Abstract
Crude oil is the worlds most widely used energy resource and with an ever-growing demand for the finite supply, petroleum companies are now extracting less accessible reserves holding lower quality crude oil. However modern exploitation has led to new concerns over the toxicity of increasing extraction waste and refinery problems (e.g. pipeline deposits). One class of compounds associated with causing some toxicity in process waters and corrosion in pipelines, is the carboxylic or so-called naphthenic acids (NA). Early research identified NA as acyclic and monocyclic structures, however recent interest in acid-rich crudes has led to the identification of bi- and tricyclic, aromatic, steroidal monocarboxylic acids and long chain acids with multiple acid moieties (e.g. C80-tetra acids), principally by improved gas chromatographic methods. The current research attempts to identify NA from both petroleum and oil sands but in this case by first converting NA to their hydrocarbon equivalents using a three-step conversion whilst maintaining the integrity of the skeletal carbon structure. This should result in improved chromatography due to the reduced polarity of the analytes, enhancing structural elucidation. So far, in the initial 3 months, three known model bicyclic acids have been reduced to their corresponding alcohols. Reactants and products have been characterised by FT-IR spectroscopy, GC-FID and GC-MS of derivatives. Subsequent work will involve dehydration to the alkenes and catalytic hydrogenation to the alkanes. Results from the model compounds will act as a preliminary indication of the success of the synthetic conversion for unknown and more complex petroleum mixtures. Successful identification of the NA structures present in petroleum will help to focus studies on the quality and processing of less favourable crude oils with the overall aim of making the extraction of such crudes more efficient and cost-effective, with less environmental impact.

Abstract
This paper describes a newly developed measurement technique of the dynamic pressure distribution on a sleeper bottom induced by running trains with high frequency of up to several thousand Hertz using a special sensing sleeper equipped with ultra-thin-type impact force sensors. The sensing unit comprises a PC3-type mono-block concrete sleeper fitted with a large number of sensors. Attached to the sleepers whole undersurface is a solid mass made up of 75 thin impact force sensors (80 mm ? 80 mm ? 2 0 mm). Each impact force sensor has a main body and cover members. The main body, made from piezoelectric film (PVDF) and silicone rubber, has solid cover plates on both surfaces of the main body. The cover plates transmit impact force to the main body through multi-contact loading, which prevents breakage of the sensor itself from a running trains impact loads. The sleeper sensory performance was tested in a fullscale field experiment performed on a railway line. The results confirmed that the newly developed techniques are beneficial for measuring dynamic interaction within the boundary layer between a sleeper and an assemblage of ballast grains.

Abstract
This study presents a revised Gulf of Mexico Basin chronology for the Paleogene based on depth vs. age graphic correlation of biostratigraphic event data from over 200,000 wells using a new Paleogene standard timescale. This places Gulf of Mexico Wilcox strata in the interval between 61.4 Ma and 51.0 Ma relative to the new time scale and provides high resolution regional stratigraphic control necessary for investigating the causes of apparent heterogeneity in deep water Wilcox age reservoirs. It brings turbidite section recorded at the deep water Baha boreholes located in the southeastern Alaminos Canyon protraction area into close agreement with important features of basin margin Wilcox stratigraphy. Lower Wilcox seafloor drainage axes are identified using GIS-based geomorphic analysis of a chronostratigraphically defined, isostatically restored basin surface. The identification of basin drainage systems reveals links between potential sediment sources in ancestral river drainages tributary to the Gulf of Mexico and deep basin fan systems. This allows assessment of relative detrital contributions from different source areas for any location in the basin. Surface gradients on the restored lower Wilcox seafloor may reflect the syndepositional distribution of energy at the seabed, related to bedforms, grain size and sorting, and may provide clues to the variable results of deep water Paleogene discoveries.

Abstract
For understanding the mechanism of preparation of strong earthquakes and their possible forecast it is necessary to conduct large-scale researches on the basis of dense networks of seismological observations. The basis of the modern market is led by the same mobile seismometers offered by known world manufacturers, based on easy, short-period pendulums with small moment of inertia. General enthusiasm in the creation of portable seismometers results in engineering achievements to the detriment of developing high quality stationary devices. As a result for last 15 years in the world market there was no new superbroadband model meeting the full necessary requirements of teleseismic observation. Meanwhile, leading seismologists of the world consider that research at long periods is important while in practice no devices exist for this research. A feature of the device offered is the use of a pendulum with a period regulated up to 58 seconds. The vertical pendulum of the seismometer is configured using the Lacoste design. The spring is manufactured from highly stable alloys with unique Russian manufacturing techniques of a twisted cylindrical spring with zero initial length. The astatic mechanical elements used in the device has allowed the development of a compact superbroadband pendulum with inertial weight only 2 kg. As the converter of fluctuations of the pendulum to an electric signal the differential capacitor converter is used with a resolution better 10^-10 m. As a result the seismometer represents a force-balance velocimeter with a response as flat as possible in a range of frequencies 0.0018 ? 15 Hz. Devices of this type do not exist in the world now. The seismometer is intended for the modernization of existing teleseismic networks for mass observations.

Abstract
Alginate hydrogels in different forms (discs, microbeads), different concentrations (1.5, 1.9 and 2 % w/w) and different chemical compositions (mannuronic to guluronic (M/G) residue ratios of 0.49 and 1.6) were tested in a biomimetic bioreactor at 10 % strain under two regimes: at a loading rate of 337.5 ?m/s and at sequential increments of 50 ?m displacement every 30 min. Higher content of G residues and higher alginate concentrations yielded stronger gels while packed beds of smaller microbeads exhibited highest compression moduli due to interstitial water. Results of this study are relevant for in vivo biomedical applications, in which implants are submitted to significant biomechanical stresses.