes and crustaceans, rotifers and COD or Chl-a, but negative correlations between macrophytes and COD or Chl-a, and between crustaceans and Chl-a. Moreover, the results indicate that increased predation on phytoplankton by large-sized zooplankton might be an important mechanism for macrophyte restoration during development of aquatic ecosystems, and that this mechanism played a very important role in promoting the formation of a clear-water state in subtropical shallow lakes.     

Isolation of Prawn(Exopalaemon carinicauda) Lipopolysaccharide and β-1,3-Glucan Binding Protein Gene and Its Expression in Responding to Bacterial and Viral Infections

The pattern recognition proteins(PRPs) play a major role in immune response of crustacean to resist pathogens.In the present study,as one of PRPs,lipopolysaccharide and β-1,3-glucan binding protein(LGBP) gene in the ridge tail white prawn(Exopalaemon carinicauda)(Ec LGBP) was isolated.The full-length c DNA of Ec LGBP was 1338 bp,encoding a polypeptide of 366 amino acid residules.The deduced amino acid sequence of Ec LGBP shared high similarities with LGBP and BGBP from other crustaceans.Some conservative domains were predicted in Ec LGBP sequence.Ec LGBP constitutively expressed in most tissues at different levels,and the highest expression was observed in hepatopancreas.With infection time,the cumulative mortality increased gradually followed by the proliferation of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and white spot syndrome virus(WSSV).The expression of Ec LGBP in response to V.parahaemolyticus infection was up-regulated in hemocytes and hepatopancreas,and the up-regulation in hepatopancreas was earlier than that in hemocytes.Ec LGBP expression after WSSV infection increased at 3 h,then significantly decreased in both hemocytes and hepatopancreas.The results indicated that Ec LGBP was involved in the immune defense against bacterial and viral infections.     

Antialgal and Antilarval Activities of Bioactive Compounds Extracted from the Marine Dinoflagellate Amphidinium carterae

With the global ban on the application of organotin-based marine coatings by the International Maritime Organization, the development of environmentally friendly, low-toxic and nontoxic antifouling compounds for marine industries has become an urgent need. Marine microorganisms have been considered as a potential source of natural antifoulants. In this study, the antifouling potential of marine dinoflagellate Amphidinium carterae, the toxic and red-tide microalgae, was investigated. We performed a series of operations to extract the bioactive substances from Amphidinium carterae and tested their antialgal and antilarval activities. The crude extract of Amphidinium carterae showed significant antialgal activity and the EC50 value against Skeletonema costatum was 55.4 μg m L~(-1). After purification, the isolated bioactive substances(the organic extract C) exhibited much higher antialgal and antilarval activities with EC50 of 12.9 μg m L~(-1) against Skeletonema costatum and LC50 of 15.1 μg m L~(-1) against Amphibalanus amphitrite larvae. Subsequently, IR, Q-TOFMS, and GC-MS were utilized for the structural elucidation of the bioactive compounds, and a series of unsaturated and saturated 16- to 22-carbon fatty acids were detected. The data suggested the bioactive compounds isolated from Amphidinium carterae exhibited a significant inhibiting effect against the diatom Skeletonema costatum and Amphibalanus amphitrite larvae, and could be substitutes for persistent, toxic antifouling compounds.     

GROWTH PROMOTION OF RED SEA BREAM, PAGROSOMUS MAJOR, BY ORAL ADMINISTRATION OF RECOMBINANT EEL AND SALMON GROWTH HORMONE

Recombinant eel GH and yeast containing chinook salmon growth hormone (reGHand rcsGH) were incorporated into gelatin and sodium alginate (reGH-GS and rcsGH-GS) or polymer ma-trix (reGH-HP55) to protect the hormone from proteolytic cleavage in the stomach. The diets containin greGH-GS, rcsGH-GS, reGH-HP55 and free-reGH or uncoated-rcsGH were administered to red sea bream. Feeding of reGH-GS, reGH-HP55 and rcsGH-GS diets resulted in significant increases in body weight and fork length over those of controls. These results strongly suggest that gelatin and sodium algi-nate as well as polymer matrix protected the hormone from proteolytic enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract to allow the bioactive hormone to enter the circulation and eventually stimulato fish growth.     

Secondary Production of Macrobenthos in Mangrove Area of Tong’an Bay,China

Studies on secondary production lead to a better understanding of the functions of the macrobenthic ecosystem．Based on the macrobenthic data obtained at 6 sampling stations from April 2006 to January 2007,Brey's(1990)empirical formula was applied to calculate the secondary production of macrobenthos in the mangrove area of Tong'an Bay.The results showed that the mean annual secondary production of macrobenthos was 13.24gAFDW.m-2·a-1 The mean secondary production in the mangrove habitat was 12.22gAFDW．m-2·a-1,lower than that in the non-mangrove habitat,which was 15.29gAFDW．m-2·a-1.Two possible reasons existed for this difference.First,mollusk and crustacean,which contribute more to the secondary production,probably benefit from longer inundation period in the non-mangrove habitat.Second,the higher organic matter in the mangrove habitat results in hypoxia in the bottom sediment,which may decrease the secondary production.The annual mean production-to-biomass(P/B)ratio in Tong'an Bay was 1.17,with a ratio of 1.27 in the mangrove habitat and 0.96 in the non-mangrove habitat,which was coincident with the much higher density of Limnodriloides sp.and Corophium sp.in the mangrove habitat than in the non-mangrove habitat.The maximum secondary production and P/B ratio of macrobenthos both appeared at sampling station FL2 in April,2006(namely April-FL2)with values of 31.38gAFDW.m-2·a-1 and 2.20,respectively.The macrobenthic secondary production in Tong'an Bay is lower than those in other intertidal studies except that in Haitan Strait,the reason being the different sediment properties.The P/B ratio in Tong'an Bay was the lowest due to the high proportion of crustaceans in the macrobenthic community．     

Geological features and genesis of Gaotaigou borate deposit, Jilin, China

Gaotaigou borate deposit in Ji＇an area, southeastern Jilin, is located in the easten end of Liaoning-Jilin （Liaoji） Proterozoic paleo-rift, which is a medium-sized deposit and makes up 67% of the total borate reserves in Jilin Province. The original borate ore bodies were formed by sedimentary exhalative process in Paleoproterozoic, but were activated and enriched by later metamorphism. In late stage of metamorphism, hydrothermal fluid of metamorphic origin made wallrocks be altered and the borate ore bodies be reformed. Ore bodies are strictly controlled by strata and their lithologies. In addition, the shape and spatial distribution of ore bodies are also defined by the Gaotaigou syncline. Combined with the ore-controlling factors and mineralizing features, it has been proposed that Gaotaigou borate deposit is a metamorphosed and hydrothermally altered sedimentary exhalative deposit.     

Geological features and genesis of Gaotaigou borate deposit, Jilin, China

Gaotaigou borate deposit in Ji'an area, southeastern Jilin, is located in the easten end of Liaoning-Jilin (Liaoji) Proterozoic paleo-rift, which is a medium-sized deposit and makes up 67% of the total borate reserves in Jilin Province. The original borate ore bodies were formed by sedimentary exhalative process in Paleoproterozoic, but were activated and enriched by later metamorphism. In late stage of metamorphistn, hydrothermal fluid of metamorphic origin made wallrocks be altered and the borate ore bodies be reformed. Ore bodies are strictly controlled by strata and their lithologies. In addition, the shape and spatial distribution of ore bodies are also defined by the Gaotaigou syncline. Combined with the ore-controlling factors and mineralizing features, it has been proposed that Gaotaigou borate deposit is a metamorphosed and hydrothermally altered sedimentary exhalative deposit.     

Comparative Study on the AUergenicity of DifferentLitopenaeus vannamei Extract Solutions

Allergen extracts are widely used for allergy diagnosis and treatment. The application of shrimp extract is hampered dueto the low protein concentration and the inconsistent allergenicity. Extracting solutions are considered to be the primary limitingfactor of protein extraction from crustaceans. This study aimed to select an optimal solution for shrimp protein extraction by com-paring the allergenicity of different shrimp extracts. The effect of 7 existing or modified extracting solutions were evaluated, includ-ing the glycerol-NaC1 solution, the glycerol Cocaine＇s solution, the buffered saline solution, the Cocaine＇s solution, the Glucoseleaching solution, 1 mol L-1 KC1 solution, and 0.01 mol L-1 phosphate buffered saline solution with and without dithiothreitolor （DTT）.The quantitative （protein concentration） and qualitative parameters （SDS-PAGE protein patterns and immuno-reactivity） were deter-mined using the sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblottingassay. Results showed that the 1 molL-1 KC1 solution with DTT was optimal for shrimp protein extraction, which yielded high con-centrafion and allergenicity in the protein extract, including major and minor allergens. The 1 tool L-l KC1 solution with DDT is pro-posed for preparation of shrimp extract and associated allergy diagnosis, as well as potential applications for other crustaceans.     

MOLAR RATIOS OF C, N, P OF PARTICULATE MATTER AND THEIR VERTICAL FLUXES IN THE YELLOW SEA

The vertical fluxes and molar ratios of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus of suspended particulate matter in the Yellow Sea were studied based on the analysis of suspended particulate matter,sediments and sinking particles obtained by use of moored sediment traps. The POC ： PON ratios indicate that most of the particulate organic matter in the Yellow Sea water column comes from marine life rather than the continent. The vertical fluxes of SPM, POC, PON and POP in the Yellow Sea are much higher than those in other seas over the world, and present a typical pattern in shallow epicontinental seas. The estimated residence time of the bioactive elements showed that the speed of the biogeochemical process of materials in the Yellow Sea is much shorter than that in the open ocean as there was high primary productivity in this region.     

Historical Changes and Characteristics of Rehabilitation, Management and Utilization of Forest Resources in South Korea

This study analyzed the causes of forest devastation, the characteristics of forest rehabilitation process, and the success factors of reforestation. And it reviewed the management of rehabilitated forest resources and identified the income sources of mountain villages in South Korea. The devastation of forest starting from the early twentieth century was continued to the 1950＇s. The main causes of deforestation were the illegal cutting of trees for fuel and the slash-and-burning agriculture in forest. The success factors of reforestation were the decrease in the dependence on forest of fuel source, strict administration system and national participation. Sustainable forest management could be made possible through the practical use of social issues like public work project for prevention of landslide damages caused by the thinned logs left in the forest. Also it could be possible by making people realize that the public benefit was obtained from forest and the income sources of mountain villages were supplemented by non-timber forest products and tourism. Food and Agriculture Organization indicated Korea as the country that forestation was succeeded in a very short period. Korea seems to be not ordinary because economic growth was accomplished with rehabilitating natural environment. Korean forestation can become a good prototype of combining environmental rehabilitation and economic development.     

Hydrothermal evolution and source of metallogenic materials of Beiya Au polymetallic deposit,western Yunnan,China

The Beiya porphyry-skarn gold-polymetallic deposit is one of the largest gold deposits in China and it also contains significant amounts of silver and base metals.The ore-bearing monzonitic granite porphyry occurs as a stock,of which the skarn type gold-copper-iron ore bodies are controlled by the contact zone between alkali-rich monzonitic granite porphyry and the limestone,and the gold-silver polymetallic mineralization is controlled by interlayer structure.Alteration and mineralization occur around the intrusion and exterior of monzonitic granite porphyry.Ore mineral formation sequence is as follows:skarn minerals→magnetite→pyrite→chalcopyrite/bornite+pyrite+gold→pyrite+galena+gold(silver).Petrographic studies of fluid inclusions indicate that the following types of inclusions exist in the pre-mineralization quartz-pyrite stage:gas-liquid two-phase inclusions(L-type),three-phase inclusions with daughter minerals(D-type)and gas-rich inclusions(V-type).The colorless transparent quartz in the main gold-chalcopyrite-pyrite stage mainly consists of L-type and V-type inclusions,whereas the inclusions in the late gold-silver-galena stage are mainly L-type.The evolution of ore-forming fluids shows a trend from high temperature,high salinity to medium-low temperature and low salinity.Medium-low density fluids play a dominant role in mineral component migration and transportation.Fluid cooling and boiling are the main mechanisms of gold-copper precipitation,while the involvement of atmospheric water and pH reduction are the main mechanisms of gold-silver polymetallic precipitation.The fluids in the quartz-pyrite stage before mineralization and the main gold-chalcopyrite-pyrite stage are dominated by magmatic water,while in the gold-silver-galena stage the fluids are dominated by atmospheric water.Isotope tracers show that S and Pb are mainly derived from monzonitic granite porphyry,not from limestone of the Beiya Formation.     

Interaction of Waves, Surface Currents, and Turbulence： the Application of Surface-Following Coordinate Systems

Surface waves comprise an important aspect of the interaction between the atmosphere and the ocean, so a dynamically consistent framework for modelling atmosphere-ocean interaction must take account of surface waves, either implicitly or explicitly. In order to calculate the effect of wind forcing on waves and currents, and vice versa, it is necessary to employ a consistent formula- tion of the energy and momentum balance within the airflow, wave field, and water column. It is very advantageous to apply sur- face-following coordinate systems, whereby the steep gradients in mean flow properties near the air-water interface in the cross-interface direction may be resolved over distances which are much smaller than the height of the waves themselves. We may account for the waves explicitly by employing a numerical spectral wave model, and applying a suitable theory of wave–mean flow interaction. If the mean flow is small compared with the wave phase speed, perturbation expansions of the hydrodynamic equations in a Lagrangian or generalized Lagrangian mean framework are useful: for stronger flows, such as for wind blowing over waves, the presence of critical levels where the mean flow velocity is equal to the wave phase speed necessitates the application of more general types of surface-following coordinate system. The interaction of the flow of air and water and associated differences in temperature and the concentration of various substances (such as gas species) gives rise to a complex boundary-layer structure at a wide range of vertical scales, from the sub-millimetre scales of gaseous diffusion, to several tens of metres for the turbulent Ekman layer. The bal- ance of momentum, heat, and mass is also affected significantly by breaking waves, which act to increase the effective area of the surface for mass transfer, and increase turbulent diffusive fluxes via the conversion of wave energy to turbulent kinetic energy.     

Geological structure, composition of ores and age of the Bamsk gold deposit, Amur region, Russia

The Bamsk gold-ore deposit is located in the Amur region, the Far East of Russia. It is confined to the Early Cretaceous volcanicoplutonic uplift of central type, located in the Stanov folded-clumpy Pre-Cambrian system. The deposit is presented by a series of gold-bearing quartz and carbonate-quartz vein-stringer zones. They are confined to the super-intrusive zone of the Nevachansk subvolcanic intrusion of sienite-porphyric composition. The mineralization is being controlled by zone of fractures developed in the autochthone of the Bamsk fault. Quartz, carbonates and sericite prevail in the composition of ores. The quantity of ore minerals doesn‘t exceed 1% ～ 5%. Pyrite, chalcopyrite, galena and native gold are widely spread, Sheelite, gold and silver tellurides, sulphobismuthites, acanthite, sphalerite and cinnabar are less developed. Four stages of mineralization have been distinguished. Gold-sulphide-sulphosalt ore with tellurides of gold and silver is productive for gold. The following set of elements is typomorphic for the ores of the deposit: Au, Ag, Cu, Bi, Mo, Pb and Sb (W1, Pb1, Mo) -Cu- (Ag, Bi, Sb, Mn, W2,, Pb2) form the vertical series of zoning. Rocks, enclosing the mineralization are exposed to the processes of listvenitization-beresitization. The processes of gumbeization and argillization are less manifested. The age of the gold mineralization, determined by Rb-Sr method on ore-accompanying minerals, is 130.6 Ma.     

Tectonic Characteristics and Evolution of Bohai Bay Basin,China

Synthetical analyzing the deep geophysical data within Bohai bay basin the authors detect the deep crustal struc-ture presenting high geothermal flux, thinned crust and arched Moho discontinuity, and the basin basement belongs to rigid continental crust. The development of the basin was controlled by two - dimensional faults in NNE and NWW directions. The tectonic units of the basin can be subdivided into three structural divisions: the east, middle and west division. The basin is considered as a continental rift. The tectonic background and regional right條ateral stress field during the late Cretaceous and Paleogene were a compound result of the Kula Plate W-directional subducting under Eurasia Continental Plate in 80-74Ma and the Philippine sea Plate W-directional subducting under the Eurasia Continental Plate since 60Ma, the long -rang effect of the India Continental Plate wedging into the Eurasia Continental Plate and of the Siberia Plate SE梔irectional relatively moving.     

Classification and Gradation of Cultivated Land Quality in Bishan County of Chongqing, China

The conflicts among food security, economic development and ecological protection are the “sticking point” of undeveloped southwestern mountainous areas of China. The objectives of this study are to identify appropriate inte- grated indicators influencing the classification and gradation of cultivated land quality in the southwestern mountainous area of China based on semi-structure interview, and to promote the monitoring of cultivated land quality in this region. Taking Bishan County of Chongqing as a study case, the integrated indicators involve the productivity, protection, ac- ceptability, and stability of cultivated land. The integrated indicators accord with the characteristics of land resources and human preference in southwestern mountainous area of China. In different agricultural zones, we emphasize different indicators, such as emphasizing productivity, stabilization and acceptability in low hilly and plain agricultural integrative zone (LHP-AIZ), protection, productivity and stability in low mountain and hill agro-forestry ecological zone (LMH-AEZ), and acceptability in plain outskirts integrative agricultural zone (PO-IAZ), respectively. The pronounced difference of classification and gradation of cultivated land, regardless of inter-region or intra-region, is observed, with the reducible rank from PO-IAZ, LHP-AIZ to LMH-AEZ. Research results accord with the characteristics of assets management and intensive utilization of cultivated land resources in the southwestern mountainous area of China. Semi-structure interview adequately presents the principal agent of farmers in agricultural land use and rural land market. This method is very effective and feasible to obtain data of the quality of cultivated land in the southwestern mountainous area of China.     

Evolution of Hydrodynamic Field, Oil-Gas Migration and Accumulation in Songliao Basin, China

The oil-gas migration and accumulation in the Songliao Basin were analyzed in the view of fluid dynamics by the authors. The key point of fluid dynamics is hydrodynamics. Oil-gas migration and accumulation are related closely with formation and evolution of hydrodynamic field. Based on abundant data, initial formation pressure and other parameters, such as water head were studied. They can be used to understand the present distribution of hydrodynamic field and its hydrochemical features. Generally, the hydrodynamic field in the basin is obviously asymmetrical. In its north and east part, there are the areas of centripetal flow caused by topographic relief when meteoric water permeate downwards. Its south part is an evaporation-concentration area. The central depression is an area of centrifugal flow driven by sediment compaction and its cross-formational flow area. Only at the basin margin and in the local uplifted and denudated area are the meteoric water permeating downwards areas. The centrifugal flow driven by sediment compaction is the main dynamic factor that induces oil-gas migration and accumulation and its formation period corresponding to the main stage of oil-gas migration and accumulation. Moreover, the evolution of hydrodynamic field has the cyclic property, which results in phased oil-gas migration by stages, and further dominates the terraced annular oil and gas distribution, concentric with their corresponding sags.     

Distribution and ultrastructure of pigment cells in the skins of normal and albino adult turbot, Scophthalmus Maximus

The distribution and ultrastructure of pigment cells in skins of normal and albino adult turbots were examined with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Three types of pigment cells of melanophore, iridophore and xanthophore have been recognized in adult turbot skins. The skin color depends mainly on the amount and distribution of melanophore and iridophore, as xanthophore is quite rare. No pigment cells can be found in the epidermis of the skins. In the pigmented ocular skin of the turbot, melanophore and iridophore are usually co-localized in the dermis. This is quite different from the distribution in larvae skin. In albino and white blind skins of adult turbots, however, only iridophore monolayer still exists, while the melanophore monolayer disappears. This cytological evidence explains why the albino adult turbot, unlike its larvae, could never resume its body color no matter what environmental and nutritional conditions were provided. Endocytosis is quite active in the cellular membrane of the iridophore. This might be related to the formation of reflective platelet and stability of the iridophore.