Prediction of metal toxicity in aquatic organisms

Metal pollution has been a major environmental problem in China with the increasing industrialization.The prediction of metal toxicity is extremely challenging due to the complex metal handling and sequestration strategies of different aquatic organisms.In this review,the recent progress made in this area is discussed.In particular,the subcellular partitioning model which has gained recognition in recent years is highlighted.The subcellular partitioning model appears to be dependable for predicting the toxicity in unicellular phytoplankton.It is important to understand the differential ways that metals bind to different subcellular pools and their ecotoxicological significance in aquatic organisms under different exposure regimes.It is also critical to appreciate that every metal is unique to each aquatic species.Despite the huge progress made over the past 30 years,much remains to be done to fully understand metal toxicity in aquatic organisms.     

Structural characteristics and biological functions of the HIV-1 gp120 V3 region

Recent studies demonstrate that the V3 loop of HIV-1 gp120 plays an important role in the attachment of HIV-1 to the target cells. Several amino acids in this domain are involved in the interaction of gp120 with the co-receptors. The V3 loop elicits one of the earliest antiviral antibody responses in HIV-1 infection and has been identified as the principal neutralizing determinant (PND). A subset of antibodies to V3 loop show a broad range of neutralizing activity. Unfortunately, this loop undergoes broad mutation and is one of the hypervariable regions. Mutations of some amino acids in this PND could affect syncytium formation, virus infectivity and neutralization. Knowing the structural characteristics and biological functions of the V3 region could help us to understand mechanism of HIV infection and to develop new strategy against HIV-1. In this review, the structural characteristics, variation and biological functions of the V3 loop as well as immunological responses to the V3 loop are discussed.     

Investigation on wavelength switching of widely tunable SGDBR lasers

The sampled-grating distributed Bragg reflector （SGDBR） laser is a typical and important photonic integrated device, and has potential wide application to agile optical networks. A new dynamic model for this device has been developed, which combines the traveling-wave method for the active region and the transfer-matrix method for the passive sections into a single procedure. The behaviors of wavelength switching of the SGDBR laser, which include the transient spectrum and mode competition, have been studied in detail using this model. A new efficient way has been proposed to improve the wavelength switching performance only by increasing the coupling coefficients without changing the carrier density.     

Construction,Technigues and Application of New Generation Doppler Weather Radar in China

New generation Dopplerweather radar(NEXTRAD)has become one of the most important tools for monitioring and forecasting severe weather.It has been widely used in some developed countries.The construction of China^,sNEXTRAD network has started since 1998,and this project is supported by natiional debt.In this paper the autor addresses the development of NEXTRAD techniques,the pre-sent situation of construction and application of NEXTRAD in China,some problems to be carefully considered in construction,and seve-ral new fields of future radar technique developments and applications in weather monitioring.     

PX domain and CD domain play different roles in localization and vacuolation of Sorting Nexin 10

Sorting nexins （SNXs） are PX domain containing proteins and essential for intracellular protein sorting, trafficking and signal transduction. The PX domains of SNXs can bind to various phosphorelated phosphoinositides （PIs） and target the host proteins to endosomes. Recently, we have reported that overexpression of SNX10 in mammalian cells could induce giant vacuoles. In this study, we aimed to identify regions in SNX10 critical for the vacuolation activity. We found that both the PX domain and the CD1 region were essential for vacuolation. We provided evidence that the PX domain was able to specifically bind to Ptdlns（3）P and target SNX10 to endosomes. A mutation in the 131 region of the PX domain （V15A） disrupted the Ptdlns（3）P binding ability and the endosomal localization of SNX10. However, correct subcellular localization alone was not sufficient for SNX10 to induce vacuoles. We found that the CD1 region, which was not required for the localization, was indispensable for the vacuolation activity of SNX10. In summary, both the PX domain and the CD1 region are necessary for SNX10 to induce vacuoles but they play different roles in this process.     

Optical Properties of Fluorescent Dyes

Fluorescent dyes have been widely used these years. Because of the special optical performance, conventional CCM systems seem to be unable to predict the recipes of fabrics dyed with fluorescent dyes. In order to enhance the functions of CCM systems, the optical properties of fluorescent dyes in their absorption region were investigated. It has been found that there was a fixed maximum absorption wavelength for each fluorescent dyes whatever its concentration is. Both absorption region and maximum absorption wavelength of the dyes in solution are the same to those in fabric, and that the absorption is directly proportional to the concentration of the dye. So the optical properties obtained in solutions cna be applied for describing the optics performance of fluorescent dyes in fabrics.     

Interaction between microbubble and elastic microvessel in low frequency ultrasound field using finite element method

The interaction between microbubble and elastic microvessel wall has been hypothesized to be important in the mechanisms of therapeutic ultrasound applications.In this study,a 2D axisymmetric finite element numerical model is established to study the interaction between elastic microvessel wall and oscillating microbubble in low frequency ultrasound field using fluid solid interaction method.The numerical results show that the bubble oscillation induces the vessel wall dilation and depression.The von Mises stress distribution over the microvessel wall is heterogeneous and the maximum value of the midpoint on the inner vessel wall could reach 0.23 MPa and 1.32 MPa under PNP 0.2 MPa and 0.5 MPa,respectively.When the bubble collapses,the circumferential stress decreases rapidly and the transmural pressure increases dramatically.Noticeably,the circumferential stress becomes compressive with the maximum magnitude 1.83 MPa under PNP 0.5 MPa,larger than the maximum tension value.It is possible that the rapid compression stress during bubble collapse plays important role in mechanical effect on microvessel wall endothelial lining disruption.     

The Theoretical Summary and Mathematics Expression on the Regulation of Life in Meridian（Jingluo经络）Science

The meridian（Jingluo经络）is a core principle of traditional Chinese medicine．The meridian plays a central role in the regulation of human health and vitality．In the past５０years,the scientific evidence has been gathered via our physiological experiments to confirm the biological basis of the human meridian pathway phenomenon．Meridian Science has been established as a new branch of natural science to advance and promote the study of this important phenomenon for human life．In this paper,the authors describe the theoretical concept of the meridian and mathematics expression,its relationship to an efficient meridian circadian cycle,and its significance to human life．     

On the development of the GRAPES——A new generation of the national operational NWP system in China

Numerical weather prediction （NWP） has become one of the most important means for weather forecasts in the world. It also mirrors a nation＇s comprehensive strength in meteorology. In 2000, China Meteorological Administration （CMA） established the National Innovative Base for Meteorological Numerical Prediction in the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences （CAMS）, to work on developing a new generation of the national operational NWP system-Global/Regional Assimilation and PrEdiction System （GRAPES）, to enhance meteorological services in China in the new century. In recent years, the GRAPES has witnessed a fast development. The GRAPES has been set up as an integration of the model framework, data assimilation, regional and global NWP system, which can be commonly used for both operation and research. In this paper, a brief review is made for illustrating the GRAPES system, including the advanced designs of the GRAPES, its diverse applications in multi-fields, and efficiencies of the regional and global GRAPES in operational applications based on hindcast results.     

Design and implementation of precise position controller of active probe of atomic force microscopy for nanomanipulation

Efficiency and accuracy of AFM-based nanomanipulation are still major problems to be solved, due to the nonlinearities and uncertainties, such as drift, creep, hysteresis, etc. The deformation of cantilevers caused by manipulation force is also one of the most major factors of nonlinearities and uncertainties. It causes difficulties in precise control of the tip position and causes the tip to miss the position of the object. In order to solve this problem, the traditional approach is to use a rigid cantilever. However, this will significantly reduce the sensitivity of force sensing during manipulation, which is essential for achieving an efficient and reliable nanomanipulation. In this paper, a kind of active AFM probe has been used to solve this problem by directly controlling the cantilever＇s flexibility or rigidity during manipulation. Based on Euller-Bernoulli Model, a kind of controller of the active probe employing Periodic-Output-Feedback （POF） law is implemented. The results of simulation and experiments have demonstrated that this theoretical model and POF controller are suitable for precise position control of nanomanipulation.     

Investigation of the biological roles of autophagy in appressorium morphogenesis in Magnaporthe oryzae

Magnaporthe oryzae has been used as a primary model organism for investigating fungus-plant interaction. Many researches focused on molecular mechanisms of appressorium formation to restrain this fungal pathogen. Autophagy is a very high conserved process in eukaryotic cells. Recently, autophagy has been considered as a key process in development and differentiation in M. oryzae. In this report, we present and discuss the current state of our knowledge on gene expression in appressorium formation and the progress in autophagy of rice blast fungi.     

Statistical approaches in QTL mapping and molecular breeding for complex traits

Most of the important agronomic traits in crops,such as yield and quality,are complex traits affected by multiple genes with gene × gene interaction as well as gene × environment interaction.Understanding the genetic architecture of complex traits is a long-term task for quantitative geneticists and plant breeders who wish to design efficient breeding programs.Conventionally,the genetic properties of traits can be revealed by partitioning the total variation into variation components caused by specific genetic effects.With recent advances in molecular genotyping and high-throughput technology,the unraveling of the genetic architecture of complex traits by analyzing quantitative trait locus (QTL) has become possible.The improvement of complex traits has also been achieved by pyramiding individual QTL.In this review,we describe some statistical methods for QTL mapping that can be used to analyze QTL × QTL interaction and QTL × environment interaction,and discuss their applications in crop breeding for complex traits.     

Response of water budget to recent climatic changes in the source region of the Yellow River

Discharge in the source region of the Yellow River significantly declined after 1990.China Meteorological Administration(CMA) data show that precipitation in this region was low in the 1990s but returned to above normal after 2002;in recent decades there has been rapid warming of surface air,moistening and wind speed decrease.To investigate the influences of recent climatic changes on the water budget,this study simulates the surface water budget at CMA stations within and surrounding the source region during 1960-2006,using an improved land surface model.Results indicate that the spatial pattern of precipitation change is an important factor(except for precipitation amount and intensity) in determining the response of runoff to precipitation changes.Low runoff in the 1990s was consistent with precipitation amount and intensity.The recovery of precipitation after 2002 is mainly from increased precipitation in the dry area of the source region.Evaporation was mainly limited by water availability in this dry area,and thus most of the precipitation increase was evaporated.By contrast,energy availability was a more important influence on evaporation in the wet area.There was more evaporation in the wet area because of rapid warming,although precipitation amount partly decreased and partly increased,contributing to the reduction of runoff after 2002.This control on evaporation and its response,together with the modified spatial pattern of precipitation,produced a water budget unfavorable for runoff generation in the source region during recent years.     

An improvement on algorithm of grid-workflow based on QoS

With the emergencc of grid computing. new challenges have arisen in workflow tasks scheduling. The goal of grid-workflow task scheduling is to achieve high system throughput and to match the application needs with the available computing resources. This matching of resources in a non-deterministically share heterogeneous environment leads to concerns on quality of service (QoS). Grid concept is presented in this paper, coupled with the QoS requirement of workflow task and an improved algorithm-ILGSS algorithm. has been brought out. The complexity of the improved sched uling algorithm has been analyzed. The experiment results show that the improved algorithm can lead to significant performance gain in various applicatkms. An important research domain adaptive workflow transaction in grid computing environment, has been explored and a new solution for the scheduling of distribute workflow has been hring forward in grid environment.     

Study on the Synthesis of Octyl Acetate by Phosphotungstate Heteropolyacid with Keggin Structure

1 Results Octyl Acetate is an important chemical material.It is widely used as solvent in many industries,such as plasterer,artificial leather,and lacquer varnish,spice and medicine industries.At the present time,it is prepared with acetic acid and 1-octanol in industry,by using sulfuric acid as the catalyst.This technique has many shortcomings,which include erosion of facility,many side reactions and difficulties of post-treatment.The most severe problem is its pollution to the environment[1-2],so this technique should be forbidden.Those researches into etherification catalysis by solid acids have been carried out in research years for overcoming the weakness.Among these,great importance has been attached to support heteropolyacid by more and more researchers[3-4].     

On the development of the GRAPES――A new generation of the national operational NWP system in China

Numerical weather prediction (NWP) has become one of the most important means for weather fore-casts in the world. It also mirrors a nation's comprehensive strength in meteorology. In 2000, China Meteorological Administration (CMA) established the National Innovative Base for Meteorological Numerical Prediction in the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences (CAMS), to work on developing a new generation of the national operational NWP system――Global/Regional Assimilation and PrEdiction System (GRAPES), to enhance meteorological services in China in the new century. In recent years, the GRAPES has witnessed a fast development. The GRAPES has been set up as an integration of the model framework, data assimilation, regional and global NWP system, which can be commonly used for both operation and research. In this paper, a brief review is made for illustrating the GRAPES system, including the advanced designs of the GRAPES, its diverse applications in multifields, and efficiencies of the regional and global GRAPES in operational applications based on hindcast results.     

Advances in research on the deep South China Sea circulation

Deep sea circulation is important for world climate and has been a substantial research area in ocean science, leading to various breakthroughs and discoveries. With the rapid advance in research on ocean science, these matters have received increasing attention from the oceanography community. In this article, we attempt to convey the progress made in recent years. We first provide an overview of existing observations, theories, and simulations of deep South China Sea circulation. Finally, we discuss remaining issues.