Seismic Performance of Mechanically Spliced Bridge Columns through Analytical Studies

Reinforcement continuity in concrete members is traditionally achieved through lap splicing. Mechanical bar splices are an alternative to traditional lap splices. Mechanical bar splices utilize mechanical devices known as bar coupler to connect the ends of reinforcing bars. Bar couplers are common in accelerated bridge construction applications at non-critical members but are not allowed in the plastic hinge region of bridge columns probably due to a lack of knowledge on how they affect seismic performance of columns. A comprehensive analytical study was carried out to determine how bar couplers used at the base of bridge columns affect: 1) column lateral drift capacity, and 2) column lateral drift demand. Modeling methods were proposed and validated against test data. More than 400 pushover analyses and 540 nonlinear dynamic analyses were carried out on mechanically spliced columns using the verified models. The results from the pushover analyses showed that columns with couplers may reduce the displacement ductility capacity up to 45% when compared to conventional cast-inplace columns. A trend between coupler length/rigidity and ductility capacity was established. The displacement capacity of bridge columns decreased as the coupler length and rigidity increased. Furthermore, the results from the nonlinear dynamic analyses showed that couplers have minimal effect on the seismic drift demand of concrete bridge columns when incorporated at the base. A maximum deviation of 7.23% was found when spliced column response was compared to that of the cast-in-place reference column. In general, it was observed that columns spliced with short couplers exhibited slightly higher displacement demands compared with conventional unspliced columns while columns spliced with long couplers showed slightly lower displacement demands compared to conventional columns. This may be due the fact that columns with longer couplers are slightly stiffer than conventional columns thus their displacement demands are lower

Puzzling Pictures: Feasibility Study of a Collage Art Trauma Reprocessing Intervention for LGBTQ+ Emerging Adults

Outstanding Honors Research AwardLesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other sexual and/or gender minority (LGBTQ+) individuals are at high risk for adverse mental behavioral, and physical health outcomes due to the prejudice and discrimination they experience at both individual and institutional levels. Compared to the general United States (US) population, LGBTQ+ adults report experiencing more trauma during their childhood and are more likely to be victimized as adults. Systemic barriers to healthcare for LGBTQ+ people are compounded by a lack of culturally responsive care to counter the historic pathologization of sexual and gender minority identities. In this feasibility study, an art intervention (Puzzling Pictures) was developed and tested to address the trauma reprocessing needs of the LGBTQ+ population. Using the cutting and pasting technique of collage art, participants were guided through a series of sessions wherein they identified traumatic memories and positive memories during or following trauma, and subsequently developed core beliefs to be represented in an art piece telling their personal trauma narrative. Findings show the intervention was perceived as highly satisfactory, logical, helpful, and appropriate for participants' goals. Participants indicated they experienced low levels of discomfort and anxiety during participation. Participants' symptoms of traumatic stress were significantly reduced from the pre-test (M=15.6, SD=3.44) compared to post-test (M=8.4, SD=3.05); t=6.22, p=0.002. Trends of decreased difficulty in emotional regulation and increased coping skills were also found. Trauma narratives and core beliefs shifted from shame-based to strengths-based with an emphasis on the decentering of trauma. More research must be conducted with a larger data pool and sample with diverse educational backgrounds as well as higher levels of trauma to determine further efficacy of the Puzzling Pictures intervention.The Ohio State College of Social WorkNo embargoAcademic Major: Social Wor

Effect of Bunch-Trimming on Yield and Quality in Banana

The experiment consisted of different intensities of hand removal viz. 1,2 and 3 hands (H1, H2 and H3 respectively) and time of hand removal i.e., immediately after opening of last hand (T1), one week after opening of last hand (T2), and two weeks after opening of last hand (T3). Results were statistically analysed using augmented 2 factor factorial CRD. The time of hand removal did not show any significant difference on yield while hand weight, finger weight, finger length, finger diameter and volume of finger increased with the increase in number of hands removed. It is suggested that removal of three hands between one and two weeks after opening of last hand is beneficial for improving yield and finger quality of banana cv. Martaman (Musa AAB)

Size-dependent reversal of grains in perpendicular magnetic recording media measured by small-angle polarized neutron scattering

Polarized small-angle neutron scattering has been used to measure the magnetic structure of a CoCrPt–SiOx thin-film data storage layer, contained within a writable perpendicular recording media, at granular (<10 nm) length scales. The magnetic contribution to the scattering is measured as the magnetization is reversed by an external field, providing unique spatial information on the switching process. A simple model of noninteracting nanomagnetic grains provides a good description of the data and an analysis of the grain-size dependent reversal provides strong evidence for an increase in magnetic anisotropy with grain diameter

Triethyl Citrate (TEC) as a Dispersing Aid in Polylactic Acid/Chitin Nanocomposites Prepared via Liquid-Assisted Extrusion

The production of fully bio-based and biodegradable nanocomposites has gained attention during recent years due to environmental reasons; however, the production of these nanocomposites on the large-scale is challenging. Polylactic acid/chitin nanocrystal (PLA/ChNC) nanocomposites with triethyl citrate (TEC) at varied concentrations (2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 wt %) were prepared using liquid-assisted extrusion. The goal was to find the minimum amount of the TEC plasticizer needed to enhance the ChNC dispersion. The microscopy study showed that the dispersion and distribution of the ChNC into PLA improved with the increasing TEC content. Hence, the nanocomposite with the highest plasticizer content (7.5 wt %) showed the highest optical transparency and improved thermal and mechanical properties compared with its counterpart without the ChNC. Gel permeation chromatography confirmed that the water and ethanol used during the extrusion did not degrade PLA. Further, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed improved interaction between PLA and ChNC through hydrogen bonding when TEC was added. All results confirmed that the plasticizer plays an important role as a dispersing aid in the processing of PLA/ChNC nanocomposites.The authors gratefully acknowledge Bio4Energy, Kempestiftelserna, and Wallenberg Wood Science Center (WWSC) in Sweden for the financial support of this work. We also thank Deodato Radic at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile (PUC) for supplying the bleached chitin powder and Dipl.-Ing Daniel Schwendemann at IWK University of Applied Sciences Eastern, Switzerland for kindly providing the polylactic acid. The authors also acknowledge Maxime Noel for the technical support with the FTIR and Ph.D. candidate Shiyu Geng for the HR-SEM images

pH dependent chemical stability and release of methotrexate from a novel nanoceramic carrier

Considering the pH dependent chemical stability of anticancer drug methotrexate (MTX), the present communication reports a new approach for intercalation of the same in a nanoceramic vehicle, magnesium aluminium layered double hydroxide (LDH), by ex situ anion exchange method at pH 7.00, using 0.3 M ammonium acetate solution for dissolution of the drug. This simple method ensures maximum stability of the drug at the above said pH, with no degradation byproduct (e.g., N-10-methyl folic acid formed due to alkaline hydrolysis) under the given experimental conditions, compared to the similar approach, using 0.1 M sodium hydroxide solution, reported in our earlier work. Importantly, the above method leads to an enhanced drug loading of 32.3 wt%, compared to our previous reports. The cumulative release profile of MTX from LDH-MTX formulation in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) at pH 7.4 exhibited burst release initially which was taken care of by imparting a unique coating of poly(D,L-lactideco-glycolide, PLGA) on the LDH-MTX nanostructure that reduces the toxicity due to local accumulation. Hence, the superiority of the above for use in cancer chemotherapy, over the conventional drug-polymer system has been established w.r.t the drug release profile and a possible hypothesis of the same has been suggested. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of the MTX drug used in this study has been determined and the same has been used to estimate the time dependent (24, 48, 72 and 96 h) efficacy of the MTX loaded samples with/without polymer coating, on human colon tumour cells (HCT-116)

Transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis in continental Western Europe: an insight through the Transthyretin Amyloidosis Outcomes Survey (THAOS)

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Alcohol Use Disorders (AUD) among Tuberculosis Patients: A Study from Chennai, South India

BACKGROUND: Alcohol Use Disorders (AUDs) among tuberculosis (TB) patients are associated with nonadherence and poor treatment outcomes. Studies from Tuberculosis Research Centre (TRC), Chennai have reported that alcoholism has been one of the major reasons for default and mortality in under the DOTS programme in South India. Hence, it is planned to conduct a study to estimate prevalence of alcohol use and AUDs among TB patients attending the corporation health centres in Chennai, India. METHODOLOGY: This is a cross-sectional cohort study covering 10 corporation zones at Chennai and it included situational assessment followed by screening of TB patients by a WHO developed Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test AUDIT scale. Four zones were randomly selected and all TB patients treated during July to September 2009 were screened with AUDIT scale for alcohol consumption. RESULTS: Out of 490 patients, 66% were males, 66% were 35 years and above, 57% were married, 58% were from the low monthly income group of <Rs 5000 per month. No females reported alcohol use. Overall, out of 490 TB pts, 29% (141) were found to consume alcohol. Among 141 current drinkers 52% (73) had an AUDIT score of >8. Age (>35 years), education (less educated), income (<Rs 5000 per month), marital status (separated/divorced) and treatment category (Category 2) were statistically significant for TB patients with alcohol use than those TB patients without alcohol use. CONCLUSIONS: AUD among TB patients needs to be addressed urgently and the findings suggest the importance of integrating alcohol treatment into TB care