A gravitationally lensed quasar with quadruple images separated by 14.62 arcseconds

Gravitational lensing is a powerful tool for the study of the distribution of dark matter in the Universe. The cold-dark-matter model of the formation of large-scale structures (that is, clusters of galaxies and even larger assemblies) predicts the existence of quasars gravitationally lensed by concentrations of dark matter so massive that the quasar images would be split by over 7 arcsec. Numerous searches for large-separation lensed quasars have, however, been unsuccessful. All of the roughly 70 lensed quasars known, including the first lensed quasar discovered, have smaller separations that can be explained in terms of galaxy-scale concentrations of baryonic matter. Although gravitationally lensed galaxies with large separations are known, quasars are more useful cosmological probes because of the simplicity of the resulting lens systems. Here we report the discovery of a lensed quasar, SDSS J1004 + 4112, which has a maximum separation between the components of 14.62 arcsec. Such a large separation means that the lensing object must be dominated by dark matter. Our results are fully consistent with theoretical expectations based on the cold-dark-matter model.     

CUL-4 ubiquitin ligase maintains genome stability by restraining DNA-replication licensing

To maintain genome stability, DNA replication is strictly regulated to occur only once per cell cycle. In eukaryotes, the presence of 'licensing proteins' at replication origins during the G1 cell-cycle phase allows the formation of the pre-replicative complex. The removal of licensing proteins from chromatin during the S phase ensures that origins fire only once per cell cycle. Here we show that the CUL-4 ubiquitin ligase temporally restricts DNA-replication licensing in Caenorhabditis elegans. Inactivation of CUL-4 causes massive DNA re-replication, producing cells with up to 100C DNA content. The C. elegans orthologue of the replication-licensing factor Cdt1 (refs 2, 3) is required for DNA replication. C. elegans CDT-1 is present in G1-phase nuclei but disappears as cells enter S phase. In cells lacking CUL-4, CDT-1 levels fail to decrease during S phase and instead remain constant in the re-replicating cells. Removal of one genomic copy of cdt-1 suppresses the cul-4 re-replication phenotype. We propose that CUL-4 prevents aberrant re-initiation of DNA replication, at least in part, by facilitating the degradation of CDT-1.     

LoColms： an innovative approach of enhancing traditional classroom form of education by promoting web-based distance learning in the poorer countries

There have been numerous attempts recently to promote technology based education (Shrestha, 1997) in the poorer third world countries, but so far all these have not provided a sustainable solution as they are either centered and controlled from abroad and relying solely on foreign donors for their sustenance or they are not web-based, which make distribution problematic, and some are not affordable by most of the local population in these places. In this paper we discuss an application, the Local College Learning Management System (LoColms) , which we are developing, that is both sustainable and economical to suit the situation inthese countries. The application is a web-based system, and aims at improving the traditional form of education by empowering the local universities. Its economicability comes from the fact that it is supported by traditional communication technology, the public switching telephone network system, PSTN, which eliminates the need for packet switched or dedicated private virtual networks (PVN) usually required in similar situations. At a later stage, we shall incorporate ontology and paging tools to improve resource sharability and storage optimization in the Proxy Caches (ProCa) and LoColms servers. The system is based on the client/server paradigm and its infrastructure consists of the PSTN, ProCa, with the learning centers accessing the universities by means of point-to-point protocol (PPP) .     

A novel long-chain acyl-derivative of epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate prepared and purified from green tea polyphenols

Lipophilic tea polyphenols (LTP) were prepared by catalytic esterifieation of green tea polyphenols (GRIP) with hexadeeanoyl chloride. A novel long-chain aeyl-derivative of epigalloeateehin-3-o-gallate(EGCG) was first isolated from purification of LTP by high-speed eountereurrent ehromatography (HSCCC)using a solvent system composed of n-hexane-ethyl acetate-methanol-water ( 1 : 1 : 1 : 1, v/v) . The moleeularstructure of the acyl-derivative, Epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate-4‘-O-hexadeeanate , was elucidated by meansof elemental analysis, IR, 1H-NMR and MS spectra.     

Hf isotope composition of zircons and implication for the petrogenesis of Yajiangqiao granite,Hunan Province,China

In the peralumineous granite of Yajiangqiao zircon population can be divided into two groups (i.e. Zircon Ⅰ and Zircon Ⅱ), which were formed in magmatic chamber and in emplacement place, respectively. The Hf isotope compositions of two stages of zircon show that the host magma was essentially derived from crustal material by melting. However, some higher 176Hf/177Hf ratios indicate that the granitic zircons should contain fine crystal of zircon formed in mantle-derived magma. In fact, the backscattered electron imaging and the electron microprobe analysis reveal that there is another type of zircon included within Zircon Ⅰ, which is quite different from Zircon Ⅰ and Zircon Ⅱ in morphology and chemistry. They are considered to be the product of the mantle-derived magma intruded into the granitic magma chamber at the beginning of anatexis. Thus,it is suggested that the formation of Yajiangqiao granite is related to the underplating of mantle magma.     

REE geochemistry of suspended sediments from the rivers around the Yellow Sea and provenance indicators

Rare earth element (REE) compositions of the suspended sediments from the rivers around the Yellow Sea were different in that Korean river sediments (Han, Keum and Yeongsan Rivers) yield stronger fractionations than Chinese river sediments (Changjiang, Huanghe and Yalujiang), shown by obvious enrichments of LREE (light rare earth element) relative to UCC (upper continental crust).Variations of source rock compositions in the drainage basins are responsible for the differences of REE compositions between the river sediments. REE fractionation parameters including (La/Yb)ucc and (Gd/Yb)ucc as well as the ratios of La/Sc and Th/Sc can be treated as proper proxies for identifying the Chinese river sediments from those Korean river matters, and furthermore, for studying the provenances and paleoenvironmental changes of the marginal seas of China.