Zinc concentration effect at the organismal,cellular and subcellular levels in the eastern oyster

The purpose of this research was to demonstrate a concentration effect of zinc exposure at organismal, cellular and sub-cellular levels in the eastern oyster and to find associated protein expression signatures (PES) for each concentration of zinc. Oysters were exposed to six concentrations of zinc for 48 h in a controlled environment. At the organismal level, fecal material was observed as a measure of physiological health during metal exposures. At the cellular level, lysosomal destabilization was measured using hemolymph. This cellular response was significant only at the highest concentration, when the fecal index was lowest. Protein responses were monitored in the oyster following exposure to zinc. Gill tissue was excised and homogenized, and then analyzed using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) and digital image analysis. Protein expression signatures were found to be specific to each concentration. The protein responses were linked to the other biological parameters measured, each of which followed a concentration gradient of zinc.     

The effect of copper pollution on mitochondrial degeneration

The authors describe the effect of copper pollution on the mitochondria from various areas of the Torpedo marmorata central nervous system. A high percentage of swollen mitochondria has been observed in neurons from animals experimentally exposed to high level of copper (4 ppm). The correlation with age pigment granules is discussed.     

积雪变化导致格陵兰冰盖高度变化

地面冰盖对气候变化的反应可能会对未 来的海平面变化产生重大的影响.近年来格 陵兰南部的卫星调查显示,较大高度的冰盖 总体高度变化甚小,但空间变化很大.当然 仅仅依靠卫星数据难以测定是什么地球物理 过程引起了这种高度变化以及近年的变化速 率是否超过了正常变化速率.我们利用雪粒 密度增大的物理模型和根据高海拔12个冰 心再造的年雪堆积记录,获取了1978～1988 年格陵兰南部冰盖高度的变化. 地中海的干涸及其产生的后果 К.Н. Несис 很久以来就知道,地史最后阶段最具戏 剧性的事件之一就是大约在6Ma前的中新 世末期地中海的被隔离和完全干涸.据西西 里岛墨西拿城附近该时期著名的沉积剖面, 这个事件被称之为墨西拿盐量转变. 马建华摘译自 , 2000, Vol.406,No.24 周立君校     

Nitrate assimilation by zooxanthellae maintained in laboratory culture

The ability of cultured zooxanthellae to use ammonium and nitrate was tested. The zooxanthellae were initially isolated from the anemone Aiptasia pulchella. The zooxanthellae were able to grow on media supplemented with either form of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) although ammonium was inhibitory above 300 μM. In accord with the intact symbiosis and freshly isolated algae, the cultured zooxanthellae took up ammonium. In contrast, the cultured algae demonstrated nitrate uptake and utilization. This was enhanced with DIN deprivation. Nitrate reductase was found in the algae and appeared to be inducible. Within the animal host, excretory ammonium may repress this induction.     

Short period internal waves over the Huanghe (Yellow River) delta front

Internal waves with periods of about 5 minutes and trough to crest heights of up to 6.2 m were observed acoustically over the actively accreting delta front of the Huanghe (Yellow River) in the western portion of the Gulf of Bohai, Peoples Republic of China. The radian frequency of the internal waves was close to the locally-observed Brunt-Vaisala frequency. Through the relatively short (one hour) duration of an internal wave train, the amplitude was observed to decrease progressively with time. These internal waves may cause resuspension of delta-front sediments.     

The dissolution of opaline silica of diatom tests in sea water

Two different series of measurements have been made of the solubilities and rates of solution in sea water of acid-washed siliceous tests of the diatomsThalassiosira decipiens andRhizosolenia hebetata. The kinetic approach was carried out on the assumption that the tests behave as identical solid spheres. If the tests were present in considerable excess over that required for saturation of the water with respect to silica, the dissolution obeyed first order reaction kinetics and its rate was proportional to the surface area of the exposed tests. When the tests were not in excess the kinetics of dissolution appeared to be more complex. This was considered to be due to a decrease in specific surface area as dissolution proceeded. An expression developed to allow for the change of surface area as a sphere dissolves offers a partial explanation of the kinetics when the tests are not present in excess.