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.     

Cytochrome P4501A biomarker indication of the timeline of chronic exposure of Barrow's goldeneyes to residual Exxon Valdez oil

We examined hepatic EROD activity, as an indicator of CYP1A induction, in Barrow’s goldeneyes captured in areas oiled during the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill and those from nearby unoiled areas. We found that average EROD activity differed between areas during 2005, although the magnitude of the difference was reduced relative to a previous study from 1996/1997, and we found that areas did not differ by 2009. Similarly, we found that the proportion of individuals captured from oiled areas with elevated EROD activity (?2 times unoiled average) declined from 41% in winter 1996/1997 to 10% in 2005 and 15% in 2009. This work adds to a body of literature describing the timelines over which vertebrates were exposed to residual Exxon Valdez oil and indicates that, for Barrow’s goldeneyes in Prince William Sound, exposure persisted for many years with evidence of substantially reduced exposure by 2 decades after the spill.     

Carbon fluxes from eroding peatlands – the carbon benefit of revegetation following wildfire

Peatlands are among the largest long‐term soil carbon stores, but their degradation can lead to significant carbon losses. This study considers the carbon budget of peat‐covered sites after restoration, following degradation by past wildfires. The study measured the carbon budget of eight sites: four restored‐revegetated sites, two unrestored bare soil control sites, and two intact vegetated controls over two years (2006–2008). The study considered the following flux pathways: dissolved organic carbon (DOC); particulate organic carbon (POC); dissolved carbon dioxide (CO₂); primary productivity; net ecosystem respiration, and methane (CH₄). The study shows that unrestored, bare peat sites can have significant carbon losses as high as 522 ± 3 tonnes C/km²/yr. Most sites showed improved carbon budgets (decreased source and/or increased sink of carbon) after restoration; this improvement was mainly in the form of a reduction in the size of the net carbon source, but for one restored site the measured carbon budget after four years of restoration was greater than observed for vegetated controls. The carbon sequestration benefit of peatland restoration would range between 122 and 833 tonnes C/km²/yr. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

河西走廊地区A(b)值动态演化特征及在地震预测中的应用

采用A(b)值空间扫描方法对1980年以来河西走廊及其临近地区ML 2.3到ML 4.9地震资料进行了研究,统计分析了Ms 4.6以上地震前A(b)值异常情况,结果显示大多数Ms 4.6以上地震发生前的1-3年内,震中周围出现A(b)≥5.0的高值异常区域.R值检验结果为0.458.     

GM4磁通门磁力仪的供电设备对观测数据的影响

通过对我国GM4磁通门磁力仪使用的各种电源设备所产出的观测数据动态曲线的对比研究,认为电源设备对观测数据的影响不容忽视,市电结合UPS方式是最为合适的供电选择。     

2009年秋季河南一次连阴雨天气成因分析

采用合成分析和动力诊断分析及统计方法,利用NCEP资料和常规气象观测资料对造成2009年9月6-20日河南省北中部地区15 d连阴雨天气成因进行分析.结果表明:200 hPa高空急流的出现并且维持,南亚高压的偏东偏北,副热带高压的偏西略偏北,以及边界层的东北风(或偏东风),是造成此次长连阴雨天气的主要影响因素;200 ...     

Strategies to Overcome Filter Divergence in the DRP-4-DVar Approach

This paper discusses an important issue related to filter divergence in the dimension-reduced projection,four-dimensional variational data assimilation(DRP-4-DVar) approach.Idealized experiments with the Lorenz-96 model over a period of 200 days showed that the amplitudes of the root mean square errors(RMSEs) reached the same levels as those of the state variables after approximately 100 days because of the accumulation of sampling errors following the cycle of assimilation.Strategies to reduce sampling errors are critical to ensure the quality of ensemble-based assimilation.Numerical experiments showed that localization and reducing observational errors can alleviate,but cannot completely overcome,the filter divergence in the DRP-4-DVar approach,while the method of perturbing observations and the inflation technique can efficiently eliminate the filter divergence problem.     

A New Typhoon Bogus Data Assimilation and its Sampling Method: A Case Study

In this study,the authors introduce a new bogus data assimilation method based on the dimension-reduced projection 4-DVar,which can resolve the cost function directly in low-dimensional space.The authors also try a new method to improve the quality of samples,which are the base of dimension-reduced space projection bogus data assimilation (DRP-BDA).By running a number of numerical weather models with different model parameterization combinations on the typhoon Sinlaku,the authors obtained two groups of samples with different spreads and similarities.After DRP-BDA,the results show that,compared with the control runs,the simulated typhoon center pressure can be deepened by more than 20 hPa to 30 hPa and that the intensity can last as long as 60 hours.The mean track error is improved after DRP-BDA,and the structure of the typhoon is also improved.The wind near the typhoon center is enhanced dramatically,while the warm core is moderate.     

用三通道合成彩色图像进行云的分类解释判读

为更好地利用FY-3A气象卫星上中分辨率光谱成像仪(MERSI)资料高空间分辨率及多光谱的优势,细致分析云系在宏、微观方面的多重特征,首先利用平面平行辐射传输模式(SBDART)证明了MERSI的0.65,1.6 μm和11.25 μm通道能够分别反映云光学厚度、云粒子大小、云顶高度的信息,然后采用三通道合成彩色图像的...     

用三通道合成彩色图像进行云的分类解释判读

为更好地利用FY-3A气象卫星上中分辨率光谱成像仪(MERSI)资料高空间分辨率及多光谱的优势,细致分析云系在宏、微观方面的多重特征,首先利用平面平行辐射传输模式(SBDART)证明了MERSI的0.65,1.6 μm和11.25 μm通道能够分别反映云光学厚度、云粒子大小、云顶高度的信息,然后采用三通道合成彩色图像的方法,对FY-3A气象卫星云图进行云的分类解释判读.该技术可直观区分有云区、无云区,显示海陆分界,并且使不同云类在云图上体现为不同颜色.同时,FY-3A气象卫星高达1000 m甚至250m的空间分辨率也使云的细致结构更为清晰,两项优势的叠加,大大提升了云的分类解释判读的准确程度和精细化水平.文中还尝试寻找典型云系的三通道特征值,以期为模糊C均值聚类(FCM)方法中聚类中心的选定提供经验值参考.