Effect of sodium starch octenyl succinate-based Pickering emulsion on the physicochemical properties of hairtail myofibrillar protein gel subjected to multiple freeze-thaw cycles

A Pickering emulsion based on sodium starch octenyl succinate(SSOS)was prepared and its effects on the physicochemical properties of hairtail myofibrillar protein gels(MPGs)subjected to multiple freeze-thaw(F-T)cycles were investigated.The whiteness,water-holding capacity,storage modulus(G')and texture properties of the MPGs were significantly improved by adding 1%-2%Pickering emulsion(P<0.05).Meanwhile,Raman spectral analysis demonstrated that Pickering emulsion promoted the transformation of secondary structure,enhanced hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions,and promoted the transition of disulfide bond conformation from g-g-g to g-g-t and t-g-t.At an emulsion concentration of 2%,theα-helix content decreased by 10.37%,while theβ-sheet content increased by 7.94%,compared to the control.After F-T cycles,the structure of the MPGs was destroyed,with an increase in hardness and a decrease in whiteness and water-holding capacity,however,the quality degradation of MPGs was reduced with 1%-2%Pickering emulsion.These findings demonstrated that SSOS-Pickering emulsions,as potential fat substitutes,can enhance the gel properties and the F-T stability of MPGs.

Frost deformation and microstructure evolution of porous rock under uniform and unidirectional freeze-thaw conditions

The frost deterioration and deformation of porous rock are commonly investigated under uniform freeze-thaw(FT)conditions.However,the unidirectional FT condition,which is also prevalent in engineering practice,has received limited attention.Therefore,a comparative study on frost deformation and microstructure evolution of porous rock under both uniform and unidirectional FT conditions was performed.Firstly,frost deformation experiments of rock were conducted under cyclic uniform and unidirectional FT action,respectively.Results illustrate that frost deformation of saturated rock exhibits isotropic characteristics under uniform FT cycles,while it shows anisotropic characteristics under unidirectional FT condition with both the frost heaving strain and residual strain along FT direction much higher than those perpendicular to FT direction.Moreover,the peak value and residual value of cumulative frost strain vary as logarithmic functions with cycle number under both uniform and unidirectional FT conditions.Subsequently,the microstructure evolution of rock suffered cyclic uniform and unidirectional FT action were measured.Under uniform FT cycles,newly generated pores uniformly distribute in rock and pore structure of rock remains isotropic in micro scale,and thus the frost deformation shows isotropic characteristics in macro scale.Under unidirectional FT cycles,micro-cracks or pore belts generate with their orientation nearly perpendicular to the FT direction,and rock structure gradually becomes anisotropic in micro scale,resulting in the anisotropic characteristics of frost deformation in macro scale.

Fractal Study on the Evolution of Micro-Pores in Concrete Under Freeze-Thaw

After exposure to freeze-thaw cycles, scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR) were used to test the four mixtures. The microstructure is qualitatively analyzed from the 2D SEM image and the 3D pore distribution curve before and after freezing and thawing. The fractal dimension is utilized to characterize the two-dimensional topography image and the three-dimensional pore distribution, quantitatively. The results reveal that the surface porosity and volume porosity increase as the freeze-thaw action increases. Self-similarity characteristics exist in micro-damage inside the concrete. In the fractal dimension, it is possible to characterize pore evolution quantitatively. The fractal dimension correlates with pore damage evolution. The fractal dimension effectively quantitatively characterizes micro-damage features at various scales from the local to the global level.

Freeze-thaw cycles and associated geomorphology in a post-glacial environment:current glacial,paraglacial,periglacial and proglacial scenarios at Pico de Orizaba volcano,Mexico

The glacial history of Pico de Orizaba indicates that during the Last Glacial Maximum,its icecap covered up to~3000 m asl;due to the air temperature increasing,its main glacier has retreated to 5050 m asl.The retraction of the glacier has left behind an intense climatic instability that causes a high frequency of freeze-thaw cycles of great intensity;the resulting geomorphological processes are represented by the fragmentation of the bedrock that occupies the upper parts of the mountain.There is a notable lack of studies regarding the fragmentation and erosion occurring in tropical high mountains,and the associated geomorphological risks;for this reason,as a first stage of future continuous research,this study analyzes the freezing and thawing cycles that occur above 4000 m asl,through continuous monitoring of surface ground temperature.The results allow us to identify and characterize four zones:glacial,paraglacial,periglacial and proglacial.It was found that the paraglacial zone presents an intense drop of temperature,of up to~9℃ in only sixty minutes.The rock fatigue and intense freeze-thaw cycles that occur in this area are responsible for the high rate of rock disintegration and represent the main factor of the constant slope dynamics that occur at the site.This activity decreases,both in frequency and intensity,according to the distance to the glacier,which is where the temperature presents a certain degree of stability,until reaching the proglacial zone,where cycles are almost non-existent,and therefore there is no gelifraction activity.The geomorphological processes have resulted in significant alterations to the mountain slopes,which can have severe consequences in terms of risk and water.

Predicting uniaxial compressive strength of tuff after accelerated freeze-thaw testing: Comparative analysis of regression models and artificial neural networks

Ignimbrites have been widely used as building materials in many historical and touristic structures in the Kayseri region of Türkiye. Their diverse colours and textures make them a popular choice for modern construction as well. However, ignimbrites are particularly vulnerable to atmospheric conditions, such as freeze-thaw cycles, due to their high porosity, which is a result of their formation process. When water enters the pores of the ignimbrites, it can freeze during cold weather. As the water freezes and expands, it generates internal stress within the stone, causing micro-cracks to develop. Over time, repeated freeze-thaw (F-T) cycles lead to the growth of these micro-cracks into larger cracks, compromising the structural integrity of the ignimbrites and eventually making them unsuitable for use as building materials. The determination of the long-term F-T performance of ignimbrites can be established after long F-T experimental processes. Determining the long-term F-T performance of ignimbrites typically requires extensive experimental testing over prolonged freeze-thaw cycles. To streamline this process, developing accurate predictive equations becomes crucial. In this study, such equations were formulated using classical regression analyses and artificial neural networks (ANN) based on data obtained from these experiments, allowing for the prediction of the F-T performance of ignimbrites and other similar building stones without the need for lengthy testing. In this study, uniaxial compressive strength, ultrasonic propagation velocity, apparent porosity and mass loss of ignimbrites after long-term F-T were determined. Following the F-T cycles, the disintegration rate was evaluated using decay function approaches, while uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) values were predicted with minimal input parameters through both regression and ANN analyses. The ANN and regression models created for this purpose were first started with a single input value and then developed with two and three combinations. The predictive performance of the models was assessed by comparing them to regression models using the coefficient of determination (R2) as the evaluation criterion. As a result of the study, higher R2 values (0.87) were obtained in models built with artificial neural network. The results of the study indicate that ANN usage can produce results close to experimental outcomes in predicting the long-term F-T performance of ignimbrite samples.

Surrounding rock pressure in the tunnel portal section through moraine under freeze-thaw action

Moraines,characterized by the accumulation of rock and soil debris transported by glacial activity,present unique challenges for tunnel construction,particularly in portal sections,due to prevailing geographical and climatic conditions that facilitate freeze-thaw action.Despite these challenges,there is a dearth of studies investigating the influence of freeze-thaw action and water content on the mechanical properties of moraines,and no research on calculating surrounding rock pressure in moraine tunnels subjected to freeze-thaw conditions.In this study,direct shear tests under freeze-thaw cycles were conducted to examine the effects of freeze-thaw cycles and water content on the mechanical properties of frozen moraine.A comprehensive parameter K,integrating the number of freeze-thaws and water content,was introduced to model cohesion c.Drawing on Terzaghi Theory,we propose an improved algorithm for calculating surrounding rock pressure at the portal section of moraine tunnels.Using a tunnel as a case study,surrounding rock pressure was calculated under various conditions to validate the Improved Algorithm's efficacy.The results show that:(1)Strength loss exhibits a linear trend with the number of freeze-thaw cycles at water content levels of 4%and 8%,while at 12%water content,previous freeze-thaw cycles induce more significant damage to the soil.(2)Moraine saturation peaks between 8%and 12%water content.Following repeated freeze-thaw cycles,moraine shear strength initially increases before decreasing with varying water content.(3)The internal friction angle of moraine experiences slight reductions with prolonged freeze-thaw cycles,but both freeze-thaw cycles and water content significantly influence cohesion.(4)Vertical surrounding rock pressure increases after the initial freeze-thaw cycle,particularly with higher water content,although freeze-thaw cycles have minimal effect on it.(5)Freeze-thaw cycles lead to a substantial increase in lateral surrounding rock pressure,necessitating reinforced support structures at the arch wall,arch waist,and arch foot in engineering projects to mitigate freeze-thaw effects.This study provides a foundation for designing and selecting tunnel support structures in similar geological conditions.

Coupling Effect of Cryogenic Freeze-Thaw Cycles and Chloride Ion Erosion Effect in Pre-Cracked Reinforced Concrete

Chloride (Cl−) ion erosion effects can seriously impact the safety and service life of marine liquefied natural gas(LNG) storage tanks and other polar offshore structures. This study investigates the impact of different low-temperaturecycles (20°C, –80°C, and −160°C) and concrete specimen crack widths (0, 0.3, and 0.6 mm) on the Cl−ion diffusion performance through rapid erosion tests conducted on pre-cracked concrete. The results show thatthe minimum temperature and crack width of freeze-thaw cycles enhance the erosive effect of chloride ions. TheCl− ion concentration and growth rate increased with the increasing crack width. Based on the experimental modeland in accordance with Fick’s second law of diffusion, the Cl− ion diffusion equation was modified by introducingcorrection factors in consideration of the freeze-thaw temperature, crack width, and their coupling effect.The experimental and fitting results obtained from this model can provide excellent reference for practical engineeringapplications.

Experimental study on the movement of oil spill under freeze-thaw action

Oil leakages cause environmental pollution,economic losses,and even engineering safety accidents.In cold regions,researchers urgently investigate the movement of oil spill in soils exposed to freeze-thaw cycles.In this study,a series of laboratory model experiments were carried out on the migration of oil leakage under freeze-thaw action,and the distributions of the soil temperature,unfrozen water content,and displacement were analyzed.The results showed that under freeze-thaw action,liquid water in soils migrated to the freezing front and accumulated.After the pipe cracked,oil pollutants first gathered at one side of the leak hole,and then moved around.The pipe wall temperature affected the soil temperature field,and the thermal influence range below and transverse the pipe wall(35–40 cm)was larger than that above the pipe wall(8 cm)owing to the soil surface temperature.The leaked oil's temperature would make the temperature of the surrounding soil rise.Oil would inhibit the cooling of the soils.Besides,oil migration was significantly affected by the gravity and water flow patterns.The freeze-thaw action would affect the migration of the oil,which was mainly manifested as inhibiting the diffusion and movement of oil when soils were frozen.Unfrozen water transport caused by freeze-thaw cycles would also inhibit oil migration.The research results would provide a scientific reference for understanding the relationship between the movement of oil pollutants,water,and soil temperature,and for establishing a waterheat-mass transport model in frozen soils.

Repair of Second-Generation Recycled Fine Aggregate of Waste Concrete from Freeze-Thaw Environment by Carbonation Treatment

The reuse of waste recycled concrete from harsh environments has become a research hotspot in the field of construction.This study investigated the repair effect of carbonation treatment on second-generation recycled fine aggregate(SRFA)obtained from recycled fine aggregate concrete(RFAC)subjected to freeze-thaw(FT)cycles.Before and after carbonation,the properties of SRFA were evaluated.Carbonated second-generation recycled fine aggregate(CSRFA)at five substitution rates(0%,25%,50%,75%,100%)to replace SRFA was used to prepare carbonated second-generation recycled fine aggregate concrete(CSRFAC).The water absorption,porosity and mechanical properties of CSRFAC were tested,and its frost-resisting durability was evaluated.The results showed after carbonation treatment,the physical properties of SRFA was improved and met the requirements of II aggregate.The micro-hardness of the interfacial transition zone and attached mortar in CSRFA was 50.5%and 31.2%higher than that in SRFA,respectively.With the increase of CSRFA replacement rate,the water absorption and porosity of CSRFAC gradually decreased,and the mechanical properties and frost resistance of CSRFAC were gradually improved.Carbonation treatment effectively repairs the damage of SRFA caused by FT cycles and improves its application potential.

Clinical validation of the early embryo viability assessment system: Analysis for the blastocyst morphology and pregnancy outcomes

Objective:To determine the relationship between the early embryo viability assessment(EEVA)and blastocyst morphological parameters and pregnancy outcomes.Methods:This retrospective cohort study was conducted on 291 intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles including 2522 embryos with indications of prolonging embryo culture to the blastocyst stage in the Genea embryo review incubator,and 511 single vitrified-warmed blastocyst transfer cycles from January 2020 to June 2023.The EEVA system produced an EEVA score from E1(best)to E5(worse)for the potential of blastocyst formation.Blastocyst morphology was evaluated.The association between the EEVA score and each type of blastocyst morphology,implantation rate,clinical pregnancy,and ongoing pregnancy were assessed using generalized estimating equations.Results:The inner cell mass A(ICM A),trophectoderm A(TE A),blastocoele expansion degree of 3,4,5,6,7 rates were higher with lower the EEVA score.The adjusted odd ratio(aOR)(E5 vs E1)was 0.3 for ICM A,0.174 for TE A and 0.210 for BL3,4,5,6,7(all P<0.001),suggesting a significant association between lower EEVA scores and improved embryo quality.The implantation,clinical pregnancy,and ongoing pregnancy rate were also higher with lower the EEVA score.The aOR of E5 vs E1 was 0.245 for implantation,0.185 for clinical pregnancy and 0.200 for ongoing pregnancy rate(P<0.001).Conclusions:There were associations between blastocyst morphology,pregnancy outcome and EEVA scores.The good blastocyst morphology and pregnancy outcomes are higher with lower the EEVA score.

Spatiotemporal variation and freeze-thaw asymmetry of Arctic sea ice in multiple dimensions during 1979 to 2020

Arctic sea ice is broadly regarded as an indicator and amplifier of global climate change.The rapid changes in Arctic sea ice have been widely concerned.However,the spatiotemporal changes in the horizontal and vertical dimensions of Arctic sea ice and its asymmetry during the melt and freeze seasons are rarely quantified simultaneously based on multiple sources of the same long time series.In this study,the spatiotemporal variation and freeze-thaw asymmetry of Arctic sea ice were investigated from both the horizontal and vertical dimensions during 1979–2020 based on remote sensing and assimilation data.The results indicated that Arctic sea ice was declining at a remarkably high rate of–5.4×10^(4) km^(2)/a in sea ice area(SIA)and–2.2 cm/a in sea ice thickness(SIT)during 1979 to 2020,and the reduction of SIA and SIT was the largest in summer and the smallest in winter.Spatially,compared with other sub-regions,SIA showed a sharper declining trend in the Barents Sea,Kara Sea,and East Siberian Sea,while SIT presented a larger downward trend in the northern Canadian Archipelago,northern Greenland,and the East Siberian Sea.Regarding to the seasonal trend of sea ice on sub-region scale,the reduction rate of SIA exhibited an apparent spatial heterogeneity among seasons,especially in summer and winter,i.e.,the sub-regions linked to the open ocean exhibited a higher decline rate in winter;however,the other sub-regions blocked by the coastlines presented a greater decline rate in summer.For SIT,the sub-regions such as the Beaufort Sea,East Siberian Sea,Chukchi Sea,Central Arctic,and Canadian Archipelago always showed a higher downward rate in all seasons.Furthermore,a striking freeze-thaw asymmetry of Arctic sea ice was also detected.Comparing sea ice changes in different dimensions,sea ice over most regions in the Arctic showed an early retreat and rapid advance in the horizontal dimension but late melting and gradual freezing in the vertical dimension.The amount of sea ice melting and freezing was disequilibrium in the Arctic during the considered period,and the rate of sea ice melting was 0.3×10^(4) km^(2)/a and 0.01 cm/a higher than that of freezing in the horizontal and vertical dimensions,respectively.Moreover,there were notable shifts in the melting and freezing of Arctic sea ice in 1997/2003 and 2000/2004,respectively,in the horizontal/vertical dimension.

Dynamic mechanical characteristics of frozen subgrade soil subjected to freeze-thaw cycles

As a widely-applied engineering material in cold regions, the frozen subgrade soils are usually subjected to seismic loading, which are also dramatically influenced by the freeze-thaw(F-T)cycles due to the varying temperature. A series of dynamic cyclic triaxial experiments were conducted through a cryogenic triaxial apparatus for exploring the influences of F-T cycles on the dynamic mechanical properties of frozen subgrade clay.According to the experimental results of frozen clay at the temperature of-10℃, the dynamic responses and microstructure variation at different times of F-T cycles(0, 1, 5, and 20 cycles) were explored in detail.It is experimentally demonstrated that the dynamic stress-strain curves and dynamic volumetric strain curves of frozen clay are significantly sparse after 20F-T cycles. Meanwhile, the cyclic number at failure(Nf) of the frozen specimen reduces by 89% after 20freeze-thaw cycles at a low ratio of the dynamic stress amplitude. In addition, with the increasing F-T cycles,the axial accumulative strain, residual deformation,and the value of damage variable of frozen clay increase, while the dynamic resilient modulus and dynamic strength decrease. Finally, the influence of the F-T cycles on the failure mechanisms of frozen clay was discussed in terms of the microstructure variation. These studies contribute to a better understanding of the fundamental changes in the dynamic mechanical of frozen soils exposed to F-T cycles in cold and seismic regions.

Mechanical and acoustic emission characteristics of anhydrite rock under freeze-thaw cycles

To study the damage mechanisms of anhydrite rock under freeze-thaw cycles, the physicalmechanical properties and the microcracking activities of anhydrite rock were investigated through mass variation, nuclear magnetic resonance, scanning electron microscope tests, and uniaxial compression combined with acoustic emission(AE) tests. Results show that with the increase of freeze-thaw processes,the mass, uniaxial compression strength, and elastic modulus of the anhydrite specimens decrease while the porosity and plasticity characteristics increase.For example, after 120 cycles, the uniaxial compression strength and elastic modulus decrease by 46.54% and 60.16%, and the porosity increase by 75%. Combined with the evolution trend of stressstrain curves and the detected events, three stages were labeled to investigate the AE characteristics in freeze-thaw weathered anhydrite rock. It is found that with the increase of freeze-thaw cycles, the proportions of AE counts in stage Ⅰ and stage Ⅱ show a decaying exponential trend. Contrarily, the proportion of AE counts in stage Ⅲ displays an exponential ascending trend. Meanwhile, as the freeze-thaw cycles increase, the low-frequency AE signals increase while the intermediate-frequency AE signals decrease. After 120 cycles, the proportion of low-frequency AE signals increases by 168.95%, and the proportion of intermediate-frequency AE signals reduces by 81.14%. It is concluded that the microtensile cracking events occupy a dominant position during the loading process. With the increase of freeze-thaw cycles, the b value of samples decreases.After 120 cycles, b value decreases by 27.2%, which means that the proportion of cracking events in rocks with small amplitude decreases. Finally, it is proposed that the freeze-thaw damage mechanism of anhydrite is also characterized by the water chemical softening effect.

Effect of PVA Fiber on the Dynamic and Static Mechanical Properties of Concrete under Freeze-thaw Cycles at Extremely Low Temperature(-70℃)

In order to study the effect of PVA fiber on the dynamic and static mechanical properties of low-temperature freeze-thaw concrete under the saturated surface dry state,different contents of PVA fiber were added to prepare concrete in this experiment.The concrete was subjected to compression,flexural and SHPB impact tests combined with scanning electron microscopy for microstructure analysis,after different times of freeze-thaw cycles in the temperature range of 20-70℃.The experimental results show that the compressive strength of the PVA fiber reinforced concrete first increases and then decreases after freeze and thaw cycles,and the compressive strength is positively correlated with the fiber content.The flexural strength gradually decreases with freeze-thaw cycles.The flexural strength of the concrete with 1.2 kg/m^(3) of PVA fiber presents the lowest strength loss after 45 freeze and thaw cycles,which is about 14%.The dynamic failure strength gradually decreases with the increase of freeze-thaw times,and the reduction amplitude decreases with the increase of PVA fiber content.The best impact resistance is achieved when the PVA fiber dosage is 1.2 kg/m^(3).

Dynamic behaviors of water-saturated and frozen sandstone subjected to freeze-thaw cycles

In high-altitude cold areas,freeze-thaw(F-T)cycles induced by day-night and seasonal temperature changes cause numerous rock mass slope engineering disasters.To investigate the dynamic properties of rock in the natural environment of a high-altitude cold area,standard specimens were drilled from the slope of the Jiama copper mine in Tibet,and dynamic compression tests were performed on watersaturated and frozen sandstone with different numbers of F-T cycles(0,10,20,30,and 40)by the split Hopkinson pressure bar(SHPB)system with a cryogenic control system.The influence of water-saturated and frozen conditions on the dynamic performance of sandstone was investigated.The following conclusions are drawn:(1)With increasing strain rate,the attenuation factor(la)of water-saturated sandstone and the intensifying factor(li)of frozen sandstone linearly increase.As the number of F-T cycles increases,the dependence factor(ld)of water-saturated sandstone linearly decreases,whereas the ld of frozen sandstone linearly increases.(2)The prediction equation of the dynamic compressive strength of water-saturated and frozen sandstone is obtained,which can be used to predict the dynamic compressive strength of sandstone after various F-T cycles based on the strain rate.(3)The mesoscopic mechanism of water-saturated and frozen sandstone’s dynamic compressive strength evolution is investigated.The water softening effect causes the dynamic compressive strength of water-saturated sandstone to decrease,whereas the strengthening effect of pore ice causes it to increase.(4)The decrease in the relative dynamic compressive strength of water-saturated sandstone and the increase in the relative dynamic compressive strength of frozen sandstone can be attributed to the increased porosity.

Effect of High Temperature Curing on the Frost Resistance of Recycled Aggregate Concrete and the Physical Properties of Second-Generation Recycled Coarse Aggregate under Freeze-Thaw Cycles

With the emphasis on environmental issues,the recycling of waste concrete,even recycled concrete,has become a hot spot in the field of architecture.But the repeated recycling of waste concrete used in harsh environments is still a complex problem.This paper discusses the durability and recyclability of recycled aggregate concrete(RAC)as a prefabricated material in the harsh environment,the effect of high-temperature curing(60℃,80℃,and 100℃)on the frost resistance of RAC and physical properties of the second generation recycled coarse aggregate(RCA_(2))of RAC after 300 freeze-thaw cycles were studied.The frost resistance of RAC was characterized by compressive strength,relative dynamic elastic modulus,and mass loss.As the physical properties of RCA_(2),the apparent density,water absorption,and crushing value were measured.And the SEM images of RAC after 300 freeze-thaw cycles were shown.The results indicated that the frost resistance of RAC cured at 80℃ for 7 days was comparable to that cured in the standard condition(cured for 28 days at 20℃±2℃ and 95%humidity),and the RAC cured at 100℃ was slightly worse.However,the frost resistance of RAC cured at 60℃ deteriorated seriously.The RAC cured at 80℃ for 7 days is the best.Whether after the freeze-thaw cycle or not,the RCA that curd at 60℃,80℃,and 100℃ for 7 days can also meet the requirements of Grade III RCA and be used as the aggregate of non-bearing part of prefabricated concrete components.RCA_(2) which is cured at 80℃ for 7 days had the best physical properties.

Pregnancy Outcomes for Day 5 Versus Day 6 Single Frozen-thawed Blastocyst Transfer with Different Qualities of Embryos: A Large Matched-cohort Study

Objective This study aimed to determine whether the day of blastocyst expansion affects pregnancy outcomes in frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer(FBT)cycles.Methods A retrospective match-cohort study was conducted.Patients who underwent blastocyst transfer in frozen-thawed cycles at day 5 or 6 were matched for potential confounding factors.A total of 2207 matched pairs of FBT cycles were included from January 2016 to December 2019 in our Reproductive Medicine Center.Results The clinical pregnancy rate(CPR)and live birth rate(LBR)were significantly increased in day 5 blastocyst transfers when compared to day 6 blastocyst transfers,in terms of the same embryo quality.For FBT cycles with good-quality embryo,the CPR at day 5 and 6 was 61.30%and 57.56%,respectively(P=0.045),and the LBR was 44.79%and 36.16%,respectively(P<0.001).For FBT cycles with poor-quality embryo,the CPR at day 5 and 6 was 48.61%and 40.89%,respectively(P=0.006),and the LBR was 31.71%and 25.74%,respectively(P=0.019).The CPR for FBT cycles with good-quality embryo was statistically higher at day 6 than that at day 5 with poor-quality embryo transferred(57.56%vs.48.61%,P=0.001).Maternal age,anti-Müllerian hormone(AMH),endometrial thickness,embryo quality,and the day of blastocyst expansion were independently correlated with the CPR and LBR.The FBT cycles at day 5 had significantly higher CPR(adjusted odds ratio[OR]=1.246,95%confidence intervals[CI]:1.097–1.415,P=0.001)and LBR(adjusted OR=1.435,95%CI:1.258–1.637,P<0.001)than those at day 6.Conclusion The embryo quality is the primary indicator for FBT cycles.Day 5 blastocysts should be preferred when the quality of embryo at day 5 is the same as that at day 6.

Freeze-thaw process induced by increased precipitation affects root growth of alpine steppe on the Tibetan Plateau

The response of vegetation productivity to precipitation is becoming a worldwide concern.Most reports on responses of vegetation to precipitation trends are based on the growth season.In the soil freeze/thaw process,the soil water phase and heat transport change can affect root growth,especially during the thawing process in early spring.A field experiment with increased precipitation(control,increased 25%and increased 50%)was conducted to measure the effects of soil water in early spring on above-and below-ground productivity in an alpine steppe over two growing seasons from June 2017 to September 2018.The increased 50%treatment significantly increased the soil moisture at the 10 cm depth,there was no difference in soil moisture between the increased 25%treatment and the control in the growing season,which was not consistent in the freeze/thaw process.Increased soil moisture during the non-growing season retarded root growth.Increased precipitation in the freezing-thawing period can partially offset the difference between the control and increased precipitation plots in both above-and below-ground biomass.

The Effect of Different Freeze-Thaw Cycles on Mortar Gas Permeability and Pore Structure

Two different freeze-thaw cycles(FTC)are considered in this study to assess the related impact on gas permeability and micro-pore structure of a mortar.These are the water-freezing/water-thawing(WF-WT)and the air-freezing/air-thawing(AF-AT)cycles.The problem is addressed experimentally through an advanced nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)technique able to provide meaningful information on the relationships among gas permeability,pore structure,mechanical properties,and the number of cycles.It is shown that the mortar gas permeability increases with the number of FTCs,the increase factor being 20 and 12.83 after 40 cycles for the WF-WT and AF-AT,respectively.The results also confirm that gas permeability hysteresis phenomena occur during the confining pressure loading and unloading process.

Influence of relative compaction and degree of saturation on the deformation characteristics of bentonite under freeze-thaw cycles

Bentonite,consisting of clay minerals of the montmorillonite group,has been widely used as an adsorbent and backfill material in nuclear waste disposal and groundwater remediation.It is challenging to use bentonite as a filling material in cold regions since bentonite is highly sensitive to thermal environmental changes,during which its bulk volume and microstructure change significantly.In this study,a series of one-dimensional and three-dimensional freeze-thaw tests were carried out within a closed system to investigate the influencing factors of the deformation of bentonite under freeze-thaw cycles.Results show that the initial soil water content greatly impacts bentonite's deformation during freeze-thaw cycles.For an initial higher degree of saturation(Sr),the expansion caused by the formation of ice lenses has a greater impact than the shrinkage induced by dehydration,ice-cementation,and so on.Conversely,bentonite tends to shrink at a lower degree of saturation during freezing.And the critical degree of saturation that determines bentonite's behavior of frost heave or frost shrinkage seems to be roughly 0.8.As the number of freeze-thaw cycles rises,initially uncompacted bentonite clay becomes more compacted,and initially compacted bentonite clay remains unchanged.