Final Report Factors Influencing Stability of Granular Base Course Mixes

To evaluate the various factors influencing the stability of granular base course mixes, three primary goals were included in the project: (1) determination of a suitable and realistic laboratory method of compaction; (2) effect of gradation, density and mineralogy of the fines on sheara ing strength; and (3) possible improvement of the shear strength with organic and inorganic chemical stabilization additives.

Evaluation of Fly Ash in Water Reduced Paving Mixtures, June 1985

Fly ash was used to replace 15% of the cement in C3WR and C6WR concrete paving mixes containing ASTM C494 Type A water reducin9 admixtures. Two Class C ashes and one Class F ash from Iowa approved sources were examined in each mix. When Class C ashes were used they were substituted on the basis of 1 pound of ash added for each pound of cement deleted. When Class F was used it was substituted on the basis of 1.25 pounds of ash added for each pound of cement deleted. Compressive strengths of the water reduced mixes, with and without fly ash, were determined at 7, 28, and 56 days of age. In every case except one the mixes containing the fly ash exhibited higher strengths than the same concrete mix without the fly ash. An excellent correlation existed between the C3WR and C6WR mixes both with and without fly ash substitutions. The freeze-thaw durability of the concrete studied was not affected by presence or absence of fly ash. The data gathered suggests that the present Class C water reduced concrete paving mixes can be modified to allow the substitution of 15% of the cement with an approved fly ash.

Bio-electrical impedance analysis for estimation of fat-free mass and muscle mass in cystic fibrosis patients.

The nutritional status of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients has to be regularly evaluated and alimentary support instituted when indicated. Bio-electrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a recent method for determining body composition. The present study evaluates its use in CF patients without any clinical sign of malnutrition. Thirty-nine patients with CF and 39 healthy subjects aged 6-24 years were studied. Body density and mid-arm muscle circumference were determined by anthropometry and skinfold measurements. Fat-free mass was calculated taking into account the body density. Muscle mass was obtained from the urinary creatinine excretion rate. The resistance index was calculated by dividing the square of the subject's height by the body impedance. We show that fat-free mass, mid-arm muscle circumference and muscle mass are each linearly correlated to the resistance index and that the regression equations are similar for both CF patients and healthy subjects.

In vitro susceptibility to pentavalent antimony in Leishmania infantum strains is not modified during in vitro or in vivo passages but is modified after host treatment with meglumine antimoniate

Background: Leishmaniasis is a common parasitic disease in Southern Europe, caused by Leishmania infantum. The failures of current treatment with pentavalent antimonials are partially attributable to the emergence of antimony-resistant Leishmania strains. This study analyses the in vitro susceptibility to pentavalent antimony of intracellular amastigotes from a range of L. infantum strains, derived from the same infected animal, during in vitro and in vivo passages and after host treatment with meglumine antimoniate. Results: SbV-IC50 values for strains from two distinct isolates from the same host and one stock after two years of culture in NNN medium and posterior passage to hamster were similar (5.0 ± 0.2; 4.9 ± 0.2 and 4.4 ± 0.1 mgSbV/L, respectively). In contrast, a significant difference (P < 0.01, t test) was observed between the mean SbV-IC50 values in the stocks obtained before and after treatment of hosts with meglumine antimoniate (4.7 ± 0.4 mgSbV/L vs. 7.7 ± 1.5 mgSbV/L). Drug-resistance after drug pressure in experimentally infected dogs increased over repeated drug administration (6.4 ± 0.5 mgSbV/L after first treatment vs. 8.6 ± 1.4 mgSbV/L after the second) (P < 0.01, t test). Conclusions: These results confirm previous observations on strains from Leishmania/HIV co-infected patients and indicate the effect of the increasing use of antimony derivatives for treatment of canine leishmaniasis in endemic areas on the emergence of Leishmania antimony-resistant strains.

Modified Blalock-Taussig shunt with compensatory properties.

Determination of the proper length of the tubular prosthesis is a major issue when performing a systemic-pulmonary artery shunt. The procedure is simplified by using a prosthesis with accordionlike properties. This was demonstrated in 7 consecutive infants with complex congenital heart defects, in whom systemic-pulmonary artery shunts were placed without early or late complications.

A bio-inspired agent-based programming environment for pervasive platforms

Abstract in English : Ubiquitous Computing is the emerging trend in computing systems. Based on this observation this thesis proposes an analysis of the hardware and environmental constraints that rule pervasive platforms. These constraints have a strong impact on the programming of such platforms. Therefore solutions are proposed to facilitate this programming both at the platform and node levels. The first contribution presented in this document proposes a combination of agentoriented programming with the principles of bio-inspiration (Phylogenesys, Ontogenesys and Epigenesys) to program pervasive platforms such as the PERvasive computing framework for modeling comPLEX virtually Unbounded Systems platform. The second contribution proposes a method to program efficiently parallelizable applications on each computing node of this platform. Résumé en Français : Basée sur le constat que les calculs ubiquitaires vont devenir le paradigme de programmation dans les années à venir, cette thèse propose une analyse des contraintes matérielles et environnementale auxquelles sont soumises les plateformes pervasives. Ces contraintes ayant un impact fort sur la programmation des plateformes. Des solutions sont donc proposées pour faciliter cette programmation tant au niveau de l'ensemble des noeuds qu'au niveau de chacun des noeuds de la plateforme. La première contribution présentée dans ce document propose d'utiliser une alliance de programmation orientée agent avec les grands principes de la bio-inspiration (Phylogénèse, Ontogénèse et Épigénèse). Ceci pour répondres aux contraintes de programmation de plateformes pervasives comme la plateforme PERvasive computing framework for modeling comPLEX virtually Unbounded Systems . La seconde contribution propose quant à elle une méthode permettant de programmer efficacement des applications parallélisable sur chaque noeud de calcul de la plateforme

Integrated Ladinian bio-chronostratigraphy and geochrononology of Monte San Giorgio (Southern Alps, Switzerland)

New biostratigraphic data significantly improve the age assignment of the Ladinian succession of Monte San Giorgio (UNESCO World Heritage List site, Southern Alps, Switzerland), whose world-famous fossil marine vertebrate faunas are now dated to the substage and zone levels. High-resolution single-zircon U-Pb dating was performed using ID-TIMS and chemical abrasion (CA) pre-treatment technique on volcanic ash layers intercalated in the biostratigraphically-defined intervals of the Meride Limestone. It yielded ages of 241.07 +/- 0.13 Ma (Cava superiore beds, P. gredleri Zone), 240.63 +/- 0.13 Ma (Cassina beds, P gredleri/P. archelaus transition Zone) and 239.51 +/- 0.15 Ma (Lower Kalkschieferzone, P. archelaus Zone). Our results suggest that the time interval including the vertebrate-bearing Middle Triassic section spans around 4 Myr and is thus significantly shorter than so far assumed. The San Giorgio Dolomite and the Meride Limestone correlate with intervals of the Buchenstein Formation and the Wengen Formation in the reference section at Bagolino, where the Global boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the base of the Ladinian was defined. The new radio-isotopic ages of the Meride Limestone are up to 2 Myr older than those published for the biostratigraphically-equivalent intervals at Bagolino but they are consistent with the recent re-dating of the underlying Besano Formation, also performed using the CA technique. Average sedimentation rates at Monte San Giorgio are by more than an order of magnitude higher compared to those assumed for the Buchenstein Formation, which formed under sediment-starved pelagic conditions, and reflect prevailing high subsidence and high carbonate mud supply from the adjoining Salvatore/Esino platforms. Finally, the high-resolution U-Pb ages allow a correlation of the vertebrate faunas of the Cava superiore/Cava inferiore beds with the marine vertebrate record of the Prosanto Formation (Upper Austroalpine), so far precluded by the poor biostratigraphic control of the latter.

Modified Sheet Pile Abutments for Low-Volume Road Bridges, January 2012

To date there have been few investigations of the substructures in low-volume road (LVR) bridges. Steel sheet piling has the potential to provide an economical alternative to concrete bridge abutments, but it needs investigation with regard to vertical and lateral load resistance, construction methods, and performance monitoring. The objectives of this project were to develop a design approach for sheet pile bridge abutments for short-span low-volume bridges, formulate an instrumentation and monitoring plan to evaluate performance of sheet pile abutment systems, and understand the cost and construction effort associated with building the sheet pile bridge abutment demonstration project. Three demonstration projects (Boone, Blackhawk, and Tama Counties) were selected for the design, construction, and monitoring of sheet pile abutments bridges. Each site was unique and required site-specific design and instrumentation monitoring. The key findings from this study include the following: (1) sheet pile abutment bridges provide an effective solution for LVR bridges, (2) the measured stresses and deflection were different from the assumed where the differences reflect conservatism in the design and the complex field conditions, and (3) additional research is needed to optimize the design.

Modified Sheet Pile Abutments for Low-Volume Road Bridges: Tech Transfer Summary, January 2012

Iowa has about 22,936 bridges on low-volume roads (LVRs). Based on the National Bridge Inventory data, 22 percent of the LVR bridges in Iowa are structurally deficient, while 5 percent of them are functionally obsolete. The substructure components (abutment and foundation elements) are known to be contributing factors for some of these poor ratings. Steel sheet piling was identified as a possible long-term option for LVR bridge substructures; but, due to lack of experience, Iowa needed investigation with regard to vertical and lateral load resistance, construction methods, design methodology, and load test performance. This project was initiated in January 2007 to investigate use of sheet pile abutments. *************Tech Transfer Summary. For full report see: http://publications.iowa.gov/id/eprint/14832*************

Die Behandlung von Acetabulumfrakturen bei geriatrischen Patienten mittels modifizierter Kabelcerclage und primärer Hüfttotalprothese. Erste Ergebnisse [Treatment of acetabular fractures in the elderly with primary total hip arthroplasty and modified cerclage. Early results]

This prospective study addresses early results of the treatment of acute acetabular fractures in elderly patients by total hip arthroplasty and cerclage wiring.Fifteen patients with an average age of 81 years were treated at our institution between February 1998 and December 2000. There were two transverse fractures, eight T-shaped fractures, two transverse fractures with associated posterior wall fracture, two posterior column fractures with associated posterior wall fracture, and one fracture of both columns. Treatment consisted of cerclage wiring of the fracture and primary non-cemented total hip replacement.All of the patients were followed for a mean of 36 months. Although there was one patient with three hip dislocations during the first 10 months after the operation, we found an excellent or good result for the entire group. During this relatively short follow-up period, we have not found a radiological loss of fracture reduction of more than 1 mm or a cup migration of more than 3.2 mm. All of the fractures healed and no loosening of the implant was evident.Primary total hip arthroplasty combined with internal fixation is a valid treatment option for acetabular fractures in the elderly. Preliminary results are convincing, but a bigger patient population and a longer follow-up time are necessary before we are able to draw final conclusions.

Responses of soil respiration and barley growth to modified supply of oxygen in the soil

Selostus: Maan hengityksen ja ohran kasvun reagointi hapensaannin muutoksiin maassa

Deicer Scaling Resistance of Concrete Mixtures Containing Slag Cement Phase 2: Evaluation of Different Laboratory Scaling Test Methods, TPF-5(100), 2012

With the use of supplementary cementing materials (SCMs) in concrete mixtures, salt scaling tests such as ASTM C672 have been found to be overly aggressive and do correlate well with field scaling performance. The reasons for this are thought to be because at high replacement levels, SCM mixtures can take longer to set and to develop their properties: neither of these factors is taken into account in the standard laboratory finishing and curing procedures. As a result, these variables were studied as well as a modified scaling test, based on the Quebec BNQ scaling test that had shown promise in other research. The experimental research focused on the evaluation of three scaling resistance tests, including the ASTM C672 test with normal curing as well as an accelerated curing regime used by VDOT for ASTM C1202 rapid chloride permeability tests and now included as an option in ASTM C1202. As well, several variations on the proposed draft ASTM WK9367 deicer scaling resistance test, based on the Quebec Ministry of Transportation BNQ test method, were evaluated for concretes containing varying amounts of slag cement. A total of 16 concrete mixtures were studied using both high alkali cement and low alkali cement, Grade 100 slag and Grade 120 slag with 0, 20, 35 and 50 percent slag replacement by mass of total cementing materials. Vinsol resin was used as the primary air entrainer and Micro Air® was used in two replicate mixes for comparison. Based on the results of this study, a draft alternative test method to ASTM C762 is proposed.

New insight on bio-sensing by nano-fabricated memristors

We report here on a new insight for bio- sensing based on the memristive effect of functional- ized Schottky-barrier memristive silicon nanowire in dry environment. The device concept is discussed. Elec- trical measurements confirm the bio-detection by the narrowing of the memristive Ids − Vds hysteresis upon interaction of antigen with antibody-functionalized nanowire.