Genetic studies of diseases

Genomic alterations lead to cancer complexity and form a major hurdle for comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying oncogenesis. In this review, we describe recent advances in studying cancer-associated genes from a systems biology point of view. The integration of known cancer genes onto protein and signaling networks reveals the characteristics of cancer genes within networks. This approach shows that cancer genes often function as network hub proteins which are involved in many cellular processes and form focal nodes in information exchange between many signaling pathways. Literature mining allows constructing gene-gene networks, in which new cancer genes can be identified. The gene expression profiles of cancer cells are used for reconstructing gene regulatory networks. By doing so, genes which are involved in the regulation of cancer progression can be picked up from these networks, after which their functions can be further confirmed in the laboratory.     

Common Molecular Mechanisms of Mammary Gland Development and Breast Cancer

During its lifetime, the mammary gland undergoes many phases of development and differentiation. Much of this occurs during puberty, when the ductal epithelium expands by branching morphogenesis, invading the surrounding fat pad to form an organised mammary tree. Throughout its existence, the epithelium will go through several cycles of proliferation and cell death during pregnancy, lactation and involution. Many of the signalling mechanisms which control the initial invasion of the fat pad by the epithelium, and regulate its continuing plasticity, can be harnessed or corrupted by tumour cells in order to support their aberrant growth and progression towards invasion. This is true not just for the epithelial cells themselves but also for cells in the surrounding microenvironment, including fibroblasts, macrophages and adipocytes. This review examines the complex web of signalling and adhesion interactions controlling branching morphogenesis, and how their alteration can promote malignancy. Current in vivo and in vitro mammary gland models are also discussed. (Part of a Multi-author Review)     

区间删失数据下基于OLLGG分布的多参数回归模型的参数估计

该文基于Ⅱ型区间删失数据,在OLLGG分布下提出多参数回归模型,通过线性回归刻画分布参数与协变量之间的关系,并通过极大似然方法给出了模型的参数估计,数值模拟验证了模型参数的估计有良好的性质,将提出的模型应用到血友病患者HIV感染的数据中,发现提出的模型对数据有灵活的拟合效果.     

Origin of immature sulfur-rich oil in Jianghan oil field

Chemical structure of immature sulfur-rich kerogen and composition of immature sulfur-rich crude oil in Jianghun oil field have been studied. In molecular level, crude oil differs from thermolysed and chemolysed products of kerogen but does resemble the bitumen in immature sulfur-rich source rock. Therefore, immature sulfur-rich oil may be derived from the expelling of bitumen rather than from thermal cracking of kerogen.     

The v-v energy transfer of highly vibrationally excited states (I)

The relaxation of the highly vibrationally excited CO (v = 1–8) by CO₂ is studied by timeresolved Fourier transform infrared emission spectroscopy (TR FTIR). 193 nm laser photolysis of the mixture of CHBr₃ with O₂ generates the highly vibrationally excited CO(v) molecules. TR FTIR records the intense infrared emission of CO(v→v-1). The vibrational populations of each level of CO(v) have been determined by the method of spectral simulation. Based on the evolution of the time resolved populations and the differential method, 8 energy transfer rate constants of CO(v = 1–8) to CO₂ molecules areobtained: (5.7±0.1), (5.9±0.1), (5.2±0.2), (3.4±0.2), (2.4±0.3), (2.2±0.4), (2.0±0.4) and (1.8±0.6) (10¹⁴ cm³ · molecule⁻¹ · s⁻¹), respectively. A two-channel energy transfer model can explain the feature of the quenching of CO(v) by CO². For the lower vibrational states of CO, the vibrational energy transfers preferentially to the u³ mode of CO² For the higher levels, the major quenching channel changes to the vibrational energy exchange between CO(v→v-1) and the u¹ mode of CO².     

The v-v energy transfer of highly vibrationally excited states (II)

The vibrational energy transfer from highly vibrationally excited CO to H₂O molecules is studied by time-resolved Fourier transform infrared emission spectroscopy (TR FTIR). Following the 193 nm laser photolysis of CHBr₃ and O₂ the secondary reactions generate CO(v). The infrared emission of CO(v → v−1) is detected by TR FTIR. The excitation of H₂O molecules is not observed. By the method of the spectral simulation and the differential technique, 8 rate constants for CO(v)/H₂O system are obtained: (1.7 ±0.1), (3.4 ±0.2), (6.2 ±0.4), (8.0 ±1.0), (9.0 ±2.0), (12 ±3), (16 ±4) and (18 ±7) (10¹³cm³ · molecule^-1· s^-1). At least two reasons lead to the efficient energy transfer. One is the contributions of the rotational energy to the vibational energy defect and the other is the result of the complex collision. With the SSH andab initio calculations, the quenching mechanism of CO(v) by H₂O is suggested.     

The age of formation of the mirabilite and sand wedges in the Hexi Corridor and their paleoclimatic interpretation

The Hexi Corridor is located at the transition zone of the Asian summer monsoon and westerly airflow, and lies in an important position in terms of its ecological fragility and climatic sensitivity. During a recent field expedition to this region, we found a sedimentary mirabilite layer in a number of localities including Suwushan, Yanchi, Baitujing, Yanchi Gaotai, Huahai, Yumen, Halanuo扙r, and Dunhuang (Fig. 1), which have the potential to provide important information about environmenta…     

加强科技中介机构建设,提高区域创新能力

论述了加快建立符合本土需要、与国际接轨的、规模化、专业化科技中介服务体系对于提高我国整体科技创新能力的重要意义。