Economic relationships among southern African states

It is widely held that the large majority of African countries are too small in terms of population and purchasing power to allow meaningful and rapid economic development to take place within the constraints of their domestic economies. Sub-regional groupings of states are called for in order to overcome the drawbacks of small size. Many attempt at establishing larger economic unions in Africa have failed. Particular interest therefore attaches to the southern African sub-region where South Africa, as the only industrial power south of the Sahara, functions as a powerhouse for neighbouring as well as more distant economies. The article provides a factual sketch of existing economic ties (infrastructure, trade, labour, tourism, finance and technology). Attention is paid to South Africa's efforts to create a constellation of states, and also to to the counter-measures of nine neighbouring states.     

裂隙地下水反分析中若干问题探析

本文以反演介质参数为例,讨论了模型的建立、反问题数值计算中实际参数采集及其对成果的影响,有关数值法的适用性、唯一性。     

Neo-rural populations and their relations with local decision makers in rural Québec: collaboration or conflict?

The socio-demographic recomposition of the countryside is affecting local interactions and power relations. Understanding these relationships remains a challenge, as the studies to date are often limited to conflicts between neo-rural populations (newcomers) and long-time country residents over partial issues, without including decision makers. To go beyond this conflictual and fragmentary perspective, the objective of this article is to present an overall picture of both cooperative and oppositional relations between four groups, namely, newcomers, long-time rural residents, leaders of local organizations and municipal officials, in regard to all the issues that concern them. The data are based on interviews with these various actors in two contrasting rural areas of Québec (Canada). After looking at the newcomers’ mixed assessment of their participation in community life, we concentrate on areas of collaboration and/or conflict between all the actors regarding demographic, economic, sociocultural, political, environmental and agricultural issues. Three main trends emerge, revealing unexpected ways of interacting, complex power relations and antagonistic conceptions of rural spaces and their future development.     

Control of climate and Tethyan legacy on distribution of Paleocene–Eocene gastropods and establishment of the Northern Tropical Realm

Palaeobiogeographical distribution of gastropod genera from the Paleocene and the Eocene has been analysed. Based on this distribution, formal palaeobiogeographical provinces have been established and their relationships are sought. It has been found that the provinces were largely restricted to the palaeo-tropics and subtropics mainly of the northern hemisphere and they share a large proportion of their generic composition. The Northern Tropical Realm has been established to include these provinces. The distribution evinces presence of ocean surface currents in the tropics across longitudes. The possible currents moved through the relict Tethys Ocean, across the Atlantic Ocean and perhaps also across the Pacific. However, planktotrophic larvae of these benthic molluscs could not cross the deep ocean barrier that lay between the Northern Tropical Realm and the Austro-New Zealand Province of the southern hemisphere. The gastropod fauna in the latter province evolved independently. Distribution of all the provinces within palaeo-tropics and subtropics indicates strong control of temperature over it. Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum appears to be responsible for extinction and range contraction of high latitude faunas. Low latitude faunas also suffered significant extinction. However, large diversification in the Eocene was a response to widespread transgression that coincided with the thermal event.     

Tectonometamorphic Evolution of Jutulsessen,Gjelsvikfjella, cDML,East Antarctica

The Jutulsessen area, can provide a vital clue to the supercontinent assembly of Gondwana Land as it is situated within the Circum East Antarctic Mobile Belt just east of the Penksockett rift marking the divide between the central Dronning Maud Land from the Western Dronning Maud Land. This landmass is dominated by migmatitic quartzo-feldspathic rocks intruded by syn to post-tectonic granites. The work highlights the data from western part cDML area with a view to arrive at a more comprehensive model for the cDML and subsequently to the super continent assembly. Granitic and migmatitic gneisses comprising of amphibolitic and biotite rich enclaves. The gneisses show variations from quartzo-felspathic gneiss to amphibolitic gneiss. The area has witnessed complex geological history involving at different deformational episodes with concomitant metamorphism. The pervasive dominant foliation trends NW-SE with shallow to medium dips towards SW. In the Stabben area, a nonfoliated intrusive syenite-gabbro pluton limits the gneissic exposures. Compositionally, the orthogneisses plot in the monzogranitegranodiorite field where as the mafic dykes/enclaves plot in the basalt-andesite-rhyodacite field. The bulk geochemical characteristics suggest significant crustal contamination. Garnet-biotite Fe-Mg exchange thermometry gives peak metamorphic temperature of 483° C for the gneisses and 628° C for the dioritic enclave within gneisses. A peak metamorphic grade of upper amphibolite to granulite facies is deduced from the mineral assemblages. Widespread anatexis has led to extensive occurrence of migmatites in the area. Recent geochronological studies assign an age of 1170 Ma to 970 Ma for the migmatites/gneisses and an emplacement age of 501 Ma for the Stabben gabbro and syenite. The discriminant plots of the Jutulsessen rocks indicate diverse origin ranging from pre-plate collision to post-collision orogenic tectonic setting. The mafic enclaves/dykes show ocean island arc to MORB affinities. Voluminous addition of juvenile crust during the Pan-African orogeny strongly overprints earlier structures.     

Satellite altimetry for measuring river stages in remote regions

The advent in satellite altimetry with the most accurate satellite radar altimeter since 1992 and its successive missions have enabled the routine global monitoring of water-level (or stage) for surface waters and changes in the quantities of dammed water reservoirs. However, satellite altimeter measurements typically have spatial resolution capable of observing only large water bodies, such as major lakes and rivers. This paper addresses the challenges of how to investigate water levels in medium (~?1 km in width) to small (~?100 m and narrower) rivers. Comparisons between the ENVISAT altimetry ICE-1 waveform retracking height and standard water-level measurements for multiple sections of Ohio River, Columbia River, and Red River of the North in the United States (US) reveals that the satellite altimetry measured water levels agree well with those observed at nearby US Geological Survey gaging stations over the 10-year period starting from 2002. The significant results include those obtained at Thompson, North Dakota (ND, correlation coefficient or R value of 0.76 between satellite and in situ water-level measurements) and Fargo, ND (R?=?0.74), where the stream channels of Red River are merely?~?50 m and ~?40 m wide, respectively, under normal climatic conditions. In addition, demonstrations of the approach over largely inaccessible portions of Tigris–Euphrates Rivers and Helmand River in the Middle East aided in understanding hydrology in these systems. This study demonstrates the ability of satellite radar altimetry to characterize rivers in these study regions which are much narrower than 100 m in width.     

四川盆地蜀南地区上三叠统须家河组低孔低渗储层特征及形成机理

蜀南地区须家河组为一套辫状河三角洲平原分支河道沉积的岩屑砂岩、长石岩屑质石英砂岩和岩屑质石英砂岩。埋藏深度变化较大（0～2 673 m）,大部分埋深800～2 000 m,平均孔隙度4.64%,平均渗透率0.147×10-3μm2,属于低孔低渗储层。造成低孔低渗的主要原因是:（1）在构造背景上,须家河组沉积时研究区靠近刚由海变陆而隆升的物源区,沉积物搬运距离较短,分异程度低,大量的泥岩、千枚岩等塑性岩屑及杂基被保存下来,同时碎屑颗粒分选磨圆程度较差,均不利于原生孔隙的形成;（2）在沉积条件上,由于辫状河河道水动力不稳定,侧向改道迅速,早期泥岩易被冲蚀,导致砂泥混杂,砂岩中含较多杂基,堵塞充填原始孔隙;（3）早期持续快速的埋藏过程,压实作用强烈,岩屑压实变形被挤入粒间孔隙中,同时普遍发育的石英次生加大使得砂岩越发致密,孔隙消失殆尽。（4）研究区须家河组远离沉积中心,缺乏烃源岩成熟产生的酸性流体溶蚀改造,导致次生孔隙不发育。     

The socioeconomic impacts of nuclear generating stations: An analysis of the Rancho Seco and peach bottom facilities

This paper presents the results of a comparative analysis of the socioeconomic impacts of the construction and operation of two nuclear generating stations. Although the construction of nuclear power plants is typically a multiyear process utilizing large numbers of workers and requiring large expenditures for equipment and materials, the socioeconomic changes in the areas in which the plants are located were small and temporary. The extent and size of the changes were found to be related to the size of the work force residing in the local area, the magnitude of local utility and contractor purchases, the amount of tax payments resulting from the plant, and the level of involvement of area groups over plant-related issues.     

Trace element zoning in pyroxenes from ODP Hole 735B gabbros: diffusive exchange or synkinematic crystal fractionation?

Major and trace element profiles of clinopyroxene grains in oceanic gabbros from ODP Hole 735B have been investigated by a combined in situ analytical study with ion probe, and electron microprobe. In contrast to the homogeneous major element compositions, trace elements (REE, Y, Cr, Sr, and Zr) show continuous core to rim zoning profiles. The observed trace element systematics in clinopyroxene cannot be explained by a simple diffusive exchange between melts and gabbros along grain boundaries. A simultaneous modification of the melt composition is required to generate the zoning, although Rayleigh fractional crystallization modelling could mimic the general shape of the profiles. Simultaneous metasomatism between the cumulate crystal and the porous melt during crystal accumulation is the most likely process to explain the zoning. Deformation during solidification of the crystal mush could have caused squeezing out of the incompatible element enriched residual melts (interstitial liquid). Migration of the melt along grain boundaries might carry these melt out of the system. This process named as synkinematic differentiation or differentiation by deformation (Natland and Dick in J Volcanol Geotherm Res 110(3–4):191–233, 2001) may act as an important magma evolution mechanism in the oceanic crust, at least at slow-spreading ridges.     

Assessment of the Excavation-Damaged Zone in a Tall Rock Slope Using Acoustic Testing Method

During slope excavation, high stresses can become concentrated in the rock mass because of stress redistribution. Failure of the rock mass creates an excavation-damaged zone (EDZ) in the slope. The damage reduces the acoustic wave velocity in the rock mass. Results of field tests measuring acoustic wave velocity at the Jinping I Hydropower Station are used here to study the EDZ in a tall rock slope. Two acoustic testing methods were adopted in the field tests: single-hole acoustic testing (SAT) and cross-hole acoustic testing (CAT). The acoustic wave velocity was lower in the EDZ, and the depth of the EDZ increased with decreasing slope elevation. Statistical analysis shows that the acoustic wave velocity obtained by the SAT method is larger than that obtained by the CAT method, and the relative difference between the SAT- and CAT-derived velocities is lower for a high quality rock mass than for a low quality rock mass. The integrity ratio and severity of damage can also be determined by acoustic wave velocity test results, revealing that the integrity ratio and elastic modulus of a rock mass are reduced in the EDZ.