Development of slope monitoring device using accelerometer

There are many types of instruments that have been used for monitoring the high risk slopes as a precaution to prevent the loss of lives. Unfortunately, there is no such works of installation slope monitoring instrumentation as detectors and preventive actions before the slope failure. Automatic Wireless Accelerometer Monitoring System (AWAM) is a new device of monitoring system using accelerometer, introduced in this research. It is more efficient than conventional techniques and less expensive. The application and operation of this system does not interrupted by physical obstacles, different climate conditions, and the construction works at site. In addition, no contact is required since the accelerometers are installed on the slope. Consequently, geomorphology limitations are not considered as limitations of the system operation. This paper discusses the sensor database system by AWAM and shows the effectiveness of the device to monitor slope failures and act as a warning sign. It was presented in two parts; the first part consisted of the physical modelling calibration test from sensor database system (AWAM device) and from load cell test while the second part discussed on the numerical model simulated by using software (Slope/W and LimitState) and the data from vane shear test. The AWAM device can be used as a monitoring system to detect soil movements. However, accelerometer was able to give AWAM’s readings if the device is moving in tilting modes

Application of Brillouin-based distributed optical fibre sensing technology to measure strain development of a slope model

For almost two decades, distributed optical fibre sensors are well-known for an alternative to conventional instrumentation in geotechnical engineering applications. However, the technology is yet to be fully implemented due to uncertainties of attachment method or the best way to deploy optical fibre for geo-structure health monitoring. Thus, a project of a 1g model of soil slope was intiated and was constructed with three layers of optical fibre that were horizontally embedded in the soil slope mass in order to observe strain development due to a surcharge load. The strain mobilizations were measured by using Brillouin Optical Time-Domain Analysis (BOTDA) sensing system during the incremental loading on the slope crest until a failure feature had been initiated. The aim of study is to evaluate the development of horizontal strains from Brillouin-based optical fibre sensor subjected to soil slope deformation which lead to slope failures. The results showed that the measurands of optical fibre were highly accumulated at the position of 0.3m depth from the slope crest. The development of high strain at this position was because of soil-fibre interaction to the overburden imposed load in perpendicular direction of optical fibre placement. Therefore, it can be concluded that the optical fibre strain in the soil-strain field were well-responded to the particle soil movement. In addition, the significant trend of positive strain curves were illustrated when the soil was under compression due to external load from a surcharge load plus self-weight of the soil material

Primary stability of self-tapping dual etched implants

BAcKGROUND: The aims of this study were to enumerate the primary implant stability quotient (ISQ) value of self-tapping dual etched implants and to explore the influence of parameters such as implant length, implant diameter, age, gender, implant location and osteotomy preparation on the ISQ value. METHODS: Retrospective data from clinical worksheets given to participants during two implant courses held between the periods of 2013 to 2014 were evaluated. A total of 61 implants were considered based on the inclusion criteria. The effects of parameters such as implant diameter, implant length, age, gender, implant location and osteotomy protocol on ISQ values were analyzed. RESULTS: Mean ISQ value for all implants was 67.21\ub19.13. Age of patients (P=0.016) and location of implants (P=0.041) had a significant linear relationship with the ISQ values. Within the age limit of the patients in this study, it was found that an increase in one year of patient\u2019s age results in 0.20 decrease in ISQ value (95% cI: -0.36, -0.04). However, placing an implant in the posterior maxilla may negatively affect the ISQ with a likely decrease in primary stability by 6.76 ISQ value (95% cI: -13.22, -0.30). cONcLUSIONS: The results suggest that the mean ISQ achieved by the participants were comparable with the range reported for this particular type of implants. The patient\u2019s age and location of implants were elucidated as the determinant factors of primary implant stability

Application of Brillouin-based distributed optical fibre sensing technology to measure strain development of a slope model

For almost two decades, distributed optical fibre sensors are well-known for an alternative to conventional instrumentation in geotechnical engineering applications. However, the technology is yet to be fully implemented due to uncertainties of attachment method or the best way to deploy optical fibre for geo-structure health monitoring. Thus, a project of a 1g model of soil slope was intiated and was constructed with three layers of optical fibre that were horizontally embedded in the soil slope mass in order to observe strain development due to a surcharge load. The strain mobilizations were measured by using Brillouin Optical TimeDomain Analysis (BOTDA) sensing system during the incremental loading on the slope crest until a failure feature had been initiated. The aim of study is to evaluate the development of horizontal strains from Brillouinbased optical fibre sensor subjected to soil slope deformation which lead to slope failures. The results showed that the measurands of optical fibre were highly accumulated at the position of 0.3m depth from the slope crest. The development of high strain at this position was because of soil-fibre interaction to the overburden imposed load in perpendicular direction of optical fibre placement. Therefore, it can be concluded that the optical fibre strain in the soil-strain field were well-responded to the particle soil movement. In addition, the significant trend of positive strain curves were illustrated when the soil was under compression due to external load from a surcharge load plus self-weight of the soil material

Global variations in heart failure etiology, management, and outcomes

Importance: Most epidemiological studies of heart failure (HF) have been conducted in high-income countries with limited comparable data from middle- or low-income countries. Objective: To examine differences in HF etiology, treatment, and outcomes between groups of countries at different levels of economic development. Design, Setting, and Participants: Multinational HF registry of 23 341 participants in 40 high-income, upper–middle-income, lower–middle-income, and low-income countries, followed up for a median period of 2.0 years. Main Outcomes and Measures: HF cause, HF medication use, hospitalization, and death. Results: Mean (SD) age of participants was 63.1 (14.9) years, and 9119 (39.1%) were female. The most common cause of HF was ischemic heart disease (38.1%) followed by hypertension (20.2%). The proportion of participants with HF with reduced ejection fraction taking the combination of a β-blocker, renin-angiotensin system inhibitor, and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist was highest in upper–middle-income (61.9%) and high-income countries (51.1%), and it was lowest in low-income (45.7%) and lower–middle-income countries (39.5%) (P < .001). The age- and sex- standardized mortality rate per 100 person-years was lowest in high-income countries (7.8 [95% CI, 7.5-8.2]), 9.3 (95% CI, 8.8-9.9) in upper–middle-income countries, 15.7 (95% CI, 15.0-16.4) in lower–middle-income countries, and it was highest in low-income countries (19.1 [95% CI, 17.6-20.7]). Hospitalization rates were more frequent than death rates in high-income countries (ratio = 3.8) and in upper–middle-income countries (ratio = 2.4), similar in lower–middle-income countries (ratio = 1.1), and less frequent in low-income countries (ratio = 0.6). The 30-day case-fatality rate after first hospital admission was lowest in high-income countries (6.7%), followed by upper–middle-income countries (9.7%), then lower–middle-income countries (21.1%), and highest in low-income countries (31.6%). The proportional risk of death within 30 days of a first hospital admission was 3- to 5-fold higher in lower–middle-income countries and low-income countries compared with high-income countries after adjusting for patient characteristics and use of long-term HF therapies. Conclusions and Relevance: This study of HF patients from 40 different countries and derived from 4 different economic levels demonstrated differences in HF etiologies, management, and outcomes. These data may be useful in planning approaches to improve HF prevention and treatment globally