Stability of rubble-mound breakwater using H50 wave height parameter

The prediction of rubble mound breakwaters' stability is one of the most important issues in coastal and maritime engineering. The stability of breakwaters strongly depends on the wave height. Therefore, selection of an appropriate wave height parameter is very vital in the prediction of stability number. In this study, H₅₀, the average of the 50 highest waves that reach the breakwater in its useful life, was used to predict the stability of the armor layer. First, H₅₀ was used instead of the significant wave height in the most recent stability formulas. It was found that this modification yields more accurate results. Then, for further improvement of the results, two formulas were developed using model tree.To develop the new formulas, two experimental data sets of irregular waves were used. Results indicated that the proposed formulas are more accurate than the previous ones for the prediction of the stability parameter. Finally, the proposed formulas were applied to regular waves and a wide range of damage levels and it was seen that the developed formulas are applicable in these cases as well.     

Complexation of zinc by exudates from Skeletonema costatum grown in culture

Measurements have been made, by amperometric titration using anodic stripping voltammetry, of the zinc binding properties of organic material released by Skeletonema costatum in culture, after the stationary growth phase had been reached. Titration curves showed two inflection points, interpreted as indicating the presence of two analytically distinguishable ligand assemblages (L₁ and L₂). The complexing capacities of these assemblages increased with time and the associated conditional stability constants K₁^′ and K₂^′ decreased with time. This apparent reduction in stability constants could be accounted for by complex dissociation. Several methods for the calculation of complexing capacity and stability constant were employed and although the calculated concentrations of C_L varied, each method showed similar trends.Size fractionation of the organic moieties revealed that C_L, was composed of organic assemblages with apparent molecular weight greater than 3 × 10⁴. The ligands L₂ were of mixed size composition.     

CRS-diagrams for design calculations of the stability of ships

This paper describes the development of a fast diagrammatic method to determine the geometric part of a ship's stability lever, the MS. Additionally, diagrams are given of the contribution to the stability of erections: deck houses and superstructures. The methods are intended for use in the design work.     

Criterion for stability of phytoplankton patchiness using a Liapunov method

A criterion for the stability of plankton patchiness is developed using a Liapunov function. Plankton growth, advection and diffusion in a closed area are considered. A critical length scale for the stability does not exist but a more common criterion which contains the growth rateα, diffusion coefficientA _l and arbitrary function of growthf can be introduced in an integral form.     

Negative effects of blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) presence in eelgrass (Zostera marina) beds in Flensborg fjord,Denmark

The effect of blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) presence in eelgrass (Zostera marina) beds was studied from June 2004 to July 2005 in Flensborg fjord, Denmark. The field experiments were conducted at two stations, one with only Z. marina (Eelgrass station) present and one where M. edulis were present in the Z. marina beds (Mixed station). Zostera marina parameters were measured (growth of leaves, shoot density, leaf length, and nutrient content) in combination with epiphyte cover and sediment parameters (sulphate reduction rates, sediment nutrient fluxes, organic content, C, N and P content) to examine possible positive and negative effects of the mussels on eelgrass performance. The fluxes of ammonium from the sediments were stimulated at all sampling dates at the Mixed station, and possibly stimulated epiphyte growth at this station. Further ¹⁵N signals in epiphytes from the Mixed station suggested that excretion products from the mussels were important nitrogen sources at this station. Sulphate reduction rates were enhanced at the Mixed station and also sediment sulphide concentrations increased under mussel influence, which may have resulted in sulphide toxicity and decreased growth of Z. marina at this station. The study indicates that for Z. marina beds in Flensborg Fjord the effects of M. edulis in seagrass beds are primarily negative, and raises the question whether this leads to negative effects on the stability and expansion of Z. marina beds.     

Salt marsh plants (Juncus maritimus and Scirpus maritimus) as sources of strong complexing ligands

This work aimed to evaluate, in vitro, the capability of roots of salt marsh plants to release strong Cu-complexing ligands and to ascertain whether Cu contamination would stimulate ligands' exudation or not. The sea rush Juncus maritimus and the sea-club rush Scirpus maritimus, both from the lower Douro river estuary (NW Portugal), were used. Plants were collected seasonally, four times a year in 2004, during low tide. After sampling, plant roots were washed for removal of adherent particles and immersed for 2 h in a solution that matched salinity (3) and pH (7.5) of the pore water from the same location and spiked with Cu²⁺ in the range 0–1600 nM to obtain plant exudates. In the final solutions as well as in sediment pore water total dissolved Zn and Cu, Cu-complexing ligand concentrations and the respective conditional stability constants (K_CuL^′) values were determined by voltammetry. This study demonstrated that plants are able to release, in a short period of time, relatively high amounts of strong Cu-complexing ligands (56–265 nmol g_root⁻¹), which differed among plants and sampling site but were independent of the season. Cu contamination did not stimulate exudation of Cu-complexing ligands. On the other hand, in media contaminated with Cu both plants accumulated relatively high amounts (29–83%) of the initially dissolved Cu, indicating that they have alternative internal mechanisms for Cu detoxification. Cu exchange between roots and medium (either accumulation in contaminated medium or release in the absence of Cu) was more intense for S. maritimus than for J. maritimus. It was observed that exudate solutions obtained in the absence of added Cu and sediment pore water (the densities of roots observed inside the salt marsh where comparable to those used in the in vitro experiments), displayed similarities in terms of total dissolved metals, Cu-complexing ligands concentrations, values of K_CuL^′ (12 < log K_CuL^′ < 14), as well as patterns of variation among seasons (only observed for Zn). These results are novel and point out that salt marsh plants may be the source at least partially of the strong organic ligands found in the sediment pore water in shallow marginal areas. The capability of salt marsh plants to release strong organic ligands into the environment, conjugated with their known capacity to oxidize anaerobic sediment around roots, indicate that these plants can play a role in controlling metal speciation in the water/sediment interface.     

Effect of atmospheric CO2 and solar activity on wind regime and water column stability in the major global upwelling areas

It is not clear whether global warming will favour or reduce global ocean phytoplankton productivity in coastal areas. Moreover, the relative contributions made by natural and/or anthropogenic factors to possible changes in phytoplankton productivity are not clear. As the relationship between primary production and alongshore wind forcing is well established for the Eastern Boundary Current (EBC) ecosystems, our aim is to determine whether the changes experienced over the last five decades (1958–2007) in atmospheric CO₂ and solar activity have been able to affect the wind regime and water column stability in the most biologically productive upwelling areas of California, Canary, Humboldt and Benguela. We approached the work by statistically studying the effect of solar activity and atmospheric CO₂ on surface alongshore wind stress and on water column stability. There was an increasing trend in wind stress and water column stability in all the upwelling areas over the period studied (with the single exception of stability in the California EBC system). The analysis of detrended series evidenced significant relationships between atmospheric CO₂ concentration and wind stress and water column stability in the coastal upwelling areas investigated. In addition, wind stress and stability data were found to be consistent, with negative linear relationships between wind stress and CO₂ in most of the sites in the Benguela, Canary and Humboldt regions associated, as expected, to positive relationships when water column stability is used as regressand. The results of the present study suggest that greenhouse gas forcing, independent of its well known general increasing trend, was able to decrease wind stress intensity and increase water column stability for the period 1958 to present in most of the sites of the four Eastern Boundary Ecosystems studied, with the one exception of the California region. Conversely, the impact of solar activity appeared to be quite low compared to the greenhouse gas forcing.     

Stability constants of NaSO4−, MgSO4, MgF+, MgCl+ ion pairs at the ionic strength of seawater by potentiometry

The stability of the ion pair NaSO₄ was determined by measuring the change in sodium activity with medium composition at constant ionic strength, using a sodium-sensitive glass electrode. The stability constants of MgSO₄ and MgCl⁺ were determined indirectly from measurements of the stability of MgF⁺ in different media. All measurements were performed at 1 atm pressure, 25 ± 0.1 °C and 0.7 M formal ionic strength. The stability constants for NaSO₄^?, MgSO₄, MgF⁺ and MgCl⁺ are 1.8 ± 0.1, 6.3 ± 0.1, 22.9 ± 0.1 and 0.34 ± 0.02 M^?1, respectively.     

Liquid freshwater transport and Polar Surface Water characteristics in the East Greenland Current during the AO-02 Oden expedition

Dynamical features of the East Greenland Current (EGC) are synthesized from a survey conducted by the Swedish icebreaker Oden during the International Arctic Ocean - 02 expedition (AO-02) in May 2002 with emphasis on the liquid freshwater transport and Polar Surface Water. The data include hydrography and lowered acoustic doppler current profiler (LADCP) velocities in eight transects along the EGC, from the Fram Strait in the north to the Denmark Strait in the south. The survey reveals a strong confinement of the low-salinity polar water in the EGC to the continental slope/shelf—a feature of relevance for the stability of the thermohaline circulation in the Arctic Mediterranean. The southward transport of liquid freshwater in the EGC was found to vary considerably between the sections, ranging between 0.01 and 0.1 Sverdrup. Computations based on geostrophic as well as LADCP velocities give a section-averaged southward freshwater transport of 0.06 Sverdrup in the EGC during May 2002. Furthermore, Oden data suggest that the liquid freshwater transport was as large north of the Fram Strait as it was south of the Denmark Strait.     

Hydrodynamic and dynamic analysis to determine the directional stability of an underwater vehicle near a free surface

A theoretical methodology to determine the open-loop directional stability of a near-surface underwater vehicle is presented. It involves a solution of coupled sway and yaw equations of motion in a manner similar to that carried out for surface ships. The stability derivatives are obtained numerically through simulation of motions corresponding to planar motion mechanism (PMM) model tests. For the numerical simulation, a boundary-integral method based on the mixed Lagrangian-Eulerian formulation is developed. The free-surface effect on the vehicle stability is determined by comparing the results with that obtained for vehicle motion in infinite fluid. The methodology was used to determine the stability of the Florida Atlantic University’s Ocean EXplorer (OEX) AUV. The presence of the free surface, through radiation damping, is found to suppress unsteady oscillations and thereby enhance the directional stability of the vehicle. With effects of free surface, forward speed, location and geometry of rudders, location of the center of gravity etc. all being significant factors affecting stability, a general conclusion cannot be drawn on their combined effect on the vehicle stability. The present computational methodology is therefore a useful tool to determine an underwater vehicle’s stability for a given configuration and thus the viability of an intended mission a priori.     

Cloning and characterization of a thermostable carboxylesterase from inshore hot spring thermophile Geobacillus sp. ZH1

The gene(741 bp) encoding carboxylesterase from the thermophilic bacterium Geobacillus sp.ZHl was cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli.The purified recombinant protein presented a molecular mass of about 40 kDa by SDS-PAGE analysis.Enzyme assays using p-nitrophenyl esters with different acyl chain lengths as the substrates confirmed its esterase activity,yielding highest specific activity with p-nitrophenyl acetate.Among the p-nitrophenyl esters tested,the carboxylesterase presented preference for p-nitrophenyl caprylate,but hydrolyzed p-nitrophenyl butyrate more efficiently.When p-nitrophenyl butyrate was used as a substrate,the recombinant carboxylesterase exhibited highest activity at pH 8.0 and 60℃.Almost no decrease in esterase activity was observed at 60℃for 3 h,and over 40% of activity was still maintained after incubation at 90℃for 3 h.These results indicate that Geobacillus sp.ZH1 recombinant esterase was thermostable.The enzymatic activity was inhibited by the addition of phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride,indicating that it contains serine residue,which plays a key role in the catalytic mechanism.Except SDS and xylene,this esterase showed stability toward other tested detergents and organic solvents.Cloning,expression,and biochemical characterization of Geobacillus sp.ZH1 carboxylesterase lay a good foundation for its structural characterization and industrial application.     

Stability considerations of an anchor dragged in noncohesive sea bed

The maximum holding power and the stability of stockless anchors dragged in non-cohesive media are considered. Forces and moments acting on each structural element of the anchor, such as flukes, shank and stabilizing fins, were investigated experimentally, and the results are given in formulae.The maximum holding power of an anchor depends upon its configuration in the sea bed. Considering force resultants and moments acting on all the structural elements, equilibrium equations are formulated and the configuration of a dragged anchor and its maximum holding power can be determined by solving these equations. If its equilibrium configuration cannot be determined under the surface of the sea bed, the dragged anchor will turn over as soon as the flukes come out of the bed. This instability will be called lifting-up.Instability phenomena caused by turning around the shank are analysed by considering the resulting moments acting on the anchor in a disturbed condition from the equilibrium configuration. From the results, stability conditions for lifting-up and turning are proposed for the anchor dragged in noncohesive media, and an anchor of absolute-roll-stability is realized by attaching a pair of proper stabilizing fins.     

Determination of the complexing capacity and conditional stability constants of complexes of copper(II) with natural organic ligands in seawater by cathodic stripping voltammetry of copper-catechol complex ions

A new method is proposed for the determination of complexing capacities and conditional stability constants for complexes of copper(II) with dissolved organic ligands in seawater. This method is based on ligand competition by the added ligand catechol for free metal ions. The concentration of copper-catechol complex ions is measured with great sensitivity by cathodic stripping voltammetry. The concentration of the free copper ion is calculated from the concentration of copper-catechol complex ions. Ligand concentrations and conditional stability constants are obtained from a titration of the ligands with copper. Two techniques for treatment of the data are compared. A seawater sample, originating from open oceanic conditions, is analysed and two complexing ligands were detected, having concentrations of 1.1 × 10^?8 and 3.3 × 10^?8 M, and conditional stability constants (log K′_CuL) of 12.2 and 10.2, respectively.     

Sedimentary iron inputs stimulate seagrass (Posidonia oceanica) population growth in carbonate sediments

The relationship between sedimentary Fe inputs and net seagrass population growth across a range of Posidonia oceanica meadows growing in carbonate Mediterranean sediments (Balearic Islands, Spain; SE Iberian Peninsula, Spain; Limassol, Cyprus; Sounion, Greece) was examined using comparative analysis. Sedimentary Fe inputs were measured using benthic sediment traps and the net population growth of P. oceanica meadows was assessed using direct census of tagged plants. The meadows examined ranged from meadows undergoing a severe decline to expanding meadows (specific net population growth, from −0.14 yr⁻¹ to 0.05 yr⁻¹). Similarly, Fe inputs to the meadows ranged almost an order of magnitude across meadows (8.6–69.1 mg Fe m⁻² d⁻¹). There was a significant, positive relationship between sedimentary iron inputs and seagrass net population growth, accounting for 36% of the variability in population growth across meadows. The relationship obtained suggested that seagrass meadows receiving Fe inputs below 43 mg Fe m⁻² d⁻¹ are vulnerable and in risk of decline, confirming the pivotal role of Fe in the control of growth and the stability of seagrass meadows in carbonate sediments.     

Stability of berm breakwater with reduced armor stone weight

The basic principle involved in the design of S-shaped breakwater is the provision of a wide berm at or around the water level with smaller size armor stones than that used in conventional design, which are allowed to reshape till an equilibrium slope is achieved. An attempt is made to assess the influence of wave height, wave period, and berm width on the stability of S-shaped breakwater with reduced (30% reduction in armor stone weight) armor unit weight. From the investigation, it is found that the berm breakwater with 30% reduced armor weight would be stable for the design wave height if the berm width is 60 cm and wave period 1.2 s. For higher wave periods studied, zero damage wave height reduces by 20–40% of the design wave height. Wave period has large influence on the stability of berm breakwaters. The runup increases with decrease in weight up to W_o/W=0.9.     

Flushing rate and salinity may control the blooms of the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense in a river/estuary in Osaka Bay, Japan

The first observation of a red tide of the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense in the Yodo River estuary, Osaka Bay, Japan was in the spring of 2007. To clarify which environmental factors controlled the abundance of A. tamarense, field surveys were conducted in 2008 and 2009. In 2008, the increase of A. tamarense occurred from early to mid-March and temperatures ranged from 9 to 13 °C. In contrast, in 2009, the increase was 1 month later, from early to mid-April and therefore temperatures were higher. In both years, A. tamarense was most abundant when salinities were relatively high (15–25), river discharge was low, and the water column was stable. There were no cells during periods of low salinity (<10), high discharge. In 2008, possibly silicate and phosphate were limiting during the simultaneous diatom and A. tamarense bloom in early March with silicate restricting the further growth of diatoms. In this estuarine basin, freshwater discharge from the weir increased the flow rate at stations downstream of the weir and deterred bloom formation by A. tamarense. Conversely, the lack of discharge increased the salinity and stability of the water column and decreased in the flow rate in the river/estuary. This process promoted the initiation of the bloom of A. tamarense and the subsequent accumulation of paralytic shellfish toxin in the brackish water clam Corbicula japonica. It is recommended that a constant discharge from the weir is maintained in order to prevent blooms of A. tamarense and subsequent paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) incidents in this area.     

Lower bound limit loads of ship structure components using the mα-tangent method based on single linear elastic analysis

Limit loads for ship structure components are determined in this paper based on a single linear elastic finite element analysis by invoking the concept of kinematically active reference volume in conjunction with the m_α-tangent method. The method enables rapid determination of lower bound limit loads for ship structure components by taking their kinematically inactive volume into consideration. This method is applied to a number of ship structure components possessing different percentages of inactive volume. Results are compared with the corresponding inelastic finite element results, and available analytical solutions.     

Optimizing alginate beads for the immobilisation of Phaeodactylum tricornutum in estuarine waters

This study addresses the influence of calcium as hardening agent, on alginate gel bead stability and suitability for the growth of Phaeodactylum tricornutum Bohlin (Bacillariophyceae) in estuarine waters. Alginate beads produced with 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6% of CaCl₂ solutions were investigated for stability and suitability for growth of P. tricornutum cells, under mean salinity 27, at 220 and 440 rpm stirring laboratory conditions, and in devices placed under in situ estuarine conditions. Gel stability and suitability for cell growth were evaluated through bead diameter, bead disruption, dissolution and loss of spherical shape, cell viability and specific growth rates. Beads gelled with 5% CaCl₂ were found the most suitable to sustain gel stability and cell growth in the estuarine waters. These beads were surveyed during dredging operations in the Tagus estuary, both in situ and in estuarine water under laboratory conditions, showing significantly lowered growth rates possibly due to Mn, Co and As accumulated in the cells. Results confirmed that the monitoring tool presented is reliable and effective for the assessment of anthropogenic impacts.     

日本鼓虾与鲜明鼓虾线粒体基因组全序列的分析比较

首先通过基因组DNA的提取、通用引物PCR扩增和长PCR扩增,从而获得日本鼓虾(Alpheus japonicus)的线粒体DNA;应用鸟枪法和引物步移法测序,获得了日本鼓虾的线粒体基因组全序列。结合GenBank线粒体基因组数据库中鲜明鼓虾(A.distinguendus)的线粒体基因组,比较分析了鼓虾线粒体基因组的基本特征、基因排列、蛋白质编码基因、选择压力和差异位点等。研究结果表明,在日本鼓虾线粒体基因组中共存在9对基因的重叠。日本鼓虾线粒体基因组全长16 487 bp,较鲜明鼓虾线粒体基因组(15 700 bp)长,主要是由于最大非编码区的长度存在差异。日本鼓虾与鲜明鼓虾线粒体基因组均编码37个基因,且37个基因的基因排列完全一致;与泛甲壳动物线粒体基因组的原始排列相比,仅出现1个转运RNA基因(trnE)的易位和倒位。2个鼓虾线粒体基因组蛋白质编码基因的起始密码子和终止密码子存在差异。除了cob基因外,其余12个蛋白质编码基因所编码氨基酸的数目均完全相同。鼓虾线粒体基因组13个线粒体蛋白质编码基因的Ka/Ks比值都远远低于1,显示出较强的负选择。在15个主编码基因中,nad5基因的变异位点数最多,其次是nad4基因和lrRNA基因。因此,nad5,nad4和lrRNA基因可以作为备选的分子标记,用于分析鼓虾不同物种和群体之间的生物多样性。     

Benchmarking the first decade of post-apartheid fisheries reform in South Africa

The paper uses the three legislative criteria of resource sustainability, economic stability and social equity to measure the past decade of fisheries reform in South Africa. All three components of the reform process have been successful, although this judgement is subject to a number of important qualifications. First, the data available to measure success are limited. Second, both sustainability and stability are vulnerable to volatile factors external to the reform process (particularly variability in recruitment, climate change and exchange rate fluctuations) capable of derailing the process. Substantial alteration of the fishing industry by internal transformation of existing companies and the reallocation of access rights to new black entrants has led to a composition that closely reflects that of society as a whole and therefore meets the goal of equity. In the process, however, bona fide traditional fishers with a historical dependence on fishing have largely been denied legitimate access to the fisheries, and meeting their aspirations remains a challenge.