Seismic strengthening of existing typical Japanese wood homes using GFRP systems

It is estimated that out of existing 47 millions homes in Japan, approximately 11.5 million need urgent strengthening. These homes do not meet current earthquake resistant standards and would face severe damage in the event of a “Shindo” 7 quake as it is know on the Japan Meteorological Agency’s seismic intensity scale. Wooden houses in Japan are typically built by wood post-and-beam methods over a concrete strip foundation. Due to the constant mild seismic activity many of the existing homes have been further weakened with evidence of cracks in the foundation and in the wood-mortar walls. The currently available seismic strengthening systems involve a massive amount of intrusive work to the existing homes and are beyond the budget of an ordinary Japanese family. This paper serves as a case study, from Concept to Implementation, into how an affordable minimally intrusive seismic strengthening system was developed to strengthen typical Japanese wooden houses for earthquakes resistance by using Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymers (GFRP) materials. It will highlight the concept for the concrete strip foundation and the concept for the wood-mortar wall strengthening with GFRP as well look into specific details of four years of research and development with the participation of Kyushu University in Japan, Nanyang Technological University in Singapore and Oita Universit

The processing and characterisation of recycled NdFeB-type sintered magnets

A study of the processing and characterisation of sintered NdFeB magnets made from recycled feed stock was undertaken. Initially the hydrogen decrepitated (HD) powder was investigated using two different milling techniques. The powders were analysed with optical microscopy, with the aid of a magnetic field. It was found that with light milling the HD powder breaks up to a similar particle size to that of the grain size of the starting material. A data logging system was built to investigate the desorption behaviour of green compacts during sintering. Desorption traces showed desorption from the matrix phase and the intergranular Nd-rich phase. The start of desorption was seen to shift to lower temperatures as the mean particle size of the green compact was reduced. For the processing route used in this work intergranular additions of neodymium hydride were required to increase the density and magnetic properties. To investigate the oxidation behaviour of lightly milled HD powder, powder was exposed to air for varying times. The exposed powder was aligned pressed and sintered. The Nd-rich desorption peak reduced with exposure time, the density and magnetic properties also reduced. Post exposure additions of Intergranular neodymium hydride to the powder recovered density and magnetic properties

The Black Aspergillus Species of Maize and Peanuts and Their Potential for Mycotoxin Production

The black spored fungi of the subgenera Circumdata, the section Nigri (=Aspergillus niger group) is reviewed relative to their production of mycotoxins and their effects on plants as pathogens. Molecular methods have revealed more than 18 cryptic species, of which several have been characterized as potential mycotoxin producers. Others are defined as benign relative to their ability to produce mycotoxins. However, these characterizations are based on in vitro culture and toxins production. Several can produce the ochratoxins that are toxic to livestock, poultry, and humans. The black aspergilli produce rots of grapes, maize, and numerous other fruits and grain and they are generally viewed as post-harvest pathogens. Data are review to suggest that black aspergilli, as so many others, are symptomless endophytes. These fungi and their mycotoxins contaminate several major grains, foodstuffs, and products made from them such as wine, and coffee. Evidence is presented that the black aspergilli are producers of other classes of mycotoxins such as the fumonisins, which are known carcinogenic and known prior investigations as being produced by the Fusarium species. Three species are identified in U.S. maize and peanuts as symptomless endophytes, which suggests the potential for concern as pathogens and as food safety hazards

DNAm-based signatures of accelerated aging and mortality in blood are associated with low renal function

Background The difference between an individual's chronological and DNA methylation predicted age (DNAmAge), termed DNAmAge acceleration (DNAmAA), can capture life-long environmental exposures and age-related physiological changes reflected in methylation status. Several studies have linked DNAmAA to morbidity and mortality, yet its relationship with kidney function has not been assessed. We evaluated the associations between seven DNAm aging and lifespan predictors (as well as GrimAge components) and five kidney traits (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR], urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio [uACR], serum urate, microalbuminuria and chronic kidney disease [CKD]) in up to 9688 European, African American and Hispanic/Latino individuals from seven population-based studies. Results We identified 23 significant associations in our large trans-ethnic meta-analysis (p < 1.43E−03 and consistent direction of effect across studies). Age acceleration measured by the Extrinsic and PhenoAge estimators, as well as Zhang’s 10-CpG epigenetic mortality risk score (MRS), were associated with all parameters of poor kidney health (lower eGFR, prevalent CKD, higher uACR, microalbuminuria and higher serum urate). Six of these associations were independently observed in European and African American populations. MRS in particular was consistently associated with eGFR (β =  − 0.12, 95% CI = [− 0.16, − 0.08] change in log-transformed eGFR per unit increase in MRS, p = 4.39E−08), prevalent CKD (odds ratio (OR) = 1.78 [1.47, 2.16], p = 2.71E-09) and higher serum urate levels (β = 0.12 [0.07, 0.16], p = 2.08E−06). The “first-generation” clocks (Hannum, Horvath) and GrimAge showed different patterns of association with the kidney traits. Three of the DNAm-estimated components of GrimAge, namely adrenomedullin, plasminogen-activation inhibition 1 and pack years, were positively associated with higher uACR, serum urate and microalbuminuria. Conclusion DNAmAge acceleration and DNAm mortality predictors estimated in whole blood were associated with multiple kidney traits, including eGFR and CKD, in this multi-ethnic study. Epigenetic biomarkers which reflect the systemic effects of age-related mechanisms such as immunosenescence, inflammaging and oxidative stress may have important mechanistic or prognostic roles in kidney disease. Our study highlights new findings linking kidney disease to biological aging, and opportunities warranting future investigation into DNA methylation biomarkers for prognostic or risk stratification in kidney disease