Potential of cathodoluminescence microscopy and spectroscopy for the detection of prokaryotic cells on minerals

Detecting mineral-hosted ecosystems to assess the extent and functioning of the biosphere from the surface to deep Earth requires appropriate techniques that provide, beyond the morphological criteria, indubitable clues of the presence of prokaryotic cells. Here, we evaluate the capability of cathodoluminescence microscopy and spectroscopy, implemented on a scanning electron microscope, to identify prokaryotes on mineral surfaces. For this purpose, we used, as a first step, a simple model of either unstained or stained cultivable cells (Escherichia coli, Deinococcus radiodurans) deposited on minerals that are common in the oceanic crust (basaltic glass, amphibole, pyroxene, and magnetite). Our results demonstrate that the detection of cells is possible at the micrometric level on the investigated minerals through the intrinsic fluorescence of their constituting macromolecules (aromatic amino and nucleic acids, coenzymes). This allows us to distinguish biomorph inorganic phases from cells. This easily implemented technique permits an exploration of colonized rock samples. In addition, the range of spectrometric techniques available on a scanning electron microscope can provide additional information on the nature and chemistry of the associated mineral phases, which would lead to a simultaneous characterization of cells, their microhabitats, and a better understanding of their potential relationships.     

洁齿

在一个世纪以前及更早的时候,要想在自然环境下拍摄到野生动物,简直无法想象的困难。1906年,美国《国家地理》杂志首次刊登了74张夜行动物的照片,之后,就开始不断展现野生动物摄影突破性的成就。这张1966年摄于锡兰     

苏联早期的“警棍”和“凉鞋”“短剑”导弹

赫鲁晓夫唬住了美国人1960年1月14日,赫鲁晓夫在苏联最高苏维埃会议上以《为了永久和平与友谊而裁军》为题发表演说,首次形成了国家核军事理论。该理论认定弹道导弹应在军事战略中占据中心位置,并应成为欧洲战争及有超级大国参加的战斗中的决定因素。赫鲁晓夫认为,新的战争将从使用核武器的大规模突袭开始。     

DAME: planetary-prototype drilling automation

We describe results from the Drilling Automation for Mars Exploration (DAME) project, including those of the summer 2006 tests from an Arctic analog site. The drill hardware is a hardened, evolved version of the Advanced Deep Drill by Honeybee Robotics. DAME has developed diagnostic and executive software for hands-off surface operations of the evolved version of this drill. The DAME drill automation tested from 2004 through 2006 included adaptively controlled drilling operations and the downhole diagnosis of drilling faults. It also included dynamic recovery capabilities when unexpected failures or drilling conditions were discovered. DAME has developed and tested drill automation software and hardware under stressful operating conditions during its Arctic field testing campaigns at a Mars analog site.     

Establishment of a rearing system of the extremotolerant tardigrade Ramazzottius varieornatus: a new model animal for astrobiology

Studies on the ability of multicellular organisms to tolerate specific environmental extremes are relatively rare compared to those of unicellular microorganisms in extreme environments. Tardigrades are extremotolerant animals that can enter an ametabolic dry state called anhydrobiosis and have high tolerance to a variety of extreme environmental conditions, particularly while in anhydrobiosis. Although tardigrades have been expected to be a potential model animal for astrobiological studies due to their excellent anhydrobiotic and extremotolerant abilities, few studies of tolerance with cultured tardigrades have been reported, possibly due to the absence of a model species that can be easily maintained under rearing conditions. We report the successful rearing of the herbivorous tardigrade, Ramazzottius varieornatus, by supplying the green alga Chlorella vulgaris as food. The life span was 35 +/- 16.4 d, deposited eggs required 5.7 +/- 1.1 d to hatch, and animals began to deposit eggs 9 d after hatching. The reared individuals of this species had an anhydrobiotic capacity throughout their life cycle in egg, juvenile, and adult stages. Furthermore, the reared adults in an anhydrobiotic state were tolerant of temperatures of 90 degrees C and -196 degrees C, and exposure to 99.8% acetonitrile or irradiation with 4000 Gy (4)He ions. Based on their life history traits and tolerance to extreme stresses, R. varieornatus may be a suitable model for astrobiological studies of multicellular organisms.     

用幅相法测量石英晶体

本文提出了有关研制自动测试系统的几个问题,该系统采用了国际电工委员会第444号公告中所推荐的传输测试法。业已证明,当试图对电阻与总并联电容的电抗之比具有很大数值(本文中定义为α)的晶体进行测量时,这种方法是失败的。本文进一步详述了全自动测试系统中电容凋零网络的使用情况。讨论了使用微处理器CPU的自动测试系统,并给出了测量数据。列出了在10兆赫到183兆赫范围内所测得的晶体的测量数据。这些测量说明在频率为1×10~(-8)量级上以及动态参数小于0.5％的标准偏差的可重复性是极好的。     

在辐射高温测量法中高准确度的温度值和不确定度的计算

光学高温计测量的温度 T 是一个含有τ(λ)和 V(λ)参数的积分方程的解,其中参数τ(λ)为光学元件的光谱透过率,参数 V(λ)为检测元件的相对光谱灵敏度。τ(λ)和 V(λ)在不同波长下测量的值为τ(λ_i)±△τ(λ_i) i=1、2、3、…NV(λ_k)±△V(λ_k) k=1、2、3、…M 式中△τ(λ_i)和△V(λ_k)分别为τ(λ_i)和V(λ_k)的测量不确定度。为了计算高温计每个测量值所对应的温度值,本文提出一种积分方程的数值解法,从而可以避免引入某些不必要的近似。假定不同波长下实验误差在统计学上互不相关,则可推导出一个由光谱测量中随机不确定度造成的温度不确定度的计算方程。作为估算测量数据的质量和数值解法不确定度的一种辅助方法,还建立了τ(λ)和 V(λ)的通用而现实的数学解析式,直到求出积分方程的精确代数解。