2,737 results match your criteria: "Institute of Rock Structure & Mechanics[Affiliation]"

Experimental and numerical study of shear strength on the slide zone soil by the coupling of seepage and shear test.

Sci Rep

October 2024

Discipline of Civil, Surveying and Environmental Engineering, Priority Research Centre for Geotechnical Science and Engineering, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, 2308, Australia.

The stability of reservoir landslides is determined by the strength of the slide zone. Using both experimental and numerical techniques to analyze the strength of the slide zone has been widely used in the research of reservoir landslides. However, few models consider the strength of the coupling between seepage and shear.

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The Youjiang Basin is the main area of the Middle Devonian shale gas resources in southern China, with complex geological conditions, diverse stratigraphic structures, low level of exploration and limited hydrocarbon geological data. In this study, a method is proposed for evaluating the regional shale gas preservation conditions, by which it is easy to obtain information (using available data from regional geological maps) and to process data (processed by computer software). This method was applied to the evaluation of the preservation conditions of the Middle Devonian shale gas in the Youjiang Basin.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study addresses challenges in simulating the structure and stress of underground coal and rock due to material variability and size limitations by developing a new lightweight, rock-like porous material for large-scale modeling.
  • Quasi-static uniaxial compression tests reveal that this material exhibits three distinct stress-strain phases and that its mechanical properties, such as strength and elasticity, increase with density.
  • The research highlights the significant role of polypropylene fibers in enhancing the material's strength and stability under stress, and establishes relationships between density and mechanical parameters, offering insights for better control of rock-like porous materials' behavior in engineering applications.
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One of the most dangerous aspects of cancers is their ability to metastasize, which is the leading cause of death. Hence, it holds significance to develop therapies targeting the eradication of cancer cells in parallel, inhibiting metastases in cells surviving the applied therapy. Here, we focused on two melanoma cell lines─WM35 and WM266-4─representing the less and more invasive melanomas.

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Left ventricular noncompaction cardiomyopathy is associated with heart failure, arrhythmia, and sudden cardiac death. The developmental mechanism underpinning noncompaction in the adult heart is still not fully understood, with lack of trabeculae compaction, hypertrabeculation, and loss of proliferation cited as possible causes. To study this, we utilised a mouse model of aberrant Rho kinase (ROCK) signalling in cardiomyocytes, which led to a noncompaction phenotype during embryogenesis, and monitored how this progressed after birth and into adulthood.

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Article Synopsis
  • Achieving high production in top coal caving from thick seams requires timely decisions on when to stop caving to minimize mining losses and costs.
  • An innovative recognition system using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) technology enables quick data collection and recognition at the mining site, overcoming limitations of existing methods with its coal-rock recognition technique.
  • This method, incorporating convolution and multi-view features into a model, boasted a recognition accuracy of 99.78%, and the implemented system reached an accuracy of 92.3% in identifying the coal-caving process, aiding in optimal decision-making for roof caving.
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Article Synopsis
  • The European Union is working towards climate neutrality by 2050, highlighting the need to explore greenhouse gas reduction and carbon dioxide removal strategies from a comprehensive life cycle perspective of buildings.
  • This study identifies and categorizes 35 measures under 11 carbon removal strategies, analyzing their impact and feasibility across various EU Member States.
  • Short-term gains in reducing greenhouse gas emissions can be achieved by improving energy use, using low-carbon materials, and managing space efficiently, while long-term strategies like promoting circularity and renovation are expected to gain traction as supply chains and skill sets evolve.
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Incorporating CO-philic functionalities into surfactant structure is proposed to address the drawbacks of conventional foaming agents such as premature rupture of lamellae in contact with oil, surfactant loss due to adsorption on rock or partitioning between oil and water, and salinity and temperature tolerance issues. Increased activity at the gas/water interface and less surfactant adsorption to the rock due to the presence of CO-philic chains results in higher foam durability in the presence of oil. In the present paper, a comprehensive study on the adsorption of anionic CO-philic surfactants onto sandstone rock surface is performed to understand adsorption mechanisms through the addition of CO-philic tail groups in surfactant structure by observing the changes in concentration, static adsorption, and point of zero charge measurements.

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Ruddlesden-Popper (RP) compounds of the general formula (AX)(ABX) with their unique sequence of perovskite-like (ABX) and rock-salt-like units (AX) promise applications in diverse fields such as catalysis and superconductivity. Fluorination of RP oxides often leads to dramatic changes in the material properties, caused by differences in the atomic and electronic structure. While current research focuses on fluorination of = 1 type RP oxides (ABO), = 3 RP oxyfluorides have remained elusive.

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Evolution of mechanical properties of organic-rich shale during thermal maturation.

Sci Rep

October 2024

State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China.

Article Synopsis
  • Accurate assessment of the mechanical properties of organic-rich shale during maturation is challenging, involving nanoindentation methods and geochemical analyses.
  • The mechanical properties evolve through the main oil-generation stage to the condensate oil and gas generation stage, with organic matter becoming stiffer due to increased aromaticity.
  • While the clay matrix initially softens at low maturity levels due to liquid hydrocarbon generation, it ultimately becomes stiffer with maturation due to dehydration and changes in mineral structure, leading to increased Young's modulus and hardness in the bulk shale.
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Article Synopsis
  • * The review discusses how different nutrients—both macronutrients and micronutrients—affect neurodevelopmental outcomes in children, supported by neuroimaging studies like MRI and EEG.
  • * It emphasizes the importance of understanding these nutritional impacts for future research, aiming to enhance our knowledge of maternal nutrition's long-term effects on children’s cognitive and behavioral health.
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BCL-2 family proteins regulate apoptosis by initiating mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP). Activation of the MOMP effectors BAX and BAK is controlled by the interplay of anti-apoptotic BCL-2 proteins (e.g.

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Despite their beneficial actions as immunosuppressants, glucocorticoids (GC) have devastating effects on the musculoskeletal and cardiac systems, as long-term treated patients exhibit high incidence of falls, bone fractures, and cardiovascular events. Herein, we show that GC upregulate simultaneously in bone, skeletal muscle, and the heart the expression of E3 ubiquitin ligases (atrogenes), known to stimulate the proteasomal degradation of proteins. Activation of vitamin D receptor (VDR) signaling with the VDR ligands calcitriol or eldecalcitol prevented GC-induced atrogene upregulation in vivo and ex vivo in bone/muscle organ cultures and preserved tissue structure/mass and function of the 3 tissues in vivo.

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This research assesses the stability of sedimentary rock slopes in Teloi, Sik, Kedah, by focusing on the mechanical properties of the rock layers and their susceptibility to weathering. Key tests include the slake durability index (SDI), elastic modulus of knocking ball (Ekb), and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT). The incorporation of electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) data through the virtual reality platform facilitates the visualization of subsurface conditions.

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Short-term interactions between Longmaxi shale and carbon dioxide-based fracturing fluids.

Heliyon

October 2024

Hunan Engineering Research Center of Structural Safety and Disaster Prevention for Urban Underground Infrastructure, College of Civil Engineering, Hunan City University, Yiyang, Hunan, 413000, China.

Article Synopsis
  • * Simulation tests were conducted to observe the effects of different fracturing fluids — including pure CO2 and CO2 mixed with brine — on the microstructure and mechanical properties of shale after short-term exposure.
  • * Results revealed that the mechanical parameters such as strength and brittleness of shale significantly decrease after treatment with CO2 fluids, especially when brine is added, indicating important implications for optimizing shale gas extraction methods.
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Performance and reinforcement of air-cooled embankments traversing degrading permafrost of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Heliyon

October 2024

Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China.

The reliable operation of railway embankments traversing degrading permafrost regions is challenged by climate warming. This study examines performances of four main types of railway embankments on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in thermally stabilizing permafrost foundation over warm permafrost using numerical modelling and 10-year monitoring data. Then, a reinforcement measure that combines a thermal conductivity variable system (TCVS) was designed to improve the cooling capacity of the crushed-rock sloped embankment (CRSE) by countering the heat absorption of slopes during summers.

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Micro-structural and micro-mechanical characterization of rock-boring angelwing clams.

Acta Biomater

December 2024

School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 790 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, GA, USA 30332 USA. Electronic address:

Article Synopsis
  • - This study explores the unique rock-boring ability of the angelwing clam (Cyrtopleura costata) by examining the microstructure and mechanical properties of its shells, which are made of pure aragonite.
  • - Advanced analysis techniques like X-ray Diffraction and Scanning Electron Microscopy reveal that the clam's shells have a distinctive crossed-lamellar structure, making them among the hardest biological materials with significant toughness.
  • - The findings could inspire innovations in drilling technologies, as understanding the clam's shell structure and its efficient load-bearing properties may lead to improvements in construction and exploration methods.
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Article Synopsis
  • Developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs) are serious childhood epilepsy syndromes with frequent seizures and significant cognitive impairments, often not responding to standard treatments.
  • Recent advancements in neuromodulation techniques like deep brain stimulation (DBS) and responsive neurostimulation (RNS) show promise in managing these conditions by targeting specific brain networks involved in seizures.
  • Initial findings, particularly with DBS for Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), indicate some effectiveness, but mixed results across various DEEs highlight the need for a better understanding of brain networks to guide optimal treatment strategies.
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Article Synopsis
  • Geological formations can effectively store gases like carbon dioxide and hydrogen due to their unique small-scale pore structures.
  • This study examines the gas uptake of a porous silica aerogel, using advanced techniques like transmission electron microscopy and neutron scattering, focusing on its response to deuterated methane at high pressures.
  • The research found that gas adsorption in the aerogel varies with scale, showing that the material can quickly equilibrate with external pressure without condensation, and returns to its original state when the gas is released.
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G-quadruplex DNA structures (G4s) form within single-stranded DNA in nucleosome-free chromatin. As G4s modulate gene expression and genomic stability, genome-wide mapping of G4s has generated strong research interest. Recently, the Cleavage Under Targets and Tagmentation (CUT&Tag) method was performed with the G4-specific BG4 antibody to target Tn5 transposase to G4s.

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Article Synopsis
  • - SARS-CoV-2 has evolved to evade current monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), emphasizing the need for more resilient treatments that can neutralize various viral strains.
  • - A new human mAb called VIR-7229 has shown the ability to effectively neutralize multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2 and other related viruses, due to its unique targeting of a critical viral region known as the receptor-binding motif (RBM).
  • - VIR-7229 demonstrates a high resistance to the emergence of virus escape mutants, making it a promising candidate for future therapies against evolving coronaviruses.
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This study introduces an innovative optimized bolting support system specifically tailored for gob-side entry excavation in thick coal seams at a coal mine in southwestern Shandong, China. Employing theoretical analysis, numerical simulation, and field measurements, the research focuses on examining the failure characteristics of surrounding rock during gob-side entry excavation. The key innovation lies in the development of a 5-meter optimal coal pillar width, ensuring balanced stress distribution and structural integrity.

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High-Order Models for Gas Transport in Multiscale Coal Rock.

ACS Omega

October 2024

Guizhou Coalfield Geology Bureau, Guiyang 550016, China.

The coal reservoirs exhibit great heterogeneity and strong anisotropy in multiscale pore/fracture structures. Developing highly accurate multiscale models for real-time prediction of microgaseous flow in complicated porous media with pronounced contrast in transport coefficients is crucial but not yet available, which is time-consuming, expensive, and even computationally impossible. In this study, a multiscale approximate solution of the gas flow and pressure field is derived in this paper for predicting coalbed methane (CBM) transport in macro-microscopic two-scale porous media of typical coal rocks in Guizhou Province, China, and the detailed finite element algorithm is established.

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LDH nanoparticles-doped cellulose nanofiber scaffolds with aligned microchannels direct high-efficiency neural regeneration and organized neural circuit remodeling through RhoA/Rock/Myosin II pathway.

Biomaterials

March 2025

Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital affiliated to Tongji University, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, China; Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, Clinical Center for Brain and Spinal Cord Research, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, China. Electronic address:

Article Synopsis
  • Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to severe structural and functional damage in neural tissues, necessitating effective repair strategies.
  • This study developed a cellulose nanofiber (CNF) scaffold enhanced with magnesium-iron layered double hydroxide (LDH) and loaded with neuroactive substances to promote nerve regeneration in SCI models.
  • The results showed thatthese scaffolds significantly improved nerve growth and behavioral recovery in mice, highlighting their potential as innovative tools for repairing spinal cord injuries through specific biological pathways.
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Quarry rock reef design features influence fish assemblage structure across a systematically heterogenous restoration reef.

Mar Environ Res

November 2024

Biological Sciences Department, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA, 91786, USA; Vantuna Research Group, Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA, 90041, USA.

To restore an area of temperate rocky-reef degraded by sedimentation, scour, and burial, a large quarry rock reef, the Palos Verdes Restoration Reef (PVR), was built with a heterogenous design including high relief elements intended to increase fish biomass productivity and support a diverse reef community. The replicated design features provide a unique opportunity to study the effects of reef design on fish habitat use patterns. To determine how submodule scale habitat features are associated with variation in the assemblage structure of eleven focal fish species on the PVR we conducted diver-operated stereo-video surveys on all 18 PVR modules 9-13 months after construction.

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