The inner jet of an active galactic nucleus as revealed by a radio-to-gamma-ray outburst

Blazars are the most extreme active galactic nuclei. They possess oppositely directed plasma jets emanating at near light speeds from accreting supermassive black holes. According to theoretical models, such jets are propelled by magnetic fields twisted by differential rotation of the black hole's accretion disk or inertial-frame-dragging ergosphere. The flow velocity increases outward along the jet in an acceleration and collimation zone containing a coiled magnetic field. Detailed observations of outbursts of electromagnetic radiation, for which blazars are famous, can potentially probe the zone. It has hitherto not been possible to either specify the location of the outbursts or verify the general picture of jet formation. Here we report sequences of high-resolution radio images and optical polarization measurements of the blazar BL Lacertae. The data reveal a bright feature in the jet that causes a double flare of radiation from optical frequencies to TeV gamma-ray energies, as well as a delayed outburst at radio wavelengths. We conclude that the event starts in a region with a helical magnetic field that we identify with the acceleration and collimation zone predicted by the theories. The feature brightens again when it crosses a standing shock wave corresponding to the bright 'core' seen on the images.     

Jovian-like aurorae on Saturn

Planetary aurorae are formed by energetic charged particles streaming along the planet's magnetic field lines into the upper atmosphere from the surrounding space environment. Earth's main auroral oval is formed through interactions with the solar wind, whereas that at Jupiter is formed through interactions with plasma from the moon Io inside its magnetic field (although other processes form aurorae at both planets). At Saturn, only the main auroral oval has previously been observed and there remains much debate over its origin. Here we report the discovery of a secondary oval at Saturn that is approximately 25 per cent as bright as the main oval, and we show this to be caused by interaction with the middle magnetosphere around the planet. This is a weak equivalent of Jupiter's main oval, its relative dimness being due to the lack of as large a source of ions as Jupiter's volcanic moon Io. This result suggests that differences seen in the auroral emissions from Saturn and Jupiter are due to scaling differences in the conditions at each of these two planets, whereas the underlying formation processes are the same.     

国内手机图书馆的现状与服务

手机通信的飞速发展,造就了手机图书馆的崛起,也为图书馆的发展开辟了新的服务领域。详细介绍了手机图书馆的发展情况、服务功能以及用户在移动图书馆中享受图书馆的短消息服务、Web手机上网服务等,探讨了3G时代进一步拓展手机图书馆服务功能的对策。     

高位钻孔瓦斯抽采参数优化设计

基于采空区覆岩裂隙分布规律、覆岩裂隙瓦斯流动规律和高位钻孔抽采技术研究现状,从覆岩竖三带、O形圈和U型通风条件下采动裂隙瓦斯流动规律出发,找出高位钻孔的理论合理布置区域,指出工作面后方50m范围内覆岩裂隙发育状况是高位钻孔层位设计的关键,针对祁南煤矿32煤层的特点,结合现场采用数值模拟方法模拟不同开采速度条件下覆岩裂隙发育规律,优化设计高位钻孔的抽采参数,在34下2工作面和3410工作面的现场试验中,高位钻孔抽采浓度和抽采率得到大大提高,取得了较好的抽采效果,验证了研究的正确性。     

两种消除Klebsiella pneumoniae重组型质粒的方法

对于工业发酵菌种肺炎克雷伯氏菌(Klebsiella pneumoniae),研究发现有两种消除其重组型质粒的有效方法,一种是连续传代培养,另一种是使用消除剂十二烷基硫酸钠(SDS)。对K.pneumoniae重组菌连续20代传代培养后,发现其质粒具有较高的消除率;而以0.2%SDS复合Ca2+处理K.pneumoniae重组菌,也能有效消除其重组型质粒,且该方法省却了反复的传代培养,能快速得到质粒消除菌,更具简便易操作性。消除了质粒的K.pneumoniae能再次接纳新的质粒,有效避免了因质粒不相容性带来的转化不成功,进而可用作宿主菌积累更多的生理性状。     

Isolation and characterization of the human pulmonary surfactant apoprotein gene

Pulmonary surfactant is a phospholipid-protein complex which serves to lower the surface tension at the air-liquid interface in the alveoli of the mammalian lung and is essential for normal respiration. Inadequate levels of surfactant at birth, a frequent situation in premature infants, results in respiratory failure. In all species examined, surfactant is composed primarily of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine and two major protein species of relative molecular mass (Mr) 32,000 (32K) and 10K (refs 2-5). Reconstitution in vitro of purified 32K pulmonary surfactant apoprotein (PSAP) with synthetic lipids forms a lipoprotein complex that lowers surface tension by spreading to create a thin interfacial film. Here we describe the cloning of the human PSAP gene and complementary DNA, and discuss features of the unusual encoded protein.     

Postsynaptic hyperpolarization during conditioning reversibly blocks induction of long-term potentiation

Activity-induced changes in the efficacy of synaptic transmission between neurones are central to several prominent theories of learning. In both in vivo and in vitro preparations of the hippocampus, a conditioning high-frequency stimulus delivered to afferent fibres results in a long-term potentiation of synaptic transmission at those inputs. Evidence has been provided supporting both presynaptic and postsynaptic sites as loci where critical events occur in the development of potentiation. In this study we report that long-term potentiation is reversibly blocked by intracellular injection of hyperpolarizing current in the postsynaptic cell during the conditioning high-frequency stimulus, suggesting the involvement of a voltage-dependent postsynaptic mechanism.     

Identification of a distinct synaptic glutamate receptor on horizontal cells in mudpuppy retina

The separation of ON and OFF channels and the development of an antagonistic surround occur at the first synapse in the vertebrate retina. This functional differentiation is mediated by the action of the photoreceptor neurotransmitter on the ON bipolar, OFF bipolar and horizontal cells, respectively. Glutamate mimics the action of the photoreceptor transmitter on all second-order neurones in fish, amphibian and mammalian retinas. The diversity of cellular responses produced by one neurotransmitter raises the possibility of multiple postsynaptic receptor-ionophore complexes. We reported previously that one glutamate analogue, 2-amino-4-phosphonobutyrate, reveals that the ON bipolar synaptic receptor is pharmacologically different from those of other second-order neurones. The results presented here demonstrate that another glutamate analogue, D-O-phosphoserine, selectively antagonizes the synaptic responses of horizontal cells. Taken together, these findings indicate that there are three glutamate-like receptor subtypes in the outer retina and suggest a correlation between receptor subtype and the physiological properties of second-order neurones.