Preliminary Study on Snowplow Survivability of Guardrail Terminals

FHWA has asked Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) to fix damaged longitudinal and end sections of guardrail throughout Alaska's road system. The proposed research evaluates W-beam guardrail end terminals (GET) which are installed along roads in heavy-snow areas of Alaska. Primarily, it is important for DOT&PF to determine how well GET withstand loads generated during snow plowing and blowing operations. Based on this preliminary study, the following conclusions are made (1) Anecdotal evidence indicates that the newly installed SRT-350s are not very forgiving (because they are designed to be crash-friendly), and relatively minor contact between the snow removal equipment and the terminal may result in terminal failure and at least some damage. (2) There are two types of damage to the newly installed SRT-350s; (a) damage due to contact between the snow removal equipment and the terminal; and (b) damage resulting from the pressure of the snow (snow-only contact). The first type is the most likely damage observed in field visits. The damage due to snow-only contact can occur in heavy snow area. (3) Except in heavy snow area, the average replacement rate for newly installed SRT-350s can be reduced to about the same level as the traditional BCTs if the snowplow operator learn to respect the new terminals more and provide them with a wide berth. To achieve this, it is very important to mark the end of the terminal as well as the beginning of the flare of the terminal. With both locations marked, an operator can carefully avoid the entire length of the terminal. (4) Further research is needed to investigate guardrail end terminals which are more durable or are easily repaired.Disclaimer - i Abstract - ii Acknowledgment - iii Table of Contents - iv List of Figures - v Introduction - 1 Field Investigation - 3 Survey Results from Northern-Tier States - 10 Conclusions and Recommendations - 11 References - 13 Appendix A - 1

New SDI Diaphragm Design Manual

The Steel Deck Institute (SDI) has released the new and long awaited 4th Edition of the Diaphragm Design Manual (DDM04). This new edition complies with the requirements of the ANSI/AISI S310-13 North American Standard for the Design of Profiled Steel Diaphragm Panels. At 408 pages, the 4th Edition is larger than its predecessor and will be an invaluable resource to structural designers because of the background information, design examples, and extensive load tables. The First Edition of the DDM, published in 1981, was authored by Dr. Larry Luttrell, P.E., the Technical Advisor to the SDI. The diaphragm design method developed by Dr. Luttrell was based on a rational analytical model of the deck panels and the support and side-lap fasteners, which was substantiated by extensive testing. The Second Edition of the DDM, published in 1995, added a design method and design tables for floor deck diaphragms. A Third Edition was published in 2004. The new Fourth Edition is also authored by Dr. Luttrell, with the assistance of John Mattingly, P.E.; Walter Schultz, P.E., and Dr. Thomas Sputo, P.E., S.E.

Libbie & Grove Urban Design Plan

This plan was created for the City of Richmond Department of Planning and Development Review to serve as a recommendation for urban design improvements and suggested changes to zoning ordinances for the Libbie and Grove commercial area located in the Westhampton neighborhood. To begin, an in-depth demographic analysis was conducted for the Westhampton neighborhood. Special attention was paid to socioeconomic factors and trends in census tracts directly surrounding the Libbie and Grove commercial corridor. Based on these analyses and new development occurring in the Libbie and Grove commercial corridor, we were able to allocate six sites or “study areas” as candidates for redevelopment. All of these sites represent valuable areas within the Libbie and Grove commercial corridor. The sites were selected and designed with different intentions, but aim to create a complete streetscape for the commercial area. Based on this analysis and study, it is our recommendation that a new zoning code be implemented for the Libbie and Grove commercial area in order to codify form based design requirements in order to preserve and enhance a village feel at Grove and Libbie and promote compatible future development

Aspirin Use in Children for Fever or Viral Syndromes

Aspirin should not be used to treat acute febrile viral illness in children. (Strength of Recommendation [SOR]: C, based on case- control studies). Although no causal link has been proven, data from case-control and historic cohort studies demonstrate an association between aspirin use and Reye syndrome

Invasive Species Removal Promotes Habitat Restoration but Does Not Immediately Improve the Condition of a Threatened Plant Subspecies

Impacts of invasive species on rare species are relevant to conservation. We studied the response of Leedy’s roseroot Rhodiola integrifolia subsp. leedyi, a subspecies listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, to removal of the invasive species Japanese knotweed Fallopia japonica. Japanese knotweed has invaded the largest known population of Leedy’s roseroot, affecting about 10% of all Leedy’s roseroot in the world. Japanese knotweed shaded Leedy’s roseroot, but the two did not share belowground resources because of their position on cliffs. To study this interaction and, ultimately, to restore Leedy’s roseroot habitat to an open, high-light condition, we removed Japanese knotweed in a three-treatment block design. We measured Leedy’s roseroot abundance, growth, and reproduction in treatment blocks and in uninvaded areas before and after treatment. Compared with uninvaded areas, Japanese knotweed invasion negatively affected Leedy’s roseroot abundance, growth, and reproduction. Light interception by Japanese knotweed degraded the habitat for Leedy’s roseroot. Herbicide removal of Japanese knotweed resulted in increased light and temperature compared with untreated invaded plots but did not affect Leedy’s roseroot abundance, growth, or reproduction over the 2 y of our study. These results show that invasive species removal is conducive to restoring Leedy’s roseroot habitat, but recovery in the subspecies may lag behind restoration of the habitat, suggesting that additional action or time may be required to restore preinvasion performance of Leedy’s roseroot. Results of this study may inform restoration efforts for other systems and contribute to the literature on interspecific interactions

The Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD).

The Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory in Salsbury Cove, Maine, USA, is developing the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD), a community-supported genomic resource devoted to genes and proteins of human toxicologic significance. CTD will be the first publicly available database to a) provide annotated associations among genes, proteins, references, and toxic agents, with a focus on annotating data from aquatic and mammalian organisms; b) include nucleotide and protein sequences from diverse species; c) offer a range of analysis tools for customized comparative studies; and d) provide information to investigators on available molecular reagents. This combination of features will facilitate cross-species comparisons of toxicologically significant genes and proteins. These comparisons will promote understanding of molecular evolution, the significance of conserved sequences, the genetic basis of variable sensitivity to environmental agents, and the complex interactions between the environment and human health. CTD is currently under development, and the planned scope and functions of the database are described herein. The intent of this report is to invite community participation in the development of CTD to ensure that it will be a valuable resource for environmental health, molecular biology, and toxicology research