bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of postures to analyze people’s emotions using Kinect technology
Authors: Monsalve-Pulido Julián Alberto , Parra-Rodríguez Carlos Alberto
Published: June 2018

El presente artículo sintetiza la investigación realizada en el uso de técnicas de clasificación para un proceso de caracterización de posturas de personas que tiene como objetivo la identificación de emociones (Asombro, Enfado, Felicidad y Tristeza). En este proyecto de investigación fue necesario utilizar una metodología de investigación exploratoria en tres fases donde el resultado es una apropiación tecnológica y un modelo de clasificación de emociones en personas en posición de pie, usando el algoritmo de Skeletal Tracking de Kinect basado en software libre. Se propuso un vector de características para el reconocimiento de patrones usando técnicas de clasificación como SVM, KNN y Redes Bayesianas en 17.882 datos obtenidos en una muestra de entrenamiento de 14 personas. Como resultado se evidenció que el algoritmo KNN tiene una efectividad máxima del 89.0466% superando a los demás algoritmos seleccionados.
Association of metabolic syndrome and level of hs-CRP, Lp(a), and serum ferritin in young Asian patients (≤45 years) with acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Ramesh Gadepalli , Sai Nyayapathi Venkata Balakrishna , Gururaj Pramod , Bhupal Reddy , Patel Nilesh
Published: June 2018

Aims

This study was aimed to determine the levels of hs-CRP, serum ferritin, and Lp(a) and to study the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in young patients (≤45 years) with and without acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods

This was a cross-sectional, case–control study conducted at a tertiary care center in India. Equal number of patients with matched age and sex (n = 51) were included in case group (with AMI) and in control group (without AMI). Subjects were assessed for the presence of MetS as per modified ATP III criteria. The hs-CRP, Lp(a), and serum ferritin were also measured.

Results

The prevalence of MetS was found to be 62.74% in case group, whereas 33.33% in control group with decreased HDL level as the most prevalent parameter. The hs-CRP level was found to be 15.35 ± 8.27 mg/dl in case group and 1.85 ± 1.05 mg/dl in control group and Lp(a) was 33.84 ± 23.69 mg/dl in case group and 19.68 ± 10.39 mg/dl in control group. No significant difference was observed in the serum ferritin level in case (264.2 ± 40.6 ng/dl) and control (225.51 ± 45.35 ng/dl) groups.

Conclusion

From this study, we can conclude that the assessment of these novel risk factors [hs-CRP, Lp(a), and MetS] may be used for the risk estimation and can help to prevent future mortality and morbidity due to CVD.
NEW FRONTIERS AND DIRECTIONS IN POLICY TRANSFER, DIFFUSION AND CIRCULATION RESEARCH: AGENTS, SPACES, RESISTANCE, AND TRANSLATIONS
Authors: Oliveira Osmany Porto de , Pal Leslie A.
Published: June 2018

Abstract Policy transfer, diﬀusion and circulation studies are a fertile ground for innovation in public policy analysis. In a globalized world, where state boundaries are permeable and public policy travels transnationally, the diﬀusion of policies is what naturally connects domestic to international policy. Te recent surge of publications in the feld consolidated an important and dense body of knowledge. However, afer years of research, there now seems stasis if not stagnation, with relatively little conceptual innovation. In this article we propose to address fresh avenues for future research, considering what needs to be better understood in the policy diﬀusion phenomenon. Te new frontiers to be explored are not only associated to heuristic dimensions of the feld, but also to empirical dynamics that emerged in the past years. We highlight six new frontiers for policy transfer and diﬀusion research: (1) the role of the private sector and consultants; (2) internationalization of domestic coalitions; (3) transnational spaces and transfer agents; (4) policy translation; (5) resistance to transfer; and (6) South-South or South-North transfers.
O MARCO INSTITUCIONAL DA POLÍTICA URBANA NA ESPANHA E APONTAMENTOS COMPARATIVOS COM O BRASIL
Authors: Goulart Jefferson Oliveira
Published: June 2018

Resumo O marco institucional da política urbana compreende normas que regulam o uso do solo, o ordenamento territorial e as competências dos diferentes níveis de governo. Na Espanha temos o governo central, as comunidades autônomas (comparáveis aos estados no Brasil) e os ayuntamientos (correspondentes às prefeituras). Esta análise ainda inclui a Ley de Suelo e os Planes de Ordenación Urbana, tomados como referência privilegiada para que o estudo não se limite aos aspectos normativos do arranjo institucional. Apesar das diferenças e aspectos particulares, a análise comparada do cenário espanhol com o arranjo institucional da política urbana no Brasil permite identificar impasses comuns, como a presença hegemônica de um ideário mercantil da cidade e concepções de gestão urbana que disseminam as teses do empresariamento urbano.
A CONCEPÇÃO HOLÍSTICA E PROCESSUAL DE TEMPO DE NORBERT ELIAS
Authors: Carvalho Eugênio Rezende de
Published: June 2018

Resumo O sociólogo alemão Norbert Elias (1897-1990), em suas reflexões sobre o tempo, definiu-o como um símbolo social e relacional, integrante de uma quinta dimensão simbólica, a da experiência, ou consciência humana. Tal imagem eliasiana de um universo pentadimensional se apoiou no reconhecimento da interdependência e imbricação mútua entre os níveis físico, biológico, social e individual, sem o qual - para esse autor - o enigma que envolve o conceito de tempo continuaria sem solução. Assim, Elias propôs uma síntese, de caráter processual, que conectasse numa unidade os pares dicotômicos que tradicionalmente tinham - e ainda têm - permeado as abordagens filosóficas sobre o tempo: tempo objetivo e subjetivo, tempo da natureza e da consciência, tempo físico e social, tempo cosmológico e fenomenológico etc. Este texto explora criticamente os fundamentos da concepção eliasiana do tempo, em sua abordagem holística e processual, bem como alguns de seus possíveis desdobramentos na compreensão desse conceito pelas diversas áreas do conhecimento.
Entre experimentações e experiências: desafios para o ensino das competências para a promoção da saúde na formação do enfermeiro
Authors: Silva Kênia Lara da , Barcelos Bárbara Jacome , França Bruna Dias , Araújo Fernanda Lopes de , Magalhães Neta Izabela Thaís , Ledo Michelle Melo
Published: June 2018

The aim of this study was to analyse the teaching of competencies for health promotion in Nursing Education and to identify experimentations and experiences in this process. It was a qualitative whose data were collected in focus groups with teachers and students from 11 undergraduate nursing courses in Brazil. The results showed that health promotion competencies are temporally taught in the contact and interaction with reality through experimentations and experiences. Experimentation is an event determined by a specific place and time in the course, while experiences are related to a meaningful discovery and an opening to the unknown. The challenge to the teaching of competencies for health promotion is that it should overcome the logic of experimentation, which is structured on technical rationality, and favour a perspective that allows and values experiences in Nursing education.
Uma revisão sistemática para identificação das possibilidades de aplicações e das barreiras de adoção da customização em massa na produção de alimentos
Authors: Calegari Luiz Philipi , Fettermann Diego de Castro
Published: June 2018

Resumo Em um cenário de indústria 4.0 e integração de processos, torna-se necessária a discussão sobre a produção de produtos personalizados em massa ao consumidor. As empresas possuem dificuldades na implementação da estratégia de Customização em Massa (CM), especialmente em empresas produtoras de alimentos, o que pode ser explicado pela falta de estudos sobre fatores que afetam o sucesso da adoção desta estratégia. A partir de uma revisão sistemática da literatura, este artigo possui o objetivo de realizar uma análise bibliométrica com a finalidade de identificar as possibilidades da adoção de CM para produtos alimentícios customizados em massa e, ainda, identificar barreiras relacionadas à implementação da CM. Os resultados apresentam a perecibilidade dos alimentos, a dificuldade no processamento, a quantificação dos valores nutricionais do produto customizado e a complexidade de percepção do valor agregado da customização pelos clientes como barreiras para a implementação no setor alimentício. Os resultados apresentados contribuem para a identificação de oportunidades de novos produtos e também para a reunião de informações que possibilitem um direcionamento da implementação de CM no setor alimentício.
A clínica transcultural: cuidando da parentalidade no exílio
Authors: BORGES Thames Waléria , PEIRANO Cigala , MORO Marie Rose
Published: June 2018

Resumo As famílias desenraizadas podem se perder nos caminhos traçados pelo exílio. Fatores genéticos, culturais e ambientais podem afetar o equilíbrio psíquico desses migrantes, principalmente quando confrontados a doenças ou sofrimentos inexplicáveis em seus filhos. A migração e o desenraizamento podem implicar perdas das raízes ligadas às tradições, deixando as famílias desprovidas de suas bagagens interpretativas e explicativas, necessárias à realização de leituras culturais dos sofrimentos psíquicos e físicos de seus filhos, sobretudo quando estes são considerados especiais. Este artigo propõe uma reflexão sobre tais questões, a partir de um estudo de caso, resultante da experiência da primeira autora em uma clínica interdisciplinar, como exige o enquadre transcultural, que se faz variável e complementar, respeitando a diversidade cultural. Observam-se, ainda, os discursos etiológicos construídos sobre esses sofrimentos psíquicos, que invadem o desenvolvimento da criança e o equilíbrio familiar.
Psychometric properties of a scale to measure the dark side of personality
Authors: SALESSI Solana , OMAR Alicia
Published: June 2018

Abstract The psychometric characteristics of the Dark Triad Scale in an Argentinian context are presented. Two successive studies were carried out. Three hundred sixteen people, with an average age of 34.48 years (SD = 10.57), participated in Study 1. An exploratory factor analysis indicated a three-factor structure with suitable internal consistency (Machiavellianism: α = 0.92; narcissism: α = 0.91, and psychopathy: α = 0.89). Two hundred seventy-five people, with an average age of 32 years (SD = 8.10), participated in Study 2. A confirmatory factor analysis corroborated the three-factor structure. The three factors reached Satisfactory Composite Reliability (greater than 0.70) and adequate Convergent-Discriminant Validity (Average Variance Extrated greater than 0.50). The invariance of the scale’s parameters was demonstrated by sex. The results indicate that the Argentinian version of the Dark Triad Scale measures the dark side of personality with appropriate validity and reliability, both in men and women.
O papel do psicólogo na educação profissional e tecnológica: contribuições da Psicologia Escolar
Authors: FEITOSA Lígia Rocha Cavalcante , ARAUJO Claisy Maria Marinho
Published: June 2018

Resumo Os Institutos Federais de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia oferecem cursos que vão do Ensino Médio Técnico à Pós-Graduação, voltados à formação profissional e tecnológica e à formação docente. As transformações no ensino profissionalizante, a oportunidade de os estudantes optarem por percursos diferentes na formação e o envolvimento da comunidade acadêmica nos processos educativos tornaram-se objetos de interesse da Psicologia Escolar. Este estudo, de caráter qualitativo, caracteriza a atuação de psicólogos escolares em um Instituto Federal do país. Os resultados revelaram que os participantes possuem uma formação inicial generalista, acompanhada de aperfeiçoamentos nas áreas da Psicologia e da Educação. Em virtude dessa formação, depreende-se que a atuação dos psicólogos escolares, em sua maioria, foi direcionada para ações de apoio aos processos de ensino e aprendizagem dos estudantes. Por outro lado, em alguns relatos foram identificados também os interesses dos psicólogos em propor uma intervenção que se aproxima das contribuições da Psicologia Escolar Crítica.
Evaluation of Internet addiction and the quality of life of Brazilian adolescents from public and private schools
Authors: CRUZ Fernanda Alves Davidoff , SCATENA Adriana , ANDRADE André Luiz Monezi , MICHELI Denise de
Published: June 2018

Abstract This study evaluated the profile of public and private high school students (N = 254, Mage = 15.1, SD = 1.3) in the city of São Paulo in relation to their Internet use patterns and quality of life. We used the Internet Addiction Test and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory. About 70% of the students had moderate Internet addiction. Those students from public school showed higher scores of Internet addiction (p < 0.001) than students from private schools. Regarding the quality of life, those from private school showed better scores regarding academic performance (p < 0.01) and worse scores in social aspect (p < 0.05). The data showed a strong association between Internet addiction and poor levels of quality of life, as observed in studies from other countries.
Jogos eletrônicos e funções executivas de universitários
Authors: RAMOS Daniela Karine , FRONZA Fernanda Cerveira Abuana Osório , CARDOSO Fernando Luiz
Published: June 2018

Resumo Os jogos eletrônicos, impulsionados pelo largo uso de tecnologias digitais interativas, popularizaram-se entre os jovens, que os incorporam em suas rotinas de vida. Os universitários das licenciaturas de universidades brasileiras, cuja maioria é de jovens, foram questionados sobre a frequência de uso dessas tecnologias interativas, na tentativa de se estabelecerem associações entre o uso de jogos eletrônicos e as funções executivas relacionadas à atenção e à capacidade de resolução de problemas. Essas funções foram avaliadas pelos participantes a partir de comportamentos descritos, tomados como indicativos relacionados à atenção e à resolução de problemas. A amostra foi composta por 620 universitários de 15 a 61 anos (143 homens e 457 mulheres) de sete Estados brasileiros, que responderam a um questionário online. Os resultados apontaram uma associação entre a frequência do uso dos jogos eletrônicos e a atenção, especialmente em relação à habilidade dos participantes em conseguirem fazer mais de uma tarefa ao mesmo tempo e, também, ao fato de priorizarem a precisão em vez da rapidez. A partir disso, infere-se que os jogos eletrônicos constituem uma experiência interativa e imersiva que pode influenciar o desempenho e o exercício de várias habilidades cognitivas.
A DISCURSIVIDADE DA MÍDIA NA CONSTRUÇÃO DE SENTIDOS PARA O SUJEITO-PROFESSOR
Authors: Bressanin Joelma Aparecida
Published: June 2018

Resumo O objetivo deste estudo é compreender a discursividade da mídia referente ao fazer pedagógico na utilização das tecnologias na sala de aula produzida por uma revista de Educação. Por meio do dispositivo teórico da Análise de Discurso francesa, fundado por Pêcheux na França, e desenvolvido por Orlandi e outros pesquisadores no Brasil, o material tomado como análise é uma matéria de capa da revista Nova Escola, que traz o tema Tecnologia: o que levar para a aula? O texto analisa o modo como as propostas referentes ao uso da tecnologia produzem sentidos para o leitor e vão configurar certo imaginário sobre o sujeito-professor no espaço escolar.
O Uso de Biomarcadores em Pesquisas de Marketing
Authors: Pastore Cristina Maria de Aguiar , Maffezzolli Eliane Cristine Francisco , Mazzon José Afonso
Published: June 2018

Resumo A aproximação do marketing com a neurociência tem gerado expectativa tanto na academia quanto no mercado, em especial na última década. Apesar do interesse e das promessas de resultados, lacunas de conhecimento neurobiológico são percebidas acerca de formas de coleta e análise de dados. Este estudo apresenta e compara algumas ferramentas neurocientíficas que são fundamentadas em respostas não cognitivas do cérebro humano. A coleta e a análise de biomarcadores, como hormônios e níveis de atividade elétrica muscular, podem ser utilizadas em pesquisas de comportamento humano relacionadas ao consumo ou em outras interações com ações de marketing. A metodologia de aplicação dessas ferramentas, medidas resultantes e possíveis interpretações de comportamento também são discutidas, com ênfase em futura agenda de pesquisa.
The influence of clinical, environmental, and socioeconomic factors on five-year patient survival after kidney transplantation
Authors: Ruppel Priscila , Felipe Claudia R. , Medina-Pestana Jose O. , Hiramoto Liliane Lumi , Viana Laila , Ferreira Alexandra , Aguiar Wilson , Ivani Mayara , Bessa Adrieli , Cristelli Marina , Gaspar Melissa , Tedesco-Silva Jr Helio
Published: June 2018

ABSTRACT Introduction: The risk of death after kidney transplant is associated with the age of the recipient, presence of comorbidities, socioeconomic status, local environmental characteristics and access to health care. Objective: To investigate the causes and risk factors associated with death during the first 5 years after kidney transplantation. Methods: This was a single-center, retrospective, matched case-control study. Results: Using a consecutive cohort of 1,873 kidney transplant recipients from January 1st 2007 to December 31st 2009, there were 162 deaths (case group), corresponding to 5-year patient survival of 91.4%. Of these deaths, 25% occurred during the first 3 months after transplant. The most prevalent cause of death was infectious (53%) followed by cardiovascular (24%). Risk factors associated with death were history of diabetes, dialysis type and time, unemployment, delayed graft function, number of visits to center, number of hospitalizations, and duration of hospital stay. After multivariate analysis, only time on dialysis, number of visits to center, and days in hospital were still associated with death. Patients who died had a non-significant higher number of treated acute rejection episodes (38% vs. 29%, p = 0.078), higher mean number of adverse events per patient (5.1 ± 3.8 vs. 3.8 ± 2.9, p = 0.194), and lower mean eGFR at 3 months (50.8 ± 25.1 vs. 56.7 ± 20.7, p = 0.137) and 48 months (45.9 ± 23.8 vs. 58.5 ± 20.2, p = 0.368). Conclusion: This analysis confirmed that in this population, infection is the leading cause of mortality over the first 5 years after kidney transplantation. Several demographic and socioeconomic risk factors were associated with death, most of which are not readily modifiable.
Expenses of the Brazilian Public Healthcare System with chronic kidney disease
Authors: Alcalde Paulo Roberto , Kirsztajn Gianna Mastroianni
Published: June 2018

ABSTRACT Introduction: The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasing worldwide, with costs that can be impeditive. Objective: To establish the expenses of the Brazilian Public Healthcare System (SUS), with hospitalizations due to CKD and related diseases; evaluating expenses with renal replacement therapy (RRT). Methods: We have assessed the values paid by the SUS in the triennium 2013-2015, for estimating annual expenses with CKD treatment and hospitalization, associated diseases, and exams. Results: There was an increase in hospitalization by all causes in Brazil during this triennium. CKD and associated diseases corresponded to 1.82% and 5.79% of hospitalizations due to all causes in Brazil, and 2.87% and 10.10% of all expenses, respectively. Kidney grafts from deceased donors corresponded to 76% of hospitalizations and 80% of expenses with transplantation. There was a decrease in transplantation from living donors. There was an increase in the number of exams of 11.94% and of 10.95% in the expenses. There was a decrease in the number of procedures and expenses in intermittent peritoneal dialysis (IPD) and related procedures; but other procedures increased. Hemodialysis (3 weekly sessions) corresponded to 95.96% of procedures and 96.07% of expenses with dialysis in general. Conclusion: Renal diseases and some of the main related diseases corresponded to 12.97% of the expenses in the triennium 2013-2015, and RRT to more than 5% of the SUS expenses with medium and high complexity healthcare. Such high expenses determine great concerns on the future maintenance of treatment for stage-5 CKD in Brazil and countries in similar or worse conditions of development.
European offshore wind engineering – past, present and future
Authors: Jensen Kim Steen , Petersen Søren Juel , Pedersen Ronnie Refstrup
Published: June 2018

The paper tells the story of 25 years of technology developments and engineering challenges in the European offshore wind sector. Since the world’s first offshore wind farm at Vindeby in Denmark in 1991, the offshore wind industry has developed into a significant business across north-western Europe and beyond. The paper describes the early development of the wind industry in Denmark, followed by a focus on the evolution of offshore foundation concepts, their applicability and their pros and cons.
Meeting Report: ICOLD 2017 annual meeting in the Czech Republic
Authors: Warren Alan
Published: June 2018

The paper summarises the 85th annual meeting of the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) in Prague in the Czech Republic in July 2017 and directs the readership to an on-line paper which covers the event in detail.
Advancing environmental mitigation on the Bretagne–Pays de la Loire railway, France
Authors: Aubrat Marion , Lemeri Joachim
Published: June 2018

The new 182 km Bretagne–Pays de la Loire high-speed rail line in France has pioneered the use of an environmental mitigation hierarchy, leading to significant sustainability benefits. As this paper describes, the project has gone beyond regulatory obligations and contractual provisions for sustainability, particularly regarding biodiversity and carbon dioxide emissions. It has opened up a more sustainable way of conceiving and building transport infrastructure, with extensive collaboration, innovative organisation, technical and operational tools and a long-term, efficiency-based offsetting approach. Early adoption of the mitigation hierarchy principle on this project enabled the worksite footprint to be reduced by 8% and avoided the emission of 4·5% of greenhouse gases associated with the line’s construction. It also accounted for biological cycles during work planning and secured the ecological offsetting sites before construction started, which in turn ensured their functionality over a 20-year period to ensure no net loss of biodiversity.
Low-energy design strategies for retrofitting existing residential buildings in Cyprus
Authors: Ozarisoy Bertug , Altan Hasim
Published: June 2018

Problems on mass housing estates are currently a topic for research on energy and policy interventions in Cyprus. Modernist urban detached/semi-detached and suburban row houses often have insufficient green areas and lack consideration of the climatic features of the building site where the neighbourhoods are designed without concern for urban planning laws and regulations. These purpose-built residential building stock models represent 30% of the existing building stock. This research primarily investigates the potential of particular design interventions in detached two-storey houses in a Mediterranean climate in order to reduce the need for fossil fuel to heat and cool the houses. The aim of this study is to develop and test feasible retrofit strategies aimed at optimising the energy performance of the existing residential buildings. To accomplish this, the study first examines the energy performance of a building before and after the retrofitting phases as base case scenario models. The Autodesk Revit 2017 plug-in Green Building Studio energy performance analysis software was used for simulation of the adapted energy-efficient retrofit measures. This study also outlines the results from the prototype analysis to demonstrate the difference between a retrofitted building and the existing state of a building in their respective energy use impacts.
Selecting weighting methodologies for evaluating agricultural sustainability in Iran
Authors: Mollayosefi Marzieh Manafi , Hayati Bobollah , Pishbahar Esmaeil , Nematian Javad
Published: June 2018

The importance of sustainable development has increased in recent decades because of environmental considerations. In this regard, the current research aims to evaluate the sustainability of agricultural and natural resources in East Azerbaijan Province in Iran by using conjoint analysis. Finding an appropriate weighting methodology is one of the major challenges in measuring sustainability. Conjoint analysis (also known as choice models or experiments) presents a flexible framework which could be adopted for a variety of specific applications and allows drawing comparisons among various stakeholder groups based on how they perceive sustainability. Economic, social and environmental dimensions were considered as the aspects of sustainability, and each of them included some indicators. The relative importance of sustainability indicators is determined from the perspectives of scientists and experts. The results show that all respondents identify environmental aspects as the most important sustainability dimension; and in this dimension indicators of groundwater level, nitrate concentration in groundwater and agricultural water use have the most relative importance. The results of this study can be used to design efficient policies for sustainable management of natural resources and agricultural systems in the same conditions.
Strain behaviour of sapric peat under long-term cyclic loading
Authors: Gao Yu-Feng , Xiao Wei , Xu Gui-Zhong , Gui Yue
Published: June 2018

Subgrade peaty soils under traffic infrastructures are often subjected to tens of thousands of cyclic loadings. The deformation behaviour of the subgrade depends on the peaty soils under such long-term cyclic traffic loadings. A series of monotonic triaxial and long-term cyclic (10 000 cycles) triaxial tests were conducted to investigate the development of undrained deformation behaviours and excess pore water pressures for the undisturbed sapric peats from Kunming City, China. The observed decrease in undrained shear strength with increasing organic content for these sapric peats is opposite to the effect on those fibric peats discussed in previous studies. The resilient strain, permanent strain and excess pore water pressure of the sapric peat samples were found to be significantly dependent on the cyclic stress ratio (CSR) and organic content. With an increase in the CSR and organic content, the resilient and permanent strains increased more significantly with the increasing number of cycles. Based on the experimental data, two empirical formulas were established to predict the long-term permanent strain and characterise the relationship between the peak axial strain and the peak excess pore water pressure of the Kunming sapric peat after 1000 cycles.
Field monitoring and numerical modeling of 4.4 m-high mechanically stabilized earth wall
Authors: Salem M. A. , Hammad M. A. , Amer M. I.
Published: June 2018

A full-scale mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) wall was constructed and monitored in a residential compound in New Cairo, Egypt. The height of the wall was 4.4 m and the facing consisted of modular concrete blocks. The wall was reinforced with high-density polyethylene geogrid. This paper presents the instrumentation program and interpretation of measurements recorded at end of construction and after applying loads on top of the wall. Strains in the geogrid layers were measured using strain gauges. Deformations of the wall face were surveyed using a total station device. Backfill soil properties and geogrid stiffness properties were characterized through laboratory testing. A two-dimensional finite element model was developed to simulate the performance of the instrumented wall at end of construction. Reinforcement loads deduced from measured strains were compared to different load prediction methods: AASHTO Simplified, K-stiffness, Simplified stiffness, and finite element modeling. The paper highlights important aspects to be considered in numerical modeling of MSE walls. Predicted horizontal wall displacements and reinforcement loads from finite element modeling compared well to field measurements. The Simplified stiffness method better predicted the reinforcement loads compared to the AASHTO Simplified and K-stiffness methods.
Undrained cylindrical cavity expansion in anisotropic critical state soils
Authors: Chen S. L. , Liu K.
Published: June 2018

This paper develops a rigorous semi-analytical approach for the undrained cylindrical cavity expansion problem using an anisotropic critical state clay plasticity model. The model, originally proposed by Y. F. Dafalias in 1987, is capable of capturing the inherent anisotropy of the soil due to its initial K0 consolidation history, as well as the subsequent stress-induced anisotropy, through the proper incorporation of the rotation and/or distortion of the ellipsoidal yield surface. It is found that the cavity expansion boundary value problem can be eventually reduced to solving a system of six first-order ordinary differential equations in the plastic zone, with the radial, tangential and vertical stresses in association with the three anisotropic variables controlling the yield surface evolution being the basic unknowns. The pore water pressure can be subsequently deduced from the radial equilibrium equation. Extensive parametric studies have been made of the effects of K0 consolidation anisotropy (including also the subsequent stress-induced anisotropy) and past consolidation history (overconsolidation ratio) on the calculated distributions of stress components and excess pore pressure, the progressive development of the stress-induced anisotropy, and on the effective stress trajectory for a soil particle at the cavity surface due to the cavity expansion. The present solution on account of the natural and induced anisotropy is expected to be able to provide more realistic analyses for a variety of geotechnical problems such as the pile installation prediction and interpretation of pressuremeter tests. It can also serve as a benchmark for the finite-element numerical modelling of the cavity expansion problem involving the advanced anisotropic critical state plasticity models.
Influence of fibres on volume change attributes of expansive soil blended with lime
Authors: Muthukumar Mayakrishnan , Shukla Sanjay Kumar
Published: June 2018

Expansive soils are considered to be highly problematic due to their dual swell–shrink behaviour. In recent years, polymeric fibres are used to control the volume change behaviour of expansive soils. In this study, different proportions of lime and fibres were used to study the swelling and shrinkage behaviour of expansive soils. The test results showed that swelling tended to decrease slightly with an increase in the fibre content, whereas shrinkage decreased significantly with the addition of fibres. The optimum fibre content was found to be 2%. Both swelling and shrinkage tended to decrease significantly with increasing the lime content. It was also found that the optimum lime content is different for controlling swelling and shrinkage. Therefore, expansive soil specimens blended with 2% fibre and with varying lime contents were tested. The addition of 2% fibre helped to reduce the content of lime required for controlling shrinkage. It was found that blending 2% fibres and 5% lime together in expansive soils is effective for controlling both swelling and shrinkage behaviour.
Influence of superplasticiser on cement-stabilised self-compacting earth
Authors: Milani Ana Paula Silva , da Silva Carolina Inácio
Published: June 2018

Cement-stabilised self-compacting earth (CSCE) is a mixture of soil, water, stabiliser and chemical admixture, with sufficient fluidity to mould earth walls and structures without the need for mechanical densification. The application of the CSCE technology demands a better understanding of the influence of polycarboxylate-based superplasticiser in the mechanisms of particle dispersion, and the microstructure formation of the CSCE. Therefore, for two soil mixtures, sandy soil + cement + water + admixture and clayey soil + cement + water + admixture, the following tests were applied: calorimetry, thermogravimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, compressive strength and water absorption capacity. The results demonstrated that the use of superplasticiser in the CSCE exhibits efficiency of fluidity, mobility, segregation control and exudation control in the mixture. Regardless of the soil type, the influence of the superplasticiser on the CSCE mixtures is more relevant to aspects such as the action of electrostatic dispersion of soil and water and of the particles that induce steric hindrance; also the adsorption reactions of admixture by clay minerals are discrete in the CSCE, resulting in a system with physicomechanical behaviour stabilised and compatible for earth-based construction through the use of superplasticiser in the range of 0·8–1·6 and minimum water/soil ratio with proximity to the liquid limit.
Book review
Authors: Lee Seungjae
Published: June 2018

Automated and Autonomous Spatial Mobilities
Centrifuge assessment of the effects of polymer treatment on penetrometer response
Authors: Reid David , Fourie Andy
Published: June 2018

A series of cone and T-bar penetration tests were undertaken in a beam centrifuge on two samples of the same material prepared and consolidated from a low plasticity slurry, where one sample had undergone polymer treatment with a high molecular weight polymer and the other was untreated (UT). The material had previously been characterised through a series of comparison laboratory tests, under UT and polymer-treated (PT) conditions. The results of the centrifuge testing indicated significant differences with respect to penetrometer response, with the PT material dilating and UT contracting at high penetration rates. Further, the penetrometer results provided significantly different inferences of the material type and behaviour between the two samples – inferred differences that were in some cases contradictory to laboratory results. The implications of these results for in situ investigations of PT tailings deposits are outlined.
Recreating passenger mode choice-sets for transport simulation: A case study of London, UK
Authors: Hillel Tim , Elshafie Mohammed Z E B , Jin Ying
Published: June 2018

Urban transport infrastructure is under increasing pressure from rising travel demand in many cities worldwide. It is no longer sustainable or even economically viable to cope with increased demand by continually adding capacity to transport networks. Instead, travel demand must be managed by encouraging passengers to adapt their travel behaviour. This approach necessitates a significantly deeper understanding of the seemingly random variations of passenger flows than is afforded by the current travel demand modelling techniques. This study presents a new modelling framework for predicting travel mode choice, through recreating and analysing the choice-set faced by the passenger at the time of day of their travel. A new data set has been developed by combining individual trip records from the London Travel Demand Survey (LTDS), with systematically matched trip trajectories alongside their corresponding mode alternatives from an online directions service and detailed estimates of public transport fares and car operating costs. The value of the data set is demonstrated by comparing two models of passenger mode choice based on stochastic gradient boosting trees, one using only the LTDS data and the other with our full data set. The models are then used to identify the key factors driving passenger mode choice.
Real-time statistical modelling of data generated from self-sensing bridges
Authors: Din-Houn Lau F , Butler Liam J , Adams Niall M , Elshafie Mohammed Z E B , Girolami Mark A
Published: June 2018

Instrumentation of infrastructure is changing the way engineers design, construct, monitor and maintain structures such as roads, bridges and underground structures. Data gathered from these instruments have changed the hands-on assessment of infrastructure behaviour to include data processing and statistical analysis procedures. Engineers wish to understand the behaviour of the infrastructure and detect changes – for example, degradation – but are now using high-frequency data acquired from a sensor network. Presented in this paper is a case study that models and analyses in real time the dynamic strain data gathered from a railway bridge which has been instrumented with fibre-optic sensor networks. The high frequency of the data combined with the large number of sensors requires methods that efficiently analyse the data. First, automated methods are developed to extract train passage events from the background signal and underlying trends due to environmental effects. Second, a streaming statistical model which can be updated efficiently is introduced that predicts strain measurements forward in time. This tool is enhanced to provide anomaly detection capabilities in individual sensors and the entire sensor network. These methods allow for the practical processing and analysis of large data sets. The implementation of these contributions will be essential for demonstrating the value of self-sensing structures.
Design charts for end-plate beam-to-column steel joints
Authors: D'Alessandro Elisabetta , Brando Giuseppe , De Matteis Gianfranco
Published: June 2018

The component method provided by Eurocode 3 for the evaluation of strength and stiffness of beam-to-column joints is considered a very laborious procedure that is often difficult to apply. This is owing to the large number of geometrical and mechanical parameters involved in the analytical formulations. Hence, the component method is only seldom used for practical applications, with the consequence that the real behaviour of joints in terms of strength and stiffness is not accounted for. The aim of this paper is to provide an automatic tool that allows an easy-to-use application of the component method for the evaluation of beam-to-column joints stiffness and strength, and also enables plotting of the moment–rotation curve describing the joints' behaviour. Moreover, the proposed tool is used to carry out parametric analyses for two bolt-rows in end-plate beam-to-column steel joints. This is addressed to the definition of design charts for the optimal selection of joints.
An experimental study on the durability and strength of SCC incorporating FA, GGBS and MS
Authors: Deilami Sahar , Aslani Farhad , Elchalakani Mohamed
Published: June 2018

Self-compacting concrete (SCC) is an efficient new concrete that is flowable without segregation or bleeding and does not require additional compaction. The strength, workability, durability, carbon dioxide emissions and costs of four different mixes containing fly ash (FA), ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) and microsilica (MS) were investigated in the study described in this paper. Standard test methods were used to determine the workability, strength and durability of the mixes including resistance to chloride ion penetration, water penetration, water absorption and initial surface absorption. Compressive strength tests were also performed at different times after setting. The test results showed that the mixes containing FA, GGBS and MS presented better durability than normal concrete. Mixes with 10% MS provided good early strength and durability. In addition, the mixes containing FA, GGBS and MS were found to offer a significant reduction in cost but a slight increase in carbon dioxide emissions.
Strength and ductility demands on wind turbine towers due to earthquake and wind load
Authors: Martinez-Vazquez Pedro , Gkantou Michaela , Baniotopoulos Charalampos
Published: June 2018

In earthquake-prone areas, wind and earthquake loads are assumed to be statistically uncorrelated and therefore their interaction is ignored in existing design guidelines. However, the facts that strong earthquake events are commonly followed by aftershocks and that wind is constantly flowing at high speeds around wind farms increase the probability of their joint occurrence, thus making current design assumptions questionable. This investigation shows that multi-hazard scenarios magnify the strength demands of wind turbine towers designed against isolated load conditions, hence modifying their performance level. It is also shown that, under certain conditions, the probabilities associated with the joint occurrence of earthquake and low to strong wind events match or exceed those related to the original design, thus rendering wind energy infrastructure susceptible to unforeseen damage.
Effect of fillet welds on T-joints with thin-walled chords
Authors: Pereira Daniel José Rocha , Sarmanho Arlene Maria Cunha , Nunes Gabriel Vieira , Guerra Messias Júnio Lopes , Alves Vinicius Nicchio
Published: June 2018

Tubular joints with thin-walled sections could have a wide range of applications in the construction industry, possibly providing light structures with high structural efficiency. However, current design prescriptions do not recommend their use and more studies are needed to attest their viability. In this context, the effect of the size of fillet welds on cold-formed T-joints consisting of thin-walled rectangular hollow section chords and circular hollow section braces under axial compression loading was analysed. Experimental and numerical analyses were conducted and the results were compared with current design prescriptions. Three experiments were performed, with different weld sizes, in a machine that provided displacement-controlled testing with data acquisition from strain gauges and displacement transducers. Finite-element models were developed to replicate the general experimental setup and the results showed good correlation with the experimental data, indicating that the size of the weld influences joint resistance.
Functional PEO layers on magnesium alloys: innovative polymer-free drug-eluting stents
Authors: Bordbar-Khiabani Aidin , Yarmand Benyamin , Mozafari Masoud
Published: June 2018

In this research, thin layers of magnesium oxide (MgO) were formed on the surface of biodegradable AZ91 magnesium alloys through a plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) process. A betamethasone sodium phosphate (BSP) layer was further deposited onto the magnesium oxide coatings through a dip-coating process. The microscopic observations indicated that the pores and the cracks of the PEO coating were sealed by BSP layers. The corrosion resistance and surface reactivity behaviors of the uncoated and coated samples were evaluated by electrochemical tests and immersing in a simulated body fluid solution, respectively. The results showed that the impedance module of the PEO/BSP coating was 300 times higher than the impedance module of the PEO coating, related to the barrier BSP layer formed in the defects and pores of the sealed samples. The proposed design could play an important role in the surface activity and release behavior of polymer-free drug-eluting stents to overcome the inflammation at the site of action.
Assessing the interrelations of traffic collisions' risk factors
Authors: Elyasi Mohammad Reza , Saffarzadeh Mahmoud , Broujerdian Amin Mirza
Published: June 2018

The enormous human and financial costs of traffic collisions mean that improving road safety by reducing the number of accidents is a major priority for transportation authorities around the world. One major prerequisite for reducing accidents is investigation of the risk factors for traffic collisions. Conventional multiple regression, pattern recognition and multi-criteria decision-making models in some ways have a high ability to predict traffic collisions. However, they provide no information about the indirect effect of the examined factors in the occurrence of traffic collisions; therefore, they are not appropriate for the descriptive analysis of these factors. In the present study, structural equation modelling was applied to evaluate the cause–effect interrelationship of traffic collisions' risk factors, and their cause–effect relationships with the accidents. According to experimental results on the main roadway network of Hamedan province, human, traffic and road factors had a significant direct effect on the occurrence of collisions. Moreover, the human factors indirectly led to an increase in the probability of the collisions' occurrence through the mediator variable of the road. Among the human factors, education and age had prominent impacts rather than the locality. The work highlights these peculiar aspects and suggests methods to reduce their effects.
Modelling and evaluating the economics of inland waterway transport on the Hangyong canal, China
Authors: Yu Yuewu , Li Ye , Lou Jia
Published: June 2018

The primary goal of this study was to determine appropriate policies to increase the proportion of freight transported by water on the Hangyong canal in China and thus improve the economic efficiency of the canal. Factors were used to construct a transportation chain utility function and the most suitable model was selected according to the level of significance of the estimated parameter values. It was determined that the total logistics costs are the most significant factors in the decisions of Hangyong canal freight shippers. To show the heterogeneity in the choices of shippers, a mixed logit model with random parameters and a restricted triangular distribution was constructed. The time value of all shipping in the Hangyong channel was found as 52·50 yuan (1 GBP = 9·9970 CNY (15/09/2014))/(twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) h). The modal share of the waterway transport chain, particularly the chain using 500 deadweight ton ships (1 deadweight ton (DWT) = 1000 deadweight kilograms), gradually increases as the channel capacity is increased. Furthermore, the effect of the transportation time on the 500 DWT ship waterway transportation chain is much higher than that of the transportation cost. The increase in waterway modal share resulting from reductions in transportation time is approximately seven times that resulting from reductions in transportation cost of the same percentage.
Development of passenger car unit based on acceleration noise for urban arterials
Authors: Sasikumar Salini , Rajamma Ashalatha
Published: June 2018

Vehicular traffic in developing countries like India is highly heterogeneous in nature. For effective planning, design, operation and management of highways, determination of traffic volume in a standard unit is a prerequisite. Interactions among vehicles under heterogeneous traffic conditions are highly complex. The passenger car unit (PCU) was therefore developed to represent the amount of impedance caused to the flow of traffic by a vehicle type in comparison with that of a standard vehicle (usually a passenger car). Since urban roads are marked by frequent changes in acceleration–deceleration characteristics, the interaction among various categories of vehicles can be realistically determined using a parameter that represents the change in acceleration/deceleration. A methodology for determining the PCU values of vehicles based on the concept of acceleration noise was developed in this study. The PCU for a study section was determined as the ratio of the variance of acceleration noise of the vehicle under consideration to that of a passenger car. PCU values were determined for four basic categories of vehicles on four-lane divided urban road stretches.