贵州石灰岩和砂岩地区C4和C3植物营养元素的化学计量对N／P比值波动的影响

陆地生态系统植物的生长受到营养元素氮（N）和磷（P）的可利用性的限制。已有的证据表明营养元素的相对丰度将控制生态系统的营养元素循环和能量流动的速度。文章提出如下假设：为了适应环境的变化，植物具有可伸缩性地调整营养元素含量的能力，也就是营养元素化学计量比值变化的能力，植物N／P比值波动的影响不仅来源于N对P的相对可利用性的变化，也来源于其他营养元素化学计量的变化，尤其是与Ca的化学计量的变化。为了验证上述假设，本研究利用3种C4植物和11种C3植物，研究了植物N／P化学计量比值的波动随N与Ca和P与Ca化学计量的变化模式：对C4植物来说，N／P比值的波动主要受生物量P与Ca化学计量变化的影响；而对C3植物来说，则同时受N与Ca和P与Ca化学计量变化的控制，它们之间的相对控制能力的大小将决定植物N／P比值波动的变化梯度，C4植物和C3植物的N／P比值的波动都要受土壤pH值的影响。本研究对了解物种丰度和N对P的相对可利用性、N与Ca，以及P与Ca的化学计量之间关系具有重要意义.

扬子地台西南缘早三叠世层序地层格架

扬子地台西南缘早三叠世地层被划分为4个沉积层序。通过综合研究已取得的牙形石生物地层资料，与Haq等人提出的三叠纪牙形石生物时带进行了对比，初步定出了各沉积层序及体系域的界面年龄(层序1底界年龄251Ma；层序2底界年龄245．2Ma；层序3底界年龄243Ma；层序4底界年龄240．5Ma，顶界年龄239．4Ma)，从而建立了区内分辨率较高的早三叠世地层格架。格架中层序组合特征在碳酸盐岩台地边缘显示得非常清楚，其中，层序1—层序2高水位体系域的台地边缘依次向陆后退，呈退积或超覆(ovedap)型组合关系；层序3—层序4高水位体系域的台地边缘则依次向海推进，呈进积或退覆(offlap)型组合关系。这种组合特征主要受沉积盆地的构造沉降及2级海平面升降亚旋回的海面变化的控制，构造沉降加速和海面上升期形成的层序呈退积型组合关系；构造沉降平缓及海面下降期形成的层序呈进积型组合关系。此外，还研究了斜坡地带(贵阳改毛)层序1—层序3底部的碳氧同位素组成变化规律：海侵体系域—高水位体系域碳、氧同位素组成变化不大，δ^13c主要为正值，但在高水位体系域顶部明显负向偏移；低水位体系域碳、氧同位素组成变化剧烈，且均为负值。这为地层划分提供了地球化学方面的依据。

兰坪中新生代盆地沉积岩源区构造背景和物源属性研究——砂岩地球化学证据

沉积盆地中砂岩的地球化学成分主要受物源区控制。因此，通过分析砂岩的化学成分可以揭示盆地沉积岩的源区构造背景和物源属性。对兰坪盆地中新生界砂岩的常量成分、稀土和微量元素进行的分析，揭示盆地沉积岩的源区构造背景属被动大陆边缘和大陆岛弧，结合岩相古地理资料认为在中生代以前，盆地东侧可能主要处于被动大陆边缘环境。而西侧则可能以大陆岛弧环境为主，这与区域地质资料相吻合。沉积物源岩的原始物质应来自上地壳，以长英质岩石为主，并有少量安山质岩石和古老沉积物的混入，故兰坪中新生代盆地属典型的大陆型盆地。从而为正确认识古特提斯洋的演化和盆山转换过程提供了强有力的地球化学证据。

甘肃阳山金矿同位素地球化学特征及矿床成因

甘肃文县阳山金矿的探明黄金储量已达308t，平均品位4.74g/t，是我国地质勘查储量最大的金矿床。该矿床产于西秦岭造山带，是一个同碰撞形成的类卡林型金矿床，矿体受EW向韧脆性剪切带控制，赋矿围岩为泥盆系碳质千枚岩-板岩-碳酸盐-硅质岩和侵入其中的花岗斑岩脉。流体成矿过程包括：形成石英-绢云母-黄铁矿组合的早阶段，形成石英-黄铁矿-毒砂-方铅矿等多金属组合的主成矿阶段，形成碳酸盐-辉锑矿-石英网脉的晚阶段。 与矿体关系较为密切的花岗斑岩富集LILE 和 LREE, 亏损 Ba, Sr, Nb, Ta, P 和Ti，ΣREE＝54.35～124.01 μg/g ，(La/Yb)N=9.72～27.80，δEu=0.70～0.89， ISr值为0.70806～0.71756，平均0.71107；εNd(t)平均-3.4；Nd模式年龄（T2DM）平均1.34（Ga）。表明花岗斑岩岩浆应源自成熟度较低的中元古代基底地壳物质。花岗斑岩的(206Pb/204Pb)220Ma、(207Pb/204Pb)220Ma和(208Pb/204Pb)220Ma的平均值分别为17.875、15.604和38.296，与秦岭微陆块的中元古代基底和碧口地体碧口群的Pb同位素组成一致。考虑到前人获得碧口群的年龄为1.235～1.367Ga，而秦岭微陆块沿勉略缝合带向南仰冲到碧口地体之上，我们认为由碧口群等组成的俯冲板片的变质脱水熔融作用导致了阳山金矿带花岗斑岩的形成。因此，阳山金矿带的花岗斑岩是扬子与华北大陆中生代碰撞造山过程中形成的同碰撞花岗岩类。 最新的S，Sr和Pb同位素研究表明：热液成矿早阶段的黄铁矿的34S值范围介于-15.5‰~6.59‰之间，总体离散性比较大，显示沉积地层来源的特征，硫同位素组成属离散型，不具有岩浆主导的成矿的塔式效应。花岗岩中黄铁矿硫同位素范围很集中，34S值处于-1.47‰～2.12‰之间，本区花岗斑岩不可能为成矿物质的主要来源。矿石硫化物的初始锶同位素比值范围较大（0.70877～0.71697，平均为0.71258），显示成矿物质并非单一来源，考虑到花岗斑岩先于矿床形成，只在后期构造作用的岩体部分成矿的地质事实，少量矿石中的低锶同位素比值黄铁矿有可能来自作为围岩的花岗斑岩，也可能来自基底物质。矿石硫化物Pb同位素206Pb/204Pb=17.552～18.853，平均18.260；207Pb/204Pb=15.574～15.928，平均15.685；208Pb/204Pb=37.894～39.293，平均38.680，变化范围比较大。μ=9.46~10.06，平均为9.65，ω值介于36.96～42.21，显示了铅源的物质成熟度较高，要求最佳物源是浅变质化学-碎屑沉积建造，恰好与本区泥盆构造层为浅变质细碎屑岩夹薄层灰岩系的特征一致，部分低Sr和Pb同位素比值的成矿物质可能来自于作为围岩的花岗斑岩和/或者基地物质。 总结前人阳山金矿床的H-O-C同位素体系的研究得出，初始成矿流体来源于碳酸盐地层或相似岩石建造的变质或/和改造脱水，成矿流体系统从早到晚、从深到浅，由变质热液演变为大气降水热液。与本文得出的结论一致。 总而言之， 阳山金矿矿成矿流体的来源早期具有变质水特征，应来自赋矿地层或相似岩性组合的改造或变质脱水作用，晚阶段大气水为主的流体性质。成矿物质主要来自于赋矿围岩。流体经过作为部分围岩的花岗斑岩时从中萃取少部分成矿物质，而导致了少部分的低锶、铅同位素的矿石硫化物组成。 在中生代扬子板块北缘（包括碧口地块）向南秦岭陆陆碰撞过程中，扬子北缘板片沿勉略断裂向北俯冲到南秦岭之下，下插板片增温增压，发生变质、脱水和部分熔融。碰撞中期，构造背景由挤压向伸展转变，减压增温的环境导致大量变质流体沿深大断裂向上运移，不断萃取围岩中大量成矿元素，并将成矿元素搬运至有利于流体聚集、成矿物质卸载的空间，使成矿物质富集成矿。阳山金矿床定位于泥盆系构造层中，成矿时代为190Ma左右，紧随花岗斑岩侵入作用（220Ma左右），主成矿作用发生于碰撞作用由挤压-伸展转变期的减压增温环境。成岩、成矿模式与CMF模式吻合。 阳山超大型金矿是世界罕见的碰撞造山带内类卡林型金矿床，其地质地球化学特征复杂、独特，流体性质主要与造山型金矿一致，矿床地质主要与卡林型金矿一致，部分特征兼与造山型和卡林型两类矿床之间，花岗斑岩本身成矿的特点又为阳山所特有，总体具有造山型向卡林型金矿过渡的性质。因此建议以“秦岭式”或“阳山式”类卡林型金矿床代表与阳山金矿具有类似成矿背景及地球化学性质的矿床。

贵州凉风洞石笋的古气侯记录与古生态环境意义

自20世纪60年代以来，探索全球性气候变化规律和环境变迁史的研究工作在世界各国广泛开展。大规模的深海岩芯的研究、中国北方黄土的系统研究、大型湖泊沉积岩芯的研究及对树木年轮、泥炭、珊瑚、冰芯等“自然环境历史档案”开展的研究工作，都为重建古气候和古生态环境提供了大量的资料。洞穴化学沉积物（石笋）由于其特有的微层结构及其内的稳定氧、碳同位素和微量元素所蕴含的古气候与古生态环境信息，并且具有分布广、时间长、信息保存完整等特点，因此，它是研究地球环境变化很好的自然环境历史档案。本论文通过对凉风洞洞穴体系的综合研究和对凉风洞石笋（微层）生长特征及石笋的碳、氧稳定同位素组成的研究，系统探讨了贵州凉风洞石笋的古气候记录和古生态环境意义，得出以下主要结论：1，地表植被的类型及生物量等信息可综合反映于洞穴体系的不同组．分（气样、土样、水样）中。而洞穴的水动力条件也能很好的被洞穴滴水中所含微量（常量）元素记录。根据分析，洞穴综合体系对外界气候与生态环境的响应关系存在一定规律性。通过对比说明，我们所选的凉风洞基岩的溶蚀和缓冲对水体中的信息影响不大，即洞穴滴水较好的继承了土壤水所携带的地表气候与生态环境信息，是理想的研究对象。2．凉风洞石笋具有多个沉积旋回，不同沉积旋回的纹层组合及纹层结构存在一定的差异，指示不同的沉积环境。根据年龄数据判断，旋回①至旋回⑧之间年龄跨度为1570-8000 aBP，以呈缓平顶（柱）对称叠复状的沉积形态组合为主，示洞顶滴水量较大，滴水点相对稳定，且均匀，与全新世较为稳定的气候与环境变化的主旋律相一致。旋回⑧以下至底部石葡萄状沉积物之上部分之间年龄跨度为8000-14220 aBP，期间经历末次冰期晚期向全新世大暖期过渡，受诸如新仙女木事件（Younger Dryas）等的影响，气候变化幅度大，且经历多次反复，石笋生长的沉积学特征表现为斜锥（柱）、尖顶锥不对称叠复纹层组合，示洞顶滴水水量较小但变化较大，且洞穴滴水不稳（固）定。与此时间段内不稳定的气候与环境变化的主旋律也相一致。3．凉风洞石笋上段微层具有典型南方石笋微层发育的特性：微层发育较差，层面多弯曲，层间界面模糊等。下段因为沉积间断较多、风化层面厚及受到若干时段内碳酸钙重结晶而导致晶体穿插层位生长的影响，尽管在某些层位有微层发育，但无法对石笋微层作连续观察记录。根据高精度的石笋TIMS、ICP-MS测年数据和在显微镜下所数石笋微层数量的对比，扣除若干个沉积间断及风化层导致的微层缺失，以及显微镜下肉眼对细小微层计数的误差，我们认为，凉风洞石笋微层是年生长层的可能性较大。4，由于部分测年数据仍在测试中，目前无法精确控制石笋中沉积间断的存在导致的信息缺失，因此，我们仅仅根据部分石笋测年数据，建立了凉风洞石笋在不同时段的生长速率。全新世以来石笋的生长速率在22μm／yr-51μm／yr之间，明显高于末次冰期晚期向全新世过渡这一时间段内的石笋生长速率（16μm／yr）。这些数据间接印证了石笋生长响应于外界气候，尤其是降雨的变化。5．通过对洞穴体系的综合分析对比，我们判断凉风洞洞穴综合体系相对完整，洞穴化学沉积物的6先值较为直接的响应了土壤c压的61t值变化，即反映了地表的植被（c3植物和c；植物）的组成状况。贵州地区降雨80％集中在5-10月份，在此期间，基本受西南季风和东亚季风所控制。西南季风盛行时贵州各地的降雨频繁，是一年中雨量最集中的时期，在东亚季风影响时期，贵州多晴少雨，往往形成干早的天气。又西南季风控制区大气降雨创的值的加权平均值明显低于东亚季风控制区大气降雨δ18O值的加权平均值。因此，贵州地区年均降雨量和年均降雨δ18O值主要取决于西南（印度洋）季风的强弱：西南季风加强，降雨量增加，年均降雨剐、值偏负；西南季风减弱，降雨量减少，年均降雨δ18O值偏正。洞穴滴水的6旧O值变化基本继承了大气降水的别勿值变化。因此，对地处我国西南地区贵州南部的凉风洞，源于洞穴滴水的凉风洞石笋的别勺值变化直接响应了外界的大气降雨量的变化和西南季风与东亚季风相互的强弱交替。6．对凉风洞石笋碳、氧同位素组成的时间序列曲线作20点移动平均，发现，特别是进入全新世后，石笋的引3c值和扩、值几乎具有完全一致的同步变化，只是在变化幅度上在某些时段存在差异。说明在凉风洞石笋反映的14220-1570 aBP时间段内，尤其是10500-1570 aBP期间，本区域气候具有雨热（或干冷）同期的气候特征：在气温较高时间段，西南季风增强，气候湿润多雨，更有利于地表。植物的生长。气温降低时，随着东亚季风增强，西南季风减弱，气候干旱少雨，地表C；植物的生长占有一定的比例。据此重建和恢复了本地区14220-1570 aBP期间的古气候和古生态环境：（1）．14220-10500aBP，处于末次冰期晚期，气温较低。凉风洞石笋此时段的司、值都大于-9.8‰，最小值为-9.31‰，最大值达-7.290‰，平均值为-8.552‰。说明凉风洞洞穴地表的生长植被。植物占有一定的组分，石笋的δ18C值受C3植物和C4植物的共同影响。此时段内石笋6、值也存在一定的波动（-5.651‰－6.942‰），考虑到末次冰期晚期先全新世过渡期间气温变幅较大，O'Neil等（1969）所建立的氧同位素平衡分馏方程中的温度变化已不能忽略，并且大气降雨的温度效应作用也比较明显，因此我们对此时段的季风和大气降雨量的变化不作讨论。（2）. 10500-9300 aBP，新仙女木事件结束，进入全新世，气温逐渐回升。凉风洞石笋此时段的扩3c值大都小于-9.8‰，最小值为-10.377‰，最大值为-9.267‰，平均值为-9.910‰。凉风洞洞穴地表植被已逐渐由C3植物占主导。此时段石笋δ18C值明显卜降，最小值为-7.420‰，最大值为-6.077‰，平均值为-6.854‰。反映在全新世早期夏季风盛行，降雨量较大，西南季风对本地区全年降雨贡献率大。（3）．9300-8300 aBP，经历一段明显温度波动变化。仟3c值在-9.8‰上下波动，最小值为-10.155‰，最大值为-9.096‰，平均值为-9.712‰。凉风洞洞穴地表植被C4植物所占比例存在反复。此时段石笋岁a0值变化幅度不是很大，最小值为-6.796‰，最大值为-6.260‰，平均值为-6.490‰。受冬季风影响，夏季风有一定的减弱，总体降雨量一般，东亚季风对本地区全年降雨贡献率比全新世初期有所增大。（4）．8300-3l000BP，俗称全新世大暖期，此时段全球气温明显回升，石笋δ18C值总体逐渐降低，最小值为-n．926编，平均值为-10.496‰。凉风洞洞穴地表植被基本由C3植物所控制。但在扩飞值总体逐渐降低的趋势一F，也存在若干扩3c值明显增大时段，如7700-6700 aBP时段，61七值最大值达-8.110‰，地表C4植物所占比例已不能忽略。此时段石笋6150值变化幅度较大，最小值为-7.373‰，最大值为-5.047‰，平均值为-6.261‰。反映在全新世大暖期的大背景下西南季风和东亚季风的交替以及大气降雨量的变化存在较大的波动，说明了季风气候的不稳定性。（5）．3100-1570 aBP，在3100aBP前后，凉风洞石笋的δ18C值和δ18O值均急剧上升，标志进入晚全新世。此时段气温变幅很大，δ18C值总体虽然仍偏低，平均值为-10.275‰，但刻畜介于-6.495-12.097‰之间；δ18C值平均值为-6.184‰，变幅介于-4.677-8.65‰之间，均超过以往任何时段。此时段凉风洞洞穴地表植被基本上仍然由C。植物所控制，始于3100 aBP的急速降温事件使得在全新世晚期开始时段C4植物所占比例有一定的上升。此时段内西南季风和东亚季风反复多次交替，大气降雨量存在较大幅度的变化，说明了季风气候在此时段的很不稳定性。对于169于巧70 oBP百年时间段内石笋的δ18C值和司、值巨大幅度的急剧升高，有待进一步研究，也不排除石笋表层长期裸露受外界污染所致。

An empirical equation for the calculation of retention time with extrapolation of temperature in gas chromatography

An empirical equation is proposed to accurately correlate isothermal data over a wide range of temperature With the equation ln k = A* + B*/T-lambda the retention times of different solutes tested on OV-101, SE-54 and PEG 20M capillary columns have been achieved even when lambda is assigned a constant value of 1.7 Comparison with ln k = A + B/T and in k = c + d/T+ h/T-2, shows that the proposed equation is of higher accuracy and is applicable to extrapolation calculation, especially from data at high temperature to those at low temperature. Parameters A* and B* as well as A and B are also discussed. The linear correlation of A* and B* is weaker than that of A and B.

Rough set based feature selection : A review

Feature selection aims to determine a minimal feature subset from a problem domain while retaining a suitably high accuracy in representing the original features. Rough set theory (RST) has been used as such a tool with much success. RST enables the discovery of data dependencies and the reduction of the number of attributes contained in a dataset using the data alone, requiring no additional information. This chapter describes the fundamental ideas behind RST-based approaches and reviews related feature selection methods that build on these ideas. Extensions to the traditional rough set approach are discussed, including recent selection methods based on tolerance rough sets, variable precision rough sets and fuzzy-rough sets. Alternative search mechanisms are also highly important in rough set feature selection. The chapter includes the latest developments in this area, including RST strategies based on hill-climbing, genetic algorithms and ant colony optimization.

A Chosen Witness: A Sermon Preached in St. Stephen's Church in Memory of the Rev. Webster

Memorial Sermon preached in memory of the Rev. Walter Gardner Webster

Paediatric malaria case-management with artemether-lumefantrine in Zambia: a repeat cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND:Zambia was the first African country to change national antimalarial treatment policy to artemisinin-based combination therapy - artemether-lumefantrine. An evaluation during the early implementation phase revealed low readiness of health facilities and health workers to deliver artemether-lumefantrine, and worryingly suboptimal treatment practices. Improvements in the case-management of uncomplicated malaria two years after the initial evaluation and three years after the change of policy in Zambia are reported.METHODS:Data collected during the health facility surveys undertaken in 2004 and 2006 at all outpatient departments of government and mission facilities in four Zambian districts were analysed. The surveys were cross-sectional, using a range of quality of care assessment methods. The main outcome measures were changes in health facility and health worker readiness to deliver artemether-lumefantrine, and changes in case-management practices for children below five years of age presenting with uncomplicated malaria as defined by national guidelines.RESULTS:In 2004, 94 health facilities, 103 health workers and 944 consultations for children with uncomplicated malaria were evaluated. In 2006, 104 facilities, 135 health workers and 1125 consultations were evaluated using the same criteria of selection. Health facility and health worker readiness improved from 2004 to 2006: availability of artemether-lumefantrine from 51% (48/94) to 60% (62/104), presence of artemether-lumefantrine dosage wall charts from 20% (19/94) to 75% (78/104), possession of guidelines from 58% (60/103) to 92% (124/135), and provision of in-service training from 25% (26/103) to 41% (55/135). The proportions of children with uncomplicated malaria treated with artemether-lumefantrine also increased from 2004 to 2006: from 1% (6/527) to 27% (149/552) in children weighing 5 to 9 kg, and from 11% (42/394) to 42% (231/547) in children weighing 10 kg or more. In both weight groups and both years, 22% (441/2020) of children with uncomplicated malaria were not prescribed any antimalarial drug.CONCLUSION:Although significant improvements in malaria case-management have occurred over two years in Zambia, the quality of treatment provided at the point of care is not yet optimal. Strengthening weak health systems and improving the delivery of effective interventions should remain high priority in all countries implementing new treatment policies for malaria.

Convergence of numerical time-averaging and stationary measures via Poisson equations

Numerical approximation of the long time behavior of a stochastic di.erential equation (SDE) is considered. Error estimates for time-averaging estimators are obtained and then used to show that the stationary behavior of the numerical method converges to that of the SDE. The error analysis is based on using an associated Poisson equation for the underlying SDE. The main advantages of this approach are its simplicity and universality. It works equally well for a range of explicit and implicit schemes, including those with simple simulation of random variables, and for hypoelliptic SDEs. To simplify the exposition, we consider only the case where the state space of the SDE is a torus, and we study only smooth test functions. However, we anticipate that the approach can be applied more widely. An analogy between our approach and Stein's method is indicated. Some practical implications of the results are discussed. Copyright © by SIAM. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.

Mergers, Acquisitions, and Alliances

© 2012 by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.This article considers the determinants and effects of M&As in the pharmaceutical industry, with a particular focus on innovation and R&D productivity. As is the case in other industries, mergers in the pharmaceutical field are driven by a variety of company motives and conditions. These include defensive responses to industry shocks as well as more proactive rationales, such as economies of scale and scope, access to new technologies, and expansion to new markets. It is important to take account of firms' characteristics and motivations in evaluating merger performance, rather than using a broad aggregate brushstroke. Research to date on pharmaceuticals suggests considerable variation in both motivation and outcomes. From an antitrust policy standpoint, the larger horizontal mergers in pharmaceuticals have run into few challenges from regulatory authorities in the United States and the European Union, given the option to spin off competing therapeutic products to other drug firms.

Bayesian inference of the number of factors in gene-expression analysis: application to human virus challenge studies.

BACKGROUND: Nonparametric Bayesian techniques have been developed recently to extend the sophistication of factor models, allowing one to infer the number of appropriate factors from the observed data. We consider such techniques for sparse factor analysis, with application to gene-expression data from three virus challenge studies. Particular attention is placed on employing the Beta Process (BP), the Indian Buffet Process (IBP), and related sparseness-promoting techniques to infer a proper number of factors. The posterior density function on the model parameters is computed using Gibbs sampling and variational Bayesian (VB) analysis. RESULTS: Time-evolving gene-expression data are considered for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), Rhino virus, and influenza, using blood samples from healthy human subjects. These data were acquired in three challenge studies, each executed after receiving institutional review board (IRB) approval from Duke University. Comparisons are made between several alternative means of per-forming nonparametric factor analysis on these data, with comparisons as well to sparse-PCA and Penalized Matrix Decomposition (PMD), closely related non-Bayesian approaches. CONCLUSIONS: Applying the Beta Process to the factor scores, or to the singular values of a pseudo-SVD construction, the proposed algorithms infer the number of factors in gene-expression data. For real data the "true" number of factors is unknown; in our simulations we consider a range of noise variances, and the proposed Bayesian models inferred the number of factors accurately relative to other methods in the literature, such as sparse-PCA and PMD. We have also identified a "pan-viral" factor of importance for each of the three viruses considered in this study. We have identified a set of genes associated with this pan-viral factor, of interest for early detection of such viruses based upon the host response, as quantified via gene-expression data.