Laboratory simulation of interplanetary ultraviolet radiation (broad spectrum) and its effects on Deinococcus radiodurans

The radiation-resistant bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans was exposed to a simulated interplanetary UV radiation at the Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory (LNLS). Bacterial samples were irradiated on different substrates to investigate the influence of surface relief on cell survival. The effects of cell multi-layers were also investigated. The ratio of viable microorganisms remained virtually the same (average 2%) for integrated doses from 1.2 to 12 kJ m⁻², corresponding to 16 h of irradiation at most. The asymptotic profiles of the curves, clearly connected to a shielding effect provided by multi-layering cells on a cavitary substrate (carbon tape), means that the inactivation rate may not change significantly along extended periods of exposure to radiation. Such high survival rates reinforce the possibility of an interplanetary transfer of viable microbes.     

Mineralogy and geochemistry of the sodium metasomatism-related uranium occurrence of Aricheng South, Guyana

The Aricheng South uranium occurrence is associated with Na metasomatism that affected the granitoids of the Kurupung Batholith in western Guyana. The mineral paragenesis indicates that late-magmatic albitization was followed by chlorite alteration of biotite. A minor amount of uraninite occurs in fractures in the newly formed albite crystals, often in company of calcite. The main mineralization stage occurred later than albitization and chloritization and is represented by brannerite disseminated in a groundmass of fine-grained hydrothermal zircon. Whole rock geochemistry supports the temporal dissociation of albitization from the main ore stage. Brannerite, zircon, and uraninite are often partially altered to secondary brannerite, zircon, and coffinite, respectively. Stable oxygen (chlorite, calcite) and hydrogen (chlorite) isotope compositions suggest that a highly evolved meteoric fluid, or at least one corresponding to a very high rock/fluid ratio (δ¹⁸O of approx. 3.4% to 4‰ and δD of approx. −80‰) may have caused the pre-ore alteration assemblage. The fluids in equilibrium with main ore stage zircon have δ¹⁸O of approx. 6.8‰ and appear to be of magmatic origin. The Aricheng occurrence geochemically, mineralogically, thermally, and paragenetically resembles the Valhalla U deposit in northern Australia despite differences between the deposits’ host lithologies, whereas the Lagoa Real and Espinharas U deposits in Brazil have host rock lithology that resembles that of Aricheng.     

On the Origin of the Spin of Planets and Stars and its Connection with Gravitomagnetism

The origin of the spin of planets and stars is, to a certain extent, still unexplained. In general, we attribute their rotation to the swirl of their constituent primitive gases. In this paper, we try to show that the rotation of celestial bodies depends only on their mass, apparent radius and tilt of their spin axes. We reach this conclusion within the framework of gravitomagnetism, implied by the Einstein’s general relativity theory (GR). Our results show that it might possible, in principle, to calculate the mass of spinning objects by measuring their apparent radius, the speed of rotation and the tilt of the axis of rotation.     

Chemical ionisation mass spectrometer for measurements of OH and Peroxy radical concentrations in moderately polluted atmospheres

A new version of an atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation mass spectrometer has been developed for ground based in situ atmospheric measurements of OH and total peroxy (HO₂ + organic peroxy) radicals. Based on the previously developed principle of chemical conversion of OH radicals to H₂SO₄ in reaction with SO₂ and detection of H₂SO₄ using an ion molecule reaction with NO₃^─, the new instrument is equipped with a turbulent chemical conversion reactor allowing for measurements in moderately polluted atmosphere at NO concentrations up to several ppb. Unlike other similar devices, where the primary NO₃^─ ions are produced using radioactive ion sources, the new instrument is equipped with a specially developed corona discharge ion source. According to laboratory measurements, the overall accuracy and detection limits are estimated to be, respectively, 25% and 2 × 10⁵ molecule cm^-3 for OH and 30% and 1 × 10⁵ molecule cm^-3 for HO₂ at 10 min integration times. The detection limit for measurements of OH radicals under polluted conditions is 5 × 10⁵ molecules cm^-3 at 10 min integration times. Examples of ambient air measurements during a field campaign near Paris in July 2007 are presented demonstrating the capability of the new instrument, although with reduced performance due to the employment of non isotopic SO₂.     

On the Origin of S0 Stellar Populations

We investigate a one-zone chemo-photometric evolutionary model of truncated spiral galaxies with and without starbursts in order to explore the origin of the spectrophotometric properties of S0s. First, we show that 1) the tight U-V colour–magnitude (CM) relation cannot reject the model with a starburst and 2) the model with a starburst can explain the difference in the I-K colour–magnitude relation between S0 galaxies and spiral galaxies. Next, we demonstrate how we can distinguish the truncated spirals with a starburst from those without a starburst by using the CaII–Hδ/λ4045 diagram (proposed by Leonardi and Rose, 1996) and the 1550-V colour. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

An enlarged cosmic shear survey with the William Herschel Telescope

We report the results of a cosmic shear survey using the 4.2-m William Herschel Telescope on La Palma, to a depth of   R = 25.8 ( z ≈ 0.8)  , over 4 deg². The shear correlation functions are measured on scales from 1 to 15 arcmin, and are used to constrain cosmological parameters. We ensure that our measurements are free from instrumental systematic effects by performing a series of tests, including a decomposition of the signal into E - and B -modes. We also reanalyse the data independently, using the shear measurement pipeline developed for the COMBO-17 survey. This confirms our results and also highlights various effects introduced by different implementations of the basic 'Kaiser–Squires–Broadhurst' shear measurement method. We find that the normalization of the matter power spectrum on 8  h ⁻¹ Mpc scales is  σ₈= (1.02 ± 0.15)(0.3/Ω _m )^1/2  , where the 68 per cent confidence limit error includes noise, sample variance, covariance between angular scales, systematic effects, redshift uncertainty and marginalization over other parameters. We compare these results with other cosmic shear surveys and with recent constraints from the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe experiment.     

A Map of the Posidonia oceanica Beds of Marina ďElbu (Corsica, Mediterranean)

Abstract. A large-scale map of the Posidonia oceanica seagrass beds as well as other benthic substrata and communities was compiled for a cove of a marine reserve free from pollution and man-made disturbance. An extensive diving survey of the cove and the interpretation of aerial colour photographs were used. The greater part of the cove is occupied by the P. oceanica meadow. Patches of dead "matte" were observed at a depth of between 7 and 14 m. They may be the result of a natural hydrodynamic equilibrium between building and erosion.     

Temporal variations in the chemistry of circum-neutral drainage from the 10-Level portal,Myra Mine,Vancouver Island,British Columbia

The Myra mine, now inactive, produced Zn and Cu concentrates from a Zn-rich, Kuroko-type, volcanogenic massive sulfide deposit located in the mountainous interior of Vancouver Island. The climate at the site is classified as “Marine West Coast”, with annual precipitation exceeding 2200 mm. Water from a losing stream on the mountainside above the mine follows preferential, fracture-controlled pathways to the upper workings before draining through the 10-Level portal. With a view toward mine decommissioning, portal discharge rate was monitored continuously over a 17-month period during which 46 water samples were collected. Effluent chemistry, dominated by Ca, HCO₃ and SO₄, shows moderate to high total base metal concentrations and near-neutral pH. Carbonatization, mainly of mafic rocks in the hangingwall, provides significant acid neutralizing potential. Metal concentrations vary seasonally, with smaller spikes associated with summer storm events, and a main peak associated with flushing of the workings during the first heavy autumn rains. Aqueous speciation modeling suggests that Fe and Al concentrations are controlled by the solubilities of hydrous ferric oxides and microcrystalline gibbsite, respectively. Concentrations of Zn, Cu and Cd appear controlled by sorption rather than by the solubilities of mineral phases. A comparison of precipitate concentrations observed in portal effluent with predictions from mass balance (inverse) modeling results suggests that less than 5% of the precipitated Fe and Al hydroxides are transported from the mine. However, amounts of sorbed Cu, Zn and Cd measured in the effluent are only slightly lower than modeled values. This suggests that the small fraction of (probably finer) Fe precipitates in portal effluent sorbs most of the Zn, Cu and Cd predicted by modeling. Based on mass balance calculations, metal loadings are explained by the oxidation of 3830 kg of pyrite, 600 kg of sphalerite and 190 kg of chalcopyrite, annually. Circum-neutral drainage conditions are maintained by the reaction of almost 19,800 kg of calcite, annually.     

Influence of temperate mixed and deciduous tree covers on Hg concentrations and photoredox transformations in snow

Mercury dynamics in snowpacks under forested canopy are currently unknown, even though these snowpacks may represent important Hg pools eventually released towards lakes at snowmelt. We followed Hg distribution and partitioning in snowpacks under different temperate canopy types over space and time, and conducted short-term experiments on Hg redox behaviour in these snowpacks. Hg concentrations were ca. two times higher in snow deposited under coniferous than deciduous canopies; the lowest concentrations were observed in snow over a frozen lake in the same watershed. In snow on the ground, up to 80% of the Hg was bound to particles between 10 and 70 μm. Incubations of snow in situ showed that (i) Hg photoreduction and evasion was significant in open areas (lake surface) but was greatly hampered by light attenuation under winter canopies and (ii) oxidation of newly produced Hg⁰ was a significant process in boreal snow, affecting Hg evasion to the atmosphere. We used a mass balance approach to compare Hg pools in snowpacks with wet deposition measured by precipitation collectors. A net gain of Hg was observed in snow under mixed canopies whereas, under a deciduous canopy, the pool of Hg stored at the end of the winter was comparable to that of wet deposition. Snow over lake acted as a winter source of Hg. Whereas most Hg deposited by snow on lakes is lost before snowmelt, Hg deposited on the forested watershed is largely retained in snowpacks, presenting a threat to systems receiving meltwaters.