Modifying mechanical properties of Shanghai clayey soil with construction waste and pulverized lime

In the present study, the effect of construction waste and pulverized lime on the strength of Shanghai clayey soil is investigated. The unconfined compressive strength and direct shear tests have been carried out on reinforced soils with different combinations of construction waste and pulverized lime over various curing periods. The results from unconfined compressive tests show that the compressive strength increases after introduction of construction waste and pulverized lime, and the longer the curing period the higher the strength of treated soil. The results from direct shear tests show that the shear strength parameters increase to different degree after mixing with construction waste and pulverized lime. The tests also show the increase in compressive strength is insignificant with the addition of construction waste alone, but ductility increases. The conclusions drawn from the present study are important not only for designing and construction of geotechnical engineering projects in practice, but also for making good use of waste material, sustainable development and environmental protection

Neural Temporal Dynamics of Social Exclusion Elicited by Averted Gaze: An Event-Related Potentials Study

Eye gaze plays a fundamental role in social communication. The averted eye gaze during social interaction, as the most common form of silent treatment, conveys a signal of social exclusion. In the present study, we examined the time course of brain response to social exclusion by using a modified version of Eye-gaze paradigm. The event-related potentials (ERPs) data and the subjective rating data showed that the frontocentral P200 was positively correlated with negative mood of excluded events, whereas, the centroparietal late positive potential (LPP) was positively correlated with the perceived ostracism intensity. Both the P200 and LPP were more positive-going for excluded events than for included events. These findings suggest that brain responses sensitive to social exclusion can be divided into the early affective processing stage, linking to the early pre-cognitive warning system; and the late higher-order processes stage, demanding attentional resources for elaborate stimuli evaluation and categorization generally not under specific situation

Risk Assessment in the Industry Chain of Industrialized Construction:A Chinese Case Study

The industry chain of industrialized construction is a key strategy for promoting the sustainable performance of China’s construction industry. Its risk identification is the fundamental step to promote the development of the industry chain. The study was conducted in two phases. The first phase included an extensive literature review and case study analysis to document 32 key factors affecting the process of the industry chain of industrialized construction. In the second phase, 22 key factors influencing the development of the industry chain of industrialized construction in Shandong Province were screened through data collection and expert consultation. A complex network of industrialized construction risk associations (CNICRA) was developed to assess these risks by considering the interrelationship among risks, network nodes, and network edges, and the comprehensive degree indicators for improving the model’s accuracy and resolution. The results show that enterprise collaboration level is the most important factor in the industry chain of industrialized construction. The industrialized system is the most transmittable factor of risk. This study investigated a list of risks in the industrialization of construction, optimized a complex network of risk association, and provided theoretical support for risk management of the industry chain of industrialized construction and understanding of risk response strategies for decision makers

Research on Reliability Evaluation Method of Aerospace Pyrotechnic Devices Based on Energy Measurement

High reliability is the basic requirement of aerospace pyrotechnic devices. Traditional reliability evaluation methods require a lot of tests, which become too expensive; therefore, the small-sample evaluation method is needed to reduce the cost. Using energy as a performance parameter can better reflect the essence of the function of the pyrotechnic device compared to using force. Firstly, this article assumes that the strength obeys the normal distribution, and the stress is a constant; therefore, the reliability evaluation formula based on the t distribution is proposed. Then, taking the pin puller as the research object, four sets of energy measuring devices were developed so as to obtain its performance parameters. Finally, the evaluation results show that the pin puller has a high reliability of 0.9999999765 with a confidence level of 0.995. The reliability method proposed in this paper is a small-sample method for evaluating aerospace pyrotechnic devices, which can greatly reduce the cost of reliability evaluation. Moreover, the energy measuring devices developed in this paper can provide a new way of measuring performance parameters for piston-type pyrotechnic devices

An Evaluation and Optimization of the Spatial Pattern of County Rural Settlements: A Case Study of Changshu City in the Yangtze River Delta, China

The development model of rural settlements in economically developed regions has reference and guiding significance for other developing rural settlements. The study was conducted to discuss the spatial distribution and scale structure evolution characteristics, in order to understand the development process and the problems of rural settlements in Changshu City, Jiangsu Province. Then, based on the multi-stage goals of Rural Revitalization of “pole–field–zone–network”, a multi-stage rural settlement spatial structure was revealed to promote the optimization of settlement layout and promote urban–rural integration. The data of rural settlements were extracted from the land use data of nearly 20 years from 2000 to 2020. Different research methods were utilized for the study. The results revealed that the spatial pattern and scale structure of rural settlements in Changshu had experienced two periods of drastic changes and stable adjustment in the past 20 years. The rural settlement density generally presented a spatial pattern of dense in the north, sparse in the South and sparse in the East. The scale system of rural settlements tended to disperse from centralization, but the spatial agglomeration was enhanced. Finally, based on the above research results and problems, a “pole–field–zone–network” multi-stage settlement structure was revealed, which helps to form a reasonable urban and rural network

An Evaluation and Optimization of the Spatial Pattern of County Rural Settlements: A Case Study of Changshu City in the Yangtze River Delta, China

The development model of rural settlements in economically developed regions has reference and guiding significance for other developing rural settlements. The study was conducted to discuss the spatial distribution and scale structure evolution characteristics, in order to understand the development process and the problems of rural settlements in Changshu City, Jiangsu Province. Then, based on the multi-stage goals of Rural Revitalization of “pole–field–zone–network”, a multi-stage rural settlement spatial structure was revealed to promote the optimization of settlement layout and promote urban–rural integration. The data of rural settlements were extracted from the land use data of nearly 20 years from 2000 to 2020. Different research methods were utilized for the study. The results revealed that the spatial pattern and scale structure of rural settlements in Changshu had experienced two periods of drastic changes and stable adjustment in the past 20 years. The rural settlement density generally presented a spatial pattern of dense in the north, sparse in the South and sparse in the East. The scale system of rural settlements tended to disperse from centralization, but the spatial agglomeration was enhanced. Finally, based on the above research results and problems, a “pole–field–zone–network” multi-stage settlement structure was revealed, which helps to form a reasonable urban and rural network

Molecular Targets and Associated Signaling Pathways of Jingshu Granules in Ovarian Cysts Based on Systemic Pharmacological Analysis

Background. More than a third of women could develop ovarian cysts during their lifetime. Jingshu granules are used for the treatment of gynecological disease of primary dysmenorrhea. However, the molecular mechanisms of Jingshu granules in ovarian cysts are still unreported. We aimed to find the active ingredients, molecular targets, and potential signaling pathways of Jingshu granules in ovarian cysts by using the systemic pharmacological analysis. Methods. Firstly, the effect of Jingshu granules on female hormones and reproductive organs of young female rats was evaluated. Secondly, candidate pharmaceutical ingredients of Jingshu granules were retrieved from the traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology (TCMSP) database and analysis platform. Potential protein targets for the active ingredients in Jingshu granules were then identified according to the oral bioavailability and drug-likeness indices. Thirdly, ovarian cyst-related gene targets were screened based on different databases. Finally, enrichment analysis was used to analyze the potential biological function of intersection targets between Jingshu granules and ovarian cysts. Results. In young female rats, Jingshu granules reduced the secretion of estradiol, progesterone, and prolactin and could affect the development of the uterus. This suggested that Jingshu granules played roles in hormone secretion and reproduction. From the TCMSP, a total of 1021 pharmaceutical ingredients of Jingshu granules were retrieved. After further screening, a total of 166 active ingredients and 159 protein targets of Jingshu granules were identified. In addition, 4488 gene targets of ovarian cysts were screened out. After taking the intersection, a total of 110 intersection targets were identified between potential protein targets of Jingshu granules and gene targets of ovarian cysts. In the functional analysis of 110 intersection targets, 8 signaling pathways including progesterone-mediated oocyte maturation (MAPK8 and CDK1 involved), GnRH signaling pathway (JUN involved), T cell receptor signaling pathway and Toll-like receptor signaling pathway (MAPK1 involved), NOD-like receptor signaling pathway (TNF, IL6, and IL1B involved), p53 signaling pathway (CDK2 and CDK4 involved), VEGF signaling pathway (MAPK14 involved), and PPAR signaling pathway (PPARG involved) were obtained. Conclusion. Our study revealed that Jingshu granules could function in patients with ovarian cysts through a number of molecular targets and signaling pathways. Our study may provide a new field into the mechanisms of Jingshu granules in ovarian cysts, from the molecular to the signaling pathway level

Lithium Titanate Epitaxial Coating on Spinel Lithium Manganese Oxide Surface for Improving the Performance of Lithium Storage Capability

Spinel lithium titanate (Li₄Ti₅O₁₂, LTO) is applied as an epitaxial coating layer on LiMn₂O₄ hollow microspheres (LMO) through solvothermal-assisted processing. The epitaxial interface between LTO and LMO can be clearly observed by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) and high angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) with atomic resolution images. The epitaxial coating cathode (EC-LMO@LTO) exhibits an excellent cyclability, thermal and rate capability for LIBs cathode due to the complete, thin LTO coating layer with strong adhesion to the host material. In addition, the small structure mismatch and high Li⁺-ion mobility of LTO can be beneficial to forming an efficient tunnel for Li⁺-ion transfer at the interface. It is suggested that EC-LMO@LTO can be recognized as a promising cathode material in electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs)