Use of Sand Compaction Piles for Improvement of a Coal Ash Pond

Effects of sand compaction piles on ground improvement of a coal ash pond and axial performance on four drilled shafts through improved coal ash layer at a power plant in southern Taiwan is studied in this paper. Effects of the sand compaction piles improvement is evaluated by comparing the SPT-N values before and after ground improvement. The load versus displacement relation at head, the axial force along the shaft, the t-z curves and/or the toe q-z curve, which are the main concerns of shaft load test results, are presented and discussed in the paper

The 5p15.33 Locus Is Associated with Risk of Lung Adenocarcinoma in Never-Smoking Females in Asia

Genome-wide association studies of lung cancer reported in populations of European background have identified three regions on chromosomes 5p15.33, 6p21.33, and 15q25 that have achieved genome-wide significance with p-values of 10−7 or lower. These studies have been performed primarily in cigarette smokers, raising the possibility that the observed associations could be related to tobacco use, lung carcinogenesis, or both. Since most women in Asia do not smoke, we conducted a genome-wide association study of lung adenocarcinoma in never-smoking females (584 cases, 585 controls) among Han Chinese in Taiwan and found that the most significant association was for rs2736100 on chromosome 5p15.33 (p = 1.30×10−11). This finding was independently replicated in seven studies from East Asia totaling 1,164 lung adenocarcinomas and 1,736 controls (p = 5.38×10−11). A pooled analysis achieved genome-wide significance for rs2736100. This SNP marker localizes to the CLPTM1L-TERT locus on chromosome 5p15.33 (p = 2.60×10−20, allelic risk = 1.54, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.41–1.68). Risks for heterozygote and homozygote carriers of the minor allele were 1.62 (95% CI; 1.40–1.87), and 2.35 (95% CI: 1.95–2.83), respectively. In summary, our results show that genetic variation in the CLPTM1L-TERT locus of chromosome 5p15.33 is directly associated with the risk of lung cancer, most notably adenocarcinoma

Axial capacity of barrette piles embedded in gravel layer

In this paper, the axial performance of two heavily instrumented barrette piles, with and without grouting, socket into gravel layer in Taipei are evaluated based on the results of pile load tests. Both piles are 44 m long with the same dimension of 0.8 by 2.7 m, installed by hydraulic long bucket. One of the piles with toe grouting was socket 6 m into gravel layer and the other pile without toe grouting was socket 3 m into gravel layer. The load versus displacement relationships at pile head, the t-z curves of upper soil layers and of bottom gravel layer, and the tip resistance versus displacement relationships are important concerns and are presented in the paper. The t-z curves interpreted from the measured data along depth are also simulated by the hyperbolic model

Revised manuscript Design of a networked portfolio system

Design of a networked portfolio system Portfolio assessment is a systematic means of accumulating and commenting on homework samples by students. Such samples can display or clarify the learning processes of a particular student. Correspondingly, peer assessment enhances a student's important skills (e.g. problem solving) and motivation to learn, thus making it an excellent assessment strategy to evaluate adult learners. Peer assessment can also be performed through a networked system. In this study, system incorporates two distinct functions: one focusing on peer-assessment with the other focusing on portfolio-assessment. Functions designed to facilitate peer-assessment include on-line submission of work, on-line grading and the ability to view suggestions from peers. At the end of a semester, the portfolio-assessment allows students to select their best-written assignment. Portfolio assessment Portfolio-assessment involves the targeted collection of a student's work to illustrate a student's progress and means of doing so (Sharp 1997). A portfolio can include assessments and suggestions from different sources as they relate to each student's performance. A portfolio also includes the students' own reflections on their own work and their revisions. In sum, portfolio-assessment systematically collects and assesses samples of student's work, which illustrate each individual's learning processes.

Genetic variant in TP63 on locus 3q28 is associated with risk of lung adenocarcinoma among never-smoking females in Asia

10.1007/s00439-012-1144-8Human Genetics13171197-1203HUGE