Cassini Imaging Science: initial results on Saturn's atmosphere

The Cassini Imaging Science Subsystem (ISS) began observing Saturn in early February 2004. From analysis of cloud motions through early October 2004, we report vertical wind shear in Saturn's equatorial jet and a maximum wind speed of approximately 375 meters per second, a value that differs from both Hubble Space Telescope and Voyager values. We also report a particularly active narrow southern mid-latitude region in which dark ovals are observed both to merge with each other and to arise from the eruptions of large, bright storms. Bright storm eruptions are correlated with Saturn's electrostatic discharges, which are thought to originate from lightning.     

Cassini imaging of Jupiter's atmosphere,satellites, and rings

The Cassini Imaging Science Subsystem acquired about 26,000 images of the Jupiter system as the spacecraft encountered the giant planet en route to Saturn. We report findings on Jupiter's zonal winds, convective storms, low-latitude upper troposphere, polar stratosphere, and northern aurora. We also describe previously unseen emissions arising from Io and Europa in eclipse, a giant volcanic plume over Io's north pole, disk-resolved images of the satellite Himalia, circumstantial evidence for a causal relation between the satellites Metis and Adrastea and the main jovian ring, and information on the nature of the ring particles.     

Late Proterozoic and Paleozoic Tides, Retreat of the Moon, and Rotation of the Earth

The tidal rhythmites in the Proterozoic Big Cottonwood Formation (Utah, United States), the Neoproterozoic Elatina Formation of the Flinders Range (southern Australia), and the Lower Pennsylvanian Pottsville Formation (Alabama, United States) and Mansfield Formation (Indiana, United States) indicate that the rate of retreat of the lunar orbit is dxi/dt approximately k2 sin(2delta) (where xi is the Earth-moon radius vector, k2 is the tidal Love number, and delta is the tidal lag angle) and that this rate has been approximately constant since the late Precambrian. When the contribution to tidal friction from the sun is taken into account, these data imply that the length of the terrestrial day 900 million years ago was approximately18 hours.     

Polyarthritis in wild mice (Mus musculus) caused by Streptobacillus moniliformis

SUMMARY Mice trapped on farms in south-eastern Queensland had chronic abscessating osteoarthritides mainly involving the carpi and tarsi. Pleomorphic bacteria were shown by silver staining to be plentiful within lesions. Streptobacillus moniliformis was isolated from the joints, and streptobacillary polyarthritis was diagnosed. Other lesions observed included subcutaneous and hepatic abscesses.     

Effects of thalidomide on the expression of NF-κB and TNF-α in experimental hepatic fibrotic rats

AIM: To study the effects of thalidomide on the expressions of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in rat liver fibrosis.METHODS: The fibrosis of rat liver was induced by intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride thrice weekly.Meanwhile thalidomide (10 mg·kg^-1·d^-1 or 100 mg·kg^-1·d^-1) was given daily by the intragastric route for 8 weeks.Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT),aspartate aminotransferase (AST),prealbumin (PA),hyaluronic acid (HA) and laminin (LN),and hydroxyproline (HYP) contents in the liver,NF-κB p65 and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) protein in the liver,IκBα and TNF-α protein in cytoplasm and NF-κB p65 protein in nucleus and TNF-α mRNA levels in the liver were studied.RESULTS: Compared with the model group,the Knodell score,serum ALT,AST,HA,LN levels and HYP contents in liver,NF-κB p65 protein in nucleus and α-SMA protein in the liver,and TNF-α mRNA and protein in the liver of rats given high dose of thalidomide were decreased significantly (P<0.01).Meanwhile PA level and IκBα protein in cytoplasm were elevated significantly (P<0.01).CONCLUSION: Thalidomide exerts its effect on the down-regulation of NF-κB-induced TNF-α via inhibiting dissociation and degradation of IκB and prevents liver fibrosis in rats.     

Galileo encounter with 951 gaspra: first pictures of an asteroid

Galileo images of Gaspra reveal it to be an irregularly shaped object (19 by 12 by 11 kilometers) that appears to have been created by a catastrophic collisional disruption of a precursor parent body. The cratering age of the surface is about 200 million years. Subtle albedo and color variations appear to correlate with morphological features: Brighter materials are associated with craters especially along the crests of ridges, have a stronger 1-micrometer absorption, and may represent freshly excavated mafic materials; darker materials exhibiting a significantly weaker 1-micrometer absorption appear concentrated in interridge areas. One explanation of these patterns is that Gaspra is covered with a thin regolith and that some of this material has migrated downslope in some areas.     

Endometrial Population of Oestrogen Receptors Alpha and Beta and Progesterone Receptors A and B During the Different Phases of the Follicular Wave of Llamas (Lama glama)

The aim of this study was to characterize the distribution of oestrogen receptor (ER)α and ERβ as well as both progesterone receptors isoforms progesterone receptor (PR) A and PRB in the luminal and glandular epithelia and stroma of the endometrium during the different phases of the follicular wave in llamas. Six llamas were examined by transrectal ultrasonography, and a transcervical biopsy was obtained when a follicle at the growing, plateau and regressing phase was recorded. Blood samples were collected at the time of biopsy for hormone determinations. An immunohistochemical technique was used to study receptor populations. Total positive area was evaluated in the different cell types by Image Analysis. Mean diameter measurements of the largest follicle were 6.9, 8.5 and 5.1 mm (p < 0.001) and mean plasma oestradiol‐17β concentrations were 27.9 ± 3.26; 30.0 ± 2.79 and 24.0 ± 1.78 pmol/l (p = 0.32) during the growing, plateau and regressing phases, respectively. Immunostaining of ERα was higher in the luminal epithelium during the plateau and regressing phases (p < 0.05) than during the growing phase. More positive cells to ERβ were observed in the glandular epithelium of the growing and plateau phases (p < 0.05) than during the regressing phase. A higher percentage of cells positive to PRB was recorded in the luminal and glandular epithelia during the plateau phase (p < 0.05), while the PRA immunostaining was similar among phases. In brief, this study showed an increased population of ERα and PRB in the luminal epithelium, and only of PRB in the glandular epithelium at the time when an ovulatory follicle is present. The physiological importance of these changes in llamas remains to be elucidated.