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Based on the damage characteristics of multistage shear creep in weak intercalated layers (carbonaceous mud shale) of slopes under the influence of dynamic disturbance, the effective bearing area method was used. A new coupled damage equation (dynamic disturbance damage, shear creep damage, and initial damage) was established through further derivation, and its applicability was demonstrated. The calculation method for the relevant coupled damage degrees was also provided. Furthermore, by targeting the three coupled damage factors and extending the Kachanov damage law, a time-dependent damage evolution equation for weak intercalated layers under the influence of the three coupled damage effects was established. The influence of different dynamic disturbance intensities on the evolution of multistage shear creep damage in weak intercalated layers of slopes under the influence of coupled damage effects was analysed. The results show that the damage to the rock mass caused by dynamic disturbance mainly occurs in the low-frequency stage (40–80 Hz). The instantaneous damage caused by dynamic disturbance to the shear plane of weak intercalated layers is not only affected by the intensity of the dynamic disturbance but also limited by the magnitude of the shear creep load. The influence of the dynamic disturbance intensity on the entire process of multistage shear creep damage of weak intercalated layers was analysed. With increasing of dynamic disturbance intensity, the cumulative coupled damage at the end of shear creep at all levels gradually exhibits linear evolution. The time-dependent coupling damage evolution process of weak intercalated layers was quantitatively characterized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bottom vacuum preloading (BVP) is the method of applying vacuum pressure at the bottom zone of soils to generate pore-water pressure difference between the top and bottom boundaries, thereby achieving the consolidation drainage. This study conducted a large-size model test to explore the engineering feasibility of combining self-weight and BVP to treat construction waste slurry (CWS). Through the treatment of the measures of self-weight consolidation (0–26 d) and BVP with a water cover (26–78 d), the average water content of CWS declined from 255.6% to 115.9%, and the volume reduction ratio reached 0.476. However, since these two measures could properly treat only the bottom CWS, the measures of BVP with the mud cover (78–141 d) and the natural air-drying (141–434 d) were performed to further decrease the CWS water content near the upper zone. The latter two-stage measures reduced the average water content of CWS to 84.9% and increased the volume reduction ratio to 0.581. Moreover, the measurements suggested that the treated CWS largely exhibited a shear strength of 10 kPa or more. Overall, the proposed approach appeared some engineering feasibility to treat CWS, and the performed test study could act as a reference for the practical treatment of CWS. • Treatment mechanisms of CWS under self-weight and BVP were introduced in detail. • A first large-size model test for treating CWS under self-weight and BVP was conducted. • Total volume reduction ratio of CWS had reached 0.581 after the large-size model test. • Treatment method of combining self-weight and BVP exhibited some engineering feasibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cement-treated dredged mud mixture is suitable for backfill in earthwork projects because of its high water content and flowability. Incorporating geogrid can enhance the mixture's tensile strength. Constructing with cement-treated mud at greater heights generates curing stress, affecting the interface with geogrid. Pullout tests were performed to analyze the impact of curing stress, water content, and cement content on the interface performance. Results showed similar pullout force-displacement curves regardless of curing stress, indicating strain-softening behavior. Higher water content resulted in decreased pullout forces, while higher cement content led to increased pullout forces. Samples under curing stress exhibited increased peak pullout forces ranging from 2% to 70% compared to samples without curing stress. The rate of increase in pullout force because of curing stress decreased with higher water or cement contents. Curing stress influenced the interface friction angle in specimens with water contents 1.5 and 2 times the liquid limit. It significantly affected the interface cohesion in samples with water contents 2.5 times the liquid limit. Samples subjected to curing stress demonstrated a higher apparent friction coefficient, with an average increase ranging from 4% to 43%, which decreased with higher water content and lower cement content, regardless of curing stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the areas of aerospace and military industry, wheeled vehicles are expected to have the ability of passing various ground surfaces, including lunar soil, sand, marsh, mud flat, etc. This makes vehicle trafficability on soft ground become a very hot research topic. There are very a few difficulties in the present research of vehicle trafficability on soft ground, such as obtaining wheel-ground interaction information, inaccurate identification of soil mechanical characteristics parameters, and single evaluation index. In this paper, a novel approach of evaluating the vehicle trafficability on soft ground using wheel force information is proposed. As parts of the proposed approach, the methods of obtaining wheel force information, identification of soil mechanical characteristics parameters and integated method of trafficability evaluation, are discussed in detail. The proposed approach was validated through a practical test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Red mud (RM) and diamond wire saw silicon waste (DWSSW) are two kinds of hazardous waste produced in industry, and it is urgent to treat it to recycle valuable resources and protect the environment. In this study, a process is proposed to treat both wastes simultaneously, where the Fe2O3 in the RM is reduced by Si in the DWSSW to prepare the Si–Fe alloy. The feasibility of reduction of RM by DWSW was identified through thermodynamic analysis. The effects of the proportion of DWSSW and holding time on the recovery rate of Fe was systematically studied. The recovery rate of Fe reached 94.37 pct under optimal conditions. The recovery process mechanism has been investigated by analyzing the SiO2 layer removal and micromorphology. The alloy was purified by electromagnetic directional solidification, which further improved its application value. This process is environmentally friendly and simple and converts DWSSW and RM into valuable alloys and harmless slag, which provides a novel approach for the simultaneous utilization of the two kinds of wastes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several mechanisms were postulated to reduce drilling problems, improve hole cleaning characteristics, and keep the bit in good condition for the second usage. This study was conducted on Majnoon Field in southeastern Iraq to optimize the bit and drilling parameters. The results indicated that the 16" SFD75D bit proved the preferred bit for both vertical and deviated wells due to its directional capabilities. MMD and MME were the best bit types for 12.25" and 8.5" sections and proved more successful than the FX and EQ types. The maximum weight on bit (WOB), Round per Minute (RPM), mud weight, and flow rate must be 25.45–73 klbs, 50-179.22, 10.5–10.8 ppg, and 662–940 gpm respectively, according to the drilling section. The wells with the J-shape showed a better penetration rate (increased 50–100%) and steadier torque than those with the S-shape for all drilling sections, with some deviations in the Shiranish, Sadi, and Tanuma Formations. The wells in the south have a sliding percentage of drilling hours more than in the north of the Field, and the inclination of the wells in the south was generally more stable and had lower hydraulics requirements than in the north of the Field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mud pants have protected Finnish preschool children from dirt and water for many years. However, children do not like to wear them and educators in preschools feel that mud pants cause hard work. This contradiction made us wonder with mud pants. Drawing on relational–material approaches, we understand mud pants as material agent and ask the following question: How mud pants act as material agent in everyday relations in preschool? Our wondering showed that mud pants act as material agent since they create different actions within non-human and human relations. Children in their mud pants strengthen the discourse of happy, clean and healthy outdoor child. However, mud pants limit children’s bodies and cause discomfort, making it hard for them to perform happy childhoods. We argue that it is necessary to think with mud pants and other material agents in preschool to make the material discourses more visible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, red mud and bismuth oxide containing coated fabrics were produced and examined to form gamma-radiation shield alternatives to lead competitors. For this purpose, several types of reference and composite-polymer coated samples were designed as mono-layer, multilayer or alternating layer coated samples. According to the results, gamma-radiation shielding of base and coated reference samples were 3.28% at most. Adding red mud and bismuth oxide to the coating formulations, singularly or as combinations, increased gamma-radiation absorption properties up to 38.8% for single-ply coated fabrics, depending on all the additive types and amounts, radiation sources, and testing distances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), a minority of patients have access to a suitable human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched related donor (MRD). To fill this gap, matched unrelated donors (MUDs) are an increasingly selected donor source. Usage and outcomes after MUD HCT for Canada are not described. We investigated temporal trends in MUD compared to MRD HCT from 2000 to 2019 using data reported to the Cell Therapy and Transplant Canada (CTTC) Registry. Of 7571 first allogeneic HCTs between 2000 and 2019, the proportion of MUD HCTs rose from 35.1% to 56.3% in the early (2000–2009) and later (2010–2019) eras, respectively. Comparing the two donor sources, the 5-year overall survival (OS) after MUD HCT for patients with malignant diseases was inferior to MRD HCT in the early era (p < 0.001). However, in the later era, OS was comparable for the two donor sources (p = 0.969). For patients with non-malignant diseases, the 5-year OS after MUD HCT was inferior to MRD in the early era (p < 0.001), but in the later era, the 5-year OS was similar between the two donor sources (p = 0.209). Improvements in OS after MUD HCT were accompanied by corresponding reductions in the 2-year non-relapse mortality after MUD HCT. We conclude that MUDs are the most common donor source in Canada, and key clinical outcomes after MUD have improved over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mud deposition is acknowledged as a significant contributor to delta architecture, yet its role is often oversimplified as a constant parameter in models of delta formation. A better understanding of mud retention on deltas would resolve remaining questions regarding delta growth. This study explores how spatiotemporally varied mud retention facilitates sustained delta growth in defiance of the concept of autoretreat, that is, the idea that shoreline progradation rates decline as a delta grows due to the expansion of subaqueous and subaerial delta surfaces. This research is inspired by prior field observations of the river‐dominated Mississippi Delta, USA, where the shoreline of a ca 6000 to 8000 km2 subdelta prograded at a constant rate for roughly a millennium, despite its expanding delta surface, compaction and sea‐level rise. For this, a laterally averaged one‐dimensional numerical model is leveraged to test hypotheses that enhanced mud retention with time in: (i) the delta bottomset; and (ii) the delta plain (floodplain) supports a constant rate of shoreline progradation in a maturing delta. Results demonstrate that enhanced mud retention in both the bottomset and delta plain facilitates sustained delta growth. Neither component by itself can replicate the case study. Yet, with these two integrated components, the model reproduces the cross‐section and linearly prograding pattern observed in the Mississippi Delta. The findings provide an autogenic mechanism for sustained delta growth and support the importance of mud as a fundamental building block of deltas that should be incorporated in delta‐growth models of engineered river diversions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sedimental oil/gas reservoirs often exhibit transversely isotropic poroelastic characteristics. Neglecting this anisotropic nature may lead to suboptimal predictions of wellbore stability. The time-dependent wellbore failure phenomenon is closely associated with pore pressure variation. Therefore, two extreme cases were considered to constrain the time-dependent safe mud window: (1) undrained Short-term immediately after drilling, and (2) drained Long-term (assuming steady-state pore pressure field). In this study, analytical Short- and Long-term stress solutions for a horizontal well drilled along the minimum horizontal principal stress direction in a transversely isotropic formation are derived. Then combined with the 3D shear and tensile failure criteria, the Short- and Long-term safe mud windows are obtained and compared with the common impermeable model neglecting pore pressure variation. Model results indicated that the impermeable model incorrectly estimates the Short- and Long-term safe mud windows, highlighting the importance of considering anisotropic pore pressure variation and poroelastic effects. In the Short-term case, stress redistribution induces abnormal undrained pore pressure and then wellbore pressure influences the anisotropic undrained response, differing from that in isotropic formations. In the Long-term case, anisotropic permeability significantly aggravates wellbore shear and tensile failure potentials. Ultimately, the Long-term case gets the narrowest allowable wellbore pressure bounds compared to the impermeable and Short-term cases. The analytical method can serve as a reference for time-dependent wellbore stability in transversely isotropic poroelastic formations. Highlights: Short- and Long-term analytical stress solutions including axial stress component for a horizontal well drilled along the minimum horizontal principal stress direction in a transversely isotropic formation considering pore pressure variation are derived. A safe mud window to prevent shear and tensile failure is obtained in the Short- and Long-term cases. Undrained pore pressure and stress field immediately after drilling and influencing factors are investigated. Long-term case gets the narrowest safe mud window compared with the Short-term and impermeable cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Railway Construction Technology is the property of Railway Construction Technology Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article "Benthic Indicators for Monitoring Bottom‐Trawl Fishing Impacts" discusses the evaluation of 18 indicators to assess the state of benthic communities in shelf seas affected by bottom trawling. The study found distinct clusters of indicators with similar response patterns and identified the most sensitive indicator to bottom‐trawling pressure. The research aims to provide a broader understanding of benthic indicators' applicability in various geographic regions. [Extracted from the article]

There is a need for treatments that can reduce cravings in methamphetamine use disorder (MUD), which is trending upwards worldwide. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of modafinil treatment on substance craving in patients with MUD. The study included 100 patients with MUD who were being treated in an inpatient detoxification center. Patients were divided into two groups as modafinil group (MG) (n = 51) and non-modafinil group (NMG) (n = 49) and compared with each other in terms of sociodemographic data, severity of addiction, change in craving scores on the 1st, 7th and 14th days. The change in craving scores during the first week was found to be significantly greater in the modafinil group (MG) compared to the non-modafinil group (NMG) (p < .001), indicating that modafinil effectively reduced methamphetamine cravings within the first week of treatment. When the changes in craving levels were compared between the groups in the first and second week, the difference between the groups was not statistically significant (p > .05). The mean substance craving scores at hospitalization were higher in MG than NMG (p < .001). Modafinil may be beneficial in the treatment of MUD, especially when used in the first weeks of treatment, especially in patients with higher cravings at baseline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the course of pipe jacking construction, the carrying-soil effect frequently arises, influenced by factors such as excavation unloading, ongoing disturbance from successive pipe sections, and the progressive accumulation of soil adhesion. The pipe jacking slurry serves as a critical agent for friction reduction and strata support, essential for the secure advancement of the construction process. This study introduces the Microbial-Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation (MICP) technology into the realm of pipe jacking slurry, aiming to enhance its friction-reduction capabilities and the stability of the soil enveloping the pipe. An optimal MICP-slurry formulation was determined using the uniform design approach. Subsequent model tests were carried out to assess the friction-reducing efficacy of the MICP-slurry, while the mechanism by which the MICP-slurry reinforces strata stability was investigated through soil mechanics and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses. The findings indicate that the optimal MICP-slurry composition is as follows: bentonite: sodium carboxymethyl cellulose: soda ash: polyacrylamide: xanthan gum = 12%: 0.31%: 0.36%: 0.25%: 0.54%. The MICP-slurry achieves a 42.2% reduction in the friction coefficient between the test block and the sand. In comparison with the untreated sample, the cohesion of the MICP-treated sample is enhanced by 38.12%, and the internal friction angle increases by 14.01%. SEM examination reveals that the calcium carbonate crystals precipitated by the MICP-slurry within the soil populate the pores, increase the inter-particle bite force, and bolster the soil's mechanical characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes a new analytical method using strain energy to predict the mud weight window (MWW) to safely use in oil well drilling design and operations. Derivation of MWW equation using strain energy, in both pre- and post-drilling states, is crucial to wellbore stability analysis and design. Thus at first, the determination of internal stored strain energy for two; pre- and post-drilling states have been formulated. Then, these formulas, based on strain energy balance, have been employed to wellbore wall. Accordingly, a method to determine the MWW has been developed and proposed. To evaluate the credibility of the present developed method for MWW determination, the result has been compared with the actual drilling mud pressure that was used in the field. Then, the results of this method has been compared with the existing MWW determination methods, which are based on failure criteria. The results of comparative analyses, have shown very good accord with both cases. Finally, it has been shown that when the pore pressure and horizontal in situ stresses' difference is insignificant, the width of mud window becomes narrow. On the contrary, when the difference between pore pressure and horizontal stresses is significant, the width of the mud window becomes wider. In the latter case, the well remains stable in a wider range of mud pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wireline formation fluid sampling is extensively utilized to acquire downhole fluid samples. Due to mud filtrate invasion, enough time is required to pump out the formation fluid so that an acceptable level of contaminant is reached. Excessive cleanup time would increase costs and the risk of the testing tool becoming stuck within the drilling mud. The challenge lies in deciding what type of formation-tester probe should be used to ensure minimally contaminated measurements for a specific tool configuration and when the withdrawal sample is sufficiently purged of contaminants. A numerical simulator to simulate the virgin formation fluid sampling was developed, and the accuracy of the simulator was validated based on the spherical flow theory. Through running 2515 simulation cases, the effects of various operational and formation conditions on the breakthrough and pumpout times with three different probes (i.e., the standard probe, the elliptical probe, the elongated probe, and their corresponding 3D radial probes) were compared and analyzed quantitatively. We numerically investigated the key factors influencing the breakthrough and pumpout times and delved into the impact of the formation anisotropy. This study reveals the parameters that encompass the first-order effect on the breakthrough and pumpout times, enabling the determination of the probe-type selection and the early predictions of pumpout time. By leveraging these insights, sampling operations can be optimized to enhance sample quality, reduce operational time, and mitigate the risks associated with tool entrapment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Food Research & Development is the property of Food Research & Development Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Since Henri Frankfort first suggested that ancient Egyptian monumental mud brick construction, in particular the elaborate niched facades seen on tombs and palaces of the Archaic Period, had its roots in contemporary Mesopotamian architecture more than seventy years ago, a debate has persisted as to the veracity of the theory. Most recently it has been posited that the existence of the serekh, a representation of what is thought to be the façade of a royal palace that housed the king's name earlier, in the Predynastic Period, is evidence for a pre existing building tradition. However, an examination of the evidence does not support this, and an alternative explanation can be found in other types of construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Indian Caribbean folklore, a churile is the spirit of a woman who has died while pregnant or during childbirth. She is a 'jumbie' in limbo between the natural and supernatural realms. This article traces the migration of churile folklore from South Asia to the Caribbean and examines its relevance in Indian Caribbean culture today. I highlight how embodiments and evocations of the churile have been reinterpreted to navigate intergenerational trauma and reimagine Indian Caribbean femininity. Using four key examples — Vanessa Godden's performance film Churile (2016), Sabiyha Rasheed's song 'Choorile' (2020), Kevin Jared Hosein's short story 'Maiden of the Mud' (2016) and Ryan Persadie's drag persona Tifa Wine in his ongoing Coolieween project — I discuss how the churile becomes a potent symbol for confronting the legacies of indenture. These works transform the horrifying symbolism of the churile, using her to address historical and personal wounds, while expressing resilience and reclaiming agency, underscoring the enduring relevance of embodied experiences in shaping complex identities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combination of vacuum preloading and vertical drains provides an effective approach to the usage of dredged slurry for reclamation. However, the efficacy of this approach in improving soil quality is often impeded by clogging, a prevalent issue that frequently arises in the vicinity of Prefabricated Vertical Drains (PVD) during vacuum preloading. In addition to numerous efforts aimed at improving the performance of vacuum systems, this study conducts a pilot test to explore innovations in vertical drain types, including PVD, Filter Pipes (FP), and Sand Drains (SD). The monitoring data indicate that the use of SD is advantageous in mitigating the effects of clogging and enhancing the performance of vacuum consolidation techniques. Specifically, after 160 days of vacuum operation, the volumetric strains of dredged mud reached approximately 30.2%, 27.1%, and 23.1% for SD, FP, and PVD, respectively. The treated dredged mud exhibited disparate enhancements in physical properties and strength, reflecting the differential impacts of clogging phenomena among the cases of vertical drains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Iraqi Journal of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The traditional geophysical advanced detection methods, which necessitate the placement of transmitting and receiving devices on the tunnel face and the sidewall, encounters significant limitations when confronted with the challenges of water and mud inrush disasters in tunnel boring machine (TBM) tunnels. Given the constraints of efficiency and limited construction space, a vector resistivity monitoring technology is proposed, which involves arranging the current electrodes on the surface and measuring electrodes on TBM. Based on finite element method with unstructured tetrahedral grids, a three-dimensional geophysical model including the tunnel is constructed and forward modelling of low resistivity anomalous bodies with different shapes and positions is carried out. The apparent resistivity in different directions is calculated, and the distance between the anomalous body and TBM is inferred according to the low value anomaly of the vector resistivity curve of both sides. The spatial position of the anomalous body is inferred according to the shape and relative relationship of the vector resistivity curves near the low value anomaly. Finally, the position of the sphere low resistivity anomalous body is predicted through the gated recurrent unit. These results preliminarily verify the feasibility of the vector resistivity monitoring technique assembled on a TBM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Engineering (17264073) is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The environmental problems caused by the increase in the storage amount of red mud have seriously restricted the development of China's alumina industry, so it is increasingly important to strengthen the comprehensive utilization of red mud. The recovery of sodium and aluminum from the red mud of an aluminum plant in Yunnan by calcification-carbonization method was studied. The calcified and carbonized red mud was characterized by XRD and SEM-EDS. The results show that the optimum conditions of calcification are reaction temperature of 65 °C reaction time of 36 h, calcium-sodium ratio of 4/1 and liquid-solid mass ratio of 4/1. Under the conditions, the sodium oxide recovery is the highest, 59.94%. The optimum conditions of carbonization are reaction time of 3 h, reaction temperature of 110 °C liquid to solid mass ratio 5/1, carbon dioxide pressure of 1.1 MPa, and the aluminum recovery rate is 16.15%. The hydrated sodium alum inosilicate n the red mud is converted into hydrated garnet during calcification, and sodium is released. Hydrated garnets decompose into Cacao3,Cassio3 and Al(OH)3 during carbonization. The method can provide a new idea for comprehensive recovery and utilization of red mud. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper delves into the lateral load-bearing behavior of lattice-shaped diaphragm wall (LSDW), a novel type of diaphragm wall foundation with many engineering advantages. By employing a double-layer wall structure for the first time in laboratory settings, the research presents an innovative testing methodology, complete with novel computational formulas, to accurately measure the responses of LSDW's inner and outer walls under varying loads. It is found that the Q–s curves of LSDWs exhibit a continuous, progressive deformation and failure characteristic without any abrupt drops, and the standard for judging the horizontal bearing capacity of LSDW foundations should be based on the allowable displacement of the superstructure. The bearing capacity for the double-chamber LSDWs was found to be approximately 1.68 times that of the single-chamber structure, pointing to a complex interplay between chamber number and structural capacity that extends beyond a linear relationship and incorporates the group wall effect. The study also reveals that LSDWs act as rigid bodies with minimal angular displacement and a consistent tilting deformation, peaking in bending moment at about 0.87 of wall depth from the mud surface, across different chamber configurations. Furthermore, it can be found that using the p–y curve method for analyzing the horizontal behavior of LSDW foundations is feasible, and the hyperbolic p–y curve method offers higher accuracy in calculations. These insights offer valuable guidance for both field and laboratory testing of LSDWs and aid in the design and calculation of foundations under horizontal loads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Planar lamination is a ubiquitous component of modern and ancient fine‐grained sediments deposited by subaqueous sediment gravity flows. These sediments commonly exhibit alternating sub‐millimetre‐thick, sharply bounded silt‐rich and clay‐rich layers that change little in thickness or sediment texture over lateral distances that range up to at least several tens of metres. Silt‐rich layers are moderately to well‐sorted and a few tens to hundreds of microns to a single silt‐grain thick. In contrast, clay‐rich layers are more poorly sorted, and a few tens to hundreds of microns thick. The thickness and regular alternation of these texturally differentiated interlayers, in addition to the absence of features suggesting transport bypass or deposition by migrating rugged bed forms, suggest alternating physical processes and related modes of deposition in the near‐bed region immediately above the bed. Previous interpretations have focussed on clay flocculation, which is difficult to reconcile with the high fluid shear conditions in the near‐bed region. Here it is suggested that in the millimetre to sub‐millimetre‐thick viscous sublayer at the base of a hydraulically smooth turbulent flow, a combination of high fluid shear and sediment concentration initially leads to shear thinning and enhanced mobility in the lower part of the flow, and for silt to continue settling to the bed forming a well‐sorted silt lamina. As silt settles and clay‐size sediment increases in concentration, hydrodynamic lubrication forces strengthen and reduce mobility of the near‐bed part of the flow. This condition is then perturbed by a bedward‐directed outer flow disturbance that dramatically increases frictional stresses and effective fluid viscosity and ultimately shear jamming that causes gelling and deposition of a poorly sorted clay‐rich layer. This process is then repeated multiple times to build up a deposit composed of alternating silt‐rich and clay‐rich laminae overlain by structureless mud deposited directly from suspension.

ABSTRACT: In countries with pasture-based dairy systems and relatively cold winters, such as New Zealand, it is common to manage pregnant, nonlactating cows on forage crop paddocks rather than pasture, due to slow pasture growth rates. Wintering dairy cattle on grazed crops can compromise welfare if wet and muddy underfoot conditions occur, which can reduce lying. This study investigated behavioral and physiological indicators of welfare of cows under 2 wintering practices: cows managed on and grazed kale crop (Brassica oleracea), and cows managed on pasture with baled hay. Following dry-off (d 0), 80 cows were randomly assigned to 1 of the 2 wintering practices (40 cows/practice) and monitored between d 4 and 32 (phase 1). During this period, lying and stepping behavior was continuously recorded using leg-based accelerometers. Blood samples were obtained at d 0 and 32 for measurements of thyroxine (T4), nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), white blood cells (WBC), and red blood cells. All data for phase 1 were presented descriptively due to the lack of treatment replication. Daily mean air temperature during this period was 5.2°C (range: 0.0–10.7°C), and rainfall was 1.1 mm/d (range: 0–5.6mm/d). Between d 4 and 32, cows in both groups spent similar amounts of time lying (pasture with hay cows: 8.9 h/24 h ± 2.57, kale crop cows: 8.7 h/24 h ± 3.06, mean ± SEM). Both groups reduced their lying on wet and cold days, and there was evidence of rebound lying once unfavorable weather conditions stopped. Cows on kale crop had numerically higher NEFA and lower WBC compared with cows managed on pasture, although most physiological values were within normal ranges. In a second phase of the study (d 34 and 35), cows were managed under controlled, replicated conditions in the 2 wintering practices using typical on-farm stocking rates (2 or 4 cows per group in the pasture with hay and kale crop treatments, respectively; n = 10 groups/treatment). During this period, cow behavior, skin and surface temperatures, hygiene scores, feed intakes, and ground conditions were measured. Weather conditions during the 48-h exposure were mostly cold and dry (mean air temperature: 7.8°C, range: −2.2 to 20.5°C). Cows managed on pasture with hay spent more time lying down on the first day of exposure; however, this was likely due to less space being available to kale cows on this day. Cows managed on pasture with hay ruminated more than cows on kale crop on both days of observations (d 1: 37.9% vs. 30.9% of observations, d 2: 36.8% vs. 28.7% of observations for pasture with hay and kale crop groups, respectively) and were lying more often in postures indicative of greater thermal comfort. Cows managed on pasture with hay had higher skin and surface temperatures compared with cows on kale crop, whereas cows on kale crop had dirtier coats. Results suggest that opportunities for thermal comfort were greater for cows managed on pasture with hay bales, which may be due to increased rumination activities and more insulated lying areas.

The study of fine-grained sedimentation has consistently concentrated on investigating the mechanisms and principles governing the enrichment of organic matter. However, the lack of unified stratigraphic framework has always existed as fine-grained sedimentation covers two distinct grain-size grades, namely, mud and silt, which has impeded the progress of subsequent production research. This study exemplified this issue by analyzing the first member of the Qingshankou Formation in the southern Songliao Basin. We established reconstructed gamma and density curves that mitigated filter noise interference, integrated high-resolution sequence results with astronomical cycle divisions, and created a high-frequency isochronous stratigraphic framework for clastic fine-grained sedimentation by leveraging the weak sensitivity of sandstone density curves and the robust stability in eccentricity cycle extraction. This approach addresses the inconsistencies in stratigraphic division methodologies and mismatched outcomes stemming from the use varying techniques to delineate mud and silt components within clastic fine-grained sedimentary sequences. Furthermore, it elucidates how tectonic-scale variations in sediment supply coupled with potential accommodation changes dictate macroscopic stacking patterns within strata, whereas climate fluctuations on orbital time scales govern sand-mud progradation degrees within these layers, culminating in periodic rhythmic characteristics characterized by vertical sand-mud interbedding. A model for stratigraphic development pertaining to lake delta systems constrained by a "synchronous heterotopy" paradigm is proposed for the southern Songliao Basin. The organic matter enrichment pattern aligns with its filling dynamics, indicating an "overfilling" type developmental pattern at lower strata levels where organic material predominantly originates from terrestrial plant debris external to the basin; this material accumulates primarily within silty zones along layers—with areas exhibiting heightened enrichment values slightly lagging behind short-eccentric maxima positions. In contrast, under an upper "balanced filling" type developmental framework, sources of organic matter are derived both internally and externally relative to the basin—exhibiting substantial heterogeneity—and regions marked by elevated organic matter concentrations are directly associated with locations identified as short-eccentric maxima. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mud carp (Cirrhinus molitorella) is an important economic farmed fish, mainly distributed in South China and Southeast Asia due to its strong adaptability and high yield. Despite its economic importance, the paucity of genomic information has constrained detailed genetic research and breeding efforts. In this study, we utilized PacBio HiFi long-read sequencing and Hi-C technologies to generate a meticulously assembled chromosome-level genome of the mud carp. This assembly spans 1,033.41 Mb, with an impressive 99.82% distributed across 25 chromosomes. The contig N50 and scaffold N50 are 33.29 Mb and 39.86 Mb, respectively. The completeness of the mud carp genome assembly is highlighted by a BUSCO score of 98.05%. We predict 25,865 protein-coding genes, with a BUSCO score of 96.54%, and functional annotations for 91.83% of these genes. Approximately 52.21% of the genome consists of repeat elements. This high-fidelity genome assembly is a vital resource for advancing molecular breeding, comparative genomics, and evolutionary studies of the mud carp and related species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers looking for sustainable materials with optimal mechanical properties may draw inspiration from a baseball tradition. For nearly 100 y, a mysteriousmudharvested from an undisclosed river site in New Jersey (USA) has been the agent of choice in the USA's Major League Baseball for "de-glossing" new baseballs. It is unclear, however, what makes this "Rubbing Mud" work. Here, we perform a multiscale investigation of the rheology and tribology of this mud material under baseball-relevant conditions and identify three mechanisms by which the mud alters the surface properties of the baseball. First, the mud creates a more uniform baseball surface by filling in pores in the leather; this is possible because of its relatively high cohesion (clays and organics) making the material remarkably shear thinning. Second, the residue of cohesive particles coating the baseball effectively doubles contact adhesion. Third, a sparse population of angular sand grains are bonded to the baseball by clay-sized particles, leaving a studded surface that enhances friction. The proportions of cohesive, frictional, and viscous elements in Rubbing Mud conspire to create a soft material with an unusual mix of properties, that could find other applications in the development of sustainable geomaterials. Our improved understanding of the flow and friction of natural muds may also find use in modeling natural hazards such as mudslides and for locomotion in muddy environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractSolidifying dredged mud into a fill material is a waste-recycling strategy. Recent studies have demonstrated that using solidified mud to create columns for ground treatment mitigates the limitations in the supply of traditional gravel/sand columns. This research conducted a series of uniaxial compression tests to investigate the effects of curing stress and length-to-diameter ratio on the strength and deformation characteristics of solidified dredged mud columns. It was found that an increase in the length-to-diameter ratio led to a reduction in the failure strain of the columns and a decrease in uniaxial compressive strength. The curing stress boosted the columns’ uniaxial compressive strength by 8%-14%, elevated the modulus, and heightened brittleness while lowering the failure strain. A predictive formula was developed to accurately estimate the uniaxial compressive strength of cement-solidified columns under various length-to-diameter ratios and curing stresses. Furthermore, with or without curing stress, the failure mode of the columns transitioned from overall failure to local failure as the length-to-diameter ratio increased, with the local failure predominantly occurring near the column top. The application of curing stress increased the brittleness of the columns, making them more prone to developing vertical cracks in the column shaft. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vanadium is a critical metal that has been widely used in a broad variety of applications with almost no metal substitutes. However, the limited availability of its (vanadium) primary resources has raised concerns of supply security. In view of the criticality, recycling vanadium from secondary resources has been identified as a vital supply alternative. This article thus presents a comprehensive overview of metallurgical processes used in the recycling of vanadium from a variety of secondary resources, including spent HDS catalyst, spent SCR catalyst, fly ash, red mud, Bayer's sludge, alloy scrap, tailings, etc. First, the physicochemical characteristics of these secondary resources are emphasized. Understanding the characteristics of vanadium-bearing secondary resources is important as it determines the recycling route. The metallurgical recycling processes of vanadium, which include aqueous- and thermal processes are discussed in depth, along with the theoretical backgrounds and fundamentals of each process. Also discussed are the industrial-scale processes and trend in research and development (R&D) for the respective secondary resources. Besides highlighting the status of recycling processes, the article also provides prospective directions for such resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pressure infiltration of fresh and salty bentonite slurries against a medium-fine sand has been investigated in a laboratory setup. In the tests, two series of salty bentonite slurries were used: non-pre-hydrated salty slurry, for exploring what will happen if directly salty water is used to make bentonite slurry, and pre-hydrated salty slurry, for identifying the consequence of pre-hydrated fresh bentonite slurry mixing with the salty water in the soil pores. The salty water employed was a mixture of different percentages of freshwater and seawater. Experimental results show that the test with non-pre-hydrated salty slurry exhibited a significantly faster and shorter (time) mud spurt, or even no mud spurt at all, compared to the test with fresh or pre-hydrated salty slurry. The influence of salty water on the pre-hydrated fresh bentonite is less than on the non-pre-hydrated slurry and depends on the seawater content in the salty water. Compared with the test with fresh bentonite slurry, a slower and shorter (time) mud spurt could be seen in the test with the pre-hydrated salty slurry when the seawater content was not more than 20%. As seawater content exceeded 20%, a faster mud spurt showed up; however, the timespan of the mud spurt may be shorter or longer, mainly depending on the viscosity and sedimentation behavior of the bentonite. A model to estimate the slurry infiltration distance during mud spurt is introduced, which agrees well with the experimental results using the measured input parameters. After the mud spurt, a filter cake would form in each test. The permeability of the filter cake increased with the increase in seawater content. Directly mixing salty water remarkably increased the permeability of the filter cake, while the pre-hydration of bentonite could reduce this increase. For instance, with the salty water containing 10% seawater, the permeabilities of the filter cakes formed by fresh bentonite slurry, non-pre-hydrated salty slurry, and pre-hydrated salty slurry with the 50 g/L bentonite concentration were 1.69 × 10−9 m/s, 2.26 × 10−8 m/s, and 3.23 × 10−9 m/s, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optical turbidity and acoustic sensors have been widely used in laboratory experiments and field studies to investigate suspended particulate matter concentration over the last four decades. Both methods face a serious challenge as laboratory and in‐situ calibrations are usually required. Furthermore, in coastal and estuarine environments, the coexistence of mud and sand often results in multimodal particle size distributions, amplifying erroneous measurements. This paper proposes a new approach of combining a pair of optical turbidity‐acoustic sensors to estimate the total concentration and sediment composition of a mud/sand mixture in an efficient way without an extensive calibration. More specifically, we first carried out a set of 54 bimodal size regime experiments to derive empirical functions of optical‐acoustic signals, concentrations, and mud/sand fractions. The functionalities of these relationships were then tested and validated using more complex multimodal size regime experiments over 30 optical‐acoustic pairs of 5 wavelengths (420, 532, 620, 700, 852 nm) and six frequencies (0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 MHz). In the range of our data, without prior knowledge of particle size distribution, combinations between optical wavelengths 620–700 nm and acoustic frequencies 4–6 MHz predict mud/sand fraction and total concentration with the variation <10% for the former and <15% for the later. The results also suggest that acoustic‐acoustic signals could be combined to produce meaningful information regarding concentration and mud/sand fraction, while no useful knowledge could be extracted from a combination of optical‐optical pairs. This approach therefore enables the robust estimation of suspended sediment concentration and composition, which is particularly practical in cases where calibration data is insufficient. Plain Language Summary: Crucial decisions to govern the development of an estuary, delta, or coastal zone often rely heavily on the knowledge of where sediment accumulates. Such knowledge primarily comes from long‐term, high‐frequency monitoring of the transport of mud and sand particles in the water column. Optical or acoustic sensors are usually used for this task. Optical/acoustic sensors emit a light/sound beam to the particles and then measure the strength of the reflecting signals to estimate the concentration of the suspension. Since particles with different shape, size, and density respond differently to the light/sound signals, intensive calibrations are required whenever there is a significant change in the water column, for example, during a tidal cycle, seasonal variations between summer and winter. To avoid these tedious calibrations processes, we experimentally show that combination of optical and acoustic sensors in one measurement will help to derive empirical functions which in turn allow us to estimate the ratio of mud/sand and total concentration. Key Points: A new approach of coupling uncalibrated optical and acoustic signals to predict mud/sand fraction and total concentration was proposedWe experimentally show that without knowledge of the suspension estimations of mud/sand ratio and concentration can be as accurate as 10%–15%The new approach is particularly useful in cases where calibration data is insufficient or impractical [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The herbivorous mud skipper, Boleophthalmus pectinirostris and carnivorous eel goby, Odontamblyopus lacepedii are important species in the mudflat ecosystem of the Ariake Sea (Japan). To gain basic knowledge of the ecological and fishery applications of the Ariake tidal flat, an important wetland area, the microbiota of the mudflat and gut contents of B. pectinirostris and O. lacepedii were analysed using 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing. The amplicon sequence variant numbers in the mud and gut of B. pectinirostris and O. lacepedii were 1200, 110, and 140, respectively. The Shannon and Simpson alpha diversity indices of the fish contents were several-fold lower than those of the mud. In mud, Exiguobacteraceae (20%), followed by Anaerolineae (13%), were identified as the predominant bacterial families. In B. pectinirostris gut, Mycoplasmoidaceae (45%) were predominant, followed by Vibrionaceae (28%). In O. lacepedii gut, Desulfovibrionaceae (17%), Brevinemataceae (Spirochaetota) (15%), Vibrionaceae (14%), and Ruminococcaceae (10%) were dominant. These results suggest that, among the wide variety of bacteria in a mud environment, only compatible bacteria can settle in the fish gut. The differences between the two fish species may be due to differences in feeding habitat. The roles of Mycoplasmoidaceae and Brevinemataceae in their hosts are subjects of future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims to calculate experimentally the specific thermal capacity of the bentonite drilling mud, in view of its importance for energy studies. During drilling, mud is considered to be a heat exchange fluid used to cool the drilling tool, in particular its performance in high-pressure and -temperature wells. Despite the importance of this thermos-physical parameter, it does not exist in academic references and experimental manuals; therefore, this work succeeds in filling this gap. The thixotropic criterion of the fluid studied required a change in the agitation mechanism of the Joule effect adiabatic calorimeter used to carry out this work, from a manual agitation system to an automatic agitating system, to maintain the homogeneity of its texture and ensure a uniform distribution of temperature during the experiments. The comparison between the experimental and theoretical specific thermal capacity values of drilling mud in the three investigated cases gives an extremely low standard error of no more than ± 0.05, which proves the accuracy of this thermo-physical value. The texture of the mud stays homogeneous with each experience, which proves the effectiveness of the modification made to the stirrer of this calorimeter, from which it can also be used for other thixotropic fluids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) require frequent and extensive surveys to inform conservation efforts. Crewed aircraft surveys can be costly, dangerous, and logistically complex. Unoccupied aerial systems (UASs) can assist with these issues. While manual review of UAS imagery can be time- and laborintensive, automated detection of manatees in aerial survey footage can help. We present an object-based image analysis workflow for the automated detection and count of Florida manatees in Google Earth Engine, a free platform for research that allows for scripts and imagery sharing. Training and testing datasets were built from randomly extracted image frames from two stationary, unoccupied aerial system videos over thermal refugia. The workflow captured most manatees (93.98 to 95.62% recall; 4.38 to 6.03% false negative rate), but also counted many objects as manatees incorrectly (4.24 to 14.77% precision; 998.40 to 3,885.54% false positive over the detectable rate). Sun glint, mud plumes, and water close to shore were common causes of false positives. While the automated count was too high, the workflow lays markers over each detection, allowing for quick manual review for more accurate (semi-automated) counts. This study is an early step in automated detection tools for Florida manatees in a cloud-based platform. Future efforts could explore other platforms or may improve this workflow by including new classes for confounding objects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of China Brewing is the property of China Brewing Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Planar lamination is a ubiquitous component of modern and ancient fine‐grained sediments deposited by subaqueous sediment gravity flows. These sediments commonly exhibit alternating sub‐millimetre‐thick, sharply bounded silt‐rich and clay‐rich layers that change little in thickness or sediment texture over lateral distances that range up to at least several tens of metres. Silt‐rich layers are moderately to well‐sorted and a few tens to hundreds of microns to a single silt‐grain thick. In contrast, clay‐rich layers are more poorly sorted, and a few tens to hundreds of microns thick. The thickness and regular alternation of these texturally differentiated interlayers, in addition to the absence of features suggesting transport bypass or deposition by migrating rugged bed forms, suggest alternating physical processes and related modes of deposition in the near‐bed region immediately above the bed. Previous interpretations have focussed on clay flocculation, which is difficult to reconcile with the high fluid shear conditions in the near‐bed region. Here it is suggested that in the millimetre to sub‐millimetre‐thick viscous sublayer at the base of a hydraulically smooth turbulent flow, a combination of high fluid shear and sediment concentration initially leads to shear thinning and enhanced mobility in the lower part of the flow, and for silt to continue settling to the bed forming a well‐sorted silt lamina. As silt settles and clay‐size sediment increases in concentration, hydrodynamic lubrication forces strengthen and reduce mobility of the near‐bed part of the flow. This condition is then perturbed by a bedward‐directed outer flow disturbance that dramatically increases frictional stresses and effective fluid viscosity and ultimately shear jamming that causes gelling and deposition of a poorly sorted clay‐rich layer. This process is then repeated multiple times to build up a deposit composed of alternating silt‐rich and clay‐rich laminae overlain by structureless mud deposited directly from suspension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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ABSTRACT In the Pennyseorach Subbasin of south‐west Scotland, the Famennian Kinnesswood Formation of the Inverclyde Group includes several, ca 1 to 3 m thick erosional remnants of host‐replacing phreatic calcrete hardpans developed in mud deposits. The latter are most unusual hosts for such calcretes due to their relative impermeability, which would normally prevent them from sufficiently accommodating the circulation of an aquifer. In previously documented phreatic calcretes, mud deposits clearly acted as aquicludes that sharply constrained calcrete development. In the Kinnesswood Formation at Pennyseorach, tall desiccation fissures allowed groundwater to circulate in thick, semi‐consolidated mud deposits. Because of the inferred development of an adjacent evaporitic basin, the mixing of fresh and evaporitic groundwaters raised the pH enough for the replacement of phyllosilicates by calcite to occur along the fissure walls, forming ‘fissure calcretes’. The latter gradually expanded and eventually coalesced into mature, ‘columnar host‐replacing phreatic calcrete hardpans’ in which 90 to 100% of the muddy host material was replaced by calcrete. At Pennyseorach, host‐replacing phreatic calcrete hardpan formation not only affected the transition zone between the Doughend Sandstone and Foul Port Members of the Kinnesswood Formation (the Dunagoil Calcrete interval), as in other localities of south‐west Scotland, but also affected the uppermost part of the formation, which is marked by several erosion surfaces downcutting into columnar host‐replacing phreatic calcrete hardpan intervals in association with the episodic rise and fall of base‐level. These newly recorded host‐replacing phreatic calcrete hardpan intervals from the upper part of the Kinnesswood Formation have a tightly constrained stable isotopic signature that is distinct from that of both the Dunagoil Calcrete and the successive host‐replacing phreatic calcrete hardpans of the Visean Clyde Sandstone Formation within the same group, underlining their potential as stratigraphic markers and palaeoenvironmental indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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A pile group under lateral loading is a complex pile‒soil-pile interaction problem. In this study, numerical analysis was used to investigate the lateral behavior of pile groups arranged in a 3 × 3 configuration with varying piles spacings. The hypoplastic constitutive model embedded into ABAQUS software through the UMAT subroutine was used to characterize the stress‒strain relationship of Toyoura sand. The effects of the pile spacing on the load‒displacement relationship of the pile group, the bending moment-depth relationship of each pile in the pile group, the deflection-depth relationship, and the soil resistance distribution were investigated. The results indicate that the lateral bearing capacity of the pile group decreases by more than 50% when the pile spacing is reduced from 7D to 3D. When the pile spacing is greater than 5D, the "edge effect" of the laterally loaded pile group gradually decreases, and when the pile spacing is greater than 7D, the "shadowing effect" can be negligible, and the wedge-shaped failure zone of the pile group occurs within a depth of 5D below the mud surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay provides a new reading of Robert Penn Warren's novel Flood: A Romance of Our Time (1963) While most scholars have explored Warren's work relative to regionalism and agrarianism, I contend that his later novels adhere much more closely to the tenets of bioregionalism, a theory that seeks to understand the reciprocal relationships between localized networks of landscapes and cultures. Reading Flood through the lens of bioregionalism can help us understand more fully Warren's metafictional and metafilmic investigations of how best to capture the internal psychic realities of southerners and the external material conditions of the US South. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]