Search

The injury mechanism of acromioclavicular (AC) dislocation combined with coracoid process (CP) fracture is not clear, and there is no consensus on its treatment. This study was performed to evaluate the diagnosis of CP fractures combined with AC dislocation and the effectiveness of operative treatment using a clavicular hook plate. Eighteen patients with CP fractures combined with AC dislocation were treated with a clavicular hook plate from May 2012 to June 2021. The patients comprised 10 male and 8 female patients with an average age of 38 years (range, 16-54 years). The injury was caused by falling in 15 patients, traffic accidents in 2 patients, and falling from a height in 1 patient. The Eyres type of CP fracture was type II in 1 patient, type III in 11 patients, type IV in 3 patients, and type V in 3 patients. The Ogawa type of CP fracture was type I in 17 patients and type II in 1 patient. The Rockwood type of AC dislocation was type V in 1 patient, variation type III in 15 patients, and variation type V in 2 patients. The interval from injury to the operation was 3 days (range, 1-7 days). Postoperative complications and CP fracture healing were recorded. Functional assessment at the last follow-up was performed by an independent reviewer using the Constant score and visual analog scale score. All 18 patients were followed up for a mean period of 49 months (range, 12-123 months). Nine patients had acromion osteolysis and 3 patients had CP fracture nonunion (Eyres type II, III, and V in 1 patient each); however, no patients developed shoulder pain, incision infection, limitation of shoulder movement, clinical symptoms of subcoracoid impingement, or AC dislocation relapse. At the last follow-up, the mean Constant score was 99 (range, 94-100). The possibility of CP fracture should be considered in patients with AC dislocation to avoid a missed diagnosis. Fixation with a clavicular hook plate is a feasible treatment for CP fracture combined with AC dislocation and provides a satisfactory outcome. CP fracture healing may be related to the fracture morphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two undescribed sesquiterpenoids, hipponorterpenes A (1) and B (2), and 17 known compounds were obtained from the juice of Hippophae rhamnoides. Their structures were established through comprehensive analysis of their spectroscopic data. Notably, hipponorterpene A (1) is the first 14-noreudesmane-type sesquiterpenoid that has a five-membered lactone between C-4 and C-6. In addition, antiviral activity against herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) of compounds 1 - 4 was predicted by molecular docking and hipponorterpene B (2) showed anti-HSV-2 activity. [Display omitted] • Two unreported sesquiterpenoids were obtained from the juice of Hippophae rhamnoides. • 1 is the first 14-noreudesmane-type sesquiterpenoid that has a five-membered lactone. • 2 had potential anti-HSV-2 activity by analysis of the results of molecular docking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The systems of offshore wind turbines are established in a complex marine environment, and are subjected to all kinds of ocean loadings such as waves, currents and wind for a long time. It is found that offshore wind turbine foundations are seldom damaged due to the problem of strength and stability under normal operation conditions. Most of the damages are caused by the fatigue damage under long-term loads. Aimed to this problem, the monopile foundation of offshore wind turbine is analyzed as an example in this study. The fatigue damage is analyzed systematically using the method of time-domain, combining the rain-flow counting method, S–N curve with linear and nonlinear fatigue damage models. In addition, a modified nonlinear fatigue damage model is proposed based on the Corten-Dolan and Manson-Halford nonlinear fatigue damage models, which can consider the modification of load interactions and the effect of loading sequence. In this way, the short-term fatigue damage value of offshore wind turbine foundation can be obtained. On the basis, the long-term probability distribution function of wind speed is obtained according to the actual monitoring results of wind load, and the fatigue damage value of the offshore wind turbine foundation in the design life can be obtained. Finally, a complete fatigue damage analysis method of offshore wind turbines is proposed, which is applicable to both short-term fatigue damage and long-term fatigue damage. • Most of the damages of OTW are caused by the fatigue damage under long-term loads. • A modified nonlinear fatigue damage model considering load interactions and sequence is proposed. • The fatigue damage value of the offshore wind turbine system in the design life is obtained. • A complete fatigue damage analysis method of offshore wind turbines is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Numerous isomeric equilibrium structures have been identified for the Al 10– x Be x (x = 1–9) nanoalloy clusters by using the stochastic search procedure in combination with density functional theory calculations. The relative stability and various electronic properties of the lowest-energy Al 10– x Be x (x = 0–10) clusters have been systematically studied by using the B3LYP and CCSD(T) methods with the aug-cc-pVDZ basis set. The evolution of the binding energies, the second difference in energy, HOMO–LUMO gaps, vertical detachment energies, vertical ionization potentials, vertical electron affinities, and hardness with the increasing number of Be atoms in the most stable Al 10– x Be x (x = 0–10) clusters demonstrates that the global minimum of Al 8 Be 2 cluster possesses a special stability. Thus, the electronic structure of the lowest-energy Al 8 Be 2 cluster has been also detected in detail. In addition, it is found that the polarizabilities gradually decrease with increasing number of Be atoms, and the charges always transfer from Al to Be atoms in these nanoalloy clusters. We hope this work could provide helpful insight into the composition-dependent electronic properties of Be Al alloy at the nanoscale, serving as powerful guidelines for future experimental research. Graphical abstract The low-energy isomer identification, structural evolution, stability, and electronic properties of the bimetallic Al 10– x Be x (x = 1–9) clusters have been theoretically investigated, which may provide helpful insight into the composition-dependant electronic properties of Be Al alloy at the nanoscale but also offer novel building blocks for the cluster-assembled nanomaterials. Image 1 Highlights • Numerous isomeric equilibrium structures have been obtained. • Relative stability and electronic properties are systematically studied. • Polarizabilities decrease with increasing number of Be atoms in the nanoalloys. • Evolution of energetic and electronic properties suggests Al 8 Be 2 to be the most stable one. • Electronic structure of Al 8 Be 2 has been discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • DJ-1 knockdown resulted in mitochondrial dysfunction. • loss of DJ-1 suppressed Akt pathway, and reduced nuclear translocation of Nrf2. • DJ-1 deficiency led to an obvious increase in the ROS level, and then activated JNK signaling. Abstract Deletions or some mutations in the gene encoding the multifunctional protein, DJ-1, have been considered to be linked with autosomal recessive early onset Parkinson's disease (PD). Current emerging evidence suggests that DJ-1 is involved in the protection against oxidative stress-induced mitochondrial damage. However, the exact molecular mechanisms underlying this are not completely clear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of DJ-1 on the Akt pathway, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2), and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) with regard to modulating mitochondrial function. Here we showed that knockdown of DJ-1 resulted in mitochondrial dysfunction, including a decrease in active mitochondrial mass, complex I deficits, and inhibition of cellular adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) content in the dopaminergic neuron-like cells PC12 and SH-SY5Y. Additionally, loss of DJ-1 impaired Akt signaling, and reduced nuclear translocation of Nrf2, thereby inhibiting activity of Nrf2-regulated downstream antioxidant enzymes such as heme oxygenase-1 and NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1. Moreover, DJ-1 knockdown also led to a significant increase in the mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, and then promoted the activation of JNK pathways. Furthermore, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction induced by knockdown of DJ-1 were blocked by a JNK inhibitor, which confirmed the important role of JNK activation in mitochondrial dysfunction. In conclusion, the present study indicates that DJ-1 knockdown leads to mitochondrial dysfunction in dopaminergic neuron-like cells, at least in part, through suppressing the Akt/GSK3β pathway and impairing the oxidative stress response, as well as through the subsequent increased JNK activation in dopaminergic neuron-like cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existing earthquake damage investigations indicate that the lateral spreading of site is more likely to occur in inclined liquefiable site under earthquake, therefore the way of foundation reinforcement is often adopted to reduce the lateral spreading phenomenon of inclined liquefiable site. In order to study the reinforcement principle of inclined liquefiable site by the two reinforcement methods of concrete pile and gravel pile, based on the verified numerical model of free field model, the model of concrete pile reinforcement and crushed rock pile reinforcement was established, the dynamic response and reinforcement effect of two different reinforcement methods in inclined liquefiable site were analyzed, and the effects of buried depth and pile diameter on the earthquake dynamic response and the effects of different reinforcement models are discussed. It is found that the concrete pile has a better reinforcement effect on inclined liquefiable site than gravel pile under the same buried depth and pile diameter. When the concrete pile is adopted to reinforce the inclined liquefiable site, the reinforcement effect is better when the concrete pile are embedded in dense sand layer at a certain depth; When adopting the gravel pile to reinforce inclined liquefiable sites, the effect is better when only clay and loose sand layer are reinforced, moreover, increasing the diameter of gravel piles greatly improves the reinforcement effect of inclined liquefiable sites. The pile group reinforcement model can greatly reduce the lateral displacement of site soil compared with the single pile reinforcement model. • The foundation reinforcement is adopted to reduce the lateral spreading of liquefaction site. • The numerical models of two foundation reinforcement were established • The reinforcement principles of two different methods in liquefiable site were analyzed. • The effects of buried depth and pile diameter on the seismic response are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, many earthquake disasters have shown that the liquefaction side expansion of the soil in the inclined liquefaction site will increase the damage degree of pile, which will cause the failure of the superstructure. In this study, an efficient-finite element model is built for the shaking table test of the interaction of inclined liquefied site-pile group-superstructure. By comparing with the experimental results, the rationality of the model building method is proved. Based on the verified method, finite element models of typical horizontal and inclined liquefied site-pile group-superstructure interactions are built. Then, the dynamic response of the soil-pile group-superstructure system under different non-liquefiable crust thicknesses in horizontal and inclined liquefaction sites are analyzed, and the differences between the systems under the two sites are discussed. The calculation result indicate that the pore pressure ratio, pile displacement, soil displacement and pile curvature in horizontal and inclined sites decrease obviously with the thickness of the non-liquefiable crust increases. Compared with the horizontal site, the attenuation amplitude of the inclined site is more obvious. There is little difference in pore pressure and acceleration of soil in horizontal and inclined liquefaction sites under different non-liquefiable crust thicknesses. Compared with the horizontal site, the lateral expansion flow in the inclined site produces permanent lateral displacement, which increases the damage degree of the pile. • An efficient computation model of liquefied site-pile group-superstructure is built. • The rationality of numerical model is proved by comparing with the test results. • The seismic response and difference of different site under different crust is analyzed. • The lateral expansion flow in the inclined site will produce permanent lateral displacement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Offshore wind power foundations are known to bear complex loadings, not only vertical loading V induced by self-weight, but also horizontal loadings H induced by wind, wave and current, and the bending loading M transferred from superstructure. In this paper a framework for evaluating the bearing capacity of the foundations is presened and the bearing characteristics of offshore wind power foundation under combined horizontal, vertical and bending loadings are analyzed. The bearing capacity of offshore wind power foundation under unidirectional horizontal, vertical and bending loadings is examined, and the relationship between the ultimate bearing capacity and the ratio of diameter to length of pile foundation is obtained. Based on the side-swipe method, the envelope of bearing capacity and failure mode of offshore wind power foundation in V - H , V - M , H - M loading space and V - H - M loading space are studied in details, and the parameter analysis of the envelope of foundation bearing capacity in different loading space are discussed. Finally, a simple and practical method is proposed to judge the stability of the offshore wind power and the seabed. A verification example reveals that the estimates of the presented framework shows good agreement with observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

20C, a novel bibenzyl compound, is isolated from Gastrodia elata. In our previous study, 20C showed protective effects on tunicamycin-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress, rotenone-induced apoptosis and rotenone-induced oxidative damage. However, the anti-neuroinflammatory effect of 20C is still with limited acquaintance. The objective of this study was to confirm the anti-neuroinflammatory effect of 20C on Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated BV-2 cells and further elucidated the underlying molecular mechanisms. In this study, 20C significantly attenuated the protein levels of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and interleukin (IL)-1β, and secretion of nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α induced by Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in BV-2 cells. Moreover, 20C up-regulated the levels of autophagy-related proteins in LPS-activated BV-2 cells. The requirement of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) has been well documented for regulating the process of autophagy. Both 20C and rapamycin enhanced autophagy by suppressing the phosphorylation of MAPKs signaling pathway. Furthermore, 20C treatment significantly inhibited the levels of toll like receptor 4 (TLR4), phosphorylated-protein kinase B (Akt) and phosphorylated-mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), indicating blocking TLR4/Akt/mTOR might be an underlying basis for the anti-inflammatory effect of 20C. These findings suggest that 20C has therapeutic potential for treating neurodegenerative diseases in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under dynamic cyclic loads, the pore water pressure in saturated sand rises continuously, which leads to the reduction of horizontal bearing capacity or the damage of the pile foundation. Under dynamic cyclic loads, the existing calculations methods of horizontal bearing capacity of pile foundations were obtained by proposing a reduction factor for the static p-y curve model mostly. Compared with the test results, the soil resistance around the pile obtained by this method is often overvalued and the pile-soil relative displacement has a relative underestimation. As a result, this method is not suitable for pile foundation design. Therefore, the variations of soil resistance around the pile and the pile-soil relative displacement are obtained by analyzing the effect of pore pressure ratio on soil strength around the pile in saturated sand in this paper. The theoretical formulas related to the cyclic vibration times and pore pressure ratio are proposed. The proposed formulas are introduced into the dynamic p-y curve model to obtain the dynamic p-y backbone curve in the process of sand liquefaction. The research results show that the variations of the soil resistance around the pile and the pile-soil relative displacement are related to the pore pressure ratio and the cyclic vibration times during the sand liquefaction. As the cyclic vibration times increases, the pore pressure increases, the soil resistance around the pile decreases and the pile-soil relative displacement increases. • The soil resistance and the pile-soil relative displacement have errors by the existing methods. • The variation of soil resistance and the pile-soil relative displacement are obtained. • The theoretical formulas related to the pore pressure ratio and cyclic times are proposed. • The proposed formulas are introduced into the dynamic p-y curve model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In marine environment, the monopile offshore wind turbines (MOWTs) are subjected to long-term horizontal cyclic loads caused by wind, waves and currents, which will lead to the stiffness degradation and plastic cumulative deformation of clays. The decrease of clays bearing capacity caused by long-term cyclic degradation effect is a threat to the safe use of MOWTs in earthquake-prone countries (such as some countries in the circum-Pacific seismic belt). A three-dimensional finite element model is established to research the seismic response analysis of MOWT in clays considering the long-term cyclic degradation effect. The cumulative deformation of pile-soil system after long-term cycle are obtained by adopting the stiffness degradation of clays through the USDFLD subroutine. On this basis, the dynamic response analysis of MOWT system under the combined action of seismic and environmental loads is carried out. The influence of long-term horizontal cyclic load number, long-term horizontal cyclic load amplitude, seismic intensity, soil strength, environmental loads and cyclic degradation parameter on the dynamic response of MOWT is analyzed. In the seismic design of MOWTs, the effects of long-term degradation and random wind, waves and other environmental loads should be considered. • Long-term cyclic degradation before earthquake is simulated by employing the stiffness degradation model. • Random wind, wave and other environmental loads are considered in the earthquake process. • Seismic response of MOWT in clays after the long-term cyclic degradation effect is simulated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxidative stress is thought to be involved in the development of Parkinson’s disease (PD). We previously reported that 20C, a bibenzyl compound isolated from Gastrodia elata , possesses antioxidative properties, but its in-depth molecular mechanisms against rotenone-induced neurotoxicity remains unknown. Recent studies indicate that without intact DJ-1, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2) protein becomes unstable, and the activity of Nrf2-mediated downstream antioxidant enzymes are thereby suppressed. In this study, we showed that 20C clearly protected PC12 and SH-SY5Y cells against rotenone-induced oxidative injury. Furthermore, 20C markedly up-regulated the levels of DJ-1, which in turn activated phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling and inhibited glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) activation, eventually promoted the nuclear translocation of Nrf2 and induced the expression of hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1). The antioxidant effects of 20C could be partially blocked by ShRNA-mediated knockdown of DJ-1 and inhibition of the PI3K/Akt pathways with Akt1/2 kinase inhibitor, respectively. Conclusively, our findings confirm that DJ-1 is necessary for 20C-mediated protection against rotenone-induced oxidative damage, at least in part, by activating PI3K/Akt signaling, and subsequently enhancing the nuclear accumulation of Nrf2. The findings from our investigation suggest that 20C should be developed as a novel candidate for alleviating the consequences of PD in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to horizontal liquefiable free-field shaking table test carried out by the research group, a finite element numerical model of horizontal liquefiable free-field is established based on OpenSees finite element platform, and the influence of the model box on dynamic response of soil is considered in this numerical model, and the reliability of numerical model is verified by comparing with the shaking table test results. The inclined liquefiable free-field finite element calculation model is established based on the horizontal numerical model, and three different numerical models of inclined shear box model, inclined soil in shear box model and inclined soil in rigid box model are established to simulate the different test methods adopted in the shaking table test. Through comparison, the dynamic response results of free-field soil calculated by three numerical models under the action of 0.3g Wenchuan earthquake Wolong wave are analyzed, and the influences of three different test methods on the calculation results are discussed, and the results showed that the response of the lateral displacement of soil by two test methods of inclined shear box and inclined soil in shear box have great differences, and the maximum difference value can reach 45%; the response obtained by the two test methods of inclined soil in rigid box and in layer shear box have more obvious differences in pore water pressure lateral displacement and acceleration of soil. • The influence of the model box on soil response is considered in this numerical model. • The inclined liquefiable free-field finite element calculation model is established. • Three different numerical models are established to simulate the different test methods. • The responses of soil displacement by two test methods in shear box have great differences. • The soil responses in rigid box and in shear box have more obvious differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The statistical data of earthquake hazard indicate that the liquefaction and large lateral flow deformation of ground is one of the main reasons of pile foundation failure. It is significant to focus on the seismic dynamic behavior of pile foundation in inclined liquefiable soil. Based on the Opensees finite element platform, an integrated finite numerical model of inclined liquefiable soil-pile group-structure interaction is established in this study, according to the shaking table model test of inclined liquefiable soil. The nonlinearity of pile-soil contact and the shear localization of soil layer are considered in the numerical simulation. The comparison of the numerical simulation result with the shaking table test results are verified. In order to discuss the influence of different overlying soil layer on the seismic behavior of soil and pile system, a typical inclined liquefiable soil-pile group-structure interaction finite element model is established by the proposed numerical simulation method. The results show that the overlying soil layer has an obvious influence on the seismic dynamic behavior of the pore pressure, the horizontal displacement of soil and pile. The increase of the thickness of overlying soil can reduce the liquefaction degree of sand and improve the mechanical performance of pile foundation. • A numerical model of inclined liquefied soil-pile group-structure interaction is established. • The nonlinearity of pile-soil contact and the shear localization of soil layer are considered. • The rationality and effectiveness of the numerical simulation method are verified. • The increase of the thickness of overlying soil can reduce the liquefaction degree of sand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of pile-soil interaction theory, at present the sand p - y model of API specification is adopted to the analysis and calculation of large diameter piles under horizontal static load, but the results of the ultimate soil resistance at different depths is underestimated and the initial foundation reaction modulus is overestimated, thus the calculation results are obtained with large errors. For this problem, a finite element numerical model of pile-soil interaction is established in this study, and the calculation models under horizontal static load with different pile diameters and soil depth are analyzed and the data regression is carried out. A correction coefficient is introduced to consider the size effect of large diameter pile, and the variation law of influence index of different factors is discussed. Finally, a corrected sand p - y curve model for single pile foundation with large diameter more than 2 m is proposed. Compared with the results of model test and field test, the calculation results of ultimate soil resistance and initial foundation reaction modulus from the corrected model is more in accord with the actual situation. • The existing p-y curve is not suitable to the analysis and calculation of large-diameter piles. • The effect factors of ultimate soil resistance and initial reaction modulus are analyzed. • The influences of size effect and soil depth are considered in the corrected p-y curve model. • The reliability and rationality of the corrected p-y curve model are verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sequencing batch biofilm reactor (SBBR) was operated at different salinities with focus on reactor performance and nitrogen removal by simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND). The SBBR contained suspended-growth sludge and biofilm attached to synthetic fibrous carriers. When salinity increased from 1.4 to 4.2 g NaCl/L, it increased the-N and total nitrogen removal efficiencies, the nitrification rate (NR), and denitrification rate (DNR). A slight drop in nitrogen removal, NR, and DNR was observed, when the salinity was increased from 4.2 to 9.8 g NaCl/L. Efficient SND occurred in the reactor and the SND efficiency was above 90.7%. Nitrification was the main contribution of the suspended sludge, while the major role of biofilm was denitrification in the SBBR at the salinity of 9.8 g NaCl/L. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]