Numerical simulation of trace element transport on subsurface environment pollution in coal mine spoil

An understanding of the dynamic behavior of trace elements leaching from coal mine spoil is important in predicting the groundwater quality. The relationship between trace element concentrations and leaching times, pH values of the media is studied. Column leaching tests conducted in the laboratory showed that there was a close correlation between pH value and trace element concentrations. The longer the leaching time, the higher the trace element concentrations. Different trace elements are differently affected by pH values of leaching media. A numerical model for water flow and trace element transport has been developed based on analyzing the characteristics of migration and transformation of trace elements leached from coal mine spoil. Solutions to the coupled model are accomplished by Eulerian-Lagrangian localized adjoint method. Numerical simulation shows that rainfall intensity determined maximum leaching depth. As rainfall intensity is 3.6ml/s, the outflow concentrations indicate a breakthrough of trace elements beyond the column base, with peak concentration at 90cm depth. And the subsurface pollution range has a trend of increase with time. The model simulations are compared to experimental results of trace element concentrations, with reasonable agreement between them. The analysis and modeling of trace elements suggested that the infiltration of rainwater through the mine spoil might lead to potential groundwater pollution. It provides theoretical evidence for quantitative assessment soil-water quality of trace element transport on environment pollution.     

A stochastic metapopulation model accounting for habitat dynamics

A stochastic metapopulation model accounting for habitat dynamics is presented. This is the stochastic SIS logistic model with the novel aspect that it incorporates varying carrying capacity. We present results of Kurtz and Barbour, that provide deterministic and diffusion approximations for a wide class of stochastic models, in a form that most easily allows their direct application to population models. These results are used to show that a suitably scaled version of the metapopulation model converges, uniformly in probability over finite time intervals, to a deterministic model previously studied in the ecological literature. Additionally, they allow us to establish a bivariate normal approximation to the quasi-stationary distribution of the process. This allows us to consider the effects of habitat dynamics on metapopulation modelling through a comparison with the stochastic SIS logistic model and provides an effective means for modelling metapopulations inhabiting dynamic landscapes.     

Pair-level approximations to the spatio-temporal dynamics of epidemics on asymmetric contact networks

The process of infection during an epidemic can be envisaged as being transmitted via a network of routes represented by a contact network. Most differential equation models of epidemics are mean-field models. These contain none of the underlying spatial structure of the contact network. By extending the mean-field models to pair-level, some of the spatial structure can be contained in the model. Some networks of transmission such as river or transportation networks are clearly asymmetric, whereas others such as airborne infection can be regarded as symmetric. Pair-level models have been developed to describe symmetric contact networks. Here we report on work to develop a pair-level model that is also applicable to asymmetric contact networks. The procedure for closing the model at the level of pairs is discussed in detail. The model is compared against stochastic simulations of epidemics on asymmetric contact networks and against the predictions of the symmetric model on the same networks. DEFRA funded project FC1153     

Improved methods for fitting sedimentation coefficient distributions derived by time-derivative techniques

Time-derivative approaches to analyzing sedimentation velocity data have proven to be highly successful and have now been used routinely for more than a decade. For samples containing a small number of noninteracting species, the sedimentation coefficient distribution function, g(s *), traditionally has been fitted by Gaussian functions to derive the concentration, sedimentation coefficient, and diffusion coefficient of each species. However, the accuracy obtained by that approach is limited, even for noise-free data, and becomes even more compromised as more scans are included in the analysis to improve the signal/noise ratio (because the time span of the data becomes too large). Two new methods are described to correct for the effects of long time spans: one approach that uses a Taylor series expansion to correct the theoretical function and a second approach that creates theoretical g(s *) curves from Lamm equation models of the boundaries. With this second approach, the accuracy of the fitted parameters is approximately 0.1% and becomes essentially independent of the time span; therefore, it is possible to obtain much higher signal/noise when needed. This second approach is also compared with other current methods of analyzing sedimentation velocity data.     

Size analyses of the coccolith species Biscutum constans and Watznaueria barnesiae from the Late Albian “Niveau Breistroffer” (SE France): taxonomic and palaeoecological implications

The size variability of the coccolith species Biscutum constans and Watznaueria barnesiae has been studied in 50 samples of the Late Albian “Niveau Breistroffer” black shales (Col de Palluel section, SE France). For each species, length and width of the total coccolith and the central unit have been measured in 60 specimens per sample. In addition, ellipticity and central unit length/total coccolith length ratio have been calculated. This study aims to improve our understanding of the taxonomic concepts of B. constans and W. barnesiae, and to test whether the size changes correspond to palaeoceanographic changes interpreted from other proxies. Two morphotypes (varieties) were differentiated for each of the two taxa studied. B. constans includes morphotypes with a narrow (B. constans var. constans) and a wide central unit (B. constans var. ellipticum). Between these two morphotypes no significant size differentiation has been observed. They seem to represent end members of a size continuum, relating to both the total coccolith- and central unit size distribution. The two morphotypes of W. barnesiae differ only in the absence (W. barnesiae var. barnesiae) and the presence of a narrow central opening (W. barnesiae var. fossacincta). No significant size differences have been observed between these two morphotypes, and both show similar distributions of the measured characteristics. We recommend that the studied morphotypes of both B. constans and W. barnesiae should not be assigned to different morphospecies. Throughout the studied black shale succession the measured parameters show mostly statistically insignificant, short-term fluctuations, but significant long-term trends have been observed for B. constans. These show a trend to smaller forms with a narrower central unit in the upper part of the succession. This change coincides with a cooling trend, as indicated by a nannofossil based temperature index. Therefore the two morphotypes of B. constans are interpreted to represent ecophenotypic varieties rather than two different morphospecies. No clear relationship has been recognized between the size of W. barnesiae and the palaeoenvironmental conditions.     

黄土高原根瘤菌数值分类及DNA-DNA杂交

黄土高原位于我国内陆,气候比较干旱,生长的植被较少,水土流失严重,而有些豆科植物如锦鸡儿(Caragana sinica)、苦豆子(Sophora alopecuroides)、甘草(Glycyrrhiza uralensis)、苦马豆(Swainsoniasalsula)、洋槐(Robinia pseudoacacia)等却能很好生长.这些豆科植物的生长,在防风固沙、保持水土、绿化环境、作为饲用牧草等方面起着很重要的作用.但人们对于黄土高原野生豆科植物根瘤菌的研究尚很少.为此,作者在地处黄土高原的陕西、宁夏及甘肃的部分地区进行了广泛的根瘤菌资源调查.在此基础上,对分离的部分菌株进行了数值分类和DNA同源性分析.     

Studying the thermal effects of a clinically-extracted vascular tissue during cryo-freezing

Cryosurgery is known to be a suitable treatment for unresectable tumors by employing extremely low temperature to induce cryo-lesion. However, large blood vessels in the tissue may induce insufficient freezing at the targeted area. In this work, we have developed a cryo-freezing model specifically dedicated to tumors with a complex blood vessel network taken from CT-scanned images. The model was validated with in-vitro experimental data. Adopting an appropriate mesh size, the simulated results achieved an excellent agreement with the experimental data at a maximum error of 3.4%. The validated model was applied to study an optimal cryotherapy in the treatment of a human liver. The movement of 265 K isotherm and the thermal influence of blood flow were investigated. Key results indicated that large neighboring vessels could significantly influence the shape of the ice fronts, but they exerted less impact on the development of the lethal temperature boundary. The freezing duration, distance to the vessel, blood flow rate and blood vessel size were observed to be key parameters in determining the optimal cryoablation. A case study further demonstrated that by precisely controlling the cryo-freezing process, up to 44.6% of the unintended tissue freezing could be achieved. Pragmatically, this work provides surgeons with essential information on how to precisely tune key parameters to promote greater surgical success.     

运动细胞自适应性过程中双相性现象的分子机制及动态数值模拟

盘基网柄菌细胞(Dictyostelium)和白细胞(leukocyte)等真核运动细胞受到外界信号刺激时,在最初的1～2 min内,胞内信号转导的首要成员PI(3,4,5)P3的浓度随时间变化呈现"双相性"(biphasic adaptation),即先后出现一大一小两个峰值,然后平息。为解释这一现象,特别是第二个峰值产生的原因,根据已有实验资料,分析了有关分子机制,建立了相应的数学模型。其中,PI(3,4,5)P3及其激活酶和抑制酶的浓度变化由一组耦合的非稳态反应-扩散方程描述,外界刺激及效应因子(如Rac和Scar/WAVE)的相互激励包含在源项中,并由蒙特-卡诺(Monte-Carlo)法处理,数值模拟结果与已有实验一致。研究发现,质膜上处于激活态的效应因子Scar/WAVE是影响PI(3,4,5)P3第二个峰值的关键,起正反馈作用。在受到胞外信号刺激后的前期,Scar/WAVE的激活态浓度受到小G蛋白Rac活性的抑制,后期反过来受到PI(3,4,5)P3的抑制,从而始终处于较低水平,这使得第二个峰值较小;当Scar/WAVE的总浓度低于0.005μmol/L后,PI(3,4,5)P3不会出现第二个峰值。由于Scar/WAVE是肌动蛋白结合蛋白,可以推测:许多经肌动蛋白合成抑制剂处理过的盘基网柄菌细胞在实验中仍然出现"双相性",应与此时的细胞骨架活性未被完全抑制有关。     

Thermal energy conduction in a honey bee comb due to cell-heating bees

Theoretical analysis and numerical calculations are performed to characterize the unsteady two-dimensional conduction of thermal energy in an idealized honey bee comb. The situation explored corresponds to a comb containing a number of brood cells occupied by pupae. These cells are surrounded by other cells containing pollen which, in turn, are surrounded (above) by cells containing honey and (below) by vacant cells containing air. Up to five vacant cells in the brood region can be occupied by cell-heating bees which, through the isometrical contraction of their flight muscles, can generate sufficient energy to raise their body temperatures by a few degrees. In this way, the cell-heating bees alter the heat flux and temperature distributions in the brood region so as to maintain conditions that benefit the pupae. The calculations show that the number of cell-heating bees significantly affects the magnitude, time rate of change, and spatial distribution of temperature throughout the comb. They also reveal a vertically aligned asymmetry in the spatial distribution of temperature that is due to the large heat capacity and thermal conductivity of honey relative to air, whereby air-filled cells experience larger temperature increases than honey-filled cells. Analysis shows that convection and radiation represent negligible modes of thermal energy transfer at all levels in the problem considered. Also, because of its small thickness, the wax wall of a comb cell simultaneously presents negligible resistance to conduction heat transfer normal to it and very large resistance along it. As a consequence the walls of a cell play no thermal role, but simply serve as mechanical supports for the materials they contain.