The influence of bank strength on channel geometry: an integrated analysis of some observations

Bank strength exerts a significant influence on river channel geometry, but quantification of this relationship has been limited to only a few specific circumstances. This is due to both the complex nature of bank strength and the difficulty in incorporating its influence in river channel geometry relations. In order to undertake an integrated analysis of wide-ranging field observations, this study applies a recently developed multivariate model of channel geometry. When the banks of a number of laterally stable streams are categorized on the basis of the bank sediment and vegetation, the multivariate model yields numerical indices of bank strength. Within the range of the data analysed, bank strength can produce a three-fold change in channel width and a two-fold change in depth corresponding to about a 1·6-fold change in cross-sectional area. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Perturbation of gene expression and steroidogenesis with in vitro exposure of fathead minnow ovaries to ketoconazole

Ketoconazole is a fungicidal drug that inhibits function of cytochrome P450s in the synthesis of steroids. To examine if inhibition of P450 function affects gene expression in a dynamic manner, we conducted in vitro exposures of ovary tissue from fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) to 0.5 microM ketoconazole to investigate effects on steroid production and gene expression over time. Expression of four key steroidogenesis genes was examined at 1, 6, and 12h of exposure. 11 beta- and 20 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases were down regulated at 1h and Cytochrome P450 17 was down-regulated at 12h, consistent with the absence of steroid production. In contrast, cytochrome P450 19A was up-regulated at 6h, indicating feedback regulation. Microarray analysis of 12h exposures indicated enrichment of biological processes involved in neurotransmitter secretion, lymphocyte cell activation, sodium ion transport, and embryonic development. These data suggest that, with the exception of cytochrome P450 19A, these steroid metabolic genes are regulated in a feed forward manner and that the effects of ketoconazole may be broader than anticipated based on the mechanism of action alone.     

The effect of the equatorially symmetric zonal winds of Saturn on its gravitational field

The penetration depth of Saturn’s cloud-level winds into its interior is unknown.A possible way of estimating the depth is through measurement of the effect of the winds on the planet’s gravitational field.We use a self-consistent perturbation approach to study how the equatorially symmetric zonal winds of Saturn contribute to its gravitational field.An important advantage of this approach is that the variation of its gravitational field solely caused by the winds can be isolated and identified because the leading-order problem accounts exactly for rotational distortion,thereby determining the irregular shape and internal structure of the hydrostatic Saturn.We assume that(i)the zonal winds are maintained by thermal convection in the form of non-axisymmetric columnar rolls and(ii)the internal structure of the winds,because of the Taylor-Proundman theorem,can be uniquely determined by the observed cloud-level winds.We calculate both the variation △J_n,n=2,4,6...of the axisymmetric gravitational coefficients J_n caused by the zonal winds and the non-axisymmetric gravitational coefficients △J_(nm) produced by the columnar rolls,where m is the azimuthal wavenumber of the rolls.We consider three different cases characterized by the penetration depth 0.36 R_S,0.2 R_S and 0.1 R_S,where R_S is the equatorial radius of Saturn at the 1-bar pressure level.We find that the high-degree gravitational coefficient ( J_(12)+△J_(12)) is dominated,in all the three cases,by the effect of the zonal flow with |△J_(12)/J_(12)|100%and that the size of the non-axisymmetric coefficientsdirectly reflects the depth and scale of the flow taking place in the Saturnian interior.