Determination and Evaluation of Alternate Methods for Managing and Controlling Highway-Related Dust, TR-449, 2002

Road dust is caused by wind entraining fine material from the roadway surface and the main source of Iowa road dust is attrition of carbonate rock used as aggregate. The mechanisms of dust suppression can be considered as two processes: increasing particle size of the surface fines by agglomeration and inhibiting degradation of the coarse material. Agglomeration may occur by capillary tension in the pore water, surfactants that increase bonding between clay particles, and cements that bind the mineral matter together. Hygroscopic dust suppressants such as calcium chloride have short durations of effectiveness because capillary tension is the primary agglomeration mechanism. Somewhat more permanent methods of agglomeration result from chemicals that cement smaller particles into a mat or larger particles. The cements include lignosulfonates, resins, and asphalt products. The duration of the cements depend on their solubility and the climate. The only dust palliative that decreases aggregate degradation is shredded shingles that act as cushions between aggregate particles. It is likely that synthetic polymers also provide some protection against coarse aggregate attrition. Calcium chloride and lignosulfonates are widely used in Iowa. Both palliatives have a useful duration of about 6 months. Calcium chloride is effective with surface soils of moderate fine content and plasticity whereas lignin works best with materials that have high fine content and high plasticity indices. Bentonite appears to be effective for up to two years and works well with surface materials having low fines and plasticity and works well with limestone aggregate. Selection of appropriate dust suppressants should be based on characterization of the road surface material. Estimation of dosage rates for potential palliatives can be based on data from this report, from technical reports, information from reliable vendors, or laboratory screening tests. The selection should include economic analysis of construction and maintenance costs. The effectiveness of the treatment should be evaluated by any of the field performance measuring techniques discussed in this report. Novel dust control agents that need research for potential application in Iowa include; acidulated soybean oil (soapstock), soybean oil, ground up asphalt shingles, and foamed asphalt. New laboratory evaluation protocols to screen additives for potential effectiveness and determine dosage are needed. A modification of ASTM D 560 to estimate the freeze-thaw and wet-dry durability of Portland cement stabilized soils would be a starting point for improved laboratory testing of dust palliatives.

Development of LRFD Design Procedures for Bridge Piles in Iowa – Field Testing of Steel H-Piles in Clay, Sand, and Mixed Soils and Data Analysis (Volume II), TR-583, 2011

In response to the mandate on Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) implementations by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) on all new bridge projects initiated after October 1, 2007, the Iowa Highway Research Board (IHRB) sponsored these research projects to develop regional LRFD recommendations. The LRFD development was performed using the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) Pile Load Test database (PILOT). To increase the data points for LRFD development, develop LRFD recommendations for dynamic methods, and validate the results of LRFD calibration, 10 full-scale field tests on the most commonly used steel H-piles (e.g., HP 10 x 42) were conducted throughout Iowa. Detailed in situ soil investigations were carried out, push-in pressure cells were installed, and laboratory soil tests were performed. Pile responses during driving, at the end of driving (EOD), and at re-strikes were monitored using the Pile Driving Analyzer (PDA), following with the CAse Pile Wave Analysis Program (CAPWAP) analysis. The hammer blow counts were recorded for Wave Equation Analysis Program (WEAP) and dynamic formulas. Static load tests (SLTs) were performed and the pile capacities were determined based on the Davisson’s criteria. The extensive experimental research studies generated important data for analytical and computational investigations. The SLT measured load-displacements were compared with the simulated results obtained using a model of the TZPILE program and using the modified borehole shear test method. Two analytical pile setup quantification methods, in terms of soil properties, were developed and validated. A new calibration procedure was developed to incorporate pile setup into LRFD.

Synthetic sex pheromone of citrus leafminer in Brazilian citrus groves

The objective of this work was to determine the best conditions of use of the synthetic sex pheromone of Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton for monitoring this species in citrus groves in northeastern Brazil. Pheromone doses (0.0, 0.1, 1, 10 and 100 μg) and longevity (1, 15, 29, 43 and 57-day-old lures) and trap height (0.5, 1.5 and 2.5 m), color (green, red, and white) and model influence on P. citrella males capture were evaluated. The doses of 10 and 100 μg of the synthetic sex pheromone - a 3:1 blend of (Z,Z,E)-7,11,13-hexadecatrienal and (Z,Z)-7,11-hexadecadienal - attracted the greatest number of P. citrella males. Traps baited with these two both dosages continued to capture P. citrella males at a comparable rate for over eight weeks in citrus groves. Although there was no significant decrease in activity of both dosages until 57 days of exposure to the environment, the higher dose, as time passed, attracted significantly more P. citrella males than the lower dose. There were no significant differences in male capture in traps with synthetic sex pheromone placed at 1.5 and 2.5 m height, wich had the better results. Trap color and model did not affect male capture.

Diagnostic and prognostic value of antibodies against chimeric fibrin/filaggrin citrullinated synthetic peptides in rheumatoid arthritis

Introduction: Evidence suggests that citrullinated fibrin(ogen) may be a potential in vivo target of anticitrullinated protein/peptide antibodies (ACPA) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We compared the diagnostic yield of three enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests by using chimeric fibrin/filaggrin citrullinated synthetic peptides (CFFCP1, CFFCP2, CFFCP3) with a commercial CCP2-based test in RA and analyzed their prognostic values in early RA. Methods: Samples from 307 blood donors and patients with RA (322), psoriatic arthritis (133), systemic lupus erythematosus (119), and hepatitis C infection (84) were assayed by using CFFCP- and CCP2-based tests. Autoantibodies also were analyzed at baseline and during a 2-year follow-up in 98 early RA patients to determine their prognostic value. Results: With cutoffs giving 98% specificity for RA versus blood donors, the sensitivity was 72.1% for CFFCP1, 78.0% for CFFCP2, 71.4% for CFFCP3, and 73.9% for CCP2, with positive predictive values greater than 97% in all cases. CFFCP sensitivity in RA increased to 80.4% without losing specificity when positivity was considered as any positive anti-CFFCP status. Specificity of the three CFFCP tests versus other rheumatic populations was high (> 90%) and similar to those for the CCP2. In early RA, CFFCP1 best identified patients with a poor radiographic outcome. Radiographic progression was faster in the small subgroup of CCP2-negative and CFFCP1-positive patients than in those negative for both autoantibodies. CFFCP antibodies decreased after 1 year, but without any correlation with changes in disease activity. Conclusions: CFFCP-based assays are highly sensitive and specific for RA. Early RA patients with anti-CFFCP1 antibodies, including CCP2-negative patients, show greater radiographic progression.

Structural analysis, clay mineralogy and K-Ar dating of fault gouges from Centovalli Line (Central Alps) for reconstruction of their recent activity

Between the cities of Domodossola and Locarno, the complex ``Centovalli Line'' tectonic zone of the Central Alps outlines deformation phases over a long period of time (probably starting similar to 30 Ma ago) and under variable P-T conditions. The last deformation phases developed gouge-bearing faults with a general E-W trend that crosscuts the roots of the Alpine Canavese zone and the Finero ultramafic body. Kinematic indicators show that the general motion was mainly dextral associated with back thrusting towards the S. The <2 mu m clay fractions of fault gouges from Centovalli Line consist mainly of illite, smectite and chlorite with varied illite-smectite, chlorite-smectite and chlorite-serpentine mixed-layers. Constrained with the illite crystallinity index, the thermal conditions induced by the tectonic activity show a gradual trend from anchizonal to diagenetic conditions. The <2 and <0.2 mu M clay fractions, and hydrothermal K-feldspar separates all provide K-Ar ages between 14.2 +/- 2.9 Ma and roughly 0 Ma, with major episodes at about 12,8, 6 and close to 0 Ma These ages set the recurrent tectonic activity and the associated fluid circulations between Upper Miocene and Recent. On the basis of the K-Ar ages and with a thermal gradient of 25-30 degrees C/km, the studied fault zones were located at a depth of 4-7 km. If they were active until now as observed in field, the exhumation was approximately 2.5-3.0 km for the last 12 Ma with a mean velocity of 0.4 mm/y. Comparison with available models on the recent Alpine evolution shows that the tectonic activity in the area relates to a continuum of the back-thrusting movements of the Canavese Line, and/or to several late-extensional phases of the Rhone-Simplon line. The Centovalli-Val Vigezzo zone therefore represents a major tectonic zone of the Central-Western Alps resulting from different interacting tectonic events. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The Dutung-Thaktote extensional fault zone and nappe structures documented by illite crystallinity and clay-mineral paragenesis in the Tethys Himalaya between Spiti river and Tso Morari, NW India

Numerous measurements by XRD of the Scherrer width at half-peak height (001 reflection of illite), coupled with analyses of clay-size assemblages, provide evidence for strong variations in the conditions of low temperature metamorphism in the Tethyan Himalaya metasediments between the Spiti river and the Tso Morari. Three sectors can be distinguished along the Spiti river-Tso Morari transect. In the SW, the Takling and Parang La area is characterised by a metamorphism around anchizone-epizone boundary conditions. Further north, in the Dutung area, the metamorphic grade abruptly decreases to weak diagenesis, with the presence of mixed-layered clay phases. At the end of the profile towards the NE, a progressive metamorphic increase up to greenschist facies is recorded, marked by the appearance of biotite and chloritoid. The combination of these data with the structural. observations permits to propose that a nappe stack has been crosscut by the younger Dutung-Thaktote extensional fault zone (DTFZ). The change in metamorphism across this zone helps to assess the displacements which occurred during synorogenic extension. In the SW and NE parts of the studied transect, a burial of 12 km has been estimated, assuming a geothermal gradient of 25 degrees C/km. In the SW part, this burial is due to the juxtaposition of the Shikar Beh and Mata nappes and in the NE part, solely to burial beneath the Mata nappe. In the central part of the profile, the effect of the DTFZ is to bring down diagenetic sediments in-between the two aforesaid metamorphic zones. The offset along the Dutung-Thaktote normal faults is estimated at 16 km.

Effect of conservation tillage and peat application on weed infestation on a clay soil

Selostus: Kynnöstä luopumisen ja turvelisäyksen vaikutus savimaan rikkakasvillisuuteen kevätviljakasvustossa

Synthetic calibrators for the analysis of total metanephrines in urine: revisiting the conditions of hydrolysis.

BACKGROUND: The quantification of total (free+sulfated) metanephrines in urine is recommended to diagnose pheochromocytoma. Urinary metanephrines include metanephrine itself, normetanephrine and methoxytyramine, mainly in the form of sulfate conjugates (60-80%). Their determination requires the hydrolysis of the sulfate ester moiety to allow electrochemical oxidation of the phenolic group. Commercially available urine calibrators and controls contain essentially free, unhydrolysable metanephrines which are not representative of native urines. The lack of appropriate calibrators may lead to uncertainty regarding the completion of the hydrolysis of sulfated metanephrines, resulting in incorrect quantification. METHODS: We used chemically synthesized sulfated metanephrines to establish whether the procedure most frequently recommended for commercial kits (pH 1.0 for 30 min over a boiling water bath) ensures their complete hydrolysis. RESULTS: We found that sulfated metanephrines differ in their optimum pH to obtain complete hydrolysis. Highest yields and minimal variance were established for incubation at pH 0.7-0.9 during 20 min. CONCLUSION: Urinary pH should be carefully controlled to ensure an efficient and reproducible hydrolysis of sulfated metanephrines. Synthetic sulfated metanephrines represent the optimal material for calibrators and proficiency testing to improve inter-laboratory accuracy.

Long synthetic peptides as biologically active proteins: the example of the chemokines.

Chemokines constitute an expanding protein family of over 40 members which exhibit a wide variety of biological activities and are involved in many normal physiological processes, such as cellular migration, differentiation and activation, but also in pathological situations, such as inflammation and metastasis. Over the last few years, we have developed methods to manufacture long synthetic peptides of up to 130 residues, and to achieve the formation of native-like cysteine pairings. This ability prompted us to undertake the total chemical synthesis of chemokines. So far, we have successfully produced over 30 chemokine species, which exhibit biological activities similar to, or greater than, those reported by others. Chemical synthesis offers a clear advantage over recombinant technologies for the introduction of fluorochromes and haptens at molecularly defined positions. In addition, approval of chemically synthesized products for use in humans is straightforward compared with material produced by biological methods.

Montmorillonite clay based polyurethane nanocomposite as substrate for retinal pigment epithelial cell growth.

The subretinal transplantation of retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE cells) grown on polymeric supports may have interest in retinal diseases affecting RPE cells. In this study, montmorillonite based polyurethane nanocomposite (PU-NC) was investigated as substrate for human RPE cell growth (ARPE-19 cells). The ARPE-19 cells were seeded on the PU-NC, and cell viability, proliferation and differentiation were investigated. The results indicated that ARPE-19 cells attached, proliferated onto the PU-NC, and expressed occludin. The in vivo ocular biocompatibility of the PU-NC was assessed by using the HET-CAM; and through its implantation under the retina. The direct application of the nanocomposite onto the CAM did not compromise the vascular tissue in the CAM surface, suggesting no ocular irritancy of the PU-NC film. The nanocomposite did not elicit any inflammatory response when implanted into the eye of rats. The PU-NC may have potential application as a substrate for RPE cell transplantation.

Four-hour infusions of synthetic atrial natriuretic peptide in normal volunteers.

Two doses of synthetic atrial natriuretic peptide (0.5 and 5.0 micrograms/min) and its vehicle were infused intravenously for 4 hours in eight salt-loaded normal volunteers, and the effect on blood pressure, heart rate, renal hemodynamics, solute excretion, and secretion of vasoactive hormones was studied. The 0.5 micrograms/min infusion did not alter blood pressure or heart rate, whereas the 5.0 micrograms/min infusion significantly reduced the mean pressure by 20/9 mm Hg after 2.5 to 3 hours and increased the heart rate slightly. Inulin clearance was not significantly changed, but the mean p-aminohippurate clearance fell by 13 and 32% with the lower and higher doses, respectively. Urinary excretion of sodium and chloride increased slightly with the lower dose. With the higher dose, a marked increase in urinary excretion of sodium, chloride, and calcium was observed, reaching a peak during the second hour of the infusion. Potassium and phosphate excretion did not change significantly. A brisk increase in urine flow rate and fractional water excretion was seen only during the first hour of the high-dose infusion. Signs and symptoms of hypotension were observed in two subjects. No change in plasma renin activity, angiotensin II, or aldosterone was observed during either infusion, but a marked increase occurred after discontinuation of the high-dose infusion. In conclusion, the 5 micrograms/min infusion induced a transient diuretic effect, delayed maximal natriuretic activity, and a late fall in blood pressure, with no change in inulin clearance but a dose-related decrease in p-aminohippurate clearance. Despite large amounts of sodium excreted and blood pressure reduction, no counterregulatory changes were observed in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system or plasma vasopressin levels during the infusion.

The use of positional scanning synthetic combinatorial libraries (PS-SCL) to study T Lympohcyte specificity and degeneracy

Les cellules CD8? T cytolytiques (CTL) sont les principaux effecteurs du système immunitaire adaptatif contre les infections et les tumeurs. La récente identification d?antigènes tumoraux humains reconnus par des cellules T cytolytiques est la base pour le, développement des vaccins antigène spécifiques contre le cancer. Le nombre d?antigènes tumoraux reconnus par des CTL que puisse être utilisé comme cible pour la vaccination des patients atteints du cancer est encore limité. Une nouvelle technique, simple et rapide, vient d?être proposée pour l?identification d?antigènes reconnus par des CTL. Elle se base sur l?utilisation de librairies combinatoriales de peptides arrangées en un format de "scanning" ou balayage par position (PS-SCL). La première partie de cette étude a consisté à valider cette nouvelle technique par une analyse détaillée de la reconnaissance des PS-SCL par différents clones de CTL spécifiques pour des antigènes associés à la tumeur (TAA) connus ainsi que par des clones de spécificité inconnue. Les résultats de ces analyses révèlent que pour tous les clones, la plupart des acides aminés qui composent la séquence du peptide antigénique naturel ont été identifiés par l?utilisation des PS-SCL. Les résultats obtenus ont permis d?identifier des peptides analogues ayant une antigènicité augmentée par rapport au peptide naturel, ainsi que des peptides comportant de multiples modifications de séquence, mais présentant la même réactivité que le peptide naturel. La deuxième partie de cette étude a consisté à effectuer des analyses biométriques des résultats complexes générés par la PS-SCL. Cette approche a permis l?identification des séquences correspondant aux épitopes naturels à partir de bases de données de peptides publiques. Parmi des milliers de peptides, les séquences naturelles se trouvent comprises dans les 30 séquences ayant les scores potentiels de stimulation les plus élevés pour chaque TAA étudié. Mais plus important encore, l?utilisation des PS-SCL avec un clone réactif contre des cellules tumorales mais de spécificité inconnue nous a permis d?identifier I?epitope reconnu par ce clone. Les données présentées ici encouragent l?utilisation des PS-SCL pour l?identification et l?optimisation d?épitopes pour des CTL réactifs anti-tumoraux, ainsi que pour l?étude de la reconnaissance dégénérée d?antigènes par les CTL.<br/><br/>CD8+ cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) are the main effector cells of the adaptive immune system against infection and tumors. The recent identification of moleculariy defined human tumor Ags recognized by autologous CTL has opened new opportunities for the development of Ag-specific cancer vaccines. Despite extensive work, however, the number of CTL-defined tumor Ags that are suitable targets for the vaccination of cancer patients is still limited, especially because of the laborious and time consuming nature of the procedures currentiy used for their identification. The use of combinatorial peptide libraries in positionai scanning format (Positional Scanning Synthetic Combinatorial Libraries, PS-SCL)' has recently been proposed as an alternative approach for the identification of these epitopes. To validate this approach, we analyzed in detail the recognition of PS-SCL by tumor-reactive CTL clones specific for multiple well-defined tumor-associated Ags (TAA) as well as by tumor-reactive CTL clones of unknown specificity. The results of these analyses revealed that for all the TAA-specific clones studied most of the amino acids composing the native antigenic peptide sequences could be identified through the use of PS-SCL. Based on the data obtained from the screening of PS-SCL, we could design peptide analogs of increased antigenicity as well as cross-reactive analog peptides containing multiple amino acid substitutions. In addition, the resuits of PS-SCL-screening combined with a recently developed biometric data analysis (PS-SCL-based biometric database analysis) allowed the identification of the native peptides in public protein databases among the 30 most active sequences, and this was the case for all the TAA studied. More importantiy, the screening of PS- SCL with a tumor-reactive CTL clone of unknown specificity resulted in the identification of the actual epitope. Overall, these data encourage the use of PS-SCL not oniy for the identification and optimization of tumor-associated CTL epitopes, but also for the analysis of degeneracy in T lymphocyte receptor (TCR) recognition of tumor Ags.<br/><br/>Les cellules T CD8? cytolytiques font partie des globules blancs du sang et sont les principales responsables de la lutte contre les infections et les tumeurs. Les immunologistes cherchent depuis des années à identifier des molécules exprimées et présentées à la surface des tumeurs qui puissent être reconnues par des cellules T CD8? cytolytiques capables ensuite de tuer ces tumeurs de façon spécifique. Ce type de molécules représente la base pour le développement de vaccins contre le cancer puisqu?elles pourraient être injectées aux patients afin d?induire une réponse anti- tumorale. A présent, il y a très peu de molécules capables de stimuler le système immunitaire contre les tumeurs qui sont connues parce que les techniques développées à ce jour pour leur identification sont complexes et longues. Une nouvelle technique vient d?être proposée pour l?identification de ce type de molécules qui se base sur l?utilisation de librairies de peptides. Ces librairies représentent toutes les combinaisons possibles des composants de base des molécules recherchées. La première partie de cette étude a consisté à valider cette nouvelle technique en utilisant des cellules T CD8? cytolytiques capables de tuer des cellules tumorales en reconnaissant une molécule connue présente à leur surface. On a démontré que l?utilisation des librairies permet d?identifier la plupart des composants de base de la molécule reconnue par les cellules T CD8? cytolytiques utilisées. La deuxième partie de cette étude a consisté à effectuer une recherche des molécules potentiellement actives dans des protéines présentes dans des bases des données en utilisant un programme informatique qui permet de classer les molécules sur la base de leur activité biologique. Parmi des milliers de molécules de la base de données, celles reconnues par nos cellules T CD8? cytolytiques ont été trouvées parmi les plus actives. Plus intéressant encore, la combinaison de ces deux techniques nous a permis d?identifier la molécule reconnue par une population de cellules T CD8? cytolytiques ayant une activité anti-tumorale, mais pour laquelle on ne connaissait pas la spécificité. Nos résultats encouragent l?utilisation des librairies pour trouver et optimiser des molécules reconnues spécifiquement par des cellules T CD8? cytolytiques capables de tuer des tumeurs.

Determination of the complexing capacity of synthetic and real wine for Zn using Absence of Gradients and Nerstian Equilibrium Stripping technique

The complexing capacity of synthetic (0.011 M tartrate in 13.5% ethanol) and real wine (Raimat Abadia) in titrations with added total Zn concentrations up to 0.03 M has been determined following the free Zn concentrations with AGNES (absence of gradients and Nernstian equilibrium stripping) technique. A correction to find the preconcentration factor or gain (Y1) really applied at each one of the ionic strengths reached due to Zn additions along the titration has been applied. The standard implementation of AGNES to real wine led to the observation of two anomalous behaviors: (a) an increasingly negative current in the deposition stage (labeled as “HER” effect) and (b) a minimum in the currents of the stripping stage plot (labeled as the “dip” effect). A practical strategy to apply AGNES avoiding the dip effect has been developed to quantify properly free Zn concentrations. The van den Berg–Ružic–Lee linearization method (assuming the existence of just 1:1 complexes) has been adapted to consider the dilution effect and the ionic strength changes. Aggregated stability constants and total ligand concentrations have been calculated from synthetic and wine titration data. The found complexing capacity in the studied wine (cT,L = 0.0179 ± 0.0007 M) indicates the contribution of ligands other than tartrate (which is confirmed to be the main one).