Clod Size and Moisture Condition Influence on the Shearing Behavior of Compacted Soil

This paper presents results of the influence of clod size and initial moisture condition on the shearing behavior of a clayey soil with a plasticity index of 22. The clods were divided into different size categories, and then two groups of samples were prepared; samples with large clods (LC = clod size less than 38 mm) and samples with small clods (SC = clod size less than 4.75 mm). Two initial moisture conditions were achieved using two different moisture tempering times of 0 and 14 days. All samples were compacted to the same density and moisture content (95 % of maximum dry density and 2 % dry of optimum moisture content). Triaxial compression tests, including constant water content unsaturated tests and backpressure saturated, isotropically consolidated, undrained compression tests were performed at different confining pressures. At 0-day tempering time, samples prepared using large clods were found to be stiffer and stronger than those prepared using small clods. However, at 14-day tempering time, the strength of both LC and SC samples was similar.     

Palaeoenvironments of the Continental Intercalaire fossil from the Late Cretaceous (Barremian-Albian) in North Africa: a case study of southern Tunisia

Through the Late Cretaceous, the southern shore of the Tethys Ocean migrated north and south over short distances. These vicissitudes are documented in the Continental Intercalaire, a long series of mainly non-marine sediments deposited in which dinosaur or other reptiles tracks and floral fossils are common across southern Tunisia (North Africa). A combined taxonomic, climatological, and palaentological studies provides independent lines of evidence for reconstruction of palaeoenvironments. The Bou Hedma/Boulouha and Sidi Aïch/Douiret Formations from southern Tunisia span the later part of the Late Cretaceous. During the Late Cretaceous the Tunisian territory was an archipelago, thus a particularly suitable area for a more detailed study. We investigated the area’s plant palaeo-biogeography, using fossil wood, with information from both a literature survey and investigation of new samples. The presence of fossils at great depths and distances from the present coastline, without signs of abrasion and far from areas of fluvial discharges does indicate that these remains have not been transported from the continent to the shelf, but have been preserved directly on the area that today correspond to the continental shelf. The climate during the accumulation of Barremian-Albian deposits in this region is inferred to have been warm and humid.     

A novel algorithm for fully automated mapping of geospatial ontologies

Journal of Geographical Systems - Geospatial information is collected from different sources thus making spatial ontologies, built for the same geographic domain, heterogeneous; therefore,...     

Impacts of an uncontrolled phosphogypsum dumpsite on summer distribution of phytoplankton, copepods and ciliates in relation to abiotic variables along the near-shore of the southwestern Mediterranean coast

In connection with the Taparura Project, studies of spatial distribution of the crustacean zooplankton community, nutrients, phytoplankton and ciliates were conducted in July 2007 at 45 stations spread over fifteen transects along the coast north of Sfax. The results showed that the N/P ratio was lower than the Redfield ratio, suggesting potential N limitation. Phytoplankton was characterised by the proliferation of several diatoms, while ciliates were largely dominated by spirotrichs. Copepods were the most abundant zooplankton present during the entire study period, comprising 61% of the total zooplankton community. Twelve copepod families were identified at every station, with a high percentage of Oithonidae (77% of copepods) dominated by Oithona nana. The abundance of this species was correlated with that of diatoms, Cocoolithophorideae and ciliated Colpodea, suggesting that O. nana may feed on a wide range of prey. Despite human pressure and industrial activities, the coastal waters north of Sfax showed a wide diversity of phytoplankton, ciliates and zooplankton.