bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dual role of the S5 segment in type 1 ryanodine receptor channel gating
Authors: Murayama Takashi , Otori Yuya , Kurebayashi Nagomi , Yamazawa Toshiko , Oyamada Hideto , Sakurai Takashi , Ogawa Haruo
Published: September 2024

The type 1 ryanodine receptor (RyR1) is a Ca2+ release channel in the sarcoplasmic reticulum that is essential for skeletal muscle contraction. RyR1 forms a channel with six transmembrane segments, in which S5 is the fifth segment and is thought to contribute to pore formation. However, its role in channel gating remains unclear. Here, we performed a functional analysis of several disease-associated mutations in S5 and interpreted the results with respect to the published RyR1 structures to identify potential interactions associated with the mutant phenotypes. We demonstrate that S5 plays a dual role in channel gating: the cytoplasmic side interacts with S6 to reduce the channel activity, whereas the luminal side forms a rigid structural base necessary for S6 displacement in channel opening. These results deepen our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of RyR1 channel gating and provide insight into the divergent disease phenotypes caused by mutations in S5.
The gut microbiota and its metabolite butyrate shape metabolism and antiviral immunity along the gut-lung axis in the chicken
Authors: Saint-Martin Vincent , Guillory Vanaique , Chollot Mélanie , Fleurot Isabelle , Kut Emmanuel , Roesch Ferdinand , Caballero Ignacio , Helloin Emmanuelle , Chambellon Emilie , Ferguson Brian , Velge Philippe , Kempf Florent , Trapp Sascha , Guabiraba Rodrigo
Published: September 2024

The gut microbiota exerts profound influence on poultry immunity and metabolism through mechanisms that yet need to be elucidated. Here we used conventional and germ-free chickens to explore the influence of the gut microbiota on transcriptomic and metabolic signatures along the gut-lung axis in poultry. Our results demonstrated a differential regulation of certain metabolites and genes associated with innate immunity and metabolism in peripheral tissues of germ-free birds. Furthermore, we evidenced the gut microbiota’s capacity to regulate mucosal immunity in the chicken lung during avian influenza virus infection. Finally, by fine-analysing the antiviral pathways triggered by the short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) butyrate in chicken respiratory epithelial cells, we found that it regulates interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs), notablyOASL, via the transcription factor Sp1. These findings emphasize the pivotal role of the gut microbiota and its metabolites in shaping homeostasis and immunity in poultry, offering crucial insights into the mechanisms governing the communication between the gut and lungs in birds.
Surface warming in Svalbard may have led to increases in highly active ice-nucleating particles
Authors: Tobo Yutaka , Adachi Kouji , Kawai Kei , Matsui Hitoshi , Ohata Sho , Oshima Naga , Kondo Yutaka , Hermansen Ove , Uchida Masaki , Inoue Jun , Koike Makoto
Published: September 2024

The roles of Arctic aerosols as ice-nucleating particles remain poorly understood, even though their effects on cloud microphysics are crucial for assessing the climate sensitivity of Arctic mixed-phase clouds and predicting their response to Arctic warming. Here we present a full-year record of ice-nucleating particle concentrations over Svalbard, where surface warming has been anomalously faster than the Arctic average. While the variation of ice-nucleating particles active at around −30 °C was relatively small, those active at higher temperatures (i.e., highly active ice-nucleating particles) tended to increase exponentially with rising surface air temperatures when the surface air temperatures rose above 0 °C and snow/ice-free barren and vegetated areas appeared in Svalbard. The aerosol population relevant to their increase was largely characterized by dust and biological organic materials that likely originated from local/regional terrestrial sources. Our results suggest that highly active ice-nucleating particles could be actively released from Arctic natural sources in response to surface warming.
No need for meat as most customers do not leave canteens on Veggie Days
Authors: Merk Christine , Meissner Leonie P. , Griesoph Amelie , Hoffmann Stefan , Schmidt Ulrich , Rehdanz Katrin
Published: September 2024

Switching to a diet lower in red meat has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Using a unique time series of daily sales data from three German university canteens from 2017 to 2019, we analyse the effects of a monthly Veggie Day in a food-away-from-home context. We find that the temporary ban on meat dishes did not lead to a widespread boycott – as the heated public debates might have suggested. In our setting, a Veggie Day could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 66%. However, especially at the site with a higher share of meat eaters on regular days, up to 22% of customers bypassed the meat-free main dishes on Veggie Days and ate at other on-site alternatives where meat was available. However, total on-site sales did not decrease significantly. Students were less likely to switch to alternatives than staff and guests. A less stringent implementation of a Veggie Day where only beef dishes were removed from the menu, did not result in a significant shift to alternatives but could reduce emissions by up to 51%.
Real-time tracking of the Bragg peak during proton therapy via 3D protoacoustic Imaging in a clinical scenario
Authors: Wang Siqi , Gonzalez Gilberto , Sun Leshan , Xu Yifei , Pandey Prabodh , Chen Yong , Xiang Shawn
Published: September 2024

Proton radiotherapy favored over X-ray photon therapy due to its reduced radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissues, is highly dependent on the accurate positioning of the Bragg peak. Existing methods like PET and prompt gamma imaging to localize Bragg peak face challenges of low precision and high complexity. Here we introduce a 3D protoacoustic imaging with a 2D matrix array of 256 ultrasound transducers compatible with 256 parallel data acquisition channels provides real-time imaging capability (up to 75 frames per second with 10 averages), achieving high precision (5 mm/5% Gamma index shows accuracy better than 95.73%) at depths of tens of centimeters. We have successfully implemented this method in liver treatment with 5 pencil beam scanning and in prostate cancer treatment on a human torso phantom using a clinical proton machine. This demonstrates its capability to accurately identify the Bragg peak in practical clinical scenarios. It paves the way for adaptive radiotherapy with real-time feedback, potentially revolutionizing radiotherapy by enabling closed-loop treatment for improved patient outcomes.
Reduction of chromosomal instability and inflammation is a common aspect of adaptation to aneuploidy
Authors: Hintzen Dorine C , Schubert Michael , Soto Mar , Medema René H , Raaijmakers Jonne A
Published: September 2024

Aneuploidy, while detrimental to untransformed cells, is notably prevalent in cancer. Aneuploidy is found as an early event during tumorigenesis which indicates that cancer cells have the ability to surmount the initial stress responses associated with aneuploidy, enabling rapid proliferation despite aberrant karyotypes. To generate more insight into key cellular processes and requirements underlying adaptation to aneuploidy, we generated a panel of aneuploid clones in p53-deficient RPE-1 cells and studied their behavior over time. As expected, de novo-generated aneuploid clones initially display reduced fitness, enhanced levels of chromosomal instability (CIN), and an upregulated inflammatory response. Intriguingly, after prolonged culturing, aneuploid clones exhibit increased proliferation rates while maintaining aberrant karyotypes, indicative of an adaptive response to the aneuploid state. Interestingly, all adapted clones display reduced CIN and reduced inflammatory signaling, suggesting that these are common aspects of adaptation to aneuploidy. Collectively, our data suggests that CIN and concomitant inflammation are key processes that require correction to allow for fast proliferation in vitro. Finally, we provide evidence that amplification of oncogenic KRAS can promote adaptation.
miRNA-mediated control of gephyrin synthesis drives sustained inhibitory synaptic plasticity
Authors: Welle Theresa M , Rajgor Dipen , Kareemo Dean J , Garcia Joshua D , Zych Sarah M , Wolfe Sarah E , Gookin Sara E , Martinez Tyler P , Dell’Acqua Mark L , Ford Christopher P , Kennedy Matthew J , Smith Katharine R
Published: September 2024

Activity-dependent protein synthesis is crucial for long-lasting forms of synaptic plasticity. However, our understanding of translational mechanisms controlling GABAergic synapses is limited. One distinct form of inhibitory long-term potentiation (iLTP) enhances postsynaptic clusters of GABAARs and the primary inhibitory scaffold, gephyrin, to promote sustained synaptic strengthening. While we previously found that persistent iLTP requires mRNA translation, the mechanisms controlling plasticity-induced gephyrin translation remain unknown. We identify miR153 as a novel regulator of Gphn mRNA translation which controls gephyrin protein levels and synaptic clustering, ultimately impacting inhibitory synaptic structure and function. iLTP induction downregulates miR153, reversing its translational suppression of Gphn mRNA and promoting de novo gephyrin protein synthesis and synaptic clustering during iLTP. Finally, we find that reduced miR153 expression during iLTP is driven by an excitation-transcription coupling pathway involving calcineurin, NFAT and HDACs, which also controls the miRNA-dependent upregulation of GABAARs. Together, we delineate a miRNA-dependent post-transcriptional mechanism that controls the expression of the key synaptic scaffold, gephyrin, and may converge with parallel miRNA pathways to coordinate gene upregulation to maintain inhibitory synaptic plasticity.
Understanding the mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance and potential therapeutic approaches against the Gram-negative pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii
Authors: Jamwal Vishwani , Palmo Tashi , Singh Kuljit
Published: September 2024

This review aims to present the bacterial research community efforts in the field of Acinetobacter baumannii focusing on the strategies adapted to identifying potent scaffolds to bolster and diversify the chemical space available for drug discovery.
Exploring mass transfer as a parameter in mechanochemical processes
Authors: Bawadkji Obida , Haag Rainer
Published: September 2024

This study reveals that optimizing mass transfer through a novel ball-mill medium design significantly enhances mechanochemical synthesis efficiency, offering a more controlled and scalable approach to green chemistry.
Advancing low‐light object detection with you only look once models: An empirical study and performance evaluation
Authors: Shovo Samier Uddin Ahammad , Abir Md. Golam Rabbani , Kabir Md. Mohsin , Mridha M. F.
Published: September 2024

Low‐light object detection is needed for ensuring security, enabling surveillance, and enhancing safety in diverse applications, including autonomous vehicles, surveillance systems, and search and rescue operations. A comprehensive study on low‐light object detection is presented using state‐of‐the‐art you only look once (YOLO) models, including YOLOv3, YOLOv5, YOLOv6, and YOLOv8, aiming to enhance detection performance under challenging low‐light conditions. The ExDark dataset is a dataset that consists of adequate low‐light images, modified to simulate realistic low‐light scenarios, and employed for evaluation. The deep learning algorithm optimises YOLO's architecture for low‐light detection by adapting the network structure and training strategies while preserving the algorithm's integrity. The experimental results show that YOLOv8 consistently outperforms baseline models, achieving significant improvements in accuracy and robustness in low‐light scenarios. The deep learning algorithm that acquired the best score, YOLOv8s, had a mean average precision score of 0.5513. This work contributes to the field of low‐light object detection, offering promising solutions for real‐world applications like nighttime surveillance and autonomous navigation in low‐light conditions, addressing the growing demand for advanced low‐light object detection.
Research on current sharing control of parallel inverters used on electric motor emulator
Authors: Wang Mingyu , Yang Beining , Qin Yaru , Jiang Yonglun
Published: September 2024

Parallel inverters have the advantages of low‐output harmonics and high‐parallel power, making them very suitable as the topology structure for an electric motor emulator. However, parallel inverters can also bring about circulating current issues, especially when using carrier phase shifted sinusoidal PWM (CPS‐SPWM) control mode, which significantly increases circulating current, leading to increased output harmonics and losses in the system. In order to suppress circulating currents, this paper provides a detailed analysis from both high‐frequency and low‐frequency perspectives in CPS‐SPWM control mode. A circulating current suppression method that combines hardware and software systems, adopting a cascaded coupled output network structure along with a corresponding error voltage space vector control method to achieve circulating current suppression, is proposed. By constructing a 6‐branch parallel output experimental platform, the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method have been verified, suppressing current circulating currents and improving current quality.
Map‐matching for cycling travel data in urban area
Authors: Gao Ting , Daamen Winnie , Krishnakumari Panchamy , Hoogendoorn Serge
Published: September 2024

To promote urban sustainability, many cities are adopting bicycle‐friendly policies, leveraging GPS trajectories as a vital data source. However, the inherent errors in GPS data necessitate a critical preprocessing step known as map‐matching. Due to GPS device malfunction, road network ambiguity for cyclists, and inaccuracies in publicly accessible streetmaps, existing map‐matching methods face challenges in accurately selecting the best‐mapped route. In urban settings, these challenges are exacerbated by high buildings, which tend to attenuate GPS accuracy, and by the increased complexity of the road network. To resolve this issue, this work introduces a map‐matching method tailored for cycling travel data in urban areas. The approach introduces two main innovations: a reliable classification of road availability for cyclists, with a particular focus on the main road network, and an extended multi‐objective map‐matching scoring system. This system integrates penalty, geometric, topology, and temporal scores to optimize the selection of mapped road segments, collectively forming a complete route. Rotterdam, the second‐largest city in the Netherlands, is selected as the case study city, and real‐world data is used for method implementation and evaluation. Hundred trajectories were manually labelled to assess the model performance and its sensitivity to parameter settings, GPS sampling interval, and travel time. The method is able to unveil variations in cyclist travel behavior, providing municipalities with insights to optimize cycling infrastructure and improve traffic management, such as by identifying high‐traffic areas for targeted infrastructure upgrades and optimizing traffic light settings based on cyclist waiting times.
A simple 60‐pulse voltage source inverter using voltage reinjection strategy to improve voltage harmonics for high‐power local loads
Authors: Najafpour Saeed , Ghandehari Reza
Published: September 2024

The voltage reinjection strategy is an effective solution to improve the voltage quality of the voltage source inverters for high‐power applications. In this article, the fundamentals of voltage reinjection strategy are analyzed to reduce voltage harmonics of the output voltage. Then, a novel voltage reinjection circuit is proposed which can generate a 5‐level voltage to be injected on the voltages of the DC sources. The reinjected voltage can create a 60‐pulse voltage waveform for a three‐phase load. Turn ratio optimization of the reinjection transformer has a significant effect on the improvement of the harmonic situation of the output voltage. Furthermore, the proposed reinjection circuit provides ZVS conditions for the main switches to reduce switching losses considerably. The simulation results indicate that the proposed reinjection circuit can reduce the output voltage THD to 3.16% without any type of filter or modulation, and the load variation does not have a considerable effect on the voltage quality. The experimental results approve the analytical trend and simulation process and also confirm the reinjection circuit performance. According to the results, the proposed method has generated a semi‐sinusoidal voltage waveform with in the laboratory.
Enhanced electric vehicle battery management system employing bat algorithm with chaotic diversification strategies
Authors: Vani Batchu Veena , Kishan Dharavath , Ahmad Md Waseem , Reddy Ch. Rama Prakasha
Published: September 2024

As the demand for electric vehicles (EV) continues to increase, the need for effective charging and switching of battery systems becomes more important. This article presents a method using the Bat Algorithm (BA) improved by chaotic diversification as well as social education to optimize the power source replacement and the electric vehicle charging procedure. The plan is intended to solve the issues of payment delay and battery management failure. The algorithm searches for better positions by combining chaotic diversity, while social learning supports the coordination of battery stations. Thanks to extensive simulation and real‐world testing, our approach shows significant improvements in optimization and a reduced payback period. The results show that the suggested approach outperforms the current algorithms in terms of rotation speed and good solution. This research supports the development of efficient transportation by providing practical solutions to increase the efficiency of electric vehicle transfer and payment and ultimately encourage greater effort.
High efficiency three‐dimensional wireless power transfer system using cylindrical transmitting coil
Authors: Ma Qingfeng , Xu Jiayi , Pang Shui , Liu Yehao , Li HongYu , Li Xingfei
Published: September 2024

Three‐dimensional (3D) wireless power transfer (WPT) is an attractive methodology to improve the charging safety and flexibility of portable electronic equipment and to meet the charging demand brought by the increase of electronic equipment. Herein a 3D WPT system using a cylindrical transmitting coil excited by a single power source is proposed to improve flexibility and efficiency. Specifically, the coil size is designed and the circuit model is analyzed. A method for determining inductor parameters of Inductor‐Capacity‐Capacity compensation is designed to achieve high efficiency. The power transmission performance of the WPT system is validated through an experimental platform. The measured maximum power is more than 50 W, and the maximum DC‐DC efficiency is up to 82.3%. The system can simultaneously charge multiple loads with different receiving coils at different positions. The proposed WPT system can improve the flexibility of equipment charging without control, and provide a reference for the design of portable equipment high efficiency wireless chargers.
Fracture characteristics of asphalt mixtures containing asphalt millings with geosynthetic fragments
Authors: Saxena Ashray , Kumar V. Vinay , Zornberg Jorge G.
Published: September 2024

The increasing cost of asphalt and environmental concerns have created a greater interest in exploring the possibility of incorporating higher percentages of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) materials in asphalt mixtures. However, increasing the RAP content can adversely affect some of the properties of asphalt mixtures, including their cracking resistance potential. Consequently, finding a solution that accommodates incorporating higher RAP contents into the asphalt mixture is crucial. Moreover, geosynthetics has gained significant popularity as an anti-reflective cracking system in asphalt pavements, which may lead to the possibility of milling asphalt layers with geosynthetic interlayers. Thus, research studies need to be conducted to understand the characteristics and behaviour of RAP obtained from asphalt layers with geosynthetic interlayers (referred herein as GRAP). The objective of this study is to investigate the cracking characteristics of asphalt mixtures containing different percentages (0, 15, and 30%) of RAP and GRAP material using cross-shear tests. Results indicated that the addition of GRAP into the asphalt mixture by about 30% significantly improves the performance of asphalt mixtures against crack initiation and propagation compared to those asphalt mixtures containing only RAP. Overall, it can be inferred that the presence of geosynthetic fragments could increase the possibility of incorporating higher percentage of RAP in asphalt mixtures.
Case study on a contaminated soil landfill in Canada with a focus on geosynthetic materials and electrical leak location
Authors: Charpentier Carl , Fourmont Stephan , Allaire Simon
Published: September 2024

Designing a double-lined landfill for contaminated soils certainly presents several challenges. Many design aspects are taken into consideration to comply with local regulations, including thickness of the natural clay layer, minimal slopes for leachate drainage, side slopes for soil stability, global design to lower stress on the geosynthetics, and much more. We will focus on the choice of geosynthetics used for the construction of a cell on a contaminated soil landfill during the summer of 2023, as well as quality control and quality assurance, including electrical leak location. A multi-linear drainage geocomposite was selected to cover each layer of an HDPE geomembrane and a layer of natural sand was also installed. It was not practical to use sand on the secondary geomembrane in the slopes due to stability and damaging risks, therefore the drainage system solely relied on the drainage geocomposite. To carry on with the electrical leak location, a conductive mesh was added to the geocomposite installed in the slopes, allowing 100% of the installed geomembrane to be tested.
Effect of gravel size and geogrid opening variation on the reinforced of the unpaved roads
Authors: Wang Jing-Shu , Chien Chih-Chun
Published: September 2024

In unpaved roads, the bare soil of the soft subgrade or the covered grading layer of subgrade soil has traditionally been the focus of embankment and pavement loads. Using geogrid as isolation and reinforcement between road layers is a widely accepted method to solve this problem. This study used the California Bearing Ratio (CBR) test to evaluate the geogrid reinforcing effects among geogrids with various aggregate particle sizes and the size of the openings of the geogrid. The research results show that when the particle size of the subbase layer was controlled and the ratio of the geogrid opening was variated, the bearing capacity was improved relatively more significantly. The contribution of geogrid to CBR value increased from 12% to 50%. In the reinforced system with a fixed geogrid opening aperture, increasing the particle size of the aggregate will increase the overall bearing capacity of the reinforced system; however, when the size of the aggregate increases to a certain level, the contribution rate of the geogrid CBR value changes relatively indignantly. Additionally, in the reinforced system, by fixing the particle size of the aggregate and adjusting the ratio between the aggregate particle size and the geogrid opening aperture, the overall bearing capacity of the reinforced system is still improved, and the CBR contribution rate provided by the geogrid changes relatively significantly. Finally, the research results also show that the 3Dprinting geogrid had a similar effect to the commercially available geogrid. Therefore, different types of geogrids could be made in follow-up research, and further analysis had the best effect. The particle size of the gravel with the best-reinforced effect and the ratio of the geogrid opening can provide a reference for engineering design.
Multi-objective optimization of geosynthetic reinforced soil structures
Authors: Jelušič Primož , Žlender Bojan
Published: September 2024

Optimization models for reinforced earth structures such as foundation pads, bridge abutments, and embankments based on the Eurocode standard are presented. The developed optimization models, which take into account construction costs and environmental footprint, are used to determine an optimal design for each earth structure. The optimization model uses discrete variables, making the results more suitable for actual construction practice and fully exploiting the geotechnical and structural capacity of earth structures with geosynthetic reinforcement. The multi-objective optimization was performed to find a set of solutions that represent the best trade-off between construction cost and environmental footprint. The results show that the correct selection of geosynthetics leads to a significant reduction in costs and environmental impact. The general observation that emerges from the multi-objective optimization is that when designing the earth structures using geosynthetic reinforcements, due to the discrete set of variables, there are not so many optimal solutions that the designer can choose from. The entire optimization process is illustrated with the help of a numerical example. This study can help engineers to select earth structure and geosynthetic reinforcements that are economical and sustainable.
Functional longevity of exposed geosynthetics
Authors: Sprague C. Joel , Sprague James E.
Published: September 2024

The time at which a geosynthetic’s performance falls below established functional thresholds is known as the geosynthetic’s functional longevity. As opposed to “durability” which commonly refers to an individual exposure environment such as UV exposure or a specific chemical exposure preceded and followed by an index test to quantify physical changes, functional longevity is the result of the synergistic effects of one or more exposure environments happening simultaneously or sequentially preceded and followed by a performance test. Therefore, functional longevity is characterized by a “suite” of durability tests and an accompanying performance test. Exposed geosynthetics, such as rolled erosion control products (RECPs) and engineered turf are the most common candidates for functional longevity characterization. In each case, exposures can include ultraviolet radiation, biodegradation, and damaging mechanical forces. These exposures inevitably degrade the geosynthetic over time. Yet, the important question is, when do the synergistic effects of the simultaneous or sequential exposures degrade the geosynthetic to the point where its performance falls below established thresholds? This question can only be answered by putting the candidate product through a relevant series of durability and performance tests. This paper describes a series of durability and performance tests being used to characterize the functional longevity of RECPs.
Stress relaxation of smooth HDPE geomembranes
Authors: Robert Koerner George
Published: September 2024

The stress relaxation behavior of the HDPE part is dependent on formulated density and melt flow index. Since 1990, the multi-axial tension test has been regularly used to assess the ability of geomembranes to undergo out-ofplane deformations as in cases of rising gas bubbles or differential settlements. This multiaxial deformation is simulated in ASTM D5617 Standard Test Method for Multi-Axial Tension Test for Geosynthetics, at a constant rate of 6.9 kPa/min. While such a rate appears reasonable for index properties of most geomembrane types, semi-crystalline geomembranes like high density polyethylene (HDPE) might be better represented at much slower rates. This experimental study was undertaken to investigate this possibility. Using eight sequentially slower pressurization rates from the default value down to 0.000157 kPa/min the strength values were not markedly changed (yield was unchanged and break increased slightly). However, the elongation values changed considerably (yield increased by 200% and break increased by 400%). Thus, it is felt that the field performance of HDPE geomembranes can best be simulated by conducting the multi-axial test at very slow pressurization rates. While such rates are not practical in the context of an index test method the authors feel that some type of commentary to this effect could well be included in the respective test method standards.
A study on the materials of smart barrier for selectively blocked TCE and TPH
Authors: Lee Jai-Young , Oh Seungjin , Oh Minah , Cho Woori , Park Hyewon , Lee Jeonghyeon , Kim Suhee , Jeong Sanguon , Chang Jinman
Published: September 2024

Many barrier materials are used around industries, construction areas, livestock dump sites, waste landfills, and underground oil storage tanks. In the case of barriers, even if there is no inflow of contaminants, they do not provide selective permeability, develop water barrier properties, and hinder groundwater flow when contaminants encounter groundwater. Recently, contaminated sites that are difficult to resolve with current purification technologies continue to emerge. Pollutants flow into groundwater through the advection and diffusion by leaking. The pollutants introduced in this way cause pollution to the surrounding environment, and various types of severe underground environmental pollution problems occur depending on the type of pollutants leaked. Therefore, using a material that has the property of adsorbing organic contaminants and gelling them is harmless to the environment by penetrating groundwater under normal conditions. It has the property of selectively adsorbing the pollutant and gelling it upon contact with it underground. Therefore, the authors aim to study the applicability of polynorbornene and polyolefin as components of smart barrier materials that make barrier materials impermeable through the adsorption of pollutants, swelling, and coagulation behavior in this study. The components of smart barrier materials include Ottawa sand, organo-bentonite, polynorbornene, and polyolefin. Polynorbornene and polyolefin adsorb only organic pollutants selectively. Before applying polynorbornene and polyolefin to the barrier material, TCLP was performed to evaluate environmental hazards. As a result of heavy metal analysis, it was determined that there was no environmental hazard. The pH results are 7.27 for polynorbornene and 7.31 for polyolefin, indicating that both materials are slightly alkaline. In addition, as a result of testing with TCE (stock solution) and TPH (diesel crude oil) to confirm the swelling effect when in contact with organic pollutants, the efficiency of pollutant adsorption and swelling was found to be high when the ratio of polynorbornene: polyolefin = 6:4. Therefore, when using the material used in this study, it is expected that it can be applied as a component of a smart barrier material that selectively blocks pollutants.
Water retention characterization of non-woven geotextiles: An application for wicking materials
Authors: Jarjour Jana , Meguid Mohamed , Bhat Sam
Published: September 2024

Non-woven geotextiles are commonly used in soil embankments for separation, filtration, and drainage purposes. While these conventional geotextiles can effectively drain gravitational water from saturated embankments, they often struggle to drain capillary water when the embankments are unsaturated—a typical state during their service life. This inefficiency can lead to water accumulation, potentially resulting in moisture-induced damage. To overcome this, a new geotextile, termed "wicking non-woven geotextile," has been introduced. This material is engineered to drain capillary water from unsaturated embankments more effectively. This paper aims to offer a thorough review of the unsaturated behavior of geotextiles, discussing characterization methods and experimental techniques. Furthermore, we will present the results of a capillary rise test, which will help determine the geotextile-water retention curves (GWRC) for a wicking geogrid composite
Hydraulic conductivity of two geosynthetic clay liners with different bentonite granule sizes
Authors: Tan Yu , Benson Craig H. , Zhou Guangping , Bradshaw Sabrina L. , Edil Tuncer B.
Published: September 2024

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the hydraulic conductivity of two commercially available geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs) with similar properties but different bentonite granule sizes (D50=1.0 mm or 0.3 mm). A synthetic municipal solid waste (MSW) leachate prepared in the laboratory and four actual coal combustion product (CCP) leachates collected from the field were used as permeant solutions to represent different permeant chemical conditions for waste containment applications. The two GCLs had comparable hydraulic conductivity to dilute or moderate ionic strength (I) leachates (< 0.1 M). With more concentrated leachates (I > 0.1 M), hydraulic conductivity of the GCL containing finer bentonite granules (FG) was 10 to 500 times lower than the hydraulic conductivity of the GCL containing coarser bentonite granules (CG) under the same equilibrium conditions. These results suggest that GCLs containing finer bentonite granules may be less vulnerable to permeant chemistry.
Using viscosity as an index for polymer loading of bentonite-polymer composite geosynthetic clay liners
Authors: Zhu Jianghong , Tan Yu , Benson Craig H. , Youngblood Jimmy , Bradshaw Sabrina , Edil Tuncer B.
Published: September 2024

Bentonite-polymer composite (BPC) geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs) containing a mixture of air-dry granules of bentonite and polymer have been developed for containment of wastes that generate leachates that are too aggressive for conventional sodium bentonite GCLs. Sufficient polymer loading is essential for BPC GCLs to maintain low hydraulic conductivity, and expedient methods are needed for manufacturing quality control and construction quality control to confirm that BPC GCLs contain sufficient polymer. In this study, a methodology for developed to estimate the polymer loading based on viscosity testing of slurries prepared with the BPC. A simplified version of the method can be used to determine if polymer is present in a BPC. Factors influencing the viscosity measurement were evaluated systematically, including water-to-BPC ratio, tempering time, and mixing method. The method that was developed consists of (1) adding deionized water to dry BPCs to achieve a water-to-BPC ratio of 30, (2) blending the BPC-water mixture with an overhead stirrer at 5000 rpm for 30 min to create a homogeneous slurry, (3) tempering the slurry in a zip-top bag for 24 hr, and (4) measuring the viscosity of the slurry in a viscometer at 300 and 600 rpm. Linear relationships were developed between polymer loading and viscosity for two BPC GCLs. Independent validation confirmed that the polymer loading estimated with the method is ±0.25% of the actual polymer loading.
Evolution in geosynthetics starts with utilizing data technology
Authors: Pignataro Gregory , Bao Evan , Topp Trevor
Published: September 2024

This paper focuses on the automation of the geosynthetics installation QA/QC process by way of software integration in the field data entry and office data management. Technology is essential to the advancement of geosynthetic installations, especially data application. In its most basic form, data application is a means of gathering, storing, and utilizing information more easily than its predecessor(s). If implemented appropriately, data application technology improves process efficiency. Users and downstream stakeholders of process improvements can then capitalize by delivering quicker, higher-quality, more economical products. The geosynthetics industry is lagging in the area of data application. From a feasibility perspective and assessing practical implementation opportunities, many workflows widely used for tracking geosynthetic installations and its associated means and methods are antiquated and, furthermore, lack reliable authenticity verification. The current accountability requirements require a robust catalog of information reporting to substantiate this important environmental construction practice. The combination of room to evolve in practice and existing data requirements make the geosynthetics industry an ideal suitor for this technology integration. While advancements in materials manufacturing, welding equipment, and post-installation leak surveys already contribute to progress, there is a lack of universally accepted information infrastructure to aggregate all facets of an installation. Software automation creates a cyclical geosynthetics ecosystem that benefits the industry as a whole.
Influence of interface bond strength on fracture resistance of geosynthetic-reinforced asphalt
Authors: Silva Matheus P. S. , Saxena Ashray , Kumar V. Vinay , Correia Natália S. , Zornberg Jorge G.
Published: September 2024

The incorporation of geosynthetic reinforcements during the rehabilitation of flexible pavements has significantly increased due to the ability of geosynthetic reinforcements to minimize reflective cracks. However, the performance of the geosynthetic-reinforced asphalt depends on the interface bond strength between the geosynthetic and the adjacent asphalt layers. Tack coat is generally used to maintain adequate bonding between the geosynthetic-reinforced asphalt layers. This study focusses on evaluating the influence of interface bond strength on the fracture resistance of geosynthetic-reinforced asphalt utilizing a new testing approach. The fracture resistance of geosynthetic-reinforced asphalt specimens was evaluated via cross-shear testing device, while interface bond strength was evaluated using interface shear strength testing. A Performance Grade (PG) 64-22 binder was applied as a tack coat at the geosynthetic-asphalt interface at four different rates that are relative to the asphalt retention capacity of the geosynthetic reinforcement. A fiberglass geocomposite was used as geosynthetic reinforcement in this study. The results indicate a correlation between interface shear strength tests and cross-shear tests, suggesting that the optimum tack coat rate is 125% of the asphalt retention capacity of the geosynthetic reinforcement to improve the fracture resistance as well as the interface bond strength of geosynthetic-reinforced asphalt layers.
Cost, time and environmental impact in the execution of mine closure coverage with geosynthetics
Authors: Fierro Gustavo
Published: September 2024

Between 10 and 20 years have passed in which several countries of the South American region began declaration processes of mine closures to the respective countries in which mining companies operate. Several of these declared projects initiates actual closure processes, in dumps, tailings deposits, leaching pads, and pits. During the closure process with the use only of granular and cohesive materials; it has been observed that its extraction and placement have presented serious problems of excessive costs, lack of availability, long execution times and environmental problems due to the process of closing the borrow material areas used. This leads to observe if improvements can be made in this type of projects with the use of Geosynthetics. After more than 30 years of using geosynthetics in mining operation projects in South America, they have shown that they can be more efficient in cost and time, in addition to providing less impact benefits when used. In papers presented at other conferences on the design methodology of mine closure covers with geosynthetics, as well as methodologies for estimating the durability, they have left a precedent for their applicability and how to design them as a substitute for soils in this type of project. Experiences of coverages built following these methodologies available up to date have also been presented in congresses. This work focuses on making economic comparisons obtained by using geosynthetics in mine closure covers, as well as the time savings that can be obtained with the benefits of high quality installation using geosynthetics. The issue of impact generated by the lower consumption of fossil fuel and borrow material sites that will later require more closing work is also focused. Comparisons of these issues are presented, in order to share information to designers, project managers and environmental officials who have to deal with mine closure covers.
Use of HDPE geomembranes as alternative to the use of concrete for channels lining in remote areas
Authors: León Andrés , Cornejo Felipe , Zúñiga Daniel
Published: September 2024

The use of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) geomembranes as channels linings for water transportation is an effective solution that offers numerous advantages over traditional concrete lining systems. This paper evaluates the use of these geomembranes as lining system for diversion channels for a photovoltaic power plant in the II Region of Antofagasta, Chile. The study consisted of the analysis of advantages and limitations of using geomembranes as channels linings for water transportation, compared to traditional concrete lining. Additionally, it is described the main recommendations for proper installation and maintenance of the geomembranes to ensure their effectiveness and durability over time. To ensure optimal performance, the hydraulic design of the geomembranes considered parameters such as water velocity and flow rate, slope, and crosssectional area of the channel. Structural design factors such as impact resistance, rupture resistance, and erosion were also considered. The study concludes that HDPE geomembranes are an efficient solution for water channels lining, guaranteeing safe and long-lasting water retention. Flexibility, adaptability to terrain irregularities, simple transportation and installation are some of the main advantages of geomembranes. Additionally, geomembranes have long-term durability, resistance to low and high temperatures, and are an optimal solution for remote areas with logistical difficulties.
Evaluation of the behaviour of pipes buried in geosynthetic reinforced ground
Authors: Pires Ana Carolina , Palmeira Ennio Marques
Published: September 2024

This paper aims to present an evaluation of the soil-geosynthetic interaction used for protection and reinforcement of a buried flexible pipe inserted in non-reinforced soils and soils reinforced with geosynthetics subjected to the application of a surface overload. Therefore, tests were carried out in models (scale 1:3.5) and numerical simulations using PLAXIS 2D program. In laboratory tests, a 200 mm diameter PVC pipe was used buried in a non-cohesive soil and different types of geosynthetics. The reinforcement used were four geogrids and a woven geotextile, with tensile stiffness varying between 34 kN/m2 and 2000 kN/m2. The results of the experimental tests showed beneficial effects regarding the insertion of the reinforcement in the massif with buried pipe. The efficiency of reinforcement depends on the type of arrangement considered and its physical and mechanical properties. Overall, the numerical simulations showed that the predicted results reproduced the patterns of the experimental results, but some significant deviations between predictions and measurements were observed.
Evaluation of the performance of bituminous geomembranes (BGMs) as vapour barriers
Authors: Arif Antara , Abdelaal Fady , Bhat Sam
Published: September 2024

Vapour barriers (VBs) are essential in maintaining the indoor air quality of home basements or industrial facilities, especially when subsurface contamination poses a risk to human health. It is of utmost importance that the material installed as VB has the capacity to prevent contaminant migration into the indoor air space and reduce its concentration to an acceptable limit. Bituminous geomembranes (BGMs) have been used as contaminant barriers in spite of the gap in research regarding the permeation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) through BGMs. This study examines the performance of a 4.1mm thick elastomeric BGM as a diffusive barrier to four commonly found VOCs; benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX), utilizing computer modelling of contaminant migration from a contaminated soil source to a hypothetical warehouse building constructed on a brownfield site. The effectiveness of BGM in preventing vapour intrusion is evaluated based on its capacity to keep the indoor air concentration of the contaminant below the recommended exposure limits (RELs). Based on the modelling results, the BGM can be expected to perform as a very efficient VB for the simulated warehouse if quality control can be ensured during installation. This modelling approach can be adopted to investigate BGMs’ performance in different remediated site scenarios to make scope for a robust decision-making process regarding the construction and the engineering control requirements.
Inherited Disorders of the Fibrinolytic Pathway: Pathogenic Phenotypes and Diagnostic Considerations of Extremely Rare Disorders
Authors: Al-Ghafry Maha , Abou-Ismail Mouhamed Yazan , Acharya Suchitra S.
Published: September 2024

Fibrinolysis is initiated by the activation of plasminogen to plasmin via tissue-plasminogen activator (tPA) and urokinase-plasminogen activator (uPA); plasmin then converts fibrin to fibrin degradation products (FDPs). The antifibrinolytics counterbalancing this system include plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), which inhibits tPA and uPA, α-2 antiplasmin (α2AP), which inhibits plasmin, and thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor, which inhibits the conversion of fibrin to FDP. Inherited disorders of the fibrinolytic pathway are rare and primarily have hemorrhagic phenotypes in humans: PAI-1 deficiency, α2AP deficiency, and Quebec platelet disorder. Patients with these disorders are usually treated for bleeds or receive prophylaxis to prevent bleeds in the surgical setting, with pharmacological antifibrinolytics such as aminocaproic acid and tranexamic acid. Disorders of the fibrinolytic pathway with fibrin deposition are extremely rare, mostly noted in patients with plasminogen deficiency, who have more recently benefited from advances in human plasma-derived plasminogen concentrates administered intravenously or locally. These disorders can be very difficult to diagnose using conventional or even specialized coagulation testing, as testing can be nonspecific or have low sensitivity. Testing of the corresponding protein's activity and antigen (where applicable) can be obtained in specialized centres, and routine laboratory measures are not diagnostic. Genetic testing of the pathogenic mutations is recommended in patients with a high suspicion of an inherited disorder of the fibrinolytic pathway.