Structure of a beta1-adrenergic G-protein-coupled receptor

G-protein-coupled receptors have a major role in transmembrane signalling in most eukaryotes and many are important drug targets. Here we report the 2.7 A resolution crystal structure of a beta(1)-adrenergic receptor in complex with the high-affinity antagonist cyanopindolol. The modified turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) receptor was selected to be in its antagonist conformation and its thermostability improved by earlier limited mutagenesis. The ligand-binding pocket comprises 15 side chains from amino acid residues in 4 transmembrane alpha-helices and extracellular loop 2. This loop defines the entrance of the ligand-binding pocket and is stabilized by two disulphide bonds and a sodium ion. Binding of cyanopindolol to the beta(1)-adrenergic receptor and binding of carazolol to the beta(2)-adrenergic receptor involve similar interactions. A short well-defined helix in cytoplasmic loop 2, not observed in either rhodopsin or the beta(2)-adrenergic receptor, directly interacts by means of a tyrosine with the highly conserved DRY motif at the end of helix 3 that is essential for receptor activation.     

Superconductivity at 43 K in SmFeAsO1-xFx

Since the discovery of high-transition-temperature (high-T(c)) superconductivity in layered copper oxides, extensive effort has been devoted to exploring the origins of this phenomenon. A T(c) higher than 40 K (about the theoretical maximum predicted from Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theory), however, has been obtained only in the copper oxide superconductors. The highest reported value for non-copper-oxide bulk superconductivity is T(c) = 39 K in MgB(2) (ref. 2). The layered rare-earth metal oxypnictides LnOFeAs (where Ln is La-Nd, Sm and Gd) are now attracting attention following the discovery of superconductivity at 26 K in the iron-based LaO(1-x)F(x)FeAs (ref. 3). Here we report the discovery of bulk superconductivity in the related compound SmFeAsO(1-x)F(x), which has a ZrCuSiAs-type structure. Resistivity and magnetization measurements reveal a transition temperature as high as 43 K. This provides a new material base for studying the origin of high-temperature superconductivity.     

Unusual magnetic order in the pseudogap region of the superconductor HgBa2CuO4+delta

The pseudogap region of the phase diagram is an important unsolved puzzle in the field of high-transition-temperature (high-T(c)) superconductivity, characterized by anomalous physical properties. There are open questions about the number of distinct phases and the possible presence of a quantum-critical point underneath the superconducting dome. The picture has remained unclear because there has not been conclusive evidence for a new type of order. Neutron scattering measurements for YBa(2)Cu(3)O(6+delta) (YBCO) resulted in contradictory claims of no and weak magnetic order, and the interpretation of muon spin relaxation measurements on YBCO and of circularly polarized photoemission experiments on Bi(2)Sr(2)CaCu(2)O(8+delta)(refs 12, 13) has been controversial. Here we use polarized neutron diffraction to demonstrate for the model superconductor HgBa(2)CuO(4+delta) (Hg1201) that the characteristic temperature T* marks the onset of an unusual magnetic order. Together with recent results for YBCO, this observation constitutes a demonstration of the universal existence of such a state. The findings appear to rule out theories that regard T* as a crossover temperature rather than a phase transition temperature. Instead, they are consistent with a variant of previously proposed charge-current-loop order that involves apical oxygen orbitals, and with the notion that many of the unusual properties arise from the presence of a quantum-critical point.     

A laser frequency comb that enables radial velocity measurements with a precision of 1 cm s(-1)

Searches for extrasolar planets using the periodic Doppler shift of stellar spectral lines have recently achieved a precision of 60 cm s(-1) (ref. 1), which is sufficient to find a 5-Earth-mass planet in a Mercury-like orbit around a Sun-like star. To find a 1-Earth-mass planet in an Earth-like orbit, a precision of approximately 5 cm s(-1) is necessary. The combination of a laser frequency comb with a Fabry-Pérot filtering cavity has been suggested as a promising approach to achieve such Doppler shift resolution via improved spectrograph wavelength calibration, with recent encouraging results. Here we report the fabrication of such a filtered laser comb with up to 40-GHz (approximately 1-A) line spacing, generated from a 1-GHz repetition-rate source, without compromising long-term stability, reproducibility or spectral resolution. This wide-line-spacing comb, or 'astro-comb', is well matched to the resolving power of high-resolution astrophysical spectrographs. The astro-comb should allow a precision as high as 1 cm s(-1) in astronomical radial velocity measurements.     

乳腺癌血清多肽图研究

乳腺癌一直是全世界范围内威胁妇女健康的恶性疾病, 尽管人们已经进行了大量的研究以减少乳腺癌对人类的危害, 但是乳腺癌仍然是目前导致死亡的恶性肿瘤之一. 乳腺癌的早期发现对于患者的愈后与生存意义重大, 可以明显提高病人生存时间、降低病人的死亡率. 据统计, 在过去的5年里, 早期诊断每年可减少3.2%因乳腺癌死亡的患者. 然而研究表明, 目前常用的乳腺癌诊断技术, 如乳腺X射线摄影和乳房检查均无法诊断出40%的早期乳癌患者和大多数年轻女性的乳腺肿瘤. 因此在乳腺癌临床治疗中, 急需发展新型的高效诊断技术.     

陕北子洲黄土丘陵区古聚湫洪水沉积层的确定及其产沙模数的研究

陕北黄土丘陵区聚湫坝和淤地坝众多, 以子洲县黄土洼古聚湫为研究对象, 采集了总深度达12.73 m的沉积泥沙剖面样品. 根据泥沙粒度和孢粉浓度的变化, 将全剖面分为54个洪水沉积层. 并根据剖面中融冻扰动层的分布, 将54个洪水沉积层分为31个年度的洪水沉积层的组合. 根据锥台法计算, 每次暴雨洪水的产沙模数介于715.53~30376.47 t?km^-2, 平均7105.87 t?km^-2; 年产沙模数介于968.36~55579.37 t?(km²?a)^-1, 平均12629.49 t?(km2?a)^-1, 与淮宁河中游年输沙量相近, 表明该地区明代的土壤侵蚀强度与现代接近. 31个年度的后5年产沙模数急剧增加, 5年内的年均产沙模数达31309.12 t?(km²?a)^-1, 结合明代当地戍边屯垦的历史分析, 这一现象应为滑坡灾害发生后新的土地大开发所造成.     

江淮梅雨建立的年际变化及其前期强影响信号分析

江淮梅雨建立具有显著的年际变化特征. 利用NCEP/NCAR再分析数据集以及NOAA提供的全球射出长波辐射和扩展重建海温等资料研究了梅雨建立的年际变化及其前期强影响信号, 并探讨了该信号影响梅雨建立年际变化的可能机制. 结果表明, 前期中太平洋ENSO(CP-ENSO)事件是影响梅雨建立年际变化的强信号, 该信号具有较好的短期气候预测准确率和实用性. 当前期冬季2月和春季呈现CP-ENSO暖(冷)位相时, 梅雨建立最有可能偏晚(早). CP-ENSO主要是通过EAP(或JP)遥相关型影响梅雨建立, 其中位于热带西北太平洋的反气旋环流起着重要作用. CP-ENSO暖(冷)位相年, 热带暖湿气流向江淮流域输送偏晚(早), 赤道附近的中太平洋地区海温产生正(负)异常, 通过海气相互作用, 使得西太平洋副高北跳和印度西南季风建立偏晚(早), 东亚上空大气环流由春到夏的季节性转换因而偏晚(早). 大气环流季节性转换和热带暖湿气流向江淮流域输送偏早(晚)是江淮梅雨建立偏早(晚)的主要原因.     

南海北部近代沉积物钕同位素分布及意义

南海北部及周边地区近代陆源沉积物稀土元素配分模式总体相似, 接近上地壳平均成分(PAAS), 在重稀土含量上则略为偏高, LaN/LuN比值明显小于PAAS. 但是珠江主要支流西江沉积物的稀土元素含量略高于PAAS, 在重稀土分布态势上明显偏轻, LaN/LuN比值明显大于PAAS. 南海北部地区近代沉积物钕同位素分布具有明显的区域性, 主要受控于珠江源区和闽粤沿海源区以及台湾岛源区. 闽粤沿海地区ε_Nd(0)值最大, 西江沉积物最小, 台湾岛以及海域中沉积物ε_Nd(0)值介于两者之间. 沿伶仃洋-东沙岛连线, 在该线东北区域钕同位素值相对偏高, 西南区域相对偏低. 珠江源沉积物主要影响该线西南区域, 源区母岩以发育大量古生代碳酸盐岩为特征. 闽粤沿海源区以及台湾岛源区, 主要影响该线东北区域, 闽粤沿海源区母岩以发育大量中新生代花岗岩为特征. 由于源区母岩成分上的不同, 造成沉积物在重稀土含量、Sc/Ti比值以及ε_Nd(0)值上存在明显差异. 发育在东沙群岛东南侧高沉积速率堆积体的陆源物质超过80%来自南海北部源区即闽粤沿海源区以及台湾岛源区, 来自珠江源的陆源沉积物不超过20%.     

南京栖霞山铅锌矿山中的现代钙华: 一种高度富锌和锰的方解石

金属硫化物矿山开发引发的重金属污染已成为当前急需解决的环境问题. 以南京栖霞山铅锌矿采矿巷道壁上的现代钙华为研究对象, 利用电子探针、扫描电子显微镜和X射线粉末衍射分析等矿物学手段, 分析了钙华中的矿物组成及其重金属元素的赋存形态和分布状况. 结果表明钙华的主要矿物成分为方解石. 尽管地层水的重金属含量较低, 但是钙华中碳酸盐矿物的微量元素含量却较高, 最高含量分别为: Mn 23.65%, Zn 9.60%, Mg 0.76%, Fe 4.44%和Pb 0.66%. 钙华在电子探针背散射电子像中呈现出复杂的韵律壳层构造, 成分分析表明这种韵律壳层构造与重金属的分布有关. 另外, 在钙华中见有螺旋状及团絮状物质可能表明微生物参与了钙华的形成过程, 并与重金属的富集存在关联. 所报道的高度富锌-锰方解石对矿山环境中的重金属污染治理具有可借鉴意义.