FIELD TEST ON THE COOPERATION OF NSM STRENGTHENING AND EXTERNAL TENDON RETROFITTING TECHNIQUE

In this paper, post-tension and steel plate near-surface mounted (NSM) strengthening systems are proposed to strengthen deteriorated and cracked large box girder rigid frame bridge without altering appearance and dimension of the bridge. The reinforcement method mainly improves the bearing capacity through external prestressed tendons, and bonding steel plate can enhance the shear resistance of the bridge. The main purpose is to study the structural mechanical properties before and after the reinforcement of rigid frame bridges. Take a 540m rigid frame box girder bridge as an example. The static load test of the bridge before and after reinforcement is carried out. The deflection and strain of the middle cross section of the span are measured in the static test. A finite element analysis model was also developed and verified static loading test data. The results show that structural bearing capacity and performance of the bridge were enhanced with the post-tension and NSM strengthening systems cooperatively

Observations of aerosol optical properties at a coastal site in Hong Kong, South China

Temporal variations in aerosol optical properties were investigated at a coastal station in Hong Kong based on the field observation from February 2012 to February 2015. At 550 nm, the average light-scattering (151 +/- 100Mm(-1) / and absorption coefficients (8.3 +/- 6.1Mm(-1) / were lower than most of other rural sites in eastern China, while the single-scattering albedo (SSA = 0.93 +/- 0.05) was relatively higher compared with other rural sites in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region. Correlation analysis confirmed that the darkest aerosols were smaller in particle size and showed strong scattering wavelength dependencies, indicating possible sources from fresh emissions close to the measurement site. Particles with D-p of 200-800 nm were less in number, yet contributed the most to the light-scattering coefficients among submicron particles. In summer, both Delta BC / Delta CO and SO2 / BC peaked, indicating the impact of nearby combustion sources on this site. Multi-year backward Lagrangian particle dispersion modeling (LPDM) and potential source contribution (PSC) analysis revealed that these particles were mainly from the air masses that moved southward over Shenzhen and urban Hong Kong and the polluted marine air containing ship exhausts. These fresh emission sources led to low SSA during summer months. For winter and autumn months, contrarily, Delta BC / Delta CO and SO2 / BC were relatively low, showing that the site was more under influence of well-mixed air masses from long-range transport including from South China, East China coastal regions, and aged aerosol transported over the Pacific Ocean and Taiwan, causing stronger abilities of light extinction and larger variability of aerosol optical properties. Our results showed that ship emissions in the vicinity of Hong Kong could have visible impact on the light-scattering and absorption abilities as well as SSA at Hok Tsui.Peer reviewe

Analysis of the non-volatile components and volatile compounds of hydrolysates derived from unmatured cheese curd hydrolysis by different enzymes

peer reviewedFifteen cheese protein hydrolysates were produced by using four different proteases. Then, the free amino acids (FAAs), molecular weight distribution (MWD), electronic tongue evaluation, and 45 volatile compounds of the corresponding products were evaluated, respectively. The results 46 suggested that 2SD had the strongest hydrolysis characteristic, followed by 6SD and FN. Samples 47 hydrolyzed for less than 6 h or more than 18 h contained great defects of taste. Peptides with 150 48 Da – 450 Da were mainly responsible for bitterness, saltiness, umami, and aftertaste in some enzyme 49 hydrolysis. Under the same total enzyme concentration condition, the sample hydrolyzed by 50 Flavourzyme and Neutrase for 18 h released more richness and less bitterness than the other systems, 51 which were characterized by butter and cream odor. Notably, it was found for the first time that 52 tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) was detected in cheese proteolysis with the highest content of 17.59 53 µg/g in Protease 2SD for 30 h. 2-Undecanone and acetoin played a key role in the flavor formation 54 of the tested samples. Regarding the different chemical families of volatiles, acids were more 55 abundant in the samples hydrolyzed by Protease 2SD and 6SD, while FN systems can achieve high 56 ketone content

Free fatty acid hydrolyzed with lipases and their effects on enzyme-modified cheese flavor

peer reviewed: This study investigated the effects of five lipases on enzyme-modified cheese (EMC) flavor development. Results showed that lipase 30SD contained high hydrolytic activity for short, medium, and long-chain fatty acids within 24 h incubation time, and the highest content of them among different times could reach 47.24, 475.90, 1 563.92 mg/100 g fat, respectively. Lipase DF15 and MER showed moderate capacity to hydrolyze volatile fatty acids, while lipase F3G had a stronger ability to produce long-chain fatty acids. Twenty-seven new volatiles were formed during lipolysis, most of them were acids and esters. Principal component analysis results showed that EMC produced by lipase 30SD for 18 h was similar to the commercial product with a pungent, rancid, and cheddar flavor. EMCs produced by lipase DF15 were significantly distinguished from other products by their high content of ethyl heptanoate, ethyl nonanoate, and ethyl tridecanoate. The findings might be useful for the researchers who focus on lipolysis or EMC product

Glomerular capillary C3 deposition as a risk factor for unfavorable renal outcome in pediatric primary focal segmental glomerular sclerosis

IntroductionSome patients with primary focal segmental sclerosis (FSGS) demonstrate complement 3 (C3) deposition in glomerular capillary loops (Cap-C3) and/or mesangial area (Mes-C3). The clinicopathological and prognostic significance of C3 deposition remains incompletely investigated, especially in the pediatric cohort.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed 264 children of biopsy-proven primary FSGS between January 2003 and December 2020. The correlation between Cap-C3 and renal outcome was evaluated by the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox multivariate regression analysis. Renal end-point event was defined as the development of end-stage renal disease, death for renal disease, or an estimated glomerular filtration rate reduction by at least 50% from baseline.ResultsAmong the 264 patients, 30 (11.4%) had Cap-C3. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that patients with Cap-C3 had significantly lower renal survival rates than patients without Cap-C3 (60.17% vs. 84.71% at 5 years, 39.49% vs. 65.55% at 10 years, P < 0.01). Cox multivariate regression analysis showed that Cap-C3 was an independent risk factor for poor renal outcome (HR 3.53, 95% CI 1.22–10.19, P = 0.02).ConclusionGlomerular capillary C3 deposition was an independent risk factor for unfavorable renal outcome in children with primary FSGS

PYRUVATE DEHYDROGENASE KINASE (PDK)

Abstract: Several oximes of triterpenes with a 17-~ hydroxyl and abietane derivatives are inlfibitors of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK) activity. The oxime 12 and dehydroabietyl amine 2 exhibit a blood glucose lowering effect in the diabetic ob/ob mouse after a single oral dose of 100 ~tmol/kg. However, the mechanism of the blood glucose lowering effect is likely unrelated to PDK inhibition

The influence of NaHCOb3s ingestion on interval swimming : acid-base balance and performance

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of oral NaHCOa administration on the alteration of acid-base balance and performance of high-intensity interval swimming. Ten male college swimmers were studied on five test days within a two-week period. Each test day consisted of five 100-yd freestyle swims with a two-minute rest interval between each bout. Subjects received two NaHCO3, two placebo and one no-drink treatments for the five test days. One hour before the onset of swimming the subjects were given 300 ml of citric acid flavored solution containing either NaCl (placebo) or NaHC03 (experimental), or received no drink. The dose of NaHCO3 solution was 0.25 9/kg-1 body weight. Before the sprint trial test a 300-yd warmup swimming was performed followed by a nine-minute rest. Performance times for each 100-yd swim were recorded. Blood samples were obtained before and one hour after treatment, two minutes after warmup and the last bout of swim. Blood, pH, lactate, standard bicarbonate (SBC) and base excess (BE) were measured. After the statistical analysis had shown there were no differences between the corresponding values of two trials for the same treatment, the data for identical treatments were combined and reanalyzed statistically as one group. All the corresponding variables between placebo and no-drink revealed no differences. Performance times of the fourth and fifth swimming bouts were faster (P < 0.05) and blood lactate after exercise was higher (P < 0.05) in NaHCO3 condition. Blood pH, SBC, BE were higher (P < 0.05) at post-treatment, post-warmup and post-last bout of swim in NaHCO3 condition. The difference between NaHCO3 and the other two conditions on the increment of lactate (2.0 mM) was proportional to that on the decrement of SBC (2.2 meq/1) after exercise. The data from the placebo and NaHCO3 treatments shown a positive correlation between hydrogen ion and lactate concentrations (r = 0.923) and a negative correlation between SBC and lactate concentrations (r = -0.941) after warmup and exercise. These data are in agreement with previous findings that during repeated bouts of exercise pre-exercise administration of NaHCO3 improves performance, possibly by facilitating the efflux of lactate and hydrogen ions from working muscles and thereby delaying the onset of fatigue.Thesis (M.A.

Effects of cevoglitazar, a dual PPARalpha/gamma agonist, on ectopic fat deposition in fatty Zucker rats.

AIM: By acting as both insulin sensitizers and lipid-lowering agents, dual-acting peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors alpha/gamma (PPARalpha/gamma) agonists may be used to improve glucose tolerance in type 2 diabetic patients without inducing adiposity and body weight gain. Here, in an animal model of obesity and insulin resistance, the metabolic response to cevoglitazar, a dual PPARalpha/gamma, was characterized using a combination of in vivo and ex vivo magnetic resonance methodologies and compared to treatment effects of fenofibrate, a PPARalpha agonist, and pioglitazone, a PPARgamma agonist. METHODS: Four groups of fatty Zucker rats: (i) Vehicle; (ii) fenofibrate 150 mg/kg; (iii) pioglitazone 30 mg/kg; and (iv) cevoglitazar 5 mg/kg were investigated before and after treatment. Animals were fed a fat-enriched (54% kcal fat) diet for 6 weeks, 2 weeks high of fat-exposure alone followed by a 4-week dosing period. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Cevoglitazar was as effective as pioglitazone at improving glucose tolerance. However, unlike pioglitazone, both fenofibrate and cevoglitazar reduced BW gain and adiposity, independent of food intake. All three treatment regimens normalized intramyocellular lipids. Metabolic profiling showed that in the muscle cevoglitazar improves the lipid profile via both PPARalpha- and PPARgamma-mediated mechanisms. Pioglitazone reduced hepatic lipid accumulation, while cevoglitazar and fenofibrate reduced hepatic lipid concentration below baseline levels (p < 0.05). Metabolic profiling showed that in the liver, cevoglitazar functions largely through PPARalpha agonism resulting in increased beta-oxidation. Cevoglitazar only induced small changes to the lipid composition of visceral fat. In subcutaneous fat, however, cevoglitazar induced changes similar to those observed with fenofibrate suggesting export of fatty acids from this depot

Bankruptcy and the cost of organized labor: Evidence from union elections

Unionized workers are entitled to special treatment in bankruptcy court that can be detrimental to other corporate stakeholders, with unsecured creditors standing to lose the most. Using data on union elections, we employ a regression discontinuity design to identify the effect of worker unionization on bondholders in bankruptcy states. Closely won union elections lead to significant bond value losses, especially when firms approach bankruptcy, have underfunded pension plans, and operate in non-RTW law states. Unionization is associated with longer, more convoluted, and costlier bankruptcy court proceedings. Unions depress bondholders’ recovery values as they are assigned seats on creditors’ committees