Biofiltration of Pyridine by Shewanella putrefaciens in a Corn‐Cob Packed Biotrickling Filter

In this study, a new strain of microorganism Shewanella putrefaciens was used for biofiltration of a pyridine laden air stream in a corn‐cob packed biotrickling filter. In the biotrickling filter tested with S. putrefaciens, the maximum removal of pyridine is determined to be 100% at less than the average inlet concentration of 0.653 g m^–3 and more than 93% at a higher average inlet concentration of 1.748 g m^–3 (phase VIII) with an empty bed residence time (EBRT) of 106 s. However, when the biotrickling filter was operated at a low EBRT of 53 s and almost the same average inlet concentration of 1.752 g m^–3 (phase VII), the removal level attained was not greater than 85%. The maximum elimination capacity (EC) of the biotrickling filter was 102.34 g m^–3h^–1 at an inlet pyridine load of 119.62 g m^–3h^–1 with an EBRT of 53 s in phase VII. The maximum deviation of the EC from the 100% conversion line varied from 0.257 to 10.166% when going from phase I to VIII. Kinetic analysis showed that the maximum removal rate, r_max, and saturation constant, K_s, values for pyridine were calculated as 0.24 g m^–3h^–1 and 6.44 g m^–3, respectively, with a correlation coefficient, R², of 0.9939 and a standard deviation of error of 23.94%. The information contained herein indicates that the corn‐cob packed biotrickling filter inoculated by S. putrefaciens should provide excellent performance in the removal of gaseous pyridine.     

Geomorphic investigation of the Late-Quaternary landforms in the southern Zanskar Valley,NW Himalaya

The Suru, Doda and Zanskar river valleys in the semi-arid region of Southern Zanskar Ranges (SZR) preserve a rich repository of the glacial and fluvial landforms, alluvial fans, and lacustrine deposits. Based on detailed field observations, geomorphic mapping and limited optical ages, we suggest four glaciations of decreasing magnitude in the SZR. The oldest Southern Zanskar Glaciation Stage (SZS-4) is inferred from glacially polished bedrock and tillite pinnacles. The SZS-4 is ascribed to the Marine Isotopic Stage (MIS)-4/3. The subsequent SZS-3 is represented by obliterated and dissected moraines, and is assigned to MIS-2/Last Glacial Maximum. The multiple recessional moraines of SZS-2 glaciation are assigned the early to mid Holocene age whereas, the youngest SZS-1 moraines were deposited during the Little Ice Age. We suggest that during the SZS-2 glaciation, the Drang-Drung glacier shifted its course from Suru Valley (west) to the Doda Valley (east). The study area has preserved three generations of outwash gravel terraces, which broadly correlate with the phases of deglaciation associated with SZS-3, 2, and 1. The alluvial fan aggradation, lacustrine sedimentation, and loess deposition occurred during the mid-to-late Holocene. We suggest that glaciation was driven by a combination of the mid-latitude westerlies and the Indian Summer Monsoon during periods of cooler temperature, while phases of deglaciation occurred during enhanced temperature.     

The transition region and coronal explorer

The Transition Region and Coronal Explorer (TRACE) satellite, launched 2 April 1998, is a NASA Small Explorer (SMEX) that images the solar photosphere, transition region and corona with unprecedented spatial resolution and temporal continuity. To provide continuous coverage of solar phenomena, TRACE is located in a sun-synchronous polar orbit. The ∼700 Mbytes of data which are collected daily are made available for unrestricted use within a few days of observation. The instrument features a 30-cm Cassegrain telescope with a field of view of 8.5×.5 arc min and a spatial resolution of 1 arc sec (0.5 arc sec pixels). TRACE contains multilayer optics and a lumogen-coated CCD detector to record three EUV wavelengths and several UV wavelengths. It observes plasmas at selected temperatures from 6000 K to 10 MK with a typical temporal resolution of less than 1 min.     

Thomson Thick X-Ray Absorption in a Broad Absorption Line Quasar, PG 0946+301

We present results of new ASCA observations of the low-luminosity active galactic nucleus (LLAGN) NGC 4579 obtained on 1998 December 18 and 28, and we report on the detection of variability of an iron K emission line. The X-ray luminosities in the 2-10 keV band for the two observations are nearly identical (LX approximately 2x1041 ergs s(-1)), but they are approximately 35% larger than that measured in 1995 July by Terashima et al. An Fe K emission line is detected at 6.39+/-0.09 keV (source rest frame), which is lower than the line energy 6.73+0.13-0.12 keV in the 1995 observation. If we fit the Fe lines with a blend of two Gaussians centered at 6.39 and 6.73 keV, the intensity of the 6.7 keV line decreases, while the intensity of the 6.4 keV line increases, within an interval of 3.5 yr. This variability rules out thermal plasmas in the host galaxy as the origin of the ionized Fe line in this LLAGN. The detection and variability of the 6.4 keV line indicates that cold matter subtends a large solid angle viewed from the nucleus and that it is located within approximately 1 pc from the nucleus. It could be identified with an optically thick standard accretion disk. If this is the case, a standard accretion disk is present at the Eddington ratio of Lbol/LEdd approximately 2x10-3. A broad disk-line profile is not clearly seen, and the structure of the innermost part of accretion disk remains unclear.     

Late Archean Cu-Au-Mo mineralization at Gameleira and Serra Verde, Carajàs Mineral Province, Brazil: constraints from Re-Os molybdenite ages

New Re-Os molybdenite ages provide constraints on the timing of Late Archean Cu-Au-Mo mineralization in the northern Carajás Mineral Province. Molybdenite from the Gameleira iron oxide Cu-Au-Mo deposit yielded an age of 2,614±14 Ma. This age overlaps within its analytical error with Re-Os ages of molybdenite from the Serra Verde Cu-Au-Mo vein deposit (2,609±13 Ma) and from the nearby small Garimpo Fernando gold mining operation (2,592±13 and 2,602±13 Ma), which is probably related to the latter. The geochronological data imply that the hydrothermal Cu-Au-Mo mineralization in these three deposits was epigenetic and coincides with a regional tectonic regime changing from dextral transtension and clastic sedimentation at 2.7–2.6 Ga to sinistral transpression and inversion at 2.6 Ga. Previously reported stable isotope and microthermometric data are compatible with a magmatic affiliation of the Cu-Au-Mo ores at Gameleira and Serra Verde. A genetic relationship of mineralization may therefore exist with 2.56–2.76 Ga Archean alkaline granitoids or with 2.6–2.7 calc-alkaline to tholeiitic volcanic-arc type magmatism.Editorial handling: F. Tornos     

Multi-source Classification Using Artificial Neural Network in a Rugged Terrain

Abstract

This study advocates the use of GIS and remote sensing technologies to establish urban evolution maps and assess the impact of urbanization on agricultural areas over the last three decades. The target area is the city of Béni‐Mellal, located in central Morocco. The methodology adopted makes use of panchromatic SPOT images to survey the urban areas during the 1980s and 1990s. Available topographic maps provided the information for the 1970s. Maps and statistics of land use and urban growth for Béni Mellal were established after manually classifying images on a per-polygon basis and digitizing topographic maps using GIS capabilities. The results show an increase in dense urban area by 980.7 ha from the 1970s to the 1990s. This increase occurred at the expense of forests (24.7 ha), plantations (752.3 ha), rangeland (113.4 ha), non‐irrigated land (69.7 ha), and irrigated land (20.6 ha). During this period, scattered urban areas, predominantly suburbs, increased by 755.9 ha to the detriment of forests (14.9 ha), plantations (109.8 ha), rangeland (138.9 ha), non‐irrigated land(400.5 ha), and irrigated land (91.9 ha). These cartographic and statistic results are efficient decision‐making tools for protecting agricultural land and planning urban and suburban areas.     

Image quality characterization of fine resolution RISAT-1 data using impulse response function

This study presents the results obtained from image quality assessment of Radar Imaging SATellite (RISAT-1). Image quality parameters such as spatial resolution, peak to sidelobe ratio (PSLR) and integrated sidelobe ratio (ISLR) are calculated by the analysis of impulse response function (IRF) of the point target. The study is carried out to assess temporal stability and consistency of image quality parameters obtained from analysis of IRF of 44 point targets. The results obtained from this study show that the mean values of the range and azimuth resolution are 2.048 ± 0.081 m and 3.383 ± 0.097 m for RH and 1.981 ± 0.081 m and 3.348 ± 0.076 m for RV, respectively. PSLR/ISLR values for RH channel are obtained as ?26.492 dB/?26.823 dB for azimuth and ?19.209 dB/?19.921 dB for the range. For RV channel, PSLR/ISLR values are ?26.300 dB/?27.572 dB for azimuth and ?19.146 dB/?19.827 dB for range.     

Use of Cu isotopes to distinguish primary and secondary Cu mineralization in the Ca?ariaco Norte porphyry copper deposit, Northern Peru

A significant proportion of the copper in the Ca?ariaco Norte porphyry copper deposit in northern Peru occurs in chalcocite and covellite-rich veins and disseminations that exist from the surface to depths greater than 1?km. The overall range of Cu isotopic ratios of 42 mineral separates from Ca?ariaco varies from ?8.42 to 0.61?‰, with near-surface chalcocite and Fe oxides having isotopically depleted values compared to chalcocite, covellite, and chalcopyrite from deeper levels. The majority (34 of 36) of measured Cu sulfides have a typical hypogene copper isotope composition of δ⁶⁵Cu?=?0.18?±?0.38?‰, with no enriched isotopic signature existing in the Ca?ariaco Norte sulfide data. Thus, the copper isotope data indicate that most of the chalcocite and covellite formed from high-temperature hypogene mineralization processes and that only a minor portion of the deposit is enriched by supergene processes. The nonexistence of an enriched δ⁶⁵Cu reservoir suggest the presence of an undiscovered lateral/exotic Cu occurrence that enriched ⁶⁵Cu that remained in solution during weathering. Regardless of the cause, the comparative analysis of the Cu isotope dataset reveals that little exploration potential for an extensive supergene enrichment blanket exists because the weathering history at Ca?ariaco Norte was not conducive to preservation of enriched Cu at depth beneath the leach cap.