Predicting Compaction Grout Quantities in Sinkhole Remediation

Predicting the required quantity of grout needed to remediate a sinkhole-damaged home is a challenging task that involves significant amounts of uncertainty. The difficulty arises from the limited amount of subsurface information that is available to make subsurface predictions particularly in complex karst environments. In typical sinkhole investigations, our understanding of the subsurface is limited by the three to four data points (borings) that provide a small window into actual subsurface conditions. This information is normally obtained from borings and from information inferred by geophysical surveys. In many cases, the information is not sufficient to make accurate predictions of grout quantities. This paper will discuss the uncertainties in analyzing the many factors that influence grout prediction; it will provide a method of calculating grout quantities and discuss how one may moderate the difficulties in prediction of grout quantities. Examples of case studies are given showing pre-grout and post-grout information and the lessons learned from these comparisons

Hydrocompaction Considerations in Sinkhole Investigations

The cause of ground settlement is a significant concern in sinkhole investigations where the potential for shallow and deep-seated instability in the subsurface is a major focus of the investigation. Complicating the investigation is the occurrence of hydrocompaction of surficial soils caused by introduction of large amounts of surface water particularly from improper maintenance of rainfall runoff. This condition is usually followed by the subsequent loss of soil moisture during dry periods. This manuscript will discuss how hydrocompaction plays a role in the analysis of settlement in the investigation of sinkhole loss and how one can distinguish between hydrocompaction settlement and deep-seated settlement (note, that hydrocompaction is one of many factors that can account for settlement of structures). It will consider the effects of soil density as it impacts hydrocompaction in the investigation of building distress. Also discussed are the results of laboratory tests of simulated hydrocompaction on fine sand samples in loose and dense states. In one of the tests, the formation of a collapse sinkhole occurred at the end of the test. Photographs depicting the sequence of soil failure are attached at the end of this paper

Hydrocompaction Considerations in Sinkhole Investigations

The cause of ground settlement is a significant concern in sinkhole investigations where the potential for shallow and deep-seated instability in the subsurface is a major focus of the investigation. Complicating the investigation is the occurrence of hydrocompaction of surficial soils caused by introduction of large amounts of surface water particularly from improper maintenance of rainfall runoff. This condition is usually followed by the subsequent loss of soil moisture during dry periods. This manuscript will discuss how hydrocompaction plays a role in the analysis of settlement in the investigation of sinkhole loss and how one can distinguish between hydrocompaction settlement and deep-seated settlement (note, that hydrocompaction is one of many factors that can account for settlement of structures). It will consider the effects of soil density as it impacts hydrocompaction in the investigation of building distress. Also discussed are the results of laboratory tests of simulated hydrocompaction on fine sand samples in loose and dense states. In one of the tests, the formation of a collapse sinkhole occurred at the end of the test. Photographs depicting the sequence of soil failure are attached at the end of this paper

Prospective study of the role of inflammation in renal cancer

<p><b>Background:</b> The local and systemic inflammatory responses provide prognostic information in cancer. The modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS) provides additional prognostic information than C-reactive protein (CRP) alone when assessing the systemic inflammation in cancer. The aim of this study was to determine the role of local and systemic inflammation in renal cancer.</p> <p><b>Methods:</b> The cohort consisted of 79 patients who had undergone potential curative resection. Systemic inflammation, mGPS, was constructed by measuring preoperative CRP and albumin concentrations and the Klintrup-Makinen score was evaluated histologically for the local inflammatory response. Pathological parameters such as T stage, grade and tumour necrosis were also assessed. The local inflammatory response was assessed by examining all inflammatory cells at the tumour edge on diagnostic haematoxylin and eosin slides.</p> <p><b>Results:</b> On univariate analysis, T stage (p < 0.001), grade (p = 0.044) and mGPS (p < 0.001) were significant predictors of cancer-specific survival. On multivariate analysis, mGPS (hazard ratio 8.64, 95% confidence interval 3.5–21.29, p < 0.001) was the only significant independent predictor of cancer-specific survival.</p> <p><b>Conclusion:</b> A preoperative systemic inflammatory response as measured by the mGPS is an independent predictor of poor cancer-specific survival in renal cancer in patients undergoing potential curative resection.</p&gt

The BaBar detector: Upgrades, operation and performance

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