Analysis of an Orthotropic Deck Stiffened with a Cement-Based Overlay

Over the past years, with increasing traffic volumes and higher wheel loads, fatigue damage in steel parts of typical orthotropic steel bridge decks, has been experienced on heavily trafficked routes. A demand exists to find a durable system to increase the fatigue safety of orthotropic steel bridge decks. A solution might be to enhance the stiffness of the traditional orthotropic bridge deck by using a cement-based overlay. In this paper, an orthotropic steel bridge deck stiffened with a cement-based overlay is analyzed. The analysis is based on nonlinear fracture mechanics, and utilize the finite element method. The stiffness of the steel deck reinforced with an overlay depends highly on the composite action. The composite action is closely related to cracking of the overlay and interfacial cracking between the overlay and underlying steel plate (debonding). As an example, a real size structure, the Farø Bridges located in Denmark, are analyzed. The steel box 1 girders of the Farø Bridges spans 80 meters, and have a depth of 3.5 m, and a width of 19.5 m. The focus of the present study is the top part of the steel box girders, which is constructed as an orthotropic deck plate. Numerous factors can influence the cracking behavior of the cement-based overlay system. Both mechanical and environmental loading have to be considered and effects such as shrinkage, temperature gradients and traffic loading are taken into account. The performance of four overlay materials are investigated in terms of crack widths. Furthermore, the analysis shows that debonding is initiated for a certain crack width in the overlay. The load level where cracking and debonding is initiated depends on the stress-crack opening relationship of the material

Den læring, der sker, afhænger (vel?) af den undervisning, der foregår : – om asynkrone refleksionsprocesser i efter- og videreuddannelse

Artiklen præsenterer resultaterne af en undersøgelse, der er pågået i UCNs efter- og videreuddannelsesafdeling i 2021. Formålet var at afdække betydningen af de asynkrone aktiviteter på diplom- og akademiuddannelserne. Undersøgelsen fokus på de læreprocesser, som opstår uden for de formaliserede undervisningsrammer, når planlagte, asynkrone aktiviteter kalder på refleksion med, i og over praksis.  Deltagerne i efter- og videreuddannelse er typisk voksne med arbejds- og familieliv, og som derfor har et ønske om geografisk og tidsmæssig fleksibilitet i forhold til uddannelse.  Professionshøjskolen UCN har derfor interesse i at udvikle didaktiske designs, der afspejler fleksible, personlige og praksisnære løsninger til studerende i efter- og videreuddannelse. 20 studerende har deltaget i undersøgelsen, hvor det empiriske materiale er indsamlet via interviews, surveys og observationer af studieaktiviteten på læringsplatformen. Resultaterne viser, at når voksne studerende deltager i asynkrone læringsaktiviteter, skabes der ikke bare et geografisk og tidsmæssigt læringsrum, men et forlænget og flerspektivt refleksionsrum med tid og plads til at lære i eget tempo, på egne præmisser og i egen praksis. Det asynkrone læringsrum tilbyder desuden mangfoldige muligheder for inspiration, refleksion og konsolidering af ny viden. Det kræver grundig planlægning, stram styring og særlige underviserkompetencer at få optimal udnyttelse af det asynkrone rums læringspotentiale.This article presents the results of a study conducted in UCN's continuing education department in 2021. The purpose was to investigate the importance of the asynchronous activities in diploma and academy programs. The analysis focus on the learning processes that occur outside the formalized pedagogical designs. .Adults who participate in continuing education are typically adults balancing work life and family life, and who therefore prefer geographical and temporal flexibility. UCN are therefore interested in developing pedagogical designs that reflect the needs for flexible, personal, and practical solutions for students in continuing education. 20 students were included in the study, and the empirical material was obtained through interviews, surveys and observations of the study activity. The results indicate that when adult students participate in asynchronous learning activities, not only a geographical and temporal learning space is created, but an extended and multi-perspective space of reflection with time and space to learn at their own pace, on their own terms and in their own practice. The asynchronous learning space offers opportunities for inspiration, reflection, and consolidation of new knowledge. Thorough planning, tight management and specialized teacher skills are required to make optimal use of the learning potential of the asynchronous space

Trends in one-year outcomes of dialysis-requiring acute kidney injury in Denmark 2005-2012:a population-based nationwide study

Dialysis-requiring acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with substantial mortality and risk of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Despite considerable growth in incidence of severe AKI, information pertaining to trends in outcomes remains limited. We evaluated time trends in one year risks of ESRD and death in patients with dialysis-requiring AKI over an eight year period in Denmark.In a retrospective nationwide study based on national registers, all adults requiring acute renal replacement therapy between 2005 and 2012 were identified. Patients with preceding ESRD were excluded. Through individual-level cross-referencing of administrative registries, information pertaining to comorbidity, preceding surgical interventions, and concurrent other organ failure and sepsis was ascertained. Comparisons of period-specific one year odds ratios for ESRD and death were calculated in a multiple logistic regression model.A total of 13,819 patients with dialysis-requiring AKI were included in the study. Within one year, 1,017 (7.4%) patients were registered with ESRD, and 7,908 (57.2%) patients died. The one-year rate of ESRD decreased from 9.0% between 2005 and 2006 to 6.1% between 2011 and 2012. Simultaneously, the one-year mortality rate decreased from 58.2% between 2005 and 2006 to 57.5% between 2011 and 2012. Consequently, the adjusted odds ratios for the period 2011-2012 (with the period 2005-2006 as reference) were 0.75 (0.60-0.95, p = 0.015) and 0.87 (95% CI 0.78-0.97, p = 0.010) for ESRD and death, respectively.In a nationwide retrospective study on time trends in one year outcomes following dialysis-requiring AKI, risk of all-cause mortality and ESRD decreased over a period of 8 years

Functional Analysis of Ficolin-3 Mediated Complement Activation

The recognition molecules of the lectin complement pathway are mannose-binding lectin and Ficolin -1, -2 and -3. Recently deficiency of Ficolin-3 was found to be associated with life threatening infections. Thus, we aimed to develop a functional method based on the ELISA platform for evaluating Ficolin-3 mediated complement activation that could be applicable for research and clinical use. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was acetylated (acBSA) and chosen as a solid phase ligand for Ficolins in microtiter wells. Binding of Ficolins on acBSA was evaluated, as was functional complement activation assessed by C4, C3 and terminal complement complex (TCC) deposition. Serum Ficolin-3 bound to acBSA in a calcium dependent manner, while only minimal binding of Ficolin-2 and no binding of Ficolin-1 were observed. No binding to normal BSA was seen for any of the Ficolins. Serum C4, C3 and TCC deposition on acBSA were dependent only on Ficolin-3 in appropriate serum dilutions. Deposition of down stream complement components correlated highly significantly with the serum concentration of Ficolin-3 but not with Ficolin-2 in healthy donors. To make the assay robust for clinical use a chemical compound was applied to the samples that inhibited interference from the classical pathway due to the presence of anti-BSA antibodies in some sera. We describe a novel functional method for measuring complement activation mediated by Ficolin-3 in human serum up to the formation of TCC. The assay provides the possibility to diagnose functional and genetic defects of Ficolin-3 and down stream components in the lectin complement pathway

Att stängas ute, eller att inte vilja komma in : Om de hemlösas situation i Helsingborg

The intention of this study was to inquiry how the social workers at the social service offices in Helsingborg perceive the homeless and their situation, and what kind of aid and support the homeless are getting so they can change their situation. We have also examined how the homeless describe their own situation and how they experience the treatment and the help they get from the social workers. Our main questions were: 1. How does the social workers describe the situation of the homeless in Helsingborg? 2. What are the social workers doing to help the homeless acquire and maintain an own flat? 3. How do the homeless look at their situation? 4. How do the homeless experience the treatment they get from the social workers? The study was based on a qualitative method using interviews with persons who were, or had been, homeless and with social workers. As a theoretical perspective we used "social exclusion" and the theory of the British sociologist, Norbert Elias, we also compared our study with earlier research. We found that the homeless are living in a difficult situation and that they not feel as participating in the society. They experience that they are outsiders and not been accepted buy the "ordinary" citizens in the community. They also thought that it was difficult to influence the help they get from the social services. They had experienced that the treatment they got from the social workers sometimes felt insulting. The causes to homelessness are both structural and individual. Drug abuse was seen as a main cause to homelessness both by the homeless and by the social workers. One structural cause is the housing shortage, especially when it comes to small and affordable apartments. The social workers describe the situation of the homeless as a difficult problem to solve. It was difficult for the homeless to be accepted as tenants both by the landlords and by other tenants. The social services in Helsingborg have many different housing alternatives where the homeless can live for a shorter or longer period. To get a place in the housing that the social services can offer the homeless often must live up to different demands. A demand can for an example be that they must stop using drugs before the can achieve a place in a more stable and lasting housing solution. We have understood that the problem of homelessness is not an easy issue to solve and that there is no universal solution that could give every homeless person a housing that he or she can maintain