Massive Blocks Research Articles

Architecture of the Great Pyramid of Giza Concept and Construction

Egyptian culture of the old kingdom was locally and regionally simple and efficient; belief was in the sky and humanism was regulated by Ma’at as the key concept in Egyptian mentality. IUNU was the capital of the black land KEMET where ”IUNU UNIVERSITY” is located. Physics were well studied; was already known; the right angle triangle of members 3, 4, and 5 with the 53o angle was in use. Supremacy was integrated on earth by multiple interpretations in architecture. The great pyramid of Giza was and still the best magnificent structure ever built on earth without having contemporary science’s final word been said. Massive lime stone blocks are now arranged there in a huge massive number of about two and half million pieces; their weight could reach 6.5 million tons. Conceptually there was a strong belief that symbolism connects hot spots on the Egyptian soil as it represented the known world, as well as the main stars were connected in multiple constellations on the dome of the observed sky. Pyramids of Giza plateau, Saqqara plateau, and Abusir plateau were all examples of that concept. Other pyramids of Iunu era were also related to the same concept. Structurally the Giza axis coincided on the Giza plateau. Giza plateau was a part of the Moqattam plateau during the Eocene formation. Pyramids on the worked out surface of the plateau were built with the local lime stone. Pyramids’ blocks were extracted, shaped and transported to its definite place within the precinct of the plateau. Chiseled pieces of stone - as waste from shaping blocks - were thrown out on the northern edge of the plateau. Constructional perception of what and why the Khufu pyramid took that shape shows some facts; two hundred courses composed the total existed mass where each group of courses composed a layer. Each layer started with thicker course and ended in thinner ones. Higher layers got lesser courses. So far, one should start thinking now why there were layers; why thicker and thinner courses existed. In the mean time as mortar was not in use by that time, pyramids –as in Saqqara- were formed in inclined walls, as shown in the adjacent photo. In addition, inclined walls must have formed the whole structure of Khufu pyramid.

Formula omitted] and derivatively coupled dRGT massive gravity

In this paper we study the possibility of assigning a geometric structure to the Lie groups. It is shown the Poincaré and Weyl groups have geometrical structure of the Riemann–Cartan and Weyl space–time respectively. The geometric approach to these groups can be carried out by considering the most general (non)metricity conditions, or equivalently, tetrad postulates which we show that can be written in terms of the group’s gauge fields. By focusing on the conformal group we apply this procedure to show that a nontrivial 3-metrics geometry may be extracted from the group’s Maurer–Cartan structure equations. We systematically obtain the general characteristics of this geometry, i.e. its most general nonmetricity conditions, tetrad postulates and its connections. We then deal with the gravitational theory associated to the conformal group’s geometry. By proposing an Einstein–Hilbert type action, we conclude that the resulting gravity theory has the form of quintessence where the scalar field derivatively coupled to massive gravity building blocks.

Permeability testing of radiation shielding concrete manufactured at industrial scale

The effect of the composition of industrial concrete designed for radiation shielding structures on the air permeability and the diffusion of moisture was studied. The mix design for heavyweight concrete of bulk density 3168–3317 kg/m3 was developed using barite and magnetite aggregate and cements blended with fly ash and blastfurnace slag. Structural elements, like columns of a height of 4 m and massive blocks made of mixtures with different cements were manufactured using ready mixed concrete pumped into the formwork. Core specimens were taken from the elements at different locations. The air permeability index was tested using Autoclam device. Evaluation of the quality of concrete on the basis of API results varied from “very good” to “good”. The moisture distribution inside concrete specimens was equilibrated to RH = 60 ± 5%. Observation of RH changes allowed to determine the moisture diffusion coefficient. Significant differences of the permeability and moisture diffusion coefficient depending on the location of the core specimens drilling and mix design of concrete were found. The D coefficient provided a good reflection of the different quality of heavyweight concrete in structural elements.

Sex Chromosomes of the Iconic Moth Abraxas grossulariata (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) and Its Congener A. sylvata

The magpie moth, Abraxas grossulariata, is an iconic species in which female heterogamety was discovered at the beginning of the 20th century. However, the sex chromosomes of this species have not yet been cytologically identified. We describe the sex chromosomes of A. grossulariata and its congener, A. sylvata. Although these species split only around 9.5 million years ago, and both species have the expected WZ/ZZ chromosomal system of sex determination and their sex chromosomes share the major ribosomal DNA (rDNA) representing the nucleolar organizer region (NOR), we found major differences between their karyotypes, including between their sex chromosomes. The species differ in chromosome number, which is 2n = 56 in A. grossularita and 2n = 58 in A. sylvata. In addition, A. grossularita autosomes exhibit massive autosomal blocks of heterochromatin, which is a very rare phenomenon in Lepidoptera, whereas the autosomes of A. sylvata are completely devoid of distinct heterochromatin. Their W chromosomes differ greatly. Although they are largely composed of female-specific DNA sequences, as shown by comparative genomic hybridization, cross-species W-chromosome painting revealed considerable sequence differences between them. The results suggest a relatively rapid molecular divergence of Abraxas W chromosomes by the independent spreading of female-specific repetitive sequences.

Large bedrock slope failures in a British Columbia, Canada fjord: first documented submarine sackungen

Very large (>60×106 m3) sackungen or deep-seated gravitational slope deformations occur below sea level along a steep fjord wall in central Douglas Channel, British Columbia. The massive bedrock blocks were mobile between 13 and 11.5 thousand radiocarbon years BP (15,800 and 13,400 BP) immediately following deglaciation. Deformation of fjord sediments is apparent in sedimentary units overlying and adjacent to the blocks. Faults bound the edges of each block, cutting the glacial section but not the Holocene sediments. Retrogressive slides, small inset landslides as well as incipient and older slides are found on and around the large failure blocks. Lineations, fractures and faults parallel the coastline of Douglas Channel along the shoreline of the study area. Topographic data onshore indicate that faults and joints demarcate discrete rhomboid-shaped blocks which controlled the form, size and location of the sackungen. The described submarine sackungen share characteristic geomorphic features with many montane occurrences, such as uphill-facing scarps, foliated bedrock composition, largely vertical dislocation and a deglacial timing of development.

ГЛУБИННОЕ СТРОЕНИЕ КВИНУМ-КУВАЛОРОГСКОЙ НИКЕЛЕНОСНОЙ ЗОНЫ ПО РЕЗУЛЬТАТАМ ПЛОТНОСТНОГО МОДЕЛИРОВАНИЯ (СРЕДИННЫЙ МАССИВ, КАМЧАТКА)

The deep structure of the southern part of the Dukuk ore region ― the Kvinum-Kuvalorog nickel-bearing zone was investigated. The author built a 20-km-deep earth's crust 3D density model. The investigation revealed massive blocks that include nickeliferous intrusions of basite-ultrabasic composition. The blocks correspond to the local Bouguer anomalies. The shape and depth of the non-eroded intrusions were estimated. The local maxima of gravity in the Kvinum-Kuvalorog zone are promising areas for the discovery of copper-nickel ores.

Mid-Cretaceous aeolian desert systems in the Yunlong area of the Lanping Basin, China: Implications for palaeoatmosphere dynamics and paleoclimatic change in East Asia

The mid-Cretaceous constitutes a period of worldwide atmospheric and oceanic change associated with slower thermohaline circulation and ocean anoxic events, possible polar glaciations and by a changing climate pattern becoming controlled by a zonal planetary wind system and an equatorial humid belt. During the mid-Cretaceous, the subtropical high-pressure arid climate belt of the planetary wind system controlled the palaeolatitude distribution of humid belts in Asia as well as the spatial distribution of rain belts over the massive continental blocks at mid-low latitudes in the southern and northern hemispheres. Additionally, the orographic effect of the Andean-type active continental margin in East Asia hindered the transportation of ocean moisture to inland regions. With rising temperatures and palaeoatmospheric conditions dominated by high pressure systems, desert climate environments expanded at the inland areas of East Asia including those accumulated in the mid-Cretaceous of the Simao Basin, the Sichuan Basin, and the Thailand's Khorat Basin, and leading the Late Cretaceous erg systems in the Xinjiang Basin and Jianghan Basin. This manuscript presents evidences that allow to reinterpret previously considered water-laid sediments to be accumulated as windblown deposits forming part of extensive erg (sandy desert) systems. Using a multidisciplinary approach including petrological, sedimentological and architectural observations, the mid-Cretaceous (Albian-Turonian) Nanxin Formation from the Yunlong region of Lanping Basin, formerly considered to aqueous deposits is here interpreted as representing aeolian deposits, showing local aeolian-fluvial interaction deposits. The palaeowind directions obtained from the analysis of aeolian dune cross-beddings indicates that inland deserts were compatible with a high-pressure cell (HPC) existing in the mid-low latitudes of East Asia during the mid-Cretaceous. Compared with the Early Cretaceous, the mid-Cretaceous had extremely lower temperatures and pressure gradients, more arid climate, which is in accordance with the existing morphology of HPC, and the HPC was stable with little movement. Simultaneously, the deserts controlled by the mid-Cretaceous HPC were closer to the equator, indicating the shrinkage of the Hadley Cell relative to the Early Cretaceous.

The World’s Oldest Bridges - Mycenaean Bridges

The ancient bridges and their remnants located in the vicinity of and Arkadico villages are considered to be the world's oldest bridges. The bridges were built with massive irregular limestone blocks, called Cyclopean boulders, in the Bronze Age. Two of the four objects discussed here are still in operation, occasionally used for the needs of local agriculture. The bridges are classified as clapper schemes, but a lot points to the parallel use of the arch bridge technology. The remnants of the bridge in the vicinity of the modern , due to the significant width of the riverbed, suggest that it might have been the longest among Mycenaean bridges. Probably, it was a multi-span bridge. The structures of the discussed bridges have flat bottom platforms that stabilize the walls of the bridge openings and protect them against washing out. The technological problem of the bridge keystone installation was investigated in the cases of corbel and arch systems.

ESTIMATION OF SHIE GLACIER SURFACE MOVEMENT USING OFFSET TRACKING TECHNIQUE WITH COSMO-SKYMED IMAGES

Abstract. Movement is one of the most important characteristics of glaciers which can cause serious natural disasters. For this reason, monitoring this massive blocks is a crucial task. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) can operate all day in any weather conditions and the images acquired by SAR contain intensity and phase information, which are irreplaceable advantages in monitoring the surface movement of glaciers. Moreover, a variety of techniques like DInSAR and offset tracking, based on the information of SAR images, could be applied to measure the movement. Sangwang lake, a glacial lake in the Himalayas, has great potentially danger of outburst. Shie glacier is situated at the upstream of the Sangwang lake. Hence, it is significant to monitor Shie glacier surface movement to assess the risk of outburst. In this paper, 6 high resolution COSMO-SkyMed images spanning from August to December, 2016 are applied with offset tracking technique to estimate the surface movement of Shie glacier. The maximum velocity of Shie glacier surface movement is 51 cm/d, which was observed at the end of glacier tongue, and the velocity is correlated with the change of elevation. Moreover, the glacier surface movement in summer is faster than in winter and the velocity decreases as the local temperature decreases. Based on the above conclusions, the glacier may break off at the end of tongue in the near future. The movement results extracted in this paper also illustrate the advantages of high resolution SAR images in monitoring the surface movement of small glaciers.

Fabrication of High-Stability Solid-State Receiver Electrodes in Exploration System for Detecting High-Resistive Gas Hydrates

Generally, gas hydrate is nearly a prefect isolator with electrical resistivity of ca. 20,000 Ω·m. Therefore, the resistivity of seafloor sediments with brine-filled pores typically ranges from 0.5 – 1.0 Ω·m, whereas sediments containing hydrate within the pores can have resistivity of ca. 10 Ω·m. As for massive blocks of hydrate, it can have resistivity of 100 Ω·m or more. Up to date, electromagnetic (EM) and direct current resistivity (DCR) techniques are generally employed to explore gas hydrate by measuring electrical resistivity. Nevertheless, both of methods still require high-stability receiver electrodes for monitoring the variance of potential difference. In this study, the solid-state silver/silver chloride (Ag/AgCl) electrodes were successfully developed for using at high-pressure environment of deep sea. To evaluate the potential of solid-state Ag/AgCl electrodes as the receiver electrodes in EM and DCR systems, the effects of temperature, composition and flowing velocity of simulated seawater solution on the stability of the solid-state Ag/AgCl electrodes were investigated systemically. The solid state electrodes showed potential variance of ± 0.35mV at environment of room temperature or 5 ℃. Moreover, it revealed that the potential variance within ± 0.4mV when the simulated seawater solution containing 0.009 wt% bromide or 0.5wt% sulfate ion. Furthermore, it presented the potential variance within ± 0.45mV at flow rate of water in 1.5 m/s or vibration frequency at 100 Hz. Therefore, the fabricated solid-state Ag/AgCl electrode could be a promising receiver electrode candidate in EM or DCR exploration system for detecting the high resistive target, gas hydrate, under the shallow sea bead.

Development of electrical machine with magnets and cores obtained by powder metallurgy

The aim of this work was the development (design, construction and tests) of a Three-phase Synchronous Machine with permanent magnets and four poles to be used in small wind turbines, where the rotor and stator cores, usually constructed from laminated steel sheets, were replaced for massive blocks obtained from the Powder Metallurgy (PM) process. The other parts of the machine, such as housing, shaft, bearings and covers, were obtained from conventional three-phase induction motor of 10 HP. Initially, it was studied sintered alloys from pure iron, Fe-Si, Fe-P and Fe-Ni; eventually these alloys were analyzed in terms of magnetic and mechanical properties as well as electrical resistivity. From this study, it was chosen the use of sintered pure iron for the construction of the rotor and Fe1%P for the construction of the stator. The permanent magnets used were Nd-Fe-B, and the windings calculation was based on the coiling of the three-phase induction motor. According to the tests performed, it was observed the generation of a three-phase sinusoidal wave voltage of 242 VRMS, and the yield of 40.8%.

Variable Stars in Local Group Galaxies. III. And VII, NGC 147, and NGC 185: Insight into the Building Blocks of the M31 Halo∗

Abstract We present the discovery of 1568 RR Lyrae stars in three of the most luminous M31 satellites: And VII (573), NGC 147 (177), and NGC 185 (818). We use their properties to study the formation history of Local Group spiral haloes, and in particular, to infer about the nature of their possible building blocks by comparison with available data for RR Lyrae stars in the halo and in a sample of satellites of M31 and the Milky Way. We find that the brightest satellites and the halos of both galaxies host a number of High Amplitude Short Period (HASP) RR Lyrae variable stars, which are missing in the faintest satellites. HASP variable stars have been shown by Fiorentino et al. to be tracers of a population of stars as metal-rich as [Fe/H] ≃ −1.5 and older than ≃ 10 Gyr . This suggests that the metal-rich M31 and MW halo component, which manifests through the HASP phenomenon, comes from massive dwarf galaxy building blocks, as the low-mass dwarfs did not chemically enrich fast enough to produce them. All detected variable stars are new discoveries; in particular, this work presents the first detections of RR Lyrae stars in And VII. Moreover, a number of candidate Anomalous Cepheids, and binary and long-period variable stars have been detected. We provide pulsation properties (period, amplitude, mean magnitude), light curves, and time series photometry for all of the variable stars in the three galaxies.

Parallel acceleration/deceleration feedrate scheduling for computer numerical control machine tools based on bi-directional scanning technique

The acceleration/deceleration feedrate scheduling is one of the most important techniques in computer numerical control systems. Along with this technique, the bi-directional scanning technique is always employed. The bi-directional scanning technique consists of a backward scanning process followed by a forward scanning process. The two scanning processes in the conventional methods are executed in a serial manner by scanning through all the scheduling blocks one by one. Consequently, the feedrate scheduling will suffer from a heavy computational burden when there are massive blocks to be scanned, which deteriorates its real-time performance for computer numerical control machining. To alleviate the computational burden, a parallel acceleration/deceleration feedrate scheduling approach is proposed in this article. With this method, the scheduling blocks are splitted into several scheduling units and the feedrate for each of them is scheduled simultaneously. The feasibility of the proposed approach is validated through the feedrate scheduling for two widely used butterfly and helix paths. For a constructed example of feedrate scheduling, a significant acceleration ratio about 3.7 on a personal computer with a quad-core central processing unit is achieved.

Large-Scale Crustal-Block-Extrusion During Late Alpine Collision

The crustal-scale geometry of the European Alps has been explained by a classical subduction-scenario comprising thrust-and-fold-related compressional wedge tectonics and isostatic rebound. However, massive blocks of crystalline basement (External Crystalline Massifs) vertically disrupt the upper-crustal wedge. In the case of the Aar massif, top basement vertically rises for >12 km and peak metamorphic temperatures increase along an orogen-perpendicular direction from 250 °C–450 °C over horizontal distances of only <15 km (Innertkirchen-Grimselpass), suggesting exhumation of midcrustal rocks with increasing uplift component along steep vertical shear zones. Here we demonstrate that delamination of European lower crust during lithosphere mantle rollback migrates northward in time. Simultaneously, the Aar massif as giant upper crustal block extrudes by buoyancy forces, while substantial volumes of lower crust accumulate underneath. Buoyancy-driven deformation generates dense networks of steep reverse faults as major structures interconnected by secondary branches with normal fault component, dissecting the entire crust up to the surface. Owing to rollback fading, the component of vertical motion reduces and is replaced by a late stage of orogenic compression as manifest by north-directed thrusting. Buoyancy-driven vertical tectonics and modest late shortening, combined with surface erosion, result in typical topographic and metamorphic gradients, which might represent general indicators for final stages of continent-continent collisions.

Laser Metal Deposition of the Intermetallic TiAl Alloy

Laser metal deposition of the commercial intermetallic Ti-47Al-2Cr-2Nb alloy was investigated. A large number of experiments were conducted under controlled atmosphere by changing the processing parameters to manufacture a series of beads, thin walls, and massive blocks. Optimal process parameters were successfully found to prevent cracking which is generally observed in this brittle material due to built-up residual stresses during fast cooling. These non-equilibrium cooling conditions tend to generate ultra-fine and metastable structures exhibiting high microhardness values, thus requiring post-heat treatments. The latter were successfully used to restore homogeneous lamellar or duplex microstructures and to relieve residual stresses. Subsequent tensile tests enabled us to validate the soundness and homogeneity of the Intermetallic TiAl alloy. Finally, a higher mechanical performance was achieved for the LMD material with respect to cast+HIP and EBM counterparts.

Characteristics of a Two-Body Holonomic Constraint Mechanical System

Two massive blocks are connected with a massless unstretchable line of 2l. One of the masses is placed on a horizontal frictionless table, l distance away from the edge of the table the other one is held horizontally equidistance from the edge along the extension of the line. The latter is released from rest. As it falls under gravity’s pull, it drags the one on the table. It is the interest of this investigation to analyze the kinematics of the system. Because of the holonomic constraint of the system, analysis of the problem encounters complicated super nonlinear coupled differential equations. Utilizing Mathematica we solve the equations numerically. Applying the solutions we quantify numerous kinematic quantities; most interestingly we evaluate the run-time, and the trajectory of the falling block. Analysis is robust allowing us to address the “what if” scenarios.

The expansion of heterochromatin blocks in rye reflects the co-amplification of tandem repeats and adjacent transposable elements.

BackgroundA prominent and distinctive feature of the rye (Secale cereale) chromosomes is the presence of massive blocks of subtelomeric heterochromatin, the size of which is correlated with the copy number of tandem arrays. The rapidity with which these regions have formed over the period of speciation remains unexplained.ResultsUsing a BAC library created from the short arm telosome of rye chromosome 1R we uncovered numerous arrays of the pSc200 and pSc250 tandem repeat families which are concentrated in subtelomeric heterochromatin and identified the adjacent DNA sequences. The arrays show significant heterogeneity in monomer organization. 454 reads were used to gain a representation of the expansion of these tandem repeats across the whole rye genome. The presence of multiple, relatively short monomer arrays, coupled with the mainly star-like topology of the monomer phylogenetic trees, was taken as indicative of a rapid expansion of the pSc200 and pSc250 arrays. The evolution of subtelomeric heterochromatin appears to have included a significant contribution of illegitimate recombination. The composition of transposable elements (TEs) within the regions flanking the pSc200 and pSc250 arrays differed markedly from that in the genome a whole. Solo-LTRs were strongly enriched, suggestive of a history of active ectopic exchange. Several DNA motifs were over-represented within the LTR sequences.ConclusionThe large blocks of subtelomeric heterochromatin have arisen from the combined activity of TEs and the expansion of the tandem repeats. The expansion was likely based on a highly complex network of recombination mechanisms.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-016-2667-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Хронология культурных и геологических событий по материалам радиоуглеродного датирования курганной группы эпохи раннего железа Чултуков Лог-1

The article presents the results of radiocarbon dating of multicultural mounds of Chultukov Log-1. This mound is one of the most representative burial complexes of the Early Iron Age of the Lower Katun mountainous valley. The large scale, multiculturalism and the fact that the mound has never been robbed open broad vistas for historical and cultural reconstructions, where chronology is based on the results of radiocarbon dating. The series of radiocarbon dates obtained from the graves of different cultural identities (Bystryanka, Pazyryk, Karakobin) and with attributes of ancient seismic activity significantly compliments the cultural and chronological picture of North Altai in the Early Iron Age. A significant number of stone burial mounds indicate the traces of seismological activity. The time of the ancient earthquake based on the radiocarbon dates could be attributed to the second half of the 1 century B.C. Radiocardon dating of the burial mounds 111 and 112 (MKL-2524, 2280 ± 70 years ago, MKL-2525, 2310 ± 80 years ago), covered with massive rocky blocks which had moved from the mountain slope, can be attributed to a rather narrow chronological interval from 541-164 B.C. and 591-174 B.C.

Determination of Cu, Cr, and As in preserved wood (Eucalyptus sp.) using x-ray fluorescent spectrometry techniques

Energy dispersive (EDXRF) and Portable (PXRF) X-ray fluorescence techniques are proposed for wood treatment control process and wood waste assortment. In this study, different retentions of chromated copper arsenate preservative were applied to Eucalyptus sp. sapwood samples. Cu, Cr and As were determined by XRF techniques in treated sapwood massive blocks and treated sapwood sawdust samples were analyzed by FAAS spectrometry (Flame Atomic Absorption) and INAA (Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis). Cu, Cr and As mean values, obtained by FAASS and INAA, showed to be statically equal; however, XRF analysis showed considerable deviations, presenting the absorption and the enhancement effects in analytical lines.

Bay Bridge anchorage construction: George Booth Post.

Bay Bridge anchorage construction: George Booth Post.