Gram Stain Index (GSI) of Bacterial and Archaeal Cells in the Natural Microbial Communities of Slightly and Extremely Saline Environments

The use of GSI (Gram Stain Index) was studied for natural microbial cells in slightly and extremely saline environments. The GSI spectra of archaeal cells in an extremely saline environment showed unique profiles, different from those of Bacteria. These profiles can be applied for structural analysis of the microbial communities in aquatic environments.     

Post-orogenic and anorogenic A-type fluorite-bearing granitoids, Eastern Desert, Egypt: Petrogenetic and geotectonic implications

The present study focuses on four A-type fluorite-bearing granitic plutons in the Eastern Desert of Egypt which are classified into post-orogenic subsolvus (Homrit Waggat, 535 Ma; Homer Akarem, 541 Ma and Ineigi, 571 Ma) and anorogenic hypersolvus (Gabal Gharib, 476 Ma) granites. All the granites are Si- and alkali-rich and MgCaTi poor. Whereas both granite types appear relatively homogeneous in terms of most of their major and trace elements, they differ in that the subsolvus granites are depleted in TiO₂, FeO^*, Ba, Sr and Zr and enriched in Rb and Y with respect to the hypersolvus granites. The two granite types, however, can be distinguished more easily by their rare-earth element (REE) patterns. Chondrite-normalized REE patterns of the hypersolvus granite display a gull-wing shape, characterized by a large negative Eu anomaly and moderate-to-high LREE contents. Relative to the hypersolvus granite, subsolvus granite is depleted in LREE and more enriched in HREE contents. The increase of HREE in the subsolvus granite is presumably caused by F complexing during the late stage of its evolution. This is supported by the abundance of fluorite veins cross-cutting the subsolvus granite. The negative Eu anomalies in the subsolvus granite point to the role of feldspars as residual phase in the source, and as a crystallizing phase during magmatic differentiation.Field relations, textural, mineralogical and geochemical data of the post-orogenic subsolvus granite are consistent with its derivation from a parental basic magma through crystal-liquid fractionation of alkali feldspar, plagioclase, amphibole, FeTi oxides, titanite, zircon, monazite and allanite. Crystallization occurred in a water-enriched and rather oxidizing environment, as a result of which the entire suite has a transitional character between that of a post-orogenic and an anorogenic setting. On the other hand, the most credible mechanism for the origin of the anorogenic hypersolvus granite is partial melting of I-type granodiorite-monzogranite source rocks in the study area.     

Landslide susceptibility mapping using random forest,boosted regression tree,classification and regression tree,and general linear models and comparison of their performance at Wadi Tayyah Basin,Asir Region,Saudi Arabia

The purpose of the current study is to produce landslide susceptibility maps using different data mining models. Four modeling techniques, namely random forest (RF), boosted regression tree (BRT), classification and regression tree (CART), and general linear (GLM) are used, and their results are compared for landslides susceptibility mapping at the Wadi Tayyah Basin, Asir Region, Saudi Arabia. Landslide locations were identified and mapped from the interpretation of different data types, including high-resolution satellite images, topographic maps, historical records, and extensive field surveys. In total, 125 landslide locations were mapped using ArcGIS 10.2, and the locations were divided into two groups; training (70 %) and validating (25 %), respectively. Eleven layers of landslide-conditioning factors were prepared, including slope aspect, altitude, distance from faults, lithology, plan curvature, profile curvature, rainfall, distance from streams, distance from roads, slope angle, and land use. The relationships between the landslide-conditioning factors and the landslide inventory map were calculated using the mentioned 32 models (RF, BRT, CART, and generalized additive (GAM)). The models’ results were compared with landslide locations, which were not used during the models’ training. The receiver operating characteristics (ROC), including the area under the curve (AUC), was used to assess the accuracy of the models. The success (training data) and prediction (validation data) rate curves were calculated. The results showed that the AUC for success rates are 0.783 (78.3 %), 0.958 (95.8 %), 0.816 (81.6 %), and 0.821 (82.1 %) for RF, BRT, CART, and GLM models, respectively. The prediction rates are 0.812 (81.2 %), 0.856 (85.6 %), 0.862 (86.2 %), and 0.769 (76.9 %) for RF, BRT, CART, and GLM models, respectively. Subsequently, landslide susceptibility maps were divided into four classes, including low, moderate, high, and very high susceptibility. The results revealed that the RF, BRT, CART, and GLM models produced reasonable accuracy in landslide susceptibility mapping. The outcome maps would be useful for general planned development activities in the future, such as choosing new urban areas and infrastructural activities, as well as for environmental protection.     

The origin of small-scale geochemical and mineralogic variations in a granite intrusion

A post-tectonic unzoned granite intrusion in the Meatiq Dome, a Late Proterozoic metamorphic complex in the Central Eastern Desert of Egypt, shows significant chemical and mineralogic heterogeneity on the scale of sampling (5 kg). Whole rock analyses of 21 samples indicate small variations in SiO₂, Al₂O₃, Na₂O and K₂O, and larger systematic variations in the less abundant major elements such as FeO, TiO₂, CaO, MnO and MgO, and trace elements such as Sc, Cr, Co, Rb, Sr, Zr, La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Tb, Yb, Lu, Ta, Th and U. These variations cannot be accounted for by processes such as marginal accretion, assimilation, alteration by late stage fluids, or multiple intrusion. Instead, we proposed a model involving 35 percent solidification of the granite magma followed by partial solid-liquid segregation during emplacement, resulting in rocks containing 7–71 volume percent early-formed solids. Such randomly distributed local segregation could have been caused by filter pressing, flow differentiation, and possibly gravity segregation, either singly or in combination. Thus, each sample is interpreted as a mixture of two end-members with nearly constant compositions: an early-formed solid assemblage of crystals and a complementary residual liquid. Early formed solids are enriched in TiO₂, FeO, CaO, P₂O₅, Sc, Co, Cr, Sr, La, Ce and depleted in SiO₂, Rb, Yb, Lu, Ta, Th, and U, while the residual liquid has complementary enrichments and depletions. This simple mixing model is consistent with field and petrographic observations, experimental studies pertaining to the crystallization sequence in the system Ab-Or-Qtz-H₂O at 1 Kb, and physical properties of silicic magmas. Furthermore, it is quantitatively supported by trace-element data for minerals, computed endmember compositions at 35% crystallization using mineral analyses and reasonable Kd values, and internal consistency in the percent solid for each sample computed from each of 17 elements in the inferred end-members. We suggest that this model might also apply to other small epizonal granite intrusions that show small-scale chemical heterogeneities.     

Correlation of the radiometric survey data and the structural analysis with the geology of Abu Zawal Area,Central Eastern Desert,Egypt

Abu Zawal area is located nearly north of the midway of Qena-Safaga road, and is about 250 square kilometres. It is built of a sequence of igneous and metamorphic rocks of Late Precambrian age.It has been subjected to geological, radiometrical, and structural investigations to reveal the structural setting of the area and its relation to the trends of mineralization, as well as the distribution of the radioactivity in the different rock units, cropping out in the studied area. Therefore, each rock unit has been characterized statistically by a certain radiometric background through the radiometric survey traverses. Besides, application of certain statistical inference tests could find the relations that might exist between the different rock types of Abu Zawal area and their corresponding ones in other studied areas.It has been found that the least radioactivity is associated with the basic metavolcanic rocks, while the highest values are associated with the Late Orogenic Plutonites and related rocks, and the granodiorites represent a moderate level of radioactivity. The study revealed that the Late Orogenic Plutonites of Abu Zawal area might be of younger age than their corresponding ones at the north of the Eastern Desert.Investigation of the two conjugate shear joints for the whole area and those for the granodioritic rocks, in the studied area, could indicate that every rock type has been subjected to different forces, but the complementary of all the forces acting on the studied area has a strike N 28° W. This is consistent with the interpretations of different authors which tend to the fact that the Eastern Desert of Egypt has been subjected to a compressive force of northwesterly direction.Investigation of the tension planes along which mineralization is possible, could reveal that the area is subjected to the first case of stress-strain ellipsoid in which tension fractures are formed at right angle to the greatest strain axis, while shear fractures are formed passing through the intermediate strain axis which make an angle of about 30° with the least strain axis.The structural trend analysis realized four tectonic trends having preferable orientation in the E-W, N-S, NW-SE, and NE-SW directions, of which the E-W is the oldest trend.

---

Zusammenfassung Das Untersuchungsgebiet Abu Zawal liegt nördlich der Straße Qena-Safaga, etwa auf halber Strecke. Es ist etwa 250 km² groß und wird aus magmatischen und metamorphen Gesteinen spätpräkambrischen Alters aufgebaut.Das Gebiet wurde geologisch, radiometrisch und strukturgeologisch untersucht im Hinblick auf den Bau der Region und seiner Beziehungen zur Mineralisation und zur Verteilung der Radioaktivität in den verschiedenen Gesteinseinheiten. Entlang radiometrischer Meßprofile wurde jeder Gesteinskomplex statistisch bezüglich seines radioaktiven Untergrundes charakterisiert. Mit bestimmten statistischen Vergleichstests könnten sich Beziehungen zwischen den Gesteinstypen des Gebietes von Abu Zawal und entsprechenden anderer untersuchter Gebiete feststellen lassen.Die geringste Radioaktivität wurde in den basischen metavulkanischen Gesteinen beobachtet, die höchsten Werte dagegen in den spätorogenen Plutoniten. Die Granodiorite besitzen mittlere Radioaktivität. Die Untersuchung hat ergeben, daß die spätorogenen Plutonite des Gebietes von Abu Zawal jünger sein könnten als die entsprechenden Gesteine im Norden der Eastern Desert.Die Untersuchung der beiden konjugierten Schersysteme des gesamten Gebietes wie der granodioritischen Gesteine zeigt, daß jeder Gesteinstyp zwar verschiedenen Kräftefeldern ausgesetzt war, daß aber das Komplement aller Kräfte, die auf das Untersuchungsgebiet wirkten, die Streichrichtung N 28° W (i.e. 152°) besitzt. Dieses stimmt mit den Interpretationen verschiedener Autoren überein, die in der Eastern Desert Ägyptens ein Gebiet sehen, daß einer Kompression aus nordwestlicher Richtung ausgesetzt war.Die Untersuchung von Zerrungsklüften, in denen Mineralisation erfolgen kann, ließ erkennen, daß das Gebiet dem ersten Fall des Strain-Stress-Ellipsoids ausgesetzt war, bei dem die Zerrungsbrüche senkrecht zur Achse der größten Druckspannung erfolgt sind. Die Scherbrüche sind dagegen entlang der Achse der mittleren Druckspannung entstanden, die einen Winkel von ca. 30° mit der Achse des geringsten Druckes bildet.Die strukturelle Analyse ließ vier tektonische Trends erkennen mit den Hauptrichtungen E-W, N-S, NW-SE und NE-SW, von denen die EW-Richtung die älteste ist.

---

Résumé La région d'Abu Zawal est située approximativement à mi-chemin au nord de la route Qena-Safage, et couvre environ 250 km². Elle est formée par une série de roches ignées et métamorphiques d'âge précambrien supérieur. - Elle a été étudiée du point de vue gé ologique, radiométrique et structural en vue de reconnaître sa position structurale et sa relation avec les tendances minéralisatrices, ainsi que la répartition de la radioactivité dans les différentes unités. Chaque unité a donc été caractérisée statistiquement par un certain fond radiométrique à l'aide de traverses radiométriques. En outre l'application de certains tests d'inférence statistique a pu trouver les relations pouvant exister entre les différents types de roches de la région d'Abu Zawal et leurs correspondants dans d'autres régions étudiées.La radioactivité la plus faible a été trouvée associée aux roches métavolcaniques basiques, tandis que les valeurs les plus élevées sont liées aux plutonites orogéniques tardives et aux roches qui leur sont associées; quant aux granodiorites, elles représentent un niveau de radioactivité modéré. - L'étude a révélé que les plutonites orogéniques tardives de la région d'Abu Zawal pourraient être plus jeunes que leurs correspondantes du Nord du Désert oriental.L'investigation des deux systèmes conjugués de joints de tension pour l'entièreté de l'étendue et de ceux relatifs aux roches granodioritiques dans l'étendue étudiée, pourrait indiquer que chaque type de roche a été soumis à des forces différentes, mais que le complémentaire de toutes ces forces ayant agi sur la région étudiée a une direction N 28° O. Ceci est en accord avec les interprétations des différents auteurs qui tendent à dire que le Désert oriental de l'Egypte a été soumis à une compression de direction nord-ouest. L'investigation des plans de tension le long desquels la minéralisation est possible pourrait révéler que la région est soumise au premier cas de l'ellipsoïde strain-stress dans lequel les fractures de tension sont à angle droit de l'axe maximum des efforts, tandis que les fractures de cisaillement se forment le long de l'axe intermédiaire des forces qui fait un angle d'environ 30° avec l'axe des efforts minimum.L'analyse structurale des directions a permis de reconnaître 4 directions tectoniques dont l'orientation dominante est E - O, N - S, NO - SE et NE - SO, parmi lesquelles la direction E - O est la plus ancienne.

---

-, - . 250 ², - . , - , . . - . ; — . . , , . , , , , , , , N 28° W, . . 152°. , , , -. , , , , . , 30°. , 4 : - , -, - - , .

     

Photocatalytic activity evaluation of TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanoparticles based on COD analyses for water treatment applications: a standardization attempt

Evaluation of the photocatalytic activities of TiO₂ nanomaterials based on the chemical oxygen demand (COD) analyses under identical experimental conditions was not previously reported. In this work, COD has been selected as an adequate industrial water quality measure toward the establishment of a representative standard test method. The initial COD values of six organic pollutants representing dye, surfactants, phenols and alcohol were set at 30 ± 2 mg/L. Ten of different commercial and synthesized TiO₂ samples representing anatase, rutile and mixed phases were used and characterized. The data of photocatalytic processes were compared to that obtained using the commonly widespread Degussa-P25 TiO₂ (TD). The COD of all pollutants was completely removed by TD at UV exposure dose ≤9.36 mWh/cm². Consequently, the maximum irradiation dose was set at this value in all experiments. The percentages of COD removal as well as the values of the accumulated UV doses required for complete removal of pollutants were measured using the different TiO₂ samples. TiO₂ samples show different performance abilities toward the various pollutants compared to TD. Based on the obtained data, TiO₂ photocatalysts were divided into two categories according to the hydroxyl radical formation rates. Comparison with previous studies reveals that the photocatalytic efficiency evaluation depends on the method of measurement. COD is recommended to be used as an adequate technique of analysis that meets the purpose of water treatment applications.     

Experimental investigations on ultimate bearing capacity of peat stabilized by a group of soil–cement column: a comparative study

The aim of this paper was to determine the ultimate vertical bearing capacity of rectangular rigid footings resting on homogeneous peat stabilized by a group of cement deep mixing (CDM) columns. For this purpose, a series of physical modeling tests involving end-bearing and floating CDM columns were performed. Three length/depth ratios of 0.25, 0.5, and 0.75 and three area improvement ratios of 13.1, 19.6, and 26.2 % were considered. Bearing capacity of the footings was studied using different analytical procedures. The results indicated that compared to unimproved peat, the average ultimate bearing capacity (UBC) improvement of floating and end-bearing CDM columns were 60 and 223 %, respectively. The current study found that simple Brom’s method predicted the UBC of the peat stabilized with floating CDM columns with reasonable accuracy, but underestimated the UBC by up to 25 % in the case of end-bearing CDM columns. Published laboratory experiences of stabilizing soft soils using soil–cement columns were also collated in this paper.     

Sequence stratigraphy and paleogeography reconstruction of the reference Lower-Middle Turonian successions of Jebel Bireno (Central Tunisia): a semi-quantitative approach

The Early-Middle Turonian carbonates of central Tunisia (Kef Formation, Bireno Member) are considered as ramp deposits. The correspondence analysis statistical method used here is based on the relative abundance of carbonate components and the occurrences of specific structures within beds. It was applied to the bed-by-bed sampled succession in the Jebel Bireno area in central Tunisia concerning 399 samples from 11 studied stratigraphic sections. We propose the reconstruction of the facies based on the allochem distribution (Axis 1) along the proximal to distal ramp environments. The proposed pattern brings out successive facies shifts interpreted in terms of sequence stratigraphy: along Axis 1, abrupt shifts to negative values correspond to sequence boundaries and/or regressions; positive excursions express transgressive events or maximum flooding surfaces. Trends in this Axis 1 and key surfaces allow the identification of main system tracts of third-order sequences as well as variations of paleogeography. Four dated sequences were identified within the Jebel Bireno Early-Middle Turonian series. Correlation of system tracts highlights facies and thickness variations mainly controlled by N130–N90 trending synsedimentary normal faults. Paleogeographic maps for the Bireno Mb plead in favor of a distal ramp, subtidal high-energy deposits (barrier), and proximal ramp environment.