Grain-filling Characteristics of Two Differentpanicle Type Rice Cultivars in Heilongjiang Province

The grain-filling processes at different grain positions of curved-panicle type Longjing 29 and semi-erect-panicle type Longjing 31, two major rice （Oryza sativa L.） cultivars in Heilongjiang Province, were simulated by Richards growth eq-uation, so as to determine the reason of great differences in head rice rate of different rice cul- tivar among different years and to improve the processing quality of different rice cul- tivar through cultivation regulation measures. The results showed that the yield of Longjing 29 was slightly higher than that of Longjing 31, but the head rice rate of Longjing 29 was significantly lower than that of Longjing 31. More grains on sec- ondary rachis branch resulted in lower plumpness, lower seed-setting rate and lower milled rice rate of Longjing 29. The grain-filling rates at the six grain positions of Longjing 31 reached the peaks simultaneously, so the synchronous grain filling char- acteristic of Longjing 31 was more obvious. The grain-filling rate on the primary rachis branch of Longjing 31 was higher, and it reached the peak in the middle peri- od. Although the grain-filling rate on the secondary rachis branch of Longjing 31 was lower, it early reached the peak. In addition, the middle and late filling period of Longjing 31 was longer, resulting in plump and compact grains on the secondary rachis branch of Longjing 31. After the grain-filling rate on the primary rachis branch was decreased, the grain-filling rate on the secondary rachis branch of Longjing 29 started to be increased greatly, characterized by asynchronous grain filling. In the early grain filling stage, the grains on the upper, middle and basal secondary rachis branch were all significantly suppressed by those on the primary rachis branch of Longjing 29. The initial growth potential and maximum filling rate of grains on the secondary rachis branch of Longjing 29 were all lower. The grain-filling rate on the secondary rachis branch of Longjing 29 late reached the peak. Even worse, the mid- dle and late filling period of Longjing 29 was shorter. Therefore, the grains of Longjing 29 had poor plumpness. Synchronous grain filling led to small difference in grain quality within the same panicle, and this was also the reason for stable head rice rate of Longjing 31 among different years. In contrast, asynchronous grain filling led to great difference in grain quality within the same panicle of Longjing 29. In addi- tion, low temperature often occurred during the fast filling of grains on the secondary rachis branch of Longjing 29. Thus, the head rice rate of Longjing 29 was decreased.

Source-Sink and Grain-Filling Characteristics of Two-Line Hybrid Rice Yangliangyou 6

With two-line hybrid rice Yangliangyou 6 （YLY6） and Liangyoupeijiu （LYPJ） and three-line hybrid rice Shanyou 63 （SY63） as materials, the source, sink and flow characteristics in association with grain filling were investigated. The seed-setting rate, grain filling degree and grain yield of YLY6 and SY63 were significantly higher than those of LYPJ. The export and transformation percentages of the matter in culms and sheaths of YLY6 and SY63 were significantly higher than those of LYPJ. Activities of sucrose synthase, adenosine diphosphoglucose pyrophosphorylase, starch synthase and starch branching enzyme in grains were higher for YLY6 and SY63 than for LYPJ, and were very significantly correlated with maximum grain filling rate, mean grain filling rate, grain filling degree and grain weight. The spikelet number, grain yield and total sink load per area of vascular bundle and phloem of YLY6 and SY63 were significantly smaller than those of LYPJ, and the greater the load, the lower seed-setting rate and the poorer grain filling. The transportation rate per area phloem of YLY6 was greater than that of LYPJ or SY63. The results suggest that YLY6 possesses strong source, great sink activity and efficient flow, which lay a physiological base for its high seed-setting rate and good grain filling.

Changes in grain-filling characteristics of single-cross maize hybrids released in China from 1964 to 2014

Grain filling is the physiological process for determining the obtainment of yield in cereal crops.The grain-filling characteristics of 50 maize brand hybrids released from 1964 to 2014 in China were assayed across multiple environments.We found that the grain-filling duration(54.46%)and rate(43.40%)at the effective grain-filling phase greatly contributed to the final performance parameter of 100-kernel weight(HKW).Meanwhile,along with the significant increase in HKW,the accumulated growing degree days(GDDs)for the actual grain-filling period duration(AFPD)among the selected brand hybrids released from the 1960s to the 2010s in China had a decadal increase of 23.41℃ d.However,there was a decadal increase of only 19.76℃ d for GDDs of the days from sowing to physiological maturity(DPM),which was also demonstrated by a continuous decrease in the ratio between the days from sowing to silking(DS)and DPM(i.e.,from 53.24%in the 1960s to 49.78%in the 2010s).In contrast,there were no significant changes in grain-filling rate along with the release years of the selected hybrids.Moreover,the stability of grain-filling characteristics across environments also significantly increased along with the hybrid release years.We also found that the exotic hybrids showed a longer grain-filling duration at the effective grain-filling phase and more stability of the grain-filling characteristics than those of the Chinese local hybrids.According to the results of this study,it is expected that the relatively longer grain-filling duration,shorter DS,higher grain-filling rate,and steady grain-filling characteristics would contribute to the yield improvement of maize hybrids in the future.

Near-infrared brain functional characteristics of mild cognitive impairment with sleep disorders

BACKGROUND Mild cognitive impairment(MCI)has a high risk of progression to Alzheimer’s disease.The disease is often accompanied by sleep disorders,and whether sleep disorders have an effect on brain function in patients with MCI is unclear.AIM To explore the near-infrared brain function characteristics of MCI with sleep disorders.METHODS A total of 120 patients with MCI(MCI group)and 50 healthy subjects(control group)were selected.All subjects underwent the functional near-infrared spec-troscopy test.Collect baseline data,Mini-Mental State Examination,Montreal Cognitive Assessment scale,fatigue severity scale(FSS)score,sleep parameter,and oxyhemoglobin(Oxy-Hb)concentration and peak time of functional near-infrared spectroscopy test during the task period.The relationship between Oxy-RESULTS Compared with the control group,the FSS score of the MCI group was higher(t=11.310),and the scores of Pittsburgh sleep quality index,sleep time,sleep efficiency,nocturnal sleep disturbance,and daytime dysfunction were higher(Z=-10.518,-10.368,-9.035,-10.661,-10.088).Subjective sleep quality and total sleep time scores were lower(Z=-11.592,-9.924).The sleep efficiency of the MCI group was lower,and the awakening frequency,rem sleep latency period,total sleep time,and oxygen desaturation index were higher(t=5.969,5.829,2.887,3.003,5.937).The Oxy-Hb concentration at T0,T1,and T2 in the MCI group was lower(t=14.940,11.280,5.721),and the peak time was higher(t=18.800,13.350,9.827).In MCI patients,the concentration of Oxy-Hb during T0 was negatively correlated with the scores of Pittsburgh sleep quality index,sleep time,total sleep time,and sleep efficiency(r=-0.611,-0.388,-0.563,-0.356).It was positively correlated with sleep efficiency and total sleep time(r=0.754,0.650),and negatively correlated with oxygen desaturation index(r=-0.561)and FSS score(r=-0.526).All comparisons were P<0.05.CONCLUSION Patients with MCI and sleep disorders have lower near-infrared brain function than normal people,which is related to sleep quality.Clinically,a comprehensive assessment of the near-infrared brain function of patients should be carried out to guide targeted treatment and improve curative effect.

Study on the Relationship of the Characteristics of Vascular Bundles in the First Internode and Grain-filling of Heavy Panicle Type Hybrid Rice

The characteristics of vascular bundle in the first internode from top and grain-filling of heavy panicle type hybrid rice(HPTHR) were studied. The results were as follows: The HPTHR had more vascular bundles and a much bigger area of single vascular bundle, all vascular bundle, all phloem and all xylem in the first inter-node than Shanyou63. The vascular bundles had the similar load of spikelet number and sink capacity between the HPTHR and Shanyou63. The HPTHR had not only a larger sink but also normal grain-filling and sink-filling, high seed-setting rate and heavier panicle. Those characteristics of vascular bundle were the biological bases for the larger and heavier panicle of HPTHR. The results also indicated that the breeding model of HPTHR was an effective measure for the super high-yielding rice breeding.

Morphological and biochemical characteristics associated with autophagy in gastrointestinal diseases

Autophagy is a cellular catabolic process characterized by the formation of double-membrane autophagosomes.Transmission electron microscopy is the most rigorous method to clearly visualize autophagic engulfment and degradation.A large number of studies have shown that autophagy is closely related to the digestion,secretion,and regeneration of gastrointestinal(GI)cells.However,the role of autophagy in GI diseases remains controversial.This article focuses on the morphological and biochemical characteristics of autophagy in GI diseases,in order to provide new ideas for their diagnosis and treatment.

Spatiotemporal deformation characteristics of Outang landslide and identification of triggering factors using data mining

Since the impoundment of Three Gorges Reservoir(TGR)in 2003,numerous slopes have experienced noticeable movement or destabilization owing to reservoir level changes and seasonal rainfall.One case is the Outang landslide,a large-scale and active landslide,on the south bank of the Yangtze River.The latest monitoring data and site investigations available are analyzed to establish spatial and temporal landslide deformation characteristics.Data mining technology,including the two-step clustering and Apriori algorithm,is then used to identify the dominant triggers of landslide movement.In the data mining process,the two-step clustering method clusters the candidate triggers and displacement rate into several groups,and the Apriori algorithm generates correlation criteria for the cause-and-effect.The analysis considers multiple locations of the landslide and incorporates two types of time scales:longterm deformation on a monthly basis and short-term deformation on a daily basis.This analysis shows that the deformations of the Outang landslide are driven by both rainfall and reservoir water while its deformation varies spatiotemporally mainly due to the difference in local responses to hydrological factors.The data mining results reveal different dominant triggering factors depending on the monitoring frequency:the monthly and bi-monthly cumulative rainfall control the monthly deformation,and the 10-d cumulative rainfall and the 5-d cumulative drop of water level in the reservoir dominate the daily deformation of the landslide.It is concluded that the spatiotemporal deformation pattern and data mining rules associated with precipitation and reservoir water level have the potential to be broadly implemented for improving landslide prevention and control in the dam reservoirs and other landslideprone areas.

Clinical characteristics of acute non-varicose upper gastrointestinal bleeding and the effect of endoscopic hemostasis

BACKGROUND Acute non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding(ANVUGIB)constitutes a prevalent emergency within Gastroenterology,encompassing 80%-90%of all gastrointestinal hemorrhage incidents.This condition is distinguished by its abrupt onset,swift progression,and notably elevated mortality rate.AIM To gather clinical data from patients with ANVUGIB at our hospital in order to elucidate the clinical characteristics specific to our institution and analyze the therapeutic effectiveness of endoscopic hemostasis.METHODS We retrospectively retrieved the records of 532 patients diagnosed with ANVUGIB by endoscopy at our hospital between March 2021 and March 2023,utilizing our medical record system.Data pertaining to general patient information,etiological factors,disease outcomes,and other relevant variables were meticulously collected and analyzed.RESULTS Among the 532 patients diagnosed with ANVUGIB,the male-to-female ratio was 2.91:1,with a higher prevalence among males.Notably,43.6%of patients presented with black stool as their primary complaint,while 27.4%had hematemesis as their initial symptom.Upon admission,17%of patients exhibited both hematemesis and black stool,while most ANVUGIB patients primarily complained of overt gastrointestinal bleeding.Urgent routine blood examinations at admission revealed that 75.8%of patients had anemia,with 63.4%experiencing moderate to severe anemia,and 1.5%having extremely severe anemia(hemoglobin<30 g/L).With regard to etiology,53.2%of patients experienced bleeding without a definitive trigger,24.2%had a history of using gastric mucosa-irritating medications,24.2%developed bleeding after alcohol consumption,2.8%attributed it to improper diet,1.7%to emotional excitement,and 2.3%to fatigue preceding the bleeding episode.Drug-induced ANVUGIB was more prevalent in the elderly than middle-aged and young individuals,while bleeding due to alcohol consumption showed the opposite trend.Additionally,diet-related bleeding was more common among the young age group compared to the middle-aged group.Gastrointestinal endoscopy identified peptic ulcers as the most frequent cause of ANVUGIB(73.3%),followed by gastrointestinal malignancies(10.9%),acute gastric mucous lesions(9.8%),and androgenic upper gastrointestinal bleeding(1.5%)among inpatients with ANVUGIB.Of the 532 patients with gastrointestinal bleeding,68 underwent endoscopic hemostasis,resulting in an endoscopic treatment rate of 12.8%,with a high immediate hemostasis success rate of 94.1%.

Grain Yield,Biomass Accumulation,and Leaf Photosynthetic Characteristics of Rice under Combined Salinity-Drought Stress

Simultaneous stresses of salinity and drought often coincide during rice-growing seasons in saline lands,primarily due to insufficient water resources and inadequate irrigation facilities.Consequently,combined salinity-drought stress poses a major threat to rice production.In this study,two salinity levels(NS,non-salinity;HS,high salinity)along with three drought treatments(CC,control condition;DJ,drought stress imposed at jointing;DH,drought stress imposed at heading)were performed to investigate their combined influences on leaf photosynthetic characteristics,biomass accumulation,and rice yield formation.Salinity,drought,and their combination led to a shortened growth period from heading to maturity,resulting in a reduced overall growth duration.Grain yield was reduced under both salinity and drought stress,with a more substantial reduction under the combined salinity-drought stress.The combined stress imposed at heading caused greater yield losses in rice compared with the stress imposed at jointing.Additionally,the combined salinity-drought stress induced greater decreases in shoot biomass accumulation from heading to maturity,as well as in shoot biomass and nonstructural carbohydrate(NSC)content in the stem at heading and maturity.However,it increased the harvest index and NSC remobilization reserve.Salinity and drought reduced the leaf area index and SPAD value of flag leaves and weakened the leaf photosynthetic characteristics as indicated by lower photosynthetic rates,transpiration rates,and stomatal conductance.These reductions were more pronounced under the combined stress.Salinity,drought,and especially their combination,decreased the activities of ascorbate peroxidase,catalase,and superoxide dismutase,while increasing the contents of malondialdehyde,hydrogen peroxide,and superoxide radical.Our results indicated a more significant yield loss in rice when subjected to combined salinity-drought stress.The individual and combined stresses of salinity and drought diminished antioxidant enzyme activities,inhibited leaf photosynthetic functions,accelerated leaf senescence,and subsequently lowered assimilate accumulation and grain yield.

Research on the influences of motion characteristics of jetting projectile charge under water

Shaped charge warhead is important for enhancing the damage performance of underwater weapons.This paper used finite element analysis software and based on JPC water penetration experiments to examine the influence of liner parameters(wall thickness,material),charge aspect ratio,and stand-off distance on the movement characteristics of JPC in water.The findings reveal that the head diameter of the JPC increases and experiences significant erosion after entering the water,the effective length of the JPC in water undergoes two distinct phases:a growth phase and a decrease phase,with the velocity of the JPC decaying exponentially.Increasing the liner thickness,stand-off distance and the charge aspect ratio can improve the erosion resistance and the velocity retention capacity of the JPC.The optimal ranges for liner thickness and stand-off distance are 0.0363D_(k) to 0.0545D_(k)(D_(k) is the charge diameter),the stand-off distance should be within 1.0D_(k).After the charge aspect ratio higher than 1.25,the charge structure exerts minimal influence the movement characteristics of the JPC in water.Material density plays a crucial role in the velocity decay pattern of the JPC during penetration.JPC with higher densities exhibit superior velocity retention capabilities in water,with the velocity decay pattern converging if the densities are similar.Consequently,copper,tantalum and tungsten liners are deemed appropriate for underwater shaped charge warhead.Finally,the results will provide an important reference for the design of underwater shaped charge warhead.

Dynamic response mechanism and precursor characteristics of gneiss rockburst under different initial burial depths

To investigate the influence mechanism of geostress on rockburst characteristics,three groups of gneiss rockburst experiments were conducted under different initial geostress conditions.A high-speed photography system and acoustic emission(AE)monitoring system were used to monitor the entire rockburst process in real time.The experimental results show that when the initial burial depth increases from 928 m to 1320 m,the proportion of large fracture scale in rockburst increases by 154.54%,and the AE energy increases by 565.63%,reflecting that the degree and severity of rockburst increase with the increase of burial depth.And then,two mechanisms are proposed to explain this effect,including(i)the increase of initial geostress improves the energy storage capacity of gneiss,and then,the excess energy which can be converted into kinetic energy of debris ejection increases,consequently,a more pronounced violent ejection phenomenon is observed at rockburst;(ii)the increase of initial geostress causes more sufficient plate cracks of gneiss after unloading ofσh,which provides a basis for more severe ejection of rockburst.What’s more,a precursor with clear physical meaning for rockburst is proposed under the framework of dynamic response process of crack evolution.Finally,potential value in long term rockburst warning of the precursor obtained in this study is shown via the comparison of conventional precursor.

Experimental investigation on coal pore-fracture variation and fractal characteristics synergistically affected by solvents for improving clean gas extraction

Chemical solvents instead of pure water being as hydraulic fracturing fluid could effectively increase permeability and improve clean methane extraction efficiency.However,pore-fracture variation features of lean coal synergistically affected by solvents have not been fully understood.Ultrasonic testing,nuclear magnetic resonance analysis,liquid phase mass spectrometry was adopted to comprehensively analyze pore-fracture change characteristics of lean coal treated by combined solvent(NMP and CS_(2)).Meanwhile,quantitative characterization of above changing properties was conducted using geometric fractal theory.Relationship model between permeability,fractal dimension and porosity were established.Results indicate that the end face fractures of coal are well developed after CS2and combined solvent treatments,of which,end face box-counting fractal dimensions range from 1.1227 to 1.4767.Maximum decreases in ultrasonic longitudinal wave velocity of coal affected by NMP,CS_(2)and combined solvent are 2.700%,20.521%,22.454%,respectively.Solvent treatments could lead to increasing amount of both mesopores and macropores.Decrease ratio of fractal dimension Dsis 0.259%–2.159%,while permeability increases ratio of NMR ranges from 0.1904 to 6.4486.Meanwhile,combined solvent could dissolve coal polar and non-polar small molecules and expand flow space.Results could provide reference for solvent selection and parameter optimization of permeability-enhancement technology.

Characteristics of proppant transport and placement within rough hydraulic fractures

A three-dimensional reconstruction of rough fracture surfaces of hydraulically fractured rock outcrops is carried out by casting process,a large-scale experimental setup for visualizing rough fractures is built to perform proppant transport experiments.The typical characteristics of proppant transport and placement in rough fractures and its intrinsic mechanisms are investigated,and the influences of fracture inclination,fracture width and fracturing fluid viscosity on proppant transport and placement in rough fractures are analyzed.The results show that the rough fractures cause variations in the shape of the flow channel and the fluid flow pattern,resulting in the bridging buildup during proppant transport to form unfilled zone,the emergence of multiple complex flow patterns such as channeling,reverse flow and bypassing of sand-carrying fluid,and the influence on the stability of the sand dune.The proppant has a higher placement rate in inclined rough fractures,with a maximum increase of 22.16 percentage points in the experiments compared to vertical fractures,but exhibits poor stability of the sand dune.Reduced fracture width aggravates the bridging of proppant and induces higher pumping pressure.Increasing the viscosity of the fracturing fluid can weaken the proppant bridging phenomenon caused by the rough fractures.

Investigation of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene propellant breaking characteristics and mechanism impacted by submerged cavitation water jet

A submerged cavitation water jet(SCWJ)is an effective method to recycle solid propellant from obsolete solid engines by the breaking method.Solid propellant's breaking modes and mechanical process under SCWJ impact are unclear.This study aims to understand those impact breaking mechanisms.The hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene(HTPB)propellant was chosen as the research material,and a self-designed test system was used to conduct impact tests at four different working pressures.The high-speed camera characterized crack propagation,and the DIC method calculated strain change during the impact process.Besides,micro and macro fracture morphologies were characterized by scanning electron microscope(SEM)and computed tomography(CT)scanning.The results reveal that the compressive strain concentration region locates right below the nozzle,and the shear strain region distributes symmetrically with the jet axis,which increases to 4% at first 16th ms,the compressive strain rises to 2% and 6% in the axial and transverse direction,respectively.The two tensile cracks formed first at the compression strain concentrate region,and there generate many shear cracks around the tensile cracks,and those shear cracks that develop and aggregate cause the cracks to become wider and cut through the tensile cracks,forming the tensile-shear cracks and the impact parts eventually fail.The HTPB propellant forms a breaking hole shaped conical after impact 10 s.The mass loss increases by 17 times at maximum,with the working pressure increasing by three times.Meanwhile,the damage value of the breaking hole remaining on the surface increases by 7.8 times while 2.9 times in the depth of the breaking hole.The breaking efficiency is closely affected by working pressures.The failure modes of HTPB impacted by SCWJ are classified as tensile crack-dominated and tensile-shear crack-dominated damage mechanisms.

Liquefaction susceptibility and deformation characteristics of saturated coral sandy soils subjected to cyclic loadings-a critical review

Coral sandy soils widely exist in coral island reefs and seashores in tropical and subtropical regions.Due to the unique marine depositional environment of coral sandy soils,the engineering characteristics and responses of these soils subjected to monotonic and cyclic loadings have been a subject of intense interest among the geotechnical and earthquake engineering communities.This paper critically reviews the progress of experimental investigations on the undrained behavior of coral sandy soils under monotonic and cyclic loadings over the last three decades.The focus of coverage includes the contractive-dilative behavior,the pattern of excess pore-water pressure(EPWP)generation and the liquefaction mechanism and liquefaction resistance,the small-strain shear modulus and strain-dependent shear modulus and damping,the cyclic softening feature,and the anisotropic characteristics of undrained responses of saturated coral sandy soils.In particular,the advances made in the past decades are reviewed from the following aspects:(1)the characterization of factors that impact the mechanism and patterns of EPWP build-up;(2)the identification of liquefaction triggering in terms of the apparent viscosity and the average flow coefficient;(3)the establishment of the invariable form of strain-based,stress-based,or energy-based EPWP ratio formulas and the unique relationship between the new proxy of liquefaction resistance and the number of cycles required to reach liquefaction;(4)the establishment of the invariable form of the predictive formulas of small strain modulus and strain-dependent shear modulus;and(5)the investigation on the effects of stress-induced anisotropy on liquefaction susceptibility and dynamic deformation characteristics.Insights gained through the critical review of these advances in the past decades offer a perspective for future research to further resolve the fundamental issues concerning the liquefaction mechanism and responses of coral sandy sites subjected to cyclic loadings associated with seismic events in marine environments.

Computer vision-aided DEM study on the compaction characteristics of graded subgrade filler considering realistic coarse particle shapes

The compaction quality of subgrade filler strongly affects subgrade settlement.The main objective of this research is to analyze the macro-and micro-mechanical compaction characteristics of subgrade filler based on the real shape of coarse particles.First,an improved Viola-Jones algorithm is employed to establish a digitalized 2D particle database for coarse particle shape evaluation and discrete modeling purposes of subgrade filler.Shape indexes of 2D subgrade filler are then computed and statistically analyzed.Finally,numerical simulations are performed to quantitatively investigate the effects of the aspect ratio(AR)and interparticle friction coefficient(μ)on the macro-and micro-mechanical compaction characteristics of subgrade filler based on the discrete element method(DEM).The results show that with the increasing AR,the coarse particles are narrower,leading to the increasing movement of fine particles during compaction,which indicates that it is difficult for slender coarse particles to inhibit the migration of fine particles.Moreover,the average displacement of particles is strongly influenced by the AR,indicating that their occlusion under power relies on particle shapes.The dis-placement and velocity of fine particles are much greater than those of the coarse particles,which shows that compaction is primarily a migration of fine particles.Under the cyclic load,the interparticle friction coefficientμhas little effect on the internal structure of the sample;under the quasi-static loads,however,the increase inμwill lead to a significant increase in the porosity of the sample.This study could not only provide a novel approach to investigate the compaction mechanism but also establish a new theoretical basis for the evaluation of intelligent subgrade compaction.

Analysis of mesoscopic mechanical dynamic characteristics of ballast bed with under sleeper pads

The meso-dynamical behaviour of a high-speed rail ballast bed with under sleeper pads(USPs)was studied.The geometrically irregular refined discrete element model of the ballast particles was constructed using 3D scanning techniques,and the 3D dynamic model of the rail-sleeper-ballast bed was constructed using the coupled discrete element method-multiflexible-body dynamics(DEM-MFBD)approach.We analyse the meso-mechanical dynamics of the ballast bed with USPs under dynamic load on a train and verify the correctness of the model in laboratory tests.It is shown that the deformation of the USPs increases the contact area between the sleeper and the ballast particles,and subsequently the number of contacts between them.As the depth of the granular ballast bed increases,the contact area becomes larger,and the contact force between the ballast particles gradually decreases.Under the action of the elastic USPs,the contact forces between ballast particles are reduced and the overall vibration level of the ballast bed can be reduced.The settlement of the granular ballast bed occurs mainly at the shallow position of the sleeper bottom,and the installation of the elastic USPs can be effective in reducing the stress on the ballast particles and the settlement of the ballast bed.

Low-temperature characteristicsof rubbers and performance testsof type 120 emergencyvalve diaphragms

Purpose–The type 120 emergency valve is an essential braking component of railway freight trains,butcorresponding diaphragms consisting of natural rubber(NR)and chloroprene rubber(CR)exhibit insufficientaging resistance and low-temperature resistance,respectively.In order to develop type 120 emergency valverubber diaphragms with long-life and high-performance,low-temperatureresistant CR and NR were processed.Design/methodology/approach–The physical properties of the low-temperature-resistant CR and NRwere tested by low-temperature stretching,dynamic mechanical analysis,differential scanning calorimetryand thermogravimetric analysis.Single-valve and single-vehicle tests of type 120 emergency valves werecarried out for emergency diaphragms consisting of NR and CR.Findings–The low-temperature-resistant CR and NR exhibited excellent physical properties.The elasticityand low-temperature resistance of NR were superior to those of CR,whereas the mechanical properties of thetwo rubbers were similar in the temperature range of 0℃–150℃.The NR and CR emergency diaphragms metthe requirements of the single-valve test.In the low-temperature single-vehicle test,only the low-temperaturesensitivity test of the NR emergency diaphragm met the requirements.Originality/value–The innovation of this study is that it provides valuable data and experience for futuredevelopment of type 120 valve rubber diaphragms.

Flow field, sedimentation, and erosion characteristics around folded linear HDPE sheet sand fence: Numerical simulation study

Wind and sand hazards are serious in the Milan Gobi area of the Xinjiang section of the Korla Railway. In order to ensure the safe operation of railroads, there is a need for wind and sand protection in heavily sandy areas. The wind and sand flow in the region is notably bi-directional. To shield railroads from sand, a unique sand fence made of folded linear high-density polyethylene(HDPE) is used, aligning with the principle that the dominant wind direction is perpendicular to the fence. This study employed field observations and numerical simulations to investigate the effectiveness of these HDPE sand fences in altering flow field distribution and offering protection. It also explored how these fences affect the deposition and erosion of sand particles. Findings revealed a significant reduction in wind speed near the fence corner;the minimum horizontal wind speed on the leeward side of the first sand fence(LSF) decreased dramatically from 3 m/s to 0.64 m/s. The vortex area on the LSF markedly impacted horizontal wind speeds. Within the LSF, sand deposition was a primary occurrence. As wind speeds increased, the deposition zone shrank, whereas the positive erosion zone expanded. Close to the folded corners of the HDPE sand fence, there was a notable shift from the positive erosion zone to a deposition zone. Field tests and numerical simulations confirmed the high windproof efficiency(WE) and sand resistance efficiency(SE) in the HDPE sand fence. Folded linear HDPE sheet sand fence can effectively slow down the incoming flow and reduce the sand content, thus achieving good wind and sand protection. This study provides essential theoretical guidance for the design and improvement of wind and sand protection systems in railroad engineering.

Microscopic characteristics of tight sandstone reservoirs and their effects on the imbibition efficiency of fracturing fluids:A case study of the Linxing area,Ordos Basin

The Linxing area within the Ordos Basin exhibits pronounced reservoir heterogeneity and intricate micro-pore structures,rendering it susceptible to water-blocking damage during imbibition extraction.This study delved into the traits of tight sandstone reservoirs in the 8th member of the Shihezi Formation(also referred to as the He 8 Member)in the study area,as well as their effects on fracturing fluid imbibition.Utilizing experimental techniques such as nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR),high-pressure mercury intrusion(HPMI),and gas adsorption,this study elucidated the reservoir characteristics and examined the factors affecting the imbibition through imbibition experiments.The findings reveal that:①The reservoir,with average porosity of 8.40%and average permeability of 0.642×10^(-3)μm^(2),consists principally of quartz,feldspar,and lithic fragments,with feldspathic litharenite serving as the primary rock type and illite as the chief clay mineral;②Nano-scale micro-pores and throats dominate the reservoir,with dissolution pores and intercrystalline pores serving as predominant pore types,exhibiting relatively high pore connectivity;③Imbibition efficiency is influenced by petrophysical properties,clay mineral content,and microscopic pore structure.Due to the heterogeneity of the tight sandstone reservoir,microscopic factors have a more significant impact on the imbibition efficiency of fracturing fluids;④A comparative analysis shows that average pore size correlates most strongly with imbibition efficiency,followed by petrophysical properties and clay mineral content.In contrast,the pore type has minimal impact.Micropores are vital in the imbibition process,while meso-pores and macro-pores offer primary spaces for imbibition.This study offers theoretical insights and guidance for enhancing the post-fracturing production of tight sandstone reservoirs by examining the effects of these factors on the imbibition efficiency of fracturing fluids in tight sandstones.