Response of Pacific Northwest vegetation to large-scale changes in climate during the last 100,000 years [abstract]

EXTRACT (SEE PDF FOR FULL ABSTRACT): Paleoclimatic variations in western North America depend on a hierarchy of temporal and spatial controls that can be examined using a combination of modeling studies and data synthesis. ... The regional vegetation response to large-scale changes in the climate system of the last 21,000 years is used as a conceptual model to help explain earlier vegetation and climate at two localities.

全球气候变化条件下新疆天山云杉林生长的分析与模拟

气候变化对人类赖以生存的陆地生态系统尤其是森林会产生很大的影响。本论文选择新疆天山东部的伊吾、中部的天池和小渠子、西部的昭苏四个代表性样点，利用BIOME-BGC模型和树木年轮分析方法探讨1961 ~ 2000年间气候变化和大气CO2浓度增高对天山北坡地带性植被天山云杉林（Picea schrenkiana）生长的影响，并利用BIOME-BGC模型预测未来气候变化条件下天山云杉林生产力的可能变化。 利用BIOME-BGC模型模拟了当前气候和CO2浓度条件下四个研究样点净初级生产力（NPP）特征。比较BIOME-BGC模型模拟值与实测NPP、树木年轮指数，结果表明该模型适用于天山北坡天山云杉林的模拟研究。 以BIOME-BGC模型模拟的NPP和树木年轮宽度指数作为生长指标，分析了天山云杉林过去40年的生长特点和趋势。结果表明近40年来天山云杉林生长总体上呈现上升趋势，尤其是自1987年以后，变化幅度更大。天山云杉林的生长对气候变化的反应很敏感，年降水量与当年的NPP呈现显著正相关关系（R=0.774 ~ 0.882，P < 0.001）。年降水量与树木年轮宽度指数也呈现出相似的相关关系，但相关系数相对较小（0.305 ~ 0.544），其中只有昭苏和小渠子样点达到显著水平。在昭苏和伊吾，年平均温度与对应年份的NPP相关关系微弱，相关系数仅分别为0.036和0.159。而天山中部的小渠子和天池年平均温度与对应年份的NPP呈显著负相关关系（相关系数分别为-0.324和-0.322;P <0.05）,这可能是由于温度的升高加剧水分胁迫，导致NPP下降。年平均温度与树木年轮宽度指数的相关关系与NPP的基本一致。同时，年平均温度也表现出比较强的滞后效应,尤其是滞后两年的效应，这可能是由于温度的升高，加速养分循环产生施肥效应，从而间接促进天山云杉林的生长。近40年来，大气CO2浓度的增高对天山云杉林生长具有一定促进作用，NPP升高的幅度为1.85 ~ 4.51%,根据树木年轮估算大气CO2施肥效应β相对比较小,仅为0.133。进一步分析表明大气 CO2浓度主要是通过提高水分利用效率的途径促进天山云杉林生长。 利用RegCM2区域气候模式模拟的大气CO2倍增时（大约2070年）的气候变化情形作为输入参数，应用BIOME-BGC模型预测了在未来气候状况发生改变，而大气CO2浓度没有变化的情况下（C0T1P1），天山云杉林的NPP增长幅度为13.33 ~ 29.11%,其中对东部伊吾NPP的促进作用最大，其次是中部的小渠子和天池，而对西部昭苏NPP的影响最小;结合当前气候条件和大气CO2浓度加倍情形（C1T0P0），模拟结果表明NPP在比较温暖的天山中部和西部将会有所增加，增加幅度为1.17 ~ 8.62%，而在寒冷的东部伊吾，NPP则会下降2.50%, CO2的施肥效应表现出很大的温度依赖性;结合气候变化和大气CO2浓度加倍情形（C1T1P1），模拟结果表明NPP的增加幅度将会上升为26.43 ~ 37.24%，温度、降水和大气CO2浓度对NPP的影响存在较强的交互作用。 研究表明树木年轮真实记录了树木在自然条件下长期的生长特征，是验证生态系统模型比较理想的材料之一。生态系统模型可以从机理上对生态系统的生物物理过程以及影响因子进行分析和模拟。本研究利用生态系统模型与树木年轮方法相结合很好地揭示天山云杉林的生长与全球气候变化之间的相互关系。同时，研究表明未来气候变化有利于天山云杉林的生长，天山云杉林可能会成为一个重要的碳汇而在碳循环研究中倍受关注。

Preliminary observations on the effect of a. c. current on Catla catla and Ophicephalus punctatus

In order to evolve suitable electrical fishing gear for inland waters, preliminary experiments have been conducted to observe effect of a. c. currents on Catla catla at voltages of 30, 90 and 120, pH 7.3 and 8.4, temperature 48°F, 78°F and 105°F, distance between electrodes 25 cm, 50 cm and 75 cm, size range of fish 100 mm, to 235 mm. Apparatus used was a 5 kw; a. c. 60 cycles generator with resistance control. Larger sizes of fish were more prone to electric shock. Higher temperature increases the intensity of the shock, while variation of pH between 7.3 to 8.4 did not materially affect the intensity of the shock. Fishing with a mixed population of Catla catla and Ophicephalus punctatus gave a greater percentage of mortality for the latter.

Materials and devices toward three-dimensional integration

It has been shown that the apparent benefits of a two-layer stacked SOI system, i.e. packing density and speed improvements, are less than could be expected in the context of a VLSI requirement [1]. In this project the stacked SOI system has been identified as having major application in the realization of integrated, mixed technology systems. Zone-melting-recrystallization (ZMR) with lasers and electron beams have been used to produce device quality SOI material and a small test-bed circuit has been designed as a demonstration of the feasibility of this approach. © 1988.

Inference approach to grammar construction

A system of computer assisted grammar construction (CAGC) is presented in this paper. The CAGC system is designed to generate broad-coverage grammars for large natural language corpora by utilizing both an extended inside-outside algorithm and an automatic phrase bracketing (AUTO) system which is designed to provide the extended algorithm with constituent information during learning. This paper demonstrates the capability of the CAGC system to deal with realistic natural language problems and the usefulness of the AUTO system for constraining the inside-outside based grammar re-estimation. Performance results, including coverage, recall and precision, are presented for a grammar constructed for the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) corpus using the Penn Treebank.

The Pearl Banks inspection: April, 1970

The last major pearl fishery in the Gulf of Mannar was held in February-March, 1958, when about 4.5 million oysters were collected from the south-west Cheval Paar by dredging. (Sivalingam 1961). Subsequently, two smaller fisheries, one in 1960 and another in 1961 took place. In these two fisheries one million oysters and four hundred thousand oysters respectively were collected from the Cheval paar by dredging. (De Fonselm 1953). Inspections of the Banks were carried out in 1962, 1963, 1964 and 1965. (Balasuriya 1964 and Silva 1965 and 66). Since then inspections were not possible due to one of two reasons or both the non-availability of operational dredges and a suitable vessel for this type of work.The "Pesalai" a 235-ton stern trawler was made available by the Ceylon Fisheries Corporation management for the 1970 inspection. Two new 6-foot dredges turned out by the Government Factory were also available for this work. However, the survey was limited to 3 days-the period for which the vessel had been released. It was further limited to those areas of the banks over 6 fathoms in depth because of the risk in operating a large vessel in shallower depths.

Bayesian estimation of simultaneous musical notes based on frequency domain modelling

This paper proposes a Bayesian method for polyphonic music description. The method first divides an input audio signal into a series of sections called snapshots, and then estimates parameters such as fundamental frequencies and amplitudes of the notes contained in each snapshot. The parameter estimation process is based on a frequency domain modelling and Gibbs sampling. Experimental results obtained from audio signals of test note patterns are encouraging; the accuracy is better than 80% for the estimation of fundamental frequencies in terms of semitones and instrument names when the number of simultaneous notes is two.

Genetic evidence supports demic diffusion of Han culture

The spread of culture and language in human populations is explained by two alternative models: the demic diffusion model, which involves mass movement of people; and the cultural diffusion model, which refers to cultural impact between populations and in

New symbiotic hypothesis on the origin of eukaryotic flagella

The origin of eukaryotic flagella has long been a mystery. Here we review the possibility that flagella sprouted evolutionarily from the eukaryotic cell proper seems very unlikely because it is hard to imagine what function and benefit in natural selection the flagella would have provided to the cells when they first emerged as simple buds. Lynn Margulis' 1970 spirochete hypothesis, though popular still, has never been confirmed. Moreover, the absence of tubulin and axonemal dynein in the spirochetes and the incapability of the bacterial and eukaryotic membranes' making a continuum now suggest that the hypothesis is outdated. Tubulin genes were recently identified in a new bacteria division, verrucomicrobia, and microtubules have also been found in one of these species, epixenosomes, the defensive ectosymbionts. On the basis of these data, we propose a new symbiotic hypothesis: that the mid-ancestor of eukaryotic cells obtained epixenosomelike verrucomicrobia as defensive ectosymbionts and the ectosymbionts later became endosymbiotic. They still, however, protruded from the surface of their host to play their role. Later, many genes were lost or incorporated into the host genome. Finally, the genome, the bacterial membrane, and the endosymbiotic vesicle membrane were totally lost, and fingerlike protrusions with microtubules formed. As the cells grew larger, the defensive function of the protrusions eventually weakened and then vanished. Some of the protrusions took on a new role in cell movement, which led them to evolve into flagella. The key step in this process was that the dynein obtained from the host evolved into axonemal dyneins, attaching onto the microtubules and forming motile axonemes. Our hypothesis is unproven, but it offers a possible explanation that is consistent with current scientific thought. We hope that our ideas will stimulate additional studies on the origin of eukaryotic flagella and on investigations of verrucomicrobia. Whether such studies confirm, refine, or replace our hypothesis, they should nevertheless further our understanding of the origin of eukaryotic cells.

Maturation of rhesus monkey oocytes in chemically defined culture media and their functional assessment by IVF and embryo development

This study compared success of in-vitro maturation of rhesus monkey oocytes in protein-free versus serum-containing culture systems, assessed by embryo development subsequent to IVF. Four media were tested: (i) modified Connaught Medical Research Laborato

An anticoagulant serine protease from the wasp venom of Vespa magnifica

Wasp is an important venomous animal that can induce human fatalities. Coagulopathy is a clinical symptom after massive wasp stings, but the reason leading to the envenomation manifestation is still not known. In this paper, a toxin protein is purified and characterized by Sephadex G-75 gel filtration, CM-Sephadex C-25 cationic exchange and fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) from the venom of the wasp, Vespa magnifica (Smith). This protein, named magnvesin. contains serine protease-like activity and inhibits blood coagulation. The cDNA encoding magnvesin is cloned from the venom sac cDNA library of the wasp. The deduced protein from the cDNA is composed of 305 amino acid residues. Magnvesin shares 52% identity with allergen serine protease from the wasp Polistes dominulus. Magnvesin exerted its anti-coagulant function by hydrolyzing coagulant factors TF, VII, VIII, IX and X. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Seismic behaviour of anchored quay walls with dry backfill

The seismic behaviour of anchored sheet pile walls is a complex soil-structure interaction problem. Damaged sheet pile walls are very expensive to repair and their seismic behaviour needs to be investigated in order to understand their possible mechanisms of failure. The research described in this paper involves both centrifuge testing and Finite Element (FE) analyses aimed at investigating the seismic behaviour of an anchored sheet pile wall in dry sand. The model wall is tied to the backfill with two tie rods connected to an anchor beam. The accelerations of the sheet pile wall, the anchor beam and the soil around the wall were measured using miniature piezoelectric accelerometers. The displacement at the tip of the wall was also measured. Stain gauges at five different locations on the wall were used to measure the bending moments induced in the the wall. The anchor forces in the tie rods were also measured using load cells. The results from the centrifuge tests were compared with 2-D, plane strain FE analyses conducted using DIANA-SWANDYNE II and the observed seismic behaviour was explained in the light of these findings. © 2011 Taylor & Francis.