Deformation rule of bored pile & steel support for deep foundation pit in sandy pebble geology

Regarding the whole excavation process of the support system of the Southwest Jiaotong University Station of Chengdu Metro Line 6 (the deep foundation pit bored pile + steel support and support system) as the engineering background, this paper studies the deformation rule of the deep foundation pit bored pile + steel support of the sandy pebble foundation. The deformation rule of this support system, the settlement rule of the ground surface outside the pit, and the rule of the uplift of the loose at the bottom of the pit are studied. A key analysis of the positive corner of the foundation pit is conducted, and the rationality of the optimization of the support scheme is evaluated. This paper provides effective guidance for the subsequent deep foundation pit construction and provides a reference for deep foundation pit construction

Mutual effect of homocysteine and uric acid on arterial stiffness and cardiovascular risk in the context of predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine

Background: Arterial stiffness is a major risk factor and effective predictor of cardiovascular diseases and a common pathway of pathological vascular impairments. Homocysteine (Hcy) and uric acid (UA) own the shared metabolic pathways to affect vascular function. Serum uric acid (UA) has a great impact on arterial stiffness and cardiovascular risk, while the mutual effect with Hcy remains unknown yet. This study aimed to evaluate the mutual effect of serum Hcy and UA on arterial stiffness and 10-year cardiovascular risk in the general population. From the perspective of predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine (PPPM/3PM), we assumed that combined assessment of Hcy and UA provides a better tool for targeted prevention and personalized intervention of cardiovascular diseases via suppressing arterial stiffness. Methods: This study consisted of 17,697 participants from Beijing Health Management Cohort, who underwent health examination between January 2012 and December 2019. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) was used as an index of arterial stiffness. Results: Individuals with both high Hcy and UA had the highest baPWV, compared with those with low Hcy and low UA (β: 30.76, 95 % CI: 18.36 – 43.16 in males; β: 53.53, 95 % CI: 38.46–68.60 in females). In addition, these individuals owned the highest 10-year cardiovascular risk (OR: 1.49, 95 % CI: 1.26 – 1.76 in males; OR: 7.61, 95 % CI: 4.63 – 12.68 in females). Of note, males with high homocysteine and low uric acid were significantly associated with increased cardiovascular risk (OR: 1.30, 95 % CI: 1.15 – 1.47), but not the high uric acid and low homocysteine group (OR: 1.02, 95 % CI: 0.90 – 1.16). Conclusions: This study found the significantly mutual effect of Hcy and UA on arterial stiffness and cardiovascular risk using a large population and suggested the clinical importance of combined evaluation and control of Hcy and UA for promoting cardiovascular health. The adverse effect of homocysteine on arteriosclerosis should be addressed beyond uric acid, especially for males. Monitoring of the level of both Hcy and UA provides a window opportunity for PPPM/3PM in the progression of arterial stiffness and prevention of CVD. Hcy provides a novel predictor beyond UA of cardiovascular health to identify individuals at high risk of arterial stiffness for the primary prevention and early treatment of CVD. In the progressive stage of arterial stiffness, active control of Hcy and UA levels from the aspects of dietary behavior and medication treatment is conducive to alleviating the level of arterial stiffness and reducing the risk of CVD. Further studies are needed to evaluate the clinical effect of Hcy and UA targeted intervention on arterial stiffness and cardiovascular health

Association of TyG index and TG/HDL-C ratio with arterial stiffness progression in a non-normotensive population

Background: Cross-sectional studies have reported that insulin resistance (IR) is associated with arterial stiffness. However, the relationship between IR and arterial stiffness progression remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the association of triglyceride glucose (TyG) index and triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) ratio with arterial stiffness progression in a non-normotensive population. Methods: A total of 1895 prehypertensive (systolic pressure 120–139 mmHg or diastolic pressure 80–90 mmHg) or hypertensive (systolic pressure ≥ 140 mmHg or diastolic pressure ≥ 90 mmHg or using antihypertensive medication) participants were enrolled in 2013 and 2014, and followed until December 31, 2019. Arterial stiffness progression was measured by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) change (absolute difference between baseline and last follow-up), baPWV change rate (change divided by following years), and baPWV slope (regression slope between examination year and baPWV). Results: During a median follow-up of 4.71 years, we observed an increasing trend of baPWV in the population. There were linear and positive associations of the TyG index and TG/HDL-C ratio with the three baPWV parameters. The difference (95% CI) in baPWV change (cm/s) comparing participants in the highest quartile versus the lowest of TyG index and TG/HDL-C ratio were 129.5 (58.7–200.0) and 133.4 (52.0–214.9), respectively. Similarly, the evaluated baPWV change rates (cm/s/year) were 37.6 (15.3–60.0) and 43.5 (17.8–69.2), while the slopes of baPWV were 30.6 (9.3–51.8) and 33.5 (9.0–58.0). The observed association was stronger in the hypertensive population. Conclusion: Our study indicates that the TyG index and TG/HDL-C ratio are significantly associated with arterial stiffness progression in hypertensive population, not in prehypertensive population

Longitudinal association of remnant cholesterol with joint arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis progression beyond LDL cholesterol

Background: Arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis are closely related with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Remnant cholesterol (RC) could predict CVD. However, its effect on joint arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis progression remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the association of RC with joint arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis progression trajectories in the general population. Methods: This study collected data across five biennial surveys of the Beijing Health Management Cohort from 2010 to 2019. Multi-trajectory model was used to determine the joint arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis progression patterns by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and ankle brachial index (ABI). We also performed discordance analyses for RC vs. low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) using ordinal logistics model. Results: A total of 3186 participants were included, with three clusters following distinct arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis progression patterns identified using a multi-trajectory model. In the multivariable-adjusted ordinal logistics analyses, RC was significantly associated with baPWV and ABI progression (OR: 1.20; 95 % CI: 1.13 – 1.28, per 10 mg/dL). For the discordance analyses, the discordant low RC group was associated with decreased risk compared to the concordant group (OR: 0.73; 95 % CI: 0.60 – 0.89). People with a high RC level were at an increased risk of joint arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis progression, even with optimal LDL-C. Conclusions: RC is independently associated with joint arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis progression beyond LDL-C. RC could be an earlier risk factor than LDL-C of arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis in the general population

The microbiota continuum along the female reproductive tract and its relation to uterine-related diseases

Reports on bacteria detected in maternal fluids during pregnancy are typically associated with adverse consequences, and whether the female reproductive tract harbours distinct microbial communities beyond the vagina has been a matter of debate. Here we systematically sample the microbiota within the female reproductive tract in 110 women of reproductive age, and examine the nature of colonisation by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and cultivation. We find distinct microbial communities in cervical canal, uterus, fallopian tubes and peritoneal fluid, differing from that of the vagina. The results reflect a microbiota continuum along the female reproductive tract, indicative of a non-sterile environment. We also identify microbial taxa and potential functions that correlate with the menstrual cycle or are over-represented in subjects with adenomyosis or infertility due to endometriosis. The study provides insight into the nature of the vagino-uterine microbiome, and suggests that surveying the vaginal or cervical microbiota might be useful for detection of common diseases in the upper reproductive tract.Shenzhen Municipal Government of China [JCYJ20160229172757249, JCYJ20150601090833370]; Danish Strategic Research Council [2106-07-0021]; Ole Romer grant from Danish Natural Science Research Council; Solexa project [272-07-0196]SCI(E)ARTICLE

Constraint of a ruthenium-carbon triple bond to a five-membered ring

含过渡金属碳三键(M≡C)的金属卡拜化合物是许多有机反应的催化剂或关键中间体。对其合成及性质的研究是金属有机化学的热点之一。由于卡拜碳的sp杂化方式，大部分金属卡拜化合物均为链状结构（卡拜碳键角理想值为180 °），环内金属卡拜化合物因存在很大的环张力而难于合成。夏海平教授课题组发展了由链状多炔（称之为碳龙）构筑碳龙配合物的高效方法（Nature Communications, 2017, 8, 1912），实现了锇杂戊搭炔/烯及其衍生物的一锅法合成。现在，他们把该方法进一步拓展到了第二过渡系金属钌，通过碳龙与市售的RuCl2(PPh3)3反应一锅合成了钌杂戊搭炔I。本研究是碳龙化学的进一步延伸和发展，首次把碳龙化学的金属中心由锇拓展到了其它金属，展示了碳龙化学广阔的发展空间。该研究工作在夏海平教授指导下完成，能源材料化学协同创新中心（iChEM）博士后卓庆德和张弘副教授为共同第一作者。iChEM博士后周小茜、博士生陈志昕、林剑锋、卓凯玥、硕士康慧君、林鑫磊参与了部分实验工作。博士生华煜晖负责理论计算。【Abstract】The incorporation of a metal-carbon triple bond into a ring system is challenging because of the linear nature of triple bonds. To date, the synthesis of these complexes has been limited to those containing third-row transition metal centers, namely, osmium and rhenium. We report the synthesis and full characterization of the first cyclic metal carbyne complex with a second-row transition metal center, ruthenapentalyne. It shows a bond angle of 130.2(3)° around the sp-hybridized carbyne carbon, which represents the recorded smallest angle of second-row transition metal carbyne complexes, as it deviates nearly 50° from the original angle (180°). Density functional theory calculations suggest that the inherent aromatic nature of these metallacycles with bent Ru≡C–C moieties enhances their stability. Reactivity studies showed striking observations, such as ambiphilic reactivity, a metal-carbon triple bond shift, and a [2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction with alkyne and cascade cyclization reactions with ambident nucleophiles.This research was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (2017YFA0204902) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (nos. 21490573,21332002, and 21561162001). 研究工作得到国家自然科学基金项目（21490573、21332002 和21561162001）和国家重点研发计划（2017YFA0204902）的资助

Liver fibrosis and MAFLD: the exploration of multi-drug combination therapy strategies

In recent years, the prevalence of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has reached pandemic proportions as a leading cause of liver fibrosis worldwide. However, the stage of liver fibrosis is associated with an increased risk of severe liver-related and cardiovascular events and is the strongest predictor of mortality in MAFLD patients. More and more people believe that MAFLD is a multifactorial disease with multiple pathways are involved in promoting the progression of liver fibrosis. Numerous drug targets and drugs have been explored for various anti-fibrosis pathways. The treatment of single medicines is brutal to obtain satisfactory results, so the strategies of multi-drug combination therapies have attracted increasing attention. In this review, we discuss the mechanism of MAFLD-related liver fibrosis and its regression, summarize the current intervention and treatment methods for this disease, and focus on the analysis of drug combination strategies for MAFLD and its subsequent liver fibrosis in recent years to explore safer and more effective multi-drug combination therapy strategies

Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data