11. Structural health monitoring for performance assessment of bridges under flooding and seismic actionsLuke J. Prendergast, Maria P. Limongelli, Naida Ademovic, Andrej Anžlin, Gavin Kenneth, Mariano Zanini, 2018, original scientific article Abstract: Bridges can be subjected to damaging environmental actions due to flooding and seismic hazards. Flood actions that result in scour are a leading cause of bridge failure, while seismic actions that induce lateral forces may lead to high ductility demand that exceeds pier capacity. When combined, seismic actions and scour can lead to effects that depend on the governing scour condition affecting a bridge. Loss of stiffness under scour can reduce the ductility capacity of a bridge but can also lead to an increase in flexibility that may reduce seismic inertial forces. Conversely, increased flexibility can lead to deck collapse due to support loss, so there exists some uncertainty about the combined effect of both phenomena. A necessary step towards the performance assessment of bridges under flooding and seismic actions is to calibrate numerical models that can reproduce structural responses under different actions. A further step is verifying the achievement of performance goals defined by codes. Structural health monitoring (SHM) techniques allow the computation of performance parameters that are useful for calibrating numerical models and performing direct checks of performance goal compliance. In this paper, various strategies employed to monitor bridge health against scour and seismic actions are discussed, with a particular focus on vibration-based damage identification methods.
Keywords: scour, seismic, damage, hazard, vibration-based methods
Published in DiRROS: 29.11.2023; Views: 194; Downloads: 110
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13. Combining mineralisation and thermal modification to improve the fungal durability of selected wood speciesRožle Repič, Andreja Pondelak, Davor Kržišnik, Miha Humar, Andrijana Sever Škapin, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: The development of non-biocidal and environmentally friendly systems to protect wood against biological decay has become a high priority in recent years. In the present study the impact of an innovative modification procedure, combining two environmentally friendly modification methods: thermal modification and mineralisation, using an aqueous solution of calcium acetoacetate as a precursor, on the fungal durability of wood was evaluated. European beechwood (Fagus sylvatica) and Norway sprucewood (Picea abies) were selected as model wood species. Wood samples were treated using either a single or combination of both methods and exposed to four different fungi: Gloeophyllum trabeum, Rhodonia placenta, Trametes versicolor and Pleurotus ostreatus. The effect of the different modifications on moisture content, dynamic vapour sorption, contact angle and pH value was also evaluated. Overall, the highest durability against Rhodonia placenta, Trametes versicolor and Pleurotus ostreatus was achieved through thermal modification in both wood species, while the combination of mineralisation and thermal modification has a synergistic effect against degradation by Gloeophyllum trabeum. In the case of beechwood the mass loss decreased from 41% for native to 6% for combined modified samples. We proved that the effectiveness of different treatment against fungal decay of wood were in strong dependence of their moisture content, dynamic vapour sorption, contact angle and pH values. The role of fungi on the morphology of the wood and on crystal structure of formed carbonate was investigated using SEM-EDS analysis.
Keywords: thermal modification, wood mineralization, fungal durability, environmentally friendly modification methods
Published in DiRROS: 20.06.2023; Views: 332; Downloads: 383
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14. Priorities for bark anatomical research : study venues and open questionsIlana Shtein, Jožica Gričar, Simcha Lev-Yadun, Alexei Oskolski, Marcelo R. Pace, Julieta A. Rosell, Alan Crivellaro, 2023, original scientific article Keywords: bark, anatomy, cork, dilatation, periderm, phellogen, phenology, phloem, methods, ecology
Published in DiRROS: 16.05.2023; Views: 381; Downloads: 206
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15. EditorialBoštjan Šimunič, 2022, preface, editorial, afterword Keywords: kinesiology, body fat, weigh, body mass, body composition, monitoring, methods
Published in DiRROS: 03.03.2023; Views: 392; Downloads: 182
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16. Teaching feints to handball beginners, preliminary resultsDavid Henigman, Katarina Ohnjec, 2021, short scientific article Abstract: The aim of this preliminary research was the evaluation of a two-month program for improvement of the single forward feint to the left with passage to the right, and single forward feint to the right with passage to the left by “shifting” the opponent’s hand. Six-teen young male handball players aged 9.64 ± 0.87 years participated in this study. The program was implemented over two months, during which 18 training sessions (35%) were conducted for the improvement of feint skills, from 52 training sessions overall. An initial video recording was made at the beginning of the period, and a final one at the end. Videos were analyzed by three experts, using a grading list and detailed grad-ing criteria. The basic parameters of descriptive statistics were determined for both variables. The metric characteristics of the expert estimation contribution were ana-lyzed through measures of reliability (Cronbach’s α) and homogeneity (average item inter-correlation). The non-parametric (Wilcoxon t-test) method was used to analyze changes in the levels of feint performance at different times. The results indicate satis-factory reliability and homogeneity of the tests (α1=0.90; r1=0.80; α2 =0.86; r2=0.87). Through insight into the results, a significant difference was spotted between the initial and final states of both motor skills acquisitions (T1 = 114.5, p= 0.01; T2 =7.00; p= 0.01). The limiting factors of the study may be the sample size, as well as the absence of a control group and of a validated evaluation of the instrument
Keywords: handball, handball players, teaching methods, motor skills, work program, single feint
Published in DiRROS: 02.03.2023; Views: 376; Downloads: 170
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17. Risk factors for systemic reactions in typical cold urticaria : results from the COLD-CE studyMojca Bizjak, Mitja Košnik, Dejan Dinevski, Simon Francis Thomsen, Daria Fomina, Elena Borzova, Kanokvalai Kulthanan, Raisa Meshkova, Dalia Melina Ahsan, Mona Al-Ahmad, Jovan Miljković, Dorothea Terhorst, Marcus Maurer, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: Background. Cold urticaria (ColdU), i.e. the occurrence of wheals or angioedema in response to cold exposure, is classified into typical and atypical forms. The diagnosis of typical ColdU relies on whealing in response to local cold stimulation testing (CST). It can also manifest with cold-induced anaphylaxis (ColdA). We aimed to determine risk factors for ColdA in typical ColdU. Methods. An international, cross-sectional study COLD-CE was carried out at 32 urticaria centers of reference and excellence (UCAREs). Detailed history was taken and CST with an ice cube and/or TempTest® performed. ColdA was defined as an acute cold-induced involvement of the skin and/or visible mucosal tissue and at least one of: cardiovascular manifestations, difficulty breathing, or gastrointestinal symptoms. Results. Of 551 ColdU patients, 75% (n=412) had a positive CST and ColdA occurred in 37% (n=151) of the latter. Cold-induced generalized wheals, angioedema, acral swelling, oropharyngeal/laryngeal symptoms, and itch of earlobes were identified as signs/symptoms of severe disease. ColdA was most commonly provoked by complete cold water immersion and ColdA caused by cold air was more common in countries with a warmer climate. Ten percent (n=40) of typical ColdU patients had a concomitant chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). They had a lower frequency of ColdA than those without CSU (4% vs 39%, p=0.003). We identified the following risk factors for cardiovascular manifestations: previous systemic reaction to a Hymenoptera sting, angioedema, oropharyngeal/laryngeal symptoms, and itchy earlobes. Conclusion. ColdA is common in typical ColdU. High-risk patients require education about their condition and how to use an adrenaline autoinjector.
Keywords: urticaria, risk factors, epinephrine - therapeutic use, self administration, intramuscular injections - methods, cold urticaria, systemic reactions, adrenaline autoinjector
Published in DiRROS: 31.08.2022; Views: 527; Downloads: 224
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18. Photocatalytic, electrocatalytic and photoelectrocatalytic degradation of pharmaceuticals in aqueous media : analytical methods, mechanisms, simulations, catalysts and reactorsBelisa Alcantara Marinho, Luka Suhadolnik, Blaž Likozar, Matej Huš, Živa Marinko, Miran Čeh, 2022, review article Keywords: advanced oxidation process, persistent organic compounds, pharmaceutical by- products, degradation mechanism, reactor design, analytical methods
Published in DiRROS: 10.03.2022; Views: 653; Downloads: 519
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19. Empirical approach for modelling tree phenology in mixed forests using remote sensingKoffi Dodji Noumonvi, Gal Oblišar, Ana Žust, Urša Vilhar, 2021, original scientific article Abstract: : Phenological events are good indicators of the effects of climate change, since phenological phases are sensitive to changes in environmental conditions. Although several national phenological networks monitor the phenology of different plant species, direct observations can only be conducted on individual trees, which cannot be easily extended over large and continuous areas. Remote sensing has often been applied to model phenology for large areas, focusing mostly on pure forests in which it is relatively easier to match vegetation indices with ground observations. In mixed forests, phenology modelling from remote sensing is often limited to land surface phenology, which consists of an overall phenology of all tree species present in a pixel. The potential of remote sensing for modelling the phenology of individual tree species in mixed forests remains underexplored. In this study, we applied the seasonal midpoint (SM) method with MODIS GPP to model the start of season (SOS) and the end of season (EOS) of six different tree species in Slovenian mixed forests. First, substitute locations were identified for each combination of observation station and plant species based on similar environmental conditions (aspect, slope, and altitude) and tree species of interest, and used to retrieve the remote sensing information used in the SM method after fitting the best of a Gaussian and two double logistic functions to each year of GPP time series. Then, the best thresholds were identified for SOS and EOS, and the results were validated using cross-validation. The results show clearly that the usual threshold of 0.5 is not best in most cases, especially for estimating the EOS. Despite the difficulty in modelling the phenology of different tree species in a mixed forest using remote sensing, it was possible to estimate SOS and EOS with moderate errors as low as <8 days (Fagus sylvatica and Tilia sp.) and <10 days (Fagus sylvatica and Populus tremula), respectively.
Keywords: phenology modelling, start of season, end of season, remote sensing, MODIS GPP, vegetation indices, threshold methods
Published in DiRROS: 23.08.2021; Views: 937; Downloads: 687
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20. Decontamination strategies and bloodstream infections with antibiotic-resistant microorganisms in ventilated patients : a randomized clinical trialBastiaan H. Wittekamp, Nienke L. Plantinga, Ben S. Cooper, Joaquin Lopez-Contreras, Pere Coll, Jordi Mancebo, Matt P. Wise, Matt P. G. Morgan, Pieter Depuydt, Jerina Boelens, Viktorija Tomič, Franc Šifrer, 2018, original scientific article Abstract: Importance: The effects of chlorhexidine (CHX) mouthwash, selective oropharyngeal decontamination (SOD), and selective digestive tract decontamination (SDD) on patient outcomes in ICUs with moderate to high levels of antibiotic resistance are unknown. Objective: To determine associations between CHX 2%, SOD, and SDD and the occurrence of ICU-acquired bloodstream infections with multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria (MDRGNB) and 28-day mortality in ICUs with moderate to high levels of antibiotic resistance. Design, setting, and participants: Randomized trial conducted from December 1, 2013, to May 31, 2017, in 13 European ICUs where at least 5% of bloodstream infections are caused by extended-spectrum [beta]-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae. Patients with anticipated mechanical ventilation of more than 24 hours were eligible. The final date of follow-up was September 20, 2017. Interventions: Standard care was daily CHX 2% body washings and a hand hygiene improvement program. Following a baseline period from 6 to 14 months, each ICU was assigned in random order to 3 separate 6-month intervention periods with either CHX 2% mouthwash, SOD (mouthpaste with colistin, tobramycin, and nystatin), or SDD (the same mouthpaste and gastrointestinal suspension with the same antibiotics), all applied 4 times daily. Main outcomes and measures: The occurrence of ICU-acquired bloodstream infection with MDRGNB (primary outcome) and 28-day mortality (secondary outcome) during each intervention period compared with the baseline period. Results: A total of 8665 patients (median age, 64.1 years; 5561 men [64.2%]) were included in the study (2251, 2108, 2224, and 2082 in the baseline, CHX, SOD, and SDD periods, respectively). ICU-acquired bloodstream infection with MDRGNB occurred among 144 patients (154 episodes) in 2.1%, 1.8%, 1.5%, and 1.2% of included patients during the baseline, CHX, SOD, and SDD periods, respectively. Absolute risk reductions were 0.3% (95% CI, -0.6% to 1.1%), 0.6% (95% CI, -0.2% to 1.4%), and 0.8% (95% CI, 0.1% to 1.6%) for CHX, SOD, and SDD, respectively, compared with baseline. Adjusted hazard ratios were 1.13 (95% CI, 0.68-1.88), 0.89 (95% CI, 0.55-1.45), and 0.70 (95% CI, 0.43-1.14) during the CHX, SOD, and SDD periods, respectively, vs baseline. Crude mortality risks on day 28 were 31.9%, 32.9%, 32.4%, and 34.1% during the baseline, CHX, SOD, and SDD periods, respectively. Adjusted odds ratios for 28-day mortality were 1.07 (95% CI, 0.86-1.32), 1.05 (95% CI, 0.85-1.29), and 1.03 (95% CI, 0.80-1.32) for CHX, SOD, and SDD, respectively, vs baseline. Conclusions and relevance: Among patients receiving mechanical ventilation in ICUs with moderate to high antibiotic resistance prevalence, use of CHX mouthwash, SOD, or SDD was not associated with reductions in ICU-acquired bloodstream infections caused by MDRGNB compared with standard care.
Keywords: anti-infective agents -- therapeutic use, bacteremia -- prevention and control, chlorhexidine -- therapeutic use, cross infection -- prevention and control, disinfection -- methods, bacterial drug resistance, gastrointestinal tract -- microbiology, Gram-negative bacterial infections -- prevention and control, hospital mortality, intensive care units, mouthwashes -- therapeutic use, oropharynx -- microbiology, artificial respiration, multicenter study, randomized controlled trial
Published in DiRROS: 09.11.2020; Views: 1220; Downloads: 398
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