A relict trematosauroid (Amphibia: Temnospondyli) from the Middle Jurassic of the Junggar Basin (NW China)

A temnospondyl ilium from the uppermost Toutunhe Formation (Middle Jurassic, Callovian) of the southern Junggar Basin is described. Among the known temnospondyls it is very unusual in morphology because of its very long and slender shaft. It compares closely only to the ilium of one of the latest known trematosaurids from the Ladinian of southern Germany. The Toutunhe Formation has also yielded vertebrae and skull fragments of temnospondyls which belong to the brachyopid Gobiops from the Upper Jurassic of Mongolia. Brachyopoid ilia do not, however, display a morphology similar to that of the new specimen. It is therefore concluded that this specimen represents a second taxon of temnospondyl from the Toutunhe Formation, which probably represents the latest surviving trematosauroid. The Trematosauroidea, which was hitherto exclusively known from the Lower to early Upper Triassic, therefore joins the Brachyopoidea – and possibly the Capitosauroidea – as another group of temnospondyls which survived the end-Triassic mass extinction.     

Procedural rationality and ethical theory

This paper is based on one given by Professor Faludi at the Conference on Planning Theory at Torino, Italy in 1986. It answers criticisms of his procedural planning theory voiced by various theorists and enjoined by the authors of the call for papers for the conference. The paper argues that the misgivings voiced by critics have their parallel in ethical theory and develops the view that procedural rationality and utilitarianism share an ethical principle. The paper concludes with a call for an end to sterile debate and an acceptance of different modes of argument.     

Integrated regional modelling and scenario development to evaluate future water demand under global change conditions

Within climate change impact research, the consideration of socioeconomic processes remains a challenge. Socioeconomic systems must be equipped to react and adapt to global change. However, any reasonable development or assessment of sustainable adaptation strategies requires a comprehensive consideration of human-environment interactions. This requirement can be met through multi-agent simulation, as demonstrated in the interdisciplinary project GLOWA-Danube (GLObal change of the WAter Cycle; ). GLOWA-Danube has developed an integrated decision support tool for water and land use management in the Upper Danube catchment (parts of Germany and Austria, 77,000 km²). The scientific disciplines invoked in the project have implemented sixteen natural and social science models, which are embedded in the simulation framework DANUBIA. Within DANUBIA, a multi-agent simulation approach is used to represent relevant socioeconomic processes. The structure and results of three of these multi-agent models, WaterSupply, Household and Tourism, are presented in this paper. A main focus of the paper is on the development of global change scenarios (climate and society) and their application to the presented models. The results of different simulation runs demonstrate the potential of multi-agent models to represent feedbacks between different water users and the environment. Moreover, the interactive usage of the framework allows to define and vary scenario assumptions so as to assess the impact of potential interventions. It is shown that integrated modelling and scenario design not only provide valuable information, but also offer a platform for discussing complex human-environment-interactions with stakeholders.     

Presentation of ventriculomegaly at 11–14 weeks of gestation: An analysis of longitudinal data

Objectives

The aim of this study was to examine the value of the sonographic measurements of the choroid plexus and the lateral ventricles at 11–14 gestational weeks in fetuses that had the diagnosis of second-trimester ventriculomegaly (VM) as a clinical reference.

Methods

The standard axial plane used for biparietal diameter measurement from 2D stored images in the first trimester was used to calculate the ratio between the choroid plexus and lateral ventricle diameter (PDVDR), the choroid plexus and lateral ventricle length (PLVLR) and the choroid plexus and lateral ventricle area (PAVAR) in 100 normal and 15 fetuses diagnosed with second-trimester VM.

Results

In fetuses with VM, the measurements of PDVDR, PLVLR and PAVAR were all significantly smaller compared to normal fetuses (p = < 0.001, <0.001, <0.01). Four out of seven cases with mild VM had measurements below the 5th percentile (57%). 75% of cases with moderate or severe VM had at least one measurement below the 5th percentile.

Conclusions

Since the axial plane of the fetal head is obtained in all first-trimester routine screenings, the measurements of PDVDR, PLVLR and PAVAR could easily be integrated into routine examinations for an early detection of VM.     

Distribution of14C-TNT and derivatives in different biochemical compartments ofPhaseolus vulgaris

¹⁴C-TNT was used to quantify the uptake rate and metabolic turnover of TNT inPhaseolus vulgaris. Seventeen plants were analysed by a special cell fractionation method with polar and nonpolar solvents and enzymes. We obtained three cytoplasmic fractions and five cell wall derived fractions. The recovery rate was 72% as measured by liquid scintillation counting.¹⁴C partitioned almost in equal amounts with approximately 50% in the cytoplasm and in the cell wall. The majority of the TNT-metabolites are present in the cytoplasm as was shown by GC/ ECD and thin layer chromatography. The¹⁴C in the cell wall is bound probably resulting in long-term immobilisation of these metabolites. We conclude that plants may also be a model for nitroaromatic turnover and immobilisation in soil components.     

Life hung by a thread: endurance of Antarctic fauna in glacial periods

Today, Antarctica exhibits some of the harshest environmental conditions for life on Earth. During the last glacial period, Antarctic terrestrial and marine life was challenged by even more extreme environmental conditions. During the present interglacial period, polar life in the Southern Ocean is sustained mainly by large-scale primary production. We argue that during the last glacial period, faunal populations in the Antarctic were limited to very few areas of local marine productivity (polynyas), because complete, multiannual sea-ice and ice shelf coverage shut down most of the Southern Ocean productivity within today's seasonal sea-ice zone. Both marine sediments containing significant numbers of planktonic and benthic foraminifera and fossil bird stomach oil deposits in the adjacent Antarctic hinterland provide indirect evidence for the existence of polynyas during the last glacial period. We advocate that the existence of productive oases in the form of polynyas during glacial periods was essential for the survival of marine and most higher-trophic terrestrial fauna. Reduced to such refuges, much of today's life in the high Antarctic realm might have hung by a thread during the last glacial period, because limited resources available to the food web restricted the abundance and productivity of both Antarctic terrestrial and marine life.     

Litter reductions reveal a trade-off between offspring size and number in brown bears

Experimental manipulations have revealed positive effects of litter reduction on offspring mass in small mammals, but little is known about this trade-off in large mammals. We examined the determinants of natural litter size variation and quantified the effects of litter size, maternal characteristics, and litter composition on yearling mass using 24?years of data on marked brown bears (Ursus arctos) in Sweden. Infanticide by adult males is a major cause of cub-of-the-year mortality, leading to litter size reductions. Litter size (n?=?265) at den emergence ranged from one to four cubs (average, 2.7) and increased with maternal age. Litter size, however, appeared independent of maternal size, population density, interlitter interval, study area, or previous litter sex ratio. Yearling body mass increased with maternal body size but was independent of litter sex ratio. Litter size and yearling mass were negatively correlated, mostly because singletons were about 30?% heavier than yearlings from litters of two to four cubs. In reduced litters, survivors were on average 8?% heavier as yearlings than individuals from intact litters, suggesting that sibling competition reduces growth. Trade-offs between litter size and yearling mass in bears appear similar in magnitude to those found in small mammals.