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In the present study, we explored the perceptual span of typically developing Chinese children in Grade 3 (G3) during their reading of age-appropriate sentences, utilizing the gaze contingent moving window paradigm. Overall, these Chinese children had a smaller perceptual span than adults, covering only one character leftward and two characters rightward of the currently fixated one. In addition, individual differences in reading ability (i.e., number of characters correctly read aloud per minute) influenced the size of the perceptual span. Fluent readers' reading and eye-movement parameters benefited from previewing the third upcoming characters, whereas non-fluent readers reached their asymptotic performances in a smaller window revealing rightwards by only two characters. These results suggest that the perceptual span is modulated dynamically by reading ability. Non-fluent readers need to focus their attention on foveal words, leading to narrowed perceptual span and reduced parafoveal processing.

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The construction and protection of tunnels in karst areas face many difficulties and challenges. The Wulong tunnel, which is located in a karst area in Southwest China, was s elected as an case study to analyze and evaluate the corrosion of tunnel rock under different environmental conditions. A series of field and laboratory experiments aimed at studying the impact of temperature and flow rate on tunnel rock corrosion was conducted, and the results were analyzed in terms of total corrosion amount, corrosion rate, and the features and mechanisms of the chemical and physical corrosion processes. The key factors affecting the chemical and physical corrosion processes were also determined. A mathematical expression for the corrosion rate as a function of the flow rate and temperature was constructed from the experimental results, and this mathematical model was then used to analyze tunnel rock corrosion under field environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of the fissures in soluble rock of karst areas directly affects the construction and operation safety of tunnel engineering. It is thus of theoretical and practical significance to study the characteristics of its corrosion and its influencing factors. Taking the Wulong tunnel as the research object, the numerical model of the study area was established to quantitatively analyze the corrosion range, corrosion ratio, and changes in the permeability and porosity of the fissures in soluble rock of karst areas of the tunnel over the past 100 years, and the simulation results were verified by field experiments. The results show that the main controlling factor of the fissure corrosion of the tunnel in the karst area is the flow rate. The corrosion range and corrosion ratio of the fissures of the tunnels in the karst area increased with temperature because the reaction rate constant increased with temperature, causing the reactions’ equilibrium to move towards the direction of the solution. The larger the initial permeability and the larger the porosity of the fissures, the faster the fissures corrode. In the same time period, the fissures with high permeability and large porosity will lead to the permeability and porosity being more enhanced, thus causing the corrosion of the fissures to exhibit secondary enhancement effects. The opening of the dead-end pores greatly enhanced the permeability and slightly increased the porosity, which caused the differential corrosion of fissures in the karst area. The protection of the tunnel should be strengthened, mainly in strong hydrodynamic conditions and in the fracture development zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil shale samples were obtained from Nong'an oil shale ore-bearing area which was located in the southeastern uplift of Songliao basin, China. The XRD test for oil shale identified the minerals in it and a series of water-rock interaction experiment between oil shale-water and oil shale ash-water were carried out to the study the release of organic matter from groundwater during oil shale in-situ exploitation. The content of phenol, BTEX, TOC and TPH in oil shale and oil shale ash aqueous solution were determined. The phenol and TOC in oil shale aqueous solution were higher than that of oil shale ash aqueous solution, conversely, more BTEX and TPH were existed in oil shale ash aqueous solution. The reaction temperature had significant influence on phenol, TOC and TPH in oil shale aqueous solution, which was not obvious in oil shale ash aqueous solution. Besides, the TOC average content in oil shale aqueous solution gradually increased along with the reaction time. The results show that not only oil shale in situ mining process make groundwater organic pollution aggravate but also continuous pollution of groundwater caused by the residual oil shale ash still exist. Image 10327 • The water-rock interaction in the in-situ oil shale exploitation was simulated. • Both oil shale and residual oil shale ash would release organic pollutant to water. • More TOC and TPH were released into the water along with the reaction time and temperature. • Organic pollution of groundwater would be aggravated by in-situ mining of oil shale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluating the carbon cycling driven by aerobic oxidation of methane (AeOM) in surface marine sediments and calculating the CH 4 flux to the seawater is critical for assessing the risk of greenhouse gas emission, as well as exploring for gas field. This study provides quantitative results of carbon cycling in the aerobic zone of the Bohai Sea, China, and the function of AeOM for CH 4 interception via numerical simulations constrained by laboratory experiments. TOUGH + HR, an integrated simulation package, was used to numerically characterize the microbial AeOM, which couples water/gas transport and biogeochemistry. Based on the laboratory experiments and measured data in the Bohai Sea, a one-dimensional column conceptual model was constructed and solved by TOUGH + HR. The results show that when the upward CH 4 flux into the aerobic zone is between 4.5 × 10−9 and 4.8 × 10−9 kg/s/m2, the simulated dissolved methane matched the measured data well. Under this condition, most of the CH 4 source flux (18.63 mmol·carbon/m2/day) was oxidized to dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), which finally discharged into the seawater with the flux of 18.44 mmol·carbon/m2/day, while only a tiny part of CH 4 leaked into the seawater with the flux of 0.0003 mmol·carbon/m2/day. Therefore, it can be concluded that the aerobic zone in the sediments intercepts the majority of CH 4 , which mitigates the greenhouse gas emission from marine sediments. At the same time, the sensitivity analyses in this study indicate that carbon cycling is affected by methane flux and temperature, which influences the proportion of carbon sources and sinks. The results have important guidance for gas exploration and carbon cycling when the AeOM in the aerobic zone is considered. • The kinetic parameters used to simulate the microbial AeOM were calibrated by laboratory experiments. • The flux of CH 4 leaking into the aerobic zone in the sediment of the study site was estimated. • The carbon cycling mode in the aerobic zone was quantitatively analyzed. • Sensitivity analysis of carbon cycling to CH 4 flux and temperature under AeOM was conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• New strategy for evaluating groundwater resource quantity in freeze/thaw mountains. • Divide groundwater resource calculation unit (GCU) based on the flow system theory. • Divide groundwater resource calculation period (GCP) based on freeze/thaw process. • Groundwater resource quantity in different GCUs and GCPs were determined. Mountainous areas that experience seasonal freeze/thaw are distributed worldwide, and the impact of freeze/thaw processes on the groundwater cycle is substantial. For these mountainous areas, the rational division of two key parameters, namely, the groundwater resource quantity calculation unit (GCU) and groundwater resource quantity calculation period (GCP), is a prerequisite for the scientific evaluation of groundwater resource quantity. This is especially important for the Changbai Mountains in Jilin Province, China, which have a distinct geology formed by volcanic processes and have experienced soil seasonal freeze/thaw cycle, implying drastic impacts on the spatiotemporal distribution of groundwater resources. Based on the groundwater flow system theory and considering the influences of freeze/thaw cycles on the groundwater resource quantity, we propose a new strategy to deal with the division of GCUs and GCPs. Three first-level GCUs, eight second-level GCUs, and fifty third-level GCUs were delineated within the Changbai Mountains. Five GCPs were then determined, and the spatiotemporal distribution of groundwater resource quantity was calculated for the different GCUs and GCPs. The groundwater resource quantity in the five GCPs (no freezing, unstable freezing, stable freezing, unstable melting, and stable melting periods) accounted for 62.25%, 11.51%, 11.58%, 5.05%, and 9.61% of the total, respectively. The results provide a scientific basis for the exploitation of groundwater resource in different regions and periods of the study area, and the proposed method offers a new reference strategy for the evaluation of groundwater resource in similar regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Gonghe geothermal field, northeastern Tibetan Plateau, China, is considered to be a potential target development area for Hot Dry Rock (HDR) resources, where the first Chinese Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) research project is likely to be located. This area has formed typical layered geothermal reservoirs in a sedimentary basin with an anomalously high geothermal gradient (more than 55 °C/km), and the hydrothermal systems at different depths are connected by hidden faults. To investigate the geothermal structure and geochemical characteristics, water samples from the Gonghe geothermal field were collected and measured. The method of Integrated Multicomponent Geothermometry (IMG) was used to analyse the mixing processes and to estimate the reservoir temperatures. Due to significant differences in the Al and Mg concentrations between shallow and deep reservoirs, the IMG method, which uses measured and optimized values to reconstruct the composition of shallow and deep geothermal water, was successfully applied to constrain the mixing processes. This study predicted three typical geothermal reservoirs at different depths, and it quite accurately estimated the reservoir temperatures. The methodology of the present work can also be used in other geothermal fields with similar geological and geothermal conditions, to reconstruct the original deep and shallow water compositions from mixing processes, estimate reservoir temperatures, and build conceptual geothermal reservoir models. • The geothermal structure and geochemical characteristics are investigated. • The method estimated quite accurately reservoir temperatures is proposed. • The mixing processes have been successfully dealt by the concentration of Al and Mg. • Measured and optimized values are used to water composition reconstruction. • Three typical geothermal reservoirs have been predicted with different depths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to various geological, hydrogeological conditions and human activities, groundwater of different regions has distinct hydrochemical characteristics. The harmful chemical components of groundwater affect human health, and thus, the groundwater quality health risk assessment (GQHR) is important to local residents. It is vital to select GQHR factors combined with hydrochemical features, and to explore their formation, concentration characteristics and the prominent controlling role of influencing risk distribution from natural and human reasons. The factors of NO 3 - , NO 2 - , NH 4 + and F - were extracted as assessment factors to evaluate the GQHR. The factors NO 3 - , NO 2 - and NH 4 + are derived by human activities and F - stems from irrigation of geogenic high-fluoride groundwater and fertilizer use. The results of GQHR showed the risk order as children > adult females > adult males. The low- and medium-risk regions correspond to high groundwater levels, which are mainly controlled by natural factors. The high-risk regions located in eastern part of the study area, which were affected by both natural and human reasons. The targeted measures to prevent the increase of groundwater health risk caused by different dominant controlling effects were put forward. The research provides a scientific basis for the safety of groundwater supply and environmental exposure in this area. The research ideas and methods can be a reference for similar studies., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Background: Occupational health and safety (OHS) training is an important way to prevent construction safety risks. However, the effectiveness of OHS training in China is questionable. In this study, the CHAID (chi-squared automatic interaction detection) decision tree, chi-square analysis, and correlation analysis were used to explore the main, secondary, weak, unrelated, and expectation factors affecting the effectiveness of training. It is the first to put forward the "five-factor method" of training effectiveness. It is found that training effectiveness is positively correlated with job responsibilities, OHS training, and job satisfaction. It is also significantly related to job certificate, training time, training method, and working time. However, the effectiveness of training has nothing to do with personal age, marital status, educational level, job type, and whether or not they have experienced industrial accidents. And the workers on site expect the enterprise to provide security and opportunities such as physical safety, training and learning, and future career development. The results show that OHS system training should be strengthened in the construction industry, and classified training should be carried out according to post responsibility, training methods, job satisfaction, and working hours., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Cao, Chen and Cao.)