Flow–plant interactions at leaf,stem and shoot scales: drag,turbulence, and biomechanics

Flow–plant interactions are experimentally investigated at leaf, stem, and shoot scales in an open-channel flume at a range of Reynolds numbers. The experiments included measurements of instantaneous drag forces acting on leaves, stems, and shoots of the common freshwater plant species Glyceria fluitans, complemented with velocity measurements, high-resolution video recordings, and biomechanical tests of leaf and stem properties. The analyses of bulk statistics, power spectral densities, transfer functions, and cross-correlations of measured velocities and drag forces revealed that flow characteristics, drag force, and plant biomechanical and morphological properties are strongly interconnected and scale-dependent. The plant element–flow interactions can be subdivided into two classes: (I) passive interactions when the drag variability is due to the time variability of the wetted and frontal areas and squared approach velocity (due to the large-scale turbulence); and (II) active interactions representing a range of element-specific instabilities that depend on the element flexural rigidity and morphology. Implications of experimental findings for plant biophysics and ecology are briefly discussed.     

Prediction of the unconfined compressive strength of compacted granular soils by using inference systems

Adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) and artificial neural network (ANN) models have been extensively used to predict different soil properties in geotechnical applications. In this study, it was aimed to develop ANFIS and ANN models to predict the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of compacted soils. For this purpose, 84 soil samples with different grain-size distribution compacted at optimum water content were subjected to the unconfined compressive tests to determine their UCS values. Many of the test results (for 64 samples) were used to train the ANFIS and the ANN models, and the rest of the experimental results (for 20 samples) were used to predict the UCS of compacted samples. To train these models, the clay content, fine silt content, coarse silt content, fine sand content, middle sand content, coarse sand content, and gravel content of the total soil mass were used as input data for these models. The UCS values of compacted soils were output data in these models. The ANFIS model results were compared with those of the ANN model and it was seen that the ANFIS model results were very encouraging. Consequently, the results of this study have important findings indicating reliable and simple prediction tools for the UCS of compacted soils.     

Acidic Rocks as Aggregates in Concrete: Engineering Properties,Microstructures and Petrologic Characteristics

In this research, the possibility of replacing different portions of the normally used aggregate by acidic rocks was investigated. These rock types outcrop at the northern part of Eastern Desert, southwest Ras Gharib area where large quantities of good quality acidic rocks are available their. Portland cement concrete is a composite material made up of the hydrated cement matrix, fine aggregate and coarse aggregate. The scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray analysis system (EDX) has been applied to investigate several aspects of Portland cement concrete microstructure. The topics investigated so far include the influence of aggregate composition on the development of the cement paste-aggregate interface and the formation of calcium silicate hydrate CSH/calcium silicate aluminate CSA formation. The silicate gel coated the aggregates in the concrete paste and crystallized into well defined needle like shape, cotton shape as well as euhedral to subhedral crystals of silicate/alumiante and ettringite minerals with free lime librated from the hydrolysis process. The free lime can react again with the aggregates leading to the formation of cementing materials which increase strength and durability of the concrete paste by increasing the interfacial bonds between the used aggregates.     

Seismo-stratigraphic and structural interpretation of seismic data of Titas gas field,Bengal basin,Bangladesh

In the present study, seismic interpretation has been carried out over Titas structure of Bengal basin, Bangladesh to figure out its seismo-stratigraphic and structural behavior. Seven well marked reflecting horizons (R-01 to R-07) have been identified within the Neogene sedimentary sequences using 18 seismic sections and well log data. A new seismic stratigraphy of Neogene sequences has been proposed for the Titas structure ruling out the traditional lithostratigraphy. The studied structure has been divided into 3 megasequences (MS1, MS2 and MS3). Reflector R-01 and R-03 represent the tops of the megasequence 2 (MS2) and megasequence 1 (MS1) respectively. These well marked reflectors are correlated with the top of the traditional litho-groups called Tipam and Surma. Reflectors R-02 and R-04 represent acoustic impedance boundaries within MS2 and MS1 due to lithological gradation. However, R-02 and R-04 are not considered as sequence/ formation boundaries because geologically these are not well defined. Reflectors R-05, R-06 and R-07 represent top of the gasbearing zones A, B and C that belongs to MS1. All these interfaces or reflectors are anti-form with a central long crestal zone. It forms a north-south trending semi-domal sub-surface anticlinal structure having a semi-dome shaped closure. The structure is asymmetric with steeper eastern flank and gentler western flank. The crestal region is essentially plain with discontinuous reflection. The semidomal nature of the anticline is in contrast to the neighboring narrow anticlines. Structural pattern suggests its development in relation to the NE-SW trending stress field due to convergence of Indian plate with Burmese plate. Structures of the shallower and deeper reflectors are formed at different phases of structural development.     

The Distribution of Riparian Corridor Plants and the Relations to River Water Salinity along Perai River, Penang, Malaysia

Ecological surveys were carried out to investigate the distribution and characterization of riparian corridor plants along the Perai River,Penang,Malaysia from July 2007 to March 2008.Surveys were design to represent horizon-tal sections of the river starting from the river mouth towards the upper reaches for 20 km.A total of 84 species of plants from 30 families were recorded.They consisted of 28 species of standing plants(plants with height of more than 1 m)and 56 species of weedy plants(plants with heigh...     

Estimation of the 2D crustal velocity structure in the Hidaka and Iburi Subprefectures, Hokkaido, Japan

Applying the iterative shooting/bisection technique for rapid forward modeling to the seismic explosion data, we could refine the crustal velocity structure model of the western part of the Hidaka collision zone, Hokkaido, Japan. We used only the precise P-wave first arrival data obtained by the Research Group for Explosion Seismology, which set up a 113.4-km-long profile in August 2000 along with 327 observation points and four shot points with TNT charges from 100 to 300 kg. We could estimate a two-dimensional inhomogeneous crustal velocity structure model with a velocity decrease in the eastern direction at a depth of 15.7 km, several portions of velocity reversals with depth and a low velocity anomaly proposed in previous studies. The root-mean-square of travel-time residuals was improved from 0.398 s for the previous structure model to 0.176 s for the present model with a reduction of 55.8%.     

Effect of bacterial activity on trace metals release from oxidation of sphalerite at low pH (<3) and implications for AMD environment

A series of experiments was conducted to better understand the bacterial influence on the release of trace metals during oxidation of sphalerite mineral and element cycles in acid mine drainage (AMD) systems. Batch experiments were carried out as biotic and abiotic control at pH 3. Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, sulfur and Fe(II) oxidizer, was used in the biotic sphalerite experiment. The abiotic control experiment was run without adding the bacteria. The release behavior of six trace metals (As, Cd, Co, Pb, Cu and Mn), Fe and Zn were determined during the period of 54 days. Compared to the abiotic experiments, enhanced oxidation of sphalerite by bacteria produced high sulfate (~2,000 mg/L) and Fe_tot (139 mg/L) along with the low pH (<2.3). Consistent with this, the concentration of trace metals (As, Cd, Co, Pb, Cu and Mn) was significantly higher in the biotic experiments than those in the abiotic experiments. Results indicate that the distributions of Co and Cd in both biotic and abiotic experiments are directly related to the sphalerite dissolution whereas Pb, Cu distribution shows no strong relation to sphalerite dissolution especially in the abiotic experiments. Pb distribution in the solution appears to be controlled by pH-dependent solubility. Approximately 80% of the trace metals were removed from the solution at the end of the biotic experiments along with biologically induced Fe precipitation. Experimental results showed that bacteria play major role not only in the release of trace metal from sphalerite but also in controlling concentration of the metals in the solution by producing Fe-oxyhydroxides. The study suggest that in order to develop an effective rehabilitation strategy for AMD, it is necessary to understand bio/geochemical processes governing mobilization and deposition of trace metals in the environment.     

A conceptual and analytical framework for understanding the spatial effects on political actions in a new world order

All creations, except mankind, on this Universe are well organized under a natural universal system. They struggle for their survival within the territorial limits of their making. They do not have special barriers between, particularly similar to International Boundaries of Mankind. They even move from one physical region to another if the basic requirements, necessary for their survival are exhausted. Mankind is recognized as supreme to all creations, but diversity of their character, behavior, suspicious, and indifferent political ideology with uncomfortable mask on faces, have created an ending growth of conflicts through passion and reason within and outside the limits of their access, and set a criterion of moving power, to control the other limits on this universe.The basic object of writing this paper is to construct a framework or show a path leading to its construction for uniting mankind on one political platform, free from the influence of power and pressure. Keeping in mind the teaching of religious doctrine and their concept of world orders and the philosophical approaches, particularly the recent political writing of Kant towards inidvidual rights and freedom under the controlling factors of reason and passion, a framework for the new world order is possible to establish, leading to the final goal of creating a global system.