Monotonic and Cyclic Behaviour of Steel Fibre-Reinforced and FRP-Steel Fibre-Reinforced Helical Pulldown Micropiles

Helical piles are a deep foundation system that can be used to support pipelines, telecommunication and transmission towers, and low- and medium-rise buildings. Advantages of helical piles include: short installation time with minimal noise and vibration levels; can be installed with ease in limited accessibility site; and onsite quality control by measurement of installation torque. The main objective of the current research is to assess the performance of steel fibre-reinforced helical pulldown micropiles (RHPM), and fibre-reinforced polymer-steel fibre- reinforced pulldown micropiles (FRP-RHPM) under axial and lateral monotonic and cyclic loading conditions. The research methodology involved conducting full scale field testing on: one plain helical pile, 12 RHPM and 12 FRP-RHPM. Piles were subjected to axial static and one-way cyclic loading, and lateral static and two-way cyclic loading. The axial test results were then used to calibrate a three-dimensional finite element model. To calibrate the lateral test results, moment-rigidity curves for the tested piles were generated through three-dimensional finite element models. Along with test results, these curves were used to calibrate a finite difference model. The experimental investigation under axial loads shows that these pile systems behave as composite pile systems. The grout shaft significantly improves the helical pile axial performance. Cyclic loads resulted in degradation of the shaft resistance, however, resulted in an improvement of the lead section resistance. The overall pile cyclic response was found to stabilize after a few cycles of loading. Finally, the cyclic loading was found to improve the axial capacity of these systems. The experimental investigation under lateral loads shows that the grout shaft and/or the FRP sleeve significantly improve the plain helical pile lateral performance and ductility. Two-way cyclic loading resulted in overall degradation in pile stiffness and capacity. A design procedure for FRP-RHPM and RHPM under axial compression loading conditions is presented. For the lateral direction, a series of design charts that can be used in conjunction with available numerical programs to design such systems are provided. In general, the RHPM and FRP-RHPM are viable foundation options for axial and lateral monotonic and cyclic loading applications

Fluorescent reporters for functional analysis in rice leaves.

Fluorescent reporters have facilitated non-invasive imaging in multiple plant species and thus allowed the analysis of processes ranging from gene expression and protein localization to cellular patterning. However, in rice, a globally important crop and model species, there are relatively few reports of fluorescent proteins being used in leaves. Fluorescence imaging is particularly difficult in the rice leaf blade, likely due to a high degree of light scattering in this tissue. To address this, we investigated approaches to improve deep imaging in mature rice leaf blades. We found that ClearSee treatment, which has previously been used to visualize fluorescent reporters in whole tissues of plants, led to improved imaging in rice. Removing epidermal and subtending mesophyll cell layers was faster than ClearSee and also reduced light scattering such that imaging of fluorescent proteins in deeper leaf layers was possible. To expand the range of fluorescent proteins suitable for imaging in rice, we screened twelve whose spectral profiles spanned most of the visible spectrum. This identified five proteins (mTurquoise2, mNeonGreen, mClover3, mKOκ, and tdTomato) that are robustly expressed and detectable in mesophyll cells of stably transformed plants. Using microparticle bombardment, we show that mTurquoise2 and mNeonGreen can be used for simultaneous multicolor imaging of different subcellular compartments. Overall, we conclude that mTurquoise2, mNeonGreen, mClover3, mKOκ, and tdTomato are suitable for high-resolution live imaging of rice leaves, both after transient and stable transformation. Along with the rapid microparticle bombardment method, which allows transient transformation of major cell types in the leaf blade, these fluorescent reporters should greatly facilitate the analysis of gene expression and cell biology in rice

Superabsorbent composites based on rice husk for agricultural applications: Swelling behavior, biodegradability in soil and drought alleviation

Abstract Low-cost composites with high water absorption capacity were prepared by free radical copolymerization of acrylic acid (AA), acrylamide (AM) and gelatin in aqueous media using N,N' methylene bis-acrylamide (MBA) as crosslinker, potassium persulfate (KPS) as initiator and rice husk (RH) as a filler. The composites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effects of different parameters such as the alkaline treatment on the rice husk, the media pH and salinity and the composition of the composites on their water absorption capacity were investigated. The water retention and biodegradation tests in soil were also carried out. The optimized composite containing treated RH showed a maximum water uptake value of 825 g∙g−1 in distilled water and good resistance in saline solutions and in the pH range of 6–10. Positive effects on the soil water retention were obtained after 30 days samples of soil containing 1 wt% of superabsorbent composites still contained about 7% of the initial absorbed water. Growth attributes, photosynthetic pigments and nodulation traits of droughted peanut were improved by 60 kg∙ha−1 dosage of SAC. On the basis of the good results of water retention and controlled biodegradability in the soil, the developed composites have the potential to be used in agriculture for better water management, with relevant environmental benefits

Field investigation of lateral monotonic and cyclic performance of reinforced helical pulldown micropiles

Different forms of grouted helical piles are used increasingly to support new and existing foundations. In particular, different methods are used to enhance the lateral and cyclic performance of helical piles for applications in seismic regions. This paper presents a field study on the lateral monotonic and cyclic behaviour of steel fibre-reinforced helical pulldown micropiles (RHPM) and fibre-reinforced polymer-steel fibre reinforced pulldown micropiles (FRP-RHPM). The study shows that the grout shaft and/or the FRP sleeve significantly improve the helical pile lateral performance. In addition, the piles showed a significant ductility (no observed failure up to 75 mm displacement or 50% of pile diameter). Two-way cyclic loading resulted in overall degradation in pile response relative to its static performance. Degradation is found to stem from the formation of gaps between the pile and soil, rather than soil stiffness degradation. Formation of gaps lead to the piles having a "preferential direction" with one side providing higher resistance (i.e. stiffness) than the other side. Design charts of various pile configurations are presented.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

Fluorescent reporters for functional analysis in rice leaves.

Fluorescent reporters have facilitated non-invasive imaging in multiple plant species and thus allowed the analysis of processes ranging from gene expression and protein localization to cellular patterning. However, in rice, a globally important crop and model species, there are relatively few reports of fluorescent proteins being used in leaves. Fluorescence imaging is particularly difficult in the rice leaf blade, likely due to a high degree of light scattering in this tissue. To address this, we investigated approaches to improve deep imaging in mature rice leaf blades. We found that ClearSee treatment, which has previously been used to visualize fluorescent reporters in whole tissues of plants, led to improved imaging in rice. Removing epidermal and subtending mesophyll cell layers was faster than ClearSee and also reduced light scattering such that imaging of fluorescent proteins in deeper leaf layers was possible. To expand the range of fluorescent proteins suitable for imaging in rice, we screened twelve whose spectral profiles spanned most of the visible spectrum. This identified five proteins (mTurquoise2, mNeonGreen, mClover3, mKOκ, and tdTomato) that are robustly expressed and detectable in mesophyll cells of stably transformed plants. Using microparticle bombardment, we show that mTurquoise2 and mNeonGreen can be used for simultaneous multicolor imaging of different subcellular compartments. Overall, we conclude that mTurquoise2, mNeonGreen, mClover3, mKOκ, and tdTomato are suitable for high-resolution live imaging of rice leaves, both after transient and stable transformation. Along with the rapid microparticle bombardment method, which allows transient transformation of major cell types in the leaf blade, these fluorescent reporters should greatly facilitate the analysis of gene expression and cell biology in rice

Prognostic Significance Of Cebpa Mutations And Baalc Expression In Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients With Normal Karyotype

Aim : The aim of this work is to study the prognostic impact of muta-tions in the myeloid transcription factor gene CEBPA (for CCAAT/en-hancer binding protein-a) and expression of the BAALC gene (for brain and acute leukemia, cytoplasmic), a novel gene involved in leukemia,in 38 adults with AML and normal cytogenetics. Method: Screening for mutations of CEBPA gene was assessed using PCR-single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP), and BAALC expression was determined by real-time reverse transcriptase poly-merase chain reaction in blood or bone marrow samples. Result: CEBPA mutations were found in 7 (18.4%) of 38 patients, 36.8% (14 of 38) had low BAALC expression and 63.2 % (24 of 38) had high BAALC expression. Patients with CEBPA mutations had favorable course of their disease. They had higher rate of complete remission (CR) (85.7 % vs 51.6 %; p= 0.108), lower incidence of relapse (0% vs 41.9%; p= 0.038). Disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were significantly longer for patients with CEBPA mutations compared with patients without mutations (mean 13.65±5.41 vs 7.32±4.33 months,p= 0.047; mean 15.32±6.5 vs 8.5±3.21 months, p= 0.039; respectively). Compared to low BAALC expressers, high BAALC expressers had lower incidence of CR (50% vs 71.4%; p= 0.171), higher incidence of relapse (50% vs 14.3%; p= 0.029), and showed significantly shorter DFS (mean 7.5±2.12 vs 11.67±4.6 months, p= 0.038) and inferior overall survival (mean 9.1±3.52 vs 13.22±4.21 months, p= 0.024). Conclusion : From this study, we can conclude that CEBPA mutation status and BAALC expression are important prognostic factors in AML patients with normal cytogenetics and their incorporation into novel risk-adapted therapeutic strategies will improve the currently disap-pointing cure rate of this group of patients

Ultracor - 1-st realization in Europe, design, erection, testing

This paper presents design, realization and testing process of 1-st UltraCor structure in Europe. The scope of the design and intalation is 25.50 m Span, 9.00 m Rise structural plate structure of 500x237mm corrugation with only 9.5 mm plate thickness. Structure will cary the heavy traffic of S7 express road. It was designed for the highest class of loads acc. to Polish Standard. Under the structure there is a local raod and animal crossing

Ultracor - 1-st realization in Europe, design, erection, testing

This paper presents design, realization and testing process of 1-st UltraCor structure in Europe. The scope of the design and intalation is 25.50 m Span, 9.00 m Rise structural plate structure of 500x237mm corrugation with only 9.5 mm plate thickness. Structure will cary the heavy traffic of S7 express road. It was designed for the highest class of loads acc. to Polish Standard. Under the structure there is a local raod and animal crossing