Formation of magnetic minerals at hydrocarbon-generation conditions

In this paper, we report the pyrolysis and formation of magnetic minerals in three source rock samples from the Wessex Basin in Dorset, southern England. The experimental conditions in the laboratory recreated the catagenesis environment of oil source rocks. Magnetic analysis of both the heated and the unheated samples at room temperature and at very low-temperatures (5 K), coupled with transmission electron-microscopy imaging and X-ray analysis, revealed the formation of nanometre-sized (<10 nm), magnetic particles that varied across the rock samples analysed, but more importantly across the pyrolysis temperature range. Magnetic measurements demonstrated the formation of these magnetic minerals peaked at 250 °C for all rock samples and then decreased at 300 °C before rising again at 320 °C. The newly formed magnetic minerals are suggested to be primarily pyrrhotite, though magnetite and greigite are also thought to be present. The sizes of the magnetic minerals formed suggest a propensity to migrate together with oil potentially explaining the magnetic anomalies observed above and within oil fields

By any memes necessary? Small political acts, incidental exposure and memes during the 2017 UK general election

Following the 2017 UK general election, there was much debate about the so-called ‘youthquake’, or increase in youth turnout (YouGov). Some journalists claimed it was the ‘. . . memes wot won it’. This article seeks to understand the role of memes during political campaigns. Combining meta-data and content analysis, this article aims to answer three questions. First, who creates political memes? Second, what is the level of engagement with political memes and who engages with them? Finally, can any meaningful political information be derived from memes? The findings here suggest that by far the most common producers of memes were citizens suggesting that memes may be a form of citizen-initiated political participation. There was a high level of engagement with memes with almost half a million shares in our sample. However, the level of policy information in memes was low suggesting they are unlikely to increase political knowledge

A tale of three tribes : UK MPs, Twitter and the EU Referendum

This paper examines the structure of Twitter communication networks between MPs during the 2016 EU Referendum campaign. In particular, the research examines the impact of Twitter in two dimensions: (1) how far social media might facilitate inter-party linkages thus eroding traditional partisan relations between MPs? This was given added potential by the supposedly cross-party nature of the Referendum campaign and, therefore, we specifically examined the collective communicative networks that formed around Leave and Remain amongst MPs; (2) Given the potential of social media to provide a platform for individual politicians to personalize campaigns, we asked how far social media might disrupt traditional formal intra-party hierarchies? Did, for example, backbench or relatively unknown figures come to the fore in the EU debate? Our results indicate that whilst there existed a high degree of partisanship, interestingly, Remainer MPs tended to adhere to party networks resulting in a divided remain network. By contrast, the Leave network was more unified but also more porous. Within the networks themselves, the centrality of individual MPs did not always reflect their formal status

Monte Carlo Study of the Anisotropic Heisenberg Antiferromagnet on the Triangular Lattice

We report a Monte Carlo study of the classical antiferromagnetic Heisenberg model with easy axis anisotropy on the triangular lattice. Both the free energy cost for long wavelength spin waves as well as for the formation of free vortices are obtained from the spin stiffness and vorticity modulus respectively. Evidence for two distinct Kosterlitz-Thouless types of defect-mediated phase transitions at finite temperatures is presented.Comment: 8 pages, 10 figure

Assessment of the Social and Physical Characteristics of Obiagu Shanty Area in Enugu Metropolitan City, Nigeria

The persistent rise of the urban population and high housing rent has driven many to shanty towns. However, due to the increased population of the shanty towns, the social and physical characteristics of the towns have deteriorated. The study assessed the social and physical characteristics of Obiagu Shanty Area in Enugu Metropolitan City, Nigeria, with the purpose of establishing the extent of the rehabilitation and its impacts in the lives of the residents, as well as provides a better alternative. The data was obtained using a questionnaire survey. The statistical techniques employed to analyse the data are descriptive statistics (such as simple percentages, standard deviation and mean). The study, in general terms identified that the level of physical and social characteristics of Obiagu Shanty Area is highly negative. The study also reveals poor infrastructural amenities in the area. It demonstrates that the government is failing to fulfill its responsibilities in terms of urban development and infrastructure renewal. Furthermore, the study shows that private individuals and communities do not actively participate in urban regeneration and infrastructural renewal efforts in Obiagu Shanty Area. Therefore, the study recommends some retrofitting measures, such as the construction of modern houses with modern facilities and good sewage systems, the government partnering with private organisations/individuals or the community to assist in the remodeling of structures in the area, and constant sensitisation of residents by the government and NGOs on the negative health consequences of living in a dirty environment, among other things. Keywords: Shanty Area, Social Characteristics, Physical Characteristics, Metropolitan City, Retrofitting Measures, Urban Regeneration DOI: 10.7176/JEES/12-9-05 Publication date:September 30th 202