Influence of Random Inclusion of Synthetic Wicks Fibers of Hair on the Behavior of Clayey Soils

Several soil improvement methods are used to enhance the engineering properties of soil, among which, reinforcement by fibers is considered as an effective ground improvement method because of its cost effectiveness, and easy adaptability. The present investigation chooses synthetic wick and vinifera raphia fibers as reinforcement. The synthetic wick fiber was randomly included into the soil at four different percentages i.e. 0, 2, 4, 6% by volume of raw soil. Vinifera raphia fiber was used at one percentage (4%) as control. The main objective of this research is to focus on the strength behavior of clayey soil reinforced with randomly included synthetic wick fiber. The physical and mineralogical characterization was carried out on ten soil samples. The compression, flexion, abrasion, water absorption and capillarity tests were performed on synthetic wick reinforced specimens with various fiber contents. The results of these tests have clearly shown an improvement in the compression strength values from 1.65 to 2.84 MPa for the wicks fibers, and the flexural strength values which varied between 1.08 and 1.96 MPa. Hence, the waste of synthetic wick fibers is therefore an efficient reinforcement for compressed earth blocks, which are very significant for construction of durable and economic infrastructures.     

ENSO and solar activity signals from oxygen isotopes in diatom silica during late glacial-Holocene transition in Central Andes (18°S)

The late glacial-Holocene transition from the Lago Chungará sedimentary record in northern Chilean Altiplano (18°S) is made up of laminated sediments composed of light-white and dark-green pluriannual couplets of diatomaceous ooze. Light-white sediment laminae accumulated during short-term extraordinary diatom blooms whereas dark-green sediment laminae represent the baseline limnological conditions during several years of deposition. Diatom oxygen isotope ratios (δ¹⁸O_diatom) from 40 consecutive dark-green laminae, ranging from 11,990 to 11,450 cal year BP, show that a series of decadal-to-centennial dry–wet oscillations occurred. Dry periods are marked by relatively high isotope values whereas wet episodes are indicated by lower values. This interpretation agrees with the reconstructions of terrigenous inputs and regional effective moisture availability carried out in the lake but there is a systematic temporal disagreement between them owing to the non-linear response of the lacustrine ecosystem to environmental forcings. Furthermore, the δ¹⁸O_diatom record tracks effective moisture changes at a centennial scale. Three major phases have been established (11,990–11,800, 11,800–11,550, and 11,550–11,450 cal year BP). Each phase is defined by an increasing isotope trend followed by a sudden depletion. In addition, several wet and dry events at a decadal scale are superimposed onto these major trends. Spectral analyses of the δ¹⁸O_diatom values suggest that cycles and events could have been triggered by both El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and solar activity. Significant ENSO frequencies of 7–9 years and 15–17 years, and periodicities of the solar activity cycles such as 11 years (Schwabe), 23 years (Hale) and 35 years (Brückner) have been recognised in the oxygen isotope time series. Time–frequency analysis shows that although solar and ENSO forcing were present at the onset of the Holocene, they were more intense during the late glacial period. The early Holocene might have been mainly governed by La Niña-like conditions that correspond to wet conditions over the Andean Altiplano.     

Intraseasonal atmospheric variability and its interannual modulation in Central Africa

The spatial and temporal structures of the intraseasonal atmospheric variability over central Africa is investigated using 2.5°?×?2.5° daily outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) and National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Reanalysis zonal winds for the period 1980–2010. The study begins with an overview of the Central African rainfall regime, noting in particular the contrast amongst Western and Eastern parts, with different topography and surface conditions features. The annual mean rainfall and OLR over the region revealed a zone of intense convective activity centered on the equator near 30°E, which extends southward and covers almost all the Congo forest. The annual cycle of rainfall reflects the classical bi-annual shift of Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone across the equatorial belt, between 10°S and 10°N. The result of the empirical orthogonal functions (EOFs) analysis has shown that the three leading EOF modes explain about 45?% of total intraseasonal variability. The power spectra of all the three corresponding principal components (PCs) peak around 45–50?days, indicating a Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO) signal. The first mode exhibits high positive loadings over Northern Congo, the second over Southern Ethiopia and the third over Southwestern Tanzania. The PCs time series revealed less interannual modulation of intraseasonal oscillations for the Congo mode, while Ethiopian and Tanzanian modes exhibit strong interannual variations. H?vmoller plots of OLR, 200 and 850?hPa NCEP zonal winds found the eastward propagating features to be the dominant pattern in all the three times series, but this propagation is less pronounced in the OLR than in the 850 and 200?hpa zonal wind anomalies. An index of MJO strength was built by averaging the 30–50?day power for each day. A plot of MJO indices and El Ni?o Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle confirm a strong interannual modulation of MJO over Eastern central Africa partially linked with the ENSO events (El Ni?o and La Ni?a). Strong MJO activity is observed during La Ni?a years or during ENSO-neutral years, while weak or absent MJO activity is typically associated with strong El Ni?o episodes.     

Magnetic mapping of the western Alps: compilation and geological implications

Extracted from large surveys of France, Italy and Switzerland, airborne magnetic data covering the western Alpine Arc have been compiled into a single homogeneous map of magnetic anomalies at the constant altitude of 3000 m. For this purpose, each data set has been revised thoroughly and accurately to give a single coherent large-scale pattern.

The magnetic contour map reflects the anomaly pattern over the entire length of the Western Alpine collision suture. The distribution of polarities exhibits a large anomalous low located by reduction to the pole over the whole external part of the belt. The observed anomaly suggests a large gap of magnetization between the Adriatic microplate and the European crust. The analysis of the waveband shows that the broadest wavelengths are produced in the lower crust close to the transition zone, in the granulite facies. This highly magnetic layer is used as a marker to describe the geometry of the European and Adriatic deep seated crust. The main results are presented on a composite synthetic profile showing the sloping side of the European slab and an important crustal thinning to the southeast of the Adriatic slab. This feature is emphasized on the magnetic contour map by a linear magnetic low attributed to major transcurrent fault. This trend is called the Sestri-Voghera trend and extends from the Ligurian basin by the Sestri-Voltaggio Zone to the Judicarian system. Sinistral movements can be recognized along the whole axis as well as possible uplift of rift shoulders. The magnetic anomaly pattern over the complete length of the anomalous body of Ivrea as well as the Insubric-Canavese Line limit the extension of the Adriatic microplate by a well defined linear trend. The symmetrical shears deduced from consecutive anomalies are used to propose a structural scheme.     

Effects of three oil spill dispersants on marine bacterial populations: I. Preliminary Study. Quantitative Evolution of Aerobes

The effects of three hydrocarbon dispersant agents (Corexit 9527, Hydrogamosol LT and OSR LT 126) on the bacterial flora of the marine environment are analysed in 20-square-metre basins filled with lagoon seawater.Four months after the first treatment, oil slicks were no longer visible, whereas the appearance of the untreated reference slick had hardly changed. The treatment of 10-litre crude-oil slicks causes an appreciable and long lasting increase in the bacterial population.     

Investigation of coronal mass ejections by the two-position radio sounding method

The two-position radio sounding of the solar wind by the Galileo and Cassini spacecraft has been first performed. These spacecraft followed the Sun from east to west from May 12 to 24, 2000 and sounded the regions spaced in radial directions by several millions of kilometers. Stable correlation has been revealed between fluctuation effects detected in spatially spaced radio-sounding paths of disturbed plasma structures of the coronal mass ejection (CME) type. The radio effects have been found to correlate also with the data on the solar wind density near the Earth orbit. It has been shown that the two-position radio-sounding method together with the data on solar radiation in the X-ray and optic ranges and with the results of local plasma measurements provides information on the structure and velocity of the propagation of CMEs from the photosphere to the Earth orbit. In the most powerful event recorded on May 13, 2000, the CME velocity at the heliocentric distances of about 15R _⊙ (R _⊙ is the solar radius) reached 1200 km/s. At (15–25) R _⊙, the velocity was about 1300 km/s. At distances larger than 25R _⊙, disturbance was decelerated from 1300 to 450 km/s near the Earth orbit.     

Manufactured metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles: Properties and perturbing mechanisms of their biological activity in ecosystems

The inorganic manufactured nanoparticles as TiO₂, Ag°, the iron oxides and CeO₂ are more and more present in various manufactured products and in the aqueous media (TiO₂). Their dispersion in the ecosystems during their life cycle will be associated with interactions with biota (plants, bacteria, fishes). The present work shows strong relations between particular physical chemical properties of very small nanoparticles (size < 30 nm) and biological activity perturbations. It is shown that Ag° and CeO₂ act at very low concentrations. TiO₂ act via the ROS production due to their photo-reactivity.     

Thermal Conductivity of Argillaceous Rocks: Determination Methodology Using In Situ Heating Tests

This study focuses on the characterisation of thermal conductivity for three potential host rocks for radioactive waste disposal. First, the heat conduction process is reviewed on the basis of an analytical solution and key aspects related to anisotropic conduction are discussed. Then the existing information on the three rocks is summarised and a broad uncertainty range of thermal conductivity is estimated based on the mineralogical composition. Procedures to backanalyse the thermal conductivity on the basis of in situ heating tests are assessed and a methodology is put forward. Finally, this methodology is used to estimate the impact of experimental uncertainties and applied to the four in situ heating tests. In the three potential host rocks, a clear influence of the bedding planes was identified and anisotropic heat conduction was shown to be necessary to interpret the observed temperature field. Experimental uncertainties were also shown to induce a larger uncertainty on the anisotropy ratio than on the equivalent thermal conductivity defined as the geometric mean of the thermal conductivity in the three principal directions.     

Geochemical evaluation of mineralization potential of the Somie-Ntem area within the Tikar plain,Cameroon: implication on petrogenesis

Acta Geochimica - Somie-Ntem area of the Tikar plain belongs to the western Cameroon Domain. The lithology of the plain has been characterized, and the mineral potential is still unclear despite...