Role for Slimb in the degradation of Drosophila Period protein phosphorylated by Doubletime

Protein phosphorylation has a key role in modulating the stabilities of circadian clock proteins in a manner specific to the time of day. A conserved feature of animal clocks is that Period (Per) proteins undergo daily rhythms in phosphorylation and levels, events that are crucial for normal clock progression. Casein kinase Iepsilon (CKIepsilon) has a prominent role in regulating the phosphorylation and abundance of Per proteins in animals. This was first shown in Drosophila with the characterization of Doubletime (Dbt), a homologue of vertebrate casein kinase Iepsilon. However, it is not clear how Dbt regulates the levels of Per. Here we show, using a cell culture system, that Dbt promotes the progressive phosphorylation of Per, leading to the rapid degradation of hyperphosphorylated isoforms by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Slimb, an F-box/WD40-repeat protein functioning in the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway interacts preferentially with phosphorylated Per and stimulates its degradation. Overexpression of slimb or expression in clock cells of a dominant-negative version of slimb disrupts normal rhythmic activity in flies. Our findings suggest that hyperphosphorylated Per is targeted to the proteasome by interactions with Slimb.     

具有高代数免疫阶布尔函数的构造

在探讨密码学中布尔函数性质的基础上，提出了一个具有高代数免疫阶布尔函数的构造方法，利用这种方法可以构造出一类具有高代数免疫阶的布尔函数，并给出了一个实例。     

Effects of elevation on spring phenological sensitivity to temperature in Tibetan Plateau grasslands

Vegetation phenology is an important indicator of climate change impacts on the seasonal dynamics of the biosphere. However, little is known about the influence of elevation on spring phenological sensitivity to temperature in an alpine ecosystem. Based on remotely sensed land surface phenology and temperature data from 2001 to 2010, this study investigated the rate of spring phenological change of the Tibetan Plateau （TP） grasslands in response to interannual temperature variations at different elevations. Results suggest that spring phenology in the TP grasslands exhibits a stronger response to changes in temperature at higher elevations than at lower ones. In particular, spring phenology advanced by 1-2 days in response to a 1 ℃ increase in May average temperature at elevations from 3,000 to 3,500 m, while the rate was up to 8-9 days/℃ at 5,000-5,500 m. Analysis using accumulated growing degree days （AGDD） from January 1 through May 31 showed the same general trend with increased elevation associated with increased sensitivity （as measured by phenological change per unit of AGDD change）. Such temperature sensitivity gradients in the TP grasslands could be partly explained by the growth efficiency hypothesis which suggests that vegetation adapted to colder climates likely requires less heat energy for the onset of growing season and vice versa in warmer climates. Furthermore, accumulated growing degree days from January 1 to the greenup date were found to decrease with increasing elevations, which provided evidence to support the applicability of the growth efficiency hypothesis in an alpine grassland ecosystem.     

陆地棉红株基因(R1)的精细定位

利用陆地棉遗传背景的海岛棉染色体16置换系材料Sub16和陆地棉多基因标记系T586创建了含1259个单株的F₂作图群体, 结合本实验室最新的栽培四倍体棉种种间分子遗传图谱上染色体16的标记信息, 利用分子标记技术, 对红株基因R₁进行精细定位. 在F₂分离群体中, 红株性状分离比符合孟德尔1:2:1的分离, 进一步证明该性状是由一不完全显性单基因控制. 利用JoinMap 3.0连锁分析软件, 使用含237个单株的F₂小群体完成红株基因R₁的初级定位, 进一步利用含1259个单株的F₂大群体将该基因精细定位在NAU4956和NAU6752之间, 与最近标记的遗传距离为0.49 cM. 研究结果为进一步克隆该基因及培育红色彩棉转基因品种提供了研究基础.     

青藏高原现代食草动物牙齿珐琅质稳定同位素特征及古高度重建意义

食草动物牙齿珐琅质具有非常强的抗成岩改造特征, 被认为是研究生态环境变化和重建古高度的理想载体之一. 对青藏高原腹地现代食草动物(牦牛、藏野驴、藏羚羊)牙齿珐琅质的稳定同位素进行了分析, 拉萨地块和羌塘南部地区食草动物牙齿珐琅质δ¹³C(PDB)平均值为－11.3‰ ± 1.1‰, 羌塘北部和可可西里地区为－10.2‰ ± 1.4‰, 与高原以C3植物为主的植被景观是一致的; δ¹⁸O(PDB)值也同样表现出从南向北逐渐升高的趋势, 喜马拉雅山地区吉隆盆地平均值最低, 为－11.8‰ ± 3.4‰, 拉萨地块和羌塘南部地区平均值为－11.1‰ ± 1.1‰, 羌塘北部和可可西里地区最高, 为－9.0‰ ± 1.1‰. 食草动物牙齿珐琅质氧同位素是河水(或降水)与食物(植物)氧同位素的混合, 不适合直接用来进行高度预测. 建立了高原现代食草动物牙齿珐琅质氧同位素对降水、植被及高度的响应关系, 为利用食草动物牙齿化石氧同位素重建青藏高原古高度提供了依据.     

Janusian Mapping: A Mechanism of Interpretation

In this paper it is argued that human interpretation is an inherently paradoxical and complex mechanism. Human interpretation is underpinned by values, preferences and contrasts, and assumptions, and surfaced through an idiosyncratic combination of personal choice and logic (Pinker, The blank slate: the modern denial of human nature, 2003). In order to find ways through interpretive diversity, Janusian thinking is a conscious and purposeful mechanism (Rothenberg, Creat Res J 9(2–3):207–231, 1996) that allows each one to think paradoxically. Coping with paradoxes is not only a cognitive challenge in trying to resolve the irresolvable but also an emotional one, as emotion might distort the paradox. Janusian attitudinal mapping allows individuals to face the true paradox and to review the assumptions behind it. Such review may modify or even abolish certain assumptions altogether. However, Janusian attitudinal mapping is an emotional undertaking that should follow the three elements involving social reform for advancing and fostering knowledge: shock, open communication and experimentation, and paradox leadership (Lewis, Acad Manage Rev 25(4):760–786, 2000).

广西崇左江州木榄山智人洞古人类遗址及其地质时代

关于现代智人起源的争论一直是国际古人类学研究的前沿与热点. 最近, 在广西崇左木榄山智人洞发现了具有现代人解剖特征初始状态的人类下颌骨化石及大量与之共生的哺乳动物化石. 木榄山智人洞哺乳动物群以江南象与初现的亚洲象及巨獏等组合为其特征, 截然不同于华南早更新世的巨猿动物群和中更新世的大熊猫-剑齿象动物群, 是典型亚洲象动物群的早期代表. 依动物群性质、地层对比及铀系年代测定木榄山化石智人和伴生的哺乳动物群的时代为距今约11万年的晚更新世早期. 该动物群主要由热带-亚热带型动物组成, 但木榄山动物群中森林型动物种类单调, 草地类型的动物相当多, 这表明当时的气候可能比以前干燥. 木榄山智人的发现对研究现代人起源及其环境背景具有非常重要的意义.     

Resonant quantum transitions in trapped antihydrogen atoms

The hydrogen atom is one of the most important and influential model systems in modern physics. Attempts to understand its spectrum are inextricably linked to the early history and development of quantum mechanics. The hydrogen atom's stature lies in its simplicity and in the accuracy with which its spectrum can be measured and compared to theory. Today its spectrum remains a valuable tool for determining the values of fundamental constants and for challenging the limits of modern physics, including the validity of quantum electrodynamics and--by comparison with measurements on its antimatter counterpart, antihydrogen--the validity of CPT (charge conjugation, parity and time reversal) symmetry. Here we report spectroscopy of a pure antimatter atom, demonstrating resonant quantum transitions in antihydrogen. We have manipulated the internal spin state of antihydrogen atoms so as to induce magnetic resonance transitions between hyperfine levels of the positronic ground state. We used resonant microwave radiation to flip the spin of the positron in antihydrogen atoms that were magnetically trapped in the ALPHA apparatus. The spin flip causes trapped anti-atoms to be ejected from the trap. We look for evidence of resonant interaction by comparing the survival rate of trapped atoms irradiated with microwaves on-resonance to that of atoms subjected to microwaves that are off-resonance. In one variant of the experiment, we detect 23 atoms that survive in 110 trapping attempts with microwaves off-resonance (0.21 per attempt), and only two atoms that survive in 103 attempts with microwaves on-resonance (0.02 per attempt). We also describe the direct detection of the annihilation of antihydrogen atoms ejected by the microwaves.