根据孢粉资料推论长江三角洲地区1200年以来的环境变迁

根据长江三角洲地区全新世９个具代表性钻孔的孢粉分析结果讨论了本区约自１２０００年以来的环境变迁。孢粉序列表明：本区约在距今１２０００年前就已发育了亚热带性质的落叶常绿阔叶林,约在９０００—５０００ａＢ．Ｐ．常绿阔叶林获得大发展。孢粉序列良好地记录了古季风盛衰的历史,表现在：１２０００—１０８００ａＢ．Ｐ．较温湿,东南季风强度加强;１０８００（或１１０００－１００００（或１０３００）ａＢ．Ｐ．偏闵干,东南季风强度减弱,对应于新仙女木期;约自１００００ａ．Ｐ．起,气候好转,气温明显上升,东南季风强度再次增强,约在９０００—５０００ａＢ．Ｐ．温暖湿润,为东南季风强盛期。此外．还讨论了约在距今１１０００年前的海侵,全新世下限和哥德堡事件的年代问题,并确定哥德堡事件的年限为１１０００—１０００ａＢ。Ｐ。     

Identification of Potential MR-Derived Biomarkers for Tumor Tissue Response to 177Lu-Octreotate Therapy in an Animal Model of Small Intestine Neuroendocrine Tumor

Magnetic resonance (MR) methods enable noninvasive, regional tumor therapy response assessment, but associations between MR parameters, underlying biology, and therapeutic effects must be investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate response assessment efficacy and biological associations of MR parameters in a neuroendocrine tumor (NET) model subjected to radionuclide treatment. Twenty-one mice with NETs received ¹⁷⁷Lu-octreotate at day 0. MR experiments (day ?1, 1, 3, 8, and 13) included T2-weighted, dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and relaxation measurements (T1/T2*). Tumor tissue was analyzed using proteomics. MR-derived parameters were evaluated for each examination day and for different radial distances from the tumor center. Response assessment efficacy and biological associations were evaluated using feature selection and protein expression correlations, respectively. Reduced tumor growth rate or shrinkage was observed until day 8, followed by reestablished growth in most tumors. The most important MR parameter for response prediction was DCE-MRI–derived pretreatment signal enhancement ratio (SER) at 40% to 60% radial distance, where it correlated significantly also with centrally sampled protein CCD89 (association: DNA damage and repair, proliferation, cell cycle arrest). The second most important was changed diffusion (D) between day ?1 and day 3, at 60% to 80% radial distance, where it correlated significantly also with peripherally sampled protein CATA (association: oxidative stress, proliferation, cell cycle arrest, apoptotic cell death). Important information regarding tumor biology in response to radionuclide therapy is reflected in several MR parameters, SER and D in particular. The spatial and temporal information provided by MR methods increases the sensitivity for tumor therapy response.     

Ecosystem recovery: heathland response to a reduction in nitrogen deposition

Atmospheric deposition of nitrogen is responsible for widespread changes in the structure and function of sensitive seminatural ecosystems. The proposed reduction in emissions of nitrogenous pollutants in Europe under the Gothenburg Protocol raises the question of whether affected ecosystems have the potential to recover to their previous condition and, if so, over what timescale. Since 1998, we have monitored the response of a lowland heathland in southern England following the cessation of a long‐term nitrogen addition experiment, and subsequent management, assessing changes in vegetation growth and chemistry, soil chemistry and the soil microbial community. Persistent effects of earlier nutrient loading on Calluna growth and phenology, and on the abundance of lichens, were apparent up to 8 years after nitrogen additions ceased, indicating the potential for long‐term effects of modest nutrient loading (up to 15.4 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1, over 7 years) on heathland ecosystems. The size and activity of the soil microbial community was elevated in former N‐treated plots, 6–8 years after additions ceased, suggesting a prolonged effect on the rate of nutrient cycling. Although habitat management in 1998 reduced nitrogen stores in plant biomass, effects on belowground nitrogen stores were small. Although some parameters (e.g. soil pH) recover pretreatment levels relatively rapidly, others (e.g. vegetation cover and microbial activity) respond much more slowly, indicating that the ecological effects of even small increases in nitrogen deposition will persist for many years after deposition inputs are reduced. Indeed, calculations suggest that the additional soil nitrogen storage associated with 7 years of experimental nitrogen inputs could sustain the observed effects on plant growth and phenology for several decades. Carry over effects on plant phenology and sensitivity to drought suggest that the persistence of vegetation responses to nitrogen deposition should be integrated into long‐term assessments of the impact of global climate change on sensitive ecosystems.     

An epr signal from the half-reduced type 3 copper pair in Rhus vernicifera laccase

A new type of Cu(II) epr signals have been produced in native and type 2 copper depleted Rhus vernicifera laccase. They are shown to originate from one of the type 3 copper ions that are epr silent in the resting enzyme. The new epr signals show high rhombicity in g tensor and are similar to those observed in other proteins, such as superoxide dismutase and half-met hemocyanin. The half-reduced type 3 copper pair is formed by reduction with an electron from type 1 Cu(I) but only after a reoxidation of the copper pair, either by peroxide or dioxygen. It is suggested that the half-reduction of the type 3 copper pair only occurs in molecules where type 2 copper ion is either reduced or absent.     

Unique dentition of rhynchosaurs and their two-phase success as herbivores in the Triassic

Rhynchosaurs were key herbivores over much of the world in the Middle and Late Triassic, often dominating their faunas ecologically, and much of their success may relate to their dentition. They show the unique ankylothecodont mode of tooth implantation, with deep roots embedded in the bone of the jaw and low crowns that were rapidly worn down in use. During growth, the main area of oral food processing, located in the middle and posterior portions of the occlusal surfaces of the jaws, moved posteriorly relative to the anterior tips of the jaws, which curved up. As the maxilla and dentary grew by addition of new bone posteriorly, the dental lamina fed in new teeth at the back of the tooth rows. CT scanning of the holotype skull of Bentonyx sidensis from the Middle Triassic of England reveals previously concealed details of the dentition. Together with new dentary material from the same location, this has enabled us to examine the tooth replacement process and elucidate ontogenetic changes in dentition and jaw morphology as the animals aged. There were major changes in rhynchosaur anatomy and function through their evolutionary history, with the early forms of the Middle Triassic dying out before or during the Carnian Pluvial Episode (233–232 Ma), and the subclade Hyperodapedontinae, with broad skulls and adaptations to chop tough vegetation, subsequently diversifying worldwide in a successful ecological expansion until their global extinction 227–225 Ma.     

Response of Carnian Pluvial Episode evidenced by organic carbon isotopic excursions from western Hubei,South China

We here report a high-resolution organic C-isotope record from terrestrial–marine transitional sediments of the Badong Formation in the Luojiagou section, Zigui Basin of Hubei Province, South China. Our organic carbon isotope (δ¹³C_org) profile, ranging from -21.2‰ to -26.2‰, shows four negative carbon-isotope shifts. We suggest that the sharpest negative carbon isotope excursion in the upper portion of the Badong Formation marks the main phase of the Carnian Pluvial Episode (CPE) in the basin, likely correlated with those in other depositional records of this time. The occurrence of the CPE in the Badong Formation would imply that the stratigraphic coverage of the Badong Formation might be prolonged to incorporate (at least part of) the Late Triassic Carnian stage. This result provides a potential case for understanding the CPE in continental–marine environments in the eastern Tethys realm, and is significant for exploring the palaeoclimate variation across the Late Triassic.