Rock mass classification in highway tunnel engineering during exploration phase and case study

It is the foundation of tunnel engineering to classify the rock mass surrounding tunnels. However, it is not easy to precisely determine the class of rock mass in practice as sufficient geological exploration need to be completed before rock mass classification, and there exists some disputes referring to the rationalization of dozens of methods for rock mass classification through the world. The principles and procedures of the basic quality method, which are widely used in China, are presented in this paper, and the application process of the basic quality method is showed with a project case of Zhongnanshan highway tunnel which has operated in safety for nearly a decade. Then, both the advantages and disadvantages of the basic quality method are analyzed in terms of practical engineering applications. In consideration of the defects of the basic quality method, the concept of the subclassing of surrounding rock in grade III-V is developed in the end and the criterion is given to determine the subclass of rock mass. This study is aimed at providing some useful ideas and a reference for rock classification in highway tunnel engineering

High-Speed Reservoir Computing Based on Circular-Side Hexagonal Resonator Microlaser with Optical Feedback

In the current environment of the explosive growth in the amount of information, the demand for efficient information-processing methods has become increasingly urgent. We propose and numerically investigate a delay-based high-speed reservoir computing (RC) using a circular-side hexagonal resonator (CSHR) microlaser with optical feedback and injection. In this RC system, a smaller time interval can be obtained between virtual nodes, and a higher information processing rate (Rinf) can also be achieved, due to the ultra-short photon lifetime and wide bandwidth of the CSHR microlaser. The performance of the RC system was tested with three benchmark tasks (Santa-Fe chaotic time series prediction task, the 10th order Nonlinear Auto Regressive Moving Average task and Nonlinear channel equalization task). The results show that the system achieves high-accuracy prediction, even with a small number of virtual nodes (25), and is more feasible, with lower requirements for arbitrary waveform generators at the same rate. Significantly, at the high rate of 10 Gbps, low error predictions can be achieved over a large parameter space (e.g., frequency detuning in the interval 80 GHz, injected strength in the range of 0.9 variation and 2% range for feedback strength). Interestingly, it has the potential to achieve Rinf of 25 Gbps under technical advancements. Additionally, its shorter external cavity length and cubic micron scale size make it an excellent choice for large-scale photonic integration reservoir computing

High-Speed Reservoir Computing Based on Circular-Side Hexagonal Resonator Microlaser with Optical Feedback

In the current environment of the explosive growth in the amount of information, the demand for efficient information-processing methods has become increasingly urgent. We propose and numerically investigate a delay-based high-speed reservoir computing (RC) using a circular-side hexagonal resonator (CSHR) microlaser with optical feedback and injection. In this RC system, a smaller time interval can be obtained between virtual nodes, and a higher information processing rate (Rinf) can also be achieved, due to the ultra-short photon lifetime and wide bandwidth of the CSHR microlaser. The performance of the RC system was tested with three benchmark tasks (Santa-Fe chaotic time series prediction task, the 10th order Nonlinear Auto Regressive Moving Average task and Nonlinear channel equalization task). The results show that the system achieves high-accuracy prediction, even with a small number of virtual nodes (25), and is more feasible, with lower requirements for arbitrary waveform generators at the same rate. Significantly, at the high rate of 10 Gbps, low error predictions can be achieved over a large parameter space (e.g., frequency detuning in the interval 80 GHz, injected strength in the range of 0.9 variation and 2% range for feedback strength). Interestingly, it has the potential to achieve Rinf of 25 Gbps under technical advancements. Additionally, its shorter external cavity length and cubic micron scale size make it an excellent choice for large-scale photonic integration reservoir computing

Moderate Salinity of Nutrient Solution Improved the Nutritional Quality and Flavor of Hydroponic Chinese Chives (<i>Allium tuberosum</i> Rottler)

Sodium chloride (NaCl), as a eustressor, can trigger relevant pathways to cause plants to produce a series of metabolites, thus improving the quality of crops to a certain extent. However, there are few reports on the improvement of nutrient quality and flavor of hydroponic Chinese chives (Allium tuberosum Rottler) by sodium chloride. In this study, five NaCl concentrations were used to investigate the dose-dependent effects on growth, nutritional quality and flavor in Chinese chives. The results show that 10 mM NaCl had no significant effect on the growth of Chinese chives, but significantly decreased the nitrate content by 40% compared with 0 mM NaCl treatment, and the content of soluble protein and vitamin C was increased by 3.6% and 2.1%, respectively. In addition, a total of 75 volatile compounds were identified among five treatments using headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (HS-SPME/GC-MS). Compared with the 0 mM NaCl treatment, 10 mM NaCl had the greatest effect on the quantity and content of volatile compounds, with the total content increased by 27.8%. Furthermore, according to the odor activity values (OAVs) and odor description, there were 14 major aroma-active compounds (OAVs > 1) in Chinese chives. The “garlic and onion” odor was the strongest among the eight categories of aromas, and its highest value was observed in the 10 mM NaCl treatment (OAVs = 794).Taken together, adding 10 mM NaCl to the nutrient solution could improve the nutritional quality and flavor of Chinese chives without affecting their normal growth

Effects of exogenous glycine betaine and cycloleucine on photosynthetic capacity, amino acid composition, and hormone metabolism in Solanum melongena L.

Abstract Although exogenous glycine betaine (GB) and cycloleucine (Cyc) have been reported to affect animal cell metabolism, their effects on plant growth and development have not been studied extensively. Different concentrations of exogenous glycine betaine (20, 40, and 60 mmol L−1) and cycloleucine (10, 20, and 40 mmol L−1), with 0 mmol L−1 as control, were used to investigate the effects of foliar spraying of betaine and cycloleucine on growth, photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence, Calvin cycle pathway, abaxial leaf burr morphology, endogenous hormones, and amino acid content in eggplant. We found that 40 mmol L−1 glycine betaine had the best effect on plant growth and development; it increased the fresh and dry weight of plants, increased the density of abaxial leaf hairs, increased the net photosynthetic rate and Calvin cycle key enzyme activity of leaves, had an elevating effect on chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, increased endogenous indoleacetic acid (IAA) content and decreased abscisic acid (ABA) content, and increased glutamate, serine, aspartate, and phenylalanine contents. However, cycloleucine significantly inhibited plant growth; plant apical dominance disappeared, plant height and dry and fresh weights decreased significantly, the development of abaxial leaf hairs was hindered, the net photosynthetic rate and Calvin cycle key enzyme activities were inhibited, the endogenous hormones IAA and ABA content decreased, and the conversion and utilization of glutamate, arginine, threonine, and glycine were affected. Combined with the experimental results and plant growth phenotypes, 20 mmol L−1 cycloleucine significantly inhibited plant growth. In conclusion, 40 mmol L−1 glycine betaine and 20 mmol L−1 cycloleucine had different regulatory effects on plant growth and development

CuO/ZnO memristors via oxygen or metal migration controlled by electrodes

We carry out a comparative study on resistive switching in CuO/ZnO bilayer films; both samples grown Pt and Ag electrodes show bipolar switching behaviors. The two kinds of current-voltage curves reveal the different resistive switching behaviors in Pt/CuO/ZnO/Pt and Ag/CuO/ZnO/Pt, respectively. We conjecture that the formation and rupture of conducting filaments are responsible for the switching effect. Filaments induced by migration of oxygen ions are responsible for resistive switching with the Pt electrode. In contrast, resistive switching with the Ag electrode is attributed to the migration of metal cations and the corresponding electrochemical metallization. It is also inferred that the characteristic nature of the conducting filaments influences many aspects of switching characteristics, including the switching voltages and cycling variations at room temperature

Changes in growth, physiology, and photosynthetic capacity of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) under different nitrate levels.

Nitrate content is an essential indicator of the quality of vegetables but can cause stress at high levels. This study aimed to elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of nitrate stress tolerance in spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.). We studied the effects of exogenous application of 15 (control), 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 mM NO3- on spinach growth, physiology, and photosynthesis. The results showed that all the nitrate treatments inhibited the growth of the aerial parts of spinach compared to the control. In contrast, low nitrate levels (50 and 100 mM) promoted spinach root formation, but this effect was inhibited at high levels (150, 200, and 250 mM). Treatment with 150 mM NO3- significantly decreased the root growth vigor. Low nitrate levels increased the chlorophyll content in spinach leaves, whereas high levels had the opposite effect. High nitrate levels also weakened the net photosynthetic rate (Pn), the actual photochemical efficiency of PSII Y(II), and increased non-photochemical quenching (NPQ), reducing photosynthetic performance. Nitrate stress increased the activity of nitrate reductase (NR) and promoted the accumulation of nitrate in spinach leaves, exceeding the health-tolerance limit for nitrate in vegetables, highlighting the necessity of mitigating nitrate stress to ensure food safety. Starting with the 150 mM NO3- treatment, the proline and malondialdehyde content in spinach leaves and roots increased significantly as the nitrate levels increased. Treatment with 150 mM NO3- significantly increased soluble protein and flavonoid contents, while the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) were significantly reduced in leaves. However, spinach could resist nitrate stress by regulating the synthesis of osmoregulatory substances such as proline, thus showing some nitrate tolerance. These results provide insights into the physiological regulatory mechanisms of nitrate stress tolerance and its mitigation in spinach, an essential vegetable crop

Exogenous Proline Enhances Systemic Defense against Salt Stress in Celery by Regulating Photosystem, Phenolic Compounds, and Antioxidant System

This study aimed to explore how exogenous proline induces salinity tolerance in celery. We analyzed the effects of foliar spraying with 0.3 mM proline on celery growth, photosystem, phenolic compounds, and antioxidant system under salt stress (100 mM NaCl), using no salt stress and no proline spraying as control. The results showed that proline-treated plants exhibited a significant increase in plant biomass due to improved growth physiology, supported by gas exchange parameters, chlorophyll fluorescence, and Calvin cycle enzyme activity (Ketosasaccharide-1,5-diphosphate carboxylase and Fructose-1,6-diphosphate aldolase) results. Also, proline spraying significantly suppressed the increase in relative conductivity and malondialdehyde content caused by salt stress, suggesting a reduction in biological membrane damage. Moreover, salt stress resulted in hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anions and 4-coumaric acid accumulation in celery, and their contents were reduced after foliar spraying of proline. Furthermore, proline increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase) and the content of non-enzymatic antioxidants (reduced ascorbic acid, glutathione, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, total phenolic acids, and total flavonoids). Additionally, proline increased the activity of key enzymes (ascorbate oxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and dehydroascorbate reductase) in the ascorbic acid–glutathione cycle, activating it to counteract salt stress. In summary, exogenous proline promoted celery growth under salt stress, enhanced photosynthesis, increased total phenolic acid and flavonoid contents, and improved antioxidant capacity, thereby improving salt tolerance in celery

Uncovering the mechanisms of host mitochondrial cardiolipin release in syphilis: Insights from human microvascular endothelial cells

The release of host mitochondrial cardiolipin is believed to be the main factor that contributes to the production of anti-cardiolipin antibodies in syphilis. However, the precise mechanism by which mitochondria release cardiolipin in this context remains elusive. This study aimed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying mitochondrial cardiolipin release in syphilis. We conducted a cardiolipin quantitative assay and immunofluorescence analysis to detect mitochondrial cardiolipin release in human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1), with and without Treponema pallidum (Tp) infection. Furthermore, we explored apoptosis, a key mechanism for mitochondrial cardiolipin release. The potential mediator molecules were then analyzed through RNA-sequence and subsequently validated using in vitro knockout techniques mediated by CRISPR-Cas9 and pathway-specific inhibitors. Our findings confirm that live-Tp is capable of initiating the release of mitochondrial cardiolipin, whereas inactivated-Tp does not exhibit this capability. Additionally, apoptosis detection further supports the notion that the release of mitochondrial cardiolipin occurs independently of apoptosis. The RNA-sequencing results indicated that microtubule-associated protein2 (MAP2), an axonogenesis and dendrite development gene, was up-regulated in HMEC-1 treated with Tp, which was further confirmed in syphilitic lesions by immunofluorescence. Notably, genetic knockout of MAP2 inhibited Tp-induced mitochondrial cardiolipin release in HMEC-1. Mechanically, Tp-infection regulated MAP2 expression via the MEK-ERK-HES1 pathway, and MEK/ERK phosphorylation inhibitors effectively block Tp-induced mitochondrial cardiolipin release. This study demonstrated that the infection of live-Tp enhanced the expression of MAP2 via the MEK-ERK-HES1 pathway, thereby contributing to our understanding of the role of anti-cardiolipin antibodies in the diagnosis of syphilis