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A research was performed on the jacket structure located in the new oil storage port which can accommodate 300 and 450 thousand DWT crude oil ships in Dalian. Compared with gravity type caisson, mechanical behaviors and construction characteristics of jacket structure type are presented. Design work and method of jacket structure applied to open style offshore deep-water wharf are discussed, such as member's strength, member's stability, socketed length and bearing capacity of rock-socketed pile, static strength and fatigue life of tubular joints. This structure, which can be used in open style wharf when depth of water is more than 25 m, is calculated and optimized. It is shown that this structure is more economical than the gravity circular caisson jacket structure, and can meet the standards of design work. The employment of jacket structure in open style offshore deep-water wharf is safe, feasible and economical in China. Achievements from the study can guide the design of open style wharf. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The horizontal force friction of sliding-isolated bearing is variable when the vertical press change. So if the rubber bearings and the sliding-isolated bearings are used together in parallel in the same base-isolated layer, the characteristic of isolated layer is compex. In this paper the nonlinear finite element program which can analyze the vertical stress variation on sliding isolated bearing is made and introduced. One three-floor frame is analyzed as one example. The dynamical properties of base-isolation layer combined by rubber bearing and sliding-isolated bearing in parallel are anlyzed. The effects of overturning moment and vertical difference deformation on isolation layer are analyzed. The lateral displacement curves of the isolated layer top and the curves of vertical press changing on the sliding-isolated bearing are given on each condition. Analytical results show, that because of the vertical stress variation on sliding isolated bearing, the horizontal dynamic behavior of isolated layer is changed in such layer. This condition should be considered in design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Urinary incontinence (UI) significantly impairs women's quality of life. Identifying its risk factors is essential for developing effective interventions. Sarcopenia, characterized by the accelerated loss of muscle mass and function, is an emerging concern often linked to obesity and abnormal metabolic status, exacerbating various adverse health outcomes. This population-based study aimed to explore the independent and joint associations of sarcopenia, obesity, and metabolic health with UI risk, as well as to evaluate the mediating role of metabolic indicators in these associations., Methods: A total of 3,557 women aged ≥20 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were included. Sarcopenia was assessed using the appendicular lean mass index (ALMI), and obesity was defined by body mass index and waist circumference. Metabolic health was evaluated using revised criteria from the National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III. UI was identified through responses to the "Kidney Conditions-Urology" questionnaire and classified into stress UI (SUI), urgency UI (UUI), and mixed UI (MUI). Multivariable logistic regression and restricted cubic spline models were used to evaluate the associations and visualize the relationship between ALMI and UI. Mediation models were constructed to assess the mediating role of metabolic indicators., Results: We found that sarcopenia was significantly associated with an increased risk of MUI in the general population. Age-specific analysis revealed that sarcopenia is an independent risk factor for SUI in women aged ≥60, and for MUI in women aged 40-59 years. Sarcopenic obesity, particularly under central obesity criteria, further elevated the risk of UI. Notably, women with the metabolically unhealthy obese phenotype with sarcopenia were at the highest risk for both SUI and MUI. Metabolically unhealthy status, glycohemoglobin, vitamin D, and serum albumin levels were partial mediators of these associations., Conclusion: Our findings elucidated the complex interactions between sarcopenia, obesity, and metabolic health, underscoring the critical need for integrated therapeutic strategies that address both metabolic health and targeted nutritional interventions, aiming to enhance muscular health and effectively manage and prevent UI., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Shao, Luo, Lou, Wan, Zhao, Zhou, Zhou, Yang, Wu and Hua.)

Objective: To observe the effects of low-level laser irradiation on mesenteric microcirculation of rats in vivo in the early stage of endotoxemia (ETM)., Methods: The experimental model of ETM was reproduced by injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Sixty healthy male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into three groups used random number table: control group, LPS group and low-level laser irradiation group, each group included 20 rats which were subdivided into four temporal subgroups (1, 2, 4, 6 hours, respectively). In low-level laser irradiation group, the rats were irradiated by type SLT semiconductor laser (650 nm, 5 mW) on unilateral femoral artery and vein, and blood vessel of the ear concurrently for 30 minutes. The interference course was vertical irradiation taken at 30 minutes after the injection of LPS. At 1, 2, 4, 6 hours after the injection of LPS, changes in mesenteric microcirculation and microcirculatory blood flow were recorded with the laser Doppler flowmeter, the velocity of red blood cells in venules was observed, and the number of open capillaries and adherent leukocytes were recorded., Results: The blood flow velocity (mm/s) of the mesenteric microcirculation in LPS group was accelerated at 1 hour and 2 hours after LPS injection (1 hour: 0.190+/-0.007 vs. 0.174+/-0.009, 2 hours: 0.200+/-0.010 vs. 0.172+/-0.015, both P<0.05, respectively), but decelerated at 6 hours (0.116+/-0.015 vs. 0.164+/-0.011, P<0.05). The blood flow volume in the mesenteric vessels and the number of open capillaries did not show any significant change at that time. Significant increase in number of adherent leukocytes was observed at 2, 4, 6 hours after injury (2 hours: 2.60+/-1.14 vs. 0.40+/-0.55, 4 hours: 5.40+/-0.89 vs. 0.40+/-0.55, 6 hours : 5.40+/-1.52 vs. 0.60+/-0.90, all P<0.05, respectively). The state of blood flow in the microcirculation became abnormal. After irradiated with laser in low dose, the blood flow velocity was smooth and stable (mm/s, 1 hour: 0.174+/-0.011, 2 hours: 0.180+/-0.023, 4 hours: 0.168+/-0.013, 6 hours: 0.162+/-0.023), and the number of adherent leukocytes was reduced significantly at 4 hours and 6 hours than that in LPS group (4 hours: 2.00+/-0.71 vs. 5.40+/-0.89, 6 hours: 2.60+/-1.52 vs. 5.40+/-1.52, both P<0.05) and the microcirculatory flow state was improved obviously., Conclusion: Low-level laser irradiation may ameliorate the local mesenteric microcirculation, alleviate the microcirculatory disorder in early stage of ETM.

AIM:To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the bioartificial liver support system in canines with acute liver failure (ALF).METHODS:Nine canines with acute liver failure by acetaminophen-induced received TECA-I bioartificial liver support system (BALSS) from Hong Kong TECA LTD Co. Blood was perfused through a hollow fiber tube containing (1-2)X10(10) the porcine hepatocytes.In contrast, another 10 canines with acute liver failure by Acetaminophen received drugs. Each treatment lasted 6 hours.RESULTS:BALSS treatment resulted in beneficial effects for acetaminophen-induced ALF canines with survival and with the recovery of the liver functions and tissues, and plasma ammonia decreased from 135.9&mgr;mol/L plus minus 17.5&mgr;mol/L to 65.7&mgr;mol/L plus minus 22.0&mgr;mol/L, 32.5&mgr;mol/L plus minus 8.8&mgr;mol/L, GPT from 97.8U/L plus minus 8.7U/L to 64.8U/L plus minus 11.9U/L, 19.0U/L plus minus 6.3U/L, GOT from 103.0U/L plus minus 16.7U/L to 75.7U/L plus minus 19.6U/L, 26.5U/L plus minus 5.0U/L, and AKP from 158.3U/L plus minus 12.1U/L to 114.5U/L plus minus 19.8U/L, 43.8U/L plus minus 5.6U/L during and after the treatment. In contrast, 10 ALF canines in both the drug and control groups died 1 or 2 days after treatment.CONCLUSION: TECA-1 artificial liver support system is safe and efficacious for canines with acute liver failure.