Cyclic Load Responses of GFRP-Strengthened Hollow Rectangular Bridge Piers

This study investigated the seismic behavior of glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) strengthened hollow rectangular bridge piers. Cyclic testing of reinforced concrete (RC) piers retrofitted with GFRP was carried out under constant axial loading and lateral bending. The failure characteristics, flexural ductility, dissipated energy, and hysteretic behaviors, were analyzed based on experimental results. A simplified GFRP-confined concrete model is developed by considering effective strength coefficient and area distribution ratio of GFRP sheets. The results indicate that the failure modes and damage region would be changed and the ductility and dissipated energy of the GFRP-strengthened hollow rectangular bridge piers were improved greatly but not much improvement for the lateral load capacity. The analytical results of the force-displacement hysteretic loops based on the GFRP-confined concrete model developed in this paper agreed well with the experimental data

Hysteretic behavior simulation of novel rhombic mild steel dampers

Structural vibration control technique is an appropriate and acceptable method to control structural vibration condition and dissipate structural vibration energy during severe earthquakes and violent winds. Metallic dampers are verified to be stable and effective for passive control by many scholars and engineers. Low-yield-point (LYP) steel provides a promising prospect for energy dissipation dampers widely applied in structural engineering practice. Experimental study was conducted on a novel rhombic steel plate damper in former research and numerical simulation of the hysteretic behavior of rhombic dampers was performed in this study. Mechanical performance and implementation of the novel rhombic steel plate damper is briefly introduced in this paper. The hysteretic behavior of the novel rhombic steel plate dampers made of three types of steel was investigated by testing and finite element method. It is concluded that the yield strength enhancement of the rhombic steel damper made of LYP steel is substantial. The numerical simulation results of the hysteretic behavior of the rhombic steel plate damper are similar to the experimental results for these three types of steel. The energy dissipation capability of rhombic LYP steel dampers is excellent and adequate to be used in passive control strategy for civil engineering structures

Hysteretic behavior simulation of novel rhombic mild steel dampers

Structural vibration control technique is an appropriate and acceptable method to control structural vibration condition and dissipate structural vibration energy during severe earthquakes and violent winds. Metallic dampers are verified to be stable and effective for passive control by many scholars and engineers. Low-yield-point (LYP) steel provides a promising prospect for energy dissipation dampers widely applied in structural engineering practice. Experimental study was conducted on a novel rhombic steel plate damper in former research and numerical simulation of the hysteretic behavior of rhombic dampers was performed in this study. Mechanical performance and implementation of the novel rhombic steel plate damper is briefly introduced in this paper. The hysteretic behavior of the novel rhombic steel plate dampers made of three types of steel was investigated by testing and finite element method. It is concluded that the yield strength enhancement of the rhombic steel damper made of LYP steel is substantial. The numerical simulation results of the hysteretic behavior of the rhombic steel plate damper are similar to the experimental results for these three types of steel. The energy dissipation capability of rhombic LYP steel dampers is excellent and adequate to be used in passive control strategy for civil engineering structures

Structural Diversity of the Active N-Terminal Kinase Domain of p90 Ribosomal S6 Kinase 2

The p90 ribosomal protein kinase 2 (RSK2) is a highly expressed Ser/Thr kinase activated by growth factors and is involved in cancer cell proliferation and tumor promoter-induced cell transformation. RSK2 possesses two non-identical kinase domains, and the structure of its N-terminal domain (NTD), which is responsible for phosphorylation of a variety of substrates, is unknown. The crystal structure of the NTD RSK2 was determined at 1.8 Å resolution in complex with AMP-PNP. The N-terminal kinase domain adopted a unique active conformation showing a significant structural diversity of the kinase domain compared to other kinases. The NTD RSK2 possesses a three-stranded βB-sheet inserted in the N-terminal lobe, resulting in displacement of the αC-helix and disruption of the Lys-Glu interaction, classifying the kinase conformation as inactive. The purified protein was phosphorylated at Ser227 in the T-activation loop and exhibited in vitro kinase activity. A key characteristic is the appearance of a new contact between Lys216 (βB-sheet) and the β-phosphate of AMP-PNP. Mutation of this lysine to alanine impaired both NTDs in vitro and full length RSK2 ex vivo activity, emphasizing the importance of this interaction. Even though the N-terminal lobe undergoes structural re-arrangement, it possesses an intact hydrophobic groove formed between the αC-helix, the β4-strand, and the βB-sheet junction, which is occupied by the N-terminal tail. The presence of a unique βB-sheet insert in the N-lobe suggests a different type of activation mechanism for RSK2

The Function of Heterodimeric AP-1 Comprised of c-Jun and c-Fos in Activin Mediated Spemann Organizer Gene Expression

BACKGROUND:Activator protein-1 (AP-1) is a mediator of BMP or FGF signaling during Xenopus embryogenesis. However, specific role of AP-1 in activin signaling has not been elucidated during vertebrate development. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:We provide new evidence showing that overexpression of heterodimeric AP-1 comprised of c-jun and c-fos (AP-1(c-Jun/c-Fos)) induces the expression of BMP-antagonizing organizer genes (noggin, chordin and goosecoid) that were normally expressed by high dose of activin. AP-1(c-Jun/c-Fos) enhanced the promoter activities of organizer genes but reduced that of PV.1, a BMP4-response gene. A loss of function study clearly demonstrated that AP-1(c-Jun/c-Fos) is required for the activin-induced organizer and neural gene expression. Moreover, physical interaction of AP-1(c-Jun/c-Fos) and Smad3 cooperatively enhanced the transcriptional activity of goosecoid via direct binding on this promoter. Interestingly, Smad3 mutants at c-Jun binding site failed in regulation of organizer genes, indicating that these physical interactions are specifically necessary for the expression of organizer genes. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE:AP-1(c-Jun/c-Fos) plays a specific role in organizer gene expression in downstream of activin signal during early Xenopus embryogenesis

Behavior Evaluation for Reinforced Concrete Columns with Rectangular Hollow Section Subjected to Axial Compression and Biaxial Bending

In order to evaluate the behavior of reinforced concrete columns with rectangular hollow section subjected to axial compression and biaxial bending, the calculation formula of load capacity and moment-curvature relationship are derived according to the distribution type of neutral axis in this paper. The load capacity and rotation ductility of the bottom control section of three reinforced concrete specimen bridge columns with rectangular hollow section under different axial compression ratio, reinforcement ratio and stirrup ratio are analyzed based on these calculation formulae. The Mx–My interaction curves and moment-curvature curves of bridge column specimens derived from the theoretical calculation show good agreement with the experimental data obtained by cyclic testing of three specimens under axial compression and biaxial bending. The results show that the P–Mx–My interaction has considerable effects on the behavior of the reinforced concrete bridge columns with rectangular hollow section. If these interaction effects are ignored, then the load capacity and deformation are overestimated and this fact can be crucial from the viewpoint of design

The update of treatment strategies in pediatrics with generalized pustular psoriasis in China

ABSTRACT Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is a severe subtype of psoriasis, commonly combined with systemic inflammation. Gene mutations have been found to be associated with GPP and vary by ethnicity. Systemic treatments are usually required for the severity and potential complications of GPP. However, there is no common consensus in China, especially among pediatric patients, whose data are scarce. Acitretin, methotrexate, and cyclosporine are widely used in pediatrics with GPP, while the adverse effects should be highlighted. The emergence of different biological agents brings us into a new era. This article discusses the genetic background of Chinese patients and demonstrates the evidence of treatment in pediatrics with GPP

Determination of apparent bulk velocity of auroral images

In this paper we use a correlation analysis technique of random pattern to calculation of shift velocity of auroral image. The velocity thus obtained is a kind of apparent "average" velocity of whole image, instead of the velocity of some certain points or parts in the auroral pattern. The technique is used to an example of aurora australis recorded at Zhongshang Station of Antarctica in 1997. The typical velocity of the auroral pattern for the studied cases is about 3 km/

Evaluation of a Current Vehicle Load Model Using Weigh-in-Motion Records: A Case in China

In order to assess the vehicle load carrying capacity of existing bridges on the national highway G103 in Beijing, the vehicle load model for the practical traffic flow conditions needs to be determined. Based on the traffic axle load data measured by the weigh-in-motion system and the methods proposed by General Code for Design of Highway Bridges and Culverts (JTG D60-2004) and Code for Design of Highway Reinforced Concrete and Prestressed Concrete Bridges and Culverts (JTG D62-2004), the vehicle load parameters under practical traffic flow conditions are investigated. A typical 6-axle vehicle model with a 2-1-3 axial pattern is proposed by using the statistical analysis of total weight, axial weight, etc. The live load effects of Daliushu No. 2 Bridge, one highway bridge on the national highway G103, are analyzed using the proposed model and compared to the vehicle load model given in the Chinese code. The results show that there are great differences in the vehicle load parameters and the live load effects from the proposed vehicle load model increased by 20–50% compared with the model given by the code. The overweight vehicles are potential threats to the safety of existing bridges

Magnetic characteristics of single-block and multi-block Nd-Fe-B permanent magnets at low temperature

Based on the intrinsic temperature dependence of permanent magnet (PM) materials, the changing magnetic characteristics of three Nd-Fe-B magnet configurations with temperature were studied. A single PM, a traditional permanent magnet guideway (PMG) with steel as the flux collector in the center of the guideway (PMG A), and a Halbach-type PMG (PMG B) were investigated in cooling experiments. Liquid nitrogen was used to cool the PM and the PMGs from room temperature to the low temperature of 77 K, while the temperature and magnetic field signals were collected simultaneously. The results show that, with the temperature decrease, both the single PM and PMGs have a significant increase in their magnetic fields, which reach peak values. The magnetic flux density of the traditional PMG A shows a more significant increase of 20.3%, while the growth rates of the single cylinder PM and PMG B are 11.1% and 8.4%, respectively. As the temperature drops below a certain value, a spin-reorientation effect takes place inside the PM and causes a rapid decline of the magnetic flux density. Finally, compared with the magnetic field value at room temperature, the magnetic field variation of the single PM, PMG A, and PMG B were 5.7% decrease, 4.3% increase, and 0.7% decrease, respectively. The results provide basic data on the variation of magnetic characteristics of PM and PMG with temperature and contribute to research on superconducting levitation systems