Investigation of Techniques for Accelerating the Construction of Bridge Deck Overlays, 2016

Use of bridge deck overlays is important in maximizing bridge service life. Overlays can replace the deteriorated part of the deck, thus extending the bridge life. Even though overlay construction avoids the construction of a whole new bridge deck, construction still takes significant time in re-opening the bridge to traffic. Current processes and practices are time-consuming and multiple opportunities may exist to reduce overall construction time by modifying construction requirements and/or materials utilized. Reducing the construction time could have an effect on reducing the socioeconomic costs associated with bridge deck rehabilitation and the inconvenience caused to travelers. This work included three major tasks with literature review, field investigation, and laboratory testing. Overlay concrete mix used for present construction takes long curing hours and therefore an investigation was carried out to find fast-curing concrete mixes that could reduce construction time. Several fast-cuing concrete mixes were found and suggested for further evaluation. An on-going overlay construction project was observed and documented. Through these observations, several opportunities were suggested where small modifications in the process could lead to significant time savings. With current standards of the removal depth of substrate concrete in Iowa, it takes long hours for the removal process. Four different laboratory tests were performed with different loading conditions to determine the necessary substrate concrete removal depth for a proper bond between the substrate concrete and the new overlay concrete. Several parameters, such as failure load, bond stress, and stiffness, were compared for four different concrete removal depths. Through the results and observations of this investigation several conclusions were made which could reduce bridge deck overlay construction time.

Preliminary Studies of Remedial Measures for the Prevention of Bridge Deck Deterioration, HR-146, 1970

Four series of five specimens each were investigated for static and fatigue strength. These four series differed in that there were two variables, the first being the subsidence of concrete around reinforcing bars and the second being shrinkage due to two different curing conditions. The combinations of these variables were then compared to each other by use of, load-deflection curves and S-H fatigue curves.

The Depsipeptide Romidepsin Reverses HIV-1 Latency In Vivo.

UNLABELLED: Pharmacologically-induced activation of replication competent proviruses from latency in the presence of antiretroviral treatment (ART) has been proposed as a step towards curing HIV-1 infection. However, until now, approaches to reverse HIV-1 latency in humans have yielded mixed results. Here, we report a proof-of-concept phase Ib/IIa trial where 6 aviremic HIV-1 infected adults received intravenous 5 mg/m2 romidepsin (Celgene) once weekly for 3 weeks while maintaining ART. Lymphocyte histone H3 acetylation, a cellular measure of the pharmacodynamic response to romidepsin, increased rapidly (maximum fold range: 3.7-7.7 relative to baseline) within the first hours following each romidepsin administration. Concurrently, HIV-1 transcription quantified as copies of cell-associated un-spliced HIV-1 RNA increased significantly from baseline during treatment (range of fold-increase: 2.4-5.0; p = 0.03). Plasma HIV-1 RNA increased from <20 copies/mL at baseline to readily quantifiable levels at multiple post-infusion time-points in 5 of 6 patients (range 46-103 copies/mL following the second infusion, p = 0.04). Importantly, romidepsin did not decrease the number of HIV-specific T cells or inhibit T cell cytokine production. Adverse events (all grade 1-2) were consistent with the known side effects of romidepsin. In conclusion, romidepsin safely induced HIV-1 transcription resulting in plasma HIV-1 RNA that was readily detected with standard commercial assays demonstrating that significant reversal of HIV-1 latency in vivo is possible without blunting T cell-mediated immune responses. These finding have major implications for future trials aiming to eradicate the HIV-1 reservoir. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov NTC02092116.

Melamiinipinnoituslinjan puristusparametrien määrittäminen

Tämän tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli määrittää melamiinipinnoituslinjalla käytettäville eri pinnoituskalvoille linjan käytön kannalta optimaaliset puristusparametrit. Tutkimuksessa vertailtiin erityisesti puristuslämpötilan ja -ajan vaikutusta pinnoitettujen levyjen pinnoitteiden kypsymiseen. Pinnoitteiden kypsyminen mitattiin pääasiassa kypsyystestien avulla. Tulosten pohjalta laadittiin 6 eri pinnoitusreseptiä, joihin pinnoitteet jaoteltiin. Yksi pinnoitusresepti pitää sisällään tiedot käytettävistä puristusparametreista, eli puristuspaineesta, -lämpötilasta ja -ajasta. Testien tuloksia analysoitaessa havaittiin eri pinnoitteiden käyttäytyvän eri tavoin. Osa pinnoitteista kesti korkeampia lämpötiloja, osa taas vaati pidemmän puristusajan sopivan kypsyysasteen saavuttamiseksi. Sopiviin puristusaikoihin havaittiin vaikuttavan erityisesti käytetyn hartsin reaktiivisuus ja kalvoissa käytetyn pigmenttiväriaineen tummuus.

Alcatrão ou creosoto de eucalipto na produção de adesivos fenólicos para colagem de madeira

This study has shown that Eucalyptus tar and creosote can be used in phenolic adhesive formulations (resols) for wood products bonding. Some adhesives were prepared substituting 0; 17.7; 35.0 and 67.0% of the phenol by anhydrous tar and 0; 15.0 e 28.5% by creosote. In gluing Brazilian pine veneers, eucalypt tar and creosote based adhesives required longer pressing times for curing than conventional phenol-formaldehyde adhesives. By using 13C NMR, the number of carbons in side chains and hydroxyl, carbonyl, carboxyl and methoxyl groups related to 100 aromatic rings could be estimated in tar and creosote. In creosote, after reaction with excess formaldehyde in alkaline medium, only 0,28 hydroxymethyl groups was detected per phenolic ring. This low amount of hydroxymethylation explains the lack of reactivity in curing observed when creosote was introduced in a standard adhesive formulation.

Erwinia amylovora Novel Plasmid pEI70: Complete Sequence, Biogeography, and Role in Aggressiveness in the Fire Blight Phytopathogen

Comparative genomics of several strains of Erwinia amylovora, a plant pathogenic bacterium causal agent of fire blight disease, revealed that its diversity is primarily attributable to the flexible genome comprised of plasmids. We recently identified and sequenced in full a novel 65.8 kb plasmid, called pEI70. Annotation revealed a lack of known virulence-related genes, but found evidence for a unique integrative conjugative element related to that of other plant and human pathogens. Comparative analyses using BLASTN showed that pEI70 is almost entirely included in plasmid pEB102 from E. billingiae, an epiphytic Erwinia of pome fruits, with sequence identities superior to 98%. A duplex PCR assay was developed to survey the prevalence of plasmid pEI70 and also that of pEA29, which had previously been described in several E. amylovora strains. Plasmid pEI70 was found widely dispersed across Europe with frequencies of 5–92%, but it was absent in E. amylovora analyzed populations from outside of Europe. Restriction analysis and hybridization demonstrated that this plasmid was identical in at least 13 strains. Curing E. amylovora strains of pEI70 reduced their aggressiveness on pear, and introducing pEI70 into low-aggressiveness strains lacking this plasmid increased symptoms development in this host. Discovery of this novel plasmid offers new insights into the biogeography, evolution and virulence determinants in E. amylovora

Efeito da concentração do catalisador acetilacetonato férrico na cura de poliuretano à base de polibutadieno líquido hidroxilado (PBLH) e diisocianato de isoforona (IPDI)

The reaction between hydroxy-terminated polybutadiene and isophorone diisocyanate constitutes the base of the curing process of the most composite solid propellant used in the propulsion of solid rocket propellant. In this work, differential scanning calorimetry and viscosity measurements were used to evaluate the effect of the ferric acetylacetonate catalyst concentration on the reaction between HTBR and IPDI. These analyses show one exotherm, which shifts to lower temperatures as the catalyst concentration increases. The viscosity analyses show that the increase of temperature causes, at first, a reduction in the mixture viscosity, reaching a minimum range called gelification region (increasing the crosslinking density).

INFLUÊNCIA DO CATALISADOR EM SOLUÇÕES POLIMÉRICAS PARA O PREPARO DE GÉIS ORGÂNICOS DE RESORCINOL-FORMALDEÍDO

Resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF) organic gels have been extensively used to produce carbon aerogels. The organic gel synthesis parameters greatly affect the structure of the resulting aerogel. In this study, the influence of the catalyst quantity on the polymeric solution sol-gel process was investigated. Sodium carbonate was used as a basic catalyst. RF gels were synthesized with a resorcinol to formaldehyde molar ratio of 0.5, a resorcinol to catalyst (R/C) molar ratio equal to 50 or 300, and a resorcinol to solvent ratio of 0.1 g mL-1. The sol-gel process was evaluated in situ by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy using a universal attenuated total reflectance sensor and measurements of the kinematic viscosity. The techniques showed the evolution of the sol-gel process, and the results showed that the lower catalyst quantity induced a higher gel point, with a lower viscosity at the gel point. Differential scanning calorimetry was used to investigate the thermal behavior of the RF dried gel, and results showed that the exothermic event related to the curing process was shifted to higher temperatures for solutions containing higher R/C ratios.

Puulevystä valmistettujen kalusteosien pintakäsittelyn kehittäminen UV-telalinjalla

Diplomityö tehtiin Kidex Oy:lle, joka on Kiteellä sijaitseva Martela-konsernin tytäryhtiö. Kidex Oy toimii sopimusvalmistajana Martelalle sekä muille valituille levykalusteasiakkaille, ja tuotteet ovat pääasiassa toimisto- ja keittiökalusteita. Kevättalvella 2008 yritykseen siirrettiin Nummelasta pintakäsittelyosasto, jolla on tehty petsaus- ja lakkaustöitä. Näiden lisäksi tehtaalla on pohdittu mahdollisuuksia maalaustöihin, jotta UV-telalinjan kapasiteetti saataisiin paremmin käyttöön Työssä selvitettiin, mitä muutoksia UV-kovettuvilla aineilla maalaaminen vaatii linjaan ja luotiin edellytykset maalaustoiminnan aloittamiselle. Muutokset pyrittiin pitämään niin vähäisinä kuin mahdollista. Lisäksi määritettiin maalattavien tuotteiden laadun kriteerit ja todennusmenetelmät, jotka voidaan viestiä asiakkaille väärinkäsitysten välttämiseksi. Laadun todentamista varten valmistettiin sarja koekappaleita, joista mitattiin asiakkaan kannalta tärkeimmät maalikalvon ominaisuudet. Työssä tarkasteltiin myös pintakäsittelylaitoksia koskevaa VOC-asetusta ja verrattiin liuottimien kulutusta asetuksen määrittämiin rajoihin. Puulevystä valmistettujen kalusteosien pintakäsittely UV-telalinjalla eroaa oleellisesti perinteisistä menetelmistä esimerkiksi tuotantonopeuden osalta, joka johtuu pääasiassa pinnoitekalvon hetkessä tapahtuvasta kovettumisesta UV-valon vaikutuksesta. UV-aineet ovat käytännössä täysin kiinteistä aineista koostuvia, eivätkä näin sisällä vaarallisia haihtuvia liuottimia. UV-kovettuvilla tuotteilla maalaaminen on viime vuosina runsaasti tutkittu alue, joka eroaa tietyiltä osin myös pintakäsittelystä UV-kirkaslakoilla. Pigmentoitujen kalvojen kovettuminen vaatii erilaista UV-säteilyä ja levitysmäärien seuranta on huomattavasti tarkempaa.

Thermal behaviour of TEGMMA copolymers obtained by photopolymerization using iron complexes

Copolymers of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and triethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) obtained by photoinitiated polymerization using Fe(III) complexes were submitted to thermogravimetry (TGA) under dynamic air atmosphere and N2, and differential scanning calorimetric analysis (DSC). Thermal events were observed only between 90 - 110 ºC. Glass transitions were observed at ca. 100 ºC, followed by an exothermic peak at 170 ºC. The exothermic peak was assigned to a thermal curing process due to the presence of unreacted vinyl groups of the monomers. DSC revealed to be a useful tool to evaluate the curing completeness in this kind of material, using small amounts of sample in relatively short time.

Lasikuitupinnoitteiden ja vinyyliesterihartsien yhteensopivuuden tutkiminen

Diplomityössä on haettu tietoa lasikuitupinnoitteiden ja vinyyliesterihartsien yhteensopivuudesta ja sen testaamisesta. Lujitemuovikomposiitissa hartsi sitoo materiaalit yhteen ja antaa rakenteelle kemiallisen kestävyyden, sitkeyden ja välittää kuormitukset kuitujen kannettaviksi. Vaadittavan lujuuden rakenteelle antaa lasikuitu. Se päällystetään valmistusvaiheessa pinnoiteaineella, sizingilla. Sillä on ratkaiseva merkitys hartsin ja lasikuidun väliin syntyvän rajapinnan muodostumisessa kovettumisprosessin aikana. Käytännössä rajapinnan toimivuutta ja materiaalien yhteensopivuutta tutkitaan makromekaanisilla lujuustesteillä. Menetelmät perustuvat rajapinnan leikkaus¬lujuuden määrittämiseen, mutta myös murtumamekanismeihin perustuvia testi¬menetelmiä käytetään. Mikrotason menetelmät, jotka perustuvat yksittäisen kuidun ja käytetyn hartsin välisen adheesion mittaamiseen ovat yleistyneet, mutta niistä saatujen tulosten ei ole vielä todettu riittävästi korreloivan makro¬mekaanisten lujuustestien kanssa. Työssä tutkittiin kahta eri makromekaanista testimenetelmää. Testeissä havaittiin eroja valittujen lasikuitupinnoitteiden ja vinyyliesterihartsien välillä. Hauras hartsi oli herkempi lasikuitupinnoitteen kemialle. Kun yhteensopivuus vinyyli-esterihartsin ja lasikuitupinnoitteen välillä oli huono, saatiin sekä poikittaisessa vetolujuustestissä että Mode I murtumissitkeystestissä heikko tulos. Pyyhkäisy¬elektronimikroskoopilla suoritettu mikrotason analyysi murtopinnasta vahvisti saatuja tuloksia ja se osoittautui toimivaksi menetelmäksi kuvantamaan ilmiöitä, jotka vaikuttavat yhteensopivuuteen vinyyliesterihartsin ja pinnoitetun lasikuidun välillä.

Packaging inks for folding cartons used in food packaging

This thesis examined packaging inks suitable for folding cartons used in food packaging. The recent cases of compounds migrating from packaging inks into packed food, have forced the packaging ink manufacturers to develop inks that do not include substances at a level, that may pose a risk to the health of a consumer or to the quality of packed food. Food packaging is a sensitive area and subject to extensive legislation. This research presents the current situation on regulatory documents that can be used to demonstrate the safety of packaging inks used in food packaging. In the research, data was also collected on the available packaging inks for food packaging in packaging ink market. Test printing was performed with five printing inks and three varnishes on Ensocoat board, produced by Stora Enso. Tests results regarding print quality, runnability, sensory properties and migration were analysed. The packaging inks with the finest performance in the tests were ultra violet curing printing ink and varnish. The results showed that ultra violet curing printing technology in food contact applications is an important research area, with further research possibly being able to redeem the UV technologies' bad reputation within the packaging supply chain.

Combating oncogene activation associated with retrovirus-mediated gene therapy of X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency

A successful gene therapy clinical trial that also encountered serious adverse effects has sparked extensive study and debate about the future directions for retrovirus-mediated interventions. Treatment of X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency with an oncoretrovirus harboring a normal copy of the gc gene was applied in two clinical trials, essentially curing 13 of 16 infants, restoring a normal immune system without the need for additional immune-related therapies. Approximately 3 years after their gene therapy, tragically, 3 of these children, all from the same trial, developed leukemia as a result of this experimental treatment. The current understanding of the mechanism behind this leukemogenesis involves three critical and cooperating factors, i.e., viral integration, oncogene activation, and the function of the therapeutic gene. In this review, we will explore the causes of this unwanted event and some of the possibilities for reducing the risk of its reoccurrence.

Bauksiittijätteen neutralointi- ja stabilointimenetelmät

Bauksiittijäte on alumiinin jalostuksessa syntyvä sivutuote, jonka alkalisuus on riski lähiympäristön ekosysteemeille. Alkalisuuden aiheuttamaan riskiin etsittiin ratkaisua perehtymällä bauksiittijätteen käsittelyyn. Kandidaatintyössä esitettiin eri menetelmiä bauksiittijätteen neutraloimiseksi, stabiloimiseksi ja varastoimiseksi. Menetelmien periaatteet määritettiin kirjallisuudesta löytyvien tutkimusten pohjalta, joiden perusteella voitiin määrittää toimivimmat menetelmät bauksiittijätteen käsittelemiseksi. Käytännöllisimmiksi käsittelymenetelmiksi osoittautuivat meriveden ja/tai hiilidioksidin lisääminen bauksiittijätteeseen sen neutraloimiseksi. Bauksiittijätteen stabiloimiseksi siihen tulee lisätä kiinteää materiaalia, kuten kalkkia, kiintoainepitoisuuden nostamiseksi sekä kovettuvien yhdisteiden muodostumiseksi.