Dynamic Testing Versus Static Load Tests: Five Case Histories

Five case histories, where the ultimate bearing capacity of the piles was evaluated by both dynamic measurements and static load tests in Southern Ontario, Canada, are presented. The ultimate bearing capacity of the piles obtained by both methods are compared and found that the ultimate bearing capacities evaluated by dynamic measurements are within 1 to 15 percent of the static load test results analysed by the Offset Limit Load Criterion. In four of the six piles evaluated, the dynamic analysis results are within 10 percent of the static load test results. The correlations have shown that dynamic analysis of pile capacity by dynamic measurements is an excellent alternative to static load test

The Effect of Creativity on Entrepreneurial Behavior: The Moderating Role of Demographics

This study aims to determine the effect of creativity on entrepreneurial behavior with demographics as a moderating variable. Creativity is critical for improving entrepreneurial behavior (EB). However, few studies exist in the literature about this topic in developing countries. Building on the literature, the study proposed a positive effect between creativity and entrepreneurial behavior. The study also proposed the demographic variables as moderating variables. The population of the study consists of all the entrepreneurs and workers at entrepreneurial enterprises in Jordan. The sample of study was composed of 155 respondents; the responses were gathered using the convenience sampling method. Simple linear regression and hierarchical regression were employed to examine the data. Results show a significant effect of creativity on entrepreneurial behavior. The results also demonstrate that none of the demographic characteristics produce a significant statistical change in the influence of creativity on EB. More studies on creativity and its impact on the EB of firms and employees at entrepreneurial firms are needed

Frequent use of paracetamol and risk of allergic disease among women in an Ethiopian population

Introduction The hypothesis that paracetamol might increase the risk of asthma and other allergic diseases have gained support from a range of independent studies. However, in studies based in developed countries, the possibility that paracetamol and asthma are associated through aspirin avoidance is difficult to exclude. Objectives To explore this hypothesis among women in a developing country, where we have previously reported aspirin avoidance to be rare. Methods In 2005/6 a population based cohort of 1065 pregnant women was established in Butajira, Ethiopia and baseline demographic data collected. At 3 years post birth, an interview-based questionnaire administered to 945 (94%) of these women collected data on asthma, eczema, and hay fever in the past 12 month, frequency of paracetamol use and potential confounders. Allergen skin tests to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and cockroach were also performed. The independent effects of paracetamol use on allergic outcomes were determined using multiple logistic regression analysis. Findings The prevalence of asthma, eczema and hay fever was 1.7%, 0.9% and 3.8% respectively; of any one of these conditions 5.5%, and of allergen sensitization 7.8%. Paracetamol use in the past month was reported by 29%, and associations of borderline significance were seen for eczema (adjusted OR (95% CI) = 8.51 (1.68 to 43.19) for 1–3 tablets and 2.19 (0.36 to 13.38) for ≥4 tablets, compared to no tablets in the past month; overall p = 0.055) and for ‘any allergic condition’ (adjusted OR (95% CI) = 2.73 (1.22 to 6.11) for 1–3 tablets and 1.35 (0.67 to 2.70) for ≥4 tablets compared to 0 in the past month; overall p = 0.071). Conclusions This study provides further cross-sectional evidence that paracetamol use increases the risk of allergic disease

Phosphorus Loss into Ground Water in Paddy Soils as Influenced by Irrigation System and Rate of Added-P

A field experiment was carried out in delta Nile region of Egypt, to elucidate the impact of irrigation system and graded phosphorus fertilizer rates on P loss into ground water in paddy soils (heavy clay soil). Three irrigation system were used: submergence with continuous head of water (about 8 cm), irrigation with saturation percent and discontinous irrigation where soil was irrigated every 7 days. The rate of applied P were 45 and 90 Kg P2O5/acre as super phosphate. Values of dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) in ground water increased under saturation and discontinuous irrigation compared to it under submergence condition (e.g.,0.25,0.18 and 0.14 mg P/L, respectively) under 90 Kg P2O5 /ac. and after 15 days of added-P. Accumulation values of DRP in ground water after 105 days at 90 Kg P2O5 /ac. of added-P were 1.18,0.76 and 0.67 mg P/L under saturation, discontinuous and submergence irrigation methods, respectively. The rate of loss for DRP in ground water was the highest under saturation method at 90 Kg P2O5 /ac. ( 0.01 mg P/L/day). Results also showed that, accumulated total phosphorus (TP) at the end of ground water collection (105 days after transplanting) when 90 Kg P2O5 /ac. was added were 2.78,2.18 and 1.69 mg P/L under discontinuous, saturation and submergence irrigation system, respectively. Also, the rate of loss for TP was the highest under discontinuous irrigation condition (0.025 mg P/L). These results indicated that, increasing added phosphorus fertilizer let to increasing P loss into ground water by leaching through the soil profile.In addition, phosphorus loss into ground water was increased with decreasing added water for irrigation in paddy soils (increasing drought regime) and that was not expected

Mutations in phosphodiesterase 6 identified in familial cases of retinitis pigmentosa.

To delineate the genetic determinants associated with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a hereditary retinal disorder, we recruited four large families manifesting cardinal symptoms of RP. We localized these families to regions on the human genome harboring the α and β subunits of phosphodiesterase 6 and identified mutations that were absent in control chromosomes. Our data suggest that mutations in PDE6A and PDE6B are responsible for the retinal phenotype in these families

Speciation of vanadium in the dissolved, colloidal, and sediment phase under dynamic redox-conditions in a V contaminated soil treated and untreated with biochar

Vanadium is a redox-sensitive toxic element and can exist in a variety of oxidation states: −1, 0, +2, +3, +4, and +5. Vanadium (+5) is considered as a potentially dangerous pollutant. Biochar (BC) can be used to remediate soils contaminated with potential toxic elements (PTEs) including V. However, the efficiency of BC to immobilize V and its on speciation of V in the dissolved and colloidal phase and its mobilization and phytoavailability in the sediment phase under dynamic redox-conditions in highly contaminated soils under dynamic redox conditions has not been studied up to date. Thus, we have i) quantified the impact of pre-definite redox conditions on the speciation and release dynamics of V in the dissolved and colloidal phase as well as on the mobilization and phytoavailability of V in the soil sediments phase in a highly contaminated alkaline soil (CS) (non-treated) (pH = 7.44 and total V = 1,040 mg kg-1) collected from China and in the same soil treated with BC (CS+BC), and ii) assessed the impact of rice husk biochar as soil amendment on the same parameters. The impact of redox potential (EH), pH, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and sulfate (SO42-) on speciation and release dynamics of V was also determined under dynamic redox conditions. In addition, the used biochar was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). The experiment was conducted in stepwise from moderate reducing (-30 mV in CS and -12 mV in CS+BC) to oxidizing (+218 mV in CS and +333 mV in CS+BC) soil conditions in different cycles using a highly sophisticated automated biogeochemical microcosm apparatus. Flooding of the CS and CS+BC caused significant changes of pH values which varied from 6.15 to 8.33 in the CS and from 5.14 to 7.91 in the CS+BC and the EH correlated negatively with pH. The dissolved concentrations of V varied from 15.2-46.4 mg L-1 in the CS to 14.9-50.2 mg L-1 in the CS+BC, while the colloidal concentrations of V varied from 39.5-49.9 mg L-1 in the CS to 31.8-50.2 mg L-1 in the CS+BC. Different redox cycles affected significantly the speciation and release dynamics of V in the dissolved and colloidal phase and its mobilization and phytoavailability in the sediment phase

Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) seeds as unconventional nutritional source

The composition of roselle seed from oil, protein, ash, fiber, fatty acids and amino acids was determined and compared in three cultivars in order to use it as an unconventional nutritional source. Aswan cv. occupies the highest significant rank in protein (31.51), oil (23.70) and fiber (4.87%) contents. Aswan and Sewa cvs. had the highest significant unsaturated fatty acid composition, especially oleic and linoleic acids, with oleic acid having values of 36.22 and 33.34% and linoleic acid, 14.95 and 15.10% values. Protein of Aswan cv. had the highest significant values of seven essential amino acids and four non-essential amino acids, especially lysine and phenylalanine.Key words: Amino acids, fatty acids, nutrition, oil, protein, roselle, unconventional crops

Epidural spinal cord compression from metastatic cancer: clinical features and management

We retrospectively analyzed thirty-three patients (21 males, 12 females) with malignancy induced spinal cord compression (SCC). The mean age of the patients was 42.8 years and almost half (51%) of them presented with SCC. Mean duration of symptoms was 4.5 months and the mean interval between the original diagnosis of cancer and the development of SCC was 14.6 months. Back pain was the most frequent (97%) symptom with an equal number of patients having subjective or objective evidence of lower limb weakness. Majority (73%) of the patients were non-ambulatory at the time of diagnosis. Spinal level involvement was mostly thoracic (62%) followed by lumber (38%). Breast cancer was the commonest underlying malignancy (21%). Lung (12%), prostrate (12%), multiple myeloma (9%), and carcinoma with unknown primary (12%) were also frequently encountered. There was an overall response rate of 22% to the therapeutic interventions: mostly observed in the ambulatory patients. Only 7% of the non-ambulatory patients regained ability to walk. None of the responders had bladder or bowel dysfunction. Twenty-two percent of the responders are still ambulatory with a mean follow-up of six months