Persistence of soil organic matter as an ecosystem property

Globally, soil organic matter (SOM) contains more than three times as much carbon as either the atmosphere or terrestrial vegetation. Yet it remains largely unknown why some SOM persists for millennia whereas other SOM decomposes readily--and this limits our ability to predict how soils will respond to climate change. Recent analytical and experimental advances have demonstrated that molecular structure alone does not control SOM stability: in fact, environmental and biological controls predominate. Here we propose ways to include this understanding in a new generation of experiments and soil carbon models, thereby improving predictions of the SOM response to global warming.     

A novel metalloproteinase gene specifically expressed in stromal cells of breast carcinomas.

A gene has been identified that is expressed specifically in stromal cells surrounding invasive breast carcinomas. On the basis of its sequence, the product of this gene, named stromelysin-3, is a new member of the family of metalloproteinase enzymes which degrade the extracellular matrix. The suggestion is that stromelysin-3 is one of the stroma-derived factors that have long been postulated to play an important part in progression of epithelial malignancies.     

纤维对PEI改性环氧树脂单向复合材料形态的影响

人们改善环氧树脂基复合材料的脆性通常只改善环氧树脂基体和增强纤维间的界面，提高环氧树脂韧性的另一种常用方法是添加初始相容性良好的热塑性树脂如聚醚酰亚胺，在某一转化率（取决于体系的组成和反应温度）时体系发生相转变，体系最终的形态由相转变速率和环氧树脂反应速度所控制。本文作者研究了两种增强纤维（玻璃纤维和碳纤维）对不同环氧树脂／聚醚酰亚爱体系形态形成的影响，结果发现体系中纤维的存在不会影响基体相分离过程，但会改变体系的最终形态；形态的变化与纤维的品种关系不大；基体中不同组分的粘度是影响复合材料形态形成的关键因素。     

Amplification of a gene coding for human T-cell differentiation antigen

Using previously isolated mouse L-cell transferents for the human T-cell differentiation antigen Leu-2, we now report the first example of spontaneous gene amplification for membrane antigens. The Leu-2 (or T8) antigen is normally expressed on T lymphocytes that have cytotoxic or suppressor functions. Cells of a Leu-2 transfected clone were stained with fluorescein-tagged monoclonal anti-Leu-2, and the brightest 0.1-0.3% of cells were viably separated using a fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS). After growth of these selected cells, sorting and regrowth was repeated six times, resulting in a population of cells that, compared with the starting population, stains 40 times brighter for Leu-2 and whose DNA transforms 20 times more efficiently for Leu-2. In addition, these cells have 10- to 50-fold amplified human DNA sequences and numerous double minute chromosome fragments, a common indicator of gene amplication in mouse cells.     

The p66shc adaptor protein controls oxidative stress response and life span in mammals

Gene mutations in invertebrates have been identified that extend life span and enhance resistance to environmental stresses such as ultraviolet light or reactive oxygen species. In mammals, the mechanisms that regulate stress response are poorly understood and no genes are known to increase individual life span. Here we report that targeted mutation of the mouse p66shc gene induces stress resistance and prolongs life span. p66shc is a splice variant of p52shc/p46shc (ref. 2), a cytoplasmic signal transducer involved in the transmission of mitogenic signals from activated receptors to Ras. We show that: (1) p66shc is serine phosphorylated upon treatment with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) or irradiation with ultraviolet light; (2) ablation of p66shc enhances cellular resistance to apoptosis induced by H2O2 or ultraviolet light; (3) a serine-phosphorylation defective mutant of p66shc cannot restore the normal stress response in p66shc-/- cells; (4) the p53 and p21 stress response is impaired in p66shc-/- cells; (5) p66shc-/- mice have increased resistance to paraquat and a 30% increase in life span. We propose that p66shc is part of a signal transduction pathway that regulates stress apoptotic responses and life span in mammals.     

Sub-laser-cycle electron pulses for probing molecular dynamics

Experience shows that the ability to make measurements in any new time regime opens new areas of science. Currently, experimental probes for the attosecond time regime (10(-18) 10(-15) s) are being established. The leading approach is the generation of attosecond optical pulses by ionizing atoms with intense laser pulses. This nonlinear process leads to the production of high harmonics during collisions between electrons and the ionized atoms. The underlying mechanism implies control of energetic electrons with attosecond precision. We propose that the electrons themselves can be exploited for ultrafast measurements. We use a 'molecular clock', based on a vibrational wave packet in H(2)(+) to show that distinct bunches of electrons appear during electron ion collisions with high current densities, and durations of about 1 femtosecond (10(-15) s). Furthermore, we use the molecular clock to study the dynamics of non-sequential double ionization.     

Male development of chromosomally female mice transgenic for Sry

The initiation of male development in mammals requires one or more genes on the Y chromosome. A recently isolated gene, termed SRY in humans and Sry in mouse, has many of the genetic and biological properties expected of a Y-located testis-determining gene. It is now shown that Sry on a 14-kilobase genomic DNA fragment is sufficient to induce testis differentiation and subsequent male development when introduced into chromosomally female mouse embryos.     

Myeloid leukaemia inhibitory factor maintains the developmental potential of embryonic stem cells

Embryonic stem (ES) cells, the totipotent outgrowths of blastocysts, can be cultured and manipulated in vitro and then returned to the embryonic environment where they develop normally and can contribute to all cell lineages. Maintenance of the stem-cell phenotype in vitro requires the presence of a feeder layer of fibroblasts or of a soluble factor, differentiation inhibitory activity (DIA) produced by a number of sources; in the absence of DIA the ES cells differentiate into a wide variety of cell types. We recently noted several similarities between partially purified DIA and a haemopoietic regulator, myeloid leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF), a molecule which induces differentiation in M1 myeloid leukaemic cells and which we have recently purified, cloned and characterized. We demonstrate here that purified, recombinant LIF can substitute for DIA in the maintenance of totipotent ES cell lines that retain the potential to form chimaeric mice.