106 research outputs found
Monitoring and modeling infiltration–recharge dynamics of managed aquifer recharge with desalinated seawater
We study the relation between surface infiltration and groundwater
recharge during managed aquifer recharge (MAR) with desalinated seawater in
an infiltration pond, at the Menashe site that overlies the northern part of
the Israeli Coastal Aquifer. We monitor infiltration dynamics at multiple
scales (up to the scale of the entire pond) by measuring the ponding depth,
sediment water content and groundwater levels, using pressure sensors,
single-ring infiltrometers, soil sensors, and observation wells. During a
month (January 2015) of continuous intensive MAR
(2.45 × 10<sup>6</sup> m<sup>3</sup> discharged to a 10.7 ha area),
groundwater level has risen by 17 m attaining full connection with the pond,
while average infiltration rates declined by almost 2 orders of magnitude
(from ∼ 11 to ∼ 0.4 m d<sup>−1</sup>). This reduction can be
explained solely by the lithology of the unsaturated zone that includes
relatively low-permeability sediments. Clogging processes at the pond-surface
– abundant in many MAR operations – are negated by the high-quality
desalinated seawater (turbidity ∼ 0.2 NTU, total dissolved solids
∼ 120 mg L<sup>−1</sup>) or negligible compared to the low-permeability
layers. Recharge during infiltration was estimated reasonably well by simple
analytical models, whereas a numerical model was used for estimating
groundwater recharge after the end of infiltration. It was found that a
calibrated numerical model with a one-dimensional representative sediment
profile is able to capture MAR dynamics, including temporal reduction of
infiltration rates, drainage and groundwater recharge. Measured infiltration
rates of an independent MAR event (January 2016) fitted well to those
calculated by the calibrated numerical model, showing the model validity. The
successful quantification methodologies of the temporal groundwater recharge
are useful for MAR practitioners and can serve as an input for groundwater
flow models
Managed aquifer recharge with reverse-osmosis desalinated seawater: modeling the spreading in groundwater using stable water isotopes
The spreading of reverse-osmosis desalinated seawater (DSW) in the Israeli
coastal aquifer was studied using groundwater modeling and stable water
isotopes as tracers. The DSW produced at the Hadera seawater reverse-osmosis
(SWRO) desalination plant is recharged into the aquifer through an infiltration pond at the managed
aquifer recharge (MAR) site of Menashe, Israel. The distinct difference in isotope composition between DSW
(δ18O  =  1.41 ‰;
δ2H  =  11.34 ‰) and the natural groundwater
(δ18O  =  −4.48 ‰ to −5.43 ‰;
δ2H  =  −18.41 ‰ to −22.68 ‰) makes
the water isotopes preferable for use as a tracer compared to widely used
chemical tracers, such as chloride. Moreover, this distinct difference can be
used to simplify the system to a binary mixture of two end-members:
desalinated seawater and groundwater. This approach is validated through a
sensitivity analysis, and it is especially robust when spatial data of stable
water isotopes in the aquifer are scarce. A calibrated groundwater flow and
transport model was used to predict the DSW plume distribution in the aquifer
after 50 years of MAR with DSW. The results suggest that after 50 years,
94 % of the recharged DSW was recovered by the production wells at the
Menashe MAR site. The presented methodology is useful for predicting the
distribution of reverse-osmosis desalinated seawater in various downstream
groundwater systems.</p
Observational and Physical Classification of Supernovae
This chapter describes the current classification scheme of supernovae (SNe).
This scheme has evolved over many decades and now includes numerous SN Types
and sub-types. Many of these are universally recognized, while there are
controversies regarding the definitions, membership and even the names of some
sub-classes; we will try to review here the commonly-used nomenclature, noting
the main variants when possible. SN Types are defined according to
observational properties; mostly visible-light spectra near maximum light, as
well as according to their photometric properties. However, a long-term goal of
SN classification is to associate observationally-defined classes with specific
physical explosive phenomena. We show here that this aspiration is now finally
coming to fruition, and we establish the SN classification scheme upon direct
observational evidence connecting SN groups with specific progenitor stars.
Observationally, the broad class of Type II SNe contains objects showing strong
spectroscopic signatures of hydrogen, while objects lacking such signatures are
of Type I, which is further divided to numerous subclasses. Recently a class of
super-luminous SNe (SLSNe, typically 10 times more luminous than standard
events) has been identified, and it is discussed. We end this chapter by
briefly describing a proposed alternative classification scheme that is
inspired by the stellar classification system. This system presents our
emerging physical understanding of SN explosions, while clearly separating
robust observational properties from physical inferences that can be debated.
This new system is quantitative, and naturally deals with events distributed
along a continuum, rather than being strictly divided into discrete classes.
Thus, it may be more suitable to the coming era where SN numbers will quickly
expand from a few thousands to millions of events.Comment: Extended final draft of a chapter in the "SN Handbook". Comments most
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SN 2018fif: The explosion of a large red supergiant discovered in its infancy by the Zwicky transient facility
High-cadence transient surveys are able to capture supernovae closer to their first light than ever before. Applying analytical models to such early emission, we can constrain the progenitor stars’ properties. In this paper, we present observations of SN 2018fif (ZTF 18abokyfk). The supernova was discovered close to first light and monitored by the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) and the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory. Early spectroscopic observations suggest that the progenitor of SN 2018fif was surrounded by relatively small amounts of circumstellar material compared to all previous cases. This particularity, coupled with the high-cadence multiple-band coverage, makes it a good candidate to investigate using shock-cooling models. We employ the SOPRANOS code, an implementation of the model by Sapir & Waxman and its extension to early times by Morag et al. Compared with previous implementations, SOPRANOS has the advantage of including a careful account of the limited temporal validity domain of the shock-cooling model as well as allowing usage of the entirety of the early UV data. We find that the progenitor of SN 2018fif was a large red supergiant with a radius of R = 744.0-+128.0183.0 R☉ and an ejected mass of Mej = 9.3-+5.80.4 M☉. Our model also gives information on the explosion epoch, the progenitor’s inner structure, the shock velocity, and the extinction. The distribution of radii is double-peaked, with smaller radii corresponding to lower values of the extinction, earlier recombination times, and a better match to the early UV data. If these correlations persist in future objects, denser spectroscopic monitoring constraining the time of recombination, as well as accurate UV observations (e.g., with ULTRASAT), will help break the extinction/radius degeneracy and independently determine both
SNOntology: Myriads of novel snornas or just a mirage?
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) are a large group of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) that mainly guide 2'-O-methylation (C/D RNAs) and pseudouridylation (H/ACA RNAs) of ribosomal RNAs. The pattern of rRNA modifications and the set of snoRNAs that guide these modifications are conserved in vertebrates. Nearly all snoRNA genes in vertebrates are localized in introns of other genes and are processed from pre-mRNAs. Thus, the same promoter is used for the transcription of snoRNAs and host genes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The series of studies by Dahai Zhu and coworkers on snoRNAs and their genes were critically considered. We present evidence that dozens of species-specific snoRNAs that they described in vertebrates are experimental artifacts resulting from the improper use of Northern hybridization. The snoRNA genes with putative intrinsic promoters that were supposed to be transcribed independently proved to contain numerous substitutions and are, most likely, pseudogenes. In some cases, they are localized within introns of overlooked host genes. Finally, an increased number of snoRNA genes in mammalian genomes described by Zhu and coworkers is also an artifact resulting from two mistakes. First, numerous mammalian snoRNA pseudogenes were considered as genes, whereas most of them are localized outside of host genes and contain substitutions that question their functionality. Second, Zhu and coworkers failed to identify many snoRNA genes in non-mammalian species. As an illustration, we present 1352 C/D snoRNA genes that we have identified and annotated in vertebrates.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results demonstrate that conclusions based only on databases with automatically annotated ncRNAs can be erroneous. Special investigations aimed to distinguish true RNA genes from their pseudogenes should be done. Zhu and coworkers, as well as most other groups studying vertebrate snoRNAs, give new names to newly described homologs of human snoRNAs, which significantly complicates comparison between different species. It seems necessary to develop a uniform nomenclature for homologs of human snoRNAs in other vertebrates, e.g., human gene names prefixed with several-letter code denoting the vertebrate species.</p
Cl gene cluster encoding several small nucleolar RNAs: a comparison amongst trypanosomatids
Adaptations to Endosymbiosis in a Cnidarian-Dinoflagellate Association: Differential Gene Expression and Specific Gene Duplications
Trophic endosymbiosis between anthozoans and photosynthetic dinoflagellates forms the key foundation of reef ecosystems. Dysfunction and collapse of symbiosis lead to bleaching (symbiont expulsion), which is responsible for the severe worldwide decline of coral reefs. Molecular signals are central to the stability of this partnership and are therefore closely related to coral health. To decipher inter-partner signaling, we developed genomic resources (cDNA library and microarrays) from the symbiotic sea anemone Anemonia viridis. Here we describe differential expression between symbiotic (also called zooxanthellate anemones) or aposymbiotic (also called bleached) A. viridis specimens, using microarray hybridizations and qPCR experiments. We mapped, for the first time, transcript abundance separately in the epidermal cell layer and the gastrodermal cells that host photosynthetic symbionts. Transcriptomic profiles showed large inter-individual variability, indicating that aposymbiosis could be induced by different pathways. We defined a restricted subset of 39 common genes that are characteristic of the symbiotic or aposymbiotic states. We demonstrated that transcription of many genes belonging to this set is specifically enhanced in the symbiotic cells (gastroderm). A model is proposed where the aposymbiotic and therefore heterotrophic state triggers vesicular trafficking, whereas the symbiotic and therefore autotrophic state favors metabolic exchanges between host and symbiont. Several genetic pathways were investigated in more detail: i) a key vitamin K–dependant process involved in the dinoflagellate-cnidarian recognition; ii) two cnidarian tissue-specific carbonic anhydrases involved in the carbon transfer from the environment to the intracellular symbionts; iii) host collagen synthesis, mostly supported by the symbiotic tissue. Further, we identified specific gene duplications and showed that the cnidarian-specific isoform was also up-regulated both in the symbiotic state and in the gastroderm. Our results thus offer new insight into the inter-partner signaling required for the physiological mechanisms of the symbiosis that is crucial for coral health
Operons
Operons (clusters of co-regulated genes with related functions) are common features of bacterial genomes. More recently, functional gene clustering has been reported in eukaryotes, from yeasts to filamentous fungi, plants, and animals. Gene clusters can consist of paralogous genes that have most likely arisen by gene duplication. However, there are now many examples of eukaryotic gene clusters that contain functionally related but non-homologous genes and that represent functional gene organizations with operon-like features (physical clustering and co-regulation). These include gene clusters for use of different carbon and nitrogen sources in yeasts, for production of antibiotics, toxins, and virulence determinants in filamentous fungi, for production of defense compounds in plants, and for innate and adaptive immunity in animals (the major histocompatibility locus). The aim of this article is to review features of functional gene clusters in prokaryotes and eukaryotes and the significance of clustering for effective function
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