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In order to solve the problem of freezing damage treatment and anti-freezing design for railway tunnels in operation in the seasonal frozen area, this paper proposes a polyurethane-corrugated steel plate insulation lining, and studies its thermal insulation effect, relying on a freezing damage treatment project of an existing passenger-dedicated tunnel for on-site application. In this paper, the insulation lining is applied to the actual project and the insulation effect is verified by the field monitoring. The temperature test section was set in the anti-freezing design section. The polyurethane-corrugated steel plate insulation lining proposed in this paper is mainly composed of corrugated steel plate, polyurethane insulation layer and waterproof layer. The polyurethane-corrugated steel insulation lining is applied by using self-made rail flat battery car, door-type scaffolding, arch slide and other construction equipments. The on-site temperature test shows that the insulation effect is obvious. The polyurethane-corrugated steel plate insulation lining has the advantages of fast construction speed, good thermal insulation effect, preventing concrete from peeling off blocks, easy removal and replacement. According to the field temperature test, under the natural temperature outside the tunnel from −18°C to −22°C in winter of 2018–2020, the temperature of the interface between surrounding rock and lining of the tunnel monitoring sections are all above 0°C so that the freezing damage is eliminated from the root. Research results can provide a theoretical basis for the anti-freezing projects of tunnels in seasonal frozen area.

CdS quantum dots (QDs)-sensitized TiO2 film with three-dimensionally (3D) ordered macropores was synthesized via a two-step method on ITO glass substrate. 3D-ordered macroporous TiO2 film was firstly fabricated on an ITO glass via layer-by-layer deposition and hydrolysis of tetrabutyl titanate using 3D-ordered latex film as organic template, followed by calcination at 450 degrees C for 2 h to remove the template. Then, the CdS QDs were deposited on the 3D-ordered macroporous TiO2 film by successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction technique. The as-prepared CdS-sensitized TiO2 film was characterized with X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, diffusive reflectance UV-visible absorption spectra, and photoelectrochemical measurements. Its photocatalytic activity was evaluated by the photocatalytic degradation of crystal violet aqueous solution at ambient temperature. It was revealed in our results that the CdS QDs-sensitized 3D-ordered macroporous TiO2 film exhibits enhanced photocatalytic activity for the photodegradation of crystal violet than that of the CdS-free 3D-ordered macroporous TiO2 film and that of CdS QD-sensitized TiO2 film without 3D-ordered macropores under the irradiation of visible light due to the co-existence of 3D-ordered interconnected macropores and the sensitization of CdS QDs.

Aims To investigate the effect of FTY720 on the valproic acid (VPA) rat model of autism. Main methods As an animal model of autism, we used intraperitoneal injection of VPA on embryonic day 12.5 in Wistar rats. The pups were given FTY720 orally at doses of 0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg/kg daily from postnatal day 15 to 35. Social behavior, spatial learning and memory were assessed at the end of FTY720 treatment. The histological change, oxidative stress, neuroinflammatory responses, and apoptosis-related proteins in the hippocampus were evaluated. Key findings FTY720 (1 mg/kg) administration to VPA-exposed rats (1) improved social behavior, spatial learning and memory impairment; (2) resulted in a reduction in neuronal loss and apoptosis of pyramidal cells in hippocampal CA1 regions; (3) inhibited activation of microglial cells, in turn lowering the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-6 in the hippocampus; (4) changed Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, Glutathione (GSH) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and Glutathione Peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in the hippocampus; (6) inhibited the elevated Bax and caspase-3 protein levels and enhanced the relative expression level of Bcl-2 in the hippocampus; and (7) increased phospho-Ca2 +/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (p-CaMKII), phospho-cAMP-response element binding protein (p-CREB) and Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) protein expression in the hippocampus. Significance FTY720 rescues social deficit, spatial learning and memory impairment in VPA-exposed rats. FTY720 exerts both a direct protection for neurons and an indirect modulation of inflammation-mediated neuron loss as a possible mechanism of neuroprotection.

A double-layer TiO2 nanotube arrays were formed by two-step anodization of Ti foils in different electrolytes. First, Ti in 0.5 wt% HF was anodized to form thin nanotube layer. Afterwards a second anodization was conducted in a formamide based electrolyte, which allowed the second layer of nanotube growing directly underneath the first one. From FESEM investigation we found that the thickness of second layer corresponded to the anodization time, the increasing of which would lead to the excessive etching on the first layer. The first layer protected the lower one from fluoride corrosion during anodization process. The double layer TiO2 nanotube arrays showed no benefit to photodegradation effect in methyl orange degradation experiments.

Nitrogen-doped titanium dioxide mesosponge was fabricated by transformation of TiO2 nanotube arrays using a facial solvothermal method. The structure, morphology and optical property were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and UV–vis diffusion reflection spectroscopy (DRS). A possible formation mechanism of N-doped TiO2 mesosponge has been proposed. The photoelectrochemical results indicate that N-doped TiO2 mesosponge prepared in ethanol solution of ammonia exhibits much higher photocurrent densities and the optimal photocatalytic activity.

To investigate whether the decreased level of serum polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in patients with autism is associated with the expression of related liver metabolic enzymes, we selected rats that were exposed to valproic acid (VPA) on embryonic day 12.5 (E12.5) as a model of autism. We observed the serum levels of PUFAs and the expression of related liver metabolic enzymes, including Δ5-desaturase, Δ6-desaturase and elongase (Elovl2), in VPA-exposed and control rats on postnatal day 35 (PND35) and conducted sex dimorphic analysis. We found that the levels of serum PUFAs and related liver metabolic enzymes in the VPA rats were significantly reduced, in association with autism-like behavioral changes, the abnormal expression of apoptosis-related proteins and hippocampal neuronal injury, compared to the control rats and showed sex difference in VPA group. This finding indicated that rats exposed to VPA at the embryonic stage may exhibit reduced synthesis of serum PUFAs due to the down-regulation of liver metabolic enzymes, thereby inducing nervous system injury and behavioral changes, which is affected by sex in the meantime.

Raman investigations were carried out for various compositions of chalcogenide glasses in the GeS2–Ga2S3–CdS system. Addition of Ga2S3 into GeS2 results in the formation of metal–metal bonds and edge-shared GaS4/2 tetrahedra. Ge2+ ions may surround [GaS4/2]1− tetrahedra acting as charge compensators. Upon the addition of CdS into the GeS2–Ga2S3 system, the number of the metal–metal bonds and edge-shared GaS4/2 tetrahedra decreases, resulting in the formation of corner-shared tetrahedra with non-bridging sulfurs (NBS). Cd2+ ions can be dissolved into the glass network as charge compensators for these NBS and exited few [GaS4/2]1− tetrahedra. The high solubility of CdS is ascribed to the dissociation of metal–metal bonds and edge-shared tetrahedra in these Ga-containing glasses.

Carbon-doped TiO2 nanotube arrays (TNAs) were prepared from carbonaceous Ti foils by anodisation in a mixed electrolyte of glycerol and water. The photocatalytic ability can be increased by applying an external positive bias. Enhancing acidity of the pending solution can further accelerate the degradation rate. However, falcate and annular scraps were observed on the surface of TNAs after photoelectrodegradation experiments. XPS analysis indicated that carbon ions were positioned in interstitial site of the catalyst and the carbon content in TNAs decreased following the degradation process. The acid environment can increase the photocatalytic activity; this will damage the C-TNAs greatly. The carbon content decrease from 18.47 at. % to approximate 6 at. % after PEC processes, indicating that the carbon elements is removed from carbonaceous C-TNAs during PEC.