bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Using Surface Time Domain Reflectometry Measurements to Estimate Subsurface Chemical Movement
Authors: Gaur Anju , Horton Robert , Jaynes Dan B. , Lee Jaehoon , Al‐Jabri Salem A.
Published: October 2013

Chemicals that leach through soil pose threats to surface and groundwater quality. It is difficult and expensive to measure subsurface chemical transport and the transport properties required for extrapolating predictions beyond limited observations. The objective of our study was to evaluate whether solute transport properties measured at the soil surface could be used to predict subsurface chemical movement. The study was conducted in a greenhouse soil pit. The solute transport properties of the surface 2‐cm soil layer were determined by using time domain reflectometry (TDR) to measure the bulk electrical conductivity during a step application of CaCl2 solution. The movement of chemicals in the subsurface was measured within the top 30 cm of soil following a pulse input of CaCl2 solution. A comparison of the measured chemical transport properties in the surface and subsurface zones of the soil showed that the parameters were similar. Furthermore, the estimated parameters determined by the surface TDR method were used to predict the chemical concentration distributions within the 30‐cm soil layer, and it was found that the centers of mass of predicted chemical distributions were not significantly different from the measured ones. Therefore, the surface TDR measurements could be used to successfully predict subsurface chemical transport within the upper 30 cm of the soil. This surface measurement technique is a promising tool for vadose zone chemical transport studies.
Quantifying Ephemeral Streambed Infiltration from Downhole Temperature Measurements Collected Before and After Streamflow
Authors: Dowman Charles E. , Ferré Ty P.A. , Hoffmann John P. , Rucker Dale F. , Callegary James B.
Published: October 2013

A constant flux infiltration experiment was conducted to determine the feasibility of using downhole temperature measurements to estimate infiltration flux. Temperatures measured using a downhole thermistor within a 15.4‐m‐deep borehole compare well with temperatures measured with buried thermocouples in an adjacent borehole to 5 m depth. Numerical forward model simulations were conducted using VS2DI. A numerical sensitivity analysis showed that the temperature profile was most sensitive to the average temperature of the infiltrating water, the infiltration flux, and the specific heat capacity of dry soil. The high sensitivity of these variables allows for a simple sequential optimization to be used to estimate the average temperature of the infiltrating water, the water flux, and the specific heat capacity of dry soil from numerical inversion of temperature measurements. Downhole temperature measurements could be a useful complement to shallow streambed temperature methods, allowing for better quantification of the contribution of streambed infiltration to basin‐scale recharge.
Laboratory Evaluation of a Commercial Dielectric Soil Water Sensor
Authors: McMichael Bobbie , Lascano Robert J.
Published: October 2013

Development of management strategies for efficient water utilization of crop production requires measurements of changes in soil water content on a dynamic basis. Many of the methods currently used for measuring these changes are destructive, slow, or relatively expensive for large‐scale investigations. A commercially available, low‐cost, nondestructive soil moisture sensor for measuring changes in soil volumetric water content (VWC) on the basis of changes in the dielectric constant of the soil water was evaluated under laboratory conditions for two soil series (Amarillo fine sandy loam [fine‐loamy, mixed, superactive, thermic Aridic Paleustalfs] and Pullman clay loam [fine, mixed, thermic Torretic Paleustolls]) and a potting material across a wide range of water contents. Probes were placed in containers filled with deionized water and soil. Containers with Amarillo fine sandy loam were placed in a programmable temperature chamber and subjected to a series of changes in both temperature and VWC. Containers with Pullman soil and potting material were only subjected to changes in VWC at a constant temperature. Probe output at a constant temperature between air dry and a VWC of 0.25 m3 m−3 was linear for the Pullman soil and potting material and nonlinear for the Amarillo soil. When the Amarillo soil temperature varied between 15.9 and 39.1°C−1 at a constant VWC, probe output changed the equivalent of 0.10 m3 m−3 The temperature sensitivity was 0.5 mV °C−1 for air‐dry and about 5 mV °C−1 for wet Amarillo soil. We conclude that probe output is soil specific and, given the nonlinear response to increasing water content on some soils and sensitivity to temperature, will require soil‐specific calibration equations.
Spatial Variability of Groundwater Recharge and its Effect on Shallow Groundwater Quality in Southern New Jersey
Authors: Nolan Bernard T. , Baehr Arthur L. , Kauffman Leon J.
Published: October 2013

Point estimates of groundwater recharge at 48 sediment‐coring locations vary substantially (−18.5–1840 cm yr−1) in a 930‐km2area of southern New Jersey. Darcian estimates of steady, long‐term recharge made at depth in the unsaturated zone were estimated using pedotransfer functions of soil texture and interpolated (mapped) with nonparametric methods to assess aquifer vulnerability in the area. The probability of exceeding the median recharge (29.1 cm yr−1) is low in the southwestern and northeastern portions of the study area and high in the eastern and southeastern portions. Estimated recharge is inversely related to measured percentage clay and positively related to the percentage of well‐drained soils near wells. Spatial patterns of recharge estimates, exceedance probabilities, and clay content indicate that sediment texture controls recharge in the study area. Relations with land elevation and a topographic wetness index were statistically insignificant. Nitrate concentration and atrazine (6‐chloro‐N2‐ethyl‐N4‐isopropyl‐1,3,5‐triazine‐2,4‐diamine) percentage detection in samples of shallow groundwater (typically <10 m) are higher for low recharge sites (≤29.1 cm yr−1) than for high recharge sites (>29.1 cm yr−1) in agricultural and urban areas. Differences between high and low recharge sites in these areas are highly significant for NO3concentration, but not for atrazine concentration.
Volatile Organic Compounds Volatilization from Multicomponent Organic Liquids and Diffusion in Unsaturated Porous Media
Authors: Wang Guohui , Reckhorn Sayonara Brederode F. , Grathwohl Peter
Published: October 2013

Vapor phase diffusion is an important transport process in the unsaturated zone affecting evaporation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from pure and multicomponent organic liquids. To evaluate some widely used empirical relationships for the estimation of effective diffusion coefficients in the unsaturated zone and to assess the validity of Raoult's Law during aging of organic mixtures, two series of laboratory‐scale column experiments were performed using pure toluene, pure methyl tert‐butyl ether (MTBE), and two multicomponent “kerosene‐type” liquids containing four to seven compounds. The analytical one‐dimensional solution of Fick's Second Law described the diffusion process of pure compounds very well in two sands with different water contents. The effective diffusion coefficients obtained correspond well to a recently published empirical relationship (Moldrup et al., 2000); the capacity factors fitted indicate equilibrium partitioning of the solute between gas phase and water. A one‐dimensional numerical model based on the combination of Fick's Second Law and Raoult's Law was used to predict the volatilization and the diffusion process from multicomponent organic liquids. Both the vapor phase diffusion process of the VOCs and the aging of the organic mixtures were predicted very well solely on the basis of effective diffusion coefficients estimated from the empirical relationship and assuming an ideal mixture (e.g., an activity coefficient of 1 in Raoult's Law).
Miscible Displacement, Sorption and Desorption of Atrazine in a Brazilian Oxisol
Authors: Prata Fábio , Lavorenti Arquimedes , Vanderborght Jan , Burauel Peter , Vereecken Harry
Published: October 2013

We investigated atrazine [2‐chloro‐4‐(ethylamino)‐6‐(isopropyl‐amino)‐s‐triazine] leaching, sorption, and desorption in a Brazilian Oxisol under no‐till (NT) and conventional (CON) agricultural management. The specific objectives were (i) to infer characteristics of the sorption process (equilibrium vs. nonequilibrium sorption, reversible vs. nonreversible sorption) from breakthrough experiments, (ii) to compare sorption parameters derived from breakthrough and batch experiments, (iii) to predict the distribution of atrazine on reversible and irreversible sorption sites within the soil columns using transport parameters derived from breakthrough data, and (iv) to evaluate the atrazine metabolites during breakthrough experiments. Breakthrough curves of radiolabeled atrazine and of a nonreactive tracer, Br−, were measured during miscible displacement experiments in unsaturated soil columns. The concentration of metabolites in the leachate was determined at three different times. At the end of the displacement experiment, which lasted 494 h, the distributions of atrazine and its metabolites within the soil columns and their partitioning in desorbable, extractable and nonextractable fractions were determined. Atrazine breakthrough curves were fitted with a three‐site chemical nonequilibrium convective dispersive transport model considering irreversible sorption. The three‐site chemical nonequilibrium model predicted that around 40% of the applied atrazine was irreversibly sorbed at the end of the leaching experiment. This corresponded with sum of the measured extractable and nonextractable fractions. The Kd values for reversible sorption sites derived from the BTCs were similar to those derived from 24‐h batch adsorption experiments. However, irreversible sorption was not observed in a four‐step consecutive batch desorption experiment that lasted 120 h in total. Differences in desorption between the column and batch experiments were probably due to differences in time‐scale and sorption‐desorption conditions. More than 90% of the radioactivity in the leachate and 80% remaining in the soil column, respectively, were characterized as atrazine, indicating a slow decay. Hydroxyatrazine was the most important metabolite of atrazine and showed higher retention in the column than the other metabolites.
A Single Source–Cylindrical Soil Domain Model for Studying Simultaneous Controlled‐Release and Mixing Processes
Authors: Cheng Aijie , Krasnov Yakov , Friedman Shmulik P.
Published: October 2013

Favorable application of controlled‐release agrochemicals requires an understanding of the two simultaneous processes of release from the controlled‐release sources into the surrounding soil, and the subsequent spread, uptake, and degradation in the soil profile. In previous research the release process was conceptually approximated by artificial decoupling of the diffusional release and vertical, convective–dispersive transport of the released material. The present article describes a new physical model that avoids this decoupling approximation and conceptualizes the complete three‐dimensional, axisymmetric problem of diffusional controlled release and convective–dispersive vertical transport of the agrochemical in the soil. A numerical finite‐element scheme was coded for solving the model equations, and it was employed to investigate the effects of the various quantifiers of the controlled‐release source and the soil on the release process and, in particular, to study the interplay between the processes of release into the cylindrical soil domain and the convective–dispersive spread in the soil. The actual computations refer to the three‐dimensional water velocity filed around an impermeable capsule and the resulting spreading mechanisms, but for the sake of brevity, the outline of the model equations refers to vertical water velocities throughout the cylindrical domain, disregarding radial water fluxes and the resulting vertical dispersive fluxes of the released material. In general, the release rate is expected to increase with increasing membrane conductance, capsule radius, capsule inner concentration, water flux, and the soil longitudinal and, especially, transverse dispersivities. A dimensional analysis of the problem provided a deeper understanding of the dependence of the release rates on these factors, and provided a distinction between the two extremes of slow capsule‐controlled release and fast soil‐controlled release.
Unsaturated Flow through a Small Fracture–Matrix Network: Part 2. Uncertainty in Modeling Flow Processes
Authors: Fairley J. P. , Podgorney R. K. , Wood T. R.
Published: October 2013

Simulations of flow and transport in variably saturated fractured rock generally assume equilibrium conditions between the fractures and the porous matrix, leading to predictions that are dominated by a diffusive process. Contrary to these predictions, an increasing body of evidence suggests that fracture‐dominated flow, under nonequilibrium conditions between the fractures and porous matrix, occurs frequently in field and laboratory settings. Flow processes, such as fluid cascades and flow path switching, are often observed in laboratory experiments, but are generally not captured by diffusion‐based conceptual and numerical models. Many of these processes are assumed to be averaged out at some representative elemental volume scale; however, anecdotal evidence from field experiments conducted at various scales of investigation suggest that this may not be the case. Comparison of experimental observations with numerical simulations illustrates at least two potential problems with standard equivalent continuum and discrete fracture conceptual models of unsaturated fractured and porous media flow. First, such models tend to overestimate the strength of interaction between the fracture and matrix domains. Second, model calibration may allow diffusion‐based models to accurately reproduce experimental observations without providing a complete description of the physics governing the system. Failure to incorporate convective transport, reduced fracture–matrix interaction, and other sub‐grid‐scale processes in models of flow in fractured porous media may result in erroneous descriptions of system behavior.
Particle‐Based Direct Numerical Simulation of Contaminant Transport and Deposition in Porous Flow
Authors: Berry Ray A. , Martineau Richard C. , Wood Thomas R.
Published: October 2013

This work describes an approach to porous flow modeling in which the “micro‐length scale to macro‐length scale” physical descriptions are addressed as Lagrangian, pore‐level flow and transport. The flow features of the physical domain are solved by direct numerical simulation (DNS) with a grid‐free, hybrid smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) numerical method (Berry, 2002) based on a local Riemann solution. In addition to being able to handle the large deformation, fluid–fluid and fluid–solid interactions within the contorted geometries of intra‐ and inter‐pore‐scale modeling, this Riemann–SPH method should be able to simulate other complexities, such as multiple fluid phases and chemical, particulate, and microbial transport with volumetric and surface reactions. A simple model is presented for the transfer of a contaminant from a carrier fluid to solid surfaces and is demonstrated for flow in a simulated porous media.
Well Design to Reduce Barometric Pressure Effects on Water Level Data in Unconfined Aquifers
Authors: Hubbell J. M. , Sisson J. B. , Nicholl M. J. , Taylor R. G.
Published: October 2013

Barometric pressure fluctuations may influence measured water levels in wells where thick vadose zones or low permeability materials overlie unconfined aquifers. Here, we present a well completion method designed to reduce the effects of barometric pressure fluctuations on measured water levels. This well configuration, called the isobaric well, seals the interior of the well from atmospheric pressure, and vents the reference side of the water level pressure transducer to the gas phase pressure above the water table. We tested the isobaric design on a well completed about 180 m below land surface in the Eastern Snake River Plain aquifer at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory. Water level data collected during 14 mo show more than an order of magnitude decrease in diurnal fluctuations when the well was operated in the isobaric mode. Decreasing the noise level allowed clear definition of water level trends that would otherwise have been at least partially obscured by barometric fluctuations. This well configuration allows direct monitoring of water level changes, without the need to rely on postprocessing to mitigate barometric influences.
Role of Competitive Cation Exchange on Chromatographic Displacement of Cesium in the Vadose Zone beneath the Hanford S/SX Tank Farm
Authors: Lichtner Peter C. , Yabusaki Steve , Pruess Karsten , Steefel Carl I.
Published: October 2013

Migration of radionuclides under the SX‐tank farm at the Hanford nuclear waste complex involves interaction of variably water saturated sediments with concentrated NaOH–NaNO3–NaNO2 solutions that have leaked from the tanks. Constant Kd models for describing radionuclide retardation are not valid under these conditions because of strong competition for sorption sites by abundant Na+ ions, and because of dramatically changing solution compositions with time as the highly concentrated tank fluid becomes diluted as it mixes with infiltrating rainwater. A mechanistic multicomponent sorption model is required that can account for effects of competition and spatially and temporally variable solution compositions. To investigate the influence of the high ionic strength tank fluids on Cs+ migration, numerical calculations are performed using the multiphase‐multicomponent reactive transport code FLOTRAN. The computer model describes reactive transport in nonisothermal, variably saturated porous media including both liquid and gas phases. Pitzer activity coefficient corrections are used to describe the high ionic strength solutions. The calculations take into account multicomponent cation exchange based on measured selectivity coefficients specific to the Hanford sediments. Solution composition data obtained from Well 299‐W23‐19, documenting a moderately concentrated leak from the SX‐115 tank, are used to calibrate the model. In addition to exchange of cations Na+, K+, Ca2+, and Cs+, aqueous complexing and a kinetic description of precipitation and dissolution of calcite are also included in the calculations. The fitted infiltration rate of 0.08 m yr−1, and fitted cation exchange capacity of 0.05 mol kg−1 are consistent with measured values for the Hanford sediments. A sensitivity analysis is performed for Na+ concentrations ranging from 5 to 20 m to investigate the mobility of Cs+ interacting with a highly concentrated background electrolyte solution believed to have been released from the SX‐108/SX‐109 tanks. The calculations indicate that during the initial period of the tank leak when Cs+ is associated with high Na+ concentrations, there is little retardation of the Cs+ plume. However, as time increases the Na+ and Cs+ profiles become chromatographically separated due to differences in their selectivity coefficients and dilution of the tank leak plume with infiltrating rainwater. Eventually the two species become separated spatially, and Cs+ becomes highly retarded and remains essentially fixed in the sediments by cation exchange. For the 20 m Na+ simulated tank leak, the sorbed Cs+ profile is in close agreement with data obtained from the slant borehole and consistent with the estimated tank supernatant concentration. The simulations suggest that natural attenuation processes should result in strong fixation of Cs+ in the vadose zone in spite of the release of high Na+ concentrations during a tank leak event.
A Modeling Study of Flow Diversion and Focusing in Unsaturated Fractured Rocks
Authors: Pan Lehua , Wu Yu‐Shu , Zhang Keni
Published: October 2013

This study presents a systematic approach to analyze the flow diversion and flow focusing caused by the natural flow‐barrier system in the unsaturated zone (UZ) of Yucca Mountain, Nevada, under ambient steady‐state flow conditions. An existing analytical solution for analyzing capillary barrier in porous media has been extended to apply to the fractured porous rock. The new analytical solutions are used to identify the critical layers and to provide the guidance for generation of a proper three‐dimensional (3‐D), site‐scale numerical grid. A large‐scale 3‐D numerical model (with more than a million grid blocks) has been developed with site‐specific data to analyze the major flow patterns in the mountain. Our analyses show that large‐scale lateral flow could take place in the UZ under ambient conditions, as a result of capillary barriers formed at the contacts of heterogeneous rock layers. This lateral flow runs generally toward the east (in the southern part) or southeast (in the northern part), which is consistent with the dip of the layer contacts. About 90% of the total lateral flow is found to be conducted by only a few critical rock layers. Faults that penetrate these rock layers act as vertical capillary barriers that stop the lateral flow. The combined effect of horizontal and vertical capillary barriers resulted in reduced percolation flow through repository horizon in general but focused downward flow along those penetrating faults. The model results were found to be consistent with the field water saturation. The findings of this study are consistent with a previously published two‐dimensional (2‐D) analysis and recent published modeling results using field‐observed Cl− data.
Acoustic Tomography Applied to Water Flow in Unsaturated Soils
Authors: Blum Andreas , Flammer Ivo , Friedli Thomas , Germann Peter
Published: October 2013

The water content of unsaturated soils influences soil properties like shear strength, elasticity, and the velocity of acoustic waves. They are also suited to investigate the spatial–temporal variations of soil water. In this study we present noninvasive two‐dimensional tomography based on acoustic pulse transmission with a spatial resolution of 60 by 60 mm. Ten acoustic transducers were placed in a horizontal plane along the wall of a soil column of an undisturbed loess soil. Acoustic pulses were emitted into the soil and monitored after traveling through the soil column. Two infiltration experiments followed by water redistribution were performed while acoustic signals were monitored at 60‐s intervals. The water content was measured with a time domain reflectometer (TDR). Travel times of the acoustic signals were converted to acoustic velocity distributions using a tomography algorithm. The acoustic velocities were transformed to water contents, resulting in 21 time series. Some of the measurements indicated fast (i.e., preferential) flow paths, whose positions varied between the two infiltration experiments.
Geologic Setting of the Snake River Plain Aquifer and Vadose Zone
Authors: Smith Richard P.
Published: October 2013

The Snake River Plain aquifer owes its existence and abundance to a unique sequence of tectonic, volcanic, and sedimentologic processes associated with the migration of the North American tectonic plate southwestward across the Yellowstone hotspot, or mantle plume. The basalt lava flows that host the aquifer and comprise the overlying vadose zone are very porous and permeable due to emplacement processes and fracturing during cooling. Rubble zones between lava flows and cooling fractures allow very rapid flow of water in the saturated zone, rapid infiltration of water and contaminants, and deep penetration of air into the vadose zone. Alluvial, eolian, and lacustrine sediments interbedded within the basalt sequence are generally fine‐grained, commonly serving as aquitards below the water table, and affecting infiltration and contaminant transport in the vadose zone. The subsiding eastern Snake River Plain (ESRP) and the high elevations of the surrounding recharge areas comprise a large drainage basin that receives enormous amounts of precipitation and feeds high‐quality groundwater into the aquifer. Northeast–southwest directed extension of the ESRP produces significant anisotropy to the hydraulic conductivity of the rocks. High heat flow and upwelling of geothermal fluids from the crust beneath the aquifer affect geothermal gradients, aquifer temperatures, and solute chemistry.
Development of Wood-Crete from Hardwood and Softwood Sawdust
Authors: Aigbomian Eboziegbe Patrick , Fan Mizi
Published: October 2013

Wood-crete, a new building material has previously been developed from sawdust, inorganic binder and addition
of waste paper, finding its use mainly for wall panelling or other non- and semi-structural applications with good
thermal insulating properties.

In this study, the properties of wood-crete were investigated based on the type of wood sawdust – hardwood (beech and
oak) and softwood (pine and cedar). The results showed that (1) the compressive strength of wood-crete was closely related
to the wood species, with the compressive strength of 3.93MPa being for hardwood wood-crete compared to
1.37MPa and 0.26MPa of wood-crete from softwood and mixed wood respectively; (2) wood-crete from hardwood sawdust
had a higher density than those made from softwood sawdust and mixed wood; (3) particle size had a significant influence
on the strength properties and density of wood-crete with wood-crete made from 1mm particle size recording a
higher compressive strength and density compared to 2mm and 3mm particle size. The optimum size for wood-crete was
dependent on the wood species; (4) thermal conductivity of wood-crete was closely related to the chemical composition of
various wood species, with softwood wood-crete having about 20% lower thermal conductivity compared to hardwood
wood-crete; (5) a ratio of 1:2 of sawdust to binder was found advisable for the production of wood-crete for various wood
species and particle sizes investigated. The compressive strength of wood-crete made from sawdust of both softwood and
hardwood was similar to or higher than that of hempcrete, indicating their suitability for wall panelling or other non- and
semi-structural applications. The results of this study provide an important foundation for choosing what wood species,
particle sizes and combinations of sawdust to be used for the production of wood-crete.
Reactions of tin- and triorganotin(IV) isopropoxides with thymol derivative: Synthesis, characterization and in vitro antimicrobial screening
Authors: Matela Garima , Aman Robina , Sharma Chetan , Chaudhary Smita
Published: October 2013

A new series of diisopropyloxytin- and triorganotin(IV) complexes of H2hbgl
(1) of the general formula Sn(OPri)2(hbgl) (2), Sn(OPri)2(Hhbgl)2 (3),
Ph3Sn(Hhbgl) (4), Bu3Sn(Hhbgl) (5) and Me3Sn(Hhbgl) (6), [where H2hbgl= a
ligand of thymol derivative namely, N-(2-hydroxy-3-isopropyl-6-methyl
benzyl)Glycine] were synthesized by reacting tin- and triorganotin(IV)
chloride with the ligand, with the aid of sodium iso-propoxide in appropriate
stiochiometric ratios (1:1 and 1:2). These complexes were characterized by
elemental analysis, IR, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance. The spectral data
suggest that the carboxylate group, in complexes 2-5, was bonded in a
bidentate manner, while a unidentate bonding was observed in complex 6. All
five complexes were tested in vitro for their antibacterial activity against
Gram-positive bacteria namely, Staphylococcus aureus MTCC 96, Bacillus
subtilis MTCC 121 and two Gram-negative bacteria namely, Escherichia coli
MTCC 1652 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa MTCC 741. All the five complexes were
also tested against three pathogenic fungal strains namely, Aspergillus
niger, A. flavus and Penicillium sp.
Regulation of the unfolded protein response by microRNAs
Authors: Bartoszewska Sylwia , Kochan Kinga , Madanecki Piotr , Piotrowski Arkadiusz , Ochocka Renata , Collawn James , Bartoszewski Rafal
Published: October 2013

The unfolded protein response (UPR) is an adaptive response to the stress that is caused by an accumulation of misfolded proteins in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). It is an important component of cellular homeostasis. During ER stress, the UPR increases the protein-folding capacity of the endoplasmic reticulum to relieve the stress. Failure to recover leads to apoptosis. Specific cellular mechanisms are required for the cellular recovery phase after UPR activation. Using bioinformatics tools, we identified a number of microRNAs that are predicted to decrease the mRNA expression levels for a number of critical components of the UPR. In this review, we discuss the potential role of microRNAs as key regulators of this pathway and describe how microRNAs may play an essential role in turning off the UPR after the stress has subsided.
Time-dependent analysis of aftershock events and structural impacts on intraplate crustal seismicity of the Van earthquake (Mw 7.1, 23 October 2011), E-Anatolia
Authors: Toker Mustafa
Published: October 2013

The Van earthquake (M W 7.1, 23 October 2011) in E-Anatolia is typical representative of intraplate earthquakes. Its thrust focal character and aftershock seismicity pattern indicate the most prominent type of compound earthquakes due to its multifractal dynamic complexity and uneven compressional nature, ever seen all over Turkey. Seismicity pattern of aftershocks appears to be invariably complex in its overall characteristics of aligned clustering events. The population and distribution of the aftershock events clearly exhibit spatial variability, clustering-declustering and intermittency, consistent with multifractal scaling. The sequential growth of events during time scale shows multifractal behavior of seismicity in the focal zone. The results indicate that the extensive heterogeneity and time-dependent strength are considered to generate distinct aftershock events. These factors have structural impacts on intraplate seismicity, suggesting multifractal and unstable nature of the Van event. Multifractal seismicity is controlled by complex evolution of crustal-scale faulting, mechanical heterogeneity and seismic deformation anisotropy. Overall seismicity pattern of aftershocks provides the mechanism for strain softening process to explain the principal thrusting event in the Van earthquake. Strain localization with fault weakening controls the seismic characterization of Van earthquake and contributes to explain the anomalous occurrence of aftershocks and intraplate nature of the Van earthquake.
Residue of chlorinated pesticides in fish caught in the Southern Baltic
Authors: Reindl Andrzej , Falkowska Lucyna , Szumiło Emilia , Staniszewska Marta
Published: October 2013

The aim of this study was to estimate the residue of chlorinated pesticides in the edible fish caught in the Gulf of Gdańsk and in the Vistula Lagoon. The highest mean concentrations of total DDT were found in the muscles of salmon (331.45 ng g−1 lw.) and sabre carp (306.29 ng g−1 lw.) caught in the Vistula Lagoon, and in the muscles of cod (309.88 ng g−1 lw.) and herring (304.86 ng g−1 lw.) from the Gulf of Gdańsk. Moreover, it was discovered that the following were present in the muscles of fish: DDT metabolites (pp’-DDE and pp’-DDD isomers) as well as hexachlorobenzene and its metabolites and endrin, dieldrin, α-endosulfan isomers and methoxychlor. Pesticides concentrations were higher in the livers of fish than in the muscles, which proves that the removal of toxins from the fish systems dominates over their accumulation. Because no concentration limits for pesticides have been defined, consumer safety assessment of fish caught in the Southern Baltic and in the Vistula Lagoon is not possible. The authors, having observed an increase in heksachlorobenzen in fish tissues suggested the existence of contemporary sources of pesticides which introduce them into the coastal zone.
Modeling of egg production by Temora longicornis from the southern Baltic Sea including salinity
Authors: Dzierzbicka-Głowacka Lidia , Lemieszek Anna , Musialik Maja , Żmijewska Iwona
Published: October 2013

The paper presents modeling of egg production (Egg — no. of eggs female−1 d−1) by Temora longicornis in the changing environmental conditions of the southern Baltic Sea (Gdańsk Deep). It is hypothesized that the food-saturated rate of egg matter production is equivalent to the specific growth rate of copepods. Based on the findings from the south-western Baltic Sea, Egg of T. longicornis is evaluated as a function of food concentration, temperature and salinity over a wide range of these parameters. Subsequently, the rate of reproduction during the seasons in the Gulf of Gdańsk is determined. According to our calculations, values of Egg reach ca 11 eggs per day in April and decline strongly in June-July, while the second smaller peak in reproduction occurs in September, ca 8 eggs per day. Our results suggest that egg production rates of T. longicornis depend not only on food concentration and temperature, but also on salinity, which is a masking factor in the Baltic Sea.
Food spectrum of the omnivorous rotifer Asplanchna priodonta in two large northeastern European lakes of different trophy
Authors: Oganjan Katarina , Virro Taavi , Lauringson Velda
Published: October 2013

In this paper we examine the stomach contents of the omnivorous rotifer, Asplanchna priodonta, to evaluate possible trophic interactions between this rotifer and its potential prey in two large northeastern European lakes: moderately eutrophic Lake Peipsi and strongly eutrophic Lake Võrtsjärv. Our results show that the A. priodonta diet consisted of Bacillariophyta, Chlorophyta, Cyanobacteria, and Dinoflagellata. Ciliata were detected on rare occasion. Bacillariophyta were the most frequent food items in stomachs. There were no between-lake differences in the consumption of Chlorophyta and Cyanobacteria, whereas Bacillariophyta were consumed more in Lake Peipsi. However, neither Dinoflagellata nor Ciliata were found in stomach samples in Lake Võrtsjärv. We conclude that A. priodonta is an opportunistic feeder that is capable of influencing the phytoplankton community structure in large lakes.
A review of cnidarian epibionts on marine crustacea
Authors: Fernandez-Leborans Gregorio
Published: October 2013

An updated inventory of the cnidarian species living as epibionts on Crustacea was conducted. Cnidarian species that attach themselves to gastropod shells of hermit crabs were also considered. One hundred and forty-eight species of cnidaria were included, with similar numbers of hydrozoans and anthozoans. There were 163 basibiont species that were mostly decapod species. The presence of these epibionts on different crustacean species and their taxonomic positions were indicated. This review is intended to serve as a useful tool for future studies of this type of epibiosis.
Rethinking generic skills
Authors: Canning Roy
Published: October 2013

The paper provides a critical analysis of the notion of generic or transversal skills contained with European Union policy discourses. The author presents a conceptual framework that challenges the idea that generic skills are universal, transferable and autonomous. An alternative analysis is put forward that argues the case for contextualising skills and knowledge within particular understandings and cultures that are more collective than individualistic in nature. The arguments are framed within wider cross-disciplinary debates in linguistics, geosemiotics and social-cultural theory and build upon an earlier paper exploring core skills in the UK (Canning, 2007).
Transport of the Influenza Virus Genome from Nucleus to Nucleus
Authors: Hutchinson Edward , Fodor Ervin
Published: October 2013

The segmented genome of an influenza virus is encapsidated into ribonucleoprotein complexes (RNPs). Unusually among RNA viruses, influenza viruses replicate in the nucleus of an infected cell, and their RNPs must therefore recruit host factors to ensure transport across a number of cellular compartments during the course of an infection. Recent studies have shed new light on many of these processes, including the regulation of nuclear export, genome packaging, mechanisms of virion assembly and viral entry and, in particular, the identification of Rab11 on recycling endosomes as a key mediator of RNP transport and genome assembly. This review uses these recent gains in understanding to describe in detail the journey of an influenza A virus RNP from its synthesis in the nucleus through to its entry into the nucleus of a new host cell.
El pensamiento ilustrado y los artesanos tapatíos
Authors: Olmedo González José de Jesús
Published: October 2013

Remise en cause du système des corporations au Mexique, de l'époque des Lumières à celle de l'Indépendance. Le cas de Guadalajara
Azul ... de Darío : textualización del culto a la belleza
Authors: García Méndez Javier
Published: October 2013

El culto a la belleza en las prosas narrativas de Azul : poetización de la prosa y limitación de su modernidad.
Microsatellite markers for the New Zealand endemic tree Fuchsia excorticata (Onagraceae)
Authors: Van Etten Megan L. , Robertson Alastair W. , Tate Jennifer A.
Published: October 2013

• Premise of the study: Microsatellite markers were developed from a New Zealand endemic understory tree, Fuchsia excorticata, to investigate factors affecting the mating system.

• Methods and Results: Using 454 pyrosequencing, 48 microsatellite markers were developed and tested for polymorphism within populations. Twelve of these microsatellite loci were identified as being polymorphic within at least three populations and consistently amplified in the four populations tested. These primers amplified di‐, tri‐, and tetranucleotide repeats with 1–10 alleles per population.

• Conclusions: These results indicate the utility of microsatellite loci for future mating system and population genetic studies in F. excorticata.
Predictors of Peritonitis and the Impact of Peritonitis on Clinical Outcomes of Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis Patients in Taiwan—10 Years’ Experience in a Single Center
Authors: Hsieh Yao-Peng , Chang Chia-Chu , Wen Yao-Ko , Chiu Ping-Fang , Yang Yu
Published: October 2013

Objective

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) has become more prevalent as a treatment modality for end-stage renal disease, and peritonitis remains one of its most devastating complications. The aim of the present investigation was to examine the frequency and predictors of peritonitis and the impact of peritonitis on clinical outcomes.

Methods

Our retrospective observational cohort study enrolled 391 patients who had been treated with continuous ambulatory PD (CAPD) for at least 90 days. Relevant demographic, biochemical, and clinical data were collected for an analysis of CAPD-associated peritonitis, technique failure, drop-out from PD, and patient mortality.

Results

The peritonitis rate was 0.196 episodes per patient–year. Older age (>65 years) was the only identified risk factor associated with peritonitis. A multivariate Cox regression model demonstrated that technique failure occurred more often in patients experiencing peritonitis than in those free of peritonitis ( p < 0.001). Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed that the group experiencing peritonitis tended to survive longer than the group that was peritonitis-free ( p = 0.11). After multivariate adjustment, the survival advantage reached significance (hazard ratio: 0.64; 95% confidence interval: 0.46 to 0.89; p = 0.006). Compared with the peritonitis-free group, the group experiencing peritonitis also had more drop-out from PD ( p = 0.03).

Conclusions

The peritonitis rate was relatively low in the present investigation. Elderly patients were at higher risk of peritonitis episodes. Peritonitis independently predicted technique failure, in agreement with other reports. However, contrary to previous studies, all-cause mortality was better in patients experiencing peritonitis than in those free of peritonitis. The underlying mechanisms of this presumptive “peritonitis paradox” remain to be clarified.
Synthesis of enantiomerically pure (2S,3S)-5,5,5-trifluoroisoleucine and (2R,3S)-5,5,5-trifluoro-allo-isoleucine
Authors: Erdbrink Holger , Nyakatura Elisabeth K , Huhmann Susanne , Gerling Ulla I M , Lentz Dieter , Koksch Beate , Czekelius Constantin
Published: October 2013

A practical route for the stereoselective synthesis of (2S,3S)-5,5,5-trifluoroisoleucine (L-5-F3Ile) and (2R,3S)-5,5,5-trifluoro-allo-isoleucine (D-5-F3-allo-Ile) was developed. The hydrophobicity of L-5-F3Ile was examined and it was incorporated into a model peptide via solid phase peptide synthesis to determine its α-helix propensity. The α-helix propensity of 5-F3Ile is significantly lower than Ile, but surprisingly high when compared with 4’-F3Ile.
CONVERGENCE OF A CYCLIC ALGORITHM FOR THE SPLIT COMMON FIXED POINT PROBLEM WITHOUT CONTINUITY ASSUMPTION
Authors: Wang Fenghui , Cui Huanhuan
Published: October 2013

In their recent paper (Math. Model. Anal., 17(4):457–466, 2012), Tang, Peng and Liu proposed a cyclic algorithm for solving the split common fixed point problem and established its weak convergence under some certain conditions. In this paper, we shall present a simple proof of such a result and moreover we shall remove one condition, continuity of the mapping involved, ensuring the convergence of the algorithm.
STABILIZED FINITE DIFFERENCE METHODS FOR THE FULLY DYNAMIC BIOT'S PROBLEM
Authors: Boal Natalia , Gaspar Francisco J. , Lisbona Francisco J. , Vabishchevich Petr N.
Published: October 2013

This paper deals with the stabilization of the poroelasticity system, in the incompressible fully dynamic case. The stabilization term is a perturbation of the equilibrium equation that allows us to use central difference schemes to approximate the first order spatial derivatives, yielding numerical solutions without oscillations independently of the chosen discretization parameters. The perturbation term is a discrete Laplacian of the forward time difference, affected by a stabilization parameter depending on the mesh size and the properties of the porous medium. In the one dimensional case, this parameter is shown to be optimal. Some numerical experiments are presented to show the efficiency of the proposed stabilization technique.
ANALYSIS OF GLOBAL ASYMPTOTIC STABILITY AND PSEUDO ALMOST PERIODIC SOLUTION OF A CLASS OF CHAOTIC NEURAL NETWORKS
Authors: Cherif Farouk
Published: October 2013

In this paper we give sufficient conditions ensuring the existence and uniqueness of pseudo almost periodic solution of a class of delayed chaotic neural networks. Further, we study the global asymptotic stability (GAS) of the considered model and give a set of criteria on (GAS) by constructing new Lyapunov functional.
SOLUTION OF INFINITE HORIZON NONLINEAR OPTIMAL CONTROL PROBLEMS BY PIECEWISE ADOMIAN DECOMPOSITION METHOD
Authors: Nik Hassan Saberi , Rebelo Paulo , Zahedi Moosarreza Shamsyeh
Published: October 2013

In this paper, a Piecewise Adomian Decomposition Method (PADM) is used to obtain the analytical approximate solution for a class of infinite horizon nonlinear optimal control problems (OCPs). The method is a new modification of the standard ADM, in which it is treated as an algorithm in a sequence of small intervals (i.e. with small time step) for finding accurate approximate solutions to the corresponding OCPs. Applying the PADM, the nonlinear two-point boundary value problem (TPBVP), derived from the application of Pontryagin's maximum principle (PMP), is transformed into a sequence of linear time-invariant TPBVP's. Through the finite iterations of algorithm, a suboptimal control law is obtained for the nonlinear optimal control problem. Comparing the methodology with some known techniques shows that the present approach is powerful and reliable. It is remarkable accuracy properties are finally demonstrated by two examples.
Whole-farm budgets of phosphorus and potassium on dairy farms in Manitoba
Authors: Plaizier J. C. , Legesse G. , Ominski K. H. , Flaten D.
Published: October 2013

Plaizier, J. C., Legesse, G., Ominski, K. H. and Flaten, D. 2014. Whole-farm budgets of phosphorus and potassium on dairy farms in Manitoba. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 94: 119–128. Whole-farm budgets of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) were determined on 10 dairy farms in Manitoba between October 2010 and October 2011. These budgets were determined as the difference between total exports, including milk, animals, feed, and manure, and total imports, including feed, manure, animals, and inorganic fertilizer, for each farm. Farms differed in their feeding and manure management strategies. Two farms imported all their feed and exported all their manure. Other farms produced some of their feed and spread most of their manure on their farm. Whole-farm P and K budgets varied from −0.42 to 3.35 and from −1.31 to 11.27 g kg−1 milk sold among farms, respectively. Efficiencies of P and K utilization were calculated as the exports as a percentage of imports. The P efficiency averaged 48%, and ranged from 22.1 to 109% among farms. The K efficiency averaged 37%, and ranged from 10 to 98% among farms. In the fall of 2010 and 2011, 94 and 98%, of fields sampled had soil test P concentrations lower than the concentration above which further accumulation of P would be regulated (60 ppm). Of the farms that spread their own manure, the highest P and K efficiency were on a farm that exported a proportion of the produced forages and did not import any inorganic fertilizer. The lowest P and K efficiencies were on a farm that imported concentrate feeds, bedding straw and most forages, and had the smallest land base per milking cow to spread manure. Variations in P and K efficiencies demonstrate opportunities to enhance these efficiencies.
Molecular cloning, genomic organization and functional analysis of the ribosomal protein L4/L1 (RPL4) gene from Arachis hypogaea
Authors: Wu Qi , Wang Xiu Zhen , Tang Yue Yi , Yu Hong Tao , Cui Feng Gao , Zhang Jian Cheng , Wang Chuan Tang
Published: October 2013

Wu, Q., Wang, X. Z., Tang, Y. Y., Yu, H. T., Cui, F. G., Zhang, J. C. and Wang, C. T. 2014. Molecular cloning, genomic organization and functional analysis of the ribosomal protein L4/L1 (RPL4) gene from Arachis hypogaea. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 85–97. The ribosomal proteins have been shown to be important in plant polarity establishment, cell proliferation, leaf shape and auxin-related development. The RPL4 protein is crucial for the maintenance of ribosomal translational efficiency and fidelity. This study concerns the RPL4 gene from Arachis hypogaea. The full-length cDNA (1538 bp) of RPL4 consisted of an open-reading frame of 1221 bp encoding 406 amino acids. The genomic DNA sequence of RPL4 gene consisted of 1491 bp containing two exons and one 270-bp intron. The RPL4 mRNA transcript was mainly expressed in roots and leaves, and fewer signals were detected in stems. The sequence data revealed that RPL4 encoded a typical ribosomal protein L4/L1e domain. Phylogenetic analysis for genes encoding proteins showed that RPL4 were conserved within dicotyledonous and monocotyledonous plants. The ratios of nonsynonymous/synonymous substitution rate (ω=d N/d S) were analyzed. No sites were identified under positive selection. In the whole RPL4 sequence, d S greatly exceeded d N in all branches of the tree (d N/d S<< 1.0), indicating that functional constraints (purifying selection) have acted on RPL4 throughout evolution. The differences among plants and animals and Caenorhabditis elegans may indicate functional differentiation during species evolution.