Nitrification-denitrification in WSP: a mechanism for permanent nitrogen removal in maturation ponds

A pilot-scale primary maturation pond was spiked with 15N-labelled ammonia (15NH4Cl) and 15N labelled nitrite (Na15NO2), in order to improve current understanding of the dynamics of inorganic nitrogen transformations and removal in WSP systems. Stable isotope analysis of δ15N showed that nitrification could be considered as an intermediate step in WSP, which is masked by simultaneous denitrification, under conditions of low algal activity. Molecular microbiology analysis showed that denitrification can be considered a feasible mechanism for permanent nitrogen removal in WSP, which may be supported either by ammonia-oxidising bacteria (AOB) or by methanotrophs, in addition to nitrite-oxidising bacteria (NOB). However, the relative supremacy of the denitrification process over other nitrogen removal mechanisms (e.g., biological uptake) depends upon phytoplanktonic activity

Single-shot measurement of quantum optical phase

Although the canonical phase of light, which is defined as the complement of photon number, has been described theoretically by a variety of distinct approaches, there have been no methods proposed for its measurement. Indeed doubts have been expressed about whether or not it is measurable. Here we show how it is possible, at least in principle, to perform a single-shot measurement of canonical phase using beam splitters, mirrors, phase shifters and photodetectors.Comment: This paper was published in PRL in 2002 but, at the time, was not placed on the archive. It is included now to make accessing this paper easie

The Response to a Perturbation in the Reflection Amplitude

We apply inverse scattering theory to calculate the functional derivative of the potential $V(x)$ and wave function $\psi(x,k)$ of a one-dimensional Schr\"odinger operator with respect to the reflection amplitude $r(k)$.Comment: 16 pages, no figure

Recreation carrying capacity estimations to support beach management at Praia de Faro, Portugal

The purpose of this research paper is to outline the theory and practice of tourism carrying capacity assessment and its relevance as a management tool for coastal management. Based on the Tourism Carrying Capacity Assessment for Protected Areas Framework and the Image Capture Technique associated with the PAOT (people at one time) approach, this paper explores Praia de Faro as the study area and attempts to assess the optimum number of people that should be allowed without jeopardizing the surrounding ecological, social and cultural environments. Results showed that the physico-ecological carrying capacity should be between 1385 and 2628 visitors/day with maximum impact acceptability curves being 305 and 608 tourists (for local people and tourists respectively). Although there was a significant difference between the physico-ecological and socio-cultural carrying capacity, this study suggests that the physico-ecological carrying may be applied for ecosystem management, whilst the socio-cultural carrying capacity may be addressed when management objectives are tourists and beach users

Vortex ring refraction at large Froude numbers

We have experimentally studied the impact of an initially planar axisymmetric vortex ring, incident at an oblique angle, upon a gravity-induced interface separating two fluids of differing densities. After impact, the vortex ring was found to exhibit a variety of subsequent trajectories, which we organize according to both the incidence angle, $\theta_i$, and the interface strength, defined as the ratio of the Atwood and Froude numbers, $A/F$. For grazing incidence angles ($\theta_i \gtrsim 70$ deg.) vortices either penetrate or reflect from the interface, depending on whether the interface is weak or strong. In some cases, reflected vortices execute damped oscillations before finally disintegrating. For smaller incidence angles ($\theta_i \lesssim 70$ deg.) vortices penetrate the interface. When there is a strong interface, these vortices are observed to curve back up toward the interface. When there is a weak interface, these vortices are observed to refract downward, away from the interface. The critical interface strength below which vortex ring refraction is observed is given by $\log_{10}{(A/F)}= -2.38 \pm 0.05$.Comment: 26 pages, 11 figures; Submitted to Physical Review

Causality, delocalization and positivity of energy

In a series of interesting papers G. C. Hegerfeldt has shown that quantum systems with positive energy initially localized in a finite region, immediately develop infinite tails. In our paper Hegerfeldt's theorem is analysed using quantum and classical wave packets. We show that Hegerfeldt's conclusion remains valid in classical physics. No violation of Einstein's causality is ever involved. Using only positive frequencies, complex wave packets are constructed which at $t = 0$ are real and finitely localized and which, furthemore, are superpositions of two nonlocal wave packets. The nonlocality is initially cancelled by destructive interference. However this cancellation becomes incomplete at arbitrary times immediately afterwards. In agreement with relativity the two nonlocal wave packets move with the velocity of light, in opposite directions.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figure

Dissociative electron attachment to the H2O molecule. I. Complex-valued potential-energy surfaces for the 2B1, 2A1, and 2B2 metastable states of the water anion

We present the results of calculations defining global, three-dimensional representations of the complex-valued potential-energy surfaces of the doublet B1, doublet A1, and doublet B2 metastable states of the water anion that underlie the physical process of dissociative electron attachment to water. The real part of the resonance energies is obtained from configuration-interaction calculations performed in a restricted Hilbert space, while the imaginary part of the energies (the widths) is derived from complex Kohn scattering calculations. A diabatization is performed on the 2A1 and 2B2 surfaces, due to the presence of a conical intersection between them. We discuss the implications that the shapes of the constructed potential-energy surfaces will have upon the nuclear dynamics of dissociative electron attachment to H2O. This work originally appeared as Phys Rev A 75, 012710 (2007). Typesetting errors in the published version have been corrected here.Comment: Corrected version of PRA 75, 012710 (2007