Distribution of oxygen-containing functional groups and elements in humic acids from marine sediments

The elemental composition and oxygen-containing functional groups contents in the marine humic acids from the five sediment samples from Sagami Bay and Suruga Bay were determined. Kumada's method of classification of soil humic acids was applied to the marine humic acids. The carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen and sulfur contents of the marine humic acids were, on average, 52.96, 5.12, 5.79, 34.99 and 1.13%, respectively, without wide variation. In comparison with terrestrial humic acids, the marine ones had relatively lower carbon content and higher hydrogen and nitrogen contents. It is suggested that the marine humic acids have more aliphatic and less aromatic character, as expected from their possible origins, e.g., phytoplankton. The total acidity, carboxyl, phenolic and alcoholic hydroxyl, carbonyl and methoxyl group contents in the marine humic acids were, on average, 5.80, 3.27, 2.53, 2.53, 3.09 and 0.41 milliequivalents per gram of dry ash-free humic acid (me g^–1), respectively. From quantitative data on the elemental composition and functional groups of the average marine humic acid, its empirical formula was calculated to be C₁₀₇H₁₃₈O₂₀(COOH)₉(OH)₇ ^phenolic (OH)₇ ^alcoholic (CO)₉(OCH)₃N₁₀S. The marine humic acids were similar to the so-called B type of soil humic acids with regard to the distribution of functional groups and spectroscopic properties.     

A new regime of volcanic eruption due to the relative motion between liquid and gas

In explosive magma eruptions, magma ascends through a conduit as a Poiseuille flow at depth, and gas exsolves gradually and expands as the pressure decreases (bubbly flow regime). When the volume fraction of gas becomes sufficiently large, liquid or solid parts of magma fragment into droplets or ashes, and the flow dynamics becomes governed by the gas phase (gas–ash flow regime). We propose a new flow regime, which we call fractured-turbulent flow regime, between the bubbly flow regime and the gas–ash flow regime. In the new regime, both liquid magma and gas are continuous phases. The high connectivity of the two phases allows the relative velocity between them to increase significantly. We present one sample calculation, which displays basically explosive characteristics, but has three features distinct from previous models. The explosive characteristics are manifested as the fragmentation of the magma and the high speed jet that issues from the vent. The first distinct feature is a nearly lithostatic pressure distribution, which results from the increase of the height of the fragmentation surface. The second one is the atmospheric pressure at the vent; the flow is not choked. The third one is that the relative velocity between the gas and the ash is large at the vent despite the large interaction force between the two phases. The large relative velocity is established in the fractured-turbulent regime, and is maintained in the subsequent gas–ash flow regime.     

Non-local memory effects of the electromotive force by fluid motion with helicity and two-dimensional periodicity

In mean-field dynamo theory, the electromotive force term 〈u′ × B′〉 due to small-scale fields connects the small-scale magnetic field with the large-scale field. This term is usually approximated as the α-effect, assumed to be instantaneous in time and local in space. However, the approximation is valid only when the magnetic Reynolds number Rm is much less than unity, and is inappropriate when Rm ? 1, which is the condition satisfied in the Earth's core or solar convection zone. We introduce a function φ _qr as a non-local and non-instantaneous generalization of the usual α-effect and examine its behaviour as a function of Rm in the range 1/64 ≤ Rm ≤ 10 for a kinematic dynamo model. We use the flow of G.O. Roberts 1972 Roberts, GO. 1972. Dynamo action of fluid motions with two-dimensional periodicity. Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. London Ser. A, 271: 411–454. [Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar] (Phil, Trans. Roy. Soc. London Ser. A, 1972, 271, 411–454), which is steady and has non-zero helicities and two-dimensional periodicity. As a result, we identify three regions in Rm space according to the behaviour of the function φ _qr : (i) Rm ? 1/4, where the function φ _qr is local and instantaneous and can be approximated by the traditional α and β effects, (ii) 1/4 ? Rm ? 4, where the deviation from the traditional α and β effects increases and non-localness and non-instantaneousness increase, and (iii) Rm ? 4, where boundary layers develop fully and non-localness and non-instantaneousness are prominent. We show that the non-local memory effect for Rm ? 4 strongly affects the dynamo action and explains an observed augmentation of the growth rate in the dispersion relation. The results imply that the non-local memory effect of the electromotive force should be important in the geodynamo or the solar dynamo.     

Sonophotocatalysis of endocrine-disrupting chemicals

Sonolysis and photolysis often exhibit synergistic effects in the degradation of organic molecules. An assay of fish oocyte maturation provides an appropriate experimental system to investigate the hormonal activities of chemical agents. Oocyte maturation in fish is triggered by maturation-inducing hormone (MIH), which acts on receptors on the oocyte surface. A synthetic estrogen, diethylstilbestrol (DES), possesses inducing activity of fish oocyte maturation, and a widely used biocide, pentachlorophenol (PCP), exhibits a potent inhibitory effect on fish oocyte maturation. In this study, the effects of the combined treatment by sonolysis with photolysis (sonophotocatalysis) to diminish the hormonal activity of DES and the maturation preventing activity of PCP was examined. By sonophotocatalysis, hormonal activity of DES was completely lost within 30min and the inhibiting activity of PCP was lost within 120min. These results demonstrated that sonophotocatalysis is effective for diminishing the endocrine-disrupting activity of chemical agents.     

Nitrogen isotopic composition of CK chondrites

Abstract— Nitrogen abundances and isotopic compositions of four CK chondrites (ALH85002, EET92002, Yamato6903 and Karoonda) were measured by a stepped-combustion method. Neon and Ar were also measured for the same samples. Two types of isotopically light N were observed. One of them is labile N released at low temperatures (～300 °C). This N is observed only in ALH85002. The other N is extracted at high temperatures (900?1200 °C) from all CK chondrites; although, the isotopic compositions are somewhat variable. There is a fair correlation between the excess ¹⁵N values and the abundance of trapped ³⁶Ar for the high-temperature component, suggesting presolar origin of these species. The light N (δ¹⁵N = ?106.8‰) observed in Karoonda is one of the lightest N components ever reported for bulk chondrites.     

A new metal‐rich chondrite grouplet

Abstract— A new grouplet of primitive, metal‐rich chondrites, here called the CB (C, carbonaceous; B, bencubbinite) chondrites, has been recognized. It includes Bencubbin, Weatherford, Hammadah al Hamra (HH) 237 and Queen Alexandra Range (QUE) 94411, paired with QUE 94627. Their mineral compositions, as well as their oxygen and nitrogen isotopic compositions, indicate that they are closely related to the CR and CH chondrites, all of which are members of the more inclusive CR clan. CB chondrites have much greater metal/silicate ratios than any other chondrite group, widely increasing the range of metal/silicate fractionation recorded in solar nebular processes. They also have the greatest moderately volatile lithophile element depletions of any chondritic materials. Metal has compositional trends and zoning patterns that suggest a primitive condensation origin, in contrast with metal from other chondrite groups. CB chondrites, as well as other CR clan chondrites, have much heavier nitrogen (higher ¹⁵N/¹⁴N) than that in other chondrite groups. The primitive characteristics of the CB chondrites suggest that they contain one of the best records of early nebular processes. Another chondrite, Grosvenor Mountains 95551, is petrographically similar to the CB chondrites, but its mineral and oxygen and nitrogen isotope compositions indicate that it formed from a different nebular reservoir.     

Naturally occurring radionuclides and rare earth elements in weathered Japanese soil samples

The activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra and ²²⁸Ac in weathered Japanese soils from two selected prefectures have been measured using a γ-ray spectroscopy system with high purity germanium detector. The uranium, thorium, and rare earth elements (REEs) concentrations were determined from the same soil samples using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). For example, granitic rocks contain higher amounts of U, Th, and light REEs compared to other igneous rocks such as basalt and andesites. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the interaction between REEs and nature of soils since soils are complex heterogeneous mixture of organic and inorganic solids, water, and gases. In this paper, we will discuss about distribution pattern of ²³⁸U and ²³²Th along with REEs in soil samples of weathered acid rock (granite) collected from two prefectures of Japan: Hiroshima and Miyagi.     

Life Recovery of 1995 Kobe Earthquake Survivors in Nishinomiya City: A Total-Quality-Management-Based Assessment of Disadvantaged Populations

The main objectives of this study were (1) to examine what has beenrecovered and what has not yet been recovered in Nishinomiya City five years after the GreatHanshin-Awaji Earthquake, and (2) to find current service needs for the earthquake survivors,especially for the disadvantaged populations. Disadvantaged populations are minorities in society, andtheir needs and opinions are often ignored and not reflected in the services or mitigation policy,despite the fact that they are the ones who are affected most by various hazards. At the same time, becauseof their unique characteristics and positions in society, their needs differ from the majorityof the society. Six hundred eighty-six opinion cards were collected in nine grassroots workshopsessions with various disadvantaged groups in Nishinomiya City, such as the physically challenged,the visually impaired, the elderly living in public housing, junior and senior high school students,mothers with small children, and those who lost their own homes because of the earthquake. Theseopinion cards were sorted out and analyzed by using a TQM(Total Quality Management)-basedassessment method. Since the TQM-based assessment method allows bottom-up integration ofopinions from each individual, it helps us identify unique needs of the disadvantaged groupsand reflect their opinions in mitigation plan and policies. The main findings of this study include (1)the city redevelopment cannot be achieved without integrating the viewpoints of thedisadvantaged; (2) the social support was a key resource for both mental health and community development;and (3) disaster experiences and adaptation produced civic mindedness among people in a community.     

Alkaline permanganate oxidation of kerogens from Cretaceous black shales thermally altered by diabase intrusions and laboratory simulations

Potassium permanganate oxidative degradations were conducted for kerogens isolated from Cretaceous black shales (DSDP Leg 41, Site 368), thermally altered during the Miocene by diabase intrusions and from unaltered samples heated under laboratory conditions (250–500°C).Degradation products of less altered kerogens are dominated by normal C₄–C₁₅ α,ω-dicarboxylic acids, with lesser amounts of n-C₁₆ and n-C₁₈ monocarboxylic acids, and benzene mono-to-tetracarboxylic acids. On the other hand, thermally altered kerogens show benzene di-to-tetracarboxylic acids as dominant degradation products, with lesser or no amounts (variable depending on the degree of thermal alteration) of α,ω-dicarboxylic acids. Essentially no differences between the oxidative degradation products of naturally- and artificially-altered kerogens are observed.As a result of this study, five indices of aromatization (total aromatic acids/kerogen; apparent aromaticity; benzenetetracarboxylic acids/total aromatic acids; benzene-1,2-dicarboxylic acid/benzenedicarboxylic acids; benzene-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid/benzenetricarboxylic acids) and two indices of aliphatic character (Total aliphatic acids/kerogen; Aliphaticity) are proposed to characterize the degree of thermal alteration of kerogens.Furthermore, a good correlation is observed between apparent aromaticity estimated by the present KMnO₄ oxidation method and that from the ¹³C NMR method (DENNIS et al., 1982).