Popular music in a transnational world: the construction of local identities in Singapore

As an area of geographical inquiry, popular music has not been explored to any large extent. Where writings exist, they have been somewhat divorced from recent theoretical and methodological questions that have rejuvenated social and cultural geography. In this paper, I focus on one arena which geographers can develop in their analysis of popular music, namely, the exploration of local influences and global forces in the production of music. In so doing, I wish to explore how local resources intersect with global ones in a process of transculturation. Using the example of English songs by one particular songwriter and artiste whose works are part of the popular music industry mainstream, and that of Mandarin songs of the genre xinyao, I will show that, despite increasing globalising forces, music is still an expression of local/national influences. Indeed, I will argue that globalisation intensifies localisation.     

紫背天葵色素的稳定性及其提取工艺优化

以提高紫背天葵色素提取率为目的,分别以甲醇、乙醇、甲醇与乙醇体积分数各为50%的混合溶剂及蒸馏水作为提取剂进行提取对比试验,分析了紫背天葵色素提取液的稳定性。采用均匀设计,探讨了乙醇浓度、提取温度和提取时间对紫背天葵色素提取率的影响。结果表明:紫背天葵色素溶于甲醇、乙醇、甲醇与乙醇混合溶剂及蒸馏水中,乙醇提取剂对紫背天葵色素的溶解度最大,吸光值最高,提取效果最好;紫背天葵色素提取液随pH的变化而变化,pH≤4.1条件下基本保持鲜艳的紫红色,pH>4.1时色素消退;紫背天葵色素提取液不宜采用含铁锌离子的容器盛装,应置低温或室温避光环境中贮放,加热或高温时易氧化褪色。此外,还对紫背天葵色素乙醇提取的工艺参数进行了优化。     

Light-induced structural and functional plasticity in Drosophila larval visual system

How to build and maintain a reliable yet flexible circuit is a fundamental question in neurobiology. The nervous system has the capacity for undergoing modifications to adapt to the changing environment while maintaining its stability through compensatory mechanisms, such as synaptic homeostasis. Here, we describe our findings in the Drosophila larval visual system, where the variation of sensory inputs induced substantial structural plasticity in dendritic arbors of the postsynaptic neuron and concomitant changes to its physiological output. Furthermore, our genetic analyses have identified the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) pathway and a previously uncharacterized cell surface molecule as critical components in regulating experience-dependent modification of the postsynaptic dendrite morphology in Drosophila.     

油菜芜菁花叶病毒株系鉴定

芜菁花叶病毒是引起我国油莱病毒病的主要毒原。在我国南方冬油菜产区采集了数百个芜菁花叶病毒(TuMV)病株样品,经寄主鉴定和毒原纯化后,选择具有代表性的分离物30个,通过Provvidenti的一套鉴定品种进行株系鉴定,并用酶联免疫吸附测定(ELISA)双抗体夹心法检测以及寄主范围试验,鉴定出三个不同株系即TuMV—CRL、TuMV—CR2和TuMV—CR3。除TuMV—CR3与Provvyidenti,R.在纽约和Green,S.K.在台湾对十字花科蔬菜上TuMV鉴定的五个株系中的TuMV—C1株系相同外,余均不同;与我国以往各地对十宇花科作物上TuMV株系鉴定的结果比较,由于国内鉴定工作未用此同样的鉴定方法进行鉴定,因此尚不能肯定油菜上的三个株系与国内已经鉴定的十字花科蔬菜上的株系的异同。     

Changes in some enzyme activities and browning rate of apricots during storage

Samples of two apricot cultivars grown in central Hungary were picked at canning maturity and stored for ten days at 5°C and 85% relative humidity in normal atmosphere. The initial rate of enzymatic browning (BA), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) activities as well as o-dihydroxy phenol (ODP) concentration of the fruit flesh were assayed at picking and after five and ten days of storage. During storage, BA decreased and POD activity increased. PPO activity and ODP concentration varied irregularly: the trends of the variations differed with cultivar but were similar for the two characteristics.(Cegled Research Station of the Research Institute of Fruits and Ornamental Plants, Budapest, Hungary), Cegled     

Resolution of a hyperprolactinemia in a western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla).

Prolactin-secreting pituitary adenomas are one of the most common causes of infertility in women. Prolactin plays an important role in lactation and is involved in producing some of the normal mammalian breeding and maternal behaviors. Elevated serum prolactin concentrations can adversely affect the reproductive cycle in females by inhibiting the normal lutenizing hormone surge that stimulates ovulation. A 17-year-old western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) presented with low fertility and hyperprolactinemia. An MRI confirmed a pituitary mass and treatment was initiated with cabergoline. Following 8 mo of treatment, mass size decreased and serum prolactin was within normal limits. The gorilla began to engage in normal breeding behavior, and within 6 mo of completing treatment, was pregnant. Hyperprolactinemia, secondary to presumed microprolactinoma, may be more common among breeding-age gorillas than is currently diagnosed and in humans is an easily diagnosed and treatable condition.