Early origin and recent expansion of Plasmodium falciparum     

Joy DA  Feng X  Mu J  Furuya T  Chotivanich K  Krettli AU  Ho M  Wang A  White NJ  Suh E  Beerli P  Su XZ 《Science (New York, N.Y.)》2003,300(5617):318-321

The emergence of virulent Plasmodium falciparum in Africa within the past 6000 years as a result of a cascade of changes in human behavior and mosquito transmission has recently been hypothesized. Here, we provide genetic evidence for a sudden increase in the African malaria parasite population about 10,000 years ago, followed by migration to other regions on the basis of variation in 100 worldwide mitochondrial DNA sequences. However, both the world and some regional populations appear to be older (50,000 to 100,000 years old), suggesting an earlier wave of migration out of Africa, perhaps during the Pleistocene migration of human beings.  相似文献   

A Parametric Transfer Function for Grain-Flow Within a Conventional Combine Harvester     

Whelan  Brett M.  McBratney  Alex. B. 《Precision Agriculture》2002,3(2):123-134

Grain yield monitoring is an integral tool in the Precision Agriculture management system. When used in conjunction with a satellite-based navigation system, it provides spatial information on output variability, output response to managed inputs and is used to identify limiting resources in the crop production process. Accurately matching measured yield quantities with spatial units within a field is therefore important. At present, a simple linear time shift is employed by all commercial monitoring systems to account for the delay between GPS recorded positions and subsequent yield measurements. This study examines the internal process of grain transport to the sensor by monitoring the flow of strategically coloured grain. The flow is shown to be significantly influenced by mixing induced by threshing and auger transport processes. In contrast to the common assumption that grain moves as a spatially related cohort through to the sensor, the results suggest that a diffusion process is more realistic. A parametric model for the diffusion process is provided which suggests that from each individual yield measurement a maximum 20% of the mass could be assigned to a single spatial unit of the size that is typically allocated. The results imply that for further analyses, the inconclusive spatial origin and artificially smoothed quantities of instantaneous yield measurements should be considered.  相似文献   

Constraints on neon and argon isotopic fractionation in solar wind     

Meshik A  Mabry J  Hohenberg C  Marrocchi Y  Pravdivtseva O  Burnett D  Olinger C  Wiens R  Reisenfeld D  Allton J  McNamara K  Stansbery E  Jurewicz AJ 《Science (New York, N.Y.)》2007,318(5849):433-435

To evaluate the isotopic composition of the solar nebula from which the planets formed, the relation between isotopes measured in the solar wind and on the Sun's surface needs to be known. The Genesis Discovery mission returned independent samples of three types of solar wind produced by different solar processes that provide a check on possible isotopic variations, or fractionation, between the solar-wind and solar-surface material. At a high level of precision, we observed no significant inter-regime differences in 20Ne/22Ne or 36Ar/38Ar values. For 20Ne/22Ne, the difference between low- and high-speed wind components is 0.24 +/- 0.37%; for 36Ar/38Ar, it is 0.11 +/- 0.26%. Our measured 36Ar/38Ar ratio in the solar wind of 5.501 +/- 0.005 is 3.42 +/- 0.09% higher than that of the terrestrial atmosphere, which may reflect atmospheric losses early in Earth's history.  相似文献   

The genomic sequence of the accidental pathogen Legionella pneumophila     

Chien M  Morozova I  Shi S  Sheng H  Chen J  Gomez SM  Asamani G  Hill K  Nuara J  Feder M  Rineer J  Greenberg JJ  Steshenko V  Park SH  Zhao B  Teplitskaya E  Edwards JR  Pampou S  Georghiou A  Chou IC  Iannuccilli W  Ulz ME  Kim DH  Geringer-Sameth A  Goldsberry C  Morozov P  Fischer SG  Segal G  Qu X  Rzhetsky A  Zhang P  Cayanis E  De Jong PJ  Ju J  Kalachikov S  Shuman HA  Russo JJ 《Science (New York, N.Y.)》2004,305(5692):1966-1968

We present the genomic sequence of Legionella pneumophila, the bacterial agent of Legionnaires' disease, a potentially fatal pneumonia acquired from aerosolized contaminated fresh water. The genome includes a 45-kilobase pair element that can exist in chromosomal and episomal forms, selective expansions of important gene families, genes for unexpected metabolic pathways, and previously unknown candidate virulence determinants. We highlight the genes that may account for Legionella's ability to survive in protozoa, mammalian macrophages, and inhospitable environmental niches and that may define new therapeutic targets.  相似文献   

Bottom-feeding plesiosaurs     

McHenry CR  Cook AG  Wroe S 《Science (New York, N.Y.)》2005,310(5745):75

Elasmosaurid plesiosaurs were an important part of Cretaceous marine reptile communities and are generally considered to have been predators of small, agile, free-swimming fish and cephalopods. Two elasmosaurid specimens from Aptian and Albian deposits in Queensland, Australia, include fossilized gut contents dominated by benthic invertebrates: bivalves, gastropods, and crustaceans. Both specimens also contained large numbers of gastroliths (stomach stones). These finds point to a wider niche than has previously been supposed for these seemingly specialized predators and may also influence long-running controversy over the question of gastrolith function in plesiosaurs.  相似文献   

Isotopic evidence for massive oxidation of organic matter following the great oxidation event     

Kump LR  Junium C  Arthur MA  Brasier A  Fallick A  Melezhik V  Lepland A  Crne AE  Luo G 《Science (New York, N.Y.)》2011,334(6063):1694-1696

The stable isotope record of marine carbon indicates that the Proterozoic Eon began and ended with extreme fluctuations in the carbon cycle. In both the Paleoproterozoic [2500 to 1600 million years ago (Ma)] and Neoproterozoic (1000 to 542 Ma), extended intervals of anomalously high carbon isotope ratios (δ(13)C) indicate high rates of organic matter burial and release of oxygen to the atmosphere; in the Neoproterozoic, the high δ(13)C interval was punctuated by abrupt swings to low δ(13)C, indicating massive oxidation of organic matter. We report a Paleoproterozoic negative δ(13)C excursion that is similar in magnitude and apparent duration to the Neoproterozoic anomaly. This Shunga-Francevillian anomaly may reflect intense oxidative weathering of rocks as the result of the initial establishment of an oxygen-rich atmosphere.  相似文献   

Fluorescence detection of aluminum in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal structures and glomalin using confocal laser scanning microscopy     

Paula Aguilera  Fernando Borie  Alex Seguel  Pablo Cornejo 《Soil biology & biochemistry》2011,43(12):2427-2431

Arbuscular mycorrhizal spores and glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) isolated from acid soils were analyzed using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) for Al detection. Mycorrhizal structures of Glomus intraradices produced under in vitro conditions as well as spores and GRSP from neutral and Cu-polluted soils were used as contrasting criteria. Spores and GRSP from soils with 7 and 70% Al saturation showed autofluorescence which increased especially at the highest soil Al level and when Al³⁺ solution was added. G.intraradices spores showed fluorescence only when exogenous Al³⁺ was added. On the contrary, spores and GRSP from neutral and Cu-polluted soils showed little or no significant fluorescence. This fluorescence shown by fungal structures and GRSP when subjected to high Al (of endogenous or exogenous origin) suggest a high capacity for Al immobilization, which could be an effective way to reduce Al activity and phytotoxicity in acid soils.  相似文献   

Mycobacterial disease in a population of 339 cats in Great Britain: II. Histopathology of 225 cases, and treatment and outcome of 184 cases     

Gunn-Moore DA  McFarland SE  Schock A  Brewer JI  Crawshaw TR  Clifton-Hadley RS  Shaw DJ 《Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery》2011,13(12):945-952

This study investigated 339 cases of feline mycobacterial infection, with histopathology findings from 225 cases, and treatment and outcome information from 184 cases. Tissue samples from cats with cutaneous lesions or suspicious masses at exploratory laparotomy were submitted to the Veterinary Laboratories Agency for mycobacterial culture over a 4-year period to December 2008. The study reviewed the files for information about histopathology, treatment and outcome, and blindly reviewed histopathological changes (including staining for acid-fast bacteria [AFB]) in a sub-set of 45 cases. When a cat is suspected of having a mycobacterial infection, accurate identification of the species involved helps to determine possible treatment options and prognosis. The study confirmed that histopathology and the presence of AFB are useful tools in the recognition of mycobacterial infection. Unfortunately, they did little to help determine the species of mycobacteria involved. The study identified a group of cats that were negative for AFB at the primary laboratory, but from which mycobacteria could be cultured; commonly Mycobacterium bovis or Mycobacterium microti. The study also identified a group of cats which where culture negative, despite typical signs of mycobacterial infection and positive AFB staining. Many cases responded favourably to treatment (56% of the cases where information was available), and many cats gained complete remission (42%). However, relapses were common (64%) and often followed by pulmonary and/or systemic spread that may have resulted from treatment with short courses of single drugs. This study shows that the diagnosis and treatment of feline mycobacteriosis is complex and challenging.  相似文献   

Status and distribution of the Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus on the Cabo Blanco peninsula (Western Sahara-Mauritania) in 1993–1994     

Luis M. González  Alex Aguilar  Luis F. López-Jurado  Esteve Grau 《Biological conservation》1997,80(3):225-233

The current geographical distribution of the Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus colony inhabiting the Cabo Blanco peninsula (Western Sahara-Mauritania) is described. Its distribution range has apparently not changed since surveys conducted in 1984–1988. Sightings of adults on the Tarf el Guerguerat coast, 20 km north of the known breeding caves, suggests the existence of other possible breeding groups further north. Two caves used by the seals are described for the first time. A review of historical trends in cave occupation by seals made it possible (1) to locate the so-called ‘maternity cave’, last reported in 1949; and (2) to establish that the colony, since its discovery, has occupied at least eight caves, five of which have collapsed. An index of population size based on counts of individuals of identified morphological types indicates that, during 1993–1994, the colony was composed of c.113–165 individuals (excluding pups), a larger number than previously assumed. Counting of seals at times of maximum haul-out is proposed as a tool to monitor population trends, although it is considered unreliable for estimating absolute numbers.  相似文献   

Federation equestre internationale—medication control     

Alex Atock MRCVS 《Journal of Equine Veterinary Science》1992,12(5)

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