The primary purpose of pile foundations is to transfer vertical loads due to the transfer of the weight of the superstructure to the deeper ground. However, many civil engineering structures, such as bridges, transmission towers, tall chimneys, and solar panels, are subjected to significant lateral loads and overturning moments in addition to axial loads. Potential sources of lateral loads (not due to earthquakes) include wind, waves, ice forces, passive earth pressure, etc. On the other hand, axial loadings can be live loads from a structure, forces developed due to ground freezing, etc. Consequently, pile foundations for these structures should be adequately designed to resist compressive loads combined with lateral and uplift loads and moments. In most cases, these forces (compressive, lateral, and uplift) and moments are often simultaneously applied on the piles. One of the key objectives for the engineer and designer is to determine the deflections and stresses in a pile in order to keep them within tolerable limits. Passive soil resistance can be very effective in proving lateral support for the pile. However, passive soil resistance is a function of the soil thermal regime (freezing, thawing, and temperature). Due to global warming, the thermal regimes of the soils in Canada and other cold regions in the world have changed in the past decades. The change in the thermal regimes of the soil may affect the geotechnical response or performance of the pile foundations. This thesis presents and discusses the results of physical model testing on model piles in unfrozen, frozen, and thawing fine sand, which are subjected to individual and combined axial (uplift) and lateral loads. The dimensions of the pile model are established by using physical scaling laws. The physical model is also equipped with various sensors and instruments (e.g., linear variable differential transformer (LVDT), and temperature sensors) to monitor the pile and soil response during and after loading. The results of the study show that the thermal regime in the soil significantly affects the performance of the pile under combined loadings (lateral and uplift). The lateral capacity of the pile under combined loads in frozen soil is increased by 648% compared to that in unfrozen ground whereas the uplift capacity under combined loadings in frozen soil is increased by 29%. Due to the effects of the freezing and thawing (F-T) cycles of the soil, a steady increase in the lateral capacity of the pile under the combined loadings is observed. On the other hand, the uplift capacity under the combined loadings in soil subjected to F-T cycles remains constant. The results will be useful in the geotechnical design of pile foundations for bridges and other structures in Canada and other cold regions in the world. The findings of this research will contribute to efficient design practices for pile foundations in cold regions with rapid changing climatic conditions.

A large portion of an airport property is occupied by runways and taxiways, which must be kept in excellent condition to ensure the safety of the airplanes, and the people on board. Any free objects on the airfield can cause damage to aircraft and are a possible danger to both the airplanes and the passengers. However, deterioration of the concrete airfield can be a major hazard and the presence of de-icing and anti-icing fluids may accelerate degradation. The focus of this project was the evaluation and assessment of aircraft de-icing and anti-icing fluids on the deterioration of airfield concrete. These fluids are used to remove and prevent snow and ice formation on aircraft by lowering the freezing temperature of water. The primary component in both fluids is ethylene glycol, while additives, which are proprietary and unknown, are mixed in to control various properties. Very little research has been done regarding the effect of the de-icer and anti-icers on the concrete deterioration. The aim of this study was to gain a better understanding of its influence on the deterioration of airfield concrete through a series of mechanical and electro-chemical tests, as well as microscopic and elemental analysis. Based on the comparative experiments and analyses performed using water, ethylene glycol, de-icer, and anti-icer, it appears that de-icing fluids do not prematurely cause concrete deterioration. In addition, experimental procedures in this study utilized the de-icing fluids as a concentrate, which are unrealistic conditions on an airfield, where dilution occurs from the addition of water and the presence of snow and ice. There was precipitate formation in all cases of cement paste exposure to de-icing fluid, however, which indicates that reactions are occurring and should be investigated further to determine the long term effects on concrete. With respect to the scope of this study, it was determined that the use of de-icers and anti-icers cause no significant detrimental effects on concrete mechanical properties and durability.

A large portion of an airport property is occupied by runways and taxiways, which must be kept in excellent condition to ensure the safety of the airplanes, and the people on board. Any free objects on the airfield can cause damage to aircraft and are a possible danger to both the airplanes and the passengers. However, deterioration of the concrete airfield can be a major hazard and the presence of de-icing and anti-icing fluids may accelerate degradation. The focus of this project was the evaluation and assessment of aircraft de-icing and anti-icing fluids on the deterioration of airfield concrete. These fluids are used to remove and prevent snow and ice formation on aircraft by lowering the freezing temperature of water. The primary component in both fluids is ethylene glycol, while additives, which are proprietary and unknown, are mixed in to control various properties. Very little research has been done regarding the effect of the de-icer and anti-icers on the concrete deterioration. The aim of this study was to gain a better understanding of its influence on the deterioration of airfield concrete through a series of mechanical and electro-chemical tests, as well as microscopic and elemental analysis. Based on the comparative experiments and analyses performed using water, ethylene glycol, de-icer, and anti-icer, it appears that de-icing fluids do not prematurely cause concrete deterioration. In addition, experimental procedures in this study utilized the de-icing fluids as a concentrate, which are unrealistic conditions on an airfield, where dilution occurs from the addition of water and the presence of snow and ice. There was precipitate formation in all cases of cement paste exposure to de-icing fluid, however, which indicates that reactions are occurring and should be investigated further to determine the long term effects on concrete. With respect to the scope of this study, it was determined that the use of de-icers and anti-icers cause no significant detrimental effects on concrete mechanical properties and durability.

High rates of runoff and soil loss occur in temperate areas in late winter and early spring. A low-intensity rainfall simulator and a snowmelt simulator were developed to study soil erosion by snowmelt and/or spring rainfall on a sandy loam soil of southern Quebec. Erosive agent, land slope, thaw depth of partly frozen soil, and intensity and duration of the event were studied in the laboratory using the simulators. All these factors had significant effects on soil erosion. Sediment concentration, soil loss rate, and total soil loss increased with increasing land slope, thaw depth, and intensity, duration, and impact energy of the erosive agent. Duration showed a significant interaction with each of the other factors. interaction between thaw depth and intensity of the event was significant under both snowmelt and rainfall simulation, whereas interaction between land slope and intensity was significant under rainfall simulation, but not under snowmelt simulation. Erosive agent also interacted with each of the other factors. All these interactions increased soil loss. The presence of a frozen sublayer interacted with the other factors and greatly increased runoff, sediment concentration and total soil loss. Rainfall caused more soil loss than did snowmelt under the same conditions.

Current design guidelines for reinforced soil walls and slopes recommend the use of granular soils such as gravels and sands as select fills. Cost savings could potentially be realized by using on-site clays and silts. Some clays are swelling and silts are frost susceptible. When considering the use of swelling clays and frost susceptible silts as fills, environmental loading due to swelling-shrinkage and freeze-thaw effects from environmental changes could become a design issue. To examine the hypothesis that consideration of environmental loading during design will produce improvements in the performance of geosynthetic-reinforced soil structures that use clays or silts as fill materials, experimental and numerical studies were undertaken. Geosynthetic-reinforced clay specimens were subjected to wetting and drying in a model test apparatus developed and commissioned for this study. In separate test set-up, reinforced silt specimens were subjected to freezing and thawing. Tests on unreinforced specimens were also performed in otherwise identical conditions for comparison purposes. Movements of the specimens, soil strains, reinforcement strains, soil suctions and soil temperatures were monitored during the application of environmental loading in addition to mechanical loading from external stresses. The results of the laboratory model tests showed that reinforcements reduced horizontal displacements of the clay specimens during wetting and drying. The same is true for the case of silt during freezing and thawing. The environmental loading induced strains, and therefore stresses in the reinforcements. The measured geogrid strain during the wetting-drying of reinforced clay specimen was up to 0.75%. Similarly, the measured geogrid strain in the reinforced silt specimen during freezing-thawing cycles was up to 0.57%. The strains were greater than the strains generated by mechanical loading for the range of applied stresses used in this study. Numerical models were developed to simulate wetting only induced swelling of reinforced clays and freezing only induced expansion of reinforced silts specimens. They were used to simulate the results of laboratory model tests. The performance of geosynthetic-reinforced soil slopes with swelling clay fills and frost susceptible silt fills was evaluated. Parametric studies were performed to determine important parameters affecting the performance of reinforced clay and silt slopes.

Current design guidelines for reinforced soil walls and slopes recommend the use of granular soils such as gravels and sands as select fills. Cost savings could potentially be realized by using on-site clays and silts. Some clays are swelling and silts are frost susceptible. When considering the use of swelling clays and frost susceptible silts as fills, environmental loading due to swelling-shrinkage and freeze-thaw effects from environmental changes could become a design issue. To examine the hypothesis that consideration of environmental loading during design will produce improvements in the performance of geosynthetic-reinforced soil structures that use clays or silts as fill materials, experimental and numerical studies were undertaken. Geosynthetic-reinforced clay specimens were subjected to wetting and drying in a model test apparatus developed and commissioned for this study. In separate test set-up, reinforced silt specimens were subjected to freezing and thawing. Tests on unreinforced specimens were also performed in otherwise identical conditions for comparison purposes. Movements of the specimens, soil strains, reinforcement strains, soil suctions and soil temperatures were monitored during the application of environmental loading in addition to mechanical loading from external stresses. The results of the laboratory model tests showed that reinforcements reduced horizontal displacements of the clay specimens during wetting and drying. The same is true for the case of silt during freezing and thawing. The environmental loading induced strains, and therefore stresses in the reinforcements. The measured geogrid strain during the wetting-drying of reinforced clay specimen was up to 0.75%. Similarly, the measured geogrid strain in the reinforced silt specimen during freezing-thawing cycles was up to 0.57%. The strains were greater than the strains generated by mechanical loading for the range of applied stresses used in this study. Numerical models were developed to simulate wetting only induced swelling of reinforced clays and freezing only induced expansion of reinforced silts specimens. They were used to simulate the results of laboratory model tests. The performance of geosynthetic-reinforced soil slopes with swelling clay fills and frost susceptible silt fills was evaluated. Parametric studies were performed to determine important parameters affecting the performance of reinforced clay and silt slopes.

No description available.

Antrad Medical has developed an ultra-fast blood plasma thawing device named UFT100. The method is based on thawing with an oscillating electrical field and unlike water baths it is a dry method. Fast and homogeneous thawing is achieved. This project investigates new possible applications where this thawing technology could be used within the clinical and laboratory segment. The aim was to identify existing thawing and heating methods for a substance that can be improved and potentially replaced with the UFT100.   Data has been collected through literature research and interviews with Antrad Medical and specialists working in Sweden. The specialists are working within the clinical and laboratory field. A number of criteria for establishment of the UFT100 were set up and used as a tool for evaluation.   The substances investigated during this project were infusion medicine, embryos, substance in a sampling tube, protein based pharmaceuticals, stem cells for transplantation and research, biobank sampling tubes, cryoprecipitate, human hepatocytes, live vaccines, API, BDS, intermediate and antibodies. Two applications within the clinical area are found probable, stem cells and cryoprecipitate. Further investigation for human hepatocytes, API, BDS, intermediate and pharmaceuticals is needed. / Antrad Medical har utvecklat en ultra-snabb blodplasmaupptinare kallad UFT100. Det är till skillnad från vattenbad en torr metod baserad på upptining med hjälp av oscillerande elektriska fält. Genom detta uppnås snabb och homogen upptining. Detta projekt undersöker nya möjliga kliniska- och laboratorietillämpningar för upptiningstekniken. Målet var att identifiera substanser vars nuvarande upptining- och uppvärmningsteknik kan förbättras och kanske ersättas med UFT100. Data har samlats in genom litteratursökning och genom intervjuer med Antrad Medical och specialister som arbetar i Sverige. Specialisterna arbetar inom kliniska områden och laboratorieverksamheter. Ett antal kriterier för etablering av UFT100 sattes upp och användes för utvärdering. Substanserna som undersöktes under projektets gång var infusionsmedicin, embryon, innehåll i ett provrör, proteinbaserade läkemedel, stamceller för transplantation och forskning, biobank-provrör, kryoprecipitat, humana hepatocyter, levande vaccin, aktiva substanser, läkemedelssubstanser, intermediat och antikroppar. Två tillämpningar inom det kliniska området ses som möjliga, stamceller och kryoprecipitat. Humana hepatocyter, aktiva substanser, läkemedelssubstanser och intermediat behöver undersökas vidare.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / The improvement of pig industry is a consequence of the technological advances. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effect of cysteine in BTS (Beltsville Thawing Solution) and centrifugation on swine semen to increase the sperm quality and fertility. In the first experiment, different concentrations of cysteine in Beltsville Thawing Solution: BTS (control group); CYS0.1 (BTS added 0.1 mM cysteine); CYS0.5 (BTS added 0.5 mM cysteine); CYS1.0 (BTS added 1.0 mM cysteine); CYS2.5 (BTS added 2.5 mM cysteine); CYS5.0 (BTS added 5.0 mM cysteine); CYS10.0 (BTS added 10.0 mM cysteine) and CYS20.0 (BTS added 20.0 mM cysteine) were evaluated. In the second experiment, semen added to BTS were not centrifuged without (control group) or with 5.0 mM of cysteine (BTSCYS/NC). In other treatment groups, semen were centrifuged with (BTSCYS/CENT) or without (BTS/CENT) 5.0 mM cysteine. Semen were stored at 17 °C for 72 h. To assess the effect of cysteine and centrifugation on fertility, 136 females were randomly allotted in the following groups for artificial insemination with semen diluted in BTS and a) without centrifugation and cysteine (BTS/NC); b) without centrifugation and with 5.0 mM cysteine (BTSCYS/NC) or c) with centrifugation and with 5.0 mM cysteine (BTSCYS/CENT). After artificial insemination, the return to estrus rate and litter size were evaluated. In the first experiment, the quality of semen was determined by tests of sperm motility, vigor, morphology and viability (plasma and acrossomal membrane integrity and mitochondrial potential). In the second experiment, the semen were evaluated by the tests above, DNA compactation and function of plasma membrane. The treatments were evaluated at 0, 24, 48 and 72 h after dilution. In both experiments, the effect of treatments on the storage period was determined by analysis for repeated data (PROC MIXED) and the effect of treatments on the return to estrus rate and the number of piglets were analyzed by using PROC GLM of SAS software and applied the Tukey test for significant models. The percentage of morphological changes did not exceed 20% during storage for 72 h and do not differ between treatments in both experiments. However, the motility in the first experiment, vigor, integrity of plasma membrane and acrossomal well as the potential of mitochondria reduced the period of storage. The motility, vigor and viability decreased to levels below 10% in treatments CYS10.0, CYS20.0 in the first 24 hours of storage at 17 ºC. At the end of the storage period all groups had average below 65% of sperm with intact plasma membrane while the second experiment, treatment BTSCYS/CENT showed lower motility and force the other treatments, and the sperm motility below 60% from 24 hours of storage. The integrity of plasma membranes and acrossomal and the potential of mitochondria was less than 60% in treatments BTSCYS and BTSCYS/CENT. However in the field to the group BTSCYS showed lower average (8.83 ± 3.38) for infants and more return rate (86.05 ± 0.39) when compared to other groups. Therefore, the cysteine at low concentrations as well as maintains the control group the sperm quality. But despite treatment BTSCYS/NC have reached the same rates as the control group for sperm quality, was the treatment that received higher rates of return and lower number of piglets born. / O crescimento da suinocultura se deve a diversos avanços na área tecnológica. Buscando obter maior eficiência reprodutiva, foi analisado o efeito da cisteína ao diluente Beltsville Thawing Solution (BTS) e do processo de centrifugação sobre qualidade espermática. No primeiro experimento, foram avaliadas diferentes concentrações de cisteína no diluente BTS, conforme os seguintes tratamentos: BTS (grupo controle); CIS0,1 (BTS + 0,1 mM de cisteína); CIS0,5 (BTS + 0,5mM de cisteína); CIS1,0 (BTS + 1,0 mM de cisteína); CIS2,5 (BTS + 2,5 mM de cisteína); CIS5,0 (BTS + 5,0 mM de cisteína); CIS10,0 (BTS + 10,0 mM de cisteína) e CIS20,0 (BTS + 20,0 mM de cisteína). No segundo experimento, o sêmen foi dividido em: sêmen não centrifugado diluído em BTS/NC (grupo controle), sêmen não centrifugado diluído em BTS + 5,0 mM de cisteína (BTSCIS/NC), sêmen centrifugado diluído em BTS (BTS/CENT) e sêmen centrifugado diluído em BTS + 5,0 mM de cisteína (BTSCIS/CENT). Ambos os experimentos foram realizados para avaliar a influência dos diferentes tratamentos sobre a qualidade espermática quando o sêmen é armazenado a 17°C por até 72 horas. Para avaliar o efeito da cisteína e da centrifugação sobre fertilidade, 136 fêmeas foram selecionadas e inseminadas nos seguintes tratamentos: BTS/NC, BTSCIS/NC e BTSCIS/CENT. Após a inseminação artificial, as fêmeas foram avaliadas quanto a taxa de retorno e o tamanho da leitegada. A qualidade espermática no primeiro experimento foi determinada pelos testes de motilidade e vigor, alterações morfológicas e viabilidade espermática (membrana plasmática e acrossomal intactas e célula com potencial de mitocôndria). No entanto, no segundo experimento além dos testes citados anteriormente, foram realizados os testes de compactação de DNA e funcionalidade de membrana plasmática. As avaliações dos tratamentos foram realizadas 0, 24, 48 e 72 horas após a diluição do sêmen. Em ambos experimentos, o efeito dos tratamentos em relação ao período de armazenamento foi determinado através da análise para dados repetidos (PROC MIXED). O efeito dos tratamentos em relação a taxa de retorno e o número de nascidos foi analisado usando o PROC GLM, do programa estatístico SAS e aplicado o teste de Tukey quando o modelo foi significativo. A percentagem de alterações morfológicas não excedeu a 20% durante o armazenamento por 72 horas e nem diferiu entre os tratamentos, nos dois experimentos. Porém, no primeiro experimento a motilidade, o vigor, a integridade de membrana plasmática e acrossomal bem como o potencial de mitocôndria foram reduzidas ao longo do período de armazenamento. A motilidade, o vigor e a viabilidade diminuíram a níveis abaixo de 10% nos tratamentos CIS10,0 e CIS20,0 nas primeiras 24 horas de armazenamento a 17ºC. Ao final do período de armazenamento todos os grupos apresentavam média abaixo de 65% de espermatozóides com a membrana plasmática intacta. No segundo experimento, no entanto, o tratamento BTSCIS/CENT apresentou motilidade e vigor inferiores ao demais tratamentos, sendo a motilidade espermática inferior a 60% a partir de 24 horas de armazenamento. A integridade das membranas plasmática e acrossomal e o potencial de mitocôndria foram inferiores a 60% nos tratamentos BTSCIS e BTSCIS/CENT. No entanto na parte a campo, o grupo BTSCIS apresentou menor média (8,83 ± 3,38) de nascidos e maior taxa de retorno (86,05 ± 0,39) quando comparados aos outros grupos. Portanto, a cisteína em baixas concentrações mantém tão bem quanto o grupo controle a qualidade espermática. Mas, apesar do tratamento BTSCIS/NC ter atingido os mesmos índices que o grupo controle em relação qualidade espermática, foi o tratamento que obteve maior taxa de retorno e menor número de leitões nascidos.

Master of Science / Food Science Institute -- Animal Science & Industry / Daniel Y.C. Fung / In February 2008, the FDA released a draft Compliance Policy Guide (CPG) on Listeria monocytogenes and proposed that ready-to-eat (RTE) foods that do not support the growth of L. monocytogenes may contain up to 100 CFU/g of this pathogen. Frozen foods such as ice cream fall in that category since they are consumed in the frozen state. However, other frozen foods, such as vegetables and seafood that are thawed and served at salad and food bars, may support the growth of Listeria and would not be allowed to contain 100 CFU/g according to the draft CPG. In the current study, growth curves were generated for L. monocytogenes inoculated onto four thawed frozen foods - corn, green peas, crabmeat, and shrimp - stored at 4, 8, 12, and 20ºC. Growth parameters, lag phase duration (LPD), and exponential growth rate (EGR) were determined using a two-phase linear growth model and the Square Root Model. The results demonstrated that L. monocytogenes has a very short LPD on these thawed frozen foods during refrigerated storage and that there would be several orders of magnitude of growth (i.e., more than 1.7 log increase at 4 ºC) of the organism before the product is found to be organoleptically unacceptable. Although it would not be possible to take advantage of any extended lag phase duration caused by freeze injury to the organism, frozen foods containing less than 100 CFU/g of L. monocytogenes that are thawed, or thawed and cooked, and then consumed immediately, should not represent a public health hazard.