Study of Vibrations in a Short-Span Bridge Under Resonance Conditions Considering Train-Track Interaction

[EN] Resonance is a phenomenon of utmost importance in railways engineering, leading to vast damages both in track and vehicles. A short-span bridge has been modeled by means of a finite elements method model, calibrated and validated with real data, to study resonance vibrations induced by the passage of trains. Furthermore, the influence of vehicle speed and track damping on the vibrations registered on the rail, the sleeper and the bridge has been assessed. Different track and vehicle pathologies have been proposed and their effect on the resonance of the bridge has been evaluated.Ribes-Llario, F.; Velarte-González, JL.; Pérez-Garnes, JL.; Real Herráiz, JI. (2016). Study of Vibrations in a Short-Span Bridge Under Resonance Conditions Considering Train-Track Interaction. Latin American Journal of Solids and Structures. 13(7):1236-1249. doi:10.1590/1679-78252773S12361249137Ahlström, J., & Karlsson, B. (1999). Microstructural evaluation and interpretation of the mechanically and thermally affected zone under railway wheel flats. Wear, 232(1), 1-14. doi:10.1016/s0043-1648(99)00166-0Bian, X., Chao, C., Jin, W., & Chen, Y. (2011). A 2.5D finite element approach for predicting ground vibrations generated by vertical track irregularities. Journal of Zhejiang University-SCIENCE A, 12(12), 885-894. doi:10.1631/jzus.a11gt012Grassie, S. L., & Kalousek, J. (1993). Rail Corrugation: Characteristics, Causes and Treatments. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit, 207(1), 57-68. doi:10.1243/pime_proc_1993_207_227_02Gupta, A., & Singh Ahuja, A. (2014). Dynamic Analysis of Railway Bridges under High Speed Trains. Universal Journal of Mechanical Engineering, 2(6), 199-204. doi:10.13189/ujme.2014.020604Ju, S. H., & Lin, H. T. (2003). Resonance characteristics of high-speed trains passing simply supported bridges. Journal of Sound and Vibration, 267(5), 1127-1141. doi:10.1016/s0022-460x(02)01463-3Kwark, J. W., Choi, E. S., Kim, Y. J., Kim, B. S., & Kim, S. I. (2004). Dynamic behavior of two-span continuous concrete bridges under moving high-speed train. Computers & Structures, 82(4-5), 463-474. doi:10.1016/s0045-7949(03)00054-3Lu, Y., Mao, L., & Woodward, P. (2012). Frequency characteristics of railway bridge response to moving trains with consideration of train mass. Engineering Structures, 42, 9-22. doi:10.1016/j.engstruct.2012.04.007Makino, T., Yamamoto, M., & Fujimura, T. (2002). Effect of material on spalling properties of railroad wheels. Wear, 253(1-2), 284-290. doi:10.1016/s0043-1648(02)00117-5Mao, L., & Lu, Y. (2013). Critical Speed and Resonance Criteria of Railway Bridge Response to Moving Trains. Journal of Bridge Engineering, 18(2), 131-141. doi:10.1061/(asce)be.1943-5592.0000336Museros, P., Romero, M. ., Poy, A., & Alarcón, E. (2002). Advances in the analysis of short span railway bridges for high-speed lines. Computers & Structures, 80(27-30), 2121-2132. doi:10.1016/s0045-7949(02)00261-4Pal, S., Valente, C., Daniel, W., & Farjoo, M. (2012). Metallurgical and physical understanding of rail squat initiation and propagation. Wear, 284-285, 30-42. doi:10.1016/j.wear.2012.02.013Sheng, X., Jones, C. J. C., & Thompson, D. J. (2004). A theoretical model for ground vibration from trains generated by vertical track irregularities. Journal of Sound and Vibration, 272(3-5), 937-965. doi:10.1016/s0022-460x(03)00782-xSimon, S., Saulot, A., Dayot, C., Quost, X., & Berthier, Y. (2013). Tribological characterization of rail squat defects. Wear, 297(1-2), 926-942. doi:10.1016/j.wear.2012.11.011Wang, Y., Wei, Q., Shi, J., & Long, X. (2010). Resonance characteristics of two-span continuous beam under moving high speed trains. Latin American Journal of Solids and Structures, 7(2), 185-199. doi:10.1590/s1679-78252010000200005Xia, H., Zhang, N., & Guo, W. W. (2006). Analysis of resonance mechanism and conditions of train–bridge system. Journal of Sound and Vibration, 297(3-5), 810-822. doi:10.1016/j.jsv.2006.04.022Yang, Y. B., & Lin, C. W. (2005). Vehicle–bridge interaction dynamics and potential applications. Journal of Sound and Vibration, 284(1-2), 205-226. doi:10.1016/j.jsv.2004.06.03

Effects of a dual CCR3 and H1-antagonist on symptoms and eosinophilic inflammation in allergic rhinitis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The CC-chemokine receptor-3 (CCR3) has emerged as a target molecule for pharmacological intervention in allergic inflammation.</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>To examine whether a dual CCR3 and H₁-receptor antagonist (AZD3778) affects allergic inflammation and symptoms in allergic rhinitis.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis were subjected to three seven days' allergen challenge series. Treatment with AZD3778 was given in a placebo and antihistamine-controlled design. Symptoms and nasal peak inspiratory flow (PIF) were monitored in the morning, ten minutes post challenge, and in the evening. Nasal lavages were carried out at the end of each challenge series and α₂-macroglobulin, ECP, and tryptase were monitored as indices of allergic inflammation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Plasma levels of AZD3778 were stable throughout the treatment series. AZD3778 and the antihistamine (loratadine) reduced rhinitis symptoms recorded ten minutes post challenge during this period. AZD3778, but not the anti-histamine, also improved nasal PIF ten minutes post challenge. Furthermore, scores for morning and evening nasal symptoms from the last five days of the allergen challenge series showed statistically significant reductions for AZD3778, but not for loratadine. ECP was reduced by AZD3778, but not by loratadine.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>AZD3778 exerts anti-eosinophil and symptom-reducing effects in allergic rhinitis and part of this effect can likely be attributed to CCR3-antagonism. The present data are of interest with regard to the potential use of AZD3778 in allergic rhinitis and to the relative importance of eosinophil actions to the symptomatology of allergic rhinitis.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>EudraCT No: 2005-002805-21.</p

Conformational and Structural Relaxations of Poly(ethylene oxide) and Poly(propylene oxide) Melts: Molecular Dynamics Study of Spatial Heterogeneity, Cooperativity, and Correlated Forward-Backward Motion

Performing molecular dynamics simulations for all-atom models, we characterize the conformational and structural relaxations of poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(propylene oxide) melts. The temperature dependence of these relaxation processes deviates from an Arrhenius law for both polymers. We demonstrate that mode-coupling theory captures some aspects of the glassy slowdown, but it does not enable a complete explanation of the dynamical behavior. When the temperature is decreased, spatially heterogeneous and cooperative translational dynamics are found to become more important for the structural relaxation. Moreover, the transitions between the conformational states cease to obey Poisson statistics. In particular, we show that, at sufficiently low temperatures, correlated forward-backward motion is an important aspect of the conformational relaxation, leading to strongly nonexponential distributions for the waiting times of the dihedrals in the various conformational statesComment: 13 pages, 13 figure

Multicriteria evaluation of discharge simulation in Dynamic Global Vegetation Models

PublishedJournal Article© 2015. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved. In this study, we assessed the performance of discharge simulations by coupling the runoff from seven Dynamic Global Vegetation Models (DGVMs; LPJ, ORCHIDEE, Sheffield-DGVM, TRIFFID, LPJ-GUESS, CLM4CN, and OCN) to one river routing model for 16 large river basins. The results show that the seasonal cycle of river discharge is generally modeled well in the low and middle latitudes but not in the high latitudes, where the peak discharge (due to snow and ice melting) is underestimated. For the annual mean discharge, the DGVMs chained with the routing model show an underestimation. Furthermore, the 30 year trend of discharge is also underestimated. For the interannual variability of discharge, a skill score based on overlapping of probability density functions (PDFs) suggests that most models correctly reproduce the observed variability (correlation coefficient higher than 0.5; i.e., models account for 50% of observed interannual variability) except for the Lena, Yenisei, Yukon, and the Congo river basins. In addition, we compared the simulated runoff from different simulations where models were forced with either fixed or varying land use. This suggests that both seasonal and annual mean runoff has been little affected by land use change but that the trend itself of runoff is sensitive to land use change. None of the models when considered individually show significantly better performances than any other and in all basins. This suggests that based on current modeling capability, a regional-weighted average of multimodel ensemble projections might be appropriate to reduce the bias in future projection of global river discharge.National Natural Science Foundation of China. Grant Numbers: 41125004, 31321061, Chinese Ministry of Environmental Protection. Grant Number: 201209031, 111 Project. Grant Number: B14001, National Youth Top-notch Talent Support Program in China, Imbalance-P ERC-synergy, TRENDY, Global River Discharge Cente

Is fruit and vegetable intake associated with asthma or chronic rhino-sinusitis in European adults? Results from the Global Allergy and Asthma Network of Excellence (GA(2)LEN) Survey

Background: Fruits and vegetables are rich in compounds with proposed antioxidant, anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory properties, which could contribute to reduce the prevalence of asthma and allergic diseases. Objective: We investigated the association between asthma, and chronic rhino-sinusitis (CRS) with intake of fruits and vegetables in European adults. Methods: A stratified random sample was drawn from the Global Allergy and Asthma Network of Excellence (GA(2)LEN) screening survey, in which 55,000 adults aged 15-75 answered a questionnaire on respiratory symptoms. Asthma score (derived from self-reported asthma symptoms) and CRS were the outcomes of interest. Dietary intake of 22 subgroups of fruits and vegetables was ascertained using the internationally validated GA(2)LEN Food Frequency Questionnaire. Adjusted associations were examined with negative binomial and multiple regressions. Simes procedure was used to control for multiple testing. Results: A total of 3206 individuals had valid data on asthma and dietary exposures of interest. 22.8% reported having at least 1 asthma symptom (asthma score >= 1), whilst 19.5% had CRS. After adjustment for potential confounders, asthma score was negatively associated with intake of dried fruits (beta-coefficient -2.34;95% confidence interval [CI] -4.09,-0.59), whilst CRS was statistically negatively associated with total intake of fruits (OR 0.73; 95% CI 0.55, 0.97). Conversely, a positive association was observed between asthma score and alliums vegetables (adjusted beta-coefficient 0.23; 95% CI 0.06, 0.40). None of these associations remained statistically significant after controlling for multiple testing. Conclusion and clinical relevance: There was no consistent evidence for an association of asthma or CRS with fruit and vegetable intake in this representative sample of European adults.Peer reviewe

Evidence for a weakening relationship between interannual temperature variability and northern vegetation activity.

Journal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tResearch Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.Satellite-derived Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), a proxy of vegetation productivity, is known to be correlated with temperature in northern ecosystems. This relationship, however, may change over time following alternations in other environmental factors. Here we show that above 30°N, the strength of the relationship between the interannual variability of growing season NDVI and temperature (partial correlation coefficient RNDVI-GT) declined substantially between 1982 and 2011. This decrease in RNDVI-GT is mainly observed in temperate and arctic ecosystems, and is also partly reproduced by process-based ecosystem model results. In the temperate ecosystem, the decrease in RNDVI-GT coincides with an increase in drought. In the arctic ecosystem, it may be related to a nonlinear response of photosynthesis to temperature, increase of hot extreme days and shrub expansion over grass-dominated tundra. Our results caution the use of results from interannual time scales to constrain the decadal response of plants to ongoing warming.Strategic Priority Research Program (B) of the Chinese Academy of SciencesNational Basic Research Program of ChinaChinese Ministry of Environmental ProtectionNational Natural Science Foundation of China111 ProjectUS Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Science, Biological and Environmental Researc

Serum concentrations of phthalate metabolites are related to abdominal fat distribution two years later in elderly women

BACKGROUND: Phthalates, commonly used to soften plastic goods, are known PPAR-agonists affecting lipid metabolism and adipocytes in the experimental setting. We evaluated if circulating concentrations of phthalates were related to different indices of obesity using data from the Prospective Investigation of the Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors (PIVUS) study. Data from both dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were used. METHODS: 1,016 subjects aged 70 years were investigated in the PIVUS study. Four phthalate metabolites were detected in the serum of almost all subjects (&gt; 96%) by an API 4000 liquid chromatograph/tandem mass spectrometer. Abdominal MRI was performed in a representative subsample of 287 subjects (28%), and a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)-scan was obtained in 890 (88%) of the subjects two year following the phthalate measurements. RESULTS: In women, circulating concentrations of mono-isobutyl phthalate (MiBP) were positively related to waist circumference, total fat mass and trunk fat mass by DXA, as well as to subcutaneous adipose tissue by MRI following adjustment for serum cholesterol and triglycerides, education, smoking and exercise habits (all p &lt; 0.008). Mono-methyl phthalate (MMP) concentrations were related to trunk fat mass and the trunk/leg-ratio by DXA, but less powerful than MiBP. However, no such statistically significant relationships were seen in men. CONCLUSIONS: The present evaluation shows that especially the phthalate metabolite MiBP was related to increased fat amount in the subcutaneous abdominal region in women measured by DXA and MRI two years later