Multidrug resistance in the embryos and larvae of the mussel Mytilus edulis.

Cells exhibiting the multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype demonstrate a decreased intracellular drug accumulation due to an active outward transport and decreased intracellular flux. This study demonstrates the inhibition of MDR in mussel (Mytilus edulis) embryos and larvae based on a simple bioassay. The development of embryos was assessed and abnormalities identified at key stages of development, including gastrulation, trochophore and prodissoconch stages. The incidence of developmental abnormalities was significantly increased in the presence of vinblastine, MMS, chloroquine, mitomycin-C, cadmium chloride and colchicine, compared to clean seawater. Consistently, there was a further increase in the number and severity of deformities observed when each toxin was added in the presence of verapamil. Larval growth was also significantly impaired in the presence of verapamil. Increased accumulation of fluorescent MDR dyes, such as rhodamine B, has been measured and shown to be verapamil sensitive. This bioassay encompasses a period of intense cellular activity during which the impairment of a number of critical processes results in abnormal growth and development.     

Importance of seismic design accidental torsion requirements for building collapse capacity

Seismic ground motions induce torsional responses in buildings that can be difficult to predict. To compensate for this, most modern building codes require the consideration of accidental torsion when computing design earthquake forces. This study evaluates the influence of ASCE/SEI 7 accidental torsion seismic design requirements on the performance of 230 archetypical buildings that are designed with and without accidental torsion design provisions, taking building collapse capacity as the performance metric. The test case archetypes include a broad range of heights, gravity load levels, and plan configurations. Results show that the ASCE/SEI 7 accidental torsion provisions lead to significant changes in collapse capacity for buildings that are very torsionally flexible or asymmetric. However, only inconsequential changes in collapse capacity are observed in the buildings that are both torsionally stiff and regular in plan. Therefore, the study concludes that accidental torsion provisions are not necessary for seismic design of buildings without excessive torsional flexibility or asymmetry. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A multidimensional scaling approach to enforce reproduction of transition probabilities in truncated plurigaussian simulation

Truncated plurigaussian (TPG) simulation is a flexible method for simulating rock types in deposits with complicated ordering structures. The truncation of a multivariate Gaussian distribution controls the proportions and ordering of rock types in the simulation while the variogram for each Gaussian variable controls rock type continuity. The determination of a truncation procedure for complicated geological environments is not trivial. A method for determining the truncation and fitting variograms applicable to any number of rock types and multivariate Gaussian distribution is developed here to address this problem. Multidimensional scaling is applied to place dissimilar categories far apart and similar categories close together. The multivariate space is then mapped using a Voronoi decomposition and rotated to optimize variogram reproduction. A case study simulating geologic layers at a large mineral deposit demonstrates the potential of this method and compares the results with sequential indicator simulation (SIS). Input proportion and transition probability reproduction with TPG is demonstrated to be better than SIS. Variogram reproduction is comparable for both techniques.     

The evolution of adiabatic density perturbations

The evolution of adiabatic perturbations has been studied in Friedmann-Lemaître universes containing a mixture of non-interacting matter and radiation. The differential equation governing the growth of infinitely long adiabatic fluctuations has been derived. In the case of the Einstein-de Sitter universe, an exact solution is given to this differential equation.     

The Nimbus-4 Backscatter Ultraviolet (BUV) atmospheric ozone experiment — tow years' operation

Summary In April 1970 the Backscatter Ultraviolet (BUV) experiment was placed into orbit aboard the Nimbus-4 satellite. This double monochromator experiment measures ultraviolet terrestrial radiance at twelve discrete wavelengths between 2550 Å and 3400 Å. Approximately 100 scans covering a 230 km square are made between terminator crossings on the daylight side of the earth. A colinear photometer channel with the same field of view is used to derive the Lambert reflectivity of the lower boundary of the scattering atmosphere. The extraterrestrial solar irradiance is measured at the northern terminator. The instrument has currently produced almost three years of nearly continuous data which are being used to infer the high-level ozone distribution and total ozone on a global basis. The high-level ozone data have been verified by independent coincident rocket ozone soundings, and the total ozone values show good agreement with Dobson spectrophotometer determinations as well as those made with the Infrared Interferometer Spectrometer also on Nimbus-4. An increase has been observed in equatorial radiance at 2550 Å relative to 2900 Å, which seems to indicate that the amount of ozone in the upper stratosphere is related to the eleven-year solar cycle.     

Holocene landscape evolution and geoarcheology of low-order streams in the Rio Grande basin,San Juan Mountains,Colorado, USA

This geoarcheological study investigates soil stratigraphy and geochronology of alluvial deposits to determine Holocene landscape evolution within the Hot Creek, La Jara Creek, and Alamosa River drainage basins in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. Geomorphic mapping and radiocarbon dating indicate synchronicity in patterns of erosion, deposition, and stability between drainage basins. In all three basins, the maximum age of mapped alluvial terraces and fans is ~ 3300 cal yr BP. A depositional period seen at both Hot Creek and the Alamosa River begins ~ 3300 to 3200 cal yr BP. Based on soil development, short periods of stability followed by alluvial fan aggradation occur in the Alamosa River basin ~ 2200 cal yr BP. A period of landscape stability at Hot Creek before ~ 1100 cal yr BP is followed by a period of rapid aggradation within all three drainages between ~ 1100 and 850 cal yr BP. A final aggradation event occurred between ~ 630 and 520 cal yr BP at La Jara Creek. These patterns of landscape evolution over the past ~ 3300 yr provide the framework for an archeological model that predicts the potential for buried and surficial cultural materials in the research area.