Major human Hepatitis A virus genotype in Hong Kong marine waters and detection by real-time PCR

Marine waters from seven sites around Hong Kong with varying levels of sewage pollution were analyzed for Hepatitis A virus (HAV) by PCR cloning and DNA sequencing of the highly variable VP1/2A junction of the HAV genome. Phylogenetic analysis of 10 PCR clones from each of the HAV-positive marine sites indicated that human HAV genotype IB is the most widely distributed type in Hong Kong waters. A sensitive and quantitative TaqMan-based PCR method targeting the 5′-noncoding region (5′-NCR) of HAV was used to quantify HAV particles in marine water samples along with the total Escherichiacoli counts being enumerated on TBX medium for comparison. Our results showed that no correlation of any significance between HAV and E. coli counts was observed which underscores the inadequacy in using E. coli as a sanitary standard to predict the levels of HAV in marine waters.     

A nested rediscretization method to improve pathline resolution by eliminating weak sinks representing wells

This paper discusses a method for overcoming the problem of weak sinks representing wells that result from spatial discretization effects when using MODPATH, the particle-tracking postprocessor for the ground water flow model MODFLOW. Weak sink cells are model cells that represent a well that does not discharge at a sufficiently large rate to capture all of the flow entering the cell; therefore, flowpaths within these cells cannot be uniquely defined because it is impossible to know whether a given water particle discharges to the well or passes through the cell. Creating a submodel of the well cell by using the nested rediscretization method can eliminate this ambiguity by converting the weak sink cell into a strong sink cell. The method is designed to be run manually for each well and for steady-state conditions. Other advantages, disadvantages, technical considerations, and limitations of the method are presented. Software created for the method consists of five Fortran programs that are operated using a set of instructions. A practical application of the method is presented by using an example wellhead-protection problem that demonstrates that nested rediscretization can provide more accurate particle-tracking results than those obtained by using a coarsely discretized model alone.     

Contaminant concentrations in sport fish from San Francisco Bay, 1997

In 1997, seven sport fish species were sampled from seven popular fishing areas in San Francisco Bay. Mercury exceeded a human health screening value in 44 of 84 (52%) samples. All collected samples of leopard shark and striped bass exceeded the mercury screening value of 0.23 microg/g wet weight. PCBs exceeded the screening value in 51 of 72 (71%) samples. DDT, chlordane, and dieldrin, had lower numbers of samples above screening values: 16 of 72 (22%) for DDT, 11 of 72 (15%) for chlordanes, and 27 of 72 (37%) for dieldrin. Concentrations of PCBs and other trace organics were highest in white croaker and shiner surfperch, the two species with the highest fat content in their muscle tissue. Fish from one location, Oakland Harbor, had significantly elevated wet weight concentrations of mercury, PCBs, DDTs, and chlordanes compared to other locations. Removal of skin from white croaker fillets reduced lipid concentrations by 27-49% and concentrations of trace organics by 33-40%.     

井间地震层析成像分辨率研究

通过大量数值模型试验,并根据射线密度、射线正交性和点扩散函数,对井间地震层析成像的分辨率问题进行了研究。结果表明,井间地震层析成像的分辨率在空间上是可能性变的,垂直方向的分辨率好于水平方向,而且高速异常体和低速异常体的图像形态和分辨率是非一致的。高速异常体波形CT的图像水平方向最小分辨率距离为1/2波长,垂直分辨率最小分辨率距离为3/10波长;而低速异常体的波形CT图像的水平方向的最小分辨率约为2/5波长,垂向最小分辨率约1/5个波长;走时CT的图像水平方向最小分辨率为3个像元,垂直方向的最小分辨率距离为2个像元;当井深与井间距之比为2时,图像分辨率最高。     

格尔木－额济纳旗地学断面岩石图结构的磁场分析

在格尔木－额济纳旗地学断面的综合研究中，处理和解释了沿断面实测的高精度磁测剖面和大范围的航磁资料．所采用的处理方法有视磁化率填图、长波磁异常提取、方向滤波和航磁数字图像处理，并反演了地壳磁层的上、下界面深度．依据资料处理结果，对研究区内构造断裂的分布、不同地体和构造单元的划分与边界位置及岩浆活动性等都提出了新的认识．利用位场模拟方法，得出了代表格尔木－额济纳旗地学断面内地壳结构的磁模型．