Application of Replacement Theory in Determination of Pavement Design Life

This paper presents a methodology to determine the economic life of pavement based replacement theory/decision. The replacement theory is generally used for the determination of the replacement period of machines, bulbs, vehicles, equipment, buildings, T.V. parts… etc. This theory has been used to determine the economic life pavement for a road project and a bridge project with a real case study. The economic life has been found out. The economic life of flexible pavement has been found to be 15 years for national highways. This theory can be also applied to determine the economic life of new developed items/useful materials for highway projects

Determination of Optimal Block Designs With Pre-assigned Variance For Elementary Contrasts

A method for obtaining optimal designs from the class of variance balanced and connected designs was developed for comparing treatment effects with a pre-assigned variance. The properties of the C-matrix of a block design are employed in developing this method. Some new results concerning the design parameters and the non-zero characteristic root of the C-matrix are also presented

Molecular association of glucose-6- phosphate isomerase and pyruvate kinase M2 with glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase in cancer cells

Background: For a long time cancer cells are known for increased uptake of glucose and its metabolization through glycolysis. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) is a key regulatory enzyme of this pathway and can produce ATP through oxidative level of phosphorylation. Previously, we reported that GAPDH purified from a variety of malignant tissues, but not from normal tissues, was strongly inactivated by a normal metabolite, methylglyoxal (MG).Molecular mechanism behind MG mediated GAPDH inhibition in cancer cells is not well understood. Methods: GAPDH was purified from Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells based on its enzymatic activity. GAPDH associated proteins in EAC cells and 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC) induced mouse tumor tissue were detected by mass spectrometry analysis and immunoprecipitation (IP) experiment, respectively. Interacting domains of GAPDH and its associated proteins were assessed by in silico molecular docking analysis. Mechanism of MG mediated GAPDH inactivation in cancer cells was evaluated by measuring enzyme activity, Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, IP and mass spectrometry analyses. Result: Here, we report that GAPDH is associated with glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (GPI) and pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells and also in 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC) induced mouse tumor tissue. Molecular docking analyses suggest C-terminal domain preference for the interaction between GAPDH and GPI. However, both C and N termini of PKM2 might be interacting with the C terminal domain of GAPDH. Expression of both PKM2 and GPI is increased in 3MC induced tumor compared with the normal tissue. In presence of 1 mM MG,association of GAPDH with PKM2 or GPI is not perturbed, but the enzymatic activity of GAPDH is reduced to 26.8 ± 5 % in 3MC induced tumor and 57.8 ± 2.3 % in EAC cells. Treatment of MG to purified GAPDH complex leads to glycation at R399 residue of PKM2 only, and changes the secondary structure of the protein complex. Conclusion: PKM2 may regulate the enzymatic activity of GAPDH. Increased enzymatic activity of GAPDH in tumor cells may be attributed to its association with PKM2 and GPI. Association of GAPDH with PKM2 and GPI could be a signature for cancer cells. Glycation at R399 of PKM2 and changes in the secondary structure of GAPDH complex could be one of the mechanisms by which GAPDH activity is inhibited in tumor cells by MG

Efficiency balanced designs through reinforcement

In this investigation, general efficiency balanced (GEB) and efficiency balanced (EB) designs with (v + t) treatments, using (i) balanced incomplete block (BIB), (ii) symmetrical BIB, (iii) f -resolvable BIB, (iv) group divisible (GD) and (v) resolvable GD designs have been constructed with smaller number of replications and block sizes.

Identification of confounded design and its interactions

Kane has discussed a simple method for identifying the confounded interactions from 2n factorial experiments when a replication consists of (1) two blocks and (2) more than two blocks. It should be noted that Kane's method holds only for (1) regular design and (2) when one interaction is confounded. In the present investigation, we proposed a new way of identifying the confounded designs and the confounded interactions in 2n factorial experiments. Furthermore, the same method is extended to 3n and Sn factorial experiments.

Accelerated creep behavior of Nb and Cu added 18Cr-8Ni austenitic stainless steel

This investigation highlights the creep deformation and rupture behaviour of Nb and Cu added 18Cr-8Ni austenitic stainless steel and compared with those of commercial 18Cr-8Ni steel. Uni-axial creep tests were performed at ( 288 – 320 ) MPa / 600 ° C and ( 80 – 110 ) MPa / 750 ° C on Nb and Cu added 18Cr-8Ni austenitic stainless steel. Accelerated creep tests predicted that creep characteristic of the alloy was insigni fi cant or anelastic type below the stress level of ∼ 166 MPa at 600 ° C and ∼ 57 MPa at 750 ° C. True creep exponent value of 8 at ( 288 – 320 ) MPa / 600 ° C and 4 at ( 80 – 110 ) MPa / 750 ° C, exhibited that the alloy followed high temperature climb controlled power law creep in the speci fi ed creep test condition. The alloy was more creep brittle in nature than that of commercial 18Cr-8Ni austenitic stainless steel. The brittleness was attributed to the presence of Nb ( C, N ) , nano-sized Cu precipitation along the transgranular region and occurrence of Cr 23 C 6 secondary carbides along the grain boundaries. Fractographic features revealed that the alloy was prone to intergranular fracture due to creep cavitation and their linkages

Creep characterization and damage assessment of long term service exposed P-22 grade of steel

This paper deals with damage assessment of 17 years servic-exposed P-22 grade of steel used in main steam pipe of a boiler in a thermal power plant. Experimentally determined conventional creep data under identical testing condition were used in the present investigation. The value of (ratio of rupture strain to Monkman-Grant constant)infers that both service exposed as well as virgin material are ductile at at 550C/145 MPa. It was observed that ductility in the service exposed material decreases with decrease in temperature at constant stress (145MPa). It is also appa-rent that the values of strain fraction and life fraction are identical. A degree of scatter is observed in the Monkman-Grant constant (Es) value under identical test condition. Fractographic features and structure-property correlation study with optical, scanning and transmission electron microscopy were useful in predicting probable occurence of experimental scatter

Atmospheric deposition of mercury and major ions to the Pensacola (Florida) watershed: Spatial, seasonal, and inter-annual variability

Atmospheric deposition was measured at three sites in the Pensacola Bay watershed, Florida, between November 2004 and December 2007. Mercury deposition in the Pensacola Bay watershed was similar to that from nearby Mercury Deposition Network sites along the Northern Gulf of Mexico coast. Mercury deposition during the summer months is higher than other months due to higher concentrations in rainfall throughout the region. Deposition of constituents like H⁺, sulfate, nitrate, ammonium, chloride and sodium, were much higher in Pensacola Bay that at National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP) sites. Chloride and sodium deposition are higher because Pensacola Bay sites are closer to the Gulf of Mexico which is a source of sea salt aerosols. Acid rain constituents, H⁺, sulfate, nitrate and ammonium are most likely higher at Pensacola Bay sites because these sites are much closer to emission sources of these constituents than NADP sites, particularly two Florida NADP sites, FL14 and FL23, which are located in rural counties far from major industrial activities.Final article publishedJournal Articl