Timing, duration, and transitions of the last interglacial Asian monsoon

Thorium-230 ages and oxygen isotope ratios of stalagmites from Dongge Cave, China, characterize the Asian Monsoon and low-latitude precipitation over the past 160,000 years. Numerous abrupt changes in 18O/16O values result from changes in tropical and subtropical precipitation driven by insolation and millennial-scale circulation shifts. The Last Interglacial Monsoon lasted 9.7 +/- 1.1 thousand years, beginning with an abrupt (less than 200 years) drop in 18O/16O values 129.3 +/- 0.9 thousand years ago and ending with an abrupt (less than 300 years) rise in 18O/16O values 119.6 +/- 0.6 thousand years ago. The start coincides with insolation rise and measures of full interglacial conditions, indicating that insolation triggered the final rise to full interglacial conditions.     

Radioactive elements on Mercury's surface from MESSENGER: implications for the planet's formation and evolution

The MESSENGER Gamma-Ray Spectrometer measured the average surface abundances of the radioactive elements potassium (K, 1150 ± 220 parts per million), thorium (Th, 220 ± 60 parts per billion), and uranium (U, 90 ± 20 parts per billion) in Mercury's northern hemisphere. The abundance of the moderately volatile element K, relative to Th and U, is inconsistent with physical models for the formation of Mercury requiring extreme heating of the planet or its precursor materials, and supports formation from volatile-containing material comparable to chondritic meteorites. Abundances of K, Th, and U indicate that internal heat production has declined substantially since Mercury's formation, consistent with widespread volcanism shortly after the end of late heavy bombardment 3.8 billion years ago and limited, isolated volcanic activity since.     

Trans-endocytosis of CD80 and CD86: a molecular basis for the cell-extrinsic function of CTLA-4

Cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) is an essential negative regulator of T cell immune responses whose mechanism of action is the subject of debate. CTLA-4 shares two ligands (CD80 and CD86) with a stimulatory receptor, CD28. Here, we show that CTLA-4 can capture its ligands from opposing cells by a process of trans-endocytosis. After removal, these costimulatory ligands are degraded inside CTLA-4-expressing cells, resulting in impaired costimulation via CD28. Acquisition of CD86 from antigen-presenting cells is stimulated by T cell receptor engagement and observed in vitro and in vivo. These data reveal a mechanism of immune regulation in which CTLA-4 acts as an effector molecule to inhibit CD28 costimulation by the cell-extrinsic depletion of ligands, accounting for many of the known features of the CD28-CTLA-4 system.     

The deglacial evolution of North Atlantic deep convection

Deepwater formation in the North Atlantic by open-ocean convection is an essential component of the overturning circulation of the Atlantic Ocean, which helps regulate global climate. We use water-column radiocarbon reconstructions to examine changes in northeast Atlantic convection since the Last Glacial Maximum. During cold intervals, we infer a reduction in open-ocean convection and an associated incursion of an extremely radiocarbon ((14)C)-depleted water mass, interpreted to be Antarctic Intermediate Water. Comparing the timing of deep convection changes in the northeast and northwest Atlantic, we suggest that, despite a strong control on Greenland temperature by northeast Atlantic convection, reduced open-ocean convection in both the northwest and northeast Atlantic is necessary to account for contemporaneous perturbations in atmospheric circulation.     

Assessment of a point‐of‐care cardiac troponin I test to differentiate cardiac from noncardiac causes of respiratory distress in dogs

Objectives – To (1) determine a reference interval for cardiac troponin I (cTnI) using a point‐of‐care device in normal dogs and compare the results with those published by the manufacturer and (2) determine if cTnI differs among dogs with cardiogenic and noncardiogenic respiratory distress. Design – Prospective observational study. Setting – Emergency and referral veterinary hospital. Animals – Twenty‐six clinically normal dogs and 67 dogs in respiratory distress. Interventions – All dogs underwent whole blood sampling for cTnI concentrations. Measurements and Results – Normal dogs had a median cTnI concentration of 0.03 ng/mL (range 0–0.11 ng/mL). Thirty‐six dogs were diagnosed with noncardiogenic respiratory distress with a median cTnI concentration of 0.14 ng/mL (range 0.01–4.31 ng/mL). Thirty‐one dogs were diagnosed with cardiogenic respiratory distress with a median cTnI concentration of 1.74 ng/mL (range 0.05–17.1 ng/mL). A significant difference between cTnI concentrations in normal dogs and dogs with noncardiogenic respiratory distress was not detected. Significant differences in cTnI concentrations were found between normals versus cardiogenic and cardiogenic versus noncardiogenic respiratory distress groups. Significant differences in cTnI concentrations were identified in >10 when compared with the <5 and the 5–10 years of age groups. Receiver operating curve analysis identified cTnI concentrations >1.5 ng/mL as the optimal “cut‐off point” having a sensitivity of 78% and specificity of 51.5%. The area under the receiver operating curve was 0.72. Overall test accuracy was 65%. Conclusions – cTnI concentrations were significantly increased in dogs with cardiogenic respiratory distress versus dogs with noncardiogenic respiratory distress and normal dogs. A significant difference between normal dogs and dogs with noncardiogenic causes of respiratory distress was detected. Although highly sensitive when cTnI concentrations exceed 1.5 ng/mL, the test has low specificity. Assessment of cTnI by the methodology used cannot be recommended as the sole diagnostic modality for evaluating the cause of respiratory distress in dogs.     

Application of shallow seismic refraction techniques to coastal geomorphology: A coral reef example

Shallow refraction techniques have an advantage over continuous profiling systems where marine environments preclude the use of this equipment or when cost is a restrictive factor. Operational problems peculiar to the use of the portable refraction seismograph in the coastal environment are discussed using field examples from the Great Barrier Reef Australia.     

Costs and benefits of wild goose conservation in Scotland

This paper applies the cost-benefit analysis framework to the issue of wild geese conservation in Scotland. Wild goose numbers have risen rapidly over the past 30 years, bringing nature conservationists into conflict with farmers whose crops are damaged. We estimate the costs of damage due to goose grazing to farmers in two goose areas, Strathbeg and Islay. Conservation benefits are estimated using a contingent valuation survey of the Scottish population, and we find that benefits outweigh costs by a very considerable margin. This can be seen as providing support for recent UK government moves to compensate farmers in goose areas in order to further conservation.     

Surgery for disc-associated wobbler syndrome in the dog--an examination of the controversy.

Controversy surrounds treatment of disc-associated 'wobbler' syndrome in the dog, centring on the choice of method of surgical decompression used. In this review, details of previously published case series are summarised and critically examined in an attempt to compare success rates and complications of different types of surgery. Unequivocally accurate comparisons were difficult because of differences in methods of case recording between series. Short-term success rates were high (approximately 80 per cent), but there was a high rate of recurrence (around 20 per cent) after any surgical treatment, suggesting the possibility that the syndrome should be considered a multifocal disease of the caudal cervical region. Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences in success rates between the various reported decompressive surgical techniques     

Effects of some clinically significant mycotoxins on the incorporation of DNA, RNA and protein precursors in cultured mammalian cells

The effects of zearalenone (F-2), ochratoxin A and T-2 toxins on the synthesis of DNA, RNA and proteins in mouse L cells were studied. F-2 toxin inhibited protein synthesis to a lesser extent than DNA and RNA synthesis, whereas ochratoxin A inhibited the synthesis of each equally. Exposure to the toxins for 24 hours relatively reduced the synthetic ability of the cells. T-2 toxin inhibited protein and DNA synthesis in parallel but RNA synthesis to a lesser extent. Enhanced incorporation of tritiated thymidine was found when L cells were exposed to 0.4 to 0.016 ng of T-2 toxin ml-1 for 24 hours.     

Increasing Yields of Channel Catfish Using a Combination of Cage and Open Pond Production Systems1

Channel catfish (lctalurus punctatus) fingerlings stocked at a rate of 450 fish/0.04 ha pond were simultaneously cultured with fingerlings stocked in 1.25 m³ cages (0, 250, 350, or 450 fishlcage; one cage/pond). The fish in the cages were cultured and harvested for a 90–330 g (whole fish) market. The fish in the open ponds were cultured and harvested for a 490–1,140 g market. Harvest weights of open pond fish in all treatments were similar indicating that the presence of the caged fish and the associated higher daily pond feeding rates did not affect open pond production. Ninety-five to 99% of the caged fish and 96 to 98% of the open pond fish were of marketable size at harvest. Survival and food conversion ratios were similar among treatments. Results of this study indicate that total pond production can be increased (in this case up to 19%) by using a combination of open pond and cage techniques and by simultaneously producing fish for two markets.