Slope stability analysis in 3D using numerical limit analysis (NLA) and elasto-plastic analysis (EPA)     

Mauro Carrión  Raquel Quadros Velloso  Aldo Durand Farfan 《Geomechanics and Geoengineering》2017,12(4):250-265

The present paper addresses the problem of factor of safety (FS) determination in 3D slope stability analysis. For that purpose, use is made of two numerical methods/techniques in three benchmark problems: numerical limit analysis (NLA) and elasto-plastic analysis (EPA). Finite elements are used in both techniques. The primary objective of the study is, by comparing the two techniques, to establish the feasibility of using NLA in the evaluation of 3D slope stability problems and to establish its practical applicability and competitiveness in relation to EPA. Because of their geometry or their boundary conditions, the problems cannot be analysed as plane strain state problems or using the 2D limit equilibrium technique. In both methods, an FS is determined for the slopes by reducing the strength parameters of the geological materials using a scalar factor, known as the strength reduction factor. From the comparison of the FSs and of the computational efforts required for the two numerical techniques, it was possible to establish NLA’s competiveness and viability for the analysis of real 3D slope stability problems when implemented in an efficient manner.  相似文献   

Reply to “Discussion of ‘Numerical limit analysis of three-dimensional slope stability problems in catchment areas’ by Camargo et al. (DOI:10.1007/s11440-016-0459-3)” by Ukritchon et al. (DOI:10.1007/s11440-017-0589-2)     

Júlia Camargo  Raquel Quadros Velloso  Euripedes A. VargasJr. 《Acta Geotechnica》2017,12(5):1189-1191

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Brown algae overproduce cell wall polysaccharides as a protection mechanism against the heavy metal toxicity   总被引：4，自引：0，他引：4  

Leonardo R. Andrade  Raquel N. Leal  Miguel Noseda  Mariana S. Pereira  Marcos Farina 《Marine pollution bulletin》2010,60(9):1482-1488

Brown algae are often used as heavy metal biomonitors and biosorbents because they can accumulate high concentrations of metals. Cation-exchange performed by cell wall polysaccharides is pointed out as the main chemical mechanism for the metal sequestration. Here, we biochemically investigated if the brown alga Padina gymnospora living in a heavy metal contaminated area would modify their polysaccharidic content. We exposed non-living biomass to Cd and Pb and studied the metals adsorption and localization. We found that raw dried polysaccharides, sulfate groups, uronic acids, fucose, mannose, and galactose were significantly higher in contaminated algae compared with the control ones. Metal concentrations adsorbed by non-living biomass were rising comparatively to the tested concentrations. Electron microscopy showed numerous granules in the cell walls and X-ray microanalysis revealed Cd as the main element. We concluded that P. gymnospora overproduces cell wall polysaccharides when exposed to high metal concentrations as a defense mechanism.  相似文献   

Establishing a transboundary network of marine protected areas: Diplomatic and management options for the east African context     

José Guerreiro  Aldo Chircop  Catarina Grilo  Ana Viras  Raquel Ribeiro  Rudy van der Elst 《Marine Policy》2010

International conservation efforts and cooperation are increasingly necessary, particularly at an ecoregion level, for the achievement of international targets for protecting biodiversity and degradation of ecosystems. Whereas more than 11 percent of land is protected, less than 1 percent of marine space is similarly protected. Transboundary networks of marine protected areas and transboundary marine protected areas (TBMPAs) are an essential form of cooperation for meeting these international targets. This paper explores the diplomatic and political options for regional and sub-regional cooperation between Tanzania, Mozambique, and South Africa, for the establishment of transboundary conservation mechanisms in the Eastern African Marine Ecoregion (EAME). Five options for the establishment and management of these mechanisms are presented, together with actions to be taken to facilitate cooperation. The paper deal with a proposed strategy for the implementation of transboundary conservation mechanisms, focusing on TBMPAs, between the three countries at a biogeographical/sub-regional level, supported by lessons learnt in other transboundary marine conservation experiences. The paper concludes that although political will may exist among States sharing borders to establish TBMPAs, the complexity of dealing with sub-regional realities is a difficult obstacle to overcome in a single step. The situation at each border must be taken into account in order that different multi-scale and multivariate solutions, supported by a common baseline will ultimately converge in a common trilateral framework. Finally, a two-step approach seems to be in course with the declaration (October 2009) of a TBMPA linking Ponta do Ouro in Mozambique to iSimangaliso Wetland Park in South Africa, following one of the options formerly presented.  相似文献   

The Role of the Solar Cycle in the Relationship Between the North Atlantic Oscillation and Northern Hemisphere Surface Temperatures     

Laura DE LA TORRE  Luis GIMENO  Juan Antonio A  ~NEL  Raquel NIETO 《大气科学进展》2007,24(2):191-198

The North Atlantic Oscillation （NAO） is one of the leading modes of climate variability in the Northern Hemisphere. It has been shown that it clearly relates to changes in meteorological variables, such as surface temperature, at hemispherical scales. However, recent studies have revealed that the NAO spatial pattern also depends upon solar forcing. Therefore, its effects on meteorological variables must vary depending upon this factor. Moreover, it could be that the Sun affects climate through variability patterns, a hypothesis that is the focus of this study. We find that the relationship between the NAO/AO and hemispheric temperature varies depending upon solar activity. The results show a positive significant correlation only when solar activity is high. Also, the results support the idea that solar activity influences tropospheric climate fluctuations in the Northern Hemisphere via the fluctuations of the stratospheric polar vortex .  相似文献   

Influence of tropical Pacific SST on seasonal precipitation in Colombia: prediction using El Niño and El Niño Modoki     

Samir Córdoba-Machado  Reiner Palomino-Lemus  Sonia Raquel Gámiz-Fortis  Yolanda Castro-Díez  María Jesús Esteban-Parra 《Climate Dynamics》2015,44(5-6):1293-1310

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Changes in the composition and structure of Mediterranean rocky-shore communities following a gradient of nutrient enrichment: descriptive study and test of proposed methods to assess water quality regarding macroalgae     

Arévalo R  Pinedo S  Ballesteros E 《Marine pollution bulletin》2007,55(1-6):104-113

Changes in the species composition and structure of Mediterranean macroalgal-dominated communities from the upper sublittoral zone are described along a gradient of nutrient enrichment coming from a urban sewage outfall. Ulva-dominated communities only appear close to the sewage outfall. Corallina-dominated communities replace ulvacean algae at intermediate levels of nutrient enrichment. Cystoseira-dominated communities thrive in the reference site but already appear at nutrient levels that are threefold higher than those reported from unpolluted sites. Assemblage variability of Cystoseira-dominated communities decreases along the gradient of nutrient enrichment. Methods based on the functional-form groups of macroalgae to assess the water quality provide equivocal results at intermediate levels of nutrient enrichment because species belonging to the same group can display a completely different response to pollution. Alternatively, methods based on indicator species showed correlated evidence among species abundances and pollution levels and seem to have better performances in water quality assessment.  相似文献   

Angular momentum transport in protostellar discs     

Raquel Salmeron  Arieh Königl  Mark Wardle 《Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society》2007,375(1):177-183

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A multi-physics ensemble of regional climate change projections over the Iberian Peninsula     

Sonia Jerez  Juan Pedro Montavez  Juan Jose Gomez-Navarro  Raquel Lorente-Plazas  Juan Andres Garcia-Valero  Pedro Jimenez-Guerrero 《Climate Dynamics》2013,41(7-8):1749-1768

This study illustrates the sensitivity of regional climate change projections to the model physics. A single-model (MM5) multi-physics ensemble of regional climate simulations over the Iberian Peninsula for present (1970–1999) and future (2070–2099 under the A2 scenario) periods is assessed. The ensemble comprises eight members resulting from the combination of two options of parameterization schemes for the planetary boundary layer, cumulus and microphysics. All the considered combinations were previously evaluated by comparing hindcasted simulations to observations, none of them providing clearly outlying climates. Thus, the differences among the various ensemble members (spread) in the future projections could be considered as a matter of uncertainty in the change signals (as similarly assumed in multi-model studies). The results highlight the great dependence of the spread on the synoptic conditions driving the regional model. In particular, the spread generally amplifies under the future scenario leading to a large spread accompanying the mean change signals, as large as the magnitude of the mean projected changes and analogous to the spread obtained in multi-model ensembles. Moreover, the sign of the projected change varies depending on the choice of the model physics in many cases. This, together with the fact that the key mechanisms identified for the simulation of the climatology of a given period (either present or future) and those introducing the largest spread in the projected changes differ significantly, make further claims for efforts to better understand and model the parameterized subgrid processes.  相似文献   

Chemical availability of arsenic and heavy metals in sediments from abandoned cinnabar mine tailings   总被引：1，自引：1，他引：0  

Raquel Larios  Rodolfo Fernández-Martínez  Verónica Silva  Isabel Rucandio 《Environmental Earth Sciences》2013,68(2):535-546

The understanding of the solid-phase speciation of arsenic in soils and sediments is important in the evaluations of its potential mobility and availability in the environment. The spoil heaps of abandoned mercury mines contain waste materials with high arsenic and heavy metals concentrations. The weathering of these tailings can cause their mobilization to the surroundings. In this work, the mobility and availability of arsenic and some heavy metals were evaluated in sediments from two heavily polluted mercury mining districts in Asturias (NW Spain). For this purpose, a slightly modified version of the Bureau Community of Reference sequential extraction scheme was applied to sediments. The total contents in the operationally defined fractions were analysed by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. Extremely high total arsenic concentrations were found in all sediments ranging from 4,000 to 24,800 mg kg^?1. High easily mobilizable arsenic contents were found in the first mining area, related to the solubilization of Ca-bearing phases, supported by extracts analyses, X-ray diffraction results and the positive correlation found among the As and Ca fractionations. Ni and Zn were the most mobile among heavy metals, being Cr the least mobile, suggesting an anthropogenic origin due to the metallurgical processes, transport or dispersion generated from neighbour spoil heaps. In the second mining area, the bulk of As was concentrated in the residual phase, as well as Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, Ti, indicating a mineralogical origin and the low availability of these elements. The strong correlations established between As and Fe and Ti distributions support the hypothesis that As is mainly associated to structural mineral phases in these sediments.  相似文献