Stability Mechanism and Control Factors on Equipment Removal Area under “Goaf-Roof-Coal” Structure

One of the main difficulties in longwall mining (LM) is the movement of mining equipment from one panel to the next panel during mining process. The shields of the LM face may be damaged by the collapse of the roof in shallow coal seam under the “Goaf-Roof-Coal” (GRC) structure, especially when moving the shields from the current panel to the next panel. In order to solve this problem, the stability mechanism and its control factors during the LM equipment removal were investigated by using comprehensive methods including theoretical analysis, numerical simulation, and field validation based on the working conditions of Panel 31102 in Liangshuijing Coal Mine. The numerical simulations demonstrate that four different failure zones, shear failure zone, tension failure zone, partly elastic zone, and plastic failure zone, appear around the area due to the position of rock and the arrangements of the supports. The shear failure zone, which is controlled by shield working resistance and roof supporting strength, is the main cause of the failure in the removal area. To minimize the shear failure zone, several measures such as optimizing the end position for LM face, decreasing the width of removal area, and increasing the amount of cable support were taken to ensure the stability of surrounding rock in removal area, which have successfully controlled the damage of roof and equipment in Panel 31102. The field observation confirms that the proposed stability mechanism and control measures are effective under GRC structure

A Novel Carbon Dioxide Phase Transition Rock Breaking Technology: Theory and Application of Non-Explosive Blasting

As a non-explosive low-disturbance rock breaking technology, carbon dioxide phase transition blasting (CDPTB) is widely used in rock breaking projects such as pressure relief and permeability enhancement in coal mines, open-pit mining, road subgrade excavation, foundation pit excavation, etc. In this paper, the principle and equipment of CDPTB are systematically analyzed, and the characteristics of a reusable fracturing tube and disposable fracturing tube are determined. Different energy calculation methods are analyzed to determine the magnitude or equivalent explosive equivalent of CDPTB. According to the characteristics of impact stress wave and high-pressure gas, the cracking mechanism of CDPTB is proposed. Under the action of medium-impact stress, rock mass will produce multi-point cracking, and high-pressure gas will produce a gas wedge effect in the initial fracture, which determines the comprehensive action path of the stress wave and high-pressure gas. In terms of fracture characteristics, the fractal method is used to evaluate the macroscopic crack and fragment, microscopic fracture and pore characteristics. In terms of vibration characteristics, the attenuation law of CDPTB vibration with distance is statistically analyzed, and the Hilbert–Huang transform method is used to analyze the time–frequency characteristics of CDPTB. This rock breaking technology can be widely used in different projects, and the existing problems and future challenges are put forward

Study of the Stability Control of Rock Surrounding Longwall Recovery Roadways in Shallow Seams

The rock pressure appearance of longwall faces in shallow seams is generally violent, and roofs and supports are susceptible to damage during equipment extraction. Stability control of the rock surrounding longwall recovery roadways allows safe and rapid equipment extraction. Herein, via theoretical analysis, numerical simulations, and field observations, the stability control of the rock surrounding recovery roadways is studied to ensure the release of the accumulated rock pressure on the roof, the working resistance of the supports and the reasonableness of the recovery roadway support design. Pressure-relief technology is introduced to release the accumulated rock pressure before equipment extraction, and a discriminative approach is proposed to determine the breaking and articulated forms of key strata and broken blocks, respectively. On this basis, mechanical models of roof instability are established based on four key stratum structures in the overburden of shallow seams. Methods for calculating a reasonable working resistance for supports are discussed. Finally, Liangshuijing Coal Mine and Fengjiata Coal Mine are taken as research objects to evaluate the roof stability of recovery roadways based on observations of weighting characteristics. The support working resistances and reasonable recovery roadway widths under three key stratum structures are determined. Considering the time effect of plastic zone development, the support design of recovery roadways is optimized. FLAC2D software simulates the surrounding rock control effect of two support designs, and roof subsidence curves are obtained. The results show that the key to equipment extraction in shallow seams is to ensure that supports have reasonable working resistances and to improve the support of recovery roadways. The results provide a reference for the selection and extraction of supports in shallow seam faces

Optimal Layout Methods for Deep Chamber to Separate Coal and Gangue Based on the Weak Stratum Horizon

Aiming at the optimal layout of a deep chamber for coal–gangue separation (DCCS) based on the weak stratum horizon, an in-depth study was carried out by combining field investigations, model tests, and numerical simulations. Firstly, the main structural characteristics of DCCS were summarized. Then, the deformation and failure law for rocks surrounding DCCS were revealed under different horizons in the weak stratum. Finally, the optimal layout methods of DCCS based on the thickness and horizon in the weak stratum were determined in different in situ stresses, using the proposed comprehensive evaluation method for surrounding-rock stability. The results show that if the thickness of the weak stratum was small, the side near the roof of DCCS should be arranged along the weak stratum when the lateral pressure coefficient was λ λ > 1. The side near the floor of DCCS was arranged along the weak stratum when 0.6 ≤ λ ≤ 1 and the surrounding-rock stability was the best. If the thickness of the weak stratum was large, the side of DCCS should be arranged along the weak stratum when λ λ > 1. The floor of DCCS was arranged along the weak stratum when 0.6 ≤ λ ≤ 1, which was most favorable for the surrounding-rock control. The research results have important guiding significance for the spatial layout and support design of DCCS

Droplet-Confined Electroless Deposition of Silver Nanoparticles on Ordered Superhydrophobic Structures for High Uniform SERS Measurements

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopy (SERS) is a nondestructive testing technique. To increase reproducibility of the SERS measurement is the key issue for improving the performance of SERS. In this article, we demonstrate an efficient method to improve the reproducibility, using confined silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as a substrate. The AgNPs are formed uniformly on the tops of the prepared nanopillars by droplet-confined electroless deposition on the hydrophobic Si nanopillar arrays. The AgNPs present an excellent reproducibility in Raman measurement; the relative standard deviation is down to 3.40%. There exists a great linear correlation between the concentration of Rhodamine 6G (R6G) and the Raman intensity in the log–log plot; <i>R</i>² is 0.998, indicating that this SERS substrate can be applied for the quantitative SERS analysis. Meanwhile, the minimum detection concentration is down to 10^–11 M on the hydrophobic substrate, with R6G as a probe molecule

Interleukin 16 contributes to gammaherpesvirus pathogenesis by inhibiting viral reactivation.

Gammaherpesviruses have evolved various strategies to take advantage of host cellular factors or signaling pathways to establish a lifelong latent infection. Like the human gammaherpesvirus Epstein-Barr virus, murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV68) establishes and maintains latency in the memory B cells during infection of laboratory mice. We have previously shown that MHV68 can immortalize fetal liver-derived B cells that induce lymphomas when injected into immunodeficient mice. Here we identify interleukin 16 (IL16) as a most abundantly expressed cytokine in MHV68-immortalized B cells and show that MHV68 infection elevates IL16 expression. IL16 is not important for MHV68 lytic infection but plays a critical role in MHV68 reactivation from latency. IL16 deficiency increases MHV68 lytic gene expression in MHV68-immortalized B cells and enhances reactivation from splenic latency. Correlatively, IL16 deficiency increases the frequency of MHV68-infected plasma cells that can be attributed to enhanced MHV68 reactivation. Furthermore, similar to TPA-mediated lytic replication of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus, IL16 deficiency markedly induces Tyr705 STAT3 de-phosphorylation and elevates p21 expression, which can be counteracted by the tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor orthovanadate. Importantly, orthovanadate strongly blocks MHV68 lytic gene expression mediated by IL16 deficiency. These data demonstrate that virus-induced IL16 does not directly participate in MHV68 lytic replication, but rather inhibits virus reactivation to facilitate latent infection, in part through the STAT3-p21 axis