A class of compact dwarf galaxies from disruptive processes in galaxy clusters

Dwarf galaxies have attracted increased attention in recent years, because of their susceptibility to galaxy transformation processes within rich galaxy clusters. Direct evidence for these processes, however, has been difficult to obtain, with a small number of diffuse light trails and intra-cluster stars being the only signs of galaxy disruption. Furthermore, our current knowledge of dwarf galaxy populations may be very incomplete, because traditional galaxy surveys are insensitive to extremely diffuse or compact galaxies. Aware of these concerns, we recently undertook an all-object survey of the Fornax galaxy cluster. This revealed a new population of compact members, overlooked in previous conventional surveys. Here we demonstrate that these 'ultra-compact' dwarf galaxies are structurally and dynamically distinct from both globular star clusters and known types of dwarf galaxy, and thus represent a new class of dwarf galaxy. Our data are consistent with the interpretation that these are the remnant nuclei of disrupted dwarf galaxies, making them an easily observed tracer of galaxy disruption.     

Galactose intoxication pathologic study in the chick

Résumé Des poussins nourris avec une ration contenant plus de 10% de galactose développent des tremblements, des convulsions et meurent. Une dégénération des neurons et de l'oedéma péri-cellulaire se présente dans la zone des ganglions basals, dans la zone médullaire et dans les lobes optiques.

---

---

Supported by grant B 2951 (C1) from the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Blindness, National Institutes of Health, United States Public Health Service.     

Secondary mutations as a mechanism of cisplatin resistance in BRCA2-mutated cancers

Ovarian carcinomas with mutations in the tumour suppressor BRCA2 are particularly sensitive to platinum compounds. However, such carcinomas ultimately develop cisplatin resistance. The mechanism of that resistance is largely unknown. Here we show that acquired resistance to cisplatin can be mediated by secondary intragenic mutations in BRCA2 that restore the wild-type BRCA2 reading frame. First, in a cisplatin-resistant BRCA2-mutated breast-cancer cell line, HCC1428, a secondary genetic change in BRCA2 rescued BRCA2 function. Second, cisplatin selection of a BRCA2-mutated pancreatic cancer cell line, Capan-1 (refs 3, 4), led to five different secondary mutations that restored the wild-type BRCA2 reading frame. All clones with secondary mutations were resistant both to cisplatin and to a poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor (AG14361). Finally, we evaluated recurrent cancers from patients whose primary BRCA2-mutated ovarian carcinomas were treated with cisplatin. The recurrent tumour that acquired cisplatin resistance had undergone reversion of its BRCA2 mutation. Our results suggest that secondary mutations that restore the wild-type BRCA2 reading frame may be a major clinical mediator of acquired resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy.     

A measurement of the cosmological mass density from clustering in the 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey

The large-scale structure in the distribution of galaxies is thought to arise from the gravitational instability of small fluctuations in the initial density field of the Universe. A key test of this hypothesis is that forming superclusters of galaxies should generate a systematic infall of other galaxies. This would be evident in the pattern of recessional velocities, causing an anisotropy in the inferred spatial clustering of galaxies. Here we report a precise measurement of this clustering, using the redshifts of more than 141,000 galaxies from the two-degree-field (2dF) galaxy redshift survey. We determine the parameter beta = Omega0.6/b = 0.43 +/- 0.07, where Omega is the total mass-density parameter of the Universe and b is a measure of the 'bias' of the luminous galaxies in the survey. (Bias is the difference between the clustering of visible galaxies and of the total mass, most of which is dark.) Combined with the anisotropy of the cosmic microwave background, our results favour a low-density Universe with Omega approximately 0.3.     

Mineral disequilibrium in lavas explained by convective self-mixing in open magma chambers.

Characteristic features of many porphyritic andesite and dacite lavas are that they are rich in crystals and display a range of disequilibrium features, including reversely zoned crystals, resorption surfaces, wide ranges of mineral compositions and minerals which are not in equilibrium with the surrounding rock matrix. These features are often interpreted as evidence of the mixing of magmas of contrasting composition, temperature and origin. Here, however, we propose that such features can also be caused by convection within a magma body with a single composition, that is heated from below and cooled from above. We describe petrological observations of andesite lava erupted at the Soufrière Hills volcano, Montserrat, which indicate a heating event and the intermingling of crystals that have very different thermal histories. We present experimental data on a representative groundmass composition of this lava, which indicate that it is difficult to explain the calcic compositions of plagioclase overgrowth rims and microphenocrysts unless parts of the magma were at temperatures much higher than the inferred average temperature. The concept of convective self-mixing allows us to explain the occurrence of compositions of minerals that apparently cannot coexist under equilibrium conditions.     

Common variants in ZNF365 are associated with both mammographic density and breast cancer risk

High-percent mammographic density adjusted for age and body mass index is one of the strongest risk factors for breast cancer. We conducted a meta analysis of five genome-wide association studies of percent mammographic density and report an association with rs10995190 in ZNF365 (combined P = 9.6 × 10(-10)). Common variants in ZNF365 have also recently been associated with susceptibility to breast cancer.     

富营养化水体中的溶源性浮游细菌分布与环境因子的关系

使用非侵害性根吸收硝酸盐检测系统,在较低NO3-浓度下,测定10 m mol/L的蔗糖、葡萄糖、果糖、半乳糖、棉子糖、D-甘露醇、甘露糖、阿拉伯糖、乳糖对水稻品种"汕优63"硝酸盐吸收的影响,以10 min为间隔连续测定4 h,结果表明:加入蔗糖后对水稻硝酸盐的吸收有显著的、立即的、持续的促进作用,与加入蔗糖前相比,硝酸盐净吸收率上升了298%,葡萄糖、半乳糖、果糖、棉子糖对水稻硝酸盐的吸收亦有明显的促进作用,上升幅度140%～223%;乳糖、D-甘露醇、阿拉伯糖无明显影响;甘露糖则有抑制作用.蔗糖可能足作为主要的信号分子参与植物硝酸盐吸收的正反馈调控.