Evaluating the Ability of Swell Prediction Models to Predict the Swell Behavior of Excessively High Plastic Soils

Lightly loaded structures underneath expansive soils encounter severe damage due to the swell/shrink nature of expansive soils resulting from moisture variations. Billions of dollars are spent every year to repair the damages caused by these soils in the U.S. and worldwide. Designing structures to accommodate the swelling strains is a major challenge as predicting the swelling potential of these soils accurately is not easy. A wide variety of swell prediction models have been introduced by various researchers to predict the behavior of these often-problematic expansive soils. These models include various properties of soils such as, plasticity characteristics, compaction conditions, consolidation characteristics, moisture content variations, matric suction, and clay mineralogical characteristics. However, these models are generally developed with typical moderate to high plastic soils in mind whose plasticity indices range from 25 to 45. Their applicability to soils that have liquid limits in the order of 200% is not well understood. In this paper, the ability of these models to predict the behavior of excessively high plastic soils with plasticity indices ranging from 45 to 85 were evaluated. For this purpose, four existing analytical prediction models that use combinations of above-mentioned properties were selected and used to predict the one-dimensional and three-dimensional swelling strains on three high swelling soils. These predictions were verified by conducting one-dimensional and three-dimensional swell tests on the three soil types. The swell tests were conducted at three different initial moisture contents to observe how well the models could predict different levels of moisture absorption. The ability of each of the four selected methods in predicting both 1D and 3D swell strains was discussed and their relative merits and demerits are highlighted. In addition, finite element modeling was performed to simulate one-dimensional and three-dimensional swell tests by using material models that use volumetric and suction changes with moisture contents to simulate expansive soil behavior within the finite element model. The results indicated that while the analytical prediction models gave reasonable results the finite element analysis predicted results were closest to the laboratory measure soils in case both 1D and 3D analyses. Among other analytical models the ones that incorporated mineralogical and suction data exhibited better results

Genome-Wide Linkage Scan for Genes Influencing Plasma Triglyceride Levels in the Veterans Administration Genetic Epidemiology Study

OBJECTIVE—Elevated plasma triglyceride concentration is a component of the insulin resistance syndrome and is commonly associated with type 2 diabetes, obesity, and coronary heart disease. The goal of our study was to perform a genome-wide linkage scan to identify genetic regions that influence variation in plasma triglyceride levels in families that are enriched with individuals with type 2 diabetes

Development of Alternative Stabilization Methods for Transportation Infrastructure Based on Geopolymers

Current soil stabilization methods are often limited by durability and leaching issues and do not always offer sustainable treatments. This research explores the use of geopolymers to stabilize clays in the North Texas area. In recent years, geopolymer has received much attention as an eco-friendly and sustainable alternative to conventional chemical additives, since it can be processed at room temperature from aqueous solutions by utilizing waste materials and/or abounded natural sources. Two subgrade soils from North Texas were treated with GP mix at a ratio of 8 wt% dry GP to dry soil. GP is shown to reduce swelling and shrinkage potential of soil considerably while an increase in unconfined compressive strength is observed as well. Therefore, further studies are recommended to understand the mechanism of GP and soil bonding resulting in said changes

Developing a core collection of peanut specific to Valencia market type

Crop improvement and the dissection of complex genetic traits require germplasm diversity. A core collection is a gateway for the use of diverse accessions with benefi cial traits in applied breeding programs. Valencia germplasm consisting of 630 peanut (Arachis hypogaea L. ssp. fastigiata var. fastigiata) accessions from the USDA collection and a check cultivar, New Mexico Valencia C, were evaluated for 26 descriptors in an augmented design for two seasons. The accessions were stratifi ed by country of origin, and data on morphological and agronomic descriptors were used for clustering following Ward’s method. About 10% or a minimum of one accession from each cluster and region were selected to develop core subset of 77 accessions. Comparison of means between the core subset and the entire collection indicated that the genetic variation available for these traits in the entire collection has been preserved in the core subset. The similarity in correlation coeffi cients in the entire collection and core subset suggests that this core subset has preserved most of the coadapted gene complexes controlling these associations. Peanut breeders engaged in improving the genetic potential of Valencia peanuts will fi nd this core subset useful in cultivar development

Hepatic transcript signatures predict atherosclerotic lesion burden prior to a 2-year high cholesterol, high fat diet challenge

The purpose of this study was to identify molecular mechanisms by which the liver influences total lesion burden in a nonhuman primate model (NHP) of cardiovascular disease with acute and chronic feeding of a high cholesterol, high fat (HCHF) diet. Baboons (47 females, 64 males) were fed a HCHF diet for 2 years (y); liver biopsies were collected at baseline, 7 weeks (w) and 2y, and lesions were quantified in aortic arch, descending aorta, and common iliac at 2y. Unbiased weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) revealed several modules of hepatic genes correlated with lesions at different time points of dietary challenge. Pathway and network analyses were performed to study the roles of hepatic module genes. More significant pathways were observed in males than females. In males, we found modules enriched for genes in oxidative phosphorylation at baseline, opioid signaling at 7w, and EIF2 signaling and HNF1A and HNF4A networks at baseline and 2y. One module enriched for fatty acid β oxidation pathway genes was found in males and females at 2y. To our knowledge, this is the first study of a large NHP cohort to identify hepatic genes that correlate with lesion burden. Correlations of baseline and 7w module genes with lesions at 2y were observed in males but not in females. Pathway analyses of baseline and 7w module genes indicate EIF2 signaling, oxidative phosphorylation, and μ-opioid signaling are possible mechanisms that predict lesion formation induced by HCHF diet consumption in males. Our findings of coordinated hepatic transcriptional response in male baboons but not female baboons indicate underlying molecular mechanisms differ between female and male primate atherosclerosis

HERITABILITY FOR RESISTANCE TO ROSETTE DISEASE IN EXOTIC VALENCIA GROUNDNUTS

Groundnut rosette disease (GRD) is the most destructive virus disease of Valencia groundnuts ( Arachis hypogaea L.) in sub-Saharan Africa. Cultural, biological and chemical control measures have received limited success due to small scale farmers\u2019 inability to use them. Use of host plant resistance provides the most effective and economically viable management option for the resource poor farmers. This study was conducted to determine heritability for resistance to GRD in Valencia groundnuts. Six crosses; Valencia C (P1) 7 ICGV-SM 90704 (P2), Valencia C (P1) 7 ICGV-SM 96801(P2), Valencia C (P1) 7 ICGV-SM 99566 (P2), NuMex-M3 (P1) 7 ICGV-SM 90704 (P2), NuMex-M3 7 ICGV-SM 96801 (P2), and NuMex-M3 (P1) 7 ICGV-SM 99566 (P2), were made to generate F1, F2, BC1P1 and BC1P2 populations. Data on GRD severity were collected on a 1-9 score scale. Genetic Advance as a percentage of the mean (GAM) and heritability were estimated using variance components. Phenotypic Coefficient of Variation (PCV) and Genotypic Coefficient of Variation (GCV) estimates were high (20.04-70.1%) in the six crosses, except for Valencia C 7 ICGV-SM 96801(18.1%) and NuMex-M3 7 ICGV-SM 96801(17.1%), which exhibited moderate GCV values. Broad and narrow sense heritability estimates for GRD disease score ranged from 64.1 to 73.7% and 31 to 41.9%, respectively, in all the crosses. GAM was high in all the crosses (21-50.7%), except for Valencia C x ICGV-SM 96801 (14.67), M3 x ICGV-SM 99566 (18%) and NuMex-M3 x ICGV-SM 96801 (13.5%) crosses that exhibited moderate GAM. The study revealed the presence of variability of GRD resistance, implying that genetic improvement of these exotic materials is possible.La maladie de rosette chez l\u2019arachide ( Arachis hypogaea L.) est la plus destructive des maladies virales chez les vari\ue9t\ue9s Valencia en Afrique au sud du Sahara. Les moyens de lutte culturale, biologique et chimique pr\ue9sentent des limitations surtout li\ue9es \ue0 l\u2019inhabilit\ue9 des petits producteurs \ue0 les mettre en pratique. L\u2019utilisation de vari\ue9t\ue9s resistantes repr\ue9sente le moyen le plus efficace et \ue9conomiquement viable pour les petits producteurs. La pr\ue9sente \ue9tude a \ue9t\ue9 conduite afin de d\ue9terminer l\u2019h\ue9ritabilit\ue9 de la r\ue9sistance \ue0 la maladie de rosette chez les vari\ue9t\ue9s d\u2019arachide Valencia. Six croisements; Valencia C (P1) 7 ICGV-SM 90704 (P2), Valencia C (P1) 7 ICGV-SM 96801(P2), Valencia C (P1) 7 ICGV-SM 99566 (P2), NuMex-M3 (P1) 7 ICGV-SM 90704 (P2), NuMex-M3 7 ICGV-SM 96801 (P2), et NuMex-M3 (P1) 7 ICGV-SM 99566 (P2), ont \ue9t\ue9 effectu\ue9s afin de g\ue9n\ue9rer F1, F2, BC1P1 et BC1P2 populations. Des donn\ue9es ont \ue9t\ue9 collect\ue9es sur le degr\ue9 s\ue9v\ue9rit\ue9 de GRD en se servant d\u2019une \ue9chelle de 1-9. Les param\ue8tres d\u2019avanc\ue9e g\ue9n\ue9tique exprim\ue9e en pourcentage de la moyenne (GAM) et h\ue9ritabilit\ue9 ont \ue9t\ue9 estim\ue9s \ue0 partir de composantes de variance. Le coefficient de variation ph\ue9notypique (PCV) et g\ue9notypique (GCV) estim\ue9s \ue9taient \ue9lev\ue9s (20,04-70,1%) dans les six croisements, sauf pour Valencia C 7 ICGV-SM 96801(18,1%) et NuMex-M3 7 ICGV-SM 96801(17,1%), o\uf9 les valeurs de GCV \ue9taient mod\ue9r\ue9es. Les valeurs de l\u2019h\ue9ritabilit\ue9 au sens large et au sens strict pour la r\ue9sistance \ue0 GRD variaient respectivement de 64,1 \ue0 73,7% et de 31 \ue0 41,9%, au niveau de tous les croisements. Les valeurs de GAM \ue9taient \ue9lev\ue9es au niveau de tous les croisements (21-50,7%), sauf pour les croisements Valencia C x ICGV-SM 96801 (14,67), M3 x ICGV-SM 99566 (18%) et NuMex-M3 x ICGV-SM 96801 (13,5%) o\uf9 les valeurs de GAM \ue9taient mod\ue9r\ue9es. L\u2019\ue9tude a r\ue9v\ue9l\ue9 l\u2019existence dans la r\ue9sistance au GRD, ceci implique qu\u2019il est possible d\u2019entreprendre l\u2019am\ue9lioration g\ue9n\ue9tique de ces mat\ue9riels

Genetic enhancement of Valencia core collection and molecular characterization of U.S. peanut mini core collection using SSR markers

A core collection is a gateway for the utilization of diverse accessions with beneficial traits in applied breeding programs. 630 USDA Valencia peanut germplasm and a control cultivar (New Mexico Valencia C) were evaluated for 26 descriptors in augmented design for two seasons. The accessions were stratified by country of origin, and data on morphological and agronomic descriptors were used for clustering following Ward’s method. About 10% or a minimum of one accession from each cluster and region was selected to develop core subset of 77 accessions. The similarity in correlation coefficients in entire collection and core subset suggest that this core subset has preserved most of the co-adapted gene complexes controlling these associations. The peanut breeders engaged in improving the genetic potential of Valencia peanuts will find this core subset useful in cultivar development

Data for Genetic Analysis Workshop 18: human whole genome sequence, blood pressure, and simulated phenotypes in extended pedigrees

Genetic Analysis Workshop 18 (GAW18) focused on identification of genes and functional variants that influence complex phenotypes in human sequence data. Data for the workshop were donated by the T2D-GENES Consortium and included whole genome sequences for odd-numbered autosomes in 464 key individuals selected from 20 Mexican American families, a dense set of single-nucleotide polymorphisms in 959 individuals in these families, and longitudinal data on systolic and diastolic blood pressure measured at 1-4 examinations over a period of 20 years. Simulated phenotypes were generated based on the real sequence data and pedigree structures. In the design of the simulation model, gene expression measures from the San Antonio Family Heart Study (not distributed as part of the GAW18 data) were used to identify genes whose mRNA levels were correlated with blood pressure. Observed variants within these genes were designated as functional in the GAW18 simulation if they were nonsynonymous and predicted to have deleterious effects on protein function or if they were noncoding and associated with mRNA levels. Two simulated longitudinal phenotypes were modeled to have the same trait distributions as the real systolic and diastolic blood pressure data, with effects of age, sex, and medication use, including a genotype-medication interaction. For each phenotype, more than 1000 sequence variants in more than 200 genes present on the odd-numbered autosomes individually explained less than 0.01-2.78% of phenotypic variance. Cumulatively, variants in the most influential gene explained 7.79% of trait variance. An additional simulated phenotype, Q1, was designed to be correlated among family members but to not be associated with any sequence variants. Two hundred replicates of the phenotypes were simulated, with each including data for 849 individuals

Accelerated swell testing of artificial sulfate bearing lime stabilised cohesive soils

This paper reports on the physico-chemical response of two lime stabilised sulfate bearing artificial soils subject to the European Accelerated Volumetric Swell Test (EN13286-49). At various intervals during the test, a specimen was removed and subject to compositional and microstructural analysis. Ettringite was formed by both soils types, but with significant differences in crystal morphology. Ettringite crystals formed from kaolin based soils were very small, colloidal in size and tended to form on the surface of other particles. Conversely, those formed from montmorillonite were relatively large and typically formed away from the surface in the pore solution. It was concluded that the mechanism by which ettringite forms is determined by the hydroxide ion concentration in the pore solution and the fundamental structure of the bulk clay. In the kaolin soil, ettringite forms by a topochemical mechanism and expands by crystal swelling. In the montmorillonite soil, it forms by a through-solution mechanism and crystal growth