16 research outputs found

    3D numerical model for dynamic loading-induced multiple fracture zones around underground cavity faces

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    Three dimensional numerical modelling was used to examine the fracture responses around cavities in rock masses experiencing the stress of excavation. In addition to the primary fracture zone in the near-field, numerical modelling generated a second fracture zone in the far-field and an elastic non-fracture zone between the two fields, i.e., fracture and non-fracture zones occurred alternately around a deep cavity. Further research illustrated that the dynamic load and static stress gradient are two necessary precursors for a far-field fracture in the excavation process. Neither quasi-static loading nor homogeneous stress conditions could induce a far-field fracture. A simple theory is introduced, suggesting that multiple fracture zones occur during excavation due to both the initial stress gradient and the dynamic load. This finding indicates that it may be possible to induce continuous rock fractures in deep underground rock masses by employing optimal excavation methods to generate multiple contiguous fracture zones. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.Ming Tao, Xibing Li, Chengqing W

    Trends of the Major Porin Gene (ompF) Evolution: Insight from the Genus Yersinia

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    OmpF is one of the major general porins of Enterobacteriaceae that belongs to the first line of bacterial defense and interactions with the biotic as well as abiotic environments. Porins are surface exposed and their structures strongly reflect the history of multiple interactions with the environmental challenges. Unfortunately, little is known on diversity of porin genes of Enterobacteriaceae and the genus Yersinia especially. We analyzed the sequences of the ompF gene from 73 Yersinia strains covering 14 known species. The phylogenetic analysis placed most of the Yersinia strains in the same line assigned by 16S rDNA-gyrB tree. Very high congruence in the tree topologies was observed for Y. enterocolitica, Y. kristensenii, Y. ruckeri, indicating that intragenic recombination in these species had no effect on the ompF gene. A significant level of intra- and interspecies recombination was found for Y. aleksiciae, Y. intermedia and Y. mollaretii. Our analysis shows that the ompF gene of Yersinia has evolved with nonrandom mutational rate under purifying selection. However, several surface loops in the OmpF porin contain positively selected sites, which very likely reflect adaptive diversification Yersinia to their ecological niches. To our knowledge, this is a first investigation of diversity of the porin gene covering the whole genus of the family Enterobacteriaceae. This study demonstrates that recombination and positive selection both contribute to evolution of ompF, but the relative contribution of these evolutionary forces are different among Yersinia species
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