High time-resolved studies of stick-slip show similar dilatancy to fast and slow earthquakes.

Fast and slow earthquakes are two modes of energy release by the slip in tectonic fault rupture. Although fast and slow slips were observed in the laboratory stick-slip experiments, due to the sampling rate limitation, the details of the fault thickness variation were poorly understood. Especially, why a single fault would show different modes of slip remains elusive. Herein, we report on ring shear experiments with an ultrahigh sampling rate (10 MHz) that illuminate the different physical processes between fast and slow slip events. We show that the duration of slips ranged from dozens to hundreds of milliseconds. Fast slip events are characterized by continuous large-amplitude AE (acoustic emission) and somewhat intricate variation of the sample thickness: A short compaction pulse during the rapid release of stress is followed by dilation and vibrations of the sample thickness. As the slip ends, the thickness of the sample first recovers by slow compaction and then dilates again before nucleation of the following slip event. In contrast, during slow slip events, the shear stress reduction is accompanied by intermittent bursts of low-amplitude AE and sample dilation. We observed the detailed thickness variation during slips and found that dilation occurs during both fast and slow slips, which is consistent with natural observations of coseismic dilatation. This study may be used to reveal the mechanism of fault slips during fast and slow earthquakes, which explain the potential effect of fast and slow slips on stress redistribution and structural rearrangement in faults.

Carbon sequestration potential of transplanted mangroves and exotic saltmarsh plants in the sediments of subtropical wetlands.

Coastal blue carbon ecosystems offer promising benefits for both climate change mitigation and adaptation. While there have been widespread efforts to transplant mangroves from the tropics to the subtropics and to introduce exotic saltmarsh plants like Spartina alterniflora in China, few studies have thoroughly quantified the chronological records of carbon sequestration with different organic carbon (OC) sources. To understand how variations in OC sources can affect the carbon sequestration potential of coastal wetland environment over time, we conducted a study on typical islands with two scenarios: S. alterniflora invasion and mangrove transplantation. Our study determined chronological records of carbon sequestration and storage from five sediment profiles and traced changes in the OC sources using carbon stable isotope (δ13C) and C:N ratios in response to these scenarios. The S. alterniflora invasion resulted in an 84 ± 19 % increase in the OC burial rate compared to unvegetated mudflats, while mangrove transplantation resulted in a 167 ± 74 % increase in the OC burial rate compared to unvegetated mudflats. S. alterniflora and mangroves showed greater carbon sequestration potential in areas with high supplies of suspended particulate matter, while mangroves needed to grow to a certain scale to display obvious carbon sequestration benefits. In the mangrove saltmarsh ecotone, mature mangrove habitats exhibited resistance to the S. alterniflora invasion, while mangrove transplantation in the environment invaded by S. alterniflora had a significant effect on OC contribution. Besides, plant-derived OC can be exported to the surrounding environment due to the rapid turnover of sediments. The blue carbon chronosequence-based estimation of OC sources and burial rates provides a useful reference for establishing carbon accounting policies.

Study of bacterial community succession and reconstruction of the core lactic acid bacteria to enhance the flavor of paocai.

Paocai is a widely consumed traditional Chinese fermented vegetable product. To study the effects of bacterial community succession and core microbial reconstruction on the flavor of paocai, culture-dependent and culture-independent methods were used to analyze the bacterial community structure of naturally fermented paocai. HPLC and GC-MS were used to investigate changes in flavor compounds during the fermentation of paocai. Key odorants were identified by olfactometry combined with GC-MS. The results showed that dominant bacteria in the paocai fermentation were mostly cultivable. Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Weissella cibaria, and Lactococcus lactis appeared at the start of fermentation, Leu. mesenteroides, L. lactis, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, and Levilactobacillus brevis appeared in the middle of fermentation, and L. plantarum dominated fermentation in the late stage. Leuconostoc mesenteroides CPTCC 1R3 (LEM), Weissella cibaria CPTCC 1R15 (WC), Levilactobacillus brevis CPTCC 3R8 (LB), and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum CPTCC 5R10 (LP) were screened from naturally fermented paocai and used for microbial reconstruction, revealing that the growth and fermentation profiles of the strains were closely related to the evolution of the bacterial community. Paocai inoculated with LEM had the following characteristics: fast fermentation, quickly disappearance of pungent odor of the raw materials, and the improved flavor and taste. Paocai inoculated with WC and LB contained ethanol and mannitol, but inoculated strains were poorly acid-tolerated. However, they can be used as auxiliary strains to enhance the flavor of paocai. Sample inoculated with LP resulted in slow fermentation and massive acid production. Mixed culture fermentation of paocai has more advantages than pure culture fermentation. Leu. mesenteroides and L. plantarum were the core microorganisms related to the flavor formation of paocai. These findings contributed to the better understanding of mechanisms underlie in the microbial community succession and flavor formation during paocai fermentation.

Microplastics distribution in different habitats of Ximen Island and the trapping effect of blue carbon habitats on microplastics.

Sediments are considered to be important sinks of microplastics, but the enrichment process of microplastics by blue carbon ecosystems is poorly studied. This study analyzed the spatial distribution and temporal changes, assessed the polymer types and morphological characteristics of microplastics in sediments of five ecosystems, i.e. forests, paddy fields, mangroves, saltmarshes and bare beaches on Ximen Island, Yueqing Bay, China. The trapping effect of blue carbon (mangrove and saltmarsh) sediments on microplastic was further explored. Temporal trends in microplastic abundance showed a significant increase over the last 20 years, with the enrichment of microplastics in mangrove and saltmarsh sediments being 1.7 times as high as that in bare beach, exhibiting blue carbon vegetations have strong enrichment effect on microplastics. The dominant color, shape, size, and polymer type of microplastics in sediments were transparent, fibers and fragments, <1 mm, and polyethylene, respectively. Significant differences in the abundance and characteristics of microplastics between intertidal sediments and terrestrial soils reveal that runoff input is the main source of microplastics. This study provided the evidence of blue carbon habitats as traps of microplastics.

Underestimated PAH accumulation potential of blue carbon vegetation: Evidence from sedimentary records of saltmarsh and mangrove in Yueqing Bay, China.

Sediments of blue carbon vegetation are becoming a sink of natural and anthropogenic pollutants, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). However, the extent to which PAHs are accumulated and varied in blue carbon sediments, and the impact of blue carbon vegetation on the accumulation and retention capacity of PAHs, have been poorly explored. This study examines the sedimentary records of PAHs in profiles from mangrove plantation, saltmarsh, and mudflat in Ximen Island and Maoyan Island of Yueqing Bay, China. The existence of blue carbon vegetation provides a sheltered environment for the accelerated burial of sediment and OC. Decadal PAH sedimentation records show staged changes characterized by the emission of PAHs and colonization of blue carbon vegetation, reflecting the accelerated burial of PAHs in sediments by blue carbon vegetation colonization. In addition, the colonization of blue carbon vegetation contributes to the shift of PAH compositions in sediments. This study provides new insights into the underestimated PAH accumulation potential and retention capacity of blue carbon vegetation and the corresponding underlying sediments, supporting the environmental benefits of blue carbon vegetation.

Pollution status of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface sediments off the Jiangsu coastal zone, East China: A case study of Rudong.

In the current study, 16 congeners of PAHs were measured in 32 surface sediment samples to determine their pollution status in the Jiangsu coastal zone, East China. The total concentrations of the 16 PAHs ranged from 2.2 to 46.6 ng g-1 with an average of 8.36 ng g-1 in surface sediments and were significantly lower than those of PAHs in other coastal areas of China. The spatial distribution of PAHs revealed an increasing trend from nearshore to offshore, controlled by the regional sedimentary dynamic environment. Diagnostic ratios and positive matrix factorization demonstrated that petroleum, industries, biomass and coal combustion, and marine and vehicular traffic sources contributed to 28.9%, 25.5%, 24.7%, and 20.9% of the total PAHs, respectively. Risk assessment suggested that the carcinogenic risks were <1 × 10-4 for all age groups in the area, indicating that long-term seafood consumption does not pose a significant cancer risk in this area.

Recent Evolution of Coastal Tidal Flats and the Impacts of Intensified Human Activities in the Modern Radial Sand Ridges, East China.

The coastal tidal flats of the modern Radial Sand Ridges (RSRs) are typical silt-muddy tidal flats in Central Jiangsu Province. These tidal flats play a critical role in coastline protection and biodiversity conservation, and against storm surges, but have recently been displaying drastic changes in geomorphic dynamics because of human activities. However, a comprehensive understanding of spatiotemporal changes in tidal flats in RSRs remains lacking. Hence, we employed a novel remote sensing method by obtaining the instantaneous high/low tide line positions from over 112 scenes of Landsat satellite images of the study area from 1975 to 2017, which were used to track the recent evolution of the coastal tidal flats in the modern RSRs over the past four decades. We found that the shoreline of the tidal flats showed an advanced seaward trend, and the waterline of the tidal flat presented a gradual process during different periods. The total tidal flat area in the study area showed an obviously decreasing trend overall, and approximately 992 km2 of the tidal flat was lost. We also found that the coastal tidal flats in the modern RSRs were generally undergoing erosion in the low tidal flats, especially in the Northern Swing and Southern Swing areas, while the high tidal flats showed a slowed accretionary change. Land reclamation was the main factor affecting the reduction in the tidal flat area, as the reclamation area has increased by 1300 km2, with an average of 35.14 km2/year. In addition, the erosion of the tidal flats was associated with a reduced sediment supply. Our findings will provide useful information for local managers and researchers to support future environmental management because increasing demand for land and rising sea levels are expected in the future.

Rafting-Enabled Recovery Avoids Recrystallization in 3D-Printing-Repaired Single-Crystal Superalloys.

The repair of damaged Ni-based superalloy single-crystal turbine blades has been a long-standing challenge. Additive manufacturing by an electron beam is promising to this end, but there is a formidable obstacle: either the residual stress and γ/γ  ' microstructure in the single-crystalline fusion zone after e-beam melting are unacceptable (e.g., prone to cracking), or, after solutionizing heat treatment, recrystallization occurs, bringing forth new grains that degrade the high-temperature creep properties. Here, a post-3D printing recovery protocol is designed that eliminates the driving force for recrystallization, namely, the stored energy associated with the high retained dislocation density, prior to standard solution treatment and aging. The post-electron-beam-melting, pre-solutionizing recovery via sub-solvus annealing is rendered possible by the rafting (i.e., directional coarsening) of γ  ' particles that facilitates dislocation rearrangement and annihilation. The rafted microstructure is removed in subsequent solution treatment, leaving behind a damage-free and residual-stress-free single crystal with uniform γ  ' precipitates indistinguishable from the rest of the turbine blade. This discovery offers a practical means to keep 3D-printed single crystals from cracking due to unrelieved residual stress, or stress-relieved but recrystallizing into a polycrystalline microstructure, paving the way for additive manufacturing to repair, restore, and reshape any superalloy single-crystal product.

N'-Benzoyl-N-tert-butyl-2-chloro-N'-{[3-(6-chloro-3-pyrid-ylmethyl)-2-nitrimino-imidazolidin-1-yl]sulfan-yl}benzo-hydrazide.

In the title compound, C(27)H(27)Cl(2)N(7)O(4)S, the amide groups bearing the N-S group and the tert-butyl group have s-trans conformations. The steric size of the tert-butyl and [(6-chloro-3-pyrid-yl)meth-yl]imidazolidin-2-yl-idene groups cause the 2-chloro-benzoyl group and the benzyol group to be directed away from one another, forming a dihedral angle of 60.62 (17)°. The central N-N bond adopts a gauche conformation with a C-N-N-C torsion angle of -79.1 (2)°.

Contrastive Studies between Laser Repairing and Plasma Arc Repairing on Single-Crystal Ni-Based Superalloy.

Laser repairing and plasma arc repairing experiments on the single-crystal Ni-based superalloy DD407(Ni-7.82Cr-5.34Co-2.25Mo-4.88W-6.02Al-1.94Ti-3.49Ta in wt.%) were carried out in this paper, and the differences in microstructures and mechanical properties varying with depth between the two repairing methods were studied. Comparing the two repairing processes, both the fusion zone can maintain single-crystal epitaxial growth with no significant cracks and have similar fine γ' precipitates. Nevertheless, the columnar-to-equiaxed transition phenomenon occurred on the top of the fusion zone during the laser re-melting process but was not very obvious on the top surface of the fusion zone during the plasma arc re-melting process. In addition, both the DD407 superalloy conducted with the two repairing processes had a large microhardness and a great Young's modulus in the fusion zone.

Synthesis and insecticidal evaluation of novel N'-tert-butyl-N'-substitutedbenzoyl-N-5-chloro-6-chromanecarbohydrazide derivatives.

A series of novel N'-tert-butyl- N'-substitutedbenzoyl-N-5-chloro-6-chromanecarbohydrazide derivatives were synthesized, and their larvicidal activities against Oriental armyworm were evaluated. The results of bioassays indicated that most of these title compounds exhibit higher larvicidal activities than RH-5849, and several of them somewhat lower than the commercial insecticide tebufenozide. The larvicidal activities are strongly associated with the types and patterns of substitution on the benzene, and 3,5-dimethyl, 2-nitro-4-chloro and 3-methyl derivatives are most prominent in increasing activity. Toxicity assays indicated that these derivatives could induce a premature, abnormal, and lethal larval moult.

Synthesis, herbicidal activities, and 3D-QSAR of 2-cyanoacrylates containing aromatic methylamine moieties.

A series of novel 2-cyanoacrylates containing different aromatic rings were synthesized, and their structures were characterized by (1)H NMR, elemental analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Their herbicidal activities against four weeds and inhibition of photosynthetic electron transport against isolated chloroplasts (the Hill reaction) were evaluated. Both in vivo and in vitro data showed that the compounds containing benzene, pyridine, and thiazole moieties gave higher activities than those containing pyrimidine, pyridazine, furan, and tetrahedronfuran moieties. To further explore the comprehensive structure-activity relationship on the basis of in vitro data, comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) was performed, and the results showed that a bulky and electronegative group around the para-position of the aromatic rings would have the potential for higher activity, which offered important structural insights into designing highly active compounds prior to the next synthesis.

Insecticidal benzoylphenylurea-S-carbamate: a new propesticide with two effects of both benzoylphenylureas and carbamates.

New propesticides with two effects of both benzoylphenylureas and carbamates were designed and synthesized by the key intermediate N-chlorosulfenyl-N-methylcarbamate, which was prepared for the first time. These benzoylphenylurea-S-carbamates were identified by 1H NMR spectroscopy and elemental analyses. The bioactivities of the new compounds were evaluated. These benzoylphenylurea-S-carbamates exhibited excellent larvicidal activities against Oriental armyworm, some of which were good as compared to the parent benzoylphenylureas. Toxicity assays indicated that these benzoylphenylurea-S-carbamates had knockdown activities of carbamates at higher concentrations and insect growth regulator activities of benzoylphenylureas at lower concentrations. We found that the title compounds exhibited good systemic larvicidal activities against Oriental armyworm, which were especially advantageous when combating sucking pests. Some of these title compounds can kill aphids and mosquitoes as well.

Synthesis, crystal structure, and biological activities of 2-cyanoacrylates containing furan or tetrahydrofuran moieties.

A series of novel cyanoacrylates containing furan or tetrahydrofuran moieties were synthesized, and their structures were characterized by 1H NMR, elemental analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The herbicidal, plant growth regulatory, fungicidal, and antiviral activities of these cyanoacrylates were evaluated. The results of herbicidal activities showed that most of these cyanoacrylates exhibited higher herbicidal activities against dicotyledonous weeds than monocotyl-edonous weeds, and the compounds containing the tetrahydrofuran moiety gave higher herbicidal activities than corresponding furan analogues; (Z)-ethoxyethyl 2-cyano-3-isopropyl-3-(tetrahydrofuran-3-yl)methaneaminoacrylate showed excellent herbicidal activities against amaranth pigweed in postemergence treatment at a dose of 375 g/ha. At the same time, these cyanoacrylates had interesting plant growth regulatory activities, and some compounds stimulated radicle growth of cucumber, whereas some compounds had an inhibitory effect. These cyanoacrylates showed fungicidal activities as well.

Synthesis and insecticidal activities of novel N-sulfenyl-N'-tert-butyl-N,N'-diacylhydrazines. 1. N-alkoxysulfenate derivatives.

A series of novel N-alkoxysulfenyl-N'-tert-butyl-N, N'-diacylhydrazines were designed and synthesized as insect growth regulators by the key intermediates N-chlorosulfenyl-N'-tert-butyl-N, N'-diacylhydrazines, which were prepared for the first time. Compared to N'-tert-butyl-N, N'-diacylhydrazines, these N-alkoxysulfenyl derivatives displayed better solubility and improved hydrophobicities. The insecticidal activities of the new compounds were evaluated. The results of bioassays showed that the title compounds possessed a combination of strong stomach as well as contact poison property higher than the corresponding parent compounds. In particular, N-methoxysufenyl-N'-tert-butyl-N-4-ethylbenzoyl-N'-3,5-dimethylbenzoylhydrazide (IIIf) as a field testing candidate has higher stomach toxicities against oriental armyworm and beet armyworm than the corresponding parent compound RH-5992. Furthermore, the compound IIIf exhibits higher contact activities against oriental armyworm, Asian corn borer, tobacco cutworm, and cotton bollworm than RH-5992. The sulfenyl substituent was essential for high larvacidal activity.

Multivariate statistical evaluation of trace elements in groundwater in a coastal area in Shenzhen, China.

Multivariate statistical techniques are efficient ways to display complex relationships among many objects. An attempt was made to study the data of trace elements in groundwater using multivariate statistical techniques such as principal component analysis (PCA), Q-mode factor analysis and cluster analysis. The original matrix consisted of 17 trace elements estimated from 55 groundwater samples colleted in 27 wells located in a coastal area in Shenzhen, China. PCA results show that trace elements of V, Cr, As, Mo, W, and U with greatest positive loadings typically occur as soluble oxyanions in oxidizing waters, while Mn and Co with greatest negative loadings are generally more soluble within oxygen depleted groundwater. Cluster analyses demonstrate that most groundwater samples collected from the same well in the study area during summer and winter still fall into the same group. This study also demonstrates the usefulness of multivariate statistical analysis in hydrochemical studies.

Synthesis and insecticidal evaluation of propesticides of benzoylphenylureas.

Two series of benzoylphenylurea derivatives were synthesized as candidate propesticides by a nucleophilic addition reaction between 2,6-difluronbenzoyl isocyanate and N-substitutedaniline. The new compounds were identified by 1H NMR spectroscopy, electron ionization-mass spectrometry, and elemental analyses. The bioactivities of the new compounds were evaluated. All of the propesticides reported here were soluble in most organic solvents, and their hydrophobicities were improved obviously. The result of the bioactivities of the new compounds against Oriental armyworm showed that some of the new compounds are good as compared to diflubenzuron and penfluron.

Properties of Foamed Mortar Prepared with Granulated Blast-Furnace Slag.

Foamed mortar with a density of 1300 kg/m³ was prepared. In the initial laboratory trials, water-to-cement (w/c) ratios ranging from 0.54 to 0.64 were tested to determine the optimal value for foamed mortar corresponding to the highest compressive strength without compromising its fresh state properties. With the obtained optimal w/c ratio of 0.56, two types of foamed mortar were prepared, namely cement-foamed mortar (CFM) and slag-foamed mortar (SFM, 50% cement was replaced by slag weight). Four different curing conditions were adopted for both types of foamed mortar to assess their compressive strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) and thermal insulation performance. The test results indicated that utilizing 50% of slag as cement replacement in the production of foamed mortar improved the compressive strength, UPV and thermal insulation properties. Additionally, the initial water curing of seven days gained higher compressive strength and increased UPV values as compared to the air cured and natural weather curing samples. However, this positive effect was more pronounced in the case of compressive strength than in the UPV and thermal conductivity of foamed mortar.

Synthesis and herbicidal activity of 2-cyano-3-(2-chlorothiazol-5-yl)methylaminoacrylates.

A series of 2-cyano-3-(2-chlorothiazol-5-yl)methylaminoacrylates were synthesized as herbicidal inhibitors of PSII electron transport. All of these compounds exhibited good herbicidal activities. In particular, (Z)-ethoxyethyl 2-cyano-3-isopropyl-3-(2-chlorothiazol-5-yl)methylaminoacrylate showed excellent herbicidal activities even at a dose of 75 g/ha. A suitable group at the 3-position of acrylate was essential for high herbicidal activity. 2-Cyanoacrylates containing a 2-chloro-5-thiazolyl group are a novel class of herbicides and display herbicidal activities comparable to existing analogues bearing chloropyridyl or chlorophenyl.