Analysis of carbon isotopes in airborne carbonate and implications for aeolian sources

Methods were developed to determine the mass ratios of carbon isotopes in trace amounts of aerosol carbonate. A Finnigan MAT 252 mass spectrometer fitted with an on-line Kiel device was to determine the ^13C/^12C ratio in CO2 produced from the carbonate. A study using these methods was conducted to characterize the carbonate carbon isotopes in aerosol samples collected in Xi‘an on dusty and normal days during March and April 2002. Results of the study demonstrate that insights into the origin of the dust can be deduced from its isotopic composition. That is, the δ^13C ofcarbonate for dust storm samples ranged from -1.4‰ to -4.2‰, and this is consistent with sandy materials in dust source regions upwind. In contrast, for non-dusty days δ^13C ranged from -7.5% to -9.3‰, which is more similar to fine particles emitted from local surface soils. Comparisons of dust storm aerosols with surface soils from source regions and with aerosol samples collected downwind indicate that the δ^13C values did not change appreciably during longrange transport. Therefore, carbon isotopes have the potential for distinguishing among source materials, and this approach provides a powerful new tool for identifying dust provenance.     

Effect of New O-Superfamily Conotoxin on Voltage-Activated Currents of Hippocampal Neurons

The effects of a new O-superfamily conotoxin, SO3, on sodium current (INa), transient A-type potassium currents (IA), and delayed rectified potassium currents (IK), were examined in cultured rat hippocampal neurons using the whole-cell patch clamp technique. Addition of SO3 caused a concentration-dependent, rapidly developing, and reversible inhibition of voltage-activated currents. The IC50 values for the blockage of INa, IA, and IK were calculated as 0.49, 33.9, and 7.6 μmol/L, respectively. The determined Hill coefficients were 1.7, 0.6, and 1.2, respectively. These results indicate that SO3 can selectively inhibit neuronal sodium and potassium currents.     

西藏纳木错湖芯正构烷烃及其反映的8.4 ka以来的环境变化

采用索氏抽提法提取纳木错NMLC-1孔湖芯沉积物中的正构烷烃, 利用GC/MS进行了测试. 在已经建立的深度-年代曲线基础上, 通过分析正构烷烃的组成与含量, 结合TOC, TN和CaCO₃等环境代用指标, 重建了纳木错湖区约8.4 ka以来的环境变化历史. 结果表明: 约8.4~6.7 ka BP期间, 环境较温暖, 降水呈增加趋势, 末期变冷干. 约6.7~2.9 ka BP期间可分为两个亚期, 早期温暖湿润, 至6.0 ka BP左右达到环境最适宜期; 晚期温度波动降低, 陆生植被和沉水植物退化, 以3.0 ka BP左右的冷事件结束. 约2.9 ka BP~现在, 冷暖交替, 1.4 ka BP左右开始趋于干燥, 600~400 a BP间的降温体现了小冰期特征.     

Genetic and physical finemapping of the Sc locus conferring indica-japonica hybrid sterility in rice （Oryza sativa L.）

Hybrid sterility is a major hindrance to utilizing the heterosis in indica-japonica hybrids. To isolate a gene Sc conferring the hybrid sterility, the locus was mapped using molecular markers and an F2 population derived from a cross between near isogenic lines. A primary linkage analysis showed that Sc was linked closely with 4 markers on chromosome 3, on which the genetic distance between a marker RG227 and Sc was 0.07 cM. Chromosome walking with a rice TAC genomic library was carried out using RG227 as a starting probe, and a contig of ca. 320 kb covering the Sc locus was constructed. Two TAC clones, M45EI4 and M90J01 that might cover the Sc locus, were partially sequenced. By searching the rice sequence databases with sequences of the TACs and RG227 a japonica rice BAC sequence, OSJNBb0078P24 was identified. By comparing the TAC and BAC sequences, six new PCR-based markers were developed. With these markers the Sc locus was further mapped to a region of 46 kb. The results suggest that the BAC OSJNBb0078P24 and TAC M45EI4 contain the Sc gene. Six ORFs were predicted in the focused 46-kb region.     

CO adsorption on electrode of Pt nanoparticles investigated by cyclic voltammetry and <Emphasis Type="Italic">in situ</Emphasis> FTIR spectroscopy

Pt nanoparticles were prepared by the chemical reduction method.The average diameter of Pt nanoparticles was determined to be 2.5nm by TEM.The electrochemical propertis of Pt nanoparticles were studied by cyclic voltammetry,In comparison with massive Pt,the oxidation current peak of CO adsorbed on Pt nanoparticles in broader.Twin adsorbates of CO on Pt nanoparticles were determined by in situ FTIRS for the first time.It has revealed that the linear and twin-bonded CO can be converted into bridge-bonded CO with the variation of electrode potential.A series of special properties of Pt nanoparticles,such as enhanced IR absorption of CO adsorbates,were also observed.     

Late Cretaceous-Cenozoic exhumation history of Tiantangzhai region of Dabieshan Orogen： Constraints from （U-Th）／He and fission track analysis

Integrated fission track and (U-Th)/He analysis is carried out on 6 apatite and 6 zircon samples from a near vertical section in The Tiantangzhai region at the core of the present Dabieshan orogen. The result shows that the region experienced cooling/exhumation during the Late Cretaceousand Early Tertiary period. Age-elevation relationships for different dating systems and different minerals suggest a pulse of rapid exhumation at ～110 Ma before present, preserved in the structurally highest samples. At lower elevations, ages begin to decrease with decreasing elevation, suggesting lower exhumation rates since 90 Ma. Two periods of different exhumation rates are identified since 90 Ma. The average apparent exhumation rate for the period of 43.4—22.5 is 0.062 km/Ma, whereas that for the period of 76.4—47.4 Ma is 0.039 km/Ma.     

Minimum information about a microarray experiment (MIAME)-toward standards for microarray data.

Microarray analysis has become a widely used tool for the generation of gene expression data on a genomic scale. Although many significant results have been derived from microarray studies, one limitation has been the lack of standards for presenting and exchanging such data. Here we present a proposal, the Minimum Information About a Microarray Experiment (MIAME), that describes the minimum information required to ensure that microarray data can be easily interpreted and that results derived from its analysis can be independently verified. The ultimate goal of this work is to establish a standard for recording and reporting microarray-based gene expression data, which will in turn facilitate the establishment of databases and public repositories and enable the development of data analysis tools. With respect to MIAME, we concentrate on defining the content and structure of the necessary information rather than the technical format for capturing it.     

Receptive field plasticity of neurons in rat auditory cortex

Using conventional electrophysiological technique, we investigated the plasticity of the frequency receptive fields (RF) of auditory cortex (AC) neurons in rats. In the AC, when the frequency difference between conditioning stimulus frequency (CSF) and the best frequency (BF) was in the range of 1--4 kHz, the frequency RF of AC neurons shifted. The smaller the differences between CSF and BF, the higher the probability of the RF shift and the greater the degree of the RF shift. To some extent, the plasticity of RF was dependent on the duration of the session of conditioning stimulus (CS). When the frequency difference between CSF and BF was bigger, the duration of the CS session needed to induce the plasticity was longer. The recovery time course of the frequency RF showed opposite changes after CS cessation.The RF shift could be induced by the frequency that was either higher or lower than the control BF, demonstrating no clear directional preference. The frequency RF of some neurons showed bidirectional shift, and the RF of other neurons showed single directional shift. The results suggest that the frequency RF plasticity of AC neurons could be considered asan ideal model for studying plasticity mechanism. The present study also provides important evidence for further study of learning and memory in auditory system.     

Purification and cloning of amyloid precursor protein beta-secretase from human brain

Proteolytic processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) generates amyloid beta (Abeta) peptide, which is thought to be causal for the pathology and subsequent cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease. Cleavage by beta-secretase at the amino terminus of the Abeta peptide sequence, between residues 671 and 672 of APP, leads to the generation and extracellular release of beta-cleaved soluble APP, and a corresponding cell-associated carboxy-terminal fragment. Cleavage of the C-terminal fragment by gamma-secretase(s) leads to the formation of Abeta. The pathogenic mutation K670M671-->N670L671 at the beta-secretase cleavage site in APP, which was discovered in a Swedish family with familial Alzheimer's disease, leads to increased beta-secretase cleavage of the mutant substrate. Here we describe a membrane-bound enzyme activity that cleaves full-length APP at the beta-secretase cleavage site, and find it to be the predominant beta-cleavage activity in human brain. We have purified this enzyme activity to homogeneity from human brain using a new substrate analogue inhibitor of the enzyme activity, and show that the purified enzyme has all the properties predicted for beta-secretase. Cloning and expression of the enzyme reveals that human brain beta-secretase is a new membrane-bound aspartic proteinase.     

Effects of aqueous media on microbial removal of sulfur from dibenzothiophene in the presence of hydrocarbons

The existence of sulfur in the petroleum would erode the transport lines and poison the chemical catalysts. In addition, it is the main cause of air pollution and the for-mation of acid rain. At present, hydrodesulfurization (HDS) is the commonly used technology for fuel desulfu-rization. HDS has the disadvantages of high cost of ma-nipulation and equipment investment. Furthermore, HDS is difficult to remove the sulfur from condensed thio-phenes such as dibenzothiophene (DBT). These forms…