1,720,993 research outputs found

    3D Finite Element Modelling of Hydraulic Efficiency of Drainage Trenches

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    In this work the hydraulic efficiency of a parallel draining trenches system is evaluated by performing a series of pseudo-3D consolidation analyses using the finite element method. A parametric study has been conducted to investigate the influence of relevant aspects of the problem such as the slope inclination and trench length, which are not considered in currently available 2D solutions. Starting from a case study as a reference, an ideal slope has been considered, in silty, saturated soil. The evolution in space and time of the pore-water pressure and hydraulic head has been evaluated and, consequently, the evolution of the average hydraulic efficiency of the drainage system has been assessed, starting from the construction phase to the final steady-state conditions. The temporal evolution of the hydraulic efficiency has been assessed as a function of the trench inclination, depth, length and interspacing. Results have showed that the trench inclination and depth have a limited effect on the average value of the hydraulic efficiency, whereas the trench interspacing and length (the latter accountable only with a 3D model) have a remarkable effect on it

    The Impact of the Loop Electrosurgical Excisional Procedure for Cervical Intraepithelial Lesions on Female Sexual Function

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    Introduction. Very limited knowledge exists concerning the impact of Loop Electrosurgical Excisional Procedure (LEEP) on female sexual function in women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia Aim. To investigate sexual function in women who underwent LEEP for the treatment of cervical intraepithelial lesions, using a validated questionnaire (Female Sexual Function Index [FSFI]). Main Outcome Measures. FSFI questionnaire on six domains of female sexuality (desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain). Methods. Consecutive sexually active women, who underwent LEEP for the treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia were enrolled in this study. All women were asked to complete a copy of FSFI questionnaire, at the time of LEEP and after 6 months. We finally compared the results of the pre-LEEP questionnaire and the post-LEEP questionnaire for each patient. Results. A total of 67 sexually active women undergoing LEEP for the treatment of cervical intraepithelial lesions were enrolled. Nine of these patients (13.4%) completed only the questionnaire regarding their sexual function before LEEP; thus we did not include them for final analysis. In our study population, data showed a sexual function overall unchanged after LEEP; only the variable "desire" (sexual interest) became significantly worse (P = 0.02). Conclusions. LEEP for the treatment of cervical intraepithelial lesions doesn't affect women's sexuality, when compared with sexual function before surgery. In our study, all FSFI sexual function domains but desire, did not show significant change after LEEP. Serati M, Salvatore S, Cattoni E, Zanirato M, Mauri S, Siesto G, Cromi A, Ghezzi F, and Bolis P. The impact of the Loop Electrosurgical Excisional Procedure for cervical intraepithelial lesions on female sexual function. J Sex Med 2010;7:2267-2272

    Spatiotemporal Modelling of Landslide Susceptibility Using Satellite Rainfall and Soil Moisture Products through Machine Learning Techniques

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    To mitigate the risk of landslides, building a model that can provide information on the spatial and temporal probabilities of landslides is essential yet challenging. Landslides are influenced by environmental factors, such as topography, geology, and mechanical properties of the soil, as well as triggering events like rainfall and earthquakes. This research leverages Random Forest algorithm for classification by creating multiple decision trees. Each tree is trained on a distinct, randomly selected subset of the dataset. The dataset includes specific static variables for each location, such as lithology, slope angle, aspect, curvature, and land use. Additionally, the study considers two dynamic variables for each location: high-resolution soil moisture data obtained from satellites to examine the impact of soil water content, and rainfall data. By utilizing a unique rainfall-induced landslide database, which includes the location and time of landslide occurrences in the study area. The algorithm extracts the corresponding rainfall and soil moisture values preceding each landslide event and trains the model by adjusting both static and dynamic variables. The rainfall data is analyzed on two different time scales: short-term cumulative rainfall (1-72 hours before a landslide event) and medium-term cumulative rainfall (5-15 days before a landslide event). The outcomes are individual trees that determine the final class (landslide or non-landslide location) for each pixel based on the majority vote. The model's outputs, out-of-bag errors, and partial dependence plots provide insights into how each parameter influences the model's landslides predictions, and help to evaluate the impact of rainfall and soil saturation conditions on landslides occurrence both in space and in time

    Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis

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    The present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
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