Solar radiative output and its variability: evidence and mechanisms

Electromagnetic radiation from the Sun is Earths primary energy source. Space-based radiometric measurements in the past two decades have begun to establish the nature, magnitude and origins of its variability. An 11-year cycle with peak-to-peak amplitude of order 0.1 % is now well established in recent total solar irradiance observations, as are larger variations of order 0.2 % associated with the Suns 27-day rotation period. The ultraviolet, visible and infrared spectral regions all participate in these variations, with larger changes at shorter wavelengths. Linkages of solar radiative output variations with solar magnetism are clearly identified. Active regions alter the local radiance, and their wavelength-dependent contrasts relative to the quiet Sun control the relative spectrum of irradiance variability. Solar radiative output also responds to sub-surface convection and to eruptive events on the Sun. On the shortest time scales, total irradiance exhibits five minute fluctuations of amplitude %, and can increase to as much as 0.015 % during the very largest solar flares. Unknown is whether multi-decadal changes in solar activity produce longer-term irradiance variations larger than observed thus far in the contemporary epoch. Empirical associations with solar activity proxies suggest reduced total solar irradiance during the anomalously low activity in the seventeenth century Maunder Minimum relative to the present. Uncertainties in understanding the physical relationships between direct magnetic modulation of solar radiative output and heliospheric modulation of cosmogenic proxies preclude definitive historical irradiance estimates, as yet.Received: 26 August 2004, Published online: 16 November 2004 Correspondence to: Claus Fröhlich     

A two-layer αω-dynamo model with dynamic feedback on the ω-effect

In an attempt to produce a simple representation of an interface dynamo, I examine a dynamo model composed of two one-dimensional (radially averaged) pseudo-spherical layers, one in the convection zone and possessing an α-effect, and the other in the tachocline and possessing an ω-effect. The two layers communicate by means of an analogue of Newton's law of cooling, and a dynamical back-reaction of the magnetic field on ω is provided. Extensive bifurcation diagrams are calculated for three separate values of η, the ratio of magnetic diffusivities of the two layers. I find recognizable similarities to, but also dramatic differences from, the comparable one-layer model examined by Roald &38; Thomas. In particular, the solar-like dynamo mode found previously is no longer stable in the two-layer version; in its place there is a sequence of periodic, quasi-periodic and chaotic modes probably created in a homoclinic bifurcation. These differences are important enough to provide support for the view that the solar dynamo cannot be meaningfully modelled in one dimension.     

Studies on extraction procedure and antioxidative activity of phlorotannins fromSargassum kjellmanianum

Known only in phaeophyceae, phlorotannins (brown algal polyphenols) are natural products with potential uses in pharmacology. This study yielded an extraction procedure to obtain high purity, high molecular weight phlorotannins fromSargassum kjellmanianum and revealed the characteristics of their infrared and flourescence spectra. The antioxidative activity of phlorotannins, which was about 2.6 times as strong as that of 0.02% BHT (tert-butyl-4-hydroxytoluene), showed potential for preventing oil rancidification. Contribution No. 2918 from the Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. The project was supported by The State Ninth-five Key Program of China. (No. 96-916-04-01).     

Optimization of the purification methods for recovery of recombinant growth hormone from Paralichthys olivaceus

This study aimed to optimize the purification of recombinant growth hormone from Paralichthys olivaceus. Recombinant flounder growth hormone (r-fGH) was expressed by Escherichia coli in form of inclusion body or as soluble protein under different inducing conditions. The inclusion body was renatured using two recovery methods, i.e., dilution and dialysis. Thereafter, the refolded protein was purified by Glutathione Sepharase 4B affinity chromatography and r-fGH was obtained by cleavage of thrombin. For soluble products, r-fGH was directly purified from the lysates by Glutathione Sepharase 4B affinity chromatography. ELISA-receptor assay demonstrated that despite its low receptor binding activity, the r-fGH purified from refolded inclusion body had a higher yield (2.605 mgL-1) than that from soluble protein (1.964 mgL-1). Of the tested recovery methods, addition of renaturing buffer (pH 8.5) into denatured inclusion body yielded the best recovery rate (17.9%). This work provided an optimized purification method for high recovery of r-fGH, thus contributing to the application of r-fGH to aquaculture.     

陕西榆林风沙滩区全新世气候和环境变迁

榆林长城沿线处于环境变化敏感带,其风沙滩区沉积剖面的磁化率和粒度分析结果显示,该区全新世早期11 500~10 000 a BP随着全球气候的逐渐转暖,磁化率、黏粒和粉沙含量逐渐增高;全新世中期的10 000~4 500 a BP气候相对比较湿润,植被覆盖度增大,风沙活动减弱,地表沉积物当中粉沙和黏土成分含量显著增大,风化成壤作用增强,地表发育沙质弱古土壤;全新世中期后段的4 500~3 000 a BP期间,气候以比较温和湿润为主,但在4 200~4 000 a BP出现一个气候干旱事件,风沙活动强烈;近3 000 a以来,气候显著干旱化,波动频繁,地表风沙沉积物显著变粗,表现出有5次沙漠扩张。该区生态环境演化、人文历史变迁基本上是自然因素与人为活动综合作用的结果,以自然演化为主,近代人为因素对环境变化起着加强和放大作用。     

Anti-proliferative activity of phlorotannin extracts from brown algae Laminaria japonica Aresch

In this study,we evaluated the anti-proliferative activity of phlorotannins derived from brown algae Laminaria japonica Aresch extracts on the human hepatocellular carcinoma cell (BEL-7402) and on murine leukemic cells (P388) by MTT assay.Cells were incubated with 100 μg/mL of the phlorotannin extract (PE) for 48 h.The inhibitory rate of PE on BEL-7402 and P388 cells was 30.20±1.16% and 43.44±1.86%,respectively,and the half-inhibitory concentration of PE (IC50) on P388 and BEL-7402 cells was 120 μg/mL and >...     

Effects of Pseudoalteromonas sp. BC228 on digestive enzyme activity and immune response of juvenile sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus)

A marine bacterium, Pseudoalteromonas sp. BC228 was supplemented to feed in a feeding experiment aiming to determine its ability of enhancing the digestive enzyme activity and immune response of juvenile Apostichopus japonicus. Sea cucumber individuals were fed with the diets containing 0(control), 105, 107 and 109 CFU g-1 diet of BC228 for 45 days. Results showed that intestinal trypsin and lipase activities were significantly enhanced by 107 and 109 CFU g-1 diet of BC228 in comparison with control(P 0.01). The phagocytic activity in the coelomocytes of sea cucumber fed the diet supplemented with 107 CFU g-1 diet of BC228 was significantly higher than that of those fed control diet(P 0.05). In addition, 105 and 107 CFU g-1 diet of BC228 significantly enhanced lysozyme and phenoloxidase activities in the coelomic fluid of sea cucumber, respectively, in comparison with other diets(P 0.01). Sea cucumbers, 10 each diet, were challenged with Vibrio splendidus NB13 after 45 days of feeding. It was found that the cumulative incidence and mortality of sea cucumber fed with BC228 containing diets were lower than those of animals fed control diet. Our findings evidenced that BC228 supplemented in diets improved the digestive enzyme activity of juvenile sea cucumber, stimulated its immune response and enhanced its resistance to the infection of V. splendidus.     

BDS卫星差分码偏差稳定性分析及其短期预报

利用MGEX(multi-GNSS experiment)发布的BDS卫星差分码偏差(differential code bias, DCB)产品，比较分析不同太阳活动水平下BDS卫星DCB产品的稳定性变化特性，并采用差分自回归移动平均(auto-regressive integrated moving average, ARIMA)时间序列预测模型，实现不同太阳活动水平下BDS卫星DCB的短期预报。结果表明，在太阳活动高年，BDS卫星DCB日解值稳定度、月稳定性均明显低于太阳活动低年，且不同卫星星座类型的BDS卫星DCB稳定性也存在差异；ARIMA时间序列预报结果与MGEX发布值符合程度较好，优于多项式拟合法预测结果。     

2016年门源Ms6.4地震前祁连山周边断层活动分析

基于青藏高原东北缘地区最新的跨断层资料,利用时序曲线分析、断层速率合成分析和垂直形变累积率分析等多种方法进行计算,从不同角度和范围提取2016年门源Ms6.4地震震前异常特征,揭示断层活动。结果显示：1）震中距150 km以内多个场地出现了典型的以加速张性变化为主的短期异常,150~300 km内的异常以趋势变化为主;2）祁连山-海原断裂带上异常场地的空间分布表现出由祁连山断裂带中部集中向东迁移至中东部集中的特征,海原断裂上异常有所增多,此类现象与2003年民乐6.1级地震前的现象极其相似;3）祁连山断裂自2014年以来合成速率偏离正常动态值较远,容易积累应变。垂直形变趋势累积率的计算结果显示,地震震中位于形变积累的高值区。