Conduit Wall Research Articles

Native gold enrichment process during growth of chalcopyrite-lined conduits within a modern hydrothermal chimney (Manus Basin, PNG)

Abstract Seafloor hydrothermal chimneys from back-arc basins are important hosts for metals such as Cu, Zn, Pb, Ag, and Au. Although the general growth history of chimneys has been well documented, recent studies have revealed that the fine-scale mineralogy can be highly complex and reflects variable physicochemical conditions of formation. This study utilized a novel combination of scanning electron microscopy (SEM)-based electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) and synchrotron X-ray fluorescence microscopy (SXFM) to uncover the detailed growth processes of multiple chalcopyrite-lined conduits within a modern chalcopyrite-sphalerite chimney from Manus Basin and to assess the controls on native gold precipitation. On the basis of previous studies, the chimney conduit was thought to develop from an initial sulfate-dominated wall, which was subsequently dissolved and replaced by sphalerite and chalcopyrite during gradual mixing of hydrothermal fluids and seawater. During this process, sphalerite was epitaxially overgrown by chalcopyrite. Accretionary growth of chalcopyrite onto this early formed substrate thickened the chimney walls by bi-directional growth inward and outward from the original tube wall, also enclosing the outgrown pyrite cluster. A group of similar conduits with slightly different mineral assemblages continued to form in the vicinity of the main conduit during the further fluid mixing process. Four types of distinct native gold-sulfide/sulfosalt associations were developed during the varying mixing of hydrothermal fluids and seawater. Previously unobserved chains of gold nanoparticles occur at the boundary of early sphalerite and chalcopyrite, distinct from gold observed in massive sphalerite as identified in other studies. These observations provide baseline data in a well-preserved modern system for studies of enrichment mechanisms of native gold in hydrothermal chimneys. Furthermore, native gold is relatively rarely observed in chalcopyrite-lined conduit walls. Our observations imply that: (1) native gold is closely associated with various sulfides/sulfosalts in chalcopyrite-lined conduit walls rather than limited to the association with tennantite, Bi-rich minerals, and bornite as reported previously; and (2) the broad spectrum of gold occurrence in chalcopyrite-line conduits is likely to be determined by the various mixing process between hot hydrothermal fluids with surrounding fluids or seawater. Quantitative modeling of fluid mixing processes is recommended in the future to probe the precise gold deposition stages to efficiently locate gold in modern hydrothermal chimneys.

Stress‐Driven Failure of Cylindrical Volcanic Conduits

AbstractMany explosive volcanic eruption sequences are characterized by exceedingly unsteady behavior, often punctuated by multiple explosive phases, separated by hours to days. What causes this unsteady behavior is not fully understood. Here, we explore one possible mechanism: stress‐driven failure of the volcanic conduit wall rock. We present a multiphase conduit flow model that predicts the shear and normal tractions exerted on the conduit wall, and couple (one way) these tractions with a numerical model of host rock failure. While analytical estimations of host rock stress serve as useful guides, analytical approximations which ignore shear tractions are insufficient to adequately predict conduit instability. Failure generally initiates near the fragmentation depth, where shear tractions are highest and magma pressure is low relative to the lithostatic stress. Shear tractions on the conduit wall, caused by viscous drag, promote strain localization and failure. The in situ stress state not only determines the range of conduit pressures which promotes failure, but also influences the style of failure. The mechanism that is most likely to lead to the disruption of flow, where wall rock moves radially into the conduit along normal faults, occurs in extensional stress regimes when large shear tractions at the fragmentation depth enhance normal fault formation. The results of this study indicate that conduit stability strongly depends on the ambient stress field and the nature of conduit flow at the fragmentation depth.

COMSOL Multiphysics\xae modelling of oxygen diffusion through a cellulose nanofibril conduit employed for peripheral nerve repair

BackgroundPeripheral nerve injury can cause significant impairment, and the current methods for facilitating repair, particularly over distances greater than approximately 1 mm, are not entirely effective. Allografts, autografts, and synthetic conduits are three of the most common surgical interventions for peripheral nerve repair; however, each has limitations including poor biocompatibility, adverse immune responses, and the need for successive surgeries. A potential new method for promoting peripheral nerve repair that addresses the shortcomings of current interventions is a biocompatible cellulose nanofibril (CNF) conduit that degrades in-vivo over time. Preliminary testing in multiple animal models has yielded positive results, but more information is needed regarding how the CNF conduit facilitates nutrient and gas flow.ResultsThe current work employs 3D modelling and analysis via COMSOL Multiphysics® to determine how the CNF conduit facilitates oxygen movement both radially through the conduit walls and axially along the length of the conduit. Various CNF wall permeabilities, conduit lengths, and nerve-to-conduit diameter ratios have been examined; all of which were shown to have an impact on the resultant oxygen profile within the conduit. When the walls of the CNF conduit were modeled to have significant oxygen permeability, oxygen diffusion across the conduit was shown to dominate relative to axial diffusion of oxygen along the length of the conduit, which was otherwise the controlling diffusion mechanism.ConclusionsThe results of this study suggest that there is a complex relationship between axial and radial diffusion as the properties of the conduit such as length, diameter, and permeability are altered and when investigating various locations within the model. At low wall permeabilities the axial diffusion is dominant for all configurations, while for higher wall permeabilities the radial diffusion became dominant for smaller diameters. The length of the conduit did not alter the mechanism of diffusion, but rather had an inverse relationship with the magnitude of the overall concentration profile. As such the modeling results may be employed to predict and control the amount and distribution of oxygenation throughout the conduit, and hence to guide experimental conduit design.

Comparison of Bubble Shape Model Results With Textural Analysis: Implications for the Velocity Profile Across a Volcanic Conduit

AbstractTube pumice, which is characterized by aligned elongated bubbles, is valuable for our understanding of the shear field in a volcanic conduit. Most previous studies interpreted that tube pumice forms through simple shear, assuming a parabolic velocity profile across a volcanic conduit. However, simple shear cannot account for the observation that tube pumice is rare in plinian fall deposits but frequent in ignimbrites at the Taupō volcano, if the pyroclastic flows that formed them erupted through a wider vent and had a lower average shear rate. Here, we analyze the dynamics of bubble deformation that occurred during the 232 CE Taupō eruption by combining a bubble deformation model with a conduit flow model. The results indicate that bubble deformation is largely controlled by the velocity profile across a conduit. If the conduit flow has a parabolic velocity profile, the amount of bubble elongation is unrealistic compared to the Taupō fall deposits. It is more likely that the conduit flow has a plug‐like velocity profile due to viscous heating. We numerically confirmed that bubbles in the plug‐like flow are subject mainly to pure shear and accumulate less strain for elongation. We also calculated a viscous heating flow of the ignimbrite phase. We modeled a wider conduit, which suppresses viscous heating around the conduit walls and causes a higher proportion of the conduit to experience parabolic flow, compared to the plinian phase. The increased proportion of a parabolic profile may explain the high frequency of elongated bubbles in the ignimbrite phase pumice.

Assessment of discharge coefficient in trapezoidal and rectangular canals through regularized extreme learning machine

Since side weirs efficiently serve in flood management plans, irrigation canals and drainage systems, the estimation or simulation of its discharge coefficient seems to be a necessary task. Moreover, as the determination of this coefficient is perhaps the most important factor for the design of a side weir, there are numerous studies focused on this regard. As for the first case, this paper aims at the utilization of the modern regularized extreme learning machine (RELM) method for simulating the discharge capacity of side weirs within trapezoidal and rectangular flumes. At the first step, the parameters affecting the discharge coefficient are detected, and then 19 RELM models are extended using them. To train and test the RELM models. 70% and 30% of the experimental data are employed, respectively. In addition, the hidden layer neurons and also the activation function belonging to the RELM model are optimized. In other words, the number of neurons is considered as 14 and the activation function is introduced as the best. The superior model predicts the target values using the Froude number, the slope of main conduit walls and ratio of the weir crest to upstream flow depth. The superior model of RELM is very powerful and even shows a better performance in comparison with the ELM model. For instance, the correlation coefficient, Scatter Index and Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency Coefficient for the RELM superior model are estimated to be 0.982, 0.043 and 0.963. A formula is suggested for approximating the target function for application works. Lately, a partial derivative sensitivity analysis (PDSA) is executed for the provided equation.

Conduit Arterial Transport in Response to Chronic Hypertension of Forskolin

The transport through the conduit wall by either the paracellular or transcellular routes are both influenced by cAMP due to its effects on endothelial (EC) aquaporin (AQP1) content and on junction tightness. Genetic and Goldblatt-induced hypertension both enhances EC cAMP. These chronic in vivo models increase the intensity greater than 2-fold (see fig.1) of quantitative immunohistochemical green fluorescence in the ECs, with reciprocal depletion in the adjacent smooth muscle cells (SMCs). The mainly hydrostatic pressure-driven transendothelial transport, characterized by the intima hydraulic conductivity (Lpe+i) was significantly higher (greater than 2-fold) in these hypertensives compared to normal controls evaluated ex vivo at 60 mmHg. Acute (2h) forskolin (FSK) treatment, known to induce a significant rat arterial cAMP increase resulted in a significant increase in the EC AQP1 content (>3-fold, fig. 2) and a conjugate decrease in SMC AQP1. We found an increased intima hydraulic transport conductivity relative to the unexposed vessel studied ex vivo at 75 mmHg (more than doubled) consistent with this EC expression increase. Yet, FSK decreased dextran 70kDa permeability in the EC monolayer by 37% but leaves the much smaller TAMRA permeability unchanged. When EC and SMC monocultures were exposed to 2h FSK much less increase in EC and no change in SMC AQP1 intensity was observed without any contact occurring between cells. Several possibilities, such as EC-SMC signaling or direct transfer of AQP1 from SMCs to ECs on exposure to FSK or sustained hypertension during the arterial relaxation phase. The recognition that AQP1 is critical to lamellipodia would suggest that AQP1 plays a role in enhanced EC migration and the decrease in SMC migration in response to EC injury. FSK enhancement of EC AQP1 would decrease paracellular transport, mediated by lamellipodia, while increasing transcellular water transport, which might help explain the observation that cAMP enhances EC membrane barrier function. These effects of increased EC AQP1 on trans- and paracellular transport could both contribute to enhancing turnover in the abluminal space. These changes in EC and SMC AQ{1 content should also increase EC mobility and decrease SMC migration. All four effects of enhanced EC AQP1 would contribute to healing the artery in response to a variety of pathologies.

Divergence of stem biomechanics and hydraulics between Bauhinia lianas and trees.

Liana abundance and biomass are increasing in neotropical and Asian tropical seasonal forests over the past decades. Stem mechanical properties and hydraulic traits influence the growth and survival of plants, yet the differences in stem mechanical and hydraulic performance between congeneric lianas and trees remain poorly understood. Here, we measured 11 stem mechanical and hydraulic traits for 10 liana species and 10 tree species from Bauhinia grown in a tropical common garden. Our results showed that Bauhinia lianas possessed lower stem mechanical strength as indicated by both modulus of elasticity and modulus of rupture, and higher stem potential hydraulic conductivity than congeneric trees. Such divergence was mainly attributed to the differentiation in liana and tree life forms. Whether the phylogenetic effect was considered or not, mechanical strength was positively correlated with wood density, vessel conduit wall reinforcement and sapwood content across species. Results of principle component analysis showed that traits related to mechanical safety and hydraulic efficiency were loaded in the opposite direction, suggesting a trade-off between biomechanics and hydraulics. Our results provide evidence for obvious differentiation in mechanical demand and hydraulic efficiency between congeneric lianas and trees.

Defining indocyanine green fluorescence to assess anastomotic perfusion during gastrointestinal surgery: systematic review.

BackgroundThe aim of this systematic review was to identify all methods to quantify intraoperative fluorescence angiography (FA) of the gastrointestinal anastomosis, and to find potential thresholds to predict patient outcomes, including anastomotic leakage and necrosis.MethodsThis systematic review adhered to the PRISMA guidelines. A PubMed and Embase literature search was performed. Articles were included when FA with indocyanine green was performed to assess gastrointestinal perfusion in human or animals, and the fluorescence signal was analysed using quantitative parameters. A parameter was defined as quantitative when a diagnostic numeral threshold for patient outcomes could potentially be produced.ResultsSome 1317 articles were identified, of which 23 were included. Fourteen studies were done in patients and nine in animals. Eight studies applied FA during upper and 15 during lower gastrointestinal surgery. The quantitative parameters were divided into four categories: time to fluorescence (20 studies); contrast‐to‐background ratio (3); pixel intensity (2); and numeric classification score (2). The first category was subdivided into manually assessed time (7 studies) and software‐derived fluorescence–time curves (13). Cut‐off values were derived for manually assessed time (speed in gastric conduit wall) and derivatives of the fluorescence–time curves (Fmax, T1/2, TR and slope) to predict patient outcomes.ConclusionTime to fluorescence seems the most promising category for quantitation of FA. Future research might focus on fluorescence–time curves, as many different parameters can be derived and the fluorescence intensity can be bypassed. However, consensus on study set‐up, calibration of fluorescence imaging systems, and validation of software programs is mandatory to allow future data comparison.

Finite Element Analysis of Glucose Diffusivity in Cellulose Nanofibril Peripheral Nerve Conduits.

Peripheral neuropathy arising from physical trauma is estimated to afflict 20 million people in the United States alone. In one common surgical intervention, neural conduits are placed over the nerve stumps to bridge the gap and create a microenvironment conducive to regeneration. It has been proposed that a biocompatible material such as cellulose nanofiber may serve as a viable conduit material, providing a non-inflammatory and mechanically stable system. Preliminary studies have shown that cellulose nanofiber conduits successfully aid neural regeneration and further, that the dimensions of the conduit relative to the nerve gap have an impact on efficacy in murine models. It has been hypothesized that the reliance of regeneration upon the physical dimensions of the conduit may be related to modified modes of diffusion and/or distances of key cellular nutrients and waste metabolites to/from the injury site. The present work investigates the concentration profile of glucose within the conduit via finite element analysis as a function of the physical dimensions of the conduit. It was determined that the magnitude of glucose diffusion was greater through the conduit walls than through the luminal space between the nerve and the inner wall of the conduit, and that as such radial diffusion is dominant over axial diffusion.

Screening for potential targets to reduce stenosis in bioprosthetic heart valves

Progressive stenosis is one of the main factors that limit the lifetime of bioprosthetic valved conduits. To improve long-term performance we aimed to identify targets that inhibit pannus formation on conduit walls. From 11 explanted, obstructed, RNAlater presevered pulmonary valved conduits, we dissected the thickened conduit wall and the thin leaflet to determine gene expression-profiles using ultra deep sequencing. Differential gene expression between pannus and leaflet provided the dataset that was screened for potential targets. Promising target candidates were immunohistologically stained to see protein abundance and the expressing cell type(s). While immunostainings for DDR2 and FGFR2 remained inconclusive, EGFR, ErbB4 and FLT4 were specifically expressed in a subset of tissue macrophages, a cell type known to regulate the initiation, maintenance, and resolution of tissue repair. Taken toghether, our data suggest EGFR, ErbB4 and FLT4 as potential target candidates to limit pannus formation in bioprosthestic replacement valves.

Formation of dense pyroclasts by sintering of ash particles during the preclimactic eruptions of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991

Dense, vitric, dacitic pyroclasts (dacite lithics) from the 1991 preclimactic explosions of Mt. Pinatubo were analyzed for their vesicular and crystal textures and dissolved H2O and CO2 contents. Micron-scale heterogeneities in groundmass glass volatile contents (0.9 wt% differences in H2O within 500 μm) are observed and argue that parts of the dacite lithics equilibrated at different depths before finally being constructed. Greater vesicularities and larger and greater number densities of vesicles are observed in groundmass glass around phenocrysts compared to groundmass glass away from phenocrysts, similar to textures produced in experiments that sintered bimodal distributions of particles. Furthermore, increasingly greater proportions of stretched and distorted vesicles are observed in lithics from the later explosions, which parallels the increasingly shorter reposes between explosions. Finally, micron-sized crystal fragments are ubiquitous in groundmass glass of all dacite lithics. The textures, together with the variable volatile contents, lead us to propose a model that the dacite lithics formed by rapid and repetitive sintering of ash particles derived from a variety of depths on the conduit walls above the fragmentation level. We speculate that sintering of conduit material produced impermeable layers that retarded gas flow through the conduit, causing pressure to build until the cap failed and the next explosion occurred.

Fabrication of Crack-Free Flattened Bamboo and Its Macro-/MicroMorphological and Mechanical Properties

This work aimed to help the bamboo industry develop methodology for producing imperfection-free bamboo boards that can serve either decorative or structural benefit to consumers seeking to engage with the bioeconomy. Specifi- cally, softened and slotted bamboo tubes were handled by a roller device with nails to render crack-free flattened bamboo board. Softening temperature and time were optimized herein according to findings regarding chemical composition and board mechanical properties. The optimal softening parameters for saturated steam heat treatment is proved to be 160°C for 8 minutes. The flattened bamboo board possesses an increased bending strength of 101.5 MPa and a decreased bending modulus of 7.7 GPa, being compared with only-softened bamboo. The corresponding changing mechanism is determined in-depth by the micro- morphological and mechanical results based on in-situ SEM and AFM technologies. Under the action of nails and rolling processes, the bamboo texture becomes compact with crushed and fragmented conduit walls. The resulting cell cavity then becomes stretched and compressed, taking on a morphology which allows for the mechanical penalties associated with flattening to be avoided. According to the micro-mechanical results obtained by AFM, compared with unflatten bamboo, the Young’s modulus of the cell membrane in transverse direction (YT) decreases to 1.00 GPa while the corresponding Young’s modulus in radial direction (YR) increases to 7.29 GPa.

Method of optimal hydraulic dilatation of venous conduits for coronary artery bypass grafting

Hydraulic dilatation is used in everyday cardiac surgical practice for assessment of leak-proofness and prevention of spasm of autovenous shunts. The classical technique envisages manual high-pressure solution injection, which exerts a negative effect on venous conduits and is one of the causes of incompetence of shunts in the postoperative period. Limiting pressure during hydraulic dilatation is necessary to minimize morphological changes and preserve functional viability of venous conduits. The purpose of the present study was to develop and assess efficacy of a standardized methodology of controlled hydraulic dilatation of venous conduits. We worked out an original technique of controlled hydraulic dilatation of venous conduits under perfusion pressure of artificial circulation. This was followed by assessing morphological changes and functional viability of venous segments after controlled hydraulic dilatation as compared with veins after conventional uncontrolled hydraulic dilatation and the control intact veins. Uncontrolled hydraulic dilatation was accompanied by endothelial damage (p<0.05), multiple conduit wall tears (p<0.05) according to the findings of light microscopy, leading to a significant decrease in the functional vitality of the venous conduit (a decreased reaction to hyperpotassium solution, phenylephrine, acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside (p<0.05) according to the findings of biophysical examination. Our original technique of controlled hydraulic dilatation of venous conduits under perfusion pressure of artificial circulation made it possible not only to evaluate leak-proofness of the vessel but also to achieve comparable to the control segments parameters of structural integrity of the venous wall and functional viability of the conduit. Thus, using the developed method of controlled hydraulic dilatation makes it possible to minimize morphofunctional alterations in venous conduits, influencing the function of autovenous shunts.

Characterization of Physical, Mechanical, and Biological Properties of SilkBridge Nerve Conduit after Enzymatic Hydrolysis.

The in vitro degradation profile and the cytotoxicity of the degradation products of a silk fibroin (SF)-based nerve conduit (SilkBridge), with a complex three-layered wall architecture comprising both native and regenerated (electrospun) fibers, are reported. The bacterial protease type XIV from Streptomyces griseus was used as a hydrolytic agent at three different enzyme/substrate ratios (1:8, 1:80, and 1:800 w/w) to account for the different susceptibility to degradation of the native and regenerated components. The incubation time was extended up to 91 days. At fixed time points, the remaining device, the insoluble debris, and the incubation buffers containing soluble degradation products were separated and analyzed. The electrospun fibers forming the inner and outer layers of the conduit wall were almost completely degraded within 10 days of incubation at an enzyme/substrate ratio of 1:80 w/w. The progression of degradation was highlighted by the emergence of zones of erosion and discontinuity along the electrospun fibers, weakening of the electrospun layers, and decrease in resistance to compressive stress. Native SF microfibers forming the middle layer of the conduit wall displayed a higher resistance to enzymatic degradation. When incubated at an enzyme/substrate ratio of 1:8 w/w, the weight decreased gradually over the incubation time as a consequence of fiber erosion and fragmentation. Analogously, the tensile properties markedly decreased. Both spectroscopic and thermal analyses confirmed the gradual increase in the crystalline character of the fibers. The incubation buffers containing the soluble degradation products were subjected to cytotoxicity testing with human HEK293 cells and mouse neuroblastoma N2a cells. No detrimental effects on cell viability were observed, suggesting that the degradation products do not retain any toxic property. Finally, the mass spectrometry analysis of degradation products showed that the SF polypeptides recovered in the incubation buffers were representative of the aminoacidic sequence of the fibroin light chain and of the highly repetitive fibroin heavy chain, indicating that virtually the entire sequence of the fibroin protein constituent of SilkBridge was degraded.

Association between indocyanine green fluorescence blood flow speed in the gastric conduit wall and superior mesenteric artery calcification: predictive significance for anastomotic leakage after esophagectomy.

Near-infrared fluorescence using indocyanine green (ICG) has been applied as a real-time navigation tool to observe blood flow in gastric conduit wall after esophagectomy. Atherosclerosis might impair the blood flow of the systemic organs. The aim of the study was to investigate the significances of ICG blood flow speed in the gastric conduit wall and atherosclerotic calcification for the prediction of anastomotic leakage after esophagectomy. The 109 esophageal cancer patients were prospectively enrolled. ICG fluorescence blood flow speed in the gastric conduit wall and abdominal aortic calcification index (ACI), celiac artery (CA) calcification, and superior mesenteric artery (SMA) calcification were determined. Then, the correlation between ICG fluorescence blood flow speed and anastomotic leakage as well as ACI, CA, and SMA calcification were evaluated. Anastomotic leakage occurred in 15 patients. ACI ranged from 0 to 65. CA calcification and SMA calcification were present in 25 and 12 patients. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that ICG fluorescence blood flow speed in the gastric conduit wall of 2.07cm/s or less (P < 0.001) and SMA calcification (P = 0.026) were the significant independent predictors of anastomotic leakage. Only SMA calcification was significantly associated with ICG fluorescence blood flow speed in the gastric conduit wall (P = 0.026). This study demonstrated that ICG fluorescence blood flow speed in the gastric conduit wall can predict anastomotic leakage after esophagectomy and microvascular perfusion of capillary vessels of the gastric conduit might be impaired by systemic atherosclerosis.

Estimation of Hydraulic Gradient for a Transport Pipeline

Abstract This work deals with the hydraulic gradient estimation in real-time of a transport pipeline computational model by considering a slightly compressible fluid and slightly deformable conduit walls. Since the hydraulic gradient (J(Q)) caused by the friction phenomenon in a pipeline plays an important role in the system's behavior, and this function is affected by fluid properties' deviations, environmental disturbances and conduit deteriorations, it is proposed that the on-line estimation of J(Q) could be part of a monitoring system. The proposition can be applied to obtain computational models of a line with a junction and assumes only measurements of pressure and flow rate at the ends of the conduit and the junction outflow. The generic form of the gradient function J(Q) is a second-order polynomial with coefficients that involve indirectly pipe roughness, the transversal area of the conduit, fluid viscosity and elements connected to the line. The extended Kalman filter (EKF) is applied to estimate the coefficients of the function J(Q). As a test apparatus, a 163 m long hydraulic pipeline is used. Diverse experiments show the usefulness of the on-line estimation of J(Q) for monitoring and simulation tasks where computational models are necessary.

A Physical Model for Volcanic Eruption Tremor

AbstractSeismic waves are commonly used to monitor unrest before, during, and after volcanic eruptions. The source of seismic tremor during a sustained explosive volcanic eruption is not well understood. Recent observations of the 2016 eruption of Pavlof Volcano, Alaska, revealed a change in the relationship (hysteresis) between ash plume height and seismic amplitude over time. Based on similarities in physical processes and observed seismic tremor in rivers, we explore two key sources of seismic energy in the volcanic conduit: (1) forces exerted by particle impacts and (2) dynamic pressure changes by the turbulent flow. We develop a physical model calculating the seismic power spectral density (PSD), where forces on the conduit wall are convolved with the Green's function for Rayleigh waves. Using reasonable eruption parameters, the model is able to reproduce the frequency spectrum from the Pavlof eruption, although the modeled amplitudes are generally lower. We test the relative importance of different eruption parameters, including grain size, velocity, and conduit dimensions. We find that turbulence generally dominates over particle impacts. However, to reach the PSD amplitude during the Pavlof eruption, large grain sizes are required, as they have the greatest relative influence on the modeled amplitude. The hysteresis between plume height and seismic amplitude can then potentially be explained by grain size changes. The PSD shape is mostly determined by the Rayleigh‐wave quality factor Q, and substantial variations in seismic amplitude can be modeled assuming a constant mass eruption rate.

Short- and long-term effects of fire on stem hydraulics in Pinus ponderosa saplings.

Understanding tree physiological responses to fire is needed to accurately model post-fire carbon processes and inform management decisions. Given trees can die immediately or at extended time periods after fire, we combined two experiments to assess the short- (one-day) and long-term (21-months) fire effects on Pinus ponderosa sapling water transport. Native percentage loss of conductivity (nPLC), vulnerability to cavitation and xylem anatomy were assessed in unburned and burned saplings at lethal and non-lethal fire intensities. Fire did not cause any impact on nPLC and xylem cell wall structure in either experiment. However, surviving saplings evaluated 21-months post-fire were more vulnerable to cavitation. Our anatomical analysis in the long-term experiment showed that new xylem growth adjacent to fire scars had irregular-shaped tracheids and many parenchyma cells. Given conduit cell wall deformation was not observed in the long-term experiment, we suggest that the irregularity of newly grown xylem cells nearby fire wounds may be responsible for decreasing resistance to embolism in burned plants. Our findings suggest that hydraulic failure is not the main short-term physiological driver of mortality for Pinus ponderosa saplings. However, the decrease in embolism resistance in fire-wounded saplings could contribute to sapling mortality in the years following fire.

Energy Transfer by Turbulent Dissipation in Glacial Conduits

Water flow within and beneath glaciers and ice sheets influences ice dynamics and is relevant for practical applications such as modeling outburst floods from mountain glaciers. The most general models for glacial hydrologic conduits include an energy equation, wherein a heat transfer coefficient controls the rate at which heat generated by mechanical energy dissipation is transferred to conduit walls, producing melt. Previous models employ heat transfer coefficients derived for engineering heat transfer problems, where heat is transferred between the walls of a conduit and a flowing fluid that enters the conduit at a temperature different from the wall temperature. These heat transfer coefficients may not be appropriate for glacial hydrologic conduits in temperate ice, where the water and conduit walls (ice) are at almost the same temperature. We revisit the energy transport equations that provide a basis for the derivation of heat transfer coefficients and highlight the distinctions between the heated walls and dissipated energy heat transfer cases. We present computational results for both cases across a wide range of Reynolds numbers in circular conduit and sheet geometries. We show that the heat transfer coefficients for transfer of heat generated by mechanical energy dissipation to circular conduit walls are smaller than calculated using the Dittus‐Boelter correlation by approximately a factor of 2. However, heat transfer coefficients are higher for flow through a wide sheet at , highlighting the influence of noncircular geometries on heat transfer in englacial conduits and subglacial drainage systems.

Step-like rising and falling of a breakthrough curve observed at a karst spring

Spring breakthrough curves induced by conventional advection and dispersion often present a gentle (smooth) change of concentration with time. We investigated an electrical-conductivity breakthrough curve which originated from a chemical release into the aquifer matrix and was measured in June 2007 at Qinglondong Spring, southwest China. The curve presented abrupt rising and falling limbs. Modeling efforts were focused on the migration of the contaminants from the conduit wall to the spring. The conduit production segment was defined to be the conduit section where the chemical plume entered the conduit from aquifer fractures. The first model assumed that the time variance of the plume front reaching the conduit wall was much shorter than transport time over the conduit production segment. The model yielded a decrease of spring discharge which was inconsistent with the observed increase with time. In the second model, the above assumption was relaxed, and wall contaminant flux was inverted as function of downstream distance and time. The observed abrupt rising and falling in the breakthrough curve were interpreted as: (1) Taylor dispersion was too small to identify for a short conduit; (2) seepage from the fractures to the conduit was monodirectional and diluting.