Evaluation of Asaoka and Hyperbolic Methods for Settlement Prediction of Vacuum Preloading Combined with Prefabricated Vertical Drains in Soft Ground Treatment

This study evaluated the use of the Asaoka and hyperbolic methods to estimate the ultimate settlement of soft ground treated by vacuum preloading combined with prefabricated vertical drains. For this aim, a large-scale physical laboratory model was constructed. The model was a reinforced-tempered glass box containing a soil mass with dimensions of 2.0 × 1.0 × 1.2 m (length × width × depth). Physical models of this scale for the same purpose are rare in the literature. The soil was taken from a typical coastal region in Dinh Vu Hai Phong, Vietnam. The surface settlement near and between the two drains was measured right after the vacuum preloading started. Important properties of the soil were tested to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment method. The measured settlement was used in the Asaoka and hyperbolic methods to predict the potential ultimate settlement. The results showed the superiority of the vacuum consolidation approach in improving fundamental engineering properties of soft soil. Furthermore, the ultimate settlement predicted by both methods showed a good agreement with the measured value, proving that the Asaoka and hyperbolic methods are suitable for the estimation of the ultimate settlement of soft soil treated with vacuum consolidation

Advancements, Challenges, and Future Directions in Rainfall-Induced Landslide Prediction: A Comprehensive Review

Rainfall-induced landslides threaten lives and properties globally. To address this, researchers have developed various methods and models that forecast the likelihood and behavior of rainfall-induced landslides. These methodologies and models can be broadly classified into three categories: empirical, physical-based, and machine-learning approaches. However, these methods have limitations in terms of data availability, accuracy, and applicability. This paper reviews the current state-of-the-art of rainfall-induced landslide prediction methods, focusing on the methods, models, and challenges involved. The novelty of this study lies in its comprehensive analysis of existing prediction techniques and the identification of their limitations. By synthesizing a vast body of research, it highlights emerging trends and advancements, providing a holistic perspective on the subject matter. The analysis points out that future research opportunities lie in interdisciplinary collaborations, advanced data integration, remote sensing, climate change impact analysis, numerical modeling, real-time monitoring, and machine learning improvements. In conclusion, the prediction of rainfall-induced landslides is a complex and multifaceted challenge, and no single approach is universally superior. Integrating different methods and leveraging emerging technologies offer the best way forward for improving accuracy and reliability in landslide prediction, ultimately enhancing our ability to manage and mitigate this geohazard

Methods for improving stability and power quality in networks with high levels of power electronics

Advanced power electronics are essential to the development of fully active electric power systems. There are, however, potential problems that can arise when high levels of power-electronic systems are distributed throughout a network. Most importantly, power electronics can degrade the quality of the power that is delivered by utility companies; furthermore, they can cause instabilities that lead to complete failures. New "smart" power systems are highly dynamic, meaning that a regulated converter thought to be stable under ideal conditions could easily become unstable for reasons well outside of the designer's control. This thesis addresses the issue of improving power quality in networks with high levels of power electronics. The core concept presented here is an effective on-line approach for the estimation of network impedance, a time-varying quantity that plays a key role in reducing power quality. Real-time information about the network impedance at the Point of Common Coupling (PCC) can produce more stable power converters and pave the way for new measurement techniques that help to monitor power quality. This thesis also examines the application of network impedance measurements for producing model-based adaptive controllers that allow power-electronic systems to remain stable when connected to "non-stiff" networks. This work can be applied in any system that is heavily dependent on power electronics, including terrestrial "Smart Grids," all-electric ships, aircraft, and spacecraft

MINH GIẢI TÀI LIỆU TRỌNG LỰC VÀ TỪ DỰ BÁO CẤU TRÚC TRIỂN VỌNG KHOÁNG SẢN RẮN KHU VỰC THỀM LỤC ĐỊA NAM - ĐÔNG NAM VIỆT NAM

The East Vietnam Sea is a marginal sea with complicated geological structures. The volcanic activities are quite strong after the sea-floor spreading in Cenozoic Era. There are the types of structure here favorable to the formation of solid minerals (manganese-iron aggregation). However, it is difficult to define their ranges and spatial locations. This paper presents the methods of reduction to the magnetic equator in low latitudes to bring out a better correlation between magnetic anomalies and their sources; High-frequency filtering is to separate gravity and magnetic anomalies as well as information about the solid minerals in the upper part of the Earth’s crust; 3D total gradient is to define the spatial location of high density and magnetic bodies. The potential structures of solid mineral are predicted by multi-dimensional correlation analysis between high frequency gravity and magnetic anomalies with weighted 3D total gradient.Biển Đông là một biển rìa có cấu kiến trúc phức tạp, hoạt động phun trào bazan núi lửa xảy ra khá mạnh mẽ ở thời kỳ sau tách giãn đáy. Ở đây, tồn tại các dạng địa hình thuận lợi cho việc hình thành cấu trúc chứa khoáng sản rắn (cụ thể là kết hạch sắt - mangan). Tuy nhiên việc xác định phạm vi, vị trí không gian của chúng gặp nhiều khó khăn bởi lớp nước dày và nguồn tài liệu khảo sát chưa được đầy đủ. Nghiên cứu này áp dụng phương pháp chuyển từ về xích đạo ở vĩ độ thấp nhằm tạo nên mối tương quan tốt hơn giữa dị thường và nguồn gây dị thường Từ; Phương pháp lọc trường tần số cao dùng để phân tách trường Trọng lực, Từ cũng như các thông tin về khoáng sản rắn ở phần trên của vỏ Trái đất; Phương pháp gradient toàn phần 3D xác định vị trí không gian các khối có mật độ, từ tính cao. Cấu trúc triển vọng khoáng sản rắn được dự báo bằng phép phân tích so sánh mối quan hệ đa chiều giữa trường Trọng lực và trường Từ tần số cao với trường trọng số gradient toàn phần 3D của chúng

Biocompatible chitosan-functionalized upconverting nanocomposites

Simultaneous integration of photon emission and biocompatibility into nanoparticles is an interesting strategy to develop applications of advanced optical materials. In this work, we present the synthesis of biocompatible optical nanocomposites from the combination of near-infrared luminescent lanthanide nanoparticles and water-soluble chitosan. NaYF4:Yb,Er upconverting nanocrystal guests and water-soluble chitosan hosts are prepared and integrated together into biofunctional optical composites. The control of aqueous dissolution, gelation, assembly, and drying of NaYF4:Yb,Er nanocolloids and chitosan liquids allowed us to design novel optical structures of spongelike aerogels and beadlike microspheres. Well-defined shape and near-infrared response lead upconverting nanocrystals to serve as photon converters to couple with plasmonic gold (Au) nanoparticles. Biocompatible chitosan-stabilized Au/NaYF4:Yb,Er nanocomposites are prepared to show their potential use in biomedicine as we find them exhibiting a half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) of 0.58 mg mL–1 for chitosan-stabilized Au/NaYF4:Yb,Er nanorods versus 0.24 mg mL–1 for chitosan-stabilized NaYF4:Yb,Er after 24 h. As a result of their low cytotoxicity and upconverting response, these novel materials hold promise to be interesting for biomedicine, analytical sensing, and other applications

Neutron Yield from (γ, n) and (γ, 2n) Reactions following 100 MeV Bremsstrahlung in a Tungsten Target

The photonuclear reactions of (γ, xn) or (γ, xnp) types can be used to produce high-intensity neutron sources for research and applied purposes. In this work a Monte-Carlo calculation has been used to evaluate the production yield of neutrons from the (γ, n) and (γ, 2n) reactions following the bremsstrahlung produced by a 100 MeV electron beam on a tungsten target

XÂY DỰNG BỘ CHỈ TIÊU PHÁT TRIỂN BỀN VỮNG VỀ CÁC LĨNH VỰC KINH TẾ, XÃ HỘI VÀ MÔI TRƯỜNG CÁC TỈNH TÂY NGUYÊN

A  sustainable  development  indication  set  plays  a  very  important  role  for  assessing,  monitoring  the  sustainable development  status  in  a  region,  supporting  policy,  decision makers to  propose  confident  decisions  to control  economic, social, and environmental themes toward sustainable developmet. The content, procedure, methodology, and methods to establish the sustainable development indicator set in Tay Nguyen (SDI) were figured out; proposing a list of sustainable development indicators for Tay Nguyen consisting of 77 indicators at regional scale, 70 indicators at provincial scale, 49 indicators at district scale. The  SDI could comprehensively show overall development process toward sustainable by 13 themes (economic field - 3 themes; social field - 5 themes; and environmental field - 5 themes). The paper outlined the SDI’s definition and indicated SDI’s significance through linkages between the sustainable development indicators and sustainable development themes.ReferencesLê Thạc Cán, Trần Thùy Chi, Nguyễn Thế Chinh, Nguyễn Viết Thịnh, Ngô Đăng Trí, Nguyễn Thanh Tuấn, Trần Văn Ý và James Hennessy, 2013. Kết quả bước đầu của Đề tài “Nghiên cứu xây dựng Bộ chỉ tiêu phát triển bền vững các lĩnh vực kinh tế xã hội và môi trường các tỉnh Tây Nguyên”, Tạp chí Khoa học Công nghệ Việt Nam, ISSN 1859-4794. No14, 2013, p 61-64. Dhakal S. 2002. Report on Indicator related research for Kitakyushu Initiative. Ministry of Environment, Japan. Harold A. Linstone, Murray Turoff, 2002. The Delphi Method: Techniques and Applications. Hui-Chun Chu, Gwo-Jen Hwang, 2008. A Delphi-based approach to developing expert systems with the cooperation of multiple experts, Expert Systems with Applications, 34(4), 2826- 840. (SCI). Jean Hugé, Hai Le Trinh, Pham Hoang Hai, Jan Kuilman and Luc Hens, 2009. Sustainability indicators for clean development mechanism projects in Vietnam, Springer Netherlands. Environment, Development and Sustainability, August 2010, Volume 12, Issue 4, pp 561-571. Trần Văn Ý, Lê Thạc Cán, Trần Thùy Chi, Nguyễn Thế Chinh, Ngô Đăng Trí, Nguyễn Viết Thịnh, Nguyễn Thanh Tuấn, 2013. Bộ chỉ tiêu phát triển bền vững về các lĩnh vực kinh tế, xã hội và môi trường các tỉnh Tây Nguyên. Kỷ yếu hội thảo quốc tế lần thứ tư, Việt Nam học, Nhà xuất bản Khoa học xã hội, Hà Nội, ngày 26-28/11/2012, tập IV, 386-400. Bộ Kế hoạch và Đầu tư, 2010. Hệ thống chỉ tiêu thống kê quốc gia (Ban hành theo Quyết định số 43/2010/QĐ/TTg ngày 02 tháng 6 năm 2010 của Thủ tướng Chính phủ). UNDP và MPI, 2005. Identification of a sustainable development indicators set and mechanism for building a sustainable development database in Vietnam (Project VIE/01/021 “Implementation of Vietnam Agenda 21”) United Nations, 2007. Indicators of Sustainable Development: Guidelines and Methodologies. Thủ tướng Chính phủ, 2012. Các chỉ tiêu giám sát và đánh giá phát triển bền vững Việt Nam giai đọan 2011-2020 (Ban hành kèm theo Quyết định số 432/QĐ-TTg ngày 12 tháng 4 năm 2012 của Thủ tướng Chính phủ). Thủ tướng Chính phủ, 2013. Bộ chỉ tiêu giám sát, đánh giá phát triển bền vững địa phương giai đoạn 2013-2020 (Ban hành kèm theo Quyết định số 2157/QĐ-TTg ngày 11 tháng 11 năm 2013 của Thủ tướng Chính phủ). A  sustainable  development  indication  set  plays  a  very  important  role  for  assessing,  monitoring  the  sustainable development  status  in  a  region,  supporting  policy,  decision makers to  propose  confident  decisions  to control  economic, social, and environmental themes toward sustainable developmet. The content, procedure, methodology, and methods to establish the sustainable development indicator set in Tay Nguyen (SDI) were figured out; proposing a list of sustainable development indicators for Tay Nguyen consisting of 77 indicators at regional scale, 70 indicators at provincial scale, 49 indicators at district scale. The  SDI could comprehensively show overall development process toward sustainable by 13 themes (economic field - 3 themes; social field - 5 themes; and environmental field - 5 themes). The paper outlined the SDI’s definition and indicated SDI’s significance through linkages between the sustainable development indicators and sustainable development themes

All-dielectric Metamaterial for Electromagnetically-induced Transparency in Optical Region

Metamaterial (MM) is emerging as a promising approach to manipulate electromagnetic waves, spanning from radio frequency to the optical region. In this paper, we employ an effect called electromagnetically-induced transparency (EIT) in all-dielectric MM structures to create a narrow transparent window in opaque broadband of the optical region (580-670 nm). Using dielectric materials instead of metals can mitigate the large non-radiative ohmic loss on the metal surface. The unit-cell of MM consists of Silicon (Si) bars on Silicon dioxide (SiO$_{2}$) substrate, in which two bars are directed horizontally and one bar is directed vertically. By changing the relative position and dimension of the Si bars, the EIT effect could be achieved. The optical properties of the proposed MM are investigated numerically using the finite difference method with commercial software Computer Simulation Technology (CST). Then, characteristic parameters of MM exhibiting EIT effect (EIT-MM), including Q-factor, group delay, are calculated to evaluate the applicability of EIT-MM to sensing and light confinement

PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS FROM CALLISTEMON CITRINUS LEAVES AND STEMS

In the search for bioactive constituents from Vietnamese plants,  the leaves and stems of Callistemon citrinus (Curtis) Skeels were selected for chemical investigation. Phytochemical analysis of plant led to the isolation of eight phenolic compounds including two flavonoids (eucalyptine (1) and 8-demethyleucalyptine (2)), two alcohols (blumenol A (3), n-tetratriacontanol (4)), three benzoic acid derivatives (acid gallic (5), methyl gallate (6) protocatechuic acid (7)), one sterol (b-sitosterol (8)), and along with one sesquiterpene (2,6,10-bisabolatriene (9)). The structures of the natural compounds were determined by spectroscopic evidences including 1D- and 2D-NMR and ESI-MS