Relationships between SPT-N value and undrained shear strength of fine-grained soils in Turkey [Türkiye'de SPT-N degeri ile i·nce daneli zeminlerin drenajsiz kayma mukavemeti arasindaki i·lişkiler]

In engineering applications, information obtained during soil explorations may be limited due to the difficulties encountered in sampling, testing and the costs involved. So, it is useful to determine properties of soils by using a small number of soil parameters that can be obtained easily. In this study the correlations between the SPT-N value and undrained shear strength (C 11 ) are examined and developed for types of fine-grained soils based on Standard Penetration Test (SPT) corrections and test type considered statistically, and comparisons are made with previous studies. It is observed that while the correlations proposed by Terzaghi and Peck (1967), commonly used in practice, and Stroud (1974) are compatable with those proposed by the current study, those proposed by the others have given quite high results

Measurement of side friction between specimen and consolidation ring with newly designed oedometer cell

WOS: 000236637600011Many studies were performed to investigate the effect of the thickness of clay layer on the secondary compression. To find the stress-strain behavior of a tall specimen in the laboratory we have to face the major problem of friction. Without knowing the friction, the data obtained from the high specimen is not easy to interpret. The goal of the present paper is to explain the adoption of a new oedometer cell to measure frictional effects between the consolidation ring and specimen. It is observed that the side friction does not remain constant during the test and slightly increased with time at a decreasing rate. The amount of the side friction depends upon the level of the applied vertical consolidation stress on the specimen. Friction is found to be most significant at low stresses where the clay is still overconsolidated

Determination of undrained strength of fine-grained soils by means of SPIT and its application in Turkey

WOS: 000239397600004The Standard Penetration Test (SPT) is one of the oldest and the most common in situ test used in soil explorations. In the recent years with the advent of new technology and techniques in determining the drawbacks in SPT, several researchers have attempted to correlate corrected field measured values with several soil properties. In this context, corrections applied to field values have become critical. In this study a questionnaire including the performance of the standard penetration test and equipment used in practice in Turkey is circulated in order to determine the relevant correction factors. Thus the appropriate corrections are used in acquiring corrected SPT-N values. The relationships between SPT-N and the undrained shear strength (S-u) are examined from the statistical point of view by taking the test types and SPT corrections into consideration, and comparison is made with previous studies. It is observed that SPT corrections play an important role on the obtained correlation equations. In addition, the importance of the effects of test types on the correlations is also emphasized. The Standard Penetration Test is found to be sufficient for reliable assessment of S-u. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Seizure incidence in 80,000 patient treatments with hyperbaric oxygen

Introduction: Hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) involves some risk of central nervous system (CNS) oxygen toxicity, which may be revealed by various signs and symptoms including seizures in patients breathing O-2 at pressures of 2 ATA or higher. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of such seizures in the Underwater and Hyperbaric Medicine Departments of two university hospitals. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 80,679 patient-treatments for 9 clinical indications to determine the incidence of seizures attributable to CNS O-2 toxicity. Because different protocols were used for HBOT, the treatments were studied in four groups according to the chamber type used and the medical facility at which it was located. Results: Only 2 seizures were documented, yielding an incidence of 2.4 per 100,000 patient-treatments. Both cases occurred in a multiplace chamber pressurized to 2.4 ATA with O-2 delivered by mask for three x 30 min with 5-min air breaks. Discussion: The seizure incidence reported here is lower than other studies published in the literature. The delivery of O-2 by mask rather than hood may be a factor. Nevertheless, it appears that the risk of seizures due to CNS O-2 toxicity during HBOT is very low as long as appropriate exclusion criteria and treatment profiles are used

Role of anti-GQ1B antibody in differential diagnosis of acute ophthalmoparesis

E Ece Boylu, R Erdem Togrol, Mehmet Güney Şenol, M Fatih Özdag, Mehmet SaraçogluGATA Hadarpaşa Educational and Research Hospital, Department of Neurology, Istanbul, TurkeyAbstract: Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS) is a triad of total external ophthalmoplegia, ataxia, and areflexia, while botulism has the usual clinical presentation of involvement of cranial muscles and palsies with blurred vision, diplopia, ptosis, dilated pupils, and facial paralysis, caused by a bacterial neurotoxin which attacks proteins involved in presynaptic vesicle release. In this report, we needed to make the differential diagnosis between MFS and botulism in a patient who presented with acute ophthalmoparesis and a history of diarrhea three days before, which started two days after consuming tinned food. Routine laboratory, neurophysiologic, and imaging investigations were normal. A clinical diagnosis of Miller Fisher syndrome was reached by anti-ganglioside GQ1B and GM1 Ig G and M antibody investigations which proved positive. The patient was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin two weeks after (in the late period) the symptoms started and he has recovered completely. Systemic autoimmune diseases should be considered in patients with bilateral ophthalmoparesis. As in the present patient, the evaluation of specific antibodies helps in the diagnosis and thus early effective treatment is possible.Keywords: anti-ganglioside antibody, botulism, Miller Fisher syndrome, ophthalmoparesi