Discussion of (anisotropic hydraulic conductivity and critical hydraulic gradient of a crushed sandstone–mudstone particle mixture)

A discussion is presented here to the work of Wang and Qiu including some notes about the analysis and the correlations of the results. First, we show that there is no clear relationship between the critical hydraulic gradient and the uniformity coefficient. Also we show that the internal erosion mechanism of soils with bimodal structure is different from that for soils with no bimodal structure. Finally, we emphasis that the anisotropy in the hydraulic conductivity is not related to the uneven compaction only but also to the particle arrangements and connectivity between pores.     

Bedouin farms in the Saint Katherine mountainous area(South Sinai,Egypt)

This study aims to assess the natural and cultivated plant species in 26 Bedouin farms in Saint Katherine Protectorate(SKP),identify their soil and water characteristics,and assess the suitability of these farms for the cultivation of some wild medicinal plants.The farms were selected to represent wide wadis with deep sand and clay deposits,gorge-like wadis covered with rock fragments of different sizes,spot-like oases,and the Al Q'aa Plain.Using TWINSPAN(two-way indicator species analysis)and DCA(detrended correspondence analysis)techniques,the 26 farms were classified into 5 groups(Ⅰ-Ⅴ)based on their floristic composition of wild plants.These groups reflect an elevation gradient among the farms above sea level from a mean of 119 m to a mean of1,865m.A total of 73 wild species were recorded,with47 in groupⅡ(500-1,000 m)and 25 in group V(1,700 m).The common target species were Artemisia judaica,Acacia tortilis subsp.raddiana,Origanum syriacum subsp.sinaicum and Varthemia montana(34.6%-26.9%).The cultivated speciesnumbered 25,with 17 in groupⅡ(500-1,000 m) andⅡin groupⅣ(1,500-1,700 m).The common fruit trees were olive,grape,fig,apple,palm,almond,apricot and pomegranate(73.0%-42.3%).Based on the soil characteristics,13 farms belong to soil class 2that describes good soils with moderate limitations,and 12 belong to soil class 3 that describes moderately good soils,which can be used regularly for crops after proper treatment.     

Calcareous nannofossils biostratigraphy of the Late Campanian–Early Maastrichtian Age, Block 16, Jiza’-Qamar Basin, Eastern Yemen

One hundred and thirty nine samples have been studied from the Late Campanian–Early Maastrichtian of three deep wells drilled in Jiza’-Qamar Basin, Eastern Yemen to determine the calcareous nannofossil zones and the age of the sediments. Forty-seven calcareous nannofossil species were identified and four biozones were determined in the present study (CC21–CC24). These biozones are assigned to the Late Campanian–Early Maastrichtian ages. Most of the studied species in this work refer to tropical–subtropical environment. The Campanian–Maastrichtian Boundary was determined in Al-Fatk well based on the last occurrence of Eiffelithus eximus and the last occurrences of Uniplanarius sissinghii and Uniplanarius trifidus.     

Bibliography on spatiotemporal databases

Abstract

There now exist several microcomputer processing systems which incorporate algorithms and display techniques appropriate for the class of objects known as images. Zooming, histogram equalization, contrast stretching, ratioing, edge enhancement, and filtering are common options used in these systems. In the present discussion a system is proposed for the equivalent processing of general resolution elements (resells), instead of the homogeneous picture elements (pixels) which are found in image processing systems. The resel processing system requires a new, generalized, repertoire of processing algorithms and a high resolution display. A summary is provided of the facilities and procedures required, a computational metaphor using computer spreadsheets is described, and the applicability to censels (census data elements) and to medical data is suggested.     

Magmatism at continental passive margins inferred from Ambient‐Noise Phase‐velocity in the Gulf of Aden

Non‐volcanic continental passive margins have traditionally been considered to be tectonically and magmatically inactive once continental breakup has occurred and seafloor spreading has commenced. We use ambient‐noise tomography to constrain Rayleigh‐wave phase‐velocity maps beneath the eastern Gulf of Aden (eastern Yemen and southern Oman). In the crust, we image low velocities beneath the Jiza‐Qamar (Yemen) and Ashawq‐Salalah (Oman) basins, likely caused by the presence of partial melt associated with magmatic plumbing systems beneath the rifted margin. Our results provide strong evidence that magma intrusion persists after breakup, modifying the composition and thermal structure of the continental margin. The coincidence between zones of crustal intrusion and steep gradients in lithospheric thinning, as well as with transform faults, suggests that magmatism post‐breakup may be driven by small‐scale convection and enhanced by edge‐driven flow at the juxtaposition of lithosphere of varying thickness and thermal age.     

On the head-on collision between two ion acoustic solitary waves in a weakly relativistic plasma containing nonextensive electrons and positrons

The head-on collision of two ion acoustic solitary waves propagating in opposite directions in a weakly relativistic electron-positron-ion plasma composed of weakly relativistic warm ion fluid and nonextensive electrons, positrons is investigated. Using extended Poincaré-Lighthill-Kuo method, the Korteweg-de Vries equations and the analytical phase shifts after the head-on collision of two solitary waves are derived. The effects of the nonextensive parameter, positron-to-electron density ratio, ion-to-electron temperature ratio, electron-to-positron temperature ratio and relativistic factor on the phase shifts are studied. It is found that these parameters can significantly influence the phase shifts of solitary waves.     

Temporal species distributions of planktonic protist communities in semi-enclosed mariculture waters and responses to environmental stress

In order to evaluate the relationships between temporal species succession of planktonic protists and physical-chemical parameters in semi-enclosed mariculture waters, species distributions in response to environmental stress were investigated in a shrimp-farming pond near Qingdao, China during a complete shrimp-culture cycle (May to October 2002). A clear temporal succession in species distribution was found over the complete farming cycle. For example, before the introduction of the shrimp larvae there was low-variability of species distribution in the protist communities whereas during the stages immediately after, there was higher variability in species composition. Multiple linear/logistic regression analyses demonstrate that 12 protist taxa (e.g., Gyrodinium spirale, Teleaulax acuta, Prorocentrum spp. and Mesodinium pupula) were related to the nutrients, in particular ammonia and phosphates, alone or in combination with water temperature. These results suggest that temporal variations in species distribution of planktonic protist communities might be used in assessing water quality of semi-enclosed mariculture waters.     

On four closely related hypotrichous ciliates (Protozoa, Ciliophora, Spirotrichea): molecular characters, interspecific relationships and phylogeny defined with multigene sequence information

In order to clarify the phylogeny and relationships of the most confused hypotrichous ciliates, Holosticha-complex, four closely related holostichids (five populations), Holosticha bradburyae, H. diademata, Anteholosticha sp., and A. manca, were compared and analyzed using ITS2 secondary structures, ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region and SSrRNA gene sequences. The ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region sequences of these four species were first sequenced, and they shared sequence identities ranging from 68.0% to 90.1%, while two populations of Anteholosticha sp. differed in three nucleotides (sequence identity 99.8%). There were several minor differences among ITS2 secondary structures of these species, while two populations of Anteholosticha sp. had the identical secondary structure. Phylogenetic trees inferred from the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region sequences of stichotrichs using multiple algorithms (Neighbor-Joining, Maximum Parsimony and Bayesian) revealed similar topologies. The results show that:(1) Holosticha bradburyae and H. diademata firmly clustered together with strong bootstrap supports, forming a sister clade with Anteholosticha sp., (2) Anteholosticha appeared to be a paraphyletic assemblage, in which the morphotype A. manca was more closely related to Diaxonella trimarginata than to its congener Anteholosticha sp. Phylogenetic analyses based on the SSrRNA gene and the combined sequences of SSrRNA gene and ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region revealed the similar relationships between Holosticha and Anteholosticha, nevertheless their positions within the subclass Stichotrichia differed from each other inferred from different genes.