Centrifuge modeling of a large-scale surcharge on adjacent foundation

This study investigates the ground and structural response of adjacent raft foundations induced by largescale surcharge by ore in soft soil areas through a 130g centrifuge modeling test with an innovative layered loading device.The prototype of the test is a coastal iron ore yard with a natural foundation of deep soft soil.Therefore,it is necessary to adopt some measures to reduce the influence of the large-scale surcharge on the adjacent raft foundation,such as installing stone columns for foundation treatment.Under an acceleration of 130 g,the model conducts similar simulations of iron ore,stone columns,and raft foundation structures.The tested soil mass has dimensions of 900 mm×700 mm×300 mm(lengthwidthdepth),which is remodeled from the soil extracted from the drilling holes.The test conditions are consistent with the actual engineering conditions and the effects of four-level loading conditions on the composite foundation of stone columns,unreinforced zone,and raft foundations are studied.An automatic layer-by-layer loading device was innovatively developed to simulate the loading process of actual engineering more realistically.The composite foundation of stone columns had a large settlement after the loading,forming an obvious settlement trough and causing the surface of the unreinforced zone to rise.The 12 m surcharge loading causes a horizontal displacement of 13.19 cm and a vertical settlement of 1.37 m in the raft foundation.The stone columns located on both sides of the unreinforced zone suffered significant shear damage at the sand-mud interface.Due to the reinforcement effect of stone columns,the sand layer below the top of the stone columns moves less.Meanwhile,the horizontal earth pressure in the raft foundation zone increases slowly.The stone columns will form new drainage channels and accelerate the dissipation of excess pore pressure.

Inflow and outflow permeability tests in a very soft clay under low stresses

In situ inflow and outflow permeability tests with the BAT probe at SarapuíII soft clay test site are presented.A description of the BAT permeability test is provided,discussing its advantages and shortcomings,especially in the case of very soft clays under low stresses.Pore pressures were monitored during probe installation and were found to be slightly lower than piezocone u2 pore pressures,consistent with the position of the filter.The role of filter tip saturation was investigated after the usual saturation procedure provided an unsatisfactory pore pressure response during probe installation.Results show that the vacuum saturation procedure provides adequate response during installation and increases the reliability of the coefficient of permeability determination in early measurements.Both inflow and outflow tests yielded similar results,indicating that careful execution of the test can lead to good test repeatability regardless of the loading condition.Various sequences of alternated inflow and outflow tests have yielded similar results,indicating that soil reconsolidation and filter clogging were negligible in the tests performed.Data are presented concerning the relationship between index parameters and the in situ coefficient of permeability for SarapuíII clay,which plot outside the range of existing databases.

Real-world utility of serological tests in patients with suspected scrub typhus in the Republic of Korea:A single-center,retrospective,observational study

Objective:Serological tests are widely used for scrub typhus diagnosis;however,their limitations are evident.This study aims to assess their practical value in clinical settings.Methods:We analyzed the data of adult patients with suspected scrub typhus who visited a tertiary care hospital in the Republic of Korea from September to December from 2019 to 2021.The included patients had an acute fever and at least one of the following ten secondary findings:myalgia,skin rash,eschar,headache,thrombocytopenia,increased liver enzyme levels,lymphadenopathy,hepatomegaly,splenomegaly,and pleural effusion.The diagnoses were grouped as scrub typhus or other diseases by two infectious disease physicians.Results:Among 136 patients who met the eligibility criteria,109 had scrub typhus and 27 had different diseases.Single and paired total antibodies using immunofluorescence assay(IFA),and total antibodies using immunochromatography-based rapid diagnostic testing(ICT)were measured in 98%,22%,and 75%of all patients,respectively.Confirmation using paired samples for scrub typhus was established at a median of 11[interquartile range(IQR)10-16]days following the first visit.Among the 82 admitted patients,the median admission time was 9(IQR 7-13)days.According to IFA,58(55%)patients with scrub typhus had total immunoglobulin titers≥1:320,while 23(85%)patients with other disease had titers<1:320.Positive ICT results were observed in 64(74%)patients with scrub typhus and 10(67%)patients with other diseases showed negative ICT results.Conclusions:Serological testing for scrub typhus is currently insufficient for decision-making in clinical practice.

Investigation of the block toppling evolution of a layered model slope by centrifuge test and discrete element modeling

Primary toppling usually occurs in layered rock slopes with large anti-dip angles.In this paper,the block toppling evolution was explored using a large-scale centrifuge system.Each block column in the layered model slope was made of cement mortar.Some artificial cracks perpendicular to the block column were prefabricated.Strain gages,displacement gages,and high-speed camera measurements were employed to monitor the deformation and failure processes of the model slope.The centrifuge test results show that the block toppling evolution can be divided into seven stages,i.e.layer compression,formation of major tensile crack,reverse bending of the block column,closure of major tensile crack,strong bending of the block column,formation of failure zone,and complete failure.Block toppling is characterized by sudden large deformation and occurs in stages.The wedge-shaped cracks in the model incline towards the slope.Experimental observations show that block toppling is mainly caused by bending failure rather than by shear failure.The tensile strength also plays a key factor in the evolution of block toppling.The simulation results from discrete element method(DEM)is in line with the testing results.Tensile stress exists at the backside of rock column during toppling deformation.Stress concentration results in the fragmented rock column and its degree is the most significant at the slope toe.

Research on aiming methods for small sample size shooting tests of two-dimensional trajectory correction fuse

The longitudinal dispersion of the projectile in shooting tests of two-dimensional trajectory corrections fused with fixed canards is extremely large that it sometimes exceeds the correction ability of the correction fuse actuator.The impact point easily deviates from the target,and thus the correction result cannot be readily evaluated.However,the cost of shooting tests is considerably high to conduct many tests for data collection.To address this issue,this study proposes an aiming method for shooting tests based on small sample size.The proposed method uses the Bootstrap method to expand the test data;repeatedly iterates and corrects the position of the simulated theoretical impact points through an improved compatibility test method;and dynamically adjusts the weight of the prior distribution of simulation results based on Kullback-Leibler divergence,which to some extent avoids the real data being"submerged"by the simulation data and achieves the fusion Bayesian estimation of the dispersion center.The experimental results show that when the simulation accuracy is sufficiently high,the proposed method yields a smaller mean-square deviation in estimating the dispersion center and higher shooting accuracy than those of the three comparison methods,which is more conducive to reflecting the effect of the control algorithm and facilitating test personnel to iterate their proposed structures and algorithms.;in addition,this study provides a knowledge base for further comprehensive studies in the future.

Retrospective analysis of discordant results between histology and other clinical diagnostic tests on helicobacter pylori infection

BACKGROUND A reliable test is essential for diagnosing Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)infection,and crucial for managing H.pylori-related diseases.Serving as an excellent method for detecting H.pylori infection,histologic examination is a test that clinicians heavily rely on,especially when complemented with immunohistochemistry(IHC).Additionally,other diagnostic tests for H.pylori,such as the rapid urease test(CLO test)and stool antigen test(SA),are also highly sensitive and specific.Typically,the results of histology and other tests align with each other.However,on rare occasions,discrepancy between histopathology and other H.pylori diagnostic tests occurs.AIM To investigate the discordance between histology and other H.pylori tests,the underlying causes,and the impact on clinical management.METHODS Pathology reports of gastric biopsies were retrieved spanning August 2013 and July 2018.Reports were included in the study only if there were other H.pylori tests within seven days of the biopsy.These additional tests include CLO test,SA,and H.pylori culture.Concordance between histopathology and other tests was determined based on the consistency of results.In instances where histology results were negative while other tests were positive,the slides were retrieved for re-assessment,and the clinical chart was reviewed.RESULTS Of 1396 pathology reports were identified,each accompanied by one additional H.pylori test.The concordance rates in detecting H.pylori infection between biopsy and other tests did not exhibit significant differences based on the number of biopsy fragments.117 discrepant cases were identified.Only 20 cases(9 with CLO test and 11 with SA)had negative biopsy but positive results in other tests.Four cases initially stained with Warthin-Starry turned out to be positive for H.pylori with subsequent IHC staining.Among the remaining 16 true discrepant cases,10 patients were on proton pump inhibitors before the biopsy and/or other tests.Most patients underwent treatment,except for two who were untreated,and two patients who were lost to follow-up.CONCLUSION There are rare discrepant cases with negative biopsy but positive in SA or CLO test.Various factors may contribute to this inconsistency.Most patients in such cases had undergone treatment.

Dynamic response of mountain tunnel,bridge,and embankment along the Sichuan-Tibet transportation corridor to active fault based on model tests

The Sichuan-Tibet transportation corridor is prone to numerous active faults and frequent strong earthquakes.While extensive studies have individually explored the effect of active faults and strong earthquakes on different engineering structures,their combined effect remains unclear.This research employed multiple physical model tests to investigate the dynamic response of various engineering structures,including tunnels,bridges,and embankments,under the simultaneous influence of cumulative earthquakes and stick-slip misalignment of an active fault.The prototype selected for this study was the Kanding No.2 tunnel,which crosses the Yunongxi fault zone within the Sichuan-Tibet transportation corridor.The results demonstrated that the tunnel,bridge,and embankment exhibited amplification in response to the input seismic wave,with the amplification effect gradually decreasing as the input peak ground acceleration(PGA)increased.The PGAs of different engineering structures were weakened by the fault rupture zone.Nevertheless,the misalignment of the active fault may decrease the overall stiffness of the engineering structure,leading to more severe damage,with a small contribution from seismic vibration.Additionally,the seismic vibration effect might be enlarged with the height of the engineering structure,and the tunnel is supposed to have a smaller PGA and lower dynamic earth pressure compared to bridges and embankments in strong earthquake zones crossing active faults.The findings contribute valuable insights for evaluating the dynamic response of various engineering structures crossing an active fault and provide an experimental reference for secure engineering design in the challenging conditions of the Sichuan-Tibet transportation corridor.

Optimal Design of High-Speed Partial Flow Pumps using Orthogonal Tests and Numerical Simulations

To investigate the influence of structural parameters on the performances and internal flow characteristics of partial flow pumps at a low specific speed of 10000 rpm,special attention was paid to the first and second stage impeller guide vanes.Moreover,the impeller blade outlet width,impeller inlet diameter,blade inclination angle,and number of blades were considered for orthogonal tests.Accordingly,nine groups of design solutions were formed,and then used as a basis for the execution of numerical simulations(CFD)aimed at obtaining the efficiency values and heads for each design solution group.The influence of impeller geometric parameters on the efficiency and head was explored,and the“weight”of each factor was obtained via a range analysis.Optimal structural parameters were finally chosen on the basis of the numerical simulation results,and the performances of the optimized model were verified accordingly(yet by means of CFD).Evidence is provided that the increase in the efficiency and head of the optimized model was 12.11%and 23.5 m,respectively,compared with those of the original model.

Stress tensor determination by modified hydraulic tests on pre-existing fractures:Method and stress constraints

The hydraulic testing of pre-existing fractures(HTPF)is one of the most promising in situ stress measurement methods,particularly for three-dimensional stress tensor determination.However,the stress tensor determination based on the HTPF method requires at least six tests or a minimum of 14-15 tests(under different conditions)for reliable results.In this study,we modified the HTPF method by considering the shear stress on each pre-existing fracture,which increased the number of equations for the stress tensor determination and decreased the number of tests required.Different shear stresses were attributed to different fractures by random sampling;therefore,the stress tensors were obtained by searching for the optimal solution using the least squares criterion based on the Monte Carlo method.Thereafter,we constrained the stress tensor based on the tensile strength criterion,compressive strength criterion,and vertical stress constraints.The inverted stress tensors were presented and analyzed based on the tensorial nature of the stress using the Euclidean mean stress tensor.Two stress-measurement campaigns in Weifang(Shandong Province,China)and Mercantour road tunnel(France)were implemented to highlight the validity and efficiency of the modified HTPF(M-HTPF)method.The results showed that the M-HTPF method can be applied for stress tensor inversion using only three to four tests on pre-existing fractures,neglecting the stress gradient.The inversion results were confined to relatively small distribution dispersions and were significantly reliable and stable due to the shear stresses on the fractures and the stress constraints employed.The M-HTPF method is highly feasible and efficient for complete stress tensor determination in a single borehole.

Novel Method for Evaluating the Aging of Aviation Turbine Engine Oils via High-Temperature Bearing Deposit Tests

Aviation turbine engine oils require excellent thermal-oxidative stability because of their high-temperature environments.High-temperature bearing deposit testing is a mandatory method for measuring the thermal-oxidative performance of aviation lubricant oils,and the relevant apparatus was improved in the present study.Two different commercial aviation turbine engine oils were tested,one with standard performance(known as the SL oil)and the other with high thermal stability,and their thermal-oxidative stability characteristics were evaluated.After 100 h of high-temperature bearing testing,the SL oil was analyzed by using various analytical techniques to investigate its thermal-oxidative process in the bearing test,with its thermal-oxidative degradation mechanism also being discussed.The results indicate that the developed high-temperature bearing apparatus easily meets the test requirements of method 3410.1 in standard FED-STD-791D.The viscosity and total acid number(TAN)of the SL oil increased with the bearing test time,and various deposits were produced in the bearing test,with the micro-particles of the carbon deposits being sphere-like,rod-like,and sheet-like in appearance.The antioxidant additives in the oil were consumed very rapidly in the first 30 h of the bearing test,with N-phenyl-1-naphthylamine being consumed faster than dioctyldiphenylamine.Overall,the oil thermal-oxidative process involves very complex physical and chemical mechanisms.

Small-scale fire tests in the underwater tunnel section model with new sidewall smoke extraction

The Shenzhen–Zhongshan Bridge is a 24‐km‐long bridge and tunnel system,including a 6.8-km-long super cross section subsea tunnel.To solve the smoke exhaust problem of a super large cross-section subsea tunnel,the tunnel has a new smoke exhaust system that combines a horizontal smoke exhaust cross section at the top and sidewall smoke exhaust holes.In order to evaluate the potential fire hazards of this type of tunnel,a 1:30 tunnel model was established and 140 smallscale experiments on underwater tunnel fires were conducted.By changing the fire power,fire location,and fan operation mode,different scenarios of submarine immersed tunnel fire were simulated and the related key parameters such as fire smoke diffusion behavior and smoke temperature distribution were studied.On this basis,the optimal smoke control strategy was proposed for different fire scenarios.The research results indicate that the new smoke exhaust system can fully utilize the smoke flow characteristics,significantly improve smoke exhaust efficiency,and increase available evacuation time,thus further enhancing the fire safety of super large cross-section subsea tunnels.

Significance of oxidative stress and antioxidant capacity tests as biomarkers of premature ovarian insufficiency: A case control study

BACKGROUND Premature ovarian insufficiency(POI)is a condition that causes secondary amenorrhea owing to ovarian hypofunction at an early stage.Early follicular depletion results in intractable infertility,thereby considerably reducing the quality of life of females.Given the continuum in weakened ovarian function,progressing from incipient ovarian failure(IOF)to transitional ovarian failure and further to POI,it is necessary to develop biomarkers for predicting POI.The oxidative stress states in IOF and POI were comprehensively evaluated via oxidative stress[diacron-reactive oxygen metabolites(d-ROMs)]test and anti-oxidant capacity[biological antioxidant potential(BAP)].METHODS Females presenting with secondary amenorrhea over 4 mo and a follicle stimulating hormone level of>40 mIU/mL were categorized into the POI group.Females presenting with a normal menstrual cycle and a follicle stimulating hormone level of>10.2 mIU/mL were categorized into the IOF group.Healthy females without ovarian hypofunction were categorized into the control group.Among females aged<40 years who visited our hospital from January 2021 to June 2022,we recruited 11 patients into both POI and IOF groups.For the potential antioxidant capacity,the relative oxidative stress index(BAP/d-ROMs×100)was calculated,and the oxidative stress defense system was comprehensively evaluated.RESULTS d-ROMs were significantly higher in the POI and IOF groups than in the control group,(478.2±58.7 U.CARR,434.5±60.6 U.CARR,and 341.1±35.1 U.CARR,respectively)(U.CARR is equivalent to 0.08 mg/dL of hydrogen peroxide).However,no significant difference was found between the POI and IOF groups.Regarding BAP,no significant difference was found between the control,IOF,and POI groups(2078.5±157.4μmol/L,2116.2±240.2μmol/L,and 2029.0±186.4μmol/L,respectively).The oxidative stress index was significantly higher in the POI and IOF groups than in the control group(23.7±3.3,20.7±3.6,and 16.5±2.1,respectively).However,no significant difference was found between the POI and IOF groups.CONCLUSION High levels of oxidative stress suggest that evaluating the oxidative stress state may be a useful indicator for the early detection of POI.

Scoring and Consequential Validity Evidence of Computer-and Paper-Based Writing Tests in Times of Change

Little is known about how the assessment modality,i.e.,computer-based(CB)and paper-based(PB)tests,affects language teachers’scorings,perceptions,and preferences and,therefore,the validity and fairness of classroom writing assessments.The present mixed-methods study used Shaw and Weir’s(2007)sociocognitive writing test validation framework to examine the scoring and consequential validity evidence of CB and PB writing tests in EFL classroom assessment in higher education.Original handwritten and word-processed texts of 38 EFL university students were transcribed to their opposite format and assessed by three language lecturers(N=456 texts,152 per teacher)to examine the scoring validity of CB and PB tests.The teachers’perceptions of text quality and preferences for assessment modality accounted for the consequential validity evidence of both tests.Findings revealed that the assessment modality impacted teachers’scorings,perceptions,and preferences.The teachers awarded higher scores to original and transcribed handwritten texts,particularly text organization and language use.The teachers’perceptions of text quality differed from their ratings,and physical,psychological,and experiential characteristics influenced their preferences for assessment modality.The results have implications for the validity and fairness of CB and PB writing tests and teachers’assessment practices.

Study on Key Biological Indicators of Diabetes Based on Statistical Tests

Normality testing is a fundamental hypothesis test in the statistical analysis of key biological indicators of diabetes.If this assumption is violated,it may cause the test results to deviate from the true value,leading to incorrect inferences and conclusions,and ultimately affecting the validity and accuracy of statistical inferences.Considering this,the study designs a unified analysis scheme for different data types based on parametric statistical test methods and non-parametric test methods.The data were grouped according to sample type and divided into discrete data and continuous data.To account for differences among subgroups,the conventional chi-squared test was used for discrete data.The normal distribution is the basis of many statistical methods;if the data does not follow a normal distribution,many statistical methods will fail or produce incorrect results.Therefore,before data analysis and modeling,the data were divided into normal and non-normal groups through normality testing.For normally distributed data,parametric statistical methods were used to judge the differences between groups.For non-normal data,non-parametric tests were employed to improve the accuracy of the analysis.Statistically significant indicators were retained according to the significance index P-value of the statistical test or corresponding statistics.These indicators were then combined with relevant medical background to further explore the etiology leading to the occurrence or transformation of diabetes status.

Entangled relationship:Chinese parents’involvement in young learners’English tests

Young learners’English(YLE)tests have become increasingly prevalent among and important to Chinese English learners and their parents.In China,parents are actively involved in their children’s education and test-taking decisions,and their participation has given rise to a series of social impacts.Although parent involvement has received increasing public and academic attention in newspaper and scholarly articles,there exists no thorough analysis of current research on parents’roles in young learners’test-taking.To address this gap,we systemically analyzed Chinese newspaper articles and academic articles between 2011 and 2021 to elicit Chinese parents’roles in YLE test-taking.Our thematic analysis of the literature identifies the ways in which parents influence their children’s test-taking experiences,and how the tests affect this influence.Specifically,our results elicit 1)parents’engagement in YLE testing;2)parents’understanding of the intended uses of YLE tests;3)parents’perception and consequences of their involvement in YLE testing;and 4)parents’backgrounds.This analysis reveals the popularity of YLE tests among young learners and their parents in China and public concern over test-related issues.It also broadens our understanding of YLE testing impact and suggests future potential research directions.

Centrifuge model tests on pile-reinforced slopes subjected to drawdown

Piles are generally an effective way to reduce the risk of slope failure.However,previous approaches for slope stability analysis did not consider the effect of the piles coupled with the decrease of the water level(drawdown).In this study,a series of centrifuge model tests was performed to understand the deformation and failure characteristics of slopes reinforced with various pile layouts.In the centrifuge model tests,the pile-reinforced slopes exhibited two typical failure modes under drawdown conditions:across-pile failure and through-pile failure.In the through-pile slope failure,a discontinuous slip surface was observed,implying that the assumption of the slip surface in previous stability analysis methods was unreasonable.The test results showed that drawdown led to instability of the piles in cohesive soil,as the saturated cohesive soil failed to provide sufficient constraint for piles.The slope exhibited progressive failure,from top to bottom,during drawdown.The deformation of the piles was reduced by increasing the embedment depth and row number of piles.In addition,the deformation of soils outside the piles was influenced by the piles and showed a similar distribution shape as the piles,and the similarity degree weakened as the distance from the piles increased.This study also found that the failure mechanism of unreinforced and pile-reinforced slopes induced by drawdown could be described by coupling between the deformation localization and local failure,and it revealed that pile-reinforced slopes could reduce slope deformation localization during drawdown.

Experimental p-y curves for liquefied soils from centrifuge tests

The present study aims to obtain p-y curves(Winkler spring properties for lateral pile-soil interaction)for liquefied soil from 12 comprehensive centrifuge test cases where pile groups were embedded in liquefiable soil.The p-y curve for fully liquefied soil is back-calculated from the dynamic centrifuge test data using a numerical procedure from the recorded soil response and strain records from the instrumented pile.The p-y curves were obtained for two ground conditions:(a)lateral spreading of liquefied soil,and(b)liquefied soil in level ground.These ground conditions are simulated in the model by having collapsing and non-collapsing intermittent boundaries,which are modelled as quay walls.The p-y curves back-calculated from the centrifuge tests are compared with representative reduced API p-y curves for liquefied soils(known as p-multiplier).The response of p-y curves at full liquefaction is presented and critical observations of lateral pile-soil interaction are discussed.Based on the results of these model tests,guidance for the construction of p-y curves for use in engineering practice is also provided.

Investigation on the seismic response of nuclear power stations with a pile-raft foundation using centrifuge tests

Research to reliably predict the seismic response of nuclear power stations with a pile-raft foundation is needed to meet the high safety requirements of nuclear power stations.In this study,a scaled superstructure with a 4×3 pile-raft foundation,which is constructed in Shanxi kaolin clay,is modelled.Accordingly,the characteristics of seismic response for nuclear power stations with a pile-raft foundation are analyzed using dynamic centrifuge tests.In particular,multiple earthquake motions with different magnitudes and frequency properties are utilized to map the relationship between structural response and properties of earthquake motions.The results show that the seismic response of the soil,raft,and structure are significantly affected by the natural frequency and magnitude of the earthquake motion.The soil surface acceleration is lower than the raft acceleration.The results provide a reliable reference to better understand the seismic response of nuclear power stations.

Seismic response of an earth dam:finite element coupling analysis and validation from centrifuge tests

Variations in acceleration and excess pore water pressure during a seismic event are critical early-warning indicators of an impending dam collapse.To assess these variations,the seismic responses for three simplified model dams,based on cross-sections through a real earthen dam,were assessed with numerical simulations and centrifuge tests.A normalized root-mean-square error was utilized as a comparison index to assess the closeness between simulated and the recorded values.Assuming that the experimental records are reliable,the reliability of the numerical program was evaluated using this root-mean-square error estimation approach.Explanations for inconsistency between the two approaches are presented.The conclusions are drawn from the results of the three model dams.

Centrifuge model tests of the formation mechanism of coarse sand debris flow

Using the self-developed visualization test apparatus, centrifuge model tests at 20 g were carried out to research the macro and microscopic formation mechanism of coarse sand debris flows. The formation mode and soil-water interaction mechanism of the debris flows were analyzed from both macroscopic and microscopic points of view respectively using high digital imaging equipment and micro-structure analysis software Geodip. The test results indicate that the forming process of debris flow mainly consists of three stages, namely the infiltration and softening stage, the overall slide stage, and debris flow stage. The essence of simulated coarse sand slope forming debris flow is that local fluidization cause slope to wholly slide. The movement of small particles forms a transient stagnant layer with increasing saturation, causing soil shear strength lost and local fluidization. When the driving force of the saturated soil exceeds the resisting force, debris flow happens on the coarse sand slope immediately.