Circulation of Surface Waters in Parts of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago Based on Foraminiferal Evidence

The distribution of planktonic foraminifera, collected 27 May-15 July 1968 from sea ice in McClure Strait, indicates a slow net eastward movement of water from the Arctic Ocean through the strait in the past with increased rates at present. The bottom topography, regional climatology and oceanography of the area are discussed.La circulation des eaux de surface dans certains parties de l'archipel arctique canadien, d'après l'étrude des foraminifères. Dans la zone du plateau, d'une profondeur moyenne de 400 mètres, à l'Ouest d'une ligne tirée entre le cap de M'Clure et le cap de Meecham, les foraminifères planctoniques sont présents à la fois dans les sédiments du fond et dans les eaux de surface; mais à l'Est de cette ligne, dans le détroit de M'Clure proprement dit, on ne les trouve que dans les eaux de surface. Cet indice suggère, pour le passé, un mouvement net des eaux de l'océan ver l'Est, à travers le détroit de M'Clure, avec des taux accrus dans le présent

Late Quaternary Paleoceanography and Sedimentary Environments in Hudson Strait

Airgun and high resolution Huntec seismic reflection profiles are interpreted to show up to 130 m of glacial, glaciomarine and postglacial sediments overlying bedrock. In a basin at the eastern entrance to Hudson Strait most of the surficial sediment was deposited during the last déglaciation, but in western Hudson Strait multiple till sequences from previous glaciations are recognized. Five acoustic units were identified, at least three of which were penetrated with piston cores. Foraminifera of the stratigraphically deepest core in the eastern basin indicate a proximal glaciomarine environment and a likely presence of an ice shelf. A 14C date of 8060 ± 70 yBP (TO 750) on molluscan shells gives a minimum age for the top of the acoustically laminated distal glaciomarine sediments. The early postglacial foraminifera suggest a period of increased influence of offshore bottom waters restricted to the deep eastern basin. The surface sediments of all cores contain species indigenous of colder and fresher inshore waters of the present time. The ratio of 18CV16O in the benthic foraminifer Cibicides lobatulus is herein related to bottom salinity. Downcore measurements of 8'8O on C. lobatulus tests indicate bottom paleosalinities lower by about 0.5%o shortly before the dated horizon of 8000 yBP. By this time Hudson Strait was sufficiently clear of glacial ice for establishment of the present tidal regime. The lower bottom salinities indicate that tidal mixing took place between glacial meltwater leaving Hudson Bay and the offshore counterflow. This process is thought to have reduced the sharpness of the salinity difference between the offshore water and the surface plume of Laurentide meltwater as it entered the ocean.L'utilisation d'un fusil à air comprimé et d'un dispositif explosif Huntec en sismique réflexion a permis d'obtenir des profils à haute résolution révélant que des sédiments glaciaires, glaciomarins et postglaciaires d'une épaisseur de 130 m surmontent la roche en place. Un bassin, à l'entrée est du détroit d'Hudson, renferme des sédiments de surface qui, pour la plupart, se sont déposés au cours de la dernière glaciation. On a relevé cinq unités acoustiques dont au moins trois ont été explorées par carottage. Les foraminifères de la carotte extraite, dans le bassin est, à la plus grande profondeur révèlent qu'existaient un milieu glaciomarin proximal et, vraisemblablement, une plate-forme de glace flottante. La datation au 14C fait remonter à 8060 ± 70 BP (TO 750) les coquilles de mollusques et confère ainsi un âge minimal à la portion supérieure des sédiments glaciomarins distaux, laminés par acoustique. Les foraminifères du début de la période postglaciaire laissent croire que les eaux profondes du large ont pendant un certain temps exercé une influence accrue sur les fonds du bassin de l'est. Dans toutes les carottes, les sédiments de surface renferment des espèces indigènes au milieu aquatique actuel, plus froid et moins salé. Le taux 18OZ16O trouvé chez le foraminifère benthique Cibicides lobatulus se rapporte ici à la salinité des fonds aquatiques. Plus bas, dans les carottes, on a relevé sur C. lobatulus un taux de 818O qui révèle une paléosalinité plus faible d'environ 0,5%o, précédant tout juste l'horizon daté à 8000 BP. À cette époque, le détroit d'Hudson était suffisamment libre de glace pour que s'établissent les marées telles qu'on les connaît actuellement. Plus bas encore, la salinité révèle que les eaux de fusion glaciaire provenant de la baie d'Hudson se sont mêlées aux contre-courants venus du large.Mit Hilfe eines Luftgewehrs und einer Huntec Explosionsanlage mit seismischer Reflexion gewonnene Profile mit hoher Auflôsung lassen bis zu 130 m glazialer, glaziomariner und postglazialer Sedimente erkennen, die den FeIs ùberlagern, In einem Bassin am ôstlichen Eingang zur Hudson-Meerenge ist der grôsste Teil der Oberflàchensedimente wâhrend der letzten Vereisung abgelagert worden, aber in der westlichen Hudson-Meerenge lassen sich vielfache Grundmorànen-Sequenzen von frùheren Vereisungen erkennen. Fùnf akustische Einheiten wurden identifiziert, von denen mindestens drei durch Kernbohrung ergrûndet wurden. Die Foraminifera des stratigraphisch tiefsten Kerns im ôstlichen Bassin weisen auf eine proximale glaziomarine Umwelt und die môgliche Existenz einer Eisdecke. Eine 14C Datierung von 8060 ± 70 Jahren v.u.Z. (bis 750) fur Molluskenschalen ergibt ein Minimalalter fur den oberen Teil der distalen glaziomarinen Sedimente, die durch Akustik eine blàttrige Struktur bekommen haben. Die frùhen postglazialen Foraminifera lassen auf eine Période wachsenden Einflusses des kùstenfernen Tiefwassers auf das tiefe ôstliche Bassin schliessen. Die Oberflàchensedimente aller Bohrkerne enthalten Gattungen, die spezifisch fur die kàlteren und frischeren Kùstengewàsser der gegenwârtigen Zeit sind. Der Anteil an 18OZ16O in dem benthischen Foraminifer Cibicides lobatulus ist hierin mit dem Salzgehalt auf dem Grund verbunden. Tiefer im Bohrkern hat man auf C. lobatulus Werte von 818O gefunden, was einen um etwa 0.5% geringeren Grund-Palàosalzgehalt ergibt, kurz vor dem auf 8000 Jahre v.u.Z. datierten Horizont. Zu diesem Zeitpunkt war die Hudson-Meerenge von glazialem Eis ausreichend befreit, so dass sich der gegenwârtige Gezeiten-Wechsel etablieren konnte

A robust measure of correlation between two genes on a microarray

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The underlying goal of microarray experiments is to identify gene expression patterns across different experimental conditions. Genes that are contained in a particular pathway or that respond similarly to experimental conditions could be co-expressed and show similar patterns of expression on a microarray. Using any of a variety of clustering methods or gene network analyses we can partition genes of interest into groups, clusters, or modules based on measures of similarity. Typically, Pearson correlation is used to measure distance (or similarity) before implementing a clustering algorithm. Pearson correlation is quite susceptible to outliers, however, an unfortunate characteristic when dealing with microarray data (well known to be typically quite noisy.)</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We propose a resistant similarity metric based on Tukey's biweight estimate of multivariate scale and location. The resistant metric is simply the correlation obtained from a resistant covariance matrix of scale. We give results which demonstrate that our correlation metric is much more resistant than the Pearson correlation while being more efficient than other nonparametric measures of correlation (e.g., Spearman correlation.) Additionally, our method gives a systematic gene flagging procedure which is useful when dealing with large amounts of noisy data.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>When dealing with microarray data, which are known to be quite noisy, robust methods should be used. Specifically, robust distances, including the biweight correlation, should be used in clustering and gene network analysis.</p

Mitochondrial physiology

As the knowledge base and importance of mitochondrial physiology to evolution, health and disease expands, the necessity for harmonizing the terminology concerning mitochondrial respiratory states and rates has become increasingly apparent. The chemiosmotic theory establishes the mechanism of energy transformation and coupling in oxidative phosphorylation. The unifying concept of the protonmotive force provides the framework for developing a consistent theoretical foundation of mitochondrial physiology and bioenergetics. We follow the latest SI guidelines and those of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) on terminology in physical chemistry, extended by considerations of open systems and thermodynamics of irreversible processes. The concept-driven constructive terminology incorporates the meaning of each quantity and aligns concepts and symbols with the nomenclature of classical bioenergetics. We endeavour to provide a balanced view of mitochondrial respiratory control and a critical discussion on reporting data of mitochondrial respiration in terms of metabolic flows and fluxes. Uniform standards for evaluation of respiratory states and rates will ultimately contribute to reproducibility between laboratories and thus support the development of data repositories of mitochondrial respiratory function in species, tissues, and cells. Clarity of concept and consistency of nomenclature facilitate effective transdisciplinary communication, education, and ultimately further discovery

Mitochondrial physiology

As the knowledge base and importance of mitochondrial physiology to evolution, health and disease expands, the necessity for harmonizing the terminology concerning mitochondrial respiratory states and rates has become increasingly apparent. The chemiosmotic theory establishes the mechanism of energy transformation and coupling in oxidative phosphorylation. The unifying concept of the protonmotive force provides the framework for developing a consistent theoretical foundation of mitochondrial physiology and bioenergetics. We follow the latest SI guidelines and those of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) on terminology in physical chemistry, extended by considerations of open systems and thermodynamics of irreversible processes. The concept-driven constructive terminology incorporates the meaning of each quantity and aligns concepts and symbols with the nomenclature of classical bioenergetics. We endeavour to provide a balanced view of mitochondrial respiratory control and a critical discussion on reporting data of mitochondrial respiration in terms of metabolic flows and fluxes. Uniform standards for evaluation of respiratory states and rates will ultimately contribute to reproducibility between laboratories and thus support the development of data repositories of mitochondrial respiratory function in species, tissues, and cells. Clarity of concept and consistency of nomenclature facilitate effective transdisciplinary communication, education, and ultimately further discovery