Screening of extraction methods for glycoproteins from jellyfish (Rhopilema esculentum) oral-arms by high performance liquid chromatography

In order to select an optimum extraction method for the target glycoprotein (TGP) from jellyfish (Rhopilema esculentum) oral-arms, a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-assay for the determination of the TGP was developed. Purified target glycoprotein was taken as a standard glycoprotein. The results showed that the calibration curves for peak area plotted against concentration for TGP were linear (r = 0.9984, y = 4.5895x+47.601) over concentrations ranging from 50 to 400 mgL-1. The mean extraction recovery was 97.84% (CV2.60%). The fractions containing TGP were isolated from jellyfish (R. esculentum) oral-arms by four extraction methods: 1) water extraction (WE), 2) phosphate buffer solution (PBS) extraction (PE), 3) ultrasound-assisted water extraction (UA-WE), 4) ultrasound-assisted PBS extraction (UA-PE). The lyophilized extract was dissolved in Milli-Q water and analyzed directly on a short TSK-GEL G4000PWXL (7.8 mm×300 mm) column. Our results indicated that the UA-PE method was the optimum extraction method selected by HPLC.     

Methods Comparison for Microsatellite Marker Development： Different Isolation Methods, Different Yield Efficiency

Microsatellite markers have become one kind of the most important molecular tools used in various researches. A large number of microsatellite markers are required for the whole genome survey in the fields of molecular ecology, quantitative genetics and genomics. Therefore, it is extremely necessary to select several versatile, low-cost, efficient and time- and labor-saving methods to develop a large panel of microsatellite markers. In this study, we used Zhikong scallop (Chlamys farreri) as the target species to compare the efficiency of the five methods derived from three strategies for microsatellite marker development. The results showed that the strategy of constructing small insert genomic DNA library resulted in poor efficiency, while the microsatellite-enriched strategy highly improved the isolation efficiency. Although the mining public database strategy is time- and cost-saving, it is difficult to obtain a large number of microsatellite markers, mainly due to the limited sequence data of non-model species deposited in public databases. Based on the results in this study, we recommend two methods, microsatellite-enriched library construction method and FIASCO-colony hybridization method, for large-scale microsatellite marker development. Both methods were derived from the mi-crosatellite-enriched strategy. The experimental results obtained from Zhikong scallop also provide the reference for microsatellite marker development in other species with large genomes.     

Micromorphology of solonetzic horizons as related to environmental events in the Caspian Lowland

Micromorphology of solonetz species with special attention to natric horizon was studied in microcatenas at the Dzhanybek Research Station （northwestern Caspian Lowland）. The solonetzic （natric） horizon is easily identified, and it occurs at varying depths, which are the criteria for subdividing solonetzes into 4 species, namely, crusty, shallow, medium and deep. In this sequence, the depth of humus-accumulative horizons increases, and the upper boundary of salinity manifestations goes down. The following micromorphological features are assumed as typical for natric horizons： angular blocky microstructures with partially accommodated aggregates having sharp boundaries and narrow plane-like packing voids; b-fabric speckled in the aggregates＇ centers and monostriated at their peripheries merging into stress coatings; very few interpedal voids; organo-clay coatings; humus- enriched infillings; no calcite and gypsum pedofeatures. A complete set of ＂natric＂ features was found only in the crusty solonetz; the shallow solonetz lacks only illuviation coatings, while the medium and deep species have several modifications of fabric elements： blocky aggregates have a rounded shape and are penetrated by biogenic channels favoring their further biogenic reworking; plant residues became more abundant and diverse, and blackened tissues occur; illuviation clay coatings evolved into papules; stress coatings gave birth to striated bfabrics, thus maintaining a high plasma orientation. The thin sections of natric horizons made 50 and 20 years ago were examined to study the influence of environmental changes （increase in precipitation and rise of ground water table） on micropedofeatures. The following processes took place： （i） in the topsoil： humus accumulation and biogenic structurization; （ii） in the natric horizon - re-arrangement of clay coatings into micromass b-fabrics; and （iii） in the lower part of the natric horizon - development of pseudosand fabric, calcite and gypsum formation. The trends revealed are in good agreement with the environmental events.     

沂水南小尧金矿锆石U-Pb同位素特征及其地质意义

沂水南小尧金矿产于沂沐断裂带汞丹山凸起上,赋矿围岩为古元古代花岗岩。通过对南小尧金矿矿石中的锆石采用LA—CPMS法进行单颗粒锆石微区U—Pb同位素年龄测定,获得锆石谐和年龄（2438±13）Ma的结果,为赋矿围岩的形成年龄;而下交点（116±20）Ma大致为金矿的形成年龄。结合南小尧金矿石中钾长石矿物K—Ar年龄为（94．29±1．38）Ma的结果分析。本区金矿的形成时代应在早白垩世中-晚期。     

黄河（山东段）悬河稳定性评价

通过黄河（山东段）悬河稳定性影响因素分析,各河段都有决口失稳的可能。该文从区域地壳稳定性、堤基稳定性、河道稳定性3个方面,采用模糊数学综合评判法进行悬河稳定性评价,对河段可能出现的失稳或决口险点及其可能造成的危害性进行分析和预测,初步确定了10处地质险段。     

Implementation of baroclinic terms in a three-dimensional hydrodynamic model and its application to Anzali Port, Iran

Baroclinic terms have been implemented in a three-dimensional fully hydrodynamic model developed by Badiei et al. [2008. A three-dimensional non-hydrostatic boundary fitted model for free surface flows. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Fluids, 56(6), 607-627] modifying its momentum equations to account for density gradients and utilizing the scalar (salinity, temperature, etc.) conservation equation (SCE) and a state equation for the calculation of density. In the solution of advection-diffusion terms of the governing Navier-Stokes equations (NSE) and SCE, a symmetric splitting method was applied to ensure the long-term stability of simulations. Correction terms proposed by Ruddic et al. (1995) were applied to SCE to ensure the conservation of the scalar quantity. In the presence of baroclinic terms, the zero gradient pressure in the vertical direction in the vicinity of surface and bottom boundaries assumed by Badiei et al. [2008. A three-dimensional non-hydrostatic boundary fitted model for free surface flows. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Fluids, 56(6), 607-627] created spurious currents. This problem was solved by assuming a hydrostatic pressure variation at those boundaries. The ability of extended model was validated by comparing its results with an experimental test case. The simulation of hydrodynamic and salt intrusion at Anzali Port located at the southern coasts of Caspian Sea in Iran was carried out by the model with both barotropic and baroclinic modes. The simulated results with baroclinic mode show a better agreement with measured data as compared to the results of barotropic mode that clearly demonstrate the significance of baroclinic terms in the simulation of cyclic intrusion of salt wedge into the Port Basin.     

Particle trajectories of nonlinear gravity waves in deep water

The paper presents a numerical method for calculating the particle trajectories of nonlinear gravity waves in deep water. Particle trajectories, mass-transport velocity and Lagrangian wave period can be accurately determined by the proposed method. The high success rate of the proposed method is examined by comparing the present results with those of (a) Longuet-Higgins, M.S., 1986, 1987. Eulerian and Lagrangian aspects of surface waves. Journal of Fluid Mechanics 173, 683-707 and (b) Lagrangian moments and mass transport in Stokes waves. Journal of Fluid Mechanics 179, 547-555. It is shown that the dimensionless mass-transport velocity can exceed 10% for large waves, and the Lagrangian wave period is much larger than the Eulerian wave period for large waves.     

Three-dimensional liquid sloshing in a tank with baffles

A numerical model has been developed to study three-dimensional (3D) liquid sloshing in a tank with baffles. The numerical model solves the spatially averaged Navier-Stokes equations, which are constructed on a non-inertial reference frame having six degree-of-freedom (DOF) of motions. The large-eddy-simulation (LES) approach is employed to model turbulence by using the Smagorinsky sub-grid scale (SGS) closure model. The two-step projection method is employed in the numerical solutions, aided by the Bi-CGSTAB technique to solve the pressure Poisson equation for the filtered pressure field. The second-order accurate volume-of-fluid (VOF) method is used to track the distorted and broken free surface. The baffles in the tank are modeled by the concept of virtual boundary force (VBF) method. The numerical model is first validated against the available analytical solution and experimental data for two-dimensional (2D) liquid sloshing in a tank without baffles. The 2D liquid sloshing in tanks with baffles is then investigated. The numerical results are compared with other results from available literatures. Good agreement is obtained. Finally, the model is used to study 3D liquid sloshing in a tank with vertical baffles. The effect of the baffle is investigated and discussed.     

Implementation of the European Water Framework Directive: Natural variability associated with the CARLIT method on the rocky shores of the Ligurian Sea (Italy)

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) 2000/60/EC, adopted by the European Community in 2000 with the goal of maintaining and improving the aquatic environments, requires that member states achieve and maintain a good ecological status of all water bodies by 2015. In the marine context, the ecological status has to be quantified applying indexes based on appropriate key biological elements, which allow the categorization of water bodies into five Ecological Status (ES) classes. The CARLIT index is a cartographic monitoring tool enabling the Ecological Quality Ratio (EQR) to be calculated using macroalgae in coastal hard bottoms as a key biological element; at present it is being applied in Spain, France and Italy. To detect actual changes of water quality and, consequently, rely on the application of indexes for the assessment of the ecological status in the marine environment, it is necessary to evaluate their sensitivity to natural variability at different temporal and spatial scales. In this study we present a first quantification of natural (spatial and temporal) variability of EQR‐CARLIT quality assessment in 2006 and 2007 along the Ligurian coast (North‐Western Mediterranean, Italy). The EQR‐CARLIT values recorded along the Ligurian coastline show that natural variability of EQR‐CARLIT is low and that it does not affect the attribution of a given stretch of coast to a particular ES class, in agreement with the major human pressures acting in the area (urbanization, river load, sea‐farming). A small‐scale variability was detected, strengthening the use of cartography of the whole rocky shore, whenever possible, or, alternatively, the assessment of the ecological status for long stretches of coast, to encompass the small‐scale variability due to local factors.     

上海洋山建港后港域夏季水文泥沙状况分析

对2007年9月17-26日在上海洋山港海域固定观测点(平均水深13 m)观测得到的水文泥沙要素,以及悬沙和底质样品分析.分析结果为:1)港域有效波高0.21-1.37 m(风速0.6～14.0 m/s),平均0.61 m(平均风速5.5 m/s).平静天气(平均风速小于5.0 m/s)下,波高随水深变化,两者的相关系数为0.899;而在强风天气下,波高受风况控制.2)最大表层流速超过2.00 m/s.大潮涨潮流占优势,小潮时落潮流占优势;与北岛链汉道封堵前相比,大潮涨、落潮平均流速分别减小15%和30%,小潮涨、落潮平均流速均减小30%～40%.各层余流均为西北方向,与涨潮流方向一致;垂向平均余流速0.11 cm/s,表层达0.25 m/s.3)离底高程1.35 m层和0.35m层最大悬沙浓度均大于3 kg/m3,两层平均悬沙浓度分别为0.89和0.95 kg/m3.无论大潮还是小潮涨潮悬沙浓度均大于落潮,这种现象在大潮时更为显著,潮周期中最大悬沙浓度出现在涨急.与工程前相比悬沙浓度明显降低,大、小潮降低均达20%.4)港区底质平均粒径9.0μm,工程后有变细的趋势.