Stable isotope record and composition of planktonic foraminifera from ODP Site 172-1056

The stable isotopic composition of two planktonic foraminifer species (Globigerinoides sacculifer and Neogloboquadrina dutertrei) and two benthic foraminifer species (Cibicidoides wuellerstorfi and Uvigerina peregrina) was measured at sub-orbital resolution through the marine isotope stages (MISs) 10, 11, and 12 (345-460 ka) at Site 1056 on the Blake-Bahama Outer Ridge. Planktonic foraminifers were counted for the interval 405-450 ka at 2-4-kyr resolution. Site 1056 (32°29'N, 76°20'W) is located on the continental slope (water depth: 2167 m) beneath the Gulf Stream. The average rate of sediment accumulation through the interval is 11.4 cm/kyr, but sediment accumulation is much more rapid during glacial intervals (15-17 cm/kyr). The decline in percent carbonate during glacial intervals, and its rise during interglacials, indicates that the increased sediment supply is of terrigenous origin. Low carbonate values and low benthic delta13C, which are both associated with a weak Western Boundary Undercurrent and low North Atlantic Deep Water production, persist for 6 kyr after the benthic delta18O record indicates that ice volume has begun to decrease. Recovery of carbonate and benthic delta13C values is abrupt and rapid. Millennial-scale variation (~3-4 kyr) is apparent in the glacial intervals of the planktonic delta18O records and is more pronounced in a Delta delta18O record, which represents the temperature range in the photic zone. Semi-precessional (10-12-kyr) cycles are apparent in the planktonic deltadelta13C record. The millennial-scale cycles are largely caused by an increase in G. sacculifer delta18O and represent surface warming. They are interpreted as representing periodic increases in westward intensification of the gyre. The semi-precessional cycles are driven by changes in the N. dutertrei delta13C and represent fluctuations in the Gulf Stream itself and therefore likely have a tropical origin. Planktonic foraminifer census counts did not show an expected response to one of the largest glacial/interglacial transitions of the late Pleistocene. The most obvious change was an increase in faunal diversity during MIS 12.2, the interval of maximum delta18O values. This suggests that cool slope water and warm subtropical gyre water penetrated a more sluggish Gulf Stream with greater frequency at this time. The millennial-scale maxima in the Delta delta18O record are accompanied by decreases in diversity, which is consistent with the interpretation of surface warming during these events.

Age models for ODP Leg 172 sites

Ten ODP sites drilled in a depth transect (2164-4775 m water depth) during Leg 172 recovered high-deposition rate (>20 cm/kyr) sedimentary sections from sediment drifts in the western North Atlantic. For each site an age model covering the past 0.8-0.9 Ma has been developed. The time scales have a resolution of 10-20 kyr and are derived by tuning variations of estimated carbonate content to the orbital parameters precession and obliquity. Based on the similarity in the signature of proxy records and the spectral character of the time series, the sites are divided into two groups: precession cycles are better developed in carbonate records from a group of shallow sites (2164-2975 m water depth, Sites 1055-1058) while the deeper sites (2995-4775 m water depth, Sites 1060-1063) are characterized by higher spectral density in the obliquity band. The resulting time scales show excellent coherence with other dated carbonate and isotope records from low latitudes. Besides the typical Milankovitch cyclicity significant variance of the resulting carbonate time series is concentrated at millennial-scale changes with periods of about 12, 6, 4, 2.5, and 1.5 kyr. Comparisons of carbonate records from the Blake Bahama Outer Ridge and the Bermuda Rise reveal a remarkable similarity in the time and frequency domain indicating a basin-wide uniform sedimentation pattern during the last 0.9 Ma.

Planktonic foraminifera oxygen isotope and trace metal data ODP Hole 172-1056A, 46-54 ka BP

Salinity increase in the subtropical gyre system may have pre-conditioned the North Atlantic Ocean for a rapid return to stronger overturning circulation and high-latitude warming following meltwater events during the Last Glacial period. Here we investigate the Gulf Stream - subtropical gyre system properties over Dansgaard-Oeschger (DO) cycles 14 to 12, including Heinrich ice-rafting event 5. During the Holocene and Last Glacial Maximum a positive gradient in surface dwelling planktonic foraminifera d18O (Globigerinoides ruber) can be observed between the Gulf Stream and subtropical gyre, due to decreasing temperature, increasing salinity, and a change from summer to year-round occurrence of G. ruber. We assess whether this gradient was a common feature during stadial-interstadial climate oscillations of Marine Isotope Stage 3, by comparing existing G. ruber d18O from ODP Site 1060 (subtropical gyre location) and new data from ODP Site 1056 (Gulf Stream location) between 54 and 46 ka. Our results suggest that this gradient was largely absent during the period studied. During the major warm DO interstadials 14 and 12 we infer a more zonal and wider Gulf Stream, influencing both ODP Sites 1056 and 1060. A Gulf Stream presence during these major interstadials is also suggested by the large vertical d18O gradient between shallow dwelling planktonic foraminifera species, especially G. ruber, and the deep dwelling species Globorotalia inflata at site 1056, which we associate with strong summer stratification and Gulf Stream presence. A major reduction in this vertical d18O gradient from 51 ka until the end of Heinrich event 5 at 48.5 ka suggests site 1056 was situated within the subtropical gyre in this mainly cold period, from which we infer a migration of the Gulf Stream to a position nearer to the continental shelf, indicative of a narrower Gulf Stream with possibly reduced transport.

SRL 172 (killed Mycobacterium vaccae) in addition to standard chemotherapy improves quality of life without affecting survival, in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer : phase III results

Background: This open-label, randomised phase III study was designed to further investigate the clinical activity and safety of SRL172 (killed Mycobacterium vaccae suspension) with chemotherapy in the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients and methods: Patients were randomised to receive platinum-based chemotherapy, consisting of up to six cycles of MVP (mitomycin, vinblastine and cisplatin or carboplatin) with (210 patients) or without (209 patients) monthly SRL172. Results: There was no statistical difference between the two groups in overall survival (primary efficacy end point) over the course of the study (median overall survival of 223 days versus 225 days; P = 0.65). However, a higher proportion of patients were alive at the end of the 15-week treatment phase in the chemotherapy plus SRL172 group (90%), than in the chemotherapy alone group (83%) (P = 0.061). At the end of the treatment phase, the response rate was 37% in the combined group and 33% in the chemotherapy alone group. Patients in the chemotherapy alone group had greater deterioration in their Global Health Status score (-14.3) than patients in the chemotherapy plus SRL172 group (-6.6) (P = 0.02). Conclusion: In this non-placebo controlled trial, SRL172 when added to standard cancer chemotherapy significantly improved patient quality of life without affecting overall survival times. © 2004 European Society for Medical Oncology.

Sapientia, 1989, Vol. XLIV, nº 172 (número completo)

Contenido: Naturaleza del conocimiento humano : el significado de la abstracción en Santo Tomás (II) / Octavio Nicolás Derisi – Nacimiento, vida y transfiguración del filósofo griego / Cesáreo López Salgado – La transformación ockhamista de la teoría de la suposición / Ignacio Miralbell – La noción de lugar en Guillermo de Ockham / Olga L. Larre ; J. E. Bolzán – Notas y comentarios -- Bibliografía

Diário da Constituinte [gravação de vídeo] : [programa n. 172 A]

O chamado Grupo dos Trinta e Dois Constituintes revisou o projeto de Constituição, do Relator Bernardo Cabral (PMDB-AM), e reduziu o texto para duzentos e cinquenta artigos. O Deputado Israel Pinheiro (PMDB-MG) declara que o texto constitucional ficou mais organizado, mais articulado, após a revisão. Não houve preocupação em tocar nos pontos polêmicos do projeto, mas apenas de enxugar o texto original, deixando para a lei ordinária o que não é constitucional. O Senador Virgílio Távora (PDS-CE) considera que foi uma tentativa válida de auxílio. O Deputado Ulysses Guimarães (PMDB-SP), a quem foi entregue a nova versão, considerou que é uma contribuição importante, assim como outras tantas que chegarão. Balanço da primeira semana de entrega das emendas populares a Assembleia Nacional Constituinte (ANC). Representantes de empregados em empresas de telecomunicações de todo o país entregam emenda na qual pedem a manutenção do monopólio estatal nos serviços de telecomunicação e a criação do Conselho Nacional de Comunicação, que garanta a cada brasileiro o direito à informação livre e sem censura. Representantes das cooperativas entregam emenda na qual pedem a auto-gestão dos seus negócios, o ensino do cooperativismo e a isenção de impostos. Roberto Rodrigues, representante das cooperados, diz que quando a cooperativa vende algum insumo para o cooperado, cobrando dele um diferencial referente ao custo operacional da cooperativa, não pode haver incidência de imposto. O Deputado Ivo Vanderlinde (PMDB-SC) considera positivo o fortalecimento do cooperativismo. O Deputado Bernardo Cabral (PMDB-AM) mostra entusiasmo ao receber as emendas populares. Fernando Gabeira, jornalista e escritor, convoca o povo a participar.

Diário da Constituinte [gravação de vídeo] : [programa n. 172]

Parlamentares de todos os partidos procuram o consenso em torno do projeto de Constituição. O Deputado Israel Pinheiro Filho (PMDB-MG) esclarece que a preocupação é encontrar um texto constitucional que seja mais reduzido, mais enxuto, mas que represente a vontade da sociedade brasileira. Pacifistas denunciam a fabricação indiscriminada de armas nucleares, quarenta e dois anos após a Bomba de Hiroshima. O atual projeto de Constituição admite o uso da energia nuclear somente para fins pacíficos. O Deputado Fabio Feldmann (PMDB-SP) esclarece que muitas pessoas defendem a bomba atômica como um instrumento da paz, o que é um claro absurdo. Ele apoia a emenda popular proposta pela Sociedade Brasileira para o Progresso da Ciência (SBPC) que proíbe a bomba atômica brasileira. Sessão Extraordinária da Assembleia Nacional Constituinte (ANC) debateu a Reforma Agrária. O Deputado Roberto Jefferson (PTB-RJ) criticou a esquerda e considera que a distinção entre terras improdutivas e terras inexploradas deve ser feita pela justiça, pois a violência inviabilizará a Reforma Agrária. O Deputado Aldo Arantes (PC do B-GO) afirma que o atual projeto é a expressão da vontade dos latifundiários e propõe limite ao tamanho das propriedades rurais.