Altimetry and transponder ground simulation experiment

We have designed and built a compact demonstrator unit for the investigation of altimetry and transponder applications. A small light-weight breadboard carries a compact frequency doubled Nd:YAG pulse laser, an afocal beam expansion optics, a small receiver telescope with spectral and spatial filter arrangements and a sensitive photo-detector. The output laser energy can be as high as 45 mJ with a pulse-width of 3 ns and the telescope aperture is 10 cm. Simulations [Degnan, J.J., 2006. Simulating interplanetary transponder and laser communications experiments via dual station ranging to SLR satellites. In: Proceedings of the 15th International Workshop on Laser Ranging, Canberra, Australia, pp. 457-462] suggested that the link margin for low Earth orbiting satellites (LEO) is comfortable. Successful satellite laser ranging from this dual-station experiment in several different configurations was achieved up to the MEO orbit in a 10 day provisional installation.     

Spatial distribution of persistent organochlorines in ringed seal (Phoca hispida) blubber

Blubber samples, taken through the entire blubber column, were collected from three different anatomical locations on ringed seals (Phoca hispida). The outer and inner layers of these samples were analysed for concentrations of sigma PCBs (sum of the analysed congeners, polychlorinated biphenyls) and p,p'-DDE (4,4'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene). No significant differences were found in blubber thickness or in per cent extractable lipid when comparing age- and sex-groups, or in extractable lipid content when comparing anatomical locations of the blubber or blubber depth. No significant differences were found between the three different anatomical locations with respect to the concentrations of sigma PCBs or p,p'-DDE. However, the concentrations of both sigma PCB and p,p'-DDE were significantly higher in the outer blubber layer compared to the inner. Higher levels of both sigma PCB and p,p'-DDE were found in males compared to females and juveniles in both the inner and outer parts of the blubber column. The most commonly used blubber sampling devices are biopsy tools that penetrate only the outer layer of the blubber. Analyses of such samples will not reflect the real body burden of organochlorines. Standard methods for sampling blubber of marine mammals should be developed so that comparative studies and longitudinal monitoring programs of pollutants in marine mammals can be conducted in a meaningful way.     

Practically Applicable Central Limit Theorem for Spatial Statistics

Let {Z(s):s∈D⊆ℝ ^d } be a zero mean stationary random field observed at a finite number of locations. Lahiri (Sankhya Ser. A 65:356–388, 2003) proved spatial central limit theorems (CLT) for ∑ _i=1 ⁿ Z(s _i ) assuming a ‘nearly infill domain sampling’. Applications of his results depended on the underlying spatial sampling region and the design in a complicated fashion. The main objective of this paper is to provide CLTs that could be applied easily in practice. We present two main results assuming a ‘nearly infill domain sampling’ defined mainly in terms of dependence. Theorem 1 establishes a CLT for ∑ _i=1 ⁿ Z(s _i ) and Theorem 2 is obtained mainly for applications to density estimates. We report on a simulation study for illustrating a way of applying our results in practice.     

Influence of biological and environmental factors on hepatic steroid and xenobiotic metabolism in fish: interaction with PCB and β-naphthoflavone

The degree of induction of hepatic cytochrome P-450 monooxygenases in fish by various chemicals may vary owing to many factors such as sex, sexual maturity, age, season and environmental temperature. In the present investigation the influences of gonadal steroids and water temperature on the inductive response were studied. The data indicate that gonadal steroids and water temperature modulate the response of the cytochrome P-450 system in rainbow trout to PCB and β-naphthoflavone.     

Impact of Preboreal to Subatlantic shifts in climate on groundwater resources on the Arabian Peninsula

A large-scale numerical flow and transport model was developed for the central-eastern arid part of the Arabian Peninsula. The model was applied to a region with freshwater resources dating back to more humid periods of the past, which are faced with overexploitation today. Model inflow was based on infiltration around wadi beds and groundwater recharge. Inflow was balanced by natural outflows, such as evaporation from sabkhas, spring discharge, and discharge to the sea. Two models were developed: (1) a short-term present-day model to estimate effective model parameters, and (2) a long-term model to study the development of the groundwater resources during the Mid- and Late Holocene and the natural response of the groundwater system to changes in climate. Hydraulic model parameters (hydraulic conductivity and specific storage) were assigned with respect to geological structures. Hydraulic parameters were estimated with an inverse PEST model by calibrating against observed depression cones cause by groundwater abstraction. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated that estimated model parameters were associated with a high uncertainty at a certain distance from agricultural areas when calibration data were lacking. A long-term model starting 10,000 years BP was calibrated by spring discharge and palaeo-groundwater levels and validated using measured ¹⁴C groundwater ages. The long-model predicted that groundwater levels adapted in response to changes in precipitation. During the Mid-Holocene, which was characterized by an intensification of the monsoon season, groundwater levels increased by 10 m on the mainland within the shallow aquifers and adapted quickly to higher recharge rates. The deeper aquifers were less affected by changes in climate. Along the present-day coastline, the groundwater level rose by about 25 m due to the declined sea level in the Mid-Holocene. During this period, surface run-off was possible as groundwater levels temporarily reached the ground surface. The natural groundwater budget reacted sensitively to changes in climate. Between 10 and 3 ka, groundwater storage occurred. During the Late Holocene, at 3 ka, natural depletion of the groundwater system began, which still prevails today.     

Underplating in the middle-lower Yangtze Valley and model of geodynamic evolution:Constraints from geophysical data

~~Underplating in the middle-lower Yangtze Valley and model of geodynamic evolution:Constraints from geophysical data1)East China petroleum Administration,1988(unpublished data). 1)Measurements of regional rock densities and magnetic parameters of Anhui Province(research report),Annul Geological and Mineral Bureau,1987(unpublished). 1)In this paper South China Block(SCB)includes the Yangtze block and Cathaysian block.In the Neoproterozoic the Yangtze block had been sutured to th…     

河南省义马县中侏罗统义马组兽脚类恐龙足印化石的发现及其意义

本文记述了河南省义马县中侏罗世地层中首次发现的大型兽脚类恐龙足印。该足印虽然与发现于下—中侏罗统的张北足印类似,但是又不完全相同,从而命名为该属的一新种:徐氏张北足印(新足迹种):Changpeipus xuianainchnosp. nov.。它具有以下特征:足印的长度与宽度的比率约为1.9,第Ⅱ趾长度稍短于第Ⅳ趾的长度;第Ⅱ和第Ⅲ趾之间的夹角约为25°;第Ⅲ和第Ⅳ趾之间的夹角约为32°,足印的后部具有蹠骨所留下的印痕。徐氏张北足印的发现,不仅为我国中侏罗世恐龙足印增加了新的成员,而且为将来在该地区中侏罗世的地层中发现大型兽脚类恐龙骨骼化石提供确凿的依据。     

XMM‐Newton publication statistics

We assessed the scientific productivity of XMM‐Newton by examining XMM‐Newton publications and data usage statistics. We analyse 3272 refereed papers, published until the end of 2012, that directly use XMM‐Newton data. The SAO/NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS) was used to provide additional information on each paper including the number of citations. For each paper, the XMM‐Newton observation identifiers and instruments used to provide the scientific results were determined. The identifiers were used to access the XMM‐Newton Science Archive (XSA) to provide detailed information on the observations themselves and on the original proposals. The information obtained from these sources was then combined to allow the scientific productivity of the mission to be assessed. Since around three years after the launch of XMM‐Newton there have been around 300 refereed papers per year that directly use XMM‐Newton data. After more than 13 years in operation, this rate shows no evidence that it is decreasing. Since 2002, around 100 scientists per year become lead authors for the first time on a refereed paper which directly uses XMM‐Newton data. Each refereed XMM‐Newton paper receives around four citations per year in the first few years with a long‐term citation rate of three citations per year, more than five years after publication. About half of the articles citing XMM‐Newton articles are not primarily X‐ray observational papers. The distribution of elapsed time between observations taken under the Guest Observer programme and first article peaks at 2 years with a possible second peak at 3.25 years. Observations taken under the Target of Opportunity programme are published significantly faster, after one year on average. The fraction of science time taken until the end of 2009 that has been used in at least one article is ∼90%. Most observations were used more than once, yielding on average a factor of two in usage on available observing time per year. About 20 % of all slew observations have been used in publications. The scientific productivity of XMM‐Newton measured by the publication rate, number of new authors and citation rate, remains extremely high with no evidence that it is decreasing after more than 13 years of operations.     

Forward modelling and inverse problem in the comprehensive interpretation of well logs

Comprehensive interpretation of well logs often consists in solving a set of equations with complex boundary conditions. For each log, the equation combines geological parameters and a response by the device. Minimization is a way of obtaining the best solution that involves finding the minimum of the defined error function. In the case discussed here, an error is a measure of the difference between recorded and theoretical logs.
The simplest and quickest way to determine a solution to the presented problem is to apply the conjugate gradient descent method to minimize the error function. This approach is not efficient in some cases when logging in regions with complex geology.
We prove that a special algorithm using the Monte Carlo method combined with the conjugate gradient descent method gives considerably better results in comprehensive interpretation. A measure of the quality of the proposed method is the discrepancy between the standard solution obtained from commercial software used in the petroleum industry and the new algorithm result.
We present examples of the application of the proposed algorithm for comprehensive interpretation in typical Zechstein dolomite beds and the Carboniferous sandstone layer in the Polish Lowland.