台风海面风场的动力分析、四维同化及数值试验

台风是最具破坏性的海洋大气系统。台风及其引起的沿海强风暴潮和海上巨浪不仅给沿海地区人民的生命财产造成严重的损失，而且对海上交通运输、军事活动、海洋工程和渔业都带来严重影响。准确的台风海面风场是获得比较真实的海浪、风暴潮等海洋现象的关键所在。由于不准确的海面初始场和台风海面风场数值模式中物理过程不完善等问题，模拟预报台风海面风场的精度达不到要求，极大的影响了海浪、风暴潮等海洋过程的模拟预报精度。因此获得准确真实的台风海面风场不仅对国民经济的顺利健康发展起到至关重要的作用，而且会很好地促进海浪、风暴湖等过程的研究。中尺度大气数值模式MM5在灾害性天气的预报研究方面具有重要的地位，并在暴雨研究方面取得了成功。在本论文中，我们结合气象工作者和海洋学者在台风研究中的不同侧重点，耦合自由大气和边界层过程，考察海气相互作用对台风海面风场的作用，首次将MM5应用于台风海面风场的研究之中，这对台风海面风场的研究来说是一个新的起点。本论文在MM5中，将中国国家气象中心中期预报谱模式T63／T106分析和预报场与常规地面和探空观测资料相结合，合理调整模式参数(海面粗糙度等参数)，建立了一套适用于中国区域的台风海面风场的模拟、预报系统。本论文利用改造过的中尺度大气数值模式MM5对两个台风个例：9608号台风(HERB)和9711号台风(WINNIE)进行数值试验。对海面风场而言，海气热通量交换对海面风场发挥着重要作用。因此本论文研究海面热量通量交换对9608号台风的强度和中心位置的影响，这也是以前国内台风数值模式中疏于考虑的方面。最后将模式模拟风场用于波浪的模拟研究之中，考察模拟海面风场在海洋环境研究中应用的有效性；并与目前国内较先进的LAGFD-WIN海面动力风场模式对比，检验MM5在台风海面风场研究中的性能。研究结果表明，MM5较好的反映出台风特性，并且优于LAGFD-WIN海面动力风场模式结果。在考察台风不稳定扰动特征时，我们区别于以往的本征值方法，利用中尺度二维扰动模式，由MM5提供9711号台风数值试验结果作为扰动模式的初始场，从动力学角度研究台风过程的扰动特征。初始资料问题对台风模式的预报模拟精度来说是一个最大、最重要的问题。因此改善、弥补模式初始场所造成的不足是本研究论文的重点工作之一。目前，在国内关于MM5中的四维资料同化(FDDA)方案试验刚刚起步。在本论文中，我们成功的启动MM5的四维资料同化方案：分析逼近和观测逼近。我们改造模式，同时启动这两种逼近方法，充分发挥探空资料和地面观测资料各自的优越性，I探索不同尺度、不同类型的资料在台风海面风场的应用。尝试卫星高度计风场资料溶于MM5中的同化方案中，这是本研究论文的另一个创新之处。本文的主要结论是(1)对两个台风个例：9608号台风(HERB)和9711号台风(WINNIE)进行了控制试验(CNTL)研究，分析台风模拟过程的温度距平、海平面气压及海面风场分布特点。研究表明，两个台风过程分别在不同高度上具有暖中心结构；模拟出的两个台风环流都呈现出台风的非对称及涡旋型态，模拟出的台风强度令人满意。对移动路径来说，对9608号台风过程，12h模拟台风路径误差为1.3个纬度，0.7个经度，而24h的模拟误差则为0.4个纬度，0.2个纬度；而对于9711号台风过程，其12h模拟台风路径误差为1.2个纬度，1.6个经度；24h路径误差为1.9个纬度，1．5个经度；36h模拟路径误差为3.2个纬度，2.8个经度。我们认为，由于9711号台风过程不准确的初始场，9711号台风模拟路径精度逊色于9608号台风过程的结果。(2)9608号台风过程中感热通量和潜热通量交换，在台风中心附近，热通量较小，但在台风周围，存在热通量的高值压，随着台风强度的减弱，热量通量交换也随之减小。在海面上始终是海水给大气提供热量。海面潜热通量总为正通量，并且都大于相应时刻的感热通量，表明水汽通量对台风系统比感热通量更重要。在分析热通量在不同下垫面演变特征时发现，在下午2h左右，在水陆交界处的次之，上最大，陆地上最小。感热通量在陆地下垫面上最大，其峰值出现而在水域上的最小，对于潜热通量则是水域(3)应用9608号台风的模拟海面风场到海浪的数值模拟研究中，发现由于台风海面风场分布的不对称性(在台风前进方向的右侧风速最大)，也因此造成了海浪有效波高分布的不对称性，同时在台风影响的右前方也传播得较远。随着台风海面风场减弱，风浪能量也逐渐消耗，有效波高也逐渐降低。(4)在台风发展的动力学特征研究方面，首先从不稳定扰动理论角度出发，讨论了台风发展的条件，得到了和天气学分析的台风形成发展条件一致的判据；在台风不稳定扰动的数值试验方面，针对9711号台风过程进行了数值试验，数值试验结果表明：扰动环流型以倾斜的扰动特征出现，并略向西倾斜，这是发展型的扰动型态；促使中尺度扰动发展和维持的能源主要来自于基本流场的有效位能和扰动场的有效位能。(5)利用标准探空资料和卫星高度计风场资料，在MM5中对9608号台风进行了七个试验：一个控制试验，三个分析逼近试验(AW，AWTQ，ATQ)，两个观测逼近试验(IWT，IW)和一个同时进行分析和观测逼近的试验(AWTQ+IWT)。七个试验中海平面气压场都形成了闭合低压中心，海面风场具有台风的气旋型态，再次证明MM5对台风的模拟能力；在定量的描述上，AWTQ+IWT试验较好地模拟出台风的中心位置和强度。因此联合有相对好的垂直分辨率的探空资料以及相对于探空资料有好的时间和水平分辨率的地面资料，能有效地提高台风海面风场的模拟预报精度。由于没有同化SLP的观测资料到模式中，SLP成为确定FDDA有效程度的有力手段。我们发现同时同化风场和质量场(温度场和湿度场)的试验AWTQ对风场和质量场均有一致的正面影响；对由强烈动力作用和大尺度强迫的台风过程，风场优于质量场。试验AWTQ，AW和ATQ的结果表明在风场中只有非常少的质量场诱导信息。试验ATQ，IWT对风场，海平面气压场具有负面影响。而利用包含常规气象观测资料无法拥有的海面风场信息的高度计风场资料，仅进行风场同化的IW试验，对海面气压场有非常好的效果。结果表明而AW，AWTQ，IW，AWTQ+IWT在24h模拟期间，则对SLP的平均RMS有明显的减小，分别约为3％，9％，12％和8％。

Distribution and species diversity of plant communities along transect on the Northeastern Tibetan plateau

The distribution and species diversity of plant communities along a 600 km transect through the northeastern Tibetan Plateau (32 degrees 42'-35 degrees 07' N, 101 degrees 02'-97 degrees 38' E) with altitudes from 3255 to 4460 m are described. The transect started from the Youyi Bridge of Banma through Dari, Maqin and Maduo to Zaling Lake. The data from 47 plots along the transect are summarized and analyzed. The mean annual temperature, the mean annual rainfall and the length of growing season decreases from 2.6 to -4.5 degrees C, from 767.2 to 240.1 mm, from 210 to 140 days, respectively, along the transect from the southeastern Banma to northwestern Zaling Lake. The number of vascular plant species recorded in 47 plots is 242 including 2 tree, 34 shrub, 206 herb species. Main vegetation types on the transect from southeast to northwest are: Sabina convallium forest, Picea likiangensis forest, Pyracantha fortuneana + Spiraea alpina shrub, Hippophae neurocarpu shrub, Sibiraea angustata + Polygonum viviparum shrub, Stellera chamaejasme herb meadow, Potentilla fruticosa + Salix obscura + Carex sp. Shrub, Kobresia capillifolia meadow, P. froticosa + Kobresia humilis shrub, Caragana jubata + S. obscura shrub, Kobresia tibetica meadow, Kobresia pygmaea meadow, K. pygmaea + Stipa purpurea steppe meadow, Stipa purpurea steppe. Plant richness and diversity index all showed a decreasing trend with increasing of elevation along transect from southeast to northwest. Detailed information on altitudinal ranges and distribution of the alpine vegetation, vascular flora and environments over the alpine zone at northeastern Tibetan Plateau provides baseline records relevant to future assessment of probable effects of global climate changes.

Variation of active constituents of an important Tibet folk medicine Swertia mussotii Franch. (Gentianaceae) between artificially cultivated and naturally distributed

Concentrations of seven phytochemical constituents (swertiamarin, mangiferin, swertisin, oleanolic acid, 1,5,8-trihydroxy-3methoxyxanthone, 1,8-dihydroxy-3,7-dimethoxyxanthone and 1,8-dihydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyxanthone) of "ZangYinChen" (Swertia mussotii, a herb used in Tibetan folk medicine) were determined and compared in plants collected from naturally distributed high-altitude populations and counterparts that had been artificially cultivated at low altitudes. Levels of mangiferin, the most abundant active compound in this herb, were significantly lower in cultivated samples and showed a negative correlation with altitude. The other constituents were neither positively nor negatively correlated with cultivation at low altitude. Concentrations of all of the constituents varied substantially with growth stage and were highest at the bud stage in the cultivars, but there were no distinct differences between flowering and fruiting stages in this respect. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

中国北方典型生态区表土孢粉组合特征及其与现代植被和气候的关系

Surface pollen assemblages and their relationhips with the modern vegetation and climate provide a foundation for investigating palaeo-environment conditions by fossil pollen analysis. A promising trend of palynology is to link pollen data more closely with ecology. In this study, I summarized the characteristics of surface pollen assemblages and their quantitative relation with the vegetation and climate of the typical ecological regions in northern China, based on surface pollen analysis of 205 sites and investigating of modern vegetation and climate. The primary conclusions are as follows:The differences in surface pollen assemblages for different vegetation regions are obvious. In the forest communities, the arboreal pollen percentages are more than 30%, herbs less than 50% and shrubs less than 10%; total pollen concentrations are more than 106 grains/g. In the steppe communities, arboreal pollen percentages are generally less than 5%; herb pollen percentages are more than 90%, and Artemisia and Chenopodiaceae are dominant in the pollen assemblages; total pollen concentrations range from 103 to 106 grains/g. In the desert communities, arboreal pollen percentages are less than 5%. Although Chenopodiaceae and Artemisia still dominate the pollen assemblages, Ephedra, Tamaricaceae and Nitraria are also significant important in the pollen assemblages; total pollen concentrations are mostly less than 104grains/g. In the sub-alpine or high and cold meadow communities, arboreal pollen percentages are less than 30%. and Cyperaceae is one of the most significant-taxa in the pollen assemblages. In the shrub communities, the pollen assemblages are consistent with the zonal vegetation; shrub pollen percentages are mostly less than 20%, except for Artemisia and Hippophae rhamnoides communities.There are obvious trends for the pollen percentage ratios of Artemisia to Chenopodiaceae (A/C), Pinus to Artemisia (P/A) and arbor to non-arbor (AP/NAP) in the different ecological regions. In the temperate deciduous broad-leaved forest region, the P/A ratios are generally higher than 0.1, the A/C ratios higher than 2 and the AP/NAP ratios higher than 0.3. In the temperate steppe regions, the P/A ratios are generally less than 0.1, the A/C ratios higher than 1 and the AP/NAP ratios less than 0.1. In the temperate desert regions, the P/A ratios are generally less than 0.1, the A/C ratios less than 1, and the AP/NAP ratios less than 0.1.The study on the representation and indication of pollen to vegetation shows that Pinus, Artemisia, Betula, Chenopodiaceae, Ephedra, Selaginella sinensis etc. are over-representative in the pollen assemblages and can only indicate the regional vegetation. Some pollen types, such as Quercus, Carpinus, Picea, Abies, Elaeagus, Larix, Salix, Pterocelis, Juglans, Ulmus, Gleditsia, Cotinus, Oleaceae, Spiraea, Corylus, Ostryopsis, Vites, Tetraena, Caragana, Tamaricaceae, Zygophyllum, Nitraria, Cyperaceae, Sanguisorba etc. are under-representative in the pollen assemblages, and can indicate the plant communities well. Populus, Rosaceae, Saxifranaceae, Gramineae, Leguminosae, Compositae, Caprifoliaceae etc. can not be used as significant indicators to the plants.The study on the relation of pollen percentages with plant covers shows that Pinus pollen percentages are more than 30% where pine trees exist in the surrounding region. The Picea+Abies pollen percentages are higher than 20% where the Picea+Abies trees are dominant in the communities, but less than 5% where the parent plants are sparse or absent. Larix pollen percentages vary from 5% to 20% where the Larix trees are dominant in the communities, but less than 5% where the parent plants are sparse or absent. Betula pollen percentages are higher than 40% where the Betula trees are dominant in the communities" but less than 5% where the parent plants are sparse or absent. Quercus pollen percentages are higher than 10% where the Quercus trees are dominant in the communities, but less than 1% where the parent plants sparse or absent. Carpinus pollen percentages vary from 5% to 15% where the Carpinus trees are dominant in the communities, but less than 1% where the parent plants are sparse or absent. Populus pollen percentages are about 0-5% at pure Populus communities, but cannot be recorded easily where the Populus plants mixed with other trees in the communities. Juglans pollen accounts for 25% to 35% in the forest of Juglans mandshurica, but less than 1% where the parent plants are sparse or absent. Pterocelis pollen percentages are less than 15% where the Pterocelis trees are dominant in the communities, but cannot be recorded easily where the parent plants are sparse or absent. Ulmus pollen percentages are more than 8% at Ulmus communities, but less than 1% where the Ulmus plants mixed with other trees in the communities. Vitex pollen percentages increase along with increasing of parent plant covers, but the maximum values are less than 10 %. Caragana pollen percentages are less than 20 % where the Caragana plant are dominant in the communities, and cannot be recorded easily where the parent plants are sparse or absent. Spiraea pollen percentages are less than 16 % where the Spiraea plant are dominant in the communities, and cannot be recorded easily where the parent plants are sparse or absent.The study on the relation of surface pollen assemblages with the modern climate shows that, in the axis 1 of DCA, surface samples scores have significant correlation with the average annual precipitations, and the highest determination coefficient (R2) is 0.8 for the fitting result of the third degree polynomial functions. In the axis 2 of DCA, the samples scores have significant correlation with the average annual temperatures, average July temperatures and average January temperatures, and the determination coefficient falls in 0.13-0.29 for the fitting result of the third degree polynomial functions with the highest determination coefficient for the average July temperature.The sensitivity of the different pollen taxa to climate change shows that some pollen taxa such as Pinus, Quercus, Carpinus, Juglans, Spiraea, Oleaceae, Gramineae, Tamariaceae and Ephedra are only sensitive to the change in precipitation.

Total analytical method for Radix astragali extract using two-binary multi-segment gradient elution liquid chromatography

There is an urgent need for thorough analysis of Radix astragali, a widely used Chinese herb, for quality control purposes. This paper describes the development of a total analytical method for Radix astragali extract, a multi-component complex mixture. Twenty-four components were separated step by step from the extract using a series of isocratic isopropanol-methanol elutions, and then 42 components were separated similarly using methanol-water elutions. Based on the log k(w) and -S of the 66 components obtained from the above procedure and the optimization software developed in our laboratory, an optimum elution program consisting of seven methanol-water segments and four isopropanol-methanol segments was developed to finish the task of analyzing the total components in a single run. Under optimized gradient conditions, the sample of Radix astragali extract was analyzed. As expected, most of the components were well separated and the experimental chromatogram was in a good agreement with the predicted one.

Analysis of the estrogenic components in kudzu root by bioassay and high performance liquid chromatography

The estrogenic activity of the Chinese herb kudzu root was investigated by a recombinant yeast screening assay (YES). Isoflavones are the main components in the plant, of which puerarin is the most abundant one. The kudzu root extract was separated into four fractions according to the polarity. The crude extract and its sub-fractions, except the water fraction, showed clear estrogenic activity and the potencies were in the range of 10(-3) to 10(-1) g/l. The ligand potency was used to compare the estrogenic activity of these fractions. The crude extract and its sub-fractions were further analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to correlate the activity and the active components. Bioassay and chemical analysis showed that theoretical estrogenic activity expressed as equivalent 17 beta-estradiol concentration or the cumulative effects are comparable to that experimentally determined by YES. The results showed that the high content of isoflavones as well as the high estrogenic activity could make kudzu root extract an interesting candidate for hormone replacement therapy. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Wolumin mszalny poznańskich karmelitów bosych

Komunikat prezentuje wolumin mszalny z poznańskiego klasztoru karmelitów bosych z lat 1685–1705 (1738) w oprawie z aksamitu, z okuciami ze srebra, pochodzącej z początku XVIII wieku, a wykonanej zapewne w lokalnym warsztacie introligatorskim.

Salvianolic Acid B Inhibits Growth of Cervical Cancer Cells in vitro via Induction of Apoptosis through the Extrinsic Pathway

In 2014 alone, over 12,000 women are expected to be diagnosed with cervical cancer. Of these women who are diagnosed, about 3,909 will result in death. Despite developments in prevention methods, cervical cancer remains a major health concern for women. Growing evidence suggests that Salvianolic acid B (Sal B), a major component of the Chinese herb Danshen, may inhibit cancer cell growth and help fight against cervical cancer. This study characterizes the potential of Sal B as a cervical cancer drug through in vitro testing on HeLa cells. We hypothesized that application of Sal B to HeLa cells will result in decreased cell viability and increased apoptosis in a dose dependent manner. HeLa cells were treated with varying concentrations of Sal B: 25µM, 50µM, 100µM, and 200µM. Cell viability was determined through colony formation assay, cell death ELISA, and nuclear morphology. An inhibitor study was also conducted for further apoptosis pathway analysis. Colony formation assay demonstrated a significant decrease in cell viability with increasing concentrations of Sal B with 75% viability at 50µM down to 0% viability at 200µM. Cell death ELISA and the analysis of nuclear morphology via Hoechst staining reported significant levels of apoptosis at concentrations equal to 50µM and greater. Furthermore, experiments using caspase inhibitors indicated that Sal B’s apoptotic effects are caspase-8 dependent. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that Sal B inhibits cancer cell growth by a mechanism that involves apoptosis induction through the extrinsic pathway.

Range extension and reproduction of the barnacle Balanus perforatus in the eastern English Channel

The distribution of the warm-water barnacle, Balanus perforatus, was surveyed along the south coast of England and the north-east coast of France between 1993 and 2001, repeating work carried out between the 1940s and 1960s. The species has recovered from catastrophic mortality during the severe winter of 1962–1963 and was found over 120 km (UK) and 190 km (France) east of previous records on both sides of the Channel. The presence of the species in the eastern Channel refutes suggestions in the 1950s that larvae, and hence adults, would not be found east of the Isle of Wight because of reproductive sterility close to the limits of distribution. Brooding of specimens translocated to Bembridge, Isle of Wight, commenced in May, earlier than previously observed in British waters, and continued until September. The stage of embryo development at Bembridge in mid-August was comparable to that of the large population at Lyme Regis, Dorset 100 km further west. However the size of brood per standard body weight was greater at Lyme Regis. Factors influencing the rate of colonization and further geographic range extension of the species as a possible result of climate change, are discussed.

Distribution of the Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products (RAGE) in the Human Male Reproductive Tract. Prevalence in Men with Diabetes Mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Diabetics have a significantly higher percentage of sperm with nuclear DNA (nDNA) fragmentation and increased levels of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), in their testis, epididymis and sperm. As the receptor for AGEs (RAGE) is important to oxidative stress and cell dysfunction, we hypothesise, that it may be involved in sperm nDNA damage. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry was performed to determine the presence of RAGE in the human testis and epididymis. A comparison of the receptor's incidence and localisation on sperm from 10 diabetic and 11 non-diabetic men was conducted by blind semi-quantitative assessment of the immunostaining. ELISA analysis ascertained RAGE levels in seminal plasma and sperm from 21 diabetic and 31 non-diabetic subjects. Dual labelling immunolocalisation was employed to evaluate RAGE's precise location on the sperm head. RESULTS: RAGE was found throughout the testis, caput epididymis, particularly the principle cells apical region, and on sperm acrosomes. The number of sperm displaying RAGE and the overall protein amount found in sperm and seminal plasma were significantly higher in samples from diabetic men (p

Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs) accumulate in the Reproductive Tract of Men with Diabetes.

Light microscopic studies comparing sperm parameters show little association between diabetes and male fertility. However, with the introduction of new analytical techniques, evidence is now emerging of previously undetectable affects of diabetes on sperm function. Specifically, a recent study has found significantly higher sperm nuclear DNA (nDNA) fragmentation in diabetic men. As advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are important instigators of oxidative stress and cell dysfunction in numerous diabetic complications, we hypothesized that these compounds could also be present in the male reproductive tract. The presence and localization of the most prominent AGE, carboxymethyl-lysine (CML), in the human testis, epididymis and sperm was determined by immunohistochemistry. Parallel ELISA and Western blot analyses were performed to ascertain the amount of CML in seminal plasma and sperm from 13 diabetic and 9 non-diabetic subjects. CML immunoreactivity was found through out the seminiferous epithelium, the nuclei of spermatogonia and spermatocytes, in the basal and principle cells (cytoplasm and nuclei) of the caput epididymis and on most sperm tails, mid pieces and all cytoplasmic droplets. The acrosomal cap, especially the equatorial band, was prominently stained in diabetic samples only. The amount of CML was significantly higher (p = 0.004) in sperm from non diabetic men. Considering the known detrimental actions of AGEs in other organs, the presence, location and quantity of CML, particularly the increased expression found in diabetic men, suggests that these compounds may play a hitherto unrecognized role in male infertility.

Variation in offspring size towards the high elevational range edge of a montane annual

Understanding the ecological determinants of species’ distribution is a fundamental goal of ecology, and is increasingly important with changing limits to species’ range. Species often reach distributional limits on gradients of resource availability, but the extent to which offspring provisioning varies towards range limits is poorly understood. Selection is generally expected to favour higher provisioning of individual offspring in environments with short growing seasons and limited moisture, nutrients, or hosts for parasitism. However, individual provisioning may decline if parent size is limited by resources. This thesis focuses on three major questions: 1) does seed size vary over an elevational gradient? 2) does this variation respond adaptively towards the range limit? and 3) is potential elevational variation environmentally or genetically controlled? I tested variation in seed investment towards the upper elevational limit of the hemiparasitic annual herb Rhinanthus minor, sampled across an elevational range of 1,000m in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta, Canada. I also used a reciprocal transplant experiment to address the heritability of seed mass. Seed mass increased marginally towards higher elevations, while seed number and plant size declined. There was a strong elevational increase in seed mass scaled by overall plant size. Therefore, investment in individual seeds was higher towards the upper range edge, indicating potential adaptation of the reproductive strategy to allow for establishment in marginal environments. Genetic, environmental, and genotype-by-environment interactions were observed in transplanted populations, but the relative proportions of these effects on seed size were unclear.

Advanced glycation end products accumulate in the reproductive tract of men with diabetes

Light microscopic studies comparing sperm parameters show little association between diabetes and male fertility. However, with the introduction of new analytical techniques, evidence is now emerging of previously undetectable effects of diabetes on sperm function. Specifically, a recent study has found a significantly higher sperm nuclear DNA fragmentation in diabetic men. As advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are important instigators of oxidative stress and cell dysfunction in numerous diabetic complications, we hypothesized that these compounds could also be present in the male reproductive tract. The presence and localization of the most prominent AGE, carboxymethyl-lysine (CML), in the human testis, epididymis and sperm was determined by immunohistochemistry. Parallel ELISA and Western blot analyses were performed to ascertain the amount of CML in seminal plasma and sperm from 13 diabetic and nine non-diabetic subjects. CML immunoreactivity was found throughout the seminiferous epithelium, the nuclei of spermatogonia and spermatocytes, in the basal and principle cells cytoplasm and nuclei of the caput epididymis and on most sperm tails, mid pieces and all cytoplasmic droplets. The acrosomal cap, especially the equatorial band, was prominently stained in diabetic samples only. The amount of CML was significantly higher (p = 0.004) in sperm from non-diabetic men. Considering the known detrimental actions of AGEs in other organs, the presence, location and quantity of CML, particularly the increased expression found in diabetic men, suggest that these compounds may play a hitherto unrecognized role in male infertility.

Linking past cultural developments to palaeoenvironmental changes in Estonia

Connections between environmental and cultural changes are analysed in Estonia during the past c. 4,500 years. Records of cereal-type pollen as (agri)cultural indices are compared with high-resolution palaeohydrological and annual mean temperature reconstructions from a selection of Estonian bogs and lakes (and Lake Igelsjon in Sweden). A broad-scale comparison shows increases in the percentage of cereal-type pollen during a decreasing trend in annual mean temperatures over the past c. 4,300 years, suggesting a certain independence of agrarian activities from environmental conditions at the regional level. The first cereal-type pollen in the region is found from a period with a warm and dry climate. A slow increase in pollen of cultivated land is seen around the beginning of the late Bronze Age, a slight increase at the end of the Roman Iron Age and a significant increase at the beginning of the Middle Ages. In a few cases increases in agricultural pollen percentages occur in the periods of warming. Stagnation and regression occurs in the periods of cooling, but regression at individual sites may also be related to warmer climate episodes. The cooling at c. 400-300 cal b.p., during the 'Little Ice Age' coincides with declines in cereal-type and herb pollen curves. These may not, however, be directly related to the climate change, because they coincide with war activities in the region.

Rapid ecosystem response to abrupt climate changes during the last glacial period in western Europe, 40-16 ka

We present a high-resolution and independently dated multiproxy lake sediment record from the paleolake at Les Echets in southeastern France that displays synchronous changes in independent limnic and terrestrial ecosystem proxies, in concert with millennial-scale climate oscillations during the last glacial period. Distinct lake-level fluctuations, low lake organic productivity, and open, treeless vegetation indicate cold and dry conditions in response to Heinrich events. Alternating phases of higher and low lake organic productivity, stratified surface waters and long-lasting lake ice cover, decreased or increased catchment erosion, and tree-dominated or herb-dominated vegetation resemble Dansgaard-Oeschger interstadial-stadial variability. Transitions between different ecological states occurred in as little as 40-230 yr and seem to have been controlled by the position of the Polar Front. Ecosystem response after 30 ka suggests that local climate conditions became more important. Our results demonstrate that all parts of the terrestrial system responded to the abrupt and dramatic climatic changes associated with Dansgaard-Oeschger and Heinrich events, and that regional factors modulated ecosystem response.