Wind-Induced Response of Inclined and Yawed Ice-Accreted Stay Cable Models

During the past decades, wind-induced vibrations of bridge stay cables were reported to occur under various incipient conditions. The ice formation on stay cables is one of these conditions, which causes the ice-accreted stay cables to alter their cross section geometry, thus modifying their aerodynamic characteristics. Wind tunnel tests and several CFD simulations were performed for ice-accreted inclined bridge stay cables with two ice-accretion profiles dimensions, 0.5D and 1D, where D is the diameter of the cable. Wind-induced vibrations were analyzed experimentally for cable models with yaw inclination angles of 0°, 30°, and 60° and vertical inclination angles of 0° and 15°, for Reynolds numbers of up to 4 × 105. The aerodynamic drag and lift coefficients of the cable models and the pressure coefficients were determined from the CFD-LES simulations. The experimental results indicated that the vertical and torsional vibrations of the ice-accreted stay cables increased with the increase of the vertical and yaw angles. Also, higher vertical and torsional vibration amplitudes were measured for the case with larger ice thickness, indicating the effect of the ice accretion profile on the cable wind-induced response

The Influence of Longitudinal Force on the Internal Force Distribution and Deformation Coordination Mechanism for Segment Lining

A series of local prototype tests are conducted on the Sutong GIL (Gas-Insulated Line) and Shiziyang Tunnel. These tests investigate the redistribution law of segment deformation and the bending moment during construction. The results reveal that the transfer ability of deformation and the bending moment improve with an increase in the longitudinal force. Stage characteristics are observed for the effect of the longitudinal force on the opening of the circumferential joints. Segments are fully contacted for the circumferential joints when the joint opening is not observed. The frictions between the segments are the key factors for the bending moment and segment deformation control. The opening of the circumferential joint with an increase in the joint opening then becomes the primary control factor. The transfer ability becomes stable when the load continues increasing after mortise and tenon contact. Better transfer ability occurs with a general segment with four pairs of mortises and tenons. This was presented as a smaller value of an increasing rate and the stable magnitude of the joint opening. From the perspective of practical engineering, mortises and tenons can be added to the vault to increase the load and deformation transfer ability of the general segment after the loss of the longitudinal force

Prototype Experimental Investigation of the Failure Mechanism and Crack Propagation of Segment Lining for Staggered Jointed Assembly

In order to ascertain the failure characteristics of a segment structure with distributed mortises and tenons, one should be aware of the rules of key parameters and the development of cracks during the failure process. In this paper, based on the Foguan-Guangcheng Intercity Railway Tunnel Project, a prototype test of the structure of a segment with a staggered joint assembly was performed to study the local mechanical characteristics of the segment lining of the vault. The main conclusions were as follows: (1) The failure process in the test was classified as large eccentric compression failure, and the bearing capacity limit was M = 1993 kN m. (2) The overall displacement distribution of the segment structure was funnel-shaped, and the failure process was divided into three stages, that is, the elastic stage, the elastoplastic stage, and the plastic stage. Thus, it is recommended that the index of the single-point displacement limit of this tunnel be reduced appropriately to be between 1.5 and 1.8%. (3) The change rule of the longitudinal joint opening of the segment can be divided into three stages, that is, slow increase, accelerated increase, and sharp increase. For normal use, the limit of the opening of the longitudinal joint is set at 3 mm. (4) The width of the structural crack and the vertical displacement of the control section can be used as the safety evaluation index of this project. When either a large increase in the width of the crack occurs or the displacement specified above is reached, it can be considered that the structure is about to fail, and immediate protective measures must be taken

Genetic polymorphisms of xeroderma pigmentosum group D and prostate cancer risk: A meta-analysis

Introduction: The Xeroderma pigmentosum group D (XPD, also referred to as excision repair cross complementing gene 2, ERCC2) is one of key genes involved in nucleotide excision repair and two potentially functional polymorphisms of XPD (Asp312Asn and Lys751Gln) have been widely investigated in various cancers including prostate cancer. However, the results were conflicting rather than conclusive. Aims: Thus, we conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the associations between these two polymorphisms of XPD and the risk of prostate cancer. Materials and Methods: An electronic search of PubMed and Embase was conducted to select relevant studies. Studies containing available genotype frequencies of XPD Asp312Asn and Lys751Gln were chosen, and the associations were assessed by pooled odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. Results: According to PubMed and Embase databases, we identified seven eligible studies from six articles, including 2641 cases and 3259 controls for Asp312Asn and nine eligible studies from eight articles, including 3255 cases and 3654 controls for Lys751Gln. The meta-analysis showed that no overall association was observed between XPD Asp312Asn and prostate cancer risk. However, the significantly increased risk of 312Asp allele was found among Asians and Africans, but it seemed to be protective in Caucasians when stratified by ethnicity. For XPD Lys751Gln, overall findings had implicated null effects. Conclusion: These findings indicated that the Asn allele of XPD Asp312Asn might be a risk-factor for developing prostate cancer among Asian and African men but protective for Caucasian population

Exogenous melatonin reduces the inhibitory effect of osmotic stress on antioxidant properties and cell ultrastructure at germination stage of soybean.

Understanding the relationship between exogenous melatonin and water deficit stress is crucial for alleviating the effects of water deficit stress at germination stage of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) in agriculture. This study investigated the effects of exogenous melatonin on soybean antioxidant properties and cell ultrastructure under water deficit stress induced by polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000. The drought-sensitive soybean variety Suinong 26 was used as the material to study the effects of different concentrations of melatonin (0, 300, 500 μmol·L-1) soaking soybean seeds under drought stress (PEG-6000: 3% and 6%). The results showed that the germination rate (GR), germination potential (GP), germination index (GI) and radicle shape of soybean were affected negatively to different degrees under PEG stress. Moreover, stress induced by different PEG concentrations overproduced the content of reactive oxygen species (H2O2, O2·-) in cells, leading to increased lipid membrane peroxidation as electrolyte leakage (EL) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content, which resulted in impaired cell integrity. However, after seeds soaking with melatonin, the lipid peroxidation of the cell membrane was reduced, and the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) further increased to minimize the excessive generation of ROS. Similar results were obtained for soluble protein and proline, that may help in regulating the osmotic pressure and maintain cellular integrity. With the interaction of these enzymes, compared with 300 μmol·L-1 melatonin, 500 μmol·L-1 melatonin could more effective to remove the ROS and reduce cell peroxidation. Overall, 500 μmol·L-1 melatonin performed better than 300 μmol·L-1. In conclusion, the seed soaking with melatonin promoted the germination of soybean seeds under water stress

Potentially functional polymorphism in IL-23 receptor and risk of acute myeloid leukemia in a Chinese population.

The interleukin-23 (IL-23) and its receptor (IL-23R) mediate the direct antitumor activities in human hematologic malignancies including pediatric acute leukemia. Two potentially functional genetic variants (IL-23R rs1884444 T>G and rs6682925 T>C) have been found to contribute to solid cancer susceptibility. In this study, we conducted a case-control study including 545 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients and 1,146 cancer-free controls in a Chinese population to assess the association between these two SNPs and the risk of AML. We found that IL-23R rs1884444 TG/GG and rs6682925 TC/CC variant genotypes were associated with significantly increased risk of AML [rs1884444: adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.28, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.01-1.62; rs6682925: adjusted OR = 1.30, 95%CI = 1.01-1.67], compared to their corresponding wild-type homozygotes, respectively. These findings indicated that genetic variants in IL-23R may contribute to AML risk in our Chinese population

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on the Association between IL-1B Polymorphisms and Cancer Risk

<div><p>Background</p><p>Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), a pro-inflammatory cytokine, is emerging as a key mediator of carcinogenesis that characterizes host-environment interactions. Epidemiological studies investigating the association between two polymorphisms of IL-1B (−511C/T and +3954C/T) and cancer susceptibility have shown conflicting results. The aim of this study is to derive a more precise estimation of the relationship.</p><p>Methods</p><p>Related studies were identified through a systematic literature search of PubMed and Web of Science from their inception to September 15, 2012. Summary odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the IL-1B −511C/T and +3954C/T polymorphisms and cancer risk were calculated. Heterogeneity among studies and publication bias were also tested.</p><p>Results</p><p>The meta-analysis included 91 case-control studies in 85 publications, 81 studies for the −511C/T (19547 cases and 23935 controls) and 26 studies for the +3954C/T polymorphisms (8083 cases and 9183). The pooled results indicated that IL-1B +3954C/T (dominant model: OR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.01–1.30) was significantly associated with increased overall cancer risk, especially among hospital-based case-control studies (dominant model: OR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.02–1.66). As for −511C/T, we observed an inverse relationship in cervical cancer (dominant model: OR = 1.74, 95% CI: 1.35–2.23) and hepatocellular carcinoma (dominant model: OR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.47–0.99). Moreover, −511C/T was associated with risk of specific subtypes of gastric carcinoma.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>This meta-analysis suggested that both the IL-1B –511C/T and +3954C/T polymorphisms might modulate cancer susceptibility. Further well-designed studies based on larger sample sizes should be performed to confirm the findings.</p></div

Genetic variations in miR‐125 family and the survival of non‐small cell lung cancer in Chinese population

Abstract To investigate the associations between the functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the miR‐125 family and the survival of non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, we systematically selected six functional SNPs located in three pre‐miRNAs (miR‐125a, miR‐125b‐1, miR‐125b‐2). Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were conducted to estimate the crude and adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Reporter gene luciferase assay was performed to examine the relationship between the SNPs and transcriptive activity of the miRNAs. The expression of miRNAs in different cells was detected using quantitative real‐time PCR assay. We found that rs2241490 (upstream of miR‐125b‐1, G > A, adjusted HR = 1.24, 95%CI = 1.05‐1.48, P = 0.014, in dominant model; adjusted HR = 1.18, 95%CI = 1.03‐1.35, P = 0.014, in additive model), rs512932 (upstream of miR‐125b‐1, A > G, dominant model: adjusted HR = 1.25, 95%CI = 1.05‐1.48, P = 0.013) and rs8111742 (upstream of miR‐125a, G > A, dominant model: adjusted HR = 0.84, 95%CI = 0.71‐1.00, P = 0.047) were associated with the prognosis of 1001 Chinese NSCLC patients. The combined analysis of the three SNPs related the number of risk alleles (rs2241490‐A, rs512932‐G and rs8111742‐G) to death risk of NSCLC in a locus‐dosage mode (P for trend <0.001). Furthermore, luciferase reporter gene assay showed significantly higher levels of luciferase activity with rs512932 variant G than that with A allele in 293T, SPC‐A1 and A549 cell lines. Besides, miR‐125b was highly expressed in lung cancer cells than the normal lung cell. Our study indicated that genetic variations in miR‐125 family were implicated in the survival of NSCLC patients. Larger population‐based and functional studies are needed to verify these findings