Platinum-group Elements Geochemistry of the Yangliuping Magmatic Ni-Cu-PGE Sulfide Deposit:Implications of Its Genetic Link with the Extrusive Basalts

Primitive mantle normalized Platinum group elements (PGE) concentration patterns for the Zhengziyanwo intrusion and Dashibao Formation basalts are of positive slope, similar to most of the world class magmatic Ni Cu PGE sulfide deposits. Characters of this intrusion and its related ores and Dashibao Formation basalts are their negative Pt anomaly and high concentration of Rh relative to Pt and Pd, facts being interpreted to be the results of crystallization and fractionation of Pt alloys and spinel phase free crystallization history for the magma, respectively. PGE parameters of the Dashibao Formation basalts are consistent with the general trend of those found for the Zhengziyanwo intrusion, and this might infer a genetic link between them.

Viral Metagenomics Analysis of Planktonic Viruses in East Lake,Wuhan,China

East Lake(Lake Donghu),located in Wuhan,China,is a typical city freshwater lake that has been experiencing eutrophic conditions and algal blooming during recent years.Marine and fresh water are considered to contain a large number of viruses.However,little is known about their genetic diversity because of the limited techniques for culturing viruses.In this study,we conducted a viral metagenomic analysis using a high-throughput sequencing technique with samples collected from East Lake in Spring,Summer,Autumn,and Winter.The libraries from four samples each generated 234,669,71,837,12,820,and 34,236 contigs(>90 bp each),respectively.The genetic structure of the viral community revealed a high genetic diversity covering 23 viral families,with the majority of contigs homologous to DNA viruses,including members of Myoviridae,Podoviridae,Siphoviridae,Phycodnaviridae,and Microviridae,which infect bacteria or algae,and members of Circoviridae,which infect invertebrates and vertebrates.The highest viral genetic diversity occurred in samples collected in August,then December and June,and the least diversity in March.Most contigs have low-sequence identities with known viruses.PCR detection targeting the conserved sequences of genes(g20,psbA,psbD,and DNApol)of cyanophages further confirmed that there are novel cyanophages in the East Lake.Our viral metagenomic data provide the first preliminary understanding of the virome in one freshwater lake in China and would be helpful for novel virus discovery and the control of algal blooming in the future.

Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Genotyping of Calpastatin Gene Using the ARMS Compared with the RFLP

Calpastatin is an endogenous inhibitor of calpain which is responsible for the breakdown of myofibrillar proteins, The association of Single Nucleotide Polymorphism （SNP） in the calpastatin gene with meat tenderness is an important topic in meat production. Therefore efficient procedure to investigate the SNP is necessary. The objectives of this study were to detect the SNP of calpastatin gene at domain L marker （G/C transversion） of the Kamphaengsaen beef breed （KPS cattle; n = 26） by the Amplification Refractory Mutation System （ARMS） compared with the Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism （RFLP） methods and to determine the genotypes of the KPS cattle at that marker. Genomic DNA of calpastatin gene extracted from blood of the KPS cattle was detected with ARMS and RFLP methods. The ARMS system has utilized two primer pairs to amplify the two different alleles of a polymorphism in single PCR reaction to detected single base mutation. In this method, the alleles-specific primers had a mismatch at 3＇ terminal base and a second deliberate mismatch at position -2 from 3＇ terminus. While the RFLP method detected a polymorphism using PCR-base technique follow by RsaI restriction enzyme. Amplification of the ARMS method revealed that the results were not different from the conventional method of RFLP. Analysis of genotypes revealed that the KPS cattle inherited the CC, CG and GG genotypes at domain L marker. These were reliable when verified by nucleotide sequence analysis of PCR products. The animals were genotyped and determined for tenderness phenotype with this marker that predicted variation of an intronic polymorphism at domain L of the calpastatin gene. Therefore, the ARMS method was simple, efficient technique, and suitable for detecting SNP at domain L marker of the calpastatin gene.

仙台市长岛野武逝世

据悉,仙台市市长岛野武因心脏病发,抢救无效,不幸于十一月六日逝世。适在日本访问的周海婴、杨蓝、王宝良曾致电吊唁。岛野武市长生前曾多次率代表团访华,每次来华必拜渴鲁迅墓、故居及纪念馆。

Effects of Wuwei Dilong Decoction on Inflammatory Cells and Cytokines in Asthma Model Guinea Pigs

Objective： To explore the effects and the mechanism of Wuwei Dilong Decoction （五味地龙汤 Schisandra Fruit and Earthworm Decoction） for treatment of asthma. Methods： The asthma guinea pig model was established with spray of ovalbumin （OVA）. Fifteen days later, the guinea pigs were administered by intra-gastric perfusion of Wuwei Dilong Decoction once a day for 8 consecutive days. Blood samples were taken for testing the total leucocytes, eosinophil （EOS）, lymphocytes, interferon-γ （IFN-γ） and leukotriene B4 （LTB4）. Results： In the asthma model group, the total leucocytes, EOS and lymphocytes were all increased, with significant differences as compared with the different dosage Wuwei Dilong Decoction groups （P〈0.01 or P〈0.05）. The serum LTB4 in the asthma model group was significantly increased and IFN-γ decreased. After administration of Wuwei Dilong Decoction of the large, medium and small dosages, LTB4 decreased, while IFN-7 increased （P〈0.05 or P〈0.01）. Conclusion： Wuwei Dilong Decoction can inhibit infiltration and diffusion of the inflammatory cells in the asthma model guinea pigs, and regulate LTB4 and IFN-γ, which is probably one of the important mechanisms of Wuwei Dilong Decoction for relieving asthma.

Causes and consequences of the Cambrian explosion

The Cambrian explosion has long been a basic research frontier that concerns many scientific fields. Here we discuss the cause-effect links of the Cambrian explosion on the basis of first appearances of animal phyla in the fossil record, divergence time, environmental changes, Gene Regulatory Networks, and ecological feedbacks. The first appearances of phyla in the fos- sil record are obviously diachronous but relatively abrupt, concentrated in the first three stages of the Cambrian period （541- 514 Ma）. The actual divergence time may be deep or shallow. Since the gene regulatory networks （GRNs） that control the de- velopment of metazoans were in place before the divergence, the establishment of GRNs is necessary but insufficient for the Cambrian explosion. Thus the Cambrian explosion required environmental triggers. Nutrient availability, oxygenation, and change of seawater composition were potential environmental triggers. The nutrient input, e.g., the phosphorus enrichment in the environment, would cause excess primary production, but it is not directly linked with diversity or disparity. Further in- crease of oxygen level and change of seawater composition during the Ediacaran-Cambrian transition were probably crucial environmental factors that caused the Cambrian explosion, but more detailed geochemical data are required. Many researchers prefer that the Cambrian explosion is an ecological phenomenon, that is, the unprecedented ecological success of ruetazoans during the Early Cambrian, but ecological effects need diverse and abundant animals. Therefore, the establishment of the eco- logical complexity among animals, and between animals and environments, is a consequence rather than a cause of the Cam- brian explosion. It is no doubt that positive ecological feedbacks could facilitate the increase of biodiversity. In a word, the Cambrian explosion happened when environmental changes crossed critical thresholds, led to the initial formation of the meta- zoan-doruinated ecosystem through a series of knock-on ecological processes, i.e., ＂ecological snowball＂ effects.

Armed T cells with CAR for cancer immunotherapy

The development of genetic engineering has enabled the modification of stem cells and somatic cells.T cells exert immune responses against cancer cells.Efforts to redirect T cell specificity of a chimeric antigen receptor(CAR)to a desired antigen began in the 1990s(Gross et al.,1989;Kuwana et al.,1987).In 2006,the first clinical trial using carbonic anhydrase IX CAR-T cells to fight renal cancer was conducted(Lamers et al.,2006).Until 2011,Porter et al.exploited CD19 CAR-T to treat refractory/relapsed chronic lymphoid leukemia(Porter et al.,2011).Subsequently。

Characteristics and genesis of microbial lumps in the Maozhuang Stage(Cambrian Series 2),Shandong Province,China

Microbial lumps have been found in the Maozhuang Stage(Cambrian Series 2) in the Liangcheng section,Shandong Province,China.Their macro-and micro-scale features distinguish them from other carbonate particles such as intraclasts and oncoids.Most lumps have a coarse sand to pebble size.They were mostly rounded during sedimentation or combined to form irregular shapes.A distinct boundary is present between the lumps and the surrounding cement of sparry calcite.The lumps contain either no core at all or several irregular "cores",without a distinct inner texture.They are composed mainly of calcified(micritized) microbes,most likely cyanobacteria.The microbes drilled holes in carbonate grains,after which lumps formed by micritization,cementation,and agglutination by an extracellular polymeric substance(EPS) in a high-energy shallow-marine,subtidal environment.As the lumps are directly related to microbes,they should be considered as microbialites.