Arecibo radar observations of Phobos and Deimos

In November 2005, we observed the moons of Mars using the Arecibo 2380-MHz (13-cm) radar, obtaining a result for the OC radar albedo of Phobos (0.056±0.014) consistent with its previously reported radar albedo and implying an upper bound on its near-surface bulk density of . We detected Deimos by radar for the first time, finding its OC radar albedo to be 0.021±0.006, implying an upper bound on its near-surface density of , consistent with a high-porosity regolith. We briefly discuss reasons for these low radar albedos, Deimos' being possibly the lowest of any Solar System body yet observed by radar.     

Distribution and characteristics of Adirondack-class basalt as observed by Mini-TES in Gusev crater,Mars and its possible volcanic source

We identified 104 unique rock targets belonging to the olivine-rich Adirondack class using Mini-TES data. Rare rocks on the West Spur of the Columbia Hills and on the plains east of the Hills also belong to this class. We present evidence that Adirondack-class basaltic lavas may have had their origin at Apollinaris Tholus. Linear modeling of Adirondack-class rock spectra shows only minor variations in mineralogy and the primary phases identified are consistent with olivine basalt having an average olivine composition of ～Fo₄₅. We used factor analysis and target transformation to identify variability within a single class of rocks for the first time, and we find that olivine abundance varies independently of a basaltic matrix. A spectral component previously attributed to downwelling radiance is proposed here to be attributable to optically thin dust on rocks, which has a greater effect on Mini-TES spectra than previously recognized, but can explain the sloping continuum observed in Adirondack-class rock spectra as well as the apparent distortion of an olivine absorption. Spectral mixing is not completely linear, leading to the overestimation of sulfate and olivine fractions and the underestimation of plagioclase feldspar, although linear mixing appears to successfully replicate the majority of the observed signal. Published TES spectra of low albedo, low dust cover, olivine-bearing materials do not exhibit the spectral telltales of non-linear behavior, probably because orbital spectra represent mostly mobile regolith that has not accumulated a sufficient dust cover over ～3 × 6 km areas.     

Sources and sinks for atmospheric H2: A current analysis with projections for the influence of anthropogenic activity

Oxidation of CH₄ provides the major source for atmospheric H₂ which is removed mainly by reaction with OH. Biological activity at the Earth's surface appears to represent at most a minor sink for H₂. Anthropogenic activity is a significant source for both H₂ and CO in the present atmosphere and may be expected to exert a growing influence in the future. Models are presented which suggest a rise in the mixing ratio of H₂ from its present value of 5.6 × 10^?7 to about 1.8 × 10^?6 by the year 2100. The mixing ratio of CO should grow from 9.7 × 10^?8 to 2.3 × 10^?7 over the same time period and there should be a rise in CH₄ by about a factor of 1.5 associated with anthropogenically induced reductions in tropospheric OH.     

Auroral recombination of N and O: A possible source for emission in the γ and δ bands of NO

Radiative recombination of N and O provides a significant source for auroral emission in the γ and δ bands of NO with selective population of vibrational levels in the A²Σ⁺ and C²Π states. This mechanism may account for emissions detected near 2150 Å. Models are derived for the auroral ionosphere and include estimates for the concentrations of N and NO. The concentration of NO is estimated to have a value of about 10⁸ cm^?1 near 140 km in an IBC III aurora. The corresponding density for N is about 5 × 10⁷cm^?3 and the concentration ratio $\text{NO}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{O}{}_2{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ has a value of about 5.5.     

季节性流感的多元激发理论及其包含气象和社会行为因素的数学模型

为了解流感的季节性和爆发的生物力学机制,在收集、分析、计算全球各地流感监测资料的基础上,建立了流感传播的多元激发理论及相应的数值模式,并运用该模式对全球各大洲不同气候带的季节性流感和周际流感进行了数值模拟和预报尝试。模式近似解的数学表达式以及模式输出与实况高度吻合的模拟结果证明：流感的发病率呈高度自相关,同时受生物、气象环境和社会-行为因素支配;流感的爆发是各种因素协同作用的结果。动力共振、太阳辐射、降水、露点温度变化、行为和干预效应以及人群对优势流行毒株的免疫力是支配流感季节性和每周活动变化的关键因素。具体表现为,对于所有气候区,流感发病率都是降水日数的指数函数,日照时数的1/4次方的负指数函数。在温带和寒带地区,季节性流感的发病率是露点温度的负指数函数。在热带地区,则是露点与其年平均值绝对偏差的指数函数。研究提示：早期干预(例如适时和广泛接种疫苗、迅速隔离病例、停学、遏制早期病例总数等)是控制和预防季节性流感的关键;适量的日光照射或在雨季和日照短的季节补充维生素D、增加户外活动、发布高危天气预警、设定适中的室内露点温度是值得高度重视的预防策略。模式的模拟结果在很大程度上揭示了流感季节性的机理和证明了著名医学家和诺贝尔奖获得者RobeRt EdgaR Hope-Simpson在上世纪提出的流感季节性成因的猜想。模拟结果还表明,模式对每周流感发病率具有一定的预报能力。该理论和模型很可能适用于当前的甲型流感大流行和其它传染性疾病,可被进一步开发应用。     

Multicomponent reactive transport modeling of uranium bioremediation field experiments

A reaction network integrating abiotic and microbially mediated reactions has been developed to simulate biostimulation field experiments at a former Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action (UMTRA) site in Rifle, Colorado. The reaction network was calibrated using data from the 2002 field experiment, after which it was applied without additional calibration to field experiments performed in 2003 and 2007. The robustness of the model specification is significant in that (1) the 2003 biostimulation field experiment was performed with 3 times higher acetate concentrations than the previous biostimulation in the same field plot (i.e., the 2002 experiment), and (2) the 2007 field experiment was performed in a new unperturbed plot on the same site. The biogeochemical reactive transport simulations accounted for four terminal electron-accepting processes (TEAPs), two distinct functional microbial populations, two pools of bioavailable Fe(III) minerals (iron oxides and phyllosilicate iron), uranium aqueous and surface complexation, mineral precipitation and dissolution. The conceptual model for bioavailable iron reflects recent laboratory studies with sediments from the UMTRA site that demonstrated that the bulk (∼90%) of initial Fe(III) bioreduction is associated with phyllosilicate rather than oxide forms of iron. The uranium reaction network includes a U(VI) surface complexation model based on laboratory studies with Rifle site sediments and aqueous complexation reactions that include ternary complexes (e.g., calcium-uranyl-carbonate). The bioreduced U(IV), Fe(II), and sulfide components produced during the experiments are strongly associated with the solid phases and may play an important role in long-term uranium immobilization.     

Enthalpy flux cooling of the solar corona

Models of the solar corona which include the effects of hot downflowing material are considered. Temperature-height profiles of the quiet and flaring corona are derived, under the assumptions of hydrostatic equilibrium and that the dominant cause of transition region heating is due to the enthalpy of the downflowing matter. In addition, scaling laws for the lengths of coronal loops are derived. It is found that inclusion of the downward enthalpy flux leads to a loop scaling law for quiet Sun loops which does not differ appreciably from that of Rosner et al. (1978). However, inclusion of the effects of enthalpy flux lead to a scaling law for compact flare loops of L = (3.6 × 10⁹)T _infc ^sup0.55 cm, which predicts much smaller loop sizes than expected from the quiet Sun loop law; these predicted lengths, however, are in agreement with the observed small sizes of compact flare loops.     

Identification of the Ca-sulfate bassanite in Mawrth Vallis, Mars

The region surrounding the Mawrth Vallis outflow channel on Mars hosts thick layered deposits containing diverse phyllosilicate minerals. Here we report detection of the Ca-sulfate bassanite on the outflow channel floor, requiring a more complex aqueous chemistry than previously inferred for this region. The sulfate-bearing materials underlie phyllosilicate-bearing strata, and provide an opportunity for testing proposed models of martian geochemical evolution with a future landed mission.     

Radar observations of asteroid 1998 ML14

Abstract— Goldstone and Arecibo delay‐Doppler radar imaging of asteroid 1998 ML 14 shortly after its discovery reveals a 1 km diameter spheroid with prominent topography on one side and subdued topography on the other. The object's radar and optical properties are typical for S‐class near‐Earth asteroids. The gravitational slopes of a shape model derived from the images and assumed to have a uniform density are shallow, exceeding 30° over only 4% of the surface. If 1998 ML14's density distribution is uniform, then its orbital environment is similar to a planetary body with a spheroidal gravitational field and is relatively stable. Integration of a radar‐refined orbit reveals that the 1998 apparition was the asteroid's closest approach to Earth since at least 1100 and until 2283, when it approaches to within 2.4 lunar distances. Outside of that time interval, orbit uncertainties based on the present set of observations preclude reliable prediction.