Sealing Leakage of Earth Dam by Concrete Diaphragm

Some seriously cracked and leaked earth dams in China have been successfully strengthened by the cast-in-situ concrete diaphragm at or near the dam axis through the dam embankment. The diaphragm is enabled to seal the leakage through concentrated seepage path in the earthfill resulted from the large voids or the cracks in cohesive earthfill as well as the leakage through the alluvium in dam foundation. The effectiveness of this strengthening method depends on the correct determination of the major seepage channels. Serious longitudinal cracks have occurred in some dams during excavating the slurry trenches and pouring concrete into them owing to the hydraulic fracturing effect of the drilling fluid and liquid concrete. After some modification of the construction technique the strengthening work was carried out smoothly. The cracks were closed after completion of construction work and the contact between the earthfill and diaphragm was satisfactory

Amphibian Species Contribute Similarly to Taxonomic, but not Functional and Phylogenetic Diversity: Inferences from Amphibian Biodiversity on Emei Mountain

Understanding the relationships between species, communities, and biodiversity are important challenges in conservation ecology. Current biodiversity conservation activities usually focus on species that are rare, endemic, distinctive, or at risk of extinction. However, empirical studies of whether such species contribute more to aspects of biodiversity than common species are still relatively rare. The aim of the present study was to assess the contribution of individual amphibian species to different facets of biodiversity, and to test whether species of conservation interest contribute more to taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity than do species without special conservation status. To answer these questions, 19 000 simulated random communities with a gradient of species richness were created by shuffling the regional pool of species inhabiting Emei Mountain. Differences of diversity values were then computed before and after removing individual species in these random communities. Our results indicated that although individual species contributed similarly to taxonomic diversity, their contribution to functional and phylogenetic diversity was more idiosyncratic. This was primarily driven by the diverse functional attributes of species and the differences in phylogenetic relationships among species. Additionally, species of conservation interest did not show a significantly higher contribution to any facet of biodiversity. Our results support the claims that the usefulness of metrics based only on species richness is limited. Instead, assemblages that include species with functional and phylogenetic diversity should be protected to maintain biodiversity

A Rapid, Non-invasive Method for Anatomical Observations of Tadpole Vertebrae in Vivo

The tadpole is a critical stage in the amphibian life cycle and plays an important role during the transition from the aquatic to the terrestrial stage. However, there is a large gap in tadpole research, which represents a vital component of our understanding of the diversity and complexity of the life history traits of amphibians, especially their developmental biology. Some aspects of this gap are due to limited research approaches. To date, X-ray microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) has been widely used to conduct osteology research in adult amphibians and reptiles, but little is known about whether this tool can be applied in tadpole studies. Thus, we compared the results of two methods (the bone-cartilage double-staining technique and micro-CT) to study vertebrae in tadpole specimens. The results revealed no significant difference between the two methods in determining the number of vertebrae, and micro-CT represents a rapid, non-invasive, reliable method of studying tadpole vertebrae. When scanning tadpoles, voltage is the most critical of the scanning parameters (voltage, current and scan time), and moderate scanning parameters are recommended. In addition, micro-CT performed better using specimens stored in 70% ethanol than those preserved in 10% formalin. Finally, we suggest that micro-CT should be more widely applied in herpetological research to increase specimen utilization

Increased p38-MAPK is responsible for chemotherapy resistance in human gastric cancer cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Chemoresistance is one of the main obstacles to successful cancer therapy and is frequently associated with Multidrug resistance (MDR). Many different mechanisms have been suggested to explain the development of an MDR phenotype in cancer cells. One of the most studied mechanisms is the overexpression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), which is a product of the <it>MDR1 </it>gene. Tumor cells often acquire the drug-resistance phenotype due to upregulation of the <it>MDR1 </it>gene. Overexpression of <it>MDR1 </it>gene has often been reported in primary gastric adenocarcinoma.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This study investigated the role of p38-MAPK signal pathway in vincristine-resistant SGC7901/VCR cells. P-gp and MDR1 RNA were detected by Western blot analysis and RT-PCR amplification. Mitgen-activated protein kinases and function of P-gp were demonstrated by Western blot and FACS Aria cytometer analysis. Ap-1 activity and cell apoptosis were detected by Dual-Luciferase Reporter Assay and annexin V-PI dual staining.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The vincristine-resistant SGC7901/VCR cells with increased expression of the multidrug-resistance 1 (<it>MDR1</it>) gene were resistant to P-gp-related drug and P-gp-unrelated drugs. Constitutive increases of phosphorylated p38-MAPK and AP-1 activities were also found in the drug-resistant cells. Inhibition of p38-MAPK by SB202190 reduced activator protein-1 (AP-1) activity and <it>MDR1 </it>expression levels and increased the sensitivity of SGC7901/VCR cells to chemotherapy.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Activation of the p38-MAPK pathway might be responsible for the modulation of P-glycoprotein-mediated and P-glycoprotein-unmediated multidrug resistance in the SGC7901/VCR cell line.</p

Virulence capacity of different Aspergillus species from invasive pulmonary aspergillosis

IntroductionThe opportunistic filamentous fungus Aspergillus causes invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) that often turns into a fatal infection in immunocompromised hosts. However, the virulence capacity of different Aspergillus species and host inflammation induced by different species in IPA are not well understood.MethodsIn the present study, host inflammation, antimicrobial susceptibilities and virulence were compared among clinical Aspergillus strains isolated from IPA patients.ResultsA total of 46 strains were isolated from 45 patients with the invasive infection, of which 35 patients were diagnosed as IPA. Aspergillus flavus was the dominant etiological agent appearing in 25 cases (54.3%). We found that the CRP level and leukocyte counts (elevated neutrophilic granulocytes and monocytes, and reduced lymphocytes) were significantly different in IPA patients when compared with healthy individuals (P &lt; 0.05). Antifungal susceptibilities of these Aspergillus isolates from IPA showed that 91%, 31%, 14%, and 14% were resistant to Fluconazole, Micafungin, Amphotericin B and Terbinafine, respectively. The survival rate of larvae infected by A. flavus was lower than larvae infected by A. niger or A. fumigatus (P &lt; 0.05).DiscussionAspergillus flavus was the dominant clinical etiological agent. Given the prevalence of A. flavus in our local clinical settings, we may face greater challenges when treating IPA patients

The mitochondrial genome of the Microhyla taraiensis (Anura: Microhylidae) and related phylogenetic analyses

The complete mitochondrial genome of the Microhyla taraiensis from Eastern Nepal was sequenced. The genome has a typical gene order identical to most of other anuran species. The entire mtDNA of this species, 16,764 bp in length, containing 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes, and a control region. Phylogenetic relationships was constructed based on the complete mitogenome of M. taraiensis and other species of Microhylidae, using Bayesian inferences and Maximum likelihood approaches, and supports the monophly for this family. This work contributes to basic molecular data which is critical for further genetic research and conservation of this newly described species

Networked Closed-Loop Model for Smart On-Site Maintenance of Substation Equipment Using Mobile Networks

This paper introduces a networked closed-loop model for smart on-site maintenance of substation equipment using mobile networks, which is composed of a field-side Smart Operation and Maintenance (SOM) box with its related APP and a centre-side system platform for Operation and Maintenance (OM). As a bridge to connect the operation sites and data centre, the networked equipment maintenance model enables bidirectional communication among the management, maintenance teams, and diversely located equipment. This model not only realizes the formal data uploading in real-time, but also can provide the workers on site with guidance from the data centre

Adsorption of Atenolol on Kaolinite

In this study the adsorption of atenolol (AT), a β-blocker, on kaolinite, a clay mineral of low surface charge, was investigated under varying initial AT concentration, equilibrium time, solution pH, ionic strength, and temperature conditions. The results showed that the amounts of AT uptake by kaolinite were close to its cation exchange capacity value and the AT adsorption was almost instantaneous, suggesting a surface adsorption. The adsorption was exothermic and the free energy of adsorption was small negative, indicating physical adsorption. The increase in ionic strength of the solution drastically reduced AT uptake on kaolinite. A significant reduction in AT uptake was found at solution pH below 5 or above 10. The FTIR results showed band shifting and disappearance for NH bending vibration and benzene ring skeletal vibration at 3360 and 1515 cm−1 and band splitting at 1412 and 1240 cm−1 attributed to C–N valence vibration coupled with NH bending vibrations and alkyl aryl ether linkage, suggesting the participation of NH, –O–, and benzene ring for AT adsorption on kaolinite

Investigation of intercalation of diphenhydramine into the interlayer of smectite by XRD, FTIR, TG-DTG analyses and molecular simulation

Diphenhydramine (DPH) is one of the pharmaceuticals commonly found in the effluent stream after wastewater treatment, and the cause of its environmental persistence needs to be addressed urgently. Smectite minerals are common soil components with large surface area, expandable interlayer, and high cation exchange capacity (CEC), thus are capable of adsorbing or intercalating inorganic or organic cations on the surface or in the interlayer. In this study the intercalation of DPH in the interlayer of a Ca-smectite was characterized by X-ray diffraction, infra-red, and thermogravimetric analyses supported by molecular dynamic simulation. At the low (0.2–0.3 CEC) and high (0.6–0.7 CEC) adsorption levels, the intercalated DPH might take a horizontal monolayer or a bilayer configuration, resulting in a d001 expansion to 15 or 17 Å, respectively. As the amount of DPH intercalation increased, a gradual, yet systematic, dehydration due to removal of hydrated inorganic cation Ca2+ from the interlayer was observed. In addition, the intercalated DPH had a slightly higher thermal stability due to the shield effect of the host mineral smectite against heat. The uptake of DPH by the smectite was attributed to both electrostatic interactions between the negatively charged mineral surfaces and the positively charged tertiary amine and cation exchange interactions between DPH+ and hydrated Ca2+. Thus, smectite minerals could serve as a sink to remove dissolved DPH from water on the one hand, and as a carrier to transport intercalated DPH in the environment on the other hand