A prostaglandin-like activity in small intestine and postirradiation gastrointestinal syndrome

Summary A correlation between the postirradiation increase of the small intestine motility and the prostaglandin-like activity in this organ during gastrointestinal syndrome was observed. Indomethacin decreased the elevated motility of intestine and reduced the prostaglandin-like activity in this syndrome.Acknowledgments. The work was supported by the Polish Academy of Sciences.     

A hydrothermal origin for isotopically anomalous cap dolostone cements from south China

The release of methane into the atmosphere through destabilization of clathrates is a positive feedback mechanism capable of amplifying global warming trends that may have operated several times in the geological past. Such methane release is a hypothesized cause or amplifier for one of the most drastic global warming events in Earth history, the end of the Marinoan 'snowball Earth' ice age, ～635?Myr ago. A key piece of evidence supporting this hypothesis is the occurrence of exceptionally depleted carbon isotope signatures (δ(13)C(PDB) down to -48‰; ref. 8) in post-glacial cap dolostones (that is, dolostone overlying glacial deposits) from south China; these signatures have been interpreted as products of methane oxidation at the time of deposition. Here we show, on the basis of carbonate clumped isotope thermometry, (87)Sr/(86)Sr isotope ratios, trace element content and clay mineral evidence, that carbonates bearing the (13)C-depleted signatures crystallized more than 1.6?Myr after deposition of the cap dolostone. Our results indicate that highly (13)C-depleted carbonate cements grew from hydrothermal fluids and suggest that their carbon isotope signatures are a consequence of thermogenic methane oxidation at depth. This finding not only negates carbon isotope evidence for methane release during Marinoan deglaciation in south China, but also eliminates the only known occurrence of a Precambrian sedimentary carbonate with highly (13)C-depleted signatures related to methane oxidation in a seep environment. We propose that the capacity to form highly (13)C-depleted seep carbonates, through biogenic anaeorobic oxidation of methane using sulphate, was limited in the Precambrian period by low sulphate concentrations in sea water. As a consequence, although clathrate destabilization may or may not have had a role in the exit from the 'snowball' state, it would not have left extreme carbon isotope signals in cap dolostones.     

Vegetation effects on mean daily maximum and minimum surface air temperatures over China

Changes in the daily maximum (Tmax) and minimum (Tmin) surface air temperatures and the associated temperature extremes have severe consequences on human society and the natural environment. In this study, we assess vegetation effects on mean Tmax and Tmin over China by computing a vegetation feedback parameter using the satellite-sensed Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and observed temperatures for the period 1982–2002. In all seasons, vegetation exerts a much stronger forcing on Tmax than on Tmin, and thus has a substantial effect on the diurnal temperature range (DTR) over China. Significant positive feedbacks on Tmax and the DTR occupy many areas of China with the feedback parameters exceeding 1°C (0.1 NDVI)–1, while significant negative effects only appear over the summertime climatic and ecological transition zone of northern China and some other isolated areas. Also, the vegetation feedbacks are found to vary with season. In areas where significant feedbacks occur, vegetation contributes to typically 10%–30% of the total variances in Tmax, Tmin, and the DTR. These findings suggest that vegetation memory offers the potential for improving monthly-to-seasonal forecasting of Tmax and Tmin, and the associated temperature extremes over China. Meanwhile, the limitations and uncertainties of the study should be recognized.     

Juvenile hormone degradation in brain and corpora cardiaca-corpora allata complex during the last larval instar ofGalleria mellonela (Lepidoptera,Pyralidae)

Summary Time course analysis of juvenile hormone degradation in the brain and the corpora cardiaca-corpora allata complex shows that during the first two days of the last larval instar the juvenile hormone degradation is very low. Starting from the third day up to the seventh day a continuous increase of esterase activity is observed.     

Zero steady-states electrical energy consumption clutch system

A new clutch configuration with dual diaphragm spring is proposed. It is proper designed for electric and hybrid powertrain system. With this design, the clutch engagement is controlled by current in electromagnet coil. For special characteristic of dual diaphragm spring, the clutch does not consume energy in steady state after engaging or disengaging. To validate the feasibility of this design, author builds the mathematical model and imports it into MATLAB Simulink. The simulation shows the behavior of clutch in different control strategies.     

环保条件下三(三溴苯氧基)三聚氰酸酯的合成研究

以三聚氯氰(CNCl)3和三溴苯酚(TBP)为主要原料,在超声波催化条件下,分别以二氯甲烷、甲苯作为溶剂,合成三(三溴苯氧基)三聚氰酸酯,结果表明,反应的最佳条件是:当n(CNCl)3/n(TBP)=1:3.1,分别在40℃和75℃时反应10分钟、15分钟,产品的产率可达95%,纯度>98%。     

Lateral relocation of auxin efflux regulator PIN3 mediates tropism in Arabidopsis

Long-standing models propose that plant growth responses to light or gravity are mediated by asymmetric distribution of the phytohormone auxin. Physiological studies implicated a specific transport system that relocates auxin laterally, thereby effecting differential growth; however, neither the molecular components of this system nor the cellular mechanism of auxin redistribution on light or gravity perception have been identified. Here, we show that auxin accumulates asymmetrically during differential growth in an efflux-dependent manner. Mutations in the Arabidopsis gene PIN3, a regulator of auxin efflux, alter differential growth. PIN3 is expressed in gravity-sensing tissues, with PIN3 protein accumulating predominantly at the lateral cell surface. PIN3 localizes to the plasma membrane and to vesicles that cycle in an actin-dependent manner. In the root columella, PIN3 is positioned symmetrically at the plasma membrane but rapidly relocalizes laterally on gravity stimulation. Our data indicate that PIN3 is a component of the lateral auxin transport system regulating tropic growth. In addition, actin-dependent relocalization of PIN3 in response to gravity provides a mechanism for redirecting auxin flux to trigger asymmetric growth.     

A prostaglandin-like activity in small intestine and postirradiation gastrointestional syndrome.

A correlation between the postirradiation increase of the small intestine motility and the prostaglandin-like activity in this organ during gastrointestional syndrome was observed. Indomethacin decreased the elevated motility of intestine and reduced the prostaglandin-like activity in this syndrome.     

Assessing time series models for forecasting international migration: Lessons from the United Kingdom

Migration is one of the most unpredictable demographic processes. The aim of this article is to provide a blueprint for assessing various possible forecasting approaches in order to help safeguard producers and users of official migration statistics against misguided forecasts. To achieve that, we first evaluate the various existing approaches to modelling and forecasting of international migration flows. Subsequently, we present an empirical comparison of ex post performance of various forecasting methods, applied to international migration to and from the United Kingdom. The overarching goal is to assess the uncertainty of forecasts produced by using different forecasting methods, both in terms of their errors (biases) and calibration of uncertainty. The empirical assessment, comparing the results of various forecasting models against past migration estimates, confirms the intuition about weak predictability of migration, but also highlights varying levels of forecast errors for different migration streams. There is no single forecasting approach that would be well suited for different flows. We therefore recommend adopting a tailored approach to forecasts, and applying a risk management framework to their results, taking into account the levels of uncertainty of the individual flows, as well as the differences in their potential societal impact.