Large-scale load capacity tests on a geosynthetic encased column

Stone columns have been used to minimize the settlement of embankments on soft soils but their use in very soft soils can become challenging, partly because of the low confinement provided by the surrounding soil. Geosynthetic encased columns (GECs) have been successfully used to enhance to reduce settlements of embankments on soft soils. This paper describes an investigation on the performance of encased columns constructed on a very soft soil using different types of encasement (three woven geotextiles with different values of tensile stiffness) and different column fill materials (sand, gravel and recycled construction and demolition waste, RCDW). The results of load capacity tests conducted on large-scale models constructed to simulate the different types of GECs indicate that the displacement method adopted during column installation can lead to an enhanced shear strength in the smear zone that develops within the very soft soil. In addition, breakage of the column fill material was found to affect the load-settlement response of gravel and RCDW columns. Furthermore, the excess pore water pressure generated in the surrounding soil during installation, was found to remain limited to radial distances smaller than three times the GEC diameter.     

Stability of microencapsulated lactic acid bacteria under acidic and bile juice conditions

The probiotic strains Lactobacillus brevis CCMA1284 and Lactobacillus plantarum CCMA0359 were microencapsulated by spray drying using different matrices – whey powder (W), whey powder with inulin (WI) and whey powder with maltodextrin (WM). Viability of the microencapsulated strains in acid and bile juices and during 90 days of storage (seven and 25 °C) was evaluated. The two strains exhibited high encapsulation efficiency (> 86%) by spray drying. The different matrices maintained L. plantarum viability above six log CFU g⁻¹ at 7 °C for 90 days, whereas similar results for L. brevis were observed only for W. The use of inulin as matrix of encapsulation did not enhance bacterial viability in the evaluated conditions. In general, the use of W and WM as matrices was effective for L. plantarum viability. However, only W was effective for L. brevis in the evaluated conditions. The spray drying technique was successfully adopted for the encapsulation of L. plantarum CCMA0359 and L. brevis CCMA1284 strains.     

The author’s ignorance on the publication fees is a source of power for publishers

Scientometrics - How much does it cost to publish a research article in a scholarly journal? Different academic publishers have widely varying levels of publication fees to help to fund editorial...     

Performance of SSEBop model for estimating wheat actual evapotranspiration in the Brazilian Savannah region

In a scenario where supplying the increasing demand for food depends highly on irrigation, understanding the temporal and spatial variation of actual evapotranspiration (ETa) is essential for water resources management. In the last decades, several models for mapping and monitoring ETa using remote sensing data were developed and studied. In this work, the Simplified Surface Energy Balance for Operational Application (SSEBop) model was applied to estimate actual evapotranspiration of irrigated wheat in the Cerrado (Brazilian Savannahs) region, using ETM+/Landsat 7 and OLI-TIRS/Landsat 8 images. The results were compared with evapotranspiration calculated by the Bowen ratio method. Considering the data referring to satellites overpasses days, SSEBop overestimated ETa by an average of 13.6%, with a coefficient of determination (R²) equal to 0.82 and root mean square error (RMSE) equal to 0.89 mm d^?1. Considering the daily data for the entire period, including the extrapolation for the days between the satellites overpasses, SSEBop overestimated ETa by an average of 5.5%, with R² equal to 0.66 and RMSE equal to 0.95 mm d^?1. The results obtained demonstrated a reliable performance of the SSEBop for estimating actual evapotranspiration of irrigated wheat in the Cerrado, which can contribute to improve the irrigation efficiency and reduce water use conflicts. Considering the simplicity of the modeling concept and operational implementation, it can also be beneficial for water agencies on water resources planning, management and regulation in the region.