Geotechnical remediation of transportation infrastructures: nondestructive evaluation of bridge substructures and stabilization of soft foundation soils

According to the National Research Council (2006), the field of infrastructure development and rehabilitation is one of seven critical categories that require attention of geotechnical researchers and practitioners. Therefore, in this dissertation, two topics related to infrastructure development were selected and studies. These topics were performance of granular shoulders and nondestructive evaluation of low volume road bridge substructures. The first topic investigated common problems associated with granular shoulders, evaluation of several test sections stabilized with selected chemical and mechanical stabilization techniques, laboratory box model, where mechanically stabilized shoulders were tested under cyclic loading, and simple design charts that can help design stable shoulder sections. The second topic evaluates the effectiveness of using nondestructive ultrasonic stress wave tests to determine the internal timber piles conditions and correlate it to capacity of in-service piles. Also, the results of a destructive static load are presented. During this test, the timber piles at one abutment, instrumented with strain gages and load cells, were consecutively damaged to simulate different scenarios of pile deterioration. The influence of this deterioration on the bridge substructure behavior was evaluated

Comparison of crisp and fuzzy character networks in handwritten word recognition

Experiments involving handwritten word recognition on words taken from images of handwritten address blocks from the United States Postal Service mailstream are described. The word recognition algorithm relies on the use of neural networks at the character level. The neural networks are trained using crisp and fuzzy desired outputs. The fuzzy outputs were defined using a fuzzy k-nearest neighbor algorithm. The crisp networks slightly outperformed the fuzzy networks at the character level but the fuzzy networks outperformed the crisp networks at the word level

Effects of Poly Vinyl Acetate on Characteristics of Expansive Soil

Soil stabilization using polymer materials has become of great potential in recent years. In this regard, an attempt is made to investigate and understand the influence of Poly Vinyl Acetate (PVA) on the engineering properties of expansive soil. A series of treated soil specimens were prepared and tested at four different percentages of PVA (0%, 1.5%, 3.75%, and 5% by weight of dry soil). These treated specimens were subjected to laboratory testing for measuring Atterberg's limits, free swell, compaction characteristics, and unconfined compression strength properties. It was found that PVA had significant influence on the properties of treated soil. An increase in PVA content resulted in an increment of unconfined compressive strength of the soil. Addition of 3.75% of PVA increased the unconfined compressive strength value almost 6 times the value of the virgin soil. On the other hand, an increase in PVA content led to a reduction of free swell and plasticity index. The soil plasticity and free swell indices values were reduced from 62% to 0% and from 190% to 50% respectively by addition of 5% PVA. It can be concluded that an increasing trend for soil strength and decreasing in swelling with addition of PVA, suggesting its potential applications in stabilization of expansive soils

DEVELOPMENT OF SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC METHODS FOR THE ANALYSIS OF FLORFENICOL IN BULK AND DOSAGE FORMS

Objectives: The objective of this research was to develop simple, sensitive and accurate zero ( °D), first (1D) and second (2D) order derivative spectrophotometric methods for the analysis of florfenicol in bulk and dosage forms.Methods: The original UV spectrum (zero-order) of florfenicol aqueous solution was measured at 267 nm against its blank. This spectrum was then differentiated instrumentally to generate the first and second derivative spectra which were measured at 274 nm and 281 nm, respectively. The developed methods were validated as per ICH guidelines.Results: Regression data of the developed methods obeyed Beer's law over the concentration range 3˗15µg/ml with a good correlation coefficient (not less than 0.998). Limits of detection were found to be 0.68, 1.30, 1.13µg/ml and limits of quantification were 2.05, 3.87, 3.58µg/ml for °D, 1D and 2D order derivative, respectively. The developed methods demonstrated good inter-day and intra-day precision at the three modes. The obtained recovery percentage (98.3±1.8%; n=3) reflected the freedom from interference by the excipients.Conclusion: The statistical validation at 95% confidence level proves the sensitivity, accuracy and precision of the developed methods.Keywords: Florfenicol, Spectrophotometry, Derivative spectra, Dosage for

Severe Immune Thrombocytopenia Complicated by Intracerebral Haemorrhage Associated with Coronavirus Infection: A Case Report and Literature Review

IImmune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune disorder that causes isolated thrombocytopenia. Many viruses have been identified as triggering the autoimmune process, including HIV, MCV, EBV, parvovirus, rubella and measles. However, ITP in association with coronavirus infection has not previously been reported. We describe the case of a healthy man who presented with severe ITP complicated by intracranial haemorrhage following upper respiratory tract infection. An infection screen revealed coronavirus infection

Laboratory Study of Steel Slag Used in Stabilizing Expansive Soil

This paper presents an experimental study in stabilization of expansive soil using Steel Slag (SS). Experimental program was conducted to evaluate the influence of Steel Slag on improving the engineering properties of expansive clay. A series of tests to measure consistency limits, free swell index, compaction parameters and unconfined compressive strength of natural and stabilized soils. The effectiveness of adding 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 percentages of SS to the soil was studied. Comparing the results obtained for the natural and stabilized soils revealed that SS has significant effect on strength parameters and considerable improvement in plasticity and swelling properties. Addition of SS to the soil increased the dry density and decreased the optimum moisture content as well as increased the unconfined compressive strength. It is concluded that the use of steel slag to enhance properties of expansive soil is successful and beneficial

Some observations on the plant communities of Dungul Oasis (Western Desert, Egypt)

During a visit to the Dungul Area (Western Desert, SW Egypt), several vegetation records were made. The number of species per plot (25 m2) was extremely low: mainly monospecific stands were found. A combination of two (or even three) species was reached either in the transition belts of herbaceous species or of one tree species with understory plants. Special attention was paid to the rare palm species Medemia argun, endemic to Nubia. A famous old specimen known from literature was encountered in dead state, but several living young specimens were observed

Some observations on the plant communities of Dungul Oasis (Western Desert, Egypt)

During a visit to the Dungul Area (Western Desert, SW Egypt), several vegetation records were made. The number of species per plot (25 m2) was extremely low: mainly monospecific stands were found. A combination of two (or even three) species was reached either in the transition belts of herbaceous species or of one tree species with understory plants. Special attention was paid to the rare palm species Medemia argun, endemic to Nubia. A famous old specimen known from literature was encountered in dead state, but several living young specimens were observed

Genotypes of human papilloma virus in Sudanese women with cervical pathology

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Knowledge of the distribution of human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes among women with cervical lesion and in invasive cervical cancer is crucial to guide the introduction of prophylactic vaccines. There is no published data concerning HPV and cervical abnormalities in Sudan. This study aimed to define the prevalence of HPV and its subtypes in the cervical smears of women presenting with gynecological complains at Omdurman Military Hospital, Sudan.</p> <p>During the period between March 2003 and April 2004, 135 cervical smears collected from these women, were screened using cytological techniques, and analysed by PCR for (beta)-globin and HPV DNA using gel electrophoresis and ELISA.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of these 135 smears, there were 94 (69.3%) negative, 22 (16.3%) positive for inflammation, 12(8.9) mild dyskaryosis, 5 (3.7) moderate dyskaryosis and 2 (1.8) severe dyskaryosis. There were 60.7% ß. globin positive samples for HPV indicating DNA integrity. HPV DNA was identified in three samples (2.2%) by gel electrophoresis and. was positive in four samples (2.9%) as single and multiple infections by PCR-ELISA. The high risk HPV types 16 and 58 were identified in one sample as a mixed infection. The low risk HPV types 40 and 42 were also found as a mixed infection in another patient. HPV types 58 and 42 were identified in the other two patients.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>HPV type distribution in Sudan appears to differ from that in other countries. The HPV genotypes identified were not associated with cancer.</p