The shear characteristic and failure mechanism study of infilled rock joints with constant normal load

In order to evaluate the shear deformation characteristics, the direct shear tests for the rock-like specimens with regular sawtooth were carried out in the laboratory. The different asperity angles and different normal stress conditions were considered and the dilatancy characteristics and the corresponding failure modes were analyzed accordingly. The uncommon asperity angle of 25°, 40° and 55° have been selected to compare with the common angles, which can study the differences in detail. Studies show that when the normal stress keeps constant, the peak shear strength increases first and decreases with the increasing asperity angle afterwards. It is because the force causing sawtooth damage under tensile failure is less than the force under shear failure. When the asperity angle keeps constant, the greater the normal stress, the greater the peak shear strength. The larger the normal displacement of dilatancy angle and dilatancy are caused by larger asperity angle. According to the verification, the test results are in good agreement with the analytical results. It should be noted that the analytical results presented locate below the test result curves, which is due to the small values of c and m in the formula. The sliding failure is usually induced when the asperity angle or the normal stress is small. On the contrary, the tensile damage normally occurs while the asperity angle is large enough

Is caffeine intake a risk factor leading to infertility? A protocol of an epidemiological systematic review of controlled clinical studies

Background: Previous studies showed that high dose of caffeine intake may induce some specific human reproductive system diseases, even lead to infertility. Objectives: In consideration of the high consumption of caffeine according to the latest population-based survey, this review is aimed to systematically review the evidence from all controlled clinical studies of caffeine intake for infertility. Designs: Relevant randomized/quasi-randomized controlled trials, non-randomized clinical studies, cohort studies, and case-control studies will be included in this review. Participants will be either those without a history of infertility who are willing to have a baby (for prospective studies) or infertile patients with confirmed diagnosis (for retrospective studies). Caffeine or caffeine-containing beverage will be observed as the exposure factor. The key outcome will be the diagnosis of infertility in participants. All relevant published/unpublished or ongoing studies will be searched from seven databases and four online systems until December 2015. Two authors will screen the literatures and extract the data independently. Methodological quality of the included studies will be assessed by two authors according to either Risk of Bias Assessment or Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. We will use R software to analyze the data. Dose of caffeine will be quantified on a daily basis, and relative risk with their 95 % confidence interval will be measured. If data permit, meta-analysis and dose-response analysis will be conducted

Pt nanoparticles decorated rose-like Bi2O2CO3 configurations for efficient photocatalytic removal of water organic pollutants

Pt nanoparticles decorated with rose-like Bi2O2CO3 configurations were synthesized via a simple photoreduction method at room temperature. The structure, morphology, optical and electronic properties, and photocatalytic performance of the as-prepared materials were characterized. Compared to pure Bi2O2CO3, the Pt/Bi2O2CO3 photocatalysts show better performance in decomposing RhB, BPA and OTC under visible light (? > 420 nm). The enhanced photocatalytic activity of Pt/Bi2O2CO3 could be attributed to the modification in light absorption (? > 420 nm) charge migration and the separation of photo-generated electrons (e?) and holes (h+). Free radical trapping experiments demonstrated that the main active species of the catalytic reaction are different in decomposing RhB and BPA.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Review Article Acupoint Stimulation for Fibromyalgia: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Background. Acupoint stimulation is popular for treatment of fibromyalgia though there is lack of comprehensive evaluation of current clinical evidence for its effect and safety. Objective. To systematically review the beneficial effects and safety of acupoint stimulation for fibromyalgia. Methods. We searched six electronic databases for randomized trials on acupoint stimulation for treatment of fibromyalgia. Two authors extracted data and assessed the trial quality independently. RevMan 5.2 software was used for data analyses with effect estimate presented as (standard) mean difference and a 95% confidence interval. We defined minimum, medium, and large SMD effect sizes as 0.3, 0.5, and 0.75. Results. 16 RCTs with 1081 participants were involved in this review. Only two trials were evaluated as low risk of bias. Meta-analysis showed that acupuncture alone or combined with cupping therapy was superior to conventional medications on reducing pain scores and/or the number of tender points. However, acupuncture showed no better than sham acupuncture on pain reduction. There was no serious adverse event reported to be related to acupoint stimulation. Conclusions. Acupoint stimulation appears to be effective in treating fibromyalgia compared with medications. However, further large, rigorously designed trials are warranted due to insufficient methodological rigor in the included trials

Applications of New Technologies and New Methods in ZHENG Differentiation

With the hope to provide an effective approach for personalized diagnosis and treatment clinically, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is being paid increasing attention as a complementary and alternative medicine. It performs treatment based on ZHENG (TCM syndrome) differentiation, which could be identified as clinical special phenotypes by symptoms and signs of patients. However, it caused skepticism and criticism because ZHENG classification only depends on observation, knowledge, and clinical experience of TCM practitioners, which is lack of objectivity and repeatability. Scientists have done fruitful researches for its objectivity and standardization. Compared with traditional four diagnostic methods (looking, listening and smelling, asking, and touching), in this paper, the applications of new technologies and new methods on the ZHENG differentiation were systemically reviewed, including acquisition, analysis, and integration of clinical data or information. Furthermore, the characteristics and application range of these technologies and methods were summarized. It will provide reference for further researches

Metabonomic Evaluation of ZHENG Differentiation and Treatment by Fuzhenghuayu Tablet in Hepatitis-B-Caused Cirrhosis

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), treatment based on ZHENG (also called TCM syndrome and pattern) differentiation has been applied for about 3 thousand years, while there are some difficulties to communicate with western medicine. In the present work, metabonomic methods were utilized to differentiate ZHENG types and evaluate the therapeutic efficiency of Fuzhenghuayu (FZHY) tablet in hepatitis-B-caused cirrhosis (HBC). Urine samples of 12 healthy volunteers (control group, CG) and 31 HBC patients (HBCG) were analyzed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and multivariate statistical analysis. The significantly changed metabolites between CG and HBCG were selected by PLS-DA loading plot analysis. Moreover, 4 ZHENGs were differentiated mutually, suggesting that there was urine metabolic material basis in ZHENG differentiation. The efficiency of FZHY tablet on subjects with spleen deficiency with dampness encumbrance syndrome (SDDES) and liver-kidney yin deficiency syndrome (LKYDS) was better than that of other syndromes. The efficiency of FZHY treatment based on ZHENG differentiation indicated that accurately ZHENG differentiating could guide the appropriate TCM treatment in HBC