The Influence of Dung Amendments on Dissolved Organic Matter in Grassland Soil Leachates - Preliminary Results from a Lysimeter Study

Abstract

Understanding the carbon (C) cycle in grassland pasture systems requires more information about the fate of decomposing dung material within the soil. In this soil lysimeter study we successfully applied the natural ¹³C abundance labelling technique to trace dung-C within a temperate grassland soil. Dung was collected from beef steers fed on either maize (a C₄ plant) or perennial ryegrass (a C₃ plant) silages, and applied to a freely draining (C₃) grassland soil. Leachates were collected from soil lysimeters (0–2.5) and (0–10 cm soil depth) to determine the organic carbon and ¹³C content of < 0.7 μm filtered solution. Leachates were taken from (i) control, no dung added, (ii) C₃ dung and (iii) C₄ dung amended soil. Results showed that, (i) the addition of dung resulted in a tenfold increase in C lost from the lysimeters in drainage waters, (ii) up to 50% of the C present in the leachates was ‘native’ soil C and (iii) the application of dung produced a ‘priming’ effect. Further work is required to verify; (i) whether increased leaching of native C following dung application is a ‘true priming’ phenomenon, or merely the result of ‘displacement’ or ‘pool substitution’ of soil C, and (ii) the precise conditions and mechanisms under which organic amendments induce a true ‘priming’ effect in grassland and other agricultural soils.     

Controlling the generation of high frequency electromagnetic pulses with relativistic flying mirrors using an inhomogeneous plasma

A method for the controlled generation of intense high frequency electromagnetic fields by a breaking Langmuir wave (relativistic flying mirrors) in a gradually inhomogeneous plasma is proposed. The wave breaking threshold depends on the local plasma density gradient. Compression, chirping and frequency multiplication of an electromagnetic wave reflected from relativistic mirrors is demonstrated using Particle-In-Cell simulations. Adjusting the shape of the density profile enables control of the reflected light properties.     

Anisotropic static solutions in modelling highly compact bodies

Einstein field equations for static anisotropic spheres are solved and exact interior solutions obtained. This paper extends earlier treatments to include anisotropic models which accommodate a wider variety of physically viable energy densities. Two classes of solutions are possible. The first class contains the limiting caseμ,∝ r^-2 for the energy density which arises in many astrophysical applications. In the second class the singularity at the centre of the star is not present in the energy density.     

Pairing-energy coefficients of neutron-rich fragments in spallation reactions

The ratio of pairing-energy coefficient to temperature(a_p/T)of neutron-rich fragments produced in spallation reactions has been investigated by adopting an isobaric yield ratio method deduced in the framework of a modified Fisher model.A series of spallation reactions,0.5A and 1A Ge V~(208)Pb+p,1A Ge V~(238)U+p,0.5A Ge V~(136)Xe+d,0.2A,0.5A and 1A Ge V~(136)Xe+p,and~(56)Fe+p with incident energy ranging from 0.3A to 1.5A Ge V,has been analysed.An obvious odd-even staggering is shown in the fragments with small neutron excess(I≡N-Z),and in the relatively small-A fragments which have large I.The values of a_p/T for the fragments,with I from 0 to36,have been found to be in a range from-4 to 4,and most values of a_p/T fall in the range from-1 to 1.It is suggested that a small pairing-energy coefficient should be considered in predicting the cross sections of fragments in spallation reactions.It is also concluded that the method proposed in this article is not good for fragments with A/A_s85%(where A_(s )is the mass number of the spallation system).     

基于不同模型的土壤有机质含量高光谱反演比较分析

以新疆奇台县为研究区域,选取该县40个土壤样本,采用多元线性逐步回归法和人工神经网络法两种方法分别建立了土壤有机质含量的反演模型,并对模型进行了检验。结果发现：不同模型的精度值各异,其拟合效果从高到低依次为人工神经网络(ANNs)集成模型＞单个人工神经网络(ANNs)模型＞多元逐步回归(MLSR)模型。人工神经网络的线性和非线性逼近能力较强,而其集成模型作为提高反演模型精度的重要手段,相关系数高达0.938,均方根误差和总均方根误差最小,分别仅为2.13和1.404,对土壤有机质含量的预测能力与实测光谱非常接近,分析结果达到了较实用的预测精度,为最优拟合模型。     

Collective motion of active particles in environmental noise

We study the collective motion of active particles in environmental noise, where the environmental noise is caused by noise particles randomly diffusing in two-dimensional space. We show that active particles in a noisy environment can self organize into three typical phases: polar liquid, band, and disordered gas states. In our model, the transition between band and disordered gas states is discontinuous. Giant number fluctuation is observed in the polar liquid phase. We also compare our results with the Vicsek model and show that the interaction with noise particles can stabilize the band state to very low noise condition. This band structure could recruit most of the active particles in the system, which greatly enhances the coherence of the system. Our findings of complex collective behaviors in environmental noise help us to understand how individuals modify their self-organization by environmental factors, which may further contribute to improving the design of collective migration and navigation strategies.     

MoEDAL – a new light on the high-energy frontier

In 2010, the MoEDAL (MOnopole and Exotics Detector at the LHC) experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) was unanimously approved by European Centre for Nuclear Research’s Research Board to start data taking in 2015. MoEDAL is a pioneering experiment designed to search for highly ionising manifestations of new physics such as magnetic monopoles or massive (pseudo-)stable charged particles. Its groundbreaking physics programme defines a number of scenarios that yield potentially revolutionary insights into such foundational questions as: are there extra dimensions or new symmetries; does magnetic charge exist; what is the nature of dark matter; and, how did the Big Bang develop. MoEDAL’s purpose is to meet such far-reaching challenges at the frontier of the field. The innovative MoEDAL detector employs unconventional methodologies tuned to the prospect of discovery physics. The largely passive MoEDAL detector, deployed at Point 8 on the LHC ring, has a dual nature. First, it acts like a giant camera, comprised of nuclear track detectors – analysed offline by ultra fast scanning microscopes – sensitive only to new physics. Second, it is uniquely able to trap the particle messengers of physics beyond the Standard Model for further study. MoEDAL’s radiation environment is monitored by a state-of-the-art real-time TimePix pixel detector array. A new MoEDAL sub-detector designed to extend MoEDAL reach to mini-charged, minimally ionising particles is under study.     

各向同性压缩过程中圆盘体系的基本性质

结合理论分析与数值模拟研究仅有线性排斥力的二维无序圆盘体系在准静态各向同性压缩过程中的基本性质.引入平均约化重叠量、约化压强等概念,基于微观的力学分析,导出约化压强与体系的组成成分、几何统计量及形变统计量之间的关系.基于数值模拟结果,讨论平均接触数增量、各种接触类型的百分比、平均约化重叠量、约化压强等物理量在大范围压缩的过程中随体积分数增量的变化,给出一个形式简洁的近似约化压强公式.模拟结果表明圆盘体系在远离临界阻塞态及接近临界阻塞态时的压缩响应不同.     

激光诱导荧光探测水体中溶解有机物浓度

用Nd∶YAG激光器的三倍频355 nm光作为激发光源,根据激光诱导荧光(LIF)方法激发并探测污染水体的荧光光谱.通过对荧光光谱的分析处理研究归一化荧光强度,即450 nm处水中溶解有机物(DOM)峰与405 nm处水的拉曼峰的比值,反演溶解有机物浓度.用商品腐殖酸和去离子水配置成已知浓度的溶液代替标准DOM溶液进行标定,得到回归方程.结果证明,DOM的归一化荧光强度与水体中DOM浓度有较好的线性关系,因此LIF方法是对大面积水域水质进行动态遥测的较理想方法.     

DBHF方法和热力学自洽性

采用Dirac Brueckner-Hartree-Fock理论方法, 计算了零温核物质中每核子的结合能、压强和单核子能量, 着重讨论了不同的T矩阵协变表示对核物质中Hugenholtz-Van Hove(HVH)定理满足程度的影响. 结果表明: 不同的协变表示对核子自能各分量的动量相关性和密度依赖性均有重要影响, 进而对核介质中HVH定理的满足程度产生重要影响. 在完全的膺矢量表示下, HVH定理遭到了相当大程度的破坏, 从而体现出基态关联效应对单核子性质的重要性, 并与非相对论BHF理论方法得到的结论一致, 因而完全的膺矢量表示要优于膺标量表示.