A rapid-response 2-D drag anemometer for atmospheric turbulence measurements

A rapid response drag anemometer for measuring streamwise and lateral components of horizontal windspeed is described. Theory of operation, design and calibration are discussed with emphasis on the electronic preconditioning of signals and problems associated with using a mechanically resonant system as a sensor. Field comparisons showed half-hourly means and standard deviations of the streamwise component to be within 8% and 5% of respective values obtained from a 3-dimensional sonic anemometer. The lateral component from the drag anemometer was significantly more noisy than that from the 3-D sonic due to induced oscillations arising from vortex shedding. After mechanical and electronic filtering, half-hourly standard deviation comparisons agreed to within 6% for this component. Friction velocities obtained from the drag anemometer in combination with a 1-D sonic, agreed with measurements from the 3-D sonic anemometer to within 4% over a measured range of 0.05 to 1.2 m s^-1     

Assessment of the natural resources of groundwater by using balance-hydrodynamic models

The specific features of formulation and implementation of balance-hydrodynamic simulation during different-scale studies of natural resources of groundwater. Are an example of detailed estimate of the resources and balance of groundwater in the Vologda River basin is given. It is noted that the use of balance-hydrodynamic models, in addition to an increase in the general reliability of estimates, allows the calculation of normal annual characteristics of groundwater resources with different occurrence (exceedance probability), which is impracticable when hydrodynamic methods in other formulations are used.     

2,4,6-trinitrotoluene transformation by a tropical marine yeast, Yarrowia lipolytica NCIM 3589

Yarrowia lipolytica NCIM 3589, a tropical marine degrader of hydrocarbons and triglycerides transformed 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) very efficiently. Though this yeast could not utilize TNT as the sole carbon or nitrogen source, it was capable of reducing the nitro groups in TNT to aminodinitrotoluene (ADNT). In a complete medium containing glucose and ammonium sulphate as the available carbon and nitrogen sources respectively, the culture was able to completely transform 1 mM (227 ppm) of TNT under such conditions. A dual pathway was found to be functional, one of which resulted in the formation of the hydride-Meisenheimer complex (H(-)TNT) as a transiently accumulating metabolite that was subsequently denitrated to 2,4-dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT), whereas the other pathway resulted in the formation of amino derivatives. The presence of increasing amounts of reducing equivalents in the form of glucose promoted better growth and the nitroreductases of this yeast to reduce the aromatic ring to 2,4-DNT although, the reduction of the nitro groups to amino groups was the major functional pathway. The ability of this tropical marine yeast to transform TNT into products such as 2,4-DNT which in turn could be metabolized by other microbes has implications in the use of this yeast for bioremediation of TNT polluted marine environments.     

Distribution and accumulation rate of ore elements in Holocene and Late Glacial Sediments of the Deryugin Basin,Sea of Okhotsk

Results of the study of contents and accumulation rates of Fe, Mn, and a number of trace elements in Upper Quaternary sediments of the Deryugin Basin are presented. Maps of the average contents and accumulation rates of excess Fe, Mn, Zn, Ba, Ni, Pb, Cu, and Mo in sediments of the first oxygen isotope stage (OIS) have been plotted. Anomalous contents and accumulation rates are confined to peripheral zones of the Deryugin sedimentary basin and large fracture zones. Different mechanisms of the influence of fluid-dynamic processes on the rate of hydrogenic and biogenic accumulation of ore elements are assumed.Translated from Litologiya i Poleznye Iskopaemye, No. 2, 2005, pp. 115–132.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Astakhov, Gorbarenko, Bakhareva, Gretskaya, Sattarova.     

Diurnal Course of Rainfall in the Plain of Friuli-Venezia Giulia: Evaluation of Hourly Measurements

Summary The paper describes some characteristics of the precipitation patterns in the plain of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Even if small, this Region shows a complex rainfall pattern so that, by previous studies, it was divided into four distinct areas with peculiar pluviometric regimes, namely the Coastal Area, the Plain and Hills Area, the Prealpine Area and the Inner Alpine Area. Nowadays a new data set, collected by the ERSA/CSA automatic stations, allows to propose a new sub-classification of the Coastal Area and Plain and Hills Area, under the point of view of the hourly rate of precipitation. This new sub-classification is composed by five zones: the Coast, the Carso, the Low Plain, the Middle Plain and the Piedmont. Each one of these zones presents a peculiar seasonal behaviour of the hourly rain-rate. Received May 31, 1999 Revised September 27, 1999     

“Clusters” or “communities”? Analysing the spatial agglomeration of video game companies in Australia

In this paper, I question whether agglomerations of video game companies in Australia function as clusters (spatially bound) or rather as communities (not spatially bound). The two case studies included in the analysis are the main agglomerations of video companies in Australia—Brisbane and Melbourne. The data have been collected through 21 semi-structured interviews performed between 2012 and 2014. The main findings are as follows: (1) the primary reason that video game companies come together is to share tacit knowledge and skilled labour; (2) these agglomerations do not have the attributes of “creative clusters”; and (3) new technologies enable experienced game developers to operate at the geographic periphery of the main agglomeration of developers. Therefore, to paint a more accurate picture of why some video game companies are successful—beyond simply positive externalities associated with co-localization—I propose the term “networked communities.” This recognizes that social networks at varying scales (local, national, international) are being developed by video game firms in order to thrive and reach a global audience.