Development of an earthquake simulator for soft soils: Multidirectional Shear Testing Device

Testing soils for earthquake and dynamic loads requires advanced equipment able to assess the effects of hydromechanical coupling on the soil response. The majority of laboratory element tests are either “slow tests”, which intend to approach drained conditions throughout the soil sample in order to obtain reliable pore water pressure measurements, or “fast undrained tests”, where flow is prevented by closing the drainage lines. However, many natural loads, including earthquakes, impose a wide range of high loading frequencies, typically triggering a partially drained response in the field. Although the rate effect plays an important role in soil behaviour, its investigation is hindered by the limitations of existing equipment. In addition, the ability to apply multidirectional loading to soil elements in the laboratory is important to fully understand the soil response under earthquakes. Currently, multidirectional simple shear devices are used to study the soil behaviour under earthquake loadings. Nevertheless, many shear devices suffer from stresses and strains non-uniformities, which could potentially mislead data interpretation and constitutive models development. This paper presents an innovative multidirectional shear device developed in the section of Geoengineering at TU Delft, which can apply higher loading frequencies compared to previous equipment and a wider variety of multidirectional cyclic loading patterns. The apparatus is equipped with advanced sensors, also developed at TU Delft, to capture the local response of specimens. The sensors are installed to reduce a priori assumptions on the soil response, better interpret the element experimental results and further investigate the rate effect of applied loading. Preliminary performance test results are provided to illustrate the complex load conditions which can be achieved

Особенности немецкого языка переселенцев из бывшего СССР в Германии

Previous studies have suggested that murine peritoneal cavity-derived B-1a cells possess similarities with described regulatory B cell subsets. The aim of the current study was to examine the potential immunoregulatory function of peritoneal cavity-derived B(-1a) cells. In vitro activation of peritoneal cavity-derived B- and B-1a cells shows that activation of these B cells with anti-CD40 and LPS induces these cells to secrete more IL-10, IL-6 and IgM as compared to splenic B cells. In a suppression assay, CD40/TLR4-activated peritoneal cavity B cells possess regulatory B cell functions as they inhibit the capacity of CD4(+) T cells to produce both tumor necrosis factor-α and interferon-γ. Splenic B cells did not show this, whereas non-activated peritoneal cavity B cells augmented the capacity of CD4(+) T cells to produce tumor necrosis factor-α, while the ability to produce interferon-γ was not altered. The current paper compares splenic B cells to peritoneal cavity B(-1a) cells in an in vitro activation- and an suppression-assay and concludes that peritoneal cavity B(-1a) cells possess properties that appear similar to splenic autoimmune-suppressive regulatory B cell subsets described in the literature

Planar Graph Coloring with Forbidden Subgraphs: Why Trees and Paths Are Dangerous

We consider the problem of coloring a planar graph with the minimum number of colors such that each color class avoids one or more forbidden graphs as subgraphs. We perform a detailed study of the computational complexity of this problem. We present a complete picture for the case with a single forbidden connected (induced or non-induced) subgraph. The 2-coloring problem is NP-hard if the forbidden subgraph is a tree with at least two edges, and it is polynomially solvable in all other cases. The 3-coloring problem is NP-hard if the forbidden subgraph is a path, and it is polynomially solvable in all other cases. We also derive results for several forbidden sets of cycles

Status of Muon Collider Research and Development and Future Plans

The status of the research on muon colliders is discussed and plans are outlined for future theoretical and experimental studies. Besides continued work on the parameters of a 3-4 and 0.5 TeV center-of-mass (CoM) energy collider, many studies are now concentrating on a machine near 0.1 TeV (CoM) that could be a factory for the s-channel production of Higgs particles. We discuss the research on the various components in such muon colliders, starting from the proton accelerator needed to generate pions from a heavy-Z target and proceeding through the phase rotation and decay ($\pi \to \mu \nu_{\mu}$) channel, muon cooling, acceleration, storage in a collider ring and the collider detector. We also present theoretical and experimental R & D plans for the next several years that should lead to a better understanding of the design and feasibility issues for all of the components. This report is an update of the progress on the R & D since the Feasibility Study of Muon Colliders presented at the Snowmass'96 Workshop [R. B. Palmer, A. Sessler and A. Tollestrup, Proceedings of the 1996 DPF/DPB Summer Study on High-Energy Physics (Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, Menlo Park, CA, 1997)].Comment: 95 pages, 75 figures. Submitted to Physical Review Special Topics, Accelerators and Beam

A case of mistaken identity: HSPs are no DAMPs but DAMPERs

Until recently, the immune system was seen solely as a defense system with its primary task being the elimination of unwanted microbial invaders. Currently, however, the functional significance of the immune system has obtained a much wider perspective, to include among others the maintenance and restoration of homeostasis following tissue damage. In this latter aspect, there is a growing interest in the identification of molecules involved, such as the so-called danger or damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), also called alarmins. Since heat shock proteins are archetypical molecules produced under stressful conditions, such as tissue damage or inflammation, they are frequently mentioned as prime examples of DAMPs (Bianchi, J Leukoc Biol 81:1–5, 2007; Kono and Rock, Nat Rev Immunol 8:279–289, 2008; Martin-Murphy et al., Toxicol Lett 192:387–394, 2010). See for instance also a recent review (Chen and Nunez, Science 298:1395–1401, 2010). Contrary to this description, we recently presented some of the arguments against a role of heat shock protein as DAMPs (Broere et al., Nat Rev Immunol 11:565-c1, 2011). With this perspective and reflection article, we hope to elaborate on this debate and provide additional thoughts to further ignite this discussion on this critical and evolving issue

Novel insights in antimicrobial and immunomodulatory mechanisms of action of PepBiotics CR-163 and CR-172

Objectives: Our group recently developed a new group of antimicrobial peptides termed PepBiotics, of which peptides CR-163 and CR-172 showed optimized antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus without inducing antimicrobial resistance. In this study, the antibacterial mechanism of action and the immunomodulatory activity of these two PepBiotics was explored. Methods: RAW264.7 cells were used to determine the ability of PepBiotics to neutralize Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-and Lipoteichoic acid (LTA)-induced activation of macrophages. Isothermal titration calorimetry and competition assays with dansyl-labeled polymyxin B determined binding characteristics to LPS and LTA. Combined bacterial killing with subsequent macrophage activation assays was performed to determine so-called ‘silent killing’. Finally, flow cytometry of peptide-treated genetically engineered Escherichia coli expressing Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) and mCherry in the cytoplasm and periplasm, respectively, further established the antimicrobial mechanism of PepBiotics. Results: Both CR-163 and CR-172 were shown to have broad-spectrum activity against ESKAPE pathogens and E. coli using a membranolytic mechanism of action. PepBiotics could exothermically bind LPS/LTA and were able to replace polymyxin B. Finally, it was demonstrated that bacteria killed by PepBiotics were less prone to stimulate immune cells, contrary to gentamicin and heat-killed bacteria that still elicited a strong immune response. Conclusions: These studies highlight the multifunctional nature of the two peptide antibiotics as both broad-spectrum antimicrobial and immunomodulator. Their ability to kill bacteria and reduce unwanted subsequent immune activation is a major advantage and highlights their potential for future therapeutic use

Linac4 Technical Design Report

Linac4 is an H- linear accelerator, intended to replace Linac2 as injector to the PS Booster (PSB). By delivering to the PSB a beam at 160 MeV energy, Linac4 will provide the conditions to double the brightness and intensity of the beam from the PSB, thus removing the first bottleneck towards higher brightness for the LHC and simplifying operation. Moreover, this new linac constitutes an essential component of any of the envisaged LHC upgrade scenarios and could open the way to future extensions of the CERN accelerator complex towards higher performance. This Technical Design Report presents a detailed technical overview of the Linac4 design as it stands at end 2006

Системный анализ процесса затвердевания литых заготовок разной массы и назначения

Выявлены особенности пространственно-временной эволюции температурных полей в процессе затвердевания разных заготовок (слитков и отливок) для повышения их качества.Виявлено особливості просторово-часової еволюції температурних полів в процесі тверднення різних заготовок (зливків та виливків) для підвищення їх якості.It is revealed the peculiarities of distance-time evolution of the temperature fields in solidification process different billets (ingots and casts) for raise them quality

Intranasal Delivery of E-Selectin Reduces Atherosclerosis in ApoE−/− Mice

Mucosal tolerance to E-selectin prevents stroke and protects against ischemic brain damage in experimental models of stroke studying healthy animals or spontaneously hypertensive stroke-prone rats. A reduction in inflammation and neural damage was associated with immunomodulatory or “tolerogenic” responses to E-selectin. The purpose of the current study on ApoE deficient mice is to assess the capacity of this stroke prevention innovation to influence atherosclerosis, a major underlying cause for ischemic strokes; human E-selectin is being translated as a potential clinical prevention strategy for secondary stroke. Female ApoE−/− mice received intranasal delivery of E-selectin prior to (pre-tolerization) or simultaneously with initiation of a high-fat diet. After 7 weeks on the high-fat diet, lipid lesions in the aorta, serum triglycerides, and total cholesterol were assessed as markers of atherosclerosis development. We also assessed E-selectin-specific antibodies and cytokine responses, in addition to inflammatory responses that included macrophage infiltration of the aorta and altered gene expression profiles of aortic mRNA. Intranasal delivery of E-selectin prior to initiation of high-fat chow decreased atherosclerosis, serum total cholesterol, and expression of the leucocyte chemoattractant CCL21 that is typically upregulated in atherosclerotic lesions of ApoE−/− mice. This response was associated with the induction of E-selectin specific cells producing the immunomodulatory cytokine IL-10 and immunosuppressive antibody isotypes. Intranasal administration of E-selectin generates E-selectin specific immune responses that are immunosuppressive in nature and can ameliorate atherosclerosis, a major risk factor for ischemic stroke. These results provide additional preclinical support for the potential of induction of mucosal tolerance to E-selectin to prevent stroke