Exact solution of anisotropic compact stars via mass function

Studying relativistic compact objects is important in modern astrophysics to understand several astrophysical issues. It is therefore natural to ask for an internal structure and physical properties of specific classes of compact stars from astrophysical observations. We obtain a class of new relativistic solutions with anisotropic distribution of matter for compact stars. More specifically, stellar models, described by an anisotropic fluid, establishing a relation between metric potentials and generating a specific form of mass function, are explicitly constructed within the framework of General Relativity. New solutions can be used to model compact objects, which adequately describe compact strange star candidates like SMC X-1, Her X-1 and 4U 1538-52, with observational data taken from Gangopadhyay et al. (Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 431:3216, 2013). As a possible astrophysical application the obtained solutions could explain the physics of selfgravitating objects, and might be useful for strong-field regimes where data are currently inadequate.     

Hydrogeochemical characteristics and its role in controlling arsenic mobilization in a shallow aquifer

The relevance of groundwater hydrogeochemistry to explain the occurrence and distribution of arsenic in groundwater is of great interest. The insightful discussions on the control of shallow groundwater (< 50 m) hydrogeochemistry in arsenic mobilization are known to be a viable tool to explain the arsenic menace in shallow groundwater. The present investigation emphasizes the hydrogeochemical driver and/or control over the reductive dissolution of Fe-bearing host minerals and thereby releasing arsenic into the shallow groundwater of the study area. The study suggests that hydrogeochemical evolution is mainly governed by carbonate minerals dissolution, silicate weathering, and competitive ion-exchange processes in the shallow aquifers (< 50 m). The present study also indicates the prevalence of carbonate minerals dissolution over silicate weathering. The emergence of Cl⁻ concentration in the shallow groundwater founds the possibilities of anthropogenic inputs into the shallow aquifers (< 50 m). The reducing environment in shallow aquifers (< 50 m) of the study area is evident in the reductive dissolution of Fe- bearing shallow aquifer minerals which absorb arsenic in the solid phase and mobilize arsenic onto shallow groundwater. The study opted for many statistical approaches to delineate the correlation among major and minor ionic constituents of the groundwater which are very helpful to understand the comprehensive mechanism of arsenic mobilization into shallow groundwater.

     

Near N–S paleo-extension in the western Deccan region,India: Does it link strike-slip tectonics with India–Seychelles rifting?

This is the first detailed report and analyses of deformation from the W part of the Deccan large igneous province (DLIP), Maharashtra, India. This deformation, related to the India–Seychelles rifting during Late Cretaceous–Early Paleocene, was studied, and the paleostress tensors were deduced. Near N–S trending shear zones, lineaments, and faults were already reported without significant detail. An E–W extension was envisaged by the previous workers to explain the India–Seychelles rift at ~64 Ma. The direction of extension, however, does not match with their N–S brittle shear zones and also those faults (sub-vertical, ~NE–SW/~NW–SE, and few ~N–S) we report and emphasize in this work. Slickenside-bearing fault planes, brittle shear zones, and extension fractures in meso-scale enabled us to estimate the paleostress tensors (directions and relative magnitudes). The field study was complemented by remote sensing lineament analyses to map dykes and shear zones. Dykes emplaced along pre-existing ~N–S to ~NE–SW/~NW–SE shears/fractures. This information was used to derive regional paleostress trends. A ~NW–SE/NE–SW minimum compressive stress in the oldest Kalsubai Subgroup and a ~N–S direction for the younger Lonavala, Wai, and Salsette Subgroups were deciphered. Thus, a ~NW/NE to ~N–S extension is put forward that refutes the popular view of E–W India–Seychelles extension. Paleostress analyses indicate that this is an oblique rifted margin. Field criteria suggest only ~NE–SW and ~NW–SE, with some ~N–S strike-slip faults/brittle shear zones. We refer this deformation zone as the "Western Deccan Strike-slip Zone" (WDSZ). The observed deformation was matched with offshore tectonics deciphered mainly from faults interpreted on seismic profiles and from magnetic seafloor spreading anomalies. These geophysical findings too indicate oblique rifting in this part of the W Indian passive margin. We argue that the Seychelles microcontinent separated from India only after much of the DLIP erupted. Further studies of magma-rich passive margins with respect to timing and architecture of deformation and emplacement of volcanics are required.     

The great 1983 floods in South American large rivers: a continental hydrological modelling approach

ABSTRACT

This study provides a spatio-temporal analysis of the great floods that occurred in South America in 1983 using hydrometeorological data and outputs from a continental-scale hydrological-hydrodynamic model. In the extreme year 1983, there were three main flooding periods (February, June and July) in many South American river basins, such as the Araguaia, Tocantins, São Francisco, Uruguay, La Plata and its tributaries, resulting in high discharge of the Paraguay River for many months. Depth–area–duration curves show that 3-day precipitation events in northern regions of South America were among the largest 15 events in the period 1980–2015 but only for specific locations, whereas in southern areas, the most extreme events in the same period were for larger durations (≥7-day precipitation). Modelled total export of water volume to the oceans indicates that rivers draining to the South Atlantic reached an anomaly of 3.7 during 1983, followed by 1998 (1.9) and 1992 (1.1), all of them corresponding to El Niño years.     

Biosorption of Dyes by Natural and Activated Vine Stem. Interaction between Biosorbent and Dye

In the present study, the vine stem and modified vine stem were used as low cost adsorbents for the removal of acidic and basic dyes from aqueous solutions. A comparative study was also carried out with activated carbon obtained from vine stem and then the adsorption capacities of all adsorbents were evaluated by batch adsorption process. The effects of various adsorption parameters (initial pH, particle size, and contact time) were investigated. The modification of the vine stem with nitric acid increased its adsorption capacity for the basic dye. Both, vine stem and modified vine stem exhibited higher adsorption capacities than activated carbon. The adsorption capacities were found to be 322.58, 250, and 200 mg g^?1 for modified, natural vine stem, and activated carbon, respectively. In the case of acidic dye, the pH strongly affected the adsorption capacity and the maximum dye uptake was observed at pH 2 for all adsorbents. The acidic dye adsorption was lower compared to basic dye on both biosorbents and activated carbon tested. The maximum acidic dye adsorption values (58.82 and 59.88 mg g^?1) were obtained with the vine stem and activated carbon, respectively. In the case of lignocellulosic adsorbents, both surface charge and surface groups had main effect on the adsorption of basic dye, while adsorption mechanism in activated carbon was mainly through the physical adsorption. The results of comparative adsorption capacity of adsorbents indicated that vine stem or modified vine stem can be used as a low cost alternative to activated carbon in aqueous solution for basic dye removal.     

Empirical assessment of flood wave celerity–discharge relationships at local and reach scales

ABSTRACT

An accurate comprehension of celerity (flood wave speed) dynamics is a key step for understanding flood wave propagation in rivers. We present the results of empirically estimated celerity values in 12 Brazilian rivers, and analyse the behaviour of celerity–discharge relationships (CxQ). Celerity was estimated with a reach-scale (RS) method, based on the peak travel time between stations; and with a local-scale (LS) method, based on the derivative of discharge–cross-section area relationships surveyed at gauging stations. The results indicate that the magnitudes of celerity values obtained by the methods are reasonably comparable, and can rarely be considered constant, varying with river discharge. Three reaches presented differing CxQ relationships at local and reach scales, which suggests that in situ cross-sections at gauging stations should not be extrapolated as representative of the whole reach for flood routing studies, and that CxQ relationship assessments might provide relevant insights for hydrological modelling.     

Oreganum Stalks as a New Biosorbent to Remove Textile Dyes from Aqueous Solutions

In the present study, Oreganum onites L. stalks in natural and chemically modified with HNO³ and H³PO⁴ used as adsorbent for removal of both acidic and basic dyes from waters. The adsorption was studied as a function of pH and contact time by batch method. All tested biosorbents were characterized by FT‐IR, scanning electron microscopy, and measuring the pH dependence of the zeta potential. The adsorption isotherms were fitted to Langmuir isotherm. The maximum adsorption capacity of dyes was 280.73 mg g^?1 for Basic Red 18, 147.06 mg g^?1 for methylene blue and 112.36 for Acid Red 111, which is comparable to that of other lignocellulosic materials. The modification process was considerably increased the biosorption capacity of lignocellulosic material, resulting in a 56–63% increase in the biosorption capacity of basic dyes and a 125% increase in the biosorption capacity of acidic dye. The present study illustrated that the most effective factors in the adsorption of basic dye were surface charge and acidic groups on lignocellulosic biosorbents, while non‐electrostatic forces as well as electrostatic forces were also effective in the adsorption of acidic dye. In conclusion, Oreganum stalks can be considered as a very prospective adsorbent for the removal of tested basic and acidic dyes.     

A Tiered Approach to Evaluating Salinity Sources in Water at Oil and Gas Production Sites

A suspected increase in the salinity of fresh water resources can trigger a site investigation to identify the source(s) of salinity and the extent of any impacts. These investigations can be complicated by the presence of naturally elevated total dissolved solids or chlorides concentrations, multiple potential sources of salinity, and incomplete data and information on both naturally occurring conditions and the characteristics of potential sources. As a result, data evaluation techniques that are effective at one site may not be effective at another. In order to match the complexity of the evaluation effort to the complexity of the specific site, this paper presents a strategic tiered approach that utilizes established techniques for evaluating and identifying the source(s) of salinity in an efficient step‐by‐step manner. The tiered approach includes: (1) a simple screening process to evaluate whether an impact has occurred and if the source is readily apparent; (2) basic geochemical characterization of the impacted water resource(s) and potential salinity sources coupled with simple visual and statistical data evaluation methods to determine the source(s); and (3) advanced laboratory analyses (e.g., isotopes) and data evaluation methods to identify the source(s) and the extent of salinity impacts where it was not otherwise conclusive. A case study from the U.S. Gulf Coast is presented to illustrate the application of this tiered approach.