Geotechnical and mineralogical properties of weak rocks from Central Greece

Thirty bulk samples of hard soils-soft rocks such as marls, originating from Euboea Island and Peloponnesus area, were investigated to evaluate their geotechnical behavior. Specifically, by conducting a series of physical and geotechnical tests, such as liquid limit and plastic limit tests, along with the estimation of the grain size fraction, Slake Durability and Point Load Test. Certain parameters were determined and used for empirical correlations with their mineralogical characteristics. The mineralogical composition was determined by X-ray diffraction, thermo-gravimetric and thermal analysis, succeeded by textural analysis performed by Optical Microscope. With the help of the above mentioned tests, we interpreted the observed geotechnical behavior of the examined weak rocks by means of mineralogical composition and texture. Durability and the unconfined compressive strength was found to be influenced by high percentages in carbonate minerals. In addition, it was found that a decrease in clay content resulted in higher strength and durability values. The concluded empirical correlations verified the influence of these parameters and gave a general overview of the engineering behavior of the examined weak rocks.     

Structure of densified vitreous silica: Silicon and oxygen XANES spectra and multiple scattering calculations

The decrease of the mean Si-O-Si angle in vitreous silica upon densification from 2.20 to 2.36 gcm^-3 has been followed by oxygen and silicon K-edge XANES spectroscopy. Multiple scattering calculations using clusters of two shells around the oxygen and silicon atoms, respectively, are in good agreement with experimental absorption spectra and confirm mean Si-O-Si angles between 130 and 144° for these samples, and a decrease of the mean angle with densification. The experimental spectra also exhibit features due to scattering at outer (>2) shells around the photoabsorbers.     

Microwave Remote Sensing of Tropical Cyclones from Space

This article reviews several microwave instruments employed in research and analysis of tropical cyclones (TCs), typhoons, and hurricanes. The instruments discussed include scatterometers, microwave radiometers, synthetic aperture radars (SARs), and rain radar from space. Examples of the particular contribution by one or more of these instruments in analysis of several storms illustrate the comprehensive new views provided by the SeaWinds scatterometers, the detailed high-resolution wind field provided by RADARSAT-1 SAR, particularly inside and in the vicinity of hurricane “eyes,” and the presence of secondary flows in the region between rainbands in TCs. The high spatial resolution of precipitation data from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission's rain radar, combined with scatterometer or SAR data, give a significant improvement in the details that can be seen from space, at the surface, and in the precipitating areas of TCs. The microwave instruments provide a penetrating view below the upper level cirrus clouds. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Growth hormone effect on xenobiotic-metabolizing activities of rainbow trout

In recent years several studies reported the regulation by growth hormone (GH) of the expression of a variety of P450 forms in mammals. However the effect of GH on the xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes of fish are still unknown. The aim of this work was to investigate the effects of ovine GH—a growth hormone known to be efficient in trout—on the cytochrome P450 level and on aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase, aminopyrine-N-demethylase, glucuronyl transferase and glutathione transferase activities in trout. The GH-implanted trout (n = 50) each received a single cholesterol pellet containing ovine GH and were compared to control animals (n = 50) receiving a single cholesterol pellet without GH. After 15 days fish were killed and the liver and gills were excised for the measurement of xenobiotic-metabolizing enzyme activities. GH treatment significantly decreased the level of hepatic cytochrome P450 and the activities of cytochrome P450 dependent monooxygenases. In contrast, no significant effect of the treatment was observed on the glutathione transferase and UDP-glucuronyl transferase activities. Moreover, GH treatment had no effect on branchial phase I and phase II enzyme activities. This study provides evidence that GH level significantly affects the expression of several members of the hepatic cytochrome P450 family in trout.     

Thermal ion measurements on board Interball Auroral Probe by the Hyperboloid experiment

Hyperboloid is a multi-directional mass spectrometer measuring ion distribution functions in the auroral and polar magnetosphere of the Earth in the thermal and suprathermal energy range. The instrument encompasses two analyzers containing a total of 26 entrance windows, and viewing in two almost mutually perpendicular half-planes. The nominal angular resolution is defined by the field of view of individual windows 13° × 12.5°. Energy analysis is performed using spherical electrostatic analyzers providing differential measurements between 1 and 80 eV. An ion beam emitter (RON experiment) and/or a potential bias applied to Hyperboloid entrance surface are used to counteract adverse effects of spacecraft potential and thus enable ion measurements down to very low energies. A magnetic analyzer focuses ions on one of four micro-channel plate (MCP) detectors, depending on their mass/charge ratio. Normal modes of operation enable to measure H⁺, He⁺, O⁺⁺, and O⁺ simultaneously. An automatic MCP gain control software is used to adapt the instrument to the great flux dynamics encountered between spacecraft perigee (700 km) and apogee (20 000 km). Distribution functions in the main analyzer half-plane are obtained after a complete scan of windows and energies with temporal resolution between one and a few seconds. Three-dimensional (3D) distributions are measured in one spacecraft spin period (120 s). The secondary analyzer has a much smaller geometrical factor, but offers partial access to the 3D dependence of the distributions with a few seconds temporal resolution. Preliminary results are presented. Simultaneous, local heating of both H⁺ and O⁺ ions resulting in conical distributions below 80 eV is observed up to 3 Earths radii altitudes. The thermal ion signatures associated with large-scale nightside magnetospheric boundaries are investigated and a new ion outflow feature is identified associated to the polar edge of the auroral oval. Detailed distribution functions of injected magnetosheath ions and ouflowing cleft fountain ions are measured down to a few eVs in the dayside.     

Le passage Ordovicien–Silurien et la partie inférieure du Silurien (Sud-Est du Massif armoricain, France)The Ordovician–Silurian transition and the lower part of the Silurian (southeastern Armorican Massif, France)

A new section in the Silurian graptolitic ‘phtanites’ (black cherts) of Les Fresnaies at Chalonnes-sur-Loire (SE Armorican Massif) shows for the first time that these rocks (1) succeed conformably to Uppermost Ordovician (Hirnantian) glaciomarine deposits and (2) contain successive graptolite assemblages that characterise the base of the Silurian, the whole Rhuddanian and Aeronian stages and the lower part of the Telychian. To cite this article: J.M. Piçarra et al., C. R. Geoscience 334 (2002) 1177–1183.     

应用多种数据融合方法对多时相SPOT图像处理提取三峡工程大坝区地面动态变化信息

三峡库区三斗坪大坝区及其周围地区在1994到1998年期间，由于大坝的施工地面发生了巨大变化。这些变化在1990、1997和1998年获取的SPOT遥感图像上都有明显的记录，其中一些地面变化细节在分辨率10m的全波段（P）图像更为清楚。这里利用三种方法（高通滤波算法（HPF algorithm，Chavezet al．1991）、RWM—ARSIS方法（Ranchin and Wald，1999）和P＋XS算法（Anonymous 1986））对三峡工程三斗坪大坝区的多时相高空间分辨率的SPOT图像（获取时闻为1990，1997和1998年，包括全波段P图像和多波段XS图像）进行融合处理，在提取测区地面动态变化信息的同时，从理论和实际应用的角度探讨了不同数据融合方法的效果。     

Hillslope response to knickpoint migration in the Southern Appalachians: implications for the evolution of post‐orogenic landscapes

The southern Appalachians represent a landscape characterized by locally high topographic relief, steep slopes, and frequent mass movement in the absence of significant tectonic forcing for at least the last 200 Ma. The fundamental processes responsible for landscape evolution in a post‐orogenic landscape remain enigmatic. The non‐glaciated Cullasaja River basin of south‐western North Carolina, with uniform lithology, frequent debris flows, and the availability of high‐resolution airborne lidar DEMs, is an ideal natural setting to study landscape evolution in a post‐orogenic landscape through the lens of hillslope–channel coupling. This investigation is limited to channels with upslope contributing areas >2.7 km², a conservative estimate of the transition from fluvial to debris‐flow dominated channel processes. Values of normalized hypsometry, hypsometric integral, and mean slope vs elevation are used for 14 tributary basins and the Cullasaja basin as a whole to characterize landscape evolution following upstream knickpoint migration. Results highlight the existence of a transient spatial relationship between knickpoints present along the fluvial network of the Cullasaja basin and adjacent hillslopes. Metrics of topography (relief, slope gradient) and hillslope activity (landslide frequency) exhibit significant downstream increases below the current position of major knickpoints. The transient effect of knickpoint‐driven channel incision on basin hillslopes is captured by measuring the relief, mean slope steepness, and mass movement frequency of tributary basins and comparing these results with the distance from major knickpoints along the Cullasaja River. A conceptual model of area–elevation and slope distributions is presented that may be representative of post‐orogenic landscape evolution in analogous geologic settings. Importantly, the model explains how knickpoint migration and channel–hillslope coupling is an important factor in tectonically‐inactive (i.e. post‐orogenic) orogens for the maintenance of significant relief, steep slopes, and weathering‐limited hillslopes. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Adaptation of the Canadian Fire Weather Index to Mediterranean forests

Natural Hazards - The Canadian Fire Weather Index (FWI) is one of the most used tools to forecast forest fire hazard. In this paper, we propose an adaptation of the FWI to take into account the...