Ultraviolet damage to bacteria and bacteriophage at low temperatures

The survival of Escherichia coli B/r WP2 (tryptophan-requiring) from ultraviolet irradiation when suspended in 0.067M phosphate buffer (pH 7) has been studied over the temperature range 22 degrees to -269 degrees C. In unfrozen suspensions there was no appreciable change in sensitivity between 22 degrees and -10 degrees C. The sensitivity in the presence of ice progressively increased by a factor of 7 when the temperature was lowered to -79 degrees C. Between -79 degrees and -196 degrees C the sensitivity decreased to less than four times the sensitivity at 22 degrees C and was not appreciably different at -269 degrees C. Evidence from experiments with bacteriophage T1 and E. coli WP2 HCR(-) (a strain unable to excise thymine dimers) indicates that a new, qualitatively different lesion, less amenable to repair, may replace the thymine dimer in E. coli irradiated at -79 degrees C.     

Deep, zonal subequatorial currents

Large-scale, westward-extending tongues of warm (Pacific) and cold (Atlantic) water are found between 2000 and 3000 meters both north and south of the equator in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. They are centered at 5 degrees to 8 degrees north and 10 degrees to 15 degrees south (Pacific) and 5 degrees to 8 degrees north and 15 degrees to 20 degrees south (Atlantic). They are separated in both oceans by a contrasting eastward-extending tongue, centered at about 1 degrees to 2 degrees south, in agreement with previous helium isotope observations (Pacific). Thus, the indicated deep tropical westward flows north and south of the equator and eastward flow near the equator may result from more general forcing than the hydrothermal forcing previously hypothesized.     

Thermoperiodic control of diapause in an insect: theory of internal coincidence

Females of the parasitic wasp Nasonia vitripennis raised from the egg stage in the total absence of light but subjected to daily temperature cycles (13 degrees to 23 degrees C), are able to distinguish a "short-day" thermoperiod ( 13 hours at 23 degrees C per day) from a "long-day" thermoperiod ( 13 hours at 23 degrees C per day) and produce diapausing or developing progeny accordingly.     

Weakening of dunite by serpentine dehydration

A shear press has been used to determine the mechanical behavior of serpentinized dunite and forsterite at normal pressures to 50 kilobars, temperatures to 900 degrees C; and strain rates from 10(-1) to 10(-4) per second. The shear strength of dunite, containing less than 5 percent by volume of serpentine, is reduced by at least 30 percent as the temperature is raised from 300 degrees to 520 degrees C. Abundant kink bands develop at normal pressures above 35 kilobars at 27 degrees C and at lower pressures as the temperature is increased.     

New phases of c60 synthesized at high pressure

The fullerene C(60) can be converted into two different structures by high pressure and temperature. They are metastable and revert to pristine C(60) on reheating to 300 degrees C at ambient pressure. For synthesis temperatures between 300 degrees and 400 degrees C and pressures of 5 gigapascals, a nominal face-centered-cubic structure is produced with a lattice parameter a(o) = 13.6 angstroms. When treated at 500 degrees to 800 degrees C at the same pressure, C(60) transforms into a rhombohedral structure with hexagonal lattice parameters of a(o) = 9.22 angstroms and c(o) = 24.6 angstroms. The intermolecular distance is small enough that a chemical bond can form, in accord with the reduced solubility of the pressure-induced phases. Infrared, Raman, and nuclear magnetic resonance studies show a drastic reduction of icosahedral symmetry, as might occur if the C(60) molecules are linked.     

The silica-alumina system: stable and metastable equilibria at 1.0 atmosphere

Diffusion couples, consisting of sapphire and fused silica, which were annealed in the temperature range from 1678 degrees to 2003 degrees C and analyzed by electron beam microprobe, have provided data on the stable phase equilibrium of the silica-alumina system. Under stable equilibrium conditions, the intermediate compound of this system, mullite (3Al(2)O(3) . 2SiO(2)), melts incongruently at 1828 degrees +/- 10 degrees C and its solid solution field extends from 70.5 to 74.0 percent (by weight) alumina. The stable phase diagram is a composite of the two binary eutectic diagrams: silica-mullite in the absence of alumina and silica-alumina in the absence of mullite. Under metastable conditions, mullite melts congruently at approximately 1890 degrees +/- 10 degrees C and its solid solution field extends to approximately 83.2 percent (by weight) alumina.     

In Situ Northern Mid-Latitude Observations of ClO, O3, and BrO in the Wintertime Lower Stratosphere

In order to test photochemical theories linking chlorofluorocarbon derivatives to ozone(O(3)) depletion at high latitudes in the springtime, several related atmospheric species, including O(3), chlorine monoxide(ClO), and bromine monoxide (BrO) were measured in the lower stratosphere with instruments mounted on the NASA ER-2 aircraft on 13 February 1988. The flight path from Moffett Field, California (37 degrees N, 121 degrees W), to Great Slave Lake, Canada (61 degrees N, 115 degrees W), extended to the center of the polar jet associated with but outside of the Arctic vortex, in which the abundance of O(3) was twice its mid-latitude value, whereas BrO levels were 5 parts per trillion by volume (pptv) between 18 and 21 kilometers, and 2.4 pptv below that altitude. The ClO mixing ratio was as much as 65 pptv at 60 degrees N latitude at an altitude of 20 kilometers, and was enhanced over mid-latitude values by a factor of 3 to 5 at altitudes above 18 kilometers and by as much as a factor of 40 at altitudes below 17 kilometers. Levels of ClO and O(3) were highly correlated on all measured distance scales, and both showed an abrupt change in character at 54 degrees N latitude. The enhancement of ClO abundance north of 54 degrees N was most likely caused by low nitrogen dioxide levels in the flight path.     

High-Conductivity Solid Electrolytes: MAg4I5

The solid electrolytes MAg(4)I(5), where M may be potassium, rubidium, or ammonium, have an ionic conductivity of 0.2 (ohm cm)(-1) at 20 degrees C. Although pure CsAg(4)I(5) does not form, partial substitution of cesium into the M position was obtained. The high-conducting phases of KAg(4)I(5) and RbAg(4)I(5) may be quenched to low temperatures, where they transform to resistive phases at -136 degrees and -155 degrees C, respectively.     

The charnockite geotherm

Charnockite, a hypersthene-bearing granite, and other associated rocks of the charnockite series have a global distribution. These rocks, according to evidence from mineral-chemical and experimental phase equilibrium relations, formed or recrystallized at temperatures between 800 degrees and 900 degrees C and at relatively shallow depths of 6 to 12 kilometers. This evidence indicates the existence of geothermal gradients of 70 degrees to 100 degrees C per kilometer probably at various times, the latest being around 1300 x 10(6) years ago.     

Hemoglobin Kinetics of the Galapagos Rift Vent Tube Worm Riftia pachyptila Jones (Pogonophora; Vestimentifera)

Kinetics of the reactions of Riftia pachyptila hemoglobin with oxygen were followed spectrophotometrically by stopped-flow and laser flash photolysis techniques. The rate of oxygen dissociation increases eightfold over the range of 5 degrees to 20 degrees C (k = 2.2 sec(-1)at 10 degrees C). Oxygen recombination after flash photolysis was biphasic. The rates of both slow and fast phases of the reaction were independent of temperature from 0 degrees to 20 degrees C(k'fast = 7 x 10(6); k'slow = 1 x 16(6) liter mole (-1) sec(-1)). As the oxygen affinity is relatively temperature independent, analysis in terms of the two-state model of cooperativity requires that the conformational equilibrium constant L decrease by about 50-fold between 3 degrees and 15 degrees C.     

白僵菌RAPD-PCR反应体系优化

为了建立一套适宜于白僵菌(Beauveria bassiana)退化研究的RAPD-PCR反应体系及反应程序,通过采用L16(45)正交试验及退火温度和循环次数的单因素优化对反应体系中的各因素进行优化组合。结果表明:20μL PCR反应体系及反应程序中各因素优化组合为,10×Buffer 2μL,MgCl2(25 mmol/L)2.4μL,4种dNTP(各2.5mmol/L)0.8μL,随机引物(10μmol/L)1.4μL,TaqDNA聚合酶(5 U/μL)0.4μL,模板DNA(10 mg/L)1μL。反应条件为,94℃预变性2 min,94℃变性30 s,38℃退火40 s,72℃延伸1 min,循环次数40次,72℃延伸5 min。     

Serpentine stability to mantle depths and subduction-related magmatism

Results of high-pressure experiments on samples of hydrated mantle rocks show that the serpentine mineral antigorite is stable to approximately 720 degrees C at 2 gigapascals, to approximately 690 degrees C at 3 gigapascals, and to approximately 620 degrees C at 5 gigapascals. The breakdown of antigorite to forsterite plus enstatite under these conditions produces 13 percent H(2)O by weight to depths of 150 to 200 kilometers in subduction zones. This H(2)O is in an ideal position for ascent into the hotter, overlying mantle where it can cause partial melting in the source region for calc-alkaline magmas at a depth of 100 to 130 kilometers and a temperature of approximately 1300 degrees C. The breakdown of antigorite in hydrated mantle produces an order of magnitude more H(2)O than does the dehydration of altered oceanic crust.     

Kinetics of the fe2+-mg, order-disorder reaction in anthophyllites: quantitative cooling rates

The kinetics of the Fe(2+)-Mg, order-disorder phenomenon in a highly ordered natural anthophyllite have been determined over the temperature range from 400 degrees to 720 degrees C at a pressure of 2 kilobars. At temperatures of 600 degrees C and above, equilibrium is attained by disordering as well as ordering reactions. The intracrystalline exchange is defined by a standard Gibbs free energy of 4247 +/- 54 calories per formula unit. Rate studies at 550 degrees and 500 degrees C show that equilibrium is attained by ordering but not by disordering within the same time scale and that the exchange reaction is characterized by an activation energy of approximately 55 kilocalories per formula unit. An equilibration temperature for the natural anthophyllite of 270 degrees C is determined from the termination of the ordering process owing to excessively slow reaction kinetics after approximately 10(7) years. From the rate constants of the exchange process, for different crystallization temperatures, the apparent equilibration temperature of 270 degrees C defines a maximum linear cooling rate for the rock of 1 x 10(4) degrees C per year.     

Kyanite-Andalusite Equilibrium from 700{degrees} to 800{degrees}C

The metastable kyaniteandalusite equilibrium in the Al(2)SiO(5) system has been reversed at 700 degrees , 750 degrees , and 800 degrees C at elevated water pressures, with a variety of natural and synthetic kyanites and andalusites as starting materials. Sillimanite, the stable form of Al(2)SiO(5) under these conditions, did not appear. The value of the transition pressure at 750 degrees C is 6.6 +/- 0.4 kilobars, several kilobars below pressures given by several convergent previous determinations. The Al(2)SiO(5) pressure-temperature triple point now indicated lies far from the points found by others. The revised aluminum silicate phase diagram indicates that many rocks crystallized at lower pressures than formerly thought possible.     

Genesis of petroleum hydrocarbons in marine sediments

Distribution patterns of isopentane and normal pentane in marine sediments show a reversal in slope at a subsurface temperature of about 90 degrees C. The data indicate that three types of reactions are involved in pentane formation: (i) biological origin at the sediment surface, (ii) low-temperature (< 90 degrees C) chemical reactions yielding predominately secondary carbon structures, and (iii) high-temperature (> 90 degrees C) cracking reactions at great depth yielding predominately straight carbon chains.     

Flight of Winter Moths Near 0{degrees}C

Some noctuid winter moths fly at near 0 degrees C by maintaining an elevated(30 degrees to 35 degrees C) thoracic muscle temperature. Geometrid winter moths sustain themselves in free flight at subzero muscle temperatures. However, the temperature characteristics of citrate synthase and pyruvate kinase from both of these different kinds of moths and from a sphinx moth that flies with a muscles temperature of 40 degrees C are nearly identical. Furthermore, mass-specific rates of energy expenditure of both kinds of winter moths are also similar at given thoracic temperature (near 0 degrees C). The geometrids that are able to fly with a thoracic temperature near 0 degrees C do so largely because of unusually low wing-loading, which permits a low energetic cost of flight.     

Survival of mouse embryos frozen to -196 degrees and -269 degrees C

Mouse embryos survived freezing to -196 degrees C. Survival required slow cooling (0.3 degrees to 2 degrees C per minute) and slow warming (4 degrees to 25 degrees C per minute). Depending on the specific rates used, 50 to 70 percent of more than 2500 frozen and thawed early embryos developed into blastocysts in culture after storage at -196 degrees C for up to 8 days. When approximately 1000 of the survivors, including some frozen to -269 degrees C (4 degrees K), were transferred into foster mothers, 65 percent of the recipients became pregnant. More than 40 percent of the embryos in these pregnant mice gave rise to normal, living full-term fetuses or newborn mice.     

Oxygen consumption of red and white muscles from tuna fishes

Metabolic rates of unstimulated, minced preparations of red and white muscles from two species of Pacific tuna fishes (Katsuwonus pelamis and Thunnus obesus) were determined from respirometric measurements of oxygen consumption. Ratios of mean metabolic rates for red muscles to those of white muscles averaged 6.2 at five temperatures over the range of 5 degrees to 35 degrees C. Temperature coefficients (Q10's) for mean metabolic rates for both types of muscle were between 1.0 and 1.2 over the entire temperature range. Metabolic rates of tuna red muscles were equal to those of preparations of mixed red and white muscle from the white rat at 25 degrees and 35 degrees C, and were higher than the mammalian rates at lower temperatures.     

Human collagenase: identification and characterization of an enzyme from rheumatoid synovium in culture

Synovial tissue from patients with rheumatoid arthritis produces lysis of gels of reconstituted collagen fibrils in culture and releases soluble collagenase when cultured in collagen-free medium. Collagen molecules in solution at neutral pH at 20 degrees and 27 degrees C are cleaved by the synovial enzyme into (3/4) and (1/4) length fragments. In this respect the action of synovial enzyme is similar to that of amphibian collagenase and distinct from that of bacterial collagenase. At 37 degrees C reconstituted collagen fibrils and native fibers are attacked by the enzyme and further degraded to polypeptides of low molecular weight. These polypeptides are produced only after denaturation of the larger fragments, which occurs at temperatures near 37 degrees C.     

High-thermoelectric performance of nanostructured bismuth antimony telluride bulk alloys

The dimensionless thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) in bismuth antimony telluride (BiSbTe) bulk alloys has remained around 1 for more than 50 years. We show that a peak ZT of 1.4 at 100 degrees C can be achieved in a p-type nanocrystalline BiSbTe bulk alloy. These nanocrystalline bulk materials were made by hot pressing nanopowders that were ball-milled from crystalline ingots under inert conditions. Electrical transport measurements, coupled with microstructure studies and modeling, show that the ZT improvement is the result of low thermal conductivity caused by the increased phonon scattering by grain boundaries and defects. More importantly, ZT is about 1.2 at room temperature and 0.8 at 250 degrees C, which makes these materials useful for cooling and power generation. Cooling devices that use these materials have produced high-temperature differences of 86 degrees , 106 degrees , and 119 degrees C with hot-side temperatures set at 50 degrees, 100 degrees, and 150 degrees C, respectively. This discovery sets the stage for use of a new nanocomposite approach in developing high-performance low-cost bulk thermoelectric materials.