Historical and contemporary perspectives on the sediments of Lake Rotorua

Lake Rotorua is probably the oldest continuously inundated lake in New Zealand, occupying a caldera formed by or closely associated with the eruption of the Mamaku ignimbrite and the collapse of the Rotorua caldera (Healy, 1975; Lowe and Green, 1991). The lake has undergone drastic changes in size and depth as a result of tectonics, volcanic activity and erosion. Since the Rotoehu eruption, (~60 kyr), the lake level has fluctuated between 120 m above present (280 m asl) and 10 m below present level. The modern lake covers an area of 79 km2 and has a mean depth of 10 m. Despite its long history of sedimentation, Lake Rotorua has an irregular bathymetry with features including faulted blocks, slumps, hydrothermal explosion craters, springs and large methane discharge pock marks

Detection of CFIRB with AKARI/FIS Deep Observations

The Cosmic Far-Infrared Background (CFIRB) contains information about the number and distribution of contributing sources and thus gives us an important key to understand the evolution of galaxies. Using a confusion study to set a fundamental limit to the observations, we investigate the potential to explore the CFIRB with AKARI/FIS deep observations. The Far-Infrared Surveyor (FIS) is one of the focal-plane instruments on the AKARI (formerly known as ASTRO-F) satellite, which was launched in early 2006. Based upon source distribution models assuming three different cosmological evolutionary scenarios (no evolution, weak evolution, and strong evolution), an extensive model for diffuse emission from infrared cirrus, and instrumental noise estimates, we present a comprehensive analysis for the determination of the confusion levels for deep far-infrared observations. We use our derived sensitivities to suggest the best observational strategy for the AKARI/FIS mission to detect the CFIRB fluctuations. If the source distribution follows the evolutionary models, observations will be mostly limited by source confusion. We find that we will be able to detect the CFIRB fluctuations and that these will in turn provide information to discriminate between the evolutionary scenarios of galaxies in most low-to-medium cirrus regions.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figures, uses elsart.cls, Accepted for publication in Advances in Space Research, 36th COSPAR Scientific Assembly Beijing, China, 16 ~ 23 July 200

AKARI Far-Infrared Source Counts in the Lockman Hole

We report initial results of far-infrared observations of the Lockman hole with Far-Infrared Surveyor (FIS) onboard the AKARI infrared satellite. On the basis of slow scan observations of a 0.6 deg x 1.2 deg contiguous area, we obtained source number counts at 65, 90 and 140 um down to 77, 26 and 194 mJy (3 sigma), respectively. The counts at 65 and 140 um show good agreement with the Spitzer results. However, our 90 um counts are clearly lower than the predicted counts by recent evolutionary models that fit the Spitzer counts in all the MIPS bands. Our 90 um counts above 26 mJy account for about 7% of the cosmic background. These results provide strong constraints on the evolutionary scenario and suggest that the current models may require modifications.Comment: 25 pages, 8 figures, Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan, in pres

J- and Ks-band Galaxy Counts and Color Distributions in the AKARI North Ecliptic Pole Field

We present the J- and Ks-band galaxy counts and galaxy colors covering 750 square arcminutes in the deep AKARI North Ecliptic Pole (NEP) field, using the FLoridA Multi-object Imaging Near-ir Grism Observational Spectrometer (FLAMINGOS) on the Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO) 2.1m telescope. The limiting magnitudes with a signal-to-noise ratio of three in the deepest regions are 21.85 and 20.15 in the J- and Ks-bands respectively in the Vega magnitude system. The J- and Ks-band galaxy counts in the AKARI NEP field are broadly in good agreement with those of other results in the literature, however we find some indication of a change in the galaxy number count slope at J~19.5 and over the magnitude range 18.0 < Ks < 19.5. We interpret this feature as a change in the dominant population at these magnitudes because we also find an associated change in the B - Ks color distribution at these magnitudes where the number of blue samples in the magnitude range 18.5 < Ks < 19.5 is significantly larger than that of Ks < 17.5

Acceptability of alginate enriched bread and its effect on fat digestion in humans

Lifestyle interventions and physical activity remain the cornerstone of obesity management, as pharmacological therapies (orlistat) are associated with gastrointestinal (GI) side effects. Combining orlistat with fibers can reduce side effects, improving compliance. Therefore, a fiber that inhibits lipase without side effects could help treat obesity. The aims of the present work were to assess whether alginate enriched bread could inhibit fat digestion, and assess the acceptability of alginate bread and its effect on GI wellbeing. A double-blind, randomised, controlled cross-over pilot study (NCT03350958) assessed the impact of an alginate bread meal on; lipid content in ileal effluent and circulating triacylglycerol levels. This was compared against the same meal with non-enriched (control) bread. GI wellbeing and acceptability of alginate bread was compared to control bread through daily wellbeing questionnaires and food diaries (NCT03477981). Control bread followed by alginate bread were consumed for two weeks respectively. Consumption of alginate bread reduced circulating triacylglycerol compared to control (2% reduction in AUC) and significantly increased lipid content in ileal effluent (3.8 g ± 1.6 after 210 min). There were no significant changes to GI wellbeing when comparing alginate bread to control bread. A significant increase in the feeling of fullness occurred with alginate bread compared to baseline and the first week of control bread consumption. This study showed that sustained consumption of alginate enriched bread does not alter GI wellbeing and can decrease lipolysis, increasing lipid leaving the small intestine. Further studies are required to demonstrate that reduced fat digestion through the action of alginate can reduce fat mass or body weight

Biological activity of alginate and its effect on pancreatic lipase inhibition as a potential treatment for obesity

Alginates are classed as a dietary fibre and have been shown to inhibit digestive enzymes in vitro, and therefore could be used as an obesity treatment. The current study aims to assess whether alginate in a bread vehicle maintains its inhibition properties despite cooking and digestion, and may therefore be used as a potential treatment for obesity. After 180 min in a model gut that replicates digestion in the mouth, stomach and small intestines alginate bread (AB), control bread (CB), CB with Manucol® DM alginate, free DM alginate and model gut solution were collected. DM, LFR 5/60 and SF200 were heated at 37 °C and 200 °C, with DM also heated at 50, 100 and 150 °C. Samples from the model gut and heated alginate were assessed for molecular size and inhibition properties using viscosity, gel filtration and a lipase turbidity assay. AB does not significantly increase viscosity in the model gut. Viscosity of alginate reduces beyond 100 °C, although alginate retains its inhibition properties up to 150 °C. Cooking into the bread does not reduce the molecular size of the alginate or affect its inhibition properties. These data demonstrate the robustness of alginates lipase inhibition despite the cooking process and digestion. Therefore adding alginate to a bread vehicle may have the potential in the treatment for obesity

Galaxy Colours in the AKARI Deep SEP Survey

We investigate the segregation of the extragalactic population via colour criteria to produce an efficient and inexpensive methodology to select specific source populations as a function of far-infrared flux. Combining galaxy evolution scenarios and a detailed spectral library of galaxies, we produce simulated catalogues incorporating segregation of the extragalactic population into component types (Normal, star-forming, AGN) via color cuts. As a practical application we apply our criteria to the deepest survey to be undertaken in the far-infrared with the AKARI (formerly ASTRO-F) satellite. Using the far-infrared wavebands of the Far-Infrared Surveyor (FIS, one of the focal-plane instruments on AKARI) we successfully segregate the normal, starburst and ULIRG populations. We also show that with additional MIR imaging from AKARI's Infrared Camera (IRC), significant contamination and/or degeneracy can be further decreased and show a particular example of the separation of cool normal galaxies and cold ULIRG sources. We conclude that our criteria provide an efficient means of selecting source populations (including rare luminous objects) and produce colour-segregated source counts without the requirement of time intensive ground-based follow up to differentiate between the general galaxy population.Comment: Accepted for publication in Advances in Space Research. COSPAR, Beijing, 2006, E1.6 Advances in FIR and Submillimeter Astrophysics. (13 pages, 2 colour figures

Dynamics of silicon in lakes of the Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand, and implications for diatom growth

Intact sediment cores were taken from the deepest basins of 9 lakes in the Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand, to investigate the factors controlling silicon (Si) concentrations in sediment pore waters and the flux of Si to the overlying lake water. The lakes ranged in trophic state from oligotrophic to highly eutrophic. A Si vertical flux model simulated Si gradients in the pore water with high precision (r2 > 0.95, p < 0.01) in lakes with no volcanic tephra layers or significant geothermal inflows. The ubiquitous presence of diatom frustules in the sediment was likely responsible for release of Si to the pore waters and subsequent diffusion to overlying lake waters. Fluxes of Si were related to the trophic status of the lake and were greatest in eutrophic lakes where diatom populations reduced epilimnetic Si concentrations to <1 mg L-1. Temporal variations in the concentrations of Si, nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) suggest that over most of the year diatom growth in the oligotrophic lakes is limited by N, or co-limited by N and P. In some eutrophic lakes, Si may limit diatom growth during homothermal conditions, and P and/or N may limit growth when the lake is stratified. The reduction of surface Si concentrations to <0.1 mg L-1 following homothermy in some eutrophic lakes is likely to restrict the growth of diatoms, potentially resulting in increased dominance of nonsiliceous flagellated species and cyanobacteria

Dynamics of silicon in lakes of the Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand, and implications for diatom growth

Intact sediment cores were taken from the deepest basins of 9 lakes in the Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand, to investigate the factors controlling silicon (Si) concentrations in sediment pore waters and the flux of Si to the overlying lake water. The lakes ranged in trophic state from oligotrophic to highly eutrophic. A Si vertical flux model simulated Si gradients in the pore water with high precision (r2 0.95, p &lt;0.01) in lakes with no volcanic tephra layers or significant geothermal inflows. The ubiquitous presence of diatom frustules in the sediment was likely responsible for release of Si to the pore waters and subsequent diffusion to overlying lake waters. Fluxes of Si were related to the trophic status of the lake and were greatest in eutrophic lakes where diatom populations reduced epilimnetic Si concentrations to &lt;1 mg L&minus;1. Temporal variations in the concentrations of Si, nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) suggest that over most of the year diatom growth in the oligotrophic lakes is limited by N, or co-limited by N and P. In some eutrophic lakes, Si may limit diatom growth during homothermal conditions, and P and/or N may limit growth when the lake is stratified. The reduction of surface Si concentrations to &lt;0.1 mg L&minus;1 following homothermy in some eutrophic lakes is likely to restrict the growth of diatoms, potentially resulting in increased dominance of nonsiliceous flagellated species and cyanobacteria

Influence of a Bi surfactant on Sb incorporation in InAsSb alloys

The influence of using a Bi surfactant during the growth of InAsSb on the composition was examined, and it was found that increasing Bi flux on the surface during growth inhibits the incorporation of Sb. Analysis of the data via a kinetic model of anion incorporation shows that surface Bi acts as a catalyst for InAs formation, thus inhibiting Sb incorporation