肝素酶Ⅰ对合成的肝素五糖的酶解作用及对其抗Xa因子活性的影响

研究肝素酶Ⅰ(来源于Flavobacterumheparinase，EC4.2.2.7)对人工合成的且含有与抗凝血酶Ⅲ特定结合位点的肝素五糖(SHP)的酶解作用，并对酶解作用的动力学进行研究。利用强阴离子高效液相色谱(SAX-HPLC)对酶解混合物进行分离，利用质谱(ESIMS)和核磁共振波谱(1H-NMR)技术对得到的二糖和三糖的结构进行确证。研究结果表明，这种被作为肝素反向试剂的肝素酶Ⅰ可水解人工所合成的肝素五糖，从而使之丧失抗Xa因子活性。     

Measuring temperature variability of five major cities of Pakistan

Changes in surface air temperature during the last century are widely discussed among researches in the field of climate change. This paper measures the variability of annual surface air temperature of five major cities of Pakistan (Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, Hyderabad and Karachi) for the period from 1882 to 2003. We perform an exploratory analysis which shows that the annual landmass air temperature series of five relatively more important climate stations of Pakistan obey the normal distribution. A subsequent trend analysis shows that the temperature has been increasing in the twentieth century for the five (major) cities of Pakistan, the increase being 0.3°C to 1.0°C. We computations based on Bayesian analysis for two samples (e.g., for Lahore, we use data for the period from 1882 to 1960 and 1961–2000 for first sample and second sample, respectively) of temperature data of five cites shows that the average of annual mean temperature for the second period is higher than the average of first period. Thus, Bayesian inferencing shows that the general pattern of evolution of temperature over Pakistan is pretty similar to the current global warming configuration.     

Influence of Icelandic Low pressure on winter precipitation variability over northern part of Indo-Pak Region

Several studies demonstrate that North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) has dominant influence on the variability of climate over Southwest Asia. We deconstruct the NAO into its two components, the Azores High and the Icelandic Low. Regional circulations are influenced by changes not only in the pressure but also the positions of the Azores High and the Icelandic Low. The results presented in this paper exhibit that significantly great portions of interannual variance of winter precipitation over Indo-Pak Region (consists of Northeast Pakistan and Northwest India) can be explained by including the contributions of the Icelandic Low pressure in addition to ENSO and AO. This contribution also explains the physical mechanisms to establish the relationships between the COA and regional climate by examining composite maps of large-scale circulation fields using NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data.     

A dynamic theory of hydrocarbon migration

This paper presents a new analysis of secondary migration of hydrocarbon that does not require capillary forces for trapping, but instead uses the method of characteristics and wave theory. The waves change speed and either reflect or refract (or partially reflect and partially refract) as they contact with layers of different flow capacities. Reflection of a certain wave from a boundary starts hydrocarbon accumulation below that boundary. The method is easy to use and conforms readily to graphical solution. For the sake of simplicity there is only two-phase flow. The application of this method gives new insights into the physics of migration and entrapment of oil. The method gives realistic times for oil accumulation and points to oil generation rate as the most sensitive variable. Oil and water densities, viscosities, and permeability are also important. We find that at the very small generation rates usually assumed the time required to develop a given column thickness is insensitive to the distance from the source rock. In general, the method also predicts a non-uniform saturation in the oil column caused by an interaction between buoyancy and viscous forces. Being based on the dynamic interactions of viscous and buoyancy forces, our theory is considerably at odds with hydrostatic approaches. We assume no capillary pressure, one-dimensional flow, and no regional groundwater flow, conditions which are not realized in actual migration. The theory should be viewed therefore as an end member of a more general theory; nevertheless, the largely graphical solutions give fundamental insights that are difficult to obtain by other techniques.     

Dominant impact of South Asian low heat on summer monsoon rainfall over Central India

Although previous literature have considered Southern Oscillation Index (SOI), Indian Dipole, and SST as the major teleconnection patterns to explain the variability of summer monsoon rainfall over India. South Asia low pressure and Indian Ocean high are the centers of action that dominates atmospheric circulations in Indian continent. This paper examines the possible impact of South Asian low pressure distribution on the variability of summer monsoon rainfall of India using centers of action approach. Our analysis demonstrates that the explanation of summer monsoon rainfall variability over Central India is improved significantly if the SOI is replaced by South Asian low heat. This contribution also explains the physical mechanisms to establish the relationships between the South Asian low heat and regional climate by examining composite maps of large-scale circulation fields using NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis data.     

Chemical contamination, toxicity, and benthic community indices in sediments of the lower Miami River and adjoining portions of Biscayne Bay, Florida

A large-scale survey of sediment quality in Biscayne Bay, Florida, was conducted in 1995–1996 to characterize the relative degree, geographic patterns, and spatial extent of degraded sediment quality. Chemical analyses and multiple toxicity tests were performed on 226 surficial sediment samples collected over an area of 484 km² in greater Biscayne Bay, including saltwater reaches of several tributaries. Benthic samples were collected and analyzed at one-third of the locations. One or more chemical concentrations exceeded effects range median (ERM) values in 35 samples, representing an area of 5.4 km² (1.1% of the survey area). Highly toxic conditions in amphipod survival tests occurred in 24 of the samples, representing 62 km² (13% of the area). Highly significant results were more frequently observed in three sub-lethal tests: sea urchin fertilization (affecting 47% of the area), sea urchin embryological development (84% of the area), and microbial bioluminescence (51% of the area). The highest levels of chemical contamination (range in mean ERM quotients of 0.2 to 2.0, average 0.76) were observed in samples from the lower Miami River. The high degree of contamination in the river contrasted sharply with conditions in the bay, where chemical concentrations generally were much lower (range in mean ERM quotients of 0.005 to 0.21, average 0.04). Amphipod survival tests showed a very high degree of correspondence with a gradient in chemical contamination in the river and adjoining reaches of the bay. Correlation analyses, scatter plots, and principal component analyses indicated that both amphipod survival in the laboratory tests and the abundance and diversity of the benthos decreased sharply with increasing concentrations of mixtures of organic compounds and trace metals in the sediments. The triad of analyses provided a strong weight of evidence of pollution-induced degradation of sediment quality in the riverine locations.     

Groundwater resource development in Jamui District,Bihar, India: an overview

Because agriculture is the main source of livelihood for the bulk of the population in Jamui District, the importance of developing irrigation facilities in any programme of economic regeneration can hardly be over emphasized. It is, therefore, imperative that groundwater development be considered as an important step to drought mitigation in the Jamui district. The present study was carried out in such a way that technical and economic viability of any groundwater development plan can be thoroughly scrutinized. In this paper the hydrogeological framework of the district was established based on aquifer disposition, orientation of potential fracture systems and their hydraulic characteristics. Considering the aquifer geometry and yield potential of different structures, a blueprint for a groundwater development plan was prepared. An economic analysis of the development plan also was attempted. The analysis yielded results that made it possible to evaluate parameters such as cost–benefit ratio, incremental benefits and internal rate of return used to assess the economic viability of the groundwater development plan. Electronic Publication     

A Laboratory Study on Estimation of Shear Strength and Compaction Properties of Overburden Dump Material in Indian Coal Mines

The Transcaucasian intermountain area is part of the Caucasus segment of the Alpine-Mediterranean mountain belt. The continental intraplate basalts of the study area range in age from 6.10 ± 0.20 to 6.40 ± 0.20 Ma. The basalt erupted from monogenetic volcanoes are formed by lava flows and their pyroclastic equivalents. They are generally characterized by low volumes, are predominantly subalkalic with minor alkaline composition. The ultramafic xenoliths have not been identified in the basalts. The basalts may be subdivided into porphyritic and oligophyric groups. Fractional crystallization plays an important role in the petrogenesis of basalts. Almost all the studied samples showed different degrees of fractionation of olivine ± plagioclase ± clinopyroxene. No significant contamination of basalts with upper continental crustal material was confirmed by Rb/Sr and Rb/Ba ratios or by Sr, Nd isotopic and geochemical composition (⁸⁷Sr/ ⁸⁶Sr = 0.703683-0.704531±2; ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd = 0.512788-0.512848 ±10; ¹⁴⁷Sm/¹⁴⁴Nd = 0.1036-0.1144 ±2-3). The studied basalts display, compared to heavy rare earth elements (HREE), highly fractionated light rare earth elements (LREE) with La/Yb=9.25-24.00. This makes them similar to ocean island basalts (OIB), which is also evidenced by Ce/Pb, La/Nb, Zr/Nb, Zr/Y ratios. The Dy/Yb-La/Yb and Yb-La/Yb and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr-¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratios indicating a “mixed” evolution of basalt-forming magmas. The basalt feeding magma chambers of the Transcaucasian intermountain area seem to be formed from a mixture of partial melting of Normal-MORB (Mid-Ocean Ridge Basalt) type upper mantle (garnet and spinel lherzolite) and EMII type components with strong ocean island basalts (OIB)-like signature.     

Flood risk assessment of River Indus of Pakistan

Annual flood peak discharges is widely used in risk assessment. Major sources of flooding in Pakistan are River Jhelum, River Chenab, River Kabul, and upper and lower parts of River Indus. These rivers are major tributaries of the River Indus System which is one of the most important systems of the world and the greatest system of Pakistan. River Indus is the longest river of Pakistan containing seven gauge stations and several barrages, and it plays a vital role in the irrigation system and power generation for the country. This paper estimates the risk of flood in River Indus using historical data of maximum peak discharges. On the basis of our analysis, we find out which dam/barrage reservoir need to be updated in capacity, and whether there are more dams/barrages needed.