Physical Tests Research Articles

Could self-reported physical performance help predict individuals at the highest risk of mortality and hospital admission events in clinical practice? Findings from the Hertfordshire Cohort Study.

To consider how self-reported physical function measures relate to adverse clinical outcomes measured over 20 years of follow-up in a community-dwelling cohort (aged 59-73 at baseline) as compared with hand grip strength, a well-validated predictor of adverse events. Recent evidence has emphasized the significant association of physical activity, physical performance, and muscle strength with hospital admissions in older people. However, physical performance tests require staff availability, training, specialized equipment, and space to perform them, often not feasible or realistic in the context of a busy clinical setting. In total, 2997 men and women were analyzed. Baseline predictors were measured grip strength (Jamar dynamometer) and the following self-reported measures: physical activity (Dallosso questionnaire); physical function score (SF-36 Health Survey); and walking speed. Participants were followed up from baseline (1998-2004) until December 2018 using UK Hospital Episode Statistics and mortality data, which report clinical outcomes using ICD-10 coding. Predictors in relation to the risk of mortality and hospital admission events were examined using Cox regression with and without adjustment for sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics. The mean age at baseline was 65.7 and 66.6 years among men and women, respectively. Over follow-up, 36% of men and 26% of women died, while 93% of men and 92% of women were admitted to hospital at least once. Physical activity, grip strength, SF-36 physical function, and walking speed were all strongly associated with adverse health outcomes in both sex- and fully adjusted analyses; poorer values for each of the predictors were related to greater risk of mortality (all-cause, cardiovascular-related) and any, neurological, cardiovascular, respiratory, any fracture, and falls admissions. SF-36 physical function and grip strength were similarly associated with the adverse health outcomes considered.

Study on the fracture propagation of ground fissures with syn-depositional structure in Fenwei Basin, China

In Fenwei Basin, most of the tectonic ground fissures show characteristics of growth faults on the section. They continue to destroy the engineering properties of soil at different depths. This has introduced significant security risks to the construction processes of deep underground spaces. However, there are few studies have been conducted on syn-depositional ground fissures. Therefore, in this study, a physical simulation test was used to study the fracture propagation of syn-depositional ground fissures. The characteristics of sections and surface fractures were analyzed. The engineering properties of model soil were divided into bad and poor areas. The syn-depositional ground fissure fracture propagation process was divided into five phases. The results show that soil profile exhibited a composite Y-shaped fracture morphology. Syn-deposition affects the fracture angle and healing state of fractures. The soil strain and surface displacement were positively correlated with the number of deposition layers. The conclusions of this study provide a theoretical geological basis and practical engineering significance for design of deep underground space structures.

Reservoir characteristics analysis and favorable area prediction of Zhuhai Formation, Wenchang A oilfield, South China Sea

Wenchang A oilfield is a recently discovered low-permeability oilfield in the western South China Sea. The exploration target is the Zhuhai Formation, which reservoir lithology changes significantly, and the distribution of favorable reservoirs is unclear. In this study, the reservoir characteristics of the Zhuhai Formation in the Wenchang A oilfield, South China Sea, were analyzed through core identification, thin section identification, physical property testing, pre-stack geostatistical inversion, and frequency-based AVO inversion. Pre-stack geostatistical inversion is based on geostatistics and combines the seismic inversion algorithm with the stochastic sequential simulation algorithm. While the frequency-varying AVO inversion method is an extension of the conventional AVO inversion method, with its core technology being spectrum decomposition. After frequency division, multiple data sets directly participate in the calculation, which enhances the stability and accuracy of inversion.We also predict the favorable reservoir areas of six small layers in the Zhuhai Formation. The results show that 1) the reservoir lithology of the Zhuhai Formation mainly consists of feldspar quartz sandstone and feldspar quartz sandstone, indicating high compositional maturity. The porosity of the reservoir ranges from 14.0% to 19.0%, with an average value of 16.3%. The permeability of the reservoir ranges from 3.1 mD to 126.1 mD, with an average value of 22.4 mD, indicating a medium porosity and low permeability reservoir. The supporting structure of a sandstone reservoir is particle-supported, with the main contact being the “point-line” contact between particles. The main types of pores in sandstone are primary intergranular pores and secondary intergranular dissolved pores. Some pores are feldspar-dissolved pores, and occasionally there are hetero-based micropore. 2) The diagenesis of the Zhuhai Formation reservoir mainly includes compaction, cementation, and dissolution. Cementation and dissolution have minimal impact on the physical properties of reservoirs. The porosity loss of the reservoir after compaction ranges between 16.0% and 27.9%, and the compaction rate ranges between 40.0% and 69.8%, indicating a medium compaction diagenetic facies. 3) The favorable areas of each layer of the Zhuhai Formation are mainly concentrated in the southwest of the study area. The upper layer of ZH1I, the upper layer of ZH1II and the lower layer of ZH1II exhibit the best physical properties, the thickest favorable sand body, the strongest oil and gas display, the widest range of favorable areas, and the greatest exploration potential. The favorable exploration potential of layer 1 in the lower part of ZH1I and layer 2 in the upper part of ZH1II is moderate. The second layer in the lower part of ZH1II has the poorest properties and lower exploration potential. The main factors affecting the favorable area include physical properties, oil and gas display, sand body thickness, etc.

Performance Investigation and Optimization of Composite Materials in Household Dehumidifiers

The efficiency of household dehumidifiers is affected by air temperature and the temperature used for regeneration. A regeneration temperature that is too high can lead to increased energy use, heat build-up in the desiccant wheel, and lower dehumidification efficiency. In this study, we developed a LiCl@Al-Fum composite material and evaluated it through physical characterization and module testing. The results show that the LiCl@Al-Fum composite with a 20% mass fraction is particularly effective as a desiccant material. Additionally, a 15% volume concentration of neutral silica sol was identified as the optimal binder concentration. A comparative analysis of the effects of glass-fiber desiccant wheels (GF DWs), aluminum desiccant wheels (Al DWs), and commercial desiccant wheels (CM DWs) on household dehumidifier performance revealed that the Al DWs outperformed the CM DWs, showing a 13% improvement in the dehumidification rate and a 12.56% increase in the DCPP. An increase in the dehumidifier structure led to increases in the dehumidification rate by 11.8%, 11.9%, and 10% and in the DCPP by 11.6%, 12.1%, and 10%, respectively. Moreover, the modifications resulted in a 3.85 °C, 3.34 °C, and 3.8 °C decrease in the temperature.

Almond shell particle containing particleboard mechanical and physical properties

A significant byproduct of almond fruit industry, hard almond shells, was considered as a supplement material in particleboards for contributing to the circular economy goal with a higher added value product. The envisioned particle boards were not only for furniture but also construction regarding insulation. Accordingly, industry unspecific boards were produced. Almond shells were obtained from industry and ground into particles ranging from 0.4 to 3.4 mm. Those particles were mixed with black pine particles in different mass ratios to produce particleboards. The production included chemical and physical processes. Generated particleboards were subjected to specific physical and mechanical tests. Physical properties, such as density, thickness swelling, and water absorption, were determined. Mechanical properties, including deflection, elasticity modulus, bending stress, and maximum force before failure values were also measured and calculated. Boards with different densities were subjected to same mechanical and physical tests. The results show that an increase in almond shell particle amount in the particleboard makes the board more brittle and rigid. The physical tests show less thickness swelling and water absorption with increasing amount of almond shell particles. Therefore, almond shell particles may be more favorable for indoor decoration or insulation instead of furniture. Board density has a marginal effect on mechanical behavior, and it should be one of the determinant factors for feasibility of the boards in different utilization scenarios.

Pullout behaviour of strip plate anchors in clay overlying sand

Plate anchors are being increasingly employed to establish mooring systems for offshore floating facilities owing to their notable efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The majority of prior studies have concentrated on plate anchors, examining the vertical to horizontal orientations, particularly when embedded in single layer clay or sand. However, it is common to encounter multiple layers of soil with varying characteristics in practical engineering, leading to inaccurate estimation of pullout capacity when based solely on the properties of a single soil layer. This paper reports pullout behaviours of strip plate anchors in clay overlying sand by adopting two dimensional finite element analysis. To simulate the hardening and subsequent softening behaviour of medium to dense sand, a modified Mohr-Coulomb model is considered. The current Finite Element (FE) results are in good agreement when compared with both previous FE simulations and physical model test data. Then, the soil flow mechanisms (e.g. the accumulated plastic shear strain, the friction angle) surrounding the anchor during pullout out are revealed. Based on a series of FE results, a calculation framework considering the effect of thickness of clay layer is designed to predict the pullout behaviour of plate anchors in clay overlying sand.

Calibration and Verification of Discrete Element Parameters of Surface Soil in Camellia Oleifera Forest

To analyze the interaction between the surface soil and the soil-contacting component (65 Mn) in the camellia oleifera forest planting area in Changsha City, Hunan, China, in this study, we conducted discrete element calibration using physical and simulation tests. The chosen contact model was Hertz–Mindlin with JKR cohesion, with the soil repose angle as the response variable. The repose angle of the soil was determined to be 36.03° based on the physical tests. The significant influencing factors of the repose angle determined based on the Plackett–Burman test were the soil–soil recovery coefficient, soil–soil rolling friction coefficient, soil-65 Mn static friction coefficient, and surface energy of soil for the JKR model. A regression model for the repose angle was developed using the Box–Behnken response surface optimization method to identify the best parameter combination. The optimal parameter combination for the JKR model was determined as follows: surface energy of soil: 0.400, soil–soil rolling friction coefficient: 0.040, soil-65 Mn static friction coefficient: 0.404, and soil–soil recovery coefficient: 0.522. The calibrated discrete element parameters were validated through experiments on the repose angle and steel rod insertion. The results indicated that the relative errors obtained from the two verification methods were 2.44% and 1.71%, respectively. This research offers fundamental insights for understanding the interaction between soil and soil-contacting components and optimizing their design.

Experimental Study on Mechanical Properties of Reinforced Soil and Frame Beam Anchor Combination System

To address issues with excessive displacement, deformation, and insufficient load bearing capacity in high-fill-reinforced soil-retaining walls, a novel reinforced soil–frame anchor combination system was developed. Despite the limited existing research on its mechanical properties and synergy, a physical model test was conducted to investigate the system’s behavior. The test focused on the horizontal displacement of the frame beam wall, grid strain, wall back earth pressure, and anchor strain. Results indicated that anchor prestress effectively controlled horizontal deformation, limiting it to 65% of the original displacement value. Additionally, as the top load increased, strain in the bottom bars showed minor changes, while strain in the middle and upper bars exhibited significant sensitivity to load variations. The application of anchor prestress reduced strain in each reinforcement layer, enhancing the geogrid’s load bearing capacity. Furthermore, anchor prestress altered the distribution of earth pressure within the system, establishing a synergistic relationship between reinforced soil and frame beam anchors. This stress transfer mechanism improved overall system performance, as demonstrated in the test. Overall, the study confirmed the benefits and superior performance of the combined system.

Fitness Levels of Elementary School Students Based on Gender and Race in Indonesia: Are There Differences?

This research aimed to determine differences in physical fitness levels based on Race and Gender in Indonesia. It used a comparative quantitative approach. The samples in this research were elementary school students in three provinces: Sumsel, DIY, and NTT. They were selected using cluster random sampling and yielded 254 people. Then, the samples were clustered to equalize numbers based on students’ gender and regional race (South Sumatra, DIY, & NTT). After this process, the remaining 132 people were taken. Students’ physical fitness data were collected using the Indonesian Physical Fitness Test (TKJI). The data were then analyzed using the parametric Two-Way ANOVA statistics. The results of the Two-Way ANOVA test showed that the race factor variable had a value of Sig. 0.00 < 0.05. This value indicates a significant difference in the TKJI test scores between races in the three provinces: South Sumatra, DIY, and NTT. In the gender factor variable, the Sig. 0.001 < 0.05, meaning a significant difference was also found in the TKJI test scores between male and female students. Furthermore, for the combined race and gender factor variables, the Sig 0.485 > 0.05. Since the Sig value was greater, there is no influence or interaction between the race and gender factors in the three provinces in determining the results of the students' TKJI scores. Differences in physical fitness in terms of race can be caused by differences in physical activity, socioeconomic status, and social factors, such as racial discrimination and interpersonal racial discrimination. These differences can manifest as emotional stress due to increased psychological stress and increased risk of unhealthy behavior, including activities. In addition, the difference in physical fitness was also found between genders. The results show that men have a better level of physical fitness than women. One of the reasons is possibly due to increased fat mass associated with growth and puberty in girls. In addition, boys are often more active than girls. Keywords: Physical fitness, Student, Race, Gender

Influence of Physical–Mechanical Strength and Water Absorption Capacity on Sawdust–Waste Paper–Recycled Plastic Hybrid Composite for Ceiling Tile Application

In recent times, there has been a notable surge in the interest in promoting environmentally conscious products, particularly within the building industry where the focus has shifted towards sustainable materials. In this study, as a sustainable building material, ceiling tiles have been fabricated as a composite board containing waste materials, namely waste paper, sawdust, recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and epoxy resin, and characterized comprehensively through physical and mechanical tests, density, thickness swelling (TS), modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR), and flexural strength (FS) for product stability. A total of nine composites were fabricated with different ratios through molding techniques, and the characterization results were compared to determine the optimized stable ratio of composite composition. The composition of 25% waste paper, 15% sawdust, 10% recycled PET, and 50% epoxy resin presented the maximum FS compared to the other composite ratios. Water absorption (WA) and thickness swelling were evaluated after immersion durations of 1–24 h. The findings revealed that as the density increased, the sawdust content within the matrix decreased from 25–35%. Concurrently, an increase in recycled PET content resulted in decreased water absorption and thickness swelling. Significantly, the MOE, MOR, and FS demonstrated optimal values at 864.256 N/mm2, 12.786 N/mm2, and 4.64 MPa, respectively. These observations represent the excellent qualities of this hybrid composite board, particularly in terms of sustainability, stability, and water absorption capacity. Moreover, its lightweight nature and ability to support ceiling loads further enhance its appeal for construction applications. This study not only advances the discourse on sustainable construction materials but also fosters opportunities for broader acceptance and innovation within the industry.

Physical function as a marker to assess the effects of occupational long-term pesticide exposure.

In this cross-sectional study, we determined the relative impact of long-term occupational exposure to pesticides on physical performance and perception of tiredness. Experimental data was collected in locus from agricultural communities and included surveys to assess the duration of exposure to pesticides, social status, habitual physical activity levels, presence of common mental disorders (CMD), and self-reported tiredness. Plasmatic cholinesterase (PChE), body composition and traditional functional performance tests (Handgrip strength-HGS; Time up and go-TUG; and Sit-to-stand-STS) were obtained. From the 127 individuals tested, cluster analysis yielded 80 individuals divided in Direct Exposed (n = 37) and Indirect Exposed (n = 43); Tired (n = 16), and Not Tired (n = 64). PChE values were within the reference values (5209.64-13943.53 U/L). Pesticide exposure had no influence on PChE levels, CMD or fatigue (p > 0.05), while Self-reported tiredness had (p < 0.05). Principal Component Analyses showed that HGS; STS and TUG (i.e., physical performance variables) are negatively influenced by two independent factors: pesticide exposure and self-reported tiredness. We conclude that chronic pesticide exposure and tiredness can negatively impact physical performance, independently, without clinically significant changes in PChE levels that is a biomarker used to track pesticide intoxication. Functional physical tests can be a useful tool to identify chronic pesticide exposure, and help with the limitations of commonly used parameters (i.e. PChE and CMD). Self-reported tiredness is a confounding variable.

Investigation of Two Laser Heat Treatment Strategies for Local Softening of a Sheet in Age-Hardening Aluminum Alloy by Means of Physical Simulation

AbstractCar manufacturers increasingly aid high-strength aluminum alloys for their advantageous weight-to-strength ratio, but their limited formability poses challenges in plastic deformation processes. Tailored heat-treated blanks (THTBs) are a propitious approach to improve formability. Surface laser treatment is the predominant technology for obtaining THTB. To design this process quickly and accurately, without material waste, the use of physical simulation is increasingly promising. It allows replicating the process on a lab-scale and studying posttreatment mechanical and metallurgical properties. By adopting Gleeble® physical simulator, this study investigates the softening effects of local surface laser heat treatment on a EN AW 6082 T6 aluminum alloy blank. Two laser movement strategies—single linear path and multiple rectangular paths—were investigated at two treatment speeds for each. A finite element (FE) model was developed for simulating the process under all explored conditions. FE-derived thermal cycles were reproduced by means of physical simulation. After physical tests, alloy mechanical properties were evaluated. Results show that these properties depend on both the peak temperature thermal cycle and the interaction time between the laser source and the material surface. The comparison between the two strategies revealed that the multiple rectangular paths strategy allows to achieve a wider softened area at comparable interaction times.

Investigation of Automotive LiDAR Vision in Rain from Material and Optical Perspectives

With the emergence of autonomous functions in road vehicles, there has been increased use of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems comprising various sensors to perform automated tasks. Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) is one of the most important types of optical sensor, detecting the positions of obstacles by representing them as clusters of points in three-dimensional space. LiDAR performance degrades significantly when a vehicle is driving in the rain as raindrops adhere to the outer surface of the sensor assembly. Performance degradation behaviors include missing points and reduced reflectivity of the points. It was found that the extent of degradation is highly dependent on the interface material properties. This subsequently affects the shapes of the adherent droplets, causing different perturbations to the optical rays. A fundamental investigation is performed on the protective polycarbonate cover of a LiDAR assembly coated with four classes of material—hydrophilic, almost-hydrophobic, hydrophobic, and superhydrophobic. Water droplets are controllably dispensed onto the cover to quantify the signal alteration due to the different droplets of various sizes and shapes. To further understand the effects of droplet motion on LiDAR signals, sliding droplet conditions are simulated using numerical analysis. The results are validated with physical optical tests, using a 905 nm laser source and receiver to mimic the LiDAR detection mechanism. Comprehensive explanations of LiDAR performance degradation in rain are presented from both material and optical perspectives. These can aid component selection and the development of signal-enhancing strategies for the integration of LiDARs into vehicle designs to minimize the impact of rain.

Rehabilitation Of The Afsluitdijk

The ‘Afsluitdijk’ is a 32 km long dam, which divides the Wadden Sea from the Lake IJssel. The dam has been rehabilitated by increasing the crest level to reduce the wave overtopping and reinforce the armour layers on the seaward and lake side of the dam. The Dutch Ministry of infrastructure and Water Management (Rijkswaterstaat division) commissioned Levvel, a consortium of BAM, Van Oord and Rebel, to carry out this renovation. Rijkswaterstaat encouraged contractors to offer innovative design solutions for the rehabilitation works as the dam is one of the icons in Dutch hydraulic engineering history. Levvel proposed two new armour materials to protect the dam against wave action and reduce the wave overtopping over the crest. A combination of Quattroblocks® a product of Holcim Coastal and Levvel-blocs, internationally known as Xblocplus® by BAM have both been introduced for the first time for the design of the dam. The application of innovative materials and/or techniques may incorporate uncertainties and because of the Afsluitdijk is one of the primary sea defenses preventing the Netherlands for flooding the contract included requirements for the Contractor to carry out physical model tests on the main failure mechanisms of the dam. Besides the contractual requirements, Levvel also used physical model tests to optimize the armour elements and the geometry of the dam. The verification of the design has been carried out with large scale 2D physical model tests in the Delta Flume of Deltares and small scale 2D model tests have been used to optimize design solutions.

Physical fitness decline and career paths: a longitudinal study of medical undergraduates

IntroductionExercise enhances one's health and competitiveness. A strong physical fitness status can pave the way for a promising future. This study presents the time-based trends in physical fitness indicators—including height, weight, BMI, lung capacity, dash, long-distance running, and standing long jump—among medical undergraduates during their university years. Additionally, we analyzed the impact of students' physical fitness on their career paths.MethodWe conducted a retrospective database study by collecting physical fitness test data and career paths information for 634 medical students from a university in southwestern China. These students graduated in 2022. The career paths included pursuits in further studies, employment, and unemployment. To detect differences in these aspects, we used the t-test and Chi-square test.ResultsOur study indicates a significant declining trend in the physical fitness of medical students during their university years. The changes observed between the first and fourth tests are as follows:Weight (kg): 58.52 ± 10.48 to 60.73 ± 12.07, P < 0.00BMI (kg/m^2): 20.79 ± 2.74 to 21.24 ± 3.06, P < 0.0050-m dash (s): 8.91 ± 0.99 to 9.25 ± 1.11, P < 0.00Standing long jump (cm): 187.74 ± 30.98 to 182.59 ± 32.25, P < 0.00800-m run for females (min): 3.84 ± 0.47 to 4.48 ± 0.85, P < 0.001000-m run for males (min): 3.98 ± 0.63 to 4.62 ± 0.87, P < 0.00Sit-ups for females (count): 30.39 ± 7.5 to 29.03 ± 8.82, P < 0.00Upon analyzing the correlation between changes in physical fitness and career paths, students with stable or decreased BMI had better post-graduation outcomes compared to students with increased BMI.ConclusionsMedical students show a declining trend in physical fitness during their undergraduate years. A good physical health status is beneficial for achieving better career paths. Medical students should place greater emphasis on physical exercise during their time in school.

LOW-CRESTED AND EMERGENT BREAKWATERS WITH ECO-FRIENDLY ARMOUR UNITS

Artificial coastal defense systems (such as concrete armour units) frequently host less diverse aquatic populations than natural environments and feature higher concentrations of invasive species (Dafforn et al., 2009). Therefore, coastal structures need to be designed or refitted to achieve sustainable goals through the application of ecological engineering solutions applied to coastal defence structures and for the ecosystem, marine habitat, and biodiversity improvement. Ecological engineering, which integrates ecosystems with engineering principles to construct coastal structures that benefit both humans and the ecosystem, is growing as a means of reducing the adverse ecological impacts of coastal infrastructure (Mitsch &amp; Jorgensen, 2003). Thus, creating new eco-friendly breakwater design guidelines is critical and will benefit from the multidisciplinary involvement of marine biologists and ecologists. The purpose of this experimental modelling study was to provide data on the hydraulic performance and stability of low-crested and emergent rubble mound breakwaters (RMBW) constructed using ecologically friendly armour units under various wave conditions. The University of Ottawa, the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), and ECOncrete collaborated to develop and conduct the physical testing program. Several breakwater models were tested to evaluate their performance, as the idea of an eco-friendly breakwater is still a new area of research. Thus, this experimental program is essential to promote environmentally-friendly armour units in the design of new coastal structures (such as Baker et al., 2018), as well as ecological retrofitting of existing coastal structures. The physical tests were conducted between June 2023 and August 2023 in the Large Wave Flume of NRC’s Ocean, Coastal, and River Engineering Research Center in Ottawa, Canada. ECOncrete's Coastalock armour units were tested in various configurations at a 1/15 scale using two-dimensional low-crested and emergent RMBW models. The hydraulic performance and failure mechanisms of these environmentally-friendly breakwater models were tested under severe wave conditions.

Numerical And Physical Modelling Of The Pore Pressure Development Around A Monopile Foundation

Offshore wind has favoured the use of monopile foundation due to its simplicity in design, construction and industrial scalability. The stability of the monopile foundations can be affected not only by the direct action of wave loads but also by the response of the surrounding seabed. Numerical and physical modelling can be used to simulate the wave-structure-seabed interaction and accurately predict the wave-induced seabed response around the monopile foundation. Within this context, a 3D coupled numerical model is developed to investigate the excess pore pressure development around a monopile foundation and the accompanying changes in the effective stress of the seabed soil. In addition to the coupled hydrodynamic-geotechnical analyses, physical model tests have been performed at the Coastal &amp; Ocean Basin (COB) in Ostend (BE) within the SOILTWIN project in December 2023. These tests provide insight into the soil behaviour around the monopile foundation based on pore pressure measurements. The comparison of the numerical results with experimental data is essential for an improved calibration of the numerical model as well as for a better understanding of the soil response under various wave loading conditions. The experimental setup and the initial findings will be discussed during the conference.

Parametric Analysis Of Wave-Induced Forces And Overtopping On Composite Vertical Breakwaters With Retreated Crown Wall

Composite vertical breakwaters are monolithic structures often used to protect port basins, especially in deep-water conditions. At present, the design of these structures is mainly based on Goda's formulae (Goda, 2010) or on the probabilistic design tools (PROVERBS) proposed by Oumeraci et al. (2001), while their hydraulic performance in terms of overtopping can be predicted by using the tools described in the EurOtop Manual (EurOtop Manual, 2018). Due to the size of these structures, the optimization and the improvement of the hydraulic performances (e.g. reduction of wave loads, wave overtopping, etc.) of these breakwaters can lead to significant economic saving. Typically, designers try to make small geometric changes without modifying the main geometrical dimensions of these structures. One of these technical solutions consists in placing the cast-in-situ concrete crown wall at a retreated position with respect to the front caisson face. It is assumed that the retreat of the crown wall, for geometric reasons, induces a time lag between the loads acting on the lower front external seawall face and on the crown wall of the caisson; furthermore, this could introduce a change in the pulsating nature of the loads, introducing also turbulent dissipations, consequently reducing the reflection coefficient and modifying the wave overtopping. To the best authors’ knowledge, in the literature there is a lack of guidelines to consider the effects of crown wall retreat in terms of wave actions and hydraulic performance of the structure. Recently, Romano &amp; Bellotti (2023), based on physical model tests, provided a first experimental insight on the increase/reduction of the wave loads acting on deep water vertical breakwaters with retreated crown wall.

Gallbladder Wall Thickening for Early Detection of Plasma Leakage Among Children with Dengue Fever Admitted in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Background: Plasma leakage is defined as e”20% elevation of hematocrit from baseline or evidence of plasma leakages such as pleural effusion, ascites, or hypoalbuminemia. In the early phase, these signs of plasma leakage are usually difficult to ascertain by physical examination and laboratory tests. Objective: This study aimed to investigate whether gallbladder wall thickening (GBWT) in the febrile phase of the disease can be used to detect the occurrence of plasma leakage in dengue patients. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted during a 4-month period in Dr. M R Khan Shishu Hospital and ICH from September 2021 to December 2021. Children from 6 months to 14 years who were admitted with acute onset of fever less than 3 days with NS1 positivity were included consecutively. Laboratory tests and abdominal Ultrasonography were also performed to confirm the occurrence of plasma leakage. Result: Out of 114 patients, the majority were male (64%), in the 5-&lt;10-year age group(48.25%). Common presentations include fever (100%), flushed appearance (66.7%), abdominal pain (66.7%), vomiting (44.7%), bodyache (39.5%), During the febrile phase, 56patients were presented with GBWT, 49 of which showed plasma leakage during treatment. The sensitivity and specificity of GBWT during fever were 89% and 88%. PPV and NPV were 87% and 90% respectively. In risk factor analysis, Gallbladder wall thickening was found statistically significant (&lt;.009) predictor of plasma leakage in dengue. Conclusion: Gallbladder wall thickening during the febrile phaseis a predictor of plasma leakage in Dengue. BANGLADESH J CHILD HEALTH 2022; VOL 46 (3) : 138-143

2D Model For Addu City Project - Wave Transformation Over Reef Flat

Van Oord DMC was awarded the Contract for the Reclamation by Dredging and Shore Protection works for land in Addu City by The Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure of the Maldives. The Scope of Works consists of the Design and Construction of (among others) Reclamation and Shore Protection Works on various locations in the Addu City atoll. The project execution started in 2022 and has been finalized at the end of 2023. The design of the Shore Protection Works has been verified in 2022 by means of 2D physical model testing in the wave flume of DHI in Denmark. Cross-sections of shore protection works for three different reclamation areas have been tested, where this abstract will focus on 2 locations at the outside of the atoll: Maradhoo and Four Lane Link Road (4LLR). All dimensions given in this abstract are prototype values, unless otherwise specified. The length scale of the both models was selected at 1:30. The foreshore of the 2 tested cross-sections is very typical for atolls, consisting of a relatively shallow reef flat followed by a very steep slope to deep water. The modelled foreshores are presented in Figure 1. This figure also shows the locations of the wave gauges, which were placed both offshore (near the wave generator) and on top of the reef flat (in front of the structure). The tested seabed levels directly at the toe of the 4LLR and Maradhoo structures were MSL-0.70m and MSL-0.40m respectively. The target wave conditions were defined in deep water (in front of the wave generator), with design wave heights (Hm0) between 3.8m and 4.4m and 120% overload conditions. The tested peak wave periods (Tp) varied between 11.9s and 19.7s.