The Mesolithic–Neolithic transition in southern Iberia

New data and a review of historiographic information from Neolithic sites of the Malaga and Algarve coasts (southern Iberian Peninsula) and from the Maghreb (North Africa) reveal the existence of a Neolithic settlement at least from 7.5 cal ka BP. The agricultural and pastoralist food producing economy of that population rapidly replaced the coastal economies of the Mesolithic populations. The timing of this population and economic turnover coincided with major changes in the continental and marine ecosystems, including upwelling intensity, sea-level changes and increased aridity in the Sahara and along the Iberian coast. These changes likely impacted the subsistence strategies of the Mesolithic populations along the Iberian seascapes and resulted in abandonments manifested as sedimentary hiatuses in some areas during the Mesolithic–Neolithic transition. The rapid expansion and area of dispersal of the early Neolithic traits suggest the use of marine technology. Different evidences for a Maghrebian origin for the first colonists have been summarized. The recognition of an early North-African Neolithic influence in Southern Iberia and the Maghreb is vital for understanding the appearance and development of the Neolithic in Western Europe. Our review suggests links between climate change, resource allocation, and population turnover.     

Effects of ultraviolet radiation on the abundance,diversity and activity of bacterioneuston and bacterioplankton: insights from microcosm studies

The effects of ultraviolet-B (0.4 W m⁻²) radiation on the abundance, diversity and heterotrophic metabolism of bacterioneuston and bacterioplankton communities from Ria de Aveiro (Portugal) were assessed and compared to those of freshwater communities from Lake Vela (Portugal) in microcosm experiments. Exposure to 9 h of artificial ultraviolet radiation (UVR) led to 24–33% reduction in bacterial abundance and up to a 70% decrease in bacterial diversity. Maximum extracellular enzyme activity and monomer incorporation rates were reduced by 16–90% and 80–100%, respectively. Recovery of bacterial activity during post-UV dark incubations ranged from 10 to 100% for extracellular enzyme activity and 40% for monomer incorporation rates. In general, the heterotrophic activity of bacterioneuston was more inhibited by UVR than that of bacterioplankton. However, DGGE profiles revealed greater UVR-induced reductions in the diversity of bacterioplankton compared to bacterioneuston. The similarity between bacterioneuston and bacterioplankton communities in samples collected at early morning was lower than at noon (pre-exposed communities) and increased upon experimental irradiation, possibly indicating selection for UV-resistant bacteria. The observation that UV exposure resulted in enhanced reduction of bacterioneuston activity, but a lower reduction in bacterial diversity accompanied by enhanced dark recovery potential compared to bacterioplankton, indicates re-directioning of bacterioneuston metabolism towards stress defence/recovery strategies rather than the sustained heterotrophic metabolism. Our results indicate that UVR can significantly decrease the abundance, diversity and activity of bacteria inhabiting the surface and sub-surface layers of freshwater and estuarine systems with potentially important impacts on the biogeochemical cycles in these environments.     

Experimental evaluation of rectangular reinforced concrete column behaviour under biaxial cyclic loading

The cyclic behaviour of reinforced concrete columns has been the subject of many experimental studies in recent years. However, most of these studies have focused on the unidirectional loading of columns with square cross‐sections under constant axial loading conditions. In the present study, four types of full‐scale quadrangular building columns were tested under different types of loading, including uniaxial and biaxial loading conditions. The first two specimens of each column type were independently cyclically tested in the strong and weak directions. Bidirectional tests using different loading paths were performed on the other column specimens. All columns were tested under constant axial loading conditions. In this paper, the experimental results are presented, and the global behaviour of tested columns is discussed, particularly focusing on the stiffness and strength degradation because of the increasing cyclic demand. Finally, the deformation‐based performance limits proposed in Part 3 of Eurocode 8 were calculated and compared with the experimental results. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analysis of the pressure variations at sea-level

Summary First of all the tendency equation at sea-level is deduced from the equation of continuity and the classical condition of quasi-static equilibrium along the verticals. This equation is then shown to be insufficient for the analysis and forecast of pressure variations. Accordingly, the equation of motion is combine with the tendency equation and the result of this operation is a partial differential equation for the field of pressure at sea-level. The analysis of its coefficients shows that it can be reduced to a partial differential equation for the height-integral of pressure which can also be written as a linear integro-differential equation. The solution of this last equation can be expanded in a series of rotating fields with positive constant angular velocities, the axis of rotation being the earth's polar axis and the spectrum of angular velocities being given by the eigenvalues of a symmetric kernel associated with theGreen's function of the geoid surface. Finally, the solution of the integro-differential equation leads to the determination of the sea-level pressure by the tendency equation.

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Résumé On déduit tout d'abord l'équation des tendances au niveau de la mer de l'équation de continuité et de la condition classique d'équilibre vertical quasi-statique. On montre ensuite que cette équation est insuffisante pour l'analyse et la prévision des variations de pression. En conséquence, on associe l'équation du mouvement à l'équation des tendances et le résultat de cette opération est une équation aux derivées partielles pour le champ de pression au niveau de la mer. L'analyse des coefficients de cette équation montre qu'elle peut être réduite à une équation aux dérivées partielles pour l'intégrale de la pression suivant la verticale, ou encore à une équation intégrodifférentielle linéaire. La solution de cette dernière équation est une série de champs en rotation dont les vitesses angulaires sont constantes et positives, leurs axes de rotation se confondant avec l'axe des pôles et le spectre des vitesses angulaires étant déterminé par les valeurs propres d'un noyau symétrique associé à la fonction deGreen de la surface du géoide. Finalement, la solution de l'équation intégro-différentielle conduit à la détermination de la pression au niveau de la mer par léquation des tendances.

     

Damage evolution in reinforced concrete columns subjected to biaxial loading

An analysis of the damage observed in 24 reinforced concrete (RC) columns tested under uniaxial and biaxial horizontal loading is presented. The test results show that for biaxial loading conditions specific damage occurs for lower drift demands when compared with the corresponding uniaxial demand (a reduction of 50–75 % was found). The damage distribution observed in each column is also analysed. No significant differences are found in the plastic hinge length for uniaxial and biaxial loading. The drift demands associated with each damage state are compared with reference values proposed in international guidelines. Finally, and based on the philosophy of the Park and Ang uniaxial damage index, two new expressions are proposed for the evaluation of damage in RC elements under biaxial loading. The results of the application of these expressions to the experimental results are discussed.     

Xenotime–hematite aggregates on opaline filaments: evidence for biomineralization in weathered siliciclastic rocks, Capanema, Quadrilátero Ferrífero of Minas Gerais, Brazil

Dissolution cavities in weathered pebbly quartzite of the ~2.5-Ga Moeda Formation at Capanema, Quadrilátero Ferrífero of Minas Gerais, Brazil, are decorated with suspended filaments of opaline silica. The filaments sustain xenotime–hematite aggregates in the open space. Xenotime occurs as inclusions in buds and botryoidal aggregates of hematite. The filamentous structures consist of strand-forming buds, hypha-like extensions, and thin strands that compose mat-like arrangements. They resemble microbial filaments that were replaced by opaline silica and fossilized. The occurrence of spherical hematite as protuberances on hematite-free opaline hyphae is interpreted as accretion of dissolved iron onto extracellular polymers. Phosphate sites in polymeric substances expelled from the microbial filaments might have adsorbed yttrium and heavy rare-earth elements from groundwater to the iron-accreting polymers. These would have resulted in botryoidal aggregates of hematite with xenotime inclusions. The presence of authigenic xenotime in the weathering zone opens a new possibility to constrain the evolution of lateritic profiles by xenotime geochronology.     

Angola seismicity

This work describes the development of the Angolan earthquake catalog and seismicity distribution in the Southwestern African Plate, in Angola. This region is one of the least seismically active, even for stable continental regions (SCRs) in the world. The maximum known earthquake had a magnitude of 6.0 M_s, while events with magnitudes of 4.5 have return period of about 10 years. Events with magnitude 5 and above occur with return period of about 20 years. Five seismic zones can be confirmed in Angola, within and along craton edges and in the sedimentary basins including offshore. Overall, the exposed cratonic regions tend to have more earthquakes compared to other regions such as sedimentary basins. Earthquakes tend to occur in Archaic rocks, especially inside preexisting weakness zones and in tectonic-magmatic reactivation zones of Mesozoic and Meso-Cenozoic, associated with the installation of a wide variety of intrusive rocks, strongly marked by intense tectonism. This fact can be explained by the models of preexisting weakness zones and stress concentration near intersecting structures. The Angolan passive margin is also a new region where seismic activity occurs. Although clear differences are found between different areas along the passive margin, in the middle near Porto Amboim city, seismic activity is more frequent compared with northwestern and southwestern regions.     

An Efficient and Robust Tsunami Model on Unstructured Grids. Part I: Inundation Benchmarks

A modern multi-purpose baroclinic circulation model (SELFE) has been recently extended to include the ability to simulate tsunami propagation and inundation. The core model is based on the 3-D nonlinear shallow-water wave (NSW) equations, which are solved on unstructured grids, using the finite-element method. A semi-implicit method is used to solve all equations to enhance numerical stability, thus bypassing the most stringent CFL restriction on the time step. Further aided algorithmically by an Eulerian-Lagrangian solution of the advection terms in the momentum equation and by a simple yet effective inundation algorithm, SELFE is very efficient and robust in both quasi-2-D (with two vertical layers) and 3-D modes. A quasi-2-D version of the model is being used to update and expand the characterization of tsunami hazards along the Oregon coast. As a part of a rigorous testing procedure that includes multiple types of coastal problems, we present in this paper a quantitative assessment of performance of the quasi-2-D SELFE for two challenging open benchmark problems proposed in the 3^rd International Workshop on Long-wave Runup Models. Satisfactory results are obtained for both problems.     

Optimizing the location of aerial resources to combat wildfires: a case study of Portugal

Natural Hazards - Wildfires are becoming larger and more severe in different regions of the world as a result of climate change. A successful wildfire response requires a strong initial attack to...