Mixed Zone Research Articles

Variations in pollen deposition of the main taxa forming the land cover along a NW–SE transect in European Russia: results of a ten year Tauber trap monitoring period

Annual pollen accumulation rates of the main tree and shrub taxa of European Russia (Picea, Pinus, Betula, Alnus, Quercus, Tilia, Fraxinus, Ulmus and Corylus), as well as several herbaceous taxa (Poaceae, Cyperaceae, Chenopodiaceae and Artemisia), were obtained using Tauber pollen traps which were placed along a northwest to southeast transect in European Russia. The work was carried out within the framework of the Pollen Monitoring Programme (PMP). The data were analysed using both traditional interpretations of PAR (pollen accumulation rate) values and numerical methods (linear regressions and canonical correspondence analysis, CCA). The various vegetation zones: broadleaved-coniferous forest, broadleaved forest and forest-steppe, differ from each other by the absolute pollen values (PARs) of forest-forming taxa and several wind-pollinated herbs. However, no statistical support for zonal differentiation based on these PARs has been found. The only obvious difference was observed between the forest zone and the forest-steppe. The climatic gradient along the NW–SE transect is reflected by changes in pollen values, but is smoothed due to human influence during past centuries and as a consequence of the dominance of secondary vegetation formations. The highest total PAR, as well as PARs of all the forest-forming taxa, was observed in the southern part of the mixed broadleaved-coniferous forest zone (RU-ZV). The PARs of thermophilic taxa (Tilia, Fraxinus, Acer, Ulmus, Quercus and Corylus), as well as of Picea correspond to warmth availability which is under the influence of a combination of latitude, continentality of climate and microclimatic conditions. According to linear regressions, Picea, Tilia, Quercus and Corylus PARs correspond to Tjul, the July temperature of the previous season. Canonical correspondence analysis indicates that temperature, in particular Tjul, is the main climatic parameter controlling the variation of modern pollen rain.

Coupled CFD simulation for the cooling process of steel tubes in a rake type cooling bed

In the past, cooling beds in hot tube rolling mills were constructed with mixed convection zones at the inlet of the bed. This caused high thermal strains, which resulted in deformed tube geometries. To find the optimal position for a mixed convection zone, the present work introduces the first full-scale CFD simulation of the transient cooling process of tubes in a rake type cooling bed. The model represents a novelty in this process, with one significant improvement to current state-of-the-art approaches: Translatory and rotatory movement of the tubes was simulated with an iterative steady-state/transient coupled method with high accuracy and minor computational cost. Simulations were carried in 2D and 3D and a comprehensive comparison regarding the precision of the method was presented. Among the evaluated quantities were the cooling rates, radial and axial tube temperature distributions as well as heat transfer rates and Rayleigh numbers. For the investigated ensemble of tube geometries, tube temperatures were predicted within 9.23% of the experimental data in the 2D model and 5.42% in the 3D model.

Distribution of leptocephali and wintertime hydrographic structure in the Kuroshio Extension and northern subtropical gyre

A wintertime net sampling and hydrographic survey was conducted in the Kuroshio Extension (KE) and northern subtropical gyre during 3 cruise-legs in January–March 2006. Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD), expendable CTD (XCTD) and expendable bathythermograph (XBT) surveys were conducted to examine the regional hydrographic structure, which included a distinct KE front water mass boundary, low-salinity subsurface intrusions under and north of the KE current jet, and a deeply mixed anticyclonic recirculation zone south of the current. Large mouth-opening trawl deployments at 36 stations to the north, within and south of the KE collected 1315 leptocephalus larvae, which included ~51 eel and elopomorph fish species. Leptocephali were most abundant/diverse at the southernmost stations at ~25–29°N (29 species), to a lesser extent in the northwestern KE and southern area (27 species), but they were not abundant in the current jet or northernmost areas. Congrid leptocephali were most abundant/diverse (~15 species), with 2 Gnathophis species being most abundant, followed by Ariosoma sp. 7, Ariosoma sp. 4, and Bathycongrus. Smaller numbers of the Nettastomatidae (Saurenchelys stylurus), Muraenidae (12 species), Synaphobranchidae, Chlopsidae (7 species), Nemichthyidae (Nemichthys spp.), Serrivomeridae and a few other families were also collected. Most leptocephali were >50 mm in length for non-mesopelagic eel taxa, because they likely originated from summer–fall spawning and had been transported offshore by the Kuroshio into recirculation areas and farther south possibly by a combination of gyre recirculation and eastward countercurrents. Although the exact transport scenarios of the larvae of the present study cannot be determined, it is possible that some species that spawn along the western margin of the subtropical gyre may use Kuroshio recirculation areas and the wider subtropical gyre as larval development areas by drifting within gyre recirculation before eventually swimming westward to their recruitment areas.

Pollution Characteristics and Ozone Formation Potential of Ambient Volatile Organic Compounds(VOCs)in Summer and Autumn in Different Functional Zones of Lianyungang, China

Atmospheric volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were collected from different functional zones of Lianyungang during the summer and autumn of 2018. One-hundred-seven VOCs species were measured by cryogenic pre-concentration and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The ozone generation potential (OFP) of VOCs was estimated by maximum incremental reactivity (MIR). Results showed that the average volume fraction of VOCs was (22.1±13.1)×10-9. Alkanes and alkenes from C2-C4 as well as acetone and ethyl acetate were the predominant species, accounting for 59.8%-75.8% of TVOCs. The mean volume fraction in the industrial zone was the largest[(28.4±13.5)×10-9], followed by the scenic zone[(21.7±4.4)×10-9] and the traffic and residential mixed zone[(20.8±7.2)×10-9]. The concentration of VOCs in autumn was significantly higher than that in summer. The industrial zone was the site with the highest volume fraction in autumn (35.4×10-9), while the scenic zone had the highest volume fraction in summer (21.5×10-9). Alkane, sulfur, or oxygen containing compounds and halogenated hydrocarbons were the predominant components of VOCs, accounting for 35.3%, 26.9%, and 15.6% of the total amount, respectively. Due to industrial emissions, the content of sulfur or oxygen containing compounds in the industrial zone was significantly higher than that in scenic zone and the traffic and residential mixed zone. The average ratio of T/B (toluene/benzene) indicated that vehicle and solvent use were the main sources of VOCs in the urban area. The highest OFP was found in the industrial zone, followed by the traffic and residential mixed zone and the scenic zone. Alkenes and aromatics were the largest contributors to OFP.

Mixed Zone between Drug-Induced Hyperpigmentation and Generalized Fixed Pigmented Erythema

We report a particular case of fixed drug eruption (FDE), in its erythematous and pigmented form, as a fixed pigmented erythema (FPE), which manifests in a generalized form, evolving for three years, and discuss the imputability to piroxicam and the Ramipril/Hydrochlorothiazide combination. Indeed, chronological, semiological, bibliographic criteria, were imprecise and non-discriminatory. We ended up retaining the diagnosis of fixed pigmented erythema (FPE) of particular diffuse presentation induced probably by piroxicam, based on clinical, histological and evolutive criteria. However, it remains a mixed zone between drug-induced hyperpigmentation and generalized fixed pigmented erythema with diffuse hypermelanosis.

Hyperpigmentation Associated with Anti-Tumor Chemotherapy: A Series of 54 Cases, Demo-Topographic Aspects and Interest of the Dermatological Intervention

Hyperpigmentation as a side effect of anti-tumor chemotherapy is a frequent and usually mild complication , several molecules have been implicated based on different pathogenic theories. However, studies that have focused on this complication are rare. Indeed, the benignity of the incident contrasting with the gravity of the tumor prognosis traces a mixed zone between the consideration of the oncologist and that of the cancer patient who perceives a display hyperpigmentation against a discreet internal neoplasia, this study will draw a demographic, topographical and targeted mapping of this complication, and will assess the psychological impact of hyperpigmentation in cancer patients as well as the interest of the dermatological intervention. It is believed that the dermatologist could contribute to improve the experience of cancer patients thanks to an anticipative, informative and pragmatic approach.

Utilization of CO2 as Cushion Gas for Depleted Gas Reservoir Transformed Gas Storage Reservoir

Underground gas storage reservoirs (UGSRs) are used to keep the natural gas supply smooth. Native natural gas is commonly used as cushion gas to maintain the reservoir pressure and cannot be extracted in the depleted gas reservoir transformed UGSR, which leads to wasting huge amounts of this natural energy resource. CO2 is an alternative gas to avoid this particular issue. However, the mixing of CO2 and CH4 in the UGSR challenges the application of CO2 as cushion gas. In this work, the Donghae gas reservoir is used to investigate the suitability of using CO2 as cushion gas in depleted gas reservoir transformed UGSR. The impact of the geological and engineering parameters, including the CO2 fraction for cushion gas, reservoir temperature, reservoir permeability, residual water and production rate, on the reservoir pressure, gas mixing behavior, and CO2 production are analyzed detailly based on the 15 years cyclic gas injection and production. The results showed that the maximum accepted CO2 concentration for cushion gas is 9% under the condition of production and injection for 120 d and 180 d in a production cycle at a rate of 4.05 kg/s and 2.7 kg/s, respectively. The typical curve of the mixing zone thickness can be divided into four stages, which include the increasing stage, the smooth stage, the suddenly increasing stage, and the periodic change stage. In the periodic change stage, the mixed zone increases with the increasing of CO2 fraction, temperature, production rate, and the decreasing of permeability and water saturation. The CO2 fraction in cushion gas, reservoir permeability, and production rate have a significant effect on the breakthrough of CO2 in the production well, while the effect of water saturation and temperature is limited.

Variability of soil carbon and nitrogen stocks after conversion of natural forest to plantations in Eastern China

Forest plantation, either through afforestation or reforestation, has been suggested to reverse and mitigate the process of deforestation. However, uncertainties remain in the potential of plantation forest (PF) to sequestrate carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) compared to natural forest (NF). Soil C and N stocks require a critical and updated look at what is happening especially in the context of increasing rate of land use change and climate change. The current study was conducted in China’s Eastern forest to estimate soil C and N stocks in six depth layers (0–10, 10–20, 20–40, 40–60, 60–80 and 80–100 cm) and two forest types (NF and PF) at four sites along climate factors gradient. The results showed that the overall mean soil C and N amounts to a depth of 20 cm ranged from 2.6 ± 1.1 Mg ha−1 to 38.6 ± 23.1 Mg ha−1, and soil nitrogen stock ranged from 0.2 ± 0.1 Mg ha−1 to 3.3 ± 1.5 Mg ha−1. Moreover, a loss of C stock was observed at Qingyuan (QY) by −7%, Dinghushan (DH) by −26%, Jianfengling (JF) by −13% while that of N stock was observed at QY (−8%), DH (−19%) and JF (−12%) at both depth layers. These results indicate that NFs have a better capacity to accumulate soil C and N. The soil C and N decreased from the southeast to the northeast and increased from tropical to temperate mixed forests zone in the eastern part of the study area. The C and N stock mainly occurred in the topsoil and decreased significantly with depth. Moreover, soil C and N stocks increased with age of plantation. This study provides an overview of the current spatial distribution and soil stocks of C and N, as well as the effects of environmental factors on soil C and N stocks. It also indicated that, although mean annual temperature and mean annual precipitation are the key factors affecting the variations in soil C and N, their vertical and horizontal distribution differed in various aspects.

What does a mixed population of Pinus sibirica and P. pumila from the southern Baikal region suggest about the structure of their hybrid zone?

Pinus sibirica and P. pumila have a vast hybrid zone, and its structure and maintenance model have not yet been considered. This study was carried out in the southern–western part of the hybrid zone. On the Khamar-Daban Ridge, there is a vigorous belt of mountain taiga forest, where the prevalent species is P. sibirica and where P. pumila produces a subalpine tree belt. The border between these belts is blurred, and a mixed zone of the species is formed, resulting in interspecies hybridization. Field observations, seed efficiency determination, and analysis of mt- and cpDNA markers were used to elucidate the pattern of this hybridization. Pinus sibirica and P. pumila hybridization was determined as bidirectional, and P. pumila was mainly the mother plant. Hybridization transforms to an introgression, and based on the life form, the studied hybrids were divided into two groups: intermediate and pumila-like cup-shaped forms. Both morphological types of hybrids had significantly fewer sound seeds per cone than the parental species. However, pumila-like hybrids had more sound seeds per cone compared to intermediate hybrids. We observed a positive correlation between hybrid seed efficiency and elevation. Summarizing the results of this study and those previously obtained enabled us to show different hybridization patterns in different parts of the hybrid zone, suggesting a mosaic model of hybrid zone maintenance.

Origin of the Naoniushan Cu–Au deposit in Inner Mongolia, NE China: Constraints from fluid inclusions and H‐O‐S‐Pb isotopes

The Naoniushan Cu–Au deposit is located in the eastern Mongolia–Xing'an orogenic belt, NE China, which hosts abundant endogenous base metal and precious metal deposits. The mineralization mainly occurs in Lower Cretaceous continental volcanic rocks. This study aims to constrain the ore metal sources based on H‐O‐S‐Pb isotopes as well as geological characteristics. The δ34S values range are from 1.5‰ to 3.5‰, with a tower‐shaped distribution pattern, with a peak in the range of 2.0‰ to 2.5‰, indicating a magmatic source. The 206Pb/204Pb values show a range of 18.169–18.510, 207Pb/204Pb of 15.484–15.646, and 208Pb/204Pb of 37.877–38.431. Lead isotopic composition is markedly homogeneous, suggesting that the lead is derived from a Th‐rich, U‐poor source. In the Zartman diagram, the samples plot in the field between mantle and orogenic belt or near to the line of the evolution of orogenic belts. In Δβ–Δγ genetic classification diagram, 12 samples fall into the field of the upper crust and mantle mixed zone, whereas 4 samples fall in the mantle source, adjacent to the boundary of these two source areas. We therefore infer that the ore‐forming materials in the Naoniushan Cu–Au deposit were mainly derived from magmatic sources, with the contamination of upper crustal material. The ore‐forming fluids in this deposit were derived from magmatic fluids in the early stage, followed by addition of meteoric water. We correlate the tectonic setting to the transition from a compressional to extensional regime.

Process characteristics and interfacial microstructure in spot impact welding of titanium to stainless steel

Vaporizing foil actuator (VFA) spot welding was used to weld a titanium alloy (Ti-1.2ASN) to a stainless steel (436 SS) for the first time. The relation of process to microstructure was explored. Interfacial microstructure was studied through optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Chemical compositions of molten regions and jet zone were characterized by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The microhardness across the interface was measured through Vickers and nanoindentation tests. The results show that an impact velocity of 800 m/s can be achieved at very low input energy. VFA spot welds present heterogeneity in microstructure at large and small length scales. At long length scales, several regions of weld can be seen. At the center there is no bonding; moving radially outward the collision angle increases from zero and this causes a transition from a flat area with considerable melting to a wavy region, and finally an area of accumulated jetted material in the corner. EDS analyses show that discontinuous intermetallics including TiCr2, Fe2Ti and FeTi, and Ti fragments coexisted in a mixed zone that probably has components of mechanical and liquid-state mixing. TEM results show that equiaxed nanograins exhibited in the recrystallization zone and mixed zone. There is an ‘impact affected zone’ near the interface where the hardness rises significantly. At the edges of the weld there is a mixed, and oxidized zone that supports the idea that solid-state impact jets the nascent surfaces away to allow interatomic bonding.

Geoinformation modeling of soil pollution processes by lead compounds in highway geosystems

In this paper, we have worked out a method of geoinformation modeling of soil pollution by heavy metals in highway geosystems. Permanent process of contamination and redistribution of pollutants in highway geosystems causes difficulties in determining the degree of soil pollution and the speed of this process. This problem can be solved when using the method of geoinformation modeling of pollution by heavy metals compounds of soil. The method allows you to set the spatial parameters of the contamination field and the speed of the contamination process. The goal of the work is to test the method on the examples of lead compounds in the soils of the mixed forest zone. The methodology uses geoinformation and mathematical models. These models describe the behavior of lead compounds when forming the contamination field. These are models of spatial distribution of heavy metals in the atmospheric air, soil, «soil-plant system». Results: working out the provisions of the methodology took place at the test area. This area has plain fluvio-glacial and fluvial relief, close to the surface of the groundwater, the presence of wetlands, the soils are preferably of light mechanical composition with acid reaction and fulvatic type of humus, that are typical for the mixed forest zone. The modeling process is divided into two stages: 1. determining the amount of lead compounds brought in over a period of time and 2. determination of the number of lead compounds that have been removed from soil or removed from migration flows the same time period. At each stage, models and tools supported obtaining, storing data, analyzing and displaying results of modeling. During the modeling process, we determined the total number of lead compounds coming per unit of time into the geosystem. First of all, we have identified the number of lead compounds entering the atmospheric surface from vehicles as the main source of emissions. We used an atmospheric impurity scattering model and obtained a mapping of the distribution of lead compounds in the near-earth layers of atmospheric air at dangerous wind speeds. In the next step, we determined the amount of lead compounds that reach the soil surface. The constructed surface, reflecting the spatial characteristics and intensities of the primary contamination field, became the basis for modeling the “soil cleaning processes”, following the main migration scenarios: lateral, radial and biogenic migration processes. For next step of modeling, we used a method that calculates soil loss (and, accordingly, lead compounds) from the site due to erosion processes. The number of lead compounds recovered from soils during lateral migration was determined. The results showed that in the test site geosystems, natural factors create conditions for the slow lateral migration. Closed negative landforms were geosystems with the highest probability of accumulation. The next step was to determine the migration intensity of soluble forms of lead in soils during radial migration. We determined that due to the liming, these soils show a "very low" intensity of metal migration and, accordingly, a "low" risk of contamination of plants. Preferably this relates to the accumulation of soluble lead compounds in concentrator plants. In the next step, the amount of lead compounds that were transferred from soil to plants within the farmland was calculated. Scientific novelty: as a result of the step-by-step implementation of the methodology of modeling, a series of digital maps were created and areas with different levels of soil contamination (or self-cleaning) speed were determined. We have identified areas that can be self-cleaning under conditions typical of the mixed forest zone with the existing level of anthropogenic loading. We have identified areas that are potentially dangerous for agricultural production by lead contamination. Practical importance. This method can be applied to any heavy metal and other physical and geographical conditions. It allows to implement modeling in projects of ecological management, to determine the optimum level of anthropogenic load within highway geosystems.

Микроструктура переходных границ в многослойных Мо/Ве-системах

The microstructure of Mo / Be multilayer periodic systems was studied by X-ray reflectivity and diffractometry and EXAFS spectroscopy. It was found that in the Mo / Be system, mixed zones of different compositions form at the boundaries. At the Mo-on-Be border, there is a mixed zone, similar in composition to MoBe22, and at the Be-on-Mo border, with MoBe2. As a result of thermal annealing for one hour, the structure of the transition boundaries in the multilayer system remains stable. With further annealing, diffusion processes occur that lead to the formation of another compound at the interface — MoBe2, instead of MoBe22, however, the period of the structure remains unchanged. This behavior explains the increase in the reflection coefficient of Mo / Be mirrors after annealing for one hour and a further decrease in the reflection coefficient with a longer annealing time.

Metallurgical and Mechanical Behaviors of 309L-Si and ERNiCrMo-3 Dissimilar Weld on ASTM A182 F22 Steel

The present work aims to evaluate the metallurgical and mechanical behavior of dissimilar weld formed by 309L-Si and ERNiCrMo-3 (Inconel 625) electrodes combination on the ASTM A182 F22 steel with GMAW process. The welded joints were characterized by SEM, OM, tensile test and Vickers microhardness technique. The dissimilar interface formed in buttery of 309L and INC625 showed partially mixed zone (PMZ) formation and solidification microcracks that affected the mechanical properties in welded joint, presenting a fragile behavior. The F22 and INC625 interface presented high hardness regions with peaks greater than 400 HV. These regions were enriched by carbon due to the diffusion from F22 steel into the weld metal caused by tension relief heat treatment (TRHT).

Influence of nitrogen implantation on adhesion strength of TiAlN film on γ-TiAl alloy

Nitrogen implantation was utilized to improve the adhesion strength of TiAlN film on γ-TiAl alloy. The process involves nanometer-scale TiAlN film deposition by ion beam assisted deposition (IBAD), followed by successive nitrogen implantation and final TiAlN film deposition by IBAD. All processes were conducted in the same chamber without breaking vacuum. Adhesion strength of TiAlN films was evaluated using scratch test. Elemental depth profiles and bonding status in the mixed transition zone created by implantation were analyzed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Mechanical properties of the mixed transition zone were studied using nanoindentation. Nitrogen implantation significantly improves the adhesion strength of the TiAlN films. Mechanisms behind the improvement were explained in terms of the mixed transition zone formed and enhanced mechanical properties.

Effect of Tilt Angle and Pin Depth on Dissimilar Friction Stir Lap Welded Joints of Aluminum and Steel Alloys.

Automobile, aerospace, and shipbuilding industries are looking for lightweight materials for cost effective manufacturing which demands the welding of dissimilar alloy materials. In this study, the effect of tool rotational speed, welding speed, tilt angle, and pin depth on the weld joint were investigated. Aluminum 5052 and 304 stainless-steel alloys were joined by friction stir welding in a lap configuration. The design of the experiments was based on Taguchi’s orthogonal array for conducting the experiments with four factors and three levels for each factor. The microstructural analysis showed tunnel defects, micro voids, and cracks which formed with 0° and 1.5° tilt angles. The defects were eliminated when the tilt angle increased to 2.5° and a mixed stir zone was formed with intermetallic compounds. The presence of the intermetallic compounds increased with the increase in tilt angle and pin depth which further resulted in obtaining a defect-free weld. Hooks were formed on either side of the weld zone creating a mechanical link for the joint. A Vickers hardness value of HV 635.46 was achieved in the mixed stir zone with 1000 rpm, 20 mm/min, and 4.2 mm pin depth with a tilt angle of 2.5°, which increased by three times compared to the hardness of SS 304 steel. The maximum shear strength achieved with 800 rpm, 40 mm/min, and a 4.3 mm pin depth with a tilt angle of 2.5° was 3.18 kN.

The public policy of agricultural land allotment to agrarians and its impact on crop productivity in Punjab province of Pakistan

The study estimates the impact of land allotment policy to agrarians on crop productivity in Punjab province of Pakistan. The term "agrarian" refers to a respondent who has formal education in agricultural sciences (agronomy, soil science, agricultrual economics, and horticulture etc.), otherwise known as "non-agrarian". In 2009 the Punjab government allotted agricultural plots to agrarians. A multistage sampling technique was used to collect data of 384 crop growers by using well-structured questionnaire from two main cop zones of Punjab province of Pakistan. From July to September 2017, the data of rice and sugarcane were collected from mixed crop zone, and cotton and wheat from cotton-wheat crop zone. Various econometric methods were used to approach study objectives. Results found that compared to non-agrarians, crop productivity of wheat, rice, cotton, and sugarcane was 28.9, 23.4, 19.8, and 8.3%, higher at agrarians’ farms, respectively. Agricultural education and recommended use of farm inputs were main factors of getting higher crop yield at agrarians’ farms. Artificial neural network (ANN) reported that at agrarian plots, farm inputs, particularly Pure N, Pure P, Pure K, and seed rate were used at recommended level for wheat, cotton, rice, and sugarcane crop. The overuse of Pure N and seed rate and underuse of Pure P, Pure K and farmyard manure (FYM) were found the main reasons for getting lower crop yield at non-agrarians’ farms. Moreover, Cobb-Douglas (CD) production function evident that, although the farming experience of non-agrarians significantly increased the crop productivity, excessive use of Pure N and seed rate and non-agricultural education have no significant impact on crop yield. On the other hand, propensity score matching (PSM) method confirmed that public policy of land allotment to agrarians has significanlty increased the yield of wheat, rice, cotton, and sugarcane by 16.5, 14.2, 12.3, and 23.2%, respectively. The study results suggested that besides of land allotment to agrarians, the government should also focus on the provision of formal and informal agricultural education and training to non-agrarians. More specifically, it is necessary to provide knowledge of basic crop production technology to non-agrarians. Furthermore, to exploit maxim crop yield it is highly suggested to apply fertilizers at the recommend level estimated by the ANN method.

Towards net zero energy building: The application potential and adaptability of photovoltaic-thermoelectric-battery wall system

Net zero energy buildings (NZEBs) are the future direction of architectures as well as the guideline to counter-act with energy issues. In this study, we proposed a new concept of “double zero” for building envelope, in which the “first zero” means zero heat gain/heat loss through building envelopes and the “second zero” means net zero energy consumption to fulfill the “first zero”. By setting the goal of “double zero”, a new compound building envelope system was proposed with integration of photovoltaic (PV), thermoelectric (TE) modules, and battery system with envelope structure. The “first zero” is realized by TE cooling/heating using power from PV or battery to control the inward heat flux. The “second zero” is made by model predictive control (MPC) of power flow and battery capacity optimization. A system model was established with combination of analytical and numerical methods, which was validated against experimental data in both summer and winter conditions. The study results suggested that the system is highly adaptive to different climate zones for realizing the “first zero” even with non-optimized configurations. It was found that the system can realize 72–92% energy saving in cold region, 88–100% in mixed zone, and totally 100% in cooling dominant zone, compared with a massive wall as a reference. The net energy consumption maps are produced based on massive simulations and the zero energy line can be identified as an important guideline for implementing “double zero” in building envelopes under different operation years.

Physical and chemical strain-hardening during faulting in poorly lithified sandstone: The role of kinematic stress field and selective cementation

Abstract In this work, we report the results of a multidisciplinary study describing the structural architecture and diagenetic evolution of the Rocca di Neto extensional fault zone developed in poorly lithified sandstones of the Crotone Basin, Southern Italy. The studied fault zone has an estimated displacement of ∼90 m and consists of: (1) a low-deformation zone with subsidiary faults and widely spaced deformation bands; (2) an ∼10-m-wide damage zone, characterized by a dense network of conjugate deformation bands; (3) an ∼3-m-wide mixed zone produced by tectonic mixing of sediments with different grain size; (4) an ∼1-m-wide fault core with bedding transposed into foliation and ultra-comminute black gouge layers. Microstructural investigations indicate that particulate flow was the dominant early-stage deformation mechanism, while cataclasis became predominant after porosity loss, shallow burial, and selective calcite cementation. The combination of tectonic compaction and preferential cementation led to a strain-hardening behavior inducing the formation of “inclined conjugate deformation band sets” inside the damage zone, caused by the kinematic stress field associated with fault activity. Conversely, conjugate deformation band sets with a vertical bisector formed outside the damage zone in response to the regional extensional stress field. Stable isotope analysis helped in constraining the diagenetic environment of deformation, which is characterized by mixed marine-meteoric signature for cements hosted inside the damage zone, while it progressively becomes more meteoric moving outside the fault zone. This evidence supports the outward propagation of fault-related deformation structures in the footwall damage zone.

АНАЛІЗ ЕФЕКТИВНОСТІ ВИКОРИСТАННЯ ЗЕМЕЛЬНИХ РЕСУРСІВ УКРАЇНИ

The article discusses issues related to the need to improve the use of land resources of Ukraine. Ukraine has a huge natural resource potential. The land fund of Ukraine is 5.7% of the territory of Europe. What distinguishes Ukraine from Western European countries is that the proportion of agricultural land is high, especially arable land. In addition, they are distinguished by the quality of the land, as the proportion of black soil is high. The structure of land resources and the dynamics of changes in them are considered. Ukraine is sufficiently provided with arable land, but the amount of such land per capita is not correlated with the level of food supply of the population, since the latter figure depends not only on the land area and land fertility, but also on the level of agricultural culture, crop structure, and the country’s economy, development of the processing industry, social conditions and standard of living.Ukraine has a high level of agricultural development, but the ratio in different natural areas is unequal. In the mixed forest zone, agricultural development is less than in the steppe and forest-steppe zones. An objective law of agricultural development in leading countries is the growth in the number of large agricultural enterprises and agroholdings, since agriculture requires significant investments and high economic efficiency of production is achieved by attracting large areas of land. resources. Among European countries, Ukraine ranks second in terms of availability of agricultural land. After studying the practice of agricultural land use in Ukraine, it can be noted that the farms that are under the control of agroholdings (one third of agricultural areas) and enterprises that operate on conditions of self-financing are most different. Problems in land management have been analyzed. Considered foreign experience in the use of land resources. Ukraine has not yet created an information base for effective land management. This is due to the lack of money, technical means, organizational and methodological provisions have not been worked out, the creation of a national data bank on the state of land, land registration activities, and land monitoring is inhibited. There are proposals for improving land use. In the structure of land resources and land use, there are now significant disproportions, the increase of which can threaten the environment and, consequently, the human living environment and, equally important, economic efficiency, i.e. sustainable development of the national economy. The situation with the ownership, use and disposal of land remains difficult, it requires urgent improvement. The most acute problems are the incompleteness of the processes of reforming economic and legal property relations, the imperfection of the system of state administration in the sphere of land use and protection.