The relationships between vertical variations of shallow gas and pore water geochemical characteristics in boreholes from the inner shelf of the East China Sea

Shallow gas was widely recognized in the coastal region, especially in the estuarine delta areas with high organic matter (OM) burial flux. In this study, the vertical variations of shallow gas and the related geochemical indicators from two boreholes in the coastal region of the East China Sea (ECS) were investigated. Two gas-bearing layers were identified in the sediments from the Holocene and late Pleistocene series. Both boreholes exhibit a “typical” and an “inverse” Sulfate Methane Transition Zone (SMTZ). The “typical” SMTZs (SMTZ1 and SMTZ3) were in the upper part of the gas-bearing layers, where sulfate levels decrease and methane levels increase with depth. Conversely, the “inverse” SMTZs (SMTZ2 and SMTZ4) were in the lower part of the gas-bearing layers, exhibiting an increase in sulfate levels and a decrease in methane levels with depth, a phenomenon rarely documented in previous research. The downward variations of pore water geochemical characteristics indicates that these ions were related to Anaerobic Oxidation of Methane (AOM) processes. The increase in Ca2+ and Ba2+ concentrations and the gradual decrease in sulfate at the SMTZ reflect a series of biogeochemical processes resulting from the dissolution of carbonate and other minerals by AOM. The research indicates that sulfate in AOM may originate from multiple sources. Through analyzing the vertical distribution of shallow gas and the geochemical properties of pore water, this study elucidates the shallow gas formation mechanism and the features of the SMTZ, laying the groundwork for further investigations

Network traffic characteristics of hyperscale data centers in the era of cloud applications

We present the network architecture of Alibaba Cloud DCs and investigate their traffic characteristics based on statistical data and captured traces. The statistical coarse-grained data are in the granularity of one minute, while the captured traces are fine-grained data that are in the granularity of one packet. We study the traffic features from the perspective of a macroscopic view, network performance, and microscopic view. The results report that the average utilization ratio of spine switches is stable when the observation time period reaches one day and the intra-ToR traffic ratio is in the range of 2%-10%. By mapping the folded-Clos topology to a tree topology and considering logical switching planes, we obtain the traffic matrix among pods from the average port utilization ratio. As we further investigate the perspective of network performance and the microscopic view, we find that there is no cell loss happening as the normalized queue speed Q_s is lower than 0.4. The normalized queue speed Q_s is defined as the total bytes of a queue sent in 1 s divided by 100 Gb, which reflects the packet sending speed of the queue. The observed maximum buffer size for one port conforms with the calculated maximum buffer occupation of 2.8 MB. By analyzing the captured traces, we find that the packet length is subject to a trimodal distribution. Under a time granularity of 10 ms, the instant bandwidth of one ToR port could reach 96 Gb/s at an average load of around 0.2 under a maximum link bandwidth of 100 Gb/s.</p

Observations on the Hipparion Red Clays of the Loess Plateau

We discuss the history of exploration of Red Clay vertebrate fossils of the Loess Plateau, and record observations on “Hipparion Red Clay” localities of Shanxi and Gansu provinces. Red clay is widespread across the Loess Plateau, but misleading as a descriptive term because many deposits are neither red nor dominated by clay-size sediment. Many red clay sequences contain paleosols, but also water-laid deposits. Our survey includes well-known localities of Yushe Basin, Renjiagou and Leijiahe near Lingtai, and sites of Qingyang and Qin’an. We discuss fossils found at Renjiagou, a new discovery of micromammals (Pliopentalagus) from Yucun, and Pliocene burrows observed at Hu Jia Cun, both latter localities northeast of Lingtai. Observations are consistent with a high rate of supply of clay sized particles, likely air-fall origin, throughout the Loess Plateau during the late Miocene. In some areas where fluvial or lake processes dominate, red clay particles are replaced in part or completely by water-laid coarse-grained deposits. We saw no evidence for a dry Late Miocene-Early Pliocene, but rather hypothesize well-watered habitat of high productivity. Locally diverse vertebrate fossils attest to high terrestrial biomass for Hipparion faunas.Human Evolutionary Biolog

Flexible/Bendable Acoustofluidics Based on Thin Film Surface Acoustic Waves on Thin Aluminum Sheets

In this paper, we explore the acoustofluidic performance of zinc oxide (ZnO) thin-film surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices fabricated on flexible and bendable thin aluminum (Al) foils/sheets with thicknesses from 50 to 1500 μm. Directional transport of fluids along these flexible/bendable surfaces offers potential applications for the next generation of microfluidic systems, wearable biosensors and soft robotic control. Theoretical calculations indicate that bending under strain levels up to 3000 με causes a small frequency shift and amplitude change (&lt;0.3%) without degrading the acoustofluidic performance. Through systematic investigation of the effects of the Al sheet thickness on the microfluidic actuation performance for the bent devices, we identify the optimum thickness range to both maintain efficient microfluidic actuation and enable significant deformation of the substrate, providing a guide to design such devices. Finally, we demonstrate efficient liquid transportation across a wide range of substrate geometries including inclined, curved, vertical, inverted, and lateral positioned surfaces using a 200 μm thick Al sheet SAW device

Identification and validation of an immune-related gene prognostic signature for clear cell renal carcinoma

Clear Cell Renal Carcinoma (ccRCC) accounts for nearly 80% of renal carcinoma cases, and immunotherapy plays an important role in ccRCC therapy. However, the responses to immunotherapy and overall survival for ccRCC patients are still hard to predict. Here, we constructed an immune-related predictive signature using 19 genes based on TCGA datasets. We also analyzed its relationships between disease prognosis, infiltrating immune cells, immune subtypes, mutation load, immune dysfunction, immune escape, etc. We found that our signature can distinguish immune characteristics and predict immunotherapeutic response for ccRCC patients with better prognostic prediction value than other immune scores. The expression levels of prognostic genes were determined by RT-qPCR assay. This signature may help to predict overall survival and guide the treatment for patients with ccRCC

Thin film Gallium nitride (GaN) based acoustofluidic Tweezer: Modelling and microparticle manipulation.

Gallium nitride (GaN) is a compound semiconductor which shows advantages in new functionalities and applications due to its piezoelectric, optoelectronic, and piezo-resistive properties. This study develops a thin film GaN-based acoustic tweezer (GaNAT) using surface acoustic waves (SAWs) and demonstrates its acoustofluidic ability to pattern and manipulate microparticles. Although the piezoelectric performance of the GaNAT is compromised compared with conventional lithium niobate-based SAW devices, the inherited properties of GaN allow higher input powers and superior thermal stability. This study shows for the first time that thin film GaN is suitable for the fabrication of the acoustofluidic devices to manipulate microparticles with excellent performance. Numerical modelling of the acoustic pressure fields and the trajectories of mixtures of microparticles driven by the GaNAT was performed and the results were verified from the experimental studies using samples of polystyrene microspheres. The work has proved the robustness of thin film GaN as a candidate material to develop high-power acoustic tweezers, with the potential of monolithical integration with electronics to offer diverse microsystem applications.Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council Grant numbers: EP/P002803/1, EP/P018998/1, Natural Science Basic Research Program of Shaanxi Province/2020JQ-233, Fundamental Scientific Research of Central Universities/3102017OQD116, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council fellowship /EP/N01202X/2, Royal Society / IEC/NSFC/170142, IE161019, Natural Science Foundation of China/61704017, Dalian Science and Technology Innovation Fund/2018J11CY00

Diurnal RNAPII-tethered chromatin interactions are associated with rhythmic gene expression in rice

Background: The daily cycling of plant physiological processes is speculated to arise from the coordinated rhythms of gene expression. However, the dynamics of diurnal 3D genome architecture and their potential functions underlying the rhythmic gene expression remain unclear. Results: Here, we reveal the genome-wide rhythmic occupancy of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII), which precedes mRNA accumulation by approximately 2 h. Rhythmic RNAPII binding dynamically correlates with RNAPII-mediated chromatin architecture remodeling at the genomic level of chromatin interactions, spatial clusters, and chromatin connectivity maps, which are associated with the circadian rhythm of gene expression. Rhythmically expressed genes within the same peak phases of expression are preferentially tethered by RNAPII for coordinated transcription. RNAPII-associated chromatin spatial clusters (CSCs) show high plasticity during the circadian cycle, and rhythmically expressed genes in the morning phase and non-rhythmically expressed genes in the evening phase tend to be enriched in RNAPII-associated CSCs to orchestrate expression. Core circadian clock genes are associated with RNAPII-mediated highly connected chromatin connectivity networks in the morning in contrast to the scattered, sporadic spatial chromatin connectivity in the evening; this indicates that they are transcribed within physical proximity to each other during the AM circadian window and are located in discrete “transcriptional factory” foci in the evening, linking chromatin architecture to coordinated transcription outputs. Conclusion: Our findings uncover fundamental diurnal genome folding principles in plants and reveal a distinct higher-order chromosome organization that is crucial for coordinating diurnal dynamics of transcriptional regulation

Evolution and coupling of “seepage field and chemical field” under regional grouting disturbance

In Huaibei coalfield, the technology of ground directional drilling and high-pressure grouting is widely used to control the karst water disaster of coal measures floor. After grouting, the filling and drainage path of the seepage field changes, and the grouting high pressure and the slurry water will change the distribution characteristics of the groundwater seepage field and chemical field of the injected target aquifer in a certain period of time. Taking Taoyuan Coal Mine in Huaibei Coalfield as the research object, the evolution model of seepage field and chemical field (referred to as “double field”) of the target layer under regional grouting disturbance is built by using the software of Feflow, the coupling mechanism of “double field” is discussed, and the Cl− which is less affected by the environment is selected as the simulation factor, and the analysis of the factors affecting solute transport under the “double field” coupling effect is carried out. On this basis, the mathematical model of solute diffusion under regional grouting disturbance is constructed. The results show that in the seepage field model after identification and verification, 71.9% of the points where the error between the simulated water level and the measured water level is less than 3m, and the simulation effect is good; Among the identified and verified chemical field models, the simulation effect of solute transport in mining area II4 is good, and the simulation value in mining area II1 is about 14.4 mg/L lower, with an error of about 6.6% of the actual value, less than 10%. The overall simulation effect is good. The Cl− in mining area II4 and II2 with relatively high permeability coefficient is easy to migrate and diffuse, while the rock in mining area II1 with low permeability coefficient is dense and has poor permeability. During the 50 years of model operation, it basically exists in the state of “stagnant water”. Based on the evolution characteristics of local seepage field in II4 mining area under grouting disturbance, it is considered that solute transport is mainly controlled by permeability coefficient, dispersion, hydraulic gradient, seepage velocity, grouting time, slurry specific gravity and other parameters. It is found that the concentration of Cl− reaches a peak within 18−22 years after the completion of grouting, and then begins to decrease, and reaching the equilibrium state before regional grouting approximately 40 years later. Based on the data obtained from multiple parameter setting operations, a mathematical model of solute diffusion under the “double field” coupling is established. The data with error rate less than 10% accounts for 81.4%, which indicates that the established mathematical model of solute diffusion is basically reliable. This study can provide scientific basis for the study of the water environment evolution of the injected target aquifer under the regional grouting disturbance and the prediction and early warning of coal mine water disasters, and has important theoretical and practical significance