Simulating liquefaction-induced resuspension flux in a sediment transport model.

Wave-induced liquefaction is a geological hazard under the action of cyclic wave load on seabed. Liquefaction influences the suspended sediment concentration (SSC), which is essential for sediment dynamics and marine water quality. Till now, the identification of liquefaction state and the effect of liquefaction on SSC have not been sufficiently accounted for in the sediment model. In this study, we introduced a method for simulating the liquefaction-induced resuspension flux into an ocean model. We then simulated a storm north of the Yellow River Delta, China, and validated the results using observational data, including significant wave heights, water levels, excess pore water pressures, and SSCs. The liquefaction areas were mainly distributed in coastal zones with water depths less than 12 m, and the simulated maximum potential soil liquefaction depth was 1.39 m. The liquefaction-induced SSC was separated from the total SSC of both liquefaction- and shear-induced SSCs by the model, yielding a maximum liquefaction-induced SSC of 1.07 kg·m-3. The simulated maximum proportion of liquefaction-induced SSC was 26.2% in regions with water depths of 6-12 m, with a maximum significant wave height of 3.4 m along the 12 m depth contour. The erosion zone at water depths of 8-12 m was reproduced by the model. Within 52.5 h of the storm, the maximum erosion thickness along the 10 m depth contour was enhanced by 33.9%. The model is applicable in the prediction of liquefaction, and provides a new method to simulate the SSC and seabed erosion influenced by liquefaction. Model results show that liquefaction has significant effects on SSC and seabed erosion in the coastal area with depth of 6-12 m. The validity of this method is confined to certain conditions, including a fully saturated seabed exhibiting homogeneity and isotropic properties, small liquefaction depth, residual liquefaction dominating the development of pore pressures, no influence by structures, and the sediment composed of silt and mud that experiences frequent wave-induced liquefaction.

CRISPLD1 promotes gastric cancer progression by regulating the Ca2+/PI3K-AKT signaling pathway.

Gastric cancer (GC) is a malignant tumor with poor prognosis. Studies have shown that cysteine-rich secretory protein LCCL domain containing 1 (CRISPLD1) is associated with tumor progression. However, its role in GC is unclear. The present study aimed to determine the pathogenic mechanism of CRISPLD1 in GC. Analysis of public databases revealed high mRNA expression of CRISPLD1 in GC, which was associated with poor prognosis. Additionally, CRISPLD1 expression levels showed significant correlations with T stage, overall survival events, and stage. Knockdown of CRISPLD1 reduced cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. Furthermore, CRISPLD1 knockdown decreased intracellular calcium levels in GC cells and inhibited the phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (AKT) signaling pathway. Treatment with an AKT activator reversed the inhibitory effect of CRISPLD1 knockdown on GC cell migration and invasion. Our findings suggest that CRISPLD1 promotes tumor cell progression in GC by mediating intracellular calcium levels and activating the PI3K-AKT pathway, highlighting CRISPLD1 as a potential therapeutic target for GC.

Photothermal Conversion Perylene-Based Metal-Organic Framework with Panchromatic Absorption Bandwidth across the Visible to Near-Infrared.

Recently, facilely designable metal-organic frameworks have gained attention in the construction of photothermal conversion materials. Nonetheless, most of the previously reported photothermal conversion metal-organic frameworks exhibit limited light absorption capabilities. In this work, a distinctive metal-organic framework with heterogeneous periodic alternate spatial arrangements of metal-oxygen clusters and perylene-based derivative molecules was prepared by in situ synthesis. The building blocks in this inimitable structure behave as both electron donors and electron acceptors, giving rise to the significant inherent charge transfer in this crystalline material, resulting in a narrow band gap with excellent panchromatic absorption, with the ground state being the charge transfer state. Moreover, it can retain excellent air-, photo-, and water-stability in the solid state. The excellent stability and broad light absorption characteristics enable the effective realization of near-infrared (NIR) photothermal conversion, including infrequent NIR-II photothermal conversion, in this perylene-based metal-organic framework.

Probabilistic ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in western Laizhou Bay, Shandong Province, China.

Considering the serious land-based pollution and the weak water exchange ability of western Laizhou Bay, it is essential to conduct an ecological risk assessment of the pollutants in this area. In this study, the ecological risk caused by heavy metals deposited in the surface sediments and those resuspended in the seawater of western Laizhou Bay was evaluated using probabilistic approaches. First, the concentrations of seven heavy metals, namely As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn, in the surface sediments and seawater of western Laizhou Bay were detected during the spring and autumn of 2016. The concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, and Pb were found to be at levels comparable to those in the other global coastal systems, while those of Hg and Zn were lower than those in other coastal areas. Next, an ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in the surface sediments was performed using a typical potential ecological risk index and refined by using a Monte Carlo simulation. The results suggested low risk for the heavy metals detected in the sediments of western Laizhou Bay, with the exception of Hg in September 2016, which showed a probability (0.03%) of moderate risk. Meanwhile, the aquatic ecological risk assessment of the heavy metals was performed by applying a combination of hazard quotient (HQ) and joint probability curve. While the ecological risk of Cd, Hg, and Pb was found to be acceptable, the HQs for Cr, Cu, and Zn were greater than 1, and the overall risk probability of their adverse effects was higher than 0.05, suggesting certain ecological risk. Specifically, in the case of As, the overall risk probability was lower than 0.05, suggesting that its ecological risk was acceptable, although its HQ was greater than 1. Thus, by applying the probabilistic approaches, the ecological risk of the heavy metals in western Laizhou Bay was better characterized in this study, avoiding both overestimation and underestimation of ecological risk.

Sediment suspension and the dynamic mechanism during storms in the Yellow River Delta.

The suspension and hydrodynamic characteristics of the Yellow River Delta during storms were analyzed based on suspended samples obtained using automatic samplers during a storm event in the Yellow River Delta. Synchronous data for winds, waves, and tides were also collected from a nearby station. The results show that under wind speeds of 5-15 m/s and wave heights of 50-150 cm, the suspended content reached 5.7-49.6 kg/m3, which is 10-100 times higher than that under normal weather conditions. The medium diameter of suspended particles was 1.2-2.1 µm (8.9-9.7 Φ), which was approximately 1-2 Φ finer than that under normal weather conditions. During the early stages of the measurements, the sea level had risen by 50 cm owing to the storm, which was in addition to the tidal sea level change. We suggest that during the storms, the waves strengthened and the storm-induced sea level change, which was combined with tidal currents moving in the same direction, produced high-speed currents. This overcame the cohesive forces among the fine sediment particles and suspended a large amount of sediment. As a result, the suspended content increased markedly and the suspended particle size became finer. This explains the intense siltation and erosion of the Yellow River Delta during storms.