Oxygen Flux Research Articles

Skin Temperature Correction for Calculations of Air‐Sea Oxygen Flux and Annual Net Community Production

AbstractWe evaluated the influence of skin temperature correction on the calculations of air‐sea O2 flux and annual net community production (ANCP). The skin temperature correction term (ΔT) was derived from the fifth generation European Center for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts Reanalysis, which has large spatial and temporal variations that are consistent with independent measurements on three ocean moorings from areas with very different air‐sea heat flux and ΔT. The result revealed that ΔT is dominated by the cool skin effect (which leads to the increase in air‐to‐sea O2 flux and decrease in ANCP), except for the equatorial region or summertime when the warm layer effect is significant. Using data from three Argo profiling floats in the subarctic, subtropical, and tropical Pacific as examples, the calculations indicated that the correction could lead to −1%–+36% difference in annual air‐to‐sea O2 flux and −33%–+5% difference in ANCP.

Effect of sintering conditions on the radiation shielding characteristics of YBCO superconducting ceramics

The search for protective materials against harmful ionizing Radiation has been increasing dramatically in recent years. High-temperature superconductors could be a pioneer in this field. In this paper, high-temperature superconducting ceramics were fabricated by the solid-state process. The effect of synthesis factors such as sintering temperatures and preparation medium on the structure, morphology, and radiation shielding properties were studied. The X-ray diffraction results showed that YBCO ceramics had been successfully prepared. The scanning electron microscope results showed that the sintering temperatures affected the morphology aspect of the ceramics. The increase of the sintering temperature from 930 °C to 950 °C increased the mean grain size and the physical properties of the ceramics. The ceramics prepared under an oxygen flux atmosphere exhibited the highest grain size (8.53 μm) with the ultra-lowest porosity (1.10%) and improved electrical transport property. Accordingly, the synthesis factors greatly influenced the radiation shielding performance of the prepared ceramics. The analysis was performed using Monte Carlo simulation. The linear attenuation coefficient (μ) was simulated in the energy interval between 0.244 and 2.506 MeV. The results demonstrated that the μ values reduced exponentially from 1.149 to 0.228 cm−1 (for Y93), from 1.255 to 0.249 cm−1 (for Y95A), and from 1.332 to 0.263 cm−1 (for Y95O). Moreover, the fabricated ceramics' attenuation capacity affected the ceramics' sintering temperature. The Y93 sample with a sintering temperature of 930 °C has linear attenuation coefficient values between 1.149 and 0.228 cm−1, which is considered the lowest μ values in the current study. We investigated the relationship between the porosity and the linear attenuation coefficient of the fabricated ceramics, which indicates that the linear attenuation coefficient values decrease linearly with raising the porosity ratio.

Reviews and syntheses: Spatial and temporal patterns in seagrass metabolic fluxes

Abstract. Seagrass meadow metabolism has been measured for decades to gain insight into ecosystem energy, biomass production, food web dynamics, and, more recently, to inform its potential in ameliorating ocean acidification (OA). This extensive body of literature can be used to infer trends and drivers of seagrass meadow metabolism. Here, we synthesize the results from 56 studies reporting in situ rates of seagrass gross primary productivity, respiration, and/or net community productivity to highlight spatial and temporal variability in oxygen (O2) fluxes. We illustrate that daytime net community production (NCP) is positive overall and similar across seasons and geographies. Full-day NCP rates, which illustrate the potential cumulative effect of seagrass beds on seawater biogeochemistry integrated over day and night, were also positive overall but were higher in summer months in both tropical and temperate ecosystems. Although our analyses suggest seagrass meadows are generally autotrophic, the effects on seawater oxygen are relatively small in magnitude. We also find positive correlations between gross primary production and temperature, although this effect may vary between temperate and tropical geographies and may change under future climate scenarios if seagrasses approach thermal tolerance thresholds. In addition, we illustrate that periods when full-day NCP is highest could be associated with lower nighttime O2 and increased diurnal variability in seawater O2. These results can serve as first-order estimates of when and where OA amelioration by seagrasses may be likely. However, improved understanding of variations in NCPDIC:NCPO2 ratios and increased work directly measuring metabolically driven alterations in seawater pH will further inform the potential for seagrass meadows to serve in this context.

Bottom water redox dynamics during the Early Cretaceous Weissert Event in ODP Hole 692B (Weddell Sea, Antarctica) reconstructed from the benthic foraminiferal assemblages

Benthic foraminifera at Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Hole 692B were studied to understand variations in oxygen and organic-matter fluxes in bottom waters during the Early Cretaceous. The upper Berriasian to lower Barremian black shales, characterized by high concentrations of total organic carbon (TOC) ranging between 1.3 and 18%, were deposited in an outer neritic-upper bathyal environment (~200–500 m) according to benthic foraminifera assemblages. A new high-resolution record of benthic foraminiferal assemblages of high-latitude, dominated by infaunal taxa ( Citharina , Eoguttulina , Laevidentalina , Lagena , Lenticulina , Marginulina , N odosaria, Planularia , Saracenaria , and Vaginulinopsis ), is described in depleted‑oxygen and high organic‑carbon flux conditions. Extremely dysoxic conditions are recorded at the onset of the carbon isotope excursion (CIE) marking the Weissert Event (late Valanginian), followed by a period of anoxic conditions in bottom waters. A repopulation event of benthic foraminifera, linked to an increase in oxygen concentrations, coincided with the global cooling episode that characterized the late part of the Weissert Event. Subsequently, there were short periods in the late Valanginian and the late early Hauterivian when the bottom waters experienced increased oxygen concentrations. Possibly, bottom currents related to the influx of Southern Ocean waters favored short-term pulses of ventilation under constant increased organic‑carbon flux during the late Valanginian and late Hauterivian. • New Lower Cretaceous micropaleontological data from the southern high latitudes • Benthic foraminifera indicate an outer neritic-upper bathyal setting. • Alternated anoxic and dysoxic conditions during the Weissert Event in bottom-waters • Benthic foraminiferal repopulation through the Weissert Event • ODP 692B was influenced by the interplay of short-term pulses of ventilation.

Water Oxygen Consumption Rather Than Sediment Oxygen Consumption Drives the Variation of Hypoxia on the East China Sea Shelf

AbstractSediment oxygen consumption (SOC) is important in modulating the oxygen budget in the East China Sea where seasonal hypoxia occurs. Porewater advection, molecular diffusion and bioturbation supply oxygen for sedimentary organic matter degradation. A pelagic‐benthic coupled model was applied to quantify the SOC. A comparison with observations showed good model performance in reproducing the hydrographic and ecological environments, particularly for the interannual variation in the hypoxic zone. Simulation results show that porewater‐advection‐induced flux is the predominant component of the SOC in sandy areas on the Changjiang bank and outer shelves, while the bioturbation‐induced flux is predominant at mud depocenters. By comparing SOC to the water oxygen consumption (WOC) below the pycnocline, the contribution of SOC is generally below ∼40% in the hypoxic zone. The spatial distribution of SOC in summer is relatively steady from year to year, while the high WOC patches explain more about the interannual variation in the hypoxic zone. WOC rather than SOC drives the variation of hypoxia. Particularly on the Changjiang bank, milder hydrodynamics are favorable for both the higher WOC and bioturbation‐induced benthic oxygen flux but substantially suppress the porewater advective flux, which results in the net lower contribution of SOC to hypoxia. This finding may shed light on other pelagic‐benthic coupling processes in coastal shelf seas where hypoxia occurs on permeable sediments.

Influence of oxygen content on structure, thermal stability, oxidation resistance, and corrosion resistance of arc evaporated (Cr, Al)N coatings

(CrxAl1-x)(OyN1-y)ε coatings with different oxygen fractions were prepared by cathodic arc evaporation through variation of injected oxygen flux, and elaborated concerning structure, mechanical properties, thermal stability, oxidation resistance, and electrochemical properties. A moderate addition of O into (Cr, Al)N coatings generates a (Cr, Al)(O, N) solid solution with a face-centered cubic structure, whereas an additional corundum-structured (Cr, Al)2O3 solid solution is formed with superfluous oxygen introduced. The addition of O effectively improves the thermal stability by retarding the formation of w-AlN as well as the dissociation of the CrN bond, allowing the oxynitride coatings to maintain higher hardness after annealing. Notably, a small fraction of O-addition (e.g. 8 or 21 at.% in non-metal sublattice) enhances significantly the resistance against oxidation to above 1100 °C by facilitating the formation of a protective Al-rich oxide scale. Further incorporation of O gives rise to a development of oxide scale with unity elemental distribution and hence results in inferior oxidation resistance. Nevertheless, the O-rich oxynitride coatings provide better protection against electrochemical corrosion while the N-rich coatings exhibit higher corrosion current as well as lower polarization resistance compared to the CrAlN coating.

The paleoecology and depositional model of the Oligo-Miocene coral reefs in the Mohammad Abad Area, the west of Baft, SW Kerman, Iran

This paper deals with the Oligo-Miocene coral reefs in the Mohammadabad Area, W Baft, SW Kerman. The studied coral reefs include 11 families, 25 genera and 33 species of the scleractinian corals. The coral reef successions have deposited in three cycles on a mixed siliciclastic-carbonate platform. To understanding the paleoecology, reef architecture and depositional model of studied reefal successions, statistical analyses based on the coral niches, sedimentology analyses based on the grain size of the marly strata and microfacies analyses on limestone strata have used. Based on the statistical analyses, the coral community includes eight ecotypes. The distribution of these ecotypes indicates that, despite of various thicknesses, in all three coral reef successions, the branching and fast growth ecotypes are present at the basal parts and the massive, placoid and meandroid colonies are recorded in the slope, crest and distal parts of the reefs. The main disruptive phenomenon that stopped the reef development and affected the reef architecture has been the addition of clastic deposits to the carbonate system. This sediment load increase is recorded as marly strata. By The addition of clastic sediment load to the system, the carbonate content of the system has diluted, the salinity, water transparency and photic level is decreased, the favorable attachment hard substrate for coral polyps is limited, the nutrient and oxygen flux is disrupted and the coral reefs are suffocated.

Characterization of plasma catalytic decomposition of methane: role of atomic O and reaction mechanism

In this work, we investigated atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ)-assisted methane oxidation over a Ni-SiO2/Al2O3 catalyst. We evaluated possible reaction mechanisms by analyzing the correlation of gas phase, surface and plasma-produced species. Plasma feed gas compositions, plasma powers, and catalyst temperatures were varied to expand the experimental parameters. Real-time Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy was applied to quantify gas phase species from the reactions. The reactive incident fluxes generated by plasma were measured by molecular beam mass spectroscopy using an identical APPJ operating at the same conditions. A strong correlation of the quantified fluxes of plasma-produced atomic oxygen with that of CH4 consumption, and CO and CO2 formation implies that O atoms play an essential role in CH4 oxidation for the investigated conditions. With the integration of APPJ, the apparent activation energy was lowered and a synergistic effect of 30% was observed. We also performed in-situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier-transform spectroscopy to analyze the catalyst surface. The surface analysis showed that surface CO abundance mirrored the surface coverage of CH n at 25 °C. This suggests that CH n adsorbed on the catalyst surface as an intermediate species that was subsequently transformed into surface CO. We observed very little surface CH n absorbance at 500 °C, while a ten-fold increase of surface CO and stronger CO2 absorption were seen. This indicates that for a nickel catalyst at 500 °C, the dissociation of CH4 to CH n may be the rate-determining step in the plasma-assisted CH4 oxidation for our conditions. We also found the CO vibrational frequency changes from 2143 cm−1 for gas phase CO to 2196 cm−1 for CO on a 25 °C catalyst surface, whereas the frequency of CO on a 500 °C catalyst was 2188 cm−1. The change in CO vibrational frequency may be related to the oxidation of the catalyst.

Effective asexual reproduction of a widespread soft coral: comparative assessment of four different fragmentation methods.

BackgroundMany coral reefs worldwide are experiencing declines in hard corals, resulting in other benthic organisms, e.g., soft corals, becoming more dominant. As such, more studies on the ecophysiology of soft corals are needed. Despite many methods for asexual reproduction of hard corals, effective methods for soft corals, i.e., without a hard skeleton, are scarce. This study, thus, assessed four fragmentation methods, the glue, rubber band, tunnel mesh, and plug mesh method for the pulsating soft coral Xenia umbellata that is widely distributed in the tropical Indo-Pacific.MethodsMethods were comparatively assessed by determining the required time and labor for the fragmentation plus the health status of the fragmented corals by measuring their oxygen fluxes and pulsation rates, i.e., a special feature of this soft coral that can be used as a proxy for its health.ResultsThere were no significant health status differences between methods. This was indicated by similar gross photosynthesis (between 7.4 to 9.7 μg O2 polyp−1 h−1) and pulsating rates (between 35 and 44 pulses min−1) among methods. In terms of time/labor intensity and success rates, i.e., the percentage of fragments attached to the desired surface, the plug mesh method was the most efficient method with a significantly higher success rate (95 ± 5%), while the others had a success rate between 5 ± 5 and 45 ± 15%. The time needed for fragmentation, though not significant, was also the shortest (78 ± 11 s fragment−1), while other methods required between 84 ± 14 and 126 ± 8 s frag−1. The plug mesh method may thus be a valuable tool related to the reproduction of soft corals for use in subsequent experimental work.

Reversing impact of phytoplankton phosphorus limitation on coastal hypoxia due to interacting changes in surface production and shoreward bottom oxygen influx

Phosphorus (P) limitation of phytoplankton growth is increasingly common in estuarine and coastal waters due to rising anthropogenic nitrogen input faster than that of phosphorus. However, the impact of P limitation on coastal hypoxia remains inconclusive and is challenging to observe. By combining observations with results from a three-dimensional physical-biogeochemical model off the Pearl River Estuary, we illustrate that during the summer upwelling period, the impact of P limitation reverses from suppressing hypoxia to amplifying hypoxia as P-limitation severity decreases. When P limitation is severe in the ecosystem (i.e., P limitation extensively covers the stratified waters where hypoxia tends to develop), the surface primary production and the coupled bottom oxygen consumption are diluted along the upstream-downstream axis because of the P limitation. In addition, the increased downstream bottom oxygen level enhances the shoreward bottom oxygen influx. These effects, together, reduce coastal hypoxia. In contrast, when P-limitation severity is low (i.e., P limitation is spatially constrained), the downstream relocated surface production reduces upstream hypoxia but increases downstream hypoxia, which subsequently weakens the shoreward bottom oxygen influx and hence lowers its capacity to relieve upstream hypoxia. The net effect can amplify the coastal hypoxic extent. Our results emphasize how different P-limitation severity can reverse its impact on coastal hypoxia due to the interacting changes in surface production and bottom oxygen influx. We propose the potential of using the spatial extent of P limitation as a proxy to predict its impact on coastal hypoxia and support ecosystem nutrient management.

Gradual and selective achievement of Rutile-TiO2 by thermal annealing amorphous TixOyNz films

To a large extent, future technological progress relies on the study−development of advanced materials with new and/or improved properties. The semiconductors titanium oxynitride (TixOyNz) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) perfectly meet these requirements in the sense that their main chemical and structural properties can be customized, leading to successful contributions in optics, electronics, catalysis, bactericides surfaces, and photovoltaics applications, for instance. Motivated by these aspects, this paper reports on the structure and optical bandgap of TixOyNz, as obtained by Raman scattering and optical transmittance spectroscopy, respectively. The study comprises a set of films produced by N2-plasma Ti sputtering and subsequently thermal annealed in an atmosphere of oxygen flux. As the thermal treatments advance, the Raman spectra indicate a gradual transformation of the films from amorphous+(nano/micro-)crystalline TixOyNz to the crystalline Rutile phase of TiO2 (R-TiO2). Consistent with these structural changes, the optical bandgap of the films decreases from ∼ 3.2 to 2.5 eV, i.e., across part of the ultraviolet−blue spectral region. The analysis of the experimental data confirms the importance of nitrogen (in the early stages of sample preparation) on the achievement of R-TiO2 in a continuous and controllable way. Therefore, this paper shows the suitability of the TixOyNz compound to produce films with well-defined crystalline TiO2-related structures and specific optical bandgap values.

PH-switchable nanozyme cascade catalysis: a strategy for spatial\u2013temporal modulation of pathological wound microenvironment to rescue stalled healing in diabetic ulcer

The management of diabetic ulcer (DU) to rescue stalled wound healing remains a paramount clinical challenge due to the spatially and temporally coupled pathological wound microenvironment that features hyperglycemia, biofilm infection, hypoxia and excessive oxidative stress. Here we present a pH-switchable nanozyme cascade catalysis (PNCC) strategy for spatial–temporal modulation of pathological wound microenvironment to rescue stalled healing in DU. The PNCC is demonstrated by employing the nanozyme of clinically approved iron oxide nanoparticles coated with a shell of glucose oxidase (Fe3O4-GOx). The Fe3O4-GOx possesses intrinsic glucose oxidase (GOx), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD)-like activities, and can catalyze pH-switchable glucose-initiated GOx/POD and GOx/CAT cascade reaction in acidic and neutral environment, respectively. Specifically, the GOx/POD cascade reaction generating consecutive fluxes of toxic hydroxyl radical spatially targets the acidic biofilm (pH ~ 5.5), and eradicates biofilm to shorten the inflammatory phase and initiate normal wound healing processes. Furthermore, the GOx/CAT cascade reaction producing consecutive fluxes of oxygen spatially targets the neutral wound tissue, and accelerates the proliferation and remodeling phases of wound healing by addressing the issues of hyperglycemia, hypoxia, and excessive oxidative stress. The shortened inflammatory phase temporally coupled with accelerated proliferation and remodeling phases significantly speed up the normal orchestrated wound-healing cascades. Remarkably, this Fe3O4-GOx-instructed spatial–temporal remodeling of DU microenvironment enables complete re-epithelialization of biofilm-infected wound in diabetic mice within 15 days while minimizing toxicity to normal tissues, exerting great transformation potential in clinical DU management. The proposed PNCC concept offers a new perspective for complex pathological microenvironment remodeling, and may provide a powerful modality for the treatment of microenvironment-associated diseases.Graphical

Developing chicken cardiac muscle mitochondria are resistant to variations in incubation oxygen levels.

BackgroundChronic exposure to hypoxia during vertebrate development can produce abnormal cardiovascular morphology and function. The aim of this study was to examine cardiac mitochondria function in an avian model, the chicken, in response to embryonic development under hypoxic (15% O2), normoxic (21% O2), or hyperoxic (40% O2) incubation conditions.MethodsChicken embryos were incubated in hypoxia, normoxia, or hyperoxia beginning on day 5 of incubation through hatching. Cardiac mitochondria oxygen flux and reactive oxygen species production were measured in permeabilized cardiac fibers from externally pipped and 1-day post hatchlings.ResultsAltering oxygen during development had a large effect on body and heart masses of externally pipped embryos and 1-day old hatchlings. Hypoxic animals had smaller body masses and absolute heart masses, but proportionally similar sized hearts compared to normoxic animals during external pipping. Hyperoxic animals were larger with larger hearts than normoxic animals during external pipping. Mitochondrial oxygen flux in permeabilized cardiac muscle fibers revealed limited effects of developing under altered oxygen conditions, with only oxygen flux through cytochrome oxidase being lower in hypoxic hearts compared with hyperoxic hearts. Oxygen flux in leak and oxidative phosphorylation states were not affected by developmental oxygen levels. Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production under leak and oxidative phosphorylation states studied did not differ between any developmental oxygen treatment.ConclusionsThese results suggest that cardiac mitochondria function of the developing chicken is not altered by developing in ovo under different oxygen levels.

Distribution of O<sup>+</sup> and ${\text{O}}_{\text{2}}^{\text{+}}$ fluxes and their escape rates in the near-Mars magnetotail: A survey of MAVEN observations

Tailward ion outflows in the Martian-induced magnetotail are known to be one of the major channels for Martian atmospheric escape. On the basis of nearly 6.5 years of observations from the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) mission, we investigate the statistical distribution of tailward and Marsward fluxes of heavy ions (i.e., O⁺ and <inline-formula><tex-math id="Z-20220914082156">\begin{document}${\rm{O}}_2^+ $\end{document}</tex-math><alternatives><graphic xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="RA335-duhengle-F_Z-20220914082156.jpg"/><graphic xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="RA335-duhengle-F_Z-20220914082156.png"/></alternatives></inline-formula>) in the near-Mars magnetotail and explore their characteristic responses to the corotating interaction region (CIR), solar wind dynamic pressure, and local magnetic field intensity. Our results show that the tailward fluxes of oxygen ions and molecular oxygen ions in the magnetotail are significantly greater than their Marsward fluxes and that the tailward flux of molecular oxygen ions is generally larger than that of oxygen ions. Furthermore, the tailward ion flux distribution exhibits dependence on the CIR, solar wind dynamic pressure, and local magnetic field strength in a manner stronger than the Marsward ion flux distribution. According to the distribution of tailward ion fluxes, we calculate the corresponding escape rates of heavy ions and show that when the CIR occurs, the total escape rates of oxygen ions and molecular oxygen ions increase by a factor of ~2 and ~1.2, respectively. We also find that the escape rates of heavy ions increase with the enhancement of solar wind dynamic pressure, whereas the overall effect of the local magnetic field is relatively weak. Our study has important implications for improved understanding of the underlying mechanisms responsible for the Martian atmospheric escape and the evolution of the Martian atmospheric climate.

Influence of Fe(III) source, light quality, photon flux and presence of oxygen on photoreduction of Fe(III)-organic complexes – Implications for light-influenced coastal freshwater and marine sediments

Iron(III) photoreduction is an important source of Fe(II) in illuminated aquatic and sedimentary environments. Under oxic conditions, the Fe(II) can be re-oxidized by oxygen (O2) forming reactive O-species such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) which further react with Fe(II) thus enhancing Fe(II) oxidation rates. However, it is unknown by aquatic sediments how the parameters wavelength of radiation, photon flux, origin of Fe(III) source and presence or absence of O2 influence the extent of Fe(II) and H2O2 turnover. We studied this using batch experiments with different Fe(III)-organic complexes mimicking sedimentary conditions. We found that wavelengths <500 nm are necessary to initiate Fe(III) photoreduction and that the photon flux, wavelength and identity of Fe(III)-complexing organic acids control the kinetics of Fe(III) photoreduction. The formation of photo-susceptible Fe(III)-organic complexes did not depend on whether the Fe(III) source was biogenically produced, poorly-crystalline Fe(III) oxyhydroxides or chemically synthesized ferrihydrite. Oxic conditions caused chemical re-oxidation of Fe(II) and accumulation of H2O2. The photon flux, wavelength and availability of Fe(III)-complexing organic molecules are critical for the balance between concurrent Fe(III) photoreduction and abiotic Fe(II) oxidation and may even lead to a steady-state concentration of Fe(II) in the micromolar range. These results help understand and predict Fe(III) photoreduction dynamics and in-situ formation of Fe(II) in oxic or anoxic, illuminated and organic-rich environments.

The benthic foraminiferal response to the mid-Maastrichtian event in the NW-European chalk sea of the Maastrichtian type area

Abstract The mid-Maastrichtian carbon isotope event (MME), dated at ∼69 Ma, reflects a perturbation of the global carbon cycle that, in part, correlates with the enigmatic global extinction of ‘true’ (i.e., non-tegulated) inoceramid bivalves. The mechanisms of this extinction event are still debated. While both the inoceramid extirpation and MME have been recorded in a variety of deep-sea sites, little is known about their expression in epicontinental chalk seas. In order to study the shallow-marine signature of the MME in this epicontinental shelf sea, we have generated quantitative foraminiferal assemblage data for two quarries (Hallembaye, NE Belgium; ENCI, SE Netherlands) in the Maastrichtian type area, complemented by a species-specific benthic δ13C record. In contrast to deep-sea records, no significant changes in benthic foraminiferal assemblages and benthic foraminiferal accumulation rates are observed across the MME in the type-Maastrichtian area. At the Hallembaye quarry, the otherwise rare endobenthic species Cuneus trigona reaches a transient peak abundance of 33.3% at the onset of the MME, likely caused by a local transient change in organic matter flux to the seafloor. Nevertheless, high and near-constant species evenness shows that neither oxygen nor organic matter flux was limited across the extinction level or during the MME. Benthic foraminiferal data from the uppermost part of the studied section, above the MME, indicate a significant increase in food supply to the seafloor. Decreased amounts of terrigenous elements across this interval document a lesser riverine or aeolian influx, which means that the increased benthic productivity is linked to a different origin. Potentially, the continuous precipitation of chalk under nutrient-poor conditions in the Late Cretaceous chalk sea was enabled by efficient nutrient recycling in the water column. In shallower depositional settings, nutrient recycling took place closer to the seafloor, which allowed more organic matter to reach the bottom. These results provide insights in the importance of nutrient cycling for biological productivity in the NW-European chalk sea.

Test of Membrane Aerated Biofilm Reactors for Nitrogen Removal in Wastewater Treatment

Membrane aerated biofilm reactor, as a biological wastewater treatment technology, has been nearly mature on a commercial scale. It uses bubble-free aeration to provide oxygen for biological nitrification and wastewater degradation. A novel oxygen-permeable hollow fiber membrane (Zeelung cord) specifically designed for use in a membrane aerated biofilm reactors (MABR). These fibers are organized into bundles, which are wrapped around the reinforcing core to increase strength. This permeable membrane allows oxygen to diffuse into the attached biofilm, which directly leads to the biological oxidation of pollutants in the wastewater. This study aimed to determine the nitrification and oxygen transfer capacity of Zeelung fibers used in the MABR system. The effects of various C/N ratios (in the range of 1.0 to 3.0) on the membrane modules were studied using three laboratory-scale reactors over the course of 165 days. In this test, the average removal efficiency of COD can reach 74% under selected conditions, up to 90%. Meanwhile, the average nitrification rate is 3.9 g/d/m2, the average ammonia removal rate is 90%, and the maximum value can reach 99%. In addition, the oxygen transfer rate of the fiber in the liquid phase was 19.65 g/d/m2. The experiment also indicated that the nitrification rate is directly proportional to the transfer flux of oxygen and is related to the content of dissolved oxygen in the water. The nitrification rate can be controlled by controlling the concentration of dissolved oxygen in water, thus affecting the removal rate of ammonia nitrogen.

Effects of Low Oxygen Flux on the Structure, Morphology, Optical and Electrical Properties of Niox Films Prepared by Rf Magnetron Sputtering

Effects of Low Oxygen Flux on the Structure, Morphology, Optical and Electrical Properties of Niox Films Prepared by Rf Magnetron Sputtering

Effects of La0.8Sr0.2MnO3 and Ag electrodes on bismuth-oxide-based low-temperature solid electrolyte oxygen generators

In this study, La 0.8 Sr 0.2 MnO 3 (LSM) was used as the ceramic electrode in a (Bi 1.50 Y 0.50 ) 0.98 Zr 0.04 O 3+δ (BYO)-based solid electrolyte oxygen generator (SEOG) and its performance was compared with that of a previously studied high-fire Ag electrode. Among La 0.6 Sr 0.4 Co 0.2 Fe 0.8 O 3 , LaNi 0.6 Fe 0.4 O 3 , Cu 1.4 Mn 1.6 O 4 , and LSM materials, only LSM materials did not trigger any chemical reaction or interdiffusion with BYO at temperatures up to 900 °C. Two cell designs, Cell A, with a Bi 1.71 Nb 0.25 Ba 0.04 O 3+δ (BBNO) interlayer and high-fire Ag electrode, and Cell B, with an LSM-BYO composite electrode, were obtained in this study. The cells were sandwiched between two modular SUS 316 planar interconnects using a ZnO–SiO 2 –Al 2 O 3 glass sealant to form the SEOG device. Although Cells A and B possessed similar ohmic resistance (R o ) values, the polarization resistance (R p ) values of Cell A were 3.6 times larger than those of Cell B. Furthermore, the stability study of the cells operated at 600 °C for 12 h revealed that R o increased from 0.79 to 3.17 Ω cm 2 and R p from 3.12 to 12.58 Ω cm 2 for the Cell A, while R o increased from 0.76 to 0.77 Ω cm 2 and R p from 0.87 to 1.12 Ω cm 2 for the Cell B. Therefore, minor variations in the R o and R p of Cell B indicate the excellent stability of the electrode. The degradation of Cell A was caused by the migration of Ag and formation of voids and cracks adjacent to the anode/electrolyte interface under the DC field. Furthermore, the Cell A experienced a decrease in faradaic efficiency for current densities greater than 0.20 A cm −2 owing to the partial decomposition of BYO at the cathode. In contrast, the Cell B generated an oxygen flux of 1.29 cm⋅min −1 at 600 °C. In addition, the faradaic efficiency of Cell B remained consistent for current densities up to 0.35 A cm −2 . Therefore, the SEOG using LSM-BYO as the cell electrode exhibited excellent stability and electrochemical performance.

From Substrate to Surface: A Turbulence‐Based Model for Gas Transfer Across Sediment‐Water‐Air Interfaces in Vegetated Streams

AbstractDissolved Oxygen (DO) fluxes across the air‐water and sediment‐water interface (AWI and SWI) are two major processes that govern the amount of oxygen available to living organisms in aquatic ecosystems. Aquatic vegetation generates different scales of turbulence that change the flow structure and affect gas transfer mechanisms at AWI and SWI. A series of laboratory experiments with rigid cylinder arrays to mimic vegetation was conducted in a recirculating race‐track flume with a lightweight sediment bed. 2D Planar Particle Image Velocimetry was used to characterize the flow field under different submergence ratios and array densities to access the effect of vegetation‐generated turbulence on gas transfer. Gas transfer rate across AWI was determined by DO re‐aeration curves. The effective diffusion coefficient for gas transfer flux across SWI was estimated by the difference between near‐bed and near‐surface DO concentrations. When sediment begins to mobilize, near‐bed suspended sediment provides a negative buoyancy term that increases the critical Reynolds number for the surface gas transfer process according to a modified Surface Renewal model for vegetated flows. A new Reynolds number dependence model using near‐bed turbulent kinetic energy as an indicator is proposed to provide a universal prediction for the interfacial flux across SWI in flows with aquatic vegetation. This study provides critical information and useful models for future studies on water quality management and ecosystem restoration in natural water environments such as lakes, rivers, and wetlands.