The Triassic Yanchang Formation is currently a hot spot for lacustrine shale-gas exploration in the Ordos Basin, China. A seismic-sedimentological study using a newly acquired 3D survey was conducted to advance the interpretation and prediction of the shale-gas reservoirs. The seismic volume was converted into a log-lithology volume at the thin-bed level. The inverted acoustic impedance volume was stratal sliced to extract seismic geomorphologic information. Deltaic facies and depositional history were interpreted using lithologic and planform morphology of seismic attributes on (...) stratal slices. Detailed core analysis data including total organic content, mineral composition, and mechanical properties of sandstones and shales were correlated with seismic-derived lithology and facies. Microseismic data were evaluated for reservoir performance in production wells. Finally, shale-gas sweet spots, or optimal drilling targets, were predicted by mapping relatively high-brittleness lithofacies in 3D using seismic attributes. In the three submembers of the Chang 7 member of the Yanchang Formation, the high-TOC Ch7-1 shale unit is not ideal for shale-gas development because of its ductile nature and tunnel effect when fracturing. Ch7-2 prodelta sediments are shale-gas sweet spots because they are thick, relatively brittle, and in close proximity to high-TOC Ch7-1. (shrink)

In the study area, southeast of Ordos Basin in China, thick lacustrine shale/mudstone strata have been developed in the Triassic Yanchang Formation. Aiming to study these source/reservoir rocks, a 3D full-azimuth, high-density seismic survey was acquired. However, the surface in this region is covered by a thick loess layer, leading to seismic challenges such as complicated interferences and serious absorption of high frequencies. Despite a specially targeted seismic processing workflow, the prestack Kirchhoff time-migrated seismic data were still contaminated by severe (...) noise, hindering seismic inversion and geologic interpretation. By taking account of the particular data quality and noise characteristics, we have developed a cascade workflow including three major methods to condition the poststack 3D seismic data. First, we removed the sticky coherent noise by a local pseudo [Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text] Cadzow filtering. Then, we diminished the random noise by a structure-oriented filtering. Finally, we extended the frequency bandwidth with a spectral-balancing method based on the continuous wavelet transform. The data quality was improved after each of these steps through the proposed workflow. Compared with the original data, the conditioned final data show improved interpretability of the shale targets through geometric attribute analysis and depositional interpretation. (shrink)

We systematically investigated a typical lacustrine mixed siliciclastic-carbonate sedimentary system in this study, which primarily deposited in Eocene Upper Shahejie Formation of Huanghekou sag, Bohai Bay Basin. Using synthetic lithological data sets, we summarized eight lithofacies from mixed siliciclastic-carbonate rocks and classified them into siliciclastic- and carbonate-dominated groups, indicating the variation of relative intensity between fluvial/deltaic process and carbonate productivity. Combining petrological and mineral component analysis, most lithofacies are compositionally replaced by micrite dolomite and shown vertically different scales of cyclicity. (...) The high-level cyclicity suggests the alternation between siliciclastic- and carbonate-dominated mixed rocks, while the lower level indicates interbedding of different dolomite-dominated lithofacies. The controlling factors on both levels are different. The higher level is probably controlled by climate changes, which finally resulted in relative variations of siliciclastic supply. While the lower level of cyclicity changes more frequently and is considered to have been controlled by fluctuated hydrodynamic conditions. Typical mixed rocks depositing patterns are summarized as “sandwich type” which mainly distributed at siliciclastic-dominated section and “interbedded type” at carbonate-dominated section. Besides, reservoir physical properties among lithofacies displays significant differences as well, and grain-supported framework of carbonate-dominated lithofacies suggests most constructive in keeping intergranular pores. The investigated lacustrine cyclical sedimentation in mixed siliciclastic-carbonate rocks has been less concerned in previous studies and may serve as a useful reference for lacustrine mixed rocks analysis in other rifted basins. (shrink)

We have systematically investigated a typical lacustrine mixed siliciclastic-carbonate sedimentary system in this study, which primarily deposited in the Eocene Upper Shahejie Formation of the Huanghekou Sag, Bohai Bay Basin. Using synthetic lithologic data sets, we summarized eight lithofacies from mixed siliciclastic-carbonate rocks and classified them into siliciclastic- and carbonate-dominated groups, indicating the variation of relative intensity between fluvial/deltaic process and carbonate productivity. Combining petrological and mineral component analysis, most lithofacies are compositionally replaced by micrite dolomite and show vertically different (...) scales of cyclicity. The high-level cyclicity suggests the alternation between siliciclastic- and carbonate-dominated mixed rocks, whereas the lower level indicates interbedding of different dolomite-dominated lithofacies. The controlling factors on both levels are different. The higher level is probably controlled by climate changes, which finally resulted in the relative variations of siliciclastic supply, although the lower level of cyclicity changes more frequently and is considered to have been controlled by fluctuating hydrodynamic conditions. Typical mixed rock depositing patterns are summarized as the “sandwich type,” which are mainly distributed at siliciclastic-dominated sections and the “interbedded type” at carbonate-dominated sections. Besides, reservoir physical properties among lithofacies display significant differences as well, and the grain-supported framework of carbonate-dominated lithofacies suggests most constructive in keeping intergranular pores. The investigated lacustrine cyclical sedimentation in mixed siliciclastic-carbonate rocks has been less concerned in previous studies and may serve as a useful reference for lacustrine mixed rocks analysis in other rifted basins. (shrink)

With an increase in the number of international students in China, there has been a simultaneous increase in their emotional problems, such as depression, as well as the importance of their emotional well-being. This study aimed to investigate the influence of social support on depression and the mediation and moderation mechanisms of this relationship in international students. In total, 349 international students in China responded to a questionnaire survey comprising the Social Support Rating Scale, Self-rating Depression Scale, Adult Attachment Scale, (...) and Self-Esteem Scale. The results showed that: attachment closeness had a significant direct predictive effect on depression; attachment closeness played a mediating role in the relationship between social support and depression; and the direct effect of social support on depression and the mediating effect of attachment and closeness are regulated by self-esteem. Therefore, interventions aimed at improving the social support, attachment closeness, and self-esteem of international students in China can be effective in reducing their depressive symptoms. (shrink)

Background: We described the prevalence of anxiety and depression related to COVID-19 pandemic among different types of population and examined their potential risk factors.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted to collect demographic characteristics, exposure histories, and many other concerns about COVID-19. The Zung's self-rating anxiety scale and self-rating depression scale, followed by a four-step multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with mental health outcomes.Results: Out of 3,303 participants, the quarantined people, community workstation staffs-policemen-volunteers and general public (...) reported higher percentages of depression than the general medical staff. Moreover, the quarantined people also showed higher prevalence of anxiety than the general public and the general medical staff. The quarantined people had the highest risk of anxiety and depression, whereas the self-rated health was negatively associated with the risks of anxiety and depression. Younger age group showed higher risks of anxiety and depression. People who had exposure history or contact from Hubei province after December 1, 2019, had family or friends engaged in front-line health care work, had confirmed case nearby were all more likely to suffer from anxiety. Moreover, the negligence or overindulgence toward the epidemic information was associated with a higher risk of depression and anxiety.Conclusions: Our findings show that the CPV and quarantined people were most at-risk population. We have identified that the young people, people with exposure histories and negligence or overindulgence toward epidemic information are in grave need of attention. (shrink)

I have developed an alternative narrative of seismic sedimentology from a geologist’s perspective. Seismic sedimentology is a high-resolution supplement for traditional, low-resolution seismic stratigraphy, reflecting the fact that seismic responds to sedimentary bodies differently at low and high resolution. Seismic stratigraphy is a model-driven method that follows the principles of field geology and the well-based study of subsurface sedimentology, and it assumes that seismic reflections can duplicate geologic correlations. Seismic sedimentology is a more data-driven approach based on the understanding of (...) how a seismic signal responds to thin-bedded depositional elements in the context of stratigraphy, which is a function of thickness, lithology-impedance model, wavelet phase, and frequency. Seismic sedimentology is focused on mapping seismic litho-geomorphologic facies, by joint investigation of seismic lithology and seismic geomorphology. In such an investigation, seismic lithology and seismic geomorphology are complementary, making more complete use of seismic information, and they can be more powerful in determining the sedimentary environment and reservoir quality. To reduce the knowledge gap between sedimentary geologists and seismic geophysicists, sedimentologists have to learn and master geophysical principles and techniques. To begin with, a simplified four-step workflow is recommended, which can be summarized as select-adjust-decompose-blend. (shrink)

Based on the institutional theory, this article attempts to examine two consecutive questions regarding the impact of various factors on corporate decision in environmental information disclosure (EID): (1) whether or not to disclose; and (2) the level of disclosure. The relevance of these factors is empirically tested using data collected from publicly listed manufacturing companies from 2006 to 2008 in China. Some interesting findings appear. We find that firms that are state-owned, those that operate in environmentally sensitive industries, those having (...) more industrial peers engaged in EID, and those with better reputation are more likely to disclose environmental information. When it comes to the content of EID, variables that attempt to capture external institutional pressures exhibit either no or weak explanatory power. Only the variable of organizational image and reputation is demonstrated to have a significant impact on both the act and the content of EID. This study provides a snapshot of the dialogues between constituencies in the organizational field and EID development. (shrink)

In little more than 30 years, China has recovered from the intellectual stagnation brought about by the Cultural Revolution to become a global leader in science and technology. Like other leading countries in science and technology, China has encountered some ethical problems related to the conduct of research. China 's leaders have taken some steps to respond to these problems, such as developing ethics policies and establishing oversight committees. To keep moving forward, China needs to continue to take effective action (...) to promote research integrity. Some of the challenges China faces include additional policy development, promoting education in responsible conduct of research, protecting whistle-blowers, and cultivating an ethical research environment. (shrink)

Emotion is widely agreed to have two dimensions, valence and arousal. Few studies have explored the effect of emotion on conflict adaptation by considering both of these, which could have dissociate influence. The present study aimed to fill the gap as to whether emotional valence and arousal would exert dissociable influence on conflict adaptation. In the experiments, we included positive, neutral, and negative conditions, with comparable arousal between positive and negative conditions. Both positive and negative conditions have higher arousal than (...) neutral ones. In Experiment 1, by using a two-colour-word Flanker task, we found that conflict adaptation was enhanced in both positive and negative contexts compared to a neutral context. Furthermore, this effect still existed when controlling stimulus–response repetitions in Experiment 2, which used a four-colour-word Flanker task. The findings suggest emotional arousal enhances conflict adaptation, regardless of emotional valence. Thus, future studies should consider emotional arousal when studying the effect of emotion on conflict adaptation. Moreover, the unique role of the emotional context in conflict-driven cognitive control is emphasised. (shrink)

Despite routine demand from petroleum explorationists and field developers, interpreting seismic data for reservoir thickness from acoustic impedance or lithology volume requires a high-quality, unbiased well database and the special skills of elite geophysicists. I have developed a new method, based on linear combination and color blending of multiple-frequency panels, to estimate AI and thickness without the strict implementation of complex mathematics and extensive well control. Aimed at readjusting the thin-bed tuning effect in a formation of normal thickness range, a (...) linear combination of three frequency panels from [Formula: see text] data would lead to a reasonable visual match between a sandstone body and its seismic event, should the combined amplitude spectrum roughly match the AI spectrum. A red-green-blue blending of frequency panels further extends the interpretive benefits by illustrating the thickness in color, adding a sense of thickness cyclicity on the vertical view and that of sandstone thickness map on stratal-slice view. Tests using a simple wedge model and a complex, geologically realistic multi-thin-bed model demonstrate that the proposed workflow may achieve decent geometry estimation and reasonably high correlation for AI prediction with minimal or no well control. The results are similar to colored inversion in the fast-track principle, with improved stability and less error. More complex procedures — such as linear regression and model-based inversion — may lead to minor to moderate improvement with adequate well control. An application to a field data set confirmed the value of the methods in high-resolution reservoir-thickness imaging, with a strong potential for stratigraphically oriented studies, such as seismic chronostratigraphy, sequence stratigraphy, and seismic sedimentology. (shrink)

The effects of public announcements, private communications, deceptive messages to groups, and so on, can all be captured by a general mechanism of updating multi-agent models with update action models, now in widespread use. There is a natural extension of the definition of a bisimulation to action models. Surely enough, updating with bisimilar action models gives the same result (modulo bisimulation). But the converse turns out to be false: update models may have the same update effects without being bisimilar. We (...) propose action emulation as a notion of equivalence more appropriate for action models, and generalizing standard bisimulation. It is proved that action emulation provides a full characterization of update effect. We first concentrate on the general case, and next focus on the important case of action models with propositional preconditions. Our notion of action emulation yields a simplification procedure for action models, and it gives designers of multi-agent systems a useful tool for comparing different ways of representing a particular communicative action. (shrink)

Seismic clinoforms are the key building blocks for constructing the seismic stratigraphy of progradational depositional sequences. However, not all progradational systems are necessarily represented by seismic clinoforms. We evaluated the definition and interpretation of progradational systems that do not associate with seismic clinoforms. Nonclinoform seismic facies are mainly related to shallow-water deltas where the thickness of a prograding clinoform complex is too thin to be imaged as an offlapping reflection configuration. The clinoform detection limit for clinoform imaging is defined as (...) one wavelength and is related to the predominant frequency of the seismic data and the velocity of the sediments. Three examples from the Songliao Basin of China and Gulf of Mexico illustrated ancient shallow-water deltas with various morphologies in lacustrine and marine environments by integrating the analysis of the core, wireline logs, and amplitude stratal slices made from nonclinoform seismic events. A seismic model of an outcrop carbonate clinoform complex in west Texas further demonstrated the seismic frequency control on clinoform seismic stratigraphy, including transitions between different types of clinoforms and between clinoforms and nonclinoform seismic facies. Ambiguity in interpreting nonclinoform seismic facies can be reduced by high-resolution acquisition, high-frequency enhancement processing, and seismic sedimentology. (shrink)

The effects of public announcements, private communications, deceptive messages to groups, and so on, can all be captured by a general mechanism of updating multi-agent models with update action models, now in widespread use. There is a natural extension of the definition of a bisimulation to action models. Surely enough, updating with bisimilar action models gives the same result. But the converse turns out to be false: update models may have the same update effects without being bisimilar. We propose action (...) emulation as a notion of equivalence more appropriate for action models, and generalizing standard bisimulation. It is proved that action emulation provides a full characterization of update effect. We first concentrate on the general case, and next focus on the important case of action models with propositional preconditions. Our notion of action emulation yields a simplification procedure for action models, and it gives designers of multi-agent systems a useful tool for comparing different ways of representing a particular communicative action. (shrink)

Modern science developed in the interflow of culture between west and east. Combing of pratice technology with philosophic thoughts formed experimental method. Holistic views contacting atomism produced system theory. System thoughts are applicated in the science and engineering of biosystems, and the cencepts of system biomedicine (Kamada T.1992), systems biology (Zieglgansberger W, Tolle TR.1993), system bioengineering and system genetics (Zeng BJ. 1994) were established. From positive to synthetic thoughts, philosophy have been developed ontology, cosmology, organism theories. Structurity is structure (...) logic system founded on entity, develop, exist axioms, tolerance, adaptation, fluctuate, interweave, transform theorems and integrate, adaptation, construct laws. Structurity be discussed on the cosmos, life, culture system, creation, hologram theories of structure ontology, construct mutation, simi-structure organism and entity emergence, symbol implication. From the relation of structure, function and development, the structurity put forward the cycle, spiral, triangle structure stability patterns of self-organization in structure complement each other and stratification, functional couple and interflow bounds growth, coordinativetransformation and holographic symmetry. (shrink)

I used a seismic sedimentology-based approach for interpreting the spatial geometry and stacking pattern of superimposed, seismically thin beds. The method was applicable to conventional low-frequency seismic data and required knowledge of the basic shape of the seismic wavelet and lithology-impedance relationship. It was primarily aimed at those beds that were spatially extensive enough to be resolved horizontally, but so thin as to only be detected vertically with a given bandwidth, and it assumed that the data had been converted to (...) stratal slices in the relative geologic time domain. A simple one-bed model illustrated that a thin-bed depositional system can be characterized by a seismic-geomorphologic pattern of the same spatial shape on sequential relative geologic-time slices, but the amplitude, phase, and polarity would vary depending upon the known seismic wavelet. This phenomenon could be captured and evaluated in the thin bed’s response window in the Wheeler domain. If multiple thin-bed units were present in the RW, the seismic responses from vertically adjacent units would interfere with the “true” seismic-geomorphologic pattern of any single thin-bed unit. The composite waveform for each of the units could be restored in variable quality, depending on its geomorphologic character, thickness, and stratigraphic position. Relative traveltime differences of thin-bed waveforms revealed the depositional history of the thin-bed sequence. A field-data test confirmed that within a stratigraphic interval of a composite seismic event at least two, and possibly three, thin fluvial channel sandstones could be identified and their spatial localities and distribution could be unraveled. (shrink)

This paper focuses on the shear and dilatancy behavior of wheat stored in silos with various densities and normal stresses. The goal is to find a quantitative relationship modeling the peak friction angle and maximum dilatancy angle of wheat stored in silos. A total of 48 direct shear tests were carried out to research the evolution of shear and dilatancy of stored wheat in silos. It is revealed that strength of wheat in bulk attributes to the combination of frictional and (...) dilatant during shearing, in particular attributing to its elliptic shape. An increase in relative density enhances the peak friction angle as well as the dilation. The relationships between relative density, peak friction angle, and dilatancy angle were presented based on the tests data and Bolton’s theory. Then an advanced model is developed to evaluate the peak shear behavior of wheat stored in silos considering the dilatancy of the stored wheat. It is a practical method to predict the strength and dilatancy behavior of wheat stored in silos. (shrink)

Recent scholarship of comparative authoritarianism suggests that party institutions contribute to regime resilience by facilitating power-sharing among the party elites and preventing the paramount leaders’ abuse of power that undermines political stability. Existing studies tend to focus on the empirical association between party organizations and regime resilience, whereas the actual effects of institutions on elite behavior receive less attention. This paper conducts an in-depth study of China's appointment system to examine whether the CCP's power-sharing institutions indeed constrain the person- nel (...) authority of the party's paramount leader. Using a unique dataset of provincial leadership appointment from 1992 to 2014, the empirical analysis reveals that the General Secretary enjoys what can be described as ‘constrained supremacy’ in the making of personnel decisions: the leader can boost his own position by providing favorable treatment to key supporters, but the formal arrangement of collective decision-making constrains rampant reward of patronage that would unsettle the balance among the regime's top elites. The findings of the paper lay bare the diffculty of capturing the inner workings of authoritarian politics with broad, cross-national indicators of regime type; they also illustrate the complicated interaction between formal institutions and informal, personal logic of exercising power in authoritarian regimes. (shrink)

Various approaches exist for quantitative or qualitative predictions of seismically thin beds and their physical properties. The evolving definition of thin beds, the use of seismic attributes indicative of thin beds, thin-bed imaging on geologic-time surfaces, and thin-bed thickness estimation represent some of the most active aspects of the research and application. We reviewed some theoretical and technological developments in thin-bed analysis over recent decades. We also reviewed the data processing steps that affect seismic resolution and thin-bed evaluation.

Using a sample of Chinese listed firms in polluting industries for the period of 2008–2010, we empirically investigate whether and how Buddhism, China’s most influential religion, affects corporate environmental responsibility (CER). In this study, we measure Buddhist variables as the number of Buddhist monasteries within a certain radius around Chinese listed firms’ registered addresses. In addition, we hand-collect corporate environmental disclosure scores based on the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) sustainability reporting guidelines. Using hand-collected Buddhism data and corporate environmental disclosure scores, (...) we provide strong and robust evidence that Buddhism is significantly positively associated with CER. This finding is consistent with the following view: Buddhism can serve as social norms to evoke the consciousness of social responsibility, and thereof strengthen CER. Our findings also reveal that the positive association between Buddhism and CER is attenuated for firms with higher law enforcement index. The results are robust to various measures of Buddhism and a variety of sensitivity tests. (shrink)

According to Rosenthal’s Higher-Order Thought (HOT) theory of consciousness, first-order mental states become conscious only when they are targeted by HOTs that necessarily represent the states as belonging to self. On this view a state represented as belonging to someone distinct from self could not be a conscious state. Rosenthal develops this view in terms of what he calls the ‘thin immunity principle’ (TIP). According to TIP, when I experience a conscious state, I cannot be wrong about whether it is (...) I who I think is in that state. We first suggest that TIP is a direct consequence of the HOT theory. Next we argue that somatoparaphrenia—a pathology in which sensations are sometimes represented as belonging to other people—shows that TIP can be violated. This violation of TIP in turn shows that the HOT theory’s claim that conscious states are necessarily represented as belonging to self is in error. Rosenthal’s attempt to account for pathological cases is found to be inadequate when applied to somatoparaphrenia, and other possible defenses are also shown to be incapable of preserving TIP. We further conclude by suggesting that the HOT theory’s failing in this regard is not a failing that is peculiar to this theory of consciousness. (shrink)