数学中的探索研究和发现

本书是一本关于数学“解题术”的论著，其目的是引导中学生和大学低年级学生通过解数学题提高思维能力和解题技巧，着重培养他们数学学习中的探索精神，以研究解题规律和发现新的问题和结果。     

Self-assembling Characteristics of Amphiphilic Star Block Copolymers with a Polyelectrolyte Shell

1 Results Amphiphilic block copolymers are capable of forming supramolecular assemblies resembling those observed in nature,such as spherical micelles,worm micelles,and vesicles.Changing the solvent composition,ionic strength or pH of the polymer solution may induce the self-assembly of block copolymers or trigger the transition between the geometries of noncovalent assemblies.In the current work,we have synthesised starlike amphiphilic block copolymers having hydrophobic poly(methyl methacrylate),PMMA,core,and hydrophilic poly(acrylic acid),PAA,shell.The self-assembling characteristics of these polymers have been investigated in aqueous solutions by light scattering and direct visualisation by cryo-transmission electron microscopy (cryoTEM)[1]. Computer simulations along with the theoretical predictions made for the star-like system based on mean-field theory have been used to support the experimental observations[2]. The association of the starlike macromolecules resembles that of charged biopolymers,such as actin,since a balance between attractive and repulsive forces is required for the formation of cylindrical assemblies and can be manipulated by changing the pH or the ionic strength of the solvent[3].     

Variation in FTO contributes to childhood obesity and severe adult obesity

We identified a set of SNPs in the first intron of the FTO (fat mass and obesity associated) gene on chromosome 16q12.2 that is consistently strongly associated with early-onset and severe obesity in both adults and children of European ancestry with an experiment-wise P value of 1.67 x 10(-26) in 2,900 affected individuals and 5,100 controls. The at-risk haplotype yields a proportion of attributable risk of 22% for common obesity. We conclude that FTO contributes to human obesity and hence may be a target for subsequent functional analyses.     

Natural variation for sulfate content in Arabidopsis thaliana is highly controlled by APR2

Most agronomic traits of importance, whether physiological (such as nutrient use efficiency) or developmental (such as flowering time), are controlled simultaneously by multiple genes and their interactions with the environment. Here, we show that variation in sulfate content between wild Arabidopsis thaliana accessions Bay-0 and Shahdara is controlled by a major quantitative trait locus that results in a strong interaction with nitrogen availability in the soil. Combining genetic and biochemical results and using a candidate gene approach, we have cloned the underlying gene, showing how a single-amino acid substitution in a key enzyme of the assimilatory sulfate reduction pathway, adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate reductase, is responsible for a decrease in enzyme activity, leading to sulfate accumulation in the plant. This work illustrates the potential of natural variation as a source of new alleles of known genes, which can aid in the study of gene function and metabolic pathway regulation. Our new insights on sulfate assimilation may have an impact on sulfur fertilizer use and stress defense improvement.     

Mutations in amphiphysin 2 (BIN1) disrupt interaction with dynamin 2 and cause autosomal recessive centronuclear myopathy

Centronuclear myopathies are characterized by muscle weakness and abnormal centralization of nuclei in muscle fibers not secondary to regeneration. The severe neonatal X-linked form (myotubular myopathy) is due to mutations in the phosphoinositide phosphatase myotubularin (MTM1), whereas mutations in dynamin 2 (DNM2) have been found in some autosomal dominant cases. By direct sequencing of functional candidate genes, we identified homozygous mutations in amphiphysin 2 (BIN1) in three families with autosomal recessive inheritance. Two missense mutations affecting the BAR (Bin1/amphiphysin/RVS167) domain disrupt its membrane tubulation properties in transfected cells, and a partial truncation of the C-terminal SH3 domain abrogates the interaction with DNM2 and its recruitment to the membrane tubules. Our results suggest that mutations in BIN1 cause centronuclear myopathy by interfering with remodeling of T tubules and/or endocytic membranes, and that the functional interaction between BIN1 and DNM2 is necessary for normal muscle function and positioning of nuclei.     

气候变迁、适应能力及其发展

政府间小组委员会(IPCC)提供的第三次有关气候变化评估报告，强有力的说明了由人类诱发的气候变迁正在发生，而且世界上所有的国家都将会受到影响。     

宽能带隙电子器件

硅集成电路和数据存贮是两种最成功的技术，目前，这两种技术继续以高速度发展。在集成电路技术中，按照摩尔定律，一块芯片上的晶体管数目每隔18个月就会翻一翻。而对于磁盘驱动技术，自1991年起磁头的总体位密度以每年60％至100％的速率增加。集成电路是通过对半导体应用电场控制载流子流动来工作的，因此关键的参数是电子或空穴上的电荷。而在磁性数据存贮中关键的参数是电子的自旋。     

应用量子力学

量子力学是当前物理学及其相关科学的重要科学分支，也是当前许多新科学技术中的重要应用的基础。本书包含了现代新科学技术工程师所需要的量子力学方面的新材料，如研究和了解原子核、原子、分子和固体材料，以及激光器和其他量子光学器件所需要的科学资料等。