Age-related hearing loss accelerates the decline in fast speech comprehension and the decompensation of cortical network connections

Patients with age-related hearing loss face hearing difficulties in daily life.The causes of age-related hearing loss are complex and include changes in peripheral hearing,central processing,and cognitive-related abilities.Furthermore,the factors by which aging relates to hearing loss via changes in audito ry processing ability are still unclear.In this cross-sectional study,we evaluated 27 older adults(over 60 years old) with age-related hearing loss,21 older adults(over 60years old) with normal hearing,and 30 younger subjects(18-30 years old) with normal hearing.We used the outcome of the uppe r-threshold test,including the time-compressed thres h old and the speech recognition threshold in noisy conditions,as a behavioral indicator of auditory processing ability.We also used electroencephalogra p hy to identify presbycusis-related abnormalities in the brain while the participants were in a spontaneous resting state.The timecompressed threshold and speech recognition threshold data indicated significant diffe rences among the groups.In patients with age-related hearing loss,information masking(babble noise) had a greater effect than energy masking(speech-shaped noise) on processing difficulties.In terms of resting-state electroencephalography signals,we observed enhanced fro ntal lobe(Brodmann’s area,BA11) activation in the older adults with normal hearing compared with the younger participants with normal hearing,and greater activation in the parietal(BA7) and occipital(BA19) lobes in the individuals with age-related hearing loss compared with the younger adults.Our functional connection analysis suggested that compared with younger people,the older adults with normal hearing exhibited enhanced connections among networks,including the default mode network,sensorimotor network,cingulo-opercular network,occipital network,and frontoparietal network.These results suggest that both normal aging and the development of age-related hearing loss have a negative effect on advanced audito ry processing capabilities and that hearing loss accele rates the decline in speech comprehension,especially in speech competition situations.Older adults with normal hearing may have increased compensatory attentional resource recruitment represented by the to p-down active listening mechanism,while those with age-related hearing loss exhibit decompensation of network connections involving multisensory integration.

Investigation of migration of pollutant at the base of Suzhou Qizishan landfill without a liner system

We investigated migration of pollutant at the base of the Suzhou landfill after it had been operated for 13 years. The investigation was carried out by performing chemical analyses on the soil samples taken from the silty clay deposit. Concentrations of chloride, chemical oxygen demand （COD） and the heavy metals in the soil samples were determined using the standard methods. The experimental data showed that the maximum migration depth of chloride was more than 10 m, while the maximum migration depth of COD varied between 1 and 3.5 m. It is believed that the difference is attributed to the variation in diffusion rate and leachate-soil interaction. The chloride profiles also indicated that adveetion may be the dominant contaminant transport mechanism at this site. The total contents ofCu, Pb and Cr are very close to the background levels and the concentration values of these metals mainly are lower than the threshold values specified by the Chinese soil quality standard and the European one. The water-extractable concentrations of COD in the surface of the silty clay generally exceed the limit value specified by the Chinese standard. The concentrations of copper and chromium in pore water are 1-2 orders of magnitude less than the total concentrations of these heavy metals within the soils, implying that heavy metals are mainly adsorbed by the soil particles. Finally, remediation methods were suggested for this landfill site.

成层土中地下水渗流对盾构隧道开挖面稳定影响上限分析（英文）

目的:盾构隧道在成层土中掘进时,地下水渗流容易引起盾构开挖面失稳破坏。本文提出考虑地下水渗流的机动场模型,探讨成层土中地下水渗流规律,研究渗流对开挖面稳定性的影响,并提出渗流条件下成层土中盾构支护压力的计算方法。创新点:1.提出考虑地下水渗流盾构开挖面失稳机动场的模型;2.建立成层土中地下水渗流模型;3.推导考虑地下水渗流的盾构开挖面极限支护压力上限解。方法:1.根据已有工程案例,对渗流条件下成层土中盾构开挖面失稳进行受力分析(图5),并提出开挖面失稳机动场模型(图6);2.通过上限分析,推导得到盾构开挖面失稳极限支护压力计算公式(公式29);3.对成层土中地下水渗流进行数值模拟,并采用理论模型(图15)对渗流规律进行表征;4.研究极限支护压力对地下水渗流因素的敏感性。结论:1.地下水渗流在失稳土体内部产生渗流力作用,在盾构开挖面上也对支护压力产生抵消作用。2.提出成层土中考虑地下水渗流的失稳机动场模型,并推导出极限支护压力上限解;3.在盾构土舱未进行渗透性改良的条件下,成层土中地下水渗流在1200 s内达到稳定,其中,穿越层渗流方向主要为水平向,而覆土层中主要为竖向渗流;4.考虑渗流影响,本文上限解预测的支护压力值更为合理。

渗透性地层中隧道施工引起的地表沉降——以深圳地铁为例（英文）

目的:在城市地铁的建设过程中,地下水渗流对地表沉降存在较大影响。然而,渗透性地层中浅埋暗挖法施工的案例报道较少,地表沉降规律尚不明晰。本文以深圳地铁5号线和7号线重叠段工程为例,详细分析在渗流作用下浅埋暗挖法施工引起的地表沉降特征以及小导管注浆区和初支衬砌渗透性对地表沉降的影响,并进一步研究超前排水措施在沉降控制方面的作用。创新点:1.系统分析了富水渗透性地层中浅埋暗挖隧道施工引起的地表沉降的发展过程以及沉降特征;2.验证了三维流固耦合数值模型模拟富水环境下重叠隧道施工过程的可行性;3.研究了小导管注浆区、初支衬砌的渗透性和超前排水措施对地表沉降的影响。方法:1.结合隧道施工方案和地表沉降监测数据,分析渗流作用下的地表沉降特征(包括沉降影响范围、沉降槽宽度以及与拱顶沉降的关系等);2.通过三维流固耦合数值模型,研究小导管注浆区和初支衬砌渗透性对地表沉降以及地层孔压变化过程的影响;3.通过模拟掌子面前方水平排水孔,研究超前排水措施对掌子面稳定性和地表沉降发展的影响。结论:1.对于渗透性地层中的浅埋暗挖隧道工程,地下水渗流引起的固结效应是地表沉降量以及沉降范围大幅增长的主要原因。2.全断面注浆能够很好地控制地表沉降,而小导管注浆的效果则十分有限。3.降低小导管注浆区的渗透性,尤其是初支衬砌的渗透性,可以减少地层孔压的下降程度,进而降低地表沉降。4.打设超前水平排水孔可以显著提高掌子面稳定性,却对地表沉降影响有限;当无法进行全断面注浆时,推荐采取小导管注浆与超前排水相结合的方式施工。

Numerical analysis of the influence of a river on tunnelling-induced ground deformation in soft soil

When tunnels are constructed in coastal cities,they will inevitably undercross a river.Exploring the influence of rivers on tunnelling-induced deformation in costal soft soil is of great significance for controlling excessive settlement and protecting surrounding buildings.This paper presents a case study of twin tunnels undercrossing a river in soft soil in Hangzhou,China.The soft soil of Hangzhou refers to cohesive soil in a soft plastic or fluid plastic state with high natural water content,high compressibility,low bearing capacity,and low shear strength.Considering the influence of the river,the research region was divided into two parts,inside and outside the river-affected area,based on monitoring data of the Zizhi Tunnel.The development law of surface settlement is divided into three stages.In the first and second stages,the surface settlement within and outside the river-affected area showed a similar trend:the settlement increased and the growth rate of settlement in the second stage was smaller within the river-affected area.In the third stage,the surface settlement continued to increase within the river-affected area,while it converged outside the river-affected area.Within the river-affected area,there was an asynchronization of the sinking rate and stability of vault settlements and surface settlements.A numerical model was established by simulating different reinforcements of the tunnel.The numerical model revealed that the ground movement is influenced by the distribution and amount of the excess pore water pressure.The excess pore pressure was concentrated mostly in the range of 1.0H_(t)-3.0H_(t)(H_(t) is the tunnel height)before the tunnel face,especially within the river-affected area.Inside the river-affected area,the dissipation of excess pore water pressure needs more time,leading to slow stabilization of surface settlement.When undercrossing a river,a cofferdam is necessary to reduce excessive ground deformation by dispersing the distribution of excess pore water pressure.

Experimental study of the bearing capacity of a drainage pipe pile under vacuum consolidation

In this study,we propose a drainage pipe pile under vacuum consolidation to integrate foundation treatment and pile foundation engineering in soft soil areas.To study its bearing capacity characteristics and foundation treatment performance,single pile static load tests,vane shear tests,and water content tests were carried out for ordinary piles,perforated piles,and drainage pipe piles under conditions of static and vacuum consolidation.Based on the results,the concept of strong and weak reinforcement areas was proposed and used for bearing capacity prediction.The results showed that the drainage pipe pile did not become silted under vacuum consolidation.The single pile bearing capacity was much higher than that of an ordinary pile,and the pile side friction was exerted mainly in the middle and lower parts.Good results were achieved using the shear strength at the junction of the strong and weak reinforcement areas to estimate the ultimate bearing capacity of a single pile.This study provided important insights into the design and construction of drainage pipe piles in a soft soil foundation.