Mise en évidence d’un Sénonien gypseux sous la série phosphatée du bassin des Ouled Abdoun: Un nouveau point de départ pour l’origine des zones dérangées dans les mines à ciel ouvert de Khouribga, Maroc

In the Ouled Abdoun sedimentary basin (Morocco), the phosphatic series is composed of regular interbedded phosphatic and marly limestone layers. Exploitation of the phosphate in some deposits in this basin collides frequently with problems bound to the existence, in the phosphatic series, of disturbed areas (sterile bodies) qualified as derangements by the mining engineers of the Office Cherifian Phosphate Group (OCP). Their presence in the phosphatic layers causes two kinds of problems: (1) since the whole phosphatic sequence is overlain by a Quaternary cover, we do not know their volume proportion in the phosphatic layers, and therefore the reserves estimations can be wrong (2) they are generally hard, so they complicate the phosphate extraction. Indeed, in an area containing sterile bodies, boring grid may always be tightened and boreholes filled with dynamite. The required borehole tools and use of explosives are time consuming and therefore increase drastically the cost of phosphate extraction. Their localisation would permit the mining engineers to get around them during the exploitation. Several geophysical works have carried out in the achieved in Khouribga area to localize and delimit these sterile bodies. Electric resistitivy was established as a suitable geophysical parameter to map them, but the slowness and difficulty of data collection hinders the application of these geophysical methods to the whose phosphatic deposits area (about 25000 ha). Their application in all the Ouled Abdoun basin requires the comprehension of the origin of the sterile bodies, in order to specify their formation process and to predict consequently their spacial distribution in each phosphatic deposit. Our study concerns to sedimentological and diagenetic analysis of disturbed aereas and their immediate vicinity. It made it possible to identify for the first time the existence of an evaporitic series intensely karstified at the top of the Senonian, under the phosphatic series. The senonian karsts are undoubtedly at the origin of the derangements, which are defined as the collapsing phenomena at the base of underground cavities. These bodies have a polyphase structuring and a genesis that is the consequence of on several processes (fracturing, infiltration, dissolution, collapse). Their installation began from the end of Senonian, and continues up to the Quaternary.[fr] Dans le bassin sédimentaire des Ouled Abdoun (Maroc), la série phosphatée est formée d’une intercalation régulière de niveaux phosphatés et marno-calcaires sur environ 50m de puissance. Localement, cette régularité est perturbée par la présence fréquente de structures communément appelés «dérangements». Il s’agit de masses non stratifiées, stériles, qui perturbent et alourdissent les travaux d’exploitation des couches phosphatées. Les études géophysiques expérimentales, réalisées dans les zones dérangées de la série phosphatée, ont démontré la possibilité de les cartographier sous couvertures à l’échelle décamétrique. Leur généralisation sur toute la superficie du bassin des Ouled Abdoun, nécessite une compréhension du phénomène à l’origine de ces structures. Notre étude concerne l’analyse sédimentologique et diagénétique des zones dérangées et de leur voisinage immédiat. Elle a permis d’identifier pour la première fois l’existence d’une série évaporitique intensément karstifiée au sommet du Sénonien, sous la série phosphatée. Les karsts sénoniens sont incontestablement à l’origine des dérangements ou fontis que l’on défini comme étant des phénomènes de collapses à l’aplomb de cavités souterraines. Ces fontis ont une structuration polyphasée et une genèse au dépend de plusieurs processus (fracturation, infiltration, dissolution, effondrement). Leur mise en place a débuté dès la fin du Sénonien et s’est poursuivie jusqu’au quaternaire

Couple-Based Behavioral HIV Interventions by the Social Intervention Group: Progress, Gaps, and Future Directions

Purpose: This paper reports a review of couple-based behavioral HIV interventions conducted by the Social Intervention Group (SIG); and addresses gaps, future directions, and implications for couple-based HIV interventions. Method: We performed a literature review for SIG research on intervention and prevention studies involving couples/partners. Results: We identified nine couple-based interventions. Outcomes included reduced sexual and substance use-related risk behaviors and improved use of anti-retroviral treatment. We conducted these studies in diverse venues, including needle/syringe exchange programs, primary care clinics, and criminal justice settings. Conclusions: The findings of this review provide strong evidence for the efficacy of couple-based HIV interventions in reducing sexual HIV risks and linkage to HIV and substanceuse treatment. SIG has advanced couple-based HIV intervention research science by improving study design, intervention core components, conceptual models, and implementation strategies; which have informed scientific directions and transformed couple-based HIV prevention research

Factors associated with self-rated health among migrant workers: results from a population-based cross-sectional study in Almaty, Kazakhstan

Objectives To determine factors associated with SRH among migrant workers in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Methods In 2007, 805 vendors were screened. Approximately half were eligible (n =450), defined as at least 18 years old, a worker/owner in a randomly selected stall, having traveled 2 + hours outside of Almaty within the past year, and being an internal/external migrant. 28 non-migrants were excluded, leaving 422 participants. Logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between SRH, mental health, and psychosocial problems. Results Approximately 46% reported having poor or fair SRH. Clinical depression (OR 0.859, 95% CI 0.342–2.154), alcohol problems (OR 1.169, 95% CI 0.527–2.593), and legal status (OR 0.995, 95% CI 0.806–1.229) were not significantly associated with SRH, nor was exposure to interpersonal violence among women (OR 1.554, 95% CI 0.703–3.435). After adjusting for key variables, only ethnicity and social support were found to be significantly protective against poor or fair SRH. Conclusions SRH was not a comprehensive health measure for these Central Asian migrant workers. More specific questions are needed to identify mental illness and interpersonal violence