Cohesive element is developed from the Dugdal-Barenblatt model in the field of fracture mechanics. The mechanical constitutive relation of cohesive element can be artificially assumed depending on the specific applica...Cohesive element is developed from the Dugdal-Barenblatt model in the field of fracture mechanics. The mechanical constitutive relation of cohesive element can be artificially assumed depending on the specific applications. It has been successfully applied in the study of crystal plasticity/brittle fracture process and decohesion between delaminations. In this paper, tensile experiments of large steel plate with different length of pre-existing cracks are conducted. Based on commercial software ABAQUS, cohesive element is adopted to simulate the tensile tests, and appropriate parameter values are obtained by fitting displacement-force curves. Using these parameters, a numerical method is presented by applying cohesive element to thermo-elastic-plastic finite element method （TEP-FEM） to simulate plate rigid restraint cracking （PRRC） tests. By changing constitutive relation of cohesive element, dimensions of the model and welding conditions, the influence of welding restraint intensity and welding conditions on the crack propagation are discussed, respectively. Three types of welding cold cracking are simulated. Significant influence of welding cold cracking on resistant stress in welding line is captured by this numerical method.展开更多
Good interlayer interface performance is the key to maintaining the stability of CRTSⅡslab ballastless track structure.In a project,the tangential cohesion parameters of CRTSⅡslab ballastless track structure are gen...Good interlayer interface performance is the key to maintaining the stability of CRTSⅡslab ballastless track structure.In a project,the tangential cohesion parameters of CRTSⅡslab ballastless track structure are generally measured by horizontal push plate test,so as to measure the interlayer interface performance.Horizontal push plate contraction scale and full scale tests of CRTSⅡslab ballastless track structure are carried out to obtain the tangential force-displacement relation curve of the interlayer interface,thus obtaining the parameters of cohesion model.A threedimensional progressive damage analysis model for CRTSⅡslab ballastless track structure is established,the whole process inversion of the horizontal push plate test is carried out,and the reliability of the contraction scale test results is verified by means of simulation and comparative analysis of test results.The results show that the greater the tangential stiffness of the interlayer interface of the track structure,the weaker the interlayer deformation coordination capability;the more significant the non-uniformity of the interface damage,the more likely the stress concentration;the greater the fracture toughness,the less likely the disjoint in the interlayer interface of the track structure.展开更多
The current study aims to evaluate the dynamic response of stabilized cohesive soil using an enzymatic preparation in terms of resilient modulus.We ran a series of resilient modulus testing according to AASHTO T307 on...The current study aims to evaluate the dynamic response of stabilized cohesive soil using an enzymatic preparation in terms of resilient modulus.We ran a series of resilient modulus testing according to AASHTO T307 on three types of cohesive soil treated with an enzymatic preparation to investigate its potential on roads construction.The results show significant improvement in the resilient modulus values,estimated at 1.4 to 4.4 times that observed for the untreated soil.Because of the complexity in conducting the resilient modulus measurement,we did a regression analysis to produce reliable correlation formula to predict the resilient modulus for untreated and stabilised soil samples involving stress state.The resilient modulus values for the subgrade materials at the anticipated field stresses were determined using a universal model.The enzymatic preparation was applied in pavement of a sample road and evaluated using the plate load test.SEM analysis for soil samples shows improvement in the soil compaction via reduction of voids between soil particles.XRD analysis shows no major structural changes in the treated soils.The enzymatic preparation contains 43 mg/mL of proteins.We used the SDS-PAGE(sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis)technique to identify the main protein components;however,the presence of interfering materials(surfactants)hinders the separation.展开更多
immunomodulary drug Setarud, which is composed of herbal extracts including Rosa canina, Urtica dioica and Tanacetum vulgare, supplemented with selenium exhibits anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. Therefor...immunomodulary drug Setarud, which is composed of herbal extracts including Rosa canina, Urtica dioica and Tanacetum vulgare, supplemented with selenium exhibits anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. Therefore, we hypothesized that Setarud will have a neuroprotective effect against ischemic cerebral injury. To validate this hypothesis, rats were intraperitoneally administered with 0.66 mL/kg Setarud for 30 minutes after middle cerebral artery occlusion. Triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining showed that Setarud could reduce cerebral infarct volume of rats subjected to cerebral ischemia. Transmission electron microscopy and hematoxylin-eosin staining results showed that Setarud could alleviate the degenerative changes in cortical neurons of rats with cerebral ischemia. The inclined plate test and prehensile test showed that Setarud could significantly improve the motor function of rats with cerebral ischemia. These findings suggest that Setarud shows neuroprotective effects against ischemic brain injury.展开更多
The fracture behavior for welded joint of new generation fine grained steel SS400 was investigated and assessed on the basis of fitness for purpose philosophy. The actual critical defect sizes for the SS400 base metal...The fracture behavior for welded joint of new generation fine grained steel SS400 was investigated and assessed on the basis of fitness for purpose philosophy. The actual critical defect sizes for the SS400 base metal and its weld HAZ (heat affected zone) defined by the gross yielding criterium have been determined directly by means of wide plate tests. It has been shown that although the HAZ grain growth occurs due to the welding heat, the resistance to fracture is not deteriorated. The deformation behavior of wide plate specimen was also studied by finite, element (FE) analysis. The deformation of weld HAZ is protected by the high strength weld metal, so it is easier to get the general yielding for the welded joint specimen.展开更多
Pain is a sensation related to potential or actual damage in some tissue of the body. The mainstay of medical pain therapy remains drugs that have been around for decades, like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs （...Pain is a sensation related to potential or actual damage in some tissue of the body. The mainstay of medical pain therapy remains drugs that have been around for decades, like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs （NSAIDs）, or opiates. However, adverse effects of opiates, particularly tolerance, limit their clinical use. Several lines of investigations have shown that systemic （intraperitoneal） administration of NSAIDs induces antinociception with some effects of tolerance. In this review, we report that repeated microinjection of NSAIDs analgin, clodifen, ketorolac and xefocam into the central nucleus of amygdala, the midbrain periaqueductal grey matter and nucleus raphe magnus in the following 4 days result in progressively less antinociception compared to the saline control testing in the tail-flick reflex and hot plate latency tests. Hence, tolerance develops to these drugs and cross-tolerance to morphine in male rats. These findings strongly support the suggestion of endogenous opioid involvement in NSAIDs antinociception and tolerance in the descending pain-control system. Moreover, the periaqueductal grey-rostral ventro-medial part of medulla circuit should be viewed as a pain-modulation system. These data are important for human medicine. In particular, cross-tolerance between non-opioid and opioid analgesics should be important in the clinical setting.展开更多
The study on slide stability of hydraulic structures on subbed soil was made. Using the slide test results of dragged concreting base plates on subbed soil pits, the decreased value of bearing capacity on slide after ...The study on slide stability of hydraulic structures on subbed soil was made. Using the slide test results of dragged concreting base plates on subbed soil pits, the decreased value of bearing capacity on slide after re- bound and repression influence of subbed soil was determined, and the envelope of ultimate slide shear resistance was also quantitatively determined. Due to the lack of similar mechanisms of slide stability on subbed soil and base plate of hydraulic structures, different safety coefficients for the slide stability were adopted. It was suggested to use the maximum compressive stress O＇m~ of eccentric load to predict structure displacement, slide and creepy slippage of subbed soil, to determine the sliding creepy contour and limit the maximum load on subbed soil. Two hydraulic structures that had been put into operation were reviewed by this method, and the results accorded with the real conditions.展开更多
Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) is a peptide that is released from the hypothalamus into widespread areas of the brain. Evidence has suggested that CRF is involved as a neuromodulator outside of the hypothalamic-...Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) is a peptide that is released from the hypothalamus into widespread areas of the brain. Evidence has suggested that CRF is involved as a neuromodulator outside of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, playing an important role in fear, anxiety, depression and pain modulation. Our previous report demonstrated that CRF receptor activation in basolateral (BLA) or central nuclei of the amygdala (CeA) produces innate fear in guinea pigs. Inhibition of these receptors via administration of α-helical CRF9-41 (a nonspecific antagonist) into the CeA or BLA decreased innate fear behavior [1]. Additionally, there is strong evidence that emotional behavior and nociception can be modulated simultaneously. The present study was conducted to investigate the involvement of the CRF receptors of the BLA or CeA in nociception in guinea pigs. Guinea pigs were treated with CRF and α-helical CRF>9-41> in three different doses or injected with α-helical CRF9-41 preceded by CRF into the BLA or CeA, and they were evaluated using the hot plate test. Our findings indicated that activation of CRF receptors in the BLA and in the CeA promoted antinociception, and this effect was reversed by preadministration of α-helical CRF9-41 in the same area. The treatment with α-helical CRF>9-41> per se into the BLA and CeA did not alter nociception. Thus, nociception modulation occurs in a phasic manner, whereas defensive behavior can occur tonically because the α-helical CRF9-41 did not cause any modification on the index of analgesia in the hot plate test but did reduce innate fear behavior [1].展开更多
Objective:To investigate the effect of internal heat acupuncture on the tolerance time of plantar hot plate and the pain threshold of gastrocnemius in rats with chronic myofascial pain syndrome(MPS).Methods:A total of...Objective:To investigate the effect of internal heat acupuncture on the tolerance time of plantar hot plate and the pain threshold of gastrocnemius in rats with chronic myofascial pain syndrome(MPS).Methods:A total of 80 adult Wistar rats were randomly selected to establish chronic MPS rat models,and randomly divided into four groups:control group,acupuncture group,internal heat acupuncture group A,and internal heat acupuncture group B,with 20 rats in each group.The rats in the control group were not given any treatment,and the rats in the acupuncture group were only given acupuncture treatment.The rats in group A were treated with internal heat acupuncture(needle heating up to 42℃),and the rats in group B were treated with internal heat acupuncture(needle heating up to 44℃).The tolerance time of plantar hot plate,the pain threshold of gastrocnemius muscle and the level of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)were observed and compared before modeling,1 d before treatment,and 1,7 and 14 d after treatment.Results:There were significant differences in hot plate tolerance time,time and interaction among the four groups(P<0.05),as well as in gastrocnemius tenderness threshold,time and interaction among the four groups(P<0.05),and there were also significant differences in TNF-αlevel among the three groups(P>0.05).There were significant differences in the number of electric shocks,time and interaction among the four groups(P<0.05).Conclusion:In contrast to conventional acupuncture treatment,internal heat acupuncture demonstrates greater efficacy in extending the tolerance duration of hot plate exposure and enhancing the pain threshold of the gastrocnemius muscle in rats afflicted with myofascial pain syndrome.Additionally,it accelerates the amelioration of inflammatory markers and motor function.However,it is important to note that the therapeutic impact of internal heat acupuncture may be influenced by its temperature,with 44℃being the most effective in this research.展开更多
Brucellosis poses a significant health threat to the population,particularly to vulnerable populations,including infants.In this investigation,we retrospectively analyzed the infection source and potential transmissio...Brucellosis poses a significant health threat to the population,particularly to vulnerable populations,including infants.In this investigation,we retrospectively analyzed the infection source and potential transmission route in a three-month-old infant with febrile seizure.Bacteriology methods,epidemiological survey,Rose Bengal plate test(RBPT),and standard tube agglutination test(SAT)were used to diagnose the disease,and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry(MALDI-TOF-MS)was applied to identify the strain.The study revealed that the infant’s parents had been diagnosed with brucellosis due to occupational exposure to infected sheep.TheBrucella strain was isolated and identified from the infant’s blood sample,confirming brucellosis meningitis.Post-treatment serum analysis showed RBPT positivity and SAT titer of 1:200(++).The infant had no direct contact with livestock,with breast milk as the only dietary source;however,the detailed transmission route remained undetermined.Maternal-fetal transmission or contamination through breastfeeding,parental hand contact,clothing exposure,or other passive contamination modes may be potential transmission routes.Notably,the parents had a history of brucellosis and given that the infant presented with a fever of unknown origin,screening for brucellosis should have been prioritized.Following diagnosis,the infant was treated with ceftriaxone sodium(2.0 g/day)and rifampicin(0.5 g/day)for four weeks,ultimately achieving full clinical recovery.This case highlights the importance of brucellosis screening in infants presenting with unexplained fever,especially in families whose members have previously been diagnosed with brucellosis in endemic regions.展开更多
The modulus of soil reaction,representing the stiffness of a soil surrounding pipes,is a critical parameter in the design of buried flexible pipes.This study conducted plate loading tests on corrugated polyvinyl chlor...The modulus of soil reaction,representing the stiffness of a soil surrounding pipes,is a critical parameter in the design of buried flexible pipes.This study conducted plate loading tests on corrugated polyvinyl chloride,smooth polyvinyl chloride,and high-density polyethylene pipes buried in lightweight cellular concrete(LCC)backfills at densities of 400,475,550,and 650 kg/m^(3)to investigate the pipe deformation behavior and moduli of soil reaction.In addition,this study examined the effects of the narrow trench condition on the pipe deformation and modulus of soil reaction.In these tests,the vertical and horizontal diameter changes of pipes under the vertical pressures applied through a hydraulic jack were measured.Test results reveal that the average moduli of soil reaction of plastic pipes within a wide trench backfilled by the LCCs at densities of 400,475,550,and 650 kg/m^(3)were back-calculated as 66,99,133,and 205 MPa,respectively,using the modified Iowa formula.Furthermore,the back-calculated moduli of soil reaction for LCCs exhibited linear relationships with their densities and unconfined compressive strengths and were higher than the recommended values for the commonly used soil backfills.Based on the vertical deformation criterion of 5%pipe diameter,the ultimate bearing capacities of flexible pipes buried in wide LCCs at densities of 475,550,and 650 kg/m^(3)exceeded 500 kPa.The LCC with a narrow trench exhibited a lower modulus of soil reaction and ultimate bearing capacity but a larger pipe diameter change.展开更多
Background Connexin 43 （Cx43） is one of the major components of human keratinocyte gap junctions. To study whether gap junctional intercellular communication participates in the transfer of acupoint signals and acup...Background Connexin 43 （Cx43） is one of the major components of human keratinocyte gap junctions. To study whether gap junctional intercellular communication participates in the transfer of acupoint signals and acupuncture analgesia, the expression of Cx43 was studied in Zusanli （ST36） acupoints compared with control non-acupoint regions in rats after acupuncture. In addition, Cx43 heterozygous gene knockout mice were used to further explore the relationship between Cx43 and acupuncture analgesia.Methods The expression of Cx43 was detected by immunohistochemistry, immunoblotting, and RT-PCR for the Cx43 protein and mRNA. The influence of the Cx43 gene knockout on acupuncture analgesia was measured by a hot plate and observing the writhing response on Cx43 heterozygous gene knockout mice. Results Immunohistochemistry showed abundant Cx43 expression in some cells in the skin and subcutaneous tissue of rat ST36 acupoints. The mRNA and protein levels of Cx43 in acupoints were significantly higher than those in the control points in the non-acupuncture group, and even more so after acupuncture. The hot plate and writhing response experiments showed that partial knockout of the Cx43 gene decreased acupuncture analgesia. Conclusion Cx43 expression and acupuncture analgesia showed a positive correlation.展开更多
文摘Cohesive element is developed from the Dugdal-Barenblatt model in the field of fracture mechanics. The mechanical constitutive relation of cohesive element can be artificially assumed depending on the specific applications. It has been successfully applied in the study of crystal plasticity/brittle fracture process and decohesion between delaminations. In this paper, tensile experiments of large steel plate with different length of pre-existing cracks are conducted. Based on commercial software ABAQUS, cohesive element is adopted to simulate the tensile tests, and appropriate parameter values are obtained by fitting displacement-force curves. Using these parameters, a numerical method is presented by applying cohesive element to thermo-elastic-plastic finite element method （TEP-FEM） to simulate plate rigid restraint cracking （PRRC） tests. By changing constitutive relation of cohesive element, dimensions of the model and welding conditions, the influence of welding restraint intensity and welding conditions on the crack propagation are discussed, respectively. Three types of welding cold cracking are simulated. Significant influence of welding cold cracking on resistant stress in welding line is captured by this numerical method.
文摘Good interlayer interface performance is the key to maintaining the stability of CRTSⅡslab ballastless track structure.In a project,the tangential cohesion parameters of CRTSⅡslab ballastless track structure are generally measured by horizontal push plate test,so as to measure the interlayer interface performance.Horizontal push plate contraction scale and full scale tests of CRTSⅡslab ballastless track structure are carried out to obtain the tangential force-displacement relation curve of the interlayer interface,thus obtaining the parameters of cohesion model.A threedimensional progressive damage analysis model for CRTSⅡslab ballastless track structure is established,the whole process inversion of the horizontal push plate test is carried out,and the reliability of the contraction scale test results is verified by means of simulation and comparative analysis of test results.The results show that the greater the tangential stiffness of the interlayer interface of the track structure,the weaker the interlayer deformation coordination capability;the more significant the non-uniformity of the interface damage,the more likely the stress concentration;the greater the fracture toughness,the less likely the disjoint in the interlayer interface of the track structure.
基金Project supported by the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology,ASRT,Cairo,Egypt
文摘The current study aims to evaluate the dynamic response of stabilized cohesive soil using an enzymatic preparation in terms of resilient modulus.We ran a series of resilient modulus testing according to AASHTO T307 on three types of cohesive soil treated with an enzymatic preparation to investigate its potential on roads construction.The results show significant improvement in the resilient modulus values,estimated at 1.4 to 4.4 times that observed for the untreated soil.Because of the complexity in conducting the resilient modulus measurement,we did a regression analysis to produce reliable correlation formula to predict the resilient modulus for untreated and stabilised soil samples involving stress state.The resilient modulus values for the subgrade materials at the anticipated field stresses were determined using a universal model.The enzymatic preparation was applied in pavement of a sample road and evaluated using the plate load test.SEM analysis for soil samples shows improvement in the soil compaction via reduction of voids between soil particles.XRD analysis shows no major structural changes in the treated soils.The enzymatic preparation contains 43 mg/mL of proteins.We used the SDS-PAGE(sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis)technique to identify the main protein components;however,the presence of interfering materials(surfactants)hinders the separation.
基金supported by a grant from the Vice Chancellor of Research at Kerman Medical University
文摘immunomodulary drug Setarud, which is composed of herbal extracts including Rosa canina, Urtica dioica and Tanacetum vulgare, supplemented with selenium exhibits anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. Therefore, we hypothesized that Setarud will have a neuroprotective effect against ischemic cerebral injury. To validate this hypothesis, rats were intraperitoneally administered with 0.66 mL/kg Setarud for 30 minutes after middle cerebral artery occlusion. Triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining showed that Setarud could reduce cerebral infarct volume of rats subjected to cerebral ischemia. Transmission electron microscopy and hematoxylin-eosin staining results showed that Setarud could alleviate the degenerative changes in cortical neurons of rats with cerebral ischemia. The inclined plate test and prehensile test showed that Setarud could significantly improve the motor function of rats with cerebral ischemia. These findings suggest that Setarud shows neuroprotective effects against ischemic brain injury.
基金Supported by FOK YING TUNG Education Foundation and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.50275107).
文摘The fracture behavior for welded joint of new generation fine grained steel SS400 was investigated and assessed on the basis of fitness for purpose philosophy. The actual critical defect sizes for the SS400 base metal and its weld HAZ (heat affected zone) defined by the gross yielding criterium have been determined directly by means of wide plate tests. It has been shown that although the HAZ grain growth occurs due to the welding heat, the resistance to fracture is not deteriorated. The deformation behavior of wide plate specimen was also studied by finite, element (FE) analysis. The deformation of weld HAZ is protected by the high strength weld metal, so it is easier to get the general yielding for the welded joint specimen.
基金supported by the grant from Georgian National Science Foundation,No.GNSF/ST07/6-234
文摘Pain is a sensation related to potential or actual damage in some tissue of the body. The mainstay of medical pain therapy remains drugs that have been around for decades, like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs （NSAIDs）, or opiates. However, adverse effects of opiates, particularly tolerance, limit their clinical use. Several lines of investigations have shown that systemic （intraperitoneal） administration of NSAIDs induces antinociception with some effects of tolerance. In this review, we report that repeated microinjection of NSAIDs analgin, clodifen, ketorolac and xefocam into the central nucleus of amygdala, the midbrain periaqueductal grey matter and nucleus raphe magnus in the following 4 days result in progressively less antinociception compared to the saline control testing in the tail-flick reflex and hot plate latency tests. Hence, tolerance develops to these drugs and cross-tolerance to morphine in male rats. These findings strongly support the suggestion of endogenous opioid involvement in NSAIDs antinociception and tolerance in the descending pain-control system. Moreover, the periaqueductal grey-rostral ventro-medial part of medulla circuit should be viewed as a pain-modulation system. These data are important for human medicine. In particular, cross-tolerance between non-opioid and opioid analgesics should be important in the clinical setting.
文摘The study on slide stability of hydraulic structures on subbed soil was made. Using the slide test results of dragged concreting base plates on subbed soil pits, the decreased value of bearing capacity on slide after re- bound and repression influence of subbed soil was determined, and the envelope of ultimate slide shear resistance was also quantitatively determined. Due to the lack of similar mechanisms of slide stability on subbed soil and base plate of hydraulic structures, different safety coefficients for the slide stability were adopted. It was suggested to use the maximum compressive stress O＇m~ of eccentric load to predict structure displacement, slide and creepy slippage of subbed soil, to determine the sliding creepy contour and limit the maximum load on subbed soil. Two hydraulic structures that had been put into operation were reviewed by this method, and the results accorded with the real conditions.
基金supported by CAPES/PROEX,FAPESP(2010/10936-5)A.F.Donatti has a doctorate scholarship from CAPESC.R.A.Leite-Panissi also received grants from the CNPq(Grant No.307383/2012-1).
文摘Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) is a peptide that is released from the hypothalamus into widespread areas of the brain. Evidence has suggested that CRF is involved as a neuromodulator outside of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, playing an important role in fear, anxiety, depression and pain modulation. Our previous report demonstrated that CRF receptor activation in basolateral (BLA) or central nuclei of the amygdala (CeA) produces innate fear in guinea pigs. Inhibition of these receptors via administration of α-helical CRF9-41 (a nonspecific antagonist) into the CeA or BLA decreased innate fear behavior [1]. Additionally, there is strong evidence that emotional behavior and nociception can be modulated simultaneously. The present study was conducted to investigate the involvement of the CRF receptors of the BLA or CeA in nociception in guinea pigs. Guinea pigs were treated with CRF and α-helical CRF>9-41> in three different doses or injected with α-helical CRF9-41 preceded by CRF into the BLA or CeA, and they were evaluated using the hot plate test. Our findings indicated that activation of CRF receptors in the BLA and in the CeA promoted antinociception, and this effect was reversed by preadministration of α-helical CRF9-41 in the same area. The treatment with α-helical CRF>9-41> per se into the BLA and CeA did not alter nociception. Thus, nociception modulation occurs in a phasic manner, whereas defensive behavior can occur tonically because the α-helical CRF9-41 did not cause any modification on the index of analgesia in the hot plate test but did reduce innate fear behavior [1].
文摘Objective:To investigate the effect of internal heat acupuncture on the tolerance time of plantar hot plate and the pain threshold of gastrocnemius in rats with chronic myofascial pain syndrome(MPS).Methods:A total of 80 adult Wistar rats were randomly selected to establish chronic MPS rat models,and randomly divided into four groups:control group,acupuncture group,internal heat acupuncture group A,and internal heat acupuncture group B,with 20 rats in each group.The rats in the control group were not given any treatment,and the rats in the acupuncture group were only given acupuncture treatment.The rats in group A were treated with internal heat acupuncture(needle heating up to 42℃),and the rats in group B were treated with internal heat acupuncture(needle heating up to 44℃).The tolerance time of plantar hot plate,the pain threshold of gastrocnemius muscle and the level of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)were observed and compared before modeling,1 d before treatment,and 1,7 and 14 d after treatment.Results:There were significant differences in hot plate tolerance time,time and interaction among the four groups(P<0.05),as well as in gastrocnemius tenderness threshold,time and interaction among the four groups(P<0.05),and there were also significant differences in TNF-αlevel among the three groups(P>0.05).There were significant differences in the number of electric shocks,time and interaction among the four groups(P<0.05).Conclusion:In contrast to conventional acupuncture treatment,internal heat acupuncture demonstrates greater efficacy in extending the tolerance duration of hot plate exposure and enhancing the pain threshold of the gastrocnemius muscle in rats afflicted with myofascial pain syndrome.Additionally,it accelerates the amelioration of inflammatory markers and motor function.However,it is important to note that the therapeutic impact of internal heat acupuncture may be influenced by its temperature,with 44℃being the most effective in this research.
基金supported by the Guiding Project of Qinghai Health System(2022-wjzdx-38).
文摘Brucellosis poses a significant health threat to the population,particularly to vulnerable populations,including infants.In this investigation,we retrospectively analyzed the infection source and potential transmission route in a three-month-old infant with febrile seizure.Bacteriology methods,epidemiological survey,Rose Bengal plate test(RBPT),and standard tube agglutination test(SAT)were used to diagnose the disease,and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry(MALDI-TOF-MS)was applied to identify the strain.The study revealed that the infant’s parents had been diagnosed with brucellosis due to occupational exposure to infected sheep.TheBrucella strain was isolated and identified from the infant’s blood sample,confirming brucellosis meningitis.Post-treatment serum analysis showed RBPT positivity and SAT titer of 1:200(++).The infant had no direct contact with livestock,with breast milk as the only dietary source;however,the detailed transmission route remained undetermined.Maternal-fetal transmission or contamination through breastfeeding,parental hand contact,clothing exposure,or other passive contamination modes may be potential transmission routes.Notably,the parents had a history of brucellosis and given that the infant presented with a fever of unknown origin,screening for brucellosis should have been prioritized.Following diagnosis,the infant was treated with ceftriaxone sodium(2.0 g/day)and rifampicin(0.5 g/day)for four weeks,ultimately achieving full clinical recovery.This case highlights the importance of brucellosis screening in infants presenting with unexplained fever,especially in families whose members have previously been diagnosed with brucellosis in endemic regions.
基金supported by the CEMATRIX Corp.The authors would like to thank technicians David Woody,Kent Dye,and Meyer Carey in the Civil,Environmental,&Architectural Engineering Department at the University of Kansas,for their great assistance in modifying and calibrating the test devices used in this studyThe authors also would like to appreciate Ph.D.student Alsharari Turki from the University of Kansas and formerly visiting student Hsin-Ming Wu at the University of Kansas,and Albert Fang from CEMATRIX for their great help on the model tests.Josh Beakley at the American Concrete Pipe Association provided valuable comments and suggestions for the data analysis of soil reaction modulus.
文摘The modulus of soil reaction,representing the stiffness of a soil surrounding pipes,is a critical parameter in the design of buried flexible pipes.This study conducted plate loading tests on corrugated polyvinyl chloride,smooth polyvinyl chloride,and high-density polyethylene pipes buried in lightweight cellular concrete(LCC)backfills at densities of 400,475,550,and 650 kg/m^(3)to investigate the pipe deformation behavior and moduli of soil reaction.In addition,this study examined the effects of the narrow trench condition on the pipe deformation and modulus of soil reaction.In these tests,the vertical and horizontal diameter changes of pipes under the vertical pressures applied through a hydraulic jack were measured.Test results reveal that the average moduli of soil reaction of plastic pipes within a wide trench backfilled by the LCCs at densities of 400,475,550,and 650 kg/m^(3)were back-calculated as 66,99,133,and 205 MPa,respectively,using the modified Iowa formula.Furthermore,the back-calculated moduli of soil reaction for LCCs exhibited linear relationships with their densities and unconfined compressive strengths and were higher than the recommended values for the commonly used soil backfills.Based on the vertical deformation criterion of 5%pipe diameter,the ultimate bearing capacities of flexible pipes buried in wide LCCs at densities of 475,550,and 650 kg/m^(3)exceeded 500 kPa.The LCC with a narrow trench exhibited a lower modulus of soil reaction and ultimate bearing capacity but a larger pipe diameter change.
基金This work was supported by the grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China （No. 90209009） and the National Basic Research Program （No. 2006CB504502）.
文摘Background Connexin 43 （Cx43） is one of the major components of human keratinocyte gap junctions. To study whether gap junctional intercellular communication participates in the transfer of acupoint signals and acupuncture analgesia, the expression of Cx43 was studied in Zusanli （ST36） acupoints compared with control non-acupoint regions in rats after acupuncture. In addition, Cx43 heterozygous gene knockout mice were used to further explore the relationship between Cx43 and acupuncture analgesia.Methods The expression of Cx43 was detected by immunohistochemistry, immunoblotting, and RT-PCR for the Cx43 protein and mRNA. The influence of the Cx43 gene knockout on acupuncture analgesia was measured by a hot plate and observing the writhing response on Cx43 heterozygous gene knockout mice. Results Immunohistochemistry showed abundant Cx43 expression in some cells in the skin and subcutaneous tissue of rat ST36 acupoints. The mRNA and protein levels of Cx43 in acupoints were significantly higher than those in the control points in the non-acupuncture group, and even more so after acupuncture. The hot plate and writhing response experiments showed that partial knockout of the Cx43 gene decreased acupuncture analgesia. Conclusion Cx43 expression and acupuncture analgesia showed a positive correlation.
