Soil and water quality assessment along the Red Sea coast,Egypt

The paper reports an assessment of the soil and water in the coastal strip between Marsa Alam and Shalateen at the southern part of the Red Sea coast of Egypt. There is limited potential for agricultural development. There is a need for water re-use and some potential for tourism.     

An environmental purpose artificial island off Belgium

Processing municipal and industrial wastes on land and particularly near inhabited centra has met with increased opposition. An apparent remedy to the problem is the establishment of such facilities offshore, hence various projects to build them on artificial islands. The paper examines a concrete proposal to locate such an island offshore from the Belgian Coast. Oceanographic and environmental aspects of the site are discussed, construction methods reviewed, erosion and corrosion effects looked at. The possibility of utilizing ocean power to provide the necessary operation energy is likewise considered.     

The Case of The Case Study in City Planning and Municipal Management

Abstract

PLAN FOR REZONING THE CITY OF NEW YORK. A Report by Harrison, Ballard &; Allen. City Planning Commission. New York. 1950. 290 pp. maps, illustrations. $2.00.

CONTROLLED ACCESS EXPRESSWAYS IN URBAN AREAS—A symposium. Highway Research Board Bulletin No. 25. Washington, D. C., 1950. 45 pages, illustrated. 60 cents.

SOCIAL PRESSURES IN INFORMAL GROUPS. By Leon Festinger, Stanley Schachter and Kurt Back. Harper Bros., New York, 1950. x-930 pp. $3.00.

PRODUCTION OF NEW HOUSING. A Research Monograph on Efficiency in Production. By Leo Grebler. Social Science Research Council. New York 1950. ix+ 186 pp. $1.75.     

Non-linear analysis of membrane action effect in profiled steel sheeting dry board flooring system

This study highlights the effect of membrane action in improving load carrying capacity of Profiled Steel Sheeting Dry Board (PSSDB) floor system. PSSDB system is a lightweight composite structural system composed of profiled steel sheeting and dry board, attached together by self-drilling and self-tapping screws. Many literatures have reported that restricting conventional slabs, such as reinforced concrete slab, at the supports against translation and/or rotation while it is subjected to vertical loading develops the compressive membrane action in the slab. The development of this phenomenon is considered in the PSSDB system with concrete infill for continuous and practical spans, with and without topping concrete. Previous authors’ experimentally verified non-linear finite element model for the PSSDB floor without topping was extended to parametrically predict the effect of different boundary conditions on the performance of the system for practical applications. It was revealed that preventing the in-plane movement of the slab ends improves the flexural rigidities of the slab up to more than three times when considering central deflection of serviceability limit state. This was observed when the deflection limit load of the fixed both end supports model was compared to the pin-roller support model. Moreover, the topping concrete enhances the applicability of the system in longer span and the developed compressive membrane action dramatically boosts the load carrying capacity of the slab with restricted translation and/or rotation of the slab ends.     

Effects of copper, pH and hardness on the critical swimming performance of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri Richardson)

Critical swimming velocities of Salmo gairdneri at 12°C were determined in different combinations of copper; pH and hardness. Measurements were made after exposure for 0.5, 5, 10, and 30 days. When copper was not applied, hardness, pH and exposure time had no appreciable effect on critical performance. Copper had the greatest effect on swimming performance at 5 days of exposure. At pH 7.5–8.0, recovery from the initial depression was complete after 10 days of exposure, but critical swimming performance did not return to control levels in pH 6.0 treatments. For any given hardness, copper had a greater effect on critical speed at low than at high pH. A given copper treatment had a more pronounced effect at low than at high hardness.No distinction could be made among total, soluble, or extractable copper but predicted concentrations of 6 specific cupric ions varied with pH and hardness. Of these copper species, only Cu²⁺ and CuOH⁺ were found to be related significantly to critical performance.Oxygen consumption of trout was determined in different combinations of copper and pH. In the presence of copper the maximum oxygen consumption decreased and the energy expenditure for a given swimming speed increased.The above observations are discussed in relation to reported toxic actions of copper.