RFID Tags for Detecting Concrete Degradation in Bridge Decks, RB08-011, 2013

Steel reinforcing bar (rebar) corrosion due to chlorine ingress is the primary degradation mechanism for bridge decks. In areas where rock salt is used as a de-icing agent, salt water seeps into the concrete through cracks, causing corrosion of the rebar and potentially leading to catastrophic failure if not repaired. This project explores the use of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags as low-cost corrosion sensors. RFID tags, when embedded in concrete, will fail due to corrosion in the same manner as rebar after prolonged exposure to salt water. In addition, the presence of salt water interferes with the ability to detect the tags, providing a secondary mechanism by which this method can work. During this project, a fieldable RFID equipment setup was constructed and tested. In addition to a number of laboratory experiments to validate the underlying principles, RFID tags were embedded and tested in several actual bridge decks. Two major challenges were addressed in this project: issues associated with tags not functioning due to being in close proximity to rebar and issues associated with portland concrete coming in direct contact with the tags causing a detuning effect and preventing the tags from operating properly. Both issues were investigated thoroughly. The first issue was determined to be a problem only if the tags are placed in close proximity to rebar. The second issue was resolved by encapsulating the tag. Two materials, polyurethane spray foam and extruded polystyrene, were identified as providing good performance after testing, both in the lab and in the field.

Perinuclear Mlp proteins down-regulate gene expression in response to a defect in mRNA export

Résumé Une caractéristique des cellules eucaryotes est le confinement du matériel génétique (ADN/DNA) dans le noyau. Pour décoder cette information, un ARN messager (mRNA) est d'abord transcrit sous forme d'un ARN prémessager (pré-mRNA). Ce-dernier doit subir plusieurs étapes de maturation pour aboutir à une particule ribonucléoprotéique (mRNP) qui sera exportée vers le cytoplasme et traduite en protéine. La protéine de levure Mex67p et son homologue humain TAP sont des récepteurs d'export médiant la translocation du mRNP au travers des complexes du pore nucléaire (NPC). Mex67p/TAP ne se lient pas directement au mRNA, mais nécessitent la présence de protéines adaptatrices, telles que Yra1p et son homologue humain REF1. Afin d'identifier de nouveaux facteurs impliqués dans l'export des mRNPs ou de nouvelles fonctions pour Yra1p, nous avons effectué un crible génétique avec un mutant thermosensible de Yra1p, GFP-yra 1 -8. Ce mutant présente un défaut d'export des mRNAs et une diminution des niveaux de transcrits du gène rapporteur LacZ ainsi que de certains transcrits endogènes. Nous avons trouvé que la perte de Mlp2p, ou d'une protéine hautement similaire, Mlp1p, restaure la croissance du mutant GFP-yra1-8 à température restrictive. Mlp1p et Mlp2p sont des protéines nucléaires, dont l'homologue humain est TPR. Les Mlp (myosin¬like proteins) ainsi que TPR forment des structures filamenteuses ancrées aux NPC. Bien que la fonction des Mlp ne soit pas clairement définie, un rôle dans la biogenèse et la surveillance des mRNPs a été récemment proposé. Notre étude montre que la perte des Mlp, non seulement restaure la croissance de GFP-yra1-8, mais augmente aussi les niveaux des transcrits LacZ et facilite leur apparition dans le cytoplasme. Des expériences d'immunoprécipitations de la chromatine révèlent que Mlp2p diminue le taux de synthèse du transcrit LacZ dans GFP-yra1-8. Des analyses du transcriptome montrent que Mlp2p réduit aussi les niveaux d'une population de transcrits endogènes dans le mutant. Finalement, des localisations in situ suggèrent que la transcription du rapporteur LacZ a lieu à la périphérie du noyau, à proximité des Mlp. Ainsi, les protéines Mlp pourraient préférentiellement diminuer la transcription de gènes exprimés à la périphérie nucléaire. Nous montrons aussi que Yra1p interagit génétiquement avec Nab2p une protéine liée au mRNA et impliquée dans son export, mais non avec d'autres protéines également impliquées dans l'export des mRNAs. Les résultats obtenus soutiennent un modèle où les protéines Yra1p et Nab2p sont nécessaires à l'arrimage des mRNPs sur la plate-forme des Mlp. Si ces signaux manquent ou sont défectueux, les mRNPs ne peuvent pas poursuivre leur trajet vers le canal central du NPC. Ce bloc induirait par la suite une diminution de la transcription d'une population de gènes potentiellement localisée à la périphérie nucléaire. Dans son ensemble, cette étude suggère que les protéines Mlp établissent un lien entre la transcription de certains mRNAs et leur export au travers du pore nucléaire. Summary A hallmark of the eukaryotic cell is the packaging of DNA in the nucleus. To decode the genetic information, a messenger RNA (mRNA) is first synthesized as a pre-mRNA molecule, which undergoes different maturation steps resulting in an mRNP (messenger RNA ribonucleoprotein), which can be actively transported to the cytoplasm and translated into a protein. Yeast Mex67p and its human homologue TAP are export receptors mediating mRNP translocation through the nuclear pore complex (NPC). The recruitment of Mex67p/TAP to mRNA is mediated by mRNA export adaptors of the evolutionarily conserved REF (RNA and Export Factor binding) family: yeast Yra1p and human REF1. To uncover new functions of Yra1p or new factors implicated in mRNA export, we performed a genetic screen with a themiosensitive (ts) yra1 mutant, GFP-yra1-8. This mutant exhibits mRNA export defects and a decrease in the levels of LacZ reporter and certain endogenous transcripts. We found that the loss of Mlp2p, or the related Mlp1p protein, substantially rescues the growth defect of the GFP-yra1 -8 mutant. Mlp1p and M1p2p are large non-essential proteins, homologous to human TPR, proposed to form intra-nuclear filamentous structures anchored at the NPC. Their role is not clearly defined, but they have been implicated in mRNP biogenesis and surveillance. Our study shows that loss of Mlp proteins not only restores growth of GFP-yra1-8, but also rescues LacZ mRNA levels and increases their appearance in the cytoplasm. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and pulse chase experiments indicate that Mlp2p down-regulates LacZ mRNA synthesis in GFP-yra1-8. DNA micro- array analyses reveal that Mlp2p also reduces the levels of a subset of cellular transcripts in the yra1 mutant strain. In situ localizations suggest that LacZ transcription occurs at the nuclear periphery, in close proximity to Mlp proteins. Thus, Mlp proteins may preferentially down-regulate genes expressed at the nuclear periphery. Finally, we show that Yra1p genetically interacts with the shuttling mRNA-binding protein Nab2p and that loss of Mlp proteins rescues the growth defect of yra1 and nab2, but not other mRNA export mutants. The data support a model in which Nab2p and Yra1p are required for rnRNP docking to the Mlp platform. Lack of these signals prevents mRNPs from crossing the Mlp gate. This block may then negatively feed-back on the transcription of a subset of genes, potentially located at the nuclear envelope. Overall, this study suggests that perinuclear Mlp proteins establish a link between mRNA transcription and export.

Elections Laws of Iowa, 2014

This publication is produced by the Legislative Services Agency. This publication contains all election laws to be included in the 2014 Iowa Code. Changes in Code language to be included in the 2014 Iowa Code are marked by highlighting in yellow. Code sections with changes are also highlighted in yellow in the Table of Contents.

Percepción ciudadana: inmigración y Centros de Internamiento para Extranjeros

El principal objetivo del presente trabajo es encontrar si existe una relación entre la situación de un Centro de Internamiento para Extranjeros – en adelante CIE – en la zona de residencia o frecuentada por los ciudadanos con la percepción que éstos tienen sobre la inmigración. La población escogida para llevar a cabo esta investigación es la ciudadanía española que reside o frecuenta el paseo de Zona Franca y la avenida del Paralelo (Barcelona).El método seleccionado para recoger la percepción ciudadana ha sido la encuesta cara a cara. Se ha diseñado un cuestionario compuesto de ocho preguntas de opinión y cinco de control. Se han recogido un total de ochenta encuestas: cuarenta de ellas en el paseo de Zona Franca, a razón de su proximidad al CIE de Zona Franca, y otras cuarenta encuestas en la avenida del Paralelo, a causa de su similitud con la anterior respecto a su extensión.Se han comparado las respuestas obtenidas en ambos lugares. Los resultados delatan que los ciudadanos del paseo de Zona Franca tienen un mayor conocimiento sobre el CIE y, en parte, una mejor percepción sobre la inmigración.

Detecció de problemes terminològics en la traducció del català a l’anglès de cartes i menús de diferents restaurants

Aquest treball ens endinsa en la terminologia culinària i en les dificultats que sorgeixen en la transferència d'elements culturals. A través de l'anàlisi de cartes i menús, s'exposen els onze elements més rellevants que permeten reflexionar sobre la manca de dades que proporcionin solucions o orientacions en el procés traductològic.

Ip-10 Is Associated With Il28b Variation And Predicts The First Phase Decline Of Hcv Rna And Outcome Of Therapy In Chronic Hepatitis C

High systemic levels of IP-10 at onset of combination therapy for chronic hepatitis C mirror intrahepatic mRNA levels and predict a slower first phase decline in HCV RNA as well as poor outcome. Recently several genome wide association studies have revealed that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on chromosome19 within proximity of IL28B predict spontaneous clearance of HCV infection and as therapeutic outcome among patients infected with HCV genotype 1, with three such SNPs being highly predictive: rs12979860, rs12980275, and rs8099917. In the present study, we correlated genetic variations in these SNPs from 253 Caucasian patients with pretreatment plasma levels of IP-10 and HCV RNA throughout therapy within a phase III treatment trial (HCV-DITTO). The favorable genetic variations in all three SNPs (CC, AA, and TT respectively) was significantly associated with lower baseline IP-10 (CC vs. CT/TT at rs12979860: median 189 vs. 258 pg/mL, P=0.02, AA vs. AG/GG at rs12980275: median 189 vs. 258 pg/mL, P=0.01, TT vs. TG/GG at rs8099917: median 224 vs. 288 pg/mL, P=0.04), were significantly less common among HCV genotype 1 infected patients than genotype 2/3 (P<0.0001, P<0.0001, and P=0.01 respectively) and had significantly higher baseline viral load than carriers of the SNP genotypes (6.3 vs. 5.9 log 10 IU/mL, P=0.0012, 6.3 vs. 6.0 log 10 IU/mL, P=0.026, and 6.3 vs. 5.8 log 10 IU/mL, P=0.0003 respectively). Among HCV genotype 1 infected homozygous or heterogeneous carriers of the favorable C, A, and T genotypes, lower baseline IP-10 was significantly associated with greater decline in HCV-RNA day 0-4, which translated into increased rates of achieving SVR among homozygous patients with baseline IP-10 below 150 pg/mL (85%, 75%, and 75% respectively). In a multivariate analysis among genotype 1 infected patients, both baseline IP-10 and the SNPs were significant independent predictors of SVR. Conclusion: Baseline plasma IP-10 is significantly associated with IL28B variations, and augments the predictiveness of the first phase decline in HCV RNA and final treatment outcome.

Gestión de un club de pádel

Este proyecto es un estudio que pretende realizar una aplicación dirigida a centros deportivos, implementando a través de BIOMAX el acceso a las instalaciones utilizando tarjetas de proximidad. Además la aplicación permitirá gestionar de forma eficiente a sus socios e instalaciones. De esta manera se consigue automatizar - mejorando en tiempo y calidad -una tarea imprescindible de realizar, control de accesos de forma sencilla y con un mantenimiento fácil por parte de los usuarios que la utilicen. Para ello se utilizará un dispositivo KIMALDI que nos permitirá gestionar el control de accesos

G Protein-Coupled Receptor heterodimerization in the brain

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) play critical roles in cellular processes and signaling and have been shown to form heteromers with diverge biochemical and/or pharmacological activities that are different from those of the corresponding monomers or homomers. However, despite extensive experimental results supporting the formation of GPCR heteromers in heterologous systems, the existence of such receptor heterocomplexes in the brain remains largely unknown, mostly because of the lack of appropriate methodology. Herein, we describe the in situ proximity ligation assay procedure underlining its high selectivity and sensitivity to image GPCR heteromers with confocal microscopy in brain sections. We describe here how the assay is performed and discuss advantages and disadvantages of this method compared with other available techniques.

A Carrot and Stick Approach to Agenda-Setting

This paper models a legislature in which the same agenda setter serves for two periods, showing how he can exploit a legislature (completely) in the first period by promising future benefits to legislators who support him. In equilibrium, a large majority of legislators vote for the first-period proposal because they thereby maintain the chance of belonging to the minimum winning coalition in the future. Legislators may therefore approve policies by large majorities, or even unanimously, that benefit few, or even none, of them. The results are robust; but institutional arrangements (such as entitlements) can reduce the agenda setter's power by reducing his discretion to reward and punish legislators, and rules (such as sequential voting) can increase a legislator's ability to resist exploitation. Keywords: Legislative bargaining, distributive politics, agenda-setting, proposal power. JEL C72, D72, D78.

Bases Teóricas y Herramientas para el Análisis y Comparación de Sistemas de Votación de Código Abierto

Dentro del proceso de definición de las vías de participación en el PLAN DIRECTOR DE PARTICIPACIÓN CIUDADANA 2010-2015 del Ayuntamiento de Barcelona, se plantea la necesidad de fomentar mecanismos de participación directa y a, partir de esta necesidad, se plantea el desarrollo de una aplicación de Consultas Populares.Dentro de los procesos participativos, las consultas a realizar pueden ser vinculantes y por tanto resulta de la mayor importancia fundamentar su desarrollo garantizando la corrección formal de todo el proceso.Entre los requerimientos, especificados por en Instituto Municipal de Informática, el sistema de votación a plantear debe estar cubierto por alguna de las licencias consideradas libres o de código abierto. Una de las principales características de este tipo de aplicaciones es que resulta posible la utilización y modificación del código.Como primer paso se definen los conceptos básicos implicados comenzando con la del propio concepto de e-Voting. A partir de las experiencias previas realizadas en nuestro entorno geográfico, es posible establecer que los estándares más utilizados son los generados por el Consejo de Europa, qué utilizaremos para concretar las diferentes fases de un Proceso de Consulta, los actores implicados así como las diferentes funciones a de cada uno de ellos para cada una de las fases.Sobre esta base se analizan las diferentes alternativas existentes entre lo que se denominan Esquemas de Votación. Centrándonos en el escogido como más conveniente, el Esquema de Voto Oculto, se describen las características de seguridad que permiten dar validez a un proceso de consulta realizado por este medio. Así mismo se describen los principales conceptos teóricos implicados mediante una aproximación que permita su comprensión de forma intuitiva, especialmente en lo que se refiere a las técnicas criptográficas implicadas.En tercer lugar se ha realizado una búsqueda de posibles aplicaciones que sirvan de punto de partida y se han hecho pruebas comparativas para las cuales se han adaptado las herramientas correspondientes a QSOS, relacionando los estándares especificados por el Consejo Europeo y las características de seguridad que deben cumplirse.

Analysis of Safety Benefits for Shielding of Bridge Piers, 2009

The highway system in the State of Iowa includes many grade separation structures constructed to provide maximum safety and mobility to road users on intersecting roadways. However, these structures can present possible safety concerns for traffic passing underneath due to close proximity of piers and abutments. Shielding of these potential hazards has been a design consideration for many years. This study examines historical crash experience in the State of Iowa to address the advisability of shielding bridge piers and abutments as well as other structure support elements considering the offset from the traveled way. A survey of nine Midwestern states showed that six states had bridge pier shielding practices consistent with those in Iowa. Data used for the analyses include crash data (2001 to 2007) from the Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT), the Iowa DOT’s Geographic Information Management System (GIMS) structure and roadway data (2006) obtained from the Office of Transportation Data, and shielding and offset data for the bridges of interest. Additionally, original crash reports and the Iowa DOT video log were also utilized as needed. Grade-separated structures over high-speed, multilane divided Interstate and primary highways were selected for analysis, including 566 bridges over roadways with a speed limit of at least 45 mph. Bridges that met the criteria for inclusion in the study were identified for further analysis using crash data. The study also included economic analysis for possible shielding improvement.

Development of Railroad Highway Grade Crossing Consolidation Rating Formula, 2015

The goal of this project was to provide an objective methodology to support public agencies and railroads in making decisions related to consolidation of at-grade rail-highway crossings. The project team developed a weighted-index method and accompanying Microsoft Excel spreadsheet based tool to help evaluate and prioritize all public highway-rail grade crossings systematically from a possible consolidation impact perspective. Factors identified by stakeholders as critical were traffic volume, heavy-truck traffic volume, proximity to emergency medical services, proximity to schools, road system, and out-of-distance travel. Given the inherent differences between urban and rural locations, factors were considered, and weighted, differently, based on crossing location. Application of a weighted-index method allowed for all factors of interest to be included and for these factors to be ranked independently, as well as weighted according to stakeholder priorities, to create a single index. If priorities change, this approach also allows for factors and weights to be adjusted. The prioritization generated by this approach may be used to convey the need and opportunity for crossing consolidation to decision makers and stakeholders. It may also be used to quickly investigate the feasibility of a possible consolidation. Independently computed crossing risk and relative impact of consolidation may be integrated and compared to develop the most appropriate treatment strategies or alternatives for a highway-rail grade crossing. A crossing with limited- or low-consolidation impact but a high safety risk may be a prime candidate for consolidation. Similarly, a crossing with potentially high-consolidation impact as well as high risk may be an excellent candidate for crossing improvements or grade separation. The results of the highway-rail grade crossing prioritization represent a consistent and quantitative, yet preliminary, assessment. The results may serve as the foundation for more rigorous or detailed analysis and feasibility studies. Other pertinent site-specific factors, such as safety, maintenance costs, economic impacts, and location-specific access and characteristics should be considered.

Isozymic variability in a Brazilian collection of annatto (Bixa orellana L.)

The objectives of this work were to optimize the isozyme electrophoresis technique for Bixa orellana, and use isozyme markers for a preliminary survey on the genetic variability in Brazilian annatto germplasm accessions. Collection consisted of seed samples from sixty open pollinated trees, representing two Northern and four Southern geographic provenances. The extraction, electrophoresis, and interpretation of annatto isozymes are described. Three out of the twenty-one identified isozyme loci were polymorphic in the collection. The percentage of polymorphic loci (P = 21.05) and the expected heterozygosity in annatto (H T = 0.064) were low, compared to other tropical woody species. A UPGMA phenogram, constructed with Nei's genetic distances, clearly separated the germplasm provenant from North and Central Brazil. Variability was significantly higher among the accessions from Maranhão. A sharp genetic differentiation was detected between accessions from Maranhão and Pará States, despite their geographical proximity. The distinctive isozyme polymorphism, observed in the accessions from Maranhão, together with reports on local morphological heterogeneity in annatto fruit shape, color, and pubescence, calls for more detailed genetic and taxonomic investigation.

Modulatory effects of acid-sensing ion channels on action potential generation in hippocampal neurons.

Extracellular acidification has been shown to generate action potentials (APs) in several types of neurons. In this study, we investigated the role of acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) in acid-induced AP generation in brain neurons. ASICs are neuronal Na(+) channels that belong to the epithelial Na(+) channel/degenerin family and are transiently activated by a rapid drop in extracellular pH. We compared the pharmacological and biophysical properties of acid-induced AP generation with those of ASIC currents in cultured hippocampal neurons. Our results show that acid-induced AP generation in these neurons is essentially due to ASIC activation. We demonstrate for the first time that the probability of inducing APs correlates with current entry through ASICs. We also show that ASIC activation in combination with other excitatory stimuli can either facilitate AP generation or inhibit AP bursts, depending on the conditions. ASIC-mediated generation and modulation of APs can be induced by extracellular pH changes from 7.4 to slightly <7. Such local extracellular pH values may be reached by pH fluctuations due to normal neuronal activity. Furthermore, in the plasma membrane, ASICs are localized in close proximity to voltage-gated Na(+) and K(+) channels, providing the conditions necessary for the transduction of local pH changes into electrical signals.

Appropriate maintenance treatment for Crohn's disease: results of a multidisciplinary international expert panel - EPACT II

Introduction: Biological. therapy has dramatically changed management of Crohn's disease (CD). New data have confirmed the benefit and relative long-term safety of anti-TNF alpha inhibition as part of a regular scheduled administration programme. The EPACT appropriateness criteria for maintenance treatment after medically-induced remission (MIR) or surgically-induced remission (SIR) of CD thus required updating. Methods: A multidisciplinary international expert panel (EPACT II, Geneva, Switzerland) discussed and anonymously rated detailed, explicit clinical indications based on evidence in the literature and personal expertise. Median ratings (on a 9-point scale) were stratified into three assessment categories: appropriate (7-9), uncertain (4-6 and/or disagreement) and inappropriate (1-3). Experts ranked appropriate medication according to their own clinical practice, without any consideration of cost. Results: Three hundred and ninety-two specific indications for maintenance treatment of CD were rated (200 for MIR and 192 for SIR). Azathioprine, methotrexate and/or anti-TNF alpha antibodies were considered appropriate in 42 indications, corresponding to 68% of all appropriate interventions (97% of MIR and 39% of SIR). The remaining appropriate interventions consisted of mesalazine and a "wait-and-see" strategy. Factors that influenced the panel's voting were patient characteristics and outcome of previous treatment. Results favour use of anti-TNF alpha agents after failure of any immunosuppressive therapy, while earlier primary use remains controversial. Conclusion: Detailed explicit appropriateness criteria (EPACT) have been updated for maintenance treatment of CD. New expert recommendations for use of the classic immunosuppressors as well as anti-TNF alpha agents are now freely available online (www.epact.ch). The validity of these criteria should now be tested by prospective evaluation. (C) 2009 European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.