Basement structure of the northern Ontong Java Plateau

Site surveys conducted in conjunction with Leg 130 on the Ontong Java Plateau reveal a strong seismic reflector at 0.8 to 1.0 s below the seafloor that drilling at Sites 803 and 807 confirmed is Cretaceous basalt. This reflector is generally smooth, except for the northeastern margin of the plateau, where it forms a series of small, irregularly shaped depressions. Correlatable reflectors present at the bottom of the depressions are also present on the adjacent highs, suggesting that these depressions are original volcanic topography. A strong sub-basalt reflector occurs on many seismic profiles on the northeastern portion of the plateau. This reflection may be caused by a density and velocity contrast between pillow lavas and flood basalt flows or it may result from interbedded sediment and thus may represent significant lulls in volcanic activity. The presence of sub-basalt reflectors near Site 803 may indicate that later volcanic episodes occurred there, in contrast to Site 807, where this reflector was not observed and where older basalt ages were obtained

Seismic stratigraphy of the Ontong Java Plateau

The Ontong Java Plateau, a large, deep-water carbonate plateau in the western equatorial Pacific, is an ideal location for studying responses of carbonate sedimentation to the effects of changing paleoceanographic conditions. These carbonate responses are often reflected in the physical properties of the sediment, which in turn control the appearance of seismic reflection profiles. Seismic stratigraphy analyses, correlating eight reflector horizons to each drill site, have been conducted in an attempt to map stratigraphic data. Accurate correlation of seismic stratigraphic data to drilling results requires conversion of traveltime to depth in meters. Synthetic seismogram models, using shipboard physical properties data, have been generated in an attempt to provide this correlation. Physical properties, including laboratory-measured and well-log data, were collected from sites drilled during Deep Sea Drilling Project Legs 30 and 89, and Ocean Drilling Program Leg 130, on the top and flank of the Ontong Java Plateau. Laboratory-measured density is corrected to in-situ conditions by accounting for porosity rebound resulting from removal of the sediment from its overburden. The correction of laboratory-measured compressional velocity to in situ appears to be largely a function of increases in elastic moduli (especially shear rigidity) with depth of burial, more than a function of changes in temperature, pressure, or density (porosity rebound). Well-log velocity and density data for the ooze intervals were found to be greatly affected by drilling disturbance; hence, they were disregarded and replaced by lab data for these intervals. Velocity and density data were used to produce synthetic seismograms. Correlation of seismic reflection data with synthetic data, and hence with depth below seafloor, at each drill site shows that a single velocity-depth function exists for sediments on the top and flank of the Ontong Java Plateau. A polynomial fit of this function provides an equation for domain conversion: Depth (mbsf) = 44.49 + 0.800(traveltime[ms]) + 3.308 × 10 4 (traveltime[ms]2 ) Traveltime (ms) = -35.18 + 1.118(depth[mbsf]) - 1.969 × KT* (depth[mbsf]2 ) Seismic reflection profiles down the flank of the plateau undergo three significant changes: (1) a drastic thinning of the sediment column with depth, (2) changes in the echo-character of the profile (development of seismic facies), and (3) loss of continuous, coherent reflections. Sediments on the plateau top were largely deposited by pelagic processes, with little significant postdepositional or syndepositional modification. Sediments on the flank of the plateau are also pelagic, but they have been modified by faulting, erosion, and mass movement. These processes result in disrupted and incoherent reflectors, development of seismic facies, and redistribution of sediment on the flank of the plateau. Seismic stratigraphic analyses have shown that the sediment section decreases in thickness by as much as 65% between water depths of 2000 m water depth (at the top of the plateau) and 4000 m (near the base of the plateau). Thinning is attributed to increasing carbonate dissolution with depth. If this assumption is correct, then changes in the relative thicknesses of seismostratigraphic units at each drill site are indicative of changes in the position of the lysocline and the dissolution gradient between the lysocline and the carbonate compensation depth. We think that a shallow lysocline in the early Miocene caused sediment thinning. A deepening of the lysocline in the late-early Miocene caused relative thickening at each site. Within the middle Miocene, a sharp rise in lysoclinal depth occurs, concurrent with a steepening of the dissolution gradient. These events result in sediment thinning at all four sites. The thicker sections in the late Miocene likely correspond to a deepening of the lysocline, and a subsequent rise in the lysocline again hinders accumulation of sediment in the very late Miocene and Pliocene

Electrochemically synthesized polymers in molecular imprinting for chemical sensing

This critical review describes a class of polymers prepared by electrochemical polymerization that employs the concept of molecular imprinting for chemical sensing. The principal focus is on both conducting and nonconducting polymers prepared by electropolymerization of electroactive functional monomers, such as pristine and derivatized pyrrole, aminophenylboronic acid, thiophene, porphyrin, aniline, phenylenediamine, phenol, and thiophenol. A critical evaluation of the literature on electrosynthesized molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) applied as recognition elements of chemical sensors is presented. The aim of this review is to highlight recent achievements in analytical applications of these MIPs, including present strategies of determination of different analytes as well as identification and solutions for problems encountered

The Genome Sequence of the Leaf-Cutter Ant Atta cephalotes Reveals Insights into Its Obligate Symbiotic Lifestyle

Leaf-cutter ants are one of the most important herbivorous insects in the Neotropics, harvesting vast quantities of fresh leaf material. The ants use leaves to cultivate a fungus that serves as the colony's primary food source. This obligate ant-fungus mutualism is one of the few occurrences of farming by non-humans and likely facilitated the formation of their massive colonies. Mature leaf-cutter ant colonies contain millions of workers ranging in size from small garden tenders to large soldiers, resulting in one of the most complex polymorphic caste systems within ants. To begin uncovering the genomic underpinnings of this system, we sequenced the genome of Atta cephalotes using 454 pyrosequencing. One prediction from this ant's lifestyle is that it has undergone genetic modifications that reflect its obligate dependence on the fungus for nutrients. Analysis of this genome sequence is consistent with this hypothesis, as we find evidence for reductions in genes related to nutrient acquisition. These include extensive reductions in serine proteases (which are likely unnecessary because proteolysis is not a primary mechanism used to process nutrients obtained from the fungus), a loss of genes involved in arginine biosynthesis (suggesting that this amino acid is obtained from the fungus), and the absence of a hexamerin (which sequesters amino acids during larval development in other insects). Following recent reports of genome sequences from other insects that engage in symbioses with beneficial microbes, the A. cephalotes genome provides new insights into the symbiotic lifestyle of this ant and advances our understanding of host–microbe symbioses

A SeaMARC II Survey of Recent Submarine Volcanism near Easter Island

SeaMARC II side-scan sonar data reveal that a large area of seafloor north and west of Easter Island has been disrupted by recent submarine volcanism. A large volcanic area begins approximately 60 km WNW of the island and extends for over 130 km to the west. The volcanic field is characterized by high backscatter intensity in the side-scan sonar records and is elevated 400–1000 m above the N-S seafloor fabric that surrounds it. This field, the Abu Volcanic Field, covers at least 2500 km2 and appears to consist of recent lava flows and small volcanoes. Backscatter intensity of the Abu Volcanic Field is similar to that of the adjacent ridge flank which is less than 0.4 Ma, suggesting a similar age for its formation. Two additional areas of high backscatter immediately north of Easter Island cover a combined area of over 300 km2. The sidescan sonar records show that these features are clearly of volcanic origin and are not debris flows from the nearby island. The flows are nearly 300 m thick and are morphologically similar to subaerial pahoehoe lava shields. Their high backscatter indicates that they are also the products of relatively recent submarine volcanic activity. The presence of these large areas of recent volcanism in the vicinity of Easter Island has important implications for the various models that have been proposed to explain the origin of the Easter Seamount Chain. In addition, the similar ages of Easter Island and the Easter Microplate suggest that the presence of a hotspot near or beneath this fast-spreading portion of the East Pacific Rise about 4.5 m.y. ago may have initiated the large-scale rift propagation that created the microplate

Patients with Chromosome 11q Deletions Are Characterized by Inborn Errors of Immunity Involving both B and T Lymphocytes

Disorders of the long arm of chromosome 11 (11q) are rare and involve various chromosomal regions. Patients with 11q disorders, including Jacobsen syndrome, often present with a susceptibility for bacterial and prolonged viral and fungal infections partially explained by hypogammaglobulinemia. Additional T lymphocyte or granular neutrophil dysfunction may also be present. In order to evaluate infectious burden and immunological function in patients with 11q disorders, we studied a cohort of 14 patients with 11q deletions and duplications. Clinically, 12 patients exhibited prolonged and repetitive respiratory tract infections, frequently requiring (prophylactic) antibiotic treatment (n = 7), ear-tube placement (n = 9), or use of inhalers (n = 5). Complicated varicella infections (n = 5), chronic eczema (n = 6), warts (n = 2), and chronic fungal infections (n = 4) were reported. Six patients were on immunoglobulin replacement therapy. We observed a high prevalence of low B lymphocyte counts (n = 8), decreased T lymphocyte counts (n = 5) and abnormal T lymphocyte function (n = 12). Granulocyte function was abnormal in 29% without a clinical phenotype. Immunodeficiency was found in patients with terminal and interstitial 11q deletions and in one patient with terminal 11q duplication. Genetically, FLI1 and ETS1 are seen as causative for the immunodeficiency, but these genes were deleted nor duplicated in 4 of our 14 patients. Alternative candidate genes on 11q may have a role in immune dysregulation. In conclusion, we present evidence that inborn errors of immunity are present in patients with 11q disorders leading to clinically relevant infections. Therefore, broad immunological screening and necessary treatment is of importance in this patient group

Draft genome of the red harvester ant \u3ci\u3ePogonomyrmex barbatus\u3c/i\u3e

We report the draft genome sequence of the red harvester ant, Pogonomyrmex barbatus. The genome was sequenced using 454 pyrosequencing, and the current assembly and annotation were completed in less than 1 y. Analyses of conserved gene groups (more than 1,200 manually annotated genes to date) suggest a high-quality assembly and annotation comparable to recently sequenced insect genomes using Sanger sequencing. The red harvester ant is a model for studying reproductive division of labor, phenotypic plasticity, and sociogenomics. Although the genome of P. barbatus is similar to other sequenced hymenopterans (Apis mellifera and Nasonia vitripennis) in GC content and compositional organization, and possesses a complete CpG methylation toolkit, its predicted genomic CpG content differs markedly from the other hymenopterans. Gene networks involved in generating key differences betweenthe queenandworker castes (e.g.,wingsandovaries) show signatures of increased methylation and suggest that ants and bees may have independently co-opted the same gene regulatory mechanisms for reproductive division of labor. Gene family expansions (e.g., 344 functional odorant receptors) and pseudogene accumulation in chemoreception and P450 genes compared with A. mellifera and N. vitripennis are consistent with major life-history changes during the adaptive radiation of Pogonomyrmex spp., perhaps inparallel with the development of the North American deserts

Adsorption of CO on amorphous water-ice surfaces

We present the results of classical trajectory calculations of the adsorption of thermal CO on the surface of compact amorphous water ice, with a view to understanding the processes governing the growth and destruction of icy mantles on dust grains in the interstellar medium and interpreting solid CO infrared spectra. The calculations are performed at normal incidence, for E-i = 0.01 eV (116 K) and surface temperature T-s = 90 K. The calculations predict high adsorption probabilities (similar to1), with the adsorbed CO molecules having potential energies ranging from -0.15 to -0.04 eV with an average energy of -0.094 eV. In all the adsorbing trajectories, CO sits on top of the surface. No case of CO diffusion inside the ice or into a surface valley with restricted access was seen. Geometry minimizations suggest that the maximum potential energy of adsorbed CO (-0.155 eV) occurs when CO interacts with a "dangling OH" group, associated with the 2152 cm(-1) band seen in laboratory solid-state CO spectra. We show that relatively few "dangling OH" groups are present on the amorphous ice surface, potentially explaining the absence of this feature in astronomical spectra. CO also interacts with "bonded OH" groups, which we associate with the 2139 cm(-1) infrared feature of solid CO. Our results for CO adsorption on amorphous ice are compared with those previously obtained for CO adsorption to crystalline ice. The implications of the spectroscopic assignments are discussed in terms of the solid-CO infrared spectra observed in interstellar regions. Using the Frenkel model, the lifetime tau for which CO may remain adsorbed at the surface is calculated. At temperatures relevant to the interstellar medium, i.e. 10 K, it is longer than the age of the universe, but decreases dramatically with increasing T-s, such that at T-s = 90 K, tau = 300 ns. The pre-exponential factor tau(nu) used in the Frenkel model is found to be 0.95 +/- 0.02 ps. These data are compared to recent experimental results. The astrophysical implications of these calculations are discussed, with particular reference to the CO binding sites identified on amorphous ice surfaces, their adsorption energies, probabilities and lifetimes