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This note presents for the first time material on Edward Long's views on Jamaican enslavement and British slave trade abolition in 1804. His letter of that year, deposited at the William Salt Library, Stafford, shows that in old age he adapted his position from being an ardent slave trade supporter to a stance where ending the slave trade could be accepted. Long emphasized that, in circumstances where slave revolt and Jamaica's security were concerned, the pro-slave trade argument would need to be shelved, the implementation of abolition would be acceptable and planters could then concentrate their efforts on amelioration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In several technical applications, it is necessary to conduct a heat sink. For example, a liquid or gas is passed through the reactor zone and removes the heat released from it as a result of the nuclear fission reaction. It also attracts an interest in removing overheating during the operation of power lasers. On the other hand, in some cases, it has attracted an interest in deliberate heating during the operation of devices. An example of such heating is heating of the reaction zone in reactors for gas phase epitaxy. In both cases, the heat sink is a passive heat exchanger. At the same time, in some applications, it is necessary to stabilize the temperature of a liquid or gaseous heat carrier. In this paper, we consider a cylindrical transportation system (as a pipeline) of liquid or gas with a circular section with a known dimension, which is contained within a porous metal. This section has a stable temperature. The main aim of this paper is to analyse the distribution of gas and liquid temperature in the considered pipeline under the influence of heating and cooling of local sections of the pipeline. The accompanying aims of this paper are a formulation of a model to describe heat transport in the pipeline with a section that has a stable temperature and the development of an analytical approach for analyzing the obtained model. The model is based on an analytical solution of partial differential equations with nonlinearity and variation of their coefficients in space and time. The model became more adequate in comparison with recently considered models with better coincidence of experimental results with calculated ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies an actual problem of the appearance of a deposit on walls of heat-exchange devices. An improved deposit formation number is presented that describes the heat and electrochemical nature of any deposit. A new criterion equation for the free convection of air when a salt deposit appears on a heated-up surface is successfully obtained and shown in the paper. New methods of the heat transfer calculation during the formation of deposits based upon the improved heat transfer similarity criterion of deposit formation are developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diapir is a process in which material with a lower specific weight rises from the upper layers, breaks them, and appears on the surface of the earth. In this process, the type of salt's response to the applied stresses creates specific geomorphological forms, which study of such forms can be important due to the presence of oil resources, the establishment of human settlements, and the passage of communication routes. In this research, which was conducted with the aim of investigating the geomorphology caused by salt diapirs, in the south of Semnan privance and with field, library and Remote Sensing methods, it was found that salt deposits cause the creation of specific geomorphological structures and shapes through the creation of tension. local cracks, surface dislocations and tensile fractures. Also, the fluidity of salt has been created on the surface structures and their dimensions are effective, and these structures, in turn, create local forces and control the geomorphic structural situation of the region. In addition, the dissolution process has played an important role in the formation of salt karsts in the region and has created significant shapes. Based on this, the geomorphological formsresulting from the Salt diapirismof the region were identified and in three groups of building forms including salt domes, salt anticlines and salt walls, salt karsts including dolines, ponors, karns and forms resulting from hydrological processes including valleys, springs, salt fluxes and salt glaciers were classified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under nonequilibrium conditions, inorganic systems can produce a wealth of life-like shapes and patterns which, compared to well-formed crystalline materials, remain widely unexplored. A seemingly simple example is the formation of salt deposits during the evaporation of sessile droplets. These evaporites show great variations in their specific patterns including single rings, creep, small crystals, fractals, and featureless disks. We have explored the patterns of 42 different salts at otherwise constant conditions. Based on 7,500 images, we show that distinct pattern families can be identified and that some salts (e.g., Na2SO4 and NH4NO3) are bifurcated creating two distinct motifs. Family affiliations cannot be predicted a priori from composition alone but rather emerge from the complex interplay of evaporation, crystallization, thermodynamics, capillarity, and fluid flow. Nonetheless, chemical composition can be predicted from the deposit pattern with surprisingly high accuracy even if the set of reference images is small. These findings suggest possible applications including smartphone-based analyses and lightweight tools for space missions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The general subject of this article deals with the term salt. Salt deposits usually contain chlorides, sulphates/gypsum, borates, carbonates, etc., that are seemingly part of the same system. Even though this article mainly presents data and observations on chlorides, which are not easily explained by the present paradigm, it should also prove relevant for the formation of sulphates and other types of salts observed in major salt deposits. The paradigm explaining large salt deposits rests on two pillars governing salt formation and salt deformation. Salt formation is thought to occur vis solar evaporation of seawater in restricted basins. Salt deformation and forming of salt diapirs is thought to occur due to gravity-induced movements. Our review presents peer-reviewed and published data and observations from different authors within different disciplines that challenge the present evaporite paradigm. The current theory/paradigm rests on numerous observations and interpretations in support of it. Adding more observational interpretations in support of the paradigm will not nullify even one observation that contradicts or remains unexplained by the theory. The contradicting evidence must be explained within the present paradigm for it to survive. Significant observations of and within salt deposits are presented, as well as visual and geophysical observations of salinity in crusts and mantles in relevant tectonic settings. In our view, the omnipresent salinity observed in the subsurface needs to be understood and included in the description of a new salt formation mechanism in order to fully explain all features presented herein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a method for engineers and water treatment chemists to predict mineral scale deposition and its inhibition in saline oil wells during water injection during different phases of well life. The predictive study was explained by the DownHOLE SAT program based on the analytical results of the formation water samples taken from the Hassi Messaoud oil field and the Albian water used in the injection operation which provide physical and chemical conditions for formation of salt deposits of all types due to the incompatibility between these waters at the molecular level, which requires treatment of injection water in the well by the deposit inhibitor AD32 to avoid this dilemma. The analysis of samples from selected wells (HGA8, MD411, MD525, MD226, MD625, and MDZ556) for the period of 2010 to 2018 showed that treatment effectiveness is influenced by several factors and operational conditions such as water mixing proportions and Temperature variations. The research provides for various types, Forms and cases of mineral deposits but the main emphasis is on the more dangerous deposition. (Barium Sulphate BaSO4), plus a few other deposits to showcase the results with, 2D and 3D graphs of Saturation Level and Momentary Excess in terms of mixing Injection water with Formation water and Temperature manipulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. We investigated the effects of resveratrol (Res) and MCC950 on the pyroptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and the potential pathway. Methods and Results. Compared with the control (Con) group, the atherosclerosis (AS) group showed calcified nodules, which suggested that the calcification medium induced the calcification of VSMCs. VSMCs showed proliferative activity and significantly attenuated calcification under treatment with 10 μmol/L Res. The calcium salt was detected by alizarin red S staining. Res and MCC950 downregulated the calcification, inflammatory, pyroptosis, and transcription factor-related indicators all decreased by RT-qPCR with Western blot and immunofluorescence. The results showed that Res and MCC950 refrained the calcification of VSMCs and that Res has a better effect than MCC950. Plaques and calcium salt deposits were present in the carotid region in the control group. More calcium salt deposits were evident in the plaques of the Par group by HE staining and alizarin red S staining. The calcification indexes BMP2, Runx2, and related indexes declined by immunofluorescence, which showed parthenolide-inhibited AS. The related protein expressions were consistent with the expression of the cell experiments. Conclusion. Our data demonstrated that inflammatory response and pyroptosis exacerbate AS and unravel the link between VSMCs and the progression of AS lesions. Res and MCC950 inhibited the calcification of VSMCs by regulating NF-κB/NLRP3/IL-1β signaling axis. P53 can exacerbate the AS lesions by acting on NLRP3 inflammasome and pyroptosis. Our findings supported the clinical applications of Res and MCC950 in VSMCs individuals to counteract pyroptosis and AS, and P53 inhibitors also can be a potential treatment for AS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mining method that is still often used in salt deposits is the room-and-pillar mining method, in which the dimensioning of the most requested element in the system is followed. The pillars are the elements subjected to the greatest loads. Knowing the size and distribution mode of the secondary state of stress—deformation—is a necessity that can lead to the design and realization of stable, reliable underground excavations. This paper proposes an analytical assessment model of the secondary stress state in the pillars between the operating rooms, as well as in the whole system room–pillar–floor, based on the results obtained from laboratory research through modeling and in situ research. For this purpose, the evaluation of the secondary stress state was carried out considering the following methods: (1) the dimensioning method based on the theory of limit equilibrium, taking into account the effective stress in the pillars; and (2) the mechanics of the continuous environment based on the design of some analytical models for evaluating the secondary stress-deformation state in the pillar and floor. The exploitation of one of the largest salt deposits in Romania is used as a case study, and the stability of the exploitation system with rooms and pillars is evaluated by analytical methods. The secondary state of tension was calculated at different points on the height of the pillar. Through the proposed algorithm, the value of the axial component of the secondary stress state at different points along the axis of a pillar located at a depth of 100 m varies between 1.498 and 1.657 MPa, compared to the value obtained by the finite element method and in situ measurements, which was 1.64 MPa. The comparison revealed a high degree of agreement between the results obtained for the depth of 100 m using both the FEM and laboratory and in situ measurements. This suggests that the proposed algorithm is a reliable method for predicting the secondary stress state. The presented algorithm can be extended in the field of mining deposits, where mining methods with rooms and pillars are used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Halophilic and halotolerant microorganisms have a high biotechnological potential. They are producers of biologically active substances, stress-protective agents, hydrolytic enzymes, and are used for environmental bioremediation. At the same time, the characterization of novel halotolerant bacteria and determination of their salt tolerance strategies are important basic problems. The present work reports the isolation of a new strain, MX2, from the salt well brine of the Yakshinskoe potassium−magnesium salt deposit. The isolate was an aerobic, gram-positive, nonmotile bacterium that did not form spores. The cell morphology varied from cocci to short rods capable of producing V-shaped forms. The colonies on agar were circular, with an entire edge and raised center, glistening and orange. Bacteria of strain MX2 were halotolerant microorganisms capable of growing at NaCl concentrations up to 9%. The genome of strain MX2 was sequenced. Its estimated size was 3 747 717 bp, and the number of protein-coding genes was 3562. Strain MX2 was identified as belonging to the species Dietzia maris based on analysis of the 16S rRNA, gyrB, rpoB, recA, and ppk gene sequences and using time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). D. maris MX2 had complete metabolic pathways for the synthesis of ectoine, hydroxyectoine, and trehalose, as well as the transport systems for ectoine, hydroxyectoine, trehalose, glycerol, glycerol-3-phosphate, L-proline, and glycine-betaine. Thus, to ensure the osmotic balance, D. maris MX2 used the strategy of accumulating compatible organic solutes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article studies an actual problem of a decrease in heat transfer because of the formation of a deposit on the walls of the heat transfer equipment. A new heat transfer similarity number of deposit formation that can describe its thermal and electric nature is presented here. New methods of experimental studies under free air convection with deposit on the heat transfer surface are presented and discussed. The deposit is a dense wet mass of NaCl salt. A new criterion equation for the natural air convection conditions is obtained and shown in the article. New methods for calculating the heat transfer during deposit formation based on the created heat transfer similarity number of deposit formation are developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continental rifted margins can be associated with widespread and thick salt deposits, which are often formed during the final stages of rifting, prior to breakup. These salt‐bearing margins are typically characterized by pronounced post‐rift salt tectonics with variable and complex structural styles and evolution. We use a lithosphere‐scale geodynamic numerical model to investigate the role of varying post‐rift sediment fluxes and progradation rates on rifted margin salt tectonics. We focus on a single, intermediate, rifted margin type and salt basin geometry to explore scenarios with different: (i) constant and (ii) time‐varying post‐salt sediment fluxes. We demonstrate that these promote significant contrasts in the style and magnitude of salt tectonics in the proximal, transitional and distal margin domains. The differences are primarily controlled by the relationship between the rates of sediment progradation (Vprog) and salt flow (Vs). When Vprog > Vs, the salt is rapidly buried and both vertical and lateral salt flow are suppressed across the entire margin. When Vprog < Vs, the salt flows vertically and seaward faster than sediments prograde producing major diapirism in the proximal domain and major distal nappe advance, but only moderate overburden extension and distal diapirism. When Vprog ~ Vs, there is moderate proximal diapirism and distal nappe advance, but major updip extension and downdip shortening, which produces major distal diapirism. Modelling results are comparable to various natural systems and help improve our understanding of the controls and dynamics of salt tectonics along salt‐bearing rifted margins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corrosion behaviours of Fe–25Cr, Fe–25Cr–2Mn–1Si, Fe–25Cr–20Ni, 310SS, Ni–25Cr, and Ni–25Cr–2Mn–1Si (all in wt%) with and without NaCl–KCl deposits in Ar–60%CO2–20%H2O gas at 750 °C were studied. Without salt deposits, Fe–25Cr performed protectively, while Fe–25Cr–20Ni and Ni–25Cr underwent breakaway oxidation with multilayered scales formed. Adding alloy elements Si + Mn increased the corrosion resistance of all alloys by forming additional Mn-rich oxides and silica. Surface deposits of NaCl–KCl accelerated corrosion, forming porous Fe-rich oxide nodules for Fe–25Cr and thick, porous scales and internal oxidation zones for all other alloys. The protective effect of Si + Mn alloying disappeared in the presence of chlorides. Limited intergranular carbides were observed for all alloys in the gas-only condition. The extent of carburisation increased with the presence of chloride deposits for all Fe-based alloys, but remained unchanged for Ni-based alloys. Corrosion of these alloys at 750 °C is compared with that at 650 °C. The effect of chlorides in volatilising metals at 750 °C is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report experimental findings on the formation of salt deposits upon the complete evaporation of a sessile droplet containing sodium chloride. We also offer both quantitative and qualitative information to help comprehend the intricate mechanisms underlying the evaporation problem. We propose a mechanism for solutal instability that aligns with our experimental results and literature findings. During the solute crystallization and eventual deposit formation, we observe two phases: the first phase, where crystal growth is absent, spans from the initial time to 65 % of the evaporation duration. The second phase occurs when the chemical process of crystallization sets in. We provide quantitative data on the crystallization process, utilizing the normalized average distance between crystals as a function of relative humidity and initial salt concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Deep subsurfaces such as caves and mines are extreme environments inhabited by specialized microorganisms that are able to cope with the adverse conditions caused by low moisture, and high pressure. Our research confirmed that one such site is the rocks surrounding the salt beds in the Wieliczka Salt Mine, where methane-oxidizing bacteria are present. We demonstrated methanotrophic activity in both natural and mineral-supplemented rock material. In the next stage of our research, we confirmed that the methanotrophic community can be cultured on a mineral substrate, using methane as the sole source of carbon and energy source. The issues addressed in this study contribute to our understanding of the biodiversity of microorganisms inhabiting the extreme subsurface biosphere but also provide insights into changes in biodiversity during the isolation of bacterial communities from this type of ecosystem. This information can be valuable for the acquisition of microorganisms with potential applications in biotechnology. The rocks surrounding Wieliczka salt deposits are an extreme, deep subsurface ecosystem that as we studied previously harbors many microorganisms, including methanotrophs. In the presented research bacterial community structure of the Wieliczka Salt Mine was determined as well as the methanotrophic activity of the natural microbiome. Finally, an enrichment culture of methane-consuming methanotrophs was obtained. The research material used in this study consisted of rocks surrounding salt deposits in the Wieliczka Salt Mine. DNA was extracted directly from the pristine rock material, as well as from rocks incubated in an atmosphere containing methane and mineral medium, and from a methanotrophic enrichment culture from this ecosystem. As a result, the study describes the composition of the microbiome in the rocks surrounding the salt deposits, while also explaining how biodiversity changes during the enrichment culture of the methanotrophic bacterial community. The contribution of methanotrophic bacteria ranged from 2.614% in the environmental sample to 64.696% in the bacterial culture. The methanotrophic enrichment culture was predominantly composed of methanotrophs from the genera Methylomonas (48.848%) and Methylomicrobium (15.636%) with methane oxidation rates from 3.353 ± 0.105 to 4.200 ± 0.505 µmol CH4 mL−1 day−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed an improved depth of extreme point (DEXP) method, characterized as an effective and rapid imaging method that can estimate the depth and distribution of a source quickly. Its main purpose is to solve various challenges. The automatic calculation aspect of the traditional method is often limited; namely, there is a problem with achieving automatic and reliable processing when the observed surface presents undulating topography, and this problem cannot be ignored. Therefore, we propose the addition of the constant method and the hypothetical observed surface method to achieve improvements in the traditional method. Firstly, we test the improved method on the synthetic models to demonstrate its notable advantage: the achievement of a fully automatic calculation without requiring any other additional information such as structural index (SI) values and threshold values. Meanwhile, we also demonstrate its ability and reliability to handle undulating topography with acceptable accuracy for imaging results. Furthermore, we verify the robustness of the improved method by applying it to real gravity data from the potash salt deposit in the Sakhon Nakhon basin, Laos. In this case, the improved DEXP method effectively identified the location of the potash deposit. Moreover, combined with the optimal edge detection method, gravity prospecting for potash salt deposits exhibited significant advantages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The editorial discusses the long-standing study of corrosion mechanisms in the presence of molten salts and deposits, highlighting their importance in various technological sectors. The papers presented aim to uncover the underlying mechanisms of corrosion and suggest future research directions for practical applications, including material protection. Topics covered include thermodynamic and kinetic considerations, experimental setups, material chemistry, protection methods, and the need for continued scientific investigation. The editorial is a contribution from the "Molten Salt and Deposit-Induced Corrosion" session of the 11th International Conference on High-Temperature Corrosion and Protection of Materials (HTCPM 2024). [Extracted from the article]

In the field of mining, one of the exploitation methods that is still the most used in rock salt, potassium, and magnesium salt deposits is the method with the room and abandoned pillar. The salt mining method with rooms and pillars represents a unique spatial system for which the establishment of an optimal correlation between the parameters of the room, pillar, and rock massif is required in any given situation. Thus, the dimensioning of the most requested element in the system is followed, and depending on its parameters, the other parameters of the system are established. Considering the exploitation method with rooms and pillars, the pillars are certainly the elements that are subjected to the greatest loads. In the situation where the deep exploitation of salt is done with square pillars, the evaluation of the optimal parameters of the elements of the exploitation system requires: establishing the loads that appear in the surrounding salt massif (the natural stress state); the qualitative-quantitative determination of the way of distribution of the secondary stress state in the pillars; evaluating the bearing capacity of the pillars; and establishing their geometric elements. Solving this problem can be achieved by different methods: based on the theory of limit equilibrium, taking into account the effective stress in the pillars; methods of the mechanics of the continuous system based on the analytical models for evaluating the secondary stress and deformation state of pillars and floors; and numerical methods combined with the results and measurements from the laboratory and in situ tests. A methodology based on the pillar–room–salt massif interaction principle was proposed for the analytically achievable stability exploitation system of rock salt by the dry method as the depth increased. Applying this method, the secondary stress-deformation state in the pillar can be established by taking into account the rheological behaviour of the salt, changing the pillar shape, and the extraction technology. The presented algorithm can be extended in the field of exploitation, where the room and pillar exploitation methods are used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper discusses the suitability of bedded salt deposits for underground hydrogen storage facilities. The presented research is an example of multi-criteria decision analysis coupled with spatial data analysis undertaken using GIS (Geographic Information System). The aim of this study is to develop a methodology for selecting the best locations for hydrogen storage in salt caverns. In the analysis, we take into account the results of previous studies of the storage capacity of rock salt deposits. The presented methodology allows the creation of rock salt deposit suitability maps for underground hydrogen storage. The results show that the applied method significantly influences the resulting map image, helping to identify optimal locations for hydrogen storage facilities. The presented approach may be of value to governmental institutions considering underground hydrogen storage, geological services, power plants producing electricity from renewable energy sources, and chemical and petrochemical plants. • A site-selection method was developed for hydrogen storage in salt caverns. • The method is based on the analyses of multi-criteria decision and spatial data. • The method was applied in a case study, the results of which are presented here. • The case study result allowed to identify favorable locations for hydrogen storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Railway system insulators are affected by pollution, altitude, and other environmental situations during operation, which causes reduced electrical performance or even flashover accidents. These factors threaten the safety of railway operations in high-altitude areas. However, the natural contamination characteristics of a railroad in a plateau area is still unclear. In this study, a natural pollution accumulation test for railway insulators in a high-altitude area was carried out, and the distribution rules of nonsoluble deposit density (NSDD), equivalent salt deposit density (ESDD), NSDD/ESDD ratio, and nonuniformity (T/B) of the pollution distribution of the tested insulators were calculated. Meanwhile, the chemical compositions of the pollution from different test sites were analyzed. The differences of pollution accumulation between railway insulators and suspended insulators of a power system and the influencing factors were compared and analyzed by combining with a numerical simulation. The results show that the pollution level of railroad insulators is mainly distributed in level b and above. A pollution sample is mainly composed of sodium chloride, while the NSDD/ESDD ratio of pollution is mostly distributed from 0 to 5, with T/B value ranges from 1/0.62 to 1/1.76. The amount of insulator contamination is influenced by the location inside and outside the tunnel. Additionally, the pollution amount is influenced by the structure and type of insulators. Finally, this paper studies the creepage distance and structural height required by railway insulators in a plateau area according to the natural pollution accumulation characteristics of railway insulators, which can provide a reference for a railway electrical external insulation configuration in a high-altitude area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Ni-25Cr (wt.%) alloy coated with the salts and mixtures of these salts with an industrial coal ash was exposed to Ar-60CO2-20 H2O at 650 °C for 300 h. The alloy without any deposit developed a uniform internal oxidation zone (IOZ) and an external metallic nickel layer surmounted by a thin NiO scale. Salt deposits changed the scale constituents and morphology. Predominantly, a duplex scale of NiO over a Cr2O3 layer grew with an underlying IOZ containing large Cr-rich oxide precipitates. Under a deposit of ash plus salts, the basic reaction morphology was the same as in the gas-only case, but the oxide layer was non-uniform. Local voids were formed within the alloy beneath chloride plus ash deposits. Under ash with sulphates, the alloy formed both partially protected areas and non-protective multi-layered scales. Spherical ash particles were enveloped by NiO in both salt-ash deposits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Zhejiang Electric Power is the property of Zhejiang Electric Power 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 Qaidam basin in W China is an immense hyperarid intramontane basin with flat vast playas and salt lakes on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The central basin is about 2800–2900 m a.s.l. elevation and enclosed by mountain ranges reaching > 5800 m in the Qilian Mountains and > 6200 m in the eastern Kunlun Mountains. The extensive playas of the basin are covered by gypsum or halite with very subordinate additional solids. In this contribution we report on the chemical composition of salt lakes and inflows to the Qaidam basin (analysis of 30 water samples collected in the summer of 2008 and 2009) together with the composition of 22 salt samples. Salt lakes and small salt ponds formed at topographic depressions. Some of the lakes cover > 300 km2 surface but are very shallow (1–2 m deep). Most salt lakes and salt ponds are NaCl dominated and contain typically 250–300 g kg−1 total dissolved solids (TDS). Some lakes are industrially used and produce KCl fertilizer, LiCl, and boron or are strongly modified by deep water produced in oil fields. Lakes along the borders to the high mountains are typically not fully saturated with halite. However, also these lakes lost most Ca and are drastically enriched in Mg and some lakes also in B and Li. The chemical development of the most natural salt lakes follows a path producing Ca-deficient water that ultimately precipitate Mg-bearing carbonates and chlorites in addition to halite upon evaporation. The salt lakes form by continuous and drastic evaporation of the waters supplied by the inflows to the lakes in the basin. All inflows carry considerable amounts of Cl and are characterized by very high Cl/Br ratios. These chemical characteristics suggest that the salt load of the inflows originates mostly from re-dissolved windblown halite deposited together with sand up to high altitudes in the bordering mountain ranges. Also, thermal waters ascending along deep faults along the Qilian Mountains carry considerable amounts of chloride. Their low Cl/Br ratio however suggests that most of the dissolved Na is derived from minerals of the basement rocks by fluid-rock interaction at T > 130 °C. The thermal fluids also carry considerable amounts of boron, indicating that co-precipitated borax in the salt lakes ultimately also derives from minerals in the basement rocks (tourmaline). Consequently, the presented data improve the understanding how the brines and salt lake waters develop from a wide range of chemically distinct low-TDS inflows and how the sequences of minerals precipitated upon evaporation in the Qaidam basin formed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Railway Standard Design is the property of Railway Standard Design 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 relevance of the work. Due to the unfavorable ecological situation in the territory of Southern Kazakhstan, there is a need to obtain data on natural and natural-anthropogenic geochemical processes occurring in the conditions of urbanization and industrial development, including uranium mining. To assess the changes in the ecological and geochemical state of the territory, the elemental composition of salt formations of drinking water was used, since this component of the ecosystem proved itself to be a reliable indicator of environmental pollution. The aim of the research was to study the features of the elemental composition of salt deposits of drinking water in the territory of Southern Kazakhstan. Methods: instrumental neutron activation analysis. Results. Chemical elements in salt formations of fresh drinking waters of Southern Kazakhstan (Kyzylorda and Turkestan regions) were analyzed. The authors identified the leading group of elements in the scale of drinking waters of the studied area – Na, Ca, Fe (structure-forming), Zn, Sr, Ba (isomorphic substitution in the structure of calcium carbonate). An inhomogeneous distribution of almost all the studied elements is observed, with the exception of Ca. The regional specificity of Southern Kazakhstan is the presence of Zn, U, Sr, Ag in anthropogenic carbonates. The increased content of U and TR is associated with the distribution of bed-infiltration types of uranium deposits with rare-earth mineralization in the Cretaceous and Paleogene horizons of the Shu-Sarysu and Syrdarya provinces. The authors identified specific elements in the salt formations of drinking water for the Turkestan region (Cs, Eu, U, Ca, Sc, Sr, Ba, Au, Co, Ag, Sb, La, Tb, Hf, Ta) and the Kyzylorda region (Zn, Sb, Yb, Ta, Na, Th, Fe, As, Cr, Sm, Hf, Co, Lu, Ce, Br, Ca, Rb, Ag, Tb, Au).

The effect of "buried stone" has been studied on the intensities of degradation processes present on the kersantite rock built into the monument Small Staircase. The investigations were conducted on sound rock from the quarry and damaged stone built-in the monument. While some staircase parts were underground for 90 years, most of the stone elements were exposed to different environmental conditions and anthropogenic influences. Detailed mapping of the current state of the monument was done to investigate the effect of the burial and monument's complex geometry on the type of decay and varying of physical properties such as bulk and real density, total and open porosity, and water absorption. The main weathering types that occurred on kersantite elements were loss of stone material in the form of back weathering and relief followed by granular disintegration, flaking, and crust detachment. Damage indices were calculated on the bases of mapping results, too. Microscopic investigations, SEM–EDS and PXRD analyses showed that weathering of hydrothermally altered kersantite produced new secondary phases: vermiculite, increase of chlorite content, formation of secondary Fe oxides/hydroxide and salt deposits of gypsum, thenardite, Na-Ca sulphate and halite. In relation to sound kersantite, the decline in the value of physical properties of damaged stone was observed. Calculated values of damage indices reflected differences between separate parts of the Monument and enabled assessment of weathering rates according to the geometric position of the stone exposure to environmental influences, respectively significance of burial for stone conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen has attracted attention worldwide with its favourable inherent properties to contribute towards a carbon-free green energy future. Australia aims to make hydrogen as its next major export component to economize the growing global demand for hydrogen. Cost-effective and safe large-scale hydrogen storage in subsurface geology can assist Australia in meeting the projected domestic and export targets. This article discusses the available subsurface storage options in detail by first presenting the projected demand for hydrogen storage. Australia has many subsurface formations, such as depleted gas fields, salt caverns, aquifers, coal seams and abandoned underground mines, which can contribute to underground hydrogen storage. The article presents basin-wide geological information on the storage structures, the technical challenges, and the factors to consider during site selection. With the experience and knowledge Australia has in utilizing depleted reservoirs for gas storage and carbon capture and sequestration, Australia can benefit from the depleted gas reservoirs in developing hydrogen energy infrastructure. The lack of experience and knowledge associated with other geostructures favours the utilization of underground gas storage sites for the storage of hydrogen during the initial stages of the shift towards hydrogen energy. The article also provides future directions to address the identified important knowledge gaps to utilize the subsurface geology for hydrogen storage successfully. • Australia's hydrogen storage demand is discussed. • Different underground hydrogen storage options and their geologic information are provided. • Technical challenges associated with underground hydrogen storage are discussed. • Factors to consider during storage site selection are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the pace of salt rock storage construction in China accelerates, suitable shallow storage sites are becoming scarce, as such, the utilization of deep salt deposits is a foregone conclusion. However, as salt deposits in China all contain a certain amount of impurities, triaxial multistage loading creep tests for deep salt rock with varying impurity contents were carried out to study the influence of impurity content and distribution on the creep properties and failure modes of salt rock. The isochronous stress–strain curves were used to calculate the long-term strength of the salt rocks with different impurity contents. The test results show that the higher the impurity content, the lower the steady-state creep rate, and the greater the long-term strength. Moreover, it was observed that cracks first appeared at the interface between the impurity and the salt rock, subsequently extending to the salt rock. Thereafter, a new nonlinear creep damage model considering impurity content was proposed by introducing the nonlinear viscoplastic damage body and using the fractional-order derivative theory. The proposed three-dimensional creep model was verified based on creep test data and compared with the traditional creep models. The proposed model has fewer parameters and increased fitting accuracy. Thus, this study contends that the proposed model can accurately simulate the entire creep process for impurity salt rock, which provides a theoretical basis for the safe operations in salt caverns containing impurities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ocnele Mari rock salt deposit is exploited with small rooms and square pillars, on the horizons +226 m and 210 m. Following the exploitation of the lower horizon +210 m, the floor between the two horizons suffered instability phenomena, marked by fractures and cracks and local degradation of the pillars.Since the pillars at the two horizons have certain deviations from the coaxiality, the question was raised whether the instability phenomena were generated by the deviations from the coaxiality.This article presents the stability analysis of bearing structures, taking into account the actual geometry of pillars, 3D finite element analysis and analysis of safety factors at the ceiling level, calculated from 2D finite element models. The final conclusion is that the instability phenomena that occurred at the Ocnele Mari Saline were generated by the state of stresses and strains, produced by the spatial distribution of the underground voids and the geomechanical characteristics of the rock salt and insignificantly, by the deviation from the coaxiality of the pillars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diagenetic models help explain reservoir quality of siliciclastic strata, which are globally important exploration targets for groundwater, petroleum and carbon sequestration. Siliciclastics occur in salt provinces worldwide but remain poorly studied despite documented deviation from basic eodiagenetic models. A new variation is explained based on evidence from Cumberland Basin strata (Grande Anse Formation, Pennsylvanian, Canada). These strata were deposited in a fluvial setting under semi‐humid to humid climates and represent an unconformable cover sequence over a salt wall. Optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, both employing cathodoluminescence, reveal that widespread early diagenetic phases are mostly deleterious to reservoir quality. These pre‐compactional eodiagenetic phases are: (i) variable dissolution/alteration of feldspars, micas and carbonate/evaporite clasts; clay and grain staining iron oxides; and pore‐filling kaolinite; (ii) microcrystalline calcite; quartz overgrowths, prismatic quartz, quartzine chalcedony and blocky quartz, the latter two pseudomorphous after gypsum; and barite; (iii) framboidal pyrite and locally extensive Mg, Fe and Mn‐bearing blocky calcite. The first phase is attributed to a seasonally wetted vadose zone under relatively low pH and positive Eh conditions characteristic of humid climates. In contrast, the second phase is usually associated with evaporitic conditions and arid climates, where authigenesis occurs in the capillary fringe to just below the water table, and where porewaters are much more saline. The third phase is related to authigenesis from shallow burial, anoxic, phreatic porewaters. How is the aforementioned humid/arid dichotomy deciphered? Important may be the distinction between vadose and circum‐water‐table phases. Beneath vadose deposits of the humid climate, the proximity of evaporite rock in the salt wall allows for its localized dissolution, providing abundant Ca, CO3 and SO4 ions to produce anomalously saline, shallow groundwater. Barite and transient gypsum precipitated, the latter subsequently replaced by chalcedony and pseudomorphous silica during sporadic events where flushing of meteoric water temporarily lowered pH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the features of migration and the concentration of chemical elements in the earth's crust during the formation of modern basins by evaporite sedimentation, on the example of "dry" salt Lake Baskunchak located in the Astrakhan region of the Russian Federation. The formation of the salt composition of the brines entering it is determined by the leaching activity of the ancient salt formations located in the immediate vicinity (salt rods, domes, etc.), followed by redeposition of salts in the basin in the course of evaporite sedimentation. In addition, the article, on the example of Lake Baskunchak, discusses the features of the evolutionary development of modern salt ponds from their inception to regression. In accordance with this, the main stages of the evolutionary development of saltwater reservoirs are pre-sedimentation, sedimentation including the phase of "brine" and "dry" salt lake, and post-sedimentation ones. It is emphasized that by the time of reaching the "dry" lake stage its hydrological period of development is completed, and the surface brine is transformed into an underground one, due to which a period comes when the further development of the basin begins to be determined by hydrogeological features. Among the main objectives of this study, it is also worth highlighting the features of the development and operation of modern solid salt deposits and their brines at Lake Baskunchak, and the possibility of regenerating its reserves based on thermodynamic and kinetic methods for calculating salt formation processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method is proposed for the production of an inhibitor of salt deposition based on a polyelectrolyte complex, including an anionic natural polymer (sodium lignosulfonate) and a cationic synthetic polymer (polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride) as initial components. A stable polyelectrolyte complex was produced by selecting the molar ratios of the anionic and cationic components by impedance spectroscopy, which involves measurement of the dependence of an electrochemical cell on the frequency of the alternating current. The effectiveness of the polyelectrolytic complex as inhibitor of salt deposition in waters with various compositions under conditions of rising temperatures was demonstrated experimentally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uncontrolled inflow of formation fluid (brine) into a well adversely affects the cation–anion bonds in solutions and leads to their dissociation and loss of aggregative stability. Blow-out significantly complicates the drilling process and leads to an increase in non-productive time and in financial costs for problem solving. It is necessary to create a blocking screen that allows separation of the layer from the well and prevents brine flow. This article is devoted to the development of polymeric-blocking compositions that work due to the crystallization reaction of divalent salts of calcium and magnesium chlorides. More than 14 components were detected in the formation fluid on the atomic emission spectrometer. Based on the study of the compatibility of components with brine and the study of rheology and filtration processes through a real core under HPHT conditions, the optimal component polymer composition was selected. The reason for the increase in the rheology of composition during its thickening was established. With the help of tomographic studies, the depth of penetration of the filtrate into the core of layers was determined. For further studies, an experimental stand was designed for physical simulation of the isolation process under HPHT conditions and backpressure from the formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of salt rocks deformation and fracture processes is an essential part of mining parameters justification for mineral salt deposits. The results of uniaxial compression tests on large salt rock specimens are presented as a loading curve and diagrams of the transverse-longitudinal displacements at various distances from the side faces. Based on an isotropic elastoplastic model, a multivariant numerical simulation was performed. Its purpose was to select fracture criteria that accurately describe the loading diagram of specimen and its transverse-longitudinal deformations. The following fracture criteria are considered: Tresca with the associated plastic flow rule, the associated and non-associated Mohr-Coulomb, the parabolic analogue of Mohr-Coulomb criterion and the volumetric fracture criterion. Numerical simulation was carried out by the displacement-based finite element method. Three-dimensional hexahedral eight-node isoparametric elements were used for discretization of the solution domain. It has been established that within the elastoplastic model of media the process of uniaxial compression of a large cubic salt rock specimen is adequately described by the linear Mohr-Coulomb fracture criterion with the non-associated plastic flow, as well as by the associated volumetric parabolic yield criterion with the linear isotropic hardening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the marine environment, the working environment of the doubly fed wind generator carbon brush and slip‐ring system is complicated, salt spray deposits and seawater erosion affect the temperature field and contact surface friction factor leading to carbon brush wear increase and shortened replacement cycle. The three‐dimensional temperature field simulation model of the carbon brush and slip‐ring system is established. The main factors affecting the carbon brush and slip‐ring system temperature field are sliding velocity, load current, ambient temperature, contact surface condition and contact pressure applied to the brush. Wear capacity of carbon brushes is affected by contact surface temperature. An experimental platform combined with the salt spray test machine was built to carry out the contact current, contact pressure, salt spray concentration and experimental temperature experiment. The improved Coulomb‐viscous friction force model was used for the wear prediction model. The sliding velocity, contact pressure, contact current, experimental temperature and salt spray concentration were introduced into the model. The experimental verification has shown that the prediction model can effectively predict the carbon brush wearing capacity under different conditions. This model can be applied to formulating the carbon brush wear amount and replacement cycle in the marine environment reducing operation and maintenance costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article introduces a complementary criterion for flashover (FOV) of polluted insulators based on the concept of equivalent impedance variation with discharge length and leakage current. An analytical electrothermal model enabling the calculation of critical FOV voltage and critical current of polluted insulators is developed using this complementary criterion and the equivalent impedance criterion. It is shown that the critical parameters depend on the thermal characteristic of the discharge and the components of the equivalent electrical circuit. The comparison of the computed FOV voltage and critical current is in good accordance with the experimental ones for a laboratory insulation flat sample model with different applied voltage waveforms. The application of the developed model to actual insulators destined for 11-kV systems, by including equivalent salt density deposit (ESDD) and the form factor, shows that FOV voltage values match very well with the experimental data in clean fog test conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of the new mining technology on the Third potash bed at the Starobinsk potash salt deposit is accompanied by the displacement of the undermined rocks. The displacement is accompanied by the foliation. The gas accumulates in the resulting foliation. The gas accumulations in the roof or the floor rocks can be the cause of a rockburst. A rockburst poses a threat to the miners' lives, breaks driving and wide equipment and stops the working activity of the mines. Therefore, the study of the underworking effect on the gas content and the gas-dynamic characteristics are relevant problems in mining science. Thus, the purpose of this work is the study of the underworking effect on the gas content and the gas-dynamic characteristics. The τ criterion was used for testing the data samples. At the second stage of the comparative statistical analysis, two hypotheses H0 and H1 were accepted which were later subjected to verification using Student's t-test. The gas parameters are changed by the camera floor and are not changed by other places. Therefore, the effect of the rock underworking leads to the formation of the additional foliation of the floor and, accordingly, to the free gases' redistribution along the stratigraphic section and, ultimately, to the significant changes of the free gas content, the starting gas release and the gas pressure. The validity of the effect of the undermining can be the intensive gas releases repeatedly recorded in the process of drilling research holes into the soil with the ejection of a piece of the rock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to ensure safe working conditions for miners underground, many works are carried out in mines to strengthen and seal mining excavations. This article presents the successfully applied technology for removing water inflow from the unique Salt Mine. Failure to take such action may ultimately lead to the flooding of the "Wieliczka" Salt Mine (KSW). On the basis of the authors' research studies, some of the implemented works at the "Wieliczka" Salt Mine are presented, the purpose of which is to better protect the mine against the risk of flooding with water. Thanks to this, the mine can safely survive for many more years. This article presents two innovative technologies in salt mines: (1) sealing of the rock mass surrounding the Kościuszko shaft casing in the "Wieliczka" Salt Mine, where jet injection was used as the basic method of making an anti-filter screen outside the shaft casing and classic injection as a supplementary method for sealing the anthropogenic embankment; (2) reconstruction of the internal pillar of safety by implementing a patented technology called "pipeline injection" on the example of the Mina cross-section, in which a catastrophic water inflow was previously created that threatened the existence of the "Wieliczka" Salt Mine. The first method consists of making an anti-filter screen, which is located outside the shaft housing. Unfortunately, it is not possible to perform injection works from inside the shaft housing, because the Kosciuszko shaft, as a ventilation shaft, must be open constantly. To solve this problem, it is designed as the main technology known as jet grouting, which is supplemented by pressure injection at a depth of up to several meters with continuous monitoring of the condition of the casing during injection works. The second example concerns the reconstruction of the internal pillar of mine safety in the area of the northern border of the salt deposit. In this case, the catastrophic hazard is documented, as evidenced by the inflow to the Mina transverse, which is located on the fourth level of the mine. This task was successfully completed by the implementation of a patented technological solution called pipeline injection, the details of which are discussed in this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to explore the process of salt extraction in Galicia during the period of the Austro-Hungarian empire. The scientific novelty lies in the complex analysis of salt extraction in the separate administrative-territorial formations of Austria. The main scientific approaches used in the article are the method of mathematic modeling and statistical method. The author concludes that the development of salt deposits in Galicia lasted since the Middle Ages, but reached its peak during the Austro-Hungarian Empire, in the second half of the 19th century. The main salt producers were saltworks in Bolekhiv, Bochnia, Wieliczka, Delyatyn, Dolyna, Drohobych, Kosiv, Latsk, Lanchyn, Stebnyk and Kachyka. In 1868--1880, the saltworks of Galicia, with the exception of Wieliczka (36--63 thousand tons) and Bochnia (15--20 thousand tons), produced an average of 4--7.5 thousand tons of salt annually. In the last quarter of the XIX century, 9--13 kg of salt per 1 inhabitant was produced. About 50,000 tons of salt were used annually in Galicia. In addition, less than 23 thousand tons were used for livestock. The largest salt producers were saltworks in Wieliczka and Bochnia. Wieliczka produced more salt than all other saltworks in Galicia combined (maximum in 1872 -- more than 75.8 thousand tons). At the beginning of the 1870's, there was a maximum extraction of salt, except for Lacko and Stebnyk, where over 25 years there was a gradual increase in production. The introduction of a salt monopoly in Austria-Hungary reduced value and budget revenues in Galicia. If in 1832 the export of salt brought 1,4 million Zł of income but in the 1890s it generated only 0,1 million Zł more. In general, the share of Galicia in the salt industry of Austria-Hungary was 44% by volume and 43.5% by the cost of production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Sedimentological and structural characterization of the Ariri Formation in the Santos Basin. • Evidence for halokinetic deformations during salt deposition. • Influence of syn-salt deformation on evaporite depositional system. • Halokinesis during a salt giant deposition strongly influences later salt tectonics. Halokinetic deformations synchronous with salt deposition are processes already suggested in several salt giants including the Lower Cretaceous salt deposits of the Santos Basin in Brazil. However, the dynamics of syn-depositional deformation has never been studied in a coherent depositional and structural framework. This study investigates well data and high-resolution 3D seismic images in the evaporitic Ariri Formation of the Santos Basin to understand the intra-salt deformations, estimate their timing and establish a link with the depositional setting of the evaporites. The seismic data shows numerous examples of intra-salt onlaps, erosive surfaces and sedimentary wedges highlighting the occurrence of deformations during salt deposition. Two dominant processes have initiated salt creep: the density contrasts between a dense upper anhydrite-rich unit and a less dense lower halite-dominated unit and the gravitational system promoted by the late-rift subsidence. Updip, extension prevailed during salt deposition and favored a boudinage of the Ariri Formation. Downdip, early contraction favored the development of well-developed intra-salt minibasins. Deformation occurring during salt deposition and induced topographic relief likely influenced the hydrological conditions. It probably led to intra-salt dissolution/reprecipitation processes and hyper-saline conditions favoring the precipitation of tachyhydrite deposits in localized intra-salt depocenters. Eventually, post-salt minibasins systematically developed above syn-salt depocenters, indicating that syn-salt deposition deformation had a strong impact on post-salt evolution. This new understanding of the intra-salt deformation in the Santos Basin paves the way for new interpretations of halokinetic deformations reported elsewhere in the South Atlantic or in other salt-giant provinces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is a hallmark event in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease, involving the phenotypic transformation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) towards an osteogenic state. Despite this understanding, the molecular mechanisms governing the VSMC osteogenic switch remain incompletely elucidated. Here, we sought to examine the potential role of circular RNA (circRNA) in the context of CAC. Through transcriptome analysis of circRNA-seq, we identified circTOP1 as a potential candidate circRNA in individuals with CAC. Furthermore, we observed that overexpression of circTOP1 exacerbated vascular calcification in a CAC model. Subsequent pull-down assays revealed an interaction between circTOP1 and PTBP1, a putative target gene of circTOP1 in the context of CAC. In both in vivo and in vitro experiments, we observed heightened expression of circTOP1 and PTBP1 in the CAC model, and noted that reducing circTOP1 expression effectively reduced calcium salt deposits and mineralized nodules in model mice. Additionally, in vitro experiments demonstrated that overexpression of PTBP1 reversed the weakening of signaling caused by silencing circTOP1, thereby exacerbating the osteogenic transition and calcification of VSMC. Collectively, our findings suggested that circTOP1 promotes CAC by modulating PTBP1 expression to mediate VSMC transdifferentiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The salt-bearing conjugate rifted margins of Morocco and Nova Scotia contain one of the oldest stratigraphic records documenting the opening history of the Central Atlantic Ocean, starting in Late Triassic times. Although there is certain consensus on the Middle Jurassic to Present evolution of this ocean basin, the Early Jurassic rift to drift transition stage is still under discussion. Through the interpretation of unpublished, recently acquired deep seismic reflection data, integrated with legacy 2D surveys from offshore Morocco, this study presents new evidence supporting a revised 3D passive-margin evolutionary model with a focus on the rift-to-drift transition phase. Eight regional seismic transects illustrate the along-strike variability of crustal structural styles, magmatic budget, and the interaction between rifting and evaporite deposition. Assuming evaporite deposition was near-isochronous along the margin, the interpretation of the autochthonous salt distribution elucidates the northward propagation of rifting and breakup. We interpret that salt was deposited during the exhumation stage in the Tarfaya and southern Agadir basins (southern segment) and during late syn -stretching to early syn-thinning in the Safi Basin and the Mazagan Plateau (northern segment). Furthermore, structural inheritance from Paleozoic tectonic boundaries, such as the South Atlas Fault Zone, were reactivated as transfer zones during rifting, separating segments with different crustal deformation styles and extension rates. Moreover, one of these inherited structures, the Sidi Ifni Transfer Zone, is located at the boundary between rheologically distinct pre-rift units and marks the transition between a magma-rich (south) and a magma-poor (north) segment of the margin, suggesting a direct link between compositional/structural inheritance and magmatic supply during rifting and breakup. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In places where petroleum and natural gas accumulate, a large number of salt layer deposits are likely to form under the surface of the earth. Locations of petroleum and natural gas can be found through precise positioning. Salt rock areas are traditionally located by experts through annotations on seismic images from professional equipment. However, manual labeling is a tedious and lengthy process, and is not objective. The inaccurate judgment of the location of a salt body will create hidden safety hazards. For a more accurate and automatic process, a salt rock segmentation method based on a U-Net model and deep supervision is proposed, using Kaggle platform data provided by the TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Company (TGS). Based on the data, single model precision of 87.32% mAP is obtained by training the model directly. Using transfer learning, ResNeSt loaded with a pretrained model is used as the backbone network of the encoder. To further improve the accuracy, some modules are added to the decoder. A series of experiments are conducted using a standardized method, whose results show that the proposed model delivers higher accuracy than some state-of-the-art models do. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicone rubber (SR) insulators have been coated with different concentrations of NaCl to study the contamination level adopting laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) analysis. An elemental study of LIBS spectral data has identified the sodium peaks, thereby indicating the presence of salt deposits. A regression coefficient is used for a better understanding of the direct correlation between the salt deposit density (SDD) and the normalized intensity ratio, at various standoff distances. A marginal decrement in the normalized intensity ratio of the sodium peaks has been noticed in the case of readings taken at morning and midday, compared to those taken at night at different SDD values and different energies of the laser pulse. With increase in SDD, the intensity distribution characteristics have a right shift on the intensity scale. The polluted SR specimens are successfully classified by employing artificial neural network technique. Overall, the LIBS method is successful in identifying the variations in the salt deposition on the surface of the insulator, even at far distances of 15 m and at any time of the day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study focuses on the corrosion behavior of 304L stainless steel in crevice corrosion environments. The specimen with a salt deposit of 0.1 g/m2 was assembled with a crevice former made of Poly-tetra fluoroethylene (PTFE) to make a test device. The assembled test devices were kept at the ambient temperature of 45 °C in combination with a relative humidity of 45%, 55%, and 70%. After testing for 5000 h, the corroded area of the specimen exposed to 70% humidity was three times larger than that subjected to 45% humidity. For the specimen sustaining a tensile force, the crack growth rate was approximately 1.4 mm/year at the stress level of 300 MPa in a crevice corrosion environment with 0.1 g/m2 of sea salt deposited on the surface. The small portion of intergranular cracking occurred at the surface due to the existed strain on the surface. As cracks propagate in a grain, the grain undergoes a greater localized deformation, and some secondary cracks would develop inside the grain; transgranular cracking was vigorous due to the path corrosion that nucleated at the slip steps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We provide new kinematic data from the Potwar Plateau (Pakistan) to evaluate the tectonic evolution of the region during the Neogene. The plateau is bound by two major strike-slip faults in the west and the east, accommodating its southwards translation. We have recognized two Neogene deformation phases in the plateau, based on paleostress inversion and Anisotropy of Magnetic Susceptibility (AMS) tensors. The first phase lasted until the early Pliocene and was characterized by vertical minor stress and N-S compression, implying thrust tectonics. The second deformation phase is characterized by a near-vertical intermediate principal stress and near-horizontal major and minor stresses, interpreted to be associated with strike-slip tectonics since the late Pliocene. Kint vectors from 21 sites are relatively compatible with the major principal stress orientations (σ1) and indicate two distinct domains. This is possibly because Kmin orientations are related to compaction, whereas Kint orientations were always parallel to tectonic shortening and hence compression direction during both strike-slip (post-late Pliocene) and thrusting (pre-late Pliocene) phases. These phases are characterized by swapping of (σ2) and (σ3) orientations while (σ1) maintained its orientation. The most prominent change occurs at the western part of the Potwar Plateau, where major principal stress directions (σ1) and Kint axes fan out south-westwards. The eastern domain is dominated by NE-SW trending folds and thrust faults, which are absent in the western domain. These structural features are interpreted to be the result of the distribution of deposits of the Neoproterozoic Salt Range Formation as a substratum below the Potwar Plateau. The Salt Range Formation is very thick and widespread in the west area and almost absent in the east. This factor led to unconstrained southwards gliding of the Potwar Plateau over the salt deposits in the west as opposed to frictional sliding and substantial internal deformation in the east. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]