Functional cartography of complex metabolic networks

High-throughput techniques are leading to an explosive growth in the size of biological databases and creating the opportunity to revolutionize our understanding of life and disease. Interpretation of these data remains, however, a major scientific challenge. Here, we propose a methodology that enables us to extract and display information contained in complex networks. Specifically, we demonstrate that we can find functional modules in complex networks, and classify nodes into universal roles according to their pattern of intra- and inter-module connections. The method thus yields a 'cartographic representation' of complex networks. Metabolic networks are among the most challenging biological networks and, arguably, the ones with most potential for immediate applicability. We use our method to analyse the metabolic networks of twelve organisms from three different superkingdoms. We find that, typically, 80% of the nodes are only connected to other nodes within their respective modules, and that nodes with different roles are affected by different evolutionary constraints and pressures. Remarkably, we find that metabolites that participate in only a few reactions but that connect different modules are more conserved than hubs whose links are mostly within a single module.     

Self-similarity of complex networks

Complex networks have been studied extensively owing to their relevance to many real systems such as the world-wide web, the Internet, energy landscapes and biological and social networks. A large number of real networks are referred to as 'scale-free' because they show a power-law distribution of the number of links per node. However, it is widely believed that complex networks are not invariant or self-similar under a length-scale transformation. This conclusion originates from the 'small-world' property of these networks, which implies that the number of nodes increases exponentially with the 'diameter' of the network, rather than the power-law relation expected for a self-similar structure. Here we analyse a variety of real complex networks and find that, on the contrary, they consist of self-repeating patterns on all length scales. This result is achieved by the application of a renormalization procedure that coarse-grains the system into boxes containing nodes within a given 'size'. We identify a power-law relation between the number of boxes needed to cover the network and the size of the box, defining a finite self-similar exponent. These fundamental properties help to explain the scale-free nature of complex networks and suggest a common self-organization dynamics.     

The optical afterglow of the short gamma-ray burst GRB 050709

It has long been known that there are two classes of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), mainly distinguished by their durations. The breakthrough in our understanding of long-duration GRBs (those lasting more than approximately 2 s), which ultimately linked them with energetic type Ic supernovae, came from the discovery of their long-lived X-ray and optical 'afterglows', when precise and rapid localizations of the sources could finally be obtained. X-ray localizations have recently become available for short (duration <2 s) GRBs, which have evaded optical detection for more than 30 years. Here we report the first discovery of transient optical emission (R-band magnitude approximately 23) associated with a short burst: GRB 050709. The optical afterglow was localized with subarcsecond accuracy, and lies in the outskirts of a blue dwarf galaxy. The optical and X-ray afterglow properties 34 h after the GRB are reminiscent of the afterglows of long GRBs, which are attributable to synchrotron emission from ultrarelativistic ejecta. We did not, however, detect a supernova, as found in most nearby long GRB afterglows, which suggests a different origin for the short GRBs.     

Anisotropy of Earth's D' layer and stacking faults in the MgSiO3 post-perovskite phase

The post-perovskite phase of (Mg,Fe)SiO3 is believed to be the main mineral phase of the Earth's lowermost mantle (the D' layer). Its properties explain numerous geophysical observations associated with this layer-for example, the D' discontinuity, its topography and seismic anisotropy within the layer. Here we use a novel simulation technique, first-principles metadynamics, to identify a family of low-energy polytypic stacking-fault structures intermediate between the perovskite and post-perovskite phases. Metadynamics trajectories identify plane sliding involving the formation of stacking faults as the most favourable pathway for the phase transition, and as a likely mechanism for plastic deformation of perovskite and post-perovskite. In particular, the predicted slip planes are {010} for perovskite (consistent with experiment) and {110} for post-perovskite (in contrast to the previously expected {010} slip planes). Dominant slip planes define the lattice preferred orientation and elastic anisotropy of the texture. The {110} slip planes in post-perovskite require a much smaller degree of lattice preferred orientation to explain geophysical observations of shear-wave anisotropy in the D' layer.     

Relations phénétiques entre les familles d'Hamamelididae

Summary The phenetic relationships between the families of the Hamamelididae subclass were studied by using the following multifactorial analytical methods: principal components analysis (PCA) and reciprocal averaging (RA). The results obtained agree appreciably with Takhtajan's classification system.

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Remerciements. Nous remercions Mlle Sylvie Laliberté, Institut botanique de l'Université de Montréal, pour sa révision du manuscrit; M. Michel Labrecque, Institut botanique de l'Université de Montréal, pour avoir dessiné les figures; de même que M. André Bouchard, Jardin Botanique de Montréal et Institut botanique de l'Université de Montréal, de nous avoir permis d'utiliser les programmes dont il se sert pour ses travaux d'écologie.     

Thyroid-catecholamines interrelationships in free fatty acids release from adipose tissue

Zusammenfassung Die Abgabe freier Fettsäuren aus dem mesenterialen Fettgewebe kann durch Phentolamin nicht nur bei hyperthyroeten, sondern auch bei euthyreoten Ratten blockiert werden. Die erhöhte Freisetzung bei Hyperthyreose lässt sich wahrscheinlich durch eine gesteigerte Katecholaminaktivität erklären.     

On the possibility of spontaneous tuberculous infection in the course of long-term trials in mice

Zusammenfassung Virulente Tuberkelbakterien wurden in Lunge und Milz von Mäusen entdeckt, die von intravenös infizierten Müttern geboren wurden und die mehr als 2 Monate in engem Kontakt mit den tuberkulösen Eltern lebten.     

Stimulation of plant development by some uracil analogues

Zusammenfassung Es wurde eine entwicklungsfördernde Wirkung von 5-Bromuracil und 5-Nitrouracil bereits in geringen Mengen auf manche Pflanzen (unter anderem Tomaten, Gurken und Gartenlattich) festgestellt. 5-Bromuracil wird dabei nicht in die Pflanzennukleinsäuren eingebaut, sondern unterliegt einem schnellen Abbau; weiterhin verursacht der Stoff eine Hemmung des Uracilabbaues. Die Möglichkeit einer Beeinflussung der genetischen Eigenschaften wird diskutiert.     

Versuche auf dem Gebiet der Lokalanästhesie mit protrahierter Wirkung. III

Summary The addition of simple quaternary salts (as I and II) to solutions of local anaesthetics, effects a pronounced prolongation of the time of complete infiltration anaesthesia. These salts have no effect on the time of surface anaesthesia. Other pharmacological characteristics of these mixtures were also determined.