A continuous 200-ka palaeoclimatic record from stalagmite in Tangshan Cave, Nanjing

An oxygen isotope temperature record from 381 to 166 kaB. P. (²³⁰Th/²³⁴U dating and tuned ages) has been obtained by combining data on the isotopic composition of calcites with that of fluid inclusions trapped in a stalagmite from a limestone cave in which a fossil cranium deposited. Several laminae in microsequence of the stalagmite represent climatic events or shifts. The Nanjing man fossil was older than 381 kaB. P.     

Discovery of eclogite at northern margin of Qaidam Basin, NW China

Eclogite was first discovered at the northern margin of the Qaidam Basin in this study. It occurs as pods in the gneiss sequence of Middle to Upper Proterozoic age and is mainly composed of garnet, omphacite, phengite and rutile. The garnets contain 44%-62% of almandine, 15%-33% of grossular and 12%-30% of pyrope molecules, and the omphacites contain 40%-46% of jadeite. Applying garnet_clinopyroxene thermometry and jadeite geobarometry, the peak conditions of eclogite facies metamorphism occurred at about (722±123)℃ and at the pressure of up to c. 22 ×10 8 Pa.     

Active site of praseodymium orthovanadate catalyst in oxidative dehydrogenation of propane

The pure phase of praseodymium orthovanadate (PrVO₄) has been prepared by the citrate method. The active site of Pr-VO₄ was studied by ESR, NO-TPD, O₂-TPD and¹⁸O₂-isotope exchange methods. The results of ESR and NO-TPD confirmed the presence of V⁴⁺ in the catalyst.¹⁸O₂-isotope exchange was through a single exchange procedure. From the result of O₂ + TPD and the kinetic study of¹⁸O₂-isotope exchange, one can reach a conclusion that the V⁴⁺ species associated with oxygen vacancies are the site for O₂ activation. The adsorbed O₂ or O⁻ are the active oxygen species in propane oxidative dehydrogenation.     

Marked electrical synapses on AP neuron of the leech (Whitmania pigra)

An initial attempt reveals parameters of marked electric synapse on AP perceptive neuron of leech. The width of gap between marked AP and either neuro-or glio-process is 2–3 nm, the diameter of the hexagonal array of connexion is 8–9 nm with a central pole of 2–2.5 nm, the same as the structure of annular lamellar bodies internalized by AP-glia processes in the AP.     

High-precision timing of the Quaternary standard samples with thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) U-series method

Two national stalagmite standard (GBW04412, GBW04413) and one international coral standard (RKM_4) have been determined by using thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) method. The values of ( 234 U/ 238 U) act , ( 230 Th/ 234 U) act and age are all consistent in error range with the standard values obtained by using α spectrometry.     

Leakage of mantle helium from the Liaodong Peninsula, China

The isotopic cumpositions of helium have been investigated in hot spring gases sampled from the Liaodong Peninsula. China. The³He/⁴He ratios range from 0.14 Ra (0.14 times the atmospheric³He/⁴He ratio of 1.40 × 10^-6 to 0.72 Ra.³He/⁴He versus⁴He/²⁰Ne ratios and He contents suggest that a small amount of mantle-derived helium reaches the earth’s surface. Helium iwtope ratios of the hot spring gases show a distribution pattern similar to the regional heat flow values, indicating that the positive thermal anomaly occurring in the rtrea is closely associated with the presence of mantle-derived helium. The observations described above provide some significant evidence that the molten magma originating from partial melting of the upper mantle may have intruded into the continental crust along the activity fault. The coupling of the presence of mantle He and heat flow anomalies to seismic activity in studied region seem to imply that there is an internal relationship between mantle degassing and seismic activity.     

Structural and expressional analysis of a cDNA that expresses predominantly in rice stamens

The development of stamen is an important stage during the sexual reproduction in higher plants. Studying the genes that predominantly or even specifically expressed in stamens will aid in undestanding the molecular mechanism of stamen development. The structure of a rice CHS-like gene (D5) which predominantly expressed in anthers has been analysised, showing high structural similarity with two other anther-specific genes (A1 and BA42) fromBrassica napus. Northern analysis also reveals that the three genes share a similar expression pattern and that the expression of D5 may relate to the early development of pollens. It is concluded that D5, A1 and BA42 represent a group of diverged CHS-like genes which are related to stamen development.