An algorithm for finding the position of a point relative to a fixed polygonal boundary

This article describes a method that determines the position of a point relative to a fixed boundary. Its advantage over the other existing algorithms described below is that in most cases it is necessary that only part of the algorithm be executed to determine the position of the point. A possible inconvenience of using this algorithm is that the contour boundary has to be entered as data. For problems where the boundary often changes the algorithm is not suitable in its present form. The applications envisaged here are to cases where the position of a very large number of points have to be determined relative to one fixed polygonal boundary whose shape is known in advance, for example, blanking out of contours in automatic contouring, or selecting drill holes which lie in the particular part of a mineral deposit.     

A rate-type constitutive model for soil with a critical state

A continuum representation for soil which incorporates the concepts of hypoelasticity and critical state theory is proposed. General, three-dimensional constitutive equations are formulated to relate specific volume, stress, rate of deformation and rate of change of stress, resulting in a mathematical material model which exhibits phenomenological features typical of soil response. The general constitutive equations are specialized to represent the particular cases of isotropic compression, constant, volume deformation, uniaxial compression and biaxial deformation. Methods are suggested for determining the model parameters to represent a specific soil using conventional triaxial test data. Comparisons of stress-strain response with published experimental data are shown.     

Planetary brightness temperature measurements at 8.6 mm and 3.1 mm wavelengths

New measurements of the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn at 3.1 and 8.6 mm wavelengths are given. The temperatures reported for the planets at 3.1 mm wavelength are higher than previous measurements in this wavelength range and change the interpretation of some planetary spectra. For Mercury, it is found that the mean brightness temperature is independent of wavelength and that a temperature dependent thermal conductivity is not required to match the observations. In the case of Mars, the spectrum is shown to rise in the millimeter region as simple models predict. For Jupiter, the need to recalculate the spectrum with recent models is demonstrated. The flux density scale proposed by Dent (1972) has been revised according to a more accurate determination of the millimeter brightness temperature of Jupiter.     

Surveillance for previously unmonitored organic contaminants in the San Francisco Estuary

The San Francisco Estuary Regional Monitoring Program initiated surveillance monitoring to identify previously unmonitored synthetic organic contaminants in the San Francisco Estuary. Organic extracts of water samples were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in full scan mode. The major contaminant classes identified in the samples were fire retardants, pesticides, personal care product ingredients, and plasticizers. Evidence from the literature suggests that some of these contaminants can persist in the environment, induce toxicity, and accumulate in marine biota and in higher food chain consumers. The major sources of these contaminants into the marine environment are the discharge of municipal and industrial wastewater effluents, urban stormwater, and agricultural runoff. As a proactive effort, it is suggested that surveillance studies be used routinely in monitoring programs to identify and prevent potential problem contaminants from harming the marine environment.     

The distribution of meteoric <Superscript>36</Superscript>Cl/Cl in the United States: a comparison of models

The natural distribution of ³⁶Cl/Cl in groundwater across the continental United States has recently been reported by Davis et al. (2003). In this paper, the large-scale processes and atmospheric sources of ³⁶Cl and chloride responsible for controlling the observed ³⁶Cl/Cl distribution are discussed.The dominant process that affects ³⁶Cl/Cl in meteoric groundwater at the continental scale is the fallout of stable chloride from the atmosphere, which is mainly derived from oceanic sources. Atmospheric circulation transports marine chloride to the continental interior, where distance from the coast, topography, and wind patterns define the chloride distribution. The only major deviation from this pattern is observed in northern Utah and southern Idaho where it is inferred that a continental source of chloride exists in the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah.In contrast to previous studies, the atmospheric flux of ³⁶Cl to the land surface was found to be approximately constant over the United States, without a strong correlation between local ³⁶Cl fallout and annual precipitation. However, the correlation between these variables was significantly improved (R ²=0.15 to R ²=0.55) when data from the southeastern USA, which presumably have lower than average atmospheric ³⁶Cl concentrations, were excluded. The total mean flux of ³⁶Cl over the continental United States and total global mean flux of ³⁶Cl are calculated to be 30.5±7.0 and 19.6±4.5 atoms m^–2 s^–1, respectively.The ³⁶Cl/Cl distribution calculated by Bentley et al. (1986) underestimates the magnitude and variability observed for the measured ³⁶Cl/Cl distribution across the continental United States. The model proposed by Hainsworth (1994) provides the best overall fit to the observed ³⁶Cl/Cl distribution in this study. A process-oriented model by Phillips (2000) generally overestimates ³⁶Cl/Cl in most parts of the country and has several significant local departures from the empirical data.

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Resumen Davis et al. (2003) han informado de la distribución natural de la proporción ³⁶Cl/Cl en las aguas subterráneas de la parte continental de los Estados Unidos de América [EUA]. En este artículo, se discute cuáles son los procesos a gran escala y las fuentes atmosféricas del ³⁶Cl y del cloruro que dan lugar a la distribución observada de ³⁶Cl/Cl.El proceso dominante que afecta a la relación ³⁶Cl/Cl en las aguas subterráneas de origen meteórico a escala continental es el aporte de cloruro estable desde la atmósfera, que procede principalmente de los océanos. La circulación atmosférica transporta el cloruro marino hacia el interior, donde la distancia a la costa, topografía y corrientes del viento definen la distribución del cloruro. La única desviación principal de este esquema tiene lugar al norte de Utah y en el sur de Idaho, donde se deduce que existe una fuente continental de cloruro en los Rellanos Salados de Bonneville (Salt Flats).En contraste con estudios previos (Knies et al. 1994; Phillips 2000), se ha descubierto que el flujo atmosférico de ³⁶Cl hacia la superficie terrestre es aproximadamente constante en todos los estados, sin deducirse una correlación fuerte entre el aporte de ³⁶Cl y la precipitación anual. Sin embargo, la correlación entre estas variables se ve mejorada de forma significativa, con coeficientes de regresión comprendidos entre 0,15 y 0,55, cuando se excluyen los datos recogidos en el sudeste de los EUA, que tienen concentraciones de ³⁶Cl atmosférico presuntamente inferiores a la media. El flujo medio total de ³⁶Cl calculado en la zona continental de los Estados Unidos vale 30,5±7,0 átomos por metro cuadrado y segundo, mientras que el flujo total global de ³⁶Cl es de 19,6±4,5 átomos por metro cuadrado y segundo.La distribución de ³⁶Cl/Cl calculada por Bentley et al. (1986) infravalora la magnitud y variabilidad observada en los valores medidos a lo largo de los Estados Unidos. El modelo propuesto por Hainsworth (1994) proporciona el mejor ajuste conjunto a la distribución observada de ³⁶Cl/Cl en este estudio. El modelo orientado a procesos de Phillips (2000) sobreestima por lo general la distribución de ³⁶Cl/Cl en la mayoría del país y difiere significativamente de algunos valores locales empíricos.

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Résumé La distribution naturelle du rapport ³⁶Cl/Cl dans les eaux souterraines des États-Unis a été récemment présentée par Davis et al. (2003). Dans ce travail, les processus à grande échelle et les sources atmosphériques de ³⁶Cl et de chlorure responsables du contrôle de la distribution observée du rapport ³⁶Cl/Cl sont discutés. Le processus dominant qui affecte le rapport ³⁶Cl/Cl dans les eaux souterraines dorigine météorique à léchelle continentale est lapport atmosphérique de chlorure stable, qui provient pour lessentiel de sources océaniques. La circulation atmosphérique transporte des chlorures marins vers lintérieur des continents, où la distribution de chlorure est définie par la distance à la côte, la topographie et les régimes des vents. La seule exception majeure à ce schéma est observée dans le nord de lUtah et le sud de lIdaho où lon suppose quil existe une source continentale de chlorure dans les bas-fonds salés de Bonneville. Au contraire de précédentes études (Knies et al. 1994; Phillips 2000), on trouve que le flux atmosphérique de ³⁶Cl vers le sol est approximativement constant sur lensemble des États-Unis, sans forte corrélation entre la retombée locale de ³⁶Cl et les précipitations annuelles. Cependant, la corrélation entre ces variables devient significative (R ²=0.15 à 0.55) lorsquon supprime les données du sud-est des États-Unis, dont on pense quelles présentent des concentrations en ³⁶Cl atmosphérique inférieures à la moyenne. Le flux total moyen de ³⁶Cl sur les États-Unis continentaux et le flux moyen global de ³⁶Cl sont respectivement évalués à 30.5 ± 7.0 et 19.6 ± 4.5 atomes.m^–2.s^–1. La distribution du rapport ³⁶Cl/Cl calculée par Bentley et al. (1986) sous-estime lordre de grandeur et la variabilité observés pour la distribution mesurée du rapport ³⁶Cl/Cl sur les États-Unis continentaux. Le modèle proposé par Hainsworth (1994) fournit le meilleur ajustement densemble à la distribution du rapport ³⁶Cl/Cl observée dans cette étude. Un modèle orienté vers les processus proposé par Phillips (2000) surestime dans lensemble le rapport ³⁶Cl/Cl dans la plupart des régions du pays et présente plusieurs désaccords locaux avec les données empiriques.

     

Ammonia toxicity in fish

Ammonia is present in the aquatic environment due to agricultural run-off and decomposition of biological waste. Ammonia is toxic to all vertebrates causing convulsions, coma and death, probably because elevated NH₄⁺ displaces K⁺ and depolarizes neurons, causing activation of NMDA type glutamate receptor, which leads to an influx of excessive Ca²⁺ and subsequent cell death in the central nervous system.

Present ammonia criteria for aquatic systems are based on toxicity tests carried out on, starved, resting, non-stressed fish. This is doubly inappropriate. During exhaustive exercise and stress, fish increase ammonia production and are more sensitive to external ammonia. Present criteria do not protect swimming fish. Fish have strategies to protect them from the ammonia pulse following feeding, and this also protects them from increases in external ammonia, as a result starved fish are more sensitive to external ammonia than fed fish.

There are a number of fish species that can tolerate high environmental ammonia. Glutamine formation is an important ammonia detoxification strategy in the brain of fish, especially after feeding. Detoxification of ammonia to urea has also been observed in elasmobranches and some teleosts. Reduction in the rate of proteolysis and the rate of amino acid catabolism, which results in a decrease in ammonia production, may be another strategy to reduce ammonia toxicity. The weather loach volatilizes NH₃, and the mudskipper, P. schlosseri, utilizes yet another unique strategy, it actively pumps NH₄⁺ out of the body.     

Contaminant concentrations in sport fish from San Francisco Bay, 1997

In 1997, seven sport fish species were sampled from seven popular fishing areas in San Francisco Bay. Mercury exceeded a human health screening value in 44 of 84 (52%) samples. All collected samples of leopard shark and striped bass exceeded the mercury screening value of 0.23 microg/g wet weight. PCBs exceeded the screening value in 51 of 72 (71%) samples. DDT, chlordane, and dieldrin, had lower numbers of samples above screening values: 16 of 72 (22%) for DDT, 11 of 72 (15%) for chlordanes, and 27 of 72 (37%) for dieldrin. Concentrations of PCBs and other trace organics were highest in white croaker and shiner surfperch, the two species with the highest fat content in their muscle tissue. Fish from one location, Oakland Harbor, had significantly elevated wet weight concentrations of mercury, PCBs, DDTs, and chlordanes compared to other locations. Removal of skin from white croaker fillets reduced lipid concentrations by 27-49% and concentrations of trace organics by 33-40%.