Vega is a rapidly rotating star

Vega, the second brightest star in the northern hemisphere, serves as a primary spectral type standard. Although its spectrum is dominated by broad hydrogen lines, the narrower lines of the heavy elements suggested slow to moderate rotation, giving confidence that the ground-based calibration of its visible spectrum could be safely extrapolated into the ultraviolet and near-infrared (through atmosphere models), where it also serves as the primary photometric calibrator. But there have been problems: the star is too bright compared to its peers and it has unusually shaped absorption line profiles, leading some to suggest that it is a distorted, rapidly rotating star seen pole-on. Here we report optical interferometric observations that show that Vega has the asymmetric brightness distribution of the bright, slightly offset polar axis of a star rotating at 93 per cent of its breakup speed. In addition to explaining the unusual brightness and line shape peculiarities, this result leads to the prediction of an excess of near-infrared emission compared to the visible, in agreement with observations. The large temperature differences predicted across its surface call into question composition determinations, adding uncertainty to Vega's age and opening the possibility that its debris disk could be substantially older than previously thought.     

Sexual reproduction selects for robustness and negative epistasis in artificial gene networks

The mutational deterministic hypothesis for the origin and maintenance of sexual reproduction posits that sex enhances the ability of natural selection to purge deleterious mutations after recombination brings them together into single genomes. This explanation requires negative epistasis, a type of genetic interaction where mutations are more harmful in combination than expected from their separate effects. The conceptual appeal of the mutational deterministic hypothesis has been offset by our inability to identify the mechanistic and evolutionary bases of negative epistasis. Here we show that negative epistasis can evolve as a consequence of sexual reproduction itself. Using an artificial gene network model, we find that recombination between gene networks imposes selection for genetic robustness, and that negative epistasis evolves as a by-product of this selection. Our results suggest that sexual reproduction selects for conditions that favour its own maintenance, a case of evolution forging its own path.     

Corneal avascularity is due to soluble VEGF receptor-1

Corneal avascularity-the absence of blood vessels in the cornea-is required for optical clarity and optimal vision, and has led to the cornea being widely used for validating pro- and anti-angiogenic therapeutic strategies for many disorders. But the molecular underpinnings of the avascular phenotype have until now remained obscure and are all the more remarkable given the presence in the cornea of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A, a potent stimulator of angiogenesis, and the proximity of the cornea to vascularized tissues. Here we show that the cornea expresses soluble VEGF receptor-1 (sVEGFR-1; also known as sflt-1) and that suppression of this endogenous VEGF-A trap by neutralizing antibodies, RNA interference or Cre-lox-mediated gene disruption abolishes corneal avascularity in mice. The spontaneously vascularized corneas of corn1 and Pax6+/- mice and Pax6+/- patients with aniridia are deficient in sflt-1, and recombinant sflt-1 administration restores corneal avascularity in corn1 and Pax6+/- mice. Manatees, the only known creatures uniformly to have vascularized corneas, do not express sflt-1, whereas the avascular corneas of dugongs, also members of the order Sirenia, elephants, the closest extant terrestrial phylogenetic relatives of manatees, and other marine mammals (dolphins and whales) contain sflt-1, indicating that it has a crucial, evolutionarily conserved role. The recognition that sflt-1 is essential for preserving the avascular ambit of the cornea can rationally guide its use as a platform for angiogenic modulators, supports its use in treating neovascular diseases, and might provide insight into the immunological privilege of the cornea.     

橡胶力学状态方程的非高斯链校正

橡胶状态方程是描述轻度交联橡胶应力应变曲线的基本方程,然而该方程与实际拉伸过程所反映的应力应变曲线有较大的误差,仅在拉伸比小于1.5时才吻合.该文采用统计与等效自由旋转链相结合的方法对橡胶拉伸后偏离高斯链进行校正,得到了非高斯链校正因子,从而获得了在较广的拉伸比范围内均与橡胶实际拉伸曲线相吻合的理论方程.     

纸质图书与网络阅读现状思考

纸质阅读作为一种历史悠久的传统阅读方式,一直是阅读的主流,但是近十年来,随着计算机和互联网的兴起,网络阅读以一种全新的阅读方式出现在人们的生活中.尤其是大屏幕智能手机和平板电脑等移动终端的大量普及,网络阅读发展势头迅猛,似乎有超越纸质阅读的势头.本文从纸质图书与网络阅读的特性出发,来探究二者的发展.     

纸质图书与网络阅读现状思考

纸质阅读作为一种历史悠久的传统阅读方式,一直是阅读的主流,但是近十年来,随着计算机和互联网的兴起,网络阅读以一种全新的阅读方式出现在人们的生活中。尤其是大屏幕智能手机和平板电脑等移动终端的大量普及,网络阅读发展势头迅猛,似乎有超越纸质阅读的势头。本文从纸质图书与网络阅读的特性出发,来探究二者的发展。     

不同温度条件下氟乐灵对茄子黄萎病的诱抗效果

研究了诱抗剂氟乐灵在不同温度条件下对茄子黄萎病的诱抗效果.结果表明,氟乐灵对茄子黄萎病具有较好的诱抗效果,持效期在24d以上.温度对诱抗效果和持效期具有显著影响,氟乐灵在20℃和25℃诱抗防效较佳,持效期长;而30℃时诱抗效果较差,持效期较短.控制适宜的温度可以提高诱抗剂的防效,并延长持效期.     

Podocalyxin enhances the adherence of cells to platelets

Podocalyxin (PODXL) is a mucin protein of the CD34 family expressed in kidney glomerular podocytes, vascular endothelium, progenitor bone marrow and tumor cells. It is assumed that PODXL plays an anti-adherent role in kidney podocytes. CHO cells stably expressing human PODXL (CHO-PODXL) or human tumor cells (Tera-1) inherently expressing PODXL showed increased adherence to platelets. The adherence of cells was inhibited (70%) by blockers of platelet P-selectin, prevented by the soluble ectodomain of human PODXL (PODXL-Δ) or by the arginine-glycine-aspartate (RGDS) peptide and partially impeded by inhibition of integrin αVβ3/αVβ5, suggesting a coordinated action of P-selectin and integrins. Colocalization of platelet P-selectin and PODXL expressed on CHO cells was demonstrated by confocal immunofluorescence. No adherence to platelets was observed when PODXL was expressed in glycomutant CHO cells deficient in sialic acid. Received 14 August 2007; received after revision 12 September 2007; accepted 13 September 2007