川西地区几种优势苔藓植株元素含量及其时空差异性

揭示苔藓植株元素含量及其时空差异性是深入开展利用苔藓植物指示环境和筛选理想监测藓种的科学基础。采用微波消解（ICP-AES）方法对九寨沟自然遗产地原始林景点停车场周围三个采样带：I为停车场植被小岛（PS），向外约120 m半径为II带（D120），再向外距离约1,000 m为III带（D1000）和3个方向上的大羽藓和毛尖青藓2种苔藓中13种元素（A1, S, Ca, P, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Pb, Ni,Zn和Cd）含量进行了测定和比较，并对采自边坡方向（PS-3）上2005和2007年的4种苔藓植物（南木藓、大羽藓、平藓和厚角絹藓）也进行了13种元素含量的测定和比较。同时对九寨沟自然遗产地、黄龙自然遗产地、夹金山和梦笔山的冷杉原始林4个地区的3种苔藓中（大羽藓、锦丝藓和塔藓）的A1、Ca���Cu、Fe、K、Mg、P、Zn、C和N 10种元素含量进行测定和比较。 对大羽藓和毛尖青藓2种苔藓植物内13种元素的测定发现：1）同种苔藓对不同元素的富集能力不同。A1、Ca���K、Mg和P的元素含量在苔藓中的富集较其他元素的要高。2）不同种苔藓植物对同种元素的富集能力不同，毛尖青藓较大羽藓能够监测出更多的元素；对于被检测出的元素，毛尖青藓监测出的累积量大于大羽藓，其中累积量最大的元素是Ca���10 874.286 μg.g-1.year-1，最小的是Cu元素为5.438 μg.g-1.year-1。对05年和07年的平藓、大羽藓、南木藓和厚角絹藓元素含量的测定表明：元素在两年中的积累量是不同的。综合分析表明，苔藓生物监测方法可有效监测景点停车场机动车尾气中排放出的典型元素（如Cu、Pb、Ni、Zn、Cd等）含量，而毛尖青藓较大羽藓能更可靠的监测九寨沟自然遗产地单景点汽车尾气金属元素种类及其排放量。 对4个地区3种苔藓10种元素监测发现：1）Ca���Mg、Zn、K和Cu元素在黄龙地区的含量高于在其它地区的含量；P元素在梦笔山地区的含量为最高；Fe和Al元素在夹金山地区的含量高于在其它地区的含量。2）C元素在其它因素一致的情况下，进行不同年龄间的元素含量比较，结果显示元素含量在各年龄间并不存在明显的差异性；N元素含量与年龄的差异出现在黄龙林下及林窗的塔藓、九寨沟林下的锦丝藓及塔藓和梦笔山的塔藓中，而在锦丝藓中未出现元素含量与年龄的差异性；塔藓能检测出更多的元素种类其含量与年龄间存在显著差异，锦丝藓检测到的元素种类次之；除锦丝藓（锦丝藓在林窗中几乎检测不到元素含量与年龄间的差异性）外，其他两种藓在林窗中能检测出的元素种类大于在林下的检测种类。3）元素含量与生境间存在差异性的元素分别有：黄龙大羽藓中的Ca���P和Mg元素；九寨锦丝藓中的Zn元素；夹金山塔藓中的Al、Fe和Zn元素；梦笔山大羽藓中的Al、Fe和Mg元素及锦丝藓中的Ca���素。4）区域、年龄和生境因素对苔藓植株元素含量均达到了显著水平，但两两之间及三者之间的交互作用由于元素种类的不同存在差异。综合分析表明，苔藓植物中的元素含量受年龄、区域的影响较生境的更大。 The revelation of mosses elements content and its spatiotemporal differences is the scientific foundation of moss monitoring. To determine the feasibility of moss monitoring metal depositions derived from travel bus emiss ions in scenic spot, we collected one year-growth samples of two mosses Brachythecim piligerum and Thuidium cymbifolium with different distance (island center, 120m，1000m ) and different direction (north, south and east) far from parking site island from Yuanshilin Spot at Jiuzhaigou World Nature Heritage in the Western Sichuan of China and determined thirteen element （A1, S, Ca, P, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Pb, Ni, Zn, Cd）contents by ICP-AES analysis method. And picked 4 kinds of mosses (Macrothamnium macrocarpu m（Reinw. etHornsch.）Fleisch.，Thuidium cymbifolium，Entodon concinnus (De Not.) Par., Neckera pennata) from the direction PS-3 in 2005 and 2007, determined 13 element contents. Collected 3 kinds of moss (Thuidium cymbifo lium, Actinothuidium Hookeri (Mitt.) and Hyolcomium splendens (Hedw.) from Jiuzhaigou natural heritage, Huanglong natural heritage, Mt. Jiajin and Mt. Mengbi in primeval forest with two habitat (undergrowth and forest gap), determined element contents of A1, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, P, Zn, C and N. We found that, 1) The elements content are difference in same type of moss. Content of A1, Ca, K, Mg and P are higher than others. 2) While the contents of A1, S, Ca, P, Cu, Fe, K and Zn had significant correlation with the different distances from parking site, the nearer the distance was, the more accumulation was; 2) Comparing to Thuidium cymbifolium, Brachythecium piligerum can test more elements which contents show the significant correlation with distances. And Brachythecium piligerum can have greater element accumulation than Thuidium cymbifolium. The element contents in two years (2005 and 2007) are different. The present study found that moss can reliably bio-indicate metal deposition from traffic emissions in one scenic spot and Brachythecium piligerum is a good moss for bio-indicating element content from traffic emissions at Jiuzhaigou World natural Heritage. Determined the 10 element contents in 4 areas through 3 kinds of moss we found that, 1) Ca, Mg, Zn, K and Cu element content is higher in the Huanglong area than in other areas, The P element content in Mt. Jiajin is higher than other areas, Fe and Al element content is higher in the Mt. Jiajin than in other areas. 2) The content of C had no significant correlation with age. As for N, this significant correlation found in Hyolcomium splendens (Hedw.) with 2 habitat in Huanglong, Actinothuidium Hookeri (Mitt.) and Hyolcomium splendens (Hedw.) with undergrowth in Jiuzhai, Hyolcomium splendens (Hedw.) in Mt. Mengbi. The types of elements which content showt he significant correlation are most in Hyolcomium splendens (Hedw.) and least in Thuidium cymbifolium. Except Actinothuidium Hookeri (Mitt.), the types of elements that content had significant correlation with age in forest gap are more than in undergrowth. 3) The elements which content had significant correlation with habitat are P, Ca and Mg in Thuidium cymbifolium in Huanglong, Zn in Actinothuidium Hookeri (Mitt.) in Jiuzhai, Al, Fe and Zn in Hyolcomium splendens (Hedw.) in Mt. Jiajin, in Mt. Mengbi Al, Fe and Mg in Thuidium cymbifolium and Ca in Actinothuidium Hookeri (Mitt.). 4）The region, the age and the habitat factor has coeffect element content. The correlationship between element contents and the age, the region is closer than habitat.

Solvent impregnated resin prepared using task-specific ionic liquids for rare earth separation

A novel bifunctional task-specific ionic liquid (TSIL), i.e. [trialkylmethylammonium][sec-nonylphenoxy acetate] ([A336] [CA-100]) was impregnated on intermediate polarized XAD-7 resin, and the prepared solvent impreganated resin (SIR) was studied for rare earth (RE) separation. Adsorption ability of the SIR was indicated to be obviously higher than that prepared by [A336][NO3] because of the functional anion of [A336][CA-100]. Adsorption kinetics, adsorption isotherm, separation and desorption of the SIR were also studied.

THE CHARGE-DISTRIBUTION AND THE ELECTRIC-FIELD GRADIENT IN THE HIGH-TEMPERATURE SUPERCONDUCTOR TLBA2CAN-1CUNO2N+3 (N = 1 TO 3)

The net charges at atoms in the high-temperature superconductor TlBa2Can-1CunO2n+3 (n = 1 to 3) are calculated by means of the tight-binding approximation based on the EHMO method. The results indicate that the charge distribution in this kind of compounds possesses a specially layered arrangement. An insulating Ba-Ba layer is inserted between the Cu-O layer and the Tl-O layer. There may exist a weak coupling between the Cu-O layer and the Tl-O layer through the interaction of the same O(2) atom with both the Cu atom and the Tl atom. The existence of the Ca in the compounds can cause the valence fluctuation at the Cu atom. The calculated electric field gradients at atoms implies that the conducting electron or hole may move in the Cu-O layer, which is closest to the Tl-O layer, along the a-b plane.

芝麻坊石榴子石二辉橄榄岩多期变质演化及其地幔过程

Many garnet peridotite bodies are enclosed in ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) gneisses and/or migmatites in worldwide UHP terranes formed by subduction of continental crust. On the basis of petrochemical data, a group of garnet peridotites have been derived from depleted mantle and were subsequently metasomatized by melts and/or fluids derived from the subducted continental crust. However, their depletion and enrichment processes and tectonic evolutions are still in conflicts. New evidences for metamorphism of garnet lherzolite from Zhimafang, Donghai County, Sulu UHP terrane are reported. The garnet lherzolite have experienced a prolonged multistage metamorphic history. At least seven stages of recrystallization have been identified based on detailed analysis of reaction textures and mineral compositions. Stage I was a high-pressure and high-temperature enriched garnet lherzolite stage, which is inferred from the presence of high Ca-Cr core of garnet porphyroclast and inclusions of high-Mg clinopyroxene, high-Al-Cr orthopyroxene and high-Mg olivine. Stage II is a high-temperature and low-pressure depleted spinel-hurzbergite or spinel-dunite stage, as indicated by the presence of relict Al-rich spinel, very high-Mg and low-Ni olivine and high-Mg orthopyroxene included in the low-Cr mantle of the porphyroclastic garnet and core of fine-grained neoblastic garnet, clinopyroxene is absent in this stage. Stage III is an hydrous amphibole spinel-lherzolite stage, which recorded events of cooling and metasomatic re-enrichment, this stage is manifested by metasomatic origin of amphibole and phlogopite-bearing porphyroblastic clinopyroxene, and porphyroblastic orthopyroxene. Stage IV is a high-pressure amphibole garnet-lherzolite stage, which is indicated by the formation of low-Cr mantle of the porphyroclastic garnet and amphibole-bearing low-Cr core of neoblastic garnet. Stage V is an UHP metamorphic garnet-lherzolite stage, which is characterized by the formation of high-Cr rim of both porphyroclastic and neoblastic garnet and recrystallization of olivine, clinopyroxene and orthopyroxene in the matrix. During UHP metamorphism, the garnet lherzolite is dehydrated, hornblende decomposed to clinopyroxene and olivine. Stage VI is a high-pressure decompression amphibole garnet-lherzolite stage, indicated by formation of later coarse-grained pargasitic hornblende and phlogopite in the garnet stability field. Stage VII is a low-pressure decompression amphibole-chlorite spinel-lherzolite stage, indicated by replacement of garnet by kelyphite of high-Al orthopyroxene + aluminous spinel + tremolitic amphibole + chlorite + talc. The metamorphic evolutions of Zhimafang garnet lherzolite suggest that it displays progressive mantle wedge convection during the subduction of previous oceanic and subsequent continental slab. We propose that the Zhimafang garnet lherzolite were originated from enriched deep mantle wedge above the previously subducted oceanic slab, subduction of oceanic slab resulted in their convection to shallower back arc and sub-arc setting, decompressional melting transformed the enriched garnet-lherzolite to depleted spinel-hurzbergite or spinel-dunite, the spinel-hurzbergite or spinel dunite was then convected to the hydrous mantle wedge corner driven by corner flow and was cooled and metasomatized by slab-derived melts/fluids, and was transformed to enriched lherzolite. The lherzolites formed a downward mantle wedge layer above successively subducted continental crust. The peridotite subducted together with the underlying continental crust and suffered UHP metamorphism. Finally, the garnet-lherzolite exhumed to the earth surface together with the UHP terrane. Detailed analyses of reaction textures and mineral compositions revealed several stages of metasomatism related to continental subduction and exhumation.

博兴洼陷新生代构造-沉积演化及其对鲁西隆起的响应

The West Shandong Uplift and its adjacent basins, with same evolutional history before Mesozoic, are an important basin-orogenic systems in North China. After late Mesozoic, tectonic differentiation between basin and orogenic belt gradually displayed in the study area. The Boxing sag is a part of Jiyang Depression near to West Shandong Uplift, in which the whole Mesozoic and Cenozoic strata are preserved. Based on the analysis of sedimentary records in the Boxing sag, the Cenozoic structural and sedimentary evolutions in Boxing Sag and its response to Western Shandong uplift are discussed in this dissertation. The main conclusions in this research are presented as follows. Based on Seismic and well logging profile interpretation, fault growth index, thickness difference between bottom wall and top wall and fault activity rate from Eocene to Pliocene are studied. Boxing sag had three main faults, NE, NW and NEE trending faults. Research shows that the activity of the NW trending fault in the Boxing sag became weaken from E1-2S4 to N2m gradually. The evolution of NE and the NEE trending fault can be divided into three episodes, from E1-2k to E2s4, from E2s3 to E3s1, from N2m to E3d. The analysis of Paleogene samples of heavy mineral assemblages shows that metamorphic rocks represented by garnet, intermediate-acid igneous rocks represented by the assemblage of apatite, zircon and tourmaline became less from E1-2k to N2g, and sedimentary rocks represented by the assemblage of pyrite, barite and limonite also became less. Intermediate-basic igneous rocks represented by the assemblage of leucoxene, rutile and ilmenite and metamorphic rocks represented by epidote became more and more. Electronic microprobe analysis shows that glaucophane and barroisite are existed in Kongdian Formation and the 4th member of Shahejie Formation, and they demonstrate that Western Shandong and Eastern Shandong are all the source regions of the Boxing Sag, and they also indicate that oceanic crust existed before the collision between the Yangtze and North China continent. The fact that Eastern Shandong is the source region of Boxing Sag also indicates that Western Shandong was not high enough to prevent sediment from Eastern Shandong at E1-2k and E2s4. The results of the dating of five detrital zircons of Boxing Sag show Kongdian Formation and the 4th member of Shahejie Formation have the age peaks of 2800Ma and 700-800. It means that Eastern Shandong is the source region of Boxing Sag at early Paleogene and Western Shandong is not high enough to prevent the sediment from Eastern Shandong. The ages of 160-180 and 220-260 Ma, which exist in the Guantao Formation and Paleogene, are common in Eastern Shandong and rare in Western Shandong,and it implied that Western Shandong is a low uplift at 24Ma. The Paleogene strata have almost same age groups, while the Guantao Formation has significant variations of age groups, and this indicates that Boxing Sag and Western Shandong uplift had taken place tremendous changes. The results of apatite fission track in Boxing sag show that three times uplifts happened at the source region at 60 Ma, 45Ma and 15Ma respectively, and the Boxing sag experienced two subsidences at 60Ma, 45Ma and one uplift at 20Ma.

中国南方热带地区田洋玛珥湖24万年以来的气候变化及湖泊演变

A continuous long (224m) and high-resolution core TY2 was recovered from paleo-maar-lake Tianyang, tropical South China. Based on the diatom records of the upper 130-m core, this paper focuses on exploring climate change and the lake evolution history in tropical South China during the past 240ka. The most typical and unique characteristics of the diatom assemblages is that, Aulacoseira granulata was dominant or absolutely dominant species (80-90%) during most parts of the 130-m core, while Cyclotella stelligera var. tenuis and Fragilaria construens var. venter were subdominant species in only limited parts of the lower and upper core, respectively. Time scale is always the biggest problem for the study of TY2 core, so although diatom is seldom used for establishing time scale, here we attempt this by correlating the diatom-reconstructed temperature sequence with the time scale of ODP core 806B from Equatorial Western Pacific. Verified by the few most reliable ages from TY2 core and the parallel core TYl, a rather reasonable and reliable time scale was established. 01S 7/6 falls at the depth of 100m (ca. 194kaBP), OIS 6/5 at 75m (ca. 132kaBP), OIS 5/4 at 46m (ca. 75kaBP), OIS 4-3 at 35m (ca. 60kaBP). Qualitative and quantitative environmental reconstructions are made on the basis of diatom assemblage ecotype and EDDI dataset. Correlation of diatom-reconstructed temperature and moisture changes of Core TY2 with pollen-reconstructed temperature and rainfall sequence of Core TYl proves that the results are quite consistent in most periods. Thus the reconstruction results from diatom are quite reliable, and probably have a much higher resolution than pollen results. Combined with lithological and magnetic susceptibility variations, the diatom analysis reveals that, the general climate in tropical South China during the past 240ka was warm and wet. On the time scale of glacial-interglacial, warm and wet, cool and dry are not always synchronous. It was relatively warm-wet during the penultimate interglacial, cool-dry during the penultimate glacial, warm-dry during the last interglacial, and cooler-drier during the last glacial. In contrast, on the time scale of subglacial-subinterglacial scales, warm and dry, cool and wet corresponds very obviously, showing very clear 21-23 ka precession cycle. Analysis also shows that, the water of Tianyang paleo-maar-lake was generally warm, turbulent, turbid, meso-trophic, slightly alkaline, low conductivity and fresh during the past 240 kaBP, with small variations in some parts. Tianyang paleolake experienced shallow to semi-deep lake in OIS7d, open shallow lake in OIS7c-OIS5b, shallow coastal lake in OIS5a-OIS4c, swamp in OIS4b, and then completely dried up in OIS3c. The lake evolution was mainly controlled by temperature and precipitation changes in tropical China. While temperature and precipitation changes were probably controlled by the migrations of monsoon rainband and the evaporation rate, which was in turn controlled by the evolution of East Asian monsoon. Therefore, when the summer monsoon was strongest the climate was warm-dry, when stronger the climate was warm-wet; when the winter monsoon was strongest the climate was cool-dry, stronger cool-wet. This mechanism caused the warm-dry sub interglacial and cool-wet subglacial climate in the tropical South China.

Ballineaspigmore and Bishopstown House

Ballineaspig, anglicised Bishopstown, consists of two townlands which are Ballineaspigmore and Ballineaspigbeg. Taken together, both townlands oc­cupy an area identifiable in modern day terms as lying approximately be­tween the old Glasheen National School on the east side and what was, until recently, the University Farm Curraheen Road on the west. A townland is the smallest administrative land division in Ireland. Historians and other scholars are as yet inconclusive about the origins of these divisions. They are certainly as old as the seventeenth century. The townland with which this booklet is concerned is known as Ballineaspigmore. It extends west from the new Regional Hospital at Wilton and includes modern housing estates such as Uam-Var, Benvoirlich and Firgrove. The simplest translation of the townland name is the large land division of the bishop. To clarify a popular misconception, Bishopstown does not derive its name from the fact that in the early eighteenth century a bishop of Cork built his country residence there. The name is much older and can be found in sources dating back to the sixteenth century.

Anoctamin 1 (Ano1) is required for glucose-induced membrane potential oscillations and insulin secretion by murine β-cells.

Anions such as Cl(-) and HCO3 (-) are well known to play an important role in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS). In this study, we demonstrate that glucose-induced Cl(-) efflux from β-cells is mediated by the Ca(2+)-activated Cl(-) channel anoctamin 1 (Ano1). Ano1 expression in rat β-cells is demonstrated by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. Typical Ano1 currents are observed in whole-cell and inside-out patches in the presence of intracellular Ca(++): at 1 μM, the Cl(-) current is outwardly rectifying, and at 2 μM, it becomes almost linear. The relative permeabilities of monovalent anions are NO3 (-) (1.83 ± 0.10) > Br(-) (1.42 ± 0.07) > Cl(-) (1.0). A linear single-channel current-voltage relationship shows a conductance of 8.37 pS. These currents are nearly abolished by blocking Ano1 antibodies or by the inhibitors 2-(5-ethyl-4-hydroxy-6-methylpyrimidin-2-ylthio)-N-(4-(4-methoxyphenyl)thiazol-2-yl)acetamide (T-AO1) and tannic acid (TA). These inhibitors induce a strong decrease of 16.7-mM glucose-stimulated action potential rate (at least 87 % on dispersed cells) and a partial membrane repolarization with T-AO1. They abolish or strongly inhibit the GSIS increment at 8.3 mM and at 16.7 mM glucose. Blocking Ano1 antibodies also abolish the 16.7-mM GSIS increment. Combined treatment with bumetanide and acetazolamide in low Cl(-) and HCO3 (-) media provokes a 65 % reduction in action potential (AP) amplitude and a 15-mV AP peak repolarization. Although the mechanism triggering Ano1 opening remains to be established, the present data demonstrate that Ano1 is required to sustain glucose-stimulated membrane potential oscillations and insulin secretion.

CaII K interstellar observations towards early-type disc and halo stars

We present high-resolution (R = lambda/Deltalambda similar to 40 000) Ca II K interstellar observations (lambda(air) = 3933.66Angstrom) towards 88 mainly B-type stars, of which 74 are taken from the Edinburgh-Cape or Palomar-Green surveys, and 81 have > 25degrees. The majority of the data come from previously existing spectroscopy, although also included are 18 new observations of stars with echelle spectra taken with UVES on the Very Large Telescope UT2 (Kueyen). Some 49 of the sample stars have distance estimates above the Galactic plane (z) greater than or equal to 1 kpc, and are thus good probes of the halo interstellar medium. Of the 362 interstellar Ca K components that we detect, 75 (21 per cent) have absolute values of their LSR velocity values exceeding 40 km s(-1). In terms of the deviation velocity for the sightlines with distance estimates, 46/273 (17 per cent) of components have velocity values exceeding those predicted by standard Galactic rotation by more than 40 km s(-1). Combining this data set with previous observations, we find that the median value of the reduced equivalent width (REW) of stars with z greater than or equal to 1 kpc (EW x sin ) is similar to 115 mAngstrom (n = 80), similar to that observed in extragalactic sightlines by Bowen. Using data of all z distances, the REW at infinity is found to be similar to 130 mAngstrom, with the scaleheight (1) of the Ca II K column density distribution being;z 800 pc (n = 196) and reduced column density at infinity of log[N(Ca II K) cm(-2)] similar to 12.24. This implies that similar to30 per cent of Ca II K absorption occurs at distances exceeding similar to1 kpc. For nine sightlines, with distance exceeding 1 kpc and with a companion object within 5degrees, we find that all but two have values of Ca II reduced equivalent width the same to within similar to20 per cent, when the REW of the nearest object is extrapolated to the distance of the further of the pair, and assuming 1 = 800 pc. For 29 of our sightlines with z greater than or equal to 1 kpc and a H I detection from the Leiden-Dwingeloo survey (beamsize of 0.5degrees), we find log(N(Ca II K)IN(H I)) ranging from -7.4 to - 8.4. Values of the Ca II K abundance relative to neutral hydrogen (log[N(Ca II K) cm(-2)] - log[N(H I) cm(-2)]) are found to be more than similar to0.5 dex higher in stars with distances exceeding approximate to100 pc, when compared with the (log[N(Ca II K) cm(-2)] -log[N(H-tot) cm(-2)]) values found in nearby sightlines such as those in Wakker & Mathis (2000). Finally, stellar Ca II K equivalent widths of the sample are determined for 26 objects.

High-pressure deformation mechanism in scolecite: A combined computational-experimental study

Pressure-induced structural modifications in scolecite were studied by means of in situ synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction and density functional computations. The experimental cell parameters were refined up to 8.5 GPa. Discontinuities in the slope of the unit-cell parameters vs. pressure dependence were observed; as a consequence, an increase in the slope of the linear pressure-volume dependence is observed at about 6 GPa, suggesting an enhanced compressibility at higher pressures. Weakening and broadening of the diffraction peaks reveals increasing structural disorder with pressure, preventing refinement of the lattice parameters above 8.5 GPa. Diffraction patterns collected during decompression show that the disorder is irreversible. Atomic coordinates within unit cells of different dimensions were determined by means of Car-Parrinello simulations. The discontinuous rise in compressibility at about 6 GPa is reproduced by the computation, allowing us to attribute it to re-organization of the hydrogen bonding network, with the formation of water dimers. Moreover we found that, with increasing pressure, the tetrahedral chains parallel to c rotate along their elongation axis and display an increasing twisting along a direction perpendicular to c. At the same time, we observed the compression of the channels. We discuss the modification of the Ca polyhedra under pressure, and the increase in coordination number (from 4 to 5) of one of the two Al atoms, resulting from the approach of a water molecule. We speculate that this last transformation triggers the irreversible disordering of the system.

Evidence for two endothelin Et(A) receptor subtypes in rabbit arteriolar smooth muscle.

1. Effects of endothelin-1 (Et-1) were studied on membrane currents in choroidal arteriolar smooth muscle by using perforated patch-clamp recordings. 2. Et-1 (10 nM) activated oscillatory Ca(2+)-activated Cl(-)-currents (I(Cl(Ca))) which could not be reversed by washing out. 3. Currents through L-type Ca(2+) channels were resolved in a divalent free medium (I(Ca(L)Na)). Et-1 reduced I(Ca(L)Na) by 75 +/- 7% within 30 s and this effect faded over 5 min, when the depression remained constant. On washing out Et-1, I(Ca(L)Na) almost completely recovered within 10 s. 4. BQ123 (1 microM), a peptide Et(A) receptor blocker, prevented the activation of I(Cl(Ca)), but failed to inhibit I(Cl(Ca)) transients once they had been initiated. In contrast, BQ123 not only prevented but also reversed the inhibition of I(Ca(L)Na) by Et-1. BQ788 (1 microM), an Et(B) receptor antagonist, did not prevent the activation of I(Cl(Ca)) or the inhibition of I(Ca(L)Na) by Et-1. 5. ABT-627 (10 nM), a non-peptide Et(A) receptor antagonist also blocked the activation of I(Cl(Ca)). However, on I(Ca(L)Na), ABT-627 (10 nM) mimicked the action of Et-1 an effect blocked by BQ123 suggesting that ABT-627 acted as an agonist. 6. The data are consistent with choroidal arteriolar smooth muscle cells having two types of Et(A) receptor, one where BQ123 is an antagonist and ABT-627 an agonist, where ligands dissociate freely and this receptor is coupled to inhibition of L-type Ca(2+) channels. In the other, BQ123 and ABT-627 are both antagonists and with Et-1 the receptor converts to a high affinity state producing the classical irreversible activation I(Cl(Ca)).

Cryptic species diversity in a widespread bumble bee complex revealed using mitochondrial DNA RFLPs

Cryptic species diversity is thought to be common within the class Insecta, posing problems for basic ecological and population genetic studies and conservation management. Within the temperate bumble bee (Bombus spp.) fauna, members of the subgenus Bombus sensu stricto are amongst the most abundant and widespread. However, their species diversity is controversial due to the extreme difficulty or inability morphologically to identify the majority of individuals to species. Our character-based phylogenetic analyses of partial CO1 (700 bp) from 39 individuals spread across their sympatric European ranges provided unequivocal support for five taxa (3-22 diagnostic DNA base pair sites per species). Inclusion of 20 Irish specimens to the dataset revealed >= 2.3% sequence divergence between taxa and 200 m) whilst B. cryptarum was relatively more abundant at higher altitudes. Bombus magnus was rarely encountered at urban sites. Both B. lucorum and B. terrestris are nowadays reared commercially for pollination and transported globally. Our RFLP approach to identify native fauna can underpin ecological studies of these important cryptic species as well as the impact of commercial bumble bees on them.

Ca2+-activated Cl- current in retinal arteriolar smooth muscle.

PURPOSE: To characterize the biophysical, pharmacologic, and functional properties of the Ca(2+)-activated Cl(-) current in retinal arteriolar myocytes. METHODS: Whole-cell perforated patch-clamp recordings were made from myocytes within intact isolated arteriolar segments. Arteriolar tone was assessed using pressure myography. RESULTS: Depolarizing of voltage steps to -40 mV and greater activated an L-type Ca(2+) current (I(Ca(L))) that was followed by a sustained current. Large tail currents (I(tail)) were observed on stepping back to -80 mV. The sustained current and I(tail) reversed close to 0 mV in symmetrical Cl(-) concentrations. The ion selectivity sequence for I(tail) was I(-)> Cl(-)> glucuronate. Outward I(tail) was sensitive to the Cl(-) channel blockers 9-anthracene-carboxylic acid (9-AC; 1 mM), 4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (SITS; 1 mM), and disodium 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate (DIDS; 1 mM), but only DIDS produced a substantial (78%) block of inward tail currents at -100 mV. I(tail) was decreased in magnitude when the normal bathing medium was substituted with Ca(2+)-free solution or if I(Ca(L)) was inhibited by 1 microM nimodipine. Caffeine (10 mM) produced large transient currents that reversed close to the Cl(-) equilibrium potential and were blocked by 1 mM DIDS or 100 microM tetracaine. DIDS had no effect on basal vascular tone in pressurized arterioles but dramatically reduced the level of vasoconstriction observed in the presence of 10 nM endothelin-1. CONCLUSIONS: Retinal arteriolar myocytes have I(Cl(Ca)), which may be activated by Ca(2+) entry through L-type Ca(2+) channels or Ca(2+) release from intracellular stores. This current appears to contribute to agonist-induced retinal vasoconstriction.