Review of Inconsistencies Between SUDAS and Iowa DOT Specifications Phase II: Implementation of Recommendations into SUDAS Specifications, TR-565, 2008

The current version of the SUDAS Specifications will be revised to accommodate the DOT’s utilization of SUDAS. The revisions to the SUDAS Specifications will be based upon the recommendations from Phase 1. In some instances, the recommendations will require reorganization of portions of the SUDAS Specifications. Upon incorporation of the Phase 1 recommendations, each applicable Division of the SUDAS Specifications will be updated into the active-imperative style, utilizing the 3- part specification format currently utilized by SUDAS.

Review of Inconsistencies Between SUDAS and Iowa DOT Specifications Phase II: Implementation of Recommendations into SUDAS Specifications, TR-565, Synopsis, 2008

The current version of the SUDAS Specifications will be revised to accommodate the DOT’s utilization of SUDAS. The revisions to the SUDAS Specifications will be based upon the recommendations from Phase 1. In some instances, the recommendations will require reorganization of portions of the SUDAS Specifications. Upon incorporation of the Phase 1 recommendations, each applicable Division of the SUDAS Specifications will be updated into the active-imperative style, utilizing the 3- part specification format currently utilized by SUDAS.

Development of LRFD Procedures for Bridge Pile Foundations in Iowa, Volume I: An Electronic Database for PIle LOad Tests (PILOT), TR-573, 2011

For well over 100 years, the Working Stress Design (WSD) approach has been the traditional basis for geotechnical design with regard to settlements or failure conditions. However, considerable effort has been put forth over the past couple of decades in relation to the adoption of the Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) approach into geotechnical design. With the goal of producing engineered designs with consistent levels of reliability, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) issued a policy memorandum on June 28, 2000, requiring all new bridges initiated after October 1, 2007, to be designed according to the LRFD approach. Likewise, regionally calibrated LRFD resistance factors were permitted by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) to improve the economy of bridge foundation elements. Thus, projects TR-573, TR-583 and TR-584 were undertaken by a research team at Iowa State University’s Bridge Engineering Center with the goal of developing resistance factors for pile design using available pile static load test data. To accomplish this goal, the available data were first analyzed for reliability and then placed in a newly designed relational database management system termed PIle LOad Tests (PILOT), to which this first volume of the final report for project TR-573 is dedicated. PILOT is an amalgamated, electronic source of information consisting of both static and dynamic data for pile load tests conducted in the State of Iowa. The database, which includes historical data on pile load tests dating back to 1966, is intended for use in the establishment of LRFD resistance factors for design and construction control of driven pile foundations in Iowa. Although a considerable amount of geotechnical and pile load test data is available in literature as well as in various State Department of Transportation files, PILOT is one of the first regional databases to be exclusively used in the development of LRFD resistance factors for the design and construction control of driven pile foundations. Currently providing an electronically organized assimilation of geotechnical and pile load test data for 274 piles of various types (e.g., steel H-shaped, timber, pipe, Monotube, and concrete), PILOT (http://srg.cce.iastate.edu/lrfd/) is on par with such familiar national databases used in the calibration of LRFD resistance factors for pile foundations as the FHWA’s Deep Foundation Load Test Database. By narrowing geographical boundaries while maintaining a high number of pile load tests, PILOT exemplifies a model for effective regional LRFD calibration procedures.

Development of LRFD Procedures for Bridge Pile Foundations in Iowa Volume III: Recommended Resistance Factors with Consideration of Construction Control and Setup, TR-584, 2012

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) mandated utilizing the Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) approach for all new bridges initiated in the United States after October 1, 2007. As a result, there has been a progressive move among state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) toward an increased use of the LRFD in geotechnical design practices. For the above reasons, the Iowa Highway Research Board (IHRB) sponsored three research projects: TR-573, TR-583 and TR-584. The research information is summarized in the project web site (http://srg.cce.iastate.edu/lrfd/). Two reports of total four volumes have been published. Report volume I by Roling et al. (2010) described the development of a user-friendly and electronic database (PILOT). Report volume II by Ng et al. (2011) summarized the 10 full-scale field tests conducted throughout Iowa and data analyses. This report presents the development of regionally calibrated LRFD resistance factors for bridge pile foundations in Iowa based on reliability theory, focusing on the strength limit states and incorporating the construction control aspects and soil setup into the design process. The calibration framework was selected to follow the guidelines provided by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), taking into consideration the current local practices. The resistance factors were developed for general and in-house static analysis methods used for the design of pile foundations as well as for dynamic analysis methods and dynamic formulas used for construction control. The following notable benefits to the bridge foundation design were attained in this project: 1) comprehensive design tables and charts were developed to facilitate the implementation of the LRFD approach, ensuring uniform reliability and consistency in the design and construction processes of bridge pile foundations; 2) the results showed a substantial gain in the factored capacity compared to the 2008 AASHTO-LRFD recommendations; and 3) contribution to the existing knowledge, thereby advancing the foundation design and construction practices in Iowa and the nation.

Translation and validation of the Ten-Item-Personality Inventory into spanish and catalan

In response to an increasing need for ever-shorter personality instruments, Gosling, Rentfrow, and Swann (2003) developed the Ten-Item-Personality Inventory (TIPI), which measures the dimensions of the Five Factor Model (FFM) using 10 items (two for each dimension) and can be administered in about one minute. In two studies and using a multi-judge (self and observer) and multi-instrument design, we develop Spanish (Castilian) and Catalan versions of the TIPI and evaluate them in terms of internal consistency, test-retest reliability, convergent, discriminant, and content validity, as well as self-observer correlations. Test-retest correlations were strong, and convergence with the NEO-PI-R factors was significant. There were also strong correlations between observer ratings and the participants’ self-ratings. Despite some inconsistencies with respect to the Agreeableness scale, the Catalan translation and both translations into Spanish of the original TIPI demonstrated sufficient psychometric properties to warrant use as a Five Factor personality measure when the use of longer instruments is not convenient or possible. Furthermore, as the first translation of a brief standard Big Five Instrument into Catalan, this work should facilitate future research on personality in the Catalan-speaking population.

Soybean cultivar BR-16-AHAS tolerance to the herbicide imazapyr

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of the transgenic soybean BR-16-AHAS genetic constitution on the tolerance to the herbicide imazapyr. BR-16-AHAS was crossed with ten other genotypes. The experimental design was a complete randomized block, in a 2x12x3 factorial arrangement, with two sowing periods (winter and summer), twelve crossing groups and three plant positions (upper, mid and lower), with three replicates. The plants were treated with 100 g ha-1 a.i. of imazapyr at the V3/V4 stage. For each position of the plant (upper, mid and lower), the following variables were assessed: number of pods, number of seeds, seed weight, number of seeds per pod and the 100 seeds weight. The effect of the herbicide varied according to the more affected plant position (upper, mid and lower) of each genotype. The use of the same gene ahas of BR-16-AHAS, in various genotypes, results in materials with good tolerance to imazapyr; tolerance levels depend not only on the ahas gene, but also on the presence of other genes.

Intermediate and premutation FMR1 alleles in women with occult primary ovarian insufficiency.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the prevalence of intermediate and premutation FMR1 alleles in women with occult primary ovarian insufficiency (oPOI) and in controls. DESIGN: Observational study. SETTING: Division of Infertility and Service of Genetic Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals. PATIENT(S): The study group consisted of 27 infertile women with oPOI referred by infertility specialists for FMR1 testing in 2005-6 because of unexplained poor response to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation or altered hormonal profiles. The control group consisted of 32 women undergoing genetic testing for conditions unrelated to mental retardation or ovarian function. The DNA samples were anonymized. INTERVENTION(S): In the study group, data were collected concerning reproductive/family history, hormonal markers, possible fertility treatment outcomes, and results of karyotype and FMR1 testing. In the control group, FMR1 gene testing was done. The only clinical data available in controls were sex and indication for genetic testing. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Distribution of FMR1 alleles. RESULT(S): Six (22%) of 27 women with oPOI had FMR1 alleles of >40 repeats (intermediate to premutation range), compared with one (3%) of 32 controls. CONCLUSION(S): These results suggest that women with oPOI might be at risk of carrying alleles in the intermediate and premutation range.

Growth regulators, culture media and antibiotics in the in vitro shoot regeneration from mature tissue of citrus cultivars

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) combinations, basal media and beta-lactam antibiotics on in vitro organogenesis from mature stem segments of 'Pêra', 'Valência' and 'Bahia' sweet oranges and 'Cravo' rangpur lime. For induction of shoot regeneration, the segments of the four cultivars were placed on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing the following BAP/NAA concentrations: 0.0/0.0; 0.25/0.0; 0.25/0.25; 0.5/0.0; 0.5/0.5; 1.0/0.0; 2.0/0.0; 2.0/0.25; 2.0/0.5; and 2.0/1.0 mg L-1. In order to test the influence of the culture media on shoot-bud induction, (MS), Murashige and Tucker (MT), and woody plant medium (WPM) formulations were evaluated, associated with the best combination of plant growth regulators obtained in the previous experiment. The influence of four beta-lactam antibiotics (timentin, cefotaxime sodium salt, meropenem trihydrate and augmentin) on shoot regeneration was determined. Better regeneration responses were achieved when internodal segments were cultured onto MS-based medium with 500 mg L-1 cefotaxime with the following BAP/NAA concentrations: 0.5 + 0.25 mg L-1 for 'Cravo', 1.0 + 0.25 mg L-1 for 'Valência' and 'Bahia', and 1.0 + 0.5 mg L-1 for 'Pêra'. Genotype, growth regulators, basal media and beta-lactam antibiotics affect the morphogenetic response in mature tissues of citrus.

Development and fruit yield of strawberry plants as affected by crown diameter and plantlet growing period

The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of crown diameter and growing period of runner tips in 128 cell-trays on growth and yield of strawberry in the field. Treatments consisted of three classes of runner tip crown diameters, between 2.0 to 3.9 mm; 4.0 to 5.5 mm and 5.6 to 7.0 mm, respectively, and four growing periods in trays, 24; 39; 54 and 69 days, respectively. Higher shoot dry mass of transplants at planting and earlier yield of plants in the field were obtained in transplants grown for 69 days in trays. Larger runner tips lead to more vigorous transplants at planting and plants with higher vegetative growth in the field, with minor impact on yield. Increasing the growing time of runner tips in trays improved early fruit yield and decreased plant vegetative growth in the field.

Partnership for fragility bone fracture care provision and prevention program (P4Bones): study protocol for a secondary fracture prevention pragmatic controlled trial.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Fractures associated with bone fragility in older adults signal the potential for secondary fracture. Fragility fractures often precipitate further decline in health and loss of mobility, with high associated costs for patients, families, society and the healthcare system. Promptly initiating a coordinated, comprehensive pharmacological bone health and falls prevention program post-fracture may improve osteoporosis treatment compliance; and reduce rates of falls and secondary fractures, and associated morbidity, mortality and costs.Methods/design: This pragmatic, controlled trial at 11 hospital sites in eight regions in Quebec, Canada, will recruit community-dwelling patients over age 50 who have sustained a fragility fracture to an intervention coordinated program or to standard care, according to the site. Site study coordinators will identify and recruit 1,596 participants for each study arm. Coordinators at intervention sites will facilitate continuity of care for bone health, and arrange fall prevention programs including physical exercise. The intervention teams include medical bone specialists, primary care physicians, pharmacists, nurses, rehabilitation clinicians, and community program organizers.The primary outcome of this study is the incidence of secondary fragility fractures within an 18-month follow-up period. Secondary outcomes include initiation and compliance with bone health medication; time to first fall and number of clinically significant falls; fall-related hospitalization and mortality; physical activity; quality of life; fragility fracture-related costs; admission to a long term care facility; participants' perceptions of care integration, expectations and satisfaction with the program; and participants' compliance with the fall prevention program. Finally, professionals at intervention sites will participate in focus groups to identify barriers and facilitating factors for the integrated fragility fracture prevention program.This integrated program will facilitate knowledge translation and dissemination via the following: involvement of various collaborators during the development and set-up of the integrated program; distribution of pamphlets about osteoporosis and fall prevention strategies to primary care physicians in the intervention group and patients in the control group; participation in evaluation activities; and eventual dissemination of study results.Study/trial registration: Clinical Trial.Gov NCT01745068Study ID number: CIHR grant # 267395.

Constructability in the Bridge Design Process, Progress Report, HR-320, 1990

Information concerning standard design practices and details for the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) was provided to the research team. This was reviewed in detail so that the researchers would be familiar with the terminology and standard construction details. A comprehensive literature review was completed to gather information concerning constructability concepts applicable to bridges. It was determined that most of the literature deals with constructability as a general topic with only a limited amount of literature with specific concepts for bridge design and construction. Literature was also examined concerning the development of appropriate microcomputer databases. These activities represent completion of Task 1 as identified in the study.

Nondestructive Evaluation and Assessment of Concrete Barriers for Defects and Corrosion, 2013

Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. (WJE) evaluated potential nondestructive evaluation (NDE) methodologies that may be effective in 1) identifying internal defects within slip formed concrete barriers and 2) assessing the corrosion condition of barrier dowel bars. The evaluation was requested by the Bridge Maintenance and Inspection Unit of the Iowa Department of Transportation (IaDOT) and the Bureau of Bridges and Structures of the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). The need arose due to instances in each Department’s existing inventory of bridge barriers where internal voids and other defects associated with slip forming construction methods were attributed to poor barrier performance after completion of construction and where, in other barrier walls, unintentional exposure of the dowel bars revealed extensive corrosion-related section loss at previously uninspectable locations, reducing the capacity of the barriers to resist traffic impact loads. WJE trial tested potential NDE techniques on laboratory mock-up samples built with known defects, trial sections of cast-in-place barriers at in-service bridges in Iowa, and slip formed and cast-in-place barrier walls at in-service bridges in Illinois. The work included review of available studies performed by others, field trial testing to assess candidate test methods, verification of the test methods in identifying internal anomalies and dowel bar corrosion, and preparation of this report and nondestructive evaluation guidelines.

Addendum to the Design Manual for Low Water Stream Crossings, HR-247, 1984

The purpose of this manual is to provide guidelines for low water stream crossings (LWSC). Rigid criteria for determining the applicability of a LWSC to a given site are not established nor is a 'cookbook" procedure for designing a LWSC presented. Because conditions vary from county to county and from site to site within the county, judgment must be applied to the suggestions contained in this manual. A LWSC is a stream crossing that will be flooded periodically and closed to traffic. Carstens (1981) has defined a LWSC as "a ford, vented ford (one having some number of culvert pipes), low water bridge, or other structure that is designed so that its hydraulic capacity will be insufficient one or more times during a year of normal rainfall." In this manual, LWSC are subdivided into these same three main types: unvented fords, vented fords and low water bridges. Within the channel banks, an unvented ford can have its road profile coincident with the stream bed or can have its profile raised some height above the stream bed.

The Use of Fly Ash in Highway Construction, HR-1031, Progress Report, 1986

In 1982 the Iowa DOT allowed a successful bidder the option of submitting materials and proportions using fly ash to produce a portland cement concrete (PCC) paving mixture to meet a specified compressive strength. The contractor, Irving F. Jensen, received approval for the use of a concrete mixture utilizing 500 lbs. of portland cement and 88 lbs. of fly ash as a replacement of 88 lbs. of portland cement. The PCC mixture was utilized on the Muscatine County US 61 relocation bypass paved as project F-61-4(32)--20-70. A Class "C" fly ash obtained from the Chillicothe electric generating plant approximately 100 miles away was used in the project. This use of fly ash in lieu of portland cement resulted in a cost savings of $64,500 and an energy savings of approximately 16 billion BTU. The compressive strength of this PCC mixture option was very comparable to concrete mixtures produced without the use of fly ash. The pavement has been performing very well. The substitution of fly ash for 15% of the cement has been allowed as a contractor's option since 1984. Due to the cost savings, it has been used in almost all Iowa PCC paving since that time.

Development of Evaluation, Rehabilitation, and Strengthening Concepts for Low Volume Bridges, Phase I Progress Report, HR-323, 1990

The primary objective of this project is to develop a design manual that would aid the county or municipal engineer in making structurally sound bridge strengthening or replacement decisions. The contents of this progress report are related only to Phase I of the study and deal primarily with defining the extent of the bridge problem in Iowa. In addition, the types of bridges to which the manual should be directed have been defined.