Galactic halos,globular clusters and massive neutrinos

Within the framework of a Gamow cosmology with massive neutrinos a scenario is proposed in which both galactic halos and globular clusters are formed due to the existence of a critical injection mass. Galactic halos are formed at red shift z10–100 by self-gravitating neutrinos, and globular clusters atz10³ by a critical injection mass of primordial plasma (Gamow's Ylem).     

The interstellar and circumnuclear medium of active nuclei traced by H <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">i</Emphasis> 21 cm absorption

This review summarises what we have learnt in the last two decades based on H i 21 cm absorption observations about the cold interstellar medium (ISM) in the central regions of active galaxies and about the interplay between this gas and the active nucleus (AGN). H i absorption is a powerful tracer on all scales, from the parsec-scales close to the central black hole to structures of many tens of kpc tracing interactions and mergers of galaxies. Given the strong radio continuum emission often associated with the central activity, H i absorption observations can be used to study the H i near an active nucleus out to much higher redshifts than is possible using H i emission. In this way, H i absorption has been used to characterise in detail the general ISM in active galaxies, to trace the fuelling of radio-loud AGN, to study the feedback occurring between the energy released by the active nucleus and the ISM, and the impact of such interactions on the evolution of galaxies and of their AGN. In the last two decades, significant progress has been made in all these areas. It is now well established that many radio loud AGN are surrounded by small, regularly rotating gas disks that contain a significant fraction of H i. The structure of these disks has been traced down to parsec scales by very long baseline interferometry observations. Some groups of objects, and in particular young and recently restarted radio galaxies, appear to have a particularly high detection rate of H i. This is interesting in connection with the evolution of these AGN and their impact on the surrounding ISM. This is further confirmed by an important discovery, made thanks to technical upgrades of radio telescopes, namely the presence of fast, AGN-driven outflows of cold gas which give a direct view of the impact of the energy released by AGN on the evolution of galaxies (AGN feedback). In addition, evidence has been collected that clouds of cold gas can play a role in fuelling the nuclear activity. This review ends by briefly describing the upcoming large, blind H i absorption surveys planned for the new radio telescopes which will soon become operational. These surveys will allow to significantly expand existing work, but will also allow to explore new topics, in particular, the evolution of the cold ISM in AGN.     

Seasonal variations of exposure biomarkers, oxidative stress responses and cell damage in the clams, Tapes philippinarum, and mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis, from Adriatic sea

This work investigated the natural variability of several biomarkers in Tapes philippinarum and Mytilus galloprovincialis, sampled from Northern Adriatic where these organisms are important sentinel species for future environmental impact assessment. Levels of metallothioneins, peroxisomal enzymes and acetylcholinesterase, showed a significant seasonality and marked differences between clams and mussels. Among antioxidant enzymes, catalase and GST decreased during the warmer period, the latter enzyme activity resulting particularly high in clams. The total oxyradical scavenging capacity toward peroxyl radicals decreased in mussels from winter to summer, indicating a prooxidant challenge due to higher seawater temperature and intensity of light irradiance. Lysosomal membrane stability did not exhibit significant seasonal variations, while some variations were observed for DNA damages. Overall results indicated a significant influence of seasonal variability on several biomarkers and species-specific differences which should be considered to discriminate the appearance of anthropogenic disturbance.     

Scaling laws and coherent structures in the solar wind

The interplanetary medium is characterized by a very high Reynolds number and is pervaded by fluctuations providing information on a wide range of scales, from fractions of second up to the solar rotation period. In the past decade or so, turbulence in the solar wind has been used as a large wind tunnel to investigate scaling laws of turbulent fluctuations and multifractal models. Moreover, new interesting insights in the theory of turbulence have been derived from the point of view which considers a turbulent flow as a complex system, a sort of benchmark for the theory of dynamical systems. Important finding like the lack of a strict self-similarity of the fluctuations with the consequent nonapplicability of strict scale invariance, the strong anisotropy of velocity and magnetic field fluctuations, the clear lack of equipartition between magnetic and kinetic fluctuations all contributed to suggest the idea that interplanetary fluctuations could possibly be due to a mixture of propagating waves and static structures convected by the wind. In this paper we further discuss this point and bring new evidence about the fact that the presence of a background magnetic field introduces not only a symmetry breaking in interplanetary space but also organizes fluctuations about its large scale orientation.     

Relativistic Behavior and Equitemporal Surfaces in Ultra-Relativistic Prompt Emission Phase of Gamma-Ray Bursts

In this work we study a role of baryon load and interstellarmediumdensity to explain the nature of peaks in the ultra-relativistic prompt emission (UPE) phase of Gamma-ray Bursts (GRBs). We study the behavior of their Γ Lorenz factor fromthe moment of transparency all the way up to interstellarmedium. We finally study the characteristic of equitemporal surfaces in the UPE phase.     

Geochemistry and Geotectonic Setting of Neoproterozoic Rocks from Northern Ethiopia (Arabian-Nubian Shield)

Whole-rock geochemical analysis of metavolcanic and plutonic rocks from Mai Kenetal-Negash area, Tigrai, northern Ethiopia was carried out to evaluate their magma type and original tectonic environment. Their major element content has been modified by secondary alteration, and trace and rare-earth elements have been used to investigate their petrogenesis. The low content of compatible elements of the metavolcanic rocks and their relatively high content of incompatible elements and light REE point to a depleted source region, whereas the plutonic rocks show a more pronounced REE fractionation (La_N/Lu_N >4). Metavolcanic and plutonic rocks seem to be cogenetic. Discriminant diagrams suggest that the majority of the metavolcanic and all the plutonic rocks are members of a calc-alkaline suite developed in a volcanic arc setting. The overall geochemical characteristics of both sets of rocks are consistent with the arc accretion models postulated in Sudan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia for the Neoproterozoic evolution of the Arabian-Nubian Shield.     

How basin model results enable the study of multi-layer aquifer response to pumping: the Paris Basin, France

The Albian aquifer of the Paris Basin (France) has been exploited since 1841 and shows drastic drawdown. A three-dimensional (3D) groundwater flow model is used to study the hydrodynamic response of the multi-layered aquifers to pumping activity in the Albian, at basin scale over 167 years. This 3D flow model uses geometry and hydrodynamic parameter distributions that are inherited from a genetic approach through basin modelling, the basin model creating a geometric pattern of hydrodynamic properties constrained by geological history. The paper aims to promote the use of the basin model approach (long time scale, 248 Ma) for the study of deep-aquifer response to anthropogenic perturbation (short time scale, 167 years) in situations for which hydrodynamic data are scarce but geological data are numerous. The results show that parameter distribution is insufficient to reproduce the Albian aquifer behaviour, notably highlighting a different meaning of the specific storage coefficient between basin modelling and groundwater-flow modelling. Dividing the storage coefficient by 100 and including available transmissivity data significantly improved the model/data comparison. The potential impact on a deep aquitard is then discussed. This study sheds light on the advantages and limitations of the basin model approach for groundwater-flow modelling in 3D.     

Time-course evaluation of ROS-mediated toxicity in mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis, during a field translocation experiment

Harbours can be considered as model environments for developing and validating field monitoring procedures and to investigate mechanistic relationships between different biological responses. In this study several biomarkers were investigated in marine mussels caged for 4 weeks (June–July 2001) into an industrialized harbour of NW Italy. Organisms were collected at different time-intervals to better characterize the sensitivity, temporal variations and interactions of analysed responses. Besides single antioxidants the total oxyradical scavenging capacity (TOSC) assay was used to analyse the capability of the whole antioxidant system to neutralize specific forms of radicals: these data were further integrated by measurement of DNA integrity, oxidized bases and the impairment of lysosomal membrane stability in haemocytes. Results showed a biphasic trend for single antioxidants and TOSC, with an increase during the first 2 weeks of exposure to the polluted site followed by a progressive decrease up to a severe depletion in the final part of the experiment.     

Investigating the redox sensitivity of para-toluenesulfonamide (p-TSA) in groundwater

The groundwater downstream of a former sewage irrigation farm in Berlin is contaminated with ammonium (NH₄ ⁺) and para-toluenesulfonamide (p-TSA), besides other anthropogenic pollutants. In the field, in situ removal of NH₄ ⁺ by gaseous oxygen (O₂) and air injection is currently being tested. A laboratory column experiment using aquifer material and groundwater from the site was performed to determine whether this remediation technology is also feasible to reduce high p-TSA concentrations in the anoxic groundwater. First, the column was operated under anoxic conditions. Later, compressed air was introduced into the system to simulate oxic conditions. Samples were collected from the column outlet before and after the addition of compressed air. The experiment revealed that whereas p-TSA was not removed under anoxic conditions, it was almost fully eliminated under oxic conditions. Results were modelled using a transient one-dimensional solute transport model. The degradation rate constants for p-TSA increased from 2.8E−06 to 7.5E−05 s^–1 as a result of microbial adaption to the change of redox conditions. Results show that O₂ injection into an anoxic aquifer is a successful strategy for p-TSA remediation.