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Phaeocystis globosa has formed intensive blooms in the South China Sea and even around the world, causing huge social economic losses and environmental damage. However, little is known about the formation mechanism and dynamics of P. globosa blooms. 19′-Hexanoyloxyfucoxanthin (hex-fuco) is often used as the pigment proxy to estimate Phaeocystis biomass, while this is challenged by the giant-colony-forming P. globosa in the Beibu Gulf, which contains only 19′-butanoyloxyfucoxanthin (but-fuco) but not hex-fuco.

The giant-colony-forming haptophyte Phaeocystis globosa has caused several large-scale blooms in the Beibu Gulf since 2011, but the distribution and dynamics of the blooms remained largely unknown. In this study, colonies of P. globosa, as well as membrane-concentrated phytoplankton samples, were collected during eight cruises in the Beibu Gulf from September 2016 to August 2017. Pigments were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a diode array detector (HPLC-DAD). The pigment 19′-hexanoyloxyfucoxanthin (hex-fuco), generally considered a diagnostic pigment for Phaeocystis, was not detected in P. globosa colonies in the Beibu Gulf, whereas 19′-butanoyloxyfucoxanthin (but-fuco) was found in all colony samples. Moreover, but-fuco in membrane-concentrated phytoplankton samples exhibited a similar distribution pattern to that of P. globosa colonies, suggesting that but-fuco provided the diagnostic pigment for bloom-forming P. globosa in the Beibu Gulf. Based on the distribution of but-fuco in different water masses in the region prior to the formation of intensive blooms, it is suggested that P. globosa blooms in the Beibu Gulf could originate from two different sources. IMPORTANCE Phaeocystis globosa has formed intensive blooms in the South China Sea and even around the world, causing huge social economic losses and environmental damage. However, little is known about the formation mechanism and dynamics of P. globosa blooms. 19′-Hexanoyloxyfucoxanthin (hex-fuco) is often used as the pigment proxy to estimate Phaeocystis biomass, while this is challenged by the giant-colony-forming P. globosa in the Beibu Gulf, which contains only 19′-butanoyloxyfucoxanthin (but-fuco) but not hex-fuco. Using but-fuco as a diagnostic pigment, we traced two different origins of P. globosa blooms in the Beibu Gulf. This study clarifies the development process of P. globosa blooms in the Beibu Gulf, which provides a basis for the early monitoring and prevention of the blooms.

The real-time computer-controlled actuators are used to connect the truncated parts of moorings and risers in the active hybrid model testing system. This must be able to work in model-scale real time, based on feedback input from the floater motions. Thus, mooring line dynamics and damping effects are artificially simulated in real time, based on a computer-based model of the problem. In consideration of the nonlinear characteristics of the sea platform catenary mooring line, the equations of the mooring line motion are formulated by using the lumped-mass method and the dynamic response of several points on the mooring line is investigated by the time and frequency domain analysis method. The dynamic response of the representative point on the mooring line is analyzed under the condition of two different corresponding upper endpoint movements namely sine wave excitation and random wave excitation. The corresponding laws of the dynamic response between the equivalent water depth truncated points at different locations and the upper endpoint are obtained, which can provide technical support for further study of the active hybrid model test.

The low salinity water lenses (LSWLes) in the expansion area of the Changjiang diluted water (CDW) exist in a certain period of time in some years. The impact of realistic river runoff, ocean currents and weather conditions need to be taken into account in the dynamical analysis of LSWL, which is in need of research. In this paper, the POM-σ-z model is used to set up the numerical model for the expansion of the CDW. Then LSWL in summer 1977 is simulated, and its dynamic mechanism driven by wind, tide, river runoff and the Taiwan Warm Current is also analyzed. The simulated results indicate that the isolated LSWL detaches itself from the CDW near the river mouth, and then moves towards the northeast region outside the Changjiang Estuary. Its maintaining period is from July 26 to August 11. Its formation and development is mainly driven by two factors. One is the strong southeasterly wind lasting for ten days. The other is the vertical tidal mixing during the transition from neap tide to spring tide.

Dynamic Energy Budget software aims to identify simple quantitative rules for the organization of metabolism of individual organisms. It is always used to delineate reserves, as separate from structure. The energy density of Eriocheir sinensis was studied through DEB software in this paper. The results showed that Hepatopancreas energy density (32.17±3.77 KJ/g) was higher than gonad (23.19±2.86KJ/g), muscle (24.41±1.41 KJ/g) and carapace energy density (14.42±1.76 KJ/g). The difference between gonad (23.19±2.86KJ/g) and muscle energy density (4.41±1.41 KJ/g) of females and males was significant (P < 0.01), but not between muscle and carapace energy density (P > 0.05), and no difference between female and male individual in total energy (P = 0.887) at the stable stage. The linear relation between volume and weight of Eriocheir sinensis was gained by using regression analysis, V=6.104+1.117WW (R2=0.973, n=98), and the linear relation between total energy and dry weight was also gained, E=18.12DW-28.05 (R2=0.962 ,n=24).

The highest similarity degree of static characteristics including both horizontal and vertical restoring force-displacement characteristics of total mooring system, as well as the tension-displacement characteristics of the representative single mooring line between the truncated and full depth system are obtained by annealing simulation algorithm for hybrid discrete variables (ASFHDV, in short). A “baton” optimization approach is proposed by utilizing ASFHDV. After each baton of optimization, if a few dimensional variables reach the upper or lower limit, the boundary of certain dimensional variables shall be expanded. In consideration of the experimental requirements, the length of the upper mooring line should not be smaller than 8 m, and the diameter of the anchor chain on the bottom should be larger than 0.03 m. A 100000 t turret mooring FPSO in the water depth of 304 m, with the truncated water depth being 76 m, is taken as an example of equivalent water depth truncated mooring system optimal design and calculation, and is performed to obtain the conformation parameters of the truncated mooring system. The numerical results indicate that the present truncated mooring system design is successful and effective.

Tanshinone I (Tan-I) is a diterpene quinone extracted from the traditional herbal medicine Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge. Recently, Tan-I has been reported to have anti-tumor effects. In this study, we investigated the growth inhibition and apoptosis inducing effects of Tan-I on three kinds of monocytic leukemia cells (U937, THP-1 and SHI 1). Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Cell apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry (FCM) and AnnexinV/PI staining. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and PCR-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to detect human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) expression and telomerase activity before and after apoptosis. The activity of caspase-3 was determined by Caspase colorimetric assay kit and Western blot analysis. Expression of the anti-apoptotic gene Survivin was assayed by Western blot and Real-time RT-PCR using the ABI PRISM 7500 Sequence Detection System. The results revealed that Tan-I could inhibit the growth of these three kinds of leukemia cells and cause apoptosis in a time- and dose-dependent manner. After treatment by Tan-I for 48 h, Western blotting showed cleavage of the caspase-3 zymogen protein with the appearance of its 17-kD subunit, and a 89-kD cleavage product of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), a known substrate of caspase-3, was also found clearly. The expression of hTERT mRNA as well as activity of telomerase were decreased concurrently in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, Real-time RT-PCR and Western blot revealed a significant down-regulation of Survivin. We therefore conclude that the induction of apoptosis by Tan-I in monocytic leukemia U937 THP-1 and SHI 1 cells is highly correlated with activation of caspase-3 and decreasing of hTERT mRNA expression and telomerase activity as well as down-regulation of Survivin expression. To our knowledge, this is the first report about the effects of Tan-I on monocytic leukemia cells.

To observe the therapeutic effects of new traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapy on coagulation disorder and accompanying intractable jaundice in HBV-related liver cirrhosis patients.Using stratified random sampling according to fibrinogen (Fib) levels, 145 liver cirrhosis patients due to hepatitis B complicated by coagulation disorder were treated. Of them, 70 in research group were treated with TCM by "nourishing yin, cooling blood and invigorating blood circulation" and Western medicine, 75 in control group were treated with conventional Western medicine. The indexes of liver function, coagulation function and bleeding events were observed and compared.The prothrombin time (PT) was shorter and the fibrinogen (Fib) level was higher in the research group than in the control group (Fib = 1.6-2.0 g/L, 1.1-1.5 g/L, andor = 1.0 g/L). The total bilirubin (TBIL) level was significantly lower in the research group than in the control group, except for the subgroup of FIBor = 1.0 g/L.TCM therapy can improve coagulation fuction and decrease TBIL.

AIM: This study aims at exploring the distribution of TCM syndromes in CHB patients with HBV pre-core mutation (1896) and the relationship between pre-core mutation and T lymphocytes subgroup, through which to provide objective data on clinical syndrome differentiation of TCM, and further to suggest the therapeutic principle and guide clinical treatment. METHODS: One hundred and forty CHB patients were evenly divided into two study groups, HBV pre-core mutant group and HBV pre-core wild-type group. Besides, 30 healthy blood donors were selected as a healthy control group. HBV-labeled compound, T lymphocytes subgroup, and HBV-DNA pre-core mutant were tested in the study groups. T lymphocytes subgroup were also tested in the control group. All the patients were both diagnosed by syndrome differentiation of TCM and western medicine. RESULTS: The most common syndrome in mutant group was damp-heat combined with blood stasis, and the most common syndrome in the wild-type group was damp-heat stasis in the middle-jiao. There were more cases of medium and severe hepatitis in mutant group than that in wild-type group. The content of CD4+ lymphocytes and CD4+/CD8+ ratio were decreased gradually (healthy control group>wild-type group>mutant group). In the wild-type group, severe and medium CHB patients had considerably lower level of them than mild CHB patients. However, in the mutant group, the opposite result appeared. Meanwhile, the content of HBV-DNA in mutant group was higher than that in wild-type group. CONCLUSION: Damp, heat, toxin and blood stasis were the basic pathogens of CHB, whether pre-core mutant or not. CHB with precore mutant may lead to more severe hepatitis. The decreased content of CD4+ lymphocytes and ratio of CD4+/CD8+ may be taken as one of the indices in confirming the deficiency syndrome of CHB patients with pre-core mutation.