Bioremediation perspective of historically contaminated sediment with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

The purpose of the current study is to compare the influence of different aerobic conditions(biostimulation(BS),bioaugmentation(BA),and a combination of biostimulation and bioaugmentation(BB))on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAH)degradation and compare the degraded amount with single step XAD-4 extraction as a new tool for bioavailability assessment for chronically contaminated sediment samples obtained from territory of Autonomous Province Vojvodina of Serbia(S1,S2,and S3).A great number of papers dealing with biodegradation of PAHs in spiked sediment or soil have been published,but to the authors’knowledge,a limited number of papers studied aged,historically polluted sediment and a sum of chosen U.S.Environmental Protection Agency(USEPA)PAHs.A significant reduction(up to67%)in PAH concentration was observed,while the percentage of reduction varied depending on the sediment sample and treatment used.BS treatment successfully stimulated growth of indigenous bacteria.Further,PAH-degrading strain Sphingomonas paucimobilis F8 inoculated in BA and BB treatment survived for up to 7 weeks after it was suppressed by unfavorable conditions or native microbes.Degraded amounts generally showed good correlation with results obtained from XAD-4 extraction.Results obtained in the current study represent a good start for standardizing a XAD-4 extraction technique as a simplified,easier,and lower cost method for bioavailability assessment.     

豫西三门峡地区温塘断裂第四纪活动性研究

温塘断裂位于鄂尔多斯块体东南缘,是三门峡盆地的东边界控制断裂,准确厘定其活动性对于理解区域构造演化和判断三门峡地区地震危险性具有重要意义。运用野外地质地貌调查、联合钻孔剖面探测及光释光定年技术,对三门峡地区温塘断裂的活动性进行分析与研究。结果表明,温塘断裂南段出露地表,线性特征明显,断层最新活动时代为晚更新世;温塘断裂中段为第四纪隐伏断裂,断层活动时代为中更新世;温塘断裂北段断层出露,断层活动时代为中更新世。     

A densification mechanism to model the mechanical effect of methane hydrates in sandy sediments

Recent pore-scale observations and geomechanical investigations suggest the lack of true cohesion in methane hydrate-bearing sediments (MHBSs) and propose that their mechanical behavior is governed by kinematic constrictions at pore-scale. This paper presents a constitutive model for MHBS, which does not rely on physical bonding between hydrate crystals and sediment grains but on the densification effect that pore invasion with hydrate has on the sediment mechanical properties. The Hydrate-CASM extends the critical state model Clay and Sand Model (CASM) by implementing the subloading surface model and introducing the densification mechanism. The model suggests that the decrease of the sediment available void volume during hydrate formation stiffens its structure and has a similar mechanical effect as the increase of sediment density. In particular, the model attributes stress-strain changes observed in MHBS to the variations in sediment available void volume with hydrate saturation and its consequent effect on isotropic yield stress and swelling line slope. The model performance is examined against published experimental data from drained triaxial tests performed at different confining stress and with distinct hydrate saturation and morphology. Overall, the simulations capture the influence of hydrate saturation in both the magnitude and trend of the stiffness, shear strength, and volumetric response of synthetic MHBS. The results are validated against those obtained from previous mechanical models for MHBS that examine the same experimental data. The Hydrate-CASM performs similarly to previous models, but its formulation only requires one hydrate-related empirical parameter to express changes in the sediment elastic stiffness with hydrate saturation.     

Permafrost occurrence during the Last Permafrost Maximum in the Western Carpathian Mountains of Slovakia as inferred from cryogenic cave carbonate

Coarse crystalline cryogenic cave carbonate (CCC) forms during the slow freezing of standing water pools and represents indirect proof of freezing temperature in the past. The dating by U‐series of CCC deposits from nine caves in the Western Carpathians Mountains of Slovakia suggests that freezing conditions, and possible permafrost conditions, occurred during the Last Permafrost Maximum (LPM, c. 20–18 ka BP). The CCC deposits occur in caves at elevations of between 800 and 1800 m a.s.l. They point to widespread alpine permafrost, the lower limit of discontinuous/sporadic permafrost being approximately 800 m a.s.l. The thickness of permafrost probably varied between 30 and 180 m. In the Vysoké Tatry Mountains at altitudes of ～1800 m a.s.l., one occurrence of CCC suggests that subzero temperatures may have penetrated to a depth of over 285 m.     

Poynting-Robertson effect II. Perturbation equations

The problem of the complete set of perturbation equations of celestial mechanics in application to the Poynting-Robertson effect is discussed. Differential equations and initial conditions for them are justified. Sudden beginning of operation of the Poynting-Robertson effect (e.g., sudden release of dust particle from comet) is taken into account.     

Tidal potential due to general bodies

The exact definition of the tidal potential is given on the basis of the theory of the restricted three-body problem. There are no limitations as regards the perturbing terms in the gravitational fields of the tide forming bodies; andno a priori conditions are needed in the definition.     

Orbital dispersion of comet Encke's meteoroids

The orbital evolution of model meteoroids ejected from the comet Encke has been investigated. The particles abandon the mother body with velocities 20 and 40 ms^-1 perihelion within the interval of the past 10,000 years. Their 10,000 years old osculating orbits were numerically integrated forward, using a dynamical model of the solar system consisting of all planets. Forces from solar electromagnetic and corpuscular radiation effecting the particles are considered, too. Orbital dispersions of the model meteoroids are presented. The importance of nongravitational forces for a long-term orbital evolution of meteoroid streams is shown.     

On the importance of the Poynting-Robertson effect on meteoroids

A small generalization of the equation of motion for the Poynting-Robertson effect is tested in order to find the significance of new terms. The test is made for dust particles ejected at perihelia of the orbit of the comet Encke. The particles are released at the speed of 40 m s^–1. Gravitational perturbations of planets, Poynting-Robertson effect and solar corpuscular radiation (solar wind) are considered. Other nongravitational effects may be represented by new terms in the suggested form of the nongravitational force. Various values of normal and transversal components of the perturbing nongravitational force are used. The final results of numerical integrations are compared with those obtained on the basis of the Poynting-Robertson effect.     

Secular Love numbers of the major planets

Secular Love numbers of the major planets have been determined by solving the first (Dirichlet's) boundary — value problem for the level ellipsoid as the boundary surface. It has been demonstrated that the rotational distortions are responsible for the actual figure of the bodies above. The 6th degree Stokes zonal parameter for Uranus and for Neptune have been predicted.