Remote contextual fear retrieval engages activity from salience network regions in rats

The ability to retrieve contextual fear memories depends on the coordinated activation of a brain-wide circuitry. Transition from recent to remote memories seems to involve the reorganization of this circuitry, a process called systems consolidation that has been associated with time-dependent fear generalization. However, it is not known whether emotional memories acquired under different levels of stress can undergo different systems consolidation processes. Here, we explored the activation pattern and functional connectivity of key brain regions associated with contextual fear conditioning (CFC) retrieval after recent (2 days) or remote (28 days) memory tests performed in rats submitted to strong (1.0mA footshock) or mild (0.3mA footshock) training. We used brain tissue from Wistar rats from a previous study, where we observed that increasing training intensity promotes fear memory generalization over time, possibly due to an increase in corticosterone levels during memory consolidation. Analysis of Fos expression across 8 regions of interest (ROIs) allowed us to identify coactivation between them at both timepoints following memory recall. Our results showed that strong CFC elicits higher Fos activation in the anterior insular and prelimbic cortices during remote retrieval, which was - along with the basolateral amygdala - positively correlated with freezing. Rats trained either with mild or strong CFC showed a broad functional connectivity at the recent timepoint whereas only animals submitted to the strong CFC showed a widespread loss of coactivation during remote retrieval. Our findings suggest that increasing training intensity results in differential processes of systems consolidation, possibly associated with increased post-training corticosterone release, and that strong CFC engages activity from areas associated with the salience network during remote retrieval.

One-Dimensional Nonlinear Consolidation Analysis Using Hansbo’s Flow Model and Rebound-Recompression Characteristics of Soil under Cyclic Loading

Hansbo’s flow model for one-dimensional consolidation analysis of saturated clay has been widely recognized as being the most representative for soft soils. Many studies have used the model to examine the characteristics of soil under various conditions. However, very few studies have considered soil under cyclic loading. In this study, using a Hansbo’s flow model and assuming known characteristics for soft clay deformation and rebound and recompression of soil, the one-dimensional consolidation model of soft clay under cyclic loading is established. A FlexPDE solution scheme with excess pore pressure u and void ratio e as variables is also given. The reliability of the proposed method is verified by comparing the obtained results with existing results. On this basis, the consolidation characteristics of soft clay foundations under unilateral drainage and cyclic loading are studied. The effects of soil rebound and recompression characteristics, Hansbo’s flow parameters, cyclic loading period, and cyclic loading form on the consolidation characteristics of soft clay foundation are analyzed. The results show that under cyclic loading, the effective stress, void ratio, and average consolidation degree of the foundation all present a cyclic state and gradually enter a stable cyclic state with the increase in cycles. The peak of effective stress lags behind the peak of cyclic load. The rebound and recompression characteristics of soil have little effect on the effective stress of soil but a great effect on the void ratio. In contrast to its characteristic under linear loading, the average consolidation degree of the foundation under cyclic loading finally enters a stable cyclic state. The results of the analysis can be used as a reference in the analysis of real life highways, railways, subway tunnels built on soft soil foundations subjected to periodic cyclic loading.

The role of unsaturated soil mechanics in unconventional tailings deposition

Desiccation (water loss by drying or freeze-thaw sufficient to generate matric suction), can influence the performance of a tailings deposit both positively and negatively. The significance of desiccation is largest in tailings that have been dewatered prior to deposition, by thickening or filtration. Such tailings can be “stacked” or deposited with a significant slope, which usually implies that a substantial volume of tailings remain above water. Under such conditions the tailings, by accident or by design, may undergo desiccation before burial by fresh tailings. Desiccation can contribute substantially to strength, above and beyond the contribution arising from increase in density, through stress history effects. For some deposits, it is required practice that at least some tailings undergo desiccation to improve, particularly when those tailings for a structural part of a deposit. If, however, tailings remain exposed to the atmosphere in an unsaturated state for some period of time, this may have potential negative consequences through oxidation of sulphide minerals and the formation of acid drainage. This paper describes previous research on the strength gained through desiccation in tailings, and on modelling work that incorporates unsaturated soil phenomena into consolidation analysis. Both types of research are applied to a real field site, providing an example of how novel improvements to tailings management can arise out of application of principles of unsaturated soil mechanics.

Simulating the model for consolidation of short bored pile in pure friction soil media

In this paper, the analysis of a numerical study for consolidation analysis of short bored pile subjected to axial loads is presented. An analysis of short-bored pile is performed using finite element analysis software Abaqus CAE with the base of procured experimental data in sand media and a comparative analysis on Ansys FEA. Three models in combination of pile and footing system were developed by the application of incremental axial load for which the displacement upon each load was analyzed taking in consideration the stresses and strains. A parametric study was conducted to study the effect of load on and it’s observed displacement on the pile with or without footing. A close correlation is found between the results obtained by the FE models and the Experimental Model solution. The results indicates that the load bearing capacity of pile–footing system increases drastically when both acts together instead of acting individually.