High-affinity binding ofβ-alanine to cerebral synaptosomes might involve glycine-receptors

Summary High-affinity, Na⁺-independent binding of -alanine to a synaptosomal fraction of rat brain was potently inhibited by glycine and by some other -amino acids, but not by taurine or GABA. This binding mechanism, which was also sensitive to both bicuculline and strychnine, might involve synaptic receptors for both -alanine and glycine.This study was supported in part by Centro Ramón y Cajal and Fundacion Juan March.     

Discovery of 40Mg and 42Al suggests neutron drip-line slant towards heavier isotopes

A fundamental question in nuclear physics is what combinations of neutrons and protons can make up a nucleus. Many hundreds of exotic neutron-rich isotopes have never been observed; the limit of how many neutrons a given number of protons can bind is unknown for all but the lightest elements, owing to the delicate interplay between single particle and collective quantum effects in the nucleus. This limit, known as the neutron drip line, provides a benchmark for models of the atomic nucleus. Here we report a significant advance in the determination of this limit: the discovery of two new neutron-rich isotopes--40Mg and 42Al--that are predicted to be drip-line nuclei. In the past, several attempts to observe 40Mg were unsuccessful; moreover, the observation of 42Al provides an experimental indication that the neutron drip line may be located further towards heavier isotopes in this mass region than is currently believed. In stable nuclei, attractive pairing forces enhance the stability of isotopes with even numbers of protons and neutrons. In contrast, the present work shows that nuclei at the drip line gain stability from an unpaired proton, which narrows the shell gaps and provides the opportunity to bind many more neutrons.     

中小企业技术创新的现状与对策

分析了中国中小企业技术创新的特点和现状,指出中小企业技术创新能力不高、缺乏技术创新的人才队伍、产学研合作机制不健全、融资渠道少等问题,提出重视中小企业技术创新人才的培养、优化金融环境、建立健全产学研合作机制、通过培育中介组织推动企业自主创新、选择适合企业实际情况的技术创新战略等措施.     

Interaction and interrelation of P2X7 and P2X4 receptor complexes in mouse lung epithelial cells

P2X4 and P2X7 receptors are ATP-gated ion channels that are co-expressed in alveolar epithelial type I cells. Both receptors are localized to the plasma membrane and partly associated with lipid rafts. Here we report on our study in an alveolar epithelial cell line of the molecular organization of P2X7R and P2X4R receptors and the effect of their knockdown. Native gel electrophoresis reveals three P2X7R complexes of ~430, ~580 and ~760 kDa. The latter two correspond exactly in size to signals of Cav-1, the structural protein of caveolae. Interestingly knockdown of P2rx7 affects protein levels, the intracellular distribution and the supramolecular organization of Cav-1 as well as of P2X4R, which is mainly detected in a complex of ~430 kDa. Our data suggest upregulation of P2X4R as a compensatory mechanism of P2X7R depletion.     

Respiration in the open ocean

A key question when trying to understand the global carbon cycle is whether the oceans are net sources or sinks of carbon. This will depend on the production of organic matter relative to the decomposition due to biological respiration. Estimates of respiration are available for the top layers, the mesopelagic layer, and the abyssal waters and sediments of various ocean regions. Although the total open ocean respiration is uncertain, it is probably substantially greater than most current estimates of particulate organic matter production. Nevertheless, whether the biota act as a net source or sink of carbon remains an open question.     

人体经络复杂网络路由问题的求解

为了研究经络—免疫—神经—内分泌网络(jingluo-immune-nerve-endocrinenetwork)学说,采用复杂网络定义、模型、算法和理论,对穴位在经络中的信息传递方式、交互条件、路由途径、高导电性进行了测试和验证,建立了经络的复杂网络路由模型,证实了该网络的存在·信息物质沿经络路线传播,经络循行也有确定的方向和速度,确立了经络的基本功能是传递及调控生命信息物质为经络研究开辟了一条新的方法·     

互联网中的标准结构熵的时间演化分析

通过对Internet标准结构熵随时间变化规律的分析发现,Internet的标准结构熵具有随时间而逐渐降低的趋势,以riesling节点获得的Internet监测数据的计算结果为例,Internet标准结构熵从2000年4月的最大值0.379下降至2004年5月的0.318,月平均下降幅度为0.12%,即由高熵值拓扑结构向低熵值拓扑结构的状态变化.由此可知Internet的宏观拓扑结构在演化过程中存在着拓扑结构的信息代谢.     

基于VC和VIP的面向对象知识表示

知识表示是人工智能研究的基本问题之一。通过在 Visual C+ +的类中引入Visual Prolog的推理机制提出了一种基于 VC和 VIP的面向对象知识表示方法 ,完善了 Visual C+ +对象的推理功能 ,进一步增强了面向对象的知识表示能力以及 VisualProlog的接口和计算能力 ,并通过实验验证了方法的性能     

Unstable genetic system inDrosophila melanogaster: I. Instability at theCinnabar locus

Summary A mutant strain containing acinnabar allele (cn ^rbr ,rojo brillante) is reported, that produces wild-type revertants at thecinnabar (cn) locus. Incn ^rbr /cn heterozygotes the rate of mutation is highly increased. The presence of a mutator agent acting premeiotically is indicated.D.L. Lindsley and E.H. Grell, Genetic variations ofDrosophila melanogaster. Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, 1968; Publication No. 627.     

A star in a 15.2-year orbit around the supermassive black hole at the centre of the Milky Way

Many galaxies are thought to have supermassive black holes at their centres-more than a million times the mass of the Sun. Measurements of stellar velocities and the discovery of variable X-ray emission have provided strong evidence in favour of such a black hole at the centre of the Milky Way, but have hitherto been unable to rule out conclusively the presence of alternative concentrations of mass. Here we report ten years of high-resolution astrometric imaging that allows us to trace two-thirds of the orbit of the star currently closest to the compact radio source (and massive black-hole candidate) Sagittarius A*. The observations, which include both pericentre and apocentre passages, show that the star is on a bound, highly elliptical keplerian orbit around Sgr A*, with an orbital period of 15.2 years and a pericentre distance of only 17 light hours. The orbit with the best fit to the observations requires a central point mass of (3.7 +/- 1.5) x 10(6) solar masses (M(*)). The data no longer allow for a central mass composed of a dense cluster of dark stellar objects or a ball of massive, degenerate fermions.