Transient human thermophysiological and comfort responses indoors after simulated summer commutes

The current study investigates the transient human physiological and comfort responses during sedentary activity following a period of elevated activity in a hot condition. Such metabolic and thermal down-steps are common in buildings as occupants arrive after commuting in summer. It creates a serious problem for thermostatic control, since arriving occupants find their transition uncomfortably warm at temperatures that resident occupants find comfortable. Fifty-nine participants (29 men, 30 women) dressed in 0.6 clo were tested while sedentary for 60 min in 26 °C, after having been exposed to 30 °C for 15min, during which they performed activities metabolically simulating commuting: sitting (SE- 1.2 met), or doing three levels of stair-step exercises: low (LEx- 2.2 met), medium (MEx - 3.0 met), and high (HEx - 4.4 met). Subjective comfort and physiological responses (metabolic rate, skin temperature, skin blood flow rate, heart rate, core temperature, and skin wettedness) were collected. Results show that sedentary conditions at 26°C became comfortable and acceptable within 2 min, but thermal sensation required much longer to change from ‘warm’ or ‘hot’ to ‘neutral’: 0, 8, 17, 30 min after SE, LEx, MEx, HEx respectively. Skin wettedness and core temperature did not recover within the60 min. The delays are mainly due to body heat stored during the exercise. A room temperature of 26°C may not provide sufficient cooling after summer commuting. Localized convective cooling of transitional spaces and work areas by ceiling or desk fans represent a way to enhance comfort recovery

Study on Design of Concrete Box Girder of A Railway Swivel Cable-Stayed Bridge

A swivel cable-stayed bridge over the existing railway is a span across the existing railway. The recommended scheme for the main bridge is (128 + 388 + 128) m steel mixed composite beam swivel diagonal pull bridge with span. The cables of the diagonal pull bridge are arranged according to the fanshaped central double cable plane, taking into account the mechanical performance and aesthetics. The bridge structure adopts semi floating system. The concrete swivel diagonal pull bridge is adopted in the comparison scheme. The design of the bridge is three spans and (138 + 268 + 138) m prestressed concrete box girder is adopted. The cables are arranged according to the central double cable plane, and the bridge composition adopts the consolidation system. Considering the needs of bridge operation and maintenance in the later stage of the bridge, when the dead weight of concrete diagonal pull bridge is within the ideal range, the concrete swivel diagonal pull bridge can be preferred. In order to calculate the dead weight of the selected bridge, the author uses the finite element software to model the whole bridge and calculate the weight of the bridge. The results show that the dead weight of the concrete swivel diagonal pull bridge is too large, which has exceeded the maximum bearing capacity of the existing spherical hinge. In order to continue to use the concrete swivel diagonal pull bridge scheme, it is necessary to optimize the design of the concrete swivel diagonal pull bridge scheme

Analysis on the Influence Factors of Construction Linear Control of Continuous Rigid Structure Bridge

In order to study the influence of prestress on cantilever deflection and construction linear control of continuous rigid frame bridge in construction stage, this paper introduces the significance of continuous rigid frame bridge’s linear control, the calculation principle and deflection influence analysis of vertical formwork elevation in cantilever construction. According to a specific continuous rigid frame bridge, this paper use the finite element software to simulate and calculate the deflection of prestress to the cantilever construction of continuous rigid frame bridge. The influence of friction coefficient between prestressed steel bundle and bellows and prestress loss on cantilever deflection and construction line control of continuous rigid frame bridge is also analyzed, furtherly brings out the solution to deal with the problems due to the change of prestress

Serial foodborne norovirus outbreaks associated with multiple genotypes.

Noroviruses (NoV) have been recognized as an important pathogen associated with acute gastroenteritis worldwide during the past three decades. In the spring of 2012, a series of foodborne outbreaks in tourist groups were reported to Xiamen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Xiamen, Fujian province, China. Among a total of 268 tourists in 7 groups, the prevalence rate of acute gastroenteritis was 16.0% (43/268). Twenty-three feces or anal swabs were collected for laboratory tests of causative agents, no bacterial pathogen was identified, while 22 of them were positive for NoV RNA. In addition, thirteen NoV fragments were recovered from positive specimens and sequenced, belonging to five genotypes such as GI.3, GI.4, GII.4, GII.6, and GII.14, respectively. However, NoV fragments obtained from locally infected patients showed distinct genotypes. Therefore, epidemiological investigation and laboratory analyses demonstrated that the serial foodborne NoV outbreaks in tourists were co-infection of multiple genotypes induced acute gastroenteritis linked to a restaurant

Transient human thermophysiological and comfort responses indoors after simulated summer commutes

The current study investigates the transient human physiological and comfort responses during sedentary activity following a period of elevated activity in a hot condition. Such metabolic and thermal down-steps are common in buildings as occupants arrive after commuting in summer. It creates a serious problem for thermostatic control, since arriving occupants find their transition uncomfortably warm at temperatures that resident occupants find comfortable. Fifty-nine participants (29 men, 30 women) dressed in 0.6 clo were tested while sedentary for 60 min in 26 °C, after having been exposed to 30 °C for 15min, during which they performed activities metabolically simulating commuting: sitting (SE- 1.2 met), or doing three levels of stair-step exercises: low (LEx- 2.2 met), medium (MEx - 3.0 met), and high (HEx - 4.4 met). Subjective comfort and physiological responses (metabolic rate, skin temperature, skin blood flow rate, heart rate, core temperature, and skin wettedness) were collected. Results show that sedentary conditions at 26°C became comfortable and acceptable within 2 min, but thermal sensation required much longer to change from ‘warm’ or ‘hot’ to ‘neutral’: 0, 8, 17, 30 min after SE, LEx, MEx, HEx respectively. Skin wettedness and core temperature did not recover within the60 min. The delays are mainly due to body heat stored during the exercise. A room temperature of 26°C may not provide sufficient cooling after summer commuting. Localized convective cooling of transitional spaces and work areas by ceiling or desk fans represent a way to enhance comfort recovery

Genome-wide analysis reflects novel 5-hydroxymethylcytosines implicated in diabetic nephropathy and the biomarker potential

Aim: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) has become the most common cause of end-stage renal disease in most countries for patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Elucidating novel epigenetic contributors to DN can not only enhance our understanding of this complex disorder but also lay the foundation for developing more effective monitoring tools and preventive interventions in the future, thus contributing to our ultimate goal of improving patient care. Methods: 5-hydroxymethylcytosines (5hmC)-Seal, a highly selective chemical labeling technique, was used to profile genome-wide 5hmC, a stable cytosine modification type marking gene activation, in circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) samples from a cohort of patients recruited at Zhongnan Hospital, including T2D patients with nephropathy (DN, n = 12), T2D patients with non-DN vascular complications (non-DN, n = 29), and T2D patients without any complication (controls, n = 14). Differential analysis was performed to find DN-associated 5hmC features, followed by the exploration of biomarker potential of 5hmC in cfDNA for DN using a machine learning approach.Results: Genome-wide analyses of 5hmC in cfDNA detected 427 and 336 differential 5hmC modifications associated with DN, compared with non-DN individuals and controls, and suggested relevant pathways such as NOD-like receptor signaling pathway and tyrosine metabolism. Our exploration using a machine learning approach revealed an exploratory model comprised of ten 5hmC genes showing the possibility to distinguish DN from non-DN individuals or controls. Conclusion: Genome-wide analysis suggests the possibility of exploiting novel 5hmC in patient-derived cfDNA as a non-invasive tool for monitoring DN in high-risk T2D patients in the future

Phylogenetic analyses of partial RdRP/VP1 genes in NoV strains associated with serial foodborne outbreaks in tourist groups.

<p>Thirteen strains belonging to five genotypes including GI.3, GI.4, GII.4, GII.6 and GII.14 were detected in 22 specimens from Event A–G., which was associated with infections occurred at the restaurant. One GI.3 strain (labeled with black triangle) was detected in one restaurant employee. Local infections with 4 genotypes (labeled with diamond) such as GI.3, GI.5, GII.6 and GII.12 were identified in 3 patients.</p

Primers for amplification and sequencing of partial RdRP/VP1 gene.

<p>Primers for amplification and sequencing of partial RdRP/VP1 gene.</p

Summary of investigation on NoV acute gastroenteritis outbreaks in tourist groups.

*<p>The exposure date for patients in Event H was between April 15 to April 17, 2012.</p>**<p>indicate anal swabs from employees of the restaurant under investigation.</p