Some Predictions of Deformations from Tram Track Construction in a Structure-Embankment Transition Zone

AbstractBased on a construction project of a tram line in Nanjing City of China, the influence of a tram track construction on the deformation characteristics of an adjacent metro station and tunnels is investigated. Because a section of the tram track is designed to be constructed in the vicinity of the connection between a metro station and metro tunnels, the foundation of the tram track is changed from the station structure to the normal embankment. As a result, deformations from tram track construction in this structure-embankment transition zone will be serious. In order to protect the metro station and the twin tunnels from the construction-induced deformation and long term settlement caused by tram trains, a recommended treatment of the structure-embankment transition zone is suggested according to the property of the surrounding soils. The construction process of the tram track over the metro station and the tunnels is simulated by a finite element analysis (FEA) method. The deformation characteristics of the metro station and tunnels are calculated. Results indicate that with the recommended transition zone design the deformation response of the adjacent underground structures can be well controlled and the transition performance of the tram track transition zone can be improved

Preparation of ZnFe2O4/α-Fe2O3 Nanocomposites From Sulfuric Acid Leaching Liquor of Jarosite Residue and Their Application in Lithium-Ion Batteries

Recycling Zn and Fe from jarosite residue to produce high value-added products is of great importance to the healthy and sustainable development of zinc industry. In this work, we reported the preparation of ZnFe2O4/α-Fe2O3 nanocomposites from the leaching liquor of jarosite residue by a facile chemical coprecipitation method followed by heat treatment at 800°C in air. The microstructure of the as-prepared ZnFe2O4/α-Fe2O3 nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Mössbauer spectroscopy, scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectrum (XPS). The results demonstrated that the ZnFe2O4/α-Fe2O3 composites are composed of interconnected ZnFe2O4 and α-Fe2O3 nanocrystals with sizes in the range of 20–40 nm. When evaluated as anode material for Li-ion batteries, the ZnFe2O4/α-Fe2O3 nanocomposites exhibits high lithium storage activity, superior cyclic stability, and good high rate capability. Cyclic voltammetry analysis reveals that surface pseudocapacitive lithium storage has a significant contribution to the total stored charge of the ZnFe2O4/α-Fe2O3, which accounts for the enhanced lithium storage performance during cycling. The synthesis of ZnFe2O4/α-Fe2O3 nanocomposites from the leaching liquor of jarosite residue and its successful application in lithium-ion batteries open up new avenues in the fields of healthy and sustainable development of industries

Estimating anthropogenic heat from an urban rail transit station: A Case study of Qingsheng metro station, Guangzhou, China

Urban rail transit stations in hot and humid regions of South China release considerable amounts of anthropogenic heat (AH). However, the components of AH, including their calculation methods and temporal characteristics, have not been sufficiently investigated. In this study, the components of AH from Qingsheng metro station were calculated using a combined approach (i.e. the bottom-up inventory method and the comprehensive heat transfer coefficient method) based on statistical station operation data and the field measured meteorological data. Then, the hourly AH and its components were estimated. The results showed that QM and QT exhibited dual peaks, whereas QB and total AH exhibited a single peak during the operation period (06:00–24:00). The maximum values of AH at 12:00 were 35.15 W•m−2. Among the three components, QB contributed the greatest to AH, followed by QT and QM. A comparison of AH with the absorbed solar radiation by the horizontal envelope indicated that AH should be considered to be an important heat source in urban rail transit stations

Downregulated miR-204 Promotes Skeletal Muscle Regeneration

Skeletal muscle is the most abundant and a highly plastic tissue of the mammals, especially when it comes to regenerate after trauma, but there is limited information about the mechanism of muscle repair and its regeneration. In the present study, we found that miR-204 is downregulated after skeletal muscle injury. In vitro experiments showed that over-expression of miR-204 by transfecting with miR-204 mimics suppressed C2C12 cell proliferation, migration, and blocked subsequent differentiation, whereas inhibition of miR-204 by transfecting with miR-204 inhibitor showed the converse effects. Furthermore, through the dual luciferase reporter system, we demonstrated that miR-204 can target the 3’UTR regions of Pax7, IGF1, and Mef2c and inhibit their expression. Taken together, our results suggest that Pax7, IGF1, and Mef2c are the target genes of miR-204 in the process of myoblasts proliferation, cell migration, and differentiation, respectively, and may contribute to mouse skeletal muscle regeneration. Our results may provide new ideas and references for the skeletal muscle study and may also provide therapeutic strategies of skeletal muscle injury

Table_5_A high-fat diet disrupts the hepatic and adipose circadian rhythms and modulates the diurnal rhythm of gut microbiota-derived short-chain fatty acids in gestational mice.XLSX

The prevalence of gestational obesity has reached epidemic proportions. Evidence supported that the interactions between the gut microbiota and circadian clocks far reached, affecting host metabolism. Our study aimed to investigate the effect of a high-fat diet (HF) on the hepatic and adipose circadian rhythms in gestational mice and to explore the role of gut microbiota-derived short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in mediating the effects. C57BL/6 female mice were randomly fed a standard chow diet (Ctr) or HF prior to and during pregnancy. Samples were collected every 4 h over 24 h (six time points), and 16S rRNA and metabonomics were carried out. Rhythmic patterns were identified and compared using CircaCompare. The results showed that the HF before and during pregnancy significantly induced obesity and worsen glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, and lipid metabolism in the gestational mice. Furthermore, the HF significantly disrupted the rhythmic pattern of hepatic and adipose circadian clock genes and downstream metabolic genes. Importantly, our results revealed that the HF altered the diurnal rhythm of the gut microbiota in a diverse manner, which was assessed across three categories: phase shift, loss rhythmicity, and gained rhythmicity. We report here, for the first time, a parallel alteration of the rhythmic phase of butyric acid and butyrate-producing Clostridiaceae_1, which was confirmed by a positive correlation between them. Overall, our research emphasized the importance of the rhythmicity of gut microbiota-derived SCFAs in mediating circadian disruption in response to the HF in gestational mice, which may provide novel insights into the prevention and treatment of gestational obesity.</p

Coat colour phenotype of Qingyu pig is associated with polymorphisms of melanocortin receptor 1 gene

Objective Qingyu pig, a Chinese indigenous pig breed, exhibits two types of coat colour phenotypes, including pure black and white with black spotting respectively. Melanocortin receptor 1 (MC1R) and agouti signaling protein (ASIP) are two widely reported pivotal genes that significantly affect the regulation of coat colour. The objectives of this study were to investigate whether the polymorphisms of these two genes are associated with coat colour and analyze the molecular mechanism of the coat colour separation in Qingyu pig. Methods We studied the phenotype segregation and used polymerase chain reaction amplification and Sanger sequencing to investigate the polymorphism of MC1R and ASIP in 121 Qingyu pigs, consisting of 115 black and 6 white with black spotted pigs. Results Coat colour of Qingyu pig is associated with the polymorphisms of MC1R but not ASIP. We only found 2 haplotypes, EQY and Eqy, based on the 13 observed mutations from MC1R gene. Among which, Eqy presented a recessive inheritance mode in black spotted Qingyu pigs. Further analysis revealed a g.462–463CC insertion that caused a frameshift mutation and a premature stop codon, thus changed the first transmembrane domain completely and lost the remaining six transmembrane domains. Altogether, our results strongly support that the variety of Qingyu pig’s coat colour is related to MC1R. Conclusion Our findings indicated that black coat colour in Qingyu pig was dominant to white with black spotted phenotype and MC1R gene polymorphism was associated with coat colour separation in Qingyu pig

Table_2_A high-fat diet disrupts the hepatic and adipose circadian rhythms and modulates the diurnal rhythm of gut microbiota-derived short-chain fatty acids in gestational mice.XLSX

The prevalence of gestational obesity has reached epidemic proportions. Evidence supported that the interactions between the gut microbiota and circadian clocks far reached, affecting host metabolism. Our study aimed to investigate the effect of a high-fat diet (HF) on the hepatic and adipose circadian rhythms in gestational mice and to explore the role of gut microbiota-derived short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in mediating the effects. C57BL/6 female mice were randomly fed a standard chow diet (Ctr) or HF prior to and during pregnancy. Samples were collected every 4 h over 24 h (six time points), and 16S rRNA and metabonomics were carried out. Rhythmic patterns were identified and compared using CircaCompare. The results showed that the HF before and during pregnancy significantly induced obesity and worsen glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, and lipid metabolism in the gestational mice. Furthermore, the HF significantly disrupted the rhythmic pattern of hepatic and adipose circadian clock genes and downstream metabolic genes. Importantly, our results revealed that the HF altered the diurnal rhythm of the gut microbiota in a diverse manner, which was assessed across three categories: phase shift, loss rhythmicity, and gained rhythmicity. We report here, for the first time, a parallel alteration of the rhythmic phase of butyric acid and butyrate-producing Clostridiaceae_1, which was confirmed by a positive correlation between them. Overall, our research emphasized the importance of the rhythmicity of gut microbiota-derived SCFAs in mediating circadian disruption in response to the HF in gestational mice, which may provide novel insights into the prevention and treatment of gestational obesity.</p

Table_4_A high-fat diet disrupts the hepatic and adipose circadian rhythms and modulates the diurnal rhythm of gut microbiota-derived short-chain fatty acids in gestational mice.XLSX

The prevalence of gestational obesity has reached epidemic proportions. Evidence supported that the interactions between the gut microbiota and circadian clocks far reached, affecting host metabolism. Our study aimed to investigate the effect of a high-fat diet (HF) on the hepatic and adipose circadian rhythms in gestational mice and to explore the role of gut microbiota-derived short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in mediating the effects. C57BL/6 female mice were randomly fed a standard chow diet (Ctr) or HF prior to and during pregnancy. Samples were collected every 4 h over 24 h (six time points), and 16S rRNA and metabonomics were carried out. Rhythmic patterns were identified and compared using CircaCompare. The results showed that the HF before and during pregnancy significantly induced obesity and worsen glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, and lipid metabolism in the gestational mice. Furthermore, the HF significantly disrupted the rhythmic pattern of hepatic and adipose circadian clock genes and downstream metabolic genes. Importantly, our results revealed that the HF altered the diurnal rhythm of the gut microbiota in a diverse manner, which was assessed across three categories: phase shift, loss rhythmicity, and gained rhythmicity. We report here, for the first time, a parallel alteration of the rhythmic phase of butyric acid and butyrate-producing Clostridiaceae_1, which was confirmed by a positive correlation between them. Overall, our research emphasized the importance of the rhythmicity of gut microbiota-derived SCFAs in mediating circadian disruption in response to the HF in gestational mice, which may provide novel insights into the prevention and treatment of gestational obesity.</p