Impacts of Comorbidity and Mental Shock on Organic Micropollutants in Surface Water During and After the First Wave of COVID-19 Pandemic in Wuhan (2019–2021), China

The first pandemic wave of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)induced a considerable increase in several antivirals and antibiotics in surface water.The common symptoms of COVID-19 are viral and bacterial infections,while comorbidities(e.g.,hypertension and diabetes)and mental shock(e.g.,insomnia and anxiety)are nonnegligible.Nevertheless,little is known about the long-term impacts of comorbidities and mental shock on organic micropollutants(OMPs)in surface waters.Herein,we monitored 114 OMPs in surface water and wastewater treatment plants(WWTPs)in Wuhan,China,between 2019 and 2021.The pandemic-induced OMP pollution in surface water was confirmed by significant increases in 26 OMP concentrations.Significant increases in four antihypertensives and one diabetic drug suggest that the treatment of comorbidities may induce OMP pollution.Notably,cotinine(a metabolite of nicotine)increased 155 times to 187 ngL1,which might be associated with increased smoking.Additionally,the increases in zolpidem and sulpiride might be the result of worsened insomnia and depression.Hence,it is reasonable to note that mental-health protecting drugs/behavior also contributed to OMP pollution.Among the observed OMPs,telmisartan,lopinavir,and ritonavir were associated with significantly higher ecological risks because of their limited WWTP-removal rate and high ecotoxicity.This study provides new insights into the effects of comorbidities and mental shock on OMPs in surface water during a pandemic and highlights the need to monitor the fate of related pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment and to improve their removal efficiencies in WWTPs。

Physics-based and data-driven modeling for stability evaluation of buried structures in natural clays

This study presents a hybrid framework to predict stability solutions of buried structures under active trapdoor conditions in natural clays with anisotropy and heterogeneity by combining physics-based and data-driven modeling.Finite-element limit analysis(FELA)with a newly developed anisotropic undrained shear(AUS)failure criterion is used to identify the underlying active failure mechanisms as well as to develop a numerical(physics-based)database of stability numbers for both planar and circular trapdoors.Practical considerations are given for natural clays to three linearly increasing shear strengths in compression,extension,and direct simple shear in the AUS material model.The obtained numerical solutions are compared and validated with published solutions in the literature.A multivariate adaptive regression splines(MARS)algorithm is further utilized to learn the numerical solutions to act as fast FELA data-driven surrogates for stability evaluation.The current MARS-based modeling provides both relative importance index and accurate design equations that can be used with confidence by practitioners.

Material point method simulation of hydro-mechanical behaviour in twophase porous geomaterials: A state-of-the-art review

The material point method(MPM)has been gaining increasing popularity as an appropriate approach to the solution of coupled hydro-mechanical problems involving large deformation.In this paper,we survey the current state-of-the-art in the MPM simulation of hydro-mechanical behaviour in two-phase porous geomaterials.The review covers the recent advances and developments in the MPM and their extensions to capture the coupled hydro-mechanical problems involving large deformations.The focus of this review is aiming at providing a clear picture of what has or has not been developed or implemented for simulating two-phase coupled large deformation problems,which will provide some direct reference for both practitioners and researchers.

Investigation on the Folding Mode and Deployment Process of an Inflatable Boarding Platform for the Marine Emergency Evacuation System

Monopiles are the most common foundation form of offshore wind turbines,which bear the vertical load,lateral load and bending moment.It remains uncertain whether the applied vertical load increases the lateral deflection of the pile.This paper investigated the influence of vertical load on the behaviour of monopiles installed in the sand under combined load using three-dimensional numerical methods.The commercial software PLAXIS was used for simulations in this paper.Monopiles were modelled as a structure incorporating linear elastic material behaviour and soil was modelled using the Hardening-Soil(HS)constitutive model.The monopiles under vertical load,lateral load and combined vertical and lateral loads were respectively studied taking into account the sequence of load application and pile slenderness ratio(L/D;L and D are the length and diameter of the pile).Results suggest that the sequence of load application plays a major role in how vertical load affects the deflection behaviour of the pile.Specifically,when L/D ratios obtained by lengthening the pile while keeping its diameter constant are 3,5 and 8,the relationships between lateral load and the deflection behaviour of the pile under the effect of vertical load demonstrate a similar trend.Furthermore,the cause of increased lateral capacity of the pile under the action of applied vertical load in the common practical application case and in the VPL case was analyzed by studying the variation law of soil stress along the pile embedment.Results confirm that the confining effect of vertical load increases means effective stress of the soil around the pile,thus increasing soil stiffness and pile capacity.

Seasonal variation of tidal prism and energy in the Changjiang River estuary： a numerical study

Tidal rivers are intrinsically complex because tidal propagation is influenced by river discharge. This study aims to examine the seasonal variation of tidal prism and energy variance in the tidal river of the Changjiang(Yangtze) River estuary in China. In order to quantify the behaviour of river and tide,we use numerical modelling that has been validated using measured data. We conduct our analysis by quantifying the discharge and energy variance in separate components for both the river and the tide,during wet and dry seasons. We note various definitions of tidal prism and explore the difference between tidal discharge on the flood and ebb and tidal storage volume. The results show that the river discharge attenuates the tidal motion and reduces the tidal flood discharge but the tidal storage volume is approximately constant with different riverine discharge since part of the fresh water discharge is intercepted and captured in the estuary due to the backwater effect. It appears that the tidal discharge adjusts according to the variation of river discharge to keep a constant tidal storage volume. An analysis of the hydraulics shows that the transition from tidal dominance(at the mouth) to river dominance(upstream) depends on the location of tidal current reversal which varies from wet season to dry season. Duringthe wet season,the Changjiang River estuary is totally dominated by energy from fresh water discharge.

Advances and Practices on the Research, Prevention and Control of Land Subsidence in Coastal Cities

Land subsidence severely threatens most of the coastal plains around the world where high productive industrial and agricultural activities and urban centers are concentrated. Coastal subsidence damages infrastructures and exacerbates the effect of the sea-level rise at regional scale. Although it is a well-known process, there is still much more to be improved on the monitoring, mapping and modeling of ground movements, as well as the understanding of controlling mechanisms. The International Geoscience Programme recently approved an international project(IGCP 663) aiming to bring together worldwide researchers to share expertise on subsidence processes typically occurring in coastal areas and cities, including basic research, monitoring and observation, modelling and management. In this paper, we provide the research communities and potential stakeholders with the basic information to join the participating teams in developing this project. Specifically, major advances on coastal subsidence studies and information on well-known and new case studies of land subsidence in China, Italy, The Netherlands, Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand are highlighted and summarized. Meanwhile, the networking, dissemination, annual meeting and field trip are briefly introduced.

Discrete element modelling of railway ballast performance considering particle shape and rolling resistance

To simulate ballast performance accurately and efficiently,the input in discrete element models should be carefully selected,including the contact model and applied particle shape.To study the effects of the contact model and applied particle shape on the ballast performance(shear strength and deformation),the direct shear test(DST)model and the large-scale process simulation test(LPST)model were developed on the basis of two types of contact models,namely the rolling resistance linear(RRL)model and the linear contact(LC)model.Particle shapes are differentiated by clumps.A clump is a sphere assembly for one ballast particle.The results show that compared with the typical LC model,the RRL method is more efficient and realistic to predict shear strength results of ballast assemblies in DSTs.In addition,the RRL contact model can also provide accurate vertical and lateral ballast deformation under the cyclic loading in LPSTs.

Aggregated morphodynamic modelling of tidal inlets and estuaries

Aggregation is used to represent the real world in a model at an appropriate level of abstraction.We used the convection-diffusion equation to examine the implications of aggregation progressing from a three-dimensional(3D)spatial description to a model representing a system as a single box that exchanges sediment with the adjacent environment.We highlight how all models depend on some forms of parametric closure,which need to be chosen to suit the scale of aggregation adopted in the model.All such models are therefore aggregated and make use of some empirical relationships to deal with sub-scale processes.One such appropriately aggregated model,the model for the aggregated scale morphological interaction between tidal basin and adjacent coast(ASMITA),is examined in more detail and used to illustrate the insight that this level of aggregation can bring to a problem by considering how tidal inlets and estuaries are impacted by sea level rise.

Ecological impact of land reclamation on Jiangsu coast(China):A novel ecotope assessment for Tongzhou Bay

China’s continuous and rapid economic growth has led to the reclamation of large sections of the intertidal mud coast in combination with port construction,such as that of the proposed Tongzhou Bay port on the Jiangsu coast.These reclamations threaten the local ecosystem services.An ecotope distribution map was created and a hydrodynamic numerical model of Tongzhou Bay was set up to quantify the impacts of reclamation on the ecosystem.Based on the field data and model results,several abiotic features were classified into 11 ecotopes and visualized in an ecotope map of the Tongzhou Bay ecosystem.Validation with spatial distributions of two threatened shorebird species(bar-tailed godwit and great knot) showed confirmation with the mid-range and low-range littoral zones(inundated from 40% to 100% of a tidal cycle),indicating the importance of the areas with these conditions to these populations.Overlaying the ecotope map with recent and proposed land reclamation schemes revealed a loss of ecotopes,composed of the high-range(42%),mid-range(48%),and low-range(38%) littoral habitats,corresponding to a 44%-45% loss of the most important ecotopes for bar-tailed godwit and great knot(mid-range and low-range littoral zones).These results confirm the applicability of the novel ecotope assessment approach in practice.

Review of ultraviolet ageing mechanisms and anti-ageing methods for asphalt binders

Asphalt binder is inevitably aged by ultraviolet(UV)light during its service period.UV ageing can significantly decrease the technical properties of asphalt binder.The sensitivity of asphalt to UV ageing and thermal-oxidative ageing differs,such that the UV ageing performance cannot be determined based on the thermal-oxidative ageing performance.Previous researches mainly focused on the chemical composite and technical performance changes of asphalt binder during UV ageing,and the UV light parameters effect on the ageing rate of asphalt binder.However,the theory for characterizing and explaining the development of UV ageing depth does not get too much attentions,and the UV ageing mechanism of asphalt binder is not very clear.Therefore,it cannot guide to develop or select the good methods or anti-UV ageing additives for asphalt binders.This paper focuses on the latest researches of the mechanisms and anti-ageing methods of asphalt binders.With the increase of UV ageing time,the UV ageing of asphalt binder develops gradually from the surface to inner part.There are various methods,such as low-penetration grade asphalt,less air void ratio,UV stabilizers and UV light absorbers,that can improve the UV ageing resistance of asphalt binders.A new theory of sensitive wavelengths of asphalt UV ageing is proposed,which can enrich the basic theory of asphalt UV ageing.Depending on this theory,different wavelengths of UV light have different ageing effects on asphalt binder.The composite anti-UV ageing additives with barrier and specific absorption effects on UV light is proposed,and may have better improvement effect on the anti-UV ageing performance of asphalt binder.

Influence of Vertical Load on Lateral-Loaded Monopiles by Numerical Simulation

Monopiles are the most common foundation form of offshore wind turbines,which bear the vertical load,lateral load and bending moment.It remains uncertain whether the applied vertical load increases the lateral deflection of the pile.This paper investigated the influence of vertical load on the behaviour of monopiles installed in the sand under combined load using three-dimensional numerical methods.The commercial software PLAXIS was used for simulations in this paper.Monopiles were modelled as a structure incorporating linear elastic material behaviour and soil was modelled using the Hardening-Soil(HS)constitutive model.The monopiles under vertical load,lateral load and combined vertical and lateral loads were respectively studied taking into account the sequence of load application and pile slenderness ratio(L/D;L and D are the length and diameter of the pile).Results suggest that the sequence of load application plays a major role in how vertical load affects the deflection behaviour of the pile.Specifically,when L/D ratios obtained by lengthening the pile while keeping its diameter constant are 3,5 and 8,the relationships between lateral load and the deflection behaviour of the pile under the effect of vertical load demonstrate a similar trend.Furthermore,the cause of increased lateral capacity of the pile under the action of applied vertical load in the common practical application case and in the VPL case was analyzed by studying the variation law of soil stress along the pile embedment.Results confirm that the confining effect of vertical load increases means effective stress of the soil around the pile,thus increasing soil stiffness and pile capacity.

Coupled hydro-mechanical analysis of expansive soils:Parametric identification and calibration

A methodology for identifying and calibrating the material parameters for a coupled hydro-mechanical problem is presented in this pape r.For validation purpose,a laboratory-based water infiltration test was numerically simulated using finite element method(FEM).The test was conducted using a self-designed column-type experimental device,which mimicked the wetting process of a candidate backfill material in a nuclear waste repository.The real-time measurements of key state variables(e.g.water content,relative humidity,temperature,and total stresses)were performed with the monitoring sensors along the height of cylindrical soil sample.For numerical simulation,the modified Barcelona Basic Model(BBM)along with soil-water retention model for compacted bentonite was used.It shows that the identified model parameters successfully captured the moisture migration process under an applied hydraulic gradient in a bentonite-based compacted soil sample.A comparison between the measured and predicted values of total stresses both in axial and lateral directions along with other state variables revealed that heterogeneous moisture content was distributed along the hydration-path,resulting in non-uniform stress-deformation characteristics of soil.

A Model to Describe the Fracture of Porous Polygranular Graphite Subject to Neutron Damage and Radiolytic Oxidation

Two linked models have been developed to explore the relationship between the amount of porosity arising in service from both radiolytic oxidation and fast neutron damage that influences both the strength and the force-displacement(load-displacement)behaviour and crack propagation in pile grade A graphite used as a nuclear reactor moderator material.Firstly models of the microstructure of the porous graphite for both unirradiated and irradiated graphite are created.These form the input for the second stage,simulating fracture in lattice-type finite element models,which predicts force(load)-displacement and crack propagation paths.Microstructures comprising aligned filler particles,typical of needle coke,in a porous matrix have been explored.The purpose was to isolate the contributions of filler particles and porosity to fracture strength and crack paths and consider their implications for the overall failure of reactor core graphite.

Science and Technology for Combating Global Water Challenges

The survival and development of human society highly depends on the water availability. Driven by the growth of population and economy, global water demand has increased more than eightfold since the 1900s. Meanwhile, the commonly deteriorated freshwater quality cause a large proportion of available water resources unsuitable for human uses. This inter-coupled challenge of insufficient water quantity and inadequate water quality has rendered water scarcity a widespread problem in many parts of the world.

Numerical Simulation on Moisture Transport in Cracked Cement-based Materials in view of Self-healing of Crack

The moisture transport in cracked cement-based materials was investigated with priority by numerical simulation.The cracked cement-basis material was treated as two components system,including the cracks and cementitious mortar.The mass balance between the water in the cracks and in the cement mortar was considered.From the modeling results,it was seen that the water or vapor filled the crack immediately when the cracked cementitious mortar was put into contact with the water or vapor.The water/vapor penetrates into the mortar from the crack surfaces,as well as the external surface exposed in the outside condition.The existence of cracks increases the penetration of water/vapor into the cementitious mortar.As the basis for studying the self-healing in cracked concrete,the simulation on moisture transport provided important information about the water distribution and movement inside the cracked concrete.

Roadmap for Managing SARS-CoV-2 and Other Viruses in the Water Environment for Public Health

The water sector needs to address viral-related public health issues,because water is a virus carrier,which not only spreads viruses(e.g.,via drinking water),but also provides information about the circu-lation of viruses in the community(e.g.,via sewage).It has been widely reported that waterborne viral pathogens are abundant,diverse,complex,and threatening the public health in both developed and developing countries.Meanwhile,there is great potential for viral monitoring that can indicate biosafety,treatment performance and community health.New developments in technology have been rising to meet the emerging challenges over the past decades.Under the current coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2),the world’s attention is directed to the urgent need to tackle the most challenging public health issues related to waterborne viruses.Based on critical analysis of the water viral knowledge progresses and gaps,this article offers a roadmap for managing COVID-19 and other viruses in the water environments for ensur-ing public health.

Greening the building envelope,facade greening and living wall systems

For greening the building envelope several concepts can be used, for example green roofs, fa?ades greened with climbing plants or living wall systems (modular pre-vegetated panels), etc. Greening the building envelope allows to obtain a relevant improvement of the its effi- ciency, ecological and environmental benefits as well as an increase of the biodiversity. Since the interest restoring the environmental integ- rity of urban areas continues to increase, new developments in construction practices with beneficial environmental characteristics take place, as vertical greening systems. Applying green fa?ades is not a new concept and can offer multiple benefits as a component of cur- rent urban design;considering the relation be- tween the environmental benefits, energy sav- ing for the building and the vertical greening systems (material used, maintenance, nutrients and water needed) the integration of vegetation could be a sustainable approach for the enve- lope of new and existing buildings.

Towards green asphalt materials with lower emission of volatile organic compounds: A review on the release characteristics and its emission reduction additives

Recently, researchers in the road field are focusing on the development of green asphalt materials with loweremission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The characterization methodology of asphalt VOCs and theinfluencing factors on VOCs release have always been the basic issue of asphalt VOCs emission reduction research.Researchers have proposed a variety of asphalt VOCs characterization methodologies, which also have mutuallyirreplaceable characteristics. Asphalt VOCs volatilization is affected by many factors. In this study, asphalt VOCscharacterization methodologies were summarized, including their advantages, disadvantages, characteristics andapplicable requirements. Subsequently, the influencing factors of VOCs release, such as asphalt types and environment conditions, are summarized to provide theoretical support for the emission reduction research. Theclassification and mechanism of newly-development asphalt VOCs emission reduction materials are reviewed. Thereduction efficiencies are also compared to select better materials and put forward the improvement objective ofnew materials and new processes. In addition, the prospects about development of VOCs release mechanism ofasphalt materials during the full life cycle and feasibility research of high-efficiency composite emission reductionmaterials in the future were put forward.

Modelling of Time Dependency of Chloride Diffusion Coefficient in Cement Paste

A computer-based model and method was presented to predict the time dependency of chloride diffusion coefficients in cement paste. The HYMOSTRUC3D model was applied to generate a 3D representative elementary volume （REV） of cement paste. In the simulation of microstructure, both of cement hydration and chloride binding were considered. With the simulated microstructure of cement paste, the finite element method was applied to simulate the diffusion process of chloride through the saturated cement paste. Based on the Fick’s first law, the chloride diffusion coefficient can be calculated. In this method, the influences of age and w/c ratio on the chloride diffusion coefficient were evaluated. The simulated chloride diffusivities with various w/c at different time were compared to experimental data obtained from the literature. The experimental results indicate that the chloride diffusion coefficient decreases with the increase of time and the decrease of w/c ratio. The trend of simulated relationship （diffusion coefficient vs time, diffusion coefficient vs w/c ratio） fits very well with the experiments.

Estimation of the Fatigue Endurance Limit of HMAC for Perpetual Pavements

A simplified procedure was described to estimate the FEL of three kinds of hot-mix asphalt concrete （HMAC） without doing any fatigue tests. The procedure required two fundamental properties of HMAC, tensile strength under different temperatures and strain rates, and flexural stiffness under different stain levels. This information can reliably be obtained in simple tests, which are the monotonic uniaxial tensile test （MUTT） and the four-point bending test （FPBT）. A new parameter, the initial stress ratio Rinitial, was introduced to connect these two tests, which was defined as the ratio of applied initial stress and tensile strength of the specimen. At last the FEL can be expressed as a function of the initial flexural stiffness, frequency and temperature. Obviously, this procedure has the potential to be very useful in view of long-life pavement design and time consuming traditional fatigue tests.