Cloning of a chub metallothionein cDNA and development of competitive RT-PCR of chub metallothionein mRNA as a potential biomarker of heavy metal exposure

Metallothionein has been assayed in a range of aquatic animal tissues as an indicator of metal exposure. We sequenced chub (Leuciscus cephalus) metallothionein cDNA which showed over 90% homology to common carp, goldfish and stone loach and 77% homology to rainbow trout sequences for metallothionein. We then used the extended primer method to develop an accurate quantitative competitive RT-PCR assay for metallothionein mRNA. RT-PCR was used to measure metallothionein mRNA in feral chub from a range of field sites, with different levels of heavy metal pollution, in the West Midlands, UK. Measurements were complemented by analysis of liver and gill metallothionein protein by capillary electrophoresis. There was no significant difference in the metallothionein protein levels between fish of different rivers and there was no evidence of elevation of mRNA at the sites of highest metal exposure. The level of metal exposure (e.g. zinc, nickel and cadmium each ranging between 15 and 28 microg/l ) at the pH (7.5-8.5) of these rivers appears insufficient to elevate hepatic or gill metallothionein in chub. A lack of elevation of hepatic metallothionein mRNA in chub exposed to zinc, copper and manganese for 24 h and 10 days in the laboratory also suggests a non-responsiveness of this species.     

Correlative changes in metabolism and DNA damage in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) exposed to benzo[a]pyrene

Juvenile turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) were injected intraperitoneally with either corn oil or 5 mg/kg benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) dissolved in corn oil and sampled I and 3 days after injection. After 1 day, no elevation of 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity was observed, however bile metabolites (BaP-7,8 dihydrodiol representing 70% of the total metabolites) and a single hepatic DNA adduct spot (0.47 adducts/10(8) nucleotides) identified by 32P-postlabelling were formed. No BaP metabolites or DNA adducts were observed in either control or carrier control fish. Fish sampled after 3 days reported 5-fold higher (P < 0.05) levels of EROD activity, a shift in the bile metabolite profile towards BaP phenol formation (1OH and 30H BaP comprising up to 60% of total metabolites detected) and the formation of two adduct spots (0.86 and 0.71 adducts/10(8) nucleotides). These results show that BaP can be metabolised and form hydrophobic DNA adducts in turbot without EROD elevation. Following EROD elevation, a shift in the profile of both BaP metabolites and BaP metabolite-DNA interactions occurs indicative of other oxidative processes.     

分量式钻孔应变观测数据的解释

一、引言我国开展分量式钻孔地应力(应变)观测已经有30多年的历史,获得了大量宝贵的观测数据。目前,第二代分量式应变观测系统(例如RZB-1型电容式应变仪),已经将观测精度提高到10~(-10)。但是,如何处理和解释这些资料,从中提取出可靠的地应力信息,尽管已经有不少作者进行过论述,但仍然是一个没有得到完善解决的问题。例如至今还没有文献阐述观测资料与理论固体潮是否符合,因而不能说明观测结果的可靠性。这个     

观测应变阶在地震应力触发研究中的应用

对中国钻孔应变台网观测到的昆仑山口西MS8.1大地震的应变阶资料的研究结果表明:① 很多观测值与静力位错理论计算值不符合；② 北方地震较活跃地区的很多台站观测到异常大的应变阶，而南方构造运动较不活跃地区的台站虽然也观测到地震波动，但是应变阶不明显. 由此推断，地震的触发（可能是动态触发）作用对远场的实际地震应变变化具有重要影响. 也就是说，远场的构造活动（可能是断层活动）是否曾被地震触发，可能决定当地的应变场变化的主要特征. 进一步对昌平台1999年3月11日张北地震与1999年11月1日大同地震的观测资料对比分析表明:断裂带的分布情况对实际地震应变变化有直接影响. 这证明观测到的异常大的地震应变阶可能是地震触发了当地的断层活动的表现.      

Developments of borehole strain observa- tion outside China

Introduction The Earth′s crust deforms in the regional tectonic stress field. Borehole strain observation isone important means for studies on the crustal deformation and the stress field. QIU and ZHANG(2002) have introduced the current situation of borehole strain observation in China. OutsideChina, early in September of 1968, Sacks of Carnegie Institution of Washington and Evertson ofUniversity of Texas firstly invented a borehole dilatometer in the world (Sacks, Evertson, 197…     

印尼苏门答腊大地震中国钻孔应变台网整点值记录资料

2004年12月26日北京时间08时56分，印尼苏门答腊西北海域发生了8．7级地震。震后不到3个月，即2005年3月29日，在原震区东南约200km处又发生了8．5级地震。这次地震是全球百年以来发生的最大地震之一，也是1964年美国阿拉斯加地震后全球发生的最大地震。     

用钻孔应变观测研究北京地区活断层的现今活动

研究断层活动性的主要目的之一是了解地震危险性,与地震危险性最直接相关的是现今的断层活动情况.如果对当地断层分布和性质有比较清楚的了解,那么就可以根据位错理论用钻孔应变仪观测资料反演断层活动.用遗传算法进行这种反演可以在进行全局搜索的同时大大提高计算效率.北京地区的活断层研究程度比较高,同时有比较密集的钻孔应变观测台站.利用2003-2005年钻孔应变观测资料对北京地区活断层活动的初步尝试性反演表明,在此期间顺义-良乡断层北段和南口-孙河断层东南段的活动可能起主导作用,活动程度与小震活动有关系.