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ningkeqing

木虫 (正式写手)

[交流] Nature Contents 13 July 2006 (Vol. 442 pp109 - 222)

[自然要览]

(选自英国Nature杂志,2006年7月13日出版)


封面故事:人造神经运动装置
A high-performance brain–computer interface
本期封面所示为BrainGate飞行员临床试验的第一位参与者Matt Nagle。在颈部
脊索损伤后,他的胳膊和腿不能动了。布朗大学神经科学系的研究人员与生物技
术公司Cyberkinetics及其他三个机构的人员合作,发现与运动有关的信号可通
过一个植入的BrainGate芯片从大脑向外传递,使患者能够驱动一个电脑屏幕光
标,启动简单的自动装置。这种人造神经运动装置有可能为研制可以代替或恢复
瘫痪患者丧失的运动功能的系统铺平道路。(Article p. 164; News and
Views; News Feature; www.nature.com/podcast)在这项进展之前,这种类型
的工作主要是在猴子身上进行的。在最近的一例这种研究中,研究人员使这类装
置的运动速度与当前的装置相比有了很大提高,从而使得研制可在临床上使用的
脑机器接口的前景更加乐观。(Letter p. 195)封面图片:Rick
Friedman/Corbis


减数分裂过程的控制(Controlling meiosis)
Clarifying the mechanics of DNA strand exchange in meiotic
recombination
Dmc1 (‘disrupted meiotic cDNA’)蛋白最初是在对酿酒酵母(Saccharomyces
cerevisiae)中引起减数分裂发生一个缺陷的突变进行甄别过程中识别出来的。
在不久前,尽管有大量分子遗传学研究工作证实了该蛋白在减数分裂中所起的中
心作用,但科学家对Dmc1的生化性质却知之甚少。Matthew Neal 和 Scott
Keeney对最近关于减数分裂重组的分子步骤的研究工作进行了评述,重点是Dmc1
及其辅助蛋白。在减数分裂重组过程中DNA链交换的控制是一个复杂的过程,对
有性生殖非常关键,而一种将生化和遗传方法结合在一起的研究方法将对染色体
行为的这个方面做出解释。(Review Article p. 153)


Odontogriphus omalus的身份已经搞清(Mollusc of mats' destruction)
A soft-bodied mollusc with radula from the Middle Cambrian Burgess
Shale Odontogriphus omalus是来自加拿大寒武纪中期Burgess页岩的奇异化石
中的一
个明星,看起来像是一个充气床和一个咖啡研磨机之间的杂交体。它的另一魅力
是其“有问题的”状态,因为原始化石不能与任何已知动物类群对应起来。现
在,根据对189个新标本所做的一项研究,研究人员发现该化石来自一种无壳软
体动物,以古代海床上的藻垫为食。这一重新解释的关键是,研究人员识别出了
软体动物典型的一种早期形式的进食器官,被称为齿舌,它是一种像锉刀一样的
硬器官,用来将藻类从岩石上剥离。这个结果为了解最重要的一个动物类群之一
的早期历史打开了一扇新窗户,并使科学家能够对与寒武纪“爆炸”之前多细胞
动物起源有关的其他几种谜一样的化石进行一次重新评估。(Article p. 159;
News and Views)


GRB早期余辉开始的时间(First lights)
Energy input and response from prompt and early optical afterglow
emission in gamma-ray bursts
当观测到一个明亮的伽马射线暴(GRB)时,两种不同类型的光辐射在爆发之后
最初几分钟内也会被看到,它们被称为“瞬发”辐射和早期余辉。GRB 050820a
是去年8月20日发生的一次GRB,它为天文学家提供了回答下面这一问题的机会:
“早期余辉是什么时候开始的?”答案是:它并不是像通常所假设的那样是在
GRB触发的时候开始的;相反,它似乎是与根据瞬发光学和伽马射线辐射所测量
出的能量释放有关的一种响应或反响。这个结果为GRB研究开辟了一个新领域,
因为对脉冲能量的响应可被用来探索喷射流和周围介质的性质。(Letter p.
172)


性能超过晶体电子装置的液相电子装置(A practical solution)
Ultrasensitive solution-cast quantum dot photodetectors
今天最好的电子和光电子装置是通过在一个单晶基质上进行半导体晶体生长制成
的。近年来Nature上发表了100篇以上关于其他可供选择的装置的论文,这些装
置是从溶液相获得的。与传统的晶体化的半导体装置相比,来自溶液的装置有很
多优势,如容易制造,物理上具有灵活性,而且最为重要的是成本低。所存在的
问题是,与单晶装置相比,来自溶液的装置电子性能比较差。但这种情况现在有
可能改变:来自多伦多大学的一个小组报告了这样一个体系,即硫化铅的胶体量
子点,它的性能实际上超过了最新的晶体装置。(Letter p. 180)


大气中羟基自由基的变化(Radical thinking)
Strong correlation between levels of tropospheric hydroxyl radicals
and solar ultraviolet radiation
羟基(OH)自由基主要决定大气的氧化能力。它对于清除影响人类健康、气候变
化和作物产量的污染物很重要。人们普遍认为,空气污染的增加从长远来讲会威
胁到大气的氧化功效,但关于OH趋势的数据却非常缺乏。因此,1999和2003年间
在德国南部Hohenpeissenberg气象观测站所获得的一组长期测量数据非常受欢
迎。这些数据表明,OH水平没有可以观测到的趋势。令人吃惊的是,鉴于这种自
由基所参与的很多反应,OH的变化与太阳紫外辐射有密切的、线性的关系。
(Letter p. 184; News and Views)


非火山地震的根源(Tremor on a plate)
Low-frequency earthquakes in Shikoku, Japan, and their relationship to
episodic tremor and slip
非火山地震(与由岩浆在火山下运动所产生的地震活动相似、但却发生在与任何
火山活动相距很远的地方的地震活动),大约6年前首次在日本东南的南开海槽
消减带被观测到,随后在卡斯卡底古陆消减带和在圣安德列斯断层下都被观测
到。造成这种“新型”地震活动的机制仍然不清楚。现在,来自日本西南的地震
监测结果被用来确定与非火山地震相关的低频率事件的位置。这些地震发生在板
块界面上,这一证据和其他证据表明,它们以及相关的地震是由板块界面上的由
流体导致的剪切滑动产生的,而不是由流体的流动直接产生的。(Letter p.
188)


最喜欢酸的产烷生物(A taste for acid)
Isolation of a novel acidiphilic methanogen from an acidic peat bog
微生物学家成功培养出了迄今所发现的最喜欢酸的产烷生物。新物种是在纽约州
的McLean沼泽中发现的,是被称为“甲烷微生物”的一个类群中的一员。该物种
喜欢在pH值为5左右的环境中生长,以前这个纪录的保持者为Methanobacterium
espanolae,它的最佳pH值在5.5和6之间。虽然其他一些产烷生物能在pH值低至
4.5的环境中存活,但该新物种是第一个在这样的酸性条件下表现出生长和最佳
产烷性能的物种。生活在酸性土壤泥炭沼泽中的微生物是大气甲烷的重要来源,
这种甲烷与全球变暖有关。(Letter p. 192)


一类新的小RNA:piRNA(A new type of RNAi)
A germline-specific class of small RNAs binds mammalian Piwi proteins
在RNA干涉中,小RNA(siRNAs 或 miRNAs)被用来调控基因表达。它们作为特征
因子,将 RISC复合物引导向互补的mRNA目标。RISC的一个主要成分是Argonaute
家族的一种蛋白。现在,独立进行研究工作的两个小组发现了一类新的小RNA,
它们与Argonaute家族的一个分支、即Piwi类蛋白发生相互作用。这些睾丸特有
的小RNA(被称为piRNA)比以前所描述的小RNA稍长一些。piRNA功能尚未确定,
但它们也许在精子的产生中扮演一个角色。(Letters pp. 199, 203)


肌浆球蛋白-V的三维结构(Myosin V: special delivery)
Three-dimensional structure of the myosin V inhibited state by
cryoelectron tomography
人们对细胞用来将特定成分送到正确地点的机制越来越感兴趣。运动蛋白肌浆球
蛋白执行很多这样的运输功能。现在,Liu等人已经确定了肌浆球蛋白-V一种被
抑制状态的三维结构:该结构显示了解决将一个分子马达从其目的地返回出发点
的问题的一个新机制。当肌浆球蛋白-V没有运载货物时,它采用一种紧凑的结
构,该结构与迅速作踏板运动的肌动蛋白细丝结合在一起。在另一篇论文中,
Thirumurugan等人利用各种不同的方法证明,在没有货物时,肌浆球蛋白-V与货
物结合的区域结合到其自身的运动区域上一个特定目标上,抑制其自己沿肌动蛋
白轨迹的运动,削弱其与肌动蛋白的结合。这两篇论文揭示了细胞所采用的、将
货物运输置于控制之下的巧妙方法。(Letters pp. 208, 213)
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ningkeqing

木虫 (正式写手)

----------------------
NEWS AND VIEWS
----------------------
Neuroscience: Converting thoughts into action There is a clear need to
help people who have brain or spinal-cord damage to communicate and
interact with the outside world. Progress to that end is being made
with brain-implantation technology.
Stephen H. Scott
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v442/n7099/full/442141a.html

Quantum physics: New spin on the Hall effect The spin Hall effect
occurs when electrons with opposite spins go their separate ways in an
electric field. The phenomenon is crucial to spin-based electronics,
and its electrical signal has just been spotted.
Andrew D. Kent
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v442/n7099/full/442143a.html

Atmospheric chemistry: Radicals follow the Sun Hydroxyl free radicals
are part of a complex network of atmospheric chemical reactions. But a
long-term study shows that their concentration can be predicted by the
intensity of ultraviolet sunlight alone.
Paul O. Wennberg
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v442/n7099/full/442145a.html

Palaeontology: A ghost with a bite
Witness a snail scraping microbial films from the inside of an
aquarium. Go back 505 million years, and this looks to have been the
way an enigmatic early animal made its living (but without the
aquarium).
Stefan Bengtson
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v442/n7099/full/442146a.html

Solid-state physics: Supersolid simulations Supersolids -- substances
that are crystalline but also behave as free-flowing superfluids --
can exist, according to quantum theory.
Models now suggest a route to the clinching experimental evidence.
Dieter Jaksch
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v442/n7099/full/442147a.html

Music: Calculated tones
Richard Webb
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v442/n7099/full/442149a.html

Obituary: Raymond Davis Jr (1914-2006)
Father of solar neutrino detection.
James R. Distel
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v442/n7099/full/442150a.html

----------------------
BRIEF COMMUNICATIONS
----------------------
Quantum engineering: An atom-sorting machine Laser-trapped atoms in
strings can be deftly rearranged and the spacing between them
precisely adjusted.
Yevhen Miroshnychenko, Wolfgang Alt, Igor Dotsenko, Leonid Forster,
Mkrtych Khudaverdyan, Dieter Meschede, Dominik Schrader and Arno
Rauschenbeutel
Abstract: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v442/n7099/abs/442151a.
html
Article: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v442/n7099/full/442151a.
html

BRIEF COMMUNICATIONS ARISING
Embryology: Does prepatterning occur in the mouse egg?
Takashi Hiiragi, Sophie Louvet-Vallee, Davor Solter and Bernard Maro
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04907.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04907.html

Embryology: Does prepatterning occur in the mouse egg? (Reply)
Berenika Plusa, Anna-Katerina Hadjantonakis, Dionne Gray, Karolina
Piotrowska-Nitsche, Agnieszka Jedrusik, Virginia E. Papaioannou, David
M. Glover and Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04908.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04908.html

----------------------
REVIEW
----------------------
Clarifying the mechanics of DNA strand exchange in meiotic
recombination Matthew J. Neale and Scott Keeney
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04885.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04885.html

----------------------
ARTICLES
----------------------
A soft-bodied mollusc with radula from the Middle Cambrian Burgess
Shale Jean-Bernard Caron, Amelie Scheltema, Christoffer Schander and
David Rudkin
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04894.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04894.html

Neuronal ensemble control of prosthetic devices by a human with
tetraplegia Leigh R. Hochberg, Mijail D. Serruya, Gerhard M. Friehs,
Jon A.
Mukand, Maryam Saleh, Abraham H. Caplan, Almut Branner, David Chen,
Richard D. Penn and John P. Donoghue
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04970.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04970.html

----------------------
LETTERS
----------------------
Energy input and response from prompt and early optical afterglow
emission in gamma-ray bursts Observations of a bright gamma-ray burst
clearly show the temporal relationship and relative strength of the
optical components.
W. T. Vestrand, J. A. Wren, P. R. Wozniak, R. Aptekar, S. Golentskii,
V. Pal'shin, T. Sakamoto, R. R. White, S. Evans, D. Casperson and E.
Fenimore
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04913.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04913.html

Direct electronic measurement of the spin Hall effect Report of an
electrical demonstration of the spin Hall effect using high-quality
metallic devices that incorporate a ferromagnet and a tunnel junction
to inject spin-polarized electrons.
S. O. Valenzuela and M. Tinkham
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04937.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04937.html

Ultrasensitive solution-cast quantum dot photodetectors A
solution-processed electronic device that uses colloidal quantum dots
of lead sulphide outperforms the state-of-the-art crystalline
alternatives, with ease of fabrication, physical flexibility, large
device areas and low cost among its benefits.
Gerasimos Konstantatos, Ian Howard, Armin Fischer, Sjoerd Hoogland,
Jason Clifford, Ethan Klem, Larissa Levina and Edward H. Sargent
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04855.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04855.html

Strong correlation between levels of tropospheric hydroxyl radicals
and solar ultraviolet radiation Franz Rohrer and Harald Berresheim
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04924.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04924.html

Low-frequency earthquakes in Shikoku, Japan, and their relationship to
episodic tremor and slip David R. Shelly, Gregory C. Beroza, Satoshi
Ide and Sho Nakamula
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04931.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04931.html

Isolation of a novel acidiphilic methanogen from an acidic peat bog
Suzanna L. Brauer, Hinsby Cadillo-Quiroz, Erika Yashiro, Joseph B.
Yavitt and Stephen H. Zinder
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04810.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04810.html

A high-performance brain-computer interface A new type of
brain-machine interface device enables recording of neural activity in
the monkey cortex and extraction of intended target signals, leaving
the monkey able to place a cursor on a location, just by thinking
about it.
Gopal Santhanam, Stephen I. Ryu, Byron M. Yu, Afsheen Afshar and
Krishna V. Shenoy
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04968.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04968.html

A germline-specific class of small RNAs binds mammalian Piwi proteins
One of two studies that identifies a new class of small RNAs that
interact with one Argonaute subfamily, the Piwi class. These
testis-specific small RNAs, called 'piRNAs', are slightly longer than
the previously described siRNAs and miRNAs.
Angelique Girard, Ravi Sachidanandam, Gregory J. Hannon and Michelle
A. Carmell
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04917.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04917.html

A novel class of small RNAs bind to MILI protein in mouse testes One
of two studies that identifies a new class of small RNAs that interact
with one Argonaute subfamily, the Piwi class. These testis-specific
small RNAs, called 'piRNAs', are slightly longer than the previously
described siRNAs and miRNAs.
Alexei Aravin, Dimos Gaidatzis, Sebastien Pfeffer, Mariana
Lagos-Quintana, Pablo Landgraf, Nicola Iovino, Patricia Morris,
Michael J. Brownstein, Satomi Kuramochi-Miyagawa, Toru Nakano, Minchen
Chien, James J. Russo, Jingyue Ju, Robert Sheridan, Chris Sander,
Mihaela Zavolan and Thomas Tuschl
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04916.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04916.html

Three-dimensional structure of the myosin V inhibited state by
cryoelectron tomography Cryoelectron tomography of two-dimensional
arrays of myosin V reveals that it downregulates its activity by
folding, positioning the cargo binding domain on the motor domain's
active site.
Jun Liu, Dianne W. Taylor, Elena B. Krementsova, Kathleen M. Trybus
and Kenneth A. Taylor
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04719.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04719.html

The cargo-binding domain regulates structure and activity of myosin 5
Kavitha Thirumurugan, Takeshi Sakamoto, John A. Hammer, III, James R.
Sellers and Peter J. Knight
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04865.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04865.html

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