Could CoRoT-7b and Kepler-10b be remnants of evaporated gas or ice giants?

We present thermal mass loss calculations over evolutionary time scales for the investigation if the smallest transiting rocky exoplanets CoRoT-7b (∼1.68R_Earth) and Kepler-10b (∼1.416R_Earth) could be remnants of an initially more massive hydrogen-rich gas giant or a hot Neptune-class exoplanet. We apply a thermal mass loss formula which yields results that are comparable to hydrodynamic loss models. Our approach considers the effect of the Roche lobe, realistic heating efficiencies and a radius scaling law derived from observations of hot Jupiters. We study the influence of the mean planetary density on the thermal mass loss by placing hypothetical exoplanets with the characteristics of Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, and Uranus to the orbital location of CoRoT-7b at 0.017 AU and Kepler-10b at 0.01684 AU and assuming that these planets orbit a K- or G-type host star. Our findings indicate that hydrogen-rich gas giants within the mass domain of Saturn or Jupiter cannot thermally lose such an amount of mass that CoRoT-7b and Kepler-10b would result in a rocky residue. Moreover, our calculations show that the present time mass of both rocky exoplanets can be neither a result of evaporation of a hydrogen envelope of a “Hot Neptune” nor a “Hot Uranus”-class object. Depending on the initial density and mass, these planets most likely were always rocky planets which could lose a thin hydrogen envelope, but not cores of thermally evaporated initially much more massive and larger objects.     

Transport of three herbicides in ground water at Twin Lake test site,Chalk River,Ontario, Canada

A field tracer test performed under natural flow conditions at the Twin Lake test site, Chalk River Laboratories of the Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. in Chalk River, Ontario, Canada, using tritium and three herbicides (Chlortoluron, Terbuthylazine, and Pendimethalin) was interpreted using the dispersion equation with a combined reaction model. The reaction model couples an instantaneous equilibrium reaction governed by a linear adsorption isotherm with a reversible or irreversible kinetic reaction of the first order, and decay. An improved interpretation method consists of a simultaneous fitting of theoretical concentration and mass-recovery curves to the experimental data, which leads to a more reliable determining of reaction models and improves the accuracy of fitting. Tritium served as the reference tracer to determine the flow velocity, dispersivity, and the recovery of the herbicides. Chlortoluron was slightly delayed by equilibrium exchange with strongly reduced concentration due to an irreversible kinetic reaction and/or decay. Terbuthilazine was slightly delayed by equilibrium exchange, with strongly reduced concentration due to a reversible kinetic reaction with some influence of decay. A strong equilibrium reaction and a strong reversible kinetic reaction without degradation governed the transport of Pendimethalin, reducing considerably its concentration. The results obtained show that simulations based only on Kd and decay constant, especially if these parameters are found in the laboratory, may considerably differ from those performed with reaction parameters determined in properly performed field tests. The dominant reaction types, and the values of parameters found in the study, supply useful information on the transport of the investigated herbicides in sandy aquifers under natural flow conditions.     

阿拉伯海的扩张历史：某些新的控制条件

根据海台、无震海岭．活动洋中脊以及几条破碎带，可把阿拉伯海划分成几个深海盆地．这些盆地的进化历史已从地球物理的研究中推演出来．东阿拉伯海盆(EAB)位于Laxmi-Laceadive海岭及印度的西部大陆坡之间，被认为其下伏是由裂谷和相关过程形成的过渡地壳，     

印度西南海岸Kannur区红树林沉积物的水动力反应

对Ｋａｎｎｕｒ红树林的地表和岩心沉积物的粒度特征和统计参数做过研究。向陆地带、中间过渡带和浅水剖面的砂、泥含量几乎为常量。地表沉积物平均粒度变化范围在１．８３和５．５６之间,岩心沉积物的变化范围在２．３和５．５６之间。沉积物普遍分选差至极差、...     

南极Scotia海Dove山脉形成的火山作用及其岩石学、地球化学和构造环境

本研究对来自DOVE盆地（Scotia海南部）中部火山山脊的拖网样品进行了详细的岩石学、地球化学分析,辅以K—Ar年代学分析。研究区水深2000～3000m,地理坐标范围为59°21～23′S和42°27～31′w。本研究的目的在于,通过比较研究区火成岩和形成Scotia、Antartic—Phoenix洋中脊及南设得兰群岛的火山岩之间的地球化学特征和同位素特征,厘定研究区岩浆形成的地球动力学背景以及岩浆作用的绝对年龄。     

美国国家大地测量局的检定基线方案

<正> 50年代早期出现的电子测距仪为测量事业带来了前所未有的速度和精度。然而,伴随此种新的测量方法而俱来的有仪器检定和规格化的过程,因为观测结果受到(变化的)气象状况和必需经常测定的种种仪器误差的影响。为此,对于测量界来说,应有测定仪器性能变化的一种方便和可靠的方法。检定基线则可为广大用户提供检定手段。检定基线(CBL)是精密测定的直线距     

Development of two novel CYP-antibodies and their use in a PCB exposure experiment with Mytilus edulis

In an attempt to learn more about the cytochrome P450 (CYP) system of mussels, we used protein databases and alignment software to extract highly conserved CYP sequences. From these alignments synthetic peptides were produced and used for rabbit immunisation, which yielded polyclonal antibodies against the CYP families 2 and 4. The antibodies were evaluated with Western Blot and ELISA assays, using digestive gland microsomal samples from the mussel Mytilus edulis. Western Blots revealed immunoreactions for both antibodies. The anti-CYP2 sequence rendered one major immunopositive protein of approximately 49 kDa size, and weak signals for proteins of approximately 41 and 56 kDa size. The anti-CYP4 sequence rendered two major bands of approximately 56 and 59 kDa size, and also a weak immunoreaction with a protein of approximately 43 kDa size. ELISA rendered only weak signals even with a 1:50 dilution of IgG-purified serum. A 10-day exposure to Aroclor 1254 did not appear to affect any of the immunopositive proteins, while total PCBs in soft bodies increased from 14-40 ng/g DW in controls to 373-638 ng/g DW in exposed mussels.     

ASCA Observation of the Quiescent X-Ray Counterpart to SGR 1627-41

We present a 2-10 keV ASCA observation of the field around the soft gamma repeater SGR 1627-41. A quiescent X-ray source, whose position is consistent both with that of a recently discovered BeppoSAX X-ray source and with the Interplanetary Network localization for this soft gamma repeater, was detected in this observation. In 2-10 keV X-rays, the spectrum of the X-ray source may be fit equally well by a power-law, blackbody, or bremsstrahlung function, with unabsorbed flux approximately 5x10-12 ergs cm-2 s-1. We do not confirm a continuation of a fading trend in the flux, and we find no evidence for periodicity, both of which were noted in the earlier BeppoSAX observations.     

坚定的信心从何而来？——对当下中国迎战经济衰退的另类思考

当2009年元旦来临之际,国务院总理温家宝来到了青岛,看望并慰问广大的干部群众,鼓励大家面对当前的经济困境要坚定信心,迎难而上,创造新业绩。温总理抓住了解决当前中国应对经济衰退问题的核心,抓住了根本。对一个“后发的工业化大国”而言,战胜当下的经济困难,中国缺少的不是“金钱”,而是“人心”。问题的关键在于树立坚定的信心。——题记