RESUMEN
Six different concretes are characterized during material ages between 1 and 28 days. Standard tests regarding strength and stiffness are performed 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28 days after production. Innovative three-minute-long creep tests are repeated hourly during material ages between one and seven days. The results from the standard tests are used to assess and to improve formulas of the fib Model Code 2010: the correlation formula between the 28-day values of the strength and the stiffness, and the evolution formulas describing the early-age evolution of the strength and the stiffness during the first four weeks after production. The results from the innovative tests are used to develop a correlation formula between the 28-day values of Young's modulus and the creep modulus, and an evolution formula describing the early-age evolution of the creep modulus during the first four weeks after production. Particularly, the analyzed CEM I concretes develop stiffness and strength significantly faster than described by the formulas of the Model Code. The creep modulus of the investigated concretes evolves significantly slower than their strength and stiffness. Thus, concrete loaded at early ages is surprisingly creep active, even if the material appears to be quite mature in terms of its strength and stiffness.
RESUMEN
The Taw Estuary (SW England) is eutrophic as a result of enhanced nutrient inputs from its catchment. However, factors influencing the timing and extent of phytoplankton bloom formation are not fully understood in this system. In this study, high resolution chemical and biological sampling was undertaken in late-winter/spring and summer 2008 in order to gain further insights into bloom dynamics in the Taw Estuary. Temporal variations in chlorophyll a maxima in the upper and middle estuary during summer were controlled by river flow and tidal amplitude, with nutrient limitation probably less important. Concentrations of chlorophyll a were highest during low river flow and neap tides. Increased river flows advected the chlorophyll maximum to the outer estuary, and under highest river discharges, chlorophyll a concentrations were further reduced. This feature was even more pronounced when spring tides coincided with high flows. The main bloom species were the diatoms Asterionellopsis glacialis and Thalassiosira guillardii. Using two multivariate statistical techniques in combination, five distinct physical and biogeochemical states in the Taw estuarine waters were identified. These states can be summarised as: A(1), high chlorophyll a, high temperature, long residence times, nutrient depletion; A(2), strong coastal water influence; B(1), decreasing chlorophyll a, increasing river flow and/or spring tides; B(2), transitional between states A(1) and B(3); B(3), high river flow. It was thus possible to differentiate between contrasting environmental conditions that were either beneficial or detrimental for the development of algal blooms. A conceptual model of diatom - dominated primary production for the Taw Estuary is proposed which describes how physical controls (river flow, tidal state) moderate plankton biomass production in the upper and mid - estuarine regions.
Asunto(s)
Eutrofización , Fitoplancton/crecimiento & desarrollo , InglaterraRESUMEN
Using the Taw Estuary as an example, data routinely collected by the Environment Agency for England and Wales over the period 1990-2004 were interrogated to identify the drivers of excessive algal growth. The estuary was highly productive with chlorophyll concentrations regularly exceeding 100 microg L(-1), mostly during periods of low freshwater input from the River Taw when estuarine water residence times were longest. However, algal growth in mid estuary was often inhibited by ammonia inputs from the adjacent sewage treatment works. The reported approach demonstrates the value of applying conventional statistical analyses in a structured way to existing monitoring data and is recommended as a useful tool for the rapid assessment of eutrophication. However, future estuarine monitoring should include the collection of dissolved organic nutrient data and targeted high temporal resolution data because the drivers of eutrophication are complex and often very specific to a particular estuary.
Asunto(s)
Monitoreo del Ambiente , Eutrofización/fisiología , Fitoplancton/crecimiento & desarrollo , Clorofila/análisis , Clorofila A , Análisis por Conglomerados , Ecosistema , Inglaterra , Análisis de Regresión , Salinidad , Agua de Mar , Factores de TiempoRESUMEN
PURPOSE: To investigate whether improved clinical history allows the radiologist to better predict the pretest probability of obtaining a positive or negative result from a magnetic resonance (MR) examination. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six neuroradiologists prospectively reviewed 100 consecutive requests for brain MR examinations and sequentially assessed 1) quality of written history, 2) degree of indication for requested study, and 3) any pertinent new information found during chart review that may have altered the degree of indication. MR yield was correlated with the degree of indication assessed before and after chart review. RESULTS: Most request form histories were judged as poor (63%), and chart review reduced the overall indications for MR examinations, as there was a tendency for high-indication requests to migrate to the low-indication category. Based on request form history alone, the yields for low- and high-indication studies were 13% and 37%, respectively. Correlations between MR yield and indication after chart review improved significantly (P < 0.05) with 2% and 61% for low and high indications, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity for a positive MR yield were 71% and 62%, respectively, for the indication judged by the request history alone, and 96% and 80%, respectively, after chart review. Positive and negative prediction rates were 37% and 87%, respectively, for the indication judged by the request history alone, and 61% and 98%, respectively, for the indication judged after chart review. CONCLUSION: Based on our limited data, most request form histories were inadequate, and essential information available in the chart before MR examinations was frequently missing from the request forms. When adequate information was provided, the indication for the studies as judged by the radiologists predicted the MR yield more accurately, particularly for those requests with low indication. Therefore, our study suggests that MR imaging (MRI) may be used more effectively when pertinent clinical history is available. However, our study is limited and further studies are needed to confirm our results.