Extraction and imaging of indicator elements for non-destructive,in-situ,fast identification of adverse geology in tunnels

The lag in quantitative methods and detection techniques for geologic information has resulted in time-consuming and human-experienced geologic analysis in tunnels.Geochemical indicators of rocks can be used to identify adverse geology and to explain the intrinsic causes of damage to normal rocks.This study proposes a method to identify adverse geology by extracting and imaging the indicator elements.The mapping relationship between rock components and geologic bodies is quickly determined by indicator element extraction based on factor analysis,and then the data are gridded for image output.The location and size of the target adverse geology are visually identified through the distribution images of the indicator elements,thus reducing data dimensions and analysis time.A non-destructive,in-situ and fast element detection technique in tunnels was adopted to speed up the process of geology identification.The accuracy of the detection was validated by comparing field and laboratory test results.This study further confirms and refines the previous research,and the results provide references for geological,mining and underground projects.

The northern Qiangtang Block rapid drift during the Triassic Period:Paleomagnetic evidence

As one of the pivotal Gondwana-derived blocks,the kinematic history of the northern Qiangtang Block(in the Tibetan Plateau)remains unclear,mainly because quantitative paleomagnetic data to determine the paleoposition are sparse.Thus,for this study,we collected 226 samples(17 sites)from Triassic sedimentary rocks in the Raggyorcaka and Tuotuohe areas of the northern Qiangtang Block(NQB).Stepwise demagnetization isolated high temperature/field components from the samples.Both Early and Late Triassic datasets passed field tests at a 99%confidence level and were proved to be primary origins.Paleopoles were calculated to be at 24.9°N and 216.5°E with A95=8.2°(N=8)for the Early Triassic dataset,and at 68.1 N,179.9 E with A(95)=5.6°(N=37)for the Late Triassic,the latter being combined with a coeval volcanic dataset published previously.These paleopoles correspond to paleolatitudes of14.3°S±8.2°and 29.9 N15.6°,respectively.Combining previously published results,we reconstructed a three-stage northward drift process for the NQB.(1)The northern Qiangtang Block was located in the subtropical part of the southern hemisphere until the Early Triassic;(2)thereafter,the block rapidly drifted northward from southern to northern hemispheres during the Triassic;and(3)the block converged with the Eurasian continent in the Late Triassic.The^4800 km northward movement from the Early to Late Triassic corresponded to an average motion rate of^11.85 cm/yr.The rapid drift of the NQB after the Early Triassic led to a rapid transformation of the Tethys Ocean.

Structural insights into the functions of Raf1 and Bsd2 in hexadecameric Rubisco assembly

Hexadecameric formI Rubisco,which consisting consists of eight large(RbcL)and eight small(RbcS)subunits,is the most abundant enzyme on earth.Extensive efforts to engineer an improved Rubisco to speed up its catalytic efficiency and ultimately increase agricultural productivity.However,difficulties with correct folding and assembly in foreign hosts or in vitro have hampered the genetic manipulation of hexadecameric Rubisco.In this study,we reconstituted Synechococcus sp.Pcc6301 Rubisco in vitro using the chaperonin system and assembly factors from cyanobacteria and Arabidopsis thaliana(At).Rubisco holoenzyme was produced in the presence of cyanobacterial Rubisco accumulation factor 1(Raf1)alone or both AtRaf1 and bundle-sheath defective-2(AtBsd2)from Arabidopsis.RbcL released from GroEL is assembly capable in the presence of ATP,and AtBsd2 functions downstream of AtRaf1.Cryo-EM structures of RbcL8-AtRaf18,RbcL8-AtRaf14-AtBsd2s,and RbcLs revealed that the interactions between RbcL and AtRaf1 are looser than those between prokaryotic RbcL and Raf1,with AtRaf1 tilting 7°farther away from RbcL.AtBsd2 stabilizes the flexible regions of RbcL,including the N and C termini,the 60s loop,and loop 6.Using these data,combined with previous findings,we propose the possible biogenesis pathways of prokaryotic and eukaryotic Rubisco.