Material and Construction Optimization for Prevention of Premature Pavement Distress in PCC Pavements, Phase III Final Report, 2008

Mixture materials, mix design, and pavement construction are not isolated steps in the concrete paving process. Each affects the other in ways that determine overall pavement quality and long-term performance. However, equipment and procedures commonly used to test concrete materials and concrete pavements have not changed in decades, leaving gaps in our ability to understand and control the factors that determine concrete durability. The concrete paving community needs tests that will adequately characterize the materials, predict interactions, and monitor the properties of the concrete. The overall objectives of this study are (1) to evaluate conventional and new methods for testing concrete and concrete materials to prevent material and construction problems that could lead to premature concrete pavement distress and (2) to examine and refine a suite of tests that can accurately evaluate concrete pavement properties. The project included three phases. In Phase I, the research team contacted each of 16 participating states to gather information about concrete and concrete material tests. A preliminary suite of tests to ensure long-term pavement performance was developed. The tests were selected to provide useful and easy-to-interpret results that can be performed reasonably and routinely in terms of time, expertise, training, and cost. The tests examine concrete pavement properties in five focal areas critical to the long life and durability of concrete pavements: (1) workability, (2) strength development, (3) air system, (4) permeability, and (5) shrinkage. The tests were relevant at three stages in the concrete paving process: mix design, preconstruction verification, and construction quality control. In Phase II, the research team conducted field testing in each participating state to evaluate the preliminary suite of tests and demonstrate the testing technologies and procedures using local materials. A Mobile Concrete Research Lab was designed and equipped to facilitate the demonstrations. This report documents the results of the 16 state projects. Phase III refined and finalized lab and field tests based on state project test data. The results of the overall project are detailed herein. The final suite of tests is detailed in the accompanying testing guide.

Health consultation : Exposure to fluff material from the Shine Brothers and noise concerns -- Spencer, Iowa (2011)

This letter has been prepared as a consultation to determine some potential health concerns raised by a resident of Spencer from exposure to wire shredder fluff material emitted by Shine Brothers metal salvaging facility in Spencer, Iowa on July 10, 2011 and, a concern regarding the health impacts from the level of noise measured by a resident near the metal salvaging facility.

A fluorescent hormone biosensor reveals the dynamics of jasmonate signalling in plants.

Activated forms of jasmonic acid (JA) are central signals coordinating plant responses to stresses, yet tools to analyse their spatial and temporal distribution are lacking. Here we describe a JA perception biosensor termed Jas9-VENUS that allows the quantification of dynamic changes in JA distribution in response to stress with high spatiotemporal sensitivity. We show that Jas9-VENUS abundance is dependent on bioactive JA isoforms, the COI1 co-receptor, a functional Jas motif and proteasome activity. We demonstrate the utility of Jas9-VENUS to analyse responses to JA in planta at a cellular scale, both quantitatively and dynamically. This included using Jas9-VENUS to determine the cotyledon-to-root JA signal velocities on wounding, revealing two distinct phases of JA activity in the root. Our results demonstrate the value of developing quantitative sensors such as Jas9-VENUS to provide high-resolution spatiotemporal data about hormone distribution in response to plant abiotic and biotic stresses.

Paisatge, poblament, cultura material i història de l'Ager Tarraconensis. Resultats i comparacions

Síntesi dels primers resultats del Projecte Ager Tarraconensis i de les aportacions al simposi, de les quals s’extreuen reflexions i coneixements nous sobre el tema de l’estudi entorn del conjunt de l’espai de la ciutat romana, del paisatge, tractat com un sistema. Les aportacions se centren en la varietat de les primeres estratègies de control romà del territori, de les tipologies i evolució dels establiments, dels aspectes econòmics i de la dinàmica del poblament. Tot plegat fa referència molt especialment al territori de Tarraco, per bé que es fan nombroses comparacions amb altres territoris de l’àrea catalana i saguntina i també d’altres províncies romanes. Tarraco es va perfilant com una ciutat amb un territorium molt productiu, no sols en agricultura, sinó també en indústries, producció tèxtil, explotacions de recursos minerals com les pedreres i el ferro, i amb un comerç molt actiu que la devia convertir en un port important de la Mediterrània occidental romana. La jerarquia dels hàbitats rurals també s’està demostrant més complexa gràcies al coneixement de noves aglomeracions. L’evolució posterior al període romà també ha entrat en discussió, especialment pel que fa a l’època islàmica, sobre la qual es discuteix si el camp va quedar poblat o despoblat, tema que resol en sentit positiu el diagrama pol·línic realitzat dins del marc del projecte.

Criteris per a la selecció del material fonètic en intervenció logopèdica en trastorns de la veu

L'educació i la reeducació de la veu tenen un llarg recorregut professional. A partir dels coneixements i de les tècniques provinents del món del cant i de la medicina, s'ha anat constituint un corpus de practiques professionals d'efectivitat contrastada en l'exercici quotidià. Componen una part d'aquest corpus les vocalitzacions que el pacient practica en les sessions terapèutiques. Aquest article pretén explicar les bases fisiològiques per escollir quin material fonètic s'empra en aquests exercicis.

Immunomarquage des collagènes I, III et IV, de la laminine et de la fibronectine dans la capsule cristallinienne humaine [Immunolabelling of collagen types I, III and IV, laminin and fibronectin in the human lens capsule].

PURPOSE: To localize collagen types I, III, and IV, laminin and fibronectin in the anterior human lens capsule. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-one anterior capsules were sampled by capsulorhexis during extracapsular cataract extraction (mean age 71.5). All capsules were labelled by an immunostaining specific for each antibodies. Immunostaining of four capsules was revealed with immunoperoxydase and seventeen using indirect immunofluorescence. RESULTS: Labelling of collagen types I and III was observed throughout the entire thickness of the capsule for each technique, the strongest labelling was found in the base of the epithelial cells with immunofluorescence. Collagen type IV was observed at the base of the epithelial cells whichever technique was used. Laminin could be detected in the inner layer of the capsule, using immunoperoxydase or immunofluorescence. No specific labelling was found for fibronectin using the two techniques. CONCLUSIONS: Different kinds of collagens have been found in capsules, more particularly the type III. The latter does not appear on other ocular basement membrane. Because of this uneven distribution in the capsule's thickness, each collagen might have a specific function.

Fibronectin in the area opaca of the young chick embryo. Immunofluorescence and immuno-electron-microscopic study

Distribution of fibronectin-like immunoreactivity was studied in the area opaca of the young chick embryo (stages 4-6 HH) by use of the immunofluorescence and protein A-coupled to colloidal gold techniques. Fibronectin, associated to the basement membrane, formed a fibrillar network, the pattern of which changed from the centre to the periphery of the area opaca. At the ultrastructural level, differences in fibronectin distribution were found between non-moving and moving cells. The epithelial-like cells presented fibronectin staining exclusively on their basal side. Actively migrating cells (edge and mesodermal cells) showed immunoreactive material localized around their entire surface and within the cytoplasm. The fibronectin distribution is discussed in relation to three important phenomena taking place during the early growth of the area opaca: anchorage and migration of the edge cells, modification of cell shape in relation to mechanical tension, and expansion of the area vasculosa.

Consells d’extracció i conservació del material arqueològic in situ

Aquest petit treball pretén esdevenir una guia bàsica per aquells arqueòlegs que desconeixen l’aspecte conservatiu dels materials arqueològics. Així, en primer lloc analitzarem, a grans trets, la composició físicoquímica dels diferents objectes que podem trobar en una excavació i quins són els agents que més els malmeten. Després tractarem d’introduir alguns consells pràctics pel treball de camp.

New Operation Model for Maintenance Material Logistics in Paper Industry

This research report illustrates and examines new operation models for decreasing fixed costs and transforming them into variable costs in the field of paper industry. The report illustrates two cases - a new operation model for material logistics in maintenance and an examination of forklift truck fleet outsourcing solutions. Conventional material logistics in maintenance operation is illustrated and some problems related to conventional operation are identified. A new operation model that solves some of these problems is presented including descriptions of procurement and service contracts and sources of added value. Forklift truck fleet outsourcing solutions are examined by illustrating the responsibilities of a host company and a service provider both before and after outsourcing. The customer buys outsourcingservices in order to improve its investment productivity. The mechanism of how these services affect the customer company's investment productivity is illustrated.

Numerical analysis of including phase change material in a domestic hot water cylinder

The domestic hot water cylinder incorporates encapsulated pcm placed in 57 vertical pipes. The use of PCM increases the thermal energy storage capacity of the cylinder and allows the use of low cost electricity during low peak periods. After experimental validation the numerical model developed in the project will be used to optimize the distribution of the pcm inside the water tank.

Disseny i implementació d'una aplicació de suport a l'edició i sincronització de material didàctic multimèdia amb SMIL

Hem dissenyat un sistema de presentacions interactives que sincronitza diferents continguts multimèdia utilitzant el llenguatge SMIL. Aquests continguts són: un vídeo on un professor presenta una matèria, un seguit de transparències que il·lustren la seva presentació i una taula de continguts que en mostra un esquema i permet navegar-hi. També hem creat una aplicació que facilitarà l'edició d'aquestes presentacions.

Material Market

El proyecto está basado en un sistema que denominaremos Material Market a lo largo de todo el trabajo. La idea que subyace detrás de este Market es un sistema que gestiona la compra-venta de materiales por parte de los usuarios del sistema.