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A large shaking-table test of a loess slope with a geometric similarity ratio of 1:25 was established as a prototype model of the loess landslide in Yongguang Village, which occurred during the 2013 Minxian–Zhangxian M6.6 earthquake. Combined with finite-element–numerical-simulation software, the dynamic response characteristics of the loess slope were compared and analyzed under the action of the same Minxian horizontal seismic wave characteristics. The results show that the seismic waves observed in the model test and numerical simulation clearly exhibit non-linear amplification effects along the slope surface and in the loess vertical direction, reaching a maximum value at the top of the slope. The ground-motion acceleration waveforms observed in the model test and numerical simulation at each observation point of the slope were similar, and the horizontal peak ground acceleration (PGA) obtained from the numerical simulation at these locations was larger than that of the slope top. The horizontal aSimulated-max/aModel-max values ranged from 1.5 to 2.2 and the vertical aSimulated-max/aModel-max values were more discrete in the range of 0.5–2.7, while the horizontal and vertical-PGA-amplification factors at the slope surface were similar. The Fourier amplitude and main horizontal frequencies were mainly distributed between 0.1 and 12 Hz. The Fourier spectrum observed in the model test was approximately 0.5 Hz, while the main frequency of the vertical Fourier spectrum was approximately 4 Hz. Additionally, the main frequency of the horizontal and vertical Fourier spectra observed in the numerical simulation was approximately 2 and 1.2 Hz, respectively.

Soil freezing characteristic curve (SFCC) defines the relationship between unfrozen water content and subzero temperature. The SFCC is widely applied to estimate the soil properties. The current study explored the effects of initial water content, dry density, soil type and desalination on the SFCC during a freezing-thawing process. It showed that the initial water content, soil type and desalination had great impacts on SFCC, while the dry density had an insignificant effect on SFCC. Hysteresis behavior was observed for all the soil samples. The hysteresis behavior was obvious in the temperature range of -5°C < T < 0, but not obvious in the temperature range of T ≤ -10 °C. A new equation containing freezing/thawing point was proposed to model the SFCC. The new model and four SFCC models were evaluated with measured data in this study. It showed that the new model performed best among these models. The new model accurately mimics the SFCC and is continuous near the freezing/thawing point and 0 °C. It can be easily incorporated into numerical algorithms for coupled heat and mass transfer in cold regions.

ObjectiveWe conducted the following cross-sectional study to comprehensively assess the anxiety among Chinese international students who studied online during the COVID-19 pandemic and its influencing factors.MethodsQuestionnaires were distributed through “Sojump,” and a total of 1,090 valid questionnaires were collected. The questionnaire was divided into two parts: general situation and anxiety assessment of students. The former used a self-made questionnaire, and the international general GAD-7 scale was used to measure anxiety. Chi-square test was used to analyze the differences between groups, and logistic regression analysis was performed for the factors with differences.ResultsAnxiety was found in 707 (64.9%) of 1,090 international students. Chi-square test and multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the incidence of anxiety was higher in the group under 22 years of age than in the group over 22 years of age (68% vs. 61%, p = 0.015; OR = 1.186, 95% CI 1.045–1.347, p = 0.008); International students living in big cities had a higher incidence of anxiety than those living in rural areas (67% vs. 60%, p = 0.022; OR = 1.419, 95%CI 1.038–1.859, p = 0.011); international students who socialized 3 times or less monthly had a higher incidence of anxiety than those who socialized more than 3 times per month (68% vs. 58%, p = 0.003; OR = 1.52, 95%CI 1.160–1.992, p = 0.002); international students who expected purely online teaching had a higher incidence of anxiety than those who expected purely offline teaching or dual-track teaching (72% vs. 64%, p = 0.037; OR = 1.525, 95%CI 1.069–2.177, p = 0.02); international students with a subjective score of online learning experience of 6 or less had a higher incidence of anxiety than those with subjective scores of more than 6 (70% vs. 60%, p = 0.001, OR = 1.25, 95%CI 1.099–1.422, p = 0.001). However, gender, emotional status, BMI, major of study, vaccination status, and degree type had no significant difference in the incidence of anxiety among international students who studied online during the COVID-19 pandemic.ConclusionDuring COVID-19, international students who were younger, came from big cities, had low social frequency, expected purely online teaching, and had poor experience of online classes were risk factors for anxiety during online classes.

Loess tablelands are widely distributed in the center of the Loess Plateau. The percentage of the Loess Plateau area that experiences seismic intensities greater than or equal to level VII is 54.21%. Because of the gravity of the loess slope and a large number of vertical pores, the fissures are mostly developed in the Loess Plateau. The fissures can easily cause slope instability subjected to earthquakes. Considering the structural characteristics of loess tableland slopes and earthquakes, a shaking-table test on slope models with and without fissures is conducted to study the dynamic response characteristics and the law of deformation and instability of the slopes under seismic action. The results indicate that the amplification factors of peak ground acceleration (PGA) in the vicinity of the fissures in the loess slope are significantly higher than those in the non-fissure slope, which reaches a maximum value of 3.6 at the shoulder of slope (measuring point A15). Dynamic earth pressures have stress concentration in the middle and upper part (0.7 times slope height) near the fissure, which affects the variation law of slope earth pressure. The failure mode of the fissure slope is as follows: fissure development, fissure expansion, soil collapse at the slope shoulder, shear failure at high-position on the slope, shear failure at low-position on the slope, and formation of new fissures at the edge of the tableland.

Additional file 4. The diagnoses of 56 previously misdiagnosed patients with AL-CA.

Additional file 3. Median survival time of each subgroup.

Additional file 2. Regional distribution of diagnosed patients with AL-CA in the present study.

Additional file 1. Kaplan-Meier survival curves demonstrating differences in overall survival (months). The median survival time of AL-CA patients were diagnosed in the second half time (2016–2020) was longer than that of patients were diagnosed in the first half time (2012–2016) (12.00 vs 6.00, log-rank test, p = 0.35).

Multifunctional catalysts with highly efficient oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) are in great demand for energy conversion and storage devices. In this study, based on a series of single transition metal atom anchored graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) monolayer (TM@g-CN, TM = Fe-Cu, Ru-Ag), possible multifunctional electrocatalysts are screened out by using the density functional method. Our results demonstrated that Pd@g-CN is an excellent trifunctional catalyst with small overpotentials of 0.41/0.19/���0.28 V for ORR/OER/HER. For Cu@g-CN and Rh@g-CN, they show bifunctional activity toward OER and HER. For Cu@g-CN, the overpotentials are 0.38/���0.25 V for OER/HER, while they are 0.34/���0.22 V for Rh@g-CN. The adsorption strength of the intermediate *OH is a good descriptor for ORR and OER. These results suggest that the single transition metal atom anchored g-CN would be promising multifunctional catalysts and could provide useful guidance for their practical applications. Pd@g-CN exhibits promising catalytic performance toward ORR/OER/HER with the overpotentials of 0.41/0.19/-0.28 V

Electrosorption can be used for both desalination of seawater and high value element ions enrichment, which has attracted more and more attentions because of its merits of low energy consumption, no pollution and inexpensive. The research focuses on the preparation of novel electrodes and selective electrosorption properties. In this paper, biomass carbon aerogel was prepared by hydrothermal-freeze drying- carbonization method using pomelo peel as raw material. A composite electrosorption electrode was obtained using pomelo peel-based carbon aerogel (PCA) as main component. The surface morphology, crystal structure, specific surface area and functional groups were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Then the effects of coexisted alkali/alkaline earth metal ions on the adsorption of Rb+ and Cs+ were studied. The pomelo peel-based carbon aerogel-manganese dioxide (PCA-MnO2) composite electrode shows good adsorption performance on Rb+ and Cs+. When alkali and alkaline earth metal ions coexist, PCA-MnO2 composite electrode exhibits the highest adsorption selectivity of Mg2+. The research content in this work broadens the source of electrosorption electrode and provides a reference for the study of competitive adsorption of alkali/alkaline earth metal ions.

PurposeElectric micro-current has been shown to enhance penetration and transduction of adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors in mouse retina after intravitreal administration. We termed this: "electric-current vector mobility (ECVM)." The present study considered whether ECVM could augment retinal transduction efficiency of intravitreal AAV8-CMV-EGFP in normal rabbit and nonhuman primate (NHP) macaque. Potential mechanisms underlying enhanced retinal transduction by ECVM were also studied.MethodsWe applied an electric micro-current across the intact eye of normal rabbit and monkey in vivo for a brief period immediately after intravitreal injection of AAV8-CMV-EGFP. Retinal GFP expression was evaluated by fundus imaging in vivo. Retinal immunohistochemistry was performed to assess the distribution of retinal cells transduced by the AAV8-EGFP. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) was analyzed by quantitative RT-polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Müller glial reactivity and inner limiting membrane (ILM) were examined by the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and vimentin staining in mouse retina, respectively.ResultsECVM significantly increased the efficiency of AAV reaching and transducing the rabbit retina following intravitreal injection, with gene expression in inner nuclear layer, ganglion cells, and Müller cells. Similar trend of improvement was observed in the ECVM-treated monkey eye. The electric micro-current upregulated bFGF expression in Müller cells and vimentin showed ILM structural changes in mouse retina.ConclusionsECVM promotes the transduction efficiency of AAV8-CMV-GFP in normal rabbit and monkey retinas following intravitreal injection.Translational relevanceThis work has potential translational relevance to human ocular gene therapy by increasing retinal expression of therapeutic vectors given by intravitreal administration.

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector-mediated gene delivery is a promising approach for therapy, but implementation in the eye currently is hampered by the need for delivering the vector underneath the retina, using surgical application into the subretinal space. This limits the extent of the retina that is treated and may cause surgical injury. Vector delivery into the vitreous cavity would be preferable because it is surgically less invasive and would reach more of the retina. Unfortunately, most conventional, non-modified AAV vector serotypes penetrate the retina poorly from the vitreous; this limits efficient transduction and expression by target cells (retinal pigment epithelium and photoreceptors). We developed a method of applying a small and safe electric current across the intact eye invivo for a brief period following intravitreal vector administration. This significantly improved AAV-mediated transduction of retinal cells in wild-type mice following intravitreal delivery, with gene expression in retinal pigment epithelium and photoreceptor cells. The low-level current had no adverse effects on retinal structure and function. This method should be generally applicable for other AAV serotypes and may have broad application in both basic research and clinical studies.

The structural properties of soil control and influence its macro-mechanical properties. Based on long-term engineering practice, the engineering characteristics and phenomena exhibited by loess in various engineering geological environments are observed to be all related to its structural characteristics. Under different confining pressures and with different water contents, it is found that the structural parameter of loess has a quantitative relationship with macroscopic and mesoscopic parameters. This is based on the triaxial tests of undisturbed loess, saturated loess, and remolded loess with the same dry densities as those of the three typical loess sites in Xiji Ningxia, Ruicheng Shanxi, and Yongdeng Gansu. The test results show that the initial structural parameter decreases with the increase in confining pressure and water content. By processing the meso-image of loess in Xi'ning Qinghai, Yongdeng and Lanzhou Gansu, Xiji Ningxia, and Ruicheng Shanxi with MATLAB and IPP software, and acquiring the corresponding parameters, it is found that there are mesoscopic parameters (porosity, probability entropy, equivalent diameter, and fractal dimension) that are most related to structural parameter. By introducing structural parameter into the dynamic stress-dynamic strain relationship of undisturbed loess, the theoretical and experimental values are observed to be basically consistent, this indicates that the structural dynamic stress-dynamic strain curve can better characterize the deformation and dynamic property of loess under dynamic loading.

The Loess Plateau is one of the most seismically and geologically active regions in China. The related catastrophic earthquakes and geological disasters have caused more than 1.4 million deaths in the plateau. In this study, the slopes on the edge of the loess tableland in Pingliang City, Gansu Province—the core area of the Loess Plateau—are investigated. Based on large-scale shaking-table model tests and discrete-element numerical simulation—particle flow code (PFC 2D), the dynamic-response characteristics and deformation evolution process of fissured and non-fissured loess slopes under different seismic loads are studied. The test results show that with increasing seismic load input, the peak ground displacement (PGD) of the loess slopes increases gradually with increasing slope height. For the two types of slopes, the acceleration amplification effects in the slope with horizontal direction load are larger than those of the vertical direction load. The amplification factor of the peak ground acceleration (PGA) at the shoulder of the fissured slope is significantly larger than that of the non-fissured slope. According to the numerical simulation results of the fissured slope, when the seismic load is small, the bond-failures are distributed densely in the initial fissured structural plane and at the model bottom. Regarding the non-fissured slope, the bond-failures in the slope are mainly distributed at the bottom of the model. With increasing acceleration amplitude, the number of bond-failures in the slopes increases rapidly. When the input load increases to 0.40 g, two potential slip surfaces occur in the shallow surface of the fissured slope and a potential slip surface appears at the back edge of the non-fissured slope.

Mg-La alloys were prepared by potentiostatic electrolysis in the molten salt system of MgCl 2 -LaCl 3 -KCl. The effects of electrolyte composition on average electrolysis current, current efficiency, and compositions of the alloy products were investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) were used to characterize the Mg-La alloy product. The average electrolysis current is found to gradually decrease with the increase of the LaCl 3 content in the initial electrolyte due to the lower conductivity of LaCl 3 as compared to that of MgCl 2 . A high current efficiency over 90% can be obtained when the electrolyte composition is KCl (65wt%), MgCl 2 (20wt%−15wt%), and LaCl 3 (15wt%–20wt%). The compositions of the obtained Mg-La alloys can be adjusted by changing the electrolyte composition.

A simple, one-step and environment-friendly method has been developed to construct a superhydrophobic surface on magnesium alloy by hydrothermal process. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transformed infrared (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), water contact angle measurements, and electrochemical test have been performed to characterize the superhydrophobic surface. The as-prepared surface was composed of petal-shaped and strip-shaped hierarchical micro/nanometer-scale rough structures which led to superhydrophobicity. The obtained surface showed a high contact angel of (163°±4°) and a low sliding angle of (3°±1°). The electrochemical tests demonstrated that the superhydrophobic surface improved the corrosion properties of Mg alloy in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution.

The Qinghai–Tibet Railway (QTR) is approximately 1142 km long, of which 275 km are underlain in warm permafrost regions (mean annual round temperatures range from 0 °С to 1.5 °С), where the stability of the embankment would be greatly affected by minor temperature variations. Furthermore, since the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) is in an active seismic zone, special attention needs to be paid to the relationship between earthquakes and soil temperature. Using a refrigeration system, a series of shaking table tests for the 1/100 scaled model of the pile foundation in the Qingshui-river Bridge along the Qinghai–Tibet Railroad were conducted for soil temperatures of below 0 °С around the pile. The results indicated that the seismic mechanical properties are extremely sensitive to soil temperature. The change of temperature around the pile foundation during the earthquake motions was monitored, and the warming effects on the permafrost were assessed. In addition, the seismic stability coupled with the effect of soil temperature of the pile foundation in the Qingshui-river Bridge was evaluated.

Electronic structure methods based on judiciously chosen DFT and TD-DFT approaches were applied to explore the influence of aza-substitution on the geometrical, electronic and photophysical properties of iridium complexes of dicyclometalated phosphite recently reported as good blue phosphorescents (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2011, 123, 3240). With respect to the pristine molecule, the frontier molecular orbitals (HOMO & LUMO) were found to be stabilized upon aza-substitution, with the magnitude of the decrease in orbital energy depending on the position of the substitution. The results also revealed a slightly enhanced LUMO–HOMO energy gap and consequently a deep blue shifted phosphorescence spectrum. In addition, the electron affinity, ionization potential, and charge mobility, which are some other key factors in the design of optoelectronic materials, were found to be in general, improved by the aza-substitution considered in this study. When compared to the parent molecule, the aza-substituted counterparts show a destabilized metal centered (3MC d–d*) triplet and larger energy separation from the low-lying (3MLCT π–π*) triplet, which is likely to enhance the phosphorescence efficiency reported. These features make aza-substitution an efficient strategy to increase the 3MLCT π–π*–3MC d–d* energy splitting without altering the blue emission of the type of complexes studied.

Rare earth alloys can be prepared through the methods of melting, metallothermic reduction, and molten salt electrolysis. Compared to the former two methods, the molten salt electrolysis method has several advantages: the production cost is lower, the composition of the rare earth alloys is uniform and easy control, and the quality of the rare earth alloys is good. The rare earth alloys can be prepared easily and continuously on industrial scale. In this paper, the research progress in the molten salt electrolysis preparation of the rare earth alloys of magnesium, aluminum, iron, cobalt, nickel, and copper is reviewed by considering the rare earth alloy applications in structural, magnetic, and hydrogen storage materials. The prospects of the related research works are discussed.

Electronic structure methods based on DFT and TDDFT were applied to understand the recently reported unusual photophysical properties for a series of cyclometalated iridium complexes of 2,5-diaryl-1,3,4-oxadiazole (oxdn) based and picolinate ligands. Under the hypotheses of possible steric and stereoisomeric effects on the electronic and photophysical properties, both the N,N-trans and N,N-cis types of complexes bearing oxdn ligands of different twisting degree were considered. On the basis of the results herein, an explanation of the experimental observations was attempted, according to which complexes Ir(oxd1)2(pic) (1) [oxd1 = 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-(2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole and pic = picolinate] and Ir(oxd2)2(pic) (2) [oxd2 = 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-(2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole] show an extremely poor quantum phosphorescence efficiency (ΦPL < 1%). The poor ΦPL was shown not to be inherent to spin–orbit coupling effects, but determined by the intersystem crossing (ISC) rat...

Recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors expressing the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene have been used to deliver CFTR to the airway epithelium of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. However, no significant CFTR function has been demonstrated likely due to low transduction efficiencies of the AAV vectors. To improve AAV transduction efficiency for human airway epithelium (HAE), we generated a chimeric AAV library and performed directed evolution of AAV on an in vitro model of human ciliated airway epithelium. Two independent and novel AAV variants were identified that contained capsid components from AAV-1, AAV-6, and/or AAV-9. The transduction efficiencies of the two novel AAV variants for human ciliated airway epithelium were three times higher than that for AAV-6. The novel variants were then used to deliver CFTR to ciliated airway epithelium from CF patients. Here we show that our novel AAV variants, but not the parental, AAV provide sufficient CFTR delivery to correct the chloride ion transport defect to ~25% levels measured in non-CF cells. These results suggest that directed evolution of AAV on relevant in vitro models will enable further improvements in CFTR gene transfer efficiency and the development of an efficacious and safe gene transfer vector for CF lung disease.

We characterize the non-negative measures µ on the unit disk D for which the area operator Aµ is bounded from Bergman space Apα to Lq (δD).

Bond distances, vibrational frequencies, electron affinities, ionization potentials and dissociation energies of the title molecules in neutral, positively and negatively charged ions were studied by use of density functional method B3LYP. The calculated results were compared with previous theoretical studies. Ground states for each molecule were assigned. It was found that for some molecules, low-lying state, in which the energy is much close to the ground state, was obtained. In this case, further studies both experimentally and theoretically are necessary in order to find the true global minimum.

To establish a specific and sensitive radioimmunoassay (RIA) for antiarrhythmic peptide (AAP) and study serum AAP levels in normal Sprague-Dawley rats (NR) and spontaneous hypertension rats (SHR), AAP-bovine serum albumin (BSA) conjugate was prepared by ammonium bicarbonate method. The New Zealand rabbits were immunized by administering intradermally the conjugate. Then the rabbit anti-AAP serum was produced and iodinated AAP was made by Bolton-Hunter method. The RIA for serum AAP was set up and serum AAP levels in NR and SHR were determined. The minimal detectable range of the AAP RIA was (0.45±0.06) μg/L. The affinity constant for antiserum was 1.05×109 L/mol, and the rate of cross-reactivity with atrial peptide (AP) and human growth hormone (hGH) were 0.12% and 0.20%, respectively. The mean recovery rate of high, medium and low doses was 97.6%, and the mean coefficients of variation for intra-and interbath-assay were (6.43±0.85)% and (9.62±1.04)%, respectively. The mean levels of AAP in NR with different age (3 months, 8–10 months and 18–20 months) were (1.75±0.13) μg/L, (1.74±0.11) μg/L and (1.79±0.15) μg/L, respectively, while those in SHR with different age (3 months, 8–10 months and 18–20 months) were (2.38±0.35) μg/L, (2.54±0.25) μg/L and (2.83±0.21) μg/L, respectively. The levels of serum AAP showed a positive correlation with blood pressure (r=0.8667,P

The sea surface microlayer and its thickness are theoretically analyzed. A multiple-layer model of the sea surface microlayer is proposed. Through in situ and laboratory imitation experiments using glass plate, rotating drum, screen, and funnel samplers, the relationships between pH, surface tension, the concentrations of dissolved trace metals Cu and Pb, phosphate, and particulate and sampling thicknesses are carefully investigated. The apparent sampling thickness of the sea surface microlayer is determined to be 50 +/- 10 µm, which is basically consistent with the mean thickness of the liquid boundary film in the models of gas exchange across the sea surface. Copyright 1998 Academic Press.

The E (%)-pH curves of the ternary surface complexes at liquid-solid interfaces in the simulated seawater system of alpha-FeOOH-Cu(II)-tryptophan were determined. The diffuse reflectance IR spectra of the species at the solid surfaces in the above ternary equilibration system were examined. The above two results were comparatively studied. It is shown that the coadsorption of Cu(II) and tryptophan on alpha-FeOOH surface results in the formation of the ternary surface complex. Cu(II) can promote the exchange adsorption of tryptophan on alpha-FeOOH surface. The diffuse reflectance IR spectra can give us some evidence for the structure of the ternary surface complex, and these results are in accordance with the results of the E (%)-pH curves.

A new method to study ternary surface complexes at liquid–solid interfaces, the E (%)–pH curve method, is proposed. Three types of E (%)–pH curves, namely left–right shifts of S-shaped curves, V-shaped curves, and monodirectionally shifted curves, are postulated. Correspondingly, in addition to the Type I ternary surface complex [ii/home29/ap/collid/6g11/4244abss1.lay,l(4,0)] and the Type II ternary surface complex [ii/home29/ap/collid/6g11/4244abss2.lay,l(4,0)] a new type of ternary surface complex, [ii/home29/ap/collid/6g11/4244abss3.lay,l(4,0)] is proposed.

The differences between the solvent extraction of Tb( III ) and Tb(IV) periodate complexes with quaternary amine were studied carefully for the fir6t time. The effects of extractant concentration, phase ratio, the pH value of stock solution, salting-out agent, extractant form, diluent, and extraction time were comprehensively investigated. Under optimal conditions the separation factor between Tb(IV) and Tb(III] periodate complexes is over 5.5.

The Wenchuan great earthquake, which measured at Ms8.0 and Mw7.9, occurred on May 12, 2008 in Sichuan Province of China, caused enormous death toll and economic loss. The buildings, lifeline engineering and infrastructures were damaged badly, and secondary disasters were serious and wide, and the rural adobe-wood buildings in rural regions were damaged severely. In order to investigate the damage characteristics and mechanism of buildings induced by the earthquake, and to service reconstruction, the disaster investigations and simulation were practiced. The results shows that the reasons of fragilities in the earthquake of abode-wood building are insufficient component capacity, weakness in joint and connection, instabilities of structural framework, etc. Those results will be useful for serving the reconstruction after the earthquake.

On May 12, 2008, a great earthquake with a magnitude 8.0 occurred in the Wenchuan County, Sichuan Province, China. The main shock was widely felt by the people in 30 provinces of China, 6 of which were seriously affected, and 3 of them were seriously damaged. The strong shaking not only caused enormous buildings and houses collapsed or seriously damaged, but also triggered more than 12,000 landslides, collapses and mudflows, which dammed more than 30 quake lakes. According to the authority statistics, 87,403 people were killed and more than 374,000 people injured. The direct economic loss reaches 845 billion Chinese Yuan, which is about 124 billion USD. In this paper, the characteristics of damage of buildings, houses, infrastructures and lifeline were described, which including reinforced concrete buildings, brick-concrete buildings, the bottom reinforced concrete buildings, brick-wood houses and adobe-wood houses, highways and railways, bridges, dams, electricity supply, water supply, gas supply and communication system. The secondary disasters induced by the earthquake, such as landslides, rolling rocks, seismic settlement and liquefaction were investigated and introduced. The characteristics and distribution of both ground motion and faults ruptures caused by the earthquake were presented, and the housing reconstruction conditions in quake-hit area were brief introduced as well. At last, some lessons learnt from the great earthquake were summarized.

In this paper, the application of genetic algorithms (GAs) on traffic flow model in freeway is discussed, and an improved method is proposed. Simulation results indicate the advantages of GAs in robustness and identification precision.

The Angular Overlap Model (AOM) is applied to the LaOX:Eu 3+ (X = Cl, Br, I) series involving σ, π, δ and φ effects based on the experimental energy levels. The calculations are made in two cases. (1) Consider oxygen and halogen having the same bond-length. (2) Consider the real structure. In both cases, the results show that for σ -bonding parameters, the values of e σ decrease with increasing charge number of halogen, i.e. Cl − > Br − > I − , this indicates that the bonding ability also decreases with this order. The absolute values of each parameter are much larger than zero—therefore they all must be included in a practical analysis. In the second case, the values of the e x parameter are negative, which means a “back-bonding” is formed, and this is profitable for the formation of α-bonding, usually referred to as “synergic effect”.

Some geothermal waters are relatively clean, so that the use of enhanced surface heat exchangers is possible. This is the basic premise of the present work where trade-offs using enhanced surfaces in binary fluid power generation heat exchangers have been evaluated. Effects of the heat transfer performance and required pumping power resulting from the use of axially finned tubes (included are externally, internally, and externally and internally finned configurations in a variety of dimensions) are compared with smooth-tube designs. The trade-offs indicate where enhanced surfaces may be cost effective.

Heat pumps development in China is still in an early stage. Number of heat pumps installed is not more that 5000 units, mainly for air conditioning, hot water supply, drying, evaporation, concentration and heat recovery. Although heat pumps have an enormous potential domestic market, owning to the shortage of electricity suply at present and the irrational fuel-to-electricity price ratio (relatively high electricity price), heat pump application would be “saving in energy but not in money” thus not so attractive for enterprises. Chinese refrigeration industry has had a relatively solid basis and this, plus the importance attached by the government to energy conservation, will enable heat pumps to have a rapid development provided there is a encouraging policy in question.