The Phanerozoic record of global sea-level change

We review Phanerozoic sea-level changes [543 million years ago (Ma) to the present] on various time scales and present a new sea-level record for the past 100 million years (My). Long-term sea level peaked at 100 +/- 50 meters during the Cretaceous, implying that ocean-crust production rates were much lower than previously inferred. Sea level mirrors oxygen isotope variations, reflecting ice-volume change on the 10(4)- to 10(6)-year scale, but a link between oxygen isotope and sea level on the 10(7)-year scale must be due to temperature changes that we attribute to tectonically controlled carbon dioxide variations. Sea-level change has influenced phytoplankton evolution, ocean chemistry, and the loci of carbonate, organic carbon, and siliciclastic sediment burial. Over the past 100 My, sea-level changes reflect global climate evolution from a time of ephemeral Antarctic ice sheets (100 to 33 Ma), through a time of large ice sheets primarily in Antarctica (33 to 2.5 Ma), to a world with large Antarctic and large, variable Northern Hemisphere ice sheets (2.5 Ma to the present).     

Forecasting fire season severity in South America using sea surface temperature anomalies

Fires in South America cause forest degradation and contribute to carbon emissions associated with land use change. We investigated the relationship between year-to-year changes in fire activity in South America and sea surface temperatures. We found that the Oceanic Ni?o Index was correlated with interannual fire activity in the eastern Amazon, whereas the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation index was more closely linked with fires in the southern and southwestern Amazon. Combining these two climate indices, we developed an empirical model to forecast regional fire season severity with lead times of 3 to 5 months. Our approach may contribute to the development of an early warning system for anticipating the vulnerability of Amazon forests to fires, thus enabling more effective management with benefits for climate and air quality.     

The rise of oxygen over the past 205 million years and the evolution of large placental mammals

On the basis of a carbon isotopic record of both marine carbonates and organic matter from the Triassic-Jurassic boundary to the present, we modeled oxygen concentrations over the past 205 million years. Our analysis indicates that atmospheric oxygen approximately doubled over this period, with relatively rapid increases in the early Jurassic and the Eocene. We suggest that the overall increase in oxygen, mediated by the formation of passive continental margins along the Atlantic Ocean during the opening phase of the current Wilson cycle, was a critical factor in the evolution, radiation, and subsequent increase in average size of placental mammals.     

Response of Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae) to Salpichroa origanifolia Withanolides.

Biological effects on Tribolium castaneum larvae were evaluated for three withanolides isolated from Salpichroa origanifolia (Solanaceae), (20S,22R,24S,25S,26R)-5alpha,6alpha:22,26:24,25-triepoxy-26-hydroxy-17(13-->18)-abeo-ergosta-2,13,15,17-tetraen-1-one (salpichrolide A, 1), (20S,22R,24S,25S,26R)-22,26:24,25-diepoxy-5alpha,6beta,26-trihydroxy-17(13-->18)-abeo-ergosta-2,13,15,17-tetraen-1-one (salpichrolide C, 2), and (20S,22R,24S,25S,26R)-5alpha,6alpha:22,26:24,25-triepoxy-15,26-dihydroxy-17(13-->18)-abeo-ergosta-2,13,15,17-tetraen-1-one (salpichrolide G, 3), and for several chemically modified analogues. The compounds were incorporated into the larval diet at concentrations of 500 and 2000 ppm. Salpichrolide C (2) produced a significant delay in the development of neonate larvae to adults at the highest concentration (2000 ppm); development delays and lethal effects were produced by salpichrolides A (1) and G (3) at both concentrations assayed. The size of surviving adults was used as a criterion for assessing feedant deterrent effects; the results suggest that these compounds act as feeding inhibitors. Influence of chemical modifications in development delay was analyzed.     

Structural basis for antioxidant activity of trans-resveratrol: ab initio calculations and crystal and molecular structure

From the experimental crystal structure and ab initio calculations on resveratrol and its derivatives, structural features of mechanistic importance are described. The molecular structure reveals the relative coplanarity of the trans-stilbene skeleton, and the molecular packing in the solid state shows an extensive hydrogen bond network that elucidates the flip-flop motion of the three hydroxyl groups that alternately form and break H bonds with each of the neighboring phenolic oxygens. The dynamic behavior provoked by the alternation of hydrogen bond formation and breaking can result in the ready mobility of up to three hydrogen atoms per resveratrol molecule that can be transferred to reactive oxidants that are rich in electron density. In addition, theoretical studies confirm the planarity of resveratrol as well as for half of the molecule of a condensation dimeric derivative of resveratrol, trans-sigma-viniferin. Furthermore, these studies show the p-4'-OH group to be more acidic compared to the other two m-OH groups. These features correlate with the biological activity of resveratrol as an antioxidant and support earlier studies showing H-atom transfer to be the dominant mechanism by which phenolic antioxidants intercept free radicals.     

Effect of toasting intensity at cooperage on phenolic compounds in acacia (Robinia pseudoacacia) heartwood

The phenolic composition of heartwood from Robinia pseudoacacia, commonly known as false acacia, before and after toasting in cooperage was studied by HPLC-DAD and HPLC-DAD/ESI-MS/MS. A total of 41 flavonoid and nonflavonoid compounds were identified, some tentatively, and quantified. Seasoned acacia wood showed high concentrations of flavonoid and low levels of nonflavonoid compounds, the main compounds being the dihydroflavonols dihydrorobinetin, fustin, tetrahydroxy, and trihydroxymethoxy dihydroflavonol, the flavonol robinetin, the flavanones robtin and butin, and a leucorobinetinidin, none of which are found in oak wood. The low molecular weight (LMW) phenolic compounds present also differed from those found in oak, since compounds with a β-resorcylic structure, gallic related compounds, protocatechuic aldehyde, and some hydroxycinnamic compounds are included, but only a little gallic and ellagic acid. Toasting changed the chromatographic profiles of extracts spectacularly. Thus, the toasted acacia wood contributed flavonoids and condensed tannins (prorobinetin type) in inverse proportion to toasting intensity, while LMW phenolic compounds were directly proportional to toasting intensity, except for gallic and ellagic acid and related compounds. Even though toasting reduced differences between oak and acacia, particular characteristics of this wood must be taken into account when considering its use in cooperage: the presence of flavonoids and compounds with β-resorcylic structure and the absence of hydrolyzable tannins.     

Fruit growth and chemical properties of Ribes magellanicum “parrilla”

The aim of this work was to study the time course and pattern of fruit growth and the evolution of some of the chemical attributes such as soluble solids, acidity, and anthocyanin content in Ribes magellanicum plants growing in a natural environment near Ushuaia city, Tierra del Fuego (Argentina). Fruit growth and composition presented significant changes along the days from the full bloom phase. Fresh and dry fruit weight exhibited a typical double sigmoid curve. The first period of rapid fresh fruit growth was from full bloom phase until 28 days after, followed by a lag period until 42 days from the full bloom phase, and then by a second period of rapid increase until 56 days from the full bloom phase. Then, fresh fruit weight increased slowly (days 70–98 from the full bloom phase), reaching its maximum. Afterwards, fresh fruit weight decreased significantly until the end of the summer, and the fruiting period approximately ended 112 days from full bloom phase. On a dry weight basis the maximum fruit biomass was reached 98 days from the full bloom phase. Evolution of fruit growth was related with the compositional changes evaluated. By day 98 from the full bloom phase, soluble solids (17.5°Brix) and anthocyanin content (240.1 mg/100 g fruit fresh weight) were at their maximum, while at this time the total titratable acidity was at a minimum (0.4%). The results obtained not only contribute to the knowledge of the quantitative content of anthocyanin, a metabolite with nutraceutical value, but also give some tools for the definition of the optimal harvest time of R. magellanicum fruits, which it is important for fruit destination.     

Effect of bupivacaine liposome suspension administered as a local anesthetic block on indicators of pain and distress during and after surgical castration in dairy calves

Castration is a routine procedure performed on beef and dairy operations in the United States. All methods of castration cause behavioral, physiologic, and neuroendocrine changes associated with pain. The American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Association of Bovine Practitioners recommend that anesthesia and analgesia be administered during castration. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of bupivacaine liposome suspension, a novel, long-acting, local anesthetic formulation administered as a nerve block at castration. The authors chose to investigate this novel formulation as an alternative to the current industry standards using lidocaine nerve blocks alone or in combination with meloxicam. Thirty male Holstein calves, 16 to 20 wk of age, were enrolled and randomly assigned to one of the four treatment groups prior to surgical castration: 1) bupivacaine liposome suspension block + oral placebo (BUP), 2) lidocaine block + oral placebo (LID), 3) lidocaine block + oral meloxicam (1 mg/kg) (LID + MEL), and 4) saline block + oral placebo (CON). Biomarkers were collected at −24 h and from 0 to 120 h post-castration and included infrared thermography, pressure mat gait analysis, chute defense and behavior scoring (pain and activity), and blood sampling for serum cortisol and prostaglandin E₂ metabolites (PGEMs). Responses were analyzed using repeated measures, with calf nested in treatment as a random effect, and treatment, time, and their interaction designated as fixed effects. The results from pressure mat gait analysis show that the CON had a shorter front limb stance time from baseline (−8.73%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −24.84% to 7.37%) compared with BUP and LID + MEL (>5.70%; 95% CI: −22.91% to 23.79%) (P < 0.03). The CON tended to have an increase in front limb force from baseline (6.31%; 95% CI: −1.79% to 14.41%) compared with BUP, LID, and LID + MEL (<−5.06%; 95% CI: −14.22% to 0.95%) (P < 0.04). The CON displayed higher counts of hunched standing (2.00; 95% CI: 1.68 to 2.32) compared with LID + MEL (1.43; 95% CI: 1.13 to 1.72) (P = 0.05). The CON had higher cortisol concentrations at 24 h (7.70 ng/mL; 95% CI: 1.52 to 13.87 ng/mL) relative to BUP (3.11 ng/mL; 95% CI: −2.56 to 8.79 ng/mL) (P = 0.002). At 4 and 24 h, LID + MEL had lower PGEM concentrations from baseline (−32.42% and −47.84%; 95% CI: −78.45% to −1.80%) compared with CON (27.86% and 47.63%; 95% CI: 7.49% to 82.98%) (P < 0.02). The administration of bupivacaine liposome suspension as a local anesthetic block at the time of castration was as effective at controlling pain as a multimodal approach of lidocaine and meloxicam.     

Pestalotiopsis canker of cypress in Israel

The occurrence of a new type of canker on stems and branches of cypress trees(Cupressus sempervirens L.) in Israel is reported.Pestalotiopsis funerea (Desm.) Steyaert was isolated from the cankers. Its pathogenicity was confirmed by formation of typical disease symptoms in inoculated plants and reisolation of that fungus from the cankers. Canker development was significantly enhanced when extreme water stress (water potential of -4.7 MPa) was imposed prior to inoculation.