Alga-like forms in onverwacht series, South Africa: oldest recognized lifelike forms on Earth

Spheroidal and cupshaped, carbonaceous alga-like bodies, as well as filamentous structures and amorphous carbonaceous matter occur in sedimentary rocks of the Onverwacht Series (Swaziland System) in South Africa. The Onverwacht sediments are older than 3.2 eons, and they are probably the oldest, littlealtered sedimentary rocks on Earth. The basal Onverwacht sediments lie approximately 10,000 meters stratigraphically below the Fig Tree sedimentary rocks, from which similar organic microstructures have been interpreted as alga-like microfossils. The Onverwacht spheroids and filaments are best preserved in black, carbonrich cherts and siliceous argillites interlayered with thick sequences of lavas. These lifelike forms and the associated carbonaceous substances are probably biological in origin. If so, the origins of unicellular life on Earth are buried in older rocks now obliterated by igneous and metamorphic events.     

Autosomal deletion mapping in man

Two families were observed in which morphologically similar dele tions involving a G-group chromosome were associated in the propositi with con spicuous abnormalities in ossification of the skull. The findings suggest that specific genetic information relating to morphogenesis of the skull may be located on a G-group chromosome.     

持续、低剂量金霉素对肉仔鸡免疫机能的抑制作用研究

270只Abore Acre商品代肉用公鸡随机分成3组，金霉素在饲料中添加水平分别为0、50只和150mg/kg，研究饲用金霉素对肉仔鸡法氏囊、脾脏和胸腺等免疫器官发育、以及免疫反应的影响。结果表明50mg/kg的金霉素对肉仔鸡脾脏和21日龄的胸腺无明显抑制作用，对T、B淋巴细胞转化率也无明显抑制作用（P＜0.05），而且显著促进法氏囊的萎缩（P＜0.05）。金霉素对T淋巴细胞转化率有明显的直接抑制作用；50mg/kg和150mg/kg的金素对BAS特异性抗体的产生均有显著的抑制作用（P＜0.01）。研究结果表明，持续、低剂量和金霉素对肉 鸡免疫器官发育和免疫应答具有显著的抑制作用，抑制作用随剂量增加而加强，150mg/kg的金霉素对肉仔鸡具有显著促生长作用。     

Quantum-confined stark effect in single CdSe nanocrystallite quantum dots

The quantum-confined Stark effect in single cadmium selenide (CdSe) nanocrystallite quantum dots was studied. The electric field dependence of the single-dot spectrum is characterized by a highly polarizable excited state ( approximately 10(5) cubic angstroms, compared to typical molecular values of order 10 to 100 cubic angstroms), in the presence of randomly oriented local electric fields that change over time. These local fields result in spontaneous spectral diffusion and contribute to ensemble inhomogeneous broadening. Stark shifts of the lowest excited state more than two orders of magnitude larger than the linewidth were observed, suggesting the potential use of these dots in electro-optic modulation devices.     

The V-antigen of Yersinia forms a distinct structure at the tip of injectisome needles

Many pathogenic bacteria use injectisomes to deliver effector proteins into host cells through type III secretion. Injectisomes consist of a basal body embedded in the bacterial membranes and a needle. In Yersinia, translocation of effectors requires the YopB and YopD proteins, which form a pore in the target cell membrane, and the LcrV protein, which assists the assembly of the pore. Here we report that LcrV forms a distinct structure at the tip of the needle, the tip complex. This unique localization of LcrV may explain its crucial role in the translocation process and its efficacy as the main protective antigen against plague.     

Methylene-C14-dioxyphenyl compounds: metabolism in relation to their synergistic action

The methylene-C(14) group is hydroxylated yielding formate-C(14) in the microsome-reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate system in vitro and yielding expired C(14)O(2), in living mice and houseflies. Methylenedioxyphenyl compounds apparently serve as alternate substrates for this enzymatic hydroxylation system of microsomes, and thus reduce the rate of metabolism and prolong the action of certain drugs and insecticide chemicals.     

基于EDA技术的自动立木整枝机无线遥控接收系统

在分析自动立木整枝机工作过程和控制要求的基础上,该文详细阐述了自动立木整枝机无线遥控接收系统的组成及工作原理,进而采用电子设计自动化(EDA)技术设计了自动立木整枝机无线遥控接收系统的数字控制逻辑.通过优化CPLD内部逻辑电路,有效消除了逻辑竞争冒险.仿真结果表明,该系统控制可靠性较高,能有效提高自动立木整枝机的功能安全性.      

Effect of tile effluent on nutrient concentration and retention efficiency in agricultural drainage ditches

Tile drainage is a common water management practice in many agricultural landscapes in the Midwestern United States. Drainage ditches regularly receive water from agricultural fields through these tile drains. This field-scale study was conducted to determine the impact of tile discharge on ambient nutrient concentration, nutrient retention and transport in drainage ditches. Grab water samples were collected during three flow regimes for the determination of soluble phosphorus (SP), ammonium nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N), nitrate nitrogen (NO₃-N) concentrations and their retention in three drainage ditches. Measured nutrient concentration indicated lower SP and NH₄⁺-N, and greater NO₃-N concentrations in tile effluents compared to the ditch water. Net uptake lengths were relatively long, especially for NO₃-N, indicating that nutrients were generally not assimilated efficiently in these drainage systems. Results also indicated that the study reaches were very dynamic showing alternating increases or decreases in nutrient concentration across the flow regimes. The drainage ditches appeared to be nutrient-rich streams that could potentially influence the quality of downstream waters.