Is chlamydial heat shock protein 60 a risk factor for oncogenesis?

Heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) plays an important role in the protein folding of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Most of the papers published on chlamydial HSP60 concern its role in immune response during infection. In the last decade, exposure to Chlamydia trachomatis has been consistently associated with the development of cervical and ovarian cancer. Moreover, it has been suggested that chlamydial HSP60 may have an anti-apoptotic effect during persistent infection. We hypothesize that the accumulation of exogenous chlamydial HSP60 in the cytoplasm of actively replicating eukaryotic cells may interfere with the regulation of the apoptotic pathway. The concomitant expression of viral oncoproteins and/or the presence of mutations may lead to the ability to survive apoptotic stimuli, loss of replicative senescence, uncontrolled proliferation and, finally neoplastic transformation.Received 15 August 2004; received after revision 1 October 2004; accepted 7 October 2004     

低硫柴油直喷燃烧超细颗粒排放特性研究

对比研究了燃用普通柴油和低硫柴油其排气超细颗粒数量浓度分布及化学成分特征. 结果表明, 相对于燃用普通柴油, 燃用低硫柴油其排气总颗粒质量浓度略有降低, 而数量浓度显著降低, 且降幅随负荷和转速增大. 燃用普通柴油和低硫柴油其排气微粒数浓度粒径分布曲线形状基本相似, 同一测试工况下, 相对于燃用普通柴油, 燃用低硫柴油其排气积聚模态微粒数量浓度变化较小, 而核模态微粒排放显著降低. 发动机排气微粒主要由C, O, Cl, S, Si, Ca, Na, Al, K元素组成, 燃用普通柴油和低硫柴油其排气微粒元素组成基本相似, 但燃用低硫柴油排气微粒中没有发现S元素. 排气微粒中挥发性有机物(SOF)主要成分有饱和烷烃(碳原子数为C15~C26)、有机酸酯和多环芳烃等. 燃用低硫柴油时微粒采样中未发现多环芳烃.     

大气降水中低分子有机酸的季节变化及对酸雨形成的贡献(以贵阳市和尚重镇为例)

低分子有机酸是大气中普遍存在的一种化学成分, 对酸雨的形成有重要的贡献. 西南地区是酸雨污染重灾区, 2006年4月到2007年4月用离子色谱法测定了贵阳市和尚重镇大气降水中的7种低分子有机酸. 实验结果表明: 两地大气降水中, 甲酸、乙酸和草酸是最主要的有机酸, 贵阳市其雨量加权平均值分别为14.24, 9.35和2.79 μmol/L, 而尚重镇则分别为4.95, 1.35和2.31 μmol/L. 尚重镇大气降水中低分子有机酸生长季节浓度高于非生长季节浓度, 说明植物或土壤的释放可能是尚重镇大气有机酸的主要来源; 与之相反, 贵阳市大气降水中有机酸非生长季节浓度高于生长季节浓度, 可能与该地区冬季降水次数少, 每次雨量小以及降水同时易伴随颗粒物沉降有关. 贵阳市有机酸对自由酸贡献分别为: 甲酸?7.9%, 乙酸?4.7%, 草酸?6.1%, 3种主要有机酸贡献了18.7%的自由酸; 尚重镇分别为: 甲酸?25.1%, 乙酸?7.5%, 草酸?25.5%, 有机酸对自由酸贡献为58.1%. 贵阳市降水中有机酸根占阴离子总和的1.7%~19.2%, 平均值为6.6%. 尚重镇降水中有机酸根对总阴离子的贡献为0.5%~92.2%, 平均贡献为13.2%. 由此可见, 低分子有机酸, 尤其是边远地区, 对大气降水酸化的影响不可忽视.     

Immune recognition. A new receptor for beta-glucans.

The carbohydrate polymers known as beta-1,3-d-glucans exert potent effects on the immune system - stimulating antitumour and antimicrobial activity, for example - by binding to receptors on macrophages and other white blood cells and activating them. Although beta-glucans are known to bind to receptors, such as complement receptor 3 (ref. 1), there is evidence that another beta-glucan receptor is present on macrophages. Here we identify this unknown receptor as dectin-1 (ref. 2), a finding that provides new insights into the innate immune recognition of beta-glucans.     

Crystal structure of the β2 adrenergic receptor-Gs protein complex

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are responsible for the majority of cellular responses to hormones and neurotransmitters as well as the senses of sight, olfaction and taste. The paradigm of GPCR signalling is the activation of a heterotrimeric GTP binding protein (G protein) by an agonist-occupied receptor. The β(2) adrenergic receptor (β(2)AR) activation of Gs, the stimulatory G protein for adenylyl cyclase, has long been a model system for GPCR signalling. Here we present the crystal structure of the active state ternary complex composed of agonist-occupied monomeric β(2)AR and nucleotide-free Gs heterotrimer. The principal interactions between the β(2)AR and Gs involve the amino- and carboxy-terminal α-helices of Gs, with conformational changes propagating to the nucleotide-binding pocket. The largest conformational changes in the β(2)AR include a 14 ? outward movement at the cytoplasmic end of transmembrane segment 6 (TM6) and an α-helical extension of the cytoplasmic end of TM5. The most surprising observation is a major displacement of the α-helical domain of Gαs relative to the Ras-like GTPase domain. This crystal structure represents the first high-resolution view of transmembrane signalling by a GPCR.     

Invertebrate communities,sediment parameters and food availability of intertidal soft-sediment ecosystems on the north coast of British Columbia,Canada

ABSTRACT

The Skeena River estuary supports commercial and culturally important salmon fisheries. However, considerable development has occurred in the area, and more has been proposed. If anthropogenic development degrades this critical habitat, the Skeena salmon run, that every year contributes $110 million to local economies, may be negatively impacted. Benthic invertebrates are common indicator species, as they often respond to disturbances before commercial species, warning of potential impacts. Unfortunately, invertebrates in the Skeena estuary have not been extensively studied, and we lack the detailed understanding of their community structure and dynamics for them to serve as indicator species in this region. Therefore, present conditions of the Skeena estuary are established here (invertebrate community, sediment conditions and food availability), in order to provide the data required both to anticipate changes associated with potential anthropogenic disturbances and to detect changes in this system if development occurs.     

Quantum Theory and the Nature of Consciousness

Our interest focusses on the idea, that consciousness is a powerful acting entity. Up to now there does not exist a scientific concept for this idea. This is not due to problems within the field of psychology or brain research, but rather in resisting theories of modern physics. That is, why we have to search for a solution in the field of physics. A solution can be found in a new understanding of the basics of physical theory. That could be given by abstract and absolute quantum bits of information (AQI bits). To avoid the popular misunderstanding of “information” as “meaningful” it was necessary to find a new word for the free-of-meaning AQI bits: the AQI bits establish a quantum pre-structure termed “Protyposis” (Greek: “pre-formation”), out of which real objects can be formed, starting from energetical and material elementary particles. The Protyposis AQI bits provide a pre-structure for all entities in natural sciences. They are the basic entities, whereof the physical nature of the brain, on the one hand, and the mental nature of consciousness, on the other hand, were formed during the cosmological and the following biological evolution. A deeper understanding of quantum structures may help to overcome the resistance against quantum theory in the field of brain research and consciousness. The key for an understanding is the concept of Protyposis, which means an abstract quantum information free of any definite meaning. With the AQI bits of the Protyposis, both, massless and massive quantum particles can be constructed. Even quantum information with special meanings, in example grammatically formulated thoughts, eventually could be explained. As long as the fundamental basis of quantum theory is misunderstood as being formed by a manifold of some small objects like atoms, quarks, or strings, the problem of understanding consciousness has no solution. If instead we understand quantum theory as based on truly simple quantum structures, there would be no longer fundamental problems for an understanding of consciousness.