Mathematical modeling of PCB bioaccumulation in Perna viridis

In the present work, we built a mathematical model of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) bioaccumulation in Perna viridis, namely, a one-compartment model with a time dependent incorporation rate R (μg g⁻¹ lipid per ppb water per day), with positive substrate cooperativity as the underlying physical mechanism. The temporal change of the PCB concentration Q (μg g⁻¹ lipid) in the soft tissues of the mussel depends on the competition of the input rate RW and the output rate kQ, where W is the concentration of PCB in water (ppb water) and k is the elimination rate (per day). From our experimental data, k=0.181±0.017 d⁻¹. The critical concentration in water W_c for positive substrate cooperativity was found to be 2.4 ppb. Below W_c, R is a constant. For a water concentration of 0.5 ppb Aroclor 1254, R=24.0±2.4 μg g⁻¹ lipid ppb⁻¹ d⁻¹. Above W_c, positive substrate cooperativity comes into effect and R becomes a function of time and dependent on the concentration Q in a form R=γQ/(Q+δ). This is the case for a water concentration of 5 ppb Aroclor 1254, where γ=15.1 μg g⁻¹ lipid ppb⁻¹ d¹ and δ≈200 μg g⁻¹ lipid. From this model, the uptake is exponentially increasing when the PCB concentration in the mussel is small compared to 200 μg g⁻¹ lipid, and hyperbolically increasing when the concentration is large compared to 200 μg g⁻¹ lipid, which are consistent with the experimental data. The model is useful for understanding the true processes taking place during the bioaccumulation and for risk assessment with higher confidence. Future experimental data which challenge the present model are anticipated and in fact desirable for improvement and perfection of the model.     

Causes of Geochemical Diversity of Carbon Dioxide Water in Crystalline Rock Masses

The problem of the diversity of the geochemical types of carbon dioxide waters (CDW) in petrografically and mineralogically uniform crystalline rock masses is solved with allowance made for the effect of different boundary conditions (physicochemical parameters) on the geochemical effect of interaction in the rock–water system. The formation of the entire geochemical spectrum of CDW in crystalline rock masses is shown to be explicable on the basis of a model of interaction in granite–water systems at different mass ratios of reacting rock (S) and water (L), different temperatures T, and equilibrium concentrations of dissolved CO₂ (P _CO2).     

Reduction of the Trophic Status of a Water Body with the Use of Large-Size Zooplankton

It is shown that large-size zooplankton can be used as a natural filter in flow-through plants for reducing the trophic status of water bodies and improve water transparency. Experiments in Chistye Prudy pond in the period of blue-green algae blooming show large-size zooplankton to reduce phytoplankton biomass in the pond throughout the period of phytoplankton growth. Daphnia magna specimens (with a biomass of 92 to 3450 mg/l) in lothic ecosystems are found to reduce the biomass of dominating Anabaena spirodes blue-green algae when this biomass attains its maximum.     

Water Quality of Small Rivers in the Zone of Influence of Gold-Mining Facilities in Krasnoyarsk Region

Environmental and sanitary estimation of small-river water quality is made in the zone of influence of gold-mining facilities in Krasnoyarsk Region. The estimates are based on data on the hydrochemical regime and the characteristics of phytoplankton, microphyto-periphyton, macrozoobenthos, and ichthyofauna collected during the vegetation period of 2000.     

Modeling Lake Ladoga Zoobenthos and Studying Its Role in Phosphorus Exchange at the Water–Bed Interface

A zoobenthos submodel is included in an ecosystem model. The new model is used to assess the role of zoobenthos in the phosphorus exchange at the water–bed interface, in particular, the phosphorus cycle in the water body ecosystem is described more accurately. The calculated zoobenthos distribution over the bed of a lake can be used in modeling the lake ichthyocenoses.     

Radio identification and continuum spectra of decameter-wavelength sources

The paper describes a method for the radio identification of decameter-wavelength sources based on their continuum spectra and analysis of their coordinates in relatively large error boxes surrounding a specified position on the sky. The distribution of continuum spectra and identifications in other wavelength ranges are analyzed for the resulting radio catalog. Using identifications with the FIRST and NVSS surveys, the statistics of the spectral index-size and spectral index-flux density distributions for steep-spectrum sources have been studied, and a catalog of ultrasteep-spectrum (α相似文献   

The empirical Melchior laws and parametric excitation of the Chandler wobble

Models of the motion of the terrestrial reference frame with respect to an inertial frame can describe the motions of the Earth-Moon system, which are traditionally separated into precession, nutation, the polar motion, and rotation about the Earth’s axis. Existing theoretical models do not describe variations in the Earth-orientation parameters with the required accuracy, so that the current polar coordinates and duration of the day must be determined from observations. To improve theoretical models for the time dependence of the coordinates of the Earth’s pole, we examine the possible excitation of the Chandler wobble due to internal properties of the Earth-Moon system. A differential equation describing the parametric resonance in the Earth-Moon system is obtained for the first region of the parametric excitation. The solution of this equation analytically describes the finite amplitudes of the nonlinear conservative system. The theoretical results are compared with the empirical laws of Melchior deduced from observational data on the coordinates of the Earth’s pole.     

Population synthesis of rapidly rotating main-sequence stars with companions

Usingthe “Scenario Machine” (a specialized numerical code formodeling the evolution of large ensembles of binary systems), we have studied the physical properties of rapidly rotating main-sequence binary stars (Be stars) with white-dwarf companions and their abundance in the Galaxy. The calculations are the first to take into account the cooling of the compact object and the effect of synchronization of the rotation on the evolution of Be stars in close binaries. The synchronization time scale can be shorter than the main-sequence lifetime of a Be star formed during the first mass transfer. This strongly influences the distribution of orbital periods for binary Be stars. In particular, it can explain the observed deficit of short-period Be binaries. According to our computations, the number of binary systems in the Galaxy containing a Be star and white dwarf is large: 70–80% of all Be stars in binaries should have degenerate dwarf companions. Based on our calculations, we conclude that the compact components in these systems have high surface temperatures. Despite their high surface temperatures, the detection of white dwarfs in such systems is hampered by the fact that the entire orbit of the white dwarf is embedded in the dense circumstellar envelope of the primary, and all the extreme-UV and soft X-ray emission of the compact object is absorbed by the Be star’s envelope. It may be possible to detect the white dwarfs via observations of helium emission lines of Be stars of not very early spectral types. The ultraviolet continuum energies of these stars are not sufficient to produce helium line emission. We also discuss numerical results for Be stars with other evolved companions, such as helium stars and neutron stars, and suggest an explanation for the absence of Be-black-hole binaries.     

Environmental impact of heavy-metal dispersion in the Huerva River (Iberian Range,NE Spain)

In this study, the methodology of geochemical prospecting has been applied to the study of cadmium, lead, copper and zinc dispersion in the fine sediments of the upper course of the Huerva River (Iberian Range, NE Spain). The survey was organised in two stages: (1) general sampling along the river and its tributary channels, aimed at selecting the sections with the highest contents of the target elements, and (2) detailed study of those sections, aimed at an interpretation of possible positive geochemical anomalies and identification of their sources. The results of this study prove the existence of multiple and complex sources, with a significant influence of sources related to anthropogenic activity. However, the system shows a good ability to depurate itself under current conditions.