Synchronizing rock clocks of Earth history

Calibration of the geological time scale is achieved by independent radioisotopic and astronomical dating, but these techniques yield discrepancies of approximately 1.0% or more, limiting our ability to reconstruct Earth history. To overcome this fundamental setback, we compared astronomical and 40Ar/39Ar ages of tephras in marine deposits in Morocco to calibrate the age of Fish Canyon sanidine, the most widely used standard in 40Ar/39Ar geochronology. This calibration results in a more precise older age of 28.201 +/- 0.046 million years ago (Ma) and reduces the 40Ar/39Ar method's absolute uncertainty from approximately 2.5 to 0.25%. In addition, this calibration provides tight constraints for the astronomical tuning of pre-Neogene successions, resulting in a mutually consistent age of approximately 65.95 Ma for the Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary.     

PASS的制备及其在污水处理中的应用

以Na2SiO4和Al2(SO4)3为原料,采用复合法制备聚合硅酸硫酸铝(PASS):先在碱性条件下制备聚硅酸,然后在酸性条件下制备PASS。将自制的PASS应用于实际废水的处理并与聚合氯化铝(PAC)进行了比较,研究结果表明,所制备的PASS具有优良的絮凝性能,其在除浊、脱色及去除COD等方面较PAC具有更好的絮凝效果,是一种有广阔发展前景的新型高效净水剂。     

Multi-phase cross-correlation method for motion estimation of fertiliser granules during centrifugal spreading

Excessive fertiliser use has been a main contributor to the increasing environmental imbalance observed in the past 20 years. Better accuracy in spreading would limit excess fertiliser loss into the environment. Increased accuracy begins by understanding the fertiliser spreading process from the vane to the soil. Our work concentrates on the use of centrifugal spreaders, as these are most commonly used in Europe. Progress in imaging devices and image processing has resulted in the availability of new technologies to use when describing the behaviour of fertiliser granules during ejection from centrifugal spreaders. Fertiliser deposition on the soil can be predicted using a ballistic flight model, but this requires determination of the velocities and the directions of the granules when they leave the spinning disc. This paper presents improvements to the high speed imaging system that we had previously developed, i.e. enhancements to the illumination and the image processing. The illumination of the previous system, which used many separate flashes, did not give consistent illumination. We have improved it by using a stroboscope with power-LEDs, located at 1 m height around the digital camera and controlled by a Field-programmable gate array (FPGA) card. The image processing has been improved by development of a multi-phase method based on a cross-correlation algorithm. We have compared the cross-correlation method to the Markov Random Fields (MRF) method previously implemented. These tests, based on multi-exposure images, revealed that cross-correlation method gives more accurate results than the MRF technique, with guaranteed sub-pixel accuracy. Knowing that an error of one pixel can lead to a prediction error between 200 and 500 mm on the ground, the latter method gives an accuracy range between 0.1 and 0.4 pixels, whereas the MRFs technique is limited to 3 and 9 pixels for the vertical and horizontal components of the velocities, respectively. The sub-pixel accuracy of the new method was proven by applying it on simulated images with known displacements between the grains. By using a realistic spreading model, the simulated images are similar to those obtained with a high speed imaging system. This sub-pixel accuracy now makes it possible to decrease the resolution of the camera to that of a classical high-speed camera. These improvements have created an affordable and durable system appropriate for installation on a spreader. Farmers could use this system to both calibrate the spreader and verify the fertiliser distribution on the ground.     

Creatine phosphokinase in thyroid: isoenzyme composition compared with other tissues

Considerable creatine phosphokinase activity was demonstrated in thyroid glands of several species. After starch gel electrophoresis, thyroid exhibited a creatine phosphokinase isoenzyme pattern different from that of muscle, heart, and brain. The isoenzyme repertory of various tissues and a hybrid enzyme produced from muscle and brain enzyme are consistent with the postulated dimeric structure of creatine phosphokinase.     

Diisopropylphosphorofluoridate and Tabun: enzymatic hydrolysis and nerve function

Squid nerve contains an enzyme that hydrolyzes the nerve gas Tabun at about one-tenth the rate it hydrolyzes diisopropylphosphorofluoridate (DFP), and at about one-third to one-fourth the rate it hydrolyzes Sarin and Soman. Tabun is a more potent inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase than is DFP, is both lipid-and water-soluble, and penetrates readily into the squid giant axon in its inhibitory form. The failure of Tabun to block or markedly decrease the conducted action potential in the squid axon makes it likely that the blocking of conduction caused by DFP is probably not due to inhibition of acetylcholinesterase. Sub-strate specificity with regard to organophosphate metabolism by squid enzyme has possible implications for the disposal and detoxication of nerve gases in the ocean.     

水牛RNA聚合酶Ⅲ启动子的克隆与鉴定

[目的]获得有效的水牛RNA聚合酶Ⅲ启动子序列,为开展水牛源细胞的基因特异沉默研究奠定基础.[方法]通过启动子上、下游保守序列对水牛源启动子7SK、U6进行克隆和启动子关键顺式作用元件识别,利用一段针对EGFP的shRNA片段（shEGFP）对水牛7SK、U6启动子进行功能性分析,然后分别在水牛源及鼠源细胞中与pEGFP-N1共转染,转染48h后用荧光显微镜检测EGFP的表达情况,并用流式细胞仪和荧光实时定量PCR检测EGFP沉默表达情况.[结果]克隆获得水牛7SK、U6启动子序列分别为430和357 bp,其OCT-1（或CACCC盒）及TATA盒高度保守.连接shEGFP后与pEGFP-N1共转染细胞,通过荧光显微镜可观察到细胞发生了明显的荧光表达沉默现象;通过流式细胞分析,发现水牛7SK和U6启动子引导的shEGFP在水牛源细胞中沉默效率高达93.82％和87.45％;荧光实时定量PCR检测结果显示,在转染bu7SK-shEGFP和buU6-shEGFP的水牛源BFF细胞中,EGFP表达水平均显著低于其他物种启动子的细胞转染组（P＜0.05）,而在鼠源PT67细胞中,水牛启动子的启动效率与其他物种启动子差异不显著（P＞0.05）.[结论]水牛7SK和U6启动子可高效启动shRNA表达,且具有一定的物种特异性.     

新生代员工企业文化内部整合感知对工作满意度的影响研究——基于汽车整车制造业的实证数据

企业文化内部整合两个特质“参与性”与“一致性”对于工作满意度存在积极影响。相比传统员工,新生代员工对于企业文化的内部整合感知对于工作满意度表现出更强的预测作用。管理者应注重新生代员工的参与性激励、团队凝聚力塑造,与其建立民主沟通模式。     

设施菜地土壤有机碳及酶活性特征

【目的】为了研究设施条件对菜地土壤有机碳组分及土壤酶活性的影响,选取北京市大兴和昌平典型的长期设施菜地土壤进行试验。【方法】通过土壤有机碳组分分析和酶活性测定,探讨不同种植环境和土层深度下土壤有机碳和土壤酶活性特征。【结果】与露天菜地相比,设施菜地土壤pH显著降低,年均最大降幅0.08,而电导率则显著升高。在0~15cm和15~30cm土层中,设施菜地土壤有机碳和易氧化有机碳含量均显著高于露天菜地,分别比露天菜地高10.1%~143.9%和24.6%~95.3%。设施菜地土壤中碱性磷酸酶和芳基硫酸酯酶活性显著高于露天菜地,有利于土壤中有机态P和S的矿化和周转;而转化酶和β-葡萄糖苷酶的活性均低于露天菜地,转化酶活性与有机碳呈显著负相关,表明设施条件下C素的周转受到一定程度的抑制。过氧化氢酶活性的差异仅表现在表层土壤中,且在不同采样点的规律并不一致。【结论】设施种植条件有利于土壤有机碳及其活性组分含量的提高,对土壤酶活性的影响因酶的种类存在差异。     

The effect of breed,sex, and oral meloxicam administration on pain biomarkers following hot-iron branding in Hereford and Angus calves

Hot-iron branding uses thermal injury to permanently identify cattle causing painful tissue damage. The primary objective was to examine the physiological and behavioral effects of oral meloxicam (MEL), compared to a control, administered at the time of hot-iron branding in Angus and Hereford steers and heifers. The secondary objectives were to investigate breed and sex effects on pain biomarkers. A total of 70 yearlings, consisting of 35 heifers and 35 steers (Angus, Hereford, or Angus × Hereford), were enrolled in the study. Animals were blocked by sex, randomized across weight, and assigned to receive MEL (1 mg/kg) or a placebo (CON). Biomarkers were assessed for 48 h after branding and included infrared thermography (IRT), mechanical nociceptive threshold (MNT), accelerometry and a visual analog scale (VAS), and serum cortisol and prostaglandin E₂ metabolites (PGEM). Wound healing was assessed for 12 wk. Hair samples to quantify cortisol levels were taken prior to and 30 d post-branding. Responses were analyzed using repeated measures with calf nested in treatment as a random effect, and treatment, time, treatment by time interaction, breed, and sex as fixed effects. There was a treatment by time interaction for PGEM (P < 0.01) with MEL having lower values than CON at 6, 24, and 48 h (MEL: 18.34 ± 3.52, 19.61 ± 3.48, and 22.24 ± 3.48 pg/mL, respectively; CON: 32.57 ± 3.58, 37.00 ± 3.52, and 33.07 ± 3.48 pg/mL; P < 0.01). MEL showed less of a difference in maximum IRT values between the branded (2.27 ± 0.29 °C) and control site (3.15 ± 0.29 °C; P < 0.01). MEL took fewer lying bouts at 0–12 h (4.91 bouts ± 0.56) compared with CON (6.87 bouts ± 0.55; P < 0.01). Compared with Hereford calves, Angus calves exhibited greater serum but lower hair cortisol, greater PGEM, more lying bouts, and less healed wound scores at 3, 4, and 5 wk. Compared with heifers, steers exhibited lower PGEM, lower branding site and ocular IRT, higher MNT, and lower plasma meloxicam levels. Steers spent more time lying, took more lying bouts and had greater VAS pain, and more healed wound scores at 5 wk than heifers. Meloxicam administration at branding reduced branding and control site temperature differences and reduced lying bouts for the first 12 h. Breed and sex effects were observed across many biomarkers. Changes from baseline values for IRT, MNT, lying time, step count, VAS pain, and wound scoring all support that branding cattle is painful.     

Antibody response to Raboral VR-G® oral rabies vaccine in captive and free-ranging black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas)

Rabies is a zoonotic disease that remains endemic in large parts of southern Africa because of its persistence in wildlife and domestic dog vectors. The black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) is primarily the wildlife vector responsible for rabies outbreaks in northern parts of South Africa. Two trials were carried out to investigate antibody responses to the oral rabies vaccine Raboral V-RG® in black-backed jackals under captive and free-ranging conditions. In captive jackals 10/12 (83%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 52% – 98%), seroconverted after single oral vaccination. Nine captive jackals had protective antibody titres (> 0.5 IU/mL) at 4 weeks (median: 2.1 IU/mL; inter quartile range [IQR]: 0.6–5.7) and 10 jackals had at 12 weeks (median: 3.5 IU/mL; IQR: 1.5–8.3) and three maintained antibody titres for up to 48 weeks (median: 3.4 IU/mL; IQR: 2.0–6.3). Four sites were baited with Raboral V-RG® vaccine for wild jackals, using fishmeal polymer and chicken heads. Baits were distributed by hand or from vehicle at three sites in north-eastern South Africa, with an average baiting density of 4.4 baits/km² and at one site in central South Africa, at 0.12 baits/km². This resulted in protective antibody titres in 3/11 jackals (27%; 95% Cl: 6–61) trapped between 3 and 12 months after baiting in north-eastern South Africa, compared with 4/7 jackals (57%; 95% Cl: 18–90) trapped after 3–18 months in central South Africa. This study shows the potential utility of oral rabies vaccination for the control of wildlife-associated rabies in north-eastern and central South Africa, but extensive studies with wider distribution of bait are needed to assess its potential impact on rabies control in wild jackals.