A cat cloned by nuclear transplantation

Sheep, mice, cattle, goats and pigs have all been cloned by transfer of a donor cell nucleus into an enucleated ovum, and now we add the successful cloning of a cat (Felis domesticus) to this list. However, this cloning technology may not be readily extendable to other mammalian species if our understanding of their reproductive processes is limited or if there are species-specific obstacles.     

一种用于结构动态过程数值模拟的广义有限元法

提出了一种能同时处理连续体和离散体动态过程的有限元法. 该法通过构造接触力模型, 将传统的离散元当做标准的一节点有限单元来看待. 新构造的一节点单元与常规有限单元具有同样物理特征, 包括应力和应变. 从而, 将离散元算法与有限元算法紧密结合在一起, 形成了统一的、与现有有限元系统兼容的广义有限元计算模型. 这种模型不仅简化了计算过程, 还可最大限度地发挥现有有限元代码的功能. 数值算例表明, 新方法可以更加有效地模拟大量离散体与连续体相互作用的复杂动力学过程.     

Accelerated carbonation and leaching behavior of the slag from iron and steel making industry

Ground granulated blast furnace slag(GGBFS)and steelmaking slag have been used as a raw material for cement production or as an aggregate to make concrete,which contribute aluminum,calcium,iron,and silicon oxides.The suitability of the slag for a particular application depends on its reactivity,cost,availability,and its influence on the properties of the resulting concrete.For the interest of durability studying of concrete in the presence of slag,the accelerated carbonation products and leaching behavior of the slag and Portland cement(PC)were studied.The experimental results confirmed that the slag was more resistant to carbonation compared to PC.The carbonation degree of GGBFS reduced by 17.74%;and the carbonation degrees of steelmaking slags reduced by 9.51%-11.94%.Carbonation neutralized the alkaline nature of the hydrated pastes and gave rise to the redox potential of the leachate slightly(30-77 mV).The carbonation also increased the release of most of the elements presented,except for calcium,to the aqueous environment.It is concluded that blend cements(PC plus slag)have economical advantages and better durability compared to PC.     

系统发育史的重建

不同的物种是怎样进化形成不同的形态 ,这仍是现代进化生物学中研究的主要课题。近年来 ,对这一问题的研究已集中在由于进化时间的不同而导致进化机制变化的模型上 ,并在解开机体发育期间控制形态表现的分子机理方面取得了惊人的进展。值得注意的是 :形态的表型和一些调节基因的突变大致反映了物种间所表现的差异。通过分析生物的系统发育 ,重新构建系统发育史 ,可以阐明控制发育过程和进化发育的相关时间的遗传网络的分子进化机制。与系统发育进化有关的信息影印在组成它们的基因片段上。存在于这些发育位点的信息可以使人们追踪到发育调节…     

应用激光闪光法测量薄膜材料的热扩散率

目的是将用于测量片状试样的热扩散率的激光闪光法推广至测量薄膜试样。应用 1 5纳秒脉冲 Nd:YAG激光及响应时间 0 .9微秒的 (Hg,Cd) Te红外探测器等建立了闪光法热扩散率测量系统 ,并应用此系统对微米量级厚度的不锈钢薄膜进行了测量。同时针对将激光闪光法应用于薄膜时所出现的问题 ,如激光的有限脉冲时间及有限吸收厚度效应 ,测量系统的滞后效应 ,以及增强红外吸收及辐射用表面黑化膜的影响进行了分析并提出了解决方法     

广西产眼镜王蛇毒α-神经毒素基因的分子克隆及序列分析

为获得眼镜王蛇（Ophiophagus hannah，简称Oh）蛇毒α－神经毒素（α-NT）的基因序列，依据眼镜蛇科不同毒蛇种类来源的α－NT基因有较高的同源性，设计1对上下游引物，为克服引物带来模糊扩增，在蛋白编码部分再设计1对上下游特异引物，用Nacleospin RNA Kit法从3条活眼镜王蛇毒腺中提取mRNA，以3′端引物合成的cDNA作为模板进行PCR扩增反应，测定产物的核苷酸序列，得到全长474bp的眼镜王蛇cDNA基因核苷酸序列。该核苷酸序列的信号肽与眼镜蛇树属Pseudonnaja textilis(Pt)、海蛇Laticauda semifasciata(Ls)100%同源，与眼镜蛇南洋亚种Naja sputatrix (Ns)、银环蛇（Bungarus multicinctus)(Bm)96.8%同源；蛋白密码部分有83．3％与Ns、79．2％与Pt、76．4％与Ls、74．1％与Bm同源。信号肽后紧接着的72个氨基酸有90．3％与已发现的眼镜王蛇毒长链α-NT Toxin a同源，大约有73．6％与Toxin b、69．7％与Oh-4、66．7％与Oh-5、56．9％与Oh-6A和6B同源，并与α－银环蛇毒素54．2％同源。说明新发现的眼镜王蛇cDNA是一条长链α-NT基因。     

Superoxide activates mitochondrial uncoupling proteins.

Uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) diverts energy from ATP synthesis to thermogenesis in the mitochondria of brown adipose tissue by catalysing a regulated leak of protons across the inner membrane. The functions of its homologues, UCP2 and UCP3, in other tissues are debated. UCP2 and UCP3 are present at much lower abundance than UCP1, and the uncoupling with which they are associated is not significantly thermogenic. Mild uncoupling would, however, decrease the mitochondrial production of reactive oxygen species, which are important mediators of oxidative damage. Here we show that superoxide increases mitochondrial proton conductance through effects on UCP1, UCP2 and UCP3. Superoxide-induced uncoupling requires fatty acids and is inhibited by purine nucleotides. It correlates with the tissue expression of UCPs, appears in mitochondria from yeast expressing UCP1, and is absent in skeletal muscle mitochondria from UCP3 knockout mice. Our findings indicate that the interaction of superoxide with UCPs may be a mechanism for decreasing the concentrations of reactive oxygen species inside mitochondria.     

Microbial desulfurization of fuel oil

Culture conditions of desulfurization microbes were investigated with a bioreactor controlled by computer.Factors such as pH, choice of carbon source, optimal concentrations of carbon, nitrogen and sulfur sources were determined. The addition of carbon in a culture with a constant pH greatly improved the growth of Rhodococcus. Cells and cell debris from microbes rested using a sulfur- specific pathway were used to desulfurize diesel oil treated by hydrodesulfurization (acquired from the Research Institute of Fushun Petroleum with total sulfur level at 205 μg/mL).Strains 1awq, IG, X7B, ZT, ZCR, and a mixture of No. 5 and No. 6, were used in the biodesulfurization process. The reduction of total sulfur was between 10.6% and 90.3%.     

Don't mess with the matrix.

Extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling is critical to morphogenesis and homeostasis. The identification of inactivating mutations in a gene encoding one of its modifying enzymes, matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2), in people with a hereditary disorder in which the bones disintegrate, represents the first genetic evidence that the proteolysis of the ECM mediates human growth and development. It also underscores the need for an intricate balance between breakdown and deposition of the ECM.     

Sox9 induces testis development in XX transgenic mice.

Mutations in SOX9 are associated with male-to-female sex reversal in humans. To analyze Sox9 function during sex determination, we ectopically expressed this gene in XX gonads. Here, we show that Sox9 is sufficient to induce testis formation in mice, indicating that it can substitute for the sex-determining gene Sry.