Directional drilling has been established in the coal industry as a viable means of gas drainage, exploration and water management. But the environment in and around coal seams is not always conducive to stable condit...Directional drilling has been established in the coal industry as a viable means of gas drainage, exploration and water management. But the environment in and around coal seams is not always conducive to stable conditions while drilling and borehole stability after the drilling has been completed. This paper identifies the conditions which cause unstable drilling conditions and the various means which are used to attempt to manage or bypass those conditions. Ultimately, equipment does become bogged in these adverse environments and requires recovery by over-coring.展开更多
Individual-based studies allow quantification ofphenotypic plasticity in behavioural, life-history and other labile traits The study of phenotypic plasticity in the wild can shed new light on the ultimate objectives ...Individual-based studies allow quantification ofphenotypic plasticity in behavioural, life-history and other labile traits The study of phenotypic plasticity in the wild can shed new light on the ultimate objectives （1） whether plasticity itself can evolve or is constrained by its genetic architecture, and （2） whether plasticity is associated to other traits, including fitness （selection）. I describe the main statistical approach for how repeated records of individuals and a description of the environment （E） allow quantification of variation in plasticity across individuals （IxE） and genotypes （GxE） in wild populations. Based on a literature review of life-history and behavioural studies on plasticity in the wild, I discuss the present state of the two objectives listed above. Few studies have quantified GxE of labile traits in wild populations, and it is likely that power to detect statistically sig- nificant GxE is lacking. Apart from the issue of whether it is heritable, plasticity tends to correlate with average trait expression （not fully supported by the few genetic estimates available） and may thus be evolutionary constrained in this way. Individ- ual-specific estimates of plasticity tend to be related to other traits of the individual （including fitness）, but these analyses may be anti-conservative because they predominantly concern stats-on-stats. Despite the increased interest in plasticity in wild popula- tions, the putative lack of power to detect GxE in such populations hinders achieving general insights. I discuss possible steps to invigorate the field by moving away from simply testing for presence of GxE to analyses that ＇scale up＇ to population level proce-sses and by the development of new behavioural theory to identify quantitative genetic parameters which can be estimated展开更多
Northeastern China has the second largest expanse of permafrost in China,primarily known as Xing'an-Baikal permafrost.Located on the southeastern edges of the Eurasian cryolithozone,the permafrost is thermally uns...Northeastern China has the second largest expanse of permafrost in China,primarily known as Xing'an-Baikal permafrost.Located on the southeastern edges of the Eurasian cryolithozone,the permafrost is thermally unstable and ecologically sensitive to external changes.The combined impacts of climatic,environmental,and anthropogenic changes cause 3-dimensional degradation of the permafrost.To predict these changes on the southern limit and ground temperature of permafrost in Northeastern China,an equivalent latitude model (ELM) for the mean annual ground surface temperature (MAGSTs) was proposed,and further improved to take into account of the influences of vegetation and snow-cover based on observational data and using the SHAW model.Using the finite element method and assuming a climate warming rate of 0.048°C a-1,the ELM was combined with the unsteady-state heat conduction model to simulate permafrost temperatures at present,and to predict those after 50 and 100 a.The results indicate that at present,sporadic permafrost occurs in the zones with MAGSTs of 1.5°C or colder,and there would still be a significant presence of permafrost in the zones with the present MAGSTs of 0.5°C or colder after 50 a,and in those of-0.5°C or colder after 100 a.Furthermore,the total areal extent of permafrost would decrease from 2.57×105 km2 at present to 1.84×105 km2 after 50 a and to 1.29×105 km2 after 100 a,i.e.,a reduction of 28.4% and 49.8% in the permafrost area,respectively.Also the permafrost would degrade more substantially in the east than in the west.Regional warming and thinning of permafrost would also occur.The area of stable permafrost (mean annual ground temperature,or MAGT≤-1.0°C) would decrease from present 1.07×105 to 8.8×104 km2 after 50 a,and further decrease to 5.6×104 km2 after 100 a.As a result,the unstable permafrost and seasonally frozen ground would expand,and the southern limit of permafrost would shift significantly northwards.The changes in the permafrost environment may adversely affect on ecological environments and engineering infrastructures in cold regions.Avoidance of unnecessary anthropogenic changes in permafrost conditions is a practical approach to protect the permafrost environment.展开更多
The stability of China’s currency is dependent on a number of factors For the last two years the renminbi has been plagued by depreciation pressure.It has,once again,become a hot topic since October.Although the renm...The stability of China’s currency is dependent on a number of factors For the last two years the renminbi has been plagued by depreciation pressure.It has,once again,become a hot topic since October.Although the renminbi’s depreciation has not roused market panic,the instability of the current international political and economic environment signals the need for caution when dealing with the depreciation.展开更多
文摘Directional drilling has been established in the coal industry as a viable means of gas drainage, exploration and water management. But the environment in and around coal seams is not always conducive to stable conditions while drilling and borehole stability after the drilling has been completed. This paper identifies the conditions which cause unstable drilling conditions and the various means which are used to attempt to manage or bypass those conditions. Ultimately, equipment does become bogged in these adverse environments and requires recovery by over-coring.
文摘Individual-based studies allow quantification ofphenotypic plasticity in behavioural, life-history and other labile traits The study of phenotypic plasticity in the wild can shed new light on the ultimate objectives （1） whether plasticity itself can evolve or is constrained by its genetic architecture, and （2） whether plasticity is associated to other traits, including fitness （selection）. I describe the main statistical approach for how repeated records of individuals and a description of the environment （E） allow quantification of variation in plasticity across individuals （IxE） and genotypes （GxE） in wild populations. Based on a literature review of life-history and behavioural studies on plasticity in the wild, I discuss the present state of the two objectives listed above. Few studies have quantified GxE of labile traits in wild populations, and it is likely that power to detect statistically sig- nificant GxE is lacking. Apart from the issue of whether it is heritable, plasticity tends to correlate with average trait expression （not fully supported by the few genetic estimates available） and may thus be evolutionary constrained in this way. Individ- ual-specific estimates of plasticity tend to be related to other traits of the individual （including fitness）, but these analyses may be anti-conservative because they predominantly concern stats-on-stats. Despite the increased interest in plasticity in wild popula- tions, the putative lack of power to detect GxE in such populations hinders achieving general insights. I discuss possible steps to invigorate the field by moving away from simply testing for presence of GxE to analyses that ＇scale up＇ to population level proce-sses and by the development of new behavioural theory to identify quantitative genetic parameters which can be estimated
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 40821001 and 40701013)Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Knowledge Innovative Program (Grant No. KZCX2-YW- 311)CAS ‘One Hundred Talented People’ Program
文摘Northeastern China has the second largest expanse of permafrost in China,primarily known as Xing'an-Baikal permafrost.Located on the southeastern edges of the Eurasian cryolithozone,the permafrost is thermally unstable and ecologically sensitive to external changes.The combined impacts of climatic,environmental,and anthropogenic changes cause 3-dimensional degradation of the permafrost.To predict these changes on the southern limit and ground temperature of permafrost in Northeastern China,an equivalent latitude model (ELM) for the mean annual ground surface temperature (MAGSTs) was proposed,and further improved to take into account of the influences of vegetation and snow-cover based on observational data and using the SHAW model.Using the finite element method and assuming a climate warming rate of 0.048°C a-1,the ELM was combined with the unsteady-state heat conduction model to simulate permafrost temperatures at present,and to predict those after 50 and 100 a.The results indicate that at present,sporadic permafrost occurs in the zones with MAGSTs of 1.5°C or colder,and there would still be a significant presence of permafrost in the zones with the present MAGSTs of 0.5°C or colder after 50 a,and in those of-0.5°C or colder after 100 a.Furthermore,the total areal extent of permafrost would decrease from 2.57×105 km2 at present to 1.84×105 km2 after 50 a and to 1.29×105 km2 after 100 a,i.e.,a reduction of 28.4% and 49.8% in the permafrost area,respectively.Also the permafrost would degrade more substantially in the east than in the west.Regional warming and thinning of permafrost would also occur.The area of stable permafrost (mean annual ground temperature,or MAGT≤-1.0°C) would decrease from present 1.07×105 to 8.8×104 km2 after 50 a,and further decrease to 5.6×104 km2 after 100 a.As a result,the unstable permafrost and seasonally frozen ground would expand,and the southern limit of permafrost would shift significantly northwards.The changes in the permafrost environment may adversely affect on ecological environments and engineering infrastructures in cold regions.Avoidance of unnecessary anthropogenic changes in permafrost conditions is a practical approach to protect the permafrost environment.
文摘The stability of China’s currency is dependent on a number of factors For the last two years the renminbi has been plagued by depreciation pressure.It has,once again,become a hot topic since October.Although the renminbi’s depreciation has not roused market panic,the instability of the current international political and economic environment signals the need for caution when dealing with the depreciation.
