Generating a high-resolution global magnetic model for oil and mineral exploration

This is the final contribution to the trilogy of articles on global potential-field data compilations. Getech's continental and national magnetic data compilations commenced in 1989 and were designed specifically for use in petroleum and mineral exploration. These studies complemented the continental-scale gravity-compilation studies that were the subject of the TLE “Meter Reader” contributions in March and May of this year. The success of these projects resulted from strategic partnerships, especially with Paterson, Grant and Watson Ltd. (PGW), and links to a wide range of national organizations. Early compilations covering the whole of Africa, South America, and China were followed by large-scale, small-scale, and national compilations and continue to this day with compilations of U. S. surveys. The projects spawned a range of technical developments, including approaches to remove survey-line noise, the integration of survey grids and disparate ship-track data, and the preservation of the longest-wavelength anomalies associated with the crustal magnetic field. The resulting global gravity and magnetic grids now form an invaluable resource for resource exploration

Constraints on non-minimally coupled curved space electrodynamics from astrophysical observations

We study interactions of electro-magnetic fields with the curvature tensor of the form $\lambda R_{\mu \nu \alpha \beta}F^{\mu \nu}F^{\alpha \beta}$. Such coupling terms though are invariant under general coordinate transformation and CPT, however violate the Einstein equivalence principle. These couplings do not cause any energy dependent dispersion of photons but they exhibit birefringence. We put constraints on the coupling constant $\lambda$ using results from solar system radar ranging experiments and millisecond-pulsar observations. We find that the most stringent constraint comes from pulsar observations and is given by $\lambda < 10^{11} cm^2$ obtained from the timing of binary pulsar PSR B1534+12.Comment: 9 pages latex, accepted in CQ

Effective elastic thickness and crustal thickness variations in west central Africa inferred from gravity data

International audienceThe west central African region is characterized by various geological features: Cretaceous rifts (Benue), Tertiary domal uplift (Adamawa volcanic uplift), Tertiary-Recent volcanoes (Cameroon Volcanic Line or CVL), Tertiary sedimentary basins (Chad basins), and cratonic region (Congolese craton). In this study, we investigate the relationship between these tectonic features and the flexural rigidity of the lithosphere in Cameroon, in terms of effective elastic thickness (Te), by the use of the coherence function analysis. For that purpose, we use a new dataset of-32,000 gravity and topography points from Cameroon and the adjacent countries. The Te contour map deduced from this study shows a good relationship between the tectonic provinces and the rigidity of the lithosphere, the minima (14-20 km) are beneath the active rifted and volcanic areas (Benue, CVL, and Adamawa), and the maxima (-40 km) correspond to the Archean reworked unit in Congo. A spectral analysis of the gravity data is performed to determine the crust-mantle boundary in these tectonic provinces. The crustal thickness (Tc) contour map shows a variation from 14 km to about 45 km, consistent with other geophysical data. The lower values (14-20 km) are obtained in central Cameroon on the Adamawa uplift, and the highest values are found in southern Cameroon (Archean reworked Congolese craton). Comparing Te and Tc values shows that there is generally a positive correlation between the two parameters, with an exception in Chad where this correlation is rather negative

INPOP08, a 4-D planetary ephemeris: From asteroid and time-scale computations to ESA Mars Express and Venus Express contributions

The latest version of the planetary ephemerides developed at the Paris Observatory and at the Besancon Observatory is presented here. INPOP08 is a 4-dimension ephemeris since it provides to users positions and velocities of planets and the relation between TT and TDB. Investigations leading to improve the modeling of asteroids are described as well as the new sets of observations used for the fit of INPOP08. New observations provided by the European Space Agency (ESA) deduced from the tracking of the Mars Express (MEX) and Venus Express (VEX) missions are presented as well as the normal point deduced from the Cassini mission. We show the huge impact brought by these observations in the fit of INPOP08, especially in terms of Venus, Saturn and Earth-Moon barycenter orbits.Comment: 14 pages. submitted to A&A. accepted in A&

Towards a synthesized critique of neoliberal biodiversity conservation

During the last three decades, the arena of biodiversity conservation has largely aligned itself with the globally dominant political ideology of neoliberalism and associated governmentalities. Schemes such as payments for ecological services are promoted to reach the multiple ‘wins’ so desired: improved biodiversity conservation, economic development, (international) cooperation and poverty alleviation, amongst others. While critical scholarship with respect to understanding the linkages between neoliberalism, capitalism and the environment has a long tradition, a synthesized critique of neoliberal conservation - the ideology (and related practices) that the salvation of nature requires capitalist expansion - remains lacking. This paper aims to provide such a critique. We commence with the assertion that there has been a conflation between ‘economics’ and neoliberal ideology in conservation thinking and implementation. As a result, we argue, it becomes easier to distinguish the main problems that neoliberal win-win models pose for biodiversity conservation. These are framed around three points: the stimulation of contradictions; appropriation and misrepresentation and the disciplining of dissent. Inspired by Bruno Latour’s recent ‘compositionist manifesto’, the conclusion outlines some ideas for moving beyond critique

Introducing a new breed of wine yeast: interspecific hybridisation between a commercial Saccharomyces cerevisiae wine yeast and Saccharomyces mikatae

Interspecific hybrids are commonplace in agriculture and horticulture; bread wheat and grapefruit are but two examples. The benefits derived from interspecific hybridisation include the potential of generating advantageous transgressive phenotypes. This paper describes the generation of a new breed of wine yeast by interspecific hybridisation between a commercial Saccharomyces cerevisiae wine yeast strain and Saccharomyces mikatae, a species hitherto not associated with industrial fermentation environs. While commercially available wine yeast strains provide consistent and reliable fermentations, wines produced using single inocula are thought to lack the sensory complexity and rounded palate structure obtained from spontaneous fermentations. In contrast, interspecific yeast hybrids have the potential to deliver increased complexity to wine sensory properties and alternative wine styles through the formation of novel, and wider ranging, yeast volatile fermentation metabolite profiles, whilst maintaining the robustness of the wine yeast parent. Screening of newly generated hybrids from a cross between a S. cerevisiae wine yeast and S. mikatae (closely-related but ecologically distant members of the Saccharomyces sensu stricto clade), has identified progeny with robust fermentation properties and winemaking potential. Chemical analysis showed that, relative to the S. cerevisiae wine yeast parent, hybrids produced wines with different concentrations of volatile metabolites that are known to contribute to wine flavour and aroma, including flavour compounds associated with non-Saccharomyces species. The new S. cerevisiae x S. mikatae hybrids have the potential to produce complex wines akin to products of spontaneous fermentation while giving winemakers the safeguard of an inoculated ferment.Jennifer R. Bellon, Frank Schmid, Dimitra L. Capone, Barbara L. Dunn, Paul J. Chamber

Evangelical Visitor- August 1, 1888. Vol. I. No. 12.

Evangelical Visitor, devoted to the spread of evangelical truths and the unity of the church, published in White Pigeon, Michigan by the Brethren in Christ Church (River Brethren) on August 1, 1888. Vol. I. No. 12

Financial crises and the attainment of the SDGs: an adjusted multidimensional poverty approach

This paper analyses the impact of financial crises on the Sustainable Development Goal of eradicating poverty. To do so, we develop an adjusted Multidimensional Poverty Framework (MPF) that includes 15 indicators that span across key poverty aspects related to income, basic needs, health, education and the environment. We then use an econometric model that allows us to examine the impact of financial crises on these indicators in 150 countries over the period 1980–2015. Our analysis produces new estimates on the impact of financial crises on poverty’s multiple social, economic and environmental aspects and equally important captures dynamic linkages between these aspects. Thus, we offer a better understanding of the potential impact of current debt dynamics on Multidimensional Poverty and demonstrate the need to move beyond the boundaries of SDG1, if we are to meet the target of eradicating poverty. Our results indicate that the current financial distress experienced by many low-income countries may reverse the progress that has been made hitherto in reducing poverty. We find that financial crises are associated with an approximately 10% increase of extreme poor in low-income countries. The impact is even stronger in some other poverty aspects. For instance, crises are associated with an average decrease of government spending in education by 17.72% in low-income countries. The dynamic linkages between most of the Multidimensional Poverty indicators, warn of a negative domino effect on a number of SDGs related to poverty, if there is a financial crisis shock. To pre-empt such a domino effect, the specific SDG target 17.4 on attaining long-term debt sustainability through coordinated policies plays a key role and requires urgent attention by the international community

Astrometry and geodesy with radio interferometry: experiments, models, results

Summarizes current status of radio interferometry at radio frequencies between Earth-based receivers, for astrometric and geodetic applications. Emphasizes theoretical models of VLBI observables that are required to extract results at the present accuracy levels of 1 cm and 1 nanoradian. Highlights the achievements of VLBI during the past two decades in reference frames, Earth orientation, atmospheric effects on microwave propagation, and relativity.Comment: 83 pages, 19 Postscript figures. To be published in Rev. Mod. Phys., Vol. 70, Oct. 199