Experimentally proved biosynthesis of vitamin C in a guinea pig

The Science of Nature -     

Prenatal diagnosis of pericentric inversion of chromosome no. 17 in a twin pregnancy

Although prenatal genetic diagnosis can usually provide prospective parents with information as to whether their fetus is affected with certain genetic conditions, the presence of twins and the uncertainty about the phenotype of some chromosome variations pose a major dilemma and make genetic counselling very difficult. Here, a case report of an unusual chromosome aberration (pericentric inversion of chromosome no. 17) in a twin pregnancy which was originally suspected to be monoamniotic but later proved to have two sacs was presented.     

淮北煤中12种有害微量元素在煤及其灰中的分布特征

为了解有害微量元素在各煤层中的分布与变化规律,以及在煤燃烧后的煤灰中所发生的迁移与富集情况,采集了淮北煤田不同煤层、不同深度的15个煤样,采用中子活化法对其原煤及灰分中的12 种微量元素(Ag, As,Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Mo, Sb, Th, U, V)进行了测试。结果显示:绝大部分有害微量元素的含量都处于n×10 6到n×10 5数量级范围内,不同煤层或同一煤层不同部位中微量元素的含量分布不同;与全国和华北煤中有害微量元素的(平均)含量相比,除Mn低于全国和华北的平均值外,As、Co、Mo、Sb、Th、U与之相近,而Ag、Ba、Cr、Cu、V高于全国和华北煤中的平均值;12种微量元素均在灰分中有所富集,而且富集能力序列为:Cu>Cr>Mn>Mo>Co>Ba>V>Th>As>U>Sb。     

Conservation of Bio synthetic pheromone pathways in honeybees Apis

Social insects use complex chemical communication systems to govern many aspects of their life. We studied chemical changes in Dufours gland secretions associated with ovary development in several genotypes of honeybees. We found that C28–C38 esters were associated only with cavity nesting honeybee queens, while the alcohol eicosenol was associated only with their non-laying workers. In contrast, both egg-laying anarchistic workers and all parasitic Cape workers from queenright colonies showed the typical queen pattern (i.e. esters present and eicosenol absent), while egg-laying wild-type and anarchistic workers in queenless colonies showed an intermediate pattern, producing both esters and eicosenol but at intermediate levels. Furthermore, neither esters nor eicosenol were found in aerial nesting honeybee species. Both esters and eicosenol are biosynthetically similar compounds since both are recognizable products of fatty acid biosynthesis. Therefore, we propose that in honeybees the biosynthesis of esters and eicosenol in the Dufours gland is caste-regulated and this pathway has been conserved over evolutionary time.     

厚板双曲率模冲压过程的数值模拟与分析

使用有限元方法研究了在制造某特大型真空容器时厚板料的双曲率模冲压过程.对双曲率模冲压后板料的回弹规律进行了模拟,得出了不同的板宽和板厚对板料冲压后回弹量的影响规律,从而为确定冲模修正量的大小提供了依据.同时,也得出了厚板料双曲率模冲压的变形的发生和发展过程,从而为采取措施,避免方板冲压时的屈曲和起皱,使变形过程按照合理的路线进行提供了理论根据.所得结果具有普遍的规律.