Probabilistic analysis of tunnel face seismic stability in layered rock masses using Polynomial Chaos Kriging metamodel

Face stability is an essential issue in tunnel design and construction.Layered rock masses are typical and ubiquitous;uncertainties in rock properties always exist.In view of this,a comprehensive method,which combines the Upper bound Limit analysis of Tunnel face stability,the Polynomial Chaos Kriging,the Monte-Carlo Simulation and Analysis of Covariance method(ULT-PCK-MA),is proposed to investigate the seismic stability of tunnel faces.A two-dimensional analytical model of ULT is developed to evaluate the virtual support force based on the upper bound limit analysis.An efficient probabilistic analysis method PCK-MA based on the adaptive Polynomial Chaos Kriging metamodel is then implemented to investigate the parameter uncertainty effects.Ten input parameters,including geological strength indices,uniaxial compressive strengths and constants for three rock formations,and the horizontal seismic coefficients,are treated as random variables.The effects of these parameter uncertainties on the failure probability and sensitivity indices are discussed.In addition,the effects of weak layer position,the middle layer thickness and quality,the tunnel diameter,the parameters correlation,and the seismic loadings are investigated,respectively.The results show that the layer distributions significantly influence the tunnel face probabilistic stability,particularly when the weak rock is present in the bottom layer.The efficiency of the proposed ULT-PCK-MA is validated,which is expected to facilitate the engineering design and construction.

"Australian Companies Remain Committed to the China Market"——Exclusive Interview with David Olsson,President and Chairman of Australia China Business Council

This year marks the10th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Australia,and the development of bilateral relations are getting back on the right track.Recently,David Olsson,President and Chairman of the Australia China Business Council,stated his comments,when accepting an exclusive interview with China's Foreign Trade.

From Historical Landscapes to the Contemporary City: Interview with Professor Tim Bunnell

1.Chong Xu:It is my great honour to have this opportunity to interview you.You were trained as a geographer at the University of Nottingham in the UK.Can you talk to us about why you have chosen urban studies as your main research area?

Standard Model Fermion Masses and Charges from Holographic Analysis

The Standard Model of particle physics involves twelve fundamental fermions, treated as point particles, in four charge states. However, the Standard Model does not explain why only three fermions are in each charge state or account for neutrino mass. This holographic analysis treats charged Standard Model fermions as spheres with mass 0.187 g/cm2 times their surface area, using the proportionality constant in the holographic relation between mass of the observable universe and event horizon radius. The analysis requires three Standard Model fermions per charge state and relates up quark and down quark masses to electron mass. Holographic analysis specifies electron mass, to six significant figures, in terms of fundamental constants α,ℏ,G,Λ and Ω Λ . Treating neutrinos as spheres and equating electron neutrino energy density with cosmic vacuum energy density predicts neutrino masses consistent with experiment.

Unified Description of the Three Stable Particles in Self-Action Allows Determination of Their Relative Masses

The Dirac equation γμ(δμ-eAμ)Ψ=mc2Ψ describes the bound states of the electron under the action of external potentials, Aμ. We assumed that the fundamental form of the Dirac equation γμ(δμ-Sμ)Ψ=0 should describe the stable particles (the electron, the proton and the dark-matter-particle (dmp)) bound to themselves under the action of their own potentials Sμ. The new equation reveals that self energy is consequence of self action, it also reveals that the spin angular momentum is consequence of the dynamic structure of the stable particles. The quantitative results are the determination of their relative masses as well as the determination of the electromagnetic coupling constant.

Approach to cardiac masses: Thinking inside and outside the box

In this editorial we comment on the article by Huffaker et al,published in the current issue of the World Journal of Clinical Cases.Cardiac masses encompass a broad range of lesions,potentially involving any cardiac structure,and they can be either neoplastic or non-neoplastic.Primitive cardiac tumors are rare,while metastases and pseudotumors are relatively common.Cardiac masses frequently pose significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.Multimodality imaging is fundamental for differential diagnosis,treatment,and surgical planning.In particular cardiac magnetic resonance(CMR)is currently the gold standard for noninvasive tissue characterization.CMR allows evaluation of the relationship between the tumor and adjacent structures,detection of the degree of infiltration or expansion of the mass,and prediction of the possible malignancy of a mass with a high accuracy.Different flow charts of diagnostic work-up have been proposed,based on clinical,laboratory and imaging findings,with the aim of helping physicians approach the problem in a pragmatic way(“thinking inside the box”).However,the clinical complexity of cancer patients,in particular those with rare syndromes,requires a multidisciplinary approach and an open mind to go beyond flow charts and diagnostic algorithms,in other words the ability to“think outside the box”.

Supervised Learning Method: Critical Analysis and Updating of Cubing Rate Formulas for Determining Bark Masses of Prunus africana (Hook. f.) Kalkman (Rosaceae) in Cameroon

The stem barks of Prunus africana are used in the treatment of the benign prostate. Cameroon is one of the important exporters of the barks. Despite the important measures adopted in Cameroon for sustaining its harvesting, some many chalenges still remain. The objective of this work is to refine the forest management parameters in relation to P. africana in the regions of Adamaoua and the South-West by developing a volume rate which makes it possible to estimate the production for a new stem. The work took place in two phases: in the South-West in 2010 and in Adamaoua in 2011. Data collection used the semi-direct method, while the cubing equation was deduced by the multiple linear regression method. Two models for volume estimation and three models for mass prediction were developed. The predictive parameters retained are diameter, height of the bole and thickness of the bark. Results show that the average mass of the dry bark for a given P. africana tree species is 27.55 ± 14.44 kg and this varies according to the site. The strong adjusted coefficient of determination (adjusted R2) observed illustrates the reliability of the proposed models. These models provide a reliable tool that can be adopted as a standard in Cameroon for P. africana.

Deformation characteristics and damage ontologies of soft and hard composite rock masses under impact loading

As one of the most common occurring geological landforms in deep rock formations, the dynamic mechanical properties of layered composite rock bodies under impact loading have been widely studied by scholars. To study the dynamic properties of soft and hard composite rocks with different thickness ratios, this paper utilizes cement, quartz sand and gypsum powder to construct soft and hard composite rock specimens and utilizes a combination of indoor tests, numerical calculations, and theoretical analyses to investigate the mechanical properties of soft and hard composite rock bodies. The test results reveal that:(1) When the proportion of hard rock increases from 20% to 50%, the strength of the combined rock body increases by 69.14 MPa and 87 MPa when the hard rock face and soft rock face are loaded, respectively;however, when the proportion of hard rock is the same, the compressive strength of the hard rock face impact is 9%-17% greater than that of the soft rock face impact;(2) When a specimen of soft and hard combined rock body is subjected to impact loading, the damage mode involves mixed tension and shear damage, and the cracks generally first appear at the ends of the specimen, then develop on the laminar surface from the impact surface, and finally end in the overall damage of the soft rock part. The development rate and the total number of cracks in the same specimen when the hard rock face is impacted are significantly greater than those when the soft rock face is impacted;(3) By introducing Weibull’s statistical strength theory to establish the damage variables of soft-hard combined rock bodies, combined with the DP strength criterion, the damage model and the Kelvin body are concatenated to obtain a statistical damage constitutive model, which can better fit the full stress-strain curve of soft-hard combined rock body specimens under a single impact load.

The Impact of Street Interviews on Chinese EFL Undergraduates’Intercultural Communicative Competence

The study adopts Byram’s Intercultural Communicative Competence(ICC)model as the theoretical framework,and structured interviews were conducted to explore the impact of street interviews on the participants’ICC.Analysis results revealed street interviews help students acquire knowledge in intercultural attitudes,intercultural knowledge,skills of discovery and interaction,and critical cultural awareness,aligning with the four components of Byram’s ICC model.Meanwhile,they have positive perceptions of street interviews.Therefore,street interviews have a positive effect on the development of participants’ICC.

I WOULD LIKE IN A PRACTICAL WAY,TO SERVE THE MASSES:INTERVIEW WITH JAMPA PHUNTSOG,THE CHAIRMAN OF TAR

On May 16th,2003,Jampa Phuntsog,on wining the most votes at the second session of the eighth People's Congress of Tibetan Autonomous Region(TAR),was chosen to be the chairman of the government of TAR.Since then,the Khampa man from downtown Chamdu of TAR became the seventh chairman of the government of TAR,and the leader of 2.7 million people living on the snow-covered plateau. On January 30th,2007,the author kept an appointment at the Tibet Hotel in Beijing to hold an exclusive interview with Chairman Ja...

Anisotropic creep behavior of soft-hard interbedded rock masses based on 3D printing and digital imaging correlation technology

Three-dimensional(3D)printing technology is increasingly used in experimental research of geotechnical engineering.Compared to other materials,3D layer-by-layer printing specimens are extremely similar to the inherent properties of natural layered rock masses.In this paper,soft-hard interbedded rock masses with different dip angles were prepared based on 3D printing(3DP)sand core technology.Uniaxial compression creep tests were conducted to investigate its anisotropic creep behavior based on digital imaging correlation(DIC)technology.The results show that the anisotropic creep behavior of the 3DP soft-hard interbedded rock mass is mainly affected by the dip angles of the weak interlayer when the stress is at low levels.As the stress level increases,the effect of creep stress on its creep anisotropy increases significantly,and the dip angle is no longer the main factor.The minimum value of the long-term strength and creep failure strength always appears in the weak interlayer within 30°–60°,which explains why the failure of the layered rock mass is controlled by the weak interlayer and generally emerges at 45°.The tests results are verified by comparing with theoretical and other published studies.The feasibility of the 3DP soft-hard interbedded rock mass provides broad prospects and application values for 3DP technology in future experimental research.

China’s Investors Demonstrate Confidence in Thailand——Exclusive Interview with Mr.Narit Therdsteerasukdi,Secretary General of BOI

China is a key strategic partner of Thailand and plays a vital role in the Thai economy through investment,trade,and tourism.This year marks a decade since the establishment of the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership between the two countries.Recently,Mr.Narit Therdsteerasukdi,Secretary General of BOI,participated in an exclusive interview with China’s Foreign Trade magazine to share his views on bilateral investment and future prospects.

THE JAKARTA-BANDUNG RAILWAY BOOST Exclusive interview with Ayodhia Kalake,Secretary of the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime and Investment Affairs of Indonesia

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Indonesia.Over the last 10 years,bilateral relations between the two countries have maintained sound momentum of development,and strategic mutual trust has been continuously enhanced.

China-Laos Railway to Upgrade The Lao Economy Exclusive interview with Chairman of the Lao Chinese Chamber of Commerce Yao Bin

On December 3,2021,the China-Laos Railway,a flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative(BRI),officially began operation.As of August 16,2023,the cross-border railway had made a total of 20.09 million passenger trips including 17.09 million in the Chinese section and 3 million in the Laos section,which has significantly boosted the port economy,cross-border tourism,and cultural and people-to-people exchanges between China and Laos.

RESOLVING BUSINESS DISPUTES AT THE EARLIEST STAGE POSSIBLE Exclusive interview with ICDPASO Secretary-General Liu Chao

Business mediation is an alternative dispute resolution method that helps avoid court litigation.An effective means of settling commercial disputes and protecting interests,business mediation allows companies to have an equal say to achieve win-win results based on flexible rules.In recent years,mediation has played an increasingly important role in handling international commercial disputes and optimizing the global business environment.

BRI Opportunities for Overseas Chinese Businesses--An interview with Dr.Derek Goh Bak Heng,President of Teochew Poit Ip Huay Kuan

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative(BRI).Countries along the route have been responding enthusiastically to the BRI since it was proposed by China,and many overseas Chinese people have acted as bridges for cooperation.The Teochew people or Chaoshan people,native to the historical Chaoshan region in south China’s Guangdong Province,represent around 20 percent of the entire Chinese population in Singapore.Established in Singapore in 1929,Teochew Poit Ip Huay Kuan(TPIHK,meaning Chaoshan eight districts association)has a membership of more than 6,000 Singaporeans who have traced their origins to the eight Chaoshan districts including Chao’an,Jieyang,Chenghai。

NEW HEIGHTS OF IRONCLAD FRIENDSHIP Exclusive interview with Dr.Kung Phoak,Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia

The year 2023 marks the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Cambodia,in honor of which the“Year of China-Cambodia Friendship”was designated.Over the years,the two countries have joined hands to nurture their close bond into an ironclad friendship.Under the China-Cambodia Free Trade Agreement(FTA),which took effect in 2022,China and Cambodia have actively promoted practical cooperation in six priority areas including politics,production capacity,agriculture,energy,security,and people-to-people exchanges to build a“diamond hexagon”cooperation framework.In the new era,through a deepening comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation,the two countries are giving construction of a China-Cambodia community with a shared future a fresh new look with fruitful results achieved under the Belt and Road Initiative(BRI).

UPGRADING THE CAMBODIAN ECONOMY WITH CHINESE ASSISTANCE Exclusive interview with Phana Veunida,director of the Asia Pacific and Oceania Countries Department of the Council for the Development of Cambodia

This year was designated the Year of China-Cambodia Friendship as part of activities to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Cambodia.Over the years,China has firmly supported Cambodia’s development in all areas and the two countries have yielded fruitful achievements in cooperation.Their traditional friendship has stood the test of time.

PROMISING PROSPECTS FOR SUSTAINABLE CHINA-THAILAND COOPERATION Exclusive interview with Thailand’s Ambassador to China Arthayudh Srisamoot

This year marks the 20th anniversary of China’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia(TAC)and the 10th anniversary of China’s proposal of the Belt and Road Initiative(BRI).Over the years,as natural partners in the BRI,China and Thailand have been promoting practical cooperation and deepening friendly relations.China has been Thailand’s largest trading partner,largest export market for agricultural products,and a major source of foreign investment for many years.Since the COVID-19 outbreak,China and Thailand have worked together to meet the challenge while maintaining close cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

SETTLING COMMERCIAL DISPUTES IN BRI COOPERATION Exclusive interview with ICC Belt and Road Commission Chairman Yu Tengqun

Recently,the Belt and Road Commission of the International Chamber of Commerce(ICC)held a conference in Hong Kong entitled“Ten Years of Belt and Road-Noteworthy Experience and Legal Risk Prevention.”Participants shared views through panel discussions on three topics:How Compliance Management Creates Value:Experience of the Belt and Road,Risk Prevention:A Multi-Dimensional Review of the Belt and Road,and Dispute Resolution on“Belt and Road”Disputes:Arbitration and Beyond.