Defects in LPE-grown beta-barium borate (beta-BaB2O4) thin films

Morphological defects in beta-barium borate (beta-BBO) thin films grown on Sr2+ -doped alpha-BBO substrates by liquid phase epitaxy (LPE) technique were studied by scanning electron micrograph (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and optical spectroscopy. The present results indicate that the main defects exit in beta-BBO thin films are microcracks and hollow structure. The formation of microcrack is due to the lattice mismatch and the difference of thermal expansion coefficients between substrate and film. The hollow structure might be caused during the combination of islands, which formed in the initial stage. (C) 2006 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

L'oxygène dissous en Lagune Ebrié: Influences de l'hydroclimat et des pollutions

The hydrology of the Ebrie coastal lagoon in Abidjan area is summarized. The authors describe the oxygenation in that area during the two extreme seasons of the hydrological cycle: the low-water season (March-April) and the high-water season (Sept-Oct). The influences of the continental and oceanic waters, photosynthesis, exchanges with the atmosphere and pollution are considered. The oxigen consumption of primary organic pollution represents from 9 to 12% of the content of the waters that circulates in the area. It is geographically very heterogeneous. The central basin, swept by strong marine and fresh water currents, shows a rather high level of water oxygenation. In the peripheric bays, water circulation and mixing are less important and pollution accelerates the natural eutrophic processes. During the low-water season, a vertical stratification is responsible for a bottom anoxic layer and the deposit of reduced organic silts. On the contrary, supersaturations, up to 200%, are recorded on the surface layer. During the high-water season the break of the vertical stratification sets the loose reduced silts into suspension and partly reoxygenates the bottom waters. A classification of the different areas, based on the oxygen vertical profiles is proposed.

Pharmacogenetics of MicroRNAs and MicroRNAs Biogenesis Machinery in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Despite the clinical success of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) therapy, toxicity is frequent. Therefore, it would be useful to identify predictors of adverse effects. In the last years, several studies have investigated the relationship between genetic variation and treatment-related toxicity. However, most of these studies are focused in coding regions. Nowadays, it is known that regions that do not codify proteins, such as microRNAs (miRNAs), may have an important regulatory function. MiRNAs can regulate the expression of genes affecting drug response. In fact, the expression of some of those miRNAs has been associated with drug response. Genetic variations affecting miRNAs can modify their function, which may lead to drug sensitivity. The aim of this study was to detect new toxicity markers in pediatric B-ALL, studying miRNA-related polymorphisms, which can affect miRNA levels and function. We analyzed 118 SNPs in pre-miRNAs and miRNA processing genes in association with toxicity in 152 pediatric B-ALL patients all treated with the same protocol (LAL/SHOP). Among the results found, we detected for the first time an association between rs639174 in DROSHA and vomits that remained statistically significant after FDR correction. DROSHA had been associated with alterations in miRNAs expression, which could affect genes involved in drug transport. This suggests that miRNA-related SNPs could be a useful tool for toxicity prediction in pediatric B-ALL.

Far-field intensity distribution, M-2 factor of beams generated by Gaussian mirror resonator

We investigated M-2 factor and far-field distribution of beams generated by Gaussian mirror resonator. And we found usable analytical expressions of the M2 factor and the far-field distribution intensity with respect to variation of diffraction parameters. Particular attention was paid to the parameters such as mirror spot size and reflectance of the Gaussian mirror. (c) 2006 Elsevier GrnbH. All rights reserved.

Propagation properties of beams generated by Gaussian mirror resonator in uniaxial crystals

Based on the paraxial vectorial theory of beams propagating in uniaxially anisotropic media, we have derived the analytical propagation equations of beams generated by Gaussian mirror resonator (GMR) in uniaxial crystals, and given the typical numerical example to illustrate our analytical results. Due to the anisotropy crystals, the ordinary and extraordinary beams originated by incident beams generated by GMR propagate with different diffraction lengths, thus the linear polarization state and axial symmetry of the incident beams generated by GMR do not remain during propagating in crystals. (c) 2006 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

El inicio de la arqueología en Álava: D. Lorenzo del Prestamero y Cabriana

[ES] El motivo de la realización del presente trabajo no es otro que la publicación de la Memoria que, sobre las excavaciones realizadas en 1794 en el yacimiento romano de Cabriana (Comunión, Álava), remitió D. Lorenzo del Prestamera a la Real Academia de la Historia, documento que tradicionalmente se ha considerado desaparecido. Se estudian también aquí las novedades que aporta la Memoria al conocimiento de este interesante enclave arqueológico.

博优210的选育、示范与推广

博优210是华南晚籼杂交稻的“高优”组合，1993和1994年通过省区试和大面积试种表证，1995年5月通过广东省品种委员会审定，具国内同类型品种领先水平。其主要技术经济指标：1、米质1级至特2级（达出口标准），精米率75％，正精米率71％；2、两年省区试产量名列第二位和第一位，比对照组合增产1％和2％，大田一般亩产450公斤；高产的552公斤，比主栽组合博优64增产30公斤；3、高抗稻瘟病，中抗白叶枯病，后期较耐低温；4、较早熟，全生育期118天，比主栽组合博优64早2至3天；5、制种容易，一般亩产200公斤。由于综合性状优良，而具有较高的经济效益和社会效益，种1亩博优210可增值219元，另因少施或不施农药，减少环境污染，而具有一定的生态效益。

博优210的选育及相关理论研究

博优210是华南晚籼杂交稻的“高优”组合，1993和1994年通过省区试和大面积试种表证，1995年5月通过广东省品种委员会审定，具国内同类型品种领先水平。其主要技术经济指标：1、米质1级至特2级（达出口标准），精米率75％，正精米率71％；2、两年省区试产量名列第二位和第一位，比对照组合增产1％和2％，大田一般亩产450公斤；高产的552公斤，比主栽组合博优64增产30公斤；3、高抗稻瘟病，中抗白叶枯病，后期较耐低温；4、较早熟，全生育期118天，比主栽组合博优64早2至3天；5、制种容易，一般亩产200公斤。由于综合性状优良，而具有较高的经济效益和社会效益，种1亩博优210可增值219元，另因少施或不施农药，减少环境污染，而具有一定的生态效益。博优210均适宜华南各省晚稻区种植，越南亦大量引进试种。种植面积发展异常迅速，1993年3600亩，1994年10万亩，1995年约90万亩，预计1996年将超过300万亩，行家预测，博优210在“九五”期间必将成为华南晚稻主栽组合。发表在《中国水稻科学》等7篇论文，是杂交稻优质育种和优质高产育种的规律性研究结果，对杂交稻育种具有一定指导意义。成果达国内领先水平。

Onshore-offshore distribution and abundance of tuna larvae (Pisces: Scombridae: Thunnini) in near-reef waters of the Coral Sea

The on-offshore distributions of tuna larvae in near-reef waters of the Coral Sea, near Lizard Island (14°30ʹS, 145°27ʹE), Australia, were investigated during four cruises from November 1984 to February 1985 to test the hypothesis that larvae of these oceanic fishes are found in highest abundance near coral reefs. Oblique bongo net tows were made in five on-offshore blocks in the Coral Sea, ranging from 0–18.5 km offshore of the outer reefs of the Great Barrier Reef, as well as inside the Great Barrier Reef Lagoon. The smallest individuals (<3.2 mm SL) of the genus Thunnus could not be identified to species, and are referred to as Thunnus spp. We found species-specific distributional patterns. Thunnus spp. and T. alalunga (albacore) larvae were most abundant (up to 68 larvae/100 m2) in near-reef (0–5.5 km offshore) waters, whereas Katsuwonus pelamis (skipjack tuna) larvae increased in abundance in the offshore direction (up to 228 larvae/100 m2, 11.1–18.5 km offshore). Larvae of T. albacares (yellowfin tuna) and Euthynnus affinis (kawakawa) were relatively rare throughout the study region, and the patterns of their distributions were inconclusive. Few larvae of any tuna species were found in the lagoon. Size-frequency distributions revealed a greater proportion of small larvae inshore compared to offshore for K. pelamis and T. albacares. The absence of significant differences in size-frequency distributions for other species and during the other cruises was most likely due to the low numbers of larvae. Larval distributions probably resulted from a combination of patterns of spawning and vertical distribution, combined with wind-driven onshore advection and downwelling on the seaward side of the outer reefs.