Copepods as Indicators of Different Water Masses during the Northeast Monsoon Prevailing Period in the Northeast Taiwan.

During this research, the average surface temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and pH were 24.65 ± 1.53 (°C), 34.21 ± 0.07 (PSU), 6.85 ± 0.18 (mg/L), and 8.36 ± 0.03, respectively. Based on these environmental parameters, stations were arranged into three groups. Group A represents stations located around Keelung Island with the relative highest average dissolved oxygen, lowest average temperature, and pH values. Instead, the lowest average dissolved oxygen and highest average temperature, salinity, and pH values were recorded at the offshore stations. Keelung Island area was charged by cold water masses, which were driven by the Northeast monsoon, and stations in group C were affected by the Kuroshio Current. Kueishan Island area was mainly affected by mixed water masses resulting from the Kuroshio intrusion and monsoon-derived cold water. In this study, a total of 108 copepod species were identified, with an average abundance of 774.24 ± 289.42 (inds. m-3). Most species belong to the orders Calanoida and Poecilostomatoida, with an average relative abundance (RA) of 62.96% and 30.56%, respectively. Calanoid copepodites were the most dominant group, with a RA of 28.06%. This was followed by Paracalanus aculeatus, with a RA of 18.44%. The RA of Clausocalanus furcatus and Canthocalanus pauper was 4.80% and 3.59%, respectively. The dominant species P. aculeatus, C. pauper, Paracalanus parvus, and Temora turbinata were positively correlated with dissolved oxygen and negatively correlated with temperature in the surface waters. pH showed a negative correlation with P. parvus and T. turbinata, while the temperature was negatively correlated with these two dominant species. Indicator species were selected by an indicator value higher than 50%. Temora turbinata, Calanopia elliptica, C. pauper, Euchaeta concinna, Temora discaudata, Acartia pacifica, Macrosetella gracilis, Corycaeus speciosus, and P. parvus were considered as monsoonal cold water indicator species in Group A. Indicator copepod species for the Kuroshio Current were Farranula concinna, Copilia mirabilis, Candacia aethiopica, Corycaeus agilis, Farranula gibbula and Acrocalanus monachus in the study area. Paracandacia truncata, Oncaea clevei, P. aculeatus, and Centropages furcatus were considered suitable indicators for mixed water masses.

A new species of Tharybis (Crustacea: Copepoda: Calanoida: Tharybidae) from northern Taiwan.

A new species Tharybis kueishanensis sp. n. (Copepoda: Calanoida: Tharybidae) is described from the inshore surface waters of Kueishan Island off northern Taiwan, which is the first report of Tharybis from the China Seas. Its female is distinguished from the other species of Tharybis by the total body length (1.89-2.12 mm) larger than the other species, the shape of the genital double-somite, which is slightly asymmetrical with a small notch on the distal margin of the right side, and the length of the inner terminal spine of leg 5, which is about 1.5 times of the terminal spiniform projections. The male is distinguished by the presence of 3 triangular projections at the inner middle margin and the tip of the distal segment of the right leg 5.

Vertical and geographic distribution of copepod communities at late summer in the Amerasian Basin, Arctic Ocean.

Zooplankton plays a pivotal role in linking primary production to higher level consumers in the food webs of marine ecosystems. The distribution of zooplankton is affected by general water conditions, monsoons, currents, and spatial and temporal factors. In the Arctic Ocean, the sea surface is naturally covered with ice. Under ice, water masses interplay to create complex environments that facilitate the transport and distribution of zooplankton, thus altering community structures at geospatial and vertical scales. The present study investigated the species composition and copepod community structures by using geospatial and multiple depth scales, and using multivariate analyses to evaluate the relation of sampling stations and layers. During July-August 2010, zooplankton samples were collected and the temperature and salinity of seawater measured from three stations in the Canada Basin and two stations in the Makarov Basin of the Arctic Ocean (maximum distance of approximately 1400 km). A total of 55 copepod species (including 25 species that were solely identified to the generic level) and 7 taxa of copepodites, altogether belonging to 28 genera, 11 families, and 2 orders were identified, and significant differences were detected in copepod community structures among sampling strata and at geospatial scales. Numerically, Calanus hyperboreus, Calanus copepodite, Calanoida copepodite, Calanus glacialis, and Metridia longa were the most dominant species and taxa. At the local scale, copepod compositions responded differently at each of the sampling stations. At the geospatial scale, the distance between stations MS03 and ICE explained variations in the pattern of dominant species and of copepod community richness. Our study demonstrated varied spatial distribution which indicates that (1) the abundance of copepods at 0-200 m was significantly higher than at other strata, (2) vertical strata affected the distribution of copepod communities, and (3) the interplay of North Pacific and Atlantic waters shaping the copepod assemblage structure at geospatial scales in the Arctic Ocean. The results of our research provide base data for Arctic zooplankton biodiversity and biogeographic distribution.

Eating problems and associated factor among 1 873 preschool children in Hefei / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To explore the prevalence of eating problems of preschool children in Hefei and its influencing factors, and to provide references for reducing the occurrence of dietary behavior problems of local children and strengthening the construction of children nutrition clinic in maternal and children health care institutions.@*Methods@#A total of 1 873 children aged 3-6 years in urban and rural areas of Hefei were selected by random cluster sampling. Demographic and eating behavior of the child, as well as caregiver’s feeding behavior were investigated.@*Results@#The study found that 72.77% of children had eating problems. The feeding behavior of feeders and the family environment factors had an impact on children’s eating behavior problems, and the main influencing factors of children’s eating behavior included father’s education level, family economic monthly income level, family members’ eating behavior problems, number of children living together and whether they are the only-child in the family(P<0.05).@*Conclusion@#The prevalence of eating problems of children aged 3-6 years in Hefei is higher. Family demographic, caregiver feeding behavior, as well as the environment of the family affect children’s eating behavior. Child nutrition clinics, promotion of caregivers’feeding practices could be effective interventions aiming to address eating problems among preschool children.

[Acupoint Selection Laws for Massage Therapy of Infantile Anorexia: an Analysis Based on Data Mining].

Massage prescriptions for treating infantile anorexia in Chinese Academic Journal Full-Text Database (CNKI, 1979-2012), Chinese Scientific and Technological Journal Full-Text Database (VIP, 1989-2012) and Wanfang Database (1990-2012) were collected. By using Chinese Medicine Inheritance Auxiliary Platform (Version 2.0) Software, 286 massage prescriptions for treatment of infantile anorexia were screened involved 76 acupoints, 20 commonly used acupoints, and 57 core acupoint combinations. Infantile Tuina specific points were used as main acupoints in massage therapy for infantile anorexia, and core acupoints covered Jizhu, Pi meridian, abdomen, Nei-Bagua, Zusanli (ST36), and Ban-men.

[Effect of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 on the migration in vitro of murine mesenchymal stem cells and its related mechanism].

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) on the migration in vitro of the murine mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and its related mechanisms. The migration ability of murine MSC (C3H10T1/2), ICAM-1 transfected MSC (C3H10T1/2-MIGR1-ICAM-1) and empty vector-transfected MSC (C3H10T 1/2-MIGR1) were assayed in vitro by using the transwell system. Briefly, the cells were seeded on the membrane with 8 µm aperture and the fetal bovine serum was used as the chemotactic agent to induce MSC migration. The transmigrated cells were stained by crystal purple as well as DAPI for 8 h and 12 h respectively. The absolute cell numbers were counted and the migration rates of MSC were evaluated in each group. To explore the potential mechanisms which control the migration of MSC, the specific chemical inhibitors of MAPK pathway (SB203580, PD98059 and JNK inhibitor II) were added to the transwell system and the alteration of the MSC migration ability were evaluated at 12 h. The results showed that the migration ability at 8 h and 12 h of the ICAM-1-transfected MSC increased. Both absolute cell number and migration rate of MSC were significantly up-regulated by ICAM-1. Furthermore, the promoting effect of ICAM-1 on migration was partially suppressed by the inhibition of JNK/SAPK pathway. The transmigrated cell numbers and the migration rate decreased with the addition of JNK inhibitor II. However, the ICAM-1 promoting migration of MSC was not suppressed by the inhibitors for ERK/MAPK and p38/MAPK pathway did not work in the present study. It is concluded that ICAM-1 can induce mouse MSC migration in vitro, and the promoting effect is partially dependent on the activation of JNK/SAPK pathway.

[Species composition and distribution characteristics of pelagic copepods in the Northern Sea of Fujian during withdraw of Zhe-Min coastal current].

Based on oceanographic survey data in April 2009 in the north central Taiwan Strait, ecological characteristics such as species composition, individual density, dominant species and distribution were analyzed. The results were compared with the same area survey in spring 2007 for discuss the annual variety. The result shows that 48 pelagic copepods species have been recognized, and most of them belongs to Calanodia. The higher species number occurs in southern and eastern area. The average density of pelagic copepoda was 231.96 ind x m(-3). As to the horizontal distribution, the coast and northern areas are higher than those of eastern and southern areas of the density of pelagic copepods which are dependent on the dominant species Calanus sinicus and Euchaeta plana. The community structure of pelagic copepoda was same to the other survey result, which shows low biodiversity index with remarkable dominant species. Owing to the Zhe-Min coastal current effect, the higher density distribution is different in 2007 and 2009. As to the ecological character, all the copepoda in this paper belong to warm-water, warm-temperature and tropic oceanic groups. Warm-water and tropic oceanic groups are the dominant groups of the pelagic copepods composition. When it comes to density, warm-temperature group is the dominant. The relationship of species number, diversity index and abundance with the environment were also discussed in this paper. The result showed that the pelagic copepoda species number and diversity would increase with the temperature and salty increase.

Abnormal gas sensing characteristics arising from catalyzed morphological changes of ionsorbed oxygen.

Abnormal gas sensing characteristics are observed at low temperature in uniformly loaded Pt@SnO(2) nanorod gas sensors. The sensors operated at 200 degrees C exhibit opposite variations of resistances, and the change of resistance decreases with increasing ethanol concentration. In contrast, the sensors operated at 300 degrees C show regular behavior and the sensitivity is extremely high. Such behaviors are ascribed to Pt-catalyzed morphological changes of ionsorbed oxygen at low temperature. The present results are the bases for further investigating the effect of ionsorbed oxygen morphologies on gas sensing.

First-principles study of structural, electronic, and multiferroic properties in BiCoO3.

Electronic and magnetic properties of BiCoO(3) have been investigated using the ab initio density-functional calculations with local spin density approximation (LSDA) and LSDA+U methods. The structural stability and the origin of the multiferroism for ferroelectronic and ferromagnetic existence were addressed. It was shown that the stability of the C-type antiferromagnetic (C-AFM) structure is better than that of other possible configurations. The hybridization between Bi-O and Co-O with interplay and a local magnetic moment on the Co(3+) play important roles for the nature of the ferroelectricity and ferromagnetism. Theoretical calculations predict the insulating ground state with a band gap of 2.11 eV in the C-AFM ordering for BiCoO(3) originated from the antiferromagnetic interaction in the ab plane, which is in well agreement with experiments.

Ab initio study of structural and electronic properties of SrTiO3 (001) oxygen-vacancy surfaces.

First-principles calculations are employed to study the surface relaxation and electronic structure of the fully relaxed SrTiO(3) (001) oxygen-vacancy surfaces with both Sr and Ti terminations. In contrast to the perfect surface, the larger surface rumples and smaller interlayer distances have been found. Some in-gap Ti 3d states at about -1.13 eV below the Fermi level were observed in the Ti-terminated surface caused by oxygen vacancies. For the Sr-terminated oxygen-vacancy surface, some in-gap Ti 3d states move into the bulk midgap region to become partially occupied. These theoretical results are in agreement with the experimental data.