Research on the interface properties of geogrid with different mesh sizes

Due to its special mesh structure, geogrid can be embedded in the surrounding soil so effectively that the effects of reinforcement are comparatively better the other geotechnical composite materials. Geogrid has been adopted more and more widely in steep embankment reinforcement engineering. In practical engineering, the design of a reinforced body of soil with geogrid is usually based on Finite Elemental Method (FEM) numerical methods and calculation is carried out as a two-dimensional plane strain problem. This simplifies the geogrid with mesh structure into a single strip. The plausibility of calculating the strength indexes of the interface through interface parameters without considering the influence of the mesh size of the geogrid on the features of the interface should be studied. The current research on the interface properties of geogrid with different mesh sizes does not examine this issue thoroughly. By using large-sized shear experiments and FEM numerical methods, this paper studies the influences of the mesh size of geogrid on interface properties. The influence of mesh size on the features of the interface with geogrid can be displayed directly and quantitatively. This shows that larger mesh sizes result in higher strength indexes of the interface and a clearer reinforcement effect. The corresponding requirements of the geogrid material also increase; otherwise, the tensile strength would not be satisfied. The research results provide effective guarantees for the construction and operation of steep embankment reinforcement engineering, which is meaningful for safety engineering

Altered gut microbiota in temporal lobe epilepsy with anxiety disorders

IntroductionPatients with epilepsy are particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of anxiety disorders. In particular, temporal lobe epilepsy with anxiety disorders (TLEA) has attracted more attention in epilepsy research. The link between intestinal dysbiosis and TLEA has not been established yet. To gain deeper insight into the link between gut microbiota dysbiosis and factors affecting TLEA, the composition of the gut microbiome, including bacteria and fungi, has been examined.MethodsThe gut microbiota from 51 temporal lobe epilepsy patients has been subjected to sequencing targeting 16S rDNA (Illumina MiSeq) and from 45 temporal lobe epilepsy patients targeting the ITS-1 region (through pyrosequencing). A differential analysis has been conducted on the gut microbiota from the phylum to the genus level.ResultsTLEA patients' gut bacteria and fungal microbiota exhibited distinct characteristics and diversity as evidenced by high-throughput sequencing (HTS). TLEA patients showed higher abundances of Escherichia-Shigella (genus), Enterobacterales (order), Enterobacteriaceae (family), Proteobacteria (phylum), Gammaproteobacteria (class), and lower abundances of Clostridia (class), Firmicutes, Lachnospiraceae (family), Lachnospirales (order), and Ruminococcus (genus). Among fungi, Saccharomycetales fam. incertae sedis (family), Saccharomycetales (order), Saccharomycetes (class), and Ascomycota (phylum) were significantly more abundant in TLEA patients than in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy but without anxiety. Adoption and perception of seizure control significantly affected TLEA bacterial community structure, while yearly hospitalization frequency affected fungal community structures in TLEA patients.ConclusionHere, our study validated the gut microbiota dysbiosis of TLEA. Moreover, the pioneering study of bacterial and fungal microbiota profiles will help in understanding the course of TLEA and drive us toward preventing TLEA gut microbiota dysbiosis

Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing in the Diagnosis of HHV-1 Reactivation in a Critically Ill COVID-19 Patient: A Case Report

Background: Secondary infections pose tremendous challenges in Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) treatment and are associated with higher mortality rates. Clinicians face of the challenge of diagnosing viral infections because of low sensitivity of available laboratory tests. Case Presentation: A 66-year-old woman initially manifested fever and shortness of breath. She was diagnosed as critically ill with COVID-19 using quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) and treated with antiviral therapy, ventilator and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). However, after the condition was relatively stabled for a few days, the patient deteriorated with fever, frequent cough, increased airway secretions, and increased exudative lesions in the lower right lung on chest X-rays, showing the possibility of a newly acquired infection, though sputum bacterial and fungal cultures and smears showed negative results. Using metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS), we identified a reactivation of latent human herpes virus type 1 (HHV-1) in the respiratory tract, blood and gastrointestinal tract, resulting in a worsened clinical course in a critically ill COVID-19 patient on ECMO. Anti-HHV-1 therapy guided by these sequencing results effectively decreased HHV-1 levels, and improved the patient\u27s clinical condition. After 49 days on ECMO and 67 days on the ventilator, the 66-year-old patient recovered and was discharged. Conclusions: This case report demonstrates the potential value of mNGS for evidence-based treatment, and suggests that potential reactivation of latent viruses should be considered in critically ill COVID-19 patients

Analysis of Tensile Strength's Influence on Limit Height and Active Earth Pressure of Slope Based on Ultimate Strain Method

In the geotechnical engineering, the tensile failure of soil is disregarded for a long time. Actually, the tensile strength of soil is very low and the tensile failure really occurs, especially in the slope engineering. The limit height and active earth pressure of slope will change when considering the effect of tensile failure. In this paper, we try to figure out the limit height and active earth pressure of slope by using the new numerical limit analysis method, the ultimate strain method. The results, without considering tensile failure and with considering tensile failure, are compared with the analytical solutions. It is proved that the ultimate strain method is credible and feasible in the slope engineering. The result shows that the tensile strength has a great influence on the limit height of the unsupported slope, but little influence on supported slope. It also has obvious influence on the active earth pressure of supported slope when the value of tensile strength is small, and the smaller the tensile strength the larger the influence. But the earth pressure becomes stable when the value of tensile strength is over 10 kN, and it is much close to the one calculated without considering the tensile failure

Analysis of Tensile Strength’s Influence on Limit Height and Active Earth Pressure of Slope Based on Ultimate Strain Method

In the geotechnical engineering, the tensile failure of soil is disregarded for a long time. Actually, the tensile strength of soil is very low and the tensile failure really occurs, especially in the slope engineering. The limit height and active earth pressure of slope will change when considering the effect of tensile failure. In this paper, we try to figure out the limit height and active earth pressure of slope by using the new numerical limit analysis method, the ultimate strain method. The results, without considering tensile failure and with considering tensile failure, are compared with the analytical solutions. It is proved that the ultimate strain method is credible and feasible in the slope engineering. The result shows that the tensile strength has a great influence on the limit height of the unsupported slope, but little influence on supported slope. It also has obvious influence on the active earth pressure of supported slope when the value of tensile strength is small, and the smaller the tensile strength the larger the influence. But the earth pressure becomes stable when the value of tensile strength is over 10 kN, and it is much close to the one calculated without considering the tensile failure