Centrifuge model test on the face stability of shallow tunnel

This paper is an investigation of face stability on a small-scale tunnel model in a geotechnical centrifuge. By making use of symmetry, half of the tunnel cross section was considered. The support at excavation face was provided by a piston, which was adjusted during flight. Some aspects on the collapse at tunnel face are investigated for different overburden pressures: failure mechanism, surface settlement, stress acting at tunnel face, and the required face support counteracting the earth pressure. Ground deformation was observed through a transparent wall and measured by digital image correlation. The results from centrifuge model tests were compared with theoretical models.     

Use of riverine through reef habitat systems by dog snapper (Lutjanus jocu) in eastern Brazil

The early life history of Western Atlantic snappers from the Southern hemisphere is largely unknown. Habitat use of different life stages (i.e. size categories) of the dog snapper (Lutjanus jocu) was examined across the largest South Atlantic reef–estuarine complex (Abrolhos Shelf, Brazil, 16–19° S). Visual surveys were conducted in different habitats across the shelf (estuary, inner-shelf reefs and mid-shelf reefs). Lutjanus jocu showed higher densities on inner-shelf habitats, with a clear increase in fish size across the shelf. Individuals <7 cm were associated with both the estuary (mangrove and rocky habitats) and inner-shelf reefs (particularly shallow fore-reefs and tide pools). Individuals ranging 10–30 cm were broadly distributed, but consistently more abundant on inner-shelf reefs. Individuals between 30 and 40 cm were more common on mid-shelf reefs, while individuals >40 cm were recorded only on mid-shelf reefs. Literature data indicate that individuals ranging 70–80 cm are common on deep offshore reefs. This pattern suggests that the dog snapper performs ontogenetic cross-shelf migrations. Protecting portions of the different habitats used by the dog snapper during its post-settlement life cycle is highlighted as an important conservation and management measure.     

Making decisions to conserve species under climate change

Severe impacts on biodiversity are predicted to arise from climate change. These impacts may not be adequately addressed by conventional approaches to conservation. As a result, additional management actions are now being considered. However, there is currently limited guidance to help decision makers choose which set of actions (and in what order) is most appropriate for species that are considered to be vulnerable. Here, we provide a decision framework for the full complement of actions aimed at conserving species under climate change from ongoing conservation in existing refugia through various forms of mobility enhancement to ex situ conservation outside the natural environment. We explicitly recognize that allocation of conservation resources toward particular actions may be governed by factors such as the likelihood of success, cost and likely co-benefits to non-target species in addition to perceived vulnerability of individual species. As such, we use expert judgment of probable tradeoffs in resource allocation to inform the sequential evaluation of proposed management interventions.     

Re-testing the JET-X Flight Module No. 2 at the PANTER facility

The Joint European X-ray Telescope (JET-X) was the core instrument of the Russian Spectrum-X- γ space observatory. It consisted of two identical soft X-ray (0.3–10 keV) telescopes with focusing optical modules having a measured angular resolution of nearly 15 arcsec. Soon after the payload completion, the mission was cancelled and the two optical flight modules (FM) were brought to the Brera Astronomical Observatory where they had been manufactured. After 16 years of storage, we have utilized the JET-X FM2 to test at the PANTER X-ray facility a prototype of a novel X-ray polarimetric telescope, using a Gas Pixel Detector (GPD) with polarimetric capabilities in the focal plane of the FM2. The GPD was developed by a collaboration between INFN-Pisa and INAF-IAPS. In the first phase of the test campaign, we have re-tested the FM2 at PANTER to have an up-to-date characterization in terms of angular resolution and effective area, while in the second part of the test the GPD has been placed in the focal plane of the FM2. In this paper we report the results of the tests of the sole FM2, using an unpolarized X-ray source, comparing the results with the calibration done in 1996.     

The stabilisation of wet sediment cores by means of a polyethylene glycol/freeze-drying treatment for display and permanent storage

A reversible method is presented to transform waterlogged sediment cores into dry and stable specimens which can go on exhibition or into permanent storage, needing no special precautions. Wet sediment core segments are bath-impregnated with polyethylene glycol of molecular weight 3,350 (PEG 3,350) dissolved in water. The samples are then subjected to a freeze-drying process, during which the PEG forms a stabilising and bonding porous network structure in the capillary system of the sediment. Standard sediment cores at least 1 m long become strong enough to stand upright. Sediment types ranging from muddy deep-sea sediments to very coarse littoral Halimeda sand were successfully stabilised. For standard cores of 10-cm diameters split length-wise, impregnation times vary from 2 weeks for coarse sand to 6–10 weeks for more compacted sediments. With regard to the stability of the samples and the visual clarity of detail, best results were obtained by impregnation with 25 to 60% solutions of PEG 3,350, coarse sediments needing more PEG than finer ones. Colour changes are systematic – the processed samples are lighter in appearance and the contrasts are enhanced, but there is no serious shift in colour tones. The PEG can easily be re-dissolved and washed out of the sediments. Display specimens can thus be made available for research again.     

Groundwater vulnerability assessment in coastal plain of Rio Grande do Sul State,Brazil, using drastic and adsorption capacity of soils

Groundwater vulnerability assessment to delineate areas that are more susceptible to contamination has become an important element for resource management and land use planning. The objective of this work was to integrate hydrogeologic data in a geographic information system (GIS) for phreatic groundwater vulnerability assessment of a pilot area from the Coastal Plain of the Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, using the DRASTIC method and adsorption capacity of soils. The studied ions were copper, lead, sulfate and phosphate. Using the original DRASTIC method, the vulnerability presented high values, mainly due to the texture of the sediments and the low depths of waters, which favor the accessibility of the contaminants to the groundwaters. DRASTIC with adsorption capacity of soils showed specifics results for each studied ion. Groundwater vulnerability to metals in relationship to anions was lower. These results show that the original DRASTIC method represents better contaminants with high mobility. An erratum to this article can be found at     

Illumina sequencing for the identification of filamentous bulking and foaming bacteria in industrial activated sludge plants

In this study, Illumina sequencing was used for the identification of bulking and foaming bacteria in industrial wastewater treatment plants. The reliable identification of bulking and foaming bacteria represents the first step in developing effective and specific control strategies to avoid disturbances in activated sludge systems. Illumina sequencing revealed 432 16S rRNA operational taxonomic units, representing phylotypes and including 21 bulking and foaming bacteria in the two investigated industrial wastewater treatment plants. Foaming represents the most severe problem in the cascade biology system. Up to 22.5% of all sequencing reads are bulking and foaming bacteria, including Chryseobacterium, Candidatus Microthrix parvicella and Gordonia sp. as the dominant bulking and foaming bacteria which are known for foam formation. Moreover, Illumina sequencing revealed an increase in Candidatus Microthrix parvicella and Gordonia sp. reads from activated sludge to foam and scum samples, indicating a preferred flotation and/or growth advantages in the foam and scum layers. Analyses of the taxonomic assignment and distribution showed that the phylum Actinobacteria is the most dominant phylum, underlining the key role of Actinobacteria in bulking and foaming. Multivariate data analysis was applied, revealing that the dominant bulking and foaming bacteria are positively correlated with the sludge age and influent flow and negatively correlated with the dissolved oxygen level and the temperature. In terms of developing a specific control strategy, the positive linear relationships to the fatty acid and surfactant sludge loadings are highlighted and the removal of lipid compounds from the wastewater influent could avoid an overgrowth of bulking and foaming bacteria.     

Continuum hydrodynamics of dry granular flows employing multiplicative elastoplasticity

We present a Lagrangian formulation for simulating the continuum hydrodynamics of dry granular flows based on multiplicative elastoplasticity theory for finite deformation calculations. The formulation is implemented within the smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) method along with a variant of the usual dynamic boundary condition. Three benchmark simulations on dry sands are presented to validate the model: (a) a set of plane strain collapse tests, (b) a set of 3D collapse tests, and (c) a plane strain simulation of the impact force generated by granular flow on a rigid wall. Comparison with experimental results suggests that the formulation is sufficiently robust and accurate to model the continuum hydrodynamics of dry granular flows in a laboratory setting. Results of the simulations suggest the potential of the formulation for modeling more complex, field-scale scenarios characterized by more elaborate geometry and multi-physical processes. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first time the multiplicative plasticity approach has been applied to granular flows in the context of the SPH method.     

Applicability of the Climate Hazards Group Infrared Precipitation with Stations as Rainfall Input for SWAT Watershed Modeling

Water Resources - This study assessed the applicability of Climate Hazards Group Infrared Precipitation with Stations (CHIRPS) as rainfall input in watershed modeling using the Soil and Water...     

Exploring aberrant bivalve shell ultrastructure and geochemistry as proxies for past sea water acidification

Throughout much of Earth's history, marine carbonates have represented one of the most important geological archives of environmental change. Several pivotal events during the Phanerozoic, such as mass extinctions or hyperthermal events have recently been associated with ocean acidification. Nevertheless, well‐defined geological proxies for past ocean acidification events are, at best, scarce. Here, experimental work explores the response of bivalve shell ultrastructure and isotope geochemistry (δ¹³C, δ¹⁸O and δ²⁶Mg) to stressful environments, in particular to sea water acidification. In this study, the common blue mussel, Mytilus edulis, was cultured (from early juvenile stages to one year of age) at four pH regimes (pH_NBS 7·2 to pH 8·0). Shell growth rate and ultrastructure of mainly the calcitic portion of the shells were compared between experimental treatments. Specimens exposed to low‐pH environments show patches of disordered calcitic fibre orientation in otherwise well‐structured shells. Furthermore, the electron backscattered diffraction analyses reveal that, under acidified conditions, the c‐axis of the calcite prisms exhibits a bimodal or multi‐modal distribution pattern. Similar shell disorder patterns have been reported from mytilids kept under naturally acidified sea water conditions. In contrast, this study found no evidence that different pH regimes affect shell carbon, oxygen or magnesium isotope ratios. Based on these observations, it is proposed that: (i) stressful environments, in this case low sea water pH, predictably affect bivalve biomineralization patterns; and (ii) these findings bear potential as a novel (petrographic) proxy for ancient sea water acidification. An assessment of the applicability of these data to well‐preserved fossil shell material from selected time intervals requires additional work.