Influence of pore water chemistry on the swelling behavior of compacted clays

The influences of the exchange complex and pH of the solution used for cation saturation on Atterberg limits, compaction, and swelling potential of a compacted clay were investigated. The study involved transforming the exchange complex from a heterogeneous to a homogeneous one so that a frame of reference can be set for the clay behavior under such an ideal condition. The employed method for altering the exchange complex successfully yielded homo-ionic clay. The introduction of different species of cations gave rise to different particles associations. When introduced to the tested clay, potassium cations bond its particles with a rather strong bond (K-linkage), causing a drastic decrease in the specific area of the clay (about one-fourth of its untreated specific area), a decrease in the CEC, as well as a drastic decrease in the swell potential. For example, the swell pressure decreased from 1.87 kg/cm² for the untreated samples to 0.4 kg/cm² for the K-treated samples (under the same conditions). Also, the swell potential vs. time relationships can be modeled accurately using a rectangular hyperbola.     

Increased Elongase 6 and Δ9-Desaturase Activity are Associated with n-7 and n-9 Fatty Acid Changes in Cystic Fibrosis

Patients with cystic fibrosis, caused by mutations in CFTR, exhibit specific and consistent alterations in the levels of particular unsaturated fatty acids compared with healthy controls. Evidence suggests that these changes may play a role in the pathogenesis of this disease. Among these abnormalities are increases in the levels of n-7 and n-9 fatty acids, particularly palmitoleate (16:1n-7), oleate (18:1n-9), and eicosatrienoate or mead acid (20:3n-9). The underlying mechanisms of these particular changes are unknown, but similar changes in the n-3 and n-6 fatty acid families have been correlated with increased expression of fatty acid metabolic enzymes. This study demonstrated that cystic fibrosis cells in culture exhibit increased metabolism along the metabolic pathways leading to 16:1n-7, 18:1n-9, and 20:3n-9 compared with wild-type cells. Furthermore, these changes are accompanied by increased expression of the enzymes that produce these fatty acids, namely Δ5, Δ6, and Δ9 desaturases and elongases 5 and 6. Taken together, these findings suggest that fatty acid abnormalities of the n-7 and n-9 series in cystic fibrosis are as a result, at least in part, of increased expression and activity of these metabolic enzymes in CFTR-mutated cells.     

Resistance to acid degradation,sorptivity, and setting time of geopolymer mortars

Experimental evaluations were conducted to determine the water sorptivity, setting time, and resistance to a highly acidic environment, of mortar with alkali-activated ground granulated blast furnace slag (GBS) binder and also of combinations of fly ash and GBS binders. Binders were activated using mixtures of NaOH and Na₂SiO₃ solutions. The molarity of NaOH in the mixtures ranged from 10 mol·L⁻¹ to 16 mol·L⁻¹, and the Na₂SiO₃/NaOH ratio was varied from 1.5 to 2.5. Mortar samples were produced using three binder combinations: 1) GBS as the only binder; 2) blended binder with a slag-to-fly ash ratio of 3:1; and 3) mixed binder with 1:1 ratio of slag to fly ash. Mortar samples were mixed and cured at (22 ± 2) °C till the day of the test. The impact of activator solution alkalinity, activator ratio Na₂SiO₃/NaOH, GBS content on the rate of water absorption were evaluated. After 7, 28, and 90 d of immersion in a 10% sulfuric acid solution, the resistance of a geopolymer matrix to degradation was assessed by measuring the change in sample weight. The influence of solution alkalinity and relative fly ash content on setting times was investigated. Alkali-activated mortar with a slag-to-fly ash ratio of 3:1 had the least sorptivity compared to the two other binder combinations, at each curing age, and for mortars made with each of the NaOH alkaline activator concentrations. Mortar sorptivity decreased with age and sodium hydroxide concentrations, suggesting the production of geopolymerization products. No reduction in weight of sample occurred after immersion in the strong acid H₂SO₄ solution for three months, regardless of binder combination. This was due to the synthesis of hydration and geopolymerization products in the presence of curing water, which outweighed the degradation of the geopolymer matrix caused by sulfuric acid.     

Design of maximum density aggregate grading

An aggregate grading that yields maximum solid density and maximum particle interlock is highly desirable for both bound mixtures, such as asphalt concrete and plain and reinforced concrete, and for unbound mixtures such as those used in base courses. Maximum particle interlock leads to high strength. Whereas minimum voids in a certain material composition is conducive to high strength and low compression. Aggregate grading may be obtained, for instance, from the ASTM, which is based on experience or may be designed according to Lees’ method. In the present work five different types of aggregates were used, each with a variety of chosen grading. It was found that Lees’ method produced the lowest porosity of all types of aggregates as well as for the various employed gradings. Lees’ rational method of aggregate grading, however, is a very lengthy and time-consuming procedure. Therefore, programming of Lees’ method is an essential step to make such an excellent method available to practicing engineers. A program named ‘ was developed and has incorporated 58 design graphs of the Lees’ method. is a comprehensive program for Lees’ rational method; it conducts interpolation for intermediate points within the design graphs as well as between graphs of different properties.     

Dynamic ridge polynomial neural network with Lyapunov function for time series forecasting

The ability to model the behaviour of arbitrary dynamic system is one of the most useful properties of recurrent networks. Dynamic ridge polynomial neural network (DRPNN) is a recurrent neural network used for time series forecasting. Despite the potential and capability of the DRPNN, stability problems could occur in the DRPNN due to the existence of the recurrent feedback. Therefore, in this study, a sufficient condition based on an approach that uses adaptive learning rate is developed by introducing a Lyapunov function. To compare the performance of the proposed solution with the existing solution, which is derived based on the stability theorem for a feedback network, we used six time series, namely Darwin sea level pressure, monthly smoothed sunspot numbers, Lorenz, Santa Fe laser, daily Euro/Dollar exchange rate and Mackey-Glass time-delay differential equation. Simulation results proved the stability of the proposed solution and showed an average 21.45% improvement in Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) with respect to the existing solution. Furthermore, the proposed solution is faster than the existing solution. This is due to the fact that the proposed solution solves network size restriction found in the existing solution and takes advantage of the calculated dynamic system variable to check the stability, unlike the existing solution that needs more calculation steps.     

Interactions of Linoleic and Alpha-Linolenic Acids in the Development of Fatty Acid Alterations in Cystic Fibrosis

Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) exhibit characteristic polyunsaturated fatty acid abnormalities, including low linoleic acid and high arachidonic acid levels that are thought to contribute to the pathophysiology of this disease. Recent studies indicate that changes in fatty acid metabolism are responsible for these abnormalities. This study examines the role of fatty acid substrate concentrations in the development of these alterations in a cultured cell model of CF. By incubating cells with varying concentrations of exogenous fatty acids, it shows that increasing the concentration of substrates from the parallel n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid pathways (linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid, respectively) not only increases formation of the products in that pathway, but also reduces metabolism in the parallel pathway. In particular, we demonstrate that high levels of linoleic acid and low levels of alpha-linolenic acid are required to observe the typical fatty acid alterations of cystic fibrosis. These results shed light on the mechanisms of fatty acid metabolic abnormalities in cystic fibrosis. They also have implications for the nutritional therapy of CF, highlighting the importance of specific fatty acid content, and in understanding the anti-inflammatory effects of n-3 fatty acids.