Modeling the biodegradation of phenolic compounds by microalgae

Phenols represent a group of organic pollutants frequently found in many near-shore marine systems. The microbial degradation of phenols, mainly by bacteria and fungi, has been extensively studied both experimentally and theoretically, but only relatively recently the capabilities of some algae for phenols biodegradation gained interest. The biodegradation of phenols by microalgae occurs only under aerobic conditions. In this paper, a dynamic energy budget model is proposed for describing aerobic biodegradation of phenolic compounds by microalgae and qualitatively validated against experimental data. A microalgal cell has the ability to produce biomass via the autotrophic assimilation (uptake of light and dissolved inorganic carbon), the heterotrophic assimilation (uptake of dissolved organic carbon) and, to a lesser extend, via the biodegradation of phenols. The rules of synthesizing units are used for the uptake and interactions of substrates and for the merging of assimilates. The model is capable of making predictions under oxygen and carbon (inorganic and organic) limiting conditions. Model predictions cover a wide range of experimental evidence, but also give a possible explanation for the inhibition of bioremoval of phenols in the presence of glucose. The dissolved oxygen profiles numerically observed show low oxygen concentration during the intermediate phase of the biodegradation process and a rapid increase after the consumption of the phenolic compound, indicating that lack of oxygen could be a limiting factor for the biodegradation of phenols. The presence of glucose increases the specific growth rate but decreases the specific biodegradation rate of the phenolic compound. Model analysis suggests that this inhibition may be due to the competition for oxygen between glucose and phenol assimilation. In general, the balance between the benefits and costs of the different types of assimilation determines the microalgal growth rates as well as the phenol biodegradation rates. Being based on general assumptions, the model can be applied to the biodegradation of a wide variety of aromatic compounds.     

Paleolimnological investigations of anthropogenic change in Lake Tanganyika: VIII. Hydrological evaluation of two contrasting watersheds of the Lake Tanganyika catchment

This study was conducted to delineate the impact of human activities on stream flow and water chemistry as well as other factors that influence the chemical character of both surface and groundwater in two contrasting watersheds of the Lake Tanganyika catchment. The study sites the Mwamgongo and Mitumba streams along the northern Tanzanian coastline of the lake are representative of disturbed and undisturbed watersheds, respectively, but are quite similar in other characteristics of slope, bedrock geology and size. Separation of stream flow components was undertaken using classical hydrograph analysis along with chemical methods using both Cl and ¹⁸O data. All the data show that groundwater accounts for the predominant source of total stream flow in both the Mwamgongo and Mitumba watersheds (65 and 70% respectively). The streams have an average ¹⁸O of about -3.0% and less than 10 mg/l for Cl. The basin recession constants of 9.4×10^-3-d^-1 and 9.6×10^-3-d^-1 for Mwamgongo and Mitumba, respectively, indicate existence of both fissured and fractured aquifer systems. The chemical data exhibit low values of all determined ions. This supported the hypothesis that natural processes influence the water chemical character of the study area. An Mg–HCO₃ type of water dominates in the two watersheds. Despite their similar size and bedrock character the Mwamgongo watershed has an order of magnitude in sediment transport than the Mitumba one. The data show that the disturbed watershed discharges less groundwater and more sediments, and has a poorer water quality than the forested Mitumba watershed, which lies within the Gombe National Park. The data show that soil erosion processes are more active at Mwamgongo, and that both the surface runoff component of the total stream flow and increased dissolved salt load is greater in the deforested Mwamgongo watershed than in the Mitumba watershed. The chloride and ¹⁸O data complemented each other in delineating the amounts of groundwater in the total stream flow as the results using both data differed insignificantly. It may be concluded that the undisturbed watershed has a higher retention of good quality water and traps more sediments than the disturbed one. In addition, the groundwater component plays a dominant role in the total annual stream flow at each watershed.     

东亚—西北太平洋海平面气压场的动力特征分析

东亚—西北太平洋地区的海平面气压直接反映了低层大气的环流特征,其动力特征对大气环流形势,气压系统的演变和天气、气候系统的发展等都有显著的影响.因此,深入分析东亚—西北太平洋地区海平面气压场的时空演变特征,对于提高我国的天气和气候预报具有重要意义.为了从非线性动力学的角度进行深入研究,文中使用了一种新方法来定量估算海平面...     

Contributions to storm quickflow in a small headwater catchment—the role of natural pipes and soil macropores

Analysis of hydrographs from a 4·3 hectare stream head catchment indicates that storm runoff is generated from dynamic source areas. The volume and timing of contributions from different parts of the catchment show, when compared with the extent of surface saturation, that pipeflow generated from areas not saturated at the soil surface is a significant component of the quickflow hydrograph. A simple model of pipeflow generation and contribution is discussed in the light of field results.     

L'unité ophiolitique de Pineto (Corse) : signification du détritisme continental dans sa couverture de flysch albo-cénomanien

The Jurassic N-MORB ophiolites of the Pineto Unit, which were unaffected by Alpine metamorphism, can be compared to the Apennine ophiolites. They are, however, distinguished by their cover rocks that include a silico-clastic flysch that we have dated as Albian–Cenomanian. Clastic deposits of the same type, but coarser grained, are known from the normal cover rocks of the Balagne Nappe E-MORB ophiolites, originally located on a thinned continental crust and/or near a continental margin. The Pineto Unit thus indicates that the detrital input of continental material was able to extend to a domain of clearly oceanic character in the Ligurian palaeo-ocean. To cite this article: M. Durand-Delga et al., C. R. Geoscience 337 (2005).     

Filtrate Quality from Different Filter Operations

A brief review of the literature on filtrate quality obtained in constant and variable declining rate operation systems is presented, with the general conclusion that both systems usually produce filtrate of similar quality, assuming the flow‐rate controllers in the constant flow rate system operate properly. A mathematical model of CR (constant rate) filters and VDR (variable declining rate) filters based on the model by Mackie and Zhao (1999) has been described and used to investigate filtrate quality under different operating conditions. A similar quality of filtrate was achieved in computations carried out for both modes of operation, while the total head loss was much lower in the VDR mode. For the same time of filter runs slightly better filtration quality resulted from CR operation, but for different filter runs resulting from the same head loss of flow just before a backwash, the VDR control system produced lower turbidity filtrate.     

Seismic attribute study for gas hydrates in the Andaman Offshore India

Seismic data from the Andaman offshore region has been examined to investigate for the presence of gas hydrates. The seismic data displays reflection characteristics such as blanking, enhanced reflection patterns, shadows in instantaneous frequency, and increase in amplitude with the offset, which are indicative of gas hydrates and underlying free gas. A prominent bottom-simulating reflection, BSR, coupled with reverse polarity is observed around 650–700 ms. Seismic attributes such as the reflection strength and instantaneous frequency are computed along this reflector in order to probe for the presence of gas hydrates or free gas in this region. The reflection plot shows a strong reflector paralleling the seafloor. In addition, attenuation of the high frequency signal is noticed, indicating the presence of free gas below the BSR.     

Triassic metasedimentary successions across the boundary between the southern Apennines and the Calabrian Arc (northern Calabria,Italy)

The boundary area between the Apenninic fold‐and‐thrust belt and the crystalline Calabrian Arc, located around Sangineto in northern Calabria, has been investigated. New geological mapping in the Sant'Agata area has been performed on the Triassic successions traditionally attributed to the metasedimentary San Donato Unit. This, coupled with a reappraisal of the stratigraphy and tectonics of coeval successions present more to the south in the Cetraro Unit, results in a new reconstruction of the Triassic evolution of all the metasedimentary successions found in the region. Four informal stratigraphic units have been distinguished in the S. Agata area. The lowest one (Unit A) consists of well‐bedded metalimestones and bioturbated marly limestones that correlate with Ladinian–Carnian carbonates in nearby areas. A second unit (Unit B), never recognized before, contains a complex alternation of dolomites, phyllites and some meta‐arenites containing several beds of Cavernoso facies, attributed to the Carnian. They grade upward to platform and platform‐margin dolomites of Norian–Rhaetian age (Unit C) that in turn are replaced upward and laterally by a fourth unit (Unit D) consisting of well‐bedded, dark dolomites and metalimestones with marly interlayers locally found as resedimented large blocks in slope conglomerates. Unit D correlates with Rhaetian–Liassic beds in nearby areas. Several pieces of evidence of post‐metamorphic contractional tectonics, with 140°N and 30°N trends, are found together with evidence of SW‐directed extension. The siliciclastic Carnian beds of Unit B are correlated with the phyllites of Cetraro, formerly believed to be Middle Triassic; moreover, it is suggested that in the Cetraro area Unit C is almost totally replaced by Unit D. This demonstrates that the former distinction between the two tectonic units in the whole area has to be discarded. We have made a general palaeoenvironmental reconstruction which progresses laterally, during Ladinian–Carnian times, from (i) a coastal, mixed siliciclastic–carbonate–evaporitic area at Cetraro to (ii) a transitional carbonate shelf where siliciclastic input was only episodic, and finally to (iii) a bioconstructed margin which was later replaced by a steepened margin created by tectonic instability. Starting from the Norian, subsidence shifted toward the former coastal area where an intraplatform, restricted basin developed. The proposed stratigraphy corresponds closely to the Alpujarride units of the Betic Cordillera, Spain. Moreover, it is shown that strong affinities also exist, in terms of the structural framework, with the metamorphic units of Tuscany and Liguria. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

地震信号瞬时频率的估算

本文比较了四类计算瞬时频率的方法.基于相位差分的方法对噪声敏感;基于零交叉点的方法是针对周期信号提出的,对非周期信号效果不理想,通过插值改善估算结果;基于FIR微分器的方法有三种,基于两点的FIR方法与标准公式较为接近,但会引入半个采样间隔的时移;基于三点的FIR方法可以消除时移,但计算结果会出现负频尖峰;Claerbout方法不仅会引入半个采样间隔的时移,而且估算的频率值可能超过Nyqusit频率.本文在Claerbout公式的基础上导出了一种估算瞬时频率的公式,该公式消除了时移,且负频尖峰也得到抑制;基于时频表示一阶矩的方法的计算结果较为平滑,同时具有一定的抗噪能力.最后用本文导出的公式和时频表示一阶矩两种方法计算了南海东北部一条地震剖面的瞬时频率,并将其结果与Seismic Unix中相关函数的计算结果做了比较,表明本文导出公式的计算结果较为理想.     

Multi-temporal relations between runoff and sediment load based on variable structure cointegration theory

Microscopic and macroscopic multi-temporal correlations between runoff and sediment load were analyzed to reveal the relations between them in the source region of the Yellow River using the complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise method (CEEMDAN) and cointegration theory. Subsequently, multi-temporal models of runoff and sediment load with structural breaks were developed. The results revealed the following points. (1) The runoff and sediment load relations differed at multi-time scales. Multi-temporal cointegration could reveal the relation between runoff and sediment load at micro scales. (2) A comparison of the original model, composite model 1, and composite model 2 revealed that the multi-temporal cointegration model is better than the original model. (3) The variable structure cointegration model of the runoff and sediment load relation had the highest simulation accuracy, and the smallest average relative error for the simulated runoff was 7.82%. Composite model 2 could more accurately reflect the long-term equilibrium and short-term fluctuating relations between the runoff and sediment load in the source region of the Yellow River.