This dissertation presents methodologies to develop bridge condition deterioration models which accounts for non-stationarity in the deterioration process with applications to Florida concrete and timber bridges. A critical and comprehensive review of bridge deterioration modeling approaches is presented with illustrative examples based on regression, stochastic Markov-chain, mechanistic and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) models. This study also develops a framework for relating the qualitative National Bridge Inventory (NBI) condition ratings with normalized resistance of the concrete bridge component with application to concrete bridge T-beams to reduce the subjectivity of the NBI condition rating. A systematic approach for the prioritization of bridges for inspection is developed using the multivariate regression modeling technique, and forecasting models are developed based on multiple relevant variables for both concrete bridge superstructure and substructure components. This dissertation also develops an approach for risk and reliability assessments of concrete and timber bridges based on non-parametric deterioration modeling techniques such as average time-in condition rating (ATICR) and Kaplan-Meier (K-M) survival (reliability) models, for probabilistic prediction of bridge safety while accounting for the partial information from the incomplete bridge condition observations. This study develops relative deterioration rates based on the ATICR and illustrates the time-dependent probability of deterioration of the concrete and timber bridge components based on K-M estimates. Further, the relationship of explanatory variables to the survival time is discussed and estimates are made for the median survival years for reinforced concrete solid slab decks. This dissertation presents the code developed in R for multivariate regression analysis and data-driven reliability analysis. Future research studies in bridge deterioration modeling are also presented. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2021. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

The aim of this diploma thesis is making design of device for setting tyres into the machine for ozone deterioration of tyres with following parametres: tyre size 295/80 R22,5, deployment profile of tyres, its foundation into the machine and sealing ozone atmosphere. The first part of this thesis contain research retailing to issues of tyre. After that there si presented design, which is completely making in programme Autodesk Inventor 2010. Calcutations are making in programme Mathcad 14 and deformation load, mainly construction, is making in programme Ansys 12.1. Finally there is making drawings.

The growing interest in pavement management systems (PMSs), both in South Mrica and internationally, has been in response to a shift in importance from the construction of new roads to the maintenance of the existing paved network coupled with increasingly restrictive road funding. In order to develop a balanced expenditure programme for the national roads of South Africa there is a need to predict the rate of deterioration of a pavement and the nature of the changes in its condition so that the timing, type and cost of maintenance needs could be estimated. Internationally these expected changes in pavement condition are predicted by pavement deterioration models, which normally are algorithms developed mathematically or from a study of pavement deterioration. Since no usable pavement deterioration models existed locally, it was necessary to evaluate overseas literature on pavement deterioration prediction models with the aim of identifying models possibly applicable to the national roads of South Africa. Only deterioration models developed from the deterioration results of inservice pavements under a normal traffic spectrum were evaluated. Models developed from accelerated testing were avoided since these models virtually eliminated long·term effects (these are primarily environmental but also include effects of the rest periods between loads), and that the unrepresentative traffic loading regimes can distort the behaviour of the pavement materials, which is often stress dependent. Models developed from the following studies were evaluated: • AASHO Road Test • The Kenya study • Brazil-UNDP study (HDM-ill models) • Texas study Of all the above models studied that were developed from major studies it was concluded that the incremental models developed during the Brazil study, were the most appropriate for further evaluation under South African conditions. A sensitivity analysis was conducted on the HDM-III models to evaluate their sensitivity to changes in the different parameters comprising each model. The results obtained from the sensitivity analysis indicate that the incremental roughness prediction model incorporated into the HDM-III model tends to be insensitive to changes in most parameters. Accuracy ranges for input data were, however, also identified for parameters which indicated an increase in sensitivity in certain ranges. The local applicability of the HDM-III deterioration models were finally evaluated by comparing HDM-III model predictions with the actually observed deterioration values of a selected number of national road pavement sections. To enable the above comparison, a validation procedure had to be developed according to which the format of existing data could be transformed to that required by the HDM-ill model, as well as additional information be calculated. From the comparison it was concluded that the HDM-III models are capable of accurately predicting the observed deterioration on South African national roads, but that for most models calibration is needed for local conditions. Guidelines regarding recommended calibration factor ranges for the different HDM-ill models are given. Finally it is recommended that the HDM-III models should be considered for incorporation into a balanced expenditure programme for the national roads of South Africa. / Dissertation (MEng)--University of Pretoria, 1993. / gm2014 / Civil Engineering / MEng / Unrestricted

In depth studies of the vegetation of large parts of southern Africa, including detailed maps and descriptions of vegetation units are mainly limited to small areas. Meanwhile, various agricultural practises have led to destruction or deterioration of the quality of natural grassland ecosystems. The agricultural sector in developed and rapidly developing areas of southern Africa is confronted with problems like veld deterioration and the loss of natural areas that effectively contribute to the depopulation of rural areas. The necessity to identify, classify and describe the vegetation types and communities within the Grassland Biome was stressed by Mentis and Huntley (1982). The aim of the Grassland Biome Project is to integrate knowledge. comprehension and expertise, which will enable scientists to forecast the results of the available options of grassland management programmes. The phytosociological classification of northwestern KwaZulu-Natal forms part of this project. Known previous vegetation studies of this area were conducted on a large scale and a considerable time ago, which underlines the necessity for a more comprehensive and phytosociologically refined investigation of this area. The study area lies in the northern part of KwaZulu-Natal and comprises the Drakensberg mountains and slopes in the west and undulating plains and bushveld valleys in the east and south. Relevés were compiled in 526 stratified random sample plots over an area of 9300 km2, comprising the northwestern part of KwaZulu-Natal. The vegetation was classified by means of TWINSP AN and Braun-Blanquet procedures. A phytosociological investigation of this vegetation revealed great variation in floristic composition. Further refinement of the data disclosed five major vegetation types containing nine plant communities. The topography and geology of the study area contributes greatly to the diversity of the vegetation, but poor agricultural practises have caused deterioration of the vegetation. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 1998. / Plant Science / unrestricted

Bakgrund: Patienter riskerar att försämras i sitt tillstånd på grund av olika faktorer. Sjuksköterskan har en viktig roll i att upptäcka, bedöma och initiera åtgärder för en patient som försämras i sitt tillstånd. Sjuksköterskans kompetens består av kunskap, färdigheter och erfarenheter. Sjuksköterskan ska arbeta för att säkerställa patientsäkerheten inom vården. Syfte: Syftet var att belysa hur sjuksköterskans kompetens kan påverka patientsäkerheten vid försämring av patientens tillstånd. Metod: En litteraturstudie genomfördes genom att söka i relevanta databaser. Elva artiklar valdes ut och bearbetades med inspiration från innehållsanalys. Resultat: Fyra kategorier med tillhörande underkategorier framkom. Huvudkategorierna var: Från sjuksköterskestudent till nyutbildad sjuksköterska, Den yrkeskompetenta sjuksköterskan, Samverkan i vårdteam och Arbetsmiljöns betydelse. Nyutbildade sjuksköterskor upplevde att de hade brist på erfarenhet i att hantera patienter som försämras i sitt tillstånd. Erfarenhet och kontinuitet framkom som betydande för att upptäcka och hantera försämring i patientens tillstånd. Samarbete ökade patientsäkerheten men det förekom brister i kommunikationen mellan läkare och sjuksköterska. Slutsats: Litteraturstudien påvisade att sjuksköterskans kompetens påverkar patientsäkerheten vid försämring av patientens tillstånd. Mer forskning behövs för att undersöka hur detta kan tillämpas inom vården. / Background: Nurses have an important role in recognizing and responding to patient deterioration. Nursing competence includes knowledge, skills and experience. The nurse must work to ensure patient safety in healthcare. Aim: The aim of this study was to illustrate how nursing competence affects patient safety during patient deterioration. Method: A literature study was undertaken by searching relevant databases. Eleven articles were selected and analyzed with inspiration from content analysis. Results: Four main categories with associated subcategories emerged. The main categories were From nursing student to newly graduated nurse, The professional and competent nurse, Teamwork and The importance of the working environment. Newly graduated nurses felt they lacked experience when dealing with patient deterioration. Experience and continuity played an important role for nurses when dealing with deterioration. Team collaboration increased patient safety, but there were shortcomings in communication between nurses and doctors. Conclusion: The literary study showed that nursing competence affects patient safety when a patient deteriorates. Further research is needed to establish how this information can be applied in healthcare.

Hospitalized patients increasingly present with complex health issues that place them at risk for acute patient deterioration (APD). Novice nurses are ill-equipped with the critical clinical skills to function competently in recognizing APD, placing patients at risk for negative health outcomes. This project addressed the need to educate novice nurses to recognize APD and answered the project focused questions that asked if an educational intervention with high-fidelity simulation (HFS) would improve nurse knowledge and clinical confidence in recognizing APD. Benner's novice-to-expert and the constructivism theory were used to guide the project. Based upon a review of the literature, the HFS was developed to provide scenarios in which participants would view APD evolving case studies and demonstrate knowledge and skill for caring for patients with APD. A convenience sample of 11 novice nurses participated in the pre- and posttest design project to determine if knowledge and clinical competence increased. Data from the HFS program were analyzed; results showed no statistically significant change in knowledge or confidence post intervention (p = 0.441). A larger sample size is recommended for future HFS interventions at the site to determine if the program of education will increase knowledge and clinical confidence with future iterations of HFS. The project has the potential to promote positive social change as novice nurses learn to recognize and respond to APD and as APD events are reduced.

Previous authors have developed many different types of water pipe condition and failure models using the various methodologies available.  Contrary, current utilities are struggling to maintain their current water infrastructure system, due to the lack of effective prediction tools at hand.  The gap between the methodologies available in academic research and the tools available to current water utilities needs to be addressed.  This paper presents a fuzzy inference prediction model used to forecast the performance rating of individual drinking water pipeline sections (node to node) in which utilities can easily apply to their drinking water infrastructure system. Prior to the development of a prediction model, a through literature and current practice review is completed detailing and summarizing all the available mathematical models.  Following, an infrastructure overview is presented detailing the various pipe materials, lifecycle and failure modes and mechanisms.  A data structure is also detailed which lists all parameters that affect the condition and/or performance of a pipeline.  All of these tools are successfully used to develop a fuzzy inference performance model. The fuzzy inference performance model is considered novel in that it considers close to 30 pipe parameters.  Moreover, the performance model is applied using the Western Virginia Water Authority (WVWA) and the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) databases to evaluate and verify the predicting results.  Lab testing of several pipe samples is also used to evaluate the model.  The testing consists of a ring bearing test which is used to calculate the rupture modulus of the pipe.  Comparing the original vs. the current rupture modulus can determine the remaining strength of the pipe.  The remaining strength can then be used to assess the performance results predicted by the fuzzy inference model. Further a framework is set forth which utilizes the model's predicted performance ratings to develop deterioration curves which can be used as a tool to forecast and plan future inspection, repair, rehabilitation and replacement of water pipelines.  The deterioration model is made up of a Markov chain approach coupled with a non-optimization technique. / Ph. D.

Introduction The neuropsychological deterioration after cardiac surgery involving cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), is ascribed to brain ischaemia caused by, amongst others, hypotension, cerebral hyperthermia, cerebral embolism, interaction between pharmacological methods and hypothermia during ischaemia, and the directly neurotoxic of anaesthetic drugs. AimTo investigate the effect of the anaesthetic techniques midazolam plus ketamine (MK) or sufentanil (S) on the quantitative EEG (QEEG), reaction time (RT), serum neuron specific enolase (NSE), and serum S-100<font face="symbol">b</font> protein after cardiac surgery involving CPB in humans. Patients and methodsThe sample consisted of a total of 42 patients scheduled for elective coronary artery bypass (CABG) or valve replacement (VR). All patients were not available for all the postoperative tests. Patients were allocated randomly to group MK or S. Anaesthetic technique: S or MK. Isoflurane was administered when necessary. CPB technique: 30°C, membrane oxygenation, a 40 <font face="symbol">m</font>m filter in the arterial cannula and <font face="symbol">a</font>-stat-blood gas management, blood pressure of 50 to 70 mm Hg and a haematocrit <font face="symbol">></font> 22%. Patients were weaned from CPB when nasopharyngeal temperature reached a maximum of 37,5°C. QEEG and RT was performed 1 to 2 days preoperatively and 5 to 6 days postoperatively.Serum-NSE and -S-100<font face="symbol">b</font> protein were measured preoperatively, 2 minutes after going on CPB, after rewarming to 37°C, just before the end of CPB and 2, 4, 10, 20, 30, and 48 hours after CPB. ResultsQEEG: The most noticable finding was an increase in slow wave activity (relative <font face="symbol">q</font> and <font face="symbol">s</font>). The QEEG outcome was better after CABG than after VR (p < 0,001), but not different between MK and S (p = 0,5000). <font face="symbol">Dq</font>% was better with MK than S (p = 0,0120). <font face="symbol">Dq</font>% (p = 0,0010), <font face="symbol">Da/q</font>% (p = 0,0090) and <font face="symbol">D</font>PS% (p = 0,0025) was better after CABG than VR. Reaction time: There was a significant deterioration in 5/18 (27,78%) of MK and 12/18 (66,67%) of S (p = 0,0220). The change in accuracy in sequential reation time 1 (p = 0,0100), and sequential reation time 2 (p = 0,0970) and the cumulative accuracy was better with MK than S(p = 0,0020). Chemical markers: Over groups 14,8% of patients had a poor NSE and 61,9% a poor S-100<font face="symbol">b</font> outcome. Within groups a poor NSE outcome was found in 14,8% of MK and 14,8% of S (p = 1,0000), and 4,8% of CABG but 23,8% of VR (p = 0,1840). Within groups as adverse S-100<font face="symbol">b</font> outcome was found in 42,9% of MK but 81,0% van S (p = 0,0250; Fisher's exact test), and 66,7% of CABG and 57,1% of KV (p = 0,7510. According to area under the curve of corrected NSE, CABG had a better outcome than VR (p = 0,0040). According to both maximum S-100<font face="symbol">b</font> level and the area under the curve of S-100<font face="symbol">b</font>, an interaction occurred between the anaesthetic technique and the procedure, with VR doing better with MK while CABG did significantly better with S (p = 0,0180 en 0,0040 respectively). Conclusion, shortcomings, significance and contribution This study has shown that, in as far as brain damage is concerned, the outcome was probably better with MK than with S, and CABG better than VR. An interaction was found between the anaesthetic technique and the type of operation. / Thesis (MD)--University of Pretoria, 2003. / Anaesthesiology / unrestricted

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第18574号 / 工博第3935号 / 新制||工||1605(附属図書館) / 31474 / 京都大学大学院工学研究科都市社会工学専攻 / (主査)教授 大津 宏康, 教授 河野 広隆, 教授 清野 純史 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) / Kyoto University / DFAM

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第19291号 / 工博第4088号 / 新制||工||1630(附属図書館) / 32293 / 京都大学大学院工学研究科都市社会工学専攻 / (主査)教授 小林 潔司, 教授 大津 宏康, 准教授 松島 格也 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) / Kyoto University / DFAM