A search for propylene oxide and glycine in Sagittarius B2 (LMH) and Orion

We have used the Mopra Telescope to search for glycine and the simple chiral molecule propylene oxide in the Sgr B2 (LMH) and Orion KL, in the 3-mm band. We have not detected either species, but have been able to put sensitive upper limits on the abundances of both molecules. The 3σ upper limits derived for glycine conformer I are  3.7 × 10¹⁴ cm⁻²  in both Orion-KL and Sgr B2 (LMH), comparable to the reported detections of conformer I by Kuan et al. However, as our values are 3σ upper limits rather than detections we conclude that this weighs against confirming the detection of Kuan et al. We find upper limits for the glycine II column density of  7.7 × 10¹² cm⁻²  in both Orion-KL and Sgr B2 (LMH), in agreement with the results of Combes et al. The results presented here show that glycine conformer II is not present in the extended gas at the levels detected by Kuan et al. for conformer I. Our ATCA results have ruled out the detection of glycine (both conformers I and II) in the compact hot core of the LMH at the levels reported, so we conclude that it is unlikely that Kuan et al. have detected glycine in either Sgr B2 or Orion-KL. We find upper limits for propylene oxide abundance of  3.0 × 10¹⁴ cm⁻²  in Orion-KL and  6.7 × 10¹⁴ cm⁻²  in Sgr B2 (LMH). We have detected fourteen features in Sgr B2 and four features in Orion-KL which have not previously been reported in the interstellar medium, but have not been able to plausibly assign these transitions to any carrier.     

Centralization and marginalization: The Chinese banking industry in reform

Based on the distribution patterns of the sub-branches and saving outlets of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and the Bank of China in prefectural cities in China between 2001 and 2009, this paper examines how these two Chinese state-owned commercial banks may centralize their operations and thus lead to the possible marginalization of the provision of basic banking services to low value-added customers. The restructuring of SOCBs may not result in high levels of layoff due to the state’s objectives of minimizing both operational costs and political risks. When the politically sensitive issue of (un)employment is not taken into account, the more economically developed cities with larger populations and the more developed telecommunication facilities experience a higher level of centralization of their banking operations. The centralization of banking operations in China is, however, not always at the expense of savings outlets, despite the merging of savings outlets with sub-branches in various Chinese cities. There is circumstantial evidence to suggest the convergence thesis is not applicable to the banking industry in China, which is different from the conventional argument in financial geography that the centralization and marginalization of banking operations are two sides of the same coin as in the restructuring of the Anglo-American banking industries. This difference could be due to the hybrid ownership structures of state-owned commercial banks in China where the boundaries between public and private property rights are blurred.     

International trade and industrial dynamics: Geographical and structural dimensions of Chinese and Sino-EU merchandise trade

This paper draws on trade data to examine the degree of upgrading of China’s trade structure with the world as a whole and in particular with the European Union (EU). More specifically it examines the evolution of the industrial structure of China’s trade with the world and with the EU between 1996 and 2008 and of the underlying dynamic indicators of revealed comparative advantage. This method of analysing China’s industrial structure provides clear evidence of upgrading into more advanced industries without at present losing significant competitive advantage in industries employing unskilled workers. The examination of revealed comparative advantage indices for world and Sino-EU trade also indicates an increasingly high degree of interdependence between the EU and China between 1996 and 2008. The EU (especially Germany, the UK, and France) is China’s most important export market, though it is also much more important as a market for China’s exports than the EU is as a supplier for China. China’s consequent trade surplus with the EU has gradually shifted from textiles and clothing to machinery and furniture. Further investigation reveals that the complementary Sino-EU bilateral trade is moving towards intra-industry trade at the 4-digit level of HS (Harmonization System) commodity classification. Although China is still a ‘global sweatshop’ with a strong specialization in labour-intensive commodities produced for economically developed countries (by importing machinery, raw materials and exporting processed goods), there are signs of technological upgrading in number of selected sectors in China, noticeably electronics, computers and telecommunications equipment. China’s reliance of imports of minerals indicates however that energy and resource security could be an important constraint on China’s long-term economic development.     

Geo-political genetics: Claiming the commons through species mapping

Genetic techniques are increasingly employed in the field of conservation biology; our understanding of sea turtle biology, and particularly of sea turtle migrations and population structures, has increased through genetic analyses that ‘match’ turtles found in various and often widely distributed habitats (e.g. nesting beaches, foraging grounds, migratory corridors). This relatively recent technological development has implications for how sea turtles are conceived, both as resources and as objects of conservation. Traditionally, sea turtle populations have been identified with nesting beaches, and most conservation efforts have been focused on these discrete geographic locations and undertaken by the state. The more complete understanding of relationships among turtles found in geographically disparate areas, achieved via genetic analysis, can take conservation beyond the beaches and territorial waters of individual states; foraging populations can now be linked to nesting populations sometimes hundreds of kilometers distant. In this paper, we explore the implications of genetic analysis for sea turtle conservation, the scale at which it is undertaken, and the variety of actors with competing interests in it. We focus on the case of hawksbill sea turtles in the Caribbean, where genetic data are invoked in conservation conflicts. We are particularly interested in the way genetic data can support the scaling-up of sea turtle conservation, creating new ‘conservation territories,’ and we draw on political ecology and common pool resource theory to explore the implications thereof.     

Chloridzugabe bei Plankton-Test-Loten im Baldeggersee

Zusammenfassung Die vorliegende Studie gibt Aufschluss über die vertikale Verteilung von gr?sseren Salzmengen, die im Sommer in gel?ster Form ins Oberfl?chenwasser eines Sees eingebracht werden, sowie über die dabei auftretenden Milieuver?nderungen und deren Einflüsse auf das Plankton innerhalb von Test-Loten. In praktischer Beziehung sind solche Studien bei entsprechender Anpassung an die ?rtlichen Verh?ltnisse von Interesse für die Kenntnis der Ausbreitung von in Seen eingeleiteten Abw?ssern oder von Düngstoffen bei Teichdüngung, sowie für das Einbringen bestimmter Stoffe für die Bek?mpfung von Algen (Cladophora oder Planktonalgen) oder tierischen Organismen (zum Beispiel Cercarien). Weitere Versuche mit geringen Mengen von biologisch inaktiven Substanzen sind erwünscht. Ferner soll sp?ter berichtet werden über Teilchenwanderungen, bei denen eine Markierung durch radioaktive Substanzen erfolgte.     

The surface seiches of Lake of Lugano

A computational analysis of the periods and structure of surface seiches of the southern basin of Lake of Lugano and its experimental verification from three simultaneous water gauge recordings, mounted along the shores in Agno, Morcote and Riva S. Vitale, is given. The first five theoretical modes are calculated with a finite element code of the tidal equations; it yields the eigenperiods and co-range and co-tidal lines, which are graphically displayed and discussed in detail. Experimental verification is from recordings taken during February/March 1982. Inspection by eye allows identification of the five lowest order modes, partly including interstation phase shift. Power spectral analysis of three-time series and interstation phase difference and coherence spectra allow identification of higher order modes, probably up to order 13. Agreement between the theoretically predicted and the experimentally determined periods is excellent for all calculated modes. Computational results for the four lowest modes and their structure of the northern basin of Lake of Lugano are also presented and experimentally verified with records taken from an event in August 1979. Agreement is again excellent.     

Movement patterns of an endemic South African sparid,the black musselcracker Cymatoceps nasutus,determined using mark-recapture methods

This study made use of data from three long-term fish tagging projects along the South African coastline to investigate the movement behaviour of the endemic black musselcracker Cymatoceps nasutus (Sparidae). From 1984 to 2016, a total of 3 430 C. nasutus (178–980 mm fork length) were tagged (with small plastic dart tags) throughout the species’ distributional range, with an overall reported recapture rate of 7.2%. Recaptured individuals displayed high levels of residency, moving an average of 14.8 km, with time-at-liberty ranging from 0 to 6 809 days. The majority of recaptures (84.6%) were made within 1 km of the tagging sites; however, some large-scale movements, of up to 528 km, were recorded. Although C. nasutus individuals moving greater distances were characterised by greater mean sizes (mm fork length) at time of recapture, the distances moved by juveniles were not significantly different from those of adults (p > 0.05). Low levels of connectivity among coastal regions were therefore expected due to the high degree of residency displayed by this species. Combining traditional management approaches together with a well-designed network of no-take marine protected areas is likely to be the most effective way to protect this vulnerable species. A lack of data on the movements of adults remains a challenge, but this could be overcome by tracking large individuals tagged with long-life acoustic transmitters.     

Wucherungen von Cyanophyceen an den Ufern des Zürichsees und deren Ursachen

Ohne Zusammenfassung Nach einem Referat, gehalten am I. Internationalen Cyanophyceen-Symposium in Luzern, Kastanienbaum, 29.8.-3.9. 60.     

Land-use and land tenure explain spatial and temporal patterns in terrestrial net primary productivity (NPP) in Southern Africa

Net primary productivity (NPP) is an important indicator of ecosystem health and its estimation and understanding of factors determining its spatial and temporal variations is critical. It is important to note that biophysical factors and human induced factors are interlinked in determining NPP patterns. Nevertheless, it is difficult to consider some aspects of human management systems in relation to NPP variations on a global scale analysis than on a local scale analysis. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that, at the local scale, particularly in highly intensive systems, land-use/land tenure types influence NPP variations by altering the biophysical conditions of the land. We estimated NPP between 2000 and 2009 using MODIS data and used ANOVA to test the abovementioned hypotheses. Results showed that NPP significantly (p < 0.05) varied by land-use/land tenure type. We also found that biophysical factors remained essential in explaining NPP variations even at local scales. These results exhibit the intricacies that exist between the biophysical and human-induced factors in explaining NPP variations within ecological landscapes.