Variations in sea surface roughness induced by the 2004 Sumatra-Andaman tsunami

Observations of tsunamis away from shore are critically important for improving early warning systems and understanding of tsunami generation and propagation. Tsunamis are difficult to detect and measure in the open ocean because the wave amplitude there is much smaller than it is close to shore. Currently, tsunami observations in deep water rely on measurements of variations in the sea surface height or bottom pressure. Here we demonstrate that there exists a different observable, specifically, ocean surface roughness, which can be used to reveal tsunamis away from shore. The first detailed measurements of the tsunami effect on sea surface height and radar backscattering strength in the open ocean were obtained from satellite altimeters during passage of the 2004 Sumatra-Andaman tsunami. Through statistical analyses of satellite altimeter observations, we show that the Sumatra-Andaman tsunami effected distinct, detectable changes in sea surface roughness. The magnitude and spatial structure of the observed variations in radar backscattering strength are consistent with hydrodynamic models predicting variations in the near-surface wind across the tsunami wave front. Tsunami-induced changes in sea surface roughness can be potentially used for early tsunami detection by orbiting microwave radars and radiometers, which have broad surface coverage across the satellite ground track

Sample transformation at two-stage probe atomization in graphite furnace for atomic absorption spectrometry

С помощью растровой сканирующей электронной микроскопии исследована поверхность вольфрамового U-образного зонда, применяемого для двухстадийной зондовой атомизации проб в графитовой печи при атомно-абсорбционном анализе. Цель - проследить изменение состояния пробы после ее термической перегонки из печи на зонд и дополнительной термообработки на зонде. Показано, что в ходе первичной атомизации многокомпонентной по матричному составу пробы (суспензии размолотой до 80 мкм золотосодержащей руды), получается конденсатное отложение в виде слоя слипшихся поликристаллических частиц размером не более 1 мкм. После стадии пиролиза на зонде при температуре печи 1500⁰С это отложение превращается в оплавленную пленку с каплями восстановленных металлов диаметром до 1 мкм. В случае однокомпонентной по матричному составу пробы (водного раствора нитрата палладия) на зонде откладывается монолитная пленка со сгустками и хлопьями из микрокапель палладия размером 50-100 нм. В результате такого фракционирования химический состав пробы упрощается, а так же компактно локализуется на кончике зонда в пределах 2 мм. Это положительно сказывается на аналитическом сигнале, регистрируемом при вторичной атомизации конденсата с зонда, погружаемого в графитовую печь.The surface of the U-shaped tungsten probe for a graphite furnace atomic absorption analysis with two-stage probe atomization was studied using scanning electron microscopy. The aim of the work was investigation of morphology of the sample after vapor phase transfer from the tube furnace to the tungsten probe and additional thermal treatment on the probe. It is shown for the sample having multicomponent matrix (the slurry of milled up to 80 µm gold ore) that a polycrystalline layer of agglomerated particles of size less than 1 µm is formed on the surface of the probe after primary vaporization. After additional pyrolysis on the probe at the furnace temperature 1500 °C the deposit is modified into an amorphous film and drops of reduced metals with diameter up to 1 µm. In the case of single component matrix (water solution of palladium nitrate) a solid film with clots and flakes of 50-100 nm micro drops of palladium is deposited on the probe. The two stage treatment leads to the simplification of the sample deposit and its localization on the probe tip within 2 mm. This caused substantial improvement of analytical signal associated with atomization of the deposit from the probe inserted into the graphite furnace

Assessment of Resistance and Bioremediation Ability of Lactobacillus Strains to Lead and Cadmium

© 2017 Anna V. Kirillova et al.Cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) are heavy metals, important environmental pollutants, and potent toxicants to organism. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have been reported to remove Cd and Pb from solutions and therefore represent a useful tool for decontamination of food and beverages from heavy metals. Heavy metal ion binding by LAB was reported as metabolism-independent surface process. In this work ten Lactobacillus strains were investigated with respect to hydrophobicity, Lewis acid-base, and electrostatic properties of their outer cell surface in order to characterize their Cd and Pb removal capacity. Seven L. plantarum and L. fermentum strains were shown to remove Cd from culture medium. The metabolism-dependent accumulation mechanism of Cd removal was proposed based on extended character of Cd binding and lack of correlation between any of the surface characteristics and Cd removal. The results of this study should be considered when selecting probiotic strains for people at risk of Cd exposure

The study of the system "van Vleck paramagnet PrF3-Helium- 3"

Present paper is the result of experimental investigations of the system "Van Vleck paramagnet PrF3 - liquid 3He", where earlier cross-relaxation effect between liquid 3He nuclei and 141Pr nuclei was discovered. We report on 141Pr spin kinetics in Van Vleck paramagnet crystal powders PrF3 with different paramagnet impurities. All experiments have been made by pulse NMR methods at temperature 1.5 K. © 2009 IOP Publishing Ltd

ПРЯМОЙ АТОМНО-АБСОРБЦИОННЫЙ АНАЛИЗ ПОЧВ С ПОМОЩЬЮ ПРИСТАВКИ АТЗОНД-1 ДЛЯ ДВУХСТАДИЙНОЙ ЗОНДОВОЙ АТОМИЗАЦИИ В ГРАФИТОВОЙ ПЕЧИ

The new economic method of the direct atomic absorption analysis of the soils as suspensions (~50 mg/ml) is offered. It is based on the double-stage probe atomization which is carried out by means of an original robotized accessory ATZOND-1 to a commercial graphite furnace. It is possible to remove matrix interferences, to use rather representative sample weight of the soil (up to 12 mg), to do without chemical preparation and special calibration standards. The limits of determination in the dry soil for Pb – 0.002, Cd – 0.1, Se –10, Au – 3 mg/kg. It is sufficient for maximum allowable concentrations control and gold content in the rock. Sensitivity adjustment for measurement of Zn, Si, Al and Fe concentrations which contents reaches tens percent is provided. Validation is checked using soil reference materials SP-1, SP-2 and SP-3, Sr    5 %.Keywords: direct atomic absorption analysis, graphite atomizer, double-stage probe atomization, soil, suspension(Russian)DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15826/analitika.2013.17.2.005Y.А. Zakharov1,  О.B. Kokorina1, B.R. Grigoryan2, R.V. Okunev2, D.S. Irisov3,R.R. Haibullin3, M.F. Sadykov4, A.R. Gainutdinov4 Departments of 1General Physics and 2Soil Science of Kazan (Volga region) Federal University, Kazan, Russian Federation3 LLC «Atzond», Kazan, Russian Federation 4Department of Industrial Electronics of Kazan State Power Engineering University, Kazan, Russian FederationПредложен новый экономичный способ прямого атомно-абсорбционного анализа почв, вносимых в печь в виде суспензий (~50 мг/мл). Он основан на двухстадийной зондовой атомизации, осуществляемой с помощью оригинальной роботизированной приставки АТЗОНД-1 к стандартной графитовой печи. Удается снизить матричные помехи, использовать представительные навески почвы (до 12 мг), обходиться без химической подготовки и специальных калибровочных образцов. Нижний предел определяемых содержаний в сухой почве составляет, в мг/кг: Pb – 0.002, Cd – 0.1, Se –10, Au – 3. Он достаточен для контроля ПДК и золотоносности породы. Обеспечена регулировка чувствительности для измерения концентрации Zn, Si, Al и Fe, содержание которых в почве достигает десятков процентов. Правильность проверена на образцах почв СП-1, СП-2 и СП-3, Sr 5 %.Ключевые слова: прямой атомно-абсорбционный анализ, графитовый атомизатор, двухстадийная зондовая атомизация, почва, суспензия.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15826/analitika.2013.17.2.00

Comparison of wind vectors and air-sea temperature differences measured during SHOWEX

During ONR's Shoaling Waves Experiment (SHOWEX) off the coast of North Carolina in November and December 1999, measurements of wind speed and direction as well as air and water temperatures were made using a variety of techniques. This paper shows a comparison of the measurements taken on December 3, 1999

Assessment of Resistance and Bioremediation Ability of Lactobacillus Strains to Lead and Cadmium

© 2017 Anna V. Kirillova et al.Cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) are heavy metals, important environmental pollutants, and potent toxicants to organism. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have been reported to remove Cd and Pb from solutions and therefore represent a useful tool for decontamination of food and beverages from heavy metals. Heavy metal ion binding by LAB was reported as metabolism-independent surface process. In this work ten Lactobacillus strains were investigated with respect to hydrophobicity, Lewis acid-base, and electrostatic properties of their outer cell surface in order to characterize their Cd and Pb removal capacity. Seven L. plantarum and L. fermentum strains were shown to remove Cd from culture medium. The metabolism-dependent accumulation mechanism of Cd removal was proposed based on extended character of Cd binding and lack of correlation between any of the surface characteristics and Cd removal. The results of this study should be considered when selecting probiotic strains for people at risk of Cd exposure

Assessment of Resistance and Bioremediation Ability of Lactobacillus Strains to Lead and Cadmium

© 2017 Anna V. Kirillova et al.Cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) are heavy metals, important environmental pollutants, and potent toxicants to organism. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have been reported to remove Cd and Pb from solutions and therefore represent a useful tool for decontamination of food and beverages from heavy metals. Heavy metal ion binding by LAB was reported as metabolism-independent surface process. In this work ten Lactobacillus strains were investigated with respect to hydrophobicity, Lewis acid-base, and electrostatic properties of their outer cell surface in order to characterize their Cd and Pb removal capacity. Seven L. plantarum and L. fermentum strains were shown to remove Cd from culture medium. The metabolism-dependent accumulation mechanism of Cd removal was proposed based on extended character of Cd binding and lack of correlation between any of the surface characteristics and Cd removal. The results of this study should be considered when selecting probiotic strains for people at risk of Cd exposure