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Abstract: Wind–rain tunnel test of cable section model is one of the effective ways to explore mechanism of wind-rain-induced cable vibration and its mitigation. However, most of previous model setup schemes consider vertical vibration of cable only, in which the restoring force comes from the springs that perpendicularly support the cable model at its two ends. In this short communication, a new setup scheme for experimental study of wind–rain-induced cable vibration is presented. It can simulate both horizontal and vertical vibrations of the cable, in which the restoring force of the cable model comes from cable tension forces as in the prototype cable. Furthermore, the new setup can be easily adjusted for different cable inclinations and yaw angles. The frequency equation of the cable model is first derived to facilitate the design of model setup. Vortex-induced cable vibration, galloping of cable with artificial rivulet and wind–rain-induced cable vibration are then reproduced in wind/wind–rain tunnel using the new setup scheme. The preliminary parameter study, including cable inclination, yaw angle, and rainfall, regarding wind–rain-induced cable vibration is also performed. The effectiveness of vibration control methods, such as increasing damping ratio and twining spiral wire on the cable surface, is finally investigated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In the early stages of brain development, exposure of excessive monosodium glutamate (MSG) to neurons causes animal functional and behavioral disorders in adulthood. To investigate the effects of excessive MSG during pregnancy on the neurons in the developing brain, in situ hybridization was used. In mice, the expression of preprotachykinin A mRNA (PPT A mRNA) was assessed in neurons of in the brain after MSG treatment. Brain tissue sections were hybridized with specific digoxigenin-labeled RNA probes. The number of cells that expressed PPT A mRNA gradually decreased from 10-day-old (10d) to 60-day-old (60d) MSG-treated and normal animals. In the MSG-treated and normal mice, the PPT A mRNA-positive neurons almost disappeared in 90-day-old (90d) mice. The expression of PPT A mRNA significantly decreased at 10d in most of the brain regions of MSG-treated mice including the cerebral cortex (CC), hippocampal subregions of CA1, CA2 (CA1, CA2), habenula nucleus (HAB), hypothalamic periventricular nucleus (PE), hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (AR), median eminence (ME), amygdala nucleus (AMY), endopiriform nucleus (EN), and hypothalamic ventromedial nucleus (VMH) and dorsomedial nucleus (DMH). In the hippocampal CA4 subregions (CA4), paraventricular nucleus (PV) and caudate putamen (CPU), however, they were not significantly altered. Furthermore, in CC, hippocampal CA3 subregion (CA3), PE and EN regions the number of PPT A mRNA-positive neurons decreased at 20 days old (20d), but increased significantly in CA2 and CPU. At 30 days old (30d), the positive neuron number decreased in AMY, and they did not change in other regions. At 60d, the number of positive neurons significantly decreased in PV and ME, but increased in AMY. In the other observed regions, no changes were found. These results show that maternal administration of excessive MSG at a late stage of pregnancy significantly decreases PPT A mRNA expression in most of the brain regions of filial mice. This suggests that glutamate-induced excitotoxicity may affect the metabolism of precursors of substance P in developing brain neurons. The present study provides insights into the plasticity and vulnerability of neuron in different brain regions to glutamate excitotoxicity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• A model is developed for both stochastic passenger assignment and train scheduling. • The mixed itinerary-size weibit model is applied to the passenger assignment module. • An iterative method is introduced to efficiently solve the resultant model. • The model is tested on a real-world high-speed railway network in Southern China. In this study, we propose a new schedule-based itinerary-choice model, the mixed itinerary-size weibit model, to address the independently and identically distributed assumptions that are typically used in random utility models and heterogeneity of passengers' perceptions. Specifically, the Weibull distributed random error term resolves the perception variance with respect to various itinerary lengths, an itinerary-size factor term is suggested to solve the itinerary overlapping problem, and random coefficients are used to model heterogeneity of passengers. We also apply the mixed itinerary-size weibit model to a train-scheduling model to generate a passenger-oriented schedule plan. We test the efficiency and applicability of the train-scheduling model in the south China high-speed railway network, and we find that it works well and can be applied to large real-world problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this paper, we demonstrated the fabrication and gas sensing properties of room temperature surface acoustic wave (SAW) NH3 gas sensors based on polypyrrole (PPy) film of different layers and Pt doped 2 layer PPy film. The PPy film was deposited on the photolithography patterned sensitive area by layer-by-layer (LBL) self-assembly method. The doping of Pt was conducted by immersing substrates with PPy film in the solution of H2PtCl6 and then reduced by NaBH4. Gas sensing properties of SAW devices with different layer of PPy films and Pt doped 2 layer PPy film were investigated and compared. We found that device with 2 layer PPy film shows best performance among devices with different layers of PPy films. Response and stability of device with 2 layer PPy could be further improved by the doping of Pt. Gas sensing properties of our device in different carrier gases (air and N2) were also investigated. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques were used for the characterization of each sensitive film. Besides, the sensing mechanism was also discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

BackgroundBenazepril hydrochloride is an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor. Previous clinical trials show that antihypertensive treatment with benazepril provides effective blood pressure (BP) control and is generally well tolerated by patients with hypertension. However, the long-term antihypertensive effects and tolerability of benazepril remain to be established in Chinese patients with hypertension.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate the long-term efficacy and tolerability of benazepril in Chinese patients with essential hypertension.MethodsThis 36-month, community-based, open-label, postmarketing surveillance study was conducted in the Nanshi District (Shanghai, China). Chinese patients with essential hypertension were to receive 1 or more benazepril tablets PO QD in the morning for 36 months. Data for BP and pulse pressure (PP) were collected at baseline (month 0) and throughout the surveillance period. The rate of patients achieving BP targets (systolic BP [SBP]/diastolic BP [DBP], <140/<90 mm Hg) was determined, as was the rate of decrease in BP. Subanalyses by sex and age group also were conducted.ResultsA total of 1831 patients (1090 men, 741 women; mean [SD] age, 55.8 [10.1] years [range, 35-88 years]) entered the study. After the 36-month treatment period, 75.7% of patients receiving benazepril as prescribed (1289 patients) had achieved the SBP target, 87.4% achieved the DBP target, and 71.5% achieved both targets. After 36 months of treatment, the mean (SD) decreases in SBP, DBP, and PP were 15.1 (0.4) mm Hg, 11.0 (0.3) mm Hg, and 4.2 (0.4) mm Hg, respectively, among compliers. In general, the rate of BP decrease slowed over time. No serious adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were detected during the 36-month follow-up period. All ADRs except cough (19.9%) occurred at a relatively low incidence rate (<3.0%). The cumulative incidence of benazepril related cough was statistically significantly higher in women than in men (23.6% vs 18.8%, respectively; P = 0.007). Of the 1831 patients studied, 1360 patients (74.3%) persisted in taking benazepril and were considered optimally compliant at 36-month follow-up.ConclusionIn this study of Chinese patients with hypertension, benazepril was associated with prolonged, stable efficacy in lowering BP and relatively low incidence of ADRs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The aim of this study was to measure the level of soluble human leukocyte antigen (sHLA-G) in renal transplant patients, to determine the relationship between these levels and the occurrence of acute rejection episodes, and to identify their influence on graft acceptance early posttransplantation. sHLA-G, as measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, was significantly increased (P < .01) early posttransplantation (3 months); the other group maintained low levels throughout the study. The latter group displayed a high incidence of acute rejection episodes and a lower clearance of serum creatinine with a longer period for hemoglobin to recover to normal (P < .01). These results suggested that HLA-G participates in the induction of immunologic tolerance in these recipients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have been applied to address multiple environmental concerns including antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). ARGs have shown an increasing threat to human health, and they are either harbored by antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) or free in the environment. However, the control of ARGs has been substantially limited by their low concentration and the limited knowledge about their interfacial behavior. Herein, a novel AOP catalyst, Ag/TiO 2 /graphene oxide (GO), combined with a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) ultrafiltration membrane was designed with a synergistic interfacial adsorption and oxidation function to inactivate ARGs with high efficiency in both model solutions and in secondary wastewater effluent, especially when the residue concentration was low. Further analysis showed that the mineralization of bases and phosphodiesters mainly caused the inactivation of ARGs. Moreover, the interfacial adsorption and oxidation processes of ARGs were studied at the molecular level. The results showed that GO was rich in sp 2 backbones and functional oxygen groups, which efficiently captured and enriched the ARGs via π-π interactions and hydrogen bonds. Therefore, the photogenerated active oxygen species attack the ARGs by partially overcoming the kinetic problems in this process. The Ag/TiO 2 /GO catalyst was further combined with a PVDF membrane to test its potential in wastewater treatment applications. This work offers an efficient method and a corresponding material for the inactivation and mineralization of intra/extracellular ARGs. Moreover, the molecular-level understanding of ARG behaviors on a solid-liquid interface will inspire further control strategies of ARGs in the future., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Science China Press. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Organisms must make sense of a constant stream of sensory inputs from both internal and external sources which compete for attention by determining which ones are salient. The ability to detect and respond appropriately to potentially salient stimuli in the environment is critical to all organisms. However, the neural circuits that process salience are not fully understood. Here, we identify a population of glutamatergic neurons in the ventral pallidum (VP) that play a unique role in salience processing. Using cell-type-specific fiber photometry, we find that VP glutamatergic neurons are robustly activated by a variety of aversion- and reward-related stimuli, as well as novel social and non-social stimuli. Inhibition of the VP glutamatergic neurons reduces the ability to detect salient stimuli in the environment, such as aversive cue, novel conspecific and novel object. Besides, VP glutamatergic neurons project to both the lateral habenula (LHb) and the ventral tegmental area (VTA). Together, our findings demonstrate that the VP glutamatergic neurons participate in salience processing and therefore provide a new perspective on treating several neuropsychiatric disorders, including dementia and psychosis., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

China's government statement recently reported the plan of constructing Xiong'an New Area, which aims to phase out some extra capital functions from Beijing and to explore an innovative urban development mode with the priority in eco-environmental protection. The New Area is located in the semi-arid North China Plain (NCP) and is home to NCP's largest natural freshwater wetland, Baiyangdian Lake. A comprehensive realization of surface water dynamics would be crucial for policy-makers to outline a sustainable environment development strategy for New Area. In this study, we used a total of 245 time slices of cloud-free Landsat images to document the continuous changes of water bodies within Xiong'an City during 1984-2016 and to provide detailed evidence of water presence and persistency states and changes under the influences of climate change and human actions. Our results reveal that the New Area water body areas varied dramatically during the past 33 years, ranging from 0.44 km 2 in April 1988 to 317.85 km 2 in February 1989. The change of surface water area was not characterized by a monotonically decreasing tendency. The evolution processes can be divided into four sub-stages: the first extreme desiccation in mid-1980s, the wet stage with the most extensive inundation areas and strong inter-annual fluctuations from late-1988 to late 1999, another desiccation stage in early 2000s, and the overall recovering stage between 2007 and 2016. We also mapped the maximum water inundation extents and frequencies of all-season, pre-wet season (February-May) and post-wet season (September-December) for the 33 years and different sub-periods. Although there is good agreement between time series of surface water area evolution in the New Area and station-based precipitation and evaporation variations, multiple lines of evidences reviewed in previous research indicate that the degraded Baiyangdian Lake was also tightly associated with human activities from various aspects, including dam construction, groundwater extraction, agricultural irrigation, etc. We highlighted the current status of exploring the driving mechanism of surface water changes and existing problems, and then offer recommendations., (Copyright © 2018 Science China Press. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)