Prosperity and the New Economy in Canada’s major city regions

Canada’s three large city regions—Montréal, Toronto and Vancouver—have been relatively successful in retaining their Manufacturing bases, while at the same time adding substantial numbers of New Economy job opportunities. Deindustrialization appears to have occurred primarily in the Montréal CMA (Census Metropolitan Area) and in some smaller communities where motor vehicle manufacturing was significant. Growth in New Economy jobs has occurred in the larger CMAs; the smaller urban areas have had little success in attracting these jobs. For the most part, these trends appear to be path dependent: prosperous communities with substantial proportions of New Economy jobs are likely to remain prosperous and to attract more such jobs. The lack of significant correlation between Economic Health and the presence of immigrants, same sex couples, performing and visual artists suggests that local economic development strategies based on these factors may have limited success.     

Water quality and relationship between superficial and ground water in Rome (Aniene River basin,central Italy)

Chemical, physical, and biological features of streams and ground water of the North-Eastern area of Rome are jointly analyzed in order to assess the status of water resources. Ground water was investigated with classical survey methods (pH, temperature, and electric conductivity). Microbiological pollution, faunal composition, and stream surrounding area conditions of surface waters were studied, in order to quantify the residual value of these ecosystems from both a human and an environmental point of view. Results show a general impairment of the system and the comparison between superficial waters and shallow ground waters makes it possible to detect the presence of a connection between the two levels. This relationship occurs as an exchange from superficial waters (streams and rivers) to the shallow aquifers. Where superficial waters are contaminated, as in the Tor Sapienza stream, pollutants move to the shallow aquifers too, due to the decreased pressure of the over-exploited aquifer. Moreover, uncontrolled drilling activity, diffused in urban areas, makes it possible the connection between shallow and deep ground water. Notwithstanding this, the mixing between superficial and deep ground water system in Rome is not very widespread and, apparently, limited to restricted areas.     

Analysis of the Chesapeake Bay Hypoxia Regime Shift: Insights from Two Simple Mechanistic Models

Recent studies of Chesapeake Bay hypoxia suggest higher susceptibility to hypoxia in years after the 1980s. We used two simple mechanistic models and Bayesian estimation of their parameters and prediction uncertainty to explore the nature of this regime shift. Model estimates show increasing nutrient conversion efficiency since the 1980s, with lower DO concentrations and large hypoxic volumes as a result. In earlier work, we suggested a 35% reduction from the average 1980–1990 total nitrogen load would restore the Bay to hypoxic volumes of the 1950s–1970s. With Bayesian inference, our model indicates that, if the physical and biogeochemical processes prior to the 1980s resume, the 35% reduction would result in hypoxic volume averaging 2.7 km³ in a typical year, below the average hypoxic volume of 1950s–1970s. However, if the post-1980 processes persist the 35% reduction would result in much higher hypoxic volume averaging 6.0 km³. Load reductions recommended in the 2003 agreement will likely meet dissolved oxygen attainment goals if the Bay functions as it did prior to the 1980s; however, it may not reach those goals if current processes prevail.     

Field-observed phenomena of seismic liquefaction and subsidence during the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in China

In the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in Sichuan Province, a large number of buildings, water conservancy facilities, and transportation facilities were severely damaged. The damage caused by liquefaction and earthquake-induced soil subsidence was widely distributed, diverse, and extensive. Typical liquefaction and earthquake-induced subsidence damage for this region has been described by investigations of soils and foundations in the earthquake-stricken area. Factors that influenced the liquefaction of soils in Dujiangyan County were analyzed, accounting for regional geological conditions. The results identify several factors that may affect the process of liquefaction and general damage to buildings, roads, levees, and dams. Such factors could serve as the basis for further research into mitigating the damage caused by earthquake-induced liquefaction and subsidence. The importance of detailed ground reconnaissance and the implementation of reasonable and effective measures to improve soft soil are proposed for earthquake hazard reduction in similar areas.     

Heavy metal and anionic contamination in the water and sediments in Al-Mujib reservoir,central Jordan

Sixty-five sediment samples and 25 water samples were collected from Al-Mujib reservoir, central Jordan, in order to investigate the heavy metal and ionic contamination assessment. Therefore, to achieve this aim, water and sediment samples were collected during winter and summer seasons (2007) from Al-Mujib reservoir and the areas surrounding it. The study shows that there are elevated levels of SO₄ ²⁻, Cl⁻ and Na⁺ in reservoir water, which might originate from anthropogenic activities in the reservoir catchment area. In addition, the reservoir water has higher total hardness (TH) values together with high Ca and Mg contents. This might be attributed to pH of reservoir water and the nature of the rocks exposed in the catchment area. The average levels of heavy metals in reservoir sediments are Fe = 14,888.1, Cu = 17.8, Zn = 88.6, Ni = 38.7, Cd = 4.4, Mn = 337.9 and Pb = 6.1 mg/kg, which are lower than that observed in Wadi Al-Arab reservoir, northern Jordan. The values of enrichment factor are Cd = 35.5, Ni = 3.02, Zn = 2.54, Cu = 1.26, Mn = 1.2 and Pb = 0.57; these values indicate that heavy metals in sediments of Al-Mujeb reservoir have a different anthropogenic incrimination inputs. The study showed that the sediments are polluted with Cd, relatively contaminated with Ni and Zn and uncontaminated with respect to Mn, Pb and Cu.     

Evaluation of Curve Fitting Techniques in Deriving p–y Curves for Laterally Loaded Piles

The p–y method is one of the most popular methods for the analysis and design of laterally loaded piles. The mathematical relationship it provides between the bending moment, which can be easily measured at strain gauges along the pile, and the soil resistance and lateral pile displacement, facilitates the construction of p–y curves. Numerical techniques are required to fit smooth continuous curves to the discrete bending moment data in order to improve the accuracy of subsequent differentiation and integration operations. Due to the lack of guidance on the optimum positioning of strain gauges and the reliability and accuracy of curve fitting methods, a unifying study, inclusive of small (0.61 m) and large (3.8 and 7.5 m) diameter piles in clay, was carried out using 18 strain gauge layouts and cubic spline, cubic to quintic B-spline and 3rd to 10th degree global polynomial techniques. Bending moment data was obtained using 3D finite element analysis. Through a comprehensive evaluation, the cubic and cubic B-spline methods were found to be consistently accurate in deriving p–y curves for both the small and large diameter piles.     

Risk Prediction of Tunnel Water or Mud Inrush Based on Disaster Forewarning Grading

Water or mud inrush can not only hamper the normal construction of tunnel, but also cause severe casualties and property losses. Through the cause analysis and statistical theory, a total of 9 predictors based on 3 factors, the engineering geology, hydrogeology and construction, were put forward to control the happening of water or mud inrush. Based on the classification principles of forewarning, 3 alert levels, red, orange and yellow, were established. Using the AHP–TOPSIS evaluation theory, the risk prediction model of water or mud inrush was built based on the classification of disaster forewarning. The model was used in the diversion project of Fujian Long Jin–xi and achieved good effects.     

Strength criterion for cross-anisotropic sand under general stress conditions

By incorporating the fabric effect and Lode’s angle dependence into the Mohr–Coulomb failure criterion, a strength criterion for cross-anisotropic sand under general stress conditions was proposed. The obtained criterion has only three material parameters which can be specified by conventional triaxial tests. The formula to calculate the friction angle under any loading direction and intermediate principal stress ratio condition was deduced, and the influence of the degree of the cross-anisotropy was quantified. The friction angles of sand in triaxial, true triaxial, and hollow cylinder torsional shear tests were obtained, and a parametric analysis was used to detect the varying characteristics. The friction angle becomes smaller when the major principal stress changes from perpendicular to parallel to the bedding plane. The loading direction and intermediate principal stress ratio are unrelated in true triaxial tests, and their influences on the friction angle can be well captured by the proposed criterion. In hollow cylinder torsional shear tests with the same internal and external pressures, the loading direction and intermediate principal stress ratio are related. This property results in a lower friction angle in the hollow cylinder torsional shear test than that in the true triaxial test under the same intermediate principal stress ratio condition. By comparing the calculated friction angle with the experimental results under various loading conditions (e.g., triaxial, true triaxial, and hollow cylinder torsional shear test), the proposed criterion was verified to be able to characterize the shear strength of cross-anisotropic sand under general stress conditions.     

An optimized sequential extraction scheme for molybdenum association in environmental samples

By comparing three sequential extraction procedures, a new optimized extraction scheme for the molybdenum association in environmental samples was proposed. Five operational steps were described as exchangeable (KH₂PO₄ + K₂HPO₄: including water-soluble), associated with organic matter (NaOH), Fe–Mn oxides and/or carbonates (HCl), sulfides (H₂O₂) and residue (HNO₃ + HF + H₂O₂). An optimized extraction scheme was compared with Tessier’s procedure and the Commission of European Communities Bureau of Reference (BCR) was applied to black shales. Results showed Tessier’s procedure gave the lowest concentration values for exchangeable molybdenum and the highest values for the residual molybdenum, which could not present the efficiency of the extraction reagents. BCR’s procedure showed the highest values in oxidizable molybdenum and presented four fractions of molybdenum, which did not demonstrate the fractions of molybdenum in the black shales in detail. The optimized extraction scheme demonstrated a certain improvement on extraction efficiency over Tessier’s procedure for the lowest residual molybdenum, and revealed more featured fraction information of molybdenum in black shales than BCR’s. Therefore, after a comparison with other two extraction procedures, the optimized extraction scheme proved suitable for the molybdenum in black shales and it also showed an accurate determination of the molybdenum in the fractions and source of bioavailable Mo.