Probabilistic models for the erosion rate in embankments and reliability analysis of earth dams

Probabilistic models for the concentrated leak erosion of earthen water retaining structures are presented. The models predict the values of the critical shear stress, the coefficient of erosion and the pipe radius enlargement, starting from other measurable soil properties and the geometrical dimensions of the embankment. The models account for both the non-cohesive and cohesive contributions to the erosion behavior. A Bayesian approach is used for the treatment of the unknown parameters. An importance sampling simulation is adopted to calibrate the models and estimate the posterior distribution of the unknown model parameters using laboratory and in situ experimental data. The new proposed probabilistic model for the pipe radius is then used to develop fragility curves that capture the pipe enlargement as a function of time for a given earth dam

Thermo-responsive polymers as surface active compounds: A review

The great versatility and controllable properties that characterize polymeric materials allowed their spreading to many different areas. In the last years, this outstanding adaptability was even amplified by the introduction of smart polymers, i.e. materials able to sharply and often reversibly change their physico-chemical properties in response to external stimuli. In particular, the possibility of applying thermal stimuli in a controlled and simple way, coupled with the natural occurrence of thermal gradients, made thermo-responsive polymers particularly appealing, as they allowed to conceive applications that were not even imaginable for traditional materials. In this review we discuss the great potentialities of thermo-responsive polymers when used to functionalize a target surface or interface. The discussion will cover significant areas of interest where this class of materials has been employed, including cell culture, chromatography, colloidal stabilization and enhanced oil recovery. Many examples from the literature are reported in order to present the state of the art, the main advantages of this technology over conventional materials and the expected future developments. Moreover, some successful examples highlighting the innovative functionalities achievable by these active surfaces are presented

probability models to assess the seismic safety of rigid block like structures and the effectiveness of two safety devices

Abstract When subject to earthquakes, some objects and structures, such as statues, obelisks, storage systems, and transformers, show a dynamic behavior that can be modeled considering the object/structure as a rigid block. Several papers have studied the dynamic behavior of both stand-alone rigid blocks and systems where rigid blocks have been paired with safety devices to prevent or delay the overturning of the blocks. Although the safety devices have generally been proven to be effective, their effectiveness changes substantially varying the parameters that characterize the system and the seismic input. This paper compares the seismic responses of stand along rigid blocks with those of blocks coupled with two candidate safety devices: an isolating base and a pendulum mass damper. To account for the relevant uncertainties, probabilistic seismic demand models are developed using a Bayesian approach. The probabilistic models are then used along with the overturning capacities of the blocks to construct fragility curves that give a prediction of the probability of overturning occurrence as a function of some characteristics of the blocks, of the safety devices, as well as of the seismic excitation, i.e. the slenderness of the body and the peak ground acceleration. The data needed to develop the probabilistic model are obtained integrating the nonlinear equations of motion of the two systems subject to selected ground motions. In the end, some numerical examples are proposed

ANALISIS FAKTOR-FAKTOR YANG MEMPENGARUHI PRODUKSI IKAN BANDENG DI KOTA BANDA ACEH

ABSTRAKPenelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi produksi ikan bandeng di Kota Banda Aceh. Penelitian ini dilakukan menggunakan metode survey dan pengambilan sampelnya dengan teknik sampel acak sederhana Simple Random Sampling.Lokasi penelitian dilakukan di Kota Banda Aceh, yaitu Kecamatan Syiah Kuala, Meuraxa, Kuta Alam, dan Kuta Raja. Waktu Penelitian dilaksanakan pada bulan Oktober 2013 sampai dengan Juli 2014. Model yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah menggunakan model analisis kuantitatif untuk mengetahui Faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi produksi ikan bandeng di Kota Banda Aceh yaitu tenaga kerja, luas tambak, jumlah nener, dan penggunaan pupuk..Untuk menguji hubungan antara variabel faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi produksi ikan bandeng di Kota Banda Aceh, digunakan uji statistik dengan menggunakan uji T, F, dan R2.Hasil penelitian ini dapat disimpulkan bahwa secara serempak faktor , tenaga kerja, luas tambak, jumlah nener, dan jumlah pupuk berpengaruh nyata terhadap produksi ikan bandeng di Kota Banda Aceh. Secara parsial faktor jumlah nener berpengaruh nyata terhadap produksi ikan bandeng di Kota Banda Aceh. Sedangkan faktor tenaga kerja, luas tambak dan jumlah pupuk tidak berpengaruh nyata terhadap produksi ikan bandeng di Kota Banda Aceh.Kata Kunci: Ikan bandeng, analisis produksiABSTRACTThis research aims to determine the factors that affect fish production in the city of Banda Aceh. This research was conducted using a survey method and sampling with simple random sampling techniques.Location of the research conducted in the city of Banda Aceh , the District Syiah KuaLa, Meuraxa, Kuta Alam, and Kuta Raja. Time research conducted in October 2013 to July 2014 model used in this research was to use quantitative analysis model to determine the factors that affect milkfish production in Banda Aceh, namely labor, large farms, the amount of milkfish, and use of fertilizers.For Examine the relationship between the variable factors that affect milkfish production in Banda Aceh, used statistical tests using T test, F, and R2.The results of this research it can be concluded that the factors simultaneously, labor, large ponds, milkfish amount, and the amount of fertilizer significantly affect milkfish production in the city of Banda Aceh. Partially factors significantly affect the amount of milkfish fry production of milkfish in Banda Aceh. While the labor factor, vast farms and the amount of fertilizer had no significant effect on the production of milkfish in Banda Aceh .Keywords: Milkfish, production analysisBanda Ace

Reliability and resilience of wastewater networks

The wastewater network is a critical infrastructure in a community and damages or disruption due to a hazard event implicate consequences in the economic security, public health and wellness of the community. Therefore, using an index to evaluate the vulnerability and the functionality of the system is essential for designers and utility managers for the design, operation and protection of wastewater network. In this paper, a functionality index for the wastewater network has been proposed that is the product of three different indices: (i) the number of users still connected to the system, (ii) the quality of sewer discharge into the water body after the treatment, in term of two pollutants, biochemical oxygen demand and total suspended solids, and (iii) the presence of leaks into the network. Seaside, a small city in Oregon, in the West cost of USA has been selected as case of study using an earthquake scenario and a restoration plan. The results show the critical elements of the networks that under the observed operating conditions would not be able to present reliable performances. Using the proposed indices in a decision support tool for governmental agencies could give guidelines for the restoration of elements that have more weight in the functionality of the system

Analysis of mRNA and Protein Levels of CAP2, DLG1 and ADAM10 Genes in Post‐Mortem Brain of Schizophrenia, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Disease Patients

Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a mental illness characterized by aberrant synaptic plasticity and connectivity. A large bulk of evidence suggests genetic and functional links between postsynaptic abnormalities and SCZ. Here, we performed quantitative PCR and Western blotting analysis in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and hippocampus of SCZ patients to investigate the mRNA and protein expression of three key spine shapers: the actin‐binding protein cyclase‐associated protein 2 (CAP2), the sheddase a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 10 (ADAM10), and the synapse-associated protein 97 (SAP97). Our analysis of the SCZ post‐mortem brain indicated increased DLG1 mRNA in DLPFC and decreased CAP2 mRNA in the hippocampus of SCZ patients, compared to non‐psychiatric control subjects, while the ADAM10 transcript was unaffected. Conversely, no differences in CAP2, SAP97, and ADAM10 protein levels were detected between SCZ and control individuals in both brain regions. To assess whether DLG1 and CAP2 transcript alterations were selective for SCZ, we also measured their expression in the superior frontal gyrus of patients affected by neurodegenerative disorders, like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. Interestingly, also in Parkinson’s disease patients, we found a selective reduction of CAP2 mRNA levels relative to controls but unaltered protein levels. Taken together, we reported for the first time altered CAP2 expression in the brain of patients with psychiatric and neurological disorders, thus suggesting that aberrant expression of this gene may contribute to synaptic dysfunction in these neuropathologies

Analysis of mRNA and Protein Levels of CAP2, DLG1 and ADAM10 Genes in Post‐Mortem Brain of Schizophrenia, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Disease Patients

Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a mental illness characterized by aberrant synaptic plasticity and connectivity. A large bulk of evidence suggests genetic and functional links between postsynaptic abnormalities and SCZ. Here, we performed quantitative PCR and Western blotting analysis in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and hippocampus of SCZ patients to investigate the mRNA and protein expression of three key spine shapers: the actin‐binding protein cyclase‐associated protein 2 (CAP2), the sheddase a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 10 (ADAM10), and the synapse-associated protein 97 (SAP97). Our analysis of the SCZ post‐mortem brain indicated increased DLG1 mRNA in DLPFC and decreased CAP2 mRNA in the hippocampus of SCZ patients, compared to non‐psychiatric control subjects, while the ADAM10 transcript was unaffected. Conversely, no differences in CAP2, SAP97, and ADAM10 protein levels were detected between SCZ and control individuals in both brain regions. To assess whether DLG1 and CAP2 transcript alterations were selective for SCZ, we also measured their expression in the superior frontal gyrus of patients affected by neurodegenerative disorders, like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. Interestingly, also in Parkinson’s disease patients, we found a selective reduction of CAP2 mRNA levels relative to controls but unaltered protein levels. Taken together, we reported for the first time altered CAP2 expression in the brain of patients with psychiatric and neurological disorders, thus suggesting that aberrant expression of this gene may contribute to synaptic dysfunction in these neuropathologies

Elongation factor-2 phosphorylation in dendrites and the regulation of dendritic mRNA translation in neurons

Neuronal activity results in long lasting changes in synaptic structure and function by regulating mRNA translation in dendrites. These activity dependent events yield the synthesis of proteins known to be important for synaptic modifications and diverse forms of synaptic plasticity. Worthy of note, there is accumulating evidence that the eukaryotic Elongation Factor 2 Kinase (eEF2K)/eukaryotic Elongation Factor 2 (eEF2) pathway may be strongly involved in this process. Upon activation, eEF2K phosphorylates and thereby inhibits eEF2, resulting in a dramatic reduction of mRNA translation. eEF2K is activated by elevated levels of calcium and binding of Calmodulin (CaM), hence its alternative name calcium/CaM-dependent protein kinase III (CaMKIII). In dendrites, this process depends on glutamate signaling and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) activation. Interestingly, it has been shown that eEF2K can be activated in dendrites by metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) 1/5 signaling, as well. Therefore, neuronal activity can induce local proteomic changes at the postsynapse by altering eEF2K activity. Well-established targets of eEF2K in dendrites include brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), activity-regulated cytoskeletal-associated protein (Arc), the alpha subunit of calcium/CaM-dependent protein kinase II (\u3b1CaMKII), and microtubule-associated protein 1B (MAP1B), all of which have well-known functions in different forms of synaptic plasticity. In this review we will give an overview of the involvement of the eEF2K/eEF2 pathway at dendrites in regulating the translation of dendritic mRNA in the context of altered NMDAR- and neuronal activity, and diverse forms of synaptic plasticity, such as metabotropic glutamate receptor-dependent-long-term depression (mGluR-LTD). For this, we draw on studies carried out both in vitro and in vivo

Arterial oxygenation and acid-base status before and during oxygen supplementation in captive European bison (Bison bonasus) immobilized with etorphine-acepromazine-xylazine

Chemical immobilization of captive European bison (Bison bonasus) is often required for veterinary care, transportation, or husbandry practices playing an important role in conservation breeding and reintroduction of the species. We evaluated the efficiency and physiological effects of an etorphine-acepromazine-xylazine combination with supplemental oxygen in 39 captive European bison. Animals were darted with a combination of 1.4 mg of etorphine, 4.5 mg of acepromazine, and 20 mg of xylazine per 100 kg based on estimated body mass. Arterial blood was sampled on average 20 min after recumbency and again 19 min later and analyzed immediately with a portable i-STAT analyzer. Simultaneously, heart rate, respiratory rate, and rectal temperature were recorded. Intranasal oxygen was started after the first sampling at a flow rate of 10 mL.kg(-1).min(-1) of estimated body mass until the end of the procedure. The initial mean partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) was 49.7 mmHg with 32 out of 35 sampled bison presenting with hypoxemia. We observed decreased respiratory rates and pH and mild hypercapnia consistent with a mild respiratory acidosis. After oxygen supplementation hypoxemia was resolved in 21 out of 32 bison, but respiratory acidosis was accentuated. Bison immobilized with a lower initial drug dose required supplementary injections during the procedure. We observed that lower mean rectal temperatures during the immobilization event were significantly associated with longer recovery times. For three bison, minor regurgitation was documented. No mortality or morbidity related to the immobilizations were reported for at least 2 months following the procedure. Based on our findings, we recommend a dose of 0.015 mg.kg(-1) etorphine, 0.049 mg.kg(-1) acepromazine, and 0.22 mg.kg(-1) xylazine. This dose reduced the need for supplemental injections to obtain a sufficient level of immobilization for routine management and husbandry procedures in captive European bison. Nevertheless, this drug combination is associated with development of marked hypoxemia, mild respiratory acidosis, and a small risk of regurgitation. Oxygen supplementation is strongly recommended when using this protocol