Impact of dense-water flow over a sloping bottom on open-sea circulation: laboratory experiments and an Ionian Sea (Mediterranean) example

The North Ionian Gyre (NIG) displays prominent inversions on decadal scales. We investigate the role of internal forcing induced by changes in the horizontal pressure gradient due to the varying density of Adriatic Deep Water (AdDW), which spreads into the deep layers of the northern Ionian Sea. In turn, the AdDW density fluctuates according to the circulation of the NIG through a feedback mechanism known as the bimodal oscillating system. We set up laboratory experiments with a two-layer ambient fluid in a circular rotating tank, where densities of 1000 and 1015 kg m−3 characterize the upper and lower layers, respectively. From the potential vorticity evolution during the dense-water outflow from a marginal sea, we analyze the response of the open-sea circulation to the along-slope dense-water flow. In addition, we show some features of the cyclonic and anticyclonic eddies that form in the upper layer over the slope area. We illustrate the outcome of the experiments of varying density and varying discharge rates associated with dense-water injection. When the density is high (1020 kg m−3) and the discharge is large, the kinetic energy of the mean flow is stronger than the eddy kinetic energy. Conversely, when the density is lower (1010 kg m−3) and the discharge is reduced, vortices are more energetic than the mean flow – that is, the eddy kinetic energy is larger than the kinetic energy of the mean flow. In general, over the slope, following the onset of dense-water injection, the cyclonic vorticity associated with current shear develops in the upper layer. The vorticity behaves in a two-layer fashion, thereby becoming anticyclonic in the lower layer of the slope area. Concurrently, over the deep flat-bottom portion of the basin, a large-scale anticyclonic gyre forms in the upper layer extending partly toward a sloping rim. The density record shows the rise of the pycnocline due to the dense-water sinking toward the flat-bottom portion of the tank. We show that the rate of increase in the anticyclonic potential vorticity is proportional to the rate of the rise of the interface, namely to the rate of decrease in the upper-layer thickness (i.e., the upper-layer squeezing). The comparison of laboratory experiments with the Ionian Sea is made for a situation when the sudden switch from cyclonic to anticyclonic basin-wide circulation took place following extremely dense Adriatic water overflow after the harsh winter in 2012. We show how similar the temporal evolution and the vertical structure are in both laboratory and oceanic conditions. The demonstrated similarity further supports the assertion that the wind-stress curl over the Ionian Sea is not of paramount importance in generating basin-wide circulation inversions compared with the internal forcing.

Development of Soy Milk Based Functional Fruit Yogurt Fortified with Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and obesity are the most increasing world health challenge in recent days. To prevent these health problems, food researchers are intensively focusing to replace animal fat by healthy vegetable item with incorporation of different bioactive compounds. This study was conducted to develop a novel yogurt using different ratio of soy and cow milk. Blueberry pulp, extra virgin olive oil and stevia were used in the bottom portion to enhance functionality of the developed yogurt against CVD. All developed yogurt samples were analyzed for taste, texture and overall acceptability. Sensory analysis showed that, the yogurt developed from 75% soy milk and 25% cow milk had the highest overall acceptability.

Response of ‘Bignay’ [Antidesma bunius (Linn.) Spreng] to cutting origins, IBA and BioGroe treatments

The response of ‘Bignay’ [Antidesma bunius (Linn.) Spreng] to the cutting origins and different levels of plant bio-regulators consist of Indole-3-butyric Acid (IBA) and Biogroe treatments were investigated by means of 3 x 9 factorial experiment in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) using an automated mist propagator. Two hundred sixteen (216) healthy seedlings containing 9 nodes each were used in the study. Results revealed that cutting origins significantly increased shoot length but have no influence on the root number, percent rooting and percent survival. The cuttings originated from the bottom portion of the stem recorded the longest mean in terms of shoot length (12.48 mm) including the highest percent survival and percent rooting (82.41%). Highest mean number of roots were observed on the top cuttings (1.93). Indole-3-butyric Acid (IBA) and Biogroe treatments on cuttings have no effects on the different parameters evaluated. The interaction effect between cutting origins and IBA/Biogroe treatments significantly increased the percent rooting and percent survival except the shoot length and root number of Bignay cuttings. Overall, the findings inferred that A. bunius can be propagated by any cutting origin derived from the main stem of the donor plants tested. Cuttings can effectively be induced to produce roots and survive and can be economically mass propagated even without the application of different concentrations of IBA and BioGroe.

Self-centering walls strengthening by high-performance concrete: a feasibility study

In this research, the feasibility of strengthening self-centering walls by high-performance concrete was investigated through an experimentally validated finite element model. The effects of the wall’s axial stress and tendons’ prestressing ratios on the wall’s damage, and the effectiveness of potential strengthening approaches were studied through 40 independent scenarios, and 360 different cases. Using the estimated damage from numerical results at the compression zone near the bottom corners, the maximum compressive strain of the concrete at the walls’ toe regions was estimated. Using the calibrated concrete strain, a practical approach was proposed to delimit both the walls’ damaged height and the crushed height. The heights’ information was used to investigate two potential strengthening approaches by either retrofitting (for damaged walls) or rehabilitating (for newly constructed walls). Increasing the axial stress ratio decreased the maximum developed compressive strain in the toe region, whereas the tendons’ prestressing ratio did not show significant effects. Moreover, by increasing substantially the axial stress ratio, the damaged region increased, whereas by increasing the tendons’ prestressing ratio the opposite effect was produced. Based on the findings of this research, it was concluded that for walls with lower axial stress ratio (< 0.095), both the proposed strengthening approaches resulted in similar outcomes, while for walls with higher axial stress ratio, casting the bottom portion with HPFRC led to sounder/safer designs.

Development of Functionally Graded Concrete Using Rubber Fiber

The current study investigates the functionally graded concrete (FGC) prepared using waste rubber tyre fibers as replacement of fine aggregates (FA) at a constant w/c ratio of 0.45. FGC is a continuously graded concrete which has different properties either in top or bottom portion according to the properties of materials added. Different materials like fly ash, steel fibers, glass granules, crushed granite aggregates, etc., has been utilized by different researchers to prepare FGC. The percentage replacement of rubber fibers used was 0-20% at 5% intervals and 30% to prepare control concrete (CC), rubber fiber concrete (RFC) and rubberized functionally graded concrete (RFGC). The fresh and hardened properties were performed on the concrete samples for the detailed analysis. Workability, density, compressive strength, flexural strength and water permeability tests were conducted on the different types of concrete. Flexural strength was better observed for RFC and RFGC as compared to CC. Compressive strength and depth of penetration values decreased with the addition of rubber fibers, however, RFGC had better values as compared to RFC. Study concluded that RFGC could be a sustainable approach towards the construction were flexural strength is mainly required.

Performance of Highway Embankments in the Arctic Corridor Constructed under Winter Conditions

There are uncertainties related to the mechanical behaviour of embankments where frozen soil is used as fill material and experience natural thawing and settlements during the first thawing season following construction. Fill material of embankments in the Arctic are primarily sourced from locally-available borrow sites which, in certain areas, are predominantly composed of fine till with high ground ice content. Side slope sloughing and fill cracking typically occur due to thawing of the frozen soil and development of localized thaw settlements under the embankment shoulders and side slopes. To assess a frozen fill embankment performance, test sections were constructed along the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway in the Northwest Territories, Canada and instrumented with temperature and displacement sensors. One test section was reinforced with layers of wicking woven geotextiles at its side slopes to primarily provide reinforcement against lateral movements and drainage during the thawing season. Field data show that the central and bottom portion of the embankment fill is still frozen while the thaw depth has increased at the toe. This paper presents the analysis and synthesis of the first three-year monitored performance of the embankment test sections following construction.

Hg- and Cd-bearing Pd, Pt, Au, AND Ag minerals in sulfide-bearing mafic and ultramafic rocks of the Yoko-Dovyren intrusion in the baikalides of the Northern Baikal area

Hg and Cd are rare chemical elements found in magmatic PGE and Au mineralization and typical of this mineralization in the Late Riphean Yoko-Dovyren plagioperidotite–troctolite–gabbronorite intrusion hosted in the Baikalides of the Baikal area. The paper discusses variations in the composition, associations, and distribution traits of the Hg- and Cd-bearing Pt, Pd, Au, and Ag minerals. Many of the precious-metal minerals are Pt, Pd, and Au chalcogenides and intermetallic compounds of postmagmatic genesis and occur as single crystals and stringers in sulfides and silicate matrix and at their contacts. The minerals were formed with the participation of fluids from the crystallizing Cu–Fe–Ni sulfide melts. They are constrained to the central part of the intrusion and found in sulfide-bearing plagiolherzolite (PL) in the lower part of the intrusion, in sulfide-bearing pegmatoid troctolite (T) in the bottom portion of the troctolite unit, and in sulfide-bearing pegmatoid anorthosite (A) in the top part of the troctolite unit. From PL to T and further to A, the content and diversity of the Hg-bearing minerals remarkably increase, with Hg distributed in these minerals very unevenly, and with Cd-bearing minerals identified only in A. The leading Hg concentrators in T and A are pneumatolytic (fluid–metasomatic) moncheite and, particularly, later telargpalite (Pd,Ag)3(Te,Pd,Hg), which contains up to 11 wt % Hg. The latter mineral is sometimes found in association with Hg-electrum, kustelite, and potarite. Potarite in T is Pb-rich, and this mineral in A is Pb-free. Appreciable Hg concentrations in precious-metal minerals in the Yoko-Dovyren intrusion suggest that these minerals crystallized in a closed system at high temperatures. Potarite content in A is much higher, and Hg concentration in telargpalite in A is notably lower (2.9 wt % Hg on average) than in this mineral in T (5.9 wt % Hg on average). The potarite might have been produced by epigenetic serpentinization processes (low-grade metamorphism) at the expense of the material of pneumatolytic Hg-bearing telatgpalite, kotulskite, and zvyagentsivite. This corresponds to specifics in Hg distribution in the telatgpalite, kotulskite, and zvyagentsivite in T and A and much higher intensity of metamorphism.

Todos Somos Cubanos, Pero No Todos Somos Iguales

Chapter 7 is an examination of racist practices in Cuba and explores the commonality and nature of racial discrimination. This chapter begins the discussion of the bottom portion of the model to show how racism operates on the island. The economic crisis of the 1990s marked the first serious challenge to racial ideology in Cuba, as inequalities increased with significant racial dimensions. Racism and discrimination became much more visible, particularly to nonwhites. The chapter outlines some of the practices that have taken place to limit nonwhites’ opportunities in the emergent sector and how anti-black stereotypes have informed policy and practice. Using survey data, it demonstrates who is most likely to experience discrimination in Cuba and how.

Comparison of the species richness and abundance of Cerambycidae (Coleoptera) and Scolytinae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) captured in aerial malaise traps with and without a bottom collector

Methods for detection and monitoring invasive insect species are continually being refined and developed. Detecting invasive pests early can improve chances of eradication or management of populations. Aerial malaise traps are successfully used in monitoring for insects such as longhorned beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) and bark and ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae). These traps have both a top and bottom collecting cup. The bottom portion of these traps leading to the collection cup collects canopy litter at a high rate, greatly increasing time required to sort through and possibly affecting the diversity and abundance of insects captured. Traps with top and bottom collecting cups were compared with traps with only top collecting cups to determine the effect on species richness and abundance of cerambycids and scolytines. There was no significant difference in species richness and abundance of cerambycids, and abundance of scolytines, however species richness of scolytines was significantly higher in top/bottom traps. We conclude that removing the bottoms from aerial malaise traps would benefit monitoring programmes that use this type of trap in combination with funnel traps, albeit with the potential loss of information on scolytine richness.