Effects of sediment and temperature on the long-term aging process of rice wine: Microbial and metabolic insights.

Rice wine is low in alcohol content (6 %), rich in nutrients, and contains live microorganisms; therefore, it is generally produced without an aging process during manufacturing. In this study, we investigated the microbial and metabolic changes that occur during the long-term aging of undiluted rice wine with different amount of sediment and aging temperatures. Rice wine samples with higher amounts of sediment had higher yeast counts and alcohol content, indicating a crucial role of sediment in providing nutrients for yeast survival during aging. Furthermore, the rice wine samples that were aged at 12 °C exhibited a notable increase in the relative abundance of Lactobacillus after 100 days of aging. Metabolic profiling revealed that the production of metabolites during rice wine aging was greatly influenced by the amount of sediment and aging temperature, with most metabolites showing a strong correlation with these factors. This study provides valuable insights into the impact of sediment and temperature on the microbial and metabolic changes that occur during the long-term aging of rice wine.

Prediction of Dynamic Behavior of Large-Scale Ground Using 1 g Shaking Table Test and Numerical Analysis.

Earthquake disasters can threaten human life and cause property damage. The dynamic analysis of the ground performance of the seismic field is essential. In this study, numerical analysis is used to predict the dynamic behavior and response analysis of large-scale models under different seismic waves. Firstly, the accuracy of numerical analysis is verified by a 1 g shaking table test under the same size. Then, according to the similarity law, numerical analysis is used to obtain the dynamic behavior of the model at different scales. The results show that the 1 g shaking table test results are in good agreement with the numerical analysis results and that the numerical analysis can predict the dynamic behavior of the scale model. The 1 g shaking table test provides a valuable method for evaluating the numerical analysis, which captures the complex behavior and resolves uncertainties, ultimately leading to more robust and reliable analyses.

Liquid Crystals for Advanced Smart Devices with Microwave and Millimeter-Wave Applications: Recent Progress for Next-Generation Communications.

Liquid crystals (LCs) technology have a well-established history of applications in visible light, particularly in the display industry. However, with the rapid growth in communication technology, LCs have become a topic of current interest for high-frequency microwave (MW) and millimeter-wave (mmWave) applications due to promising characteristics such as tunability, continuous tuning, low losses, and price compatibility. To improve the performance of future communication technology using LCs, it is not sufficient only with the perspective of radio-frequency (RF) technology. Therefore, it is imperative to understand not only the novel structural designs and optimization of MW engineering but also the perspective of materials engineering when implementing advanced RF devices with maximum performance for next-generation satellite and terrestrial communication. Herein, based on advanced nematic LCs, polymer-modified LCs, dual-frequency LCs, and photo-reactive LCs, this article summarizes and examines the modulation principles and key research directions for the design strategies of LCs for advanced smart RF devices with improved driving performance and novel functionality. Furthermore, the challenges in development of state-of-the-art smart RF devices that use LCs are discussed.

Evaluation of the Pullout Behavior of Pre-Bored Piles Embedded in Rock.

The subject of this study is dry process caisson tube method cofferdam (hereinafter called C.T cofferdam). This C.T cofferdam is designed to use the skin friction of the drilled shaft embedded into the rock for stability of buoyancy. A pre-bored pile embedded in the bedrock was pulled out due to the buoyancy of the C.T cofferdam at the pier (hereinafter called P) 2 of the OO bridges under construction, to which this was applied. In this study, in order to solve this problem, the adhesion force applied with the concept of skin friction and the pre-bored pile of drilled shaft according to domestic and foreign design standards were identified; the on-site pull-out load test was used to calculate the pull-out force; and the skin friction of the drilled shaft and pre-bored pile embedded into the bedrock were compared and analyzed. In addition, the pull-out behavior of the pre-bored pile embedded in the bedrock was analyzed through numerical analysis. The adhesion strength tested in the lab was 881 kN for air curing of concrete and 542 kN for water curing of concrete, and the on-site pull-out test result was 399.7 kN. As a result of the numerical analysis, the material properties of the grout considering the site conditions used revealed that the displacement of the entire structure exceeded the allowable limit and was unstable. This appears to have lowered the adhesion strength due to construction issues such as ground complexity and both seawater and slime treatment, which were not expected at the time of design.

Analysis of the Bearing Capacity of Helical Pile with Hexagonal Joints.

This study aims to improve shafts with hexagonal joints so that they will not require welding or bolts in static load tests. In order to evaluate the bearing capacity of helical piles, two sites were selected to conduct pile installation for the field test and the pile load test. For the pile load test, a static pile load test and a dynamic pile load test were carried out, and torque was measured during pile installation in a field test to compare and analyze the expected bearing capacity and thus assess the feasibility of the method for estimating the bearing capacity. The field pile load test revealed that the bearing capacity of the gravity grout pile was the same or greater than 600 kN in the static pile load test in accordance with the AC 358 code. The non-grout pile showed a bearing capacity that was the same or smaller than 600 kN, suggesting that gravity grouting is required. Moreover, the field pile load test was used to establish the bearing capacity equation considering the torque in the pile installation, and a small number of samples were used to establish the equation, which can be used as basic data.

Synaptic Plasticity and Metaplasticity of Biological Synapse Realized in a KNbO3 Memristor for Application to Artificial Synapse.

Amorphous KNbO3 (KN) films were grown on a TiN/SiO2/Si substrate to synthesize a KN memristor as a potential artificial synapse. The Pt/KN/TiN memristor exhibited typical and reliable bipolar switching behavior with multiple resistance levels. It also showed the transmission properties of a biological synapse, with a good conductance modulation linearity. Moreover, the KN memristor can emulate various biological synaptic plasticity characteristics including short-term plasticity, long-term plasticity, spike-rate dependent plasticity, paired-pulse facilitation, and post-tetanic potentiation by controlling the number and rate of the potentiation spike. Spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP), which is an essential property of biological synapses, is also realized in the KN memristor. The synaptic plasticity of the KN memristor can be explained by oxygen vacancy movement and oxygen vacancy filaments. The metaplasticity of biological synapses was also implemented in the KN memristor, including the metaplasticity of long-term potentiation and depression, and of STDP. Therefore, the KN memristor could be used as an artificial synapse in neuromorphic computing systems.

Analysis of Homogel Uniaxial Compression Strength on Bio Grouting Material.

This study analyzed uniaxial compression strength over time by preparing a homogel specimen from a bio grouting material, a cement-like form produced by environment-friendly microbial reactions. Among chemical grouting methods, the most commonly used method is the Labile Waterglass method. In this study, the homogel uniaxial compressive strength of Labile Waterglass (LW) injection material and that of bio grouting material were measured and analyzed. In order to perform the experiment, a total of 10 types of grouting mixing ratios were prepared by a combination of different materials such as Ordinary Portland Cement, Micro Cement, Bio Grouting Material and Sodium Silicate. They were cured in the air, and their homogel uniaxial compression strengths were measured on days 1, 3, 7 and 28 Based on the test results, it was confirmed that the uniaxial strength of the specimen made with Bio Grouting Material, Ordinary Portland Cement and Micro Cement was increased by more than 30% than that of the specimen only used with Ordinary Portland Cement, as a result of hydrogen-released heat reaction between calcium carbonate, the main ingredient of the bio grouting material, and calcium silicate in the cement. This indicates that the use of 30% bio-grouting material instead of cement in the grouting can be a reasonable mixing ratio to save the use of cement, leading to reduction in CO2 emission.

A New Non-Destructive TDR System Combined with a Piezoelectric Stack for Measuring Properties of Geomaterials.

Dry density and water content are two important factors affecting the degree of soil compaction. Conventional methods such as the sand cone test and the plate load test are used to measure such properties for evaluating the degree of compaction and the stiffness of soil in the field. However, these tests are generally very time-consuming and are inherent with some errors depending on the operator (in particular for the sand cone test). Elastic modulus is an indicator to describe the stress-strain behavior of soil and in some cases is used as a design input parameter. Although a rod type TDR (Time Domain Reflectometry) system has been recently proposed to overcome some shortcomings of the conventional methods (particularly the sand cone test), it requires driving the probes into the ground, thus implying that it is still a time-consuming and destructive testing method. This study aims to develop a new non-destructive TDR system that can rapidly measure the dry density, water content, and elastic modulus of soil on the surface of compacted soil, without disturbing the ground. In this study, the Piezoelectric Stack, which is an instrument for measuring the elastic modulus of soil, has been added to the TDR system with a flat type probe, leading to a non-destructive TDR system that is capable of measuring the dry density, water content, and elastic modulus of soil. The new TDR system developed is light enough for an engineer to carry. Results of the standard compaction and TDR tests on sand showed that the dry densities and the moisture contents measured with the new TDR system were in good agreement with those measured with the standard compaction test, respectively. Consequently, it appears that the new TDR system developed will be very useful to advance the current practice of compaction quality control.

Effect of strength enhancement of soil treated with environment-friendly calcium carbonate powder.

This study aims to investigate the effects of the strength improvement of soft ground (sand) by producing calcium carbonate powder through microbial reactions. To analyze the cementation effect of calcium carbonate produced through microbial reaction for different weight ratios, four different types of specimens (untreated, calcium carbonate, cement, and calcium carbonate + cement) with different weight ratios (2%, 4%, 6%, and 8%) were produced and cured for a period of 3 days, 7 days, 14 days, 21 days, and 28 days to test them. The uniaxial compression strength of specimens was measured, and the components in the specimen depending on the curing period were analyzed by means of XRD analysis. The result revealed that higher weight ratios and longer curing period contributed to increased strength of calcium carbonate, cement, and calcium carbonate + cement specimens. The calcium carbonate and the calcium carbonate + cement specimens in the same condition showed the tendency of decreased strength approximately 3 times and two times in comparison with the 8% cement specimens cured for 28 days, but the tendency of increased strength was approximately 4 times and 6 times in comparison with the untreated specimen.

Evaluation of resilient modulus of subgrade and base materials in Indiana and its implementation in MEPDG.

In order to implement MEPDG hierarchical inputs for unbound and subgrade soil, a database containing subgrade M R , index properties, standard proctor, and laboratory M R for 140 undisturbed roadbed soil samples from six different districts in Indiana was created. The M R data were categorized in accordance with the AASHTO soil classifications and divided into several groups. Based on each group, this study develops statistical analysis and evaluation datasets to validate these models. Stress-based regression models were evaluated using a statistical tool (analysis of variance (ANOVA)) and Z-test, and pertinent material constants (k 1, k 2 and k 3) were determined for different soil types. The reasonably good correlations of material constants along with M R with routine soil properties were established. Furthermore, FWD tests were conducted on several Indiana highways in different seasons, and laboratory resilient modulus tests were performed on the subgrade soils that were collected from the falling weight deflectometer (FWD) test sites. A comparison was made of the resilient moduli obtained from the laboratory resilient modulus tests with those from the FWD tests. Correlations between the laboratory resilient modulus and the FWD modulus were developed and are discussed in this paper.

Potential Soil Contamination in Areas Where Ferronickel Slag Is Used for Reclamation Work.

This study aims to analyze contamination with the use of soil reclaimed with ferronickel slag (FNS). In order to investigate any contamination due to FNS disposal, soils were collected from three sites. The contamination analysis was done on these samples through a series of laboratory tests. Furthermore, laboratory tests simulating field conditions were performed in a soil chamber. In the lab test, three leaching agents, namely fresh water, acidic water and seawater, were used. The soil samples used were sand and silt with a relative density of 40% and a compaction ratio of 90%, respectively. The pH of the effluent discharged from the experimental soil chamber was also analyzed. After leaching, soil samples were subjected to analysis. The results showed that pH was higher in the silt than in the sand. The results of the laboratory tests exhibited that leaching of hazardous elements from FNS is limited, so that it can be used as a substitute for natural aggregate in the cement industry or construction applications.

Effects of Particle Size on the Shear Behavior of Coarse Grained Soils Reinforced with Geogrid.

In order to design civil structures that are supported by soils, the shear strength parameters of soils are required. Due to the large particle size of coarse-grained soils, large direct shear tests should be performed. In this study, large direct shear tests on three types of coarse grained soils (4.5 mm, 7.9 mm, and 15.9 mm) were performed to evaluate the effects of particle size on the shear behavior of coarse grained soils with/without geogrid reinforcements. Based on the direct shear test results, it was found that, in the case of no-reinforcement, the larger the maximum particle size became, the larger the friction angle was. Compared with the no-reinforcement case, the cases reinforced with either soft geogrid or stiff geogrid have smaller friction angles. The cohesion of the soil reinforced with stiff geogrid was larger than that of the soil reinforced with soft geogrid. The difference in the shear strength occurs because the case with a stiff geogrid has more soil to geogrid contact area, leading to the reduction in interlocking between soil particles.

Geosynthetic Reinforcement of Sand-Mat Layer above Soft Ground.

In order to improve the bearing capacity of soft ground for the purpose of getting trafficability of construction vehicles, the reinforcement of geosynthetics for sand-mat layers on soft ground has often been used. As the strength of the geosynthetics increases, and the sand-mat system becomes stronger, the bearing capacity of sand-mat systems will be increased. The depths of geosynthetics, reinforced in sand-mat layers, were varied with respect to the width of footing. The tensile strengths of geosynthetics were also varied to evaluate the effect of reinforcement on the bearing capacity of soft ground. The dispersion angles, with varying sand-mat thicknesses, were also determined in consideration of the tensile strength of geosynthetics and the depths of reinforcement installations. The bearing capacity ratios, with the variation of footing width and reinforced embedment depth, were determined for the geosynthetics-only, reinforced soft ground, 1-layer sand-mat system and 2-layer sand-mat system against the non-reinforced soft ground. From the test results of various models, a principle that better explains the concept of geosynthetic reinforcement has been found. On the basis of this principle, a new bearing capacity equation for practical use in the design of geosynthetically reinforced soft ground has been proposed by modifying Yamanouchi's equation.

Evaluation of the Performance of Grouting Materials for Saturated Riprap.

In this study, four types of grout were developed to evaluate the effect of grouting of saturated riprap layers on ground water flow. The developed types of grout are divided into a quick-setting type and a general-type, and also into high and low viscosities. A number of grout tests were performed in a model acrylic chamber, 0.4 m in diameter and 2.0 m in length, for visual observation of injection. To reproduce the field flow condition of the saturated riprap layers (approach flow), the grout tests were carried out at 0 cm/s and 100 cm/s for the flow speed and 10 L/min for the grout injection speed after installing a flow injection opening on the lower part of the chamber. Based on the results of the grout tests, the injection of each grout in the saturated riprap layers was examined to find out the most effective grout.

Effects of Ground Conditions on Microbial Cementation in Soils.

The purpose of this study is to understand the effect of ground conditions on microbial cementation in cohesionless soils. Since the method of microbial cementation is still at the experimental stage, for its practical use in the field, a number of laboratory experiments are required for the quantification of microbial cementation under various ground conditions, such as relative densities, relative compactions and particle size distributions. In this study, in order to evaluate the effectiveness of microbial cementation in treated sands and silts, an experiment was performed for different relative densities of silica sands, for different relative compactions of silts and for different particle size distributions of weathered soils sampled from the field. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy and mapping analyses were implemented for the quantification of the levels of microbial cementations for sand, silt and weathered soil specimens. Based on the test results, a considerable microbial cementation was estimated depending on the soil conditions; therefore, an implementation of this new type of bio-grouting on a weak foundation may be possible to increase the strength and stiffness of weak ground.

Airways are more reactive to histamine than to methacholine in patients with mild airway hyperresponsiveness, regardless of atopy.

BACKGROUND: The airway muscles from allergen-sensitized animals in vitro show a heightened response to histamine, but not to carbachol. This study investigated whether the airway responsiveness to histamine in vivo is comparable to that of methacholine in human subjects with varying degrees of atopy. METHODS: One-hundred-and-sixty-eight consecutive adult asthma patients or volunteers underwent bronchoprovocation tests to both histamine and methacholine after determining their blood eosinophil counts, serum total IgE levels and skin test reactivity to 10 common aeroallergens. RESULTS: The responsiveness to histamine was significantly related to that to methacholine (r=0.609, p<0.001), but many individuals with a negative methacholine test response showed a positive response to histamine. The histamine-bronchial reactivity index (BRindex) was significantly higher than the methacholine-BRindex in subjects with a positive response to none (n=69, p<0.01) or only one (n=42, p<0.001) of histamine and methacholine, while there was no significant difference in the subjects with positive responses to both of them (n=57). The histamine-BRindex was significantly higher than the methacholine-BRindex in the subjects with mild histamine hyperresponsiveness (n=58, 1.28+/-0.01 vs. 1.20+/-0.02, respectively, p<0.001). Both histamine and methacholine responsiveness was significantly related to the atopy markers. However, the histamine-BRindex/methacholine-BRindex ratio of the atopics was not significantly different from that of the non-atopics. CONCLUSIONS: The airway responsiveness to histamine is comparable to that of methacholine in the subjects with positive responses to both histamine and methacholine, but the airway responsiveness to histamine is greater than that to methacholine in those subjects with mild airway hyperresponsiveness, regardless of atopy.