Star formation in NGC5471

We present a study of the star formation in the giant Hii region NGC5471 in the outskirts of M101. We have performed integrated photometry of the mean emission knots. Stellar population analysis with the code chorizos is compatible with the hypothesis that these regions have at least two different populations. The color–magnitude diagram of the region as derived from Hubble Space Telescope/WPFC2 stellar photometry shows that star formation has been going on for the last 70 Myr.     

西班牙的房地产泡沫:城市化与城市建设

聚焦于西班牙1996-2007年间的房地产泡沫,此次危机与西班牙前两次经历的地产泡沫有着相似的背景条件：将住房建设作为利好投机性投资。但几次泡沫供给结构却不同：此次住房供给主要为分散式,不同于以往的集中供应;旅游地产大量出现;房屋拥有型社会形成。作者认为供给结构的改变并非危机的主要原因,并提出了造成房地产泡沫的四个关键要素：符合一定条件的土地、土地规划的配合、充足的资金与可获得的土地所有权。结论是：政策的制定直接影响土地利用、发展规划、金融系统与个人资产、造成住房由使用品变为投机投资的对象、银行体系信用缺乏保障,最终导致了住房库存量陡增,大量房屋拆除事件与失业率攀升等经济和社会方面的不良影响。     

Methodology for the analysis of causes of drought vulnerability on the River Basin scale

The concept of vulnerability has emerged in recent decades as a key concept for the research on drought risk as well as in the implementation of mitigation strategies of drought risk. The context within which this concept emerges is one of scientific consensus: the research community agrees that we are witnessing a paradigm shift in water management policies, within a broader framework of changes in the relationship between humans and nature. In this context, vulnerability studies must become an instrument for the assessment and mitigation of risk. Based on the proposals put forward by the IPCC concerning the components of vulnerability (exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity), this paper proposes a methodology for the evaluation and analysis of drought vulnerability on the river basin scale. The methodology results in the calculation of a Drought Vulnerability Index (DVI) and the use of different techniques for the interpretation of results.     

Advance in the penetrometer test formulation to estimate allowable pressure in granular soils

In this paper, we present a modification of the existing mathematical formulation used to obtain the allowable bearing pressure from dynamic penetration tests in order to extend its applicability to the design of shallow foundations. The conventional relationships adopted to obtain the allowable bearing pressure from penetrometer tests have a discontinuous gradient, and they are limited to a depth less than the footing width. The aim of this work was to find a relationship that permits the estimation of this pressure in cohesionless soils, from the results of dynamic probing super heavy tests, through a single non-piecewise and continuous relationship that remains valid up to depths several times the footing width. This equation was applied as part of the geomechanical characterization survey undertaken for the construction of an elevated helipad in the centre of the Iberian Peninsula. The survey results were considered satisfactory, and the construction was completed without structural problems.     

Rock cut stability assessment in mountainous regions

Ensuring stability of rock slopes is an essential requirement in the progress of our societies today. Rock determined to be loose or with potential for failure must be removed or restrained in some way. In our work, after doing an inventory of the instabilities that occurred in the last 5 years in the Basque Country, we analyse the different factors, in slope stability. The potential for failure is evaluated for different classes of rock mass, characterized previously by their geomechanical properties. The characterization of potential risk of each one is undertaken by considering 10 parameters that define the nature of mass rock, relative orientation and morphological features of the slope (interaction rock massif-slope) and infrastructure features (interaction rock massif-slope-infrastructure). Each of these parameters is evaluated separately and a Risk Factor (RF) is determined. The RF reaches a maximum value of 10,000 and allows to differentiate four categories of slopes; each category has its own priority. Rock mass characteristics also determine the potential damage from instability and the associated correction measures. The systematic evaluation of instabilities must allow establishing a priority in the correction measures and thus optimise the available economic resources.     

The natural attenuation of two acidic effluents in Tharsis and La Zarza-Perrunal mines (Iberian Pyrite Belt, Huelva, Spain)

The geochemical evolution of two acid mine effluents in Tharsis and La Zarza-Perrunal mines (Iberian Pyrite Belt, Huelva, Spain) has been investigated. In origin, these waters present a low pH (2.2 and 3.1) and high concentrations of dissolved sulphate and metals (Fe, Al, Mn, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Ni). However, the natural evolution of these acidic waters (which includes the bacterial oxidation of Fe(II) and the subsequent precipitation of Fe(III) minerals) represents an efficient mechanism of attenuation. This self-mitigating process is evidenced by the formation of schwertmannite, which retains most of the iron load and, by sorption, toxic trace elements like As. The later mixing with pristine waters rises the pH and favours the total precipitation of Fe(III) at pH 3.5 and, subsequently, Al compounds at pH 4.5, along with the sorption of trace metals (Mn, Zn, Cu, Cd, Co, Ni) until chemical equilibrium at circumneutral conditions is achieved.     

Magma mixing in the subvolcanic environment: petrology of the Gerena interaction zone near Seville,Spain

The mechanisms by which felsic and mafic magmas interact and approach a uniform hybrid composition through the processes of mingling and mixing have been studied in a high-level subvolcanic setting in the Spanish Hercynian at Gerena, near Seville. The compositions involved are calc-alkaline and the situation is one of tonalite-quartz diorite synplutonic dykes injected into a granitic magma chamber. The resulting hybrids include dykes, pillows and globules of tonalite with chilled margins which are variously disrupted and homogenised with the host granite. The present investigation is based on field and petrographic observations of hybridization textures, the identification of different stages in the crystallisation history of the tonalite through mineral textures, and the characterization of mineral compositions at these various stages. Proportions of the end-member magmas involved were obtained by major-oxide mixing models and tested satisfactorily with trace elements. A mechanistic model is presented to account for these observations which involves the early quenching of the tonalite when it was emplaced into the granite magma chamber. After high temperature crystallization had occurred the two magmas attained thermal equilibrium and disruption of the tonalite in the high energy regime of this subvolcanic complex resulted in dispersion of fragments and crystals through the granite giving rise to hybrid granodiorite compositions. It is argued that such high-energy flow conditions are a necessary requirement for effective hybridization in this environment in contrast to most large-scale magma chamber settings where mixing is driven by thermal and buoyancy contrasts.     

Tectonic framework and extensional pattern of the Malaguide Complex from Sierra Espuña (Internal Betic Zone) during Jurassic–Cretaceous: implications for the Westernmost Tethys geodynamic evolution

Mapping, lithostratigraphic, biostratigraphic and structural detailed analyses in Sierra Espuña area (Internal Betic Zone, SE Spain) have allowed us to reconstruct the Jurassic–Cretaceous evolution of the Westernmost Mesomediterranean Microplate palaeomargin and, by correlation with other sectors (Northern Rift, central and western Internal Betic Zone), to propose a geodynamic evolution for the Westernmost Tethys. Extension began from Late Toarcian, when listric normal faults activated; these faults are arranged in three categories: large-scale faults, separating hectometric cortical blocks; main faults, dividing the former blocks into some kilometre-length blocks; and secondary faults, affecting the kilometric blocks. This fault ensemble, actually outcropping, in the Sierra Espuña area, broke the palaeomargin allowing the westerly Tethyan Oceanic aperture with an extension at about 17.2%. Extension was not homogeneous in time, being the Late Toarcian to the Dogger–Malm boundary the period when blocks underwent the greatest movement (rifting phase), leading to the drowning of the area (8.2% extension). During the Malm (drifting phase) extension followed (5.7%), while during the Cretaceous a change to pelagic facies is recorded with an extension of about 3.3% (post-drift stage). This evolution in the Westernmost Tethys seems to be related to areas out of the limit of significant crustal extension in the hanging wall block of the main cortical low-angle fault of the rifting.     

Laboratory tests of steel simple torsionally unbalanced models

The objective of this work is to obtain estimations of the amplification factors α and δ used for torsion design of buildings, from experiments. For this study, simple one‐storey torsionally unbalanced (TU) steel models were considered. Models consisted of a deck supported on four columns with a selected arrangement of hinges at column ends. Two theoretical structural eccentricities (e = 0.05 and 0.15) were considered. Models were excited with a simple long‐period pendulum consisting of a hanging platform with a forced‐vibration generator on it. Eight models were tested at several excitation levels (frequencies and force magnitudes) in both ranges of behaviour: elastic and inelastic. Experiments were conducted at three frequency ratios of excitation. Registered accelerations of the pendulum platform indicate that the experimental set‐up leads to excitations that resemble narrow‐band seismic ground motions. Frame shear force estimations, based on accelerations recorded at both deck sides, indicate that torsion design factors (α and δ) depend on eccentricity. Estimations of frame shears based on measurements indicate that for normalized eccentricities e ? 0.025, the amplification α can be between 2 and 3; while δ factor resulted between 0.0 and 1.6. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.