Tailing Dam Zelazny Most Environmental Hazard

The factors governing the geotechnical stability of copper tailing dam Żelazny Most, the largest in Europe, have been discussed. The efficiency of pumping wells barrier against outflow of contaminated ground water has been predicted for a period of next 15 years

A Polyextreme Hydrothermal System Controlled by Iron: The Case of Dallol at the Afar Triangle

One of the latest volcanic features of the Erta Ale range at the Afar Triangle (NE Ethiopia) has created a polyextreme hydrothermal system located at the Danakil depression on top of a protovolcano known as the dome of Dallol. The interaction of the underlying basaltic magma with the evaporitic salts of the Danakil depression has generated a unique, high-temperature (108 °C), hypersaline (NaCl supersaturated), hyperacidic (pH values from 0.1 to −1.7), oxygen-free hydrothermal site containing up to 150 g/L of iron. We find that the colorful brine pools and mineral patterns of Dallol derive from the slow oxygen diffusion and progressive oxidation of the dissolved ferrous iron, the iron-chlorine/-sulfate complexation, and the evaporation. These inorganic processes induce the precipitation of nanoscale jarosite-group minerals and iron(III)- oxyhydroxides over a vast deposition of halite displaying complex architectures. Our results suggest that life, if present under such conditions, does not play a dominant role in the geochemical cycling and mineral precipitation at Dallol as opposed to other hydrothermal sites. Dallol, a hydrothermal system controlled by iron, is a present-day laboratory for studying the precipitation and progressive oxidation of iron minerals, relevant for geochemical processes occurring at early Earth and Martian environmentsThis work received funding from the European Research Council under the Programme (FP7/2007-2013)/ERC Grant Agreement 340863 (Prometheus) and from MINECO, ref CGL2016-78971-P, AEI/FEDER, UE”

Cone penetration test in assessment of soil stiffness

The paper presents proposals for the assessment of subsoil stiffness based on results of the seismic cone penetration test. Correlations between penetration parameters and constrained modulus were determined for three genetically different groups of cohesive soils. For the analyzed soil material quantitative estimation was also conducted for the parameter, which determines the relationship between the constrained modulus and initial shear modulus. A marked trend was shown for this parameter with the soil behavior type index used in the classification of soils in the cone penetration test

Influence of fortified and defensive constructions on subsoil conditions in the surroundings of these facilities

Mury obronne, fosy stanowiące fortyfikacje dawnych obiektów historycznych, ale także podziemne bunkry i sztolnie budowane już w czasach współczesnych stanowią elementy infrastruktury, które pominięte w analizie warunków posadowienia nowo projektowanych obiektów skutkować mogą istotnymi błędami na etapie projektowania i wykonawstwa tych obiektów. Sama obecność konstrukcji fortyfikacyjnych z reguły uwzględniana jest na każdym etapie realizacji inwestycji, niekiedy jednak pomijane są uwarunkowania geotechniczne będące skutkiem przekształcenia terenu w otoczeniu budowli fortyfikacyjnych. W niniejszej pracy przedstawiono wpływ nieuwzględnienia w rozpoznaniu geotechnicznym bliskiego sąsiedztwa zamku w miejscowości Kórnik na warunki posadowienia pomostu w pobliskim jeziorze. Wskazano na powody nadmiernych osiadań podpór palowych oraz przedstawiono sposób naprawy zaistniałej sytuacji.Defensive walls, moats representing the fortifications of old historic buildings as well as underground bunkers and bombs adits already in modern times are the elements of infrastructure, which omitted in the analysis of foundation conditions of the newly designed objects may result in significant errors during the design stage and execution of theese facilities. The very presence of fortified constructions is usually taken into consideration at every stage of the investment execution, however sometimes the geotechnical conditions resulting from the transformation of the area in the surroundings of fortified buildings are overlooked. At this work an influence of the failure to consider was described in geotechnical recognition the close neighbourhood of the castle in the town Kórnik on the foundation conditions of the pier in the nearby lake. The reasons of excessive settlements of piles supports were indicated and a manner to correct the occured situation was presented

Balint Group Session Questionnaire. Instrument for identification of group processes in Balint groups

The study reports on the development and validation of a time-economical questionnaire aiming at the objectivation of processes in Balint groupwork. Based on the data from the responses to two pilot studies, a 17-item Balint group session questionnaire (BG-F) was developed covering the perceptions and impressions of participants in each preceding Balint group session. The final factor structure of the questionnaire was investigated based on data from a sample of 1635 predominantly medical Balint group participants. Using explorative and confirmative factor analyses resulted in a three-factor solution, which could be assigned to four out of five latent dimensions of Balint's theory of group work with physicians. Scale 1 covers reflection of transference dynamics in the doctor-patient relationship, scale 2 specifies emotional and cognitive learning while scale 3 measures case mirroring in the group dynamics. The fit indices of the resulting model from the confirmative factor analysis ranged within a good to excellent spectrum (CFI = 0.97, RMSEA = 0.054 und SRMR = 0.033). A multilevel effect due to the data structure and the influence of group leader effects on the factor structure could be excluded by a confirmative factor analysis with a subsample (only one member in each group) and by a random effect test using linear mixed model analyses. The BG-F was cross-validated with the group self-experience questionnaire (G-SEF) using a subsample of 255 participants of Balint groups, resulting in satisfactory convergent and discriminant validities. The BG-F can be deployed as an economic instrument in daily clinical practice as well as in research, which enables the process experiences of Balint group participants to be collated

The Impact of Group Leaders on Therapy Groups - Results of an Empirical Study with Somatoform Disorders

On the basis of three outpatient psychodynamic short-term group therapies therapeutic factors and group leader effects on treatment outcome of patients with somatoform disorders were investigated. Besides high effect sizes in general symptom reductions, it could be demonstrated that the level of activity of group leaders is highly significantly correlated with the activities on side of the group members and that group leaders seem to serve as a role model for their groups. Particularly higher Feedback activities in the therapy groups were associated with significant improvements in important dimensions of the body experience of the patients, one of the cornerstones in the treatment of somatoform disorders