Investigating a potential geothermal play in the southern Sydney Basin

Geothermal energy is a renewable resource that will be part of the world’s transition to clean power production. Different technologies can be utilised to extract heat or produce geothermal-based electricity. The Geological Survey of NSW has identified several regions across the state where there are higher than average geothermal gradients. These regions in the southern Sydney Basin are investigated with the aim of determining if the high temperatures might be related to subsurface rocks with relatively high concentrations of radiogenic isotopes that might create a ‘hot dry rock’ play. Rock properties are tested that would be required to generate a geothermal resource. Existing and potential engineering technologies (i.e. geothermal-based electricity, heating and cooling applications accompanied by heat pumps, geothermal-hybrid systems, and mine-based geothermal technologies) are also further reviewed. Overall this study provides insights into future opportunities and challenges to harnessing geothermal energy in NSW

Screening and Degradation Characteristics of a Fumonisin B1-Degrading Fungal Strain

A fungal strain capable of degrading fumonisin B1 (FB1) from ground maize samples heavily contaminated with fumonisin was obtained by enrichment culture method. The strain was named as FDS-2, and was characterized for its growth and degradation characteristics, and the initial degradation pathway of FB1 by FDS-2 was investigated. The strain was identified as Exophiala spinifera according to its culture characteristics, microscopic characteristics and phylogenetic tree based on RNA-internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence characteristics. The optimum growth and degradation conditions were 30 ℃ and pH 5.0. Under these conditions, the strain could completely degrade 250 μg of FB1 within 48 h. Intracellular FB1-degrading enzymes were discovered in this strain. Using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) to analyze the degradation products, it was determined that the primary degradation pathway began with the degradation of FB1 into hydrolyzed FB1. This study provides a strain resource and a theoretical basis for the biodegradation of fumonisin in grain and feed

Refined Vehicle-Bridge Interaction Analysis Using Incompatible Solid Finite Element for Evaluating Stresses and Impact Factors

The vehicle-bridge interaction can induce bridge vibration and consequently fatigue, durability deterioration, local damage, and even collapse of bridge structure. In this paper, a solid vehicle-bridge interaction (VBI) analysis method is developed to provide refined analysis on the bridge responses including displacement and local stress under vehicle loads. The incompatible solid finite element (FE) is introduced to model the bridge, where the element shear locking is alleviated by incompatible displacement modes without sacrificing the computational efficiency. Benchmark example shows the incompatible solid element has superior computational efficiency compared to the conventional solid element. By virtue of the mass-spring-damper vehicle model, the interaction between vehicle and bridge is simulated with point-to-point contact assumption and the coupled dynamic equations are solved via nonlinear iteration. A case study on a simply supported T-girder bridge is conducted to validate the developed solid VBI analysis method and then the dynamic impact factor (DIF) of the bridge is evaluated based on the computed stress results and compared to code values. Results show that the solid VBI analysis method yields more accurate time-history bridge responses including displacement and stress under moving vehicles than the grillage method despite higher computational cost. Particularly, it can simulate realistic stress distribution and concentration along any concerned sections as well as in local components, which can provide detail information on the bridge behavior under dynamic loads. On the other hand, the DIF based on the computed stress result generally agrees well with the code values except for heavy vehicles where the stress-based DIF is slightly higher than the value in Chinese code while lower than that of AASHTO, suggesting the value specified by Chinese code may underestimate the DIF of heavy vehicles in certain circumstances to which more attention should be paid

Spatiotemporal Estimation of Bamboo Forest Aboveground Carbon Storage Based on Landsat Data in Zhejiang, China

China is one of the countries with the most abundant bamboo forest resources in the world, and Zhejiang province is among the top-3 Chinese provinces with richest bamboo forests. For rational bamboo forests management, it is of great significance to study the spatiotemporal dynamic changes of Aboveground Carbon (AGC) stocks of bamboo forest in Zhejiang. In this study, remote sensing variables, such as spectral, vegetation indices and texture features of bamboo forest in Zhejiang, were extracted from 32 Landsat TM and OLI images got from four different years (2000, 2004, 2008 and 2014). These variables were subsequently selected with stepwise regression method to build an estimation model of AGC of the bamboo forests. The results showed that (1) the accuracy of bamboo forest remote sensing information extracted from the four different years was high with a classification accuracy of >76.26% and an accuracy of users of >91.62%. The classification area of bamboo forest was highly consistent with the area from forest resource inventory, and the area accuracy was over 96.50%; (2) the estimation model performed well in predicting the AGC in Zhejiang for different years. The correlation coefficient for estimated and measured AGC was between 63% and 72% with low root mean square error; (3) the derived AGC of the bamboo forests in Zhejiang province increased gradually from 2000 to 2014, with the AGC density of 6.75 Mg·ha−1, 10.95 Mg·ha−1, 15.25 Mg·ha−1 and 19.07 Mg·ha−1 respectively, and the average annual growth of 0.88 Mg·ha−1. The spatiotemporal evolution of bamboo forest AGC in Zhejiang province had a close relationship with the gradual expansion of bamboo forest in the province and the differentiation of management levels in different regions

Identification of microRNAs implicated in modulating resveratrol-induced apoptosis in porcine granulosa cells

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, noncoding RNAs that play a crucial role in the complex and dynamic network that regulates the apoptosis of porcine ovarian granulosa cells (POGCs). Resveratrol (RSV) is a nonflavonoid polyphenol compound that is involved in follicular development and ovulation. In previous study, we established a model of RSV treatment of POGCs, confirming the regulatory effect of RSV in POGCs. To investigate the miRNA-level effects of RSV on POGCs to reveal differentially expressed miRNAs, a control group (n = 3, 0 μM RSV group), a low RSV group (n = 3, 50 μM RSV group), and a high RSV group (n = 3, 100 μM RSV group) were created for small RNA-seq. In total, 113 differentially expressed miRNAs (DE-miRNAs) were identified, and a RT-qPCR analysis showed a correlation with the sequencing data. Functional annotation analysis revealed that DE-miRNAs in the LOW vs. CON group may be involved in cell development, proliferation, and apoptosis. In the HIGH vs. CON group, RSV functions were associated with metabolic processes and responses to stimuli, while the pathways were related to PI3K24, Akt, Wnt, and apoptosis. In addition, we constructed miRNA-mRNA networks related to Apoptosis and Metabolism. Then, ssc-miR-34a and ssc-miR-143-5p were selected as key miRNAs. In conclusion, this study provided an improved understanding of effects of RSV on POGCs apoptosis through the miRNA modulations. The results suggest that RSV may promote POGCs apoptosis by stimulating the miRNA expressions and provided a better understanding of the role of miRNAs combined with RSV in ovarian granulosa cell development in pigs