The effect of chemical cues on the settlement of sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus) larvae

The effects of four ions and eight neuroactive compounds on inducing larval settlement of A. japonicus were assessed in the present study. All bioassays were conducted in 60 × 9 mm Petri dishes, each contained 10 mL of the test solution and 10 doliolaria larvae. There were significant inductive effects of K+(10- mmol L-1), NH+4(0.1 mmol L1), GABA(10-3 mol L-1), acetylcholine(10-5 mol L-1), L-DOPA(10-5 mol L-1), norepinephrine(10-5 mol L-1) and dopamine(10-7 mol L-1 and 10-5 mol L-1) on the settlement of sea cucumber larvae. L-DOPA and dopamine are the most efficient chemical cues to induce A. japonicus larvae to settle. The highest percentage of larval settlement was induced by 10-5 mol L-1 L-DOPA and dopamine(33% and 40%) compared to the control(7%). However, Ca2+, Mg2+, choline, serotonin, and epinephrine were less effective on larval settlement at all tested concentrations. This study evaluated the stability and feasibility of chemical cues for larval settlement in different culture systems, which can be applied to improve the hatchery production of this valuable species.     

Snow and stream-water chemistry of the Ganga headwater basin,Garhwal Himalaya,India

Abstract

Studies of the chemical composition of snowpack and stream water were carried out in a catchment having an area of 53km² (31°03′-30°55′N and 78°40′-78°51′E) in the Garhwal Himalaya, India. The dominant ions in the snowpack and stream water were Ca²⁺, Na⁺, NO^? ₃, SO^2- ₄ and HCO^? ₃. Solute patterns in the snowpack show preferential elution. Investigation of the chemical composition of stream water shows that meltwater changes its composition substantially as it passes through soil pathways to the stream. The groundwater flushing perhaps controls the chemical composition of meltwater in the early spring. However, in the period from July to September, the stream water carries the chemical signature of monsoonal precipitation.     

新疆库木塔格004号陨石球粒类型研究及其在球粒分类体系的应用

球粒是球粒陨石的主要组分,目前球粒分类体系主要有三种,即结构分类、FeO-SiO2分类和M-FeO-CaO分类。球粒结构分类过于依赖结构与形态,而与化学成分联系不紧密。FeO-SiO2分类体系和M-FeO-CaO分类体系在传统的结构分类体系基础上加入了矿物化学分类参数,这有利于进一步研究太阳星云演化的物理化学过程。但与结构分类相比,很少利用FeO-SiO2和M-FeO-CaO分类体系对陨石球粒进行分类。本次所研究陨石为我国新发现的沙漠陨石富集区——新疆库木塔格沙漠004号陨石（L4,S4,W3）,在对其中的球粒进行了详细普查和研究的基础上,分别利用三种分类体系对该陨石中的球粒进行分类,并进一步探讨了FeO-SiO2分类和M-FeO-CaO分类方法优缺点与应用范围。通过对比分析,提出了后两种分类方法的改进意见：针对FeO-SiO2分类体系,提出以硅酸盐中FeO=7.5%（wt%）为I型和II型球粒分界线,SiO2=47%及53%（wt%）为A型、AB型和B型球粒分界线。FeO-SiO2分类体系不仅能应用于斑状球粒,也适用非斑状球粒。对M-FeO-CaO分类体系依据辉石组分（FeO及CaO,单位wt%）对A1型（FeO＜1,CaO＞1）、A2型（FeO≈1—3,CaO＜0.5）、A5型（FeO≈11—14,CaO≈0.3—0.9）和B型（FeO＞3,CaO＜0.5）球粒的类型区间进行了初步划分。     

SYNOPTIC CONTROL OF REGIONAL TEMPERATURE TRENDS IN THE COTERMINOUS UNITED STATES BETWEEN 1949 AND 1981

Regional patterns of January and mean annual temperature change between 1949 and 1981 are compared with regional changes in January precipitation totals and related to upper-level atmospheric circulation. During cold periods, cooling is concentrated in the eastern United States and is associated with a southward shift in the zone of maximum precipitation in the eastern United States (reflecting the mean position of the polar front jet), and with a strengthening of meridional flow aloft. During this same period, enhanced meridionality yields an increase in temperatures in the Pacific Northwest, associated with amplification of the mean long wave ridge over the Rocky Mountains. Warm periods in the eastern United States, conversely, correlate with a stronger zonal flow aloft (resulting in cooler, wetter conditions in the Pacific Northwest). Accordingly, temporal variation in regional temperature trends may be more readily interpreted as responses to synoptic controls which yield departures of opposite sign in locales influenced by ridges vs. troughs, rather than as a reflection of uniform, progressive hemispheric or global temperature change.     

The truth and beauty of chemical potentials

This essay in honour of Mike Brown addresses aspects of chemical equilibrium and equilibration in rocks, with a focus on the role that chemical potentials play. Chemical equilibrium is achieved by diffusive flattening of chemical potential gradients. The idea of equilibration volume is developed, and the way equilibration volumes may evolve along a pressure–temperature path is discussed. The effect of the environment of an equilibration volume is key to understanding the evolution of the equilibration volume with changing conditions. The likely behaviour of equilibration volumes is used to suggest why preservation of equilibrium mineral assemblages and mineral compositions from metamorphism tends to occur. This line of logic then provides the conceptual support to conventional equilibrium thermodynamic approaches to studying rocks, using, for example, thermobarometry and pseudosections.     

Granite suites: a problematic concept?

Abstract

In Australian stratigraphic nomenclature, the concept of granitic rock suites has been in formal use for over a decade. The basis for this suite classification of granitic rocks is inconsistent and, in eastern Australian usage, unsound on several levels. We also note that the approach used in Western Australia is different. Granitic intrusions are probably not truly amenable to any strict, comprehensive, lithostratigraphic classification. If these rocks are integrated into such a scheme, group- and supergroup-level units (i.e. formal suites and supersuites) should not be incorporated. For the present, mappable units should be recognised at the levels of formation and member. The use of granite suites and supersuites in formal stratigraphic hierarchies is not recommended. Instead, granitic bodies could be grouped into individual plutons, which may or may not form parts of larger batholiths.

1. KEY POINTS

2. The suite-based classification of granitic bodies, as currently used in the Australian Stratigraphic Units Database, is based on unsound principles, and is not employed in a consistent manner.

3. Granitic intrusive rocks probably cannot be grouped using lithostratigraphic principles that are consistent with either the local or international codes.

4. Granitic bodies can be grouped into batholiths, plutons and members, but the names of these units should, for the moment, remain informal.

     

Glacier Peak and mid-Lateglacial Katla cryptotephras in Scotland: potential new intercontinental and marine-terrestrial correlations

Using contiguous high resolution sampling methods, we report the detection of a Glacier Peak volcanic ash from North America in Lateglacial Interstadial lake sediments in western Scotland. It occurs in close proximity to the Icelandic Borrobol and Penifiler tephras, but is distinguishable by its rhyolitic major-element composition that is consistent with the earliest set G layer, one of a number of mid-Interstadial Glacier Peak eruptions dated between 13.71 and 13.41 cal ka bp. Another cryptotephra layer present in these same Interstadial sediments has a rhyolitic composition consistent with the Icelandic Katla source. However, it is in a stratigraphic position below the widespread mid-Lateglacial Stadial Vedde Ash from Katla, which is also present in these cores. The Katla layer is stratigraphically well defined, suggesting primary airfall, and is compositionally similar to a mid-Interstadial rhyolitic tephra reported from a North Atlantic marine sequence south of Iceland dated to ~13.6 ka. The detection of Glacier Peak G in the European tephrostratigraphy will permit direct high-precision correlation of mid-Interstadial palaeoenvironments between North American and European terrestrial sequences. Any correlation between the new Katla layer and similar marine layers remains provisional, though if verified would permit similar correlation between North Atlantic marine and European terrestrial records.     

成都金沙遗址青铜器的化学特征及矿质来源

在总结前人对商周遗址中青铜器研究的基础上,通过对成都金沙遗址出土青铜器的铅同位素和主要金属元素含量的测定,分析讨论了金沙青铜器的化学特征及可能的矿质来源。通过对测定结果的分析认为:青铜器的冶炼过程中人为进行铜铅锡含量配比的迹象并不明显,更多体现出直接利用多金属矿的结果;金沙遗址中青铜器的铅同位素值大部分异常高,表现出N(206Pb)/N(204Pb)大于20。根据区域地质资料和前人对多金属矿床的研究结果,认为金沙青铜器的铜矿石极有可能来自于距离较近的会理拉拉厂铜矿。     

水-岩化学作用等效裂纹扩展细观力学模型

从化学腐蚀下岩石细观结构的变化出发,研究水化学溶液对岩石中裂纹的腐蚀作用。运用地球化学矿物-水反应的溶解动力学,考查水-岩反应化学溶液中不同时间段离子浓度的变化,从理论上探讨化学腐蚀下等效裂纹扩展的定量化分析方法。通过质量守恒定律计算出裂纹在迹长及隙宽方向的变化,将水化腐蚀等效成有效裂纹长度,建立了水-岩化学作用下等效裂纹扩展的计算公式并计算应力强度因子。通过对砂岩的研究结果表明,水-岩化学作用对岩石裂纹的扩展有显著影响,并且具有时间效应。同时,水化学溶液的离子浓度及pH值大小对裂纹的扩展存在影响,其中pH值的变化对岩石的断裂力学效应更加显著。当溶液的酸性越强或碱性越强,腐蚀越大,裂纹扩展越快;pH值为中性时,腐蚀作用得到较大缓解,裂纹发展缓慢。为定量研究裂隙岩体在水岩化学作用下的细观机理提供了一种新的思路。     

水化学作用对砂岩抗剪强度特性影响效应研究

开展了不同水化学溶液侵蚀条件下砂岩的抗剪强度试验,分析了水化学作用对砂岩微细观结构的影响效应,探讨了砂岩的水化学损伤机制。在此基础上,分析了水化学作用对砂岩抗剪强度的影响规律。通过引入岩石水化学损伤度,定量表达了砂岩抗剪强度参数随水化学损伤的演化过程,并采用化学动力学方法,模拟在给定水化学环境条件下重庆砂岩损伤度随时间演化过程,进而预测其抗剪强度参数演化规律。所得结果为定量化研究水化学作用对岩石物理力学特性的影响效应及预测与水化学作用相关的岩土工程的安全性和稳定性提供了良好的借鉴作用。