Hepatic multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (Mrp2) is responsible for the majority of the biliary elimination of endogenous and exogenous substances, therefore it is important to evaluate possible functional changes in Mrp2 activity under conditions of hyperlipidemia (HL). Thus, the present study assessed the protein expression and transporting activity of hepatic Mrp2 based on the in vivo biliary excretion of phenolsulfonphthalein (PSP) as a model anionic substrate for Mrp2 in poloxamer 407-induced hyperlipidemic rats (HL rats) and compared these values with those for control rats. The pharmacokinetics of mycophenolic acid (MPA) and mycophenolic acid-7-O-glucuronide (MPAG) were evaluated after the intravenous (5 mg/kg) and oral (10 mg/kg) administration of MPA to control and HL rats. In HL rats, the protein expression of hepatic Mrp2 and its biliary transporting activity exhibited significant reductions (by 24.3% and 24.6%, respectively) in the absence of a change in bile flow rate. Unexpectedly, HL and control rats showed comparable biliary excretion rates of MPAG due to the counter effects of the reduced expression and activity of Mrp2 and a 484% increase in the free fraction of MPAG in HL rats. The estimated biliary clearance value of free MPAG in HL rats was considerably slower (by 77.1%) than that in control rats. Although significant pharmacokinetic changes in total MPA and MPAG levels were not observed in HL rats, there was a marked increase in free MPA and MPAG levels. Clinically relevant pharmacokinetic changes in subjects with HL that are related to MRP2 could not be ruled out. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

It is important to decide traffic opening time for construction plan of epoxy asphalt pavement. For this purpose, strength prediction model of epoxy asphalt concrete is required. In this study, Marshall stability was measured according to temperature and time for making strength properties equation. Strength prediction model was developed using chemical kinetics considering temperature variation. The traffic opening time of epoxy asphalt pavement on bridge deck has been predicted using the developed model. The prediction and actual traffic opening times were different by 17-days, because weathers of year 2009-2011 used in prediction model were different from weather of year 2012. When the prediction model used the actually measured temperatures of pavement, the difference between real opening time and prediction opening time was two days. The correlation analysis result between measured strength and prediction strength revealed that the R 2 using accurate temperature of pavement was 0.95. An improved precise prediction result is to be obtained if the prediction model uses accurate temperature data of pavement.

The main objective of the research is to evaluate the laboratory performances of epoxy asphalt mixtures for long-span steel bridge decks. The aggregate gradations were recommended for field applications. The laboratory performance test results showed that the durability of epoxy asphalt mixtures was more noticeable than that of conventional ones. The structural analysis was conducted using resilient modulus and bond-shear test results. The analysis results revealed that just 9% out of total bond-shear stress was enough for the entire required bond-shear stress in the pavement system. The tensile stresses in the bridge decks were within limits compared to the laboratory test results from the Nanjing Grand Bridge in China. As a result, the laboratory performances of the epoxy asphalt mixtures for long-span steel bridge decks were better than those of conventional asphalt mixtures. However, the laboratory performance tests of epoxy asphalt mixtures for long-span steel bridge decks should be conducted precisely since the strengths of the mixtures are sensitive to the temperatures and curing times.

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We carried out photographic analysis of randomly distributed discrete elements in the lnada granite. The modal analysis of granite was also conducted simultaneously with the above photographic analysis. The results show that quartz and feldspar including mica occupy 99.4% of the total volume of the fine-grained granite. Based on the results of previous studies, an elastic homogenisation method is applied to analyse the macro-level stress distribution in the lnada granite, which is a composite material of rock-forming minerals with micro discontinuities. For proper rock sampling and specimen preparation, the representative elementary volume (REV) should be determined in rock mechanical tests and numerical analyses. We determined the REV of the lnada granite using a stereoscopic microscope and applying a homogenisation numerical analysis.