Solute accumulation in heat seedlings during cold acclimation: contribution to increased freezing tolerance

Accumulation of sugars, amino acids and glycinebetaine in leaf tissues during cold acclimation was simultaneously monitored and compared in three wheat cultivars that have different freezing tolerance. Freezing tolerance was the decreasing order of cv. Norstar (NO) > cv. Chihokukomugi (CH) > or = cv. Haruyutaka (HA). During cold acclimation, there was a significant increase in osmotic concentration in the three cultivars. The increase was largely due to the increase in soluble sugars and the extent of the increase was the greatest in NO and the least in HA. While there was a considerable increase in glucose, fructose and sucrose during the first week of cold acclimation, the increase in raffinose occurred only after the second week. The total sugar content was the order of NO > CH > HA after 4 weeks of cold acclimation. Proline increased in all cultivars after 1 week of cold acclimation but a prolonged cold acclimation resulted in different profiles: no further increase occurred in HA while an additional increase occurred in other two cultivars. In all three cultivars, a noticeable increase of glycinebetaine occurred only after the second week of cold acclimation with the amount being the order of NO > CH > HA. It is concluded that a substantial part of the increase in osmotic concentration during cold acclimation was due to the increase in sugars, but the extent of the contribution of each compatible solute is cultivar-specific and can be associated with the degree of the maximum freezing tolerance attainable.     

水滴撞击结冰过程的分子动力学模拟

利用三维分子动力学模拟方法,研究了纳米尺度水滴撞击冷壁面的结冰过程.数值模拟中,统计系统采用微正则系综,势能函数选用TIP4P/ice模型,温度校正使用速度定标法,牛顿运动方程的求解采用文莱特算法,水滴内部结冰过程则通过统计垂直方向水分子温度分布来判定.研究发现,当冷壁面温度降低时,水滴完全结冰的时间减小,但水滴降至壁面温度的时间却增大;同时随着壁面亲水性降低,水滴内部热传递速度减慢(尤其是冷壁面与水滴底端分子层间),水滴内部温度趋于均匀,但水滴完全结冰时间延长.     

The tolerance of the field slug Deroceras reticulatum to freezing temperatures

Cold hardiness of ectotherms has been widely studied in arthropods, but there is a more limited literature on the survival of molluscs at low temperatures. A number of intertidal species have been examined in detail, but terrestrial molluscs have largely been overlooked until recently. This paper reports results of laboratory experiments to evaluate the cold hardiness of the terrestrial slug, Deroceras reticulatum. The mean supercooling point (SCP) rose from -4.2 degree C in summer to -3.6 degree C in winter. The SCP that caused 50 percent mortality (LSCP50) remained constant at -4.7 to -4.8 degree C in both seasons, but slugs were able to survive the frozen state for longer in winter (LD50 of 31.8 minutes compared with 17.0 minutes in summer). Slug survival at freezing temperatures was prolonged to at least five hours when placed on a moist, absorbent substrate. D. reticulatum exhibits partial freeze tolerance, with an increased survival in winter. The results are discussed in relation to the natural environment of slugs.     

利用LNG冷能的间接冷冻法海水淡化流程及其初步分析

介绍了一种利用LNG冷能进行海水淡化的间接冷冻法,即利用二次冷媒传递LNG气化过程中放出的冷量于海水的结冰过程,最终得到淡水。叙述其流程和优点,并指出选择二次冷媒的原因。对实验样机中的关键部件——结晶器的换热面积进行了估算,并给出其结冰过程中换热量、冰层厚度、换热系数等相关参数随时间的变化趋势。最后从能量效率和火用效率角度考察LNG冷能的利用效率。     

Mpemba effect and phase transitions in the adiabatic cooling of water before freezing

In this paper, an accurate experimental investigation of the Mpemba effect (that is, of the fact that initially hot water freezes before the colder one) is carried out, showing that, in the adiabatic cooling of water, relevant roles are played by supercooling, and by phase transitions which take place at 6±1 ^°C,3.5±0.5 ^°C and 1.3±0.6 ^°C. The last transition, which occurs with the non-negligible probability of 0.21 with respect to the total number of runs performed, has not been detected earlier. On the basis of our experimental results, we can present a thorough theoretical analysis of supercooling and of such phase transitions, which are interpreted in terms of the different ordering of molecule clusters in water.     

蓄冷板冻结过程的数值模拟与实验研究

文中对蓄冷板内共晶液的热力学特性进行了分析。运用数值方法对不同温度下的NaCl蓄冷板冻结过程进行模拟研究,并实验验证了模拟的准确性。研究结果表明:当环境温度低于共晶液的共晶温度-21.2℃时,蓄冷板内共晶液开始相变所需的冷冻时间与环境温度有较大影响;蓄冷板出现结晶后直至共晶液完全冻结的相变过程受环境温度的影响较小。     

Sucrose incubation increases freezing tolerance of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) embryogenic cell suspensions

The freezing tolerance of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) embryogenic cells, as determined by electrolyte leakage, was increased by the incubation of samples in medium containing 0.8 M sucrose. To elucidate the mechanism involved, we investigated the changes in soluble carbohydrates, cell ultrastructure and proteins accompanying the increase in freezing tolerance following incubation in sugar-rich medium. During sugar incubation, the intracellular sucrose content increased from 67 mol g-1FW to 429 mol g-1FW; it was also metabolized into fructose and glucose, as determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Microscopy revealed that sugar incubation induced plasmolysis of embryogenic cells and drastic changes in cell ultrastructure with the appearance of rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER). Furthermore, immunoblotting analysis with anti-dehydrin antiserum revealed that a dehydrin-like protein appeared only when maximal freezing tolerance was induced by sugar incubation. These results suggest that freezing tolerance of asparagus embryogenic cells is increased by a complex mechanism involving notably changes in cell ultrastructure and accumulation of certain sugars and proteins during sugar incubation.     

Desiccation and freezing tolerance of embryonic axes from Citrus sinensis [L.] osb. pretreated with sucrose

Embryonic axes of Citrus sinensis L. were successfully cryopreserved. While fully hydrated unfrozen axes germinated 100%, survival decreased as axes water content dropped, and total loss of viability was observed when the water content dropped to 0.04 and 0.10 mg H2O/mg dry mass, for axes without and with sucrose preculture, respectively. Fully hydrated axes did not survive exposure to liquid nitrogen. Highest seedling recovery (93-100%) for untreated axes was observed at 0.26 to 0.15 mg H2O/mg dry mass. Differential scanning calorimetry revealed the presence of broad melting peaks in fully hydrated embryonic axes. The size of the melting peak diminished as water was removed by desiccation. Minimum melting of water was observed at the point axes survived cryopreservation. Occurrence of a glass transition upon warming was not a condition for axes to survive liquid nitrogen exposure. In untreated axes, glucose, increased with desiccation to 0.2 mg H2O/mg dry mass, and decreased as the axes were desiccated to lower water contents. Fructose and sucrose levels did not increase when untreated samples were desiccated for the same periods of time. Raffinose and stachyose levels decreased as untreated and precultured embryonic axes were desiccated. In sucrose precultured axes, sucrose and fructose levels increased when they were dehydrated, reaching maximum levels at 0.2 mg H2O/mg dry mass. Tissue glucose did not change significantly with desiccation. Raffinose and stachyose levels dropped as precultured embryonic axes were dried.     

基于LNG冷能的海水冷冻淡化机理研究

为利用液化天然气(LNG)的冷能实现海水冷冻淡化,研究了海水在超低温环境下的冷冻淡化机理,试验测试了海水在不同冷冻条件下的制冰淡化性能参数,分析了各因素对海水冷冻淡化过程的作用机理及性能影响,比较得出了该工艺系统的最优运行参数。该研究结果为基于LNG冷能的海水冷冻淡化系统工艺设计提供了重要的参考依据。     

尺寸效应对Al纳米线凝固行为的影响

结合EAM镶嵌原子作用势, 通过经典的分子动力学模拟研究了不同截面尺寸Al纳米线在两种冷却速率下的凝固行为, 并采用键对分析技术探讨了相变过程中原子团簇的演化情况. 结果表明:Al纳米线的最终结构不仅与冷却速率有关, 还呈现出明显的尺寸效应. 在较快的冷却速率下, 五种截面尺寸的Al纳米线均得到了多壳螺旋结构; 而当冷却速率降低以后, 除了N₃纳米线发生了断裂以外, 其余纳米线的结构随着截面尺寸的增加, 逐渐从多壳螺旋结构经由类-六边形多壳结构最终过渡到稳定的晶态结构.     

尺寸效应对Al纳米线凝固行为的影响

结合EAM镶嵌原子作用势, 通过经典的分子动力学模拟研究了不同截面尺寸Al纳米线在两种冷却速率下的凝固行为, 并采用键对分析技术探讨了相变过程中原子团簇的演化情况. 结果表明:Al纳米线的最终结构不仅与冷却速率有关, 还呈现出明显的尺寸效应. 在较快的冷却速率下, 五种截面尺寸的Al纳米线均得到了多壳螺旋结构; 而当冷却速率降低以后, 除了N₃纳米线发生了断裂以外, 其余纳米线的结构随着截面尺寸的增加, 逐渐从多壳螺旋结构经由类-六边形多壳结构最终过渡到稳定的晶态结构.     

The development and limits of freezing tolerance in Acer pseudoplatanus fruits across Europe is dependent on provenance

The effects of fruit maturity, at the time of natural dispersal, on subsequent desiccation tolerance and sub-zero storage was investigated in three lots of Acer pseudoplatanus (sycamore) collected from northern to southern Europe. Fruits from the native plant distribution range in Italy had significantly higher desiccation tolerance (0.16 g water per g DW) than those from England (0.30) and Norway (0.50), confirming that the maximum potential desiccation tolerance in sycamore exceeds that of the recalcitrant type. In contrast, the unfrozen water content varied only slightly between seedlots, but systematically reduced with development (0.35 to 0.27 g water per g DW). Maximum survival (60 percent fruit germination) of seven days sub-zero temperature storage coincided with drying the Italian fruit lot to c. 0.2 g water per g DW followed by holding at -20 degree C, above the onset temperature for freezing, or at -196 degree C (liquid nitrogen). Fruit survival was much lower in the Italian fruits when held at this water content and -70 degree C, and in all other combinations of water content, temperature and fruit lot provenance. As the risk of nucleation in partially dried fruits held at -20 degree C is high, we recommend sycamore fruits are cryopreserved for long-term conservation.     

The effect of ultrasonic waves on the nucleation of pure water and degassed water

In order to clarify the mechanism of nucleation of ice induced by ultrasound, ultrasonic waves have been applied to supercooled pure water and degassed water, respectively. For each experiment, water sample is cooled at a constant cooling rate of 0.15 °C/min and the ultrasonic waves are applied from the water temperature of 0 °C until the water in a sample vessel nucleates. This nucleation temperature is measured. The use of ultrasound increased the nucleation temperature of both degassed water and pure water. However, the undercooling temperature for pure water to nucleate is less than that of degassed water. It is concluded that cavitation and fluctuations of density, energy and temperature induced by ultrasound are factors that affect the nucleation of water. Cavitation is a major factor for sonocrystallisation of ice.     

Investigation of the effect of power ultrasound on the nucleation of water during freezing of agar gel samples in tubing vials

Nucleation, as an important stage of freezing process, can be induced by the irradiation of power ultrasound. In this study, the effect of irradiation temperature (−2 °C, −3 °C, −4 °C and −5 °C), irradiation duration (0 s, 1 s, 3 s, 5 s, 10 s or 15 s) and ultrasound intensity (0.07 W cm⁻², 0.14 W cm⁻², 0.25 W cm⁻², 0.35 W cm⁻² and 0.42 W cm⁻²) on the dynamic nucleation of ice in agar gel samples was studied. The samples were frozen in an ethylene glycol-water mixture (−20 °C) in an ultrasonic bath system after putting them into tubing vials. Results indicated that ultrasound irradiation is able to initiate nucleation at different supercooled temperatures (from −5 °C to −2 °C) in agar gel if optimum intensity and duration of ultrasound were chosen. Evaluation of the effect of 0.25 W cm⁻² ultrasound intensity and different durations of ultrasound application on agar gels showed that 1 s was not long enough to induce nucleation, 3 s induced the nucleation repeatedly but longer irradiation durations resulted in the generation of heat and therefore nucleation was postponed. Investigation of the effect of ultrasound intensity revealed that higher intensities of ultrasound were effective when a shorter period of irradiation was used, while lower intensities only resulted in nucleation when a longer irradiation time was applied. In addition to this, higher intensities were not effective at longer irradiation times due to the heat generated in the samples by the heating effect of ultrasound. In conclusion, the use of ultrasound as a means to control the crystallization process offers promising application in freezing of solid foods, however, optimum conditions should be selected.     

The effect of collisions on wave-breaking in a cold plasma

The effect of electron collisions on reducing the wave-breaking amplitude of resonantly-driven electrostatic fields in a cold plasma is investigated. By means of a simple theory collisions are shown to compete with wave-breaking in dissipating wave energy.     

The effect of tolerance on characteristic of circular groove guide

The variations in propagating characteristic of circular groove guide due to tolerance are analyzed by using eigen-weighted boundary integral equation method (EWBIEM). Theoretical analysis and experimental results show that as long as the tolerance of circular groove guide is not very large the variations in characteristic of circular groove guide are very small.The Project Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of P.R. China     

Unified description for the effect of spin freezing on ESR linewidth

We have shown that, for a number of systems which undergo a spin glass type transition, the temperature dependence of the ESR linewidth (above the freezing temperature) exhibits a single simplified form which can be roughly understood on the basis of elementary assumptions. Remarkably, the linewidth of ferromagnetic resonance observed in the surface layer of a?Y_1?xFe_x alloys exhibits the same dependence on temperature.     

磁场对冷冻过程影响的研究进展

常规冷冻方式可以延长食物和生物材料的保存时间,但也存在汁液流失和细胞死亡等问题,这与冷冻过程中生物材料内部冰晶生成情况有关。为此,研究者提出了玻璃化保存法,并将各种外加场引入冷冻过程。已有研究表明,磁场辅助冷冻是一种有效的方法。在此,首先对常规冷冻方式与玻璃化保存法进行对比,然后重点介绍国内外磁场辅助冷冻的研究进展,进一步指出目前磁场辅助冷冻存在的问题及发展方向。