Blast waves have been produced in solid target by irradiation with short-pulse high-intensity lasers. The mechanism of production relies on energy deposition from the hot electrons produced by laser–matter interaction, producing a steep temperature gradient inside the target. Hot electrons also produce preheating of the material ahead of the blast wave and expansion of the target rear side, which results in a complex blast wave propagation dynamic. Several diagnostics have been used to characterize the hot electron source, the induced preheating and the velocity of the blast wave. Results are compared to numerical simulations. These show how blast wave pressure is initially very large (more than 100 Mbar), but it decreases very rapidly during propagation.

Pisolites from an iron crust in western Senegal were studied by conventional and high-resolution electron microscopy to determine their internal structure and the genetic processes that led to their formation. Each pisolite consisted of a concentric structure of hematite rimmed by goethite. Two types of goethite were distinguished: (1) large (≃ 0.6 μm long and 0.06 μm wide), euhedral laths arranged in fibrous aggregates of slightly misoriented grains devoid of internal defects as shown by their two-dimensional lattice images, and (2) a matrix of smaller (≃400 Å), anhedral grains surrounded by the larger laths. Based upon the crystal habit and the presence or absence of internal alveoles, the large goethite laths probably grew at the expense of the matrix goethite. Poorly crystalline kaolinite, presumably formed from well-crystalline precursor kaolinite, and clusters of partially dissolved quartz grains were also imaged. In addition, two uncommon phases were found—maghemite in topotactic relationship with hematite and a layered, Fe-rich, mica-like mineral with a 2M superstructure. Unlike kaolinite, this latter phase was likely in equilibrium with iron oxyhydroxides. Substituted Al probably was released during goethite recrystallization, and mass transfers probably took place through the heterogeneous porosity (i.e., large voids and cracks coupled with fine pores) revealed by transmission electron microscopy.

Globally, honey bees are the most utilized animal pollinator in agriculture. However, fluctuations in honey bee colony availability have led to a demand for diversification among crop pollinators. Managed bumble bees are commercially available and highly efficient at pollinating many crops, including cranberries, yet utilization of these managed bees has remained relatively low in North America, with the cranberry industry remaining heavily reliant on honey bees. Here, we surveyed growers from Wisconsin (WI) and Quebec (QC), two of the world's largest cranberry producers, to assess their current crop pollination practices and attitudes regarding managed bumble bees as crop pollinators. To this end, we inquired about their farm demographics, usage of pollination practices, factors influencing those pollination practices, sources of information on crop pollination, and perceptions of managed bumble bees. QC respondents placed a greater importance on their relationships with beekeepers than WI respondents, while WI respondents were more concerned about fruit quality than QC respondents. QC respondents also stocked bumble bees and planted pollinator gardens at a higher percentage than WI respondents, believed that honey bees are more efficient pollinators of cranberry than bumble bees, and a greater proportion of QC respondents reported feeling well informed about bumble bees compared to WI respondents. Importantly, respondents in both regions rank bumble bees' ability to pollinate in inclement weather as their greatest benefit, and the costs of bumble bees as the greatest barrier to their use. We propose that trusted sources of pollination information in both regions, including university specialists, crop consultants, and beekeepers, are well suited to clarify misconceptions regarding bumble bee pollination.

Mount Oku, in the Northwest Region of Cameroon, is known for its rodent diversity. It is located in an area with a high human population density (up to 400/km2), resulting in intense pressure on natural resources. Threats to biodiversity include overgrazing by cattle and goats in grassland areas and montane forests, firewood harvesting, agriculture, bee keeping, debarking of Prunus trees for medicinal uses, and bushmeat hunting. We used data from interviews with 106 local hunters to provide insights into rodent trapping in Oku village. Trapping took place primarily in closed canopy forest. The majority of hunters (88.8%) set at least 100 traps per week, with a mean of 38 rodents trapped per hunter per week. The two most captured species were the Vulnerable Hartwig's praomys Praomys hartwigi and the Endangered Mount Oku rat Lamottemys okuensis, both of which have declining populations. Rodents were harvested mainly for household consumption and/or local trade, but 65.1% of interviewees also used P. hartwigi for traditional medicine. Our findings suggest that rodent trapping in Oku village requires conservation attention, and that further quantitative studies are needed to assess its sustainability.

L'analyse par diffraction des rayons X, résonance paramagnétique électronique et par spectrométrie infra-rouge des constituants minéraux du profil des Canonnettes (Sud-Est de la France) permet de montrer que les kaolinites sont ferrifères. De plus, au fur et à mesure du développement et de l'accumulation des oxy-hydroxydes de fer et d'alumine dans le profil, on note l'enrichissement progressif des kaolinites en fer en même temps qu'augmente leur désordre et que les taux de substitution en moles % d'AlOOH des goethites alumineuses devient plus important. Finalement, les kaolinites disparaissent remplacées par les oxy-hydroxydes de fer et d'aluminium, là ou leur accumulation est maximum.

Climate change is predicted to be a major threat for biodiversity and, from a conservation prospective, it is important to understand how ecosystems may respond to that change. Predicted climate change effects on the distribution of meadows in the arid and semi-arid Argentinean Patagonia by 2050 were assessed for change trends and areas of desertification vulnerability using species distribution models (SDM) and climate-change models. Four modelling techniques composed an ensemble-forecasting approach. Suitable areas for meadows will decrease by 7.85% by 2050 given predicted changes in climate. However, there were two contrasting trends: severe reduction of suitable areas for meadows in north-west Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego Island, and an expansion of suitable areas for meadows in the south and a small section in the north-west. Meadows in Patagonia will likely be impacted by climate change, probably due to changes in precipitation regimes, and consequently many species that rely on meadows in an arid environment will also be impacted. Given the low level of protection of meadows in Patagonia, such information on meadow distribution and vulnerability to climate change will be important for increasing and improving the network of conservation areas through conservation planning.

In 2011 the IRSN conducted several assessments of atmosphericradioactive releases due to the Fukushima Daiichi NPP accident (March11, 2011) and of their impact on Japan’s terrestrial environment.They were based on the IRSN’s emergency management tools and onthe abundant information and technical data gradually publishedin Japan. According to these assessments, the main release phaselasted from March 12 to 25, 2011 and impacted Japanese land in twoevents, the first on 15 and 16 March, in which the main radioactivedeposits were formed, and the second from March 20 to 23, whichwas less significant. The highest amounts of radioactive deposits werefound in an area extending upwards of several tens of kilometersnorthwest of the plant. Lower amounts were discontinuously scatteredin an area extending up to over 250 km away. Initially composedmainly of short-lived radionuclides, the deposits’ activity sharplydecreased in the subsequent weeks. Since the summer of 2011, cesium-134and cesium-137 have become the residual deposits’ main components.According to IRSN estimates, in the absence of protection, the dosesdue to exposure to the radioactive plume during the atmosphericrelease phase may have been potentially higher for people who remainedin coastal areas up to several tens of kilometers north and southof the damaged plant. Thereafter, people living up to 50 km northwestof the plant, outside the 20-km emergency evacuation zone, were potentiallymost vulnerable to residual radioactive deposits over time.

The provision of surgery within humanitarian crises is complex, requiring coordination and cooperation among all stakeholders. During the 2011 Humanitarian Action Summit best practice guidelines were proposed to provide greater accountability and standardization in surgical humanitarian relief efforts. Surgical humanitarian relief planning should occur early and include team selection and preparation, appropriate disaster-specific anticipatory planning, needs assessment, and an awareness of local resources and limitations of cross-cultural project management. Accurate medical record keeping and timely follow-up is important for a transient surgical population. Integration with local health systems is essential and will help facilitate longer term surgical health system strengthening.

Limb amputations are frequently performed as a result of trauma inflicted during conflict or disasters. As demonstrated during the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, coordinating care of these patients in austere settings is complex. During the 2011 Humanitarian Action Summit, consensus statements were developed for international organizations providing care to limb amputation patients during disasters or humanitarian emergencies. Expanded planning is needed for a multidisciplinary surgical care team, inclusive of surgeons, anesthesiologists, rehabilitation specialists and mental health professionals. Surgical providers should approach amputation using an operative technique that optimizes limb length and prosthetic fitting. Appropriate anesthesia care involves both peri-operative and long-term pain control. Rehabilitation specialists must be involved early in treatment, ideally before amputation, and should educate the surgical team in prosthetic considerations. Mental health specialists must be included to help the patient with community reintegration. A key step in developing local health systemsis the establishment of surgical outcomes monitoring. Such monitoring can optimizepatient follow-up and foster professional accountability for the treatment of amputation patients in disaster settings and humanitarian emergencies.

The study examines the distribution of Trichuris trichiura infection in a village community in St Lucia, West Indies. The infection intensity of the same age-stratified population was assessed (by drug expelled worm burden and faecal egg count) at the initiation of the study, and after 17 months of reinfection following treatment. The frequency distribution of worm numbers per person was similar at both periods of sampling. There was a significant correlation between the initial infection intensity of an individual, and the intensity acquired by the same individual following the 17 month period of reinfection. This relationship was observed in a broad range of host age classes. The study provides firm evidence that individuals are predisposed to heavy (or light) T. trichiura infection.

Sera from an age-stratified sample of 1810 people from the Caribbean island of St Lucia were tested for antibodies against varicella-zoster virus. The results indicate that very few infections occur in childhood, which agrees with clinical survey data from other tropical countries, but contrasts with the observed high case rate in children in temperate countries. The alternative hypotheses which may explain these results are discussed, and it is suggested that high ambient temperatures interfere with the transmission of the virus. Irrespective of the cause, the pattern of varicella incidence observed has important implications for any vaccination policy adopted in tropical countries.