The La Luna formation: chemostratigraphy and organic facies in the Middle Magdalena Basin

A detailed geochemical study and a sequence stratigraphic interpretation have been conducted on a sedimentary sequence of the Upper Cretaceous La Luna Formation, in a section outcropping in the eastern flank of the Middle Magdalena Basin (MMB), Colombia. The goals were to evaluate geochemical variability related to lithofacies and organic facies changes, characterize depositional environment and investigate the possible relationship between geochemical data and sequence stratigraphic cycles. The La Luna Formation is composed of organic-rich sediments of monotonous appearance, with good to excellent potential for oil generation. Most of the bulk, petrographic and biomarker parameters display a relatively narrow range of variation. However, the geochemical variations are sufficient to differentiate organic facies types B, BC and C in the Salada Member, B and D in the Pujamana Member and B in the Galembo Member. Certain biomarker ratios are consistent within the La Luna Formation and are characteristic of its depositional environment, for example, average ratios of diasterane/sterane are lower than 1, Ts/Tm averages are less than 0.33, the C₃₅/C₃₄ hopane ratio is more than 0.92, and oleanane/C₃₀ hopane ratios range from 0.02 to 0.19. Regarding depositional condition indicators, the C₃₅/C₃₄ hopane ratio shows a good positive correlation with HI. This suggests that in carbonate environment changes in this parameter are more strongly related to redox condition than to changes in carbonate content. Regarding the possible relationship between organic matter characteristics and sea level changes, in regressive carbonate shelves during shallow stages, HI tends to increase and TOC tends to decrease, while in regressive siliciclastic shelves, both TOC and HI decrease continuously. Some biomarker ratios (oleanane/C₃₀ hopane, C₂₀/C₂₃ tricyclic, Ts/Tm) increase during base level falls. Regarding δ ¹³C/¹²C isotope composition, the aromatic fraction and whole bitumen display an isotopic shift associated to the main deepening event in the section.     

Electronic and magnetic structure of vivianite: cluster molecular orbital calculations

The electronic and magnetic structure of the octahydrophosphate vivianite, Fe₃(PO₄)₂·8H₂O, has been investigated by cluster molecular orbital calculations in local spin density approximation. Optical and Mössbauer spectra are well reproduced by the calculations, and the differences between the two iron sites can be correlated with differences in the geometrical structure of the first coordination sphere. The spin structure within the crystallographic ac plane is derived and explained on the basis of different superexchange pathways via edges of the phosphate tetrahedra. The calculations demonstrate that quite large clusters (up to 118 atoms) are necessary to arrive at reliable results.     

氩同位素分馏的实验研究

尽管⁴⁰Ar和36Ar之间质量相差达1/10,但是受放射性成因⁴⁰Ar的影响,一般认为难以进行氩同位素分馏研究.本文通过自行设计的一套氩扩散迁移实验分析系统,对比研究了氩在不同的扩散介质条件下扩散迁移前后氩同位素组成变化情况,证实氩在致密的扩散介质条件下以分子流形式从一个储库向另一个储库的迁移过程中,由于36Ar和⁴⁰Ar的迁移速率不同,扩散后的⁴⁰Ar/36Ar值比扩散前的值要小,也即发生了氩同位素分馏.氩同位素分馏的特征表现为最初的一段时间内分馏程度逐步增强,在一定时间后,由于储库之间压力逐渐达到平衡,分馏程度逐步减小.研究自然界中存在的氩同位素分馏,不仅可以判别油气田中油气运移的方向、增强油气远景评价和地球化学勘探,而且对深源岩浆的起源、迁移等研究也可提供新的研究思路和途径.     

GM trees on trial in a field: Reductionism, risks and intractable biological objects

Identification of GM plants with their internal molecular-genetic qualities serves transformation of living organisms into identifiable commodities and objects of regulation. From molecular reductionist assumptions it also follows that scientific research is to be based on experiments that allow analysis of genetic influence in isolation. In this paper, I analyse molecular reductionism ‘in action’ by means of an ethnographic case study, focusing on the practices and transformations through which a field trial of transgenic trees created understanding of the risks or risklessness of the trees. The results show how the mobilisation of the field trial design, choosing of key analytical scales and formation of the research team stabilised the paths that experimentation was to follow. The scientists took the emerging inconsistencies and surprises calmly, indicating that unexpected events are an essential part of a scientific process. However, surprises could matter only in relation to the testing arrangements. Therefore, what could become visible and what could make a difference for the constitution of risk/risklessness were the fluctuations that the particular analytical assemblages defined as significant from the outset. Meanwhile, it was impossible to treat the trees and the field ecosystem as mutually constitutive. Nevertheless, there is no reason to think of knowledge production concerning transgenic organisms in deterministic terms. First, scientists are bound to be complexly engaged with the ecosystems that they are supposed to sort out. Second, consideration of the public lessons of experiments may elicit problems and limitations of molecular reductionism.     

Interactions between molecular outflows and optical jets

Young stars produce both molecular outflows and, at a later evolutionary stage, well-collimated optical jets. The simplest explanation is that the molecular outflows are driven byobscured optical jets, rather than directly, by a disk wind for example, but the optical jets appear to have too small a momentum flux. Recent statistical studies however show that the molecular flows must be quasi-stationary, which means that the dynamical lifetime is a gross underestimate of the true age. As a consequence much less thrust is required. We present recent observations of RNO 43, which has well-defined optical and molecular outflows lying close to the plane of the sky. Excellent agreement with the observations is obtained with a simple kinematic model for the molecular material, which supposes that it lies in a parabolic shell around the optical jet with the highest velocities at the working surface. Together with our modelling of the NGC2024 outflow, this is very strong evidence that molecular outflows are produced by prompt entrainment of molecular material in a neutral or weakly-ionized jet.     

Total and pyrogenic carbon stocks in black spruce forest floors from eastern Canada

Pyrogenic carbon (PyC), a by-product of recurrent boreal wildfires, is an important component of the global soil C pool, although precise assessment of boreal PyC stock is scarce. The overall objective of this study was to estimate total C stock and PyC stock in forest floors of Eastern Canada boreal forests. We also investigated the environmental conditions controlling the stocks and characterized the composition of the forest floor layers. Forest floor samples were collected from mesic black spruce sites recently affected by fire (3–5 yr) and analyzed using elemental analysis and solid state ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. PyC content was further estimated using a molecular mixing model. Total C stock in forest floors averaged 5.7 ± 2.9 kg C/m² and PyC stock 0.6 ± 0.3 kg C/m². Total stock varied with position in the landscape, with a greater accumulation of organic material on northern aspects and lower slope positions. In addition, total stock was significantly higher in spruce-dominated forest floors than stands where jack pine was present. The PyC stock was significantly related to the atomic H/C ratio (R² 0.84) of the different organic layers. ¹³C NMR spectroscopy revealed a large increase in aromatic carbon in the deepest forest floor layer (humified H horizon) at the organic-mineral soil interface. The majority of the PyC stock was located in this horizon and had been formed during past high severity fires rather than during the most recent fire event.     

海水痕量元素——有机配体的配分特征与影响因素研究进展

在痕量元素的海洋生物地球化学循环过程中,有机配体直接控制痕量元素在不同形态及粒径范围内的分配,进而影响痕量元素的迁移转化过程和生物可利用性。深入研究海水中痕量元素-有机配体的配分特征及影响因素,明确有机配体分子量组分及其对痕量元素的配合作用差异,对于了解痕量元素的生物地球化学行为,评估痕量元素的生物可利用性和毒性效应均具有十分重要的意义。对海水中痕量元素-有机配体的分布规律、配分特征及盐度、pH、氧化还原条件和生物活动对配体的影响进行了系统总结。海水中的有机配体一般以低分子量部分为主体,配合能力因元素性质差异存在随分子量增加而提高或降低的不同趋势。除此之外,有机配体的结构、配合能力及分子量分布随水体各物理化学参数的变化而改变。盐度的增加会降低有机配体相邻官能团的静电排斥力从而降低配体的配合能力,还会导致高分子量金属有机配合物发生絮凝和降解而去除。pH的增加不仅可以促使有机配体离子化,还能促进部分痕量元素水解为与有机配体亲和力更高的形式,提高有机配体配合率。氧化还原环境同时影响了痕量元素的价态和有机配体的浓度,间接影响痕量元素-有机配体的配合率。浮游植物利用及微生物分解可以增加低分子量有机配体的比例,从而提高其配合能力,但当生物遭受过量金属离子的毒性胁迫时,其细胞内会释放胞内配体,将致毒元素转化为配合物并排出体外,从而增加水体中痕量元素高分子量有机配体的浓度。未来应结合有机物结构分析技术及痕量元素分离检测技术,系统研究海洋环境中不同分子量有机配体的结构及与痕量元素配合强度的相互关系,进一步揭示痕量元素的迁移转化过程与生态学意义。     

The Distribution of Trace Elements-Organic Ligands in Seawater and Factors Influencing Their Complexation

Organic metal-binding ligands represent an essential role in the bioavailability of trace elements since they govern the species and sizes of those elements in seawater. The distribution and properties of organic ligands in seawater as well as the factors influencing their complexation abilities were summarized in this paper. Most organic ligands exist in the low molecular weight fraction, and their concentration nearshore is often higher than that of open ocean while the vertical distribution varies in different areas. The complexation of trace elements and organic ligands is influenced by several factors such as molecular weight of organic ligands, salinity, pH, biological activities and redox conditions. Ligand with a lower molecular weight usually represents stronger complexation ability, whereas the opposite seems to be true sometimes due to the specific affinity between some elements and ligands. Increasing salinity lowers the electrostatic repulsion among adjacent functional groups of ligands and thus decreases their complexing rate, yet increasing pH promotes the ionization of organic ligands and results in the formation of more complexes. The utilization of phytoplankton and degradation of microorganism release more low molecular weight organic ligands while more high molecular weight ligands are released from marine organisms under heavy metal stress. Therefore, sufficient significance should be attached to characterizing the structure and molecular weight of organic ligands and exploring the interaction between trace elements and organic ligands and the influence of related marine factors on their behaviors, which will certainly help us to understand the global biogeochemical cycles and ecological significance of trace elements.     

基于三种分子标记的外伶仃岛石珊瑚系统进化关系研究

以广东省珠海市外伶仃岛地区常见的4属5种石珊瑚为研究对象,对线粒体COI、16S rRNA和ITS三种基因片段数据进行分析,并计算了种间遗传距离。序列分析结果表明5种石珊瑚的COI、16S rRNA基因片段碱基AT含量大于GC含量,而ITS序列碱基AT含量小于GC含量;5种石珊瑚种间的三种基因平均遗传距离分别为0.043、0.134和0.763,所得遗传距离结果存在一定差异。将三种基因串联起来并利用邻位连接法(NJ)、最大似然法(ML)和最小进化法(ME)分别构建了分子系统树。在系统发育树中,科一级的系统进化关系与形态学分类一致,但蜂巢珊瑚科内的分子系统分类结果与形态学分类阐述的遗传进化关系略有差别,说明石珊瑚传统分类可能受骨骼可塑性的影响。研究结果为外伶仃岛石珊瑚的亲缘关系研究提供相关基础数据,并为该地区石珊瑚资源保护奠定理论基础。     

The study of evolved stars with ALMA

Intense mass loss occurs for low- and intermediate-mass stars on the asymptotic giant branch (AGB), and for the higher mass (≳8 M_⊙) stars during their red supergiant evolution. These winds affect the evolution of the stars profoundly, creates circumstellar envelopes of gas and dust, as well as enrich the interstellar medium with heavy elements and grain particles. The mass loss characteristics are well-studied, but the basic processes are still not understood in detail, and the mass-loss rate of an individual star cannot be derived from first principles. These objects also provide us with fascinating systems, in which intricate interplays between various physical and chemical processes take place, and their relative simplicity in terms of geometry, density distribution, and kinematics makes them excellent astrophysical laboratories. The review concentrates on the aspects of AGB stars and their mass loss which are of particular interest in connection with ALMA.