Long-term subsidence and compaction rates: a new model for the Michoud area, south Louisiana

This study examined the stratigraphic record of the Michoud area in East New Orleans, Louisiana to address questions concerning the magnitude of, and processes leading to land-surface subsidence. The hypotheses under review are based on recent geodetic studies, which challenge the widely held position that modern subsidence is primarily a function of shallow sediment compaction. Testing these hypotheses involved constructing a structural cross section of the Michoud area using well logs, chronostratigraphic data, and fault picks, so as to evaluate differential motion along specific faults through time. Employing ages and corrected depths for three key subsurface horizons, long-term (Middle Miocene to Present) time-averaged subsidence rates were calculated: rates range from -0.140 to -0.177 m/kyrs (-0.140 to -0.177 mm/yr). Long-term subsidence rates are incompatible with those derived from geodetic studies: geodetically derived subsidence rates (-14.2 to -23.0 mm/yr) for the Michoud area are two orders of magnitude greater than long-term subsidence rates. Considering the scale of resolution of respective techniques, caution is advised when comparing respective subsidence rates. Nevertheless, the new subsurface, structural model for the Michoud area suggests reactivation of local faults, including any recent movement of the Michoud Fault, is a transient phenomenon that is likely related to rapid Quaternary sediment loading. It is reasonable to compare mean long-term compaction rates, which is a component of total subsidence, derived from this research to geodetically derived compaction rates of pre-Holocene strata. Using a standard decompaction technique, mean long-term compaction rates for strata residing above the Middle Miocene Bigenerina Humblei horizon were calculated: rates range from -0.0704 to -0.0914 m/kyrs (-0.0704 to -0.0914 mm/yr), which are two orders of magnitude less than geodetically derived, pre-Holocene strata compaction rates (-4.6 mm/yr). The findings of this research, particularly the discrepancy between mean long-term compaction rates derived in this study and pre-Holocene compaction rates derived geodetically, raises questions into the interpretations and/or accuracy of the geodetic data for the Michoud area, and therefore, the subsidence rates determined from such data

THE LIMITS & EFFECTS OF DRAW ON PROPERTIES AND MORPHOLOGY OF PAN-BASED PRECURSOR AND THE RESULTANT CARBON FIBERS

The process, structure, and property relationship of PAN fiber as a precursor to carbon fiber was studied. The limitations of stable spinning and property improvement associated with hot draw in solution spinning were found and quantified. Conditions were varied to generated precursor fiber up to the limit of draw, from which actual samples were collected for thermal conversion to carbon fiber. Samples of PAN and subsequent carbon fiber were characterized using tensile testing and x-ray analysis. The effects of draw on modulus and break stress, as well as the orientation of the crystalline structure of both parent precursor and resultant carbon fiber were found and related back to the quantified draw limit

Terrain Vague

https://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/mfa_artists_2018/1000/thumbnail.jp

Impact of Improving Throughput in the Emergency Department

The purpose of this project was to evaluate the patient experience in the emergency department (ED) and in the inpatient setting while correlating increased throughput and patient outcomes at a suburban Acute Care facility in Ohio. The culture in the organization has lacked accountability and ownership of the patients. The ED admitted length of stay (ALOS) was 358 minutes in the beginning of 2013. For the first time in the organization’s history, the ED ALOS is now typically less than the recommended benchmark of 300 minutes. A report of findings among ED’s surveyed showed the ALOS best practice is 244 minutes with a median length of stay of 309 minutes (Premier, 2006, slide 13). Throughout its recent history, the organization has failed to have a service-oriented approach to patient care. Quality improvement was identified and implemented through a hospital-wide Kaizen event focused on throughput of the admitted patient (Appendix A). According to King (2010), “the Japanese words Kai and Zen literally means “to change” and “for the better”, and it has come to symbolize continuous improvement” (slide 5). Teams of individuals ranging from physicians to transporters spent one week of work time focused on the process mapping of the current state and future state of ED throughput. The use of information technology (IT) in the process improvement was integral to performance improvement, patient safety, and consistent ED ALOS less than 300 minutes. The transformation of the culture has aided in the success of maintaining patient throughpu

User interface design and usability testing: an application

A user interface is a means of communicating a computer program's type, purpose, and function. If that communication is unclear, the software cannot be used properly. Usability testing is a way in which software engineers can ensure that these user interfaces are providing clear and useful communication. The goal of this project is to develop a usability test to determine how well a specific interface communicates the necessary information to its user and facilitates task completion. A list of recommended changes to the interface was produced from the results of the study