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20 0 4年诺贝尔物理学奖成果解读　　构成宇宙万物的最小粒子是什么 ?自然界中存在着哪些力 ,它们之间如何相互作用 ?这些是整个 2 0世纪乃至现在都困扰物理学家的难题。荣获本年度诺贝尔物理学奖的三位美国科学家 ,通过他们的研究为回答这些问题作出了重要贡献。近代物理学理论认为 ,夸克等是比质子和中子等亚原子粒子更基本的物质组成单位 ,夸克等组成了质子和中子 ,中子和质子又形成原子核 ,最终产生原子以及今天的宇宙万物。现有的物理学理论还认为 ,自然界中存在引力、电磁力、强作用力和弱作用力等 4种力。其中 ,夸克通过强作用力组成…     

中子散射相机的探测效率研究

中子散射相机的探测效率直接影响其能量重建的准确性,也是其结构优化最重要的参数之一.在加速器中子源上,采用1.2, 2.5, 3.8, 5.0和14.8 MeV几个能点,对8单元中子散射相机原理系统的探测效率进行了测量.针对实验值比理论值大2～3倍的问题,在理论模拟中加入了碳核发光的影响,并计算了偶然符合事件的影响.计算结果表明,对于单个闪烁体,碳核的发光在高能时不能忽略,而对于散射相机系统,碳核的发光可以忽略.偶然符合对探测效率的影响与入射中子能量有关,对于1.2 MeV中子,偶然符合计数占绝大多数.采用对实验能谱进行高斯拟合扣除了很大一部分的本底中子,将理论探测效率与实验值的偏差缩小到较小的范围内.     

Bulk-Micromegas快中子成像转换层的Geant4优化

基于Bulk-Micromegas探测器的快中子成像实验中,中子转换质子的转换层效率低是一个瓶颈.利用基于Geant4工具包的蒙特卡洛模拟程序并使用ROOT工具对不同中子源(Am-Be源和14MeV中子源)以及不同转换层结构和厚度对转换效率的影响进行了模拟,得到了转换率达到饱和时反冲质子的能量角度分部信息.结果表明,常规聚乙烯转换膜在转换层厚度为400和1600μm时,对Am-Be源和14MeV中子源的探测效率分别达到饱和,其效率分别为0.12%和0.35%.其次设计了3种新的转换层结构,模拟了转换率以及在气体间隙中的能量沉积.新转换膜的转换效率要明显优于传统转换层的转换效率.最高转换率达到常规转换膜的3倍.     

蒙特卡罗模拟在中子散射大型科学装置上的应用

我国正在建设三个国家级的中子散射大型科学装置，蒙特卡罗模拟技术在中子散射谱仪的优化设计方面发挥着关键作用。本文介绍了国际上中子散射谱仪模拟技术的发展和应用现状，详细论述了蒙特卡罗方法应用于中子散射谱仪模拟研究的原理，介绍了国际上应用最广泛的中子散射谱仪模拟软件MCSTAS。我们已将模拟技术应用于中国先进研究堆上新建中子散射谱仪的设计工作中，完成了多台谱仪和中子导管的优化设计。本文报道了应力测量专用中子衍射谱仪的部分模拟和优化工作。     

薄晶体中位错滑移能力枯竭后的破坏模式

利用ＴＥＭ原位拉伸研究了纯铜，纯铝和纯铁３种金属薄膜在位错滑移能力枯后，微裂纹形核前微观结构的变化。在３种金属中，较厚区域的减薄均是通过位错滑移进行的。但随后的过程不同。对于面心立方金属，当位错滑移能量竭时，发生｛１１１｝〈１１２〉孪生或微裂纹殂核。     

中国科学院上海天文台天体物理研究室

上海天文台成立于1962年，前身是19世纪建立的徐家汇观象台和佘山观象台。现有科研人员145人，其中院士2人。是首批参加中科院知识创新工程的试点单位之一，科学目标为：应用空间天文技术监测和综合研究地球的运动、探索灾害预测的天文方法；开展银河系结构及其演化、活动星系核的观测研究，星系形成演化及宇宙学的研究；以及有关甚长基线干涉、氢原子频标等技术的研究。     

日本学者发现"夸克凝聚"现象存在的证据

众所周知,物质是有质量的;但是,很少有人能说清质量究竟是怎样产生的。日本学者近日在实验中发现了“夸克凝聚”现象存在的证据,向解开质量之谜又前进了一步。根据现有理论,组成物质的已知最小单元———夸克本来是没有质量的,宇宙大爆炸发生时,受一种称为希格斯玻色子的粒子的影响,夸克才开始有质量。物质中的每个质子和中子都是由3个夸克组成的,但是3个夸克的质量之和只占了1个质子或中子质量的2 % ,剩下98%的质量从何处而来,长期以来一直是个谜。为了解释这一点,科学家推测存在一种“夸克凝聚”现象,即构成质子的夸克与其它不同性质的夸…     

耕地磷盈余研究进展

磷作为影响水体富营养化的关键因素之一,已受到人们的普遍关注。磷盈余的耕地是水体磷的重要来源。本文从国内外耕地磷盈余量、耕地磷盈余的环境风险及其防治三个方面对目前耕地磷盈余的研究进行了综述。研究表明,随着农业的发展,化肥投入的增加,磷盈余问题普遍存在于世界各地,我国耕地磷盈余正处于上升通道,大多数发达国家则处于控制下降通道;耕地磷盈余的环境风险主要表现为耕地磷流失能力以及区域非点源磷污染的可能性;通过改良施肥方式、优化作物类型、加强田间管理模式及改进农业类型能够有效减少磷盈余带来的危害。     

一种面向高性能计算的自主众核处理器结构

随着半导体技术进步,众核处理器已广泛应用于高性能计算领域.近年来,在国家"863"计划、"核高基"重大专项等项目的支持下,我国高性能众核CPU的研发水平也取得了长足进步.本文介绍一种面向高性能计算的国产片上异构众核处理器结构,通过统一指令系统、统一执行模型和支持一致性的主存共享,实现异构核心的深度融合.本文主要介绍了该处理器面向"存储墙"、"功耗墙"和"可靠性墙"的优化技术体系.该处理器已完成集成了256个运算核心和4个管理核心的原型芯片设计,峰值性能超过1 TFlops.     

材料科技领域发展态势与趋势

材料的创新进步很大程度上推动了各领域的重大科技突破,是现代科技发展之本。世界上许多发达国家已经认识到材料研发的重要性,并制定了相应的国家发展战略规划。从设计、制备、表征、应用的链条看,近年来材料领域热点频现,人工智能技术的发展也渗入到了本领域成为新的关注点,涌现出诸多新型材料,性质与结构研究获得新的突破,应用成果丰硕。本文利用情报研究方法,梳理了部分国家在材料领域的重要规划,以及取得的最新进展和突破,并初步提出了对我国的启示与建议。     

A simple method for counting nuclei in the preimplantation mouse embryo

Summary An easy and rapid method of counting the number of cells in the preimplantation mouse embryo is described. The procedure increases the speed with which large numbers of embryos can be processed using a simple squash technique. Cell numbers are determined by exposing the embryos to the fluorescent DNA-binding dye, Hoechst 33258, removing the zona pellucida and simply squashing the embryo and counting the number of fluorescent nuclei. An increase in fluorescent intensity and maintenance of nuclear conformation of the squashed preparations are greatly improved by the use of the non-ionic detergent Triton X-100. Viability of dye-treated fertilized one-cell and blastocyst stage embryos is maintained at least up to day 13 of pregnancy following transfer of the embryos to the uteri of pseudopregnant recipients. Additional uses for this staining technique are discussed.Acknowledgment. Financial support was provided by NIH Grant HDD-06210 (KME) and by Basil O'Connor Starter Research Grant No. 5-379 from the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation (VEP). We thank Steven Halpern for help with the photography and Jon Flax for expert technical assistance.     

Circadian rhythms and their mechanisms

Summary Recent work concerning the number, site(s) and means of adjustment to the 24-h day of internal clocks is reviewed. Work on humans is considered wherever possible though much of the work involving ablation and in vitro techniques necessarily involves other species, particularly rodents. It is concluded that, though recent advances have been impressive and present techniques appear likely to continue to produce results and stimulate discussion, more attention should be directed to considering the circadian system as a whole rather than as an assemblage of individual components.     

Lesions in suprachiasmatic nuclei simulate effects of pinealectomy on prolactin release in ovariectomized and sulpiride-treated female rats

Summary Previous studies indicate that the pineal gland alters prolactin secretion, and it was suggested that at least part of the effect of the pineal hormone melatonin on prolactin release may be mediated by the hypothalamic structures. In this study, pinealectomy and lesions of the suprachiasmatic nuclei were found to alter serum levels of prolactin in the same direction, an effect that was counteracted by daily afternoon melatonin administration. Melatonin, but not other pineal indoles, also prevented sulpiride-induced prolactin secretion in pinealectomized or suprachiasmatic nuclei-lesioned and ovariectomized rats, which suggested that the pineal gland can modulate prolactin secretion by acting through a dopamine mechanism independent of hypothalamic suprachiasmatic structures.The authors thank Ms Karen Shashok for revising the English style. This work was supported in part by a grant GG85-0168 from the Comisión Asesora de Investigación Cientifica y Ténica. The NIAMDD, through the National Pituitary Agency, supplied the radioimmunoassay materials for prolactin determinations.     

Similarity between the effects of suprachiasmatic nuclei lesions and of pinealectomy on gonadotropin release in ovariectomized,sulpiride-treated and melatonin-replaced rats

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of pineal indole treatments on LH and FSH release in pinealectomized and suprachiasmatic lesioned and ovariectomized rats rendered hyperprolactinemic by acute sulpiride treatment. pinealectomy or suprachiasmatic nuclei lesions in female rats both decreased plasma LH and FHS at 10, but not at 20 d after surgery, whereas the daily afternoon administration of melatonin effectively restored levels of both gonadotropins to control values. In ovariectomized rats, pinealectomy or suprachiasmatic nuclei lesions were ineffective in counteracting the high plasma levels of LH and FSH. However, sulpiride treatment in both pinealectomized and suprachiasmatic nuclei lesioned and castrated female rats significantly decreased the levels of LH and FSH, an effect which was counteracted by daily afternoon melatonin administration. Other pineal indoles tested, i.e., 5-hydroxy- and 5-methoxytryptophol, were ineffective in regulating gonadotropin levels. The results suggest that the pineal gland, through its hormone melatonin, can modulate gonadotropin secretion by acting on a dopamine mechanism independent of hypothalamic suprachiasmatic areas.     

Expression of the mutant gene for L-gulono-γ-lactone oxidase in scurvy-prone rats

A mutant strain of Wistar rats with L-gulono--lactone oxidase deficiency has recently been established. To investigate this deficiency by DNA and RNA blot hybridization analyses, a fragment of a previously cloned cDNA encoding rat L-gulono--lactone oxidase was used as a probe. When genomic DNA of the mutant rat was digested with several restriction enzymes, the probe hybridized to fragments of the same sizes as those produced from DNA of normal rats. Poly(A)⁺RNA from the liver of the mutant rat was found to contain an L-gulono--lactone oxidase-specific mRNA of a normal size at a comparable level to that of normal rats. An in vitro translation experiment revealed that the mRNA programmed the synthesis of an enzyme protein which had the same molecular weight as that of the translational product of the normal mRNA, although the amount synthesized was markedly reduced as compared with that synthesized with the normal mRNA. In accordance with this observation, a very low but definite degree of L-gulono--lactone oxidase activity was detected in the microsomes of the mutant rat by a newly developed, highly sensitive method.Acknowledgments. The authors thank Dr Susumu Makino, Shionogi Research Laboratories, Shionogi & Co., Ltd, Japan, for his kind donation of normal (ODS- +/+) and ODS (ODS-od/od) rats. This work was supported in part by Grant-in-Aid (59570103) for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of Japan.     

Inherent properties and statistics with individual particles in quantum mechanics

This paper puts forward the hypothesis that the distinctive features of quantum statistics are exclusively determined by the nature of the properties it describes. In particular, all statistically relevant properties of identical quantum particles in many-particle systems are conjectured to be irreducible, ‘inherent’ properties only belonging to the whole system. This allows one to explain quantum statistics without endorsing the ‘Received View’ that particles are non-individuals, or postulating that quantum systems obey peculiar probability distributions, or assuming that there are primitive restrictions on the range of states accessible to such systems. With this, the need for an unambiguously metaphysical explanation of certain physical facts is acknowledged and satisfied.     

Spasmin-like proteins in various ciliates revealed by antibody to purified spasmins ofCarchesium polypinum

Summary It was found that some ciliates,Stentor, Spirostomum andBlepharisma, which can contract rapidly like the stalks of Vorticellidae, have Ca²⁺-binding proteins that are very similar to spasmins, in the immunological sense. The presence of spasmins in other Protozoa and in some Metazoa was also investigated.     

Partial sequence of the gene for a serine protease from a halophilic archaeumhaloferax mediterranei R4, and nucleotide sequences of 16S rRNA encoding genes from several halophilic archaea

A part of the gene coding for a halophilic serine protease from a halophilic archaeumHaloferax mediterranei R4 was amplified by PCR and its 672 nucleotide sequence was determined. Tentative translation to the amino acid sequence suggested that the enzyme was quite similar to halolysin produced by another halophilic archaeum strain 172P1. Nucleotide sequences of 16S rRNA encoding genes from 9 halophilic archaea were determined. Alignment of 19 sequences known so far showed that there are more than 20 positions carrying bases or deletions specific for each halobacterial genus:Halobacterium, Haloarcula, Haloferax, andHalococcus.     

Endorcine cells producing regulatory peptides

Summary Recent data on the immunologication of regulatory peptides and related propeptide sequences in endocrine cells and tumours of the gastrointestinal tract pancreas, lung, thyroid, pituitary (ACTH and opioids), adrenals and paraganglia have been revised and discussed. Gastrin, xenopsin, cholecystokinin (CCK), somatostatin, motilin, secretin, GIP (gastric inhibitory beenrevised and discussed. Gastrin, xenopsin, cholecystokinin (CCK), somatostatin, motilin, secretin, GIP (gastric inhibitory polypeptide), neurotensin, glicentin/glucagon-37 and PYY (peptide tyrosine tyrosine) are the main products of gastrointestinal endocrine cells; glucagon, CRF (corticotropin releasing factor), somatostatin, PP (pancreatic polypeptide) and GRF (growth hormone releasing factor), in addition to insulin, are produced in pancreatic islet cells; bombesin-related peptidesare the main markers of pulmonary endocrine cells; calcitonin and CGRP (calcitonin gene-related peptide) occur in thyroid and extrathyroid C cells; ACTH and endorphins in anterior and intermediate lobe pituitary cells, -MSH and CLIP (corticotropoin-like intermediate lobe peptide) in intermediate lobe cells; met- and leu-enkephalins and related peptides in adrenal medullary and paraganglionic cells as well as in some gut (enterochromaffin) cells; NPY (neuropeptide Y) in adrenalin-type adrenal medullary cells, etc.. Both tissue-appropriate and tissue-inappropriate regulatory peptides are produced by endocrine tumours, with inappropriate peptides mostly produced by malignant tumours.