Consolidation tests of ODP Leg 113 samples

Examination of the geotechnical characteristics of Weddell Sea, Maud Rise, and South Orkney microcontinental margin sediments recovered during ODP Leg 113 reveals that the reduction in porosity (consolidation) of the siliciclastic, calcareous, and diatomaceous sediments is primarily a process governed by vertical stresses created by overburden. The initial porosity of the sediments in these areas is governed by the amount of diatoms present. The more diatoms, the higher the porosity. Surficial diatom-rich sediments are everywhere overconsolidated. This is attributed to the strong microfabric created by the diatoms, calcareous and clay particles. The deeper diatom-free sediments of Maud Rise range from slightly underconsolidated to normally consolidated. The silty clays and clays of the Weddell Sea and South Orkney margin are underconsolidated. The degree of underconsolidation of these sediments is similar to that determined in a number of different locations throughout the world's oceans. The very low permeability of the Weddell Sea and South Orkney margin sediments appears to account for this underconsolidation.

Stress tests of ODP Site 131-808 sediments

Sediments undergoing accretion in trench-forearc systems are subjected to conditions of large lateral thrusting. This stress regime controls the mechanism of faulting as well as the yield and strength properties of the sediment. Understanding them is therefore crucial for the construction of quantitative models of sediment dynamics in convergent margin settings. For this purpose triaxial and oedometer tests were performed on six whole-round core samples recovered from Site 808 from depths between 173 and 705 mbsf. Samples from five depth intervals were subjected to a triaxial test program that was primarily designed to define yield and strength behavior. Test specimens were cut parallel and normal to the core axis. Additional five oedometer tests with similarly prepared specimens were performed on samples from four depth intervals to evaluate the directional state and degree of sediment compaction. Test results show that the degree of sediment compaction is higher than expected from overburden. This overcompaction increases with depth. A well-developed mechanical anisotropy is evident in all samples tested, regardless of their depth and lithology. Values of yield limit, stiffness, and shear strength are up to 40% higher in the horizontal direction compared to the vertical direction. In addition the test data demonstrate that the axis of the volumetric yield loci have rotated into extensional stress field. This verifies that the mechanical state of sediment in the accretionary wedge is controlled by in-situ stress conditions of extensional nature. The coefficients of lateral stress inferred suggest that the extensional stress regime becomes increasingly effective with depth.

Consolidation tests, elastic properties and grain size measurements at the consolidations samples from different Holes of IODP Expedition 302

The Integrated OceanDrilling Program's Expedition 302, the Arctic Coring Expedition (ACEX), recovered the first Cenozoic sedimentary sequence from the central Arctic Ocean. ACEX provided ground truth for basin scale geophysical interpretations and for guiding future exploration targets in this largely unexplored ocean basin. Here, we present results from a series of consolidation tests used to characterize sediment compressibility and permeability and integrate these with high-resolution measurements of bulk density, porosity and shear strength to investigate the stress history and the nature of prominent lithostratigraphic and seismostratigraphic boundaries in the ACEX record. Despite moderate sedimentation rates (10-30 m/Myr) and high permeability values (10**-15 -10**-18 m**2), consolidation and shear strength measurements both suggest an overall state of underconsolidation or overpressure. One-dimensional compaction modelling shows that to maintain such excess pore pressures, an in situ fluid source is required that exceeds the rate of fluid expulsion generated by mechanical compaction alone. Geochemical and sedimentological evidence is presented that identifes the Opal A-C/T transformation of biosiliceous rich sediments as a potential additional in situ fluid source.However, the combined rat of chemical and mechanical compaction remain too low to fully account for the observed pore pressure gradients, implying an additional diagenetic fluid source from within or below the recovered Cenozoic sediments from ACEX. Recognition of the Opal A-C/T reaction front in the ACEX record has broad reaching regional implications on slope stability and subsurface pressure evolution, and provides an important consideration for interpreting and correlating the spatially limited seismic data from the Arctic Ocean.

Study on the response of IFMIF fission chambers to mixed neutron-gamma fields: PH-2 experimental tests

The engineering design of fissionchambers as on-line radiation detectors for IFMIF is being performed in the framework of the IFMIF-EVEDA works. In this paper the results of the experiments performed in the BR2 reactor during the phase-2 of the foreseen validation activities are addressed. Two detectors have been tested in a mixedneutron-gamma field with high neutron fluence and gamma absorbed dose rates, comparable with the expected values in the HFTM in IFMIF. Since the neutron spectra in all BR2 channels are dominated by the thermal neutron component, the detectors have been surrounded by a cylindrical gadolinium screen to cut the thermal neutron component, in order to get a more representative test for IFMIF conditions. The integrated gamma absorbed dose was about 4 × 1010 Gy and the fast neutron fluence (E > 0.1 MeV) 4 × 1020 n/cm2. The fissionchambers were calibrated in three BR2 channels with different neutron-to-gamma ratio, and the long-term evolution of the signals was studied and compared with theoretical calculations

Permutation tests for nonparametric detection

In this paper, the authors provide a methodology to design nonparametric permutation tests and, in particular, nonparametric rank tests for applications in detection. In the first part of the paper, the authors develop the optimization theory of both permutation and rank tests in the Neyman?Pearson sense; in the second part of the paper, they carry out a comparative performance analysis of the permutation and rank tests (detectors) against the parametric ones in radar applications. First, a brief review of some contributions on nonparametric tests is realized. Then, the optimum permutation and rank tests are derived. Finally, a performance analysis is realized by Monte-Carlo simulations for the corresponding detectors, and the results are shown in curves of detection probability versus signal-to-noise ratio

Optimización de la aplicación de lodos de depuración de aguas residuales al abonado o mejora de suelos

El objetivo de este trabajo de investigación fue evaluar el efecto de la aplicación de lodos residuales procedentes de una planta de tratamiento de aguas residuales acondicionados como biosólido para el abonado de tres cultivos agrícolas. Esto se realizó a través del estudio de las variables de producción (desarrollo vegetal de cada cultivo) y de la comparación de las características de los suelos utilizados antes y después de los ensayos experimentales. A través de la investigación se confirmó la mejora en la calidad del suelo y mejor rendimiento de cultivo debido a los biosólidos procedentes de tratamiento de aguas residuales. Este trabajo de investigación de tipo descriptivo y experimental, utilizó lodos optimizados que fueron aplicados a tres cultivos agrícolas de ciclo corto. Fueron evaluados dos cultivos (sandía y tomate) bajo riego y un cultivo (arroz) en secano. En la primera fase del trabajo se realizó la caracterización de los lodos, para ellos se realizaron pruebas físico químicas y microbiológicas. Fue utilizado el método de determinación de metales por espectrometría de emisión atómica de plasma acoplado inductivamente, (ICP-AES) para conocer las concentraciones de metales. La caracterización microbiológica para coliformes totales y fecales se realizó utilizando la técnica del Número más probable (NMP), y para la identificación de organismos patógenos se utilizó el método microbiológico propuesto por Kornacki & Johnson (2001), que se fundamenta en dos procesos: pruebas presuntivas y prueba confirmativa. Tanto los resultados para la determinación de metales y elementos potencialmente tóxicos; como las pruebas para la determinación de microorganismos potencialmente peligrosos, estuvieron por debajo de los límites considerados peligrosos establecidos por la normativa vigente en Panama (Reglamento Técnico COPANIT 47-2000). Una vez establecido la caracterización de los lodos, se evalúo el potencial de nutrientes (macro y micro) presentes en los biosólidos para su potencial de uso como abono en cultivos agrícolas. El secado de lodos fue realizado a través de una era de secado, donde los lodos fueron deshidratados hasta alcanzar una textura pastosa. “La pasta de lodo” fue transportada al área de los ensayos de campo para continuar el proceso de secado y molida. Tres ensayos experimentales fueron diseñados al azar con cinco tratamientos y cuatro repeticiones para cada uno de los tres cultivos: sandía, tomate, arroz, en parcelas de 10m2 (sandía y tomate) y 20 m2 (arroz) para cada tratamiento. Tres diferentes dosis de biosólidos fueron evaluadas y comparadas con un tratamiento de fertilizante comercial y un tratamiento control. La dosis de fertilizante comercial utilizada en cada cultivo fue la recomendada por el Instituto de Investigación Agropecuaria de Panamá. Los ensayos consideraron la caracterización inicial del suelo, la preparación del suelo, semilla, y arreglo topográfico de los cultivos siguiendo las recomendaciones agronómicas de manejo de cultivo establecida por el Instituto de Investigación Agropecuaria. Para los ensayos de sandía y tomate se instaló el sistema de riego por goteo. Se determinaron los ácidos húmicos presentes en los cultivos, y se estudiaron las variables de desarrollo de cada cultivo (fructificación, cosecha, peso de la cosecha, dimensiones de tamaño y color de las frutas, rendimiento, y la relación costo – rendimiento). También se estudiaron las variaciones de los macro y micro nutrientes y las variaciones de pH, textura de suelo y MO disponible al inicio y al final de cada uno de los ensayos de campo. Todas las variables y covariables fueron analizadas utilizando el programa estadístico INFOSAT (software para análisis estadístico de aplicación general) mediante el análisis de varianza, el método de comparaciones múltiples propuesto por Fisher (LSD Fisher) para comparar las medias de los cultivares y el coeficiente de correlación de Pearson que nos permite analizar si existe una asociación lineal entre dos variables. En la evaluación de los aportes del biosólido a los cultivos se observó que los macronutrientes N y P se encontraban de los límites requeridos en cada uno de los cultivos, pero que los niveles de K estuvieron por debajo de los requerimientos de los cultivos. A nivel de la fertilización tradicional con fertilizante químico se observó que la dosis recomendada para cada uno de los cultivos del estudio estaba sobreestimada en los tres principales macronutrientes: Nitrógeno, Fosforo y Potasio. Contenían concentraciones superiores de N, P y K a las requeridas teóricamente por el cultivo. El nutriente que se aporta en exceso es el Fósforo. Encontramos que para el cultivo de sandía era 18 veces mayor a lo requerido por el cultivo, en tomate fue 12 veces mayor y en el cultivo de arroz, 34 veces mayor. El fertilizante comercial tuvo una influencia en el peso final y rendimiento final en cada uno de los cultivos del estudio. A diferencia, los biosólidos tuvieron una influencia directa en el desarrollo de los cultivos (germinación, coloración, tamaño, longitud, diámetro, floración y resistencia a enfermedades). Para el caso de la sandía la dosis de biosólido más cercana al óptimo para el cultivo es la mayor dosis aplicada en este ensayo (97.2 gramos de biosólido por planta). En el caso de tomate, el fertilizante comercial obtuvo los mejores valores, pero las diferencias son mínimas con relación al tratamiento T1, de menor dosis de biosólido (16.2 gramos de biosólido por planta). Los resultados generales del ensayo de tomate estuvieron por debajo del rendimiento esperado para el cultivo. Los tratamientos de aplicación de biosólidos aportaron al desarrollo del cultivo en las variables tamaño, color y resistencia a las enfermedades dentro del cultivo de tomate. Al igual que el tomate, en el caso del arroz, el tratamiento comercial obtuvo los mejores resultados. Los resultados finales de peso y rendimiento del cultivo indican que el tratamiento (T2), menor dosis de biosólido (32.4 gramos por parcela), no tuvo diferencias significativas con los resultados obtenidos en las parcelas con aplicación de fertilizante comercial (T1). El tratamiento T4 (mayor dosis de biosólido) obtuvo los mejores valores para las variables germinación, ahijamiento y espigamiento del cultivo, pero al momento de la maduración obtuvo los menores resultados. Los biosólidos aportan nutrientes a los cultivos y al final del ensayo se observó que permanecen disponibles en el suelo, aportando a la mejora del suelo final. En los tres ensayos, se pudo comprobar que los aportes de los biosólidos en el desarrollo vegetativo de los cultivos. También se encontró en todos los ensayos que no hubo diferencias significativas (p > 0.05) entre los tratamientos de biosólidos y fertilizante comercial. Para obtener mejores resultados en estos tres ensayos se requeriría que a la composición de biosólidos (utilizada en este ensayo) se le adicione Potasio, Calcio y Magnesio en las cantidades requeridas por cada uno de los cultivos. ABSTRACT The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the effect of residual sewage sludge obtained from the residual water of a treatment plant conditioned as Biosolid used on three reliable agricultural crops. The effect of the added sewage sludge was evaluated through the measurement of production variables such as crop plant development and the comparison of the soil characteristics used before and after the experimental tests. This investigation confirmed that biosolids from wastewater treatment can contribute to the growth of these crops. In this experimental approach, optimized sludge was applied to three short-cycle crops including two low-risk crops (watermelon and tomato) and one high-risk crop (rice) all grown on dry land. In the first phase of work, the characteristics of the sludge were assessed using chemical, physical and microbiological tests. The concentrations of metals were determined by atomic emission spectrometry inductively coupled plasma, (ICP-AES). Microbiological characterization was performed measuring total coliform and fecal count using the most probable number technique (NMP) and microbiological pathogens were identified using Kornacki & Johnson (2001) method based on two processes: presumptive and confirmatory tests. Both the results for the determination of metals and potentially toxic elements, as testing for the determination of potentially dangerous microorganisms were below the limits established by the applicable standard in Panama (Technical Regulate COPANIT 47-2000). After the metal and bacterial characterization of the sludge, the presence of macro or micronutrients in biosolids was measured to evaluate its potential for use as fertilizer in the growth of agricultural crops. The sludge was dehydrated via a drying process into a muddy slurry. The pulp slurry was transported to the field trial area to continue the process of drying and grinding. Three randomized experimental trials were designed to test with five treatment regimens and four replications for each of the crops: watermelon, tomato, rice. The five treatment regimens evaluated were three different doses of bio solid with commercial fertilizer treatment control and no fertilizer treatment control. Treatment areas for the watermelon and tomato were 10m2 plots land and for rice was 20m2. The amount of commercial fertilizer used to treat each crop was based on the amount recommended by Agricultural Research Institute of Panama. The experimental trials considered initial characterization of soil, soil preparation, seed, and crop topographical arrangement following agronomic crop management recommendations. For the tests evaluating the growth of watermelons and tomatoes and drip irrigation system was installed. The amount of humic acids present in the culture were determined and developmental variable of each crop were studied (fruiting crop harvest weight, size dimensions and color of the fruit, performance and cost effectiveness). Changes in macro and micronutrients and changes in pH, soil texture and OM available were measured at the beginning and end of each field trial. All variables and covariates were analyzed using INFOSAT statistical program (software for statistical analysis of general application) by analysis of variance, multiple comparisons method as proposed by Fisher (LSD Fisher) to compare the means of cultivars and the Pearson ratio that allows us to analyze if there is a linear association between two variables. In evaluating the contribution of biosolids to agricultural crops, the study determined that the macronutrients N & P were within the requirements of crops, but K levels were below the requirements of crops. In terms of traditional chemical fertilizer fertilization, we observed that the recommended dose for each study crop was overestimated for the three major nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Higher concentrations containing N, P and K to the theoretically required by the crop. The recommended dose of commercial fertilizer for crops study contained greater amounts of phosphorus, crops that need. The level of phosphorous was found to be18 times greater than was required for the cultivation of watermelon; 12 times higher than required for tomato, and 34 times higher than required for rice cultivation. Phosphorus inputs of commercial fertilizer were a primary influence on the weight and performance of each crop. Unlike biosolids had a direct influence on crop development (germination, color, size, length, diameter, flowering and disease resistance). In the case of growth of watermelons, the Biosolid dose closest to the optimum for cultivation was applied the highest dose in this assay (97.2 grams of bio solids per plant). In the case of tomatoes, commercial fertilizer had the best values but the differences were minimal when compared to treatment T1, the lower dose of sewage sludge (Biosolid 16.2 grams per plant). The overall results for the tomato crop yield of the trial were lower than expected. Additionally, the application of biosolids treatment contributed to the development of fruit of variable size, color and disease resistance in the tomato crops. Similar to the tomato crop, commercial fertilizer treatment provided the best results for the rice crop. The final results of weight and crop yield for rice indicated that treatment with T2 amount of biosolids (34.2 grams per plot) was not significantly different from the result obtained in the application plot given commercial fertilizer (T1). The T4 (higher dose of bio solid) treatment had the best values for the germination, tillering and bolting variables of the rice crop but for fruit ripening yielded lower results. In all three trials, biosolids demonstrated the ability to contribute in the vegetative growth of crops. It was also found in all test no significant differences (p>0.05) between treatment of bio solid and commercial fertilizer. Biosolids provided nutrients to the crops and even at the end of the trial remained available in the ground soil, contributing to the improvement of the final ground. The best results from these three trials is that the use of bio solids such as those used in this assay would require the addition of potassium, calcium and magnesium in quantities required for each crop.

Potentially predictive and manipulable blood serum correlates of aging in the healthy human male: Progressive decreases in bioavailable testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and the ratio of insulin-like growth factor 1 to growth hormone

A cross-sectional survey was made in 56 exceptionally healthy males, ranging in age from 20 to 84 years. Measurements were made of selected steroidal components and peptidic hormones in blood serum, and cognitive and physical tests were performed. Of those blood serum variables that gave highly significant negative correlations with age (r > −0.6), bioavailable testosterone (BT), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), and the ratio of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) to growth hormone (GH) showed a stepwise pattern of age-related changes most closely resembling those of the age steps themselves. Of these, BT correlated best with significantly age-correlated cognitive and physical measures. Because DHEAS correlated well with BT and considerably less well than BT with the cognitive and physical measures, it seems likely that BT and/or substances to which BT gives rise in tissues play a more direct role in whatever processes are rate-limiting in the functions measured and that DHEAS relates more indirectly to these functions. The high correlation of IGF-1/GH with age, its relatively low correlation with BT, and the patterns of correlations of IGF-1/GH and BT with significantly age-correlated cognitive and physical measures suggest that the GH–IGF-1 axis and BT play independent roles in affecting these functions. Serial determinations made after oral ingestion of pregnenolone and data from the literature suggest there is interdependence of steroid metabolic systems with those operational in control of interrelations in the GH–IGF-1 axis. Longitudinal concurrent measurements of serum levels of BT, DHEAS, and IGF-1/GH together with detailed studies of their correlations with age-correlated functional measures may be useful in detecting early age-related dysregulations and may be helpful in devising ameliorative approaches.

Ensemble codes involving hippocampal neurons are at risk during delayed performance tests

Multielectrode recording techniques were used to record ensemble activity from 10 to 16 simultaneously active CA1 and CA3 neurons in the rat hippocampus during performance of a spatial delayed-nonmatch-to-sample task. Extracted sources of variance were used to assess the nature of two different types of errors that accounted for 30% of total trials. The two types of errors included ensemble “miscodes” of sample phase information and errors associated with delay-dependent corruption or disappearance of sample information at the time of the nonmatch response. Statistical assessment of trial sequences and associated “strength” of hippocampal ensemble codes revealed that miscoded error trials always followed delay-dependent error trials in which encoding was “weak,” indicating that the two types of errors were “linked.” It was determined that the occurrence of weakly encoded, delay-dependent error trials initiated an ensemble encoding “strategy” that increased the chances of being correct on the next trial and avoided the occurrence of further delay-dependent errors. Unexpectedly, the strategy involved “strongly” encoding response position information from the prior (delay-dependent) error trial and carrying it forward to the sample phase of the next trial. This produced a miscode type error on trials in which the “carried over” information obliterated encoding of the sample phase response on the next trial. Application of this strategy, irrespective of outcome, was sufficient to reorient the animal to the proper between trial sequence of response contingencies (nonmatch-to-sample) and boost performance to 73% correct on subsequent trials. The capacity for ensemble analyses of strength of information encoding combined with statistical assessment of trial sequences therefore provided unique insight into the “dynamic” nature of the role hippocampus plays in delay type memory tasks.

A Minor Change?: A Case Study of Carleton Place's Integration of Minor Variance Procedures into Ontario's Development Permit System

The Development Permit System has been introduce with minimal directives for establishing a decision making process. This is in opposition to the long established process for minor variances and suggests that the Development Permit System does not necessarily incorporate all of Ontario’s fundamental planning principles. From this concept, the study aimed to identify how minor variances are incorporated into the Development Permit System. In order to examine this topic, the research was based around the following research questions: • How are ‘minor variance’ applications processed within the DPS? • To what extent do the four tests of a minor variance influence the outcomes of lower level applications in the DPS approval process? A case study approach was used for this research. The single-case design employed both qualitative and quantitative research methods including a review of academic literature, court cases, and official documents, as well as a content analysis of Class 1, 1A, and 2 Development Permit application files from the Town of Carleton Place that were decided between 2011 and 2015. Upon the completion of the content analysis, it was found that minor variance issues were most commonly assigned to Class 1 applications. Planning staff generally met approval timelines and embraced their delegated approval authority, readily attaching conditions to applications in order to mitigate off-site impacts. While staff met the regulatory requirements of the DPS, ‘minor variance’ applications were largely decided on impact alone, demonstrating that the principles established by the four tests, the defining quality of the minor variance approval process, had not transferred to the Development Permit System. Alternatively, there was some evidence that the development community has not fully adjusted to the requirements of the new approvals process, as some applications were supported using a rationale containing the four tests. Subsequently, a set of four recommendations were offered which reflect the main themes established by the findings. The first two recommendations are directed towards the Province, the third to municipalities and the fourth to developers and planning consultants: 1) Amend Ontario Regulation 608/06 so that provisions under Section 4(3)(e) fall under Section 4(2). 2) Change the rhetoric from “combining elements of minor variances” to “replacing minor variances”. 3) Establish clear evaluation criteria. 4) Understand the evaluative criteria of the municipality in which you are working.