Research on the radiation characteristics of aerodynamic noises in the connection position of high-speed trains

To study unsteady aerodynamic noise characteristics in the connection position of high-speed trains, this paper established a computational model for aerodynamic noises in the connection position of high-speed trains based on computational fluid dynamics theories. This model included 2 middle trains and 1 connection structure. The detached eddy simulation (DES) was adopted to conduct a numerical simulation for the flow field around high-speed trains which were running in the open air without crosswind. The acoustic model of Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings (FW-H) was used to conduct an unsteady computation for far field aerodynamic noises in the connection position of high-speed trains. In the meanwhile, the boundary element method (BEM) was also applied to conduct an unsteady computation for the radiation of near field aerodynamic noises in the connection position. When the running speed was 250 km/h, time-domain characteristics, frequency-domain characteristics and sound propagation characteristics of aerodynamic noises in the connection position and the unsteady flow field around the connection position were obtained. Studied results showed that: vortex shedding and fluid separations in the connection position were main reasons for aerodynamic noises. In addition, main aerodynamic noise sources were at the recess and rear (the second train) in the connection position, and the first train was not an aerodynamic noise source. Peak frequencies of aerodynamic noises in the far field were 34 Hz, 79 Hz, 124 Hz and 170 Hz. When observation points were 7.5 m away from the center line of track, the maximum sound pressure level was 83.6 dB. When observation points were 25 m away from the center line of track, the maximum sound pressure level was 75.9 dB

Study on the dynamic response of subway tunnel by viaduct collapsing vibration and the protective measures of reducing vibration

Collapsing vibration caused by demolition blasting of buildings has large effect on the buildings and underground structures nearby. Combined with the demolition blasting of a viaduct, numerical simulation was carried out to investigate dynamic response of subway tunnel subjected to collapsing impact load. The paper put forward composite protective structures of steel-rubber tires and makes safety checking calculation of the subway tunnel on the basis of composite protective measures by numerical simulation. In order to ensure the safety and stability of subway tunnel in the practical operation of demolition blasting of the viaduct, the composite protection system was further optimized, which may provide a good reference for the related engineering practices

A fork in the path: Developing therapeutic inroads with FoxO proteins

Advances in clinical care for disorders involving any system of the body necessitates novel therapeutic strategies that can focus upon the modulation of cellular proliferation, metabolism, inflammation and longevity. In this respect, members of the mammalian forkhead transcription factors of the O class (FoxOs) that include FoxO1, FoxO3, FoxO4 and FoxO6 are increasingly being recognized as exciting prospects for multiple disorders. These transcription factors govern development, proliferation, survival and longevity during multiple cellular environments that can involve oxidative stress. Furthermore, these transcription factors are closely integrated with several novel signal transduction pathways, such as erythropoietin and Wnt proteins, that may influence the ability of FoxOs to act as a “double-edge sword” to sometimes promote cell survival, but at other times lead to cell injury. Here we discuss the fascinating but complex role of FoxOs during cellular injury and oxidative stress, progenitor cell development, fertility, angiogenesis, cardiovascular function, cellular metabolism and diabetes, cell longevity, immune surveillance and cancer

New strategies for Alzheimer disease and cognitive impairment

Approximately five million people suffer with Alzheimer disease (AD) and more than twenty-four million people are diagnosed with AD, pre-senile dementia, and other disorders of cognitive loss worldwide. Furthermore, the annual cost per patient with AD can approach $200,000 with an annual population aggregate cost of$100 billion. Yet, complete therapeutic prevention or reversal of neurovascular injury during AD and cognitive loss is not achievable despite the current understanding of the cellular pathways that modulate nervous system injury during these disorders. As a result, identification of novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of neurovascular injury would be extremely beneficial to reduce or eliminate disability from diseases that lead to cognitive loss or impairment. Here we describe the capacity of intrinsic cellular mechanisms for the novel pathways of erythropoietin and forkhead transcription factors that may offer not only new strategies for disorders such as AD and cognitive loss, but also function as biomarkers for disease onset and progression

Study on the vibration effect on operation subway induced by blasting of an adjacent cross tunnel and the reducing vibration techniques

The Hongshan road tunnels in Nanjing cross up the metro Line 1 tunnel, the closest distance between Hongshan road tunnels and subway tunnels is only 4.14 m. In order to ensure the safety of the subway structure during the Hongshan road tunnels group excavation blasting, the vibration of the subway tunnel was monitored real time. The monitoring results showed that the main frequency distributions of the radial, tangential and vertical vibration of subway tunnel were significantly different. The main frequency and energy of tunnel vibration is mainly concentrated in the high frequency band. This characteristic is very beneficial for the protection of the subway tunnel and catenary. A series of techniques to reduce the vibration were taken during tunnel excavation blasting, which reduced the impact of the blasting vibration to subway tunnel and catenary, and ensured the operation subway safety. The vibration of subway tunnel can be controlled within a certain safety standard with proposed of reducing vibration techniques. It is shown that real-time monitoring and the comprehensive application of the reducing vibration technique are able to guarantee the security of adjacent cross operation subway, which provides references for similar tunnel projects

Therapeutic promise and principles: Metabotropic glutamate receptors

For a number of disease entities, oxidative stress becomes a significant factor in the etiology and progression of cell dysfunction and injury. Therapeutic strategies that can identify novel signal transduction pathways to ameliorate the toxic effects of oxidative stress may lead to new avenues of treatment for a spectrum of disorders that include diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and immune system dysfunction. In this respect, metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) may offer exciting prospects for several disorders since these receptors can limit or prevent apoptotic cell injury as well as impact upon cellular development and function. Yet the role of mGluRs is complex in nature and may require specific mGluR modulation for a particular disease entity to maximize clinical efficacy and limit potential disability. Here we discuss the potential clinical translation of mGluRs and highlight the role of novel signal transduction pathways in the metabotropic glutamate system that may be vital for the clinical utility of mGluRs

Generation of high-density high-polarization positrons via single-shot strong laser-foil interaction

We put forward a novel method for producing ultrarelativistic high-density high-polarization positrons through a single-shot interaction of a strong laser with a tilted solid foil. In our method, the driving laser ionizes the target, and the emitted electrons are accelerated and subsequently generate abundant $\gamma$ photons via the nonlinear Compton scattering, dominated by the laser. These $\gamma$ photons then generate polarized positrons via the nonlinear Breit-Wheeler process, dominated by a strong self-generated quasi-static magnetic field $\mathbf{B}^{\rm S}$. We find that placing the foil at an appropriate angle can result in a directional orientation of $\mathbf{B}^{\rm S}$, thereby polarizing positrons. Manipulating the laser polarization direction can control the angle between the $\gamma$ photon polarization and $\mathbf{B}^{\rm S}$, significantly enhancing the positron polarization degree. Our spin-resolved quantum electrodynamics particle-in-cell simulations demonstrate that employing a laser with a peak intensity of about $10^{23}$ W/cm$^2$ can obtain dense ($\gtrsim$ 10$^{18}$ cm$^{-3}$) polarized positrons with an average polarization degree of about 70\% and a yield of above 0.1 nC per shot. Moreover, our method is feasible using currently available or upcoming laser facilities and robust with respect to the laser and target parameters. Such high-density high-polarization positrons hold great significance in laboratory astrophysics, high-energy physics and new physics beyond the Standard Model