Flexible high-deflection strain gauges have been demonstrated as cost-effective and accessible sensors for capturing human biomechanical deformations. However, the interpretation of these sensors is notably more complex compared to conventional strain gauges, partially owing to the viscoelastic nature of the strain gauges. On top of the non-linear viscoelastic behavior, dynamic resistance response is even more difficult to capture due to spikes in resistance during strain changes. This research examines the relationships between stress, strain, and resistance in nanocomposite sensors during dynamic strain situations. Under the assumption that both macroscopic stress and resistance are governed by microscopic stress concentrations at the junctions between nanoparticles and silicone matrix, the stress-resistance relationship is analyzed. Both stress and resistance are found to exhibit aspects of viscoelastic behavior, including creep decay and relaxation during constant strains. However, the resistance spikes are found to be more complex than a simple stress-resistance model can capture. This research then develops a model that captures the strain-resistance relationship of the sensors, including resistance spikes, during cyclical movements. The forward model, which converts strain to resistance, is comprised of four parts to accurately capture the different aspects of the sensor response: a quasi-static linear model, a spike magnitude model, a long-term creep decay model, and a short-term decay model. An inverse problem approach is used to create an inverse model, which predicts the strain vs time data that would result in the observed resistance data. The model is calibrated for a particular sensor from a small amount of cyclic data from a single test. The resulting sensor-specific model is able to accurately predict the resistance output with an R-squared value of 0.90. The inverse model is able to accurately predict key strain characteristics with a percent error of 0.5. The model can be used in a wide range of applications, including biomechanical modeling and analysis. It is found that the resistance spikes are directly correlated to the strain acceleration in terms of timing and in terms of magnitude. Poisson contraction rates and voids in the material are possible causes for resistance spikes during dynamic strain movements.

Millions of people in low-lying areas are already affected by flooding, and the number will increase substantially in the future. Tidal flooding, the form of flooding caused by a combination of high tides and sea level rise to overcome protection levels, can cause damage and inconveniences such as road closures, overwhelmed drainage systems, and infrastructure deterioration from water damage. Tidal flooding already occurs annually in cities along the U.S. east coast, most notably Miami. However, the time it will take for other regions globally to begin to experience tidal flooding has not yet been assessed. Therefore, there is a limited understanding of how and when human populations will be exposed to this type of flooding. Tide gauge data from the GESLA-2 data base are used to obtain information about the highest astronomical tide (HAT) and extreme value statistics for 571 locations globally. For a complete spatial analysis, modelled water levels from the Global Tide and Surge Reanalysis (GTSR) are also used. Estimated protection levels are extracted from the DIVA database and translated to absolute heights based on the extreme value statistics of high water levels. This analysis is based on calculating the difference between the existing protection level and HAT, which indicates how much sea levels can rise before tidal flooding occurs, and evaluating in what decade this is expected to happen under different sea-level rise (SLR) scenarios. Tidal trends from the nodal and perigean are also taken account and used to modify 1000 different sea level rise scenarios to provide a more comprehensive analysis of possible tidal flooding years. Our results indicate that tidal flooding may occur within a few decades in many locations (under the assumption that no adaptation will take place), and therefore awareness should be heightened so that actions can be taken to minimize the impacts.

Wave energy is a major driver for many coastal processes and influences wetland vegetation and shoreline stability. Coastal conservation and restoration projects often include wave climate estimations in the decision-making process for project design. The current method primarily used to estimate a project area's wave climate is the use of wind-wave models. These models use wind speed, wind direction, bathymetry, and fetch to estimate site-specific wave activity. However, these models neglect boat wake which is an important contributor to wave energy in fetch-limited environments. This study used site-specific wave measurements to compare wind-protected and open sites in Back Bay, Mississippi. Study results demonstrated that some protected sites experienced similar or even higher wave activity when compared to the open sites. These findings indicate that excluding boat activity from wave climate estimations could lead to an under-estimation of site-specific wave activity.

O sucesso a longo prazo dos implantes tem como fatores críticos a incidência e a transferência de estresses mecânicos sobre a prótese, intermediários, implantes e destes para o tecido ósseo adjacente, devendo cada parte deste sistema ser submetido somente a forças às quais estão aptos a receber. A proposta deste trabalho foi avaliar a deformação gerada nos intermediários e na região óssea peri-implantar diante da aplicação de cargas funcionais e parafuncionais em prótese parcial fixa de três elementos parafusadas sobre dois implantes. Para este trabalho, foi utilizado um modelo experimental homogêneo à base de poliuretano, simulando o tecido ósseo, com dois implantes do tipo hexágono externo paralelos que receberam intermediários do tipo multi-unit. Na superfície de cada intermediário foram instalados três sensores (strain gauges), capazes de medir a microdeformação dispostos de maneira eqüidistante entre si. Na região óssea simulada, foram instalados quatro sensores para cada implante, posicionados nas faces mesial, distal, vestibular e lingual. A aplicação da carga estática de 300N foi realizada em uma máquina de ensaios universais. As leituras foram realizadas em quatorze momentos para todos os corpos de prova, variando o direcionamento da carga (axial e inclinada à 30 graus) e simulando ainda sete diferentes pontos de aplicação de carga (1- pilar mesial, 2 - pôntico, 3- pilar distal, 4- simultaneamente no pilar mesial, pontico e pilar distal, 5- no pilar mesial e distal, sem contato no pôntico, 6- no pilar mesial e no pôntico, 7- no pilar distal e no pôntico). Os resultados mostraram que a direção da carga interferiu na magnitude e distribuição da microdeformação, de forma que, no osso simulado, os valores encontrados na carga axial se encontraram dentro da tolerância fisiológica independente do local de aplicação de carga. Observou-se uma distribuição mais uniforme quando a carga foi aplicada simultaneamente nos pilres mesial, pôntico e pilar distal. Por outro lado, valores de microdeformação acima do limite de tolerância foram observados para a carga inclinada e nesta situação o local de aplicação teve influência na microdeformação, com valores extremamente elevados e sem uniformidade na distribuição, devendo o carregamento oblíquo ser evitado. / Long-term success with implants has some critical factors such as incidence and transmission of mechanical stress to the prosthesis, abutments, and implants to the adjacent bone tissue. Each part of the system should be subjected to loads under its strength limit. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate abutment and peri-implant bone tissue strains during functional and parafunctional loads application in a three-unit screw-retained fixed prosthesis supported by two implants. In order to simulate the bone tissue, an experimental model made of homogeneous polyurethane was used wherein two external hexagon implants were placed parallel to each other, provided with multi-unit abutments. On the surface of each abutment three sensors (strain gauges) were positioned equidistant to each other to measure microstrains. The simulated bone around each implant received four strain gauges, positioned on the mesial, distal, buccal and lingual aspects. The tests were performed applying a 300N static load on a universal testing machine. The readings were made at fourteen moments for each specimen, changing load direction (axial and 30 degrees oblique) and also simulating seven different points of load application (1- mesial abutment, 2- pontic, 3- distal abutment, 4- simultaneously on the mesial abutment, pontic and distal abutment, 5- mesial and distal abutment (no pontic contact), 6- mesial abumtent and pontic, 7- distal abutment and pontic. The results showed that the load direction significantly influenced the magnitude and distribution of microstrains, so that for the simulated bone, the values found during axial load were within the physiological threshold independent of the point of load application; however, a more uniform distribution was observed when force was applied simultaneously on the mesial abutment, pontic and distal abutment. Furthermore, microstrain values above the tolerance limits were observed during oblique load, and for this condition, the point of load application significantly influenced the microstrains, with extremely high values and non-uniform distribution for all load conditions tested. Therefore, oblique loading must be avoided.

O sucesso a longo prazo dos implantes tem como fatores críticos a incidência e a transferência de estresses mecânicos sobre a prótese, intermediários, implantes e destes para o tecido ósseo adjacente, devendo cada parte deste sistema ser submetido somente a forças às quais estão aptos a receber. A proposta deste trabalho foi avaliar a deformação gerada nos intermediários e na região óssea peri-implantar diante da aplicação de cargas funcionais e parafuncionais em prótese parcial fixa de três elementos parafusadas sobre dois implantes. Para este trabalho, foi utilizado um modelo experimental homogêneo à base de poliuretano, simulando o tecido ósseo, com dois implantes do tipo hexágono externo paralelos que receberam intermediários do tipo multi-unit. Na superfície de cada intermediário foram instalados três sensores (strain gauges), capazes de medir a microdeformação dispostos de maneira eqüidistante entre si. Na região óssea simulada, foram instalados quatro sensores para cada implante, posicionados nas faces mesial, distal, vestibular e lingual. A aplicação da carga estática de 300N foi realizada em uma máquina de ensaios universais. As leituras foram realizadas em quatorze momentos para todos os corpos de prova, variando o direcionamento da carga (axial e inclinada à 30 graus) e simulando ainda sete diferentes pontos de aplicação de carga (1- pilar mesial, 2 - pôntico, 3- pilar distal, 4- simultaneamente no pilar mesial, pontico e pilar distal, 5- no pilar mesial e distal, sem contato no pôntico, 6- no pilar mesial e no pôntico, 7- no pilar distal e no pôntico). Os resultados mostraram que a direção da carga interferiu na magnitude e distribuição da microdeformação, de forma que, no osso simulado, os valores encontrados na carga axial se encontraram dentro da tolerância fisiológica independente do local de aplicação de carga. Observou-se uma distribuição mais uniforme quando a carga foi aplicada simultaneamente nos pilres mesial, pôntico e pilar distal. Por outro lado, valores de microdeformação acima do limite de tolerância foram observados para a carga inclinada e nesta situação o local de aplicação teve influência na microdeformação, com valores extremamente elevados e sem uniformidade na distribuição, devendo o carregamento oblíquo ser evitado. / Long-term success with implants has some critical factors such as incidence and transmission of mechanical stress to the prosthesis, abutments, and implants to the adjacent bone tissue. Each part of the system should be subjected to loads under its strength limit. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate abutment and peri-implant bone tissue strains during functional and parafunctional loads application in a three-unit screw-retained fixed prosthesis supported by two implants. In order to simulate the bone tissue, an experimental model made of homogeneous polyurethane was used wherein two external hexagon implants were placed parallel to each other, provided with multi-unit abutments. On the surface of each abutment three sensors (strain gauges) were positioned equidistant to each other to measure microstrains. The simulated bone around each implant received four strain gauges, positioned on the mesial, distal, buccal and lingual aspects. The tests were performed applying a 300N static load on a universal testing machine. The readings were made at fourteen moments for each specimen, changing load direction (axial and 30 degrees oblique) and also simulating seven different points of load application (1- mesial abutment, 2- pontic, 3- distal abutment, 4- simultaneously on the mesial abutment, pontic and distal abutment, 5- mesial and distal abutment (no pontic contact), 6- mesial abumtent and pontic, 7- distal abutment and pontic. The results showed that the load direction significantly influenced the magnitude and distribution of microstrains, so that for the simulated bone, the values found during axial load were within the physiological threshold independent of the point of load application; however, a more uniform distribution was observed when force was applied simultaneously on the mesial abutment, pontic and distal abutment. Furthermore, microstrain values above the tolerance limits were observed during oblique load, and for this condition, the point of load application significantly influenced the microstrains, with extremely high values and non-uniform distribution for all load conditions tested. Therefore, oblique loading must be avoided.

No description available.

No description available.

Atualmente, os implantes são utilizados em diversos tipos de tratamento na reabilitação oral. Para manutenção da osseointegração, é essencial que o conjunto prótese/implante/osso seja submetido a forças às quais estejam aptos a suportar. Os diferentes tipos de desadaptações das infraestruturas das próteses sobre implantes são fatores que podem contribuir para o aumento das tensões na região peri-implantar. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a influência das desadaptações angulares unilaterais na distribuição de tensões na região periimplantar de pilares tipo UCLA, no momento da pré-carga e carga axial. Infraestruturas de CoCr, confeccionadas utilizando-se pilares tipo UCLA, foram divididas em quatro grupos: Grupo A (adaptado), Grupo B, Grupo C e Grupo D (50, 100 e 200 &#x3BC;m de desadaptação unilateral angular por vestibular, respectivamente). Cada grupo foi representado por quatro infraestruturas (n=4). Quatro implantes (4.1mm/15mm) foram posicionados em uma matriz metálica, onde posteriormente foi vazado o poliuretano (PU), com função de simular o tecido ósseo. Quatro extensômetros (strain gauges) foram posicionados na região vestibular, distal, lingual e mesial de cada implante, para aferir a quantidade de deformação; cada grupo foi posicionado em seu respectivo implante. Foram realizados dois testes: o teste de pré-carga com um torque de 32Ncm e o teste de carga com uma força axial estática de 300N. Cada infraestrutura foi sujeita aos dois testes, por cinco vezes. Para análise estatística dos dados, foram utilizados ANOVA (dois critérios) e o teste de Tukey (p<0,05). Os resultados mostraram que os grupos A e B tiveram menos deformação da região peri-implantar em ambos os testes, quando comparados aos grupos C e D. A estatística também mostrou que o Grupo A apresentou melhor distribuição de tensões em sua região, peri-implantar quando comparado aos outros três grupos (p<0,05). Como conclusões, este estudo mostrou que as desadaptações influem na distribuição das tensões da região peri-implantar e que quanto maior o nível de desadaptação, mais altas são as tensões geradas. / Nowadays implants are used in several kinds of oral rehabilitation treatments. For the osseointegration maintenance it is important that crow/implant/bone are subjected to forces which are able to withstand. Different kinds of misfit on the crown frameworks are factors that could lead to an increase of strain around the implanted bone. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of the unilateral angular misfit in frameworks made of UCLA on the peri-implant strain distribution, subjected to preload and axial load. Frameworks made of chrome-cobalt were fabricated on UCLA abutments and divided in 4 groups: Group A (no misfit), Group B, Group C, Group D (50, 100, and 200 of unilateral angular misfit by buccal side, respectively). Each group was represented for 4 frameworks (n=4). Four implants (4.1mm/15mm) were positioned in a metallic matrix which was subsequently poured the polyurethane (PU) to simulate the bone. Four strain gauges were positioned on the buccal, distal, lingual and mesial sides of each implant to assess the amount of strain, each group was connected on its respectively implant. It was performed 2 tests: the preload test with a 32Ncm torque and the load test by applying an axial force of 300N. Each framework was subjected to the both test five times. To the statistics analysis ANOVA (2 ways) and Turkeys test were performed. The results showed that the Groups A and B presented less deformation when compared to Groups C and D. The statistics also showed that the Group A presented better distribution of strain on its peri-implant bone when compared to the other three groups (p<0,05). In conclusion this study showed that misfit had influence on the strain distribution on the peri-implant bone and that strain increased on the Groups C and D which presented higher levels of misfit.

Since the late 1800s, public data visualizations displaying election forecasts and results—such as the red and blue map of the United State—have presented an irreparably divided country. However, on November 8, 2016, the New York Times published a data visualization on their live presidential forecast page that broke over a century of visual expectations, inspiring many to tweet reactions to what popular media has dubbed the "jittery gauges." Not surprisingly, the tweets about this unique and difficult-to-interpret display were mostly negative. This paper argues, though, that the negative feedback indicates that the gauges, while imperfect, represent an important step away from visualizations that support the growing perception of party polarization. The key factor present in the gauges is the data design principle of uncertainty or possibility. If major news outlets were more thoughtful about introducing uncertain elements into visualizations of American politics, perhaps the nation could begin to imagine a political landscape that moves beyond red vs. blue, me vs. you.

The steel through-truss Traffic Bridge, located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan is over one hundred years old. The bridge has been subject to ongoing maintenance throughout its service life. However, inspection reports from 2005 and 2006 highlighted the severe deterioration experienced primarily by the steel members immediately above and below the deck surface. These reports prompted the City of Saskatoon (COS) to implement a rehabilitation project that involved the installation of a post-tensioning system to relieve the badly corroded bottom chord members of the axial loads due to the self-weight of the structure, in 2006. Due to the severe deterioration and the structural modifications that the Traffic Bridge has endured, a limited scope structural health monitoring (SHM) system, based on strain measurements, was implemented to reduce some of the uncertainty regarding the active load paths occurring at the deck level. The objectives of the SHM study were to obtain more information regarding the actual load paths and ascertain possible types of structural redundancy, to determine how to best model this type of structure, and to find ways to track ongoing deterioration using instrumentation. The SHM study involved controlled truck loading scenarios to permit measurement of the load paths and provide data to compare the measured results to a finite element (FE) model of the instrumented span. In addition, random loading scenarios were used to capture the vertical dynamic response of the structure in order to further refine the FE model. This study focused on the response of one-half of one interior span. A total of 72 strain gauges were installed. The downstream truss was highly instrumented at ten locations, three members of the upstream truss were instrumented to measure the distribution, and the floor joists in the downstream lane were instrumented to establish possible redundancy paths. Using an FE model in combination with the measured strain data, it was found that redundant load paths only existed at the level of the deck. The bottom chord members experienced non-zero strains once the control vehicle was past the span, possibly indicating some level of redundancy. The members believed to relieve a portion of the bottom chord tensile forces included the car joists, edge joists, and the timber deck. The amount of force transferred from the bottom chord to the deck members was found by FE analysis to be highly related to the lateral stiffness of the floor beams. The FE model was adjusted to match the measured results by modifying various modelling parameters. The most important features of the model were that all deck elements were modelled to be located at the elevation of the bottom chord, that the lateral stiffness of the floor beams was reduced by 50% to best represent the transfer of forces to deck elements, and that the stiffness of bottom chord members was reduced to 80% of their pristine values. In combination with calibrated modification factors applied to the measured values, this FE model is believed to be a useful tool to represent the behaviour of the structure to assist in detecting further damage by modelling the strain differential between members, and components of members.