Plant genetics: increased outcrossing in hothead mutants

Arising from: S. J. Lolle, J. L. Victor, J. M. Young & R. E. Pruitt 434, 505-509 (2005); Lolle et al. reply. Lolle et al. report that loss-of-function alleles of the HOTHEAD (HTH) gene in Arabidopsis thaliana are genetically unstable, giving rise to wild-type revertants. On the basis of the reversion of many other genetic markers in hth plants, they suggested a model in which a cache of extragenomic information could cause genes to revert to the genotype of previous generations. In our attempts to reproduce this phenomenon, we discovered that hth mutants show a marked tendency to outcross (unlike wild-type A. thaliana, which is almost exclusively self-fertilizing). Moreover, when hth plants are grown in isolation, their genetic inheritance is completely stable. These results may provide an alternative explanation for the genome wide non-mendelian inheritance reported by Lolle et al.     

Reverse breeding in Arabidopsis thaliana generates homozygous parental lines from a heterozygous plant

Traditionally, hybrid seeds are produced by crossing selected inbred lines. Here we provide a proof of concept for reverse breeding, a new approach that simplifies meiosis such that homozygous parental lines can be generated from a vigorous hybrid individual. We silenced DMC1, which encodes the meiotic recombination protein DISRUPTED MEIOTIC cDNA1, in hybrids of A. thaliana, so that non-recombined parental chromosomes segregate during meiosis. We then converted the resulting gametes into adult haploid plants, and subsequently into homozygous diploids, so that each contained half the genome of the original hybrid. From 36 homozygous lines, we selected 3 (out of 6) complementing parental pairs that allowed us to recreate the original hybrid by intercrossing. In addition, this approach resulted in a complete set of chromosome-substitution lines. Our method allows the selection of a single choice offspring from a segregating population and preservation of its heterozygous genotype by generating homozygous founder lines.     

糖皮质激素在肾小球疾病治疗中的进展

目的 :综述糖皮质激素治疗肾小球疾病的最新进展 ,以指导临床实践 ;方法 :对近年来国内外有关糖皮质激素在肾小球疾病治疗中的研究资料和文献进行综合分析 ;结果 :目前糖皮质激素对不同病因和病理类型的肾小球疾病的治疗方法和疗程都有很大的进展 ;结论 :糖皮质激素仍是治疗原发性和某些继发性肾小球疾病的主要药物 ,而用法却在不断地改进 ,临床医师应对其进行及时了解 ,以指导临床实践     

BOG初次免疫联合结核分枝杆菌Ag85A DNA疫苗加强免疫效果的研究

为探讨BCG初次免疫,结核分枝杆菌Ag85A DNA疫苗加强免疫的序贯免疫策略对小鼠的免疫效果。采用BCG及结核分枝杆菌Ag85A DNA疫苗依次免疫小鼠,在末次免疫后的4、6、8周通过检测小鼠血清总IgG抗体、特异性淋巴细胞增殖．细胞因子的水平,观测BCG初次免疫,Ag85A DNA疫苗加强免疫的策略对小鼠的免疫效果。结果显示,采用BCG初次免疫,结核分枝杆菌Ag85A DNA疫苗加强免疫的策略组的小鼠与其它免疫方式组相比,IgG明显升高（P〈0．05）、特异性淋巴细胞明显增殖、IFN7、IL-2、IL-4水平明显增高（P〈0．05）。由此可知,在采用BCG初次免疫,结核分枝杆菌Ag85A DNA疫苗加强的免疫策略后,能增强对小鼠的免疫效应,尤其是Thl型细胞免疫反应增强明显,为进一步在动物体内进行保护性效应试验的研究提供了实验依据。     

Detection of Design Fault in Dart Placement - intersecting Dart

It is easy to apply lines in design drawings to create different styles, however, there is no guarantee that all the style lines drawn are able to be manufactured. In this paper, we focus on one undeliverable style to enhance our understanding of the relationship between the design sketch and the pattern design process. In order to evidence that such style is unworkable, a systematic display of pattern development, and to be reinforced by mathematical evaluation, will be introduced and addressed. When one can easily detect design fault, waste of product development time can be minimized.     

左思《蜀都赋》的创作观及资料来源初探

左思,既非蜀人,又未曾涉足蜀地,其《蜀都赋》却成就了＂洛阳纸贵＂的千古文章盛事。从史料中还原左思潜心十年的写作情形,结合历来评论,考辩他重本实的创作观。进而以文本为依据探讨左思既从史书方志、前人诗赋作品,以及寻访人物等广泛的资料来源。     

苏州城市竞争力的理性思考

城市是一个相对独立的利益主体,在发展和竞争中追求自身利益的最大化,由城市所具有的竞争优势、比较优势、领先优势、绝对优势等因素综合形成的力量即是城市竞争力。城市竞争是关于其价值增长以及地位提升的竞争,研究城市竞争力的主要目的在于制定竞争战略。     

北京大气细粒子PM2.5的化学组成

为了解北京大气细粒子(PM2.5)的污染水平和污染特征,在车公庄和清华园进行了连续1年、每周1次同步采样和全样品分析。2个采样点PM2.5的化学组成相似。含碳组分和水溶性离子是主要的组分,其质量浓度之和超过PM2.5的50%。有机碳、元素碳和细粒子PM2.5的季节变化一致,即冬季质量浓度最高,夏季最低。夏季NO-3的质量浓度最低且在采样过程中从特氟隆滤膜上有近50%的挥发。SO2-4不同于PM2.5的季节变化主要取决于SO2的转化率。地壳元素的质量浓度从冬季到春季大幅度上升,春季沙尘天气频是一个重要原因。     

Distinct types of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma identified by gene expression profiling

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), the most common subtype of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, is clinically heterogeneous: 40% of patients respond well to current therapy and have prolonged survival, whereas the remainder succumb to the disease. We proposed that this variability in natural history reflects unrecognized molecular heterogeneity in the tumours. Using DNA microarrays, we have conducted a systematic characterization of gene expression in B-cell malignancies. Here we show that there is diversity in gene expression among the tumours of DLBCL patients, apparently reflecting the variation in tumour proliferation rate, host response and differentiation state of the tumour. We identified two molecularly distinct forms of DLBCL which had gene expression patterns indicative of different stages of B-cell differentiation. One type expressed genes characteristic of germinal centre B cells ('germinal centre B-like DLBCL'); the second type expressed genes normally induced during in vitro activation of peripheral blood B cells ('activated B-like DLBCL'). Patients with germinal centre B-like DLBCL had a significantly better overall survival than those with activated B-like DLBCL. The molecular classification of tumours on the basis of gene expression can thus identify previously undetected and clinically significant subtypes of cancer.     

Temperature distribution study during the friction stir welding process of Al2024-T3 aluminum alloy

Heat flux characteristics are critical to good quality welding obtained in the important engineering alloy Al2024-T3 by the friction stir welding (FSW) process. In the present study, thermocouples in three different configurations were affixed on the welding samples to measure the temperatures: in the first configuration, four thermocouples were placed at equivalent positions along one side of the welding direction; the second configuration involved two equivalent thermocouple locations on either side of the welding path; while the third configuration had all the thermocouples on one side of the layout but with unequal gaps from the welding line. A three-dimensional, non-linear ANSYS computational model, based on an approach applied to Al2024-T3 for the first time, was used to simulate the welding temperature profiles obtained experimentally. The experimental thermal profiles on the whole were found to be in agreement with those calculated by the ANSYS model. The broad agreement between the two kinds of profiles validates the basis for derivation of the simulation model and provides an approach for the FSW simulation in Al2024-T3 and is potentially more useful than models derived previously.