Site-specific Testing Research Articles

Site specific nutrient management in elephant foot yam (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson)

Efforts were made to study the soil test based site-specific nutrient management (SSNM) practices in Elephant foot yam (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson). Among the different treatments, application of nutrients based on soil test (T2) recorded significantly higher plant height (81.33 cm), pseudostem girth (15.68 cm), number of leaves (4.81 nos.) and yield (48.94 t/ha) over control and was on par with the treatment T1 (Recommended dose of NPK as per CTCRI package) with the plant height (79.74 cm), pseudostem girth (14.99 cm), leaf production (4.44 nos.) and yield (48.56 t/ha). Based on these findings, fertilizer use needs to be tailored as per the site specific soil test data instead of recommended doses of fertilizers (RDF) which has highest Benefit Cost Ratio of 2.58.

Efficient Bayesian characterization of cohesion and friction angle of soil using parametric bootstrap method

This study develops an efficient Bayesian approach using the parametric bootstrap method for characterizing the joint probability density function (PDF) of c′ and ϕ′ based on limited site-specific test data and prior knowledge. An example using real data of c′ and ϕ′ obtained from direct shear tests on alluvial fine-grained soils at the Paglia River alluvial plain in Central Italy is presented to illustrate and demonstrate the parametric bootstrap method. A sensitivity study is performed to investigate the impact of the amount of site-specific test data and prior knowledge on the posterior statistics of c′ and ϕ′. The results indicate that the parametric bootstrap method has a good accuracy and efficiency in characterizing the joint PDF of c′ and ϕ′. By reconstructing the likelihood function and rewriting the joint PDF of c′ and ϕ′ based on a large number of parametric bootstrap samples, the parametric bootstrap method significantly improves the efficiency of the conventional Bayesian approach while retaining the same accuracy as the conventional Bayesian approach. The equivalent sample pairs of c′ and ϕ′ generated using the Markov chain Monte Carlo simulation represent the joint PDF of c′ and ϕ′ well. The amount of site-specific test data and prior knowledge have a significant impact on the posterior statistics of c′ and ϕ′. Increasing the amount of the site-specific data and informativeness of the prior knowledge can reduce the statistical uncertainty in the posterior statistics. In addition, the role of prior knowledge decreases as the amount of the site-specific data increases.

Lessons from the 2018 drought for management of local water supplies in upland areas: A tracer‐based assessment

AbstractClimate change, combined with industrial growth and increasing demand, could result in serious future water shortages and related water quality and temperature issues, especially for upland and humid areas. The extreme 2018 drought that prevailed throughout Europe provided an opportunity to investigate conditions likely to become more frequent in the future. For an upland rural catchment utilised by the distilling industry in North‐East Scotland, a tracer‐based survey combined discharge, electrical conductivity, stable water isotopes and temperature measurements to understand the impacts of drought on dominant stream water and industry water sources, both in terms of water quantity and quality (temperature). Results showed that water types (groundwater, ephemeral stream water, perennial stream water and water from small dams) were spatially distinct and varied more in space than time. With regards to the drought conditions we found that streams were largely maintained by groundwater during low flows. This also buffered stream water temperatures. Water types with high young water fractions were less resilient, resulting in streams with an ephemeral nature. Although our results demonstrated the importance of groundwater for drought resilience, water balance data revealed these storage reserves were being depleted and only recovered towards the end of the following year because of above average rainfall in 2019. Increased storage depletion under continued trends of extreme drought and water abstraction could be addressed via informed (nature based) management strategies which focus on increasing recharge. This may improve resilience to droughts as well as floods, but site specific testing and modelling are required to understand their potential. Results could have implications for management of water volumes and temperature, particularly for the sustainability of an historic industry, balancing requirements of rural communities and the environment.

Bayesian network based machine learning for design of pile foundations

Abstract Realistic estimation of the uncertainty associated with the bearing capacity, which is often represented by the uncertainty of a model bias factor, is important to reliability-based design of pile foundations. Due to the existence of cross-site variability, the statistics of a model bias factor may vary from one site to another. Also, as the number of site-specific load test data is often very limited, it is difficult to obtain the site-specific statistics of the model bias factor. This paper aims to establish a Bayesian network based machine learning method to develop site-specific statistics of the model bias factor utilizing information from both the regional and site-specific load test data, through which the resistance factor for design of the pile foundation can be calibrated. The suggested method has been verified using a comprehensive load test database for design of driven piles in Shanghai, China. It is found that a few site-specific pile load test data can significantly reduce the uncertainty associated with the model bias factor and hence increase the cost-effectiveness of the pile design. The method suggested in this paper lays a sound foundation for site-specific reliability-based design of pile foundations, and provides useful insight into the planning of site-specific load tests for design of pile foundations.

Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Infections and Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Transgender Persons: A Systematic Review.

Purpose: Despite reportedly high rates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among transgender people, laboratory-proven prevalence of these infections in this population has not been systematically reviewed. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the medical literature involving laboratory-proven HIV and STI diagnoses among transgender people.Methods: A systematic review of the English literature regarding laboratory-proven HIV and/or STI testing in transgender populations within the last 50 years was performed. Preliminary meta-analyses assessing the prevalence of HIV and STIs among both transgender men and transgender women were performed. Given the heterogeneity of included studies, these analyses were difficult to interpret and not included in our results.Results: Our literature review identified 25 studies, representing 11 countries. All of these studies included transgender women, with 9 (36%) including data on transgender men. HIV was the most commonly studied STI, with prevalence ranging from 0% to 49.6% in transgender women and 0% to 8.3% in transgender men. For syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia, respectively, prevalence ranged from 1.4% to 50.4%, 2.1% to 19.1%, and 2.7% to 24.7% in transgender women and from 0% to 4.2%, 0% to 10.5%, and 1.2% to 11.1% in transgender men. Site-specific testing practices for gonorrhea and chlamydia were variable. No studies reported prevalence data on trichomoniasis.Conclusion: The literature describing STIs and transgender people primarily focuses on transgender women and HIV. Data involving HIV and STIs among transgender men are lacking. These findings highlight opportunities for the future study of epidemiology of HIV/STIs in transgender men and the relevance of STIs in transgender people.

Beyond nearly zero energy urban design: A holistic microclimatic energy and environmental quality evaluation workflow

Abstract Despite the urgent global call for an energy transition and the promotion of health and well-being in cities, a holistic approach to evaluating the trade-offs between an urban energy balance and environmental quality considerations is lacking. This paper bridges this gap by introducing a Grasshopper digital workflow through which the impacts of a wide range of building and urban design parameters on both energy performance and environmental quality can be effectively evaluated. This workflow is tested here for both theoretical and site-specific urban test cases in the context of Tel Aviv. For these test cases, the performance metrics - energy load match, spatial daylight autonomy and universal thermal climate index - were calculated using EnergyPlus, Radiance and ENVI-met simulation engines for different block typologies and were then analyzed. The results showed that among the block typologies, the courtyard achieved the optimal combination across the tested environmental criteria, despite the daylight and energy generation penalty associated with self-shading in compact block typologies. This workflow highlights the performative tradeoffs between energy and environmental quality considerations and can thus help urban designers achieve not only a lower environmental impact but also regenerative and healthier design outcomes.

Verification of Soil Test Crop Response Based Phosphorus Recommendation on Bread Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.) in Yaya Gulele District of North Shewa Zone, Oromia

On farm verification trial of soil test based crop response phosphorus calibration study on bread Wheat was conducted at Yaya Gulele district of North Shewa zone during 2018 cropping season using optimum amount of nitrogen (92kgN/ha), critical P-value (23ppm) and Phosphorus requirement factor (3.7) determined during soil test based crop response phosphorus calibration study in the year 2017. Using the equation (23-pi)×3.76 which were developed during calibration study, verification trial was conducted on farmer’s field of land unit 10m by 10m in the same districts with the objectives to verify research finding obtained from P-fertilizer Recommendation study on bread wheat crop and to provide site specific soil test based P-fertilizer recommendation. Soil test based P- calibration result (T3), Farmers’ practice (T2) and the control (T1) were the treatments. The trial was laid out in RCBD considering farmers as replications. Analysis of Variance indicated that there was significant difference (P<0.05) for the treatments tested as fertilizer rates. The highest mean grain yield (37.13 qt/ha) was recorded with soil test based P -calibration result (STBPCR) which was significantly higher than farmer’s practice (21.98 qt/ha) and followed by the control. MRR range from 857.27% in STBFR to 738.01% in farmer’s practice. Agronomic data were collected on heading date, maturity date, plant height, and Stem length, and Spike length, biomass and grain yield. Therefore, it is concluded that for obtaining aimed yield target and profit with sustenance of soil fertility in Yaya Gulele Districts, the optimum rates for wheat Production were found to be 200 kg/ha Urea (92 N/ha) and Soil test based P-fertilizer recommendation could be followed for wheat Production.

Soil Test Based Crop Response Phosphorus Calibration Study on Bread Wheat in Degem District of North Shewa Zone, Oromia

Soil test based crop response phosphorous calibration study was conducted Degem district on bread Wheat crop during the main cropping season of 2017 -2019 with the objectives to determine Pc and Pf for bread wheat crop, to establish site-specific soil test based phosphorus fertilizer recommendation and to prepare guideline for bread Wheat fertilizer application. RCBD design was used with 3 replication using 4 rates of N (0, 46, 92 and 138 kg ha^-1) and 5 rates of P₂O₅ (0, 23, 46, 69 and 92 Kg ha^-1) in a factorial combination to determine optimum level of N- rate for bread wheat crop production. And in the second and third year 6 levels of P₂O₅ (0, 23, 46, 69, 92 and 115 Kg ha^-1) and 92 kg N ha¹ of optimum nitrogen rate obtained were applied uniformly for all plots to determine P-critical value (Pc) and P-requirement factor (Pf) for bread Wheat. A total of experimental plot size 5m*4m (20 m²) and Seeds were sown using a seed rate of 150 kg ha^-1 in a plot size of 5 m x 4 m (20 m²) by broadcasting. Fertilizers were applied based on the treatments. Grain yield of bread wheat was analyzed using R-Software. Composite Surface soil samples from 0-20 cm depth were collected from each experimental plot before planting for laboratory analysis of selected soil chemical properties. Similarly, after 21 days of planting, composite soil samples were taken at (0-20 cm depth) using auger for each treatment and replications separately and the sample were subjected to laboratory analysis using Olsen method to analyze available P content in the soils. The result of the study showed that low to extremely high available P ranged from 4 -55.06 ppm. The mean maximum grain yield (3665 kg/ha) was obtained from the application of 92 kg N /ha and 92 kg P₂O₅ /ha where as the lowest (1260 kg /ha) was obtained from control (with out fertilizer). Fertilizer combination of 138 kg N/ha and 92 kg P /ha compared to 92 kg N /ha and 92 kg P / ha showed no significant difference on bread wheat grain yield. Therefore, 92 kg N /ha was selected as N fertilizer recommended for Degem district. From phosphorous calibration study, P-critical value (22 ppm) and P-requirement factor (5.85) was determined for phosphorus fertilizer recommendation for bread wheat crop production in the area. Therefore, the obtained result has to be verified and the economic benefit must be studied across farmers’ fields.

The painted river project: Art meets science – communicating cultural transformation through community engagement

The Painted River Project intuitive sees art and water science join forces to engage directly with community by painting a new future for our river systems. The project was designed to communicate the need for cultural transformation towards a real understanding of the role water and our river systems play in underpinning human health and wellbeing, including our connection to the natural world and the health of the planet. The key aim of the (PRP) is to actively engage the community, through site-specific participatory art-making, science and water testing and through this to explore our shared connection to water and place, through creative and scientific interaction. The human-centred nature of art provides the ‘cultural window’ through which to view scientific knowledge by advancing tangible ways to view complex problems and as a ‘call to action’ to help inform innovative approaches. In August 2017, the first instalment of the (PRP) was held at the Duck River, Auburn, in Western Sydney as part of RiverFest, an initiative of the Parramatta River Catchment Group (PRCG). At the event, the community were provided with paint, canvases, easels and facilitators who helped guide the artistic process and the production of paintings that expressed ‘their future vision of an unpolluted river’. As a result, 128 different artworks were produced by a hugely diverse range of community members.

Uniaxial compressive study on mechanical properties of rock mass considering joint spacing and connectivity rate

To explore the effect of joint spacing and joint connectivity rate on the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) and elastic modulus of jointed rock mass, compression tests on preset intermittent fractured specimens were performed. Test results show that the anisotropy of UCS of jointed rock mass tends to increase with joint connectivity rate. The decreasing rates of UCS and elastic modulus of jointed rock mass, when the loading direction is perpendicular to the joint plane, are higher than those when the loading direction is parallel to the joint plane with respect to joint connectivity rate and jointing index (the ratio of the length of jointed rock mass specimen to the joint spacing). The fourth-degree polynomial function proposed in this study is appropriate to analyze the nonlinear variation law of equivalent peak UCS of jointed rock mass with joint connectivity rate. The power function proposed in this study is suitable to describe the nonlinear variation law of equivalent peak UCS and equivalent elastic modulus of jointed rock mass with jointing index. However, the number of times and the number of parameters of multiple polynomial function and the number of power function need to be determined according to site-specific test results of practical project.

Implementing LOINC - Current Status and Ongoing Work at a Medical University.

The Logical Observation Identifiers, Names and Codes (LOINC) is a common terminology used for standardizing laboratory terms. Within the consortium of the HiGHmed project, LOINC is one of the central terminologies used for health data sharing across all university sites. Therefore, linking the LOINC codes to the site-specific tests and measures is one crucial step to reach this goal. In this work we report our ongoing efforts in implementing LOINC to our laboratory information system and research infrastructure, as well as our challenges and the lessons learned. 407 local terms could be mapped to 376 LOINC codes of which 209 are already available to routine laboratory data. In our experience, mapping of local terms to LOINC is a widely manual and time consuming process for reasons of language and expert knowledge of local laboratory procedures.

Site-specific assessment of mechanical loads on photovoltaic modules from meteorological reanalysis data

Abstract This work demonstrates the capability of meteorological reanalysis data for estimating mechanical stresses due to wind gusts on photovoltaic modules. Besides the immediate power loss caused by the inactive solar cell areas within the module, the influence of cracks induced by such mechanical loads on the ageing and degradation behavior of PV modules is in the focus of current PV reliability research. To choose and/or design the optimum module for a given deployment site at the most economical cost, the mechanical loads the module will be exposed to during its service life need to be estimated. Hence, this paper introduces a new methodology for assessing and deducing site-specific mechanical load scenarios which are expected to be imposed on photovoltaic modules by wind gusts for a given location. The approach presented here is based on the linear calibration of meteorological reanalysis data with publicly available and standardized high-quality surface weather station data of local weather services. In this fashion, site-specific mechanical load scenarios can be deduced for virtually any site covered by the respective reanalysis data set. These scenarios can be used for developing site-specific module qualification tests, thereby providing a methodology enabling climate-specific module designs or specifications. This methodology can also be transferred to virtually any location and other climate and weather parameters such as snow loads, UV dose, etc. Hence a complete assessment of all weather-related degradation scenarios could be deduced eventually.

Electrical resistivity as a binary classifier for bridge scour evaluation

Scour is responsible for approximately 60% of all bridge collapses in the United States. Evaluating scour using empirical equations has proven inaccurate, particularly in fine-grained soils. Furthermore, evaluating scour potential based on site specific erosion testing can be uneconomic as erosion testing is time consuming. Many soil characteristics that affect soil erosion also influence soil electrical resistivity (ER) which can be measured in the field or in the laboratory. The objectives of this study were to assess if field and laboratory ER measurements can be used interchangeably for characterizing soil erodibility and the impact of saturation as expected during a flood event, on the ER based soil erodibility model. Twenty-one bridge sites were used for in situ electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) surveys and erosion testing. Supplementary ER measurements at varying degrees of saturation were also conducted using a soil box in the laboratory. It was found that ER values do not differ significantly when ERT is conducted on streambanks as opposed to fully saturated conditions. A receiver operating characteristic curve and probability density function (PDF) were used to determine that soils with ER over 50 Ωm had an 87% probability of classifying as highly erodible based on this data set. Statistical tests also suggested that laboratory ER can be used as an alternative to field ERT surveys. While in situ ERT provides more information in terms of spatial variation in the subsurface, laboratory ER measurements on retrieved samples will allow transportation agencies to utilize the developed erodibility classifier model without the capital investment of an ERT system. Given the large number of bridges with scour susceptible foundations in the National Bridge Inventory, ER can be used to rapidly prioritize them for additional testing to measure the erosion potential or to characterize the soil erosion at proposed bridge sites.

Cases and evidence for panel testing in cancer genetics: Is site‐specific testing dead?

Historically in cancer genetic counseling, when a pathogenic variant is found which explains the cancers in the family, at risk family members are offered site-specific testing to identify whether or not they have the previously identified pathogenic variant. Factors such as turnaround times, cost, and insurance coverage all made site-specific testing the most appropriate testing option; however, as turnaround times and costs have substantially dropped and the recognition of double heterozygous families and families with nontraditional presentations has increased, the utility of site-specific testing should be questioned. We present four cases where ordering site-specific testing would have missed a clinically relevant pathogenic variant which raises the question of whether or not site-specific testing should be regularly used in cancer genetic testing.

Laboratory investigation of interface shearing in chalk

Chalk, a soft fine-grained Cretaceous limestone, is encountered across northern Europe where recent offshore windfarm, oil, gas and onshore developments have called for better foundation design methods, particularly for driven piles whose shaft capacities are controlled by an effective stress Coulomb interface failure criterion. Interface type and roughness is known to affect both interface friction angles, δ′ and the magnitude of dilation required for shaft failure to develop. Site-specific interface ring-shear tests are recommended for offshore pile design in sands and clays to account for driven pile shaft materials, roughnesses and shear displacements. However, few such tests have been reported for chalks and it is also unclear whether δ′ angle changes contribute to the striking axial capacity increases, or set-up, noted over time with piles driven in chalk. This paper describes an interface shear study on low-to-medium density chalk from the St. Nicholas-at-Wade research test site in Kent, UK, where extensive field driven pile studies have been conducted [1, 2]. Direct shear and Bishop ring shear apparatus were employed to investigate the influences of interface material and surface roughness, as well as ageing under constant normal effective stresses (σn'). It is shown that the high relative roughness of the interface compared to the chalk grain size results in the ultimate interface shearing angles falling close to the chalk-chalk shearing resistance angles. The δ′ angles also increased by up to 5° over 38 days of ageing.

Comparison of site-specific and empirical correlations for drained residual shear strength

Analyses of landslides, slopes and embankments often require reliable drained residual shear strength estimates for cohesive deposits involving pre-existing shear surfaces. Laboratory tests to measure residual shear strength can be costly and time consuming. Therefore, empirical correlations based on more readily available index properties such as liquid limit and clay-size fraction appear as an attractive alternative in practice. This paper presents residual strength and index properties for 25 natural samples, predominantly claystone and siltstone, collected from a single geologic setting over an approximately 0·25 km2 site. The data show substantial variability in residual strength against any single index parameter considered in a site-specific correlation. Comparisons of these data, along with three additional data sets, generally indicated notable variability among data sets and relatively poor fit to published empirical correlations. Empirical correlations for residual strength may be useful in approximating the expected range of residual strength. However, given the significant variability in the data, both within and between data sets, empirical correlations should not entirely replace carefully performed site-specific laboratory tests measuring residual strength, when reliable values are required.

Statistical characterization of shear strength parameters of rock mass for hydropower projects in China

Abstract This study performs a statistical analysis on shear strength parameters of rock mass for hydropower projects in China. First, a large database comprising 1139 groups of field direct shear tests on rock mass from 100 hydropower projects in China is compiled. Second, the best-fit probability distributions of shear strength parameters are identified using Akaike Information Criterion (AIC). Finally, new characteristic and design values of shear strength parameters of rock mass are suggested. The results indicate that shear strength parameters increase with increasing quality of rock mass. In particular, the shear strength parameters of discontinuities in rock mass are significantly smaller than those of rock mass itself. The discontinuities in rock mass should be paid more attention during geological investigations. There is a large variation in shear strength parameters, and the variability of cohesion is larger than that of tangent of friction angle. The derived statistics of shear strength parameters of rock mass in this study provide an update to the values suggested in Chinese codes, and serve as a reference for hydropower projects with few site-specific test data and similar geological conditions for partial-factor design of dams.

Performance of Wireless Magnetometers for Stop Bar Detection at Signalized Intersections

Wireless magnetometers have been considered as a practical alternative to inductive loops and suitable for large intersections, where span wire is generally used for traffic signal support. In this paper, wireless magnetometers are evaluated for stop bar vehicle detection at signalized intersections. High-resolution detector data were collected in the field subjected to various weather and environmental conditions. Conditional inference trees were used to correlate detection errors with weather and environmental factors that potentially affect the performance of wireless magnetometers. The study results indicated that the wireless magnetometers are fairly robust to various environmental conditions, such as wind, lighting, and visibility. Frequent passing of heavy vehicles, common at large intersections, can cause communication interruption between in-pavement sensors and the access point. This likely increases false and stuck-on call errors, which could be aggravated by adverse weather (e.g., rain, fog, or snow). This communication interruption issue can be mitigated by proper installation of additional repeaters. Provided the interruption issues are site-specific, professional judgment and field test are required for proper system setup, which is critical to delivering accurate and reliable detection for the wireless magnetometer system.

A novel site-specific proteomic screening test for ovarian cancer in a large prospective multi-institutional clinical study

A novel site-specific proteomic screening test for ovarian cancer in a large prospective multi-institutional clinical study

Determination of site-specific soil-water characteristic curve from a limited number of test data – A Bayesian perspective

Abstract Determining soil–water characteristic curve (SWCC) at a site is an essential step for implementing unsaturated soil mechanics in geotechnical engineering practice, which can be measured directly through various in-situ and/or laboratory tests. Such direct measurements are, however, costly and time-consuming due to high standards for equipment and procedural control and limits in testing apparatus. As a result, only a limited number of data points (e.g., volumetric water content vs. matric suction) on SWCC at some values of matric suction are obtained in practice. How to use a limited number of data points to estimate the site-specific SWCC and to quantify the uncertainty (or degrees-of-belief) in the estimated SWCC remains a challenging task. This paper proposes a Bayesian approach to determine a site-specific SWCC based on a limited number of test data and prior knowledge (e.g., engineering experience and judgment). The proposed Bayesian approach quantifies the degrees-of-belief on the estimated SWCC according to site-specific test data and prior knowledge, and simultaneously selects a suitable SWCC model from a number of candidates based on the probability logic. To address computational issues involved in Bayesian analyses, Markov Chain Monte Carlo Simulation (MCMCS), specifically Metropolis-Hastings (M-H) algorithm, is used to solve the posterior distribution of SWCC model parameters, and Gaussian copula is applied to evaluating model evidence based on MCMCS samples for selecting the most probable SWCC model from a pool of candidates. This removes one key limitation of the M-H algorithm, making it feasible in Bayesian model selection problems. The proposed approach is illustrated using real data in Unsaturated Soil Database (UNSODA) developed by U.S. Department of Agriculture. It is shown that the proposed approach properly estimates the SWCC based on a limited number of site-specific test data and prior knowledge, and reflects the degrees-of-belief on the estimated SWCC in a rational and quantitative manner.