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In order to evaluate the vulnerability of highway slope hazard, the second-class highway from Wenshan to Tianbao in Yunnan province (Wentian highway) was taken as an example; three factors including economic density, road repair lime and road bypass capacity were used lo establish the index system of vulnerability assessment of highway slope hazard considering the function of highway; according lo the quantification and superposition calculation of indexes in ArcGIS platform, the vulnerability assessment of highway slope hazard was carried out; the vulnerabilities of different sections were classified and discussed according lo the evaluation result, and the methods to reduce the vulnerability of slope hazard were proposed. The results show that the vulnerabilities of different sections in Wentian highway are 0.07-1.00, and 30. 75% of Wentian highway is high or extremely high; the vulnerability for 3. 96% of Wentian highway is extremely high, and the ratio of length of bypass highway to length of corresponding Wentian highway is large, so that the length of bypass highway can be deceased in future highway construction in order to decease the vulnerability of highway slope hazard; although the economic density of the section near the starting point of Wentian highway is maximum, vulnerability of this section is moderate because of the shortest road repair time, dense road network an shorter length of bypass highway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new method of holes connection based on sequential optimization is introduced by analyzing the structure features and design rules of hydraulic manifold blocks, and the mathematical optimizing model is given accordingly. The connection algorithm of single network is put forward by studying optimal connecting order among the two-hole networks and the connection algorithm of two-hole network, and the optimal strategies of connecting sequence for all networks are researched. And all networks of hydraulic manifold blocks are optimum connected, which is a technical aid for improving manifold blocks design level and automatic extents. An example validates the feasibility of the sequence-optimal method of holes connection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structure optimal design of hydraulic mechanical block (HMB) from the angle of characteristics, which is too difficult to solve for a long time, is presented. On the basis of computational fluid dynamic (CFD) method, the strategies dealing with grid and initial and boundary conditions from testing in HMB inner flow fields are given. Through the numerical simulation of typical duct in pipeline networks, flow status in orthogonal ducts was qualitatively analyzed, and the regulation that the pipeline configuration affected the flow-resistance was gained, which helped to provide improvements on the pipeline's geometry structure. The 3D simulation results of HMB indicate that CFD method can acquire the basic structure characteristics of flow field in pipeline networks and ideal pipeline layout scheme, which improves the optimal design quality with great accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The gene phaPAh, encoding the protein phasin that is associated with poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBHHx) granule of Aeromonas hydrophila 4AK4, was cloned and characterized. Recombinant strains harboring additional copies of the phasin gene (phaPAh) and the polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) synthase gene (phaCAh) accumulated PHBHHx copolyesters consisting of 21 mol% 3-hydroxyhexanoate (3HHx) as compared to 14 mol% 3HHx produced by wild type strain. The molecular weight of PHBHHx produced by the above recombinants was lower than that obtained from the wild type strain grown under similar conditions. Over-expression of phaPAh led to the production of more PHA granules but with reduced sizes. SDS–PAGE showed that PhaPAh was the predominant protein present in the PHBHHx granules. The RT-PCR results suggested that phasin PhaPAh, regulated phaCAh gene at the transcription level. Gene PhaPWe from Wautersia eutropha (formerly Ralstonia eutropha; encoding a 20kDa protein with low amino acid homology to the A. hydrophila 13kDa protein) cloned into A. hydrophila 4AK4 exhibited similar effects on PHBHHx production and PHBHHx composition. These data suggest that the phasins could represent a protein family possessing similar functions but different structures. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

To design hydraulic manifold block (HMB) with high through-flow quality, calculated fluid dynamic (CFD) method is utilized to study the flow characteristics for internal channel. The study results show that the layout and connection relationship of the channel has great influence on the performance of HMB. In the layout way which has a similar structure of channel connectivity, priority should be given to the same surface or neighborhood surfaces. To improve the quality of channel flow, according to the relationship of craft pore structure and pressure drop, the optimal design direction is put forward, which includes reducing the length of craft pore, increasing the craft pore diameter and so on. And then, by calculating the local resistance coefficient with low Reynolds number on the performance of right-angle turn, the design of right-angle turn is optimized. HMB structural optimization design strategy is established from a performance point, which makes foundation for the overall optimization design of HMB combined with performance constraints and structural constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to check and compare different design results of hydraulic manifold block (HMB), an HMB assembly process simulation system is designed. In virtual 3D assembly environment, the parametric modeling method based on the feature element is adopted to describe the entities of the assembly unit. After the deep research on the assembly path planning algorithm, an optimal heuristic search algorithm based on A* is proposed to adapt the feature of HMB. At last, the simulation of HMB's assembly is realized by using the technology of axis driving under spatial constraint. A demonstration example is also exhibited for verifying the proposed method and the experimental results demonstrate the practicability and effectiveness of the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To study the protective effect of acupuncturing Tsusanli (S(T)36) on cold stress ulcer, and the expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in hypothalamus and adrenal gland., Methods: Ulcer index in rats and RT-PCR were used to study the protective effect of acupuncture on cold stress ulcer, and the expression of NOS in hypothalamus and adrenal gland. Images were analyzed with semi-quantitative method., Results: The ulcer index significantly decreased in rats with stress ulcer. Plasma cortisol concentration was up regulated during cold stress, which could be depressed by pre-acupuncture. The expression of NOS1 in hypothalamus increased after acupuncture. The increased expression of NOS2 was related with stress ulcer, which could be decreased by acupuncture. The expression of NOS3 in hypothalamus was similar to NOS2, but the effect of acupuncture was limited. The expression of NOS2 and NOS3 in adrenal gland increased after cold stress, only the expression of NOS1 could be repressed with acupuncture. There was no NOS2 expression in adrenal gland in rats with stress ulcer., Conclusion: The protective effect of acupuncturing Tsusanli (S(T)36) on the expression of NOS in hypothalamus and adrenal gland can be achieved.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the mechanism of the effect of estrogen on the production of acetylcholine in the brain and to study the regulatory role of acupuncture of Zusanli acupoint in acetylcholine production in the brain of ovariectomized rats. Experimental female Wistar rats were divided into three groups: intact group (INT), ovariectomized group (OVX), and ovariectomy and acupuncture group (OVX+AC). Radioimmunoassay (RIA) was used to measure the estrogen content in plasma. The mRNA expression of choline-acetyltransferase (ChAT) and glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) in the brain of rats was measured by the RT-PCR technique and was tested by the method of agarose gel electrophoresis. The ChAT mRNA positive neurons in the hippocampus were observed by using in situ hybridization and the results were processed with a computerized image analysis system. The results are as follows. Compared with the control animals, the plasma estrogen level was significantly lowered in ovariectomized animals. However, the plasma estrogen level was higher in the OVX+AC group than that of the OVX group. The ChAT mRNA expression level of OVX+AC group was higher than that of the OVX group. The area and integral optical density of the ChAT mRNA positive neurons in the hippocampus increased more obviously in OVX+AC group than in the OVX group. The experimental results observed indicate that the expression of ChAT gene in the brain is possibly related to the estrogen level in the body. The expression of ChAT gene in the brain of the ovarietomized rat can be regulated by acupuncture of Zusanli acupoint and it may be one of the mechanisms that acupuncture increases acetylcholine content in the brain.