The influence of physical and biological processes on the ichthyoplankton communities in the Gulf of Sirte (Southern Mediterranean Sea)

This paper reports on the first study on the ichthyoplankton community structure in the Gulf of Sirte and its spatial distribution in relation to environmental conditions and zooplankton abundance. The results make an important contribution to the future management of fisheries in this unexplored, but much exploited, area. Biological samples were collected in July 2008 using a Bongo40 net. In total, 1914 larvae were found and 1652 of these were identified. In particular, bathypelagic taxa were the most abundant, followed by demersal, mesopelagic, pelagic and epipelagic taxa. The ichthyoplankton community had a patchwork distribution influenced by oligotrophic conditions, the bottom depth and oceanographical features. The results suggest that environmental forcings were able to transport the ichthyoplankton to productive areas. Indeed, maximum fish egg densities were found in coastal stations in correspondence with the Atlantic Tunisian Current inflow, whereas larvae were mainly concentrated in the east side of the Gulf, probably as a result of advection by the anticyclonic circulation. Additionally, the distribution patterns of the total larvae density and the different assemblages were well matched with the abundance of the zooplankton, probably determining final larval survival, growth and recruitment.     

The sandstone-hosted stratiform copper mineralization at Mwitapile and its relation to the mineralization at Lufukwe, Lufilian foreland, Democratic Republic of Congo

The Lufilian foreland is a triangular-shaped area located in the SE of the Democratic Republic of Congo and to the NE of the Lufilian arc, which hosts the well-known Central African Copperbelt. The Lufilian foreland recently became an interesting area with several vein-type (e.g., Dikulushi) and stratiform (e.g., Lufukwe and Mwitapile) copper occurrences. The Lufilian foreland stratiform Cu mineralization is, to date, observed in sandstone rock units belonging to the Nguba and Kundelungu Groups (Katanga Supergroup).The Mwitapile sandstone-hosted stratiform Cu prospect is located in the north eastern part of the Lufilian foreland. The host rock for the Cu mineralization is the Sonta Sandstone of the Ngule Subgroup (Kundelungu Group). A combined remote sensing, petrographic and fluid inclusion microthermometric analysis was performed at Mwitapile and compared with similar analysis previously carried out at Lufukwe to present a metallogenic model for the Mwitapile- and Lufukwe-type stratiform copper deposits. Interpretation of ETM+ satellite images for the Mwitapile prospect and the surrounding areas indicate the absence of NE–SW or ENE–WSW faults, similar to those observed controlling the mineralization at Lufukwe. Faults with these orientations are, however, present to the NW, W, SW and E of the Mwitapile prospect. At Mwitapile, the Sonta Sandstone host rock is intensely compacted, arkosic to calcareous with high silica cementation (first generation of authigenic quartz overgrowths). In the Sonta Sandstone, feldspar and calcite are present in disseminated, banded and nodular forms. Intense dissolution of these minerals caused the presence of disseminated rectangular, pipe-like and nodular dissolution cavities. Sulfide mineralization is mainly concentrated in these cavities. The hypogene sulfide minerals consist of two generations of pyrite, chalcopyrite, bornite and chalcocite, separated by a second generation of authigenic quartz overgrowth. The hypogene sulfide minerals are replaced by supergene digenite and covellite. Fluid inclusion microthermometry on the first authigenic quartz phase indicates silica precipitation from an H₂O–NaCl–CaCl₂ fluid with a minimum temperature between 111 and 182 °C and a salinity between 22.0 and 25.5 wt.% CaCl₂ equiv. Microthermometry on the second authigenic quartz overgrowths and in secondary trails related to the mineralization indicate that the mineralizing fluid is characterized by variable temperatures (Th = 120 to 280 °C) and salinities (2.4 to 19.8 wt.% NaCl equiv.) and by a general trend of increasing temperatures with increasing salinities.Comparison between Mwitapile and Lufukwe indicates that the stratiform Cu mineralization in the two deposits is controlled by similar sedimentary, diagenetic and structural factors and likely formed from a similar mineralizing fluid. A post-orogenic timing is proposed for the mineralization in both deposits. The main mineralization controlling factors are grain size, clay and pyrobitumen content, the amount and degree of feldspar and/or calcite dissolution and the presence of NE–SW to ENE–WSW faults. The data support a post-orogenic fluid-mixing model for the Mwitapile- and Lufukwe-type sandstone-hosted stratiform Cu deposits, in which the mineralization is related to the mixing between a Cu-rich hydrothermal fluid, with a temperature up to 280 °C and a maximum salinity of 19.8 wt.% NaCl equiv., with a colder low salinity reducing fluid present in the sandstone host rock. The mineralizing fluid likely migrated upwards to the sandstone source rocks along NE–SW to ENE–WSW orientated faults. At Lufukwe, the highest copper grades at surface outcrops and boreholes were found along and near to these faults. At Mwitapile, where such faults are 2 to 3 km away, the Cu grades are much lower than at Lufukwe. Copper precipitation was possibly promoted by reduction from pre-existing hydrocarbons and non-copper sulfides and by the decrease in fluid salinity and temperature during mixing. Based on this research, new Cu prospects were proposed at Lufukwe and Mwitapile and a set of recommendations for further Cu exploration in the Lufilian foreland is presented.     

One-dimensional consolidation of soil under multistage load based on continuous drainage boundary

In engineering practice, a rapid loading rate can result in ground failure when the strength of soft soils is relatively low, and a multistage loading scheme is always utilized to deal with this situation. Firstly, under a multistage load and the continuous drainage boundary, an analytical solution of excess pore-water pressure and consolidation degree is obtained by virtue of the superposition formula of excess pore-water pressure, and a more general continuous drainage boundary under arbitrary time-dependent load is developed. Then, a comparison with existing analytical solutions is conducted to verify the present solution. A preliminary attempt on applying the continuous drainage boundary into the finite element model is made, and the feasibility of the numerical model for the one-dimensional consolidation under the continuous drainage boundary is verified by comparing the results calculated by FEM with that from present analytical solution. Finally, the consolidation behavior of soil is investigated in detail for different int erface parameters or loading scheme. The results show that, in land reclamation projects, a horizontal drain should be placed close to the boundary with a smaller interface parameter to improve the consolidation efficiency. The degree of consolidation is also related to the applied time-dependent load and interface parameters.     

Pore‐scale modeling of surface erosion in a particle bed

A fully coupled transient two‐dimensional model was employed to study fundamentals of flood‐induced surface erosion in a particle bed. The interaction of the liquid and solid phases is the key mechanism related to surface erosion. The solid phase was idealized at a particle scale by using the discrete element method. The fluid phase was modeled at a mesoscale level and solved using the lattice Boltzmann method. The fluid forces applied on the particles were calculated on the basis of the momentum the fluid exchanges with the particle. The proposed approach was used to model both single particles and particle beds subjected to Couette flow conditions. The behavior of both the single particle and the particle bed depended on particle diameter and surface shear fluid velocity. The conducted simulations show that the fluid flow profile penetrates the bed for a small distance. This penetration initiates sheet‐flow and surface erosion as the fluid interacts with particles. The effect of suppressing particle rotation on the fluid‐induced forces on the particle was also examined. Suppressing particle spinning may lead to underestimated erosion rate. Results of fluid and particle velocities were compared against experimental results and appeared to agree with the observed trends.Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Time dependent chemical study of contracting interstellar clouds. II. abundances of oxygen- and sulphur-bearing molecules

Abstract. We have constructed a chemical reaction system in a contracting interstellar cloud. In paper (I) we have presented the details of the physical and chemical scheme and the method of solution. The results of our chemical model produce fractional abundances of H₂CO, CO, OH, H₂O, SO and OCS which are in good agreement with the results of observations. On the other hand, the results of chlorine-bearing species are not in agreement with those of the observations. The calculated abundances of H₂CO, CO, OH, H₂O, SO, OCS and Cl⁺ are in agreement with the results of previous theoretical studies.     

Nonequilibrium solidification and microstructures of metal phases in the shock-induced melt of the Yanzhuang (H6) chondrite

Abstract— Dendrites in the metal-troilite spherules in both shock-induced melt veins and a melt pocket of the Yanzhuang chondrite show zoning in their microstructures. This feature is indicative of nonequilibrium solidification of the metal phases. Dendrites in the melt pocket have a typical crust-core structure consisting of martensitic interiors (7.5–8.1 wt% Ni) and Ni-rich rims (12.5–23.3 wt% Ni). In comparison, the dendrites in melt veins have three microstructural areas: (1) core (6.4–7.3 wt% Ni); (2) martensite between the core and rim (7.4–8.5 wt.% Ni); (3) Ni-rich rim (12.8–21.4 wt% Ni). It is suggested that the difference in cooling rates following shock-induced high temperature melting might be an important factor in producing the different dendritic microstructures in melt veins and melt pocket. Cooling rates deduced from measurements of secondary dendritic arm spacings are 100–400 °C/s in the melt veins and 6–30 °C/s in the melt pocket, respectively, and lie in the temperature interval 950 to 1400 °C.     

Unusual occurrence of glauconite in a shallow lagoonal environment (Lower Cretaceous, northern Aquitaine Basin, SW France)

Some minerals are considered to be representative of specific natural environments. Among them glauconite is considered to be formed in marine deep platform conditions. However, the term glauconitic is misused to designate green minerals formed in marine outer-shelf environments. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray analyses of individual green materials were carried out leading to the identification of glauconite in the Purbeckian facies. Green glauconite grains predominantly occur as burrow fills and occasionally as faecal pellet replacements. Two depositional environments have been identified from bottom to top of the succession: (1) an argillaceous dolomitic lagoonal sediment formed in saline, shallow water; (2) a marl-limestone alternation deposited in a brackish water estuary. The crystallochemical properties of the glauconites change abruptly. These findings show that glauconite may form in coastal environments and not only in mid-shelf to upper deep water platform environments as classically assumed. Moreover, the glauconite composition changes with the chemical conditions imposed by the local environment.     

Angular radiation transfer in inhomogeneous dispersive media

The equation of radiative transfer for an inhomogenous dispersive finite medium subject to general boundary conditions is solved. The Padé approximation technique is used to calculate the angular distribution of radiation. Numerical results for the [0/1] Padé approximant lead to numerical results that compared with the exact results.     

Over-reflection of hydromagnetic planetary-gravity waves at the solar helmet streamers and magnetic sectors

Over-reflection of propagating hydromagnetic planetary-gravity waves incident on the current sheets of the helmet streamers and magnetic sectors of the solar corona is investigated.It is shown that over-reflection arises only if the wavenumbers, or the energy fluxes per unit mass, perpendicular to the current sheet of the incident and the transmitted waves in both cases are in opposite directions. The over-reflected waves then draw magnetic energy from the sun's field and communicate it to the interplanetary magnetic field.The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.     

Relocation optimization of electric cars in one-way car-sharing systems: modeling,exact solving and heuristics algorithms

Car-sharing system with electric cars is a very convenient service for urban transportation: it allows users to pick up a vehicle at a station and rent it during a short time. To manage this kind of system in the best way, it is necessary to solve the critical problem of vehicle stock imbalance across the stations. Several decision levels must be considered to balance the car distribution by taking into account the quality of service and the system operation cost. To this end, a linear programming model is proposed to formalize the problem in a mathematical framework, which allows the computation of optimal vehicle distribution strategies. To make our solution time efficient and usable for solving large problems, a greedy algorithm and a tabu search algorithm are proposed. These two algorithms are applied to the Auto Bleue network in Nice and its surrounding (France) using extensive simulations. Besides, an integrated mapping method is provided within the Geographical Information System QGIS to estimate flows and their locations. Numerical results demonstrate that the tabu search algorithm is able to find near-optimal solutions and good compromises between client satisfaction, number of staff agents and vehicles used, and computing time.