Investigation of High Performance Concrete Pavement, MLR-05-01, 2006

The Iowa DOT has been using blended cements in ternary mixes since 1999. Use of these supplementary cementitious materials gives concrete with higher strengths and much lower permeability. Use of these materials has been incorporated for use in High Performance Concrete (HPC) decks to achieve lower permeability and thus long term performance. Since we have been using these materials in paving, it would be informative to determine what concrete pavement properties are enhanced as related to high performance concrete. The air void system was excellent at a spacing factor of 0.0047 in (0.120 mm). AVA spacing factor results are much higher than the hardened air void analysis. Although only 3 samples were tested between the image analysis air content and the RapidAir457, there is pretty good agreement between those test methods. Air void analysis indicates that excessive vibration was not required to place the concrete. Vibration was well within the specification limits with an average of 6683 vpm’s with a standard deviation of 461. Overall ride of the project was very good. The average smoothness for the project was 2.1 in/mile (33.8 mm/km). The International Roughness Index (IRI) was 81 in/mi (1.29 m/km). The compressive strength was 6260 psi (43.2 MPa) at 28 days and 6830 (47.1 MPa) at 56 days. The modulus of rupture by third point loading (MOR-TPL) tested at 28 days was 660 psi (4.55 MPa). The AASHTO T277 rapid chloride permeability results at 28 days using the Virginia cure method correlate fairly well with the 56 and 90 day results with standard curing. The Virginia cure method 28 day results were 2475 coulombs and the standard cure 56 and 90 day test results were 2180 and 2118, respectively.

Embankment Quality: Phase III, TR-401, 2002

This report describes test results from a full-scale embankment pilot study conducted in Iowa. The intent of the pilot project was to field test and refine the proposed soil classification system and construction specifications developed in Phase II of this research and to evaluate the feasibility of implementing a contractor quality control (QC) and Iowa DOT quality assurance (QA) program for earthwork grading in the future. One of the primary questions for Phase III is “Was embankment quality improved?” The project involved a “quality conscious” contractor, well-qualified and experienced Iowa Department of Transportation field personnel, a good QC consultant technician, and some of our best soils in the state. If the answer to the above question is “yes” for this project, it would unquestionably be “yes” for other projects as well. The answer is yes, the quality was improved, even for this project, as evidenced by dynamic cone penetrometer test data and the amount of disking required to reduce the moisture content to within acceptable control limits (approximately 29% of soils by volume required disking). Perhaps as important is that we know what quality we have. Increased QC/QA field testing, however, increases construction costs, as expected. The quality management-earthwork program resulted in an additional $0.03 per cubic meter, or 1.6%, of the total construction costs. Disking added about $0.04 per cubic meter, or 1.7%, to the total project costs. In our opinion this is a nominal cost increase to improve quality. It is envisioned that future contractor innovations have the potential for negating this increase. The Phase III results show that the new soil classification system and the proposed field test methods worked well during the Iowa Department of Transportation soils design phase and during the construction phase. Recommendations are provided for future implementation of the results of this study by city, county, and state agencies.

State of the science and the way forward for the ecotoxicological assessment of contaminated land

Over the past two decades, soil ecotoxicologists have made strides in utilizing the basic concepts and advancements in soil zoology and ecology. They have applied the existing tools, and developed new ones to investigate how chemical contamination can affect soil ecosystems, including the degradation or destruction of soil quality and habitats or the diminishment of belowground biodiversity. Soil ecotoxicologists are applying a suite of standard protocols, originally developed as laboratory tests with single chemicals (e.g., pesticides), and further enhancing both the approaches and protocols for the assessment of contaminated lands. However, ecological relevance of some approaches remains unresolved. The authors discuss the main challenges for a coherent ecotoxicological assessment of soil ecosystems amid contaminated lands, and provide recommendations on how to integrate the effects of physical and chemical soil properties, the variations in the diversity of soil invertebrates, and the interactions among organisms of various trophic levels. The review examines new international approaches and test methods using examples from three continents (in particular research conducted in Brazil), and provides recommendations for improving ecological relevance of ecotoxicological investigations of contaminated lands.

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.

Results of An International Study of Quantitative BCR/ABL Assays Using Defined RNA Samples

Molecular monitoring of BCR/ABL transcripts by real time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) is an essential technique for clinical management of patients with BCR/ABL-positive CML and ALL. Though quantitative BCR/ABL assays are performed in hundreds of laboratories worldwide, results among these laboratories cannot be reliably compared due to heterogeneity in test methods, data analysis, reporting, and lack of quantitative standards. Recent efforts towards standardization have been limited in scope. Aliquots of RNA were sent to clinical test centers worldwide in order to evaluate methods and reporting for e1a2, b2a2, and b3a2 transcript levels using their own qRT-PCR assays. Total RNA was isolated from tissue culture cells that expressed each of the different BCR/ABL transcripts. Serial log dilutions were prepared, ranging from 100 to 10-5, in RNA isolated from HL60 cells. Laboratories performed 5 independent qRT-PCR reactions for each sample type at each dilution. In addition, 15 qRT-PCR reactions of the 10-3 b3a2 RNA dilution were run to assess reproducibility within and between laboratories. Participants were asked to run the samples following their standard protocols and to report cycle threshold (Ct), quantitative values for BCR/ABL and housekeeping genes, and ratios of BCR/ABL to housekeeping genes for each sample RNA. Thirty-seven (n=37) participants have submitted qRT-PCR results for analysis (36, 37, and 34 labs generated data for b2a2, b3a2, and e1a2, respectively). The limit of detection for this study was defined as the lowest dilution that a Ct value could be detected for all 5 replicates. For b2a2, 15, 16, 4, and 1 lab(s) showed a limit of detection at the 10-5, 10-4, 10-3, and 10-2 dilutions, respectively. For b3a2, 20, 13, and 4 labs showed a limit of detection at the 10-5, 10-4, and 10-3 dilutions, respectively. For e1a2, 10, 21, 2, and 1 lab(s) showed a limit of detection at the 10-5, 10-4, 10-3, and 10-2 dilutions, respectively. Log %BCR/ABL ratio values provided a method for comparing results between the different laboratories for each BCR/ABL dilution series. Linear regression analysis revealed concordance among the majority of participant data over the 10-1 to 10-4 dilutions. The overall slope values showed comparable results among the majority of b2a2 (mean=0.939; median=0.9627; range (0.399 - 1.1872)), b3a2 (mean=0.925; median=0.922; range (0.625 - 1.140)), and e1a2 (mean=0.897; median=0.909; range (0.5174 - 1.138)) laboratory results (Fig. 1-3)). Thirty-four (n=34) out of the 37 laboratories reported Ct values for all 15 replicates and only those with a complete data set were included in the inter-lab calculations. Eleven laboratories either did not report their copy number data or used other reporting units such as nanograms or cell numbers; therefore, only 26 laboratories were included in the overall analysis of copy numbers. The median copy number was 348.4, with a range from 15.6 to 547,000 copies (approximately a 4.5 log difference); the median intra-lab %CV was 19.2% with a range from 4.2% to 82.6%. While our international performance evaluation using serially diluted RNA samples has reinforced the fact that heterogeneity exists among clinical laboratories, it has also demonstrated that performance within a laboratory is overall very consistent. Accordingly, the availability of defined BCR/ABL RNAs may facilitate the validation of all phases of quantitative BCR/ABL analysis and may be extremely useful as a tool for monitoring assay performance. Ongoing analyses of these materials, along with the development of additional control materials, may solidify consensus around their application in routine laboratory testing and possible integration in worldwide efforts to standardize quantitative BCR/ABL testing.

Induktiomoottorin hyötysuhdemittaukset verkko- ja taajuusmuuttajasyötössä

Hyötysuhde on tärkeätekijä moottorimarkkinoilla, sillä moottorin ostajan kannalta moottorin hyvä hyötysuhde merkitsee taloudellisuutta pitkällä aikavälillä. Tästä johtuen hyötysuhde on merkittävä kriteeri moottorisuunnittelussa. Moottorin hyötysuhteen määrittämisen mittausmenetelmät on määritelty IEC- ja IEEE-standardeissa. Diplomityössäkäydään läpi eri standardimenetelmillä tehtäviä mittauksia ja vertaillaan niitäkeskenään, koska hyötysuhteen määrityksen tarkkuus riippuu käytettävästä mittausmenetelmästä. Työssä keskitytään sinimuotoisella jännitteellä syötetyn induktiomoottoriin hyötysuhteen määritysmenetelmiin perehtyen erityisesti IEEE 112-standardin B-menetelmään, ja mitataan erään induktiomoottorin hyötysuhde B-menetelmällä. Työssä tehdään selkoa sinisyötölle tarkoitettujen hyötysuhdemittausmenetelmien soveltamisesta epäsinimuotoiseen taajuusmuuttajasyöttöön sekä tutkitaan taajuusmuuttajalla syötetyn moottorin sähköisten suureiden mittaamiseen liittyvää mittausepävarmuutta. Lisäksi selvitetään kokeellisesti taajuusmuuttajasyötöllä tehdyistä mittauksista saatujen tulosten riippuvuutta käytetystä virranmittaustavasta.

Pakkausrakenteenmateriaalinvalinta ja rakennesuunnittelu

Epäherkkien räjähteiden teknologian käyttö mahdollistaa räjähdeturvallisuuden ja sa-malla sotilaallisen suorituskyvyn parantumisen. Suomen Puolustusvoimat päätti IM-teknologian käyttöönotosta vuonna 2004, mikä on edellyttänyt räjähdevalmistajilta tuotteidensa kehitystoimenpiteitä. Yksi osa-alue erään räjähdevalmistajan ajopanostuotteen kehitystyöstä on Exel Oyj:n valmistama panospakkaus, joka pyritään kehittämään uudistuneiden vaatimusten mukaiseksi. Tässä diplomityössä selvitettiin IM-tuotteen vaatimukset ja laadittiin panospakkauksen vaatimusprofiili, jonka perusteella tehtiinkirjallisen selvitys ballistisista materiaaleista. Panospakkauksen rakenneratkaisut perustuivat materiaalinvalintaan, joka toteutettiin ominaisarvovertailulla.Rakenneratkaisuja testattiin sekä ballistisesti että mekaanisilla testausmenetelmillä. Lisäksi testausmenetelmien välille tehtiin korrelaatiovertailuja, joidentulokset ovat lupaavia. Projektin lopputuloksena saatiin kehitettyä Exel Oyj:lle panospakkausratkaisu, jolla voidaan edistää suojattavan tuotteen IM-vaatimusten täyttymistä. Rakenteelle toteutetun lujuusanalyysin perusteella pakkausrakennetta voidaan pitää käyttökohteeseen soveltuvana.

Machine vision measurement system for paper printability assessments

This work had two primary objectives: 1) to produce a working prototype for automated printability assessment and 2) to perform a study of available machine vision and other necessary hardware solutions. The three printability testing methods, IGT Picking,He¬liotest, and mottling, considered in this work have several different requirements and the task was to produce a single automated testing system suitable for all methods. A system was designed and built and its performance was tested using the Heliotest. Working proto¬types are important tools for implementing theoretical methods into practical systems and testing and demonstrating the methodsin real life conditions. The system was found to be sufficient for the Heliotest method. Further testing and possible modifications related to other two test methods were left for future works. A short study of available systems and solutions concerning image acquisition of machine vision was performed. The theoretical part of this study includes lighting systems, optical systems and image acquisition tools, mainly cameras and the underlying physical aspects for each portion.

How to identify and recruit nurses to a survey 14 and 24 years after graduation in a context of scarce data : lessons learnt from the 2012 nurses at work pilot study on nurses' career paths

Nursing workforce data are scarce in Switzerland, with no active national registry of nurses. The worldwide nursing shortage is also affecting Switzerland, so that evidence-based results of the nurses at work project on career paths and retention are needed as part of the health care system stewardship; nurses at work is a retrospective cohort study of nurses who graduated in Swiss nursing schools in the last 30 years. Results of the pilot study are presented here (process and feasibility). The objectives are (1) to determine the size and structure of the potential target population by approaching two test-cohorts of nursing graduates (1988 and 1998); (2) to test methods of identifying and reaching them 14 and 24 years after graduation; (3) to compute participation rates, and identify recruitment and participation biases.

Tiivispaperin rasvanläpäisyn luonnehtiminen

Työn tavoitteena oli kehittää Metsä Tissue Oyj:n Mäntän tehtaille uusi testimenetelmä leivinpaperin rasvanläpäisyn mittaamiseen. Uudella testimenetelmällä korvataan kaksi nykyisistä testimenetelmistä, jotka ovat aikaa vieviä ja epäluotettavia. Uudelta menetelmältä vaaditaan lyhyttä kestoa, hyvää toistettavuutta ja luotettavuutta sekä korreloivuutta nykyisiin testimenetelmiin. Nykyisissä testeissä leivinpaperilla paistetaan sikaa ja kanaa uunissa, jonka jälkeen tarkastetaan leivinpaperin läpäisseen rasvan määrää leivinpaperin alla olleen lautasen puhtauden perusteella. Sikatesti on huomattavasti kriittisempi kuin kanatesti, joten tässä työssä keskitytään sikatestin korvaamiseen uudella testimenetelmällä. Työn kirjallisuusosassa perehdyttiin rasvatiiviisiin papereihin, niiden valmistukseen ja ominaisuuksiin. Lähinnä keskityttiin tiivispaperin valmistukseen ja sen silikonointiin. Lisäksi esitettiin rasvanläpäisyn mekanismeja ja niihin vaikuttavia tekijöitä sekä rasvanläpäisyn mittaamiseen kehitettyjä menetelmiä. Kokeellisen osan alussa tehtiin esikokeita olemassa olevilla testeillä, kuten Helga- ja Tappi-rasvatiiveystestillä, DIN 53116 standardin mukaisella menetelmällä sekä DPM menetelmällä. Esikokeiden tarkoituksena oli selvittää missä määrin sikatesti korreloi muiden testimenetelmien kanssa. Näistä menetelmistä ei löydetty korrelaatiota sikatestiin, joten kehitettiin aivan uusi testimenetelmä. Kokeellisessa osassa tutkittiin sikatestissä leivinpaperin pidättämiä ja läpäisemiä aineita. Testeissä huomattiin, että leivinpaperin läpäisseet aineet olivat pääosin vesiliukoisia proteiineja. Leivinpaperin pidättämässä aineessa oli vettä, vesiliukoista proteiineja ja rasvaa, siasta riippuen hyvinkin erilaisissa suhteissa. Täten todettiin sikatestin huono toistettavuus ja luotettavuus. Uudessa testimenetelmässä leivinpaperia ja sen päällä olevaa koeainetta puristetaan määrätyllä paineella määrätyssä lämpötilassa, jonka jälkeen leivinpaperin läpäissyt rasva havainnoidaan leivinpaperin alla olevasta indikaattoripaperista. Lopuksi lasketaan tietynkokoisten läpimenotahrojen lukumäärän perusteella näytteelle rasvan läpäisyindeksi. Uusi menetelmä korreloi sekä sika- että kanatestin kanssa.

Mechanisms underlying cytotoxicity induced by engineered nanomaterials: a review of in vitro studies

Engineered nanomaterials are emerging functional materials with technologically interesting properties and a wide range of promising applications, such as drug delivery devices, medical imaging and diagnostics, and various other industrial products. However, concerns have been expressed about the risks of such materials and whether they can cause adverse effects. Studies of the potential hazards of nanomaterials have been widely performed using cell models and a range of in vitro approaches. In the present review, we provide a comprehensive and critical literature overview on current in vitro toxicity test methods that have been applied to determine the mechanisms underlying the cytotoxic effects induced by the nanostructures. The small size, surface charge, hydrophobicity and high adsorption capacity of nanomaterial allow for specific interactions within cell membrane and subcellular organelles, which in turn could lead to cytotoxicity through a range of different mechanisms. Finally, aggregating the given information on the relationships of nanomaterial cytotoxic responses with an understanding of its structure and physicochemical properties may promote the design of biologically safe nanostructures.

ANVL -ohjelmiston käyttö protokollavalidoinnissa

Tietoliikennelaitteiden toiminta perustuu yleisesti sovittuihin standardeihin ja suosituksiin. Standardinmukaisuuden varmistamiseksi tuotteet tulee testata sekä standardeja että muita tuotteita vastaan, jotta laitteiden yhteensopivuudesta voidaan varmistua. Ohjelmistojen koon ja monimutkaisuuden jatkuvasti kasvaessa myös tarve löytää automatisoituja testausmenetelmiä kasvaa. Diplomityön tavoitteena oli selvittää soveltuuko ANVL -protokollavalidointiohjelmisto Tellabsin modeemituotteiden hyväksyntätestaukseen ja sovittaa ANVL osaksi Tellabsin testauskäytäntöä. Diplomityössä käydään lisäksi läpi ohjelmistotestauksen peruskäsitteitä ja esitetään ANVL:n sisäinen rakenne ja toimintaperiaatteet. Työssä havaittiin, että ANVL sopii hyvin yksittäisten datasiirtolaitteiden validointitestaukseen. ANVL:n räätälöintimahdollisuudet ovat hyvät ja sitä on mahdollista laajentaa itse toteutetuilla protokollavalidointipaketeilla. Tuote tullaan ottamaan käyttöön Tellabsin uusissa tuotekehitysprojekteissa.

Applying TTCN to testing of Mobile IP

Diplomityö käsittelee ISO:n yhdenmukaisuustestin menetelmien sekä ISO-9646:n kehysten soveltamista Mobile IPv6 protokollan testauksessa. Mobile IPv6 protokollaa tarkastellaan määrittelyjen pohjalta, myös testien tärkeyttä ja tulosten johtamista käsitellään. Työssä käsitellän MSC:n (Message Sequence Charts) käyttöä testaustyössä mahdolliset edut huomioiden. TTCN kieli, testausmenetelmät ja OpenTTCN testauskone käsitellään. Testin kohteena olevien yhdyskäytävän ja palvelimen määrittelyt kuvataan. Osia abstract test suite :sta (ATS) esitellään esimerkin antamiseksi todellisesta sovelluksesta ja sen yhteydestä tehtyyn dokumenttiin.

Anxiety, depression, and attachment before and after the first-trimester screening for Down syndrome: comparing couples who undergo ART with those who conceive spontaneously.

OBJECTIVES: This study's aim was to describe the emotional status of parents to be before and after the first-trimester combined prenatal screening test. METHODS: One hundred three couples participated, of which 52 had undergone an in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment [assisted reproductive technology (ART)] and 51 had conceived spontaneously. Participants completed the state scale of the State-trait Anxiety Inventory, the Edinburgh Depression Scale, and the Maternal and Paternal Antenatal Attachment Questionnaire before the first-trimester combined prenatal screening test at around 12 weeks of gestational age (T1) and just after receiving the results at approximately 14 weeks of gestational age (T2). RESULTS: We observed a significant decrease in anxiety and depression symptoms and a significant increase in attachment from T1 to T2. Results showed no differences between groups at either time point, which suggests that ART parents are more similar to than different from parents conceiving spontaneously. Furthermore, given the importance of anxiety during pregnancy, a subsample of women with clinical anxiety was identified. They had significantly higher rates of clinical depression and lower attachment. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that, regardless of whether conception was through ART or spontaneous, clinical anxiety in women over the prenatal testing period is associated with more vulnerability during pregnancy (i.e. clinical depression and less attachment to fetus). © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Optimal slopes and speeds in uphill ski mountaineering: a laboratory study.

The purpose of this study was to estimate the energy cost of linear (EC) and vertical displacement (ECvert), mechanical efficiency and main stride parameters during simulated ski mountaineering at different speeds and gradients, to identify an optimal speed and gradient that maximizes performance. 12 subjects roller skied on a treadmill at three different inclines (10, 17 and 24 %) at three different speeds (approximately 70, 80 and 85 % of estimated peak heart rate). Energy expenditure was calculated by indirect calorimetry, while biomechanical parameters were measured with an inertial sensor-based system. At 10 % there was no significant change with speed in EC, ECvert and mechanical efficiency. At 17 and 24 % the fastest speed was significantly more economical. There was a significant effect of gradient on EC, ECvert and mechanical efficiency. The most economical gradient was the steepest one. There was a significant increase of stride frequency with speed. At steep gradients only, relative thrust phase duration decreased significantly, while stride length increased significantly with speed. There was a significant effect of gradient on stride length (decrease with steepness) and relative thrust phase duration (increase with steepness). A combination of a decreased relative thrust phase duration with increased stride length and frequency decreases ECvert. To minimize the energy expenditure to reach the top of a mountain and to optimize performance, ski-mountaineers should choose a steep gradient (~24 %) and, provided they possess sufficient metabolic scope, combine it with a fast speed (~6 km h(-1)).