Genomic cloning and expression of vitellogenin gene from the self-fertilizing fish Rivulus marmoratus (Cyprinodontiformes, Rivulidae)

We cloned the vitellogenin gene from the self-fertilizing fish Rivulus marmoratus, and sequenced 12,326 bp. The number of exons of R. marmoratus and rainbow trout vitellogenin genes were different, and also the splicing junctions are different throughout most of the exons and introns but the amino acid similarity of R. marmoratus vitellogenin gene to other species was rather high. In promoter region of R. marmoratus vitellogenin gene, there were several E2 binding sites and the estrogen response element (ERE). We discuss here the gene structure and expression of R. marmoratus vitellogenin gene.     

Late Quaternary stable isotope record and meltwater discharge anomaly events to the south of the Antarctic Polar Front,Drake Passage

Marine isotope stages (MISs) 1 to 5 were identified in the planktonic ¹⁸O record in sediment core DP00-02 just south of the Antarctic Polar Front in the Drake Passage, Antarctica. The oxygen isotope record, based on Neogloboquadrina pachyderma sinistral, is correlated with the contemporaneous global ¹⁸O stratigraphy. Marked deviations from the global climate curve suggest a local/regional overprint, particularly during MIS 3 which is considered a colder time period in the ocean record than MIS 1 and MIS 5 during the last interglacial. The comparison shows that negative ¹⁸O shifts in core DP00-02 during MIS 3 are larger than mean global changes which show a shift equal to or smaller than 0.5. The isotope shift, exceeding the glacial-interglacial ice volume effect, probably resulted from changes in the isotope composition of seawater, which is linearly related to decreases in salinity rather than to increases in sea-surface temperature. Increased ice-rafted debris (IRD) content during this interval indicates a strong influx of IRD from melting ice shelves and icebergs, which may be related to upwelling of warmer circumpolar deep water.     

Boundary integral equation solutions for solitary wave generation, propagation and run-up

The boundary integral equation method (BIEM) is developed as a tool for studying two-dimensional, nonlinear water wave problems, including the phenomena of wave generation, propagation and run-up. The wave motions are described by a potential flow theory. Nonlinear free-surface boundary conditions are incorporated in the numerical formulation. Examples are given for either a solitary wave or two successive solitary waves. Special treatment is developed to trace the run-up and run-down along a shoreline. The accuracy of the present scheme is verified by comparing numerical results with experimental data of maximum run-up.     

Calculation of a capsizing rate of a ship in stochastic beam seas

This study introduces a method of calculating a capsizing rate of a ship. The phenomenon ‘capsizing’ is described as a jump of local equilibrium point from that near the upright position of a ship to what describes the upside-down attitude of the capsized ship; the rate of occurrence of such jumps was calculated. The potential function corresponding to the roll restoring moment have two potential wells located at the roll displacement angle 0 and 180°, respectively. A nonlinear Fokker–Planck equation for the joint probability density function of roll angle and velocity was solved. The excitation to the ship was assumed to be a combination of a regular harmonic wave and a white noise process.     

Lateral and consolidation behaviors of seabed-type breakwater for very soft ground

A seabed-type of breakwater applicable to very soft ground without the need for soil improvement is newly developed. This type of soft-ground breakwater is expected to ensure sufficient lateral resistance and prevent excessive consolidation settlement due to self-weight of the breakwater. In this paper, lateral and consolidation behaviors of soft-ground breakwater were investigated by performing model tests and finite element simulations. The results revealed that the bottom wall and buoyant box, which are the main features of soft-ground breakwater, contribute to the increase in lateral resistance and to the control of the consolidation settlements, respectively, and that Terzaghi's consolidation theory could be conservatively adopted in deriving the consolidation settlements of soft-ground breakwater proposed herein.     

The first record of two species of leptocephali of the genusSaurenchelys (nettastomatidae, anguilliformes) from Korea

Leptocephali of the genusSaurenchelys in the family Nettastomatidae were collected from the coastal area of Pohang, Korea and described as the first record from Korean waters.S. stylura andS. lateromaculatus are characterized by two intestinal swellings, the pattern of pigments in the notochord, and by smaller pectoral fins than those of other genus. They are very similar to each other but they are distinguished by the pattern of pigments in the notochord and the intestinal swellings.     

Effect of higher-order bottom variation terms on the refraction of water waves in the extended mild-slope equations

This study investigates how the refraction of water waves is affected by the higher-order bottom effect terms proportional to the square of bottom slope and to the bottom curvature in the extended mild-slope equations. Numerical analyses are performed on two cases of waves propagating over a circular shoal and over a circular hollow. Numerical results are analyzed using the eikonal equation derived from the wave equations and the wave ray tracing technique. It is found that the higher-order bottom effect terms change the wavelength and, in turn, change the refraction of waves over a variable depth. In the case of waves over a circular shoal, the higher-order bottom effects increase the wavelength along the rim of shoal more than near the center of shoal, and intensify the degree of wave refraction. However, the discontinuity of higher-order bottom effects along the rim of shoal disperses the foci of wave rays. As a result, the amplification of wave energy behind the shoal is reduced. Conversely, in the case of waves over a circular hollow, the higher-order bottom effects decrease the wavelength near the center of the hollow in comparison with the case of neglecting higher-order bottom effects. Consequently, the degree of wave refraction is decreased, and the spreading of wave energy behind the hollow is reduced.     

Crystal structural features of the olivine → spinel transition

Comparisons of structural features of olivine (α phase), spinel (γ phase), and the modified spinel (β phase) lead to predictions of possible mechanisms for the olivine → spinel transitions. In the olivine structure, rigid tetrahedral edges and shared octahedral edges form columns of corner-sharing trigonal dipyramids parallel to the a axis. These rigid columns are separated by weaker, unshared octahedral edges which may be stretched to reduce cation-cation repulsion. As a result, olivine has a relatively loose structure and is stable at low pressure. At elevated pressure, olivine transforms to the more compact spinel structure, in which the rigid tetrahedral edges and shared octahedral edges form a three dimensional network instead of aligned columns. These structural differences explain how compressibility and thermal expansion may be taken up mainly by octahedral sites in olivine, but are evenly distributed over both octahedral and tetrahedral sites in spinel. Because the closest packings of oxygens and interstitial cation distributions differ between olivine (h.c.p.) and spinel (c.c.p.), the olivine structure may have to disintegrate during its transformation to spinel, so that the olivine → spinel transition involves processes of nucleation and growth. The migration of atoms across the olivine-spinel interface is thus a complicated process of random walk without a definite path. In the β phase → spinel transition, however, the diffusion of cations may follow a definite path in restricted regions because oxygen closest packings and cation distributions are similar in the two structures. If the oxygen packing remains intact during the β → γ transition, the transformation will be an intracrystalline process leading to domain structure in the spinel product.     

Oxidative removal of Mn(II) from solution catalysed by the γ-FeOOH (lepidocrocite) surface

A laboratory study was undertaken to ascertain the role of surface catalysis in Mn(II) oxidative removal. γ-FeOOH, a ferric oxyhydroxide formed by O₂ oxidation of ferrous iron in solution, was studied in the following ways: surface charge characteristics by acid base titration, adsorption of Mn(II) and surface oxidation of Mn(II). A rate law was formulated to account for the effects of pH and the amount of surface on the surface oxidation rate of Mn(II). The presence of milli-molar levels of γ-FeOOH was shown to reduce significantly the half-life of Mn(II) in 0.7 M NaCl from hundreds of hours to hours. The numerical values of the surface rate constants for the γ-FeOOH and that reported for colloidal MnO₂ are comparable in order of magnitude.