The suppression of mouse spontaneous locomotor activity by the ingestion of deuterium oxide.

The spontaneous locomotor activity of the laboratory mouse is significantly depressed by the ingestion of deuterium oxide. The response, which is reversible, is a retilinear one with up to 70% reduction in activity with the administration of 25% heavy water.     

基于Agent的农田生态细胞自动机模型

提出一种基于Agent的细胞自动机(CA)演化模型，并采用整体建模仿真的方法，对农田虫害的演化进行了模拟．它采用自底向上的建模思想，利用Agent的局部连接规则，建立复杂系统的整体模型．针对不同环境条件设定相应的仿真参数，可以得到恰当的害虫种群演化结果，有助于农田生态管理的科学决策．同时，农田虫害的管理是预测专家系统的重要应用领域，该模型与专家系统的最终集成，可以提高专家系统的预测能力．     

Melt-induced speed-up of Greenland ice sheet offset by efficient subglacial drainage

Fluctuations in surface melting are known to affect the speed of glaciers and ice sheets, but their impact on the Greenland ice sheet in a warming climate remains uncertain. Although some studies suggest that greater melting produces greater ice-sheet acceleration, others have identified a long-term decrease in Greenland's flow despite increased melting. Here we use satellite observations of ice motion recorded in a land-terminating sector of southwest Greenland to investigate the manner in which ice flow develops during years of markedly different melting. Although peak rates of ice speed-up are positively correlated with the degree of melting, mean summer flow rates are not, because glacier slowdown occurs, on average, when a critical run-off threshold of about 1.4?centimetres a day is exceeded. In contrast to the first half of summer, when flow is similar in all years, speed-up during the latter half is 62?±?16 per cent less in warmer years. Consequently, in warmer years, the period of fast ice flow is three times shorter and, overall, summer ice flow is slower. This behaviour is at odds with that expected from basal lubrication alone. Instead, it mirrors that of mountain glaciers, where melt-induced acceleration of flow ceases during years of high melting once subglacial drainage becomes efficient. A model of ice-sheet flow that captures switching between cavity and channel drainage modes is consistent with the run-off threshold, fast-flow periods, and later-summer speeds we have observed. Simulations of the Greenland ice-sheet flow under climate warming scenarios should account for the dynamic evolution of subglacial drainage; a simple model of basal lubrication alone misses key aspects of the ice sheet's response to climate warming.     

Common loss-of-function variants of the epidermal barrier protein filaggrin are a major predisposing factor for atopic dermatitis

Atopic disease, including atopic dermatitis (eczema), allergy and asthma, has increased in frequency in recent decades and now affects approximately 20% of the population in the developed world. Twin and family studies have shown that predisposition to atopic disease is highly heritable. Although most genetic studies have focused on immunological mechanisms, a primary epithelial barrier defect has been anticipated. Filaggrin is a key protein that facilitates terminal differentiation of the epidermis and formation of the skin barrier. Here we show that two independent loss-of-function genetic variants (R510X and 2282del4) in the gene encoding filaggrin (FLG) are very strong predisposing factors for atopic dermatitis. These variants are carried by approximately 9% of people of European origin. These variants also show highly significant association with asthma occurring in the context of atopic dermatitis. This work establishes a key role for impaired skin barrier function in the development of atopic disease.     

SLC2A9 is a newly identified urate transporter influencing serum urate concentration, urate excretion and gout

Uric acid is the end product of purine metabolism in humans and great apes, which have lost hepatic uricase activity, leading to uniquely high serum uric acid concentrations (200-500 microM) compared with other mammals (3-120 microM). About 70% of daily urate disposal occurs via the kidneys, and in 5-25% of the human population, impaired renal excretion leads to hyperuricemia. About 10% of people with hyperuricemia develop gout, an inflammatory arthritis that results from deposition of monosodium urate crystals in the joint. We have identified genetic variants within a transporter gene, SLC2A9, that explain 1.7-5.3% of the variance in serum uric acid concentrations, following a genome-wide association scan in a Croatian population sample. SLC2A9 variants were also associated with low fractional excretion of uric acid and/or gout in UK, Croatian and German population samples. SLC2A9 is a known fructose transporter, and we now show that it has strong uric acid transport activity in Xenopus laevis oocytes.     

TCR signaling requirements for activating T cells and for generating memory

Over the last two decades the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying T cell activation, expansion, differentiation, and memory formation have been intensively investigated. These studies revealed that the generation of memory T cells is critically impacted by a number of factors, including the magnitude of the inflammatory response and cytokine production, the type of dendritic cell [DC] that presents the pathogen derived antigen, their maturation status, and the concomitant provision of costimulation. Nevertheless, the primary stimulus leading to T cell activation is generated through the T cell receptor [TCR] following its engagement with a peptide MHC ligand [pMHC]. The purpose of this review is to highlight classical and recent findings on how antigen recognition, the degree of TCR stimulation, and intracellular signal transduction pathways impact the formation of effector and memory T cells.     

Evidence of widespread selection on standing variation in Europe at height-associated SNPs

Strong signatures of positive selection at newly arising genetic variants are well documented in humans, but this form of selection may not be widespread in recent human evolution. Because many human traits are highly polygenic and partly determined by common, ancient genetic variation, an alternative model for rapid genetic adaptation has been proposed: weak selection acting on many pre-existing (standing) genetic variants, or polygenic adaptation. By studying height, a classic polygenic trait, we demonstrate the first human signature of widespread selection on standing variation. We show that frequencies of alleles associated with increased height, both at known loci and genome wide, are systematically elevated in Northern Europeans compared with Southern Europeans (P < 4.3 × 10(-4)). This pattern mirrors intra-European height differences and is not confounded by ancestry or other ascertainment biases. The systematic frequency differences are consistent with the presence of widespread weak selection (selection coefficients ～10(-3)-10(-5) per allele) rather than genetic drift alone (P < 10(-15)).     

两种消除Klebsiella pneumoniae重组型质粒的方法

对于工业发酵菌种肺炎克雷伯氏菌(Klebsiella pneumoniae),研究发现有两种消除其重组型质粒的有效方法,一种是连续传代培养,另一种是使用消除剂十二烷基硫酸钠(SDS)。对K.pneumoniae重组菌连续20代传代培养后,发现其质粒具有较高的消除率;而以0.2%SDS复合Ca2+处理K.pneumoniae重组菌,也能有效消除其重组型质粒,且该方法省却了反复的传代培养,能快速得到质粒消除菌,更具简便易操作性。消除了质粒的K.pneumoniae能再次接纳新的质粒,有效避免了因质粒不相容性带来的转化不成功,进而可用作宿主菌积累更多的生理性状。     

高位钻孔瓦斯抽采参数优化设计

基于采空区覆岩裂隙分布规律、覆岩裂隙瓦斯流动规律和高位钻孔抽采技术研究现状,从覆岩"竖三带"、"O"形圈和U型通风条件下采动裂隙瓦斯流动规律出发,找出高位钻孔的理论合理布置区域,指出工作面后方50m范围内覆岩裂隙发育状况是高位钻孔层位设计的关键,针对祁南煤矿32煤层的特点,结合现场采用数值模拟方法模拟不同开采速度条件下覆岩裂隙发育规律,优化设计高位钻孔的抽采参数,在34下2工作面和3410工作面的现场试验中,高位钻孔抽采浓度和抽采率得到大大提高,取得了较好的抽采效果,验证了研究的正确性。