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Just Beet It? A Comparison of Road Salt Effects on the Life History of Daphnia magna
No full textIn areas that experience snow and ice, deicing reagents such as road salts are often used on roads to promote safer driving conditions. However, road salts run off into local vegetation, soil systems, and (my focus) freshwater systems. The impacts of excess salt and chloride in freshwater have been studied extensively on a broad diversity of organisms under different conditions, but previous studies have rarely used different types of road salts. Zooplankton are primary consumers in many freshwater systems, feeding on phytoplankton and serving as prey for predator species higher in the trophic chain. These animals generally are impacted negatively under high salinity conditions, which can lead to population declines and alter community composition. Additionally, phytoplanktonic producer populations may experience loose regulation by zooplankton and other primary consumers, which can contribute to ecological disasters when zooplankton populations decline, such as algal blooms, which cause mass die-offs of fish and other aquatic species. In this study, I used the indicator species Daphnia magna and three road salt compounds to compare the negative effects of road salt on D. magna reproduction and mortality across salt treatments in two different concentrations. Overall, there was no significant difference among salt treatments on the mortality and reproduction of D. magna. Notably, the advertised “eco-friendly” salt with beet extract was no less impactful on these life history traits than its competitors, highlighting the need for manufacturers to provide evidence for these claims
Validation of Innovative Method of Murine Vertebral Compression Testing
No full textMurine vertebral compression testing is a common technique to quantify trabecular bone biomechanics. Having a precise method of vertebral compression is important for aiding researchers in making clinically relevant discoveries in musculoskeletal research. While many methods exist in literature, there has yet to be established a universal protocol for this procedure. Many challenges exist in vertebral compression, such as the irregular shape of the vertebral body (trabecular region of interest), uneven endplate surface morphology, and surrounding cortical processes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop a new method of vertebral compression that accounts for these factors and to validate this procedure using vertebrae from a prior disease/treatment study that produced groups with significant differences in bone properties. A murine diabetic nephropathy model was induced through a combination of streptozotocin injections (STZ) and adenine-laced casein diets (Ad). The first group (STZ-Ad) received 100 μL subcutaneous vehicle injections (phosphorus buffered saline, PBS) per day, and the second group (Romo) received the same PBS injections and Romososumab (10 mg/kg) weekly. At 24 weeks of treatment, mice were euthanized. L5 vertebrae were isolated and specialized endcaps were developed from epoxy to form-fit caudal and cranial vertebral endplates, accounting for surface topography and preserving the original structure of the vertebrae. Vertebrae were preloaded to 0.5 N and compressed to failure at a rate of 0.025 mm/s with maximum displacement of 4 mm. Ultimate force and ultimate displacement were recorded. Post-compressed vertebrae were scanned using microcomputed tomography (μCT), reconstructed (NRecon), rotated (Data Viewer), and visualized for fracture damage (Drishti). A significant difference was detected between groups for ultimate force (p = 0.0012); no significant difference was found for ultimate displacement. These results indicate that this novel method of vertebral compression can accurately identify significant differences in trabecular biomechanics, aiding in musculoskeletal research
In vitro Protective Effects of Polyphenols Against Alpha-Synuclein Aggregation in the PFF Model of Parkinson’s Disease
No full textUtility Work Plans: Iterating Your Way to Success
Get PDFThe development and approval of utility work plans on more complex projects involves the creation and review of the master utility plans and utility schedules, while simultaneously meetings with utility partners and project team members. This presentation will use sample projects to show iterations of master utility drawings and Gantt charts to reach final approval phase
Structural Health Monitoring of Bridges for Lifecycle Asset Management
Get PDFThe US infrastructure is aging. Enhanced assessment is needed to extend the service life of existing assets. Both new construction and rehabilitation projects offer opportunities for the use of structural health monitoring (SHM). This presentation examines the use of three types of SHM systems applied to Indiana Toll Road bridges—live-load testing, long-term monitoring, and InSAR satellite data
FlexRoad: Corridor-Wide TSMO Implementation and CMGC Delivery
Get PDFThe 80/94 FlexRoad project will improve traffic flow and safety along Indiana’s busiest interstate corridor. Improvements include implementing Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSMO) strategies throughout the corridor with a Construction Manager General Contractor (CMGC) delivery method. Attendees will learn why TSMO solutions were the best options, implementation challenges, and lessons learned
Effective Utility Coordination: IMPO Discussion
Get PDFUtility-related construction delays continue to plague our industry despite processes in place to provide better communication throughout the project delivery process. The IMPO conducted a study to review effective utility coordination practices that minimized construction delays. This presentation will give an overview of the research and the key outcomes, provide practical steps forward, and outline possible implementation procedures that can be applied specifically to local agency projects
Effective Asset Management of Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) Walls: Best Practices, Challenges, and Innovations
Get PDFMSE walls are widely used in civil engineering due to their cost-effectiveness and ability to retain earth efficiently. However, like any infrastructure, they require proper asset management to ensure long-term performance, safety, and durability. This presentation will provide a comprehensive overview of asset management strategies specifically for MSE walls, with an emphasis on inspection, maintenance, lifecycle management, and emerging technologies