A velocity dipole in the distribution of radio galaxies

The motion of our Galaxy through the Universe is reflected in a systematic shift in the temperature of the cosmic microwave background-because of the Doppler effect, the temperature of the background is about 0.1 per cent higher in the direction of motion, with a correspondingly lower temperature in the opposite direction. This effect is known as dipole anisotropy. If our standard cosmological model is correct, a related dipole effect should also be present as an enhancement in the surface density of distant galaxies in the direction of motion. The main obstacle to finding this signal is the uneven distribution of galaxies in the local supercluster, which drowns out the small cosmological signal. Here we report a detection of the expected cosmological dipole anisotropy in the distribution of galaxies. We use a survey of radio galaxies that are mainly located at cosmological distances, so the contamination from nearby clusters is small. When local radio galaxies are removed from the sample, the resulting dipole is in the same direction as the temperature anisotropy of the microwave background, and close to the expected amplitude. The result therefore confirms the standard cosmological interpretation of the microwave background.     

Genome sequence of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum

The parasite Plasmodium falciparum is responsible for hundreds of millions of cases of malaria, and kills more than one million African children annually. Here we report an analysis of the genome sequence of P. falciparum clone 3D7. The 23-megabase nuclear genome consists of 14 chromosomes, encodes about 5,300 genes, and is the most (A + T)-rich genome sequenced to date. Genes involved in antigenic variation are concentrated in the subtelomeric regions of the chromosomes. Compared to the genomes of free-living eukaryotic microbes, the genome of this intracellular parasite encodes fewer enzymes and transporters, but a large proportion of genes are devoted to immune evasion and host-parasite interactions. Many nuclear-encoded proteins are targeted to the apicoplast, an organelle involved in fatty-acid and isoprenoid metabolism. The genome sequence provides the foundation for future studies of this organism, and is being exploited in the search for new drugs and vaccines to fight malaria.     

Effects of acoustic waves on stick-slip in granular media and implications for earthquakes

It remains unknown how the small strains induced by seismic waves can trigger earthquakes at large distances, in some cases thousands of kilometres from the triggering earthquake, with failure often occurring long after the waves have passed. Earthquake nucleation is usually observed to take place at depths of 10-20 km, and so static overburden should be large enough to inhibit triggering by seismic-wave stress perturbations. To understand the physics of dynamic triggering better, as well as the influence of dynamic stressing on earthquake recurrence, we have conducted laboratory studies of stick-slip in granular media with and without applied acoustic vibration. Glass beads were used to simulate granular fault zone material, sheared under constant normal stress, and subject to transient or continuous perturbation by acoustic waves. Here we show that small-magnitude failure events, corresponding to triggered aftershocks, occur when applied sound-wave amplitudes exceed several microstrain. These events are frequently delayed or occur as part of a cascade of small events. Vibrations also cause large slip events to be disrupted in time relative to those without wave perturbation. The effects are observed for many large-event cycles after vibrations cease, indicating a strain memory in the granular material. Dynamic stressing of tectonic faults may play a similar role in determining the complexity of earthquake recurrence.     

Genome analysis of the platypus reveals unique signatures of evolution

We present a draft genome sequence of the platypus, Ornithorhynchus anatinus. This monotreme exhibits a fascinating combination of reptilian and mammalian characters. For example, platypuses have a coat of fur adapted to an aquatic lifestyle; platypus females lactate, yet lay eggs; and males are equipped with venom similar to that of reptiles. Analysis of the first monotreme genome aligned these features with genetic innovations. We find that reptile and platypus venom proteins have been co-opted independently from the same gene families; milk protein genes are conserved despite platypuses laying eggs; and immune gene family expansions are directly related to platypus biology. Expansions of protein, non-protein-coding RNA and microRNA families, as well as repeat elements, are identified. Sequencing of this genome now provides a valuable resource for deep mammalian comparative analyses, as well as for monotreme biology and conservation.     

Projected increase in continental runoff due to plant responses to increasing carbon dioxide

In addition to influencing climatic conditions directly through radiative forcing, increasing carbon dioxide concentration influences the climate system through its effects on plant physiology. Plant stomata generally open less widely under increased carbon dioxide concentration, which reduces transpiration and thus leaves more water at the land surface. This driver of change in the climate system, which we term 'physiological forcing', has been detected in observational records of increasing average continental runoff over the twentieth century. Here we use an ensemble of experiments with a global climate model that includes a vegetation component to assess the contribution of physiological forcing to future changes in continental runoff, in the context of uncertainties in future precipitation. We find that the physiological effect of doubled carbon dioxide concentrations on plant transpiration increases simulated global mean runoff by 6 per cent relative to pre-industrial levels; an increase that is comparable to that simulated in response to radiatively forced climate change (11 +/- 6 per cent). Assessments of the effect of increasing carbon dioxide concentrations on the hydrological cycle that only consider radiative forcing will therefore tend to underestimate future increases in runoff and overestimate decreases. This suggests that freshwater resources may be less limited than previously assumed under scenarios of future global warming, although there is still an increased risk of drought. Moreover, our results highlight that the practice of assessing the climate-forcing potential of all greenhouse gases in terms of their radiative forcing potential relative to carbon dioxide does not accurately reflect the relative effects of different greenhouse gases on freshwater resources.     

受精滴中精子不同平衡时间对牛卵母细胞体外受精的影响

为寻找精子在受精滴中的最佳平衡时间, 以加入精子时间为０ ｈ （对照组）, 分别在０ｈ, ０．５ ｈ, １ ｈ, ２ ｈ, ４ ｈ 随机加入等数卵母细胞到各受精滴, 结果显示： ０ ｈ, ０．５ ｈ 组卵裂率较高, 分别为８７．７％ 、８４．７％ , 与其他组相比差异显著（ Ｐ＜ ０．０１）; ０．５ｈ 组的囊胚率最高,为６７．５％ ,与对照组的５７．７％ 比较差异显著（ Ｐ＜ ０．０１）。结果表明,受精滴中精子经过０．５ｈ 平衡后, 弱精及死精粘聚沉淀, 余下活力强的健壮精子, 此时加入牛卵母细胞受精, 可获得较高卵裂率及囊胚率     

扬子克拉通北缘显生宙碎屑沉积岩Mo同位素初步研究及其地质意义

通过对扬子克拉通北缘西乡-碑坝小区寒武纪-侏罗纪碎屑沉积岩的Mo、Nd同位素进行测定, 结合微量元素数据分析, 结果表明, 该区寒武纪-侏罗纪碎屑沉积岩的d 98Mo变化范围在-0.65‰ ~ +1.87‰之间, eNd(t)变化范围在-1.46 ~ -10.90之间. 茅口组晚期一个样品(4820)具有相对偏正的δ⁹⁸Mo和ε_Nd(t)(0.97‰, -1.46), 有可能与二叠纪晚期峨眉山地幔柱的喷发过程中, 扬子克拉通北缘古海水中富集的大量硫化氢有关, 此时海水中的MoO₄^2-转变为MoS₄^2-, 并具有偏正的Mo同位素组成. 晚二叠世长兴期样品(4814)也具有明显偏正的δ⁹⁸Mo(1.87‰), 但eNd(t)相对偏负(-10.90), 并具有相对较高的总有机碳(TOC)含量和总硫含量(TS) (分别为1.52%, 2.02%), 暗示该时期具有较高的初级生产力和有机碳埋藏量, 似乎表明脱硫酸还原作用产生的大量HS^-, H₂S与同期海相沉积岩明显偏正的δ⁹⁸Mo有一定的耦合性. 研究显示, 古大陆边缘碎屑沉积岩的Mo同位素变化, 与区域构造活动及产生的环境效应存在一定的相关性, 可以作为指示区域古环境演化的有效示踪剂.