巴基斯坦国日本金线鱼（Nemipterus japonicus）种群动力学的研究

Japanese threadfin bream Nemipterus japonicus(Bloch, 1791) is among the most abundant and commercially important species in Pakistan. From the coast of Pakistan, four demersal trawl surveys in October–November 2009 and May–June, August, October and November in 2010 were carried out. The purpose of this study is to estimate the population dynamics and status of the stock of the N. japonicus from Pakistani waters based on the research trawl surveys from the research area. The data consist of n=784 length-weight pairs and n=7 530 length frequency with the maximum length and weight of 29 cm and 358 g respectively. The length frequency data were analyzed using ELEFAN method in FiSAT computer package. The parameters of length and weight relationship were b=2.778, a=0.032 and R2=0.973. The estimated von Bertalanffy growth function parameters were L∞=30.45 cm, K=0.270 year-1. Based on length-converted catch curve analysis the total mortality(Z) during this study was estimated at 0.960 year-1. The natural mortality coefficient(M) was 0.74 year-1 using Pauly's equation(the annual average sea surface temperature was 27°C), therefore, the fishing mortality coefficients(F) were 0.22 year-1. The yield per recruit analysis indicated that when tc was 2, Fmax was estimated at 1.2 and F0.1 at 1.1. When tc was 1, Fmax was estimated at 0.95 and F0.1 at 0.8. Because current age at first capture is about 1 year and Fcurrent was 0.22, Fcurrent is smaller than F0.1 and Fmax, which indicated that the fishery is about in a safe condition. When using Gulland(1971) biological reference point, Fopt was equals to M(0.74). The current fishing mortality rate of 0.22 was smaller than the target biological reference point.     

White spot syndrome virus inactivation study by using gamma irradiation

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of gamma irradiation on white spot syndrome virus(WSSV). White spot syndrome virus is a pathogen of major economic importance in cultured penaeid shrimp industries. White spot disease can cause mortalities reaching 100% within 3–10 days of gross signs appearing. During the period of culture, immunostimulant agents and vaccines may provide potential methods to protect shrimps from opportunistic and pathogenic microrganisms. In this study, firstly, WSSV was isolated from infected shrimp and then multiplied in crayfish. WSSV was purified from the infected crayfish haemolymph by sucrose gradient and confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. In vivo virus titration was performed in shrimp, Penaeus semisulcatus. The LD50 of live virus stock was calculated 10 5.4 /mL. Shrimp post-larvae(1–2 g) were treated with gamma-irradiated(different doses) WSSV(10 0 to 10-4 dilutions) for a period of 10 days. The dose/survival curve for irradiated and un-irradiated WSSV was drawn; the optimum dose range for inactivation of WSSV and unaltered antigenicity was obtained 14–15 kGy. This preliminary information suggests that shrimp appear to benefit from treatment with gammairradiated WSSV especially at 14–15 KGy.     

Precipitation analysis over southwest Iran: trends and projections

Analysis of trends and projection of precipitation are of significance for the future development and management of water resource in southwest Iran. This research has been divided into two parts. The first part consists of an analysis of the precipitation over 50 stations in the study region for the period 1950–2007. The trends in this parameter were detected by linear regression and significance was tested by t test. Mann–Kendall rank test was also employed to confirm the results. The second part of the research involved future projection of precipitation based on four models. The models used were Centre National de Recherches Meteorologiques (CNRM), European Center Hamburg Model (ECHAM), Model for Interdisciplinary Research on Climate (MIROCH) and United Kingdom Meteorological Office (UKMOC). Precipitation projections were done under B1 and A1B emissions scenarios. The results of precipitation series indicated that most stations showed insignificant trend in annual and seasonal series. The highest numbers of stations with significant trends occurred in winter while no significant trends were detected by statistical tests in summer precipitation. No decreasing significant trends were detected by statistical tests in annual and seasonal precipitation series. The result of projections showed that precipitation may decrease according to majority of the models under both scenarios but the decrease may not be large, except according to MIROCH model. Autumn precipitation may increase with higher rates than other seasons at the end of this century.     

Seismic response evaluation of the linked column frame system

The linked column frame (LCF) system is proposed as a seismic load resisting system that uses conventional components to limit seismic damage to relatively easily replaced elements. The LCF features a primary lateral system, denoted the linked column, which is made up of dual columns connected with replaceable links, and a secondary flexible moment frame system with beams having fully restrained connections at one end and simple connections at the other. The linked columns are designed to limit seismic forces and provide energy dissipation via link yielding, while preventing damage to the moment frame under certain earthquake hazard levels. A design procedure is proposed that ensures plastic hinges develop in the links of the linked columns at a significantly lower story drift than when plastic hinges develop in the moment frame beams. The large drift difference helps enable design of this system for two distinct performance states: rapid return to occupancy, where only link damage occurs and relatively simple link replacement is possible, and collapse prevention, where both the links and the beams of the moment frame may be damaged. A series of 3‐story, 6‐story, and 9‐story prototype LCF buildings were designed using the proposed design approach. Nonlinear models were developed for the designs with the link models validated using recent experimental results. The seismic response of these systems was investigated for ground motions representing various seismic hazard levels. Results show that the LCF system not only provides collapse prevention, but also has the capability of limiting economic loss by reducing structural damage and allowing for rapid return to occupancy following earthquakes with shorter return periods. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Total load transport in gravel bed and sand bed rivers case study:Chelichay watershed

Field experiments were conducted on total load transport in the Chelichay River Basin,a mountainous catchment (1,400 km~2) located in north eastern of Iran,to evaluate total load formulas including four gravel bed rivers and a sand bed river(Qaresoo River).Gravel bed rivers in Chelichay River Basin can be grouped into two types;steep slope rivers with high shear values(Chehelchay River and Khormaloo River) and mild slope rivers with low shear values(Narmab River and Soosara River).Two depth integrating suspended load samplers(DH-48 and D-49),and two bed load samplers(Helley-Smith and BLSH) were used to measure total load.The performance is tested of 8 total load transport formulae including 4 macroscopic and 4 microscopic methods.A systematic and thorough analysis of 59 sets of data collected from sand bed river indicate that Yang and Engelund and Hansen reach to the better results, and from four gravel bed rivers confirmed that the methods of Karim and Kennedy and Engelund and Hansen yields the best results for steep slope rivers,and the methods of Einstein and Bijker are ranked highest in gradual slope rivers.     

Incremental dynamic analysis of concrete gravity dams including base and lift joints

The growth in computer processing power has made it possible to use time-consuming analysis methods such as incremental dynamic analysis(IDA) with higher accuracy in less time.In an IDA study,a series of earthquake records are applied to a structure at successively increasing intensity levels,which causes the structure to shift from the elastic state into the inelastic state and finally into collapse.In this way,the limit-states and capacity of a structure can be determined.In the present research,the IDA of a concrete gravity dam considering a nonlinear concrete behavior,and sliding planes within the dam body and at the dam-foundation interface,is performed.The influence of the friction angle and lift joint slope on the response parameters are investigated and the various limit-states of the dam are recognized.It is observed that by introducing a lift joint,the tensile damage can be avoided for the dam structure.The lift joint sliding is essentially independent of the base joint friction angle and the upper ligament over the inclined lift joint slides into the upstream direction in strong earthquakes.     

Adsorption of Thallium(I) Ions Using Eucalyptus Leaves Powder

Using batch method, the adsorption of thallium(I) ions from aqueous solutions on eucalyptus leaves powder, as a low cost adsorbent, was studied. The effect of various modification of considered adsorbent on the adsorption percentage of Tl(I) is an important feature of this study. The results showed that the unmodified and acidic modified adsorbent are the poor adsorbents for the Tl(I) ions while basic modified adsorbent is a suitable adsorbent. Also, the effect of some experimental conditions such as solution initial pH, agitation speed, contact time, sorbent dosage, temperature, particle size, and thallium initial concentration was studied. The results showed that the adsorption percentage depends on the conditions and the process is strongly pH‐dependent. The satisfactory adsorption percentage of Tl(I) ions, 81.5%, obtained at 25 ± 1°C. The equilibrium data agreed fairly better with Langmuir isotherm than Freundlich and Temkin models. The value of q_m that was obtained by extrapolation method is 80.65 mg g^?1. Separation factor values, R_L, showed that eucalyptus leaves powder is favorable for the sorption of Tl(I). The negative values of ΔH⁰ and ΔS⁰ showed that the Tl(I) sorption is an exothermic process and along with decrease of randomness at the solid–solution interface during sorption, respectively.     

A comparison of the estimated effective elastic thickness of the lithosphere using terrestrial and satellite-derived data in Iran

The effective elastic thickness of the lithosphere has an important role in constraining compositional structure, geothermal gradient and tectonic forces within the lithosphere and the thickness of this layer can be used to evaluate the earthquakes’ focal depth. Hence, assessment of the elastic thickness of the lithosphere by gravitational admittance method in Iran is the main objective of this paper. Although the global geopotential models estimated from the satellite missions and surface data can portray the Earth’s gravity field in high precision and resolution, there are some debates about using them for lithosphere investigations. We used both the terrestrial data which have been provided by NCC (National Cartographic Center of Iran) and BGI (Bureau Gravimetrique International), and the satellite-derived gravity and topography which are generated by EIGEN-GL04C and ETOPO5, respectively. Finally, it is concluded that signal content of the satellite-derived data is as rich as the terrestrial one and it can be used for the determination of the lithosphere bending.     

Propagation of solitary waves in non uniform dusty plasmas

Interaction of dust acoustic solitary waves in plasmas consisting of medium disorders is investigated. Disorders and inhomogeneities of the medium are added to the equation of motion as perturbative terms through the medium parameters. The effects of these perturbations on the behaviour of solitary waves are studied with numerical simulations and the results are compared with theoretical predictions in a uniform media.