Radiation damage, at high temperatures

The successful development of nuclear power reactors that are economically competitive with other sources of energy has led us to believe that more economical reactors will be developed. But, in developing the next generation of reactors, a new set of problems must be overcome. One of the most important of these is that of the embrittlement of the structural materials at high temperatures as a result of the intense neutron fields in these advanced systems. The radiation-induced embrittlement at high temperatures is probably associated with helium produced in the materials due to (n,alpha) reactions with the metal, and in some alloys radiation-induced precipitation of compounds within the alloy may also play a role. We believe that the most serious longterm problem is the generation of helium. Our current understanding of the mechanism by which this radiation damage is produced has allowed us to effect some improvement in the behavior of conventionally produced structural alloys, through minor modifications of the normal working and annealing processes used in their manufacture. However, we may find that new alloys will have to be developed to withstand the service conditions in future nuclear power reactors.     

Hole-burning spectroscopy and relaxation dynamics of amorphous solids at low temperatures

The magnitude and temperature dependence of most of the properties of amorphous solids are anomalous at very low temperatures ( less, similar1 Kelvin). Phonon-assisted tunneling of a distribution of glassy bistable configurations, or two-level systems, can account for these anomalies. A unified understanding of the low-temperature properties is required for an understanding of the glassy state. Persistent nonphotochemical hole burning of impurity optical transitions allows a glass state to be produced that is thermally inaccessible to the preburn state, and that allows the probing of tunneling dynamics on time scales that range between picoseconds and days. These data combined with recently obtained distribution functions for the two-level systems offer new insights into the tunneling dynamics.     

土壤中六价铬离子在低温环境中的迁移规律研究

为了探究复合土体中六价铬离子在寒区低温环境中的迁移规律,设置了4个不同土体配合比,掺入不同质量分数的水泥(C),脱硫石膏(S),对标准养护28 d后的复合土体进行上表面、下表面和环境3个方向的降温处理,而后进行电感耦合等离子质谱仪(ICP-MS)和低温核磁共振仪(LT-NMR)实验。结果表明,进行三温降温后的土体温度曲线呈现出先快速下降后缓慢下降的趋势,土体温度通过热传递由表及里传递负温;不同配合比下的土体均呈现两侧边缘处离子浓度高于中心处,随温度降低铬离子浓度增加;T_2弛豫时间的特征峰面积和第一峰值明显减小,所对应的第一峰孔隙区间0.001～0.117μm在-5.4℃至-14.4℃时基本不变,第二峰与第三峰面积减小,结冰量增加;温度对铬离子迁移具有重要影响且结冰量与铬离子浓度相关系数高达0.91;大孔隙的结冰速率远高于中孔及小孔隙,冰透镜体的增加导致了Cr~(6+)的迁移并在低温区聚集。研究表明,低温环境对复合土体中重金属离子迁移有重要影响。     

Photoinduced DNA-protein cross-links and bacterial killing: a correlation at low temperatures

The increased sensitivity of Escherichia coli to killing by ultraviolet irradiation when frozen and the variation in this sensitivity as a function of the temperature during irradiation have been correlated with changes in the amount of DNA that was cross-linked to protein by ultraviolet light. These variations in sensitivity to killing do not correlate with the production of thymine dimers.     

Temperature acclimation: improved sustained swimming performance in carp at low temperatures

At low temperatures, the reduction in mechanical power output of the aerobic muscle forces cold-blooded animals, such as carp, to recruit their rapidly fatiguing anaerobic fibers at relatively slow swimming speeds. Previous experimental data have suggested that changes in the biochemistry and morphology of the aerobic muscle during cold acclimation might increase its output of mechanical power. The present experiments show that, because of these changes, carp can swim faster at low temperature using only their aerobic muscle, which results in an increase in their sustainable swimming speed. By modifying their musculature, cold-blooded animals can achieve some independence from the effects of seasonal changes in environmental temperature.     

Trichoderma spp. capable of growing at low temperatures with biocontrol potential

Though there are successful commercial biocontrol products with Trichoderma spp. in many countries including US, Israel and Europe, their usefulness is limited in cold environments such as mid-and northern part of Europe, US and Canada, especially in the late fall, winter and early spring period.Trichoderma isolates capable of growing at low temperatures (5-10℃) and showing good antagonistic properties against plant pathogenic fungi may have therefore both scientific and commercial value.     

Conditions for purine synthesis: did prebiotic synthesis occur at low temperatures?

The rate of polymerization of hydrogen cyanide to aminomalononitrile and the tetramer, diaminomalonodinitrile, is quadratic in the total cyanide concentration. Since the reactions form part of a plausible prebiotic purine synthesis and since they compete with hydrolysis, concentration of cyanide may have been important. This may be achieved usefully by cooling to separate out ice.     

Starch accumulation associated with growth reduction at low temperatures in a tropical plant

Growth of Digitaria decumbens is severely reduced by night temperatures of 10 degrees C or below. Ultra-structure of leaves and chemical analyses show a high starch content in chloroplasts of plants illuminated and kept at a temperature of 30 degrees C. This starch disappears after a period in the dark at 30 degrees C, but it remains if the temperature during the dark period is 10 degrees C. The inhibition or slowing of starch translocation out of chloroplasts appears to account for reduced photo-synthesis and growth at low night temperatures.     

Understanding reactivity at very low temperatures: the reactions of oxygen atoms with alkenes

A remarkable number of reactions between neutral free radicals and neutral molecules have been shown to remain rapid down to temperatures as low as 20 kelvin. The rate coefficients generally increase as the temperature is lowered. We examined the reasons for this temperature dependence through a combined experimental and theoretical study of the reactions of O(3P) atoms with a range of alkenes. The factors that control the rate coefficients were shown to be rather subtle, but excellent agreement was obtained between the experimental results and microcanonical transition state theory calculations based on ab initio representations of the potential energy surfaces describing the interaction between the reactants.     

Life at high temperatures

Water environments with temperatures up to and above boiling are commonly found in association with geothermal activity. At temperatures above 60 degrees C, only bacteria are found. Bacteria with temperature optima over the range 65 degrees to 105 degrees C have been obtained in pure culture and are the object of many research projects. The upper temperature limit for life in liquid water has not yet been defined, but is likely to be somewhere between 110 degrees and 200 degrees C, since amino acids and nucleotides are destroyed at temperatures over 200 degrees C. Because bacteria capable of growth at high temperatures are found in many phylogenetic groups, it is likely that the ability to grow at high temperature had a polyphyletic origin. The macromolecules of these organisms are inherently more stable to heat than those of conventional organisms, but only small changes in sequence can lead to increases in thermostability. Because of their unique properties, thermophilic organisms and their enzymes have many potential biotechnological uses, and extensive research on industrial applications is under way.     

自然降温对不同生长期甘蔗生理生化指标的影响

【目的】为研究甘蔗的抗寒、耐寒机理提供理论依据。【方法】以桂糖28号（GT28）和新台糖22号（ROC22）为材料,测定自然降温条件下,新植苗期、宿根苗期、新植伸长期和新植成熟期等不同生长期甘蔗叶片丙二醛（MDA）含量、过氧化物酶（POD）活性、脯氨酸（Pro）和可溶性蛋白（SP）含量等生理指标。【结果】自然降温条件下,相同的生长时期,两个品种POD活性、MDA和SP含量变化基本一致,均为新植苗期〉宿根苗期〉新植伸长期〉新植成熟期;相同生长时期,GT28叶片MDA含量低于ROC22,ROC22叶片POD活性比GT28高,GT28的Pro和SP含量均高于ROC22。【结论】通过分析甘蔗新植苗期生理指标,可以在很大程度上评价甘蔗成熟期的抗寒性。     

Moderate drought alleviates the damage to grain quality at high temperatures by improving the starch synthesis of inferior grains in japonica rice

In agricultural production, temperature and moisture are important factors affecting grain yield and quality. Although moderate drought at the grain-filling stage can effectively alleviate the damage caused by high temperature, the specific regulatory mechanism driving the effect of moderate drought at the high temperature on starch synthesis is still unclear. To explore the effects and mechanisms of high temperature and moderate drought on rice starch synthesis at the grain-filling stage, the activities of enzymes and expression levels of the genes involved in starch synthesis under four different treatments involving high temperature and/or water stress (CK, HT, WS, and HT+WS) were investigated in this study. The starch synthesis of a japonica inbred rice was measured under the four treatments during the grain filling. The results show that the effects of high temperature and moderate drought on grain filling mainly occur in the inferior grains of rice. Through the regulation of enzymes involved in starch synthesis and the expression levels of their main genes, the synthesis of rice starch can be affected. Therefore, the high temperature and moderate drought were antagonistic, and moderate drought can alleviate the damage to grain quality at a high temperature by improving the starch synthesis of inferior grains in japonica rice. This study provides a basis for stress-resistance cultivation and breeding strategies of rice with high temperature tolerance.     

Nitriding iron at lower temperatures

The microstructure in the surface layer of a pure iron plate was refined at the nanometer scale by means of a surface mechanical attrition treatment that generates repetitive severe plastic deformation of the surface layer. The subsequent nitriding kinetics of the treated iron with the nanostructured surface layer were greatly enhanced, so that the nitriding temperature could be as low as 300 degrees C, which is much lower than conventional nitriding temperatures (above 500 degrees C). This enhanced processing method demonstrates the technological significance of nanomaterials in improving traditional processing techniques and provides a new approach for selective surface reactions in solids.     

越冬低温及栽期对偏低海拔区当归生长的影响

【目的】探讨偏低海拔区当归苗的越冬温度和成药生长光温对早薹及成药根产量的影响。【方法】采用甘肃漳县当归苗,越冬期按根直径分类后分别进行0和-5℃处理,次年与当地同期、晚15d和晚30d分3个时期进行分期栽植,以观察早薹及成药根农艺性状对越冬温度和分期栽植的反应。【结果】根直径大于0.45cm的当归苗具有明显的早薹现象,根直径为0.55~0.65cm的当归苗早薹高于根直径为0.45~0.55cm的苗,根直径小于0.65cm的同类大小苗经0和-5℃冬储处理及分期栽植后,相同大小的各类苗间早薹差异不明显。当归成药根主根直径、鲜质量和干质量与苗大小成正比,苗大小不同、冬储温度不同形成的侧根数也不同。当归成药根的产量随栽期的延后而减小。【结论】根直径0.65cm以下的当归苗可在0与-5℃温区越冬,偏低海拔区适宜栽植根直径偏小的苗,栽前萌动、栽期严重影响当归的产量,随栽期延后成药根产量减小。     

载体介导噬菌体入胞及抗胞内寄生菌研究进展

为了解载体介导噬菌体入胞及抗胞内寄生菌的最新研究进展,利用文献综述法检索近年载体介导噬菌体入胞的相关文献,从功能发挥、试验技术及应用前景等方面对可应用于介导噬菌体入胞的载体进行整理讨论。结果表明：1)噬菌体作为一类能够感染和裂解细菌的病毒,其天然存在的抗菌特性使其作为抗生素替代物的研究广泛存在,但其靶向胞内寄生菌的基础研究主要集中在国外,国内鲜有报道。2)与游离噬菌体相比,以无机纳米微粒、脂质体等作为载体介导噬菌体入胞,能够防止噬菌体被宿主免疫系统清除和免受细胞内环境影响。3)脂质体因其作为载体可有效提高噬菌体入胞效率及杀菌效率,现已成为研究最广泛的噬菌体入胞载体之一。因此,本文综述近年来国内外关于载体介导噬菌体入胞及抗胞内寄生菌研究进展,详细阐述不同介导噬菌体入胞的载体特性、入胞机制以及如何提高入胞效率等方面的最新研究,并针对目前存在的问题和发展前景进行展望,以期为更有效地利用载体投递系统高效投递噬菌体解决细胞内细菌感染的实际问题提供参考与理论支撑。     

不同温度下镉对倒刺的急性毒性试验

在不同水温条件下,采用静水式鱼类毒性试验法,研究镉对倒刺鲃的急性毒性效应。结果表明,在12（±1）℃条件下,镉对倒刺鲃的24、48、72、96 h半数致死浓度分别为14.38、7.18、4.11、3.16 mg/L;在25（±1）℃条件下,镉对倒刺鲃的24、48、72、96 h半数致死浓度分别为10.68、5.77、3.66、2.16 mg/L;两种温度下镉对倒刺鲃的质量安全浓度分别为0.0316、0.0216 mg/L。依据相关分级标准,镉对倒刺鲃属于中毒物质。     

不同氮水平对棉苗抗低温的影响

在22～28℃条件下,分别用0.00,1.00,2.00,3.00和4.00 g·L-1尿素水溶液浇灌培养棉苗至3叶1心,然后在人工气候箱内进行(15±1)℃/(5±1)℃(昼/夜)低温处理3d,研究了棉苗生长恢复及生理变化情况.结果表明,无氮处理棉苗抗低温能力差,受低温胁迫伤害严重,表现可溶性糖含量低,SOD和CAT...     

Viscosity of argon at high temperatures

New data for the viscosity of argon at high temperatures indicate that the accepted data are substantially too low at temperatures above 600 degrees K.