Relative pavement performance for dual and wide-based tyre assemblies using a finite element method

There is a need to assess the realistic tire contact pressure created by a tire in contact with a pavement. The contact pressure is a function of tire type, axle loading, and tire inflation pressure (TiP). The research carried out considered dual tire and wide-based tire assemblies across a range of axle loading and TiP. These contact pressures were incorporated into a finite element package (CAPA-3D) and modelled on a simple pavement structure. The strains from this modelling were sorted to produce key strains associated with the mechanisms of surface distress, near surface distress, deep asphalt distress, and the subgrade. The main distress mechanisms were top down cracking, asphalt cracking/rutting, bottom-up fatigue cracking, and subgrade rutting. This gave a method to fairly compare the dual and wide-based tire assemblies with the same axle loading and TiP. The analysis gave interesting results for the different distress mechanisms of the pavement. The wide-based tire gives consistently higher shear strains for all the areas of distress investigated. There is great variation in surface and near surface shear strains due to the different combinations of axle loading and TiP. It is clear that the wide-based tire is a more damaging tire for all combinations of TiP and axle loading. It is also apparent that how these factors interact has a great influence on the damaging potential of a tire

Microspheres loaded with polysaccharide nanoparticles for pulmonary delivery: preparation, structure and surface analysis

In this work, we report the preparation of a nanoparticle-based dry powder for pulmonary administration. Hybrid chitosan/hyaluronic acid nanoparticles were produced by ionotropic gelation and characterized for their physicochemical properties, being further studied by solid nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Using mannitol as carrier, nanoparticles were microencapsulated by spray drying, resulting in a dry powder with appropriate aerodynamic properties for lung delivery. In order to investigate the nanoparticles distribution within the carrier matrix, several techniques were applied that permitted an in-depth analysis of the system structure and surface, such as confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) in combination with time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy (TOF-SIMS). Overall, the studies conducted revealed that nanoparticles are homogeneously distributed through mannitol microspheres, suggesting the success of the microencapsulation process. In the light of these findings, it was concluded that the developed delivery system holds great potential for lung delivery of macromolecules

The potential of chitosan for pulmonary drug delivery

The administration of drugs through the pulmonary route offers great advantages, but also requires overcoming many challenges. There is a need to develop appropriate carriers for each active molecule to be delivered to the desired site in the lung, either for a local or a systemic effect. The polysaccharide chitosan is a very promising material for this purpose, given its demonstrated properties of biodegradability and biocompatibility, as well as mucoadhesivity and ability to enhance macromolecules permeation. In this review, the potential of chitosan to develop drug carriers for delivery to the lung will be discussed. The most important features that can support its selection will be explained. Besides, different approaches to increase its performance, especially concerning solubility, permeation-enhancing properties and gene transfection efficiency, will be presented. Special emphasis will be placed on information of different chitosan-based carriers, namely nanoparticles and microparticles, intended for pulmonary drug delivery

A CONTENT ANALYSIS OF THE WRITING ACTIVITIES IN ACTION PACK 10 TO MEASURE THE DEGREE OF THEIR CONGRUENCE WITH THE GENERAL GRADE OUTCOMES FOR THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE GUIDELINES IN JORDAN

The present study aimed at analyzing the writing activities in Action Pack 10 and measuring the degree of their congruence with the general grade outcomes for the English language guidelines in Jordan. The material of the analysis is the English language textbook for the 10th grade within Action Pack series. The researchers content-analyzed the writing activities in all the units in both parts of the book; they compared the content of these activities with the main five general outcomes for the guidelines of teaching writing in this grade. The results of the study showed that the second and the third outcomes, as listed in the third and fourth sections of the paper, ranked first with a percentage of 24.5%; second ranked the fourth and fifth outcomes with a percentage of 18.3% ; and finally, the first outcome ranked third with a percentage of 14.3%. The researchers presented some inferences that are related to the results of the analysis

A CONTENT ANALYSIS OF THE WRITING ACTIVITIES IN ACTION PACK 10 TO MEASURE THE DEGREE OF THEIR CONGRUENCE WITH THE GENERAL GRADE OUTCOMES FOR THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE GUIDELINES IN JORDAN

The present study aimed at analyzing the writing activities in Action Pack 10 and measuring the degree of their congruence with the general grade outcomes for the English language guidelines in Jordan. The material of the analysis is the English language textbook for the 10th grade within Action Pack series. The researchers content-analyzed the writing activities in all the units in both parts of the book; they compared the content of these activities with the main five general outcomes for the guidelines of teaching writing in this grade. The results of the study showed that the second and the third outcomes, as listed in the third and fourth sections of the paper, ranked first with a percentage of 24.5%; second ranked the fourth and fifth outcomes with a percentage of 18.3% ; and finally, the first outcome ranked third with a percentage of 14.3%. The researchers presented some inferences that are related to the results of the analysis

Investigating the antibacterial properties of mollusks native to the Boston Harbor and Wood Neck Beach: developing a comparative study between Mytilus edulis and Ensis directus

Honorable Mention for 2017. Paper written for course BISC 210. Supporting faculty: Jeff Hughes

The Effect of Cooperative Work in Writing Activities on Developing the Arabic Linguistic Competence of the Tenth Grade Students at Housha Secondary School for Boys in Jordan

This study aimed at investigating the effect of cooperative work in writing activities on developing the Arabic linguistic competence of the 10th grade students at Housha Secondary School for Boys in Mafraq city in Jordan. The purposeful sample included the 15 10th grade students who were pre and post tested in writing. They were asked to do the writing activities in Arabic composition in groups of three in each one through the whole second semester during the academic year 2014/2015. The writing products of the students were corrected and the researcher used descriptive statistics to find out the means and standard deviations for both tests; T-Test was also used to determine the statistical significance. The errors in using the components of the linguistic competence were counted in each test and percentages were calculated for the purpose of comparison. The results showed that there was a statistically significant difference between the writing performance of the participants in the pre and post tests which means that there was a positive effect of cooperative work on developing the Arabic linguistic competence. Moreover, the number of errors related to the linguistic competence decreased in the post test due to the strategy of peer work. The researcher presented some recommendations and implications based on the given results. Keywords: Cooperative work, Writing activities, Linguistic competence, Housha Secondary School for Boys