Study on the Freeze-Thaw Resistance of Concrete Pavements in Seasonally Frozen Regions.

In seasonally frozen regions, concrete pavement is exposed to cycles of freeze-thaw and erosion from de-icing salt, which can lead to unfavorable service conditions and vulnerability to damage. This paper examines the compressive strength, flexural-tensile strength, abrasion resistance, permeability, and spacing factor of concrete, taking into account the impact of various curing conditions, de-icing salt solutions, and mass fractions on the concrete's freeze-thaw resistance. Two test methods, the single-face method and the fast-freezing method, were used to comparatively analyze the freeze-thaw resistance of concrete. The analysis was based on the surface scaling, water absorption rate, mass loss rate, relative dynamic elastic modulus, and relative durability index. The results indicate that the presence of salt solution significantly worsened the degree of concrete damage caused by freeze-thaw cycles. The use of freeze-thaw media, specifically sodium chloride (NaCl), calcium chloride (CaCl2), and potassium acetate (KAc) at mass fractions of 5%, 4.74%, and 5%, respectively, had the greatest impact on the surface scaling of concrete. However, their effect on the water absorption rate was inconsistent. When the freeze-thaw medium was water, the concrete's relative dynamic elastic modulus and relative durability index were 9.6% and 75.3% higher, respectively, for concrete cured in 20 °C-95% RH conditions compared to those cured in 0 °C-50% RH conditions. We propose a comprehensive relative durability index (DFw) by combining the results of two methods of freeze-thaw tests. The DFw of concrete cured in 0 °C-50% RH conditions was 83.8% lower than that of concrete cured in 20 °C-95% RH conditions when exposed to a freeze-thaw medium of 5% mass fraction NaCl solution. To evaluate the salt freeze-thaw resistance of concrete pavement, it is recommended to use surface scaling and DFw together.

Progress of Fluorescent Probes for Protein Phosphorylation and Glycosylation in Atherosclerosis.

Exploring the post-translational modification (PTM) of proteins in the course of atherosclerotic disease has important guiding significance for the early warning of atherosclerotic plaque, the development of targeted drugs and the treatment of disease. The advancement advanced detection and imaging methods for phosphorylated and glycosylated proteins is an important tool to further reveal the levels of protein phosphorylation and glycosylation during atherosclerotic plaque formation. We present research strategies for detecting protein phosphorylation and glycosylation from the perspective of fluorescent probes, and discuss the feasibility and future direction of the development of these methods for detecting and imaging phosphorylated and glycosylated proteins in atherosclerotic disease.

Effect of Mud Powder on the Performance of Bridge Deck Leveling Concrete in a Seasonally Frozen Region.

Mud powders in aggregates are often found to cause deterioration of concrete properties. Based on a study of the mechanical properties of bridge deck leveling concrete (BDLC) containing different mud powders at various ages, the effects of mud powders on concrete durability were evaluated through rapid chloride permeability testing, freeze-thaw testing, and the coupling of salt solution and a freeze-thaw test. The properties of the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) were also investigated via microhardness testing. The test results showed that mud powder reduced the compressive strength, static compressive elastic modulus, and bond strength at early stages of curing. Moreover, mud powder was found to reduce the tensile properties and durability of concrete, with clay powder causing a greater reduction than mud powder in river sands and coarse aggregate. In addition, the width of the ITZ of concrete containing mud powder was found to increase by 23.1-48.3%. A significant correlation between the ITZ and the tensile properties, as well as the durability of concrete, was also observed. Therefore, in order to improve the tensile properties and durability of BDLC in seasonally frozen regions, the content of mud powder in the aggregates should be minimized according to the different compositions of mud powders. The coupling effect of salt solution and a freeze-thaw cycle should also be taken into consideration.