Super-Accelerated Testing of Flexible Pavement with Stationary Dynamic Deflectometer

2000 ◽  
Vol 1716 (1) ◽  
pp. 98-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth H. Stokoe ◽  
James A. Bay ◽  
Brent L. Rosenblad ◽  
Michael R. Murphy ◽  
Kenneth W. Fults ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cost Effective ◽  
Accelerated Testing ◽  
Stationary Mode ◽  
Fort Worth ◽  
Department Of Transportation ◽  
Texas Department ◽  
Effective Manner ◽  
Pavement Recycling ◽  
Loading System ◽  
Transportation Research

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), in partnership with the Center for Transportation Research, has implemented the Texas mobile load simulator (TxMLS) as a tool for accelerated testing of in-service pavements. Although the TxMLS has been used successfully to test in-service pavements in the Yoakum and Fort Worth districts, the fact that only one TxMLS machine exists limits the number of accelerated pavement tests (APT) that can be performed. Therefore, TxDOT is evaluating a modification of the rolling dynamic deflectometer (RDD) for use as a super-accelerated pavement tester. In this application, the truck-mounted dynamic loading system is operated in a stationary mode, with the loading rollers and rolling sensors of the RDD removed from operation. The servohydraulic actuator is used for application of harmonic loading to a wheel footprint on the pavement surface. Hundreds of thousands of load repetitions are applied in a matter of hours; hence the designation as super-accelerated testing. This stationary dynamic deflectometer (SDD) is being studied as a possible tool for use in expanding TxDOT’s APT program. The SDD may allow TxDOT to increase, in a cost-effective manner, the number of accelerated tests that can be performed. Preliminary tests have been performed with the TxMLS and SDD on two different pavement recycling strategies constructed on the northbound and southbound lanes of US-281 in the Fort Worth District. That the same conclusion was reached about the relative performance of the test sections with both machines indicates the potential usefulness of the SDD.

Development of a Tool for Utility Conflict Data Management in the Project Development Process

2008 ◽  
Vol 2060 (1) ◽  
pp. 153-161
Author(s):  
Edgar Kraus ◽  
Cesar Quiroga ◽  
Jerry Le
Keyword(s):  
Construction Projects ◽  
Data Exchange ◽  
Development Process ◽  
Prototype System ◽  
Department Of Transportation ◽  
Project Development ◽  
Design Changes ◽  
Texas Department ◽  
Highway Facilities ◽  
Transportation Research

A critical process for the timely development and delivery of highway construction projects is the early identification and depiction of utility interests that may interfere with proposed highway facilities. The effective management of such utility interests or conflicts involves utility adjustment (or design changes), inspection, and documentation. The large number of stakeholders and the magnitude of the process result in enormous amounts of data. Despite substantial data exchange among utility accommodation stakeholders, few standards exist for exchange and management of utility data in the project development process. With sample data provided by the Texas Department of Transportation, research described in this paper addresses the issue of utility conflict management by analyzing specific utility conflict data flows and data needs of stakeholders. The paper presents the product of this analysis, which is a prototype system for managing utility conflict data called the Utility Accommodation and Conflict Tracker.

Innovative Financing Approach for President George Bush Turnpike

1997 ◽  
Vol 1576 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-66
Author(s):  
Frank J. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Joint Venture ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Department Of Transportation ◽  
Financing Structure ◽  
George Bush ◽  
State Highway ◽  
Planning And Design ◽  
Texas Department ◽  
Surface Transportation ◽  
The City

An innovative financing program for a toll project in Texas that has been financed and will be constructed by a joint-venture team composed of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the Texas Turnpike Authority (TTA) is described. The President George Bush Turnpike (State Highway 190) will connect 42.5 km (26.4 mi) of suburbs north of the city of Dallas. The project has been in various stages of planning and design since the late 1960s. Each agency working alone could not complete SH-190 in a timely and cost-effective fashion. Exploiting changes made to the state constitution in 1991 and maximizing the use of the innovative financing provision of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act, TxDOT, TTA, and FHWA in partnership developed a financing structure to accelerate the construction of this project.

Strategic planning in grassland farming: Principles andapplications

1997 ◽  
pp. 191-197
Author(s):  
W.J. Parker ◽  
N.M. Shadbolt ◽  
D.I. Gray
Keyword(s):  
Strategic Planning ◽  
Performance Indicators ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Key Performance Indicators ◽  
Strategic Plans ◽  
Effective Manner ◽  
Farm Business ◽  
Pastoral Farming ◽  
Financial Environment

Three levels of planning can be distinguished in grassland farming: strategic, tactical and operational. The purpose of strategic planning is to achieve a sustainable long-term fit of the farm business with its physical, social and financial environment. In pastoral farming, this essentially means developing plans that maximise and best match pasture growth with animal demand, while generating sufficient income to maintain or enhance farm resources and improvements, and attain personal and financial goals. Strategic plans relate to the whole farm business and are focused on the means to achieve future needs. They should be routinely (at least annually) reviewed and monitored for effectiveness through key performance indicators (e.g., Economic Farm Surplus) that enable progress toward goals to be measured in a timely and cost-effective manner. Failure to link strategy with control is likely to result in unfulfilled plans. Keywords: management, performance

New Paradigm for State Department of Transportation Environmental Initiatives: New York State’s Guidelines and Procedures

2000 ◽  
Vol 1702 (1) ◽  
pp. 92-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary McVoy ◽  
Mark Sengenberger ◽  
Elizabeth Novak
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
New York State ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
State Department ◽  
Regulatory Compliance ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Environmental Damage ◽  
York State Department ◽  
Department Of Transportation ◽  
New Paradigm

Public-works agencies have an obligation to enhance the environment as opportunities arise. The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) has developed an environmental initiative to make an affirmative contribution to the environment, using the department’s organizational strengths. The environmental initiative is a paradigm shift applicable to all departments of transportation (DOTs). Conventional reactive regulatory compliance can reduce unnecessary environmental damage and sometimes gain grudging regulatory agency cooperation; however, it is not a positive, satisfying way of doing the people’s work. Through proactive steps, NYSDOT has become an important part of the state’s environmental solution (often at little or no additional cost) and has changed its working relationships with environmental agencies and groups. As these agencies and groups have become partners, instead of adversaries, permit-approval times have improved, mitigation costs have declined, morale has improved, and cost-effective environmental benefits are being realized. Procedures are outlined to apply the engineering capabilities of a DOT to the environmental-stewardship responsibilities shared by all governmental organizations.

scholarly journals Novel Regeneration Approach for Creating Reusable FO-SPR Probes with NTA Surface Chemistry

Nanomaterials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 186
Author(s):  
Jia-Huan Qu ◽  
Karen Leirs ◽  
Remei Escudero ◽  
Žiga Strmšek ◽  
Roman Jerala ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Chemistry ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Nitrilotriacetic Acid ◽  
Antibody Fragments ◽  
Rapid Screening ◽  
Red Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Effective Manner ◽  
Surface Regeneration ◽  
Sensitivity Specificity

To date, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensors have been exploited in numerous different contexts while continuously pushing boundaries in terms of improved sensitivity, specificity, portability and reusability. The latter has attracted attention as a viable alternative to disposable biosensors, also offering prospects for rapid screening of biomolecules or biomolecular interactions. In this context here, we developed an approach to successfully regenerate a fiber-optic (FO)-SPR surface when utilizing cobalt (II)-nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) surface chemistry. To achieve this, we tested multiple regeneration conditions that can disrupt the NTA chelate on a surface fully saturated with His6-tagged antibody fragments (scFv-33H1F7) over ten regeneration cycles. The best surface regeneration was obtained when combining 100 mM EDTA, 500 mM imidazole and 0.5% SDS at pH 8.0 for 1 min with shaking at 150 rpm followed by washing with 0.5 M NaOH for 3 min. The true versatility of the established approach was proven by regenerating the NTA surface for ten cycles with three other model system bioreceptors, different in their size and structure: His6-tagged SARS-CoV-2 spike fragment (receptor binding domain, RBD), a red fluorescent protein (RFP) and protein origami carrying 4 RFPs (Tet12SN-RRRR). Enabling the removal of His6-tagged bioreceptors from NTA surfaces in a fast and cost-effective manner can have broad applications, spanning from the development of biosensors and various biopharmaceutical analyses to the synthesis of novel biomaterials.

scholarly journals Postnatal management of children with antenatal hydronephrosis

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed S. ElSheemy
Keyword(s):  
Renal Function ◽  
Urinary Tract Obstruction ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Voiding Cystourethrography ◽  
Main Body ◽  
Antenatal Hydronephrosis ◽  
Postnatal Management ◽  
Effective Manner ◽  
Lower Urinary Tract Obstruction

Abstract Background Postnatal management of infants with antenatal hydronephrosis (ANH) is still one of the most controversial issues. The majority of infants with ANH are asymptomatic with only few children who develop renal insufficiency. Thus, the biggest challenge for pediatric urologists is to distinguish children who will require further investigations and possible intervention prior to the development of symptoms, complications or renal damage in a cost effective manner without exposing them to the hazards of unnecessary investigations. Main body In this review article, literature on ANH were reviewed to present the current suggestions, recommendations, guidelines and their rational for postnatal management of ANH. It is agreed that a large portion of infants with ANH will improve; thus, the protocol of management is based mainly on observation and follow-up by ultrasound to detect either resolution, stabilization or worsening of hydronephrosis. The first 2 years of life are critical for this follow-up as the final picture is mostly reached during that period. Advanced imaging using voiding cystourethrography or renal scintigraphy are required for children at risk. Then, surgical intervention is selected only for a subgroup of these infants who showed worsening of hydronephrosis or renal function. Conclusions The protocol of management is based mainly on observation and follow-up by US to detect either resolution, stabilization or worsening of hydronephrosis. Postnatal evaluation should be performed for any neonate with a history ANH at any stage during pregnancy even if it was resolved during third trimester. Exclusion of UTI should be performed by urinalysis for all cases followed by urine culture if indicated. Serum creatinine should be performed especially in patients with bilateral ANH. US is the initial standard diagnostic imaging technique. Other imaging modalities like VCUG and nuclear renal scans may be required according to the results of the US evaluation. The most important items in decision making are the presence of bilateral or unilateral hydronephrosis, presence or absence of hydroureter, presence of lower urinary tract obstruction and degree of hydronephrosis on the initial postnatal US. Then an intervention is selected only for a subgroup of these patients who showed deterioration in renal function or degree of hydronephrosis or were complicated by UTIs. All these recommendations are based on the available literature. However, management of ANH is still a controversial issue due to lack of high evidence-based recommendations. Randomised controlled studies are still needed to provide a high level evidence for different aspects of management.

scholarly journals An Artificial-Intelligence-Discovered Functional Ingredient, NRT_N0G5IJ, Derived from Pisum sativum, Decreases HbA1c in a Prediabetic Population

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1635
Author(s):  
Sweeny Chauhan ◽  
Alish Kerr ◽  
Brian Keogh ◽  
Stephanie Nolan ◽  
Rory Casey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Pisum Sativum ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Glycated Haemoglobin ◽  
Glucose Regulation ◽  
Functional Ingredient ◽  
Effective Manner ◽  
Human Skeletal Muscle Cells ◽  
Increased Risk

The prevalence of prediabetes is rapidly increasing, and this can lead to an increased risk for individuals to develop type 2 diabetes and associated diseases. Therefore, it is necessary to develop nutritional strategies to maintain healthy glucose levels and prevent glucose metabolism dysregulation in the general population. Functional ingredients offer great potential for the prevention of various health conditions, including blood glucose regulation, in a cost-effective manner. Using an artificial intelligence (AI) approach, a functional ingredient, NRT_N0G5IJ, was predicted and produced from Pisum sativum (pea) protein by hydrolysis and then validated. Treatment of human skeletal muscle cells with NRT_N0G5IJ significantly increased glucose uptake, indicating efficacy of this ingredient in vitro. When db/db diabetic mice were treated with NRT_N0G5IJ, we observed a significant reduction in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels and a concomitant benefit on fasting glucose. A pilot double-blinded, placebo controlled human trial in a population of healthy individuals with elevated HbA1c (5.6% to 6.4%) showed that HbA1c percentage was significantly reduced when NRT_N0G5IJ was supplemented in the diet over a 12-week period. Here, we provide evidence of an AI approach to discovery and demonstrate that a functional ingredient identified using this technology could be used as a supplement to maintain healthy glucose regulation.

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