Static and Dynamic Properties Study on Interface between New Polymer Materials and Silty Clay Based on Ring Shear Tests.

The polymer anti-seepage wall composed of polymer materials is a new technology for impermeable reinforcement in dykes and dams. Compared with traditional grouting materials, polymer grouting materials have the advantages of early strength, convenience, good anti-seepage performance, safety and durability. Because of the particularity of polymer materials, they form a "root-like" cementing status with dam soils after grouting. This complex interface affects the interaction between the wall and the dam, which subsequently influences the whole structure's properties under loads. In this paper, based on an original designed test mould, an SRS-150 dynamic ring shear instrument was used to conduct static and dynamic ring shear tests to explore the static and dynamic properties of the polymer-silty clay interface. Moreover, influence laws and the related mechanism of different factors on the polymer-silty clay interface were studied in this paper. At the same time, the hyperbolic constitutive model of the polymer-silty clay interface was established, and the validity of the model was verified by comparing the numerical simulation with the relevant experimental results. The achievements of this paper are helpful as they provide a scientific basis for the structure's mechanical analysis and lay the foundation for the promotion and application of the new anti-seepage technology.

A novel nonsense mutation in LMNA gene identified by Exome Sequencing in an atrial fibrillation family.

Genetic factor plays an important role in cardiac arrhythmias. Several loci have been identified associated with this disease. However, they only explained parts of it and more genes and loci remain to be identified. In present study, we recruited a four generation family from the north of China. Four members of this family were diagnosed with atrial fibrillation by electrocardiogram (ECG). We used Exome Sequencing and Sanger sequencing to explore the candidate mutation for cardiac arrhythmia in this family. A nonsense mutation (c.G1494A, p.Trp498Ter) in the LMNA gene were identified as the candidate mutation. This variant is a novel mutation and has not yet been reported for any actual databases. This novel mutation co-segregated exactly with the disease in this family. Meanwhile, it was not detected in 524 control subjects of matched ancestry. According to structural model prediction, the mutation is expected to affect the Lamin Tail Domain (LTD) of lamin A/C protein. So the nonsense mutation discovered in the family probably was a novel mutation associated with familial atrial fibrillation. This discovery expands the mutation spectrum of LMNA and indicates the importance of LMNA in AF.