Undrained shear strength of clays as modified by pH variations

The undrained shear strength of clays is an important geotechnical parameter used during construction processes. Several laboratory tests were performed on kaolinite and smectite mixed with pore fluids with different pH values. Vane shear tests were carried out and it was found that the undrained shear resistance for clays increased considerably if the pore fluid had a high or a low pH. A possible explanation could be the dissolution of Al³⁺ which acts as a coagulant, increasing the internal shear resistance. Geochemical computations, Al measurements and ζ-potential experiments were performed to confirm this theory. The research suggests varying the pH may make a useful contribution to soil improvement techniques.     

The Influence of the Dielectric Constant and Electrolyte Concentration of the Pore Fluids on the Undrained Shear Strength of Smectite

It is common knowledge that the engineering properties of clays are greatly influenced by the type of pore fluids. However, the impact of the pore fluids on the geotechnical properties of the samples is even more dependent on the type of mineral and interlayer ions. Completely different behaviours could be observed with identical pore fluids but different clay minerals and vice versa. The liquid limit, plastic limit and undrained shear strength were determined for two types of smectites with different interlayer cations, namely Ca and Na-smectite. The pore fluids were varied by using different dielectric constants (ε) and electrolyte concentrations (n₀). The results show that the two kinds of soils respond in a similar way but with a different magnitude depending on the ion occupation.     

The plastic zones and displacements around underground openings in rock masses containing a fault

Faults are the commonly encountered large geological discontinuities in hard rock masses, most severe underground structure instability is found to be closely associated with the faults presence nearby. The parametric study carried out in this paper using numerical method (UDEC) has identified some fault parameters to be really critical for the underground structure stability. These fault parameters are fault dips, fault shear strength and fault locations relative to the underground structure. This numerical investigation revealed that faults affect the stability of underground structure by the tendency of increasing the plastic zones, displacements and causing both asymmetrically distributed in the rock masses adjacent to the excavation. The relationship of the induced plastic zones, maximum displacements varying with these fault parameters was established. The distribution of plastic zone and displacement was graphically presented and the mechanisms such effects were discussed. These results offer a guideline in support design.     

基于LiDAR技术的节理岩质边坡有限元分析

岩质边坡的稳定性主要受其优势结构面组控制。基于地面LiDAR扫描技术和模糊聚类分析对边坡岩体出露的结构面进行自动识别和统计分组,从而获得岩体主要结构面组的几何空间信息和空间位置信息。随后通过赤平投影方法能够较好地反映出各主要结构面组与边坡的空间位置关系,确定主控边坡稳定性的优势结构面组,为数值模型的构建提供依据。最后采用有限元强度折减法求得潜在滑裂面位置和相应的安全系数。分析结果表明,岩质边坡滑裂破坏主要沿着优势结构面方向扩展,边坡下部以沿结构面的剪切破坏为主,上部以拉伸破坏为主。     

Parametric studies on the CO2 laser cutting of Kevlar-49 composite

In the present study, the cutting performance of a CO₂ laser on Kevlar-49 composite materials has been studied. The Taguchi technique is employed to identify the effect of laser control parameters, i.e., laser power, cutting speed, material thickness, assistance gas pressure, and laser mode, on the quality of cut parameters, namely, kerf width, dross height, and slope of the cut. From the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio response tables, the significant parameters and the optimal combination levels of cutting parameters are determined. The obtained results are interpreted and modeled to closely understand the behavior and quality of CO₂ laser cutting. Kevlar-49 composites are found to be cut satisfactorily by the CO₂ laser at the optimum process parameter ranges. The results showed that laser power is the most significant parameter affecting the quality of cut parameters. The optimal combination of cutting parameters minimized the kerf width, dross height, and slope of cut to 0.103 mm, 0.101 mm, and 2.06°, respectively. The error between experimental results with optimum settings and the predicted values for the kerf width, dross height, and slope of cut lie within 2.9%, 7.92%, and 6.3%, respectively.     

Experimental and theoretical investigations on petroleum-based elastomers with two cross-linking systems of different lengths viewed as bimodal networks

A review with 36 references discussing the chemistry and the structure-property relationship of elastomers cured with two cross-linking systems of different chain lengths such as sulfur and the polymerization products of p-benzoquinone and viewed as bimodal networks. These exceptional networks have shown remarkable improvements in the overall mechanical properties which are anticipated to be due to the non-Gaussian effects known for bimodal networks and evident by the anomalous upturn in the modulus values in Mooney-Rivlin stress-strain data representations. Proton and ¹³C NMR as well as energy minimization calculations were used to study the chemical structures and single chain contributions of polyquinones. Nuclei bending of these oligomers have shown to be greatly influenced by the restricted torsional behavior due to the presence of the hydrogen bonds between the benzenoid nuclei. Intrinsic atomic-level forces for the networks were evaluated using molecular dynamics techniques and showed that while the forces acting on the junction points of the cross-linking segments and the elastomeric chains had no apparent change as a consequence of the networks' bimodal formation, forces acting on the short chains of the bimodal networks are of much higher values as compared to those of unimodal networks. The presence of the relatively long polyquinone chains in the bimodal networks has caused the short sulfur chains to stretch to its maximum extensibility and no longer can increase its end-to-end distance separation by simple rotations about its skeletal bonds. Limited chain extensibility of the short chains resulting from the deformation of the bond angles and bond lengths has lead to higher potential energies. Studies on the swollen bimodal networks have validated the above conclusions since swelling of the networks will prevent the elastomeric chains from undergoing possible strain-induced crystallization during the stress-strain experiments and any abnormalities in the mechanical behavior of these networks must be therefore the result of the limited extensibility of the short chains of the networks.     

Financing of health in Lebanon. II. Financing sources and global expenses for health

The use of fluorinated quinolones for prophylaxis of infections in neutropenic cancer patients has led to a reduction of infections with gram-negative enteric bacilli, but there is concern about the emergence of antibiotic-resistant entero-bacterial infections and a rise of gram-positive bacteremias. Due to these concerns, in mid-1995 the use of prophylactic norfloxacin was discontinued in our unit. In order to evaluate the impact of this measure on the infectious morbidity in our unit, 91 severe neutropenic episodes in 58 patients with hematologic malignancies who did not receive norfloxacin prophylaxis (NO group) were closely matched to 91 episodes in 60 patients who received norfloxacin prophylaxis (NORFLO group). There were no differences in the incidence of febrile neutropenia, fever of unknown origin or bacteremia during the first febrile episode. There was a trend for a higher rate of coagulase-negative staphylococcal bacteremia in the NORFLO group (5 vs. 11 cases in the NO and NORFLO groups, respectively, p = NS). Enterobacterial bloodstream infections were more frequent in the NO group (13 vs. 2 cases, respectively, p = 0.01), especially Escherichia coli (9 vs. 1 case, respectively, p = 0.01). Twelve of 13 enterobacterial isolates in the NO group were sensitive to the fluoroquinolones vs. 0/2 in the NORFLO group (p = 0.07). We conclude that the abrupt discontinuation of norfloxacin prophylaxis in our ward led to a rapid increase in the rate of fluoroquinolone-susceptible enterobacterial infections, with a scarce impact on infectious morbidity. This suggests that the selection of resistant flora in an inpatient ward by prophylactic antimicrobials may be reversible following the discontinuation of the prophylactic agent(s).     

CD5 expression is developmentally regulated by T cell receptor (TCR) signals and TCR avidity

Recent data indicate that the cell surface glycoprotein CD5 functions as a negative regulator of T cell receptor (TCR)-mediated signaling. In this study, we examined the regulation of CD5 surface expression during normal thymocyte ontogeny and in mice with developmental and/or signal transduction defects. The results demonstrate that low level expression of CD5 on CD4(-)CD8(-) (double negative, DN) thymocytes is independent of TCR gene rearrangement; however, induction of CD5 surface expression on DN thymocytes requires engagement of the pre-TCR and is dependent upon the activity of p56(lck). At the CD4(+)CD8(+) (double positive, DP) stage, intermediate CD5 levels are maintained by low affinity TCR-major histocompatibility complex (MHC) interactions, and CD5 surface expression is proportional to both the surface level and signaling capacity of the TCR. High-level expression of CD5 on DP and CD4(+) or CD8(+) (single positive, SP) thymocytes is induced by engagement of the alpha/beta-TCR by (positively or negatively) selecting ligands. Significantly, CD5 surface expression on mature SP thymocytes and T cells was found to directly parallel the avidity or signaling intensity of the positively selecting TCR-MHC-ligand interaction. Taken together, these observations suggest that the developmental regulation of CD5 in response to TCR signaling and TCR avidity represents a mechanism for fine tuning of the TCR signaling response.     

Polarization-independent Beam Splitter Based on Light Reflection by a Uniaxial Crystal Surface,and an Immersion Method for Determining the Crystal's Principal Refractive Indices

Abstract

Light travelling in an isotropic medium of refractive index n and incident on a uniaxial crystal whose optic axis is parallel to the surface and to the plane of incidence is reflected without a change of polarization when n = N _g = (N _o N _e)^1/2, where N _o and N _e are the crystal's ordinary and extraordinary refractive indices. This is true for all incident polarization states and at all angles of incidence and can be used to design a new polarization-independent beam splitter. For a positive uniaxial crystal (N _e > N _o), total internal reflection occurs at and above a critical angle equal to arcsin (N _o/N _e)^1/2, so that the incident light beam is deflected without attenuation or change of polarization. When n = N _g the reflectance at normal incidence for unpolarized or circularly polarized incident light is a minimum: R _0min = (N_a - N_g)/(N_a + N_g), where N _a = ½(N _o + N _e). This suggests a liquid immersion method in which n and R _0min determine N _g and N _a, hence N _o and N _e of the crystal.     

Optimal beam splitters for the division-of-amplitude photopolarimeter

Optimal optical parameters of the beam splitter that is used in the division-of-amplitude photopolarimeter are determined. These are (1) 50%-50% split ratio of the all-dielectric beam splitter, (2) differential phase shifts in reflection and transmission delta(r) and delta(t) that differ by +/- pi/2, and (3) ellipsometric parameters (psi(r), psi(t)) = (27.368 degrees, 62.632 degrees) or (62.632 degrees, 27.368 degrees). It is also shown that for any nonabsorbing beam splitter that splits incident unpolarized light equally, the relationship psi(r) + psi(t) = pi/2 is always satisfied.