A non-spherical core in the explosion of supernova SN 2004dj

An important and perhaps critical clue to the mechanism driving the explosion of massive stars as supernovae is provided by the accumulating evidence for asymmetry in the explosion. Indirect evidence comes from high pulsar velocities, associations of supernovae with long-soft gamma-ray bursts, and asymmetries in late-time emission-line profiles. Spectropolarimetry provides a direct probe of young supernova geometry, with higher polarization generally indicating a greater departure from spherical symmetry. Large polarizations have been measured for 'stripped-envelope' (that is, type Ic; ref. 7) supernovae, which confirms their non-spherical morphology; but the explosions of massive stars with intact hydrogen envelopes (type II-P supernovae) have shown only weak polarizations at the early times observed. Here we report multi-epoch spectropolarimetry of a classic type II-P supernova that reveals the abrupt appearance of significant polarization when the inner core is first exposed in the thinning ejecta (approximately 90 days after explosion). We infer a departure from spherical symmetry of at least 30 per cent for the inner ejecta. Combined with earlier results, this suggests that a strongly non-spherical explosion may be a generic feature of core-collapse supernovae of all types, where the asphericity in type II-P supernovae is cloaked at early times by the massive, opaque, hydrogen envelope.     

用加端PCR技术改造h－IGF－1cDNA

用ＤＮＡ合成仪合成了分别带有ＰｓｔＩ位点和ＳａｌＩ位点及终止密码子的２个用于扩增ｈＩＧＦ－１ｃＤＮＡ的ＰＣＲ引物．利用合成的引物，７００ｂｐ长的ｈＩＧＦ－１ｃＤＮＡ模板和Ｔａｑ聚合酶进行ＰＣＲ扩增．扩增产物经电泳鉴定后克隆进Ｍ１３ｍｐ１８载体，进行核苷酸序列分析．结果显示：ＰＣＲ产物含已发表的ｈＩＧＦ－１成熟蛋白的编码序列和５＇端的ＰＳｔＩ位点及３＇端的ＳａｉＩ位点及终止密码ＴＡＧ．用加端ＰＣＲ技术成功地扩增和改造了ｈＩＧＦ－１的编码序列．     

Ligand-metal interaction in transition-metal complexes with tripodal polyaza ligands

Five complexes ([Cu(tpc)]²⁺ 1, [Cu(tpa)]²⁺ 2, [Co(tpa)]²⁺ 3, [Fe(tpa)]²⁺ 4 and [Mn(tpa)]²⁺ 5) (tpc=N, N’, N"-tris[(2-pyridyl)methyl]-1,4,7-triaza-cyclononane(L1) and tpa=tris[2-((2-pyridyl) methyl-imino)ethyl]amine(l2)) were synthesized and characterized. The crystal structures of 1, 3 and 4 were determined by X-ray crystallography. Electrochemical investigations over two cupric complexes reveal that 2 has a less negative redox potential than that of 1. Electronic spectra of 2, 3, 4 and 5 show that the distinction in metal ion results in a shift of the ligand-based π*→π transition. Foundation item: Supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei province Biography: Yin Ye-gao (1950-), male, Associate professor, researching for the the synthsis and properties of tripodal polydentate ligands.     

A genetic variation map for chicken with 2.8 million single-nucleotide polymorphisms

We describe a genetic variation map for the chicken genome containing 2.8 million single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). This map is based on a comparison of the sequences of three domestic chicken breeds (a broiler, a layer and a Chinese silkie) with that of their wild ancestor, red jungle fowl. Subsequent experiments indicate that at least 90% of the variant sites are true SNPs, and at least 70% are common SNPs that segregate in many domestic breeds. Mean nucleotide diversity is about five SNPs per kilobase for almost every possible comparison between red jungle fowl and domestic lines, between two different domestic lines, and within domestic lines--in contrast to the notion that domestic animals are highly inbred relative to their wild ancestors. In fact, most of the SNPs originated before domestication, and there is little evidence of selective sweeps for adaptive alleles on length scales greater than 100 kilobases.     

The decline and fate of an iron-induced subarctic phytoplankton bloom

Iron supply has a key role in stimulating phytoplankton blooms in high-nitrate low-chlorophyll oceanic waters. However, the fate of the carbon fixed by these blooms, and how efficiently it is exported into the ocean's interior, remains largely unknown. Here we report on the decline and fate of an iron-stimulated diatom bloom in the Gulf of Alaska. The bloom terminated on day 18, following the depletion of iron and then silicic acid, after which mixed-layer particulate organic carbon (POC) concentrations declined over six days. Increased particulate silica export via sinking diatoms was recorded in sediment traps at depths between 50 and 125 m from day 21, yet increased POC export was not evident until day 24. Only a small proportion of the mixed-layer POC was intercepted by the traps, with more than half of the mixed-layer POC deficit attributable to bacterial remineralization and mesozooplankton grazing. The depletion of silicic acid and the inefficient transfer of iron-increased POC below the permanent thermocline have major implications both for the biogeochemical interpretation of times of greater iron supply in the geological past, and also for proposed geo-engineering schemes to increase oceanic carbon sequestration.     

Transgenic and knock-out mice for deciphering the roles of EGFR ligands

Generation of genetically engineered mice with either gain-of-function or loss-of-function mutations is the most popular technique for determining gene functions and the interrelationship between molecules in vivo. These models have provided a wealth of information about the developmental and physiological roles of oncogenes and growth factors. To date, transgenic techniques have been used extensively to study the functions of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family. This review highlights some of the major recent findings pertinent to the EGF receptor (EGFR) and its ligands with special reference to elucidating how EGF and its related growth factors work together to regulate reproduction, growth and development. Finally, future investigations on ligand-ligand communications, EGFR and its ligands in neural stem cell research, and the mechanisms of EGFR signaling and trafficking in cells are also suggested. Received 24 May 2002; received after revision 15 July 2002; accepted 16 July 2002     

Estimations of primary production and export production in the South China Sea based on sediment trap experiments

The results of time series sediment trap experiments in the South China Sea show that particulate organic carbon (POC) fluxes are influenced by the monsoons. The increase of productivity in the northern South China Sea is mainly due to northeast monsoon while in the central South China Sea the influence of southwest monsoon becomes more prominent. The annual primary production and export production calculated based on POC fluxes are 53.0–63.4 and 10.32–12.93 gC m^-2a^-1, respectively. The enhancement of POC flux during monsoon period suggest that higher palaeoproductivity or organic carbon accumulation rate in glacial age in the South Chma Sea might be the result of strengthening of the monsoons.     

钨砷系列杂多蓝的研究Ⅰ——Dawson结构钨砷稀土杂多蓝

利用控制电位电解的方法合成了８种未见文报道的Ｄａｗｓｏｎ结构的钨砷稀土杂多蓝：Ｌｎ２Ｈ２Ａｓ２Ｗ１８Ｏ６２·ｘＨ２Ｏ（２ｅ杂多蓝）和Ｌｎ２Ｈ４Ａｓ２Ｗ１８Ｏ６２·ｘＨ２Ｏ（４ｅ杂多蓝）,其中Ｌｎ＝Ｌａ,Ｃｅ,Ｐｒ,Ｎｄ。通过红外光谱,紫外光谱,极谱,光电子能谱、顺磁共振,热重－差热重对其进行了表征,并进行了结构和性质的研究。结果表明,还原前后杂多酸盐的结构虽有轻微的变化,但热稳定性和在溶液中的稳定     

Effects of 2,3,7,8-TCDD and benzo[a]pyrene on modulating vitellogenin expression in primary culture of crucian carp （Carassius auratus） hepatocytes

Vitellogenin (Vtg) is the precursor of yolk protein. Its expression and secretion are estrogen-regulated and are crucial for oocyte maturation. An in ritro xenoestrogen screening model was established by measuring Vtg induction in cultured primary hepatocytes from crucian carp. Vtg production was detected by biotin-avidin sandwich ELISA method while Vtg and cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1) mRNA induction were measured by semi- quantitative PCR-primer dropping technique. Vtg and Vtg mRNA were dose-dependently induced by diethylstilbestrol (DES, 0.2-200 ng/mL) in hepatocytes of crucian carp. Co-treatment of the DES-induced hepatocytes with either 2,3,7,8-TCDD (TCDD, 0.1-4 pg/mL) or benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P, 5-1000 ng/mL) resulted in a reduction of Vtg production and an increment of CYP1A1 mRNA expression both in a dose dependent manner, indicating the anti-estrogenic effects of the compounds. However, at lower tested concentrations, TCDD (0.1, 0.2 pg/mL), B[a]P (5 ng/mL)seemed to have a potentiating effect on Vtg expression and secretion, although by their own these compounds had no observable estrogenic effect on Vtg induction. Tamoxifen (a selective estrogen receptor modulators, 1 nmol/L-1μmol/L),and β-naphtho-flavone (β-NF, an aryl hydrocarbon receptor inducing compounds, 2.5-1000 ng/mL) also were employed to study the possible interactions in DES-induced Vtg expression. In co-treatment of the DES-induced hepatocytes with β-NF or tamoxifen, the decrease in Vtg production did parallel induction of CYP1A1 for β-NF, but tamoxifen inhibited Vtg induction did not parallel induced CYP1A1 expression in all test concentrations. On the contrary, it was found that in co-treatment of the TCDD-induced hepatocytes with DES, TCDD induced CYP1A1 mRNA production was inhibited by DES also. These results implicated a possible cross talk between estrogen receptor- and aryl hydrocarbon receptor-mediated pathways in the hepatocytes.     

Effectiveness of phosphocitrate and N-sulpho-2-amino tricarballylate,a new analogue of phosphocitrate,in blocking hydroxyapatite induced crystal growth and calcium accumulation by matrix vesicles

Summary Phosphocitrate and its analogue N-sulpho-2-amino tricarballylate were compared with ethane-1-hydroxy-1, 1-diphosphonate for inhibition of calcium phosphate crystallization in hydroxyapatite induced crystal growth and⁴⁵Ca uptake by matrix vesicles. Phosphocitrate (1 M) was the most potent inhibitor followed by ethane-1-hydroxy-1, 1-diphosphonate and N-sulpho-2-amino tricarballylate, the latter requiring a high concentration (100 M) to be equally effective as an inhibitor.Acknowledgments. We wish to thank Mr J. Jordan and Miss L.C. Ward for the excellent technical assistance and Mr R.J. Tennant for the transmission electron microscopy. We also thank the Golden Poultry Farming Industries Ltd., Hobart, Tasmania for their generous supply of broiler strain chickens.