A Consistent Soil Fatigue Framework Based on the Number of Equivalent Cycles

Cyclic soil degradation and hardening affects soil stiffness and strength, and is linked to an increase or decrease in the mean effective confining stress due to void ratio or pore pressure changes. This change of state can be explicitly modeled by using effective stress methods, or implicitly modeled using total stress methods. In the latter, this is achieved by using empirical functions based on the number of loading cycles that are derived from constant-amplitude stress or strain laboratory tests. To suite generalized loading conditions, these functions must be extrapolated to variable-amplitude loading. This falls under the general class of a fatigue-based problem. The main focus of this paper is to present a generalized consistent soil fatigue formulation for soils under cyclic loading. The paper then goes on to discuss the implementation of various cyclic soil degradation and hardening models reported in the literature, and highlights their important underlying assumptions, capabilities and limitations.     

恢复生态学及其发展

简述了国内外恢复生态学的发展概况,分析了我国在生态系统退化的原因、生态学过程以及退化生态系统恢复重建的方法和生态学机理等方面的研究进展。针对我国在恢复生态学研究和退化生态系统恢复实践中存在的问题,提出了加强我国恢复生态学研究的建议。     

A study of oxic/anoxic effects on degradation of sterols at the simulated sediment–water interface of coastal sediments

Laboratory incubation experiments were conducted to determine the behavior of sterols at the sediment–water interface in oxic and anoxic sediments. Both plankton and 4- -cholesterol were used as tracers. Cholesterol was rapidly degraded at the sediment–water interface: 55% of -cholesterol was lost from sediments under anoxic conditions and 78% under oxic conditions over three and one-half months. About 3% of initially-added free radiolabel was incorporated into a bound pool that was released only by saponification of solvent-extracted sediment. Less than 1% of initially-added radiolabel remained in pore waters after three and one-half months. Rate constants for degradation of cholesterol in oxic and anoxic surficial sediments were estimated by tracking variations in radioactivity and sterol concentration as a function of time. We discuss our results in terms of factors affecting sterol degradation in coastal marine sediments, including molecular structure, sediment matrix effect, and redox conditions.     

Differences in the mode of incorporation and biogenicity of the principal aliphatic constituents of a Type I oil shale

Compound-specific stable carbon isotope (δ ) measurements on the aliphatic hydrocarbons released from an immature Tertiary oil shale (Göynük, Turkey) via hydropyrolysis, following solvent extraction and a milder hydrogenation treatment, have further highlighted that significant compositional differences may exist between the principal aliphatic constituents of the solvent extractable (bitumen) phase and the insoluble macromolecular network (kerogen) comprising the bulk of sedimentary organic matter. Whilst inputs from diverse sources; including algae, bacteria and terrestrial higher plants, were implied from analysis of solvent-extractable alkanes, the much larger quantities of kerogen-bound n-alkyl constituents released by hydropyrolysis had a uniform isotopic signature which could be assigned to (freshwater) algae. Remarkably, the aliphatics bound to the kerogen by relatively weak covalent bonds, liberated via catalytic hydrogenation, appeared to comprise mainly allochthonous higher plant-derived n-alkanes. These results provide further compelling evidence that the molecular constituents of bitumen and, indeed, of low-yield kerogen degradation products, are not necessarily reliable indicators of kerogen biogenicity, particularly for immature Type I source rocks. The isotopic uniformity of aliphatic n-hydrocarbons released by the high-conversion hydropyrolysis step for the ultralaminae-rich Göynük oil shale, lends further support to the theory that selective preservation of highly resistant aliphatic biomacromolecules is an important mechanism in kerogen formation, at least for alginite.     

海洋浮游植物分解和代谢产物中高分子有机物的紫外、红外和1H-核磁共振光谱特征

用GDX 102树脂从海洋浮游植物三角褐指藻(Phaeodactylum tricornutum)的分解产物和代谢产物中分离提取腐植类物质(DHS,EHS)及乙醇可溶物(DES,EES),用¹H-NMR,IR和UV光谱进行结构分析,并同海水中腐植质(HS)和乙醇可溶物(ES)做了比较。结果表明,DHS,EHS和HS都以高支链烷烃、碳水化合物和氨基酸结构为主要组分,另有少量芳烃和杂环化合物。它们的化学结构很相似,说明DHS和EHS是海水腐植质的重要来源。     

A mechanistic study on the photodegradation of Irgarol-1051 in natural seawater

The kinetics of the photoinduced degradation and transformation of the antifouling booster biocide, Irgarol-1051, in natural coastal seawater was studied. The measured first-order rate constant for the degradation of Irgarol-1051 was 4.02 ± 0.1 × 10⁻⁴ h⁻¹, while the rate constant for the formation of 2-methylthio-4-tert-butylamino-6-amino-s-triazine (M1), the most dominant degradation product of Irgarol-1051, was 4.6 ± 0.1 × 10⁻⁵ h⁻¹. This considerably slower rate suggested that the transformation of Irgarol-1051 to M1 may not be the predominant pathway of the photodegradation process. During the photodegradation study, a new s-triazine species was observed in the degradation mixtures which, together with M1, appeared immediately upon photolysis and continued to accumulate in the degradation mixture throughout the entire study duration. This is in contrast to the behaviour of the recently identified degradation product of Irgarol-1051, 3-[4-tert-butylamino-6-methylthiol-s-triazin-2-ylamino]- propionaldehyde (M2), which was only detected in the degradation mixture after a long induction period. High-resolution tandem mass spectrometric analysis hinted that the new degradation product (M4) may possess a terminal alcohol and is likely to be an N-allylic alcohol derivative of M1. This suggests that M4 may, indeed, be a precursor of M2 via redox transformation at its N-allylic alcohol functionality.     

Long-term modification of Arctic lake ecosystems: Reference condition, degradation under toxic impacts and recovery (case study Imandra Lakes, Russia)

In this study, published data on Lake Imandra, north-west Russia, have been synthesised to investigate trends in lake contamination and recovery due to changing inputs of heavy metals and nutrients over time. Records of water chemistry, phytoplankton, zooplankton and fish communities have been used to determine the status of aquatic ecosystem health in three distinct phases of Lake Imandra's recent history. Firstly, background (reference) conditions within the lake have been established to determine lake conditions prior to anthropogenic influences. Secondly, a period of ecosystem degradation due to anthropogenic inputs of toxic metals and nutrients has been described. Finally, evidence of lake recovery due to recent decreases of toxic metals and nutrients has been explored. Pollution of Lake Imandra began in the 1930s, reaching a peak in the 1980s. Increases in heavy metal and nutrient inputs transformed the typical Arctic ecosystem. During the contamination phase, there was a decrease in Arctic species and in biodiversity. During the last 10 years, pollution has decreased and the lake has been recolonised by Arctic water species. Ecosystem recovery is indicated by a change of predominant species, an increase in the individual mass of organisms and an increase in the biodiversity index of plankton communities. In accordance with Odum's ecosystem succession theory, this paper demonstrates that the ecosystem has transformed to a more stable condition with new defining parameters. This illustrates that the recovery of Arctic ecosystems towards pre-industrial reference conditions after a reduction in anthropogenic stresses occur, although a complete return to background conditions may not be achievable. Having determined the status of current ecosystem health within Lake Imandra, the effect of global warming on the recovery process is discussed. Climate warming in Arctic regions is likely to move the ecosystem towards a predominance of eurybiontic species in the community structure. These organisms have the ability to tolerate a wider range of environmental conditions than typical Arctic inhabitants and will gain advantages in development. This indicates that the full recovery of Arctic ecosystems in a warming climate may not be possible.     

Impacts of recreational motorboats on fishes: A review

A considerable amount of research has been conducted on the impacts of recreational boating activities on fishes but little or no synthesis of the information has been undertaken. This review shows that motor boats impact on the biology and ecology of fishes but the effects vary according to the species and even particular size classes. Direct hits on fishes by propellers are an obvious impact but this aspect has been poorly documented. Alterations in the wave climate and water turbidity may also influence fishes and their habitats, especially submerged and emergent plant beds. Sound generated by boat motors can also influence the communication and behaviour of certain species. Pollution arising from fuel spillages, exhaust emissions and antifouling paints all have detrimental effects on fishes. Finally, the use of recreational boats as vectors of aquatic invasive organisms is very real and has created major problems to the ecology of aquatic systems.