Response of downstream sediment to water resource development in mainstream of the Lancang River

The impact of hydropower cascades of the Lancang River on downstream sedimentation has become one of the key problems in the research of the transboundary water resource development and its possible environmental effects. In this paper, the newest sediment data series spanning 17 years （1987-2003） at Yunjinghong hydrometric station and Chiang Saen hydrometric station, in northern Thailand, are analyzed to reveal these effects. Monthly mean sediment concentration data of the two stations are compared in-phase and yearly series are analyzed by the method of correlation and regression analysis and causality test. The analysis result shows that, though both of them are located at lower reaches of Manwan and Dachaoshan hydropower stations which are already constructed and in use, the sediment responses of the two stations are different under the regulation of the hydropower stations Annual series at Yunjinghong station are positively correlated but do not match well with those at Chiang Saen station. In addition, the results of Granger causality test on the time series also suggest that the series of maximum monthly mean sediment concentration of the Yunjinghong station each year may give cause for the ones of Chiang Saen station, while the series of minimum monthly mean sediment concentration each year and annual mean sediment concentration of Yunjinghong do not evidently give cause for the ones of the other station. Undoubtedly, this discovery will provide new evidences to assess the impacts of cascades construction in mainstream of the Lancang River on the variation of downstream sediment and its transboundary effects.     

Study of Interoperability in Mobile Agent Environment

0　IntroductionWiththeincreasinglydevelopmentandcontinuouslyspreadofthetechnologyofInternetandWWW,Wemusttaketheglobalnetworkintoaccountasanopendistributedsystemwhenwedesign,developandimplementtheapplicationsofnetwork.Networkisthecenterofthesenewapplicationsandtheessentialneedtothemisdistribution,dynamicadjustment,differentarchitectureandopenness,sothetraditionalclient/servermodelhasn’tbeenadapttotheneednowandhavetobeextended,thenthenewcomputingmodelssuchasremoteevaluationmodel,codeondemandm…     

Evaluating the reliability of microsatellite genotyping from low-quality DNA templates with a polynomial distribution model

Molecular studies using trace DNA, such as from museum specimens, ancient or forensic samples and samples obtained noninvasively, often have a common problem of low quality of DNA templates. Amplification errors, such as allelic dropout and false allele, may arise during polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using such samples. A mathematical model which treats homozygotes and heterozygotes discriminately has been developed to measure sample quality and compute the confidence level of using multipletube approaches. We use plucked hair samples collected from 26 individual Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxel- lana) to test the model. In this case, a confidence level of 99% can be achieved by three positive PCRs. If the sample quality is very poor and requires many PCR replicates, an alternative multiplestep genotyping method is recommended. This model enables researchers to optimize experimental protocols through pilot studies and obtain reliable genetic information using noninvasive sampling method.     

Mineralogical and geochemical features of sulfide chimneys from the 49°39′E hydrothermal field on the Southwest Indian Ridge and their geological inferences

During January–May in 2007,the Chinese research cruise DY115-19 discovered an active hydrothermal field at 49°39′E/37°47′S on the ultraslow spreading Southwest Indian Ridge (SWIR).This was also the first active hydrothermal field found along an ultraslow-spreading ridge.We analyzed mineralogical,textural and geochemical compositions of the sulfide chimneys obtained from the 49°39′E field.Chimney samples show a concentric mineral zone around the fluid channel.The mineral assemblages of the interiors consist ...     

Human metabolic individuality in biomedical and pharmaceutical research

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified many risk loci for complex diseases, but effect sizes are typically small and information on the underlying biological processes is often lacking. Associations with metabolic traits as functional intermediates can overcome these problems and potentially inform individualized therapy. Here we report a comprehensive analysis of genotype-dependent metabolic phenotypes using a GWAS with non-targeted metabolomics. We identified 37 genetic loci associated with blood metabolite concentrations, of which 25 show effect sizes that are unusually high for GWAS and account for 10-60% differences in metabolite levels per allele copy. Our associations provide new functional insights for many disease-related associations that have been reported in previous studies, including those for cardiovascular and kidney disorders, type 2 diabetes, cancer, gout, venous thromboembolism and Crohn's disease. The study advances our knowledge of the genetic basis of metabolic individuality in humans and generates many new hypotheses for biomedical and pharmaceutical research.     

Common variants at TRAF3IP2 are associated with susceptibility to psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an inflammatory joint disease that is distinct from other chronic arthritides and which is frequently accompanied by psoriasis vulgaris (PsV) and seronegativity for rheumatoid factor. We conducted a genome-wide association study in 609 German individuals with PsA (cases) and 990 controls with replication in 6 European cohorts including a total of 5,488 individuals. We replicated PsA associations at HLA-C and IL12B and identified a new association at TRAF3IP2 (rs13190932, P = 8.56 × 10?1?). TRAF3IP2 was also associated with PsV in a German cohort including 2,040 individuals (rs13190932, P = 1.95 × 10?3). Sequencing of the exons of TRAF3IP2 identified a coding variant (p.Asp10Asn, rs33980500) as the most significantly associated SNP (P = 1.13 × 10?2?, odds ratio = 1.95). Functional assays showed reduced binding of this TRAF3IP2 variant to TRAF6, suggesting altered modulation of immunoregulatory signals through altered TRAF interactions as a new and shared pathway for PsA and PsV.     

Behavior and adrenal activity in a group of zoo golden snub-nosed monkeys, Rhinopithecus roxellana, following social structure change

The effects of individual removal by zoo managers on behavior and fecal glucocorticoid changes in snub-nosed monkeys(Rhinopithecus roxellana) were investigated at Beijing Zoo.The results showed that the effect of the removal of three subordinate individuals(DD,male,4 years;XZZ,male,3 years and LL,female,3 years) from a group varied across the remaining group members that may be related to individual’s social status,gender and age.The dominant male was impacted less than subordinate individuals in both the frequency and time duration for the four main behavioral categories.The frequency of stereotypic behavior significantly decreased in the dominant female after the removal of three animals(Z= 2.862,P=0.003).Fluctuations were found in both the behavioral frequency and time duration in other remaining individuals.These findings suggest that small,socially stable groups were somewhat resilient to changes in member composition.Moreover,the cortisol level did not change significantly in the remaining members.An alternative method of hormone assay using fecal samples for vulnerable animals was presented,and that may be useful for monitoring wild golden monkeys and other endangered species of animal.     

Lushan M_S7.0 earthquake:A blind reserve-fault event

In the epicenter of the Lushan MS7.0 earthquake there are several imbricate active reverse faults lying from northwest to southeast,namely the Gengda-Longdong,Yanjing-Wulong,Shuangshi-Dachuan and Dayi faults.Emergency field investigations have indicated that no apparent earthquake surface rupture zones were located along these active faults or their adjacent areas.Only brittle compressive ruptures in the cement-covered pavements can be seen in Shuangshi,Taiping,Longxing and Longmen Townships,and these ruptures show that a local crustal shortening occurred in the region during the earthquake.Combining spatial distribution of the relocated aftershocks and focal mechanism solutions,it is inferred that the Lushan earthquake is classified as a typical blind reverse-fault earthquake,and it is advised that the relevant departments should pay great attention to other historically un-ruptured segments along the Longmenshan thrust belt and throughout its adjacent areas.