A new definition of strong motion duration and related parameters affecting the response of medium-long period structures,

ABSTRACT: This study presents a new definition of the strong motion duration, combining the alternative bracketed and significant duration definitions. Based on the time integral of the absolute ground velocity, a new index is defined, as the cumulative absolute displacement CAD. The index is used in order to evaluate the strong motion duration. The proposed bracketed-significant duration is well correlated with the strong motion part of the records, especially in the case of near-source events. The duration and the CAD index are correlated with the structural behaviour of medium-to-long period structures. Two normalized parameters representing the amplification of structural response and the number of equivalent loading cycles are determined in terms of the proposed duration and CAD indices. The proposed parameters appear to be better correlated with the structural response than other well-known indices

Interventions to improve or maintain lower-limb function among ambulatory adolescents with cerebral palsy: a cross-sectional survey of current practice in the UK.

2 Objectives: To describe physiotherapy management to improve or maintain lower-limb 1 function among adolescents with cerebral palsy, classified in Gross Motor Function 2 Classification System levels I-III, in the United Kingdom. 3 Methods: A list of interventions was identified using a nominal group technique and 4 developed into a survey, which was distributed to approximately 2,100 paediatric 5 physiotherapists in the UK through the Association of Paediatric Chartered Physiotherapists 6 and a private physiotherapy clinic in London between April and June 2015. One-hundred and 7 thirty-five physiotherapists completed the survey. Survey respondents indicated how 8 frequently they used each intervention (i.e. “frequently”, “sometimes”, “rarely”, “never”) in 9 the past year. 10 Results: Provision of explanations to the child, liaison with families, liaison with health 11 professionals, provision of advice to schools, and stretching were the most frequently used 12 interventions with 90%, 90%, 86%, 79%, and 76% of respondents, respectively, reporting 13 that they frequently used each. The interventions most commonly reported as “never” used 14 were conductive education (88%), MOVE programme (85%), functional electrical 15 stimulation (82%), body-weight supported treadmill training (80%), and rebound therapy 16 (71%). 17 Conclusions: This study suggests that a large number of interventions are used by 18 physiotherapists in the UK to improve or maintain lower-limb function among adolescents 19 with CP, not all of which are evidence-based

Evaluation of the strong ground motion in engineering seismology and structural vulnerability

[…] Η παρούσα εργασία στοχεύει σε μία συνεισφορά στο εκτενές, όσο και αντιφατικό, πεδίο των δεικτών έντασης της ισχυρής εδαφικής κίνησης λόγω σεισμικής διέγερσης. Ειδικά γίνεται προσπάθεια εκτίμησης της επίδρασης του εύρους, της διάρκειας και του συχνοτικού περιεχομένου της εδαφικής κίνησης στην περίπτωση κατασκευών μεσαίας και μεγάλης περιόδου, οι οποίες, ως γνωστόν, αποτελούν ένα ιδιαίτερα σημαντικό αντικείμενο της Αντισεισμικής Μηχανικής. Στην παρούσα εργασία διερευνάται η επίπτωση των προαναφερθεισών παραμέτρων στην καταπόνηση των κατασκευών αυτής της κατηγορίας, και ειδικά η επίδραση της διάρκειας και του συχνοτικού περιεχομένου. Η επίδραση των παραμέτρων αυτών, σε συνδυασμό με το ιδιαίτερου ενδιαφέροντος θέμα των καταγραφών κοντινού πεδίου, αποτελεί έναν από τους εν εξελίξει στόχους του σχεδιασμού με βάση τις επιβαλλόμενες στην κατασκευή παραμορφώσεις. […