非线性系统失稳的前兆与地震预测新方法的探索——响应比理论及其应用

地震预报是一个世界性的科学难题。虽然许多科学家为此做了艰辛的努力,也取得过象成功的海城地震预报这样令人鼓舞的成就,但更多的是失败的惨痛教训。通过多次教训,全世界大多数地震学家都认识到,解决地震预报这一科学难题的根本出路在于从经验预报转变为物理预报。自然科学正经历着一场革命,在以非线性动力学为代表的一系列新的学科分支的创立和飞跃发展的同时,“我们对自然的看法正经历着一个根本性的转变”,“我们的物理世界已不再以稳定的周期性行星运动为象征了,它是一个非稳定性和涨落的世界”。让我们从这个角度去观察分析地震与地震     

前陆盆地砂岩中的重复性地层模式及其构造意义

通过比较各段中每个准层序的进积规模和各次层序海相上倾终端的位置，在犹他州上白垩统布莱克霍克组的段内建立了两种独特的重复出现的堆叠地层模式。在同一段内，不论层序界面是否分隔开准层序，最虫的准层序总是比较晚的准层序进积较远。其结果是在各段中，进积距离的样式导致了从先进积到后加积的地层堆叠模式。     

Perturbation of gene expression and steroidogenesis with in vitro exposure of fathead minnow ovaries to ketoconazole

Ketoconazole is a fungicidal drug that inhibits function of cytochrome P450s in the synthesis of steroids. To examine if inhibition of P450 function affects gene expression in a dynamic manner, we conducted in vitro exposures of ovary tissue from fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) to 0.5 microM ketoconazole to investigate effects on steroid production and gene expression over time. Expression of four key steroidogenesis genes was examined at 1, 6, and 12h of exposure. 11 beta- and 20 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases were down regulated at 1h and Cytochrome P450 17 was down-regulated at 12h, consistent with the absence of steroid production. In contrast, cytochrome P450 19A was up-regulated at 6h, indicating feedback regulation. Microarray analysis of 12h exposures indicated enrichment of biological processes involved in neurotransmitter secretion, lymphocyte cell activation, sodium ion transport, and embryonic development. These data suggest that, with the exception of cytochrome P450 19A, these steroid metabolic genes are regulated in a feed forward manner and that the effects of ketoconazole may be broader than anticipated based on the mechanism of action alone.     

Why are hatching and emergence success low? Mercury and selenium concentrations in nesting leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) and their young in Florida

Leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) have low hatching and emergence success compared to other sea turtle species. Postmortem examinations of hatchlings showed degeneration of heart and skeletal muscle that was similar to that found in other neonates with selenium deficient mothers. Selenium deficiency can result from elevated concentrations of bodily mercury. Ingested mercury is detoxified by the liver through mercury-selenium compound formation. In animals persistently exposed to mercury, the liver’s ability to detoxify this element may decrease, especially if dietary selenium is insufficient. We measured mercury and selenium concentrations in nesting female leatherbacks and their hatchlings from Florida and compared the levels to hatching and emergence success. Both liver selenium and the liver selenium-to-mercury ratio positively correlated with leatherback hatching and emergence success. This study provides the first evidence for the roles of mercury and selenium in explaining low reproductive success in a globally imperiled species, the leatherback sea turtle.     

Effects of alumina refinery wastewater and signature metal constituents at the upper thermal tolerance of: 2. The early life stages of the coral Acropora tenuis

The success of early life history transitions of the coral Acropora tenuis were used as endpoints to evaluate thermal stress and the effects of wastewater discharged to a tropical marine environment. The studies assessed the effects of: (i) temperature; (ii) three signature metals of the wastewater, aluminium (Al), vanadium (V) and gallium (Ga); and (iii) the wastewater (at 27 °C and 32 °C) on fertilisation and larval metamorphosis. The median inhibition temperatures for fertilisation and metamorphosis were 32.8 °C and 33.0 °C, respectively. Fertilisation IC₅₀s for Al, V and Ga were 2997, 2884 and 3430 μg L⁻¹, respectively. Metamorphosis IC₅₀s for Al, V and Ga were 1945, 675 and 3566 μg L⁻¹, respectively. The wastewater only affected fertilisation and metamorphosis at moderate concentrations (IC₅₀s = 63% and 67%, v/v, respectively, at 27 °C), posing a low risk to this species in the field. The effects of wastewater and temperature on fertilisation and metamorphosis were additive.