A New Method for Determining the Anisotropic Parameters of Materials Under True Triaxial Cyclic Loading

In this paper a new approach to solving the basic equations of elastic cross-anisotropic stress and strain relationships is presented. The uniqueness of the equations is demonstrated and the conditions for their use are easily controlled in the true triaxial test equipment available in the laboratory. By this approximate solution the four anisotropic parameters of cross-anisotropic materials can be obtained. In addition, so-called fuzzy logic weighting factors are introduced to assess the differences among the observed principal deformations of samples tested. A computer program ANISOLV has been written to calculate the formulated parameters. Some typical examples are given to demonstrate the reliability and validity of the method and the program

An Architectural Survey of Domestic Outbuildings at Eckley Miners’ Village and Archaeological Investigations at House Lot #114/116 (36LU294)

This report presents the findings of architectural and archaeological investigations to identify, document, and assess the domestic outbuildings at Eckley Miners’ Village and perform House Lot level investigations at Site 36LU294 to explore the rear yard of the property (House Lot #114/116). The University of Maryland’s (UMD) Department of Anthropology and Graduate Program in Historic Preservation conducted this research under the direction of Dr. Paul A. Shackel and Dr. Donald W. Linebaugh as part of the archaeology and historic preservation field school conducted between May 31 and July 7, 2017

The intrahepatic signalling niche of hedgehog is defined by primary cilia positive cells during chronic liver injury

Background & Aims: In vertebrates, canonical Hedgehog (Hh) pathway activation requires Smoothened (SMO) translocation to the primary cilium (Pc), followed by a GLI-mediated transcriptional response. In addition, a similar gene regulation occurs in response to growth factors/cytokines, although independently of SMO signalling. The Hh pathway plays a critical role in liver fibrosis/regeneration; however, the mechanism of activation in chronic liver injury is poorly understood. This study aimed to characterise Hh pathway activation upon thioacetamide (TAA)- induced chronic liver injury in vivo by defining Hh-responsive cells, namely cells harbouring Pc and Pc-localised SMO. Methods: C57BL/6 mice (wild-type or Ptc1+/_) were TAA-treated. Liver injury and Hh ligand/pathway mRNA and protein expression were assessed in vivo. SMO/GLI manipulation and SMO dependent/ independent activation of GLI-mediated transcriptional response in Pc-positive (Pc+) cells were studied in vitro. Results: In vivo, Hh activation was progressively induced following TAA. At the epithelial-mesenchymal interface, injured hepatocytes produced Hh ligands. Progenitors, myofibroblasts, leukocytes and hepatocytes were GLI2+. Pc+ cells increased following TAA, but only EpCAM+/GLI2+ progenitors were Pc+/SMO+. In vitro, SMO knockdown/hGli3-R overexpression reduced proliferation/viability in Pc+ progenitors, whilst increased proliferation occurred with hGli1 overexpression. HGF induced GLI transcriptional activity independently of Pc/SMO. Ptc1+/_ mice exhibited increased progenitor, myofibroblast and fibrosis responses. Conclusions: In chronic liver injury, Pc+ progenitors receive Hh ligand signals and process it through Pc/SMO-dependent activation of GLI-mediated transcriptional response. Pc/SMO-independent GLI activation likely occurs in Pc_/GLI2+ cells. Increased fibrosis in Hh gain-of-function mice likely occurs by primary progenitor expansion/proliferation and secondary fibrotic myofibroblast expansion, in close contact with progenitors

Mix design considerations of foamed bitumen mixtures with reclaimed asphalt pavement material

In the present work, a mix design parametric study was carried out with the aim of proposing a practical and consistent mix design procedure for foamed bitumen mixtures (FBMs). The mix design parameters that were adopted in the study are mixing and compaction water content (MWC), compaction effort using a gyratory compactor and aggregate temperature. This parametric study was initially carried out on FBMs with virgin limestone aggregate without reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) material and a mix design procedure was proposed. This proposed methodology was also found to apply to FBMs with RAP. A detailed consideration was also given to characterising the RAP material so as to understand its contribution to the mechanical properties of FBMs. Optimum MWC was achieved by optimising mechanical properties such as indirect tensile stiffness modulus and indirect tensile strength (ITS-dry and ITS-wet). A rational range of 75–85% of optimum water content obtained by the modified Proctor test was found to be the optimum range of MWC that gives optimum mechanical properties for FBMs. It was also found that the presence of RAP influenced the design foamed bitumen content, which means that treating RAP as black rock in FBM mix design is not appropriate. To study the influence of bitumen and water during compaction, modified Proctor compaction and gyratory compaction were employed on mixes with varying amounts of water and bitumen. By this, the work also evaluated the validity of the total fluid (water + bitumen) concept that is widely used in bitumen–emulsion-treated mixes, and found it not to be applicable

Usability evaluation of an eHealth intervention for family carers of individuals affected by psychosis: A mixed-method study

Background Existing research suggests that eHealth interventions targeting family carers of individuals with long-term illness offer a promising approach to care delivery. In particular, digital psychoeducational interventions with interactive psychosocial support are well-received with high rates of satisfaction and acceptability. However, development of such interventions for psychosis carers is lacking. We developed a multi-component eHealth intervention specifically for carers of individuals affected by psychosis, called COPe-support (Carers fOr People with Psychosis e-support). Objective Using mixed methods to evaluate usability, system heuristics and perceived acceptability, we conducted a usability study to establish the suitability of the intervention prototype for the target user group. Methods Twenty-three carers were recruited to the study and participated in a think-aloud test or a remote online trial of the intervention. Qualitative feedback, post-use System Usability Scale (SUS) scores, and real-world usage data collected from the tests were analysed. These were also supplemented with heuristic evaluation data provided by an independent eLearning technology expert. Results Participants evaluated the intervention content as useful and helpful, and indicated that the system had satisfactory usability with a mean SUS score of 73%, above the usability quality benchmark threshold. Study results identified some minor usability issues, which were corroborated with the eLearning expert’s heuristic evaluation findings. We used these results to refine the COPe-support intervention. Conclusions The usability study with end-users and service providers identified real-life usage and usability issues. The study results helped us refine COPe-support and its delivery strategy before its launch as part of a large-scale clinical trial

Infiltration capacity assessment of urban pavements using the LCS. Permeameter and the CP Infiltrometer.

This paper presents the Cantabrian Portable Infiltrometer (CP Infiltrometer), a specially designed device based on rainfall simulation for the assessment of the infiltration capacity of all types of urban pavements. Several pervious and impervious surfaces were tested with the LCS Permeameter, an existing infiltration test based on the use of a column of water, and the CP Infiltrometer, simulating rain intensities with return periods of 10, 50 and 500 years and 5 minutes duration. The discussion of the results indicates that the CP Infiltrometer could be used successfully to identify different levels of infiltration capacity and to assess the correct performance of pervious surfaces on which design, construction and maintenance decisions are based

The influence of affordances on user preferences for multimedia language learning applications.

This study investigates the influence of sensory and cognitive affordances on the user experience of mobile devices for multimedia language learning applications. A primarily audio-based language learning application – ‘Vowel Trainer’, was chosen against a comparison, text and picture-based language learning application – ‘Learn English for Taxi Drivers’. Impressions of the two applications were assessed on two different devices that have virtually the same interface and identical sound output (when headphones are used), but differ in physical size: the iPhone and the iPad. A mixed design was chosen, with native language as a group factor and device type (iPad vs. iPhone) and language application type (audio vs. video) as within groups factors. Assessments of sensory and cognitive affordances were made, along with measurement of learner preferences of each application. Data from 41 participants (21 native English speakers, 20 non-native English speakers) were analysed, revealing device differences in both audio and visual subjective quality ratings, despite only visual quality being affected by the device's physical limitations. We suggest that sensory affordances (indexed by subjective quality) are not simply a function of physical limitations, but are heavily influenced by context. The implications for developing design guidelines for language learning and other multimedia applications are discussed