Experimental detection of alpha-particles from the radioactive decay of natural bismuth

The only naturally occurring isotope of bismuth, 209Bi, is commonly regarded as the heaviest stable isotope. But like most other heavy nuclei abundant in nature and characterized by an exceptionally long lifetime, it is metastable with respect to alpha-decay. However, the decay usually evades observation because the nuclear structure of 209Bi gives rise to an extremely low decay probability and, moreover, generates low-energy alpha-particles difficult to detect. Indeed, dedicated experiments attempting to record the alpha-decay of 209Bi in nuclear emulsions failed. However, scintillating bolometers operated at temperatures below 100 mK offer improved detection efficiency and sensitivity, whereas a broad palette of targets could be available. Here we report the successful use of this method for the unambiguous detection of 209Bi alpha-decay in bismuth germanate detectors cooled to 20 mK. We measure an energy release of 3,137 +/- 1 (statistical) +/- 2 (systematic) keV and a half-life of (1.9 +/- 0.2) x 10(19) yr, which are in agreement with expected values.     

The DNA sequence and analysis of human chromosome 14

Chromosome 14 is one of five acrocentric chromosomes in the human genome. These chromosomes are characterized by a heterochromatic short arm that contains essentially ribosomal RNA genes, and a euchromatic long arm in which most, if not all, of the protein-coding genes are located. The finished sequence of human chromosome 14 comprises 87,410,661 base pairs, representing 100% of its euchromatic portion, in a single continuous segment covering the entire long arm with no gaps. Two loci of crucial importance for the immune system, as well as more than 60 disease genes, have been localized so far on chromosome 14. We identified 1,050 genes and gene fragments, and 393 pseudogenes. On the basis of comparisons with other vertebrate genomes, we estimate that more than 96% of the chromosome 14 genes have been annotated. From an analysis of the CpG island occurrences, we estimate that 70% of these annotated genes are complete at their 5' end.     

Palynological investigation of a Holocene profile section from the Palaeo－Gaxun－Nur－Basin

Palynological investigations on lacustrine sedi-ment samples revealed a general dominance of open Ar-temisia-Chenopodiaccae vegetation in the Palaeo-Gaxun-Nut-Basin (Inner Mongolia) between 5250 and 3500 cal. aBP.Riverside woods (Hippophea, Populus) developed between3500-3250 cal. aBP and reflect moister growing conditions.During the following moist-dry transition pronounced cool-ing occurred around 3000 cal. aBP, in upper elevations fa-vouring the spread of montane woods (Picea, Betula). Aridity strongly increased from 2900 to 2700 cal. aBE The recorded vegetational and environmental changes after 3500 cal. aBP can be correlated with glacier advances in the mountains and with a humid phase in the Tengger Shamo followed by deser-tification.     

Cbl signaling networks in the regulation of cell function

Cbl proteins control multiple cellular processes by acting as ubiquitin ligases and multifunctional adaptor molecules. They are involved in the control of cell proliferation, differentiation and cell morphology, as well as in pathologies such as autoimmune diseases, inflammation and cancer. Here we review recent advances in understanding the role of Cbl and the importance of a growing repertoire of Cbl-interacting proteins in the regulation of signaling pathways triggered by growth factors, antigens, cell adhesion, cytokines and hormones. We also address key issues of the nature of proteins that bind Cbl in particular cells, where they are located, and how they are altered or traffic within cells upon stimulation. It is becoming obvious that temporal and spatial changes in Cbl signaling networks are essential for the control of physiological processes in a variety of cells and organs and that their deregulation can result in the development of human diseases.Received 22 January 2003; received after revision 11 March 2003; accepted 26 March 2003     

Identification of Stk6/STK15 as a candidate low-penetrance tumor-susceptibility gene in mouse and human

Linkage analysis and haplotype mapping in interspecific mouse crosses (Mus musculus x Mus spretus) identified the gene encoding Aurora2 (Stk6 in mouse and STK15 in human) as a candidate skin tumor susceptibility gene. The Stk6 allele inherited from the susceptible M. musculus parent was overexpressed in normal cells and preferentially amplified in tumor cells from F(1) hybrid mice. We identified a common genetic variant in STK15 (resulting in the amino acid substitution F31I) that is preferentially amplified and associated with the degree of aneuploidy in human colon tumors. The Ile31 variant transforms rat1 cells more potently than the more common Phe31 variant. The E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme UBE2N was a preferential binding partner of the 'weak' STK15 Phe31 variant form in yeast two-hybrid screens and in human cells. This interaction results in colocalization of UBE2N with STK15 at the centrosomes during mitosis. These results are consistent with an important role for the Ile31 variant of STK15 in human cancer susceptibility.     

岩盐的蠕变损伤破坏分析

蠕变损伤破坏是岩盐的主要破坏形式之一，为此对长山岩盐和乔后岩盐进行了蠕变试验研究。通过对岩盐试件裂纹的产生、发展直至破坏过程的观察分析得出2种岩盐在蠕变损伤过程中有较大的差别。产生差别的原因主要是2种岩盐中NaCl的含量、晶粒大小、晶粒之间的胶结不同。造成2种岩样在蠕变过程中表现的现象不同，其岩盐力学性质也有差异。其次是岩盐在晶粒结晶过程中，因地质、环境等因素的影响，使晶粒内部存在着大量的缺陷，晶粒之间的交界面极不规则。因此，位措在这些晶体内占有重要地位，位措就控制了该晶粒的力学性质。     

原子及轨道电亲性：新能量标度及其相关分析

应用原子的平均电离能来近似度量电亲性或电负性。所提出的电亲性新标度XLL与总电离能U除以原子价壳层电子数目N即平均电离能B成正比，进一步地从原子总电离能T或平均电离能B可确定其价与杂化轨道电亲性。它们虽支接从基态自由原子计算得到，却与从热化学数据得到的鲍林电负性颇为一致，因而计算上避免了其经验性，也可方便地计算惰性元素的电亲性，应用上同样具有广适性，并已显示出其优越性和独到处。     

不同地面集水时间计算模式的分析

在雨水道设计中，新规范虽然提出了新的计算方法，但仍限于特定的坡度与降雨强度条件的计算．为了寻求通用的计算方法，在假定的条件下利用水力学原理，推导了不同地面集水时间的计算模式，并与国外经验公式进行了比较，此方法具有实用性。     

SCO UNIX系统下Oracle数据库的自动备份

论述了数据库系统备份的重要性，井详细讨论了SCO UNIX下0racle数据库系统自动备份的几种实现方法。     

新疆天山西段金矿找矿新进展

最近在新疆西天山西段靠近与哈萨克斯坦接界地区发现了一些金矿找矿新线索。值得特别关注的有两种矿化类型 ,有可能成为大型金矿 :即变质碳质碎屑岩型和破碎带蚀变岩型。本区首次发现了一套黑色碳质片岩和石墨片岩 ,其中发育有黄铁矿 -石英细脉 ,含金量达 9×1 0 - 6 ,与产于乌孜别克斯坦的穆龙套型金矿地质情况相似。还发现了铜 -金高含量矿化 ,即水磨沟铜金矿 ,该矿床产于一套蚀变的中 -基性火山碎屑岩中 ,矿体赋存于近东西向的断裂中 ,矿石由黄铜矿、斑铜矿、孔雀石、黄铁矿、石英、绿泥石组成 ,具角砾状构造 ,平均铜含量 6.1 % ,金含量 3 .8× 1 0 - 6 。分析了本区金矿成矿的地质特征 ,指出矿化带呈近东西向展布 ,集中于分割本区三个地体的两条大断裂附近的韧性剪切带中 ,绿片岩相的变质条件和花岗岩浆活动对金矿的富集有促进作用。这些新发现表明 ,新疆天山西段的地质条件与金矿化特征与其西部邻国地区相似 ,中亚巨型成矿带可能已东延进中国新疆地区