Genomic organization of EDSV strain AA-2

The genomic organization of egg drop syndrome virus strain AA-2 isolated in China is reported here. The genome was found to be 32 838 bp in length, approximately 2 kb shorter than those of the human subgenus C adenoviruses. Analysis of open reading frames indicated that the genes for major viral structural proteins (55 K, Penton base, pⅦ, pⅩ, pⅥ, Hexon, 100 K, pⅧ and Fiber), as well as EP, DNA polymerase and ⅣaⅡ are present in the expected locations in the genome. EDSV possesses no identifiable E3 and E4 regions and most proteins encoded by E3 and E4 regions of other adenoviruses genome were not presented in EDSV.     

Stability of the Sarcin/Ricin domain of 28S RNA in rat ribosome under hydrostatic pressure

Under 2 100 bar of hydrostatic pressure, KNA N-glycosidase can still cleave the N-C bond of adenosine at position 4324 in R/S domain of 28S RNA in rat ribosome, demonstrating that high pressure has no effect on the tertiary structure of S/R domain.     

The Juancheng chondrite──A new meteorite falling recently in China

The Juancheng chondrite, a new meteorite falling recently in Juancheng County, Shandong Province, China, is classified as an H5 (S2) chondrite based on the compositions of olivine (Fa= 19.2, σ Fa=0.46) and low-Ca pyroxene (Fs=16.9, σ Fa=0.4). The plagioclase in the Juancheng chondrite is rich in CaO, indicating a relatively high metamorphic temperature the parent body underwent.     

Discovery of eclogite at northern margin of Qaidam Basin, NW China

Eclogite was first discovered at the northern margin of the Qaidam Basin in this study. It occurs as pods in the gneiss sequence of Middle to Upper Proterozoic age and is mainly composed of garnet, omphacite, phengite and rutile. The garnets contain 44%-62% of almandine, 15%-33% of grossular and 12%-30% of pyrope molecules, and the omphacites contain 40%-46% of jadeite. Applying garnet_clinopyroxene thermometry and jadeite geobarometry, the peak conditions of eclogite facies metamorphism occurred at about (722±123)℃ and at the pressure of up to c. 22 ×10 8 Pa.     

Marked electrical synapses on AP neuron of the leech (Whitmania pigra)

An initial attempt reveals parameters of marked electric synapse on AP perceptive neuron of leech. The width of gap between marked AP and either neuro-or glio-process is 2–3 nm, the diameter of the hexagonal array of connexion is 8–9 nm with a central pole of 2–2.5 nm, the same as the structure of annular lamellar bodies internalized by AP-glia processes in the AP.     

High-precision timing of the Quaternary standard samples with thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) U-series method

Two national stalagmite standard (GBW04412, GBW04413) and one international coral standard (RKM_4) have been determined by using thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) method. The values of ( 234 U/ 238 U) act , ( 230 Th/ 234 U) act and age are all consistent in error range with the standard values obtained by using α spectrometry.     

Leakage of mantle helium from the Liaodong Peninsula, China

The isotopic cumpositions of helium have been investigated in hot spring gases sampled from the Liaodong Peninsula. China. The³He/⁴He ratios range from 0.14 Ra (0.14 times the atmospheric³He/⁴He ratio of 1.40 × 10^-6 to 0.72 Ra.³He/⁴He versus⁴He/²⁰Ne ratios and He contents suggest that a small amount of mantle-derived helium reaches the earth’s surface. Helium iwtope ratios of the hot spring gases show a distribution pattern similar to the regional heat flow values, indicating that the positive thermal anomaly occurring in the rtrea is closely associated with the presence of mantle-derived helium. The observations described above provide some significant evidence that the molten magma originating from partial melting of the upper mantle may have intruded into the continental crust along the activity fault. The coupling of the presence of mantle He and heat flow anomalies to seismic activity in studied region seem to imply that there is an internal relationship between mantle degassing and seismic activity.     

Structural OH in mantle-derived clinopyroxene megacrysts from Nushan

Thirteen clinopyroxene megacrysts from Nushan Cenozoic basalts have been investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectrometer(FTIR). The results demonstrate that all samples contain trace amount of structural OH. Clinopyroxenes from Nushan show four groups of absorption bands, in which, 3 472–3 506 cm⁻¹ is the major characteristic one. It is suggested that the position of major band is probably related to AI content: the position of major characteristic band for high-AI samples is around 3 470 cm⁻¹, whereas that for low-AI samples around 3 620 cm⁻¹.