Assessment of Existing Steel Structures - Recommendations for Estimation of the Remaining Fatigue Life

Due to the demand for freight volume on rail and road, traffic has increased significantly in the past years leading to an increasing number of heavy vehicles in the traffic flows and greater exploitation of their loading capacities. Because of environmental considerations there is also a tendency to further enhance the admissible loads in the design of new heavy vehicles (e.g. by increasing axle loads or using road trains). This all may affect the safety, serviceability and durability of existing bridges. Bridge authorities are therefore interested in agreed methods to assess the safety and durability of existing bridges and to make appropriate provisions for more refined maintenance methods, possible restriction of traffic, bridge-rehabilitation or substitution of old bridges by new ones where necessary. For steel bridges including the old riveted ones there are numerous approaches to such assessments, partly standardized by national codes or recommendations. In the light of the development of the European single market for construction works and engineering services there is thus a need to harmonize them and to develop agreed European technical recommendations for the safety and durability assessment of existing structures. These recommendations should follow the principles and application rules in the Eurocodes and provide a scheme with different levels of analysis: a basic level with general methods and further levels with higher sophistication that call for specific expertise. This technical report on ¿Recommendations for the estimation of remaining fatigue life¿ supported by the ECCS could be used as a basis for harmonizing National procedures and for the further evolution of the Eurocodes.JRC.G.5-European laboratory for structural assessmen

Neutron reflection study of the adsorption of the phosphate surfactant NaDEHP onto alumina from water.

The adsorption of a phosphorus analogue of the surfactant AOT, sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (NaDEHP), at the water/alumina interface is described. The material is found to adsorb as an essentially water-free bilayer from neutron reflection measurements. This is similar to the behavior of AOT under comparable conditions, although AOT forms a thicker, more hydrated layer. The NaDEHP shows rather little variation with added salt, but a small thickening of the layer on increasing the pH, in contrast to the behavior of AOT.We thank BP plc and EPSRC for financial support for this work as well as the ISIS and ILL staff and scientists for the allocation of beam time and technical assistance with NR measurements. We also appreciate Chris Sporikou at Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, for help with the surfactant synthesis.This is the final version of the article. It first appeared at http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/la504837

Effects of the Insemination of Hydrogen Peroxide-Treated Epididymal Mouse Spermatozoa on γH2AX Repair and Embryo Development

BACKGROUND: Cryopreservation of human semen for assisted reproduction is complicated by cryodamage to spermatozoa caused by excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We used exogenous ROS (H(2)O(2)) to simulate cryopreservation and examined DNA damage repair in embryos fertilized with sperm with H(2)O(2)-induced DNA damage. Sperm samples were collected from epididymis of adult male KM mice and treated with capacitation medium (containing 0, 0.1, 0.5 and 1 mM H(2)O(2)) or cryopreservation. The model of DNA-damaged sperm was based on sperm motility, viability and the expression of γH2AX, the DNA damage-repair marker. We examined fertility rate, development, cell cleavage, and γH2AX level in embryos fertilized with DNA-damaged sperm. Cryopreservation and 1-mM H(2)O(2) treatment produced similar DNA damage. Most of the one- and two-cell embryos fertilized with DNA-damaged sperm showed a delay in cleavage before the blastocyst stage. Immunocytochemistry revealed γH2AX in the one- and four-cell embryos. CONCLUSIONS: γH2AX may be involved in repair of preimplantation embryos fertilized with oxygen-stressed spermatozoa

Tuning chelation by the surfactant-like peptide A6H using predetermined pH values

We examine the self-assembly of a peptide A6H comprising a hexa-alanine sequence A6 with a histidine (H) “head group”, which chelates Zn2+ cations. We study the self assembly of A6H and binding of Zn2+ ions in ZnCl2 solutions, under acidic and neutral conditions. A6H self-assembles into nanotapes held together by a β-sheet structure in acidic aqueous solutions. By dissolving A6H in acidic ZnCl2 solutions, the carbonyl oxygen atoms in A6H chelate the Zn2+ ions and allow for β-sheet formation at lower concentrations, consequently reducing the onset concentration for nanotape formation. A6H mixed with water or ZnCl2 solutions under neutral conditions produces short sheets or pseudocrystalline tapes, respectively. The imidazole ring of A6H chelates Zn2+ ions in neutral solutions. The internal structure of nanosheets and pseudocrystalline sheets in neutral solutions is similar to the internal structure of A6H nanotapes in acidic solutions. Our results show that it is possible to induce dramatic changes in the self-assembly and chelation sites of A6H by changing the pH of the solution. However, it is likely that the amphiphilic nature of A6H determines the internal structure of the self-assembled aggregates independent from changes in chelation

Effects of Oxidized Glutathione, Bovine Serum Albumin, Cysteine and Lycopene on the Quality of Frozen-Thawed Ram Semen

Free radicals are known to be involved in lipid peroxidation as well as DNA and sperm membrane damages that may lead to decreased sperm motility or cell death. The balance between free radical production and their detoxification may be an important factor in sperm survival and function before, during and after cryopreservation. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of the addition of the antioxidants of oxidized glutathione (GSSG), bovine serum albumin (BSA), cysteine and lycopene to freezing media on the post-thawing sperm characteristics, including motility, morphology, acrosome integrity, viability and membrane integrity. A total number of 42 ejaculates were collected using the artifi cial vagina from 4 Akkaraman rams and 10 replicates of the ejaculates were diluted with a Tris-based extender containing additives and no additives as control. GSSG (5 mM), BSA (20 mg/ml), cysteine (10 mM) and lycopene (800 μg) showed more positive effects than other concentrations of the supplements and controls in protecting sperm characteristics after the freezing-thawing process (P < 0.001). Many aspects of sperm protection, e.g. sperm motility, viability and membrane stabilisation of the sperm cells during relative cryopreservation, are the key factors in determining the preservation of sperm function. The results of this study provide a new approach to the cryopreservation of sperm from rams and related breeds, and thereby contribute to the improvement of these breeds for the world sheep industry

The effect of optical anisotropies on building glass façades and its measurement methods

Commonly, in the evaluation of the optical appearance of glass panes in building envelopes, anisotropies are a reason for a dispute between the architect or client and the façade manufacturer. Sometimes each party has a different perception, how strong the anisotropies are and what is permissible. This paper discusses in the first part the formation of the anisotropies and their natural sources. It is shown that the appearance of this phenomenon is dependent on the environmental conditions of the building site as well as the glass quality. If the application of thermally tempered glass cannot be avoided, the quality assurance of the production process has to be carefully planned. Furthermore a method for the quantitative measurement of anisotropies is proposed and prescribed in detail. This method can assist in the quality assurance process. Measurements are showing that probably the best tempered glass offers slight anisotropies and that under unfavorable conditions these anisotropies can become evident

The effect of optical anisotropies on building glass façades and its measurement methods

Commonly, in the evaluation of the optical appearance of glass panes in building envelopes, anisotropies are a reason for a dispute between the architect or client and the façade manufacturer. Sometimes each party has a different perception, how strong the anisotropies are and what is permissible. This paper discusses in the first part the formation of the anisotropies and their natural sources. It is shown that the appearance of this phenomenon is dependent on the environmental conditions of the building site as well as the glass quality. If the application of thermally tempered glass cannot be avoided, the quality assurance of the production process has to be carefully planned. Furthermore a method for the quantitative measurement of anisotropies is proposed and prescribed in detail. This method can assist in the quality assurance process. Measurements are showing that probably the best tempered glass offers slight anisotropies and that under unfavorable conditions these anisotropies can become evident

Serum Levels of Omentin in Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome

Purpose: Omentin, a member of the adipocytokines family, is derived from adipose tissue and a lower level of serum omentin is considered as a metabolic risk factor. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the serum levels of omentin in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PES).Materials and Methods: Patients without any systemic or ocular disease other than PES were included in the study. Age-matched and sex-matched healthy volunteers without PES were accepted as a control group. After detailed ophthalmologic examination, blood samples were obtained from a forearm vein. Serum levels of omentin were determined by the method of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results: The mean age of the PES group (12 females, 12 males, n = 24) was 75.2 +/- 8.4 years, and the control group (10 females, 10 males, n = 20) was 75 +/- 6.7 years. There was no difference between the groups in terms of age (P = 0.93) and sex (P = 0.9). The mean serum levels of omentin in the PES group were 801.5 +/- 317.1 ng/mL and in the control group were 1150.1 +/- 584.1 ng/mL. The mean serum omentin levels were significantly lower in patients with PES (P = 0.016).Conclusion: Lower levels of serum omentin in patients with PES compared with healthy subjects may support the theory of systemic nature of the disease