Search results for "WES"
showing 10 items of 1585 documents
On the geographical distribution of pseudocholinesterase variants.
1975
The incidence of pseudocholinesterase (PCHE equals E.C. 3.1.1.8) variants in samples of 8 different population (total of 2218 individuals) is reported. Together with previously mentioned data from the literature, a general survey on the geographical distribution of PCHE isoenzymes is given. Possible reasons for present-day heterogeneity of their distribution are also discussed. Concerning the incidence of the C5 variant, it is pointed out that the validity of applying population genetic models depends upon the accuracy of the genetic basis.
Late Cretaceous echinoderm ‘odds and ends’ from the Low Countries
2018
From various levels within the Gulpen and Maastricht formations (upper lower to upper upper Maastrichtian, c. 69.5–66 Ma) in the extended type area of the Maastrichtian Stage (southeast Netherlands, northeast Belgium and the Aachen area in Germany), a few recent additions to echinoderm faunas are illustrated and briefly discussed. Added are some erratic, flint-preserved, pre-Maastrichtian echinoid taxa from Pleistocene fluvial gravel deposits; these are of palaeogeographical interest. Crinoids include the comatulid Semiometra saskiae with traces of sublethal predation and several bourgueticrinines. Amongst the latter, the species Dunnicrinus aequalis is found preserved in biocalcarenites as…
Causative role of oxidative stress in a Drosophila model of Friedreich ataxia
2006
Friedreich ataxia (FA), the most common form of hereditary ataxia, is caused by a deficit in the mitochondrial protein frataxin. While several hypotheses have been suggested, frataxin function is not well understood. Oxidative stress has been suggested to play a role in the pathophysiology of FA, but this view has been recently questioned, and its link to frataxin is unclear. Here, we report the use of RNA interference (RNAi) to suppress the Drosophila frataxin gene (fh) expression. This model system parallels the situation in FA patients, namely a moderate systemic reduction of frataxin levels compatible with normal embryonic development. Under these conditions, fh-RNAi flies showed a shor…
Speleothem records decadal to multidecadal hydroclimate variations in southwestern Morocco during the last millennium
2017
Abstract This study presents the first well-dated high resolution stable isotope ( δ 18 O and δ 13 C ) and trace element (Mg and Sr) speleothem records from southwestern Morocco covering the last 1000 yrs. Our records reveal substantial decadal to multidecadal swings between dry and humid periods, consistent with regional paleorecords with prevailing dry conditions during the Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA), wetter conditions during the second part of the Little Ice Age (LIA), and a trend towards dry conditions during the current warm period. These coherent regional climate signals suggest common climate controls. Statistical analyses indicate that the climate of southwestern Morocco remaine…
Sulla distribuzione di alcuni Uccelli nidificanti in provincia di Trapani (Sicilia)
2019
A distanza di 10 anni dalla pubblicazione dell’ultimo Atlante dei Vertebrati di Sicilia si rivede la distribuzione delle specie nidificanti, alla luce di nuovi dati raccolti, al fine di aggiornare il loro status. Nel presente lavoro vengono elencate solo le specie di uccelli, rilevate in questi ultimi anni, non segnalate come nidificanti nei precedenti Atlanti e le specie già trattate ma che hanno riportato delle variazioni significative nella loro distribuzione. Updating of the distribution of some breeding birds in the province of Trapani (Sicily). This work deals with the distribution of the breeding birds in the province of Trapani (western Sicily); here are provided and updated the sta…
Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analysis (AMMA) : an integrated project for understanding of the West African climate system and its human dimension
2011
International audience; The intraseasonal time scale is critical in West Africa where resources are highly rainfall dependent. Three main modes of variability have been identified, two with a mean periodicity of 15 days and one with a mean periodicity around 40 days. These modes have a regional scale and can strongly influence precipitation and convective activity. They are mainly controlled by atmospheric dynamics and land-surface interactions. They can also modulate the very specific phase of the African summer monsoon onset. A better knowledge of the mechanisms controlling this scale is necessary to improve its predictability.
Interannual to interdecadal variability of winter and summer southern African rainfall, and their teleconnections
2016
This study examines for the first time the changing characteristics of summer and winter southern African rainfall and their teleconnections with large-scale climate through the dominant time scales of variability. As determined by wavelet analysis, the austral summer and winter rainfall indices exhibit three significant time scales of variability over the twentieth century: interdecadal (15–28 years), quasi-decadal (8–13 years), and interannual (2–8 years). Teleconnections with global sea surface temperature and atmospheric circulation anomalies are established here but are different for each time scale. Tropical/subtropical teleconnections emerge as the main driver of austral summer rainf…
Advances in understanding mineral dust and boundary layer processes over the Sahara from Fennec aircraft observations
2015
Abstract. The Fennec climate programme aims to improve understanding of the Saharan climate system through a synergy of observations and modelling. We present a description of the Fennec airborne observations during 2011 and 2012 over the remote Sahara (Mauritania and Mali) and the advances in the understanding of mineral dust and boundary layer processes they have provided. Aircraft instrumentation aboard the UK FAAM BAe146 and French SAFIRE (Service des Avions Français Instrumentés pour la Recherche en Environnement) Falcon 20 is described, with specific focus on instrumentation specially developed for and relevant to Saharan meteorology and dust. Flight locations, aims and associated met…
Quasi-decadal signals of Sahel rainfall and West African monsoon since the mid-twentieth century
2013
[1] Sahel rainfall shows pronounced decadal variability and a negative trend between wet conditions in the 1950s–1960s and dry ones in the 1970s–1980s. Using continuous wavelet transform, the quasi-decadal variability (QDV) of rainfall reveals zonal contrasts. The highest QDV is identified in the 1950s–1960s over western Sahel and in the 1970s–1980s over eastern Sahel. The quasi-decadal atmospheric anomalies have been reconstructed using Fourier transform for the 1950s–1960s and the 1970s–1980s, respectively, and assessed by the composite analysis of the QDV phases for the periods before and after 1968. Over western Sahel, the rainfall QDV in the 1950s–1960s is related to the North Atlantic…
Assessments for the impact of mineral dust on the meningitis incidence in West Africa.
2013
9 pages; International audience; Recently, mineral dust has been suspected to be one of the important environmental risk factor for meningitis epidemics in West Africa. The current study is one of the first which relies on long-term robust aerosol measurements in the Sahel region to investigate the possible impact of mineral dust on meningitis cases (incidence). Sunphotometer measurements, which allow to derive aerosol and humidity parameters, i.e., aerosol optical thickness, Angström coefficient, and precipitable water, are combined with quantitative epidemiological data in Niger and Mali over the 2004-2009 AMMA (African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analysis) program period. We analyse how th…