Biomagnification profiles of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, alkylphenols and polychlorinated biphenyls in Tokyo Bay elucidated by δC and δN isotope ratios as guides to trophic web structure

Biomagnification profiles of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), alkylphenols, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from the innermost part of Tokyo Bay, Japan were analyzed using stable carbon (δ¹³C) and nitrogen (δ¹⁵N) isotope ratios as guides to trophic web structure. δ¹⁵N analysis indicated that all species of mollusks tested were primary consumers, while decapods and fish were secondary consumers. Higher concentrations of PCBs occurred in decapods and fish than in mollusks. In contrast, concentrations of PAHs and alkylphenols were lower in decapods and fish than in mollusks. Unlike PCBs, whose concentrations largely increased with increasing δ¹⁵N (i.e. increasing trophic level), all PAHs and alkylphenols analyzed followed a reverse trend. Molecular weights of PAHs are lower than those of PCBs, therefore low membrane permeability caused by large molecular size is an unlikely factor in the “biodilution” of PAHs. Organisms at higher trophic levels may rapidly metabolize PAHs or they may assimilate less of them.     

Molecular dynamics study of pressure-induced transformation of quartz-type GeO2

We simulated quartz-type GeO₂ and investigated its high-pressure transformation using the molecular dynamics (MD) simulation method with a model potential. The calculated results under hydrostatic compression indicated that a pressure-induced amorphization of quartz-type GeO₂ originated from the mechanical instability of the quartz lattice as, in previous theoretical studies of SiO₂. Furthermore, quartz-type GeO₂ directly transformed to a rutile-like structure with only subtle displacements of ions under σ _{x y} imposed shear stressed decompression. This is the first reproduction of the quartz-to-rutile transformation. A possible pathway of this transition is proposed in this study. Received: 14 April 1999 / Revised, accepted: 11 August 1999     

Tunnelling through squeezing rock in two large fault zones of the Enasan Tunnel II

Summary In spite of the high content of clay in the rock, blasting technique had to be adopted for excavation because the hydrothermally altered clay was interbedded in the hard rock. Problems with groundwater did not arise owing to the dewatering effect of the pilot tunnel.     

Liquid waveguide spectrophotometric measurements of arsenate and particulate arsenic,as well as phosphate and particulate phosphorus,in seawater

Sensitive methods for the determination of arsenate and particulate arsenic (PAs), as well as phosphate and particulate phosphorus (PP), in seawater are described. The method for arsenate and phosphate was established by applying automated liquid waveguide spectrophotometry. Because the reaction time for the formation of the arsenate-molybdate complex is longer than that for the phosphate-molybdate complex, a long Teflon tube submerged in a heating bath was installed in the conventional phosphate flow system. The arsenate was quantified as the difference between absorbances of molybdenum blue dyes with (only phosphate) and without (phosphate + arsenate) arsenate reduction treatment. Contamination was observed in the reagent for arsenate reduction and must be corrected. Linear dynamic ranges up to 1000 nM were confirmed for arsenate and phosphate. The detection limits for arsenate and phosphate were 5 and 4 nM, respectively. Freezing was a reliable sample preservation technique for both arsenate and phosphate. The method for PAs and PP was established by combining conventional persulfate oxidation of PP and the automated liquid waveguide spectrophotometry of arsenate and phosphate. The digestion efficiencies of organic As analogs were >93%. Contamination in the glass fiber filter was negligible. Field tests confirmed that the coefficients of variation (CVs) of 10–19 nM arsenate and 4–151 nM phosphate were 7–20 and 1–25%, respectively, while the CVs of 0.9 nM PAs and 10.2 nM PP were 11 and 4%, respectively.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987112001065

It has been thought that granitic crust,having been formed on the surface,must have survived through the Earth’s evolution because of its buoyancy.At subduction zones continental crust is predominantly created by arc magmatism and is returned to the mantle via sediment subduction,subduction erosion, and continental subduction.Granitic rocks,the major constituent of the continental crust,are lighter than the mantle at depths shallower than 270 km,but we show here,based on first principles calculations, that beneath 270 km they have negative buoyancy compared to the surrounding material in the upper mantle and transition zone,and thus can be subducted in the depth range of 270-660 km.This suggests that there can be two reservoirs of granitic material in the Earth,one on the surface and the other at the base of the mantle transition zone(MTZ).The accumulated volume of subducted granitic material at the base of the MTZ might amount to about six times the present volume of the continental crust.Our calculations also show that the seismic velocities of granitic material in the depth range from 270 to 660 km are faster than those of the surrounding mantle.This could explain the anomalous seismic-wave velocities observed around 660 km depth.The observed seismic scatterers and reported splitting of the 660 km discontinuity could be due to jadeite dissociation,chemical discontinuities between granitic material and the surrounding mantle,or a combination thereof.