A review of diagnostic emission line ratios in the Narrow Line Region of Active Galactic Nuclei

The availability of new observing facilities both from ground and space such as the Keck 10m telescope and the Hubble Space Telescope is casting new light on the spectroscopic investigation of emission line galaxies. In particular, it is now possible to detect spectra with a significantly improved signal to noise ratio in a very wide wavelength range, from the ultraviolet to the near infrared (HST, Keck) and beyond (ISO is unveiling the far infrared domain). As we move to high redshifts, however, it is more likely that the observed spectra are given by the contribution of different components in the galaxy: in particular, this may be the case if an Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN hereafter) emitting a power-law continuum is surrounded by regions with strong star formation activity. The identification of the source which ionizes the line emitting regions is then complicated by the fact that we are observing the integrated spectrum from regions which are ionized by different sources. In this paper we wish to review which line ratios may be used in order to discriminate between photoionization by young stars and power-law continuum in the wavelength range from 1200 Å to 100 μm. To this aim we used the photoionization code Cloudy (Ferland 1996) to present a series of diagnostic diagrams showing the dependence of emission line ratios on the main input parameters of photoionization models in the case of one component models with gaseous clouds ionized by (1) a stellar continuum typical of an HII region and (2) a power-law continuum typical of an AGN: these line ratios are plotted as isoratio maps for different values of the hydrogen density, ionization parameter and slope of the power-law continuum. We then show how the results may be affected by more realistic assumptions about the environment of the ionized gas: to this aim, we show the effects on selected line ratios of (a) the presence of two populations of clouds with different densities and (b) an AGN surrounded by regions with strong star formation activity.     

The influence of light intensity,SO2, NOx and C3H6 on sulfate aerosol formation

The photochemical oxidation of SO₂ in the presence of NO and C₃H₆ was studied in a 18.2 liter pyrex reactor. When light intensity, irradiation time and SO₂ concentration were constant, SO₄ ^2- concentration, derived from the total volume of aerosol produced, peaked when [C₃H₆]/[NO] was approximately 6.0. Another increase im SO₄ ^2- formation was reached at very high ratios (>50). The experimental observations are consistent with the two SO₂ oxidation mechanisms. At low [C₃H₆]/[NO] ratios, the processes proceed via the HO–SO₂ reaction, while at high ratios the O₃–C₃H₆ adduct is assumed to oxidize SO₂ to produce SO₄ ^2- aerosols.     

高氮磷比与酸化共同作用对微小亚历山大藻生长和产毒的影响

通过实验室构建不同氮磷比条件下的酸化海水环境,培养麻痹性贝毒(paralytic shellfish toxin,PST)产毒藻微小亚历山大藻(Alexandrium minutum),采用藻细胞计数法、分光光度法、高效液相色谱-质谱法等分析方法,探讨了不同氮磷比条件下的酸化海水对微小亚历山大藻的生长、氮磷营养盐吸收、产毒等参数的影响。结果表明,在一定程度上,酸化环境对A.minutum的生长、PST的胞内累积和胞外释放有促进作用,且胞外培养液中PST含量增加的程度更高;同时,酸化海水促进胞内毒性较低的N-H类膝沟藻毒素(GTX2和GTX3)被氧化成毒性较高的N-OH类膝沟藻毒素(GTX1和GTX4),导致A.minutum的细胞毒性和培养液毒性增加。而海水中氮磷比的进一步升高,在一定程度上促进了微小亚历山大藻细胞毒素含量和毒性的增加,但并未促进其生长,且降低了藻细胞内的磷储量。     

Isolation of plane shear wave using water saturated trench barrier

The article presents a theoretical investigation of the propagation of normally and obliquely incident plane shear waves past a rectangular trench filled up with water saturated soil sandwiched between anisotropic elastic media. The motivation for this work is due to the effectiveness of the isolation of waves by the in-filled rectangular trench. Unlike the most of the previous researchers, this model considers the soil–structure interaction effects and directly determines the influence of barrier in the form of in-filled trench on the mode of wave propagation. It is of interest to determine the reflection and transmission coefficients, and the energy partition distribution of shear waves in the in-filled rectangular trench showing the influence of barrier on the propagation of waves. An extensive parametric study through numerical computation is carried out to investigate the influence of the material properties of the in-filled trench and the amplitude ratios on shear waves. The in-filled trench barrier directly declines the intensity of waves significantly in such a way that the waves do not create any hazards to the nearby structures, if exists at all.     

Organic Geochemistry of the Early Jurassic Oil Shale from the Shuanghu Area in Northern Tibet and the Early Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event

This paper presents new geological and geochemical data from the Shuanghu area in northern Tibet, which recorded the Early Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event. The stratigraphic succession in the Shuanghu area consists mostly of grey to dark-colored alternating oil shales, marls and mudstones. Ammonite beds are found at the top of the Shuanghu oil shale section, which are principally of early Toarcian age, roughly within the Harplocearasfalciferrum Zone. Therefore,the oil shale strata at Shuanghu can be correlated with early Toarcian black shales distributing extensively in the European epicontinental seas that contain the records of an Oceanic Anoxic Event. Sedimentary organic matter of laminated shale anomalously rich in organic carbon across the Shuanghu area is characterized by high organic carbon contents, ranging from 1.8% to 26.1%. The carbon isotope curve displays the δ^13C values of the kerogen (δ^13Ckerogen) fluctuating from -26.22 to -23.53‰ PDB with a positive excursion close to 2.17‰, which, albeit significantly smaller, may also have been associated with other Early Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Events (OAEs) in Europe. The organic atomic C/N ratios range between 6 and 43, and the curve of C/N ratios is consistent with that of the δ^13Ckerogen values. The biological assemblage,characterized by scarcity of benthic organisms and bloom of calcareous nannofossils (coccoliths), reveals high biological productivity in the surface water and an unfavorable environment for the benthic fauna in the bottom water during the Oceanic Anoxic Event. On the basis of organic geochemistry and characteristics of the biological assemblage, this study suggests that the carbon-isotope excursion is caused by the changes of sea level and productivity, and that the black shale deposition, especially oil shales, is related to the bloom and high productivity of coccoliths.     

渤海湾盆地北西盆山边界地区泊松比分布

泊松比做为了解地球内部介质一个非常重要的参数,在地震学上可以通过P波和S波速度的比值来确定.利用远震P波波形记录中包含的壳-幔速度间断面的Ps转换波及其多次反射/转换波信息,采用在地壳厚度－波速比平面上对接收函数转换波能量的叠加搜索方法,可以测定台站下方区域内地壳的平均厚度和泊松比.我们对渤海湾盆地北西盆山边界地区68个宽频带台站近两年的远震记录资料进行了处理研究,得到了该区域的地壳厚度以及泊松比分布.结果表明,渤海湾盆地北西盆山边界的泊松比值分布横向变化复杂, 山区侧与盆地侧存在明显差异;山区侧泊松比值分布相对均匀,盆地侧变化剧烈,但存在小区域范围内(100～200km)的一致性,与地表出露岩石的对比表明:形成渤海湾盆地的新生代伸展作用在下地壳深度有明显的响应,从地震学上获得的泊松比分布对于了解该地区地壳物质组成可起到很好的约束作用.     

Nutrient chemistry and salinity mapping of the Delhi aquifer,India: source identification perspective

Present study is an effort to distinguish between the contributions of natural weathering and anthropogenic inputs towards high salinity and nutrient concentrations in the groundwater of National Capital Territory (NCT) Delhi, India. Apart from the source identification, the aquifer of entire territory has been characterized and mapped on the basis of salinity in space and water suitability with its depth. Major element chemistry, conventional graphical plots and specific ionic ratio of Na⁺/Cl⁻, SO₄ ²⁻/Cl⁻, Mg²⁺/Ca²⁺ and Ca²⁺/(HCO₃ ⁻ + SO₄ ²⁻) are conjointly used to distinguish different salinization sources. Results suggest that leaching from the various unlined landfill sites and drains is the prime cause of NO₃ ⁻ contamination while study area is highly affected with inland salinity which is geogenic in origin. The seasonal water level fluctuation and rising water level increases nutrients concentration in groundwater. Mixing with old saline sub-surface groundwater and dissolution of surface salts in the salt affected soil areas were identified as the principle processes controlling groundwater salinity through comparison of ionic ratio. Only minor increase of salinity is the result of evaporation effect and pollution inflows. The entire territory has characterized into four groups as fresh, freshening, near freshening and saline with respect to salinity in groundwater. The salinity mapping suggests that in general, for drinking needs, groundwater in the fresh, freshening and near freshening zone is suitable up to a depth of 45, 20 and 12 m, respectively, while the saline zones are unsuitable for any domestic use. In the consideration of increasing demand of drinking water in the area; present study is vital and recommends further isotopic investigations and highlights the need of immediate management action for landfill sites and unlined drains.     

中华哲水蚤(Calanus sinicus)个体核酸含量及其对生长状况的指示作用

采用荧光染色法对黄、东海春、秋季中华哲水蚤(Calanus sinicus)个体核酸含量进行了研究,初步探讨了RNA∶DNA比对中华哲水蚤生长状况的指示作用。结果表明,中华哲水蚤在饥饿培养24h后RNA∶DNA比值显著降低;雄性个体RNA含量和RNA∶DNA比值显著低于雌体和C5期幼体;春、秋季(2009年5月和2010年11月)个体RNA含量和RNA∶DNA比值存在显著的空间变化,两者最高值均出现在近岸;两个月份DNA含量相对稳定,在2.5—3.5μg/ind之间;个体RNA含量和RNA:DNA比值与叶绿素之间显著正相关,说明饵料是中华哲水蚤的生长过程中重要的影响因素。     

Inelastic displacement demands in steel structures and their relationship with earthquake frequency content parameters

This paper deals with the estimation of peak inelastic displacements of SDOF systems, representative of typical steel structures, under constant relative strength scenarios. Mean inelastic deformation demands on bilinear systems (simulating moment resisting frames) are considered as the basis for comparative purposes. Additional SDOF models representing partially‐restrained and concentrically‐braced (CB) frames are introduced and employed to assess the influence of different force‐displacement relationships on peak inelastic displacement ratios. The studies presented in this paper illustrate that the ratio between the overall yield strength and the strength during pinching intervals is the main factor governing the inelastic deformations of partially‐restrained models and leading to significant differences when compared with predictions based on bilinear structures, especially in the short‐period range. It is also shown that the response of CB systems can differ significantly from other pinching models when subjected to low or moderate levels of seismic demand, highlighting the necessity of employing dedicated models for studying the response of CB structures. Particular attention is also given to the influence of a number of scalar parameters that characterise the frequency content of the ground motion on the estimated peak displacement ratios. The relative merits of using the average spectral period T_aver, mean period T_m, predominant period T_g, characteristic period T_c and smoothed spectral predominant period T_o of the earthquake ground motion, are assessed. This paper demonstrates that the predominant period, defined as the period at which the input energy is maximum throughout the period range, is the most suitable frequency content scalar parameter for reducing the variability in displacement estimations. Finally, noniterative equivalent linearisation expressions based on the secant period and equivalent damping ratios are presented and verified for the prediction of peak deformation demands in steel structures. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Spatial and temporal variations of sedimented organic matter in Xiaohai Lagoon, Hainan Island

The characteristics of grain-size,total organic carbon(TOC) and total nitrogen(TN) contents,TOC/TN ratios,stable carbon isotope(δ13C) and 210 Pb dating were measured in six sediment cores from the Xiaohai Lagoon.The results show distinct spatial and temporal variations in sedimentation patterns.The sediments are dominated by clayey silt,sandy silt and by silty sand in the southern,middle lagoon and the northern lagoon,respectively.TOC and TN contents decline from south to north.Sedimentation rates,determined by 210 Pb dating,tend to decrease from south to middle.However,the determination of sedimentation rate in the north is difficult.These spatial variations are related to the variations in sediment sources and hydrodynamic conditions in the Xiaohai Lagoon.The variations of organic matter signatures can be divided into two stages in the cores from the southern and middle lagoon.Before 1988,the organic matter signatures are relatively stable.The contribution of terrestrial organic carbon sources varies between 60% and 85%.After 1988,the organic matter signatures demonstrate significant variations.TOC and TN contents increase rapidly,TOC/TN ratios decrease,δ13C values shift to higher and the contribution of terrestrial organic carbon sources decreases to 40%-50%.The contributions of phytoplankton organic matter have increased in the sediment since 1988.Increasing aquaculture activities have had a significant impact on organic matter signatures since 1988.The sedimentation rates have increased rapidly in the southern and middle lagoon since 1988 due to the anthropogenic activities which include aquaculture,mining and deforestation.These activities have caused eutrophication and increased siltation in the southern and middle lagoon.