Evidence for cultivar adoption and emerging complexity during the mid-Holocene in the La Plata basin

Multidisciplinary investigations at the Los Ajos archaeological mound complex in the wetlands of southeastern Uruguay challenge the traditional view that the La Plata basin was inhabited by simple groups of hunters and gatherers for much of the pre-Hispanic era. Here we report new archaeological, palaeoecological and botanical data indicating that during an increasingly drier mid-Holocene, at around 4,190 radiocarbon (14C) years before present (bp), Los Ajos became a permanent circular plaza village, and its inhabitants adopted the earliest cultivars known in southern South America. The architectural plan of Los Ajos during the following Ceramic Mound Period (around 3,000-500 14C yr bp) is similar to, but earlier than, settlement patterns demonstrated in Amazonia, revealing a new and independent architectural tradition for South America.     

FK506 sensitizes mammalian cells to high osmolarity by modulating p38 MAP kinase activation

The immunosuppressants tacrolimus (FK506) and cyclosporin A (CsA) have increased the survival rates in organ transplantation. Both drugs inhibit the protein phosphatase calcineurin (CaN) in activated T cells, exhibiting similar side-effects. Diabetes is observed more often in FK506 than CsA therapy, probably due to inhibition of new molecular targets other than CaN. We studied FK506 toxicity in mammalian cells. FK506, but not CsA, regulated p38 activation by osmotic stress, and decreased viability in osmostressed cells. In addition, FK506 treatment strongly increased the phosphorylation of the eukaryotic initiation factor-2a (eIF-2a) subunit. eIF-2a phosphorylation, p38 inhibition and cell lethality were relieved by addition of excess amino acids to the medium, suggesting that amino acid availability mediated FK506 toxicity. Therefore, these FK506-dependent responses could be relevant to the non-therapeutic effects of FK506 therapy.Received 16 October 2003; received after revision 8 January 2004; accepted 14 January 2004     

深海中的歌手——座头鲸

我清楚地记得去年夏季的某一天那不平凡的经历. 黄昏中我坐在我们那条小帆船的尾部,倚靠着一段木桩,借助落日的余辉又朝百慕大吉伯斯山灯塔看了一眼…离开陆地已经很远,今晚赶回去已来不及.我妻子凯蒂和我只好在海上过夜.即使在大白天驶过百慕大那变幻莫测的礁石也是够困难的,夜里那就简直是不可能的事了.     

Coulomb blockade and the Kondo effect in single-atom transistors

Using molecules as electronic components is a powerful new direction in the science and technology of nanometre-scale systems. Experiments to date have examined a multitude of molecules conducting in parallel, or, in some cases, transport through single molecules. The latter includes molecules probed in a two-terminal geometry using mechanically controlled break junctions or scanning probes as well as three-terminal single-molecule transistors made from carbon nanotubes, C(60) molecules, and conjugated molecules diluted in a less-conducting molecular layer. The ultimate limit would be a device where electrons hop on to, and off from, a single atom between two contacts. Here we describe transistors incorporating a transition-metal complex designed so that electron transport occurs through well-defined charge states of a single atom. We examine two related molecules containing a Co ion bonded to polypyridyl ligands, attached to insulating tethers of different lengths. Changing the length of the insulating tether alters the coupling of the ion to the electrodes, enabling the fabrication of devices that exhibit either single-electron phenomena, such as Coulomb blockade, or the Kondo effect.     

Large Cretaceous sphenodontian from Patagonia provides insight into lepidosaur evolution in Gondwana

Sphenodontian reptiles successfully radiated during Triassic and Jurassic times, but were driven almost to extinction during the Cretaceous period. The sparse Early Cretaceous record of sphenodontians has been interpreted as reflecting the decline of the group in favour of lizards, their suspected ecological successors. However, recent discoveries in Late Cretaceous beds in Patagonia partially modify this interpretation. Numerous skeletons of a new sphenodontian, Priosphenodon avelasi gen. et sp. nov., were collected from a single locality in the Cenomanian-Turonian Candeleros Formation, where it is more abundant than any other tetrapod group recorded in the quarry (for example, Crocodyliformes, Serpentes, Dinosauria and Mammalia). Adult specimens of Priosphenodon reached one metre in length, larger than any previously known terrestrial sphenodontian. Here we propose, using available evidence, that sphenodontians were not a minor component of the Cretaceous terrestrial ecosystems of South America, and that their ecological replacement by squamates was delayed until the early Tertiary. The new discovery helps to bridge the considerable gap in the fossil record (around 120 million years) that separates the Early Cretaceous sphenodontians from their living relatives (Sphenodon).     

Application of ICP-MS trace element analysis in study of ancient Chinese ceramics

Chemical analysis plays a significant role in the study of ancient ceramics[1,2]. Most ancient Chinese kilns used clays mined from the local areas and differences in the geochemistry and mineralogy of these raw materials may be expected. The chemical composition of ceramics may also be influenced by production techniques, such as processing by washing and mixing of different sorts of raw materials. These may also vary from kiln to kiln and even change over time. Thus the raw materials and pro…     

Juxtaposed regions of extensive and minimal linkage disequilibrium in human Xq25 and Xq28

Linkage disequilibrium (LD), or the non-random association of alleles, is poorly understood in the human genome. Population genetic theory suggests that LD is determined by the age of the markers, population history, recombination rate, selection and genetic drift. Despite the uncertainties in determining the relative contributions of these factors, some groups have argued that LD is a simple function of distance between markers. Disease-gene mapping studies and a simulation study gave differing predictions on the degree of LD in isolated and general populations. In view of the discrepancies between theory and experimental observations, we constructed a high-density SNP map of the Xq25-Xq28 region and analysed the male genotypes and haplotypes across this region for LD in three populations. The populations included an outbred European sample (CEPH males) and isolated population samples from Finland and Sardinia. We found two extended regions of strong LD bracketed by regions with no evidence for LD in all three samples. Haplotype analysis showed a paucity of haplotypes in regions of strong LD. Our results suggest that, in this region of the X chromosome, LD is not a monotonic function of the distance between markers, but is more a property of the particular location in the human genome.     

对苯二甲酸根桥联的双钴（Ⅱ）配合物的合成及磁交换作用

合成和表征了３种新型的对苯二甲酸根桥联的双钴（Ⅱ）配合物：［Ｃｏ２（ＴＰＨＡ）（ＮＯ２－ｐｈｅｎ）４」（ＣＩＯ４）２·Ｈ２Ｏ（１），［Ｃｏ２（ＴＰＨＡ）（ｔｍｅｎ）４］（ＣＩＯ４）２（２）和［ＣＯ２（ＴＰＨＡ）（ｔｍｄ）４」（ＣＩＯ４）：（３）．经元素分析、红外光谱、电子光谱、电导和磁性测量等手段推定配合物具有对苯二甲酸根桥联结构，Ｃｏ（Ⅱ）离子处于畸变的八面体环境．测定了配合物（１）和（２）的变温（４～３００Ｋ）磁化率，其数值与自旋哈密顿算符ｈ＝－２ＪＳ１·Ｓ２导出的磁方程拟合，求得交换积分Ｊ分别为－２．９５ｃｍ－１（１）和－１．２４ｃｍ－１（２），表明双核配合物中金属离子间存在弱的反铁磁性超交换作用．     

克拉玛依油田微生物吞吐矿场试验及效果分析

针对克拉玛依油田稠油沥青质组分所占比例大的特点,通过室内菌种筛选,选育出适合克拉玛依稠油的微生物菌种,该菌种能够显著降解稠油中的沥青质。微生物吞吐矿场试验结果表明：六口油井措施有效率100%,累计增油936.883t,取得明显的经济效益,该技术为新疆油田稠油蒸汽吞吐后进一步提高采收率提供了一种工序简单、安全环保的新方法。