This work aimed to investigate the effects of early progeny exposure to methylglyoxal (MG), programming for metabolic dysfunction and diabetes-like complications later in life. At delivery (PN1), the animals were separated into two groups: control group (CO), treated with saline, and MG group, treated with MG (20 mg/kg of BW; i.p.) during the first 2 weeks of the lactation period. In vivo experiments and tissue collection were done at PN90. Early MG exposure decreased body weight, adipose tissue, liver and kidney weight at adulthood. On the other hand, MG group showed increased relative food intake, blood fructosamine, blood insulin and HOMA-IR, which is correlated with insulin resistance. Besides, MG-treated animals presented dyslipidaemia, increased oxidative stress and inflammation. Likewise, MG group showed steatosis and perivascular fibrosis in the liver, pancreatic islet hypertrophy, increased glomerular area and pericapsular fibrosis, but reduced capsular space. This study shows that early postnatal exposure to MG induces oxidative stress, inflammation and fibrosis markers in pancreas, liver and kidney, which are related to metabolic dysfunction features. Thus, nutritional disruptors during lactation period may be an important risk factor for metabolic alterations at adulthood.

We present a sample of nearly 650 widely separated double white dwarf binaries found using Gaia DR2 astrometry. We derive preliminary total ages for each white dwarf in our sample using Gaia photometry and compare the total ages of both components of each binary in our sample. We find agreement within 3 sigma between the two ages ∼85% of the time with median age uncertainties of ∼3.5 Gyr depending on which initial-final mass relation is used. When a subsample with the most precise ages is used, the agreement within 3 sigma drops to ∼70% with median age uncertainties of 300-600 Myr.

The Madagascar Cretaceous igneous province exposed in the Mahajanga basin is represented by basalt and basaltic andesite lavas. New 40Ar–39Ar plateau ages (92.3 ± 2.0 Ma and 91.5 ± 1.3 Ma) indicate that the magmatism in the Mahajanga basin started about 92 Ma ago. Four geochemically distinct magma types (Groups A–D) are present. Group A and C rocks have low to moderate TiO2 (1.2–2.6 wt%), Nb (3–9 μg g−1) and Zr (82–200 μg g−1), and show large variations in ɛNdi (+0.1 to −10.8), 206Pb/204Pb (15.28 to 16.33) and γOs (+11.4 to +7378). The large isotopic variations, particularly in Os, Nd and Pb isotopic compositions, are likely due to crustal contamination. The low Pb isotope ratios observed in the Group A and C rocks suggest involvement of continental crust with low μ (238U/204Pb). Group B and D rocks have moderate to high TiO2 (2.2–4.9 wt%), Nb (8–24 μg g−1) and Zr (120–327 μg g−1). Age-corrected isotopes of Group B and D lavas show a small range in ɛNdi (+1.0 to +4.0) and a wide range in γOs (+128 to +1182). Values of 207Pb/204Pb are within the range for Groups A and C, but the Group D 206Pb/204Pb (16.52–17.08) and 208Pb/204Pb (37.51–38.01) values are higher, indicating a different crustal contaminant. Pb isotopic values of the Group B rocks seem to reflect the isotopic features of their mantle source. The magma groups of Mahajanga display a wide range of trace element and isotopic compositions that cannot be explained only by open-system crystallization processes but, rather, by distinct mantle sources.

Cameron introduced the orbit algebra of a permutation group and conjectured that this algebra is an integral domain if and only if the group has no finite orbit. We prove that this conjecture holds and in fact that the age algebra of a relational structure R is an integral domain if and only if R is age-inexhaustible. We deduce these results from a combinatorial lemma asserting that if a product of two non-zero elements of a set algebra is zero then there is a finite common tranversal of their supports. The proof is built on Ramsey theorem and the integrity of a shuffle algebra.

Modelling and simulation, based on observational data, were used to examine the potential of ELT photometry for studies of the evolution of distant galaxies. An open cluster, a globular cluster and two mixed field populations were employed. Colour-magnitude and metallicity diagrams were examined. For younger populations, excellent turn-off-point age data and abundance data can be obtained even beyond 20Mpc. Higher population age weakens data if not improved with longer exposures. Still, the great potential of ELT photometry for studies of the evolution of galaxies is confirmed. Comments are given on adaptive optics and photometry.

Birds live longer than mammals of comparable sizes, contrary to what their metabolic rates, plasma gulcose concentrations and body tempratures, all of which are higher than mammalian norms, would suggest. Although these factors should predispose them to accelerated tissue degeneration, this has been shown not to happen. In this paper the possible mechanism whereby birds limit the accelerated tissue damage that should be associated with the above characteristics are explored. Specifically, this review will focus on the relationship in chickens between the raised concentrations of plasma glucose and the lack of associated tissue complications. We propose that the role of uric acid in birds should be re-examined. Until now uric acid has been considered to be little more than an excretory by-product where its role as an antioxidant can be directly linked to the resistance of birds to glucose-mediated tissue damage. It is suggested that, compared with mammals, the lower rate of generation of reactive oxygen species in birds in association with their stronger antioxidant-defence system contributes to their longevity.

In an attempt to establish a chronology for volcanic neck emplacement and so elucidate petrogenesis, isotopic studies have been carried out on various cumulate inclusions, blocks and megacrysts which occur chiefly in association with tuffs infilling several Scottish vents. K-Ar ages of 13 samples of low-pressure cumulate minerals (biotite, hornblende and pyroxene) from necks in East Fife indicate crystallisation at shallow depth at 314 Ma. U-Pb analyses of zircons are concordant at 318 Ma suggesting they are also members of this suite and their formation is penecontemporaneous with the Namurian volcanic activity which is welldocumented stratigraphically. By 295 Ma crystallisation of anorthoclase megacrysts had been completed, perhaps from the fractionated residuum. An eruption from considerable depth (within the stability field of garnet precipitation) then broke through to the surface bearing high-pressure megacrysts. This penetrated and disrupted the early cumulates carrying them to the surface and producing the diverse vent assemblages. K-Ar dating of basanites suggest that the Duncansby Ness neck in Caithness was emplaced around 270 Ma in the early Permian. For two Fife necks the balance of evidence favours an age of 290 Ma (Stephanian) for this final explosive activity associated with vent formation.