Effect of vitamin D3 supplement in glycemic control of pediatrics with type 1 diabetes mellitus and vitamin D deficiency

Background: Glycemic control prevents microvascular complications in patients with type I diabetes mellitus such as retinopathy, nephropathy and neuropathy that influences quality of life. Some studies show the immunomodulatory effect of vitamin D in synthesis and secretion of insulin. Aims: In this study we evaluate glycemic changes after vitamin D3 supplement in children with type I diabetes mellitus and vitamin D deficiency. Materials and Methods: In children with type I diabetes mellitus, level of vitamin D and HbA1C was measured. Patients with type I diabetes mellitus who had vitamin D deficiency (25OHD 9.9. This supplement transfer patients toward better glycemic control for the entire group (p-value < 0.0001). Conclusion: Vitamin D3 supplement improves HbA1C in pediatrics with type I diabetes mellitus and vitamin D deficiency. © 2015, Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research. All Rights Reserved

Optimising the pattern of semi-rigid columns to improve performance of rail tracks overlying soft soil formation

With Australia facing a rapid increase in population in the next 30 years, the government is being proactive in handling the forecasted growth. The release of 2010 Metropolitan Transport Plan by the New South Wales (NSW) Government shows that the State of NSW will see an increase in commuter travel by rail. The NSW rail system is one of the most complex networks in the world and due to population growth, the network will require further expansion with construction of new railway lines partly on weak and marginal ground and will also require more frequent train running on existing lines. This study seeks to identify the effectiveness of semi-rigid inclusion ground improvement techniques particularly stone columns and deep soil mixing in controlling settlement of soft soils when placed under the dead loads of the rail structure and the large live loads of freight trains. The employed numerical study assesses the relationship between the column position in the track cross section and the overall settlement of the ballasted rail formation. The numerical results show that the overall settlement of the track reduces significantly with the use of columns close to the centre of the track and not just under the rail. In addition, application of one layer of geogrids between sub-ballast and sub-grade assists to reduce the maximum settlement of track decreasing the future maintenance costs

Research-based computer games to train civil engineering students to be lifelong learners

In spite of vast efforts to adopt available information technology in higher education teaching and learning, the truth is that most of university students and academic staff make only limited use of communication technology. Selwyne [1] concluded that there is a growing need for the education community to account for the distinct ?digital disconnect? between the enthusiastic rhetoric and rather more mundane reality of university information and communication technology use. Recent advances in computer science and multimedia as well as optimistic effects of multifaceted modes of education on student learning, have encouraged teachers to look at adopting the new technology to improve students? learning experience. Chang et al. [2] have suggested that digital games can be powerful informal learning environments encouraging active and critical learning, supplementing traditional teaching methods. It is well accepted that well designed discipline based computer games can help with student learning process and experience in higher education. In this study, a computer game called ?Back to Bedrock? has been developed for soil Behaviour subject at undergraduate level and students? learning process has been monitored and evaluated. It was aimed to help Civil Engineering students with information collection methods, creative thinking, problem solving, and lifelong learning abilities, through a research-based computer game. The results of this project indicate that implementing innovative methods such as computer game based assignments can provide enjoyable competitive and cooperative learning environment enhancing students? learning motivation, and critical thinking abilities, improving the overall performance of students in the subject

General and Technical Considerations for Implementing High Speed Rail Systems in Australia

Australia has a number of medium speed rail services such as the Prospector, which runs from East Perth to Kalgoorlie, at speeds of up to 160 km/hr. Speeds as high as 210 km/hr have been reached by the tilt train from Brisbane to Rockhampton. Although there are a few medium speed rail systems in Australia, there is not a passenger rail transport with the high transit speeds seen in other countries. This paper presents the feasibility of implementing high speed rail systems in Australia by looking at the main elements that a high speed train is composed of. This paper also reviews the performance of high speed rail systems around the world and the factors contributed to their success made them successful. The main objective of this study is to look at how the solutions from overseas and how the technical requirements particularly the geotechnical aspects of tracks for a high speed rail system can be applied in Australian existing and new tracks. Australia has its own unique demographic, geographic and economic characteristics and the aim is to identify where there are overlaps between Australiaâs characteristics and countries with high speed rail systems. High speed rail transport might not necessarily be one the best solutions for the transportation at present in Australia, but it can be what a nation needs to succeed in its future transportation system

Mechanical characteristics of soft clay treated with fibre and cement

In this study, the influence of three types of fibre - polypropylene, recycled carpet and steel - on the mechanical properties of cement-treated clay is investigated. Cement-treated clay specimens were prepared with cement contents of 5%, 10% and 15% by weight of dry soil, and cured for 14 days. To investigate and understand the influence of different fibre types and contents, three different percentages of fibre content were adopted. The results of unconfined compression tests on 90 cylindrical samples of cement-treated clay with varied cement and fibre contents are analysed to discern the relationships between these parameters and the key mechanical properties, including unconfined compressive strength and stiffness of treated soil. Furthermore, indirect tension test results of a further 90 treated soil samples have been used to determine the influence of fibre and cement content on the tensile strength of the treated soil. The fibre reinforcement increases the peak compressive strength. The addition of fibres increases the residual strength and changes the brittle behaviour of the cement-treated clay to that of a more ductile material. The tensile strength of the cement-treated clay is increased by adding carpet and steel fibres, but small quantities of polypropylene fibres do not influence the tensile strength. © 2012 Thomas Telford Ltd

Application of research-inspired assessment to enhance students learning in civil engineering

The relationship between teaching and research has become a highly challenging issue due to evidence of synergy between them and complexity of integrating them. As reported by Locke [1], the separation of research and teaching could be the result of policy and operational decisions to distinguish the way these activities are funded, managed, assessed and rewarded. However, this would not necessarily excuse higher education institutions from a commitment to optimise the beneficial relations between teaching and research. For example, research conducted by Posch and Steiner [2] at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich on innovation for sustainability, concludes that appropriate integration of research and teaching activities leads to mutual benefits for both higher education institutions and students. In this study an approach introducing research activities in Civil Engineering subjects to enable students to develop skills within critical and creative thinking and being lifelong learners has been developed and evaluated. Research based activities/assessments in two major Civil Engineering subjects at undergraduate level have been introduced, and students? learning process has been monitored and evaluated. The results of this project indicate that by incorporating research components in subjects, research-based learning culture among Civil Engineering students were developed. This clearly gave more satisfaction to the students about the learning experience. Statistical analysis of results indicated that students with better performance in mini-projects performed better in the final exam, which was a totally independent assessment task. In addition, the averaged final exam mark of students with good quality projects was higher than the one for other students

Conceptual development and numerical modelling of vegetation induced suction and implications on rail track stabilisation

The effects of tree roots on soil suction and ground settlement are investigated. This paper highlights the inter-related parameters contributing to the development of a conceptual evapo-transpiration and root water uptake equilibrium model that is then incorporated in a comprehensive numerical model. The developed numerical model based on the finite element analysis (ABAQUS) considers fully coupled flow-deformation behaviour of soil. Field measurements obtained by the authors from a field site in western Victoria and from past literature are used to validate the model. The predicted results show acceptable agreement with the field data in spite of the assumptions made for simplifying the effects of soil heterogeneity and anisotropy. The numerical analysis proves that the proposed root water uptake model can reliably predict the region of maximum matric suction away from the tree axis. The paper also compares the natural favourable effect of tree roots with the stabilising mechanisms of geosynthetic vertical drains subjected to vacuum pressure. Although this analogy is only justified for shallow vertical drains, the comparison still emphasises the obvious economical advantages of native vegetation

Review on Thermo-mechanical Approach in the Modelling of Geo-materials Incorporating Non-associated Flow Rules

© 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. Recently, there has been a burgeoning interest in developing constitutive soil models from the laws of thermodynamics, mainly due to the benefits that these models automatically obey them and the approach provides a well-established structure and reduces the need for 'ad hoc' postulates. A thermodynamic framework, also known as thermo-mechanical framework, has the capability to predict the behaviour of geotechnical materials, which requires the anticipated incorporation of non-associated flow rules. As it is very challenging to achieve acceptable accuracy in plasticity modelling of granular materials, this paper aims to review this framework not only to discuss the details of the major components but also to highlight the capability of generating non-associated flow rules in a natural way from thermo-mechanical principles. This approach introduces the use of internal variables to develop the two thermodynamic potentials (the free energy and the rate of dissipation functions), sufficient to derive the corresponding yield function, flow rule, isotropic and kinematic hardening rules as well as the basic elasticity law. It is shown that the non-associated flow rule can be derived naturally from the postulated stress-dependent dissipation increment function. Comparison has been made with stress-independent dissipation to demonstrate that the approach can also successfully explain the behaviour of standard materials with associated flow rules. The basic steps for the thermo-mechanical formulation for developing a constitutive model are also reviewed and summarised. Furthermore, the power of conventional mathematical technique, Legendre transformation, in the derivation of constitutive equations has been highlighted

Parametric Study On Behavior Of Reinforced Soil Walls With Combined Horizontal And Vertical Geosynthetics

The reinforced soil system employing geogrids, as a cost effective reinforcement technique, has come to play an important role in a variety of civil and geotechnical engineering applications. In regular reinforced soil wal1s, the reinforcements are usually laid horizontally in the soil. In this study, the behaviour of reinforced soil retaining walls with combined horizontal and vertical reinforcements are investigated experimentally as well as numerically. The results, indicating the effects of vertical reinforcement inclusion, are compared to conventional reinforcing types under static and dynamic loads. The performance of retaining walls employing vertical reinforcement in conjunction with horizontal reinforcement is convincing from the results of the shake table tests conducted by the authors. In this paper, PLAXIS, well-known geotechnical software, is used for conducting a series of pararoetric studies on behaviour of reinforced soil walls under construction and subject to earthquake loading, incorporating the vertical reinforcement. The vertical reinforcement layout and its strength are among the major variables of the investigation. The geometry of the model, soil properties and reinforcement characteristics have been kept identical in all different cases selected for parametric studies. The performance of the wall is presented for the facing deformation and crest surface settlement, lateral earth pressure, tensile force in the reinforcement layers and acceleration amplification. The vertical ctefOlIDation, horizontal deflection, reinforcement force and earth pressure develop drastically under earthquake loading compared to the end of construction. The results show that these variables are considerably reduced when incorporating the vertical reinforcement in the system. In addition, the findings suggest better performance and higher structural safety for reinforced soil walls, when employing this proposed orthogonally horizontal-vertical geosynthetics

Parametric Study of Applied Stresses on Infiltration Modular Cells Installed under Roads

© 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. Modular geocellular units are applicable for the prevention and minimisation of stormwater runoff and flooding as a sustainable and cost-effective solution of road applications for drainage. The integrated units buried are exposed to the dead loads and live loads emerging from the surrounding soil pressure, pore water pressure and surcharge. Thus, a computer program using MATLAB is developed for the assessment of the total vertical and lateral earth pressure exerting on the modules complying with the Australian Standards AS 4678 (2002) and AS 5100.2(2004). Lateral earth pressure concept based on Rankine's theory is adopted in this model as the analytical approach. Closed-form solutions based on the fundamental soil mechanics are applied in the analytical calculation steps made. The model also considers different guidelines such as AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications (2010) for the stress distribution of vehicular loads according to the selected axle type. In consideration of the interaction of the moving vehicle and the bridge, the dynamic load allowance is also applied in terms of the static equivalent of the dynamic and vibratory effect as prescribed in AS 5100.2 (2004). Based on the results obtained, the numerical and theoretical results generated by the program provide considerable and influential factors in regarding to the parametric study and sensitivity analysis presented in this paper