Trophic ecology of Mustelus schmitti (Springer, 1939) in a nursery area of northern Patagonia

Mustelus schmitti is an endangered endemic shark of the southwest Atlantic, and an important economical resource in Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. The objective of this study was to describe the trophic ecology of M. schmitti in Anegada Bay, its feeding strategy and diet composition, along with the possible dietary shifts, due to season, sex, ontogeny and the different geographical features of the bay. Our results show that M. schmitti is a carnivorous opportunistic predator, feeding on a variety of benthic invertebrates. The diet presented seasonal and ontogenetic variations, while no differences in diet composition were observed between sexes or the different sampling sites. This species behave as a generalize feeder, with a wide trophic spectrum and a diverse diet.     

Tides in the Tongan Region of the Pacific Ocean

Tidal levels and currents in the Tongan region of the Pacific were simulated using a two-dimensional frequency-domain finite element model. The eight major diurnal and semidiurnal tidal constituents were modeled successfully, using open boundary conditions taken from a global tidal model based on the Topex/Poseidon satellite altimeter. Comparison of model results with observations from the single tide gauge site in the area were later used to adjust the boundary conditions. The validity of omitting horizontal eddy viscosity from the finite element model was checked by running an equivalent finite difference model. The results show that although the submarine Tongan ridge does not appear to trap tidal energy, there are residual tidal currents and possible recirculations which are capable of influencing biological productivity around Tonga. The model results are reduced to a simple method for predicting tidal heights in outlying areas, based only on the tidal calendar for the capital, Nuku'alofa.     

Flow behind an attached shock wave in a radiating gas

A simple method is used to determine the curvature of an attached shock wave and the flow variable gradients behind the shock curve at the tip of a straight-edged wedge placed symmetrically in a supersonic flow of a radiating gas near the optically thin limit. The shock curvature and the flow variable gradients along the wedge at the tip are computed for a wide range of upstream flow Mach numbers and wedge angles. Several interesting results are noted; in particular, it is found that the effect of an increase in the upstream flow Mach number or the radiative flux is to enhance the shock wave curvature which, however, decreases with an increase in the specific heat ratio or the wedge angle.     

Phase transformations of enstatite in spherical shock waves

The analysis of available theoretical evaluations and experimental data reveals discrepancies and makes it possible to formulate the goals for the comprehensive study of the behavior of enstatite MgSiO₃ in shock isentropic waves of various scale and intensity. The paper presents the layout and results of an explosion experiment on the compression of an enstatite sphere with spherical shock waves and the subsequent recovery of the experimental material and its examination in discrete zones (along the sphere radius) that were produced by shock waves in the material. The latter were examined with the application of scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction analysis. The comparison of the systematic variations in the texture, chemistry, and phase composition of enstatite along the sphere radius with calculated pressure P(R, t) and temperature T(R, t) values led us to the following conclusions: enstatite starts melting on an isentrope upon pressure relief after shock wave compression at ?? _xx ?? 80 GPa and melts on the front of the spherically converging shock wave at ?? _xx ?? 160 GPa and T ?? 6300 K. Our laboratory experiments with shock waves were the world??s first in which enstatite was loaded with spherical converging shock isentropic waves and which provided evidence that shock wave-loaded MgSiO₃ shows certain morphological and mineralogical features never before detected in this mineral loaded with plane shock wave of smaller amplitude and duration. Goals are formulated for the further studying of shock wave-loaded materials, and the necessity is discussed for conducting an explosion experiment with a five to seven times greater spherical system in order to increase the duration of the shock wave loading impulse.     

Measuring proton energies and fluxes using EIT (SOHO) CCD areas outside the solar disk images

An indirect proton flux measuring tool based on discrimination of the energy deposited by protons in 128 × 128 pixel EIT CCD areas outside the solar disk images is presented. Single pixel intensity events are converted into proton incident energy flux using modeled energy deposition curves for angles of incidence ±60° in four EIT spatial areas with different proton stopping power. The extracted proton flux is corrected for both the loss of one‐pixel events in the range of angles of incidence as well as for the contribution to the single pixel events resulting from scattered middle‐energy protons (low‐energy or high‐energy particles are stopped by the EIT components or pass through them, accordingly). A simple geometrical approach was found and applied to correct for a non‐unique relation between the proton‐associated CCD output signal and the incident proton energy. With this geometrical approximation four unique proton incident energy ranges were determined as 45–49, 145–154, 297–335, and 390–440 MeV. The indirect proton flux measuring tool has been tested by comparing Solar Energetic Particles (SEP) flux temporal profiles extracted from the EIT CCD frames and downloaded from the GOES database for the Bastille Day (BD) of 2000 July 14 and the more recent 2005 January 20 events. The SEP flux temporal profiles and proton spectra extracted from the EIT in the relatively narrow energy ranges between 45 and 440 MeV reported here are consistent with the related GOES profiles. The four additional EIT extracted ranges provide higher energy resolution of the SEP data. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

High-resolution spectroscopy of gamma-ray bursts

We report on results from the Goddard germanium Gamma-Ray Burst Spectrometer flown on the ISEE-3 spacecraft. Spectral and temporal studies of two events on 4 and 19 November, 1978 are presented. The power law spectral indices were found to be respectively –1.82 and –1.31, the latter being the hardest event thus far detected. Evidence for two lines in the 4 November event is presented — a broad feature at 420 keV and a narrower one at 740 keV. These are consistent with a common redshift if the parent lines are assumed to be the positron annihilation line (511 keV) and the first excited state of iron (847 keV). If this interpretation is correct, it is shown that additional lines from higher levels of iron and possibly other nuclei are expected and that they may represent a significant contribution to the total spectrum above 1 MeV.Paper presented at the Symposium on Cosmic-Ray Bursts, held at Toulouse, France, 26–29 November, 1979.     

Geochemistry and Crustal Evolution of Volcano-sedimentary Successions and Orthogneisses in the São Gabriel Block, Southernmost Brazil — Relics of Neoproterozoic Magmatic Arcs

Precambrian metaplutonic rocks of the São Gabriel block in southernmost Brazil comprise juvenile Neoproterozoic calc-alkaline gneisses (Cambaí Complex). The connection with associated (ultra-)mafic metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks (Palma Group) is not well established. The whole complex was deformed during the Brasiliano orogenic cycle. Both metasedimentary and metavolcanic rocks as well as metaplutonic rocks of the Cambaí Complex have been sampled for geochemical analyses in order to get constraints on the tectonic setting of these rocks and to establish a tectonic model for the São Gabriel block and its role during the assembly of West-Gondwana. The major element compositions of the igneous rocks (Palma Group and Cambaí Complex) indicate a subalkaline character; most orthogneisses have a calc-alkaline chemistry; many metavolcanic rocks of the Palma Group show signatures of low-K tholeiitic volcanic arc basalts. Trace element data, especially Ti, Zr, Y, Nb, of most igneous samples from both the lower Palma Group and the Cambaí Complex indicate origin at plate margins, i.e., in a subduction zone environment. This is corroborated by relative enrichment in LREE, low contents of Nb and other high field strength elements and enrichment in LILE like Rb, Ba, and Th. The data indicate the possible existence of two suites, an oceanic island arc and a continental arc or active continental margin. However, some ultramafic samples of the lower Palma Group in the western São Gabriel block indicate the existence of another volcanic suite with intra-plate character which possibly represents relics of oceanic island basalts (OIB). Trace element data indicate contributions from andesitic to mixed felsic and basic arc sources for the metasedimentary rocks. The patterns of chondrite- and N-MORB-normalized spider diagrams resemble the patterns of the igneous rocks, i.e., LILE and LREE enrichment and HFS depletion. The geochemical signatures of most igneous and metasedimentary samples and their low (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_t ratios suggest only minor contribution of old continental crust.A geotectonic model for the São Gabriel block comprises east-ward subduction and following accretion of an intra-oceanic island arc to the eastern border of the Rio de la Plata Craton at ca. 880 Ma, and westward subduction beneath the newly formed active continental margin between ca. 750 and 700 Ma. The São Gabriel block represents relics of an early Brasiliano oceanic basin between the Rio de la Plata and Kalahari Cratons. This ocean to the east of the Rio de la Plata Craton might be traced to the north and could possibly be linked with Neoproterozoic juvenile oceanic crust in the western Brasília belt (Goiás magmatic arc).     

土壤质量评价国外研究进展

土壤是人类赖以生存的根本资源。土壤质量涉及到动植物生产力,大气、水的质量和人类的健康,随着人们对自然资源和环境保护意识的增强,越来越多的国家和地区已将土壤质量评价工作作为实现可持续发展的一个重要方面。通过土壤质量评价,了解土壤管理和利用的现状,为土壤质量的改善及可持续利用提供理论依据和技术支撑。根据国外近10年的研究,总结了主要的评价指标体系和评价方法。评价指标主要包括土壤物理、化学和生物性质3个方面的指标。评价方法分为定性和定量评价,定量评价应用较广,包括土壤质量指数、土壤质量模型、多元线性回归、相对土壤质量法等。掌握和了解国外相关研究的动态,对于开展土地质量地球化学评估及土地的分等定级工作有着重要的意义。     

Variability of Raindrop Size Distribution during a Regional Freezing Rain Event in the Jianghan Plain of Central China

The characteristics of the raindrop size distribution(DSD) during regional freezing rain(FR) events that occur throughout the phase change(from liquid to solid) are poorly understood due to limited observations. We investigate the evolution of microphysical parameters and the key formation mechanisms of regional FR using the DSDs from five disdrometer sites in January 2018 in the Jianghan Plain(JHP) of Central China. FR is identified via the size and velocity distribution measured from a disdrom...