Catch a falling star: meteorites and old ice

A model for the process of meteorite concentration in blue ice regions of the Antarctic ice sheet is proposed based on data from near the Allan Hills and the assumptions that both meteorite influx and glacial flow have been constant. The meteorite influx is calculated to be 60 x 10(-6) kilogram per square kilometer per year, and the age of the exposed ice to be 0 to 600,000 years, varying with distance from the Allan Hills. These results are in line with other estimates of influx rate and with measurements of the terrestrial ages of the meteorites, providing support for the assumption of steady flow and meteorite influx. This may be the oldest sequence of ice in stratigraphic order yet discovered, and the results imply that this part of the east Antarctic ice sheet has been approximately steady during this time interval.     

A simple model for neutrino cooling of the large magellanic cloud supernova

A simplified analytic model of a cooling hot neutron star, motivated by detailed computer calculations, describes well the neutrinos detected from the recent supernova in the Large Magellanic Cloud. The observations do not require explanations that invoke exotic physics or complicated astrophysics. The parameters in this simple model are not severely constrained: 6.1(-3.6)(+3.5) x 10(52) ergs emitted in electron antineutrinos, a peak temperature of 4.2(-0.8)(+1.2) megaelectron volts, a radius of 27(-15)(+17) kilometers, and a cooling time of 4.5(-2.0)(+1.7) seconds.     

Free energy and temperature dependence of electron transfer at the metal-electrolyte interface

The rate constant of the electron-transfer reaction between a gold electrode and an electroactive ferrocene group has been measured at a structurally well-defined metal-electrolyte interface at temperatures from 1 degrees to 47 degrees C and reaction free energies from -1.0 to +0.8 electron volts (eV). The ferrocene group was positioned a fixed distance from the gold surface by the self-assembly of a mixed thiol monolayer of (eta(5)C(5)H(5))Fe(eta(5)C(5)H(4))CO(2)(CH(2))(16)SH and CH(3)(CH(2))(15)SH. Rate constants from 1 per second (s(-1)) to 2 x 10(4) s(-1) in 1 molar HClO(4) are reasonably fit with a reorganization energy of 0.85 eV and a prefactor for electron tunneling of 7 x 10(4) s(-1) eV(-1). Such self-assembled monolayers can be used to systematically probe the dependence of electron-transfer rates on distance, medium, and spacer structure, and to provide an empirical basis for the construction of interfacial devices such as sensors and transducers that utilize macroscopically directional electron-transfer reactions.     

A polymorphism within the G6PC2 gene is associated with fasting plasma glucose levels

Several studies have shown that healthy individuals with fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels at the high end of the normal range have an increased risk of mortality. To identify genetic determinants that contribute to interindividual variation in FPG, we tested 392,935 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 654 normoglycemic participants for association with FPG, and we replicated the most strongly associated SNP (rs560887, P = 4 x 10(-7)) in 9353 participants. SNP rs560887 maps to intron 3 of the G6PC2 gene, which encodes glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit-related protein (also known as IGRP), a protein selectively expressed in pancreatic islets. This SNP was associated with FPG (linear regression coefficient beta = -0.06 millimoles per liter per A allele, combined P = 4 x 10(-23)) and with pancreatic beta cell function (Homa-B model, combined P = 3 x 10(-13)) in three populations; however, it was not associated with type 2 diabetes risk. We speculate that G6PC2 regulates FPG by modulating the set point for glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in pancreatic beta cells.     

Antarctic Ozone Depletion Chemistry: Reactions of N2O5 with H2O and HCl on Ice Surfaces

The reactions of dinitrogen pentoxide (N(2)O(5)) with H(2)O and hydrochloric acid (HCl) were studied on ice surfaces in a Knudsen cell flow reactor. The N(2)O(5) reacted on ice at 185 K to form condensed-phase nitric acid (HNO(3)). This reaction may provide a sink for odd nitrogen (NO(x)) during the polar winter, a requirement in nearly all models of Antarctic ozone depletion. A lower limit to the sticking coefficient, gamma, for N(2)O(5) on ice is 1 x 10(-3). Moreover, N(2)O(5) reacted on HCl-ice surfaces at 185 K, with gamma greater than 3 x 10(-3). This reaction, which produced gaseous nitryl chloride (ClNO(2)) and condensed-phase HNO(3), proceeded until all of the HCl within the ice was depleted. The ClNO(2), which did not react or condense on ice at 185 K, can be readily photolyzed in the Antarctic spring to form atomic chlorine for catalytic ozone destruction cycles. The other photolysis product, gaseous nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)), may be important in the partitioning of NO(x) between gaseous and condensed phases in the Antarctic winter.     

Time differences in the formation of meteorites as determined from the ratio of lead-207 to lead-206

Measurements of the lead isotopic composition and the uranium, thorium, and lead concentrations in meteorites were made in order to obtain more precise radiometric ages of these members of the solar system. The newly determined value of the lead isotopic composition of Canyon Diablo troilite is as follows: (206)Pb/(204)Pb = 9.307, (207)Pb/(2O4)Pb = 10.294, and (208)Pb/(204)Pb = 29.476. The leads of Angra dos Reis, Sioux County, and Nuevo Laredo achondrites are very radiogenic, the (206)Pb/(204)Pb values are about 200, and the uranium-thorium-lead systems are nearly concordant. The ages of the meteorites as calculated from a single-stage (207)Pb/(206)Pb isochron based on the newly determined primordial lead value and the newly reported (235)U and (838)U decay constants, are 4.528 x 10(9) years for Sioux County and Nuevo Laredo and 4.555 x 10(9) years for Angra dos Reis. When calculated with the uranium decay constants used by Patterson, these ages are 4.593 x 10(9) years and 4.620 x 10(9) years, respectively, and are therefore 40 to 70 x 10(6) years older than the 4.55 x 10(9) years age Patterson reported. The age difference of 27 x 10(6) years between Angra dos Reis and the other two meteorites is compatible with the difference between the initial (87)Sr/(86)Sr ratio of Angra dos Reis and that of seven basaltic achondrites observed by Papanastassiou and Wasserburg. The time difference is also comparable to that determined by (129)1-(129)Xe chronology. The ages of ordinary chondrites (H5 and L6) range from 4.52 to 4.57 x 10(9) years, and, here too, time differences in the formation of the parent bodies or later metamorphic events are indicated. Carbonaceous chondrites(C2 and C3) appear to contain younger lead components.     

Voyager radio science observations of neptune and triton

The Voyager 2 encounter with the Neptune system included radio science investigations of the masses and densities of Neptune and Triton, the low-order gravitational harmonics of Neptune, the vertical structures of the atmospheres and ionospheres of Neptune and Triton, the composition of the atmosphere of Neptune, and characteristics of ring material. Demanding experimental requirements were met successfully, and study of the large store of collected data has begun. The initial search of the data revealed no detectable effects of ring material with optical depth tau [unknown] 0.01. Preliminary representative results include the following: 1.0243 x 10(26) and 2.141 x 10(22) kilograms for the masses of Neptune and Triton; 1640 and 2054 kilograms per cubic meter for their respective densities; 1355 +/- 7 kilometers, provisionally, for the radius of Triton; and J(2) = 3411 +/- 10(x 10(-6)) and J(4) = -26(+12)(-20)(x10(-6)) for Neptune's gravity field (J>(2) and J(4) are harmonic coefficients of the gravity field). The equatorial and polar radii of Neptune are 24,764 +/- 20 and 24,340 +/- 30 kllometers, respectively, at the 10(5)-pascal (1 bar) pressure level. Neptune's atmosphere was probed to a pressure level of about 5 x 10(5) pascals, and effects of a methane cloud region and probable ammonia absorption below the cloud are evident in the data. Results for the mixing ratios of helium and ammonia are still being investigated; the methane abundance below the clouds is at least 1 percent by volume. Derived temperature-pressure profiles to 1.2 x 10(5) pascals and 78 kelvins (K) show a lapse rate corresponding to "frozen" equilibrium of the para- and ortho-hydrogen states. Neptune's ionosphere exhibits an extended topside at a temperature of 950 +/- 160 K if H(+) is the dominant ion, and narrow ionization layers of the type previously seen at the other three giant planets. Triton has a dense ionosphere with a peak electron concentration of 46 x 10(9) per cubic meter at an altitude of 340 kilometers measured during occultation egress. Its topside plasma temperature is about 80 +/- 16 K if N(2)(+) is the principal ion. The tenuous neutral atmosphere of Triton produced distinct signatures in the occultation data; however, the accuracy of the measurements is limited by uncertainties in the frequency of the spacecraft reference oscillator. Preliminary values for the surface pressure of 1.6 +/- 0.3 pascals and an equivalent isothermal temperature of 48 +/- 5 K are suggested, on the assumption that molecular nitrogen dominates the atmosphere. The radio data may be showing the effects of a thermal inversion near the surface; this and other evidence imply that the Triton atmosphere is controlled by vapor-pressure equilibrium with surface ices, at a temperature of 38 K and a methane mixing ratio of about 10(-4).     

SigmaPlot分析玉米茎秆含糖量与生育期关系

为了解新品种浙甜6号(超甜玉米)、浙糯玉6号(糯玉米)茎秆含糖量与生育期的关系,指导青秆适时收获用于牲畜饲料,用SigmaPlot 10.0软件对茎秆含糖量与生育期关系进行非线性回归分析,结果表明:浙甜6号、浙糯玉6号茎秆含糖量与生育期的非线性方程分别为f=5.0297+0.6714x-0.0264x2+2.9640E-04x3、f=5.0077+0.5294x-0.0174x2+1.4830E-04x3,由此可知,随着生育进程推进,浙甜6号茎秆糖含量表现为"低-高-平稳下滑"的变化趋势,浙糯玉6号茎秆糖含量表现为"低-高-快速下降"的变化趋势。     

Uranium-series dating of sediments from searles lake: differences between continental and marine climate records

One of the major unresolved questions in Pleistocene paleoclimatology has been whether continental climatic transitions are consistent with the glacial delta(18)O marine record. Searles Lake in California, now a dry salt pan, is underlain by sediment layers deposited in a succession of lakes whose levels and salinities have fluctuated in response to changes in climate over the last 3 x 10(6) years. Uraniumseries dates on the salt beds range from 35 x 10(3) to 231x 10(3) years. This range of dates allows identification of lake-sediment horizons that are time correlatives of the boundaries of marine isotope stages from the recent 3/4 boundary back to the 8/9 boundary. The 5/6 boundary coincided with a deepening of the lake, but the analogous 1/2 boundary coincided with desiccation. The 3/4, 4/5, 6/7, 7/8, and 8/9 boundaries correspond in age to horizons that record little or no change in sedimentation or climate. These hydrologic results demonstrate that the continental paleoclimate record at this mid-latitude site does not mimic the marine record.     

Calcium-41 concentration in terrestrial materials: prospects for dating of pleistocene samples

Calcium-41 has been suggested as a new tool for radiometric dating in the range of 10(5) to 10(6) years. The concentration of cosmogenic calcium-41 in natural samples of terrestrial origin has now been determined by high-sensitivity accelerator mass spectrometry after pre-enrichment in calcium-41 with an isotope separator. Ratios of calcium-41 to total calcium between 2 x 10(-14) and 3 x 10(-15) were measured for samples of contemporary bovine bone and from limestone deposits. Some prospects for the use of calcium-41 for dating Middle and Late Pleistocene bone and for other geophysical applications are discussed.     

Postglacial change in sea level in the Western north atlantic ocean

Radioactive carbon determinations of the age of peat indicate that at Bermuda, southern Florida, North Carolina, and Louisiana the relative sea level has risen at approximately the same rate, 2.5 x 10(-3) foot per year (0.76 x 10(-3) meter per year), during the past 4000 years. It is proposed tentatively that this is the rate of eustatic change in sea level. The rise in sea level along the northeastern coast of the United States has been at a rate much greater than this, indicating local subsidence of the land. Between Cape Cod and northern Virginia, coastal subsidence of 13 feet appears to have occurred between 4000 and 2000 years ago and has continued at a rate of about 1 x 10(-3) foot per year since then. On the northeastern coast of Massachusetts, subsidence of 6 feet occurred between 4000 and 3000 years ago; since then sea level has risen at about the eustatic rate. Between 12,000 and 4000 years ago, sea level rose at an average of about 11 x 10(-3) foot per year. The part played by local subsidence or temporary departures from the average rate during this period is uncertain.     

Choline: high-affinity uptake by rat brain synaptosomes

Synaptosomes from rat brain accumulate choline by two kinetically distinct processes, a high-affinity uptake system [Michaelis constant (K(m)) = 1 x 10(-6)M], and a low-affinity system (K(m) = 9 x 10(-5)M). The high-affinity uptake system requires sodium, and is associated with considerable formation of acetylcholine. The low-affinity uptake system is less dependent on sodium, and does not appear to be associated with a marked degree of acetylcholine formation. The high-affinity choline uptake appears to represent selective choline accumulation by cholinergic neurons.     

Detection of the intrinsic size of Sagittarius A* through closure amplitude imaging

We have detected the intrinsic size of Sagittarius A*, the Galactic center radio source associated with a supermassive black hole, showing that the short-wavelength radio emission arises from very near the event horizon of the black hole. Radio observations with the Very Long Baseline Array show that the source has a size of 24 +/- 2 Schwarzschild radii at 7-millimeter wavelength. In one of eight 7-millimeter epochs, we also detected an increase in the intrinsic size of 60(-17)(+25)%. These observations place a lower limit to the mass density of Sagittarius A* of 1.4 x 10(4) solar masses per cubic astronomical unit.     

四川烟区烟叶化学成分与海拔的关系

采用偏最小二乘回归的方法研究四川烟叶化学成分与海拔间的关系.结果表明,四川烟区海拔变化幅度较大,烟叶中的总糖、还原糖以及总氮质量分数变幅较大,淀粉质量分数变幅较小.建立烟叶化学成分与海拔的偏最小二乘回归分析模型:上部叶(海拔=0.205x1+0.179x2-0.050x3+0.205x4-0.086x5-0.352x6 +0.122x7)、中部叶(海拔=0.382x1+0.168x2-0.012x3+0.243x4-0.05625-0.211x6-0.026x7)以及下部叶(海拔=0.349x1+0.202x2-0.073x3+0.001x4+0.006x5-0.060x6-0.199x7),总糖、还原糖以及总氮质量分数与海拔呈正相关,总烟碱以及钾质量分数与海拔呈负相关,上、中、下部位间淀粉和氯质量分数的相关性不一致;烟叶中的糖类指标与海拔呈高度正相关,钾质量分数与海拔呈高度负相关.     

Heterogeneous Hadean hafnium: evidence of continental crust at 4.4 to 4.5 ga

The long-favored paradigm for the development of continental crust is one of progressive growth beginning at approximately 4 billion years ago (Ga). To test this hypothesis, we measured initial 176Hf/177Hf values of 4.01- to 4.37-Ga detrital zircons from Jack Hills, Western Australia. epsilonHf (deviations of 176Hf/177Hf from bulk Earth in parts per 10(4)) values show large positive and negative deviations from those of the bulk Earth. Negative values indicate the development of a Lu/Hf reservoir that is consistent with the formation of continental crust (Lu/Hf approximately 0.01), perhaps as early as 4.5 Ga. Positive epsilon(Hf) deviations require early and likely widespread depletion of the upper mantle. These results support the view that continental crust had formed by 4.4 to 4.5 Ga and was rapidly recycled into the mantle.     

Field measurement of slow metamorphic reaction rates at temperatures of 500 degrees to 600 degrees C

High-temperature metamorphic reaction rates were measured using strontium isotopic ratios of garnet and whole rock from a field site near Simplon Pass, Switzerland. For metamorphic conditions of cooling from 612 degrees +/- 17 degrees C to 505 degrees +/- 15 degrees C at pressures up to 9.1 kilobars, the inferred bulk fluid-rock exchange rate is 1.3(-0.4)(+1.1) x 10(-7) grams of solid reacted per gram of solid per year, several orders of magnitude lower than laboratory-based estimates. The inferred reaction rate suggests that mineral chemistry may lag the evolving conditions in Earth's crust during mountain building.     

甜菊主要数量性状与干叶产量的通径关系研究

研究了与甜菊干叶产量（Ｙ）有密切关系的６个数量性状（株高ｘ１、茎粗ｘ２、分枝数ｘ３、主茎节数ｘ４、单株叶片数ｘ５、肉质根条数ｘ６）及它们之间的相互关系。通径分析结果表明,这６个性状对干叶产量的直接影响依次为ｘ３＞ｘ４＞ｘ５＞ｘ１＞ｘ６＞ｘ２,它们与干叶产量的回归关系为,Ｙ＝９７９５５１－００４８２１５ｘ１－０７８８２１ｘ２＋０１１６４１ｘ３＋０５７３０７２ｘ４＋０００８２２８６ｘ５－０００９０７１７ｘ６。用此方程预测干叶产量,其可靠程度可达Ｒ２＝０９９９８８９４。     

Large first hyperpolarizabilities in push-pull polyenes by tuning of the bond length alternation and aromaticity

Conjugated organic compounds with 3-phenyl-5-isoxazolone or N,N'-diethylthiobarbituric acid acceptors have large first molecular hyperpolarizabilities (beta) in comparison with compounds with 4-nitrophenyl acceptors. For example, julolidinyl-(CH=CH)(3)-CH=N,N'- diethylthiobarbituric acid, which has 12 atoms between the donor and acceptor, has a beta(0) of 911 x 10(-30) electrostatic units, whereas (CH(3))(2)NC(6)H(4),-(CH=CH)(4)-C(6)H(4)NO(2), with 16 atoms between its donor and acceptor, has a beta(0) of 133 x 10(-30) electrostatic units. The design strategies demonstrated here have resulted in chromophores that when incorporated into poled-polymer electrooptic modulators exhibited significant enhancements in electrooptic coefficients relative to polymers containing the commonly used dye Disperse Red-1. Poled polymer devices based on these or related chromophores may ultimately lead to high-speed electrooptic switching elements with low drive-power requirements, suitable for telecommunications applications.     

离子选择电极直接连续测定No_3~--N和NH_4~+-N的研究——Ⅲ 植物分析

提出离子选择电极直接连续测定植物中的 NO_3~-—N 和 NH_4~+—N 的新方法。研究了此法的检测下限、线性范围和共存离子的干扰及消除方法;并成功地用一种提取液同时定量地提取了植物中的 NO_3~-—N 和 NH_4~+—N,分析测定了8种蔬菜和8种树叶中的含量。本法检测下限:NO_3~-:1.26×10~(-6)mol·L~(-1),NH_4~+:4.47×10~(-7)mol·L~(-1)。线性范围:NO_3~-:10~(-1)—10~(-6)mol·L~(-1),NH_4~+:10~(-1)—10~(-7)mol·L~(-1)。干扰离子主要有(?),Br,Cl~-,HCO_3~-,NO_2~-:和 Hg~(2+),Mg~(2+),引起干扰的最低浓度依次为:10~(-7),10~(-6),10~(-4),10~(-3),和10~(-5)mol·L~(-1)。当 Cl~-,NO_2~-,HCO_3~-,浓度等于10~(-3)mol·L~(-1)时,干扰顺序为:(?)>Br~->NO_2~->Cl~->HClO_3~-,而当 Cl~-,NO_2~-,HCO_3~-小于10~(-3)mol·L~(-1)时,则干扰顺序为:I~->Br~->Cl~->HCO_3~(-1)>NO_2~-。在本实验条件下,加入 Ag_2SO_4(1.0×10~(-3)mol·L~(-1)),可消除1000倍的 Cl~-,HCO_3~-,100倍的 NO_2~-,0.1倍 I~-,Br~-,对 NO_3~-的干扰,加入 EDTA(2.0×10~(-2)mol·L~(-1)),可消除10倍的 Mg~(2+),Hg~(2+)对 NH_4~+的干扰,并使阴离子干扰减弱。本法标准样分析结果相对误差 NO_3~-<2.2%,NH_4~+,-2.0%～2.2%;变动系数(n=4)NO_3~-:<1.7%NH_4~+:<1.7%;16种植物样分析结果平均回收率(n=2)NO_3~- 96.5%～103.5%,NH_4~+:96.0%～103.2%。     

Kiaman magnetic interval in the Western United States

Late-Paleozoic red beds in the western United States indicate that Earth's magnetic field was reversed for a period of the order of 50 x 10(6) years. This finding agrees with similar results from igneous rocks in Australia, indicating, that the long period of reversal in the magnetic field was worldwide. The rocks on the two continents appear to be essentially equivalent in time, suggesting early magnetization of the red beds. The time spectrum of reversals is irregular in geologic time, but present evidence suggests reversals characterized by time scales of 10(4) or 10(5), 10(6), and 50 x 10(6) years. The 50 x 10(6) year period of steady reversed field is found in the late Paleozoic and is termed the Kiaman magnetic interval.