Discovery of X-rays from the protostellar outflow object HH2

Herbig-Haro (HH) objects have been known for 50 years to be luminous condensations of gas in star-forming regions, but their underlying physical nature is still being elucidated. Previously suggested models encompass newborn stars, stellar winds clashing with nebular material, dense pockets of interstellar gas excited by shocks from outflows, and interstellar 'bullets' (ref. 6). Recent progress has been made with the jet-induced shock model, in which material streams out of young stellar objects and collides with the surrounding interstellar medium. A clear prediction of this model is that the most energetic Herbig-Haro objects will emit X-rays, although they have not hitherto been detected. Here we report the discovery of X-ray emission from one of the brightest and closest Herbig-Haro objects, HH2, at a level consistent with the model predictions. We conclude that this Herbig-Haro object contains shock-heated material located at or near its leading edge with a temperature of about 106 K.     

Interaction of c-Abl and p73alpha and their collaboration to induce apoptosis.

c-Abl, a non-receptor tyrosine kinase, is activated by agents that damage DNA. This activation results in either arrest of the cell cycle in phase G1 or apoptotic cell death, both of which are dependent on the kinase activity of c-Abl. p73, a member of the p53 family of tumour-suppressor proteins, can also induce apoptosis. Here we show that the apoptotic activity of p73alpha requires the presence of functional, kinase-competent c-Abl. Furthermore, p73 and c-Abl can associate with each other, andthis binding is mediated by a PxxP motif in p73 and the SH3 domain of c-Abl. We find that p73 is a substrate of the c-Abl kinase and that the ability of c-Abl to phosphorylate p73 is markedly increased by gamma-irradiation. Moreover, p73 is phosphorylated in vivo in response to ionizing radiation. These findings define a pro-apoptotic signalling pathway involving p73 and c-Abl.     

Enatioselective[2 2 2] Cycloaddition as A Synthetic Tool

1 Results Transition metal-catalyzed [2 2 2] cycloaddition is one of the most efficient protocols for the construction of six-membered ring system.Our group has comprehensively studied various types of highly enantioselective [2 2 2] cycloaddition for the synthesis of chiral cycloadducts; we already reported an iridium-catalyzed intermolecular [2 2 2] cycloaddition between α,ω-diynes,having various tethers and substituents on the alkyne termini,and monoalkynes,possessing oxygen or/and nitrogen functiona...     

表面修饰调控锑烯SbX(X=-CN,-NC)的电子结构与光学性质

利用密度泛函理论(DFT)第一性原理平面波超软赝势方法,计算单层锑烯,腈基(-CN)和异腈基(-NC)表面吸附单层锑烯的晶体结构,电子结构和光学性质.计算结果显示:经过修饰后,锑烯的buckled值变小,转变为准平面结构.同时,本征、-CN修饰、-NC修饰、-CN和-NC同时修饰锑烯均具有很好的稳定性,具备实验合成的可能性.电子结构的分析表明,-CN或-NC修饰的锑烯呈现狄拉克材料特性,而用-CN和-NC同时修饰时则转变为直接带隙半导体,带隙为0.024 eV,且能带结构具有较好的线性色散.光学性质表明,修饰后的锑烯的吸收边发生红移,对红外光及可见光的吸收效果增强,这表明其在纳米光电子器件和太阳能电池等领域中具有潜在的应用前景.     

A beta peptide immunization reduces behavioural impairment and plaques in a model of Alzheimer's disease

Much evidence indicates that abnormal processing and extracellular deposition of amyloid-beta peptide (A beta), a proteolytic derivative of the beta-amyloid precursor protein (betaAPP), is central to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (reviewed in ref. 1). In the PDAPP transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease, immunization with A beta causes a marked reduction in burden of the brain amyloid. Evidence that A beta immunization also reduces cognitive dysfunction in murine models of Alzheimer's disease would support the hypothesis that abnormal A beta processing is essential to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease, and would encourage the development of other strategies directed at the 'amyloid cascade'. Here we show that A beta immunization reduces both deposition of cerebral fibrillar A beta and cognitive dysfunction in the TgCRND8 murine model of Alzheimer's disease without, however, altering total levels of A beta in the brain. This implies that either a approximately 50% reduction in dense-cored A beta plaques is sufficient to affect cognition, or that vaccination may modulate the activity/abundance of a small subpopulation of especially toxic A beta species.     

高分辨率层序地层在岩相古地理编图中的应用

以高分辨率层序地层学理论为指导,以地层学、沉积学和岩相古地理学为基础,对塔巴庙地区山西组单井剖面进行了精细的高分辨率层序地层分析、对比,同时建立该区等时地层格架,选择中期基准面上升半旋回作为编图单元,系统编制了山西组各中周期的岩相古地理图,并就其平面展布特点进行了描述。以此方法所编制的岩相古地理图具有重要的理论和现实意义,主要表现为更具等时性、成因连续性和实用性,能更好地反映一个地区在统一地质作用场中的各种地质信息和综合效应,对于覆盖区相带展布及变化具更合理的预测性,对油气勘探有很好的指导作用。     

The global distribution of clinical episodes of Plasmodium falciparum malaria

Interest in mapping the global distribution of malaria is motivated by a need to define populations at risk for appropriate resource allocation and to provide a robust framework for evaluating its global economic impact. Comparison of older and more recent malaria maps shows how the disease has been geographically restricted, but it remains entrenched in poor areas of the world with climates suitable for transmission. Here we provide an empirical approach to estimating the number of clinical events caused by Plasmodium falciparum worldwide, by using a combination of epidemiological, geographical and demographic data. We estimate that there were 515 (range 300-660) million episodes of clinical P. falciparum malaria in 2002. These global estimates are up to 50% higher than those reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and 200% higher for areas outside Africa, reflecting the WHO's reliance upon passive national reporting for these countries. Without an informed understanding of the cartography of malaria risk, the global extent of clinical disease caused by P. falciparum will continue to be underestimated.     

Fibronectin receptor structures in the VLA family of heterodimers

Multiple cell surface proteins of relative molecular mass 115,000-155,000 (Mr 115K-155K) have been implicated as receptors mediating adhesion to extracellular matrix proteins. But the organization and relatedness of these peptides has remained unclear. In separate studies, the 'very late antigens' VLA-1 (Mr 210K/130K) and VLA-2 (Mr 160K/130K) were initially characterized as surface heterodimers appearing 2-4 weeks after in vitro stimulation of human T cells. Three more VLA heterodimers have since been discovered, which, like VLA-1 and VLA-2, are each composed of unique alpha-subunits in association with a common 130K beta subunit. This paper shows that the common VLA beta-subunit is equivalent to subunits found in structures with known fibronectin and laminin receptor activity, and that VLA-3 and VLA-5 are similar or identical to these previously defined receptors for adhesion molecules. Antibody blocking studies confirmed that at least some of the widely distributed VLA proteins of previously unknown function are involved in cell adhesion to fibronectin and laminin. We suggest that the VLA family of receptors may provide cells with multiple independent substrate adhesion capabilities.