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The European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner), relies on multimodal sensory information to find food, mates, mating and ovipositional grounds. Successful phytosanitary monitoring demands for the bait for the field traps to obtain the most reliable representation of pest abundance. Attraction to light and blend of key components of host plant odor, was tested both in the laboratory and field conditions. Ultraviolet light, which was the most effective in the wind tunnel experiments, was further tested in the field alone and in combination with bisexual lure. Bisexual lure, being attractive in the lab, as well as in the field, did not improve responses to ultraviolet in both experimental designs. All three baits attracted significantly more females than males in the field. Wind tunnel experiments revealed that ultraviolet elicited the shortest response latencies either alone or paired with the odor bait. The lack of synergistic effect between attractive light and odor stimuli is an important issue for pest monitoring. The possible reasons for the observed lack of synergy are the hierarchy of behavioral responses to different stimuli or the intensities of both stimuli are critically important for attractivity of combined stimulus and differ from separately presented ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the combined toxic effect of Mn(II) and resorcinol (0.01 n and 0.2 n) on duckweed (Lemna minor). During the acute experiments, the plants released electrolytes into the aquatic environment after 30 min of exposure to the toxicants, indicating a disruption of tissue permeability as a test response. The experiments showed that the toxicity of the equinormal mixtures of resorcinol and Mn(II) (0.2 n each) increased relative to their single solutions. This was observed both in the freshly prepared solutions and in the solutions stored for 20 h prior to the experiments. The change in the UV absorption spectra indicates that there was complexation or other interaction between resorcinol and Mn(II) at equinormal concentrations (0.01 n). At the Mn(II) : resorcinol ratio of 1:20 (0.01 n Mn(II) and 0.2 n resorcinol), the toxicity of the system to duckweed decreased compared to the separate effects of these substances. The results obtained highlight the importance of considering the interactions between heavy metals and phenolic compounds when assessing the quality of aquatic environments.

Integrating waste and industrial by-products into concrete is an alternative way to reduce global cement consumption, enhancing its eco-friendliness. In this context, residues with fly ash have been increasingly utilised. Considering the vulnerability of concrete with fly ash to carbonation and, at the same time, its high resistance to chlorides, it is important to investigate the behaviour of these concretes under their combined actions. For this purpose, an experimental investigation was conducted, studying mortar and concrete specimens with 40% replacement of cement with fly ash. These specimens were subjected to a combination of actions (Cl− and CO2) in two phases: initially through immersion and drying tests, and subsequently through a combination of accelerated tests. Concerning the chloride impact study, free and total chloride profiles were studied. Concerning the impact of carbonation, colourimetric and chemical tests were used. The results demonstrate a significant influence of combined action not only on chloride penetration in cement-based materials with fly ash but also on the development of a carbonation front. Exposure of cement-based materials with fly ash to environments with high Cl− and CO2 content sequentially may lead, on the one hand, to an increase in carbonation resistance. However, on the other hand, it may result in a substantial reduction in chloride penetration resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Southeast University (English Edition) is the property of Journal of Southeast University Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article reports the results of a study of Cr(VI) ions mutagenicity in the erythrocytes of Bufo viridis tadpoles under the influence of a low-frequency pulsed magnetic field (LF PMF). The tadpoles were randomly divided into 14 groups (n = 7). One group of intact tadpoles served as control. Other groups were experimental. The first six groups were placed for 24 h in water containing Cr(VI) at different concentrations (0.025, 0.05, 0.125, 0.25, 0.375, and 0.50 mg/L). The eighth group was subjected to an 8-h exposure to LF PMF (41 mT, 16 Hz). The remaining six groups of tadpoles were kept for 24 h in water with Cr(VI) ions at the specified concentrations and were also irradiated with LF PMF (41 mT, 16 Hz) during the first 8 h of this period. A day after the exposure, blood smears were taken, and the frequencies of micronuclei and nuclear anomalies in erythrocytes were analyzed. The results reveal that low concentrations of Cr(VI) (0.025 and 0.05 mg/L), unlike the higher ones (0.125 mg/L and above), did not significantly affect the frequencies of the analyzed anomalies. The combined action of Cr(VI) and LF PMF significantly increased the frequencies of the recorded anomalies in all the six variants of the experiment. The synergistic effect of Cr(VI) and LF PTF was shown.

Copyright of Engineering Mechanics / Gongcheng Lixue is the property of Engineering Mechanics Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The paper reflects the results of a survey and assessment of the technical condition of steel-reinforced concrete floor slabs using the “Hoesch Additiv Decke®” technology. Poor execution of concreting and reinforcing, lack of combined action between the elements of the slab, various deviations from the project significantly affect the stress-strain state of the steel-reinforced concrete floor. The aim of the work is to study the influence of various factors on the stress-strain state of steel-reinforced concrete floor slabs using the “Hoesch Additiv Decke®” technology before their operation. The main objectives of this study are: assessment of the technical condition of the steel-reinforced concrete floor slab, detection of defects and damage in the elements of the slab; check calculations of strength, deformability and fluctuation of individual elements, taking into account the identified defects and damage; search for the main decisive parameters in the production of construction and installation works, which significantly affect the strength, deformability and durability of the structure. The object of the study is the elements of the combined steel-reinforced concrete floor. The paper considers the influence of various factors on the stress-strain state of a combined steel-reinforced concrete floor before the start of operation. The authors apply the calculation-analytical method of research. The strength of the slab elements is checked using the “Scad Office” program. The verification of the deformability and fluctuation of the overlap is carried out by manual calculation in accordance with current regulations. Results. The authors performed check calculations of the slab elements, taking into account the identified defects and damages, the actual reinforcement and the thickness of the slab. Deficiencies in the construction and installation works and design errors led to a large number of defects in the floor, such as overloading of the slab, the appearance of force cracks in the slab above the beams, excessive deflections of structures, defects in reinforcement and in concreting. It is required to carry out comprehensive measures to strengthen the floor slabs according to a specially developed construction project developed by a specialized organization. Conclusions. The authors give recommendations on ensuring the operational characteristics of the examined bearing elements based on the results of assessing the technical state of the structures. The results of the research can be used in practical work by engineers in the design and construction of steel-reinforced concrete floor slabs, as well as in the examination and assessment of their technical state.

To compare the deterioration mechanism of reinforced concrete beams between the combined effect of cyclic loading and carbonation and the sum of both individual factors, an optimized test procedure was introduced in this study. The macroscopic and microscopic results showed that the decrease in carbonation resistance of concrete could be attributed to the changes in pore structures and crack patterns introduced by cyclic loading. However, the carbonation process of flexural tensile concrete corresponding to different test procedures presented different trends. It indicated that the combined action of carbonation and fatigue damage was more serious than the damage caused by the effect of superposition. Finally, a theoretical carbonation model of concrete subjected to the combined damage was proposed and validated by comparing it with previous experimental results. The research findings are significant for improving the accuracy of evaluation of residual service life of reinforced concrete bridges and early warning of durability protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Chinese Institute of Food Science & Technology is the property of Journal of Chinese Institute of Food Science & Technology Periodical Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

ObjectivesDuring the mission, the ship may be simultaneously subjected to the combined wave load and underwater explosion bubble pulsation load, resulting in the "superposition effect" of hull response and the loss of total strength of the ship. Therefore, it is necessary to explore the dynamic response law of hull girder under the combined action of above-mentioned loads. MethodsFirst, a simplified hull girder model is established by theoretical analysis, and the bubble pulsation load of underwater explosion and wave load are solved. Then, based on the Hamilton Principle, the differential equations of motion of hull girder at both free ends subjected to the two loads are derived separately and jointly. Finally, based on the solution of the motion differential equation, the hull girder's free vibration response and the simplified model's motion response under the three working conditions of external load combination are analyzed. ResultsThe results show that under the combined action of the two loads, the motion response of the hull girder is 15% larger than the linear superposition of the motion response of the two loads alone. ConclusionsThe research done can provide a reference for developing an algorithm to analyze the motion response of ship structures under combined loads.

Integrating waste and industrial by-products into concrete is an alternative way to reduce global cement consumption, enhancing its eco-friendliness. In this context, residues with fly ash have been increasingly utilised. Considering the vulnerability of concrete with fly ash to carbonation and, at the same time, its high resistance to chlorides, it is important to investigate the behaviour of these concretes under their combined actions. For this purpose, an experimental investigation was conducted, studying mortar and concrete specimens with 40% replacement of cement with fly ash. These specimens were subjected to a combination of actions (Cl− and CO2) in two phases: initially through immersion and drying tests, and subsequently through a combination of accelerated tests. Concerning the chloride impact study, free and total chloride profiles were studied. Concerning the impact of carbonation, colourimetric and chemical tests were used. The results demonstrate a significant influence of combined action not only on chloride penetration in cement-based materials with fly ash but also on the development of a carbonation front. Exposure of cement-based materials with fly ash to environments with high Cl− and CO2 content sequentially may lead, on the one hand, to an increase in carbonation resistance. However, on the other hand, it may result in a substantial reduction in chloride penetration resistance.

The buckling mechanism of diagonally stiffened plates under the combined action of shear, bending, and compression is a complex phenomenon that is difficult to describe with simple and clear explicit expressions. Predicting the elastic buckling coefficient accurately is crucial for calculating the buckling load of these plates. Several factors influence the buckling load of diagonally stiffened plates, including the plate's aspect ratio, the stiffener's flexural and torsional rigidity, and the in-plane load. Traditional analysis methods rely on fitting a large number of finite element numerical simulations to obtain an empirical formula for the buckling coefficient of stiffened plates under a single load. However, this cannot be applied to diagonally stiffened plates under combined loads. To address these limitations, several machine learning (ML) models were developed using the ML method and the SHAP to predict the buckling coefficient of diagonally stiffened plates. Eight ML models were trained, including decision tree (DT), k-nearest neighbor (K-NN), artificial neural network (ANN), random forest (RF), AdaBoost, LightGBM, XGBoost, and CatBoost. The performance of these models was evaluated and found to be highly accurate in predicting the buckling coefficient of diagonally stiffened plates under combined loading. Among the eight models, XGBoost was found to be the best. Further analysis using the SHAP method revealed that the aspect ratio of the plate is the most important feature influencing the elastic buckling coefficient. This was followed by the combined action ratio, as well as the flexure and torsional rigidity of the stiffener. Based on these findings, it is recommended that the stiffener-to-plate flexural stiffness ratio be greater than 20 and that the stiffener's torsional-to-flexural stiffness ratio be greater than 0.4. This will improve the elastic buckling coefficient of diagonally stiffened plates and enable them to achieve higher load capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studied the effect of sulfate on chloride diffusion behavior in coral aggregate concrete (CAC) in marine tide zone. Three water/binder ratios of CAC were designed for experimental analysis, and the mechanism of the effect of sulfate on chloride transport was investigated by different microscopic experimental methods. The test results show that the chloride content decreases with the decrease of water/binder ratio of CAC. At an equal number of drying-wetting cycles, the chloride content under the combined action of chloride and sulphate is lower than that under the sole action of chloride. The change of peak chloride content with time showed a linear function with the square root of erosion time, while the chloride diffusion coefficient gradually decreased with erosion time. Adding silica fume to CAC effectively reduced the chloride diffusion coefficient, with a decrease of 26.1%∼46.2%. The attenuation coefficient of CAC under chloride erosion was 16.4%∼38.1% higher than that under the combined action of chloride and sulfate. The chloride diffusion model was established, and the error between the calculated value of the model and the experimental value was within 16%. Microscopic observations revealed that in the early stage of erosion, the sulfate erosion products ettringite and gypsum had a compacting effect on the CAC, but in the late stage of erosion, they produced expansion cracks, which accelerated the deterioration of CAC.

During steel pipe jacking (SPJ), if improper control of jacking force or excessive water and earth pressure occurs, axial overall buckling and local buckling may happen. To reveal the stability mechanism of SPJ in the construction stage, cylindrical thin shell elastic stability theory was introduced. Theoretical analysis was used to derive the analytical equation of axial elastic buckling critical load under the combined action of uniform axial pressure and uniform confining pressure for engineering application. The finite element method was then employed to verify the analytical equation. Subsequently, the influence of pipe geometry parameters and uniform confining pressure on the axial buckling critical load was analyzed using the variable analysis method. The results show that: the analytical formula proposed in this study is in good agreement with the finite element calculation results; the critical load under the action of uniform axial pressure decreases with the increase of diameter--thickness ratio of the pipe when the slenderness ratio is less than 3; the critical load of axial buckling under different wall thickness decreases with the increase of uniform confining pressure, under the combined action of uniform axial pressure and uniform confining pressure; the thinner the wall thickness and the longer the pipe length, the greater the decrease of critical load; in actual construction, if the conditions allow, the axial stability of the SPJ can be improved by controlling the burial depth or wall thickness to avoid axial instability. This study provides a good reference for verifying whether the burial depth and wall thickness of a pipe meet the stability requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To compare the deterioration mechanism of reinforced concrete beams between the combined effect of cyclic loading and carbonation and the sum of both individual factors, an optimized test procedure was introduced in this study. The macroscopic and microscopic results showed that the decrease in carbonation resistance of concrete could be attributed to the changes in pore structures and crack patterns introduced by cyclic loading. However, the carbonation process of flexural tensile concrete corresponding to different test procedures presented different trends. It indicated that the combined action of carbonation and fatigue damage was more serious than the damage caused by the effect of superposition. Finally, a theoretical carbonation model of concrete subjected to the combined damage was proposed and validated by comparing it with previous experimental results. The research findings are significant for improving the accuracy of evaluation of residual service life of reinforced concrete bridges and early warning of durability protection.

Typical insulated precast concrete sandwich panel (PCSP) systems are composed of two concrete wythes separated by a layer of insulation. The structural behavior of insulated PCSP systems heavily depends on elements between two wythes known as connectors, which ensure they work as a whole. Double shear tests were carried out on 58 insulated PCSP specimens reinforced with basalt fiber-reinforced polymer (BFRP) connectors; failure modes, load displacement curves and bearing capacity of BFRP connectors were obtained. Effects of diameter, insulation thickness, installation angle, layout spacing and combined action on shear capacity were analyzed. The results show that the span ratio of the connector was suggested to be less than 15, and the angle of the connector should be set to 60° or 75° for suitable stiffness and bearing capacity with an abundant safety margin. The shear capacity decreases slightly with the increase in the connectors' spacing while the overall impact is small. The shear force of connectors in a plane or spatial combination can be calculated according to that of one single connector. Moreover, the shear capacity model of BFRP connectors proposed in this paper provides a favorable design option for insulated PCSP systems using BFRP connectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The possibility of using methods for determining the oxidative status of an organism (enzymatic and non-enzymatic links of the cellular antioxidant system) to assess the antioxidant properties of peptides of the pituitary gland of the reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) were investigated in an experimental study conducted with a combined effect of factors of different nature on rats: a physical factor — prolonged light desynchronosis (different light modes) and a chemical factor - acute severe poisoning with depriving toxicant (sodium thiopental, LD50). The pharmacological correction of the oxidative status of cells in the animals of the experimental subgroups was carried out with the peptide product of the pituitary gland, intranasally injecting the surviving rats with the bioproduct at a dose of 100 µg/kg, once in the first half of the objective day for 14 days after poisoning with sodium thiopental. The surviving animals of the control groups were similarly injected with saline. The effectiveness of the correction of the disruptions of the cellular oxidative status with the peptide product of the pituitary gland was tested 30 days after the onset of the combined effect of stress factors on rats. It was found that the use of this bioactive peptide product in experimental animals exposed to different light modes and a chemical factor contributed to a decrease in the initially increased indicators of lipid peroxidation in rat erythrocytes and an increase in the initially reduced indicators of the enzymatic link of antioxidant protection. The activity of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione transferase, as well as glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase increased after pharmacological correction. The concentration of reduced glutathione also increased in erythrocytes. The maximum changes were observed in the experimental subgroup of rats exposed to the combined effects of constant illumination and depriming toxicant. It was also found that the revealed positive changes in the indicators of the enzymatic link of antioxidant protection in animals of the experimental subgroups are associated with the maintenance of a sufficient concentration of reduced glutathione in red blood cells, which contributed to the maintenance of the cellular redox balance, when the conditions of the external lighting regime are violated.

Corrosion of reinforced bars and the fatigue effect in concrete structures significantly impact the bond performance of reinforced bars. The current research mainly focuses on the effect of fatigue or corrosion on the bonding properties of steel bars, which is still quite different from the service environment of the structure. The degradation law of the bond performance, failure characteristics, and changing trend of bond stress along the anchorage length of reinforced concrete specimens were analyzed under the combined action of fatigue and corrosion in this test. Under the combined action of corrosion and fatigue, the specimens’ bond stress and slip limit are significantly reduced, and the steel bars may fracture during the loading process. There are two peaks in the longitudinal distribution curve of the combined stress of the specimen under the combined action of fatigue and corrosion.

• Single and repeated impact behavior of carbon fiber corrugated sandwich structures is investigated. • The failure mode and bending bearing capacity of the structures after single or repeated impacts of different energy level is analyzed. • The influence of impact energy and impact frequency on the energy absorption capacity of carbon fiber corrugated sandwich panels has been studied. • An empirical formula of the relationship between residual strength factor, impact energy and number of impacts is established. Corrugated sandwich structures are fabricated with carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) face sheets and cores. An experimental study was performed to investigate the response of this type of structure to impact loading; specifically, the impact force, energy absorption capacity, and failure mode were explored. The effects of the impact energy and the number of impacts on the corrugated sandwich structure damage were also studied. The failure modes and bending capacities of structures subjected to single or repeated impacts were analyzed. The bending capacities of the composite corrugated sandwich structures were related to the failure states of the panels. When a panel endured multiple impacts, its bending capacity significantly decreased; however, its energy absorption level first increased and then decreased. An empirical relationship between the residual strength factor, the impact energy, and the number of impacts was obtained. The findings of this study can serve as a reference for performance evaluations of marine composite structures subjected to combined impact and bending loading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: One of the ways to enhance the effectiveness of radiation therapy or sterilization of objects of various origins is to use chemical agents in combination with hyperthermia and ionizing radiation. Some drugs commonly used in medicine include heavy metals. However, the study of their synergistic interaction with other agents is fragmentary. The purpose of this study was to establish a general pattern of synergistic interaction of heavy metal salts with hyperthermia or ionizing radiation. Materials and Methods: Bacterial and diploid yeast cells were used in the experiments. To quantify the synergistic effect, cell survival was determined after individual effects of heavy metal salts, hyperthermia, ionizing radiation, and their simultaneous action. The following heavy metal salts were used: lead iodide, potassium dichromate, cisplatin, and zinc sulfate. Results: For all analyzed cases, optimal conditions of interacting agents were observed under which the greatest synergistic effect was achieved. Conclusion: Comparison of the results obtained with previously published data indicates general patterns of synergistic effect display that are independent of acting agents, biological objects, and tests.

Riamilovir (Triazavirin®) Is an original Russian preparation of the azoloazine family, an analogue of the purine nucleoside (guanosine), it belongs to inhibitors of the synthesis of viral RNAs and replicators of genomic fragments. The drug has a wide spectrum of antiviral activity, is effective for a number of acute respiratory viral infections, including influenza A and B, and is included in clinical recommendations for treatment of influenza in adults. The aim of this work is to study the efficacy of a combination of riamilovir and oseltamivir in different doses on a model of viral influenza pneumonia in mice. The efficacy of the drugs was evaluated by increasing the survival rate and reducing the loss of body weight of mice, changing the titer of the virus in the lungs, the morphological state of the lungs, and also increasing the life span of animals compared to control animals that were not treated. In the experimental model of viral influenza pneumonia in mice in two experiments with low and high doses of infection showed with the use of clinical, virological, and morphological parameters that the combination of riamilovir in doses of 12.5 or 25 mg/kg/day with oseltamivir at a dose of 5 mg/kg/day makes it possible to increase the effectiveness of treatment compared to the effectiveness of separate treatment with each drug in the appropriate dose and according to the corresponding scheme. This treatment showed a statistically significant reduction in animal mortality, prevented their loss of body weight, and prolonged life expectancy compared to the control group of animals that did not receive treatment. The combination of riamilov at a dose of 12.5 mg/kg/day with oseltamivir had a therapeutic effect on the morphological state of the lungs. Furthermore, said combinations of drugs significantly reduced the multiplication of the virus in the lungs of animals when infected with a low dose of the virus and suppressed the reproduction of the virus completely at a high dose of infection.

Abstract A new experimental method on simulating the combined action of cavitation erosion and abrasion was proposed to investigate the erosion mechanism of overflow structure induced by the said processes. An automatic sand mixing device was invented for high-pressure and high-speed flow based on the characteristics of Venturi cavitation generator and hydraulic Bernoulli principle. The experimental system for the combined action of cavitation erosion and abrasion was designed and constructed, and high-speed sand mixing flow only appeared in the test section. A series of tests on the combined and single action of cavitation erosion and abrasion on hydraulic concrete and cement was carried out by using the invented experimental device. Results show that the wear of concrete surface exhibited the combined characteristics of cavitation erosion and abrasion under their joint action. The damage degree of concrete surface under the combined action was more severe than that under a single action. The mass loss of concrete under the combined action was higher than sum of mass losses of concrete under two single actions. The promotion and enhancement between cavitation erosion and abrasion existed in high-speed sand mixing flow. A power exponential relationship was observed between erosion mass loss and flow speed, and the velocity indexes approximated 4.5. Small and light sand particles easily follow water flow. Thus, the strong coupling effect of cavitation erosion and abrasion resulted from the presence of small sand particles. Given the different mechanisms of cavitation erosion and abrasion, presenting the skeleton structure formed by cavitation erosion was notably difficult under the action of abrasion. Meanwhile, abrasion wear easily occurred under the impact of cavitation erosion, and this result is due to the mechanism of the combined action of both processes.

Typical insulated precast concrete sandwich panel (PCSP) systems are composed of two concrete wythes separated by a layer of insulation. The structural behavior of insulated PCSP systems heavily depends on elements between two wythes known as connectors, which ensure they work as a whole. Double shear tests were carried out on 58 insulated PCSP specimens reinforced with basalt fiber-reinforced polymer (BFRP) connectors; failure modes, load displacement curves and bearing capacity of BFRP connectors were obtained. Effects of diameter, insulation thickness, installation angle, layout spacing and combined action on shear capacity were analyzed. The results show that the span ratio of the connector was suggested to be less than 15, and the angle of the connector should be set to 60° or 75° for suitable stiffness and bearing capacity with an abundant safety margin. The shear capacity decreases slightly with the increase in the connectors’ spacing while the overall impact is small. The shear force of connectors in a plane or spatial combination can be calculated according to that of one single connector. Moreover, the shear capacity model of BFRP connectors proposed in this paper provides a favorable design option for insulated PCSP systems using BFRP connectors.

Hedyotis diffusa polysaccharides, as the main component and an important bioactive substance of Hedyotis diffusa , are effective immunomodulators with various pharmacological activities, including antitumour, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-fatigue and immunity-enhancing activities. The total polysaccharides extracted from Hedyotis diffusa and Scutellaria barbata have great effects in treating liver cancer, gastric cancer, rectal cancer, glioma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Moreover, different materials and extraction methods result in differences in the structure and bioactivity of Hedyotis diffusa polysaccharides. Therefore, this paper summarizes the isolation, purification, structural characteristics, pharmacological activities, and combined action of Hedyotis diffusa polysaccharides to provide a reference for further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental Science & Technology (10036504) is the property of Editorial Board of Environmental Science & Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The combination of strong earthquakes and wave action may pose risks to the safety of sea-crossing bridges during their service life, resulting in damage to the bridges. To investigate the damage evolution laws of reinforced concrete rigid-frame bridges under combined earthquake and wave action, a novelty simplified numerical method was developed, which was then verified using the results of underwater shaking table tests on a bridge pier. Then, a reinforced concrete rigid-frame bridge modelled by nonlinear fibre damage elements was established and a damage evaluation method was proposed to evaluate the seismic damage evolution processes of the bridge under different wave environments, including various earthquake-wave phase differences, wave directions and wave levels. The obtained results show that the simultaneous effects of earthquakes and waves may increase or decrease bridge damage, which is related to earthquake-wave phase differences. The simultaneous effects of earthquakes and longitudinal waves significantly exacerbate bridge damage compared to those of earthquakes and transverse waves. For the bridge in the largely intact status, the bridge damage index increases with greater wave level. For the bridge in the slight damage status, wave action slightly increases bridge damage at the low-intensity phase in the latter part of the seismic record. • A novelty simplified numerical model of bridges considering the combined action of earthquakes and waves is developed. • A damage evaluation method for the reinforced concrete rigid-frame bridge is proposed. • The damage evolution processes of the bridge under combined strong earthquake and wave action are investigated. • The effects of the earthquake-wave phase difference, wave direction and wave level on the bridge are explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subway concrete is easy to be attacked by carbonation in the relatively closed space, and alkali silica reaction (ASR) is a serious durability problem of concrete, which is difficult to find and repair. The damage caused by carbonation and ASR seriously affects the durability of subway concrete. Two kinds of nano-particles (nano-SiO2 and nano-Fe2O3) are mixed into plain subway concrete in this paper, and their effects on the durability of concrete under the combined action of carbonation and ASR are studied experimentally. The test results show that, after mixing with nano-particles, the carbonation depth and expansion of subway concrete are decreased, as well as the sonic velocity of subway concrete is increased obviously, which demonstrate the durability of subway concrete with nano-particles is better than plain subway concrete. The enhancement of durability is due to the special physical and chemical properties of nanoparticles, which can improve the microstructure of concrete and the chemical composition of pore solution in concrete.

Absrtact: Oil spills have an important threat to the ecological security and human health, for example the important oil field and coastal wetland Yellow River Delta is facing the dual problems of oil pollution and salinization. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to analyze the changes of soil microbial community and physicochemical properties, including pH value, total organic carbon (TOC), total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) and electrical conductivity under the combined effect of petroleum and salinization. The soil properties results showed that the petroleum addition promoted the increase of TOC from 2.31 ± 0.59 mg/kg to 7.04 ± 0.42 mg/kg (r > 0.95, P 0.9), TPHs from 9.18 ± 0.07 mg/kg to 33.09 ± 4.61 mg/kg (r > 0.9, P 0.9) significantly. At the initial stage hydrocarbons caused the increase of soil salt content and the decrease of pH. Salt addition increased soil salt from 2.46 ± 0.13 g/kg to 15.12 ± 0.21 g/kg (r > 0.8, P > 0.1, R2 > 0.95), but it had no direct effect on other soil properties. It was found that the nitrate reducing bacteria Halorhodospiraceae with potential petroleum degradation ability and the anaerobic bacteria Lactobacilliceae appeared after adding crude oil. The salt tolerant bacteria Halobacilli and the stone oil degrading bacteria Immundisolidcharacter appeared in the high salt and low salt environments respectively. The aerobic bacteria Acidimicrobiaceae, Hyphomonas and the nonoil efficient Peptoccaceae disappeared in the process of salinization and oil pollution. Lactobacilliceae can ferment carbohydrate, fatty acid or ester to produce lactic acid, acetic acid and fumaric acid to provide metabolic substrate for other microorganisms. The above results showed that sensitive microorganisms were easy to be affected by pollution to indicate soil conditions, while tolerant microorganisms could potentially use oil to achieve bioremediation. The soil properties and microbial results provided data support and theoretical basis for further understanding the pollution mechanism of oil and salinization combined stress on soil.

This paper deals with the mechanical behavior of hollow concrete cylinders prestressed with nickel-titanium (Ni-Ti)-shape memory alloy (SMA) wires wound around them. Prestresses can be created by the thermal activation of the memory effect of SMA wire placed on the outer surface of concrete cylinders. In order to assess the stress level in concrete, a model was used to analyze the thermal stresses in the concrete shell resulting from a temperature gradient in the thickness. Another model was used to calculate the circular concentric loading applied by the wound wire resulting from the impairment of its memory effect by the concrete cylinder. Finally, longitudinal compression tests were performed on the prestressed hollow cylinders. Longitudinal and circumferential strains were measured using gauges located on the surfaces of the hollow cylinders. The tests were performed almost one year after the application of prestressing by means of Ni-Ti SMA wire, confirming that the residual stress in the wire remained present. It may therefore be concluded that the prestressing of concrete elements designed with the use of Ni-Ti SMA material is effective for a long time.

Due to the advantage of saving indoor space, a special-shaped column frame attracted more attention of the engineers and researchers. This paper presented a quasi-static cyclic loading experiment of six specimens of reinforced concrete (RC) L-shaped columns under compression-flexure-shear-torsion combined loadings to investigate the effect in the ratio of torsion to moment (T/M) and axial compression ratio (n) on their seismic performance. The results showed that the failure modes of L-shaped specimens included bending failure, bending-torsion failure, and torsion-shear failure with the hysteretic curves exhibiting S shape. With the increase of T/M ratio, cracks on the flange developed more fully, and the height of plastic hinge decreased and torsion bearing capacity improved. Besides, as the T/M ratio increased the twist ductility increased, while displacement ductility decreased. On the other hand, with a higher axial compression ratio, torsion bearing capacity and bending stiffness were both increased. Moreover, the equivalent viscous damping coefficient of bending and torsion were 0.08~0.28 and 0.13~0.23, respectively. The average inter-story drift ratio met the requirements of the Chinese standard. Finally, two modified models were proposed to predict the progression of damage for the L-shaped column under combined loading including torsion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Harbin Institute of Technology. Social Sciences Edition / Haerbin Gongye Daxue Xuebao. Shehui Kexue Ban is the property of Harbin Institute of Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Engineering Mechanics / Gongcheng Lixue is the property of Engineering Mechanics Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A new experimental method on simulating the combined action of cavitation erosion and abrasion was proposed to investigate the erosion mechanism of overflow structure induced by the said processes. An automatic sand mixing device was invented for high-pressure and high-speed flow based on the characteristics of Venturi cavitation generator and hydraulic Bernoulli principle. The experimental system for the combined action of cavitation erosion and abrasion was designed and constructed, and high-speed sand mixing flow only appeared in the test section. A series of tests on the combined and single action of cavitation erosion and abrasion on hydraulic concrete and cement was carried out by using the invented experimental device. Results show that the wear of concrete surface exhibited the combined characteristics of cavitation erosion and abrasion under their joint action. The damage degree of concrete surface under the combined action was more severe than that under a single action. The mass loss of concrete under the combined action was higher than sum of mass losses of concrete under two single actions. The promotion and enhancement between cavitation erosion and abrasion existed in high-speed sand mixing flow. A power exponential relationship was observed between erosion mass loss and flow speed, and the velocity indexes approximated 4.5. Small and light sand particles easily follow water flow. Thus, the strong coupling effect of cavitation erosion and abrasion resulted from the presence of small sand particles. Given the different mechanisms of cavitation erosion and abrasion, presenting the skeleton structure formed by cavitation erosion was notably difficult under the action of abrasion. Meanwhile, abrasion wear easily occurred under the impact of cavitation erosion, and this result is due to the mechanism of the combined action of both processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subchronic intoxication was induced in outbred male rats by repeated intraperitoneal injections with lead oxide (PbO) and/or cadmium oxide (CdO) nanoparticles (NPs) 3 times a week during 6 weeks for the purpose of examining its effects on the contractile characteristics of isolated right ventricle trabeculae and papillary muscles in isometric and afterload contractions. Isolated and combined intoxication with these NPs was observed to reduce the mechanical work produced by both types of myocardial preparation. Using the in vitro motility assay, we showed that the sliding velocity of regulated thin filaments drops under both isolated and combined intoxication with CdO–NP and PbO–NP. These results correlate with a shift in the expression of myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms towards slowly cycling β–MHC. The type of CdO–NP + PbO–NP combined cardiotoxicity depends on the effect of the toxic impact, the extent of this effect, the ratio of toxicant doses, and the degree of stretching of cardiomyocytes and muscle type studied. Some indices of combined Pb–NP and CdO–NP cardiotoxicity and general toxicity (genotoxicity included) became fully or partly normalized if intoxication developed against background administration of a bioprotective complex.

• Morris' extension method was applied to evaluate the combined actions of model inputs. • Study of three types of convergence of combined actions results using formal criteria. • New Morris' extension indices was proposed to achieve convergent results at lower cost. • Morris' extension method and total interaction Sobol indices provide the same results. • Convergence of screening and ranking can be reached before sensitivity indices stabilize. This work aims at studying Morris' extension method to evaluate the contribution of combined variations of inputs to variations of a model output. There is a lack of studies on the Morris' extension method concerning crucial choices of the adequate number of trajectories to distinguish influential and non-influential groups of pairs of inputs, rank pairs of inputs according to their relative importance and reach out the stability of sensitivity indices values. The Morris' extension method was studied regarding the three previous issues via applications on simple and complex models, in comparison with total interaction indices of Sobol. Formal criteria were implemented to assess the convergence of sensitivity analysis results. Sensitivity indices based on the median of mixed elementary effects (MEE) were investigated and found to be competing with classical ones based on the mean of MEE, to achieve convergent results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this study, mechanically-dewatered sludge was used to investigate the effect of electro-dewatering (EDW) under two electrical modes, which are constant current mode followed by constant voltage mode (CV-EDW), and constant voltage mode followed by constant current mode (VC-EDW). The effect of current and voltage changes on dewatering efficiency and energy consumption of sludge electroosmosis under CV-EDW and VC-EDWs was evaluated The results show that compared with constant current mode (C-EDW), CV-EDW can improve the final dry solids content and reduce the heating rate, and the final dry solids content and unit energy consumption increase with the decrease of current and the increase of voltage. Under CV-EDW, when the dry solids content is 32%, the energy consumption can be reduced by changing to the constant voltage stage, and the energy consumption is 0.093–0.113 kWh/kg water. Compared with constant voltage mode (V-EDW), VC-EDW significantly improves sludge dewatering rate. Under VC-EDW, the final dry solids content of sludge increases with the decrease of current and voltage. When the voltage is decreased by 10 V, the unit energy consumption is reduced by 27.15 ± 1.77% on average, and the energy consumption is 0.132–0.163 kWh/kg water. Compared with CV-EDW, the dehydration rate of VC-EDW is increased by 72.9% on average. However, the unit energy consumption required for dehydration increases by 43.09% when the dry solids content is less than 45%. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Constant current and voltage modes are combined for sludge electro-dewatering. • The combination shows advantage over constant current or voltage mode. • Constant current-to-voltage mode yields higher dry solids content and saves energy. • Best point for constant current-to-voltage mode is a dry solids content of 32%. • Constant voltage-to-current mode yields higher dehydration rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential effects of quercetin and gentamicin combination on the bacteriostatic activity and biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) were examined, and the findings provided a theoretical basis for the development of quercetin as a new biofilm inhibitor. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of eight PAs was determined by microdilution method and the partial inhibitory concentration index (FICI) of the combined drug was analyzed by micro-dilution method. Thereafter, the lowest film inhibitory concentration (MBIC) of quercetin and gentamicin alone and in combination was evaluated by crystal violet staining. Finally, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and laser confocal microscopy (CLSM) were used to decipher the inhibitory effect of the combination on biofilm formation. The antibacterial activity of quercetin alone was relatively weak, but after combination with gentamicin, the antibacterial activity was significantly enhanced, as evident by FICI of 0.28 and 0.53 and manifested as synergistic or additive effect, which indicated that quercetin can enhance gentamicin antibacterial activity. The results of crystal violet staining revealed that quercetin and gentamicin alone exhibited a similar biofilm formation inhibitory effect, but the inhibitory effect was substantially weaker, and the antibiofilm activity was stronger and exhibited a dose-dependent response after the combination of the two with 1/2FICI. The results of scanning electron microscopy and laser confocal microscopy also showed that the treatment of PA biofilm after combining quercetin and gentamicin with 1/2FICI could completely destroy the spatial structure of the complete biofilm, significantly reduce the thickness of bacteria, and markedly reduce the proportion of viable bacteria in the membrane. The combination of quercetin and gentamicin can effectively inhibit the formation of PA as well as its biofilm, and exhibit synergistic and additive effects. • Cow mastitis caused by PA infection has attracted attention. The development of new antibacterial drugs is difficulty in current research. • QEN is safe and stable as a natural extract and has been shown to be effective against a wide range of pathogens. • QEN has a weak inhibitory effect on PA. Used in combination with GM, it can be used as an antibacterial synergist to enhance the bactericidal effect. • QEN can inhibit PA biofilm formation as a biofilm inhibitor, and its effect is significantly enhanced after combination with GM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The action of slab under combined effect of high temperature and impact is analyzed. • The difference of impact resistance under different fire scenarios is distinguished. • The residual bearing capacity of slabs after high temperature and impact is obtained. • The impact resistance of two types of concrete slabs at high temperature is compared. The objective of the present study is to study the impact resistance of GFRP reinforced concrete slabs under elevated temperature. Considering the high temperature softening effect and strain rate enhancement effect of FRP bars and concrete materials, the numerical model for the study of fire and impact resistance of GFRP reinforced concrete slabs were established and compared with the fire resistance test and drop hammer impact test respectively, which verified the rationality of the numerical model. The failure mechanism of GFRP reinforced concrete slabs under the combined action of high temperature and impact loading was analyzed. The influence of fire scenario (at high temperature or after natural cooling) and fire time on GFRP reinforced concrete slabs was revealed. Eventually, the residual bearing capacity of damaged slabs after high temperature and impact loading was obtained. The results show that high temperature significantly degrades the impact resistance of GFRP reinforced concrete slabs. The slab at high temperature shows worse impact resistance than the slab after cooling down. With the increase of fire time, the punching failure of GFRP reinforced concrete slabs become more serious while the central displacement of the slabs and the impact duration increase, accompanied by decreased impact force. Compared with RC slabs, the deformation and impact force of GFRP reinforced concrete slabs under impact loading are more affected by high temperature, while the residual bearing capacity is less affected. Under the combined action of fire and impact loading, the slab is mainly local damage while energy dissipated by concrete accounts for most of the impact energy absorbed by the slabs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the advantage of saving indoor space, a special-shaped column frame attracted more attention of the engineers and researchers. This paper presented a quasi-static cyclic loading experiment of six specimens of reinforced concrete (RC) L-shaped columns under compression-flexure-shear-torsion combined loadings to investigate the effect in the ratio of torsion to moment (T/M) and axial compression ratio (n) on their seismic performance. The results showed that the failure modes of L-shaped specimens included bending failure, bending-torsion failure, and torsion-shear failure with the hysteretic curves exhibiting S shape. With the increase of T/M ratio, cracks on the flange developed more fully, and the height of plastic hinge decreased and torsion bearing capacity improved. Besides, as the T/M ratio increased the twist ductility increased, while displacement ductility decreased. On the other hand, with a higher axial compression ratio, torsion bearing capacity and bending stiffness were both increased. Moreover, the equivalent viscous damping coefficient of bending and torsion were 0.08~0.28 and 0.13~0.23, respectively. The average inter-story drift ratio met the requirements of the Chinese standard. Finally, two modified models were proposed to predict the progression of damage for the L-shaped column under combined loading including torsion.

The aim of the work was to study dynamics of changes of summation-threshold index under the combined impact of cadmium and immobilization of animals depending on the typological characteristics of animal behavior. The studies were conducted on white rats, previously divided into groups of active and passive ones by terms of "horizontal activity" in the test "open field". In each group the experiments were planned according to the scheme of orthogonal design 22. Summation-threshold index was studied by Speransky S.V. method. It was found that the summation-threshold index increases on the day 10 of experiments under the action of a cadmium only in groups of "active" and "passive" animals; this testifies to inhibition processes in the CNS. The effect of cadmium, immobilization and their combined action on day 30 of experiments leads to the reduction in the of studying parameter in both groups of animals; this testifies to excitation of the CNS. The active animals are more susceptible to immobilization stress, the passive ones - to the action of cadmium. The combined action of stress factors on day 10 is characterized by desensitization, on day 30 – by unidirectional interdependent action and less than by additive effect. The processes of inhibition and excitation in the central nervous system depend on type of animal behavior, type and duration of exposure to the stress factor. The results may be taken into account when assessing adaptation process, correction, and adaptation depending on the type of behavior.

The aim of the work was to study dynamics of changes of summation-threshold index under the combined impact of cadmium and immobilization of animals depending on the typological characteristics of animal behavior. The studies were conducted on white rats, previously divided into groups of active and passive ones by terms of "horizontal activity" in the test "open field". In each group the experiments were planned according to the scheme of orthogonal design 22. Summation-threshold index was studied by Speransky S.V. method. It was found that the summation-threshold index increases on the day 10 of experiments under the action of a cadmium only in groups of "active" and "passive" animals; this testifies to inhibition processes in the CNS. The effect of cadmium, immobilization and their combined action on day 30 of experiments leads to the reduction in the of studying parameter in both groups of animals; this testifies to excitation of the CNS. The active animals are more susceptible to immobilization stress, the passive ones - to the action of cadmium. The combined action of stress factors on day 10 is characterized by desensitization, on day 30 – by unidirectional interdependent action and less than by additive effect. The processes of inhibition and excitation in the central nervous system depend on type of animal behavior, type and duration of exposure to the stress factor. The results may be taken into account when assessing adaptation process, correction, and adaptation depending on the type of behavior.

Using stable TiO 2 and flexible carbon as double-functional structure protector of nanostructural SnO 2 to fabricate TiO 2 /SnO 2 /C composites is widely considered as a favorable strategy for improving the lithium storage performance of SnO 2 anodes. But, it is still a challenge to obtain a satisfying TiO 2 /SnO 2 /C composite. Herein, an interesting porous nanostructure of TiO 2 /SnO 2 /C nanosphere composite assembled by TiO 2 and SnO 2 nanocrystals with an outer carbon coating has been fabricated by a well-designed approach. Thanks to the perfectly combined action of porous spherical nanostructure, TiO 2 and SnO 2 nanocrystals and carbon coating, the as-prepared composite obtains excellent structure stability and improved electrochemcial properties. When used as a promising anode for lithium-ion batteres, it exhibits outstanding lithium storage performance, delivering a high capacity of 687.2 mAh g −1 after even 400 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Agronomica Sinica is the property of Crop Science Society of China and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)