Spatial patterns in the distribution of tropical tree species

Fully mapped tree census plots of large area, 25 to 52 hectares, have now been completed at six different sites in tropical forests, including dry deciduous to wet evergreen forest on two continents. One of the main goals of these plots has been to evaluate spatial patterns in tropical tree populations. Here the degree of aggregation in the distribution of 1768 tree species is examined based on the average density of conspecific trees in circular neighborhoods around each tree. When all individuals larger than 1 centimeter in stem diameter were included, nearly every species was more aggregated than a random distribution. Considering only larger trees (>/= 10 centimeters in diameter), the pattern persisted, with most species being more aggregated than random. Rare species were more aggregated than common species. All six forests were very similar in all the particulars of these results.     

The chemical genomic portrait of yeast: uncovering a phenotype for all genes

Genetics aims to understand the relation between genotype and phenotype. However, because complete deletion of most yeast genes ( approximately 80%) has no obvious phenotypic consequence in rich medium, it is difficult to study their functions. To uncover phenotypes for this nonessential fraction of the genome, we performed 1144 chemical genomic assays on the yeast whole-genome heterozygous and homozygous deletion collections and quantified the growth fitness of each deletion strain in the presence of chemical or environmental stress conditions. We found that 97% of gene deletions exhibited a measurable growth phenotype, suggesting that nearly all genes are essential for optimal growth in at least one condition.     

Bismuth bronze from machu picchu, peru

The decorative bronze handle of a tumi excavated at the Inca city of Machu Picchu, Peru, contains 18 percent bismuth and appears to be the first known example of the use of bismuth with tin to make bronze. The alloy is not embrittled by the bismuth because the bismuth-rich constituent does not penetrate the grain boundaries of the matrix phase. The use of bismuth facilitates the duplex casting process by which the tumi was made and forms an alloy of unusual color.     

Thermal annealment and nitric oxide effects on free radicals in x-irradiated cells

Four kinds of radicals are identified in dry spores (Bacillus megaterium) after x-irradiation: those associated with singlet, doublet, triplet, and oxygen-complex types of spectra. The singlet, present only at low temperatures, gives rise irreversibly to the doublet at 25 degrees C. All hyperfine structure is depressed after annealment at 1000 degrees C and is lost when oxygen or nitric oxide is added. The physical results support the hypothesis that reactions of long-lived free radicals can account for the radiobiological phenomena of thermorestoration, nitric oxide protection, and latent oxygen effect.