Reactive oxygen species may influence the heat shock response and stress tolerance in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Moderate levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated as second messengers in a number of biochemical pathways, and in animal cells have been associated with the activation of the heat shock response (HSR). Here, using an intracellular probe, we demonstrate that differential accumulation of ROS in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is strongly associated with differential induction of an HS reporter gene over a range of heat shock temperatures. There was a good correlation between cellular ROS levels and the levels of HS-induced reporter gene expression between 37 degrees C and 44 degrees C, both reaching maximal values at 41 degrees C. Furthermore, the addition of 150 microM H2O2 to the yeast cells during heat treatment resulted in a 3 degrees C decrease in the temperature required for maximal induction of the HS expression vector--an increased HS sensitivity that corresponded to a concomitant increase in ROS levels at these lower HS temperatures. Conversely, cells treated with 10 mM of the antioxidant ascorbic acid required a temperature that was 2 degrees C above that required in untreated controls for maximal induction of the HS expression vector. This decreased HS sensitivity corresponded to a decrease in ROS levels at these higher HS temperatures. Finally, cell viability assays reveal that intrinsic thermotolerance remains high in control cells despite concomitant decreases in HS-reporter gene expression and ROS accumulation between 41 degrees C and 44 degrees C. We conclude that the sensitivity of the yeast HSR is strongly associated with ROS accumulation, and suggest that ROS-mediated signalling ensures cooperation between the HS and the antioxidant responses.     

Modeling and computer simulation of ultrasonic/sonic driller/corer (USDC)

Simulation and analytical models for the ultrasonic/sonic drill/corer (USDC) are described in this paper. The USDC was developed as a tool for in-situ rock sampling and analysis in support of the NASA planetary exploration program. The USDC uses a novel drive mechanism, which transfers ultrasonic vibrations of a piezoelectric actuator into larger oscillations of a free-flying mass (free-mass). The free-mass impact on the drill bit creates a stress pulse at the drill tip/rock interface causing fracture in the rock. The main parts of the device (transducer, free-mass, bit, and rock) and the interactions between them were analyzed and numerically modeled to explore the drive mechanism. Each of these interactions is normally described by a time-dependent 2- or 3-D model involving slowly converging solutions, which makes the conventional approach unsuitable for USDC optimization studies. A simplified integrated model using tabulated data was developed to simulate the operation of the USDC on desktop PC and successfully predicted the characteristics of the device under a variety of conditions. The simulated results of the model and the experimental data used to verify the model are presented.     

Microstructural effects on microbial survival: phase-separating dextran solutions

Evolving microstructure in a model dextran solution is shown to exert a major influence on the survival of Escherichia coli K-12 frag 1 and Salmonella typhimurium LT2. The microstructure results from microscopic phase separation, which develops over several hours resulting in hardening of the solution into a glassy state. The microstructure is characterized by an array of physical methods including image analysis, electron spin resonance and bulk rheology, and it is shown that bacterial survival depends on the formation of microscopic. water-rich domains and not primarily on bulk water activity or hardness.     

有色金属露天矿大型设备的使用经验

苏联有色冶金系统露天矿共有900多台电铲、400台钻机和大约4000台自卸汽车。有色冶金矿山基地的发展由于受到地理、气候、矿山地质和采矿技术条件诸多因素的制约,而变得复杂了。其基本特点是露天矿的平面尺寸不大,但开采深度却很大。例如,锡拜露天矿深384米,阿加拉克露天矿深370     

矿石损失和贫化的经济效应

本文定性论述了采矿工程从地质模拟到选矿终了递增的矿石损失和贫化。假设矿石品位频率函数为对数态函数，则可利用矿床的净现值简单理论模型求出使净现值达到最大的生产速率和边界品位的决策对，然后将不同的矿石损失和贫化值运用于最优的净现值，再计算作为矿石损失和贫化函数的递减的净现值以及递增的金属生产成本和金属损失。     

浓度对传质系数的影响及多元物系传质

在筛板塔中对甲醇-乙醇-水三元物系进行精馏传质过程实验,考虑浓度对传质系数的影响建立了一个数学模型,对各组分在塔中的浓度分布进行模拟计算,计算结果能正确反映各组分在塔中浓度分布的变化规律.实验与计算结果都表明在某些浓度范围内乙醇呈现出比较复杂的变化规律.     

Measurements of density and viscosity of one- and two-phase fluids with torsional waveguides

The continuing need for in-situ measurements of physical properties of wastes contained within many high level radioactive waste tanks within the Hanford Site has initiated experimental and theoretical investigations of candidate measurement methods. This paper describes experiments performed with acoustic waveguide sensors. This technology has potential application at the Hanford Site for in-situ measurements of density, viscosity, and temperature of liquid wastes. Waveguides of both circular and rectangular geometry were used in these studies for determination of the densities and viscosities of various fluids. The flight time of a torsional pulse through the sensing region of the waveguide forms the measured quantity. The flight time depends on the velocity of the wave through the sensing region of the waveguide, and this velocity in turn depends upon the properties of the fluid in contact with the waveguide. We performed experiments with 15 different fluids, most of which were single-phase Newtonian fluids. However, three of the fluids were particle-liquid mixtures, and one of these Newtonian in behavior. Most of the wastes held in Hanford tanks contain high solids content. The results of our experiments showed that acoustic waveguides were well suited for measurements in most Newtonian fluids, in agreement with earlier research presented in the literature. However, results for two-phase Newtonian fluids containing particles indicate that, in our case, the waveguides responded primarily to the background fluid rather than the mixture. Very poor results were obtained with the non-Newtonian fluid. In addition, there was a class of fluids, which serve the community as viscosity standards, for which viscosities determined with torsional waveguides were in disagreement with viscosities obtained with standard viscometers.