648 research outputs found
Conflict In Africa: The Cost of Peaceful Behaviour
aid, conflict, natural resources, sub-Saharan Africa
Finance in Conflict and Reconstruction
aid, conflict, financial development, sub-Saharan Africa
Financial Reconstruction in Conflict and 'Post-Conflict' Economies
aid, conflict, financial development, sub-Saharan Africa
Comparison of phosphor screen autoradiography and micro-pattern gas detector based autoradiography for the porosity of altered rocks
This study aims to further develop the C-14-PMMA porosity calculation method with a novel autoradiography technique, the Micro-pattern gas detector autoradiography (MPGDA). In this study, the MPGDA is compared with phosphor screen autoradiography (SPA). A set of rock samples from Martinique Island exhibiting a large range of connected porosities was used to validate the MPGDA method. Calculated porosities were found to be in agreement with ones from the SPA and the triple-weight method (TW). The filmless nature of MPGDA as well as straightforward determination of C-14 radioactivity from the source rock makes the porosity calculation less uncertain. The real-time visualization of radioactivity from C-14 beta emissions by MPGDA is a noticeable improvement in comparison to SPA.Peer reviewe
Determining Crack Aperture Distribution in Rocks Using the C-14-PMMA Autoradiographic Method : Experiments and Simulations
Because cracks control the global mechanical and transport properties of crystalline rocks, it is of a crucial importance to suitably determine their aperture distribution, which evolves through alteration processes and rock weathering. Due to the high variability of crack networks in rocks, a multiscale approach is needed. The C-14-PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate) method was developed to determine crack apertures using a set of artificial crack samples with different controlled apertures and tilt angles and also using Monte Carlo simulations. The experiments and simulations show the same result: the estimation of apparent aperture w(A) was successful regardless of tilt angle, even if the estimates are less accurate for low tilt angles (Peer reviewe
Towards a sustainable and equitable blue economy
The global rush to develop the \u2018blue economy\u2019 risks harming both the marine environment and human wellbeing. Bold policies and actions are urgently needed. We identify five priorities to chart a course towards an environmentally sustainable and socially equitable blue economy
Frustrated kinetic energy, the optical sum rule, and the mechanism of superconductivity
The theory that the change of the electronic kinetic energy in a direction
perpendicular to the CuO-planes in high-temperature superconductors is a
substantial fraction of the condensation energy is examined. It is argued that
the consequences of this theory based on a rigorous -axis conductivity sum
rule are consistent with recent optical and penetration depth measurements.Comment: 4 pages (RevTeX) and 2 eps figure
Field Induced Reduction of the Low Temperature Superfluid Density in YBa2Cu3O6.95
A novel high magnetic field (8 T) spectrometer for muon spin rotation has
been used to measure the temperature dependence of the in-plane magnetic
penetration depth in YBa2Cu3O6.95. At low H and low T, the penetration depth
exhibits the characteristic linear T dependence associated with the energy gap
of a d_x^2-y^2-wave superconductor. However, at higher fields the penetration
depth is essentially temperature independent at low T. We discuss possible
interpretations of this surprising new feature in the low-energy excitation
spectrum.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, 1 RevTex file and 4 postscript figure
Factors affecting metal mobilisation during oxidation of sulphidic, sandy wetland substrates
Most metals accumulate as sulphides under anoxic conditions in wetland substrates, reducing their bioavailability due to the solubility of metal sulphides. However, upon oxidation of these sulphides when the substrate is occasionally oxidised, metals can be released from the solid phase to the pore water or overlaying surface water. This release can be affected by the presence of carbonates, organic matter and clay. We compared changes of Cd, Cu and Zn mobility (CaCl2 extraction) during oxidation of a carbonate-rich and a carbonate-poor sulphidic, sandy wetland substrate. In addition, we studied how clay with low and high cation sorption capacity (bentonite and kaolinite, respectively) and organic matter (peat) can counteract Cd, Cu and Zn release during oxidation of both carbonate-rich and carbonate-poor sulphidic sediments. CaCl2-extractability of Cu, a measure for its availability, is low in both carbonate-poor and carbonate-rich substrates, whereas its variability is high. The availability of Cd and Zn is much higher and increases when peat is supplied to carbonate-poor substrates. A strong reduction of Cd and Zn extractability is observed when clay is added to carbonate-poor substrates. This reduction depends on the clay type. Most observations could be explained taking into account pH differences between treatments, with kaolinite resulting in a lower pH in comparison to bentonite. These pH differences affect the presence and characteristics of dissolved organic carbon and the metal speciation, which in turns affects the interaction of metals with the solid soil phase. In carbonate-rich substrates, Cd and Zn availability is lower and the effects of peat and clay amendment are less clear. The latter can also be attributed to the high pH and lack of pH differences between treatments
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