Maturation trends indicative of rapid evolution preceded the collapse of northern cod

Northern cod, comprising populations of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) off southern Labrador and eastern Newfoundland, supported major fisheries for hundreds of years. But in the late 1980s and early 1990s, northern cod underwent one of the worst collapses in the history of fisheries. The Canadian government closed the directed fishing for northern cod in July 1992, but even after a decade-long offshore moratorium, population sizes remain historically low. Here we show that, up until the moratorium, the life history of northern cod continually shifted towards maturation at earlier ages and smaller sizes. Because confounding effects of mortality changes and growth-mediated phenotypic plasticity are accounted for in our analyses, this finding strongly suggests fisheries-induced evolution of maturation patterns in the direction predicted by theory. We propose that fisheries managers could use the method described here as a tool to provide warning signals about changes in life history before more overt evidence of population decline becomes manifest.     

Rocket UV flash spectra from the solar eclipse of March 7, 1970

Flash spectra of the total solar eclipse throughout all its phases have been obtained in the extreme ultraviolet for the first time.     

Induction of dendritic spines by an extracellular domain of AMPA receptor subunit GluR2

Synaptic transmission from excitatory nerve cells in the mammalian brain is largely mediated by AMPA (alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid)-type glutamate receptors located at the surface of dendritic spines. The abundance of postsynaptic AMPA receptors correlates with the size of the synapse and the dimensions of the dendritic spine head. Moreover, long-term potentiation is associated with the formation of dendritic spines as well as synaptic delivery of AMPA receptors. The molecular mechanisms that coordinate AMPA receptor delivery and spine morphogenesis are unknown. Here we show that overexpression of the glutamate receptor 2 (GluR2) subunit of AMPA receptors increases spine size and density in hippocampal neurons, and more remarkably, induces spine formation in GABA-releasing interneurons that normally lack spines. The extracellular N-terminal domain (NTD) of GluR2 is responsible for this effect, and heterologous fusion proteins of the NTD of GluR2 inhibit spine morphogenesis. We propose that the NTD of GluR2 functions at the cell surface as part of a receptor-ligand interaction that is important for spine growth and/or stability.     

The voltage dependence of NADPH oxidase reveals why phagocytes need proton channels

The enzyme NADPH oxidase in phagocytes is important in the body's defence against microbes: it produces superoxide anions (O2-, precursors to bactericidal reactive oxygen species). Electrons move from intracellular NADPH, across a chain comprising FAD (flavin adenine dinucleotide) and two haems, to reduce extracellular O2 to O2-. NADPH oxidase is electrogenic, generating electron current (I(e)) that is measurable under voltage-clamp conditions. Here we report the complete current-voltage relationship of NADPH oxidase, the first such measurement of a plasma membrane electron transporter. We find that I(e) is voltage-independent from -100 mV to >0 mV, but is steeply inhibited by further depolarization, and is abolished at about +190 mV. It was proposed that H+ efflux mediated by voltage-gated proton channels compensates I(e), because Zn2+ and Cd2+ inhibit both H+ currents and O2- production. Here we show that COS-7 cells transfected with four NADPH oxidase components, but lacking H+ channels, produce O2- in the presence of Zn2+ concentrations that inhibit O2- production in neutrophils and eosinophils. Zn2+ does not inhibit NADPH oxidase directly, but through effects on H+ channels. H+ channels optimize NADPH oxidase function by preventing membrane depolarization to inhibitory voltages.     

射频PECVD方法生长含氢非晶碳膜的结构及摩擦学性能

利用射频等离子体增强化学气相沉积技术在不锈钢表面制备了含氢非晶碳膜.采用Raman光谱、红外光谱、X射线光电子能谱和原子力显微镜等研究了薄膜的微观结构和表面形貌,在栓盘摩擦磨损试验机上考察了薄膜在不同载荷与滑动速度下的摩擦学性能.结果表明:所制备的含氢非晶碳膜具有典型的类金刚石结构特征,薄膜均匀、致密,表面粗糙度小;薄膜与不锈钢球对磨时显示出良好的抗磨减摩性能;薄膜的抗磨减摩性能同对磨件表面上形成的转移膜以及摩擦过程中薄膜结构的石墨化相关.     

基于北斗定位导航系统的士兵状态监视与指挥控制系统

战场救护中,及时发现士兵伤情并迅速找到伤员是挽救伤员的重要条件,因此,对受伤士兵的定位与获取需救护伤员的准确个人信息对于救护的有效性具有非常重要的意义。基于北斗卫星的定位导航系统设计战场士兵信息采集与指挥控制系统,利用我国自主研发的北斗卫星导航定位通信系统对战场士兵进行定位,通过由基于蓝牙的士兵状态监视终端对士兵生理状态参数进行连续监测,当发现士兵伤情时实时由通信终端向指挥控制中心传递伤员个人信息和生理状态参数,指挥中心接收伤员数据后,通过GIS系统、根据地形等信息可实时规划救援路线和救援方案,以实现对伤员的及时救治。分析了北斗卫星导航系统的功能与特点,介绍了士兵信息采集与指挥控制系统的组成及功能,详细阐述了士兵信息采集终端的设计、生命体征信息监测方法、指挥控制系统的组成与功能以及地理信息系统(GIS)设计。     

杏花雨对血管性痴呆大鼠行为及其海马Bcl-2,Bax蛋白表达的影响

为研究杏花雨对血管性痴呆大鼠行为学及大鼠海马Bcl-2,Bax蛋白表达的影响,采用反复缺血再灌注+硝普钠方法复制出血管性痴呆(VD)动物模型,并观察银杏黄酮注射制剂杏花雨对VD大鼠的保护作用,采用Morris水迷宫检测其行为学,免疫组织化学法检测并观察其海马Bcl-2,Bax蛋白表达.研究结果显示:与假手术组相比,模型组大鼠Bcl-2,Bax蛋白表达增加(P<0.01),Bcl-2/Bax(阳性细胞数比值)显著降低,经杏花雨a,b及金纳多治疗后,与模型组相比,VD大鼠认知能力显著改善(P<0.01),海马CA1区Bcl-2阳性细胞数均有提高(P<0.05),杏花雨b组有明显提高(P<0.01);大鼠海马CA1区Bax阳性细胞数降低,尤其以杏花雨b组降低明显(P<0.01),Bax/Bcl-2也较假手术组与模型组明显提高(P<0.05).结果表明杏花雨可以改善血管性痴呆大鼠的认知能力,推测与Bcl-2,Bax蛋白表达有关.     

催化剂、基底对ECR-CVD法制备碳纳米管的影响

采用电子回旋共振微波等离子体化学气相沉积技术(ECR CVD),CH4和H2为气源,分别以Fe3O4,Co纳米粒子及Fe(NO)3溶胶为催化剂在多孔硅基底上制备了碳纳米管;在Si(111)和石英基底上以Fe3O4纳米粒子为催化剂实现了碳纳米管的生长·使用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)对样品的形貌、尺寸及结构进行表征·讨论了催化剂和基底对碳纳米管形貌、密度和取向性的影响·结果表明:催化剂影响碳纳米管的成核密度和生长速度,基底通过影响催化剂的特性和分布均匀性,对碳纳米管的形貌和生长模式产生重要影响,以Fe3O4为催化剂在多孔硅上实现了碳纳米管的最优定向生长·