Mineralogical characterization of potential targets for the ASTEX mission scenario

In-situ investigation of asteroids is the next logical step in understanding their exact surface mineralogy, petrology, elemental abundances, particle size distribution, internal structure, and collisional evolution. Near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) provide us with ample opportunities for in-situ scientific exploration with lower Δv requirements and subsequently lower costs than their main belt counterparts. The ASTEX mission concept aims at surface characterization of two compositionally diverse NEAs, one with primitive and the other with a strong thermally evolved surface mineralogy. Here we present the first results of our ground-based characterization of potential ASTEX mission targets using the SpeX instrument on the NASA IRTF. Of the four potential targets we characterized, two (1991 JW and 1998 PA) have compositions similar to ordinary chondrite mineralogy. The other two targets (1994 CC and 1999 TA10) are thermally evolved objects with igneous formation histories. While 1994 CC is a triplet system and thus very challenging to orbit the V-type NEA, 1999 TA10 is the most interesting scientific ASTEX target identified so far.     

Characterization of Sediments for Sustainable Development: State of the Art

Sediments are the particulate matter that are transported by the flow of water and eventually get deposited at the bottom of water bodies, such as oceans, rivers, lagoons, and so forth. The deposition of these materials due to continued intervention of natural as well as anthropogenic activities is a serious concern as the storage capacity (or health) of the system is reduced or otherwise affected. Keeping in view the emerging challenges associated with proper disposal and subsequent utilization of sediments, as a manmade resource, their extraction from such locations becomes necessary. Hence, it is essential to characterize the sediments in order to devise strategies to exploit them as a manmade resource in the best possible manner. With this in view, this article highlights the importance of different attributes and aspects of the sediments (viz., physical, chemical, morphological, geotechnical, toxicological, and microbial characteristics) deposited in the water bodies that will help in assessing their potential as a substitute material to natural resources.     

The Seashell Wastes as Biosorbent for Reactive Dye Removal from Textile Effluents

This study investigates structural and adsorption properties of the powdered waste shells of Rapana gastropod and their use as a new cheap adsorbent to remove reactive dye Brilliant Red HE‐3B from aqueous solutions under batch conditions. For the powder shells characterization, solubility tests in acidic solutions and X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX), Fourier transform IR spectroscopy (FT‐IR) and thermogravimetric analyses were performed. The results revealed that the adsorbent surface is heterogeneous consisting mainly from calcium carbonate layers (either calcite or aragonite) and a small amount of organic macromolecules (proteins and polysaccharides). The dye adsorptive potential of gastropod shells powder was evaluated as function of initial solution pH (1–5), adsorbent dose (6–40 g L^?1), dye concentration (50–300 mg L^?1), temperature (5–60°C), and contact time (0–24 h). It was observed that the maximum values of dye percentage removal were obtained at the initial pH of solution 1.2, shells dose of 40 g L^?1, dye initial concentration of 50–50 mg L^?1 and higher temperatures; the equilibrium time decreases with increasing of dye concentration. It is proved that the waste seashell powder can be used as low cost bioinorganic adsorbent for dyes removal from textile wastewaters.     

菲律宾蛤仔碱性磷酸酶的分离纯化及部分性质研究

经Tris-HCl缓冲液浸提、硫酸铵分级沉淀盐析、DEAE-Sepharose Fast Flow离子交换层析和Sephadex G-75凝胶过滤层析等步骤,从菲律宾蛤仔内脏团中分离得到碱性磷酸酶,SDS-PAGE显示为单一条带,提纯倍数为14.42,比活力达到131.08U/mg。酶学性质研究表明:该酶亚基分子量约44kD,最适反应温度为45℃,最适pH值为9.0,米氏常数Km为0.098mmol/L,最大反应速度Vmax为1.01μmol/(mL·min)。Ca2+、Mg2+对酶活力表现出显著的激活作用。     

地下储层表征的不确定性及科学思维方法

由于地质的复杂性和资料的不完备性,地下储层表现为“灰箱”系统,表征结果存在着不确定性.基于系统论和科学哲学的方法,探讨了地下储层表征中不确定性的成因类型、内涵及解决方案,并论述了地下储层表征过程中所应重视的科学思维方法.地下储层表征中存在两类基本的不确定性类型:①随机不确定性,主要由局部预测整体(如应用多井资料进行井间储层预测)以及第二性资料的非完全映射(如应用地震资料预测储层)所致;②模糊不确定性,主要由储层概念模式认知不足所致.为了使表征结果逼近地质实际,除了正确应用和创新相关理论和方法外,需要具备科学的表征理念和思维,包括总体把握、分级约束,多科一体、地质为核,发散求索、聚焦论证,辩证思维、综合分析;同时,应正确理解和处理宏观与微观、绝对与相对、静态与动态、映射与多解、局部与整体、模糊与置信、确定与随机、个别与一般、复杂与简约、手工与自动等矛盾统一体的关系.     

On characterizing the temporal dominance patterns of model parameters and processes

Diagnostic analyses of hydrological models intend to improve the understanding of how processes and their dynamics are represented in models. Temporal patterns of parameter dominance could be precisely characterized with a temporally resolved parameter sensitivity analysis. In this way, the discharge conditions are characterized, that lead to a parameter dominance in the model. To achieve this, the analysis of temporal dynamics in parameter sensitivity is enhanced by including additional information in a three‐tiered framework on different aggregation levels. Firstly, temporal dynamics of parameter sensitivity provide daily time series of their sensitivities to detect variations in the dominance of model parameters. Secondly, the daily sensitivities are related to the flow duration curve (FDC) to emphasize high sensitivities of model parameters in relation to specific discharge magnitudes. Thirdly, parameter sensitivities are monthly averaged separately for five segments of the FDC to detect typical patterns of parameter dominances for different discharge magnitudes. The three methodical steps are applied on two contrasting catchments (upland and lowland catchment) to demonstrate how the temporal patterns of parameter dynamics represent different hydrological regimes. The discharge dynamic in the lowland catchment is controlled by groundwater parameters for all discharge magnitudes. In contrast, different processes are relevant in the upland catchment, because the dominances of parameters from fast and slow runoff components in the upland catchment are changing over the year for the different discharge magnitudes. The joined interpretation of these three diagnostic steps provides deeper insights of how model parameters represent hydrological dynamics in models for different discharge magnitudes. Thus, this diagnostic framework leads to a better characterization of model parameters and their temporal dynamics and helps to understand the process behaviour in hydrological models. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Assessing the feasibility of integrating remote sensing and in-situ measurements in monitoring water quality status of Lake Chivero,Zimbabwe

This work investigates the likelihood of integrating the cheap and readily-available broadband multispectral MODIS data and in-situ measurements in quantifying and monitoring water quality status of an inland lake within Upper Manyame Catchment in Zimbabwe. Specifically we used MODIS images to quantify inland lake chlorophyll_a concentrations, as a proxy for predicting lake pollution levels. The findings of this study show a high chlorophyll_a concentration of 0.101 ± 0.128 μg/L within the Lake. The results further demonstrated that the chlorophyll_a concentration levels did not significantly vary (p = 0.788) between sites, except among depths (p = 0.05). Further, prediction results based on the relationship between observed and predicted chlorophyll_a produced a high R² value of 0.89 and a root mean square error (RMSE) value of 0.003 μg/L. Moreover, the derived landuse maps of Upper Manyame Catchment indicated a significant variation in the percentage settlement in 1985, 1994 and 2010 change from 1985 to 2010. For instance, 8% increase in settlement in the period between 1994 and 2010 and over 12% increase from 1985 to 2010 and a decline in percent forest coverage (i.e. 9.8% in 1985 to 2.0% in the year 2010) in the catchment was observed. Overall, the findings of this study highlights the importance of free and readily-available satellite datasets (such as the multispectral MODIS and Landsat) in quantifying and monitoring water quality across inland lakes especially in data-scarce areas like Sub-Saharan Africa.     

Integrated Interpretation of Interwell Connectivity Using Injection and Production Fluctuations

A method to characterize reservoirs, based on matching temporal fluctuations in injection and production rates, has recently been developed. The method produces two coefficients for each injector–producer pair; one parameter, λ, quantifies the connectivity and the other, τ, quantifies the fluid storage in the vicinity of the pair. Previous analyses used λ and τ separately to infer the presence of transmissibility barriers and conduits in the reservoir, but several common conditions could not be easily distinguished. This paper describes how λ and τ can be jointly interpreted to enhance inference about preferential transmissibility trends and barriers. Two different combinations are useful: one is a plot of log (λ) versus log (τ) for a producer and nearby injectors, and the second is a Lorenz-style flow capacity (F) versus storativity (C) plot. These techniques were tested against the results of a numerical simulator and applied to data from the North Buck Draw field. Using the simulated data, we find that the F–C plots and the λ–τ plots are capable of identifying whether the connectivity of an injector–producer well pair is through fractures, a high-permeability layer, multiple-layers or through partially completed wells. Analysis of data from the North Buck Draw field shows a reasonable correspondence between τ and the tracer breakthrough times. Of two possible geological models for Buck Draw, the F–C and λ–τ plots support the model that has less connectivity in the field. The wells in fluvial deposits show better communication than those wells in more estuarine-dominated regions.     

静电场轨道阱质谱在水中溶解性有机质表征中的应用进展

溶解性有机质(Dissolved Organic Matter,DOM)在水生生态环境中广泛存在,影响着水环境中多种物质的生物地球化学性质.分析其组成与含量具有重要的生态环境意义,是生态环境科学领域研究的热点.溶解性有机质组成非常复杂,其分子组成的解析一直是难题.近年来,具有高分辨率、高灵敏度、高通量、高扫描速率等特性...