Characteristics Evaluation of Modern Bituminous Binders in Group Hydrocarbon Composition and Their Application in Construction

The article is the result of theoretical and experimental studies aimed at determining the structural groups of modern bituminous materials in order to assess the raw materials, production technology, rational directions for their use in construction, the road industry and waterproofing. Commercial oil bitumen, raw tars and heavy oil residues (semi-finished products) of oil refineries aimed at meeting large-tonnage needs have been studied. The assessment was carried out according to the group hydrocarbon composition, by liquid chromatography using model compounds. Comparative analysis showed a general trend for all studied samples of petroleum bitumen: low content of asphaltenes (from 3.9 to 23.9 wt.%), low content of resins (from 11 to 19.07 wt%), insufficient for the formation of stable structuring layers, and a significant content of aromatic hydrocarbons, including heavy aromatic compounds (more than 20 wt.%). An assumption was made about the influence of the origin and the structure obtained during the processing of asphaltenes and resins on the transition from one type of bituminous structure to another based on the lyophility of high-molecular group components. A comparative structural characteristic of heavy oil residues from gasoline and oil production is considered in comparison with bitumens of various viscosities. Recommendations are given on the technology of processing petroleum feedstock and the use of heavy oils in order to obtain a given bitumen structure for the production of rational bitumen products for construction and waterproofing.

New Discovery and Zircon Hf Isotopic Composition of the Early Yanshannian Monzogranite in the Yingyangguan Group of Eastern Guangxi, China

Objective The Yingyangguan Group is widely exposed in the southwestern segment of boundary belt between Yangtze and Cathaysian blocks and is mainly composed of a suit of lower-grade metamorphic marine volcanoclastic- sedimentary rocks （Zhou Hanwen et al., 2002）. Its forming age and petrogenesis are critical for better understanding the orogenic process and relationship of the Yangtze and Cathaysian blocks since the Neoproterozoic. However, few zircon U-Pb ages of samples from the Yingyangguan Group have been reported, which are much debated, such as the metamorphic spilite （819±11 Ma）, keratophyre （415.1±2.1 Ma） and ignimbrite （821.3±3.9 Ma） （Tian Yang et al., 2015 and references in）. In this study, we focus on the new discovered Early Yanshannian monzogranite and its mafic enclaves from the Yingyangguan Group, and conducted zircon U-Pb dating and in-situ Hf isotopic analyses to constrain their petrogenesis.

Socio-spatial organization reveals paternity and low kinship in the Honduran white bat(Ectophylla alba)in Costa Rica

Ectophylla alba is a tent-making bat that roosts in mixed-sex clusters comprising adults and offspring.Our goal was to determine the genetic identity of individuals belonging to different roosting groups.We tested the hypothesis of kin selection as a major force structuring group composition.We used 9 microsatellites designed for E.alba to determine the genetic identity and probability of parentage of individuals.We analyzed parentage and kinship using the software ML-Relate,GenAIEx,and Cervus.The obtained relationship probabilities(0.5)revealed a clear maternal relationship between female adults and offspring with allele compatibility,and at least 5 relationships between male adults and pups.We found a low degree of relatedness within roosting groups.Between roosting groups at different sites,the mean probability of a half-sibling relationship ranged from 0.214 to 0.244 and,for full-sibling relationship,from 0.383 to 0.553.Genetically,adult individuals were poorly related within clusters,and kinship as an evolutionary force could not explain group membership.