Resilience assessment of the transport corridor from Stokmarknes to Stockholm

Timely delivery of the required goods plays an important role in meeting the availability and reducing the downtime of Markets. Salmon transport logistics is affected in complex ways while operating in the Arctic, since the area is sparsely populated and has insufficient infrastructure. It is also greatly affected by the distinctive operational environment of the region, such as cold temperature, varying forms of ice, blizzards, heavy fog, etc. Therefore, in order to have an effective transport and logistics plan, the effect of all influencing factors, called covariates, on the transportation of the spare parts need to be identified, modelled and quantified using an appropriate dynamic model. The traditional models, however, lack the comprehensive integration of the effect of covariates on the transportation modes. The purpose of this thesis is to introduce the concept of a dynamic model for transportation in Arctic conditions by considering time to delivery as the main attribute. The model continuously updates the prior probabilities according to the most recent time to delivery estimations. The application of the model is illustrated using a case study

Preliminary Hazard Analysis for UAV-assisted Bridge Inspection

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology has found its way into a number of civilian applications in the last 20 years, predominantly due to lower costs and tangible scientific improvements. In its application to structural bridge inspection, UAVs provide two main functions. The first, being the most common, detects damage through visual sensors. The 2D imagery data can be used to quickly establish a basic knowledge of the structure’s condition and is usually the first port of call. The second reconstructs 3D models to provide a permanent record of geometry for each bridge asset, which could be used for navigation and control purposes. However, there are various problems associated with the use of UAVs for bridge inspection, in particular, in cold operating environments, such as Norway. This paper will integrate scenario prediction and assess hazards as well as the social and environmental loss in the case of UAV-assisted bridge inspection. Further, this paper will follow rather closely a three-phase process: hazard identification, hazard analysis, and hazard evaluation, all executed with qualitative data and methods by experts of a variety of fields, methodologies for recognition of the impact of cold operating environment on the performance of UAVs and UAV-pilots, creative interpretation of the hazard factors of identifiable problems, or even brainstorming about “imaging the unimaginable”.publishedVersio

Resilience of a transportation network: Importance of vulnerable nodes

Transportation Infrastructure is one of key critical infrastructures which are crucial for a wellfunctioning modern society. This study proposes a resilience-oriented framework for analyzing and ultimately mitigating risk and improving resilience for land transportation networks with a focus on vulnerable nodes. The framework uses network theory and considers the concept of independent pathways, network topology, redundancies in the network, reliability of roads, importance of hub nodes and vulnerable nodes. A network score is developed based on the aforementioned criterion of the network which will be used for comparing different failure scenarios under extreme weather events hazard type. The focus of this paper is the importance of vulnerable nodes, and it tries to highlight that throughout the paper. A numerical example has been utilized to illustrate the use of this framework

Drone-based bridge inspection in harsh operating environment: risks and safeguards

The inability to effectively and systematically identify and measure the damage in bridges will lead to an acceleration and dangerous deterioration of the health state of these structures. To repair and replace the aging and damaged bridge infrastructures, and prevent catastrophic bridge collapse, there is an urgent need to develop reliable, innovative, and efficient approaches to the performance assessment and inspection of bridges. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), also knowns as drone, technology has found its way into a number of civilian applications including inspection in the last 20 years, predominantly due to lower cost and tangible scientific improvements. The intent of this paper is to map the current state-of-the-art drone-enabled bridge inspection practices and investigated their associated hazards and risks. This paper will integrate scenario prediction and, assess hazards as well as the social and environmental loss in the case of drone-enabled bridge inspection. Further, this paper will follow rather closely a three-phase process: hazard identification, hazard analysis, and hazard evaluation, all executed with qualitative data and methods by experts of a variety of fields, methodologies for recognition of the impact of cold operating environment on the performance of drone and drone -pilots, creative interpretation of the hazard factors of identifiable problems. The proposed Preliminary Hazard Analysis (PHA) is exemplified via drone-enabled inspection of Håkenby bridge, which is located in the Viken county, in the eastern part of Norway.publishedVersio

Hazards identification and risk assessment for UAV-assisted bridge inspections

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) technology has found its way into several civilian applications in the last 20 years, predominantly due to lower cost and tangible scientific improvements. In its application to structural bridge inspection, UAVs provide two main functions. The first, being the most common, detect damage through visual sensors. The 2 D image data can be used to quickly establish a basic knowledge of the structure’s condition and is usually the first port of call. The second reconstructs 3D models to provide a permanent record of geometry for each bridge asset, which could be used for navigation and control purposes. However, there are various types of hazards and risks associated with the use of UAVs for bridge inspection, in particular, in a cold operating environment. In this study, a systematic methodology, which is an integration of hazard identification, expert judgment, and risk assessment for preliminary hazard analysis (PHA) in the UAV-assisted bridge inspection system is proposed. The proposed methodology is developed and exemplified via UAV-assisted inspection of Grimsøy bridge, a 71.3 m concrete bridge, located in the Viken county in eastern Norway.publishedVersio

A Methodological Framework for the Resilience Analysis of Road Transport Networks Exposed to Freezing Rain

Road transport network is one of the major critical infrastructures to be maintained resilient, since its disruption would not only have direct economic consequences, but it could also lead to domino effects on other critical infrastructures. This study proposes a methodological framework for the analysis of the resilience of road transport networks exposed to natural hazards, in particular to freezing rain, that is a precipitation event wherein the supercooled droplets of rain freeze upon contact with any surface, creating a glaze of ice and contributing, in particular, to icy roads conditions. A numerical example is presented that considers a road transportation network exposed to freezing rain, whose probability of occurrence is estimated using historical meteorological conditions; the network disruption and recovery are evaluated for the resilience analysis of the selected road transport infrastructure

Adjunctive Local Application of Lidocaine during Scleral Buckling under General Anesthesia

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of local lidocaine application on the incidence of the oculocardiac reflex (OCR) during scleral buckling (SB) for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) under general anesthesia. Methods: In a randomized clinical trial, eyes with RRD scheduled for SB under general anesthesia were randomized to adjunctive local application of 1 ml lidocaine 2% versus normal saline to the muscles after conjunctival opening. Surgical stimulation was initiated 5 minutes afterwards. Additionally, 100 mg of lidocaine 2% was added to 50 ml of normal saline in the treatment group which was used for irrigation during surgery; control eyes were irrigated with normal saline. The incidence of the OCR, rate of postoperative nausea/vomiting (PONV), total intravenous (IV) analgesic dose, duration of surgery, and period of hospitalization were compared between the study groups. Results: Thirty eyes of 30 patients including 22 (73.3%) male and 8 (26.7%) subjects with mean age of 49.4΁16.3 years were operated. OCR and PONV occurred less frequently, and total intravenous analgesic dose was significantly lower in the lidocaine group (P < 0.05 for all comparisons). However, no significant difference was noted between the study groups in terms of duration of surgery and period of hospitalization. Conclusion: Adjunctive local application of lidocaine during SB under GA for RRD decreases the rate of OCR and PONV, reduces the intravenous analgesic dose, but does not affect the duration of surgery or hospitalization

Preliminary Hazard Analysis for UAV-assisted Bridge Inspection

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology has found its way into a number of civilian applications in the last 20 years, predominantly due to lower costs and tangible scientific improvements. In its application to structural bridge inspection, UAVs provide two main functions. The first, being the most common, detects damage through visual sensors. The 2D imagery data can be used to quickly establish a basic knowledge of the structure’s condition and is usually the first port of call. The second reconstructs 3D models to provide a permanent record of geometry for each bridge asset, which could be used for navigation and control purposes. However, there are various problems associated with the use of UAVs for bridge inspection, in particular, in cold operating environments, such as Norway. This paper will integrate scenario prediction and assess hazards as well as the social and environmental loss in the case of UAV-assisted bridge inspection. Further, this paper will follow rather closely a three-phase process: hazard identification, hazard analysis, and hazard evaluation, all executed with qualitative data and methods by experts of a variety of fields, methodologies for recognition of the impact of cold operating environment on the performance of UAVs and UAV-pilots, creative interpretation of the hazard factors of identifiable problems, or even brainstorming about “imaging the unimaginable”

Helicobacter pylori serum antibody titers in patients with cerebral non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke

Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection has been associated with atherosclerosis of coronary arteries but there is lack of data regarding possible association between chronic H. Pylori infection and cerebral non-cardioembolic ischemia. We evaluated H. pylori serum antibody titers in patients with cerebral non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out in Alzahra hospital, Isfahan, Iran. 96 patients with ischemic stroke were enrolled in this study. Control group were selected from healthy blood donors. IgG and IgA antibodies to H. pylori were detected using a rapid enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Quantitative variables and categorical variables were compared using t student and chi-square tests. Results: There were 21 cases of hypertension and 5 cases of diabetes mellitus among patients. Patients and controls were similar regarding serum IgA and IgG titers as well as positivity. There were 13 and 15 cases of positive IgA and 44 and 39 cases of positive IgG among patients and controls, respectively. Also, there were 7 and 9 cases of both positive IgA and IgG in patients and controls, respectively. No differences were found between the two groups in IgA or IgG titers or positivity (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Patients with stroke were not different regarding either H. Pylori IgA or IgG positivity or the antibody titers. Comparing genetic typing of H. pylori in patients with or without stroke and diagnosis of H. pylori with more specific and sensitive tests such as stool antigen test are recommended

One-Pot-Multicomponent Synthesis of 2,6-Diamino-4-arylpyridine-3,5-dicarbonitrile Derivatives Using Nanomagnetic Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@ZnCl₂

Nanomagnetic Fe3O4@SiO2@ZnCl2 was used as a simple, cost-effective, and reusable heterogeneous catalyst for the synthesis of 2,6-diamino-4-arylpyridine-3,5-dicarbonitriles by a one-pot-three-component condensation reaction of malononitrile, ammonium acetate, and aldehydes under solvent-free conditions at 110 °C. Simple and mild reaction conditions, facile preparation of the catalyst, the use of a cheap catalyst and easy workup and isolation are notable features of this method