Vehicle-Bridge Interaction Modelling Using Precise 3D Road Surface Analysis

Uneven road surfaces are the primary source of excitation in the dynamic interaction between a bridge and a vehicle and can lead to errors in bridge weigh-in-motion (B-WIM) systems. In order to correctly reproduce this interaction in a numerical model of a bridge, it is essential to know the magnitude and location of the various roadway irregularities. This paper presents a methodology for measuring the 3D road surface using static terrestrial laser scanning and a numerical model for simulating vehicle passage over a bridge with a measured road surface. This model allows the evaluation of strain responses in the time domain at any bridge location considering different parameters such as vehicle type, lateral position and speed, road surface unevenness, bridge type, etc. Since the time domain strains are crucial for B-WIM algorithms, the proposed approach facilitates the analysis of the different factors affecting the B-WIM results. The first validation of the proposed methodology was carried out on a real bridge, where extensive measurements were performed using different sensors, including measurements of the road surface, the response of the bridge when crossed by a test vehicle and the dynamic properties of the bridge and vehicle. The comparison between the simulated and measured bridge response marks a promising step towards investigating the influence of unevenness on the results of B-WIM.

In vitro effects of retinoids on murine thymus-dependent and thymus-independent mitogenesis

The effects of three retinoids: all-trans-retinoic acid (RA), 13-cis-retinoic acid (13-cis-RA), and N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide (4-HPR) on murine splenic lymphocyte proliferative responses to mitogens were evaluated. The responses to T-cell mitogens, PHA and Con A, and a T-cell-dependent B-cell mitogen, PWM were significantly potentiated by these retinoids. However proliferative responses to a B-cell mitogen, Escherichia coli LPS were unaffected or inhibited. All three retinoids at concentrations ranging from 10(-6) to 10(-15) M significantly potentiated Con A-induced proliferative responses. In response to PWM, 10(-13) M RA, 10(-12) M 13-cis RA, and 10(-11) M 4-HPR were the lowest concentrations producing significant potentiation. Endpoint concentrations of retinoids significantly potentiating responses to PHA were; 10(-9) M RA, 10(-8) M 13-cis RA, and 10(-6) M 4-HPR. These responses were independent of retinol contained in fetal calf serum supplemented medium since responses were reproduced in serum-free medium devoid of retinol. Optimal potentiation by retinoids of responses to these T-cell-dependent mitogens were found at superoptimal concentrations of mitogen suggesting a selective inhibition of T-suppressor cells. Thus, potentiation of T-cell-dependent mitogen responses provides the most sensitive biological assay yet described for detection of retinoid activity and is a reproducible system to explore the cellular and molecular mechanisms of retinoid-mediated immunopotentiation.

Metabolism of cyclophosphamide by purified cytochrome P-450 from microsomes of phenobarbital-treated rats

Incubation of [3H]-sidechain-labeled and [14C]-C(4)-ring-labeled cyclophosphamide (CPA) with purified cytochrome P-450 from liver microsomes of rats treated with phenobarbital resulted in the production of a major metabolite that contained both labels, was unaffected by diazomethane, possessed high polarity, was identical in TLC and HPLC behavior to a synthetic standard, didechlorodihydroxy -CPA, and was converted to CPA and bis(2-chloroethyl)amine by thionyl chloride . These results indicate that phenobarbital-inducible cytochrome P-450 is able to dechlorinate CPA and may account, in part, for the inability of phenobarbital to enhance the therapeutic activity and toxicity of this important anticancer and immunosuppressive agent.