Sequences Characterization of Microsatellite DNA Sequences in Pacific Abalone(Haliotis discus hannai)

1 Introduction Microsatellites or simple sequence repeats (SSRs) are tandemly repeated motifs of one to six bases found in all prokaryotic and eukaryotic genomes analysed to date (Zane et al., 2002). Due to their hyper-variable and co-dominant nature, relatively high abundance and random distribution in the genome, microsatellites are among the most efficient class of molecular markers. Such repeats display high polymorphism because of variation in repeat length and can be rapidly analysed t…     

Fine-grained landuse characterization using ground-based pictures: a deep learning solution based on globally available data

ABSTRACT

We study the problem of landuse characterization at the urban-object level using deep learning algorithms. Traditionally, this task is performed by surveys or manual photo interpretation, which are expensive and difficult to update regularly. We seek to characterize usages at the single object level and to differentiate classes such as educational institutes, hospitals and religious places by visual cues contained in side-view pictures from Google Street View (GSV). These pictures provide geo-referenced information not only about the material composition of the objects but also about their actual usage, which otherwise is difficult to capture using other classical sources of data such as aerial imagery. Since the GSV database is regularly updated, this allows to consequently update the landuse maps, at lower costs than those of authoritative surveys. Because every urban-object is imaged from a number of viewpoints with street-level pictures, we propose a deep-learning based architecture that accepts arbitrary number of GSV pictures to predict the fine-grained landuse classes at the object level. These classes are taken from OpenStreetMap. A quantitative evaluation of the area of Île-de-France, France shows that our model outperforms other deep learning-based methods, making it a suitable alternative to manual landuse characterization.     

Biodegradative potential and characterization of psychrotolerant polychlorinated biphenyl-degrading marine bacteria isolated from a coastal station in the Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea, Antarctica)

Antarctic marine bacteria were screened for their ability to degrade polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) as the sole carbon and energy source at both 4 degrees C and 15 degrees C. PCB-degrading isolates (7.1%) were identified by sequencing their 16S rDNA as Pseudoalteromonas, Psychrobacter and Arthrobacter members. One representative isolate per genera was selected for evaluating the biodegradative potential under laboratory scale and phenotypically characterized. Removal of individual PCB congeners was between 35.6% and 79.8% at 4 degrees C and between 0.4% and 82.8% at 15 degrees C. Differences in the removal patterns of PCB congeners were observed in relation to the phylogenetic affiliation: Arthrobacter isolate showed similar biodegradation efficiencies when growing at 4 degrees C and 15 degrees C, while Pseudoalteromonas better degraded PCBs at 15 degrees C. No biodegradation was detected for Psychrobacter isolate at 4 degrees C. Results obtained highlight the occurrence of PCB-degrading bacteria in Antarctic seawater and suggest the potential exploitation of autochthonous bacteria for PCB bioremediation in cold marine environments.     

A Markov Chain Model for Subsurface Characterization: Theory and Applications

This paper proposes an extension of a single coupled Markov chain model to characterize heterogeneity of geological formations, and to make conditioning on any number of well data possible. The methodology is based on the concept of conditioning a Markov chain on the future states. Because the conditioning is performed in an explicit way, the methodology is efficient in terms of computer time and storage. Applications to synthetic and field data show good results.     

Stiff soil amplification effects in the 7 September 1999 Athens (Greece) earthquake

The Athens, Greece, earthquake of 7 September 1999 provided a number of reliable strong motion recordings and well-defined patterns of damage at sites with known geological and geotechnical conditions. Joint evaluation of this evidence shows that the very stiff soils of the Athens basin, compared to the nearby outcropping soft rocks, have amplified the peak horizontal acceleration by an average of 40% or more and have shifted elastic response spectra to higher periods. US and the European seismic code provisions (NEHRP-97 and EC-8), place stiff soils and soft rocks at the same site category and consequently fail to predict these adverse effects. A larger number of site categories and new site coefficients that depend on the seismic excitation frequency appear necessary in order to overcome this deficit of the codes.     

A new exploration tool: Quantitative core characterization

We will describe a new laboratory system which was designed to be highly automated and portable while maintaining quality. Driving this design was the recognition of the temporal dependence of physical properties. It becomes apparent that some sedimentary rocks, particularly shales, degrade and disaggregare so completely that mechanical or elastic properties cannot be measured. This temporal dependence displays a time scale much shorter than normal weathering but greater than the time for stress relief. A system was designed to permit field characterization of freshly recovered core material. A benefit of automation and portability is a marked increase in measurement efficiency. The attributes of this system permit rapid characterization of a large number of fresh cores in remote, frontier exploration areas. This feature can significantly reduce prospect evaluation time. Statistically significant rock property databases can be created in a short period of time.     

Fast modeling of cross-covariances in the LMC: A tool for data integration

Although modeling of cross-covariances by fitting the linear model of coregionalization (LMC) is considered a cumbersome task, cross-covariances are the key for integration of data for multiple attributes in environmental hydrology, aquifer and reservoir characterizations using multivariate geostatistics. This paper proposes a novel method of modeling cross-covariances in the linear model of coregionalization (LMC). The classic minimum/maximum autocorrelation factors (MAF) method is analyzed and found to be a good tool to discriminate the elementary nested structures of directional sample covariance matrices. Thus, separate modeling of the scalar sample covariance for each MAF factor may allow to obtain the complete LMC model for the original attributes after a back rotation of the diagonal model covariance matrix of directional factors. However, such a back rotation is not computable following the classic MAF formulation. This paper introduces an ambi-rotational minimum/maximum autocorrelation factors (AMAF) method that allows a back and forth double rotation of the directional diagonal model covariance matrix for factors. This approach provides a device for modeling of the full matrix of directional covariance and cross-covariance for the original attributes in the LMC without recurring to iterations. In this way, the use of multivariate geostatistics for data integration is allowed avoiding collocated approaches or rotation and modeling of data factor scores. The method is illustrated with an example for covariances for three attributes.     

Sustainable development and management of an aquifer system in western Turkey

This study presents the establishment of sustainable development and management policies for the Küçük Menderes River Basin aquifer system in western Turkey. Geological, hydrogeological, and geophysical data are used conjunctively to define various hydrogeological units and their geometry. Distributions of hydraulic-parameter values and recharge are estimated by geostatistical methods and hydrologic simulations, respectively. A finite-difference groundwater flow model is used to represent the unconfined flow in the aquifer system. The model has been calibrated under steady state and transient conditions. The resulting model was used to test seven management scenarios for a planning period of 21 years to determine the so-called safe yield and sustainable yield of the aquifer system and to investigate the potential impacts of four planned surface water reservoirs on groundwater resources in the basin. The results demonstrate that the continuation of the present pumping rates exceeds both the safe yield and the sustainable yield of the aquifer system. Consequently, the growing need for irrigation water should be met by the construction of the planned surface water reservoirs and the implementation of efficient water management policies and plans.

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Resumen Este estudio presenta el establecimiento de políticas sustentables de desarrollo y gestión en el sistema acuífero de la cuenca del río Küçük Menderes, al Oeste de Turquía, para lo que se ha utilizado datos geológicos, hidrogeológicos y geofísicos de forma conjunta de cara a definir diversas unidades hidrogeológicas y su geometría. La distribución de los parámetros hidráulicos y de la recarga ha sido estimada mediante métodos geoestadísticos y simulaciones hidrológicas, respectivamente. Se ha empleado un modelo de las aguas subterráneas en diferencias finitas para representar el flujo no confinado en el sistema acuífero, el cual se ha calibrado bajo condiciones estacionarias y transitorias. El modelo resultante ha sido usado para contrastar siete escenarios de gestión durante un período de planificación de 21 años con el fin de determinar el punto de explotación segura y sustentable del sistema acuífero, así como para investigar los impactos potenciales sobre los recursos subterráneos de los cuatro embalses superficiales que se hallan en proyecto. Los resultados demuestran que el mantenimiento de las tasas actuales de extracción del acuífero supera tanto el régimen de bombeo seguro como el sustentable del sistema. Por consiguiente, se debería compensar la necesidad creciente de agua para riego con la construcción de los reservorios superficiales previstos y con la implementación de políticas y planes de gestión eficiente del agua.

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Résumé Cette étude présente la proposition dune politique de développement et de gestion durables du système aquifère du bassin du Petit Mendérès dans louest de la Turquie. Des données géologiques, hydrogéologiques et géophysiques ont été utilisées conjointement pour définir les différentes unités hydrogéologiques et leur géométrie. Les distributions des paramètres hydrauliques et de la recharge ont été estimées respectivement par des méthodes géostatistiques et des simulations hydrologiques. Un modèle découlement souterrain aux éléments finis a été utilisé pour représenter lécoulement non captif dans le système aquifère. Le modèle a été calibré dans des conditions de régimes permanent et transitoire. Le modèle résultant a servi à tester sept scénarios de gestion pour une période de programmation de 21 ans, afin de déterminer les débits de prélèvement sûr et durable dans le système aquifère et détudier les impacts potentiels de quatre réservoirs deau de surface en projet sur les eaux souterraines du bassin. Les résultats montrent que la poursuite des prélèvements au débit actuel excède aussi bien le débit dexploitation de sécurité que celui durable pour le système aquifère. Par conséquent, les besoins croissants deau pour lirrigation doivent être satisfaits par la construction des réservoirs projetés et par la mise en place de politiques et de plans de gestion de leau efficace.

     

分子筛材料的研究现状和趋势

从沸石的成分特征出发,系统地介绍了该研究目前在材料成分,结构分析,合成方法,现代测试技术的应用以及研究发展方向等方面的内容。     

膨胀土干缩变形特性试验研究

膨胀土是一种典型的问题性土，对气候变化非常敏感，在干旱气候条件下，极易发生体积收缩变形，引发各种工 程地质问题。为了研究膨胀土的干缩变形特性，开展了一系列室内干燥试验，测定了膨胀土的收缩特征曲线，重点分析 了初始含水率和干密度对干缩变形过程的影响，并进一步探讨了水泥固化抑制膨胀土干缩变形的效果和机理。结果表 明：（1） 膨胀土的干缩变形过程存在三个典型阶段：正常收缩、残余收缩和零收缩；（2） 初始含水率越高，试样蒸发速 率越快，且干缩变形完全后试样孔隙比越小而最终收缩应变越大，干缩变形越明显；（3） 初始干密度越大，试样蒸发速 率和最终体积收缩应变越小，提高初始干密度对试样干缩变形具有一定的抑制作用；（4） 在膨胀土中掺入适量的水泥能 显著降低试样的体积收缩应变，对干缩变形具有良好的抑制效果；（5） 膨胀土的干缩变形具有明显的各向异性特征，并 且与初始状态有关。