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.     

Numerical experiments on the four-dimensional assimilation of the observation data derived in the Black Sea in June 1984 on the basis of a numerical energy-balanced model

A procedure for the four-dimensional (4D) analysis of the hydrophysical fields in the Black Sea with an assimilation of the temperature and salinity (T, S) data was realized on the basis of a numerical model which involves the primitive equations of motion, and the heat and salt advection equations. Two experiments were carried out which differed by the observation data assimilation procedure. Analysis has shown that the observation data assimilation procedure realized using the energy-balanced model allows the reproduction of some synoptic features of the circulation in the Black Sea. A comparison of two computations demonstrates the efficiency of assimilating the measurement data on the basis of the 4D analysis as compared with the sequential objective analysis.Translated by Mikhail M. Trufanov.     

Contaminant concentrations and toxicity of sea-surface microlayer near Los Angeles, California

Sea-surface microlayer samples were collected from six nearshore areas receiving different amounts of anthropogenic inputs. The samples were analyzed for selected trace metals, chlorinated hydrocarbons, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The relative toxicities of the samples were determined with fish embryo bioassays.Contaminant concentrations generally increased from offshore to the inshore stations. Contaminant concentrations were several orders of magnitude higher in microlayer samples from the highly industrialized Los Angeles and Long Beach harbors compared to samples from a site 15km offshore. Microlayer samples from the inshore stations were significantly more toxic, and induced significantly more developmental abnormalities and chromosome aberrations, than samples from the offshore stations.     

钝顶螺旋藻部分原生质体及单细胞的制备与培养

于1992年1月-1994年4月，进行超声波处理方法制备钝顶螺旋藻部分原生质体以作为基因工程受体，以及制备单细胞用于固体平板克隆化培养的研究。研究结果表明：超声波以20kHz频率、15W功率作用30s，可使藻丝体断裂成15．0±1．6个细胞长度；延长作用时间，至2－6个细胞长度时，细胞壁结构遭到破坏，形成部分原生质体；继续作用，可形成少量原生质体和大量单细胞。断裂藻丝体、部分原生质体、单细胞以及原生质体均可涂布于固体培养基上再生或生长。以一定密度涂布单细胞与原生质体，能够形成彼此分开的单个克隆，可用于筛选及遗传分析。本文提供了一种节省溶菌酶的制备螺旋藻透性体的方法，超声波作用利于外源基因的导入，而涂布培养利于进一步的筛选和形成克隆。     

Serum biochemical and cellular responses to experimental cupric ion challenge in mussels

Our intent has been to develop rapid and sensitive bioassay procedures for laboratory and field applications based on hemolymph factors in animals such as the bay mussel, Mytilus edulis. We found that mussel hemolymph could be easily and repeatedly sampled from individual animals in sufficient amounts to allow analyses for lysozyme, proteolytic activity, total protein and hemocyte counts. In static tests there seemed to be graded responses indicating release of increasing amounts of the above factors into the hemolymph in roughly direct proportion to Cu²⁺ concentration at lethal and sublethal levels. We interpreted this to be evidence for increased lysosomal and cellular disruption as cupric ion exposure was increased or prolonged. At the same time, Cu²⁺ concentrations in the mussel hemolymph increased up to an order of magnitude above ambient in the range of 26 to 267 ppb. We felt that this was evidence for the release of Cu-binding proteins into the mussel hemolymph. Simultaneously with the above events the serum granulocytes increased in numbers above control values by factors of 3 or 4 in response to copper challenge while macrophage (terminology of Moore & Lowe, 1977) counts, including controls, declined precipitously.     

Influences of wave stretching on the response of wave-excited offshore platforms

Critical examinations are reported for the effects of wave stretching on realistic representations of the wave forces that act on offshore structures. Examinations are also made for the importance of such effects on the corresponding structural responses, and it is demonstrated that the effects of stretching on the governing wave forces and the resulting structural responses are small, indicating that they can be ignored in design practice. Valuable insight is further provided into the definition of the wave excitation, and physical interpretations are made which show that the actions of stretching cannot materially influence the governing excitation and the corresponding structural response.     

Mean current velocity measurement from a movable base

This paper discusses the possibility of measurement of the current velocity vector characteristics averaged over the time of continuous regular down-up probings from a moving carrier. The measurements can be carried out either from a moving vessel or from a helicopter, floating on or hovering above the sea surface. As an illustration for the suggested technique,in situ observations compiled by a free-component (±XYZ) VEGA-3 probe in the Guiana current region in March 1990 are provided. Comparison of the results with buoy data shows good agreement within the accuracy limits of the instruments employed.Translated by Vladimir A. Puchkin.     

Fine structure of the temperature field and the transfrontal exchange in the East Kamchatka current

CTD data are used to study the relationship between the temperature field fine structure and the location of the frontal zones and synoptic eddies in the region adjacent to the eastern coast of the Kamchatka peninsula. High levels of fine structure activity were observed in the frontal zone of the East Kamchatka current and in the peripheries of anticyclonic eddies. Estimates of the coefficient of the horizontal turbulent exchange and the transfrontal (lateral) heat flux are derived.Translated by Mikhail M. Trufanov.