Characterisation of Soot Emitted by Domestic Heating,Aircraft and Cars Using Diesel or Biodiesel

The characterisation of aggregates, like soot, firstly requires the determination of the size distribution of the primary particles. The primary particle size of combustion generated aggregates depends upon the combustion environment and the formation conditions, such as temperature, pressure and fuel-to-air ratio, among others. Since the combustion characteristics are different in the different types of burners, the characterisation of primary particles may offer the possibility to distinguish soot from different sources. In this paper, we present the signature of the primary particles and the aggregates of soot emitted by cars using diesel or biodiesel, by domestic heating, and by aircraft exhausts, which can be considered as the major sources as derived from measurements on transmission electron micrographs. The size distributions of all aggregates types with different aerodynamic diameter were log-normal and quasi-monodisperse. The size distribution of the primary particles for soot emitted by different sources showed minor differences. However, a comparison between the diameter of the primary particles and those obtained using a standard method for carbon black revealed discrepancies. The median diameter of the primary particles was combined with the median number of primary particles in an aggregate to calculate the relative particle surface area available for adsorption. In a similar way, the relative specific surface area was determined. The surface area was measured using the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (B.E.T.) nitrogen adsorption method and the relative surface area available for adsorption was calculated.     

In-vitro metabolism of benzo[a]pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol by liver and intestinal mucosa homogenates from the winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus)

Freshly prepared homogenates were used to assess the relative ability of winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) liver and intestinal mucosal cells to metabolize the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) and its proximate carcinogenic metabolite, BaP-7,8-dihydrodiol (7,8-Diol). Data obtained from homogenates prepared from fish previously fed β-naphthoflavone (BNF) indicated that both tissues had similar abilities to metabolize either BaP or 7,8-Diol on a per gram of protein basis. Metabolite profiles produced indicate that water-soluble metabolite formation is favored at low doses. These findings support the hypothesis that the intestine plays an important role in first-pass metabolism of dietary carcinogens in the winter flounder.     

Parasitic barnacles (Cirripedia: Rhizocephala) from New Zealand off‐shore waters

Nine genera and species of rhizocephalans were recorded from the off‐shore waters around New Zealand. Mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequences were used to examine base differences between the European and New Zealand species of Parthenopea. Serial sections to study the internal structures of the reproductive organs were made for the genera Thylacoplethus and Thompsonia. Two species, Parthenopea australis n. sp. and Thylacoplethus novaezealandiae n. sp. are new to science and described in detail. Parthenopea australis n. sp. is the first rhizocephalan species recorded from the vicinity of active cold seeps. Three rhizocephalans could not be identified as they were parasitised by hyperparasitic cryptoniscine isopods. The decapodhost species comprised the taxa Paguridae, Lithodidae, Galatheidae, Chirostylidae, and Callianassidae.     

Using Hydrogeochemical Methods To Evaluate Complex Quaternary Subsurface Stratigraphy Block Island,Rhode Island,USA

One of the major problems in hydrogeologic investigations of glaciated regions is the determination of complex stratigraphic relationships in the subsurface where insufficient information is available from drilling and geophysical records. In this paper, chemical characteristics of groundwater were used to identify stratigraphic changes in glacial deposits that were previously inferred on Block Island, Rhode Island, USA, an emergent remnant of the late Wisconsinan terminal moraine, located approximately 16 km south of the Rhode Island mainland. Two chemically distinct water types are recognized on the island: 1) high-iron, characterized by dissolved silica levels in excess of 20 mg/L, bicarbonate greater than 30 mg/L and dissolved iron ranging from 1-20 mg/L; and 2) low-iron, characterized by dissolved silica levels below 16 mg/L, bicarbonate less than 30 mg/L, and less than 0.3 mg/L dissolved iron. The spatial distribution of iron-bearing minerals and organic matter and the resulting redox conditions are believed to control the occurrence of high-iron groundwater. The high-iron waters occur almost exclusively in the eastern half of the island and appear to coincidence with the presence of allochthonous blocks of Cretaceous-age coastal-plain sediments that were incorporated into Pleistocene-age deposits derived from the Narragansett Bay-Buzzard's Bay lobe of the Late Wisconsinan Laurentide ice sheet. The low-iron waters occur in the western half of the island, where the occurrence of these Cretaceous-age blocks is rare and the sediments are attributed to a sublobe of the Hudson-Champlain lobe of the Late Wisconsinan ice-sheet. RÉSUMÉ: L'un des principaux problèmes dans les études hydrogeologiques des régions qui ont été englacées est la définition des relations stratigraphiques complexes sous la surface, lá où les informations fournies par les forages et par la géophysique sont insuffisantes. Dans l'exemple traité, les caractéristiques chimiques de l'eau souterraine sont utilisées pour identifier les variations stratigraphiques dans les dépôts glaciaires qui avaient auparavant été supposées, sur l'île de Block (Rhode Island), restes émergeant d'une moraine terminale du Wisconsinien récent, situé à environ 16 km au sud de Rhode Island. Deux types d'eau chimiquement distincts ont été reconnus dans l'île: 1) à fortes teneurs en fer, caractérisées par des concentrations en silice supérieures à 20 mg/L, en bicarbonates supérieures à 30 mg/L et en fer comprises entre 1 et 20 mg/L; et 2) à faibles teneurs en fer, marquées par des concentrations en silice inférieures à 16 mg/L, en bicarbonate inférieures à 30 mg/L et en fer dissous inférieures à 0.3 mg/L. La distribution spatiale des minéraux riches en fer et de la matière organique et les conditions redox résultantes contrôlent probablement la présence de fer dans les eaux souterraines à fortes concentrations. Les eaux à fortes teneurs en fer sont connues presque exclusivement dans la moitié orientale de l'île et semblent coïncider avec la présence de blocs allochtones provenant des sédiments côtiers crétacés, introduits dans les formations pléistocènes liées au lobe glaciaire des baies de Narragansett et du Busard de la calotte glaciaire laurentide du Wisconsinien récent. Les eaux à faibles teneurs en fer apparaissent dans la moitié occidentale de l'île, là où ces blocs de Crétacé sont rares et où les sédiments sont attrbués à une digitation du lobe de l'Hudson-Champlain de la calotte glaciaire du Wisconsinien récent. RESUMEN: Uno de los mayores problemas en la investigación hidrogeológica en regiones glaciares es la determinación de las complejas relaciones estratigráficas en el subsuelo, donde la información procedente de registros de perforaciones y de geofísica no es suficiente. En este artículo, se han usado las características químicas del agua subterránea para identificar unos cambios estratigráficos que se habían predicho previamente en unos depósitos glaciares en Block Island, Rhode Island (Estados Unidos), un remanente emergente de la morrena terminal del Winsconsiniense tardío, situada unos 16 km al sur de la Rhode Island continental. En la isla se encuentran dos tipos de agua distintos: 1) de alto contenido en hierro, caracterizada por niveles de sílice disuelto superando los 20 mg/L, bicarbonatos por encima de 30 mg/L y hierro disuelto oscilando entre 1-20 mg/L; y 2) de bajo contenido en hierro, caracterizada por niveles de sílice disuelto inferiores a 16 mg/L, bicarbonatos por debajo de 30 mg/L y menos de 0.3 mg/L de hierro disuelto. La distribución espacial de los minerales ricos en hierro y de la materia orgánica, así como las condiciones redox resultantes se supone que condicionan la presencia de aguas de alto contenido en hierro. Estas aguas aparecen casi exclusivamente en la mitad oriental de la isla y parecen coincidir con la presencia de bloques alóctonos de sedimentos costeros, de edad cretácica, que se incorporaron a los depósitos de edad pleistocena procedentes del lóbulo de la Bahía de Narragansett-Bahía de Buzzard, correspondiente a la capa glaciar del Winsconsiniense-Lauréntido tardío. Las aguas de bajo contenido en hierro aparecen en la mitad occidental de la isla, donde la presencia de estos sedimentos de edad cretácica es rara y los sedimentos se suponen procedentes de un sublóbulo del lóbulo de Hudson-Camplain, correspondiente a la capa glaciar del Winsconsiniense tardío.     

Vertical habitat partitioning by large calanoid copepods in the oceanic subarctic Pacific during Spring

The copepods Neocalanus plumchrus, N. flemingeri, N. cristatus, and Eucalanus bungii dominate the net zooplankton throughout the subarctic Pacific Ocean. All four species have an extensive seasonal ontogenetic vertical migration, completing most or all of their feeding and somatic growth in spring and early summer. We used stratified tows with MOCNESS and BIONESS instrumented net systems to resolve their upper ocean vertical distributions in May and June of 1984, 1987 and 1988. In each year the feeding copepodite stages of all four species were concentrated above the permanent halocline (roughly from 0 to 150m). However, the four species showed strong vertical species zonation and segregation within this layer. We consistently found a near-surface pair (N. plumchrus and N. flemingeri) and a subsurface pair (N. cristatus and E. bungii). The boundary between these groups shifts vertically, but was sharply defined and was very often coincident with a weak and transient thermocline marking the base of the layer actively mixed by surface wind and wave energy. Diel vertical migration was very limited during our sampling periods.The data suggest that the vertical distribution patterns of the copepods could be set by responses to the local intensity of turbulent mixing in the watercolumn. N. plumchrus and N. flemingeri occupied a stratum characterized by strong turbulence. N. cristatus and E. bungii occupied a stratum that was a local minimum in turbulence profiles. The depth of the boundary between the species pairs was deeper when winds and surface energy inputs were strong. The vertical partition pattern may also be determined by a difference in feeding strategy between the species pairs. N. plumchrus and N. flemingeri may feed on the enhanced protozoan population of the mixed layer, while N. cristatus and E. bungii feed on particle aggregates settling from above.     

A note on the seafloor coupling characteristics of the new ONR ocean-bottom seismometer

A series of transient tests were conducted to determine the seafloor coupling characteristics of a new ocean-bottom seismometer (OBS) developed for the United States Office of Naval Research (ONR). The OBS comprises a large recording package and a separate sensor package that is deployed from the recording package. In addition to the coupling characteristics of both the sensor and the recording packages, the seismic energy radiated from the main recording package as a result of motion of the recording package was measured. The observed vertical coupling resonances of both the recording package and the sensor package are in good agreement with those predicted by a simple model of soil-structure interaction. The most important result of this study is that significant energy is radiated from the recording package in response to horizontal motions of the recording package. When the sensor package is 1 m from the recording package, the amplitude of the recorded signal is similar to that recorded in the recording package. In the field, this effect will result in distortion of seismic signals and increased background noise recorded by the sensor package if the recording package is disturbed by seafloor currents or biological activity. The amplitude of this signal attenuates by approximately a factor of two as sensor/recorder separation is increased from 1 to 6 m, suggesting that an improved response can be achieved by increasing the separation between the recording package and the sensors. This effect is much less severe for vertical disturbances of the recording package.     

A simple mass estimate for central black holes in cuspy galaxies

We argue that the temperature of the stellar phase is likely a monotically decreasing function of radius in the central regions of elliptical galaxies with cusps. We show that it requires the presence of a central mass concentration. An estimate of its minimum mass based on few parameters is given. This lower bound is consistent with current mass values of the central objects in galaxies derived from detailed models. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.