Tide

Non-fiction by Carolyn Crowne

Current Status of Design and Construction of Piles with a Pilot Hole on Rock

Driven piles at project sites get their load bearing capacity from side friction along the driven lengths as well as from end resistance. Pilot holes is a pile driving assistance method used to aid driving displacement piles through hard/ dense layers and rock. These pilot holes can be a size smaller or larger than the pile that is to be installed. The pilot hole is first drilled down to a specific depth. The use of a pilot hole reduces the “end bearing” and “side resistance” within the drilled zone and aids the driving of the pile. This process also complicates the prediction of long-term pile capacity. Two of the major unknowns that accompany the use of the pilot hole is the reduction of end bearings as it pertains to pile driving within the zona and the reduction of side friction. The objective of this project was to identify and document the relationship between the load capacity of piles installed with pilot holes specifically into rock and their design parameters with respect to the pilot hole geometry, rock socket geometry, geological properties, and installation method. As well to develop a reliable LRFD design procedure that incorporates proper resistance factors, and a field verification method for quality assurance of rock. To complete the objectives what was needed to compile best practice methods available on the subject on pilot holes. This included a literature review, a survey with State Highway agencies, some field testing and instrumentation, a review of past projects and testing data, and preparing a final report with recommendations

Connecting Public Health and Transportation - Applying Crowdsourcing and Community Engagement Principles to Traffic Safety

Motor vehicle traffic fatalities are a public health problem in the United States. In 2022, there were 42,514 people killed and another 2.38 million people injured on U.S. roadways (National Center for Statistics and Analysis [NCSA], 2024). These fatalities are a leading cause of death and kill over 116 people each day. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS), in 2022, for people ages 15-24, motor vehicle crashes were the leading cause of death in the United States (CDC, 2022). Across all age groups, motor vehicle crashes are in the top 10 leading causes of death

AQUACULTURAL SYSTEM MANAGEMENT TOOL II: ANALYTICAL AND MANAGERIAL CAPABILITY

One of the major objectives for developing ecosystem models is their application as tools of analysis for complex systems which otherwise would be difficult to analyze using conventional tools such as field experimentation and inventory monitoring. In view of this, the AQUASMAT model, which was developed based on existing ecosystem models theories and coded using the C-sharp language, was used to conduct a modeling study on a static concrete fish tank, to demonstrate its managerial and analytical capabilities. The input variables for model execution were site specific parameters, fish/feed parameters, water quality parameters and management options from selected fish farm in Nigeria. The model simulation was for concrete tanks with surface area of 1 m2 and 50 m2 respectively, run for a period of 151 using various management techniques and varied feeding rates. Series of simulations were used to evaluate the ability of the model to predict the effects of different feed regimes, management intensities, and budgetary requirements (solely based on cost of fish and feed), and interaction of parameters over a range of fish production levels. The model was used to gain insight into the dynamics and interactions of major water quality parameters with respect to feed loading and fish growth in a 1m3 fish tank. The result of the simulation was compared to a farmer’s production output and best management practices which provide the user (farmer) with optimal feeding techniques and practices with lower FCR within recommended range. The results of the water parameters relationships and interaction with respect to feed loading and fish growth were used to gain insight in sizing biofilter for aquaponics systems

Rediscovering the Axolotl as a Model for Thyroid Hormone Dependent Development

The Mexican axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) is an important model organism in biomedical research. Much current attention is focused on the axolotl\u27s amazing ability to regenerate tissues and whole organs after injury. However, not forgotten is the axolotl\u27s equally amazing ability to thwart aspects of tissue maturation and retain juvenile morphology into the adult phase of life. Unlike close tiger salamander relatives that undergo a thyroid hormone regulated metamorphosis, the axolotl does not typically undergo a metamorphosis. Instead, the axolotl exhibits a paedomorphic mode of development that enables a completely aquatic life cycle. The evolution of paedomorphosis allowed axolotls to exploit relatively permanent habitats in Mexico, and preadapted axolotls for domestication and laboratory study. In this perspective, we first introduce the axolotl and the various meanings of paedomorphosis, and then stress the need to move beyond endocrinology-guided approaches to understand the axolotl\u27s hypothyroid state. With the recent completion of the axolotl genome assembly and established methods to manipulate gene functions, the axolotl is poised to provide new insights about paedomorphosis and the role of thyroid hormone in development and evolution

Relative mortality in U.S. Medicare beneficiaries with Parkinson disease and hip and pelvic fractures

BACKGROUND: Parkinson disease is a neurodegenerative disease that affects gait and postural stability, resulting in an increased risk of falling. The purpose of this study was to estimate mortality associated with demographic factors after hip or pelvic (hip/pelvic) fracture in people with Parkinson disease. A secondary goal was to compare the mortality associated with Parkinson disease to that associated with other common medical conditions in patients with hip/pelvic fracture. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational cohort study of 1,980,401 elderly Medicare beneficiaries diagnosed with hip/pelvic fracture from 2000 to 2005 who were identified with use of the Beneficiary Annual Summary File. The race/ethnicity distribution of the sample was white (93.2%), black (3.8%), Hispanic (1.2%), and Asian (0.6%). Individuals with Parkinson disease (131,215) were identified with use of outpatient and carrier claims. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the risk of death associated with demographic and clinical variables and to compare mortality after hip/pelvic fracture between patients with Parkinson disease and those with other medical conditions associated with high mortality after hip/pelvic fracture, after adjustment for race/ethnicity, sex, age, and modified Charlson comorbidity score. RESULTS: Among those with Parkinson disease, women had lower mortality after hip/pelvic fracture than men (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] = 0.63, 95% confidence interval [CI]) = 0.62 to 0.64), after adjustment for covariates. Compared with whites, blacks had a higher (HR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.09 to 1.16) and Hispanics had a lower (HR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.81 to 0.95) mortality, after adjustment for covariates. Overall, the adjusted mortality rate after hip/pelvic fracture in individuals with Parkinson disease (HR = 2.41, 95% CI = 2.37 to 2.46) was substantially elevated compared with those without the disease, a finding similar to the increased mortality associated with a diagnosis of dementia (HR = 2.73, 95% CI = 2.68 to 2.79), kidney disease (HR = 2.66, 95% CI = 2.60 to 2.72), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (HR = 2.48, 95% CI = 2.43 to 2.53). CONCLUSIONS: Mortality after hip/pelvic fracture in Parkinson disease varies according to demographic factors. Mortality after hip/pelvic fracture is substantially increased among those with Parkinson disease. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence

Outcome measures for individuals with stroke: Process and recommendations from the American Physical Therapy Association neurology section task force

Background and PurposeThe use of standardized outcome measures (OMs) can support clinicians’ development of appropriate care plans, guide educators in curricular decisions, and enhance the methodological quality and generalizability of clinical trials. The purposes of this case report are: (1) to describe a framework and process for assessing psychometrics and clinical utility of OMs used poststroke; (2) to describe a consensus process used to develop recommendations for stroke-related OMs in clinical practice, research, and professional (entry-level) physical therapist education; (3) to present examples demonstrating how the recommendations have been utilized to date; and (4) to make suggestions for future efforts.Case DescriptionA task force of 7 physical therapists with diverse clinical and research expertise in stroke rehabilitation used a 3-stage, modified Delphi consensus process to develop recommendations on OM use. An evidence-based systematic review template and a 4-point rating scheme were used to make recommendations on OM use by care setting and patient acuity, for research, and for inclusion in professional education.OutcomesAn initial list of 77 OMs was developed based on input from numerous professional sources. Screening measures and duplicate measures were eliminated. Fifty-six OMs received full review. Measures spanned the constructs of body structure/function (21), activity (28), and participation (14). Fourteen measures received a rating of “highly recommend.”DiscussionUse of highly recommended OMs may provide a common set of tools enabling comparisons across patients, interventions, settings, and studies. The use of a clearly defined, comprehensive assessment template may facilitate the pooling of data on OMs and contribute to best practice guidelines. Educational recommendations may inform curricular decisions.</jats:sec

LRFD Procedure for Piles with Pilot Hole in Rock

PI# 0016891A pile driven into the ground gets its bearing capacity from skin friction along the pile surface as well as from end resistance at the toe. The load transfer mechanism determines how much load is carried by the shaft and by the toe. In Georgia, when a hard/dense layer exists in the pile length or the vibration/noise during the driving causes secondary issues, a pilot hole is often adopted as a pile-driving assistance method to aid driving displacement piles through, especially if a competent hard rock layer exists in a reasonable depth. The use of a pilot hole reduces construction time and uncertainties related to driving through the problematic layers. However, it also reduces the side resistance within the drilled zone due to the disturbance and size of the hole. This process also complicates the prediction of long-term pile capacity. An objective of this study was to identify and document the current guidelines available and adopted by different states, and investigate the relationship between the load capacity of piles installed in rock and their design parameters with respect to the pilot hole, rock conditions, and installation method. Another objective was to identify a reliable design procedure that incorporates proper LRFD resistance factors, and a field verification method for quality assurance of rock. A compilation of best practice methods was necessary, which includes a literature review, a survey with state highway agencies, field tests, a review of past projects and testing data, and making final conclusions. Through these efforts, it is found that most states using a pilot hole in rock, the hole size is larger that the pile and the skin friction is ignored for the nominal resistance. In addition, geotechnical aspects control the design in soft rock, whereas structural aspects control the design in hard rock. Some states do not run a field test but use refusal/end of driving criteria for piles driven into rock. Nevertheless, PDA can be applied to the piles with a pilot hole on rock to check the internal stress to avoid the damage during striking. Moreover, it can verify the structural capacity of the pile if not the geotechnical capacity due to the higher bearing capacity on rock

HDAC Regulates Transcription at the Outset of Axolotl Tail Regeneration

Tissue regeneration is associated with complex changes in gene expression and post-translational modifications of proteins, including transcription factors and histones that comprise chromatin. We tested 172 compounds designed to target epigenetic mechanisms in an axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) embryo tail regeneration assay. A relatively large number of compounds (N = 55) inhibited tail regeneration, including 18 histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi). In particular, romidepsin, an FDA-approved anticancer drug, potently inhibited tail regeneration when embryos were treated continuously for 7 days. Additional experiments revealed that romidepsin acted within a very narrow, post-injury window. Romidepsin treatment for only 1-minute post amputation inhibited regeneration through the first 7 days, however after this time, regeneration commenced with variable outgrowth of tailfin tissue and abnormal patterning. Microarray analysis showed that romidepsin altered early, transcriptional responses at 3 and 6-hour post-amputation, especially targeting genes that are implicated in tumor cell death, as well as genes that function in the regulation of transcription, cell differentiation, cell proliferation, pattern specification, and tissue morphogenesis. Our results show that HDAC activity is required at the time of tail amputation to regulate the initial transcriptional response to injury and regeneration