Estimation of Load Capacity of Pipe Piles in Sand Based on Cone Penetration Test Results

Pipe piles can be classified as either closed- or open-ended piles. In the present paper, the load capacity of both closed- and open-ended piles is related to cone penetration resistance qc through an experimental program using calibration chamber model pile load tests and field pile load tests. A total of 36 calibration chamber pile load tests and two full-scale field pile load tests were analyzed. All the test piles were instrumented for separate measurement of each component of pile load capacity. Based on the test results, the normalized base resistance qb/qc was obtained as a function of the relative density DR for closed-ended piles, and of both the relative density DR and the incremental filling ratio (IFR) for open-ended piles. A relationship between the IFR and the relative density DR is proposed as a function of the pile diameter and driving depth. The relationship between IFR and DR allows the estimation of IFR and thus of the pile load capacity of open-ended piles at the design stage, before pile driving operations.     

Effect of Floodwater Extraction on Mountain Stream Morphology

Floodwater is often extracted for consumptive purposes from western mountain streams in the United States. The long-term extraction of floodwater may alter the morphological and ecological balance of such streams. Scale model experiments based on eight mountain gravel-bed streams in Idaho were conducted to test the effects of floodwater extraction on stream morphology. The model channel transported a poorly sorted mix of model “gravel,” as well as copious amounts of model “sand.” The channel had a discontinuous floodplain, developed its own bar morphology, and contained large model colluvium as well as a bedrock platform. A mobile-bed equilibrium was first developed using a repeated hydrograph. The experiment was then repeated using a sliding cutoff discharge. The discharges in the hydrograph that were below a given cutoff discharge were reduced to 30% of bankfull discharge. By raising the cutoff discharge, it was possible to study the effect of increasing severity of floodwater extraction on stream morphology. The experiments indicated an increase in sand content on the bed surface and a decrease in the standard deviation of fluctuations in bed elevation with increasing severity of floodwater extraction.     

Approximate solutions for non-linear random vibration problems

Two methods are described for obtaining approximate solutions to non-linear random vibration problems. The first method approximates the non-linear system with the linear system whose corresponding probability density function best solves the Fokker-Planck equation associated with the non-linear system. In the second method, a class of non-linear systems with known solutions to the Fokker-Planck equation is used to best approximate the non-linear system of interest. Two illustrative examples are presented and the results are compared with existing methods.     

Fast RCS computation over a frequency band using method of momentsin conjunction with asymptotic waveform evaluation technique

The method of moments (MoM) in conjunction with the asymptotic waveform evaluation (AWE) technique is applied to obtain the radar cross section (RCS) of an arbitrarily shaped three-dimensional (3-D) perfect electric conductor (PEC) body over a frequency band. The electric field integral equation (EFIE) is solved using the MoM to obtain the equivalent surface current on the PEC body. In the AWE technique, the equivalent surface current is expanded in a Taylor's series around a frequency in the desired frequency band. The Taylor series coefficients are then matched via the Pade approximation to a rational function. Using the rational function, the surface current is obtained at any frequency within the frequency range, which is in turn used to calculate the RCS of the 3-D PEC body. A rational function approximation is also obtained using the model-based parameter estimation (MBPE) method and compared with the Pade approximation. Numerical results for a square plate, a cube, and a sphere are presented over a frequency bandwidth. Good agreement between the AWE and the exact solution over the bandwidth is observed     

Limnological features of Funil Reservoir (R.J., Brazil) and indicator properties of rotifers and cladocerans of the zooplankton community

Funil Reservoir receives inflow from a highly industrialized region and acts as a natural sink to pollutants. Among the consequences of the uncontrolled nutrient loading is the constant presence and periodic heavy blooms of Microcystis aeruginosa . This study verified limnological features and zooplankton assemblage of the Funil Reservoir focusing on the environmental-indicator properties of rotifers and cladocerans. The summer bloom of M. aeruginosa caused reductions in water transparency, nitrate and orthophosphate concentrations and raises in chlorophyll a , pH, dissolved oxygen and chemical oxygen demand values. All zooplankton species presented spatial and temporal variations with the exception of the copepods, which were present in all samples. According to canonical correspondence analysis, ammonium was the variable most related to zooplankton variability and different Rotifera and Cladocera assemblages indicated distinct environment conditions. Rotifer taxa associated with increases of water temperature and chlorophyll a concentration were found with high densities during M. aeruginosa blooms. Species of rotifer and cladocerans are suggested as indicators that can be used to identify different physical and chemical gradients or eutrophic increases in Funil Reservoir.     

Fast full‐color reflective display via photoluminescent enhancement

Reflective displays are advantageous in applications requiring low power or daylight readability. However, there are no low‐cost reflective technologies capable of displaying bright colors. By employing photoluminescence to more efficiently use ambient light, we created a prototype display that provides bright, full color in a simple, low‐cost architecture. This prototype includes a novel electrokinetic shutter, a layer that incorporates patterned luminescent red, green, and blue sub‐pixel elements, and a novel optical out‐coupling scheme. The luminescent elements convert otherwise‐wasted portions of the incident spectrum to light in the desired color band, resulting in improved color saturation and lightness. This prototype provides a color gamut that is superior to competing reflective display technologies that utilize color filters in single‐layer side‐by‐side sub‐pixel architectures. The current prototype is capable of switching in <0.5 s; future displays based on an alternative electro‐optic shutter technology should achieve video rate operation. A transflective version of this technology has also been prototyped. The transflective version utilizes its backlight with a power efficiency that is at least three times that of a conventional liquid crystal display. These photoluminescence‐based technologies enable a host of applications ranging from low‐power mobile products and retail pricing signage to daylight readable signage for outdoor advertising segments.     

Characterization of Apo-Form Selective Inhibition of Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxygenase**

Indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) is a heme-containing enzyme that catalyzes the rate-limiting step in the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan (TRP) metabolism. As it is an inflammation-induced immunoregulatory enzyme, pharmacological inhibition of IDO1 activity is currently being pursued as a potential therapeutic tool for the treatment of cancer and other disease states. As such, a detailed understanding of the mechanism of action of IDO1 inhibitors with various mechanisms of inhibition is of great interest. Comparison of an apo-form-binding IDO1 inhibitor (GSK5628) to the heme-coordinating compound, epacadostat (Incyte), allows us to explore the details of the apo-binding inhibition of IDO1. Herein, we demonstrate that GSK5628 inhibits IDO1 by competing with heme for binding to a heme-free conformation of the enzyme (apo-IDO1), whereas epacadostat coordinates its binding with the iron atom of the IDO1 heme cofactor. Comparison of these two compounds in cellular systems reveals a long-lasting inhibitory effect of GSK5628, previously undescribed for other known IDO1 inhibitors. Detailed characterization of this apo-binding mechanism for IDO1 inhibition might help design superior inhibitors or could confer a unique competitive advantage over other IDO1 inhibitors vis-à-vis specificity and pharmacokinetic parameters.     

Axial characterization of catalytic activity in close-coupled lightoff and underfloor catalytic converters

A exhaust system consisting of a close-coupled Pd technology 32 in³ lightoff converter and Pt/Rh technology 170 in³ underfloor converter was vehicle-aged for 56000 miles on a vehicle equipped with a 3.8 l engine. Following this aging, the converters were taken off the vehicle and cut into 1″ thick sections along their axis and characterized for lightoff and warmed-up activity using a laboratory reactor to simulate vehicle exhaust. Each section was also analyzed for the quantity of oil additive poisons (phosphorus and zinc) deposited. Following this initial characterization, the phosphorus and zinc deposits were removed, and the sections were characterized again for lightoff and warmed-up activity. This procedure was used to qualitatively determine the relative contribution of oil additive poisoning and thermal sintering to the total activity deterioration as a function of axial position in the catalyst monoliths.

Analysis of the lightoff converter as taken from the vehicle showed a dramatic axial gradient in the lean and stoichiometric lightoff and warmed-up (600°C) performance for HC, CO and NO_x, with most of the deterioration having taken place in the forward-most 1″ section of the converter, which was consistent with the gradient in the deposition of phosphorus (P) and zinc (Zn) in this converter. Comparison of these data sets with those obtained after removal of the P and Zn poisons indicates that most of the total deterioration of lean HC and CO activity can be attributed to P and Zn poisoning of the forwardmost 1″ section. When tested under stoichiometric conditions, most of the deterioration of HC activity is attributable to P and Zn poisoning, while most of the deterioration of CO and NO_x activity is attributable to thermal deterioration. A similar activity and poison deposition gradient was detected in the underfloor converter, but to a smaller extent.