Seismic Slope Stability of Reactivated Landslides — A Performance Based Analysis

The purpose of this study is to identify and analyze the differences between the various methods of slope stability analysis with respect to the height of the water table, and earthquake excitation. This was achieved through analysis of a cross section of the 2005 Bluebird Canyon Landslide in Laguna Beach, California. The profile was analyzed with the slope stability analysis software Rocscience Slide, using eight different methods, varying the water table in two meter increments and the seismic coefficient in increments of one tenth. A total of 15 different water tables were used with 10 different seismic loadings, yielding a relatively large set of data. Additionally, spreadsheets were constructed for analysis using Bishop’s Simplified Method with the pseudo static approach for seismic loading. While all of the methods yielded results for the tests with no seismic excitation, the number of methods yielding results diminished as the seismic coefficient increased. The only two methods that gave results for all loading conditions were the Army Corp #2 method and the Ordinary Method of Slice. In general, the Army Corp #2 method gave the least conservative results, while the Ordinary Method of Slice gave the most conservative results. This was true for almost all loading conditions and water tables. Another trend was Bishop’s Simplified Method giving nearly identical results to the Jambu Corrected method, and the spreadsheet results being nearly the same as the Jambu Simplified method. As expected, lowering the water table increased the safety factor for nearly all the methods. This beneficial effect was found to diminish as the water table lowered, and as the seismic coefficient increased. The incremental effect of lowering the water table on the safety factor was found to be nearly the same for all cases except the Army Corp #2 method. In this case, lower safety factors were obtained for lowering the water table in the presence of seismic excitation. As the seismic coefficient increased, the beneficial effect of lowering the water table decreased. The effect that the seismic coefficient had on safety factor also decreased with an increase in the coefficient. Furthermore, it was found that for lower water tables, the effect that the seismic coefficient has on safety factor is relatively large, while the effect is small for full or nearly full water tables. This was found to be true for all cases except the Army Corp #2 method

Multimorbidity, Management of COPD and Health Outcomes among Medicaid Beneficiaries

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is characterized by persistent and progressive airflow limitation caused due to chronic inflammation in the lungs. Approximately 15 million adults in the United States (U.S.) are estimated to be diagnosed with COPD and an equal number may have undiagnosed COPD. Challenges to COPD management include high prevalence of inflammation-related multimorbidity among individuals with COPD. The association between multimorbidity, existing COPD management and role of novel therapies with anti-inflammatory properties (e.g. statins) in improving COPD-specific outcomes is not well researched. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to use real-world observational data to provide a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between multimorbidity and COPD management as well as assess the effectiveness and safety of statins in terms of COPD management. The specific aims of three studies were to: (1) examine the association between inflammation-related multimorbidity and COPD management in terms of COPD medication receipt, long-acting bronchodilators persistence and COPD-specific outcomes; (2) assess the effectiveness of novel statin therapy in improving COPD-specific outcomes; (3) evaluate the safety of statins and other commonly used medications (antidepressants and inhaled corticosteroids) in terms of new-onset diabetes. This study used a retrospective longitudinal dynamic cohort design using data extracted from multiple years (2005-2008) of Medicaid Analytic eXtract (MAX) files to identify Medicaid beneficiaries with newly diagnosed COPD (n = 19,060). Findings from the first study documented very high prevalence of inflammation-related multimorbidity and indicated that it was significantly associated with reduced COPD-medication utilization and decreased persistence on long-bronchodilators. Our study findings suggest that COPD medication management may be poor due to competing demands arising from the presence of inflammation-related multimorbidity. The results from the study on effectiveness of statins revealed that any statin use improved COPD-specific outcomes compared to no statin use. A closer examination of the data revealed that only those with long-term statin use had better outcomes as compared to those with no statin use. We also found that beneficiaries with inflammation-related multimorbidity and statin use had better COPD-specific outcomes compared to those with multimorbidity and no statin use. From the third study, we found that association between statin use and risk of new-onset diabetes was no longer significant in analyses that controlled for selection bias in unobserved characteristics. Collectively, these findings indicate poor COPD management among those with multimorbidity and emphasize the need for novel therapies to effectively manage COPD. In this context, the current study underscores the advantage of statins in improving COPD-specific clinical and economic outcomes. This study indicate the need of randomized clinical trials and long-term observational studies to establish the efficacy, effectiveness, and safety of novel therapeutic agents in management of COPD

Feasibility of using wearable devices for collecting pedestrian travel data

Information on the travel characteristics of pedestrians is needed in the planning and design of pedestrian facilities. Desired information includes route selected, travel speed, trip origin and destination, and delay. Conventional methods of acquiring pedestrian travel data such as trip diaries suffer from a number of limitations.;Pedometers are simple wearable devices that are receiving considerable attention in the health promotion and physical activity fields. In recent years, there have been significant developments in global positioning system (GPS) technology. User-friendly devices are now available for under {dollar}100. At the same time, more expensive wearable GPS data loggers are available in the market that are capable of collecting more extensive data. While the technology offers great potential in terms of data collection capabilities, questions about accuracy, reliability, user acceptability, and post-processing requirements must be addressed.;A formal assessment was conducted of pedometers, a hand-held GPS unit and a wearable data logger to determine their feasibility in collecting pedestrian travel data. Experiments were devised and conducted to assess the accuracy and reliability of the devices in a variety of conditions including heavy precipitation, dense vegetative cover and between tall buildings. In addition, devices were given to a number of subjects who used them outdoors for a 24-hour period. Each subject also completed a brief questionnaire intended to assess user acceptability of these devices. Results indicated that the pedometer is not suitable for collecting pedestrian travel data. The GPS devices hold promise as data collection devices as long as their limitations are taken into account. The paper presents recommendations about the suitability of each device for collecting pedestrian travel data

An Empirical Study of Profitability And Liquidity in Selected Auto Two and Three Wheelers Companies in India

The main purpose of any business organisation is profit maximisation and meets current liabilities within a year. Profit is a soul of any business organization and liquidity effectively helps to generate profit for the business. Profitability and liquidity are most important aspect for the organisation to fulfil their desired goal. In this empirical study attempt is made for identification of profitability and liquidity in auto two and three wheelers companies, which are listed on stock exchange. The time span of 2011-12 to 2018-19 should be considered for the study and randomly three companies are selected for analysis and findings purposes. The major finding of the study Baja auto indicated comparative good profitability but hero motorcorps reveals comparative higher ratio out of selected companies. Hero Motorcorps and Bajaj auto have good comparative liquidity position then TVS Motors. In concern with statistical test Anova except Debtors turnover ratio all selected ratio are rejected mean selected companies have no significant difference in debtors turnover ratio during study period

A Study of Liquidity, Productivity Viz.-A-Viz. Financial Efficiency of Birla Group of Companies"

The present study deals with the Study of Liquidity, Productivity viz a viz. Financial Efficiency of Birla Group of Companies, which are mainly engaged in production of Cement, Textiles, Automobile, Alluminium Products, Engineering, Tea, Agro Products and Paper etc. This study is aimed at exploring the liquidity, productivity viz a viz-financial efficiency of Birla Group of Companies. The Birla Group of Companies played an important and Multi-dimensional role of uplifting and taking our country out of lamentable state of industries we experienced soon after independence. Our overall progress and around prosperity owe a great deal to the multifaced role performed by some of very important Birla Group’s have utilized their resources and to study liquidity, productivity, financial efficiency, and to make the analysis of activity and financial structure and their contribution to the upliftment and betterment of the society. For the purpose of ascertaining liquidity, productivity viz a viz financial efficiency of Birla Group of Companies, sixteen (16) leading companies of Birla Group’s having a large plant have been selected. The period covered under the study extends over six years from 1997-98 to 2002-03. Adopting various techniques such as ratio analysis trend analysis has made analysis of selected units. In order to the judge the efficiency and performance of the Birla Group of Companies which the help of published accounting annual reports, some publications and autobiography related with Birla family was also studied. Most useful information has been gathered from the various journals reports, periodicals and daily newspapers. It is hoped that the thesis will be of immense help and use to practicing financial Manger, Management, Government officials, employees, Shareholders, Academicians and research scholars

સહકારી ધિરાણ મંડળીઓની લાભાર્થી પર થયેલી આર્થિક અને સામાજીક અસરો (અમરેલી જિલ્લાને ધ્યાનમાં રાખીને)

Not availabl

Site Investigation and Modelling of DNAPL Migration in a Fractured-Porous Media

The present work is in the area of site and computational investigations dealing with migration of a dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) within a discrete fractures network embedded in a porous rock media at field scale using numerical simulation. The migration of DNAPL in the subsurface is dependent upon surface parameters, subsurface aquifer parameters and other subsurface conditions. Generally, these aquifer parameters govern the temporal and spatial variability of a DNAPL. To understand the source zone architecture and dissolved plume movement in the subsurface, characterization of these relevant subsurface parameters is required with respect to space and time. The present study focuses on a systematic investigation and characterization of fluid and transport parameters at highly contaminated fractured-porous media site located at Smithville, Ontario, Canada. Data used to characterize the Smithville site include site geology, ground surface elevation, historical hydraulic head, hydraulic parameters from packer tests such as hydraulic conductivity, porosity, analyses performed on borehole core samples, pumping rates from recovery wells, and contaminants transport parameters such as DNAPL concentration data. Geostatistical and statistical analysis have been used to generate information on groundwater flow direction, vertical hydraulic gradients, contaminant plume migration and source zone architecture. TCE concentrations and pumping rates have been used to estimate TCE mass removal from the site. Important parameters for use in the multiphase model have been developed, including capillary pressure curves and relative permeability curves for rock matrix and fractures, and pore throat radius of the rock matrix. DNAPL behaves differently in fractured-porous media than it does in porous media. To understand DNAPL behaviour in fractured-porous media, site specific conceptual model development to describe geological, hydrogeological, fracture network, and DNAPL occurrence is required. Prediction of the impact of source mass depletion at highly contaminated fractured-porous media site for achieving regulatory goals, as a contaminant concentration at a down gradient compliance boundary was evaluated using multiphase compositional model CompFlow. The results demonstrate that a large amount of non-aqueous phase DNAPL is present in the Vuggy Dolostone and the Tight Dolostone (23-28m, Low Vinemount) and a small amount is present in Permeable Dolostone (Eramosa). The peak concentration at the compliance boundary is much greater than the maximum acceptable concentration (MAC) for TCE of 0.005 mg/L for drinking water

Oral Presentations: Social Sciences II

Video is provided of MyKayla Williamson\u27s presentation