Comparison between a radiative wind model for be stars and high angular resolution data from the GI2T interferometer

I present theoretical line profiles and intensity maps from an axi-symmetric radiative wind model from a rapidly rotating Be star. The introduction of a viscosity parameter in the latitude-dependent hydrodynamic code enables us to consider the effects of the viscous force in the azimuthal component of momentum equations (Araújo et al. 1994). Both velocity field and density law derived from the hydrodynamic equations have been used for solving the statistical equilibrium equations. By adopting the Sobolev approximation, we could easily obtain a good estimate of both electronic density and hydrogen level populations throughout the envelope. The numerical calculation was performed for parameters characterisic of the Be star Cassiopeiae.     

类星体光度函数

对前人在类星体光度函数研究中的工作作了详细的介绍。在前人工作的基础上,提出两个新的研究方法和一个新的统计方法。第一为分类研究法。将类星体分作若干子类,每一子类的光度演化形式可以通过相关分析求出,而数密度则可由简单计数求得。第二为平均星等法,定义平均星等Ｍ。研究表明,对于纯密度演化模型,Ｍ与红移ｚ无关;而对于纯光度演化模型,Ｍ与光度演化形式（Ｍｚ－Ｍ）成线性关系。提出的新的统计方法为ｎ／ｎｍａｘ检验法,它是传统的Ｖ／Ｖｍａｘ和Ｖ′／Ｖ′ｍａｘ检验法的推广。与传统方法不同,它能适用于任何光度函数模型。若所采用的光度函数正确,则样品的ｎ／ｎｍａｘ值应均匀分布于数域［０,１］     

Identification of a new outflow channel on Mars in Syrtis Major Planum using HRSC/MEx data

Syrtis Major Planum is a volcanic plain dominated by lava flows. High resolution stereo camera (HRSC) images of the northern Syrtis Major region display erosional features such as grooves, teardrop-shaped islands and valleys. These landforms are characteristics of outflow channels seen on Mars, therefore implying that a flood event took place in this region. The flow of 100 km long and a few kilometer wide followed the local slopes in most locations. Maximum flood discharges estimated from images and topography vary from about 0.3×10⁶ to 8×10⁶ m³/s, and therefore are in the range of terrestrial mega-floods in the Scablands or Lake Bonneville. In North Syrtis Major, the relationships with surrounding lava flows and the timing of the flood coeval to Syrtis Major volcanic activity suggest that it could be related to the subsurface water discharge mobilized by the volcanic activity. The proximity of Noachian age basement rocks 20 km away from the flood and below lava flows might have played a role in its formation and water presence.     

Contamination and impacts of new antifouling biocide Irgarol-1051 on subtropical coral reef waters

Coral reefs are deteriorating worldwide due to various stresses, including pollution of hazardous chemicals such as antifouling chemicals. Occurrence and impacts of a new antifouling biocide Irgarol-1051 (2-methylthio-4-tert- butylamino -6-cyclopropylamino -s-triazine) have been studied in coral reef waters around Okinawa Islands, Japan. The average concentration of Irgarol detected at commercial and fisheries Ports was 24.70 ± 9.88 ng/L. In Naha Bay, the average concentration of Irgarol was 10.00±12.98 ng/L. The average level detected around the Ports has already approaches the environmental risk limit for the marine organisms. Irgarol was detected in waters at the frequency of 92.3 % (24/26) of the total samples collected during two sampling campaigns (September and December, 2007) at the Ports. In Naha Bay, Irgarol was detected by 40.5 % (17/42) of the total water samples collected monthly from Sep., 2007 to Feb., 2008, indicating that Irgarol is widely detected along the coastal shorelines of Okinawa Island. The eco- toxicological study revealed that the rate of photosynthesis in the coral Galaxea fascicularis was significantly reduced by 18 % and 121 % relative to control when the corals were exposed to 1000 and 10,000 ng/L of Irgarol, respectively. The calcification rate dropped by 98.3 % relative to control when the corals were exposed to 10,000 ng/L of Irgarol. The results of the present study report the wide occurrence of new antifouling biocide Irgarol around coastal areas of Okinawa Island. However, the contamination does not pose serious threat on the photosynthesis and calcification of corals under short term exposure (96 h).     

Quantitative dam break analysis on a reservoir earth dam

Mathematical simulations on dam break or failure using BOSS DAMBRK hydrodynamic flood routing dam break model were carried out to determine the extent of flooding downstream, flood travel times, flood water velocities and impacts on downstream affected residences, properties and environmental sensitive areas due to floodwaters released by failure of the dam structure. Computer simulations for one of the worse case scenarios on dam failure using BOSS DAMBRK software accounted for dam failure, storage effects, floodplains, over bank flow and flood wave attenuation. The simulated results reviewed a maximum flow velocity of 2.40 m/s with a discharge of approximately 242 mз /s occurred at 1.00 km downstream. The maximum discharge increased from 244 m³/s (flow velocity = 1.74 m/s occurred at 8^th. km) to 263 m³/s (flow velocity = 1.37 m/s occurred at 12^th. km); about a 39% drop in flow velocity over a distance of 4.00 km downstream. If the entire dam gives way instantly, some spots stretching from 0.00 km (at dam site) to approximately 3.40 km downstream of the dam may be categorized as “danger zone”, while downstream hazard and economic loss beyond 3.40 km downstream can be classified as “low” or “minimal” zones.     

A new load balancing scheme on heterogeneous database cluster

IntroductionAlthoughthe development of cluster has gainedmore and more advantages of low-cost ,high-per-formance and high-availability computing, effi-cient resource usage such as CPU, memory andI/Ois still a keyto achieve better performanceincluster syst…     

THE TROPICS: ENVIRONMENTS AND HUMAN IMPACTS UNDERSTOOD AND REINTERPRETED

In the 1950s, few people had travelled widely through different parts of the tropics and interpretations on tropical landforms, soils, vegetation and climate largely rested on impressions gained from residence or long sojourns in particular tropical countries. Most academic geography on the tropics was then written by expatriates and lacked the perspective gained from long experience of tropical regions. Particular problems of understanding arose as people attempted to extrapolate from one part of the tropics to another. Since then, understanding has advanced enormously, largely through the efforts of tropical scientists working in their own institutions and through the greater technological ability to study tropical lands both remotely and through easier field access. The establishment of a number of field stations, aimed primarily at the biological sciences, but also facilitating the work of geographers, has been a major stimulus to this effort. Concerns over practical issues, particularly local development and global climatic change have prompted new avenues of research, many of which have been assisted by the great increase in data collection in tropical countries. For the future, South-South dialogue between tropical physical geographers is needed to improve their ability to ask meaningful questions so that they can contribute to teach the rest of their discipline more about serious applied and applicable geography.     

Aquaculture intensification under land and water limitations

Two intensive aquaculture systems are described in which high yields are obtained for relatively low inputs of land area, water and supplementary feed. The one is a polyculture of a number of fish species in deep cotton irrigation reservoires (5–7 m deep) in Israel. The large volume of water in these reservoirs improves the oxygen regime and dilutes catabolites excreted by the fish. This allows the increase of fish density to 10,000–18,000 fish ha^–1. It also enables the increase of the resevoir's productivity by manuring with liberal amounts of animal wastes. Yields obtained in this system reach over 10 ton ha^–1 yr^–1 at very low feed conversion rates. The second system is practiced in Taiwan for the culture of red tilapia. Pond water is stirred mechanically by paddlewheels to create a gentle current around a central water outlet. This supplies ample oxygen and concentrates wastes in the center of the pond, from where it is removed twice daily, thus alleviating the build-up of catabolite concentration in the pond. Densities of fish amount to 215,000 to 430,000 fish ha^–1, and the yields are accordingly high reaching more than 200 ton ha^–1 yr^–1. The ecological principles involved in these systems are discussed.     

No geology without marine geology

Summary A brief review is offered of the many problems where knowledge of the ocean floors and of marine processes in shallow water is indispensable for the further advancement of geology. The subject of turbidity currents is treated in greater detail, to demonstrate the interrelation of several aspects of marine geology with sedimentologic and paleogeographic investigations.