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The existing change detection (CD) methods can be summarized as the visual-first change detection (ViFi-CD) paradigm, which first extracts change features from visual differences and then assigns them specific semantic information. However, CD is essentially dependent on change regions of interest (CRoIs), meaning that the CD results are directly determined by the semantics changes in interest, making its primary image factor semantic of interest rather than visual. The ViFi-CD paradigm can only assign specific semantics of interest to specific change features extracted from visual differences, leading to the inevitable omission of potential CRoIs and the inability to adapt to different CRoI CD tasks. In other words, changes in other CRoIs cannot be detected by the ViFi-CD method without retraining the model or significantly modifying the method. This paper introduces a new CD paradigm, the semantic-first CD (SeFi-CD) paradigm. The core idea of SeFi-CD is to first perceive the dynamic semantics of interest and then visually search for change features related to the semantics. Based on the SeFi-CD paradigm, we designed Anything You Want Change Detection (AUWCD). Experiments on public datasets demonstrate that the AUWCD outperforms the current state-of-the-art CD methods, achieving an average F1 score 5.01% higher than that of these advanced supervised baselines on the SECOND dataset, with a maximum increase of 13.17%. The proposed SeFi-CD offers a novel CD perspective and approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many influencing factors should be considered in the selection of deep foundation pit supporting scheme. And the impact of different factors on supporting scheme is difficult to measure. There is a grey correlation between many influencing factors and the selection of supporting schemes. In this paper, the multi-objective fuzzy grey relation projection method can be obtained by weighting method and used to select the support of foundation pit. Therefore, a set of corresponding evaluation indexes of deep foundation pit support is put forward and the weight of each evaluation index is given. Then the weight is brought into the multi-objective fuzzy grey relation projection method to select the supporting mode of foundation pit. This method is applied to the selection of the supporting mode of the foundation pit of sand-pebble station, and the optimal supporting mode is obtained. The results is as follows : (1) It is effective to select the supporting scheme of foundation pit by fuzzy grey relational projection method. (2) The evaluation index of deep foundation pit supporting is reasonable. (3) It is of certain reference value to adopt bored pile + steel support method for sandy pebble foundation pit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In regions with abundant groundwater resources, pre-excavation dewatering on deep foundation pits often leads to the deformation of the enclosure wall and settlement of the surrounding ground. Based on a series of engineering measurements, we conducted a series of numerical simulations to investigate the behaviors of wall and soil during pre-excavation dewatering with and without the existing pile foundations and under different distances between the existing pile foundations and foundation pits (D). Numerical results indicated that when the foundation pit is adjacent to existing building pile foundations, the soil was restricted by the pile foundations (i.e., soil-blocking effect). When D ≤ 40 m, the soil-blocking effect grows stronger as D gets smaller; while when D > 40 m, the soil-blocking effect is significantly weakened and the water-blocking effect (i.e., the blockage of groundwater seepage by the building pile foundation) gradually appears, which intensifies the ground surface settlement. The maximum settlement position of the soil behind the pile foundation of the existing building is farther away from the foundation pit as the soil-blocking effect becomes stronger. The coupling effect of soil-blocking and water-blocking on the ground deformation should be considered in the design of the foundation pit project to get a more reasonable support and dewatering scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the responses of shield tunnel structures subjected to disturbances caused by bilateral pit excavation, and it systematically reveals for the first time the impact mechanism of bilateral pit excavation on the distribution of perimeter pressure and deformation patterns of shield tunnels. Using a bilateral pit excavation project in Nanjing as a case study, this research establishes methods for calculating longitudinal displacement and circumferential pressure of tunnels under bilateral pit excavation conditions, employing the image source method for analysis. A refined three-ring segment model is developed, and the load structure method is used to analyze the impact of deep foundation excavation on the tunnel located between the two excavation sites. The results indicate that, compared to unilateral excavation, bilateral excavation significantly increases the perimeter pressure at the top and bottom of the tunnel, with a smaller increase in pressure at the arch waist. The deformation pattern is characterized by contraction at the top and bottom and expansion at the waist, forming a transverse elliptical deformation. The maximum vertical convergence values of the middle segment ring are 25.00 mm at the top and 25.88 mm at the bottom, with a vertical absolute convergence value of 44.5 mm and a convergence ratio (ΔDt/Dt) of 0.72%. As the foundation coefficient increases, the perimeter pressure at the top and bottom of the tunnel also increases. When the tunnel is closer to the foundation pits (Sp decreases), the perimeter pressure at the bottom of the tunnel increases. Conversely, as the distance between the two foundation pits (S) increases, the impact of excavation on the tunnel shifts from the upper part to the lower part, resulting in decreased upper perimeter pressure and increased lower perimeter pressure. The research findings provide important references for similar engineering projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In combination with the field monitoring data, PLAXIS3D finite-element software was used to numerically model the pull-pile supporting structure in a deep foundation pit. This structure was compared to the single-row pile support structure in order to learn more about the pull-pile supporting structure's force and deformation characteristics and how it works. The study found that the cumulative horizontal displacement curves of the supporting piles are integrated into an "upward convex" shape. The bending-moment curve of the front-row piles presents an "inverted S" shape, and the bending-moment curve of the back-pull piles presents a "bow" shape. The "back-pull-pile effect" can improve the unbalanced distribution of positive and negative bending moments in single-row piles by changing the stress condition of the soil. In other words, the pull-pile supporting structure has good safety and serviceability and can well control the lateral displacement of the foundation pit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent years have witnessed a focus on improving geotechnical systems by implementing and constructing new deep foundations such as helical and expanded piles. In this study, the effects of parameters such as embedment depth, pile geometry and axial loading direction on the load–displacement behaviour of these piles were examined. To this end, a database was compiled consisting of 80 axial loading test records for different piles. The embedment depth of the piles was in the range 2.4–36.8 m and the diameter of the helices (DH) or expanded parts (DEP) was in the range 254–1500 mm. The ultimate load of the piles was determined using the 2.5% and 5% displacement ratio criteria and the Brinch Hansen 80% method. Hyperbolic functions were fitted to the load–displacement curves, allowing for consistent estimation of the limit load and the initial tangent modulus. Analysis of the results from the database revealed that the dominant factors influencing the ultimate load, limit load, maximum measured load, initial stiffness and load–displacement behaviour were the ratio of DH or DEP to the shaft diameter, the shaft area and the toe area, and the load direction. Correlations derived from the database were validated using measurements from eight full-scale helical and expanded piles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is the first of two papers on a wide pile group. The geology and a geotechnical model of the site are presented, along with the design of a single pile, analysis of a static loading test, and some dynamic tests. Response of the piled foundations comprising 399 bored piles supporting three 70-storey towers on a common mat was monitored. Records consist of results of a static loading test, dynamic tests of four piles, the development of load in 15 piles, and settlement of 40 points during construction and nine years following. At end of construction, the perimeter piles received more load from the towers than did the interior piles and the mat settled on average 90 mm. By the end of the monitoring period, due to the general subsidence, the average settlement of the mat had increased by 50 mm. Most of the settlement is considered to originate from the compression of the soil layers below the pile toe level. A subsequent paper will present the analysis and design of the wide pile group, and the numerical analysis of the static loading test on a single pile and of the wide pile group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to explore the applicability of the hardening soil constitutive model for numerical analysis of soft soil underground engineering in the Pearl River Delta region, and based on four different stress path triaxial tests, the mechanical properties and variation of constitutive model parameters of hardening soil were analyzed for the typical silty soil in this region. Research results have shown that lateral unloading and drainage conditions have significantly impact on the partial parameters of constitutive model, such as the strength parameters of c' and φ ', the stiffness parameters such as Eref 50, E ref ur and m, but the impact on the failure ratio Rf is relatively small. For the consolidated undrained lateral unloading condition, the main parameters of the constitutive model for typical silty soil in the Pearl River Delta region are shown as the reference secant modulus Eref 50 is 2.34 MPa, with reference to tangent modulus Eref oed is 1.59 MPa, with reference to the loading unloading modulus E ref ur is 11.67 MPa, with a failure stress ratio of Rf is 0.98, and the power exponent m related to stiffness stress level is 1.84; Among them: Eref 50 is 1.47 times of Eref oed, E ref ur is 7.34 times of Eref oed. The practice of a deep foundation pit of soft soil in the Pearl River Delta has proven that the constitutive model of hardening soil is suitable for simulating the mechanical properties of soft soil in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dock entrance foundation pit of the No.2 dock project of CSSC shipbuilding base is located on Changxing Island in Shanghai, where the geological conditions are typical soft clays. The excavation depth of the foundation pit is 16.0 m, and a compound retaining system of steel sheet pile and bored pile is adopted to form a supporting structure with 5 levels of struts. In order to study the implementation effect and deformation characteristics of the retaining structures during construction, the lateral displacement characteristics of retaining structure during excavation were analyzed based on the monitoring data of the project. Plus, a three-dimensional numerical model was established to simulate the whole excavating process of the dock entrance foundation pit, and the deformation characteristics were compared and analyzed. The research shows that the measured lateral displacement of the foundation pit retaining structure presents an S-shaped due to the large prestress applied to the steel struts. In view of spatial effect, the lateral displacement on the long side of the foundation pit is greater than that on the short side. Furthermore, the lateral displacement of the steel pile is larger than that of the bored pile due to difference in stiffness. By contrast calculations and actual measurements of lateral displacement, the numerical model can well describe the deformation characteristics of the retaining structure of the dock entrance foundation pit, and to some extent reflect the distribution characteristics of inner forces of the retaining structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Use of 100 % recycled aggregates in concrete – report on practical applications This article reports on eight practical examples of applications for concrete with 100 % recycled aggregates. The applications include reinforced/unreinforced bored piles, foundations, load‐bearing internal/external walls, columns and floor slabs as well as balcony elements. Some components were realised as architectural concrete components. The respective project is summarised together with the results of the concrete development and concrete testing as well as the experience gained from obtaining special approvals in individual cases. Based on the findings from the various practical projects, it can be concluded that concrete with 100 % RC‐GK can be used for a large number of applications, so far limited to up to XC4 and XF3. Compressive strength for ready‐mix concrete up to C35/45 with good workability even with pumped concrete (here: pumping distance 45 m) using 100 % RC‐GK type 1 were possible without any problems. A concrete with sufficient early strength and a final strength of C40/50 was developed for precast elements. In two examples, RC‐GK type 2 was used for the coarse grain fraction and RC‐GK type 1 for the sand. All the projects presented have already been completed or are nearing completion. The feasibility of 100 % RC concrete in practice has thus been successfully demonstrated in several cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to investigate the effect of combined end-and-side grouting on the bearing properties of large-diameter rock-socketed bored piles in highly weathered rock layers. Eight full-scale pile load tests were conducted in the highly weathered rock layer to analyze the enhanced mechanism of the combined grouted bored piles. The test data from pile mechanical testing were compared with the recommended values in the current specification and geological survey report. The results demonstrate significant improvement in the side and end resistances of the combined grouted bored piles, resulting in a substantial increase in the bearing capacity and effective settlement control. It was observed that the construction of impact holes for bored piles can cause severe damage to highly weathered rock structures and weaken the mobilization of side and end resistances. Moreover, it was found that the calculation of the enhancement coefficient in the current specification underestimates the practical bearing capacity. The measured enhancement coefficients for the side and end resistance of piles in fully or highly weathered rock layers range from 2.49 to 3.05 and 2.24 to 2.43, respectively, which are more reasonable and feasible for the calculation. The research findings deepen the understanding of the bearing characteristics of large-diameter rock-socketed bored piles with combined grouting and provide valuable case references for the optimal design of large-diameter combined grouted piles for building foundations in Shenzhen, China. Highlights: Post-grouting had the potential to improve super high-building foundation reliability while reducing pile length and cost. The improvement effect and improvement mechanism of combined grouted bored piles embedded in highly rock strata were revealed. The influence of the size effect for large-diameter piles in highly weathered rock was revealed. The construction of impact holes for bored piles can cause severe damage to highly weathered rock structures and weaken the mobilization of side and end resistances. The enhancement coefficients for the side and end resistance of piles in fully or highly weathered rock layers were proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing demand for large and deep anchor projects in soft soil areas, issues related to settlement in circular foundation pits and damage to supporting structures have become significantly pronounced. The absence of pertinent design methods significantly impacts construction safety. Through on-site monitoring and statistical analysis, this study examines the spatiotemporal evolution of deformation in circular foundation pits, the deformation characteristics of retaining structures, and surface settlement features. Key design factors influencing the stability of circular foundation pits are explored. The research indicates that structural deformation and surface settlement are closely related over time and exhibit substantial spatial coordination. The deformation control capability of circular foundation pits is considerably stronger than that of square foundation pits, and it is less influenced by excavation depth. Diameter and soft soil thickness have a substantial impact on structural deformation and surface settlement. When the diameter is less than 40 m, the structural deformation remains below 0.1%. The study establishes an evaluation method for the deformation control of large and deep circular foundation pits in soft soil based on a significant amount of engineering monitoring data. It categorizes deformation control indicators for pit excavation based on different design factors, offering reliable theoretical support for relevant design professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of deep learning foundation model technology, the types of computing tasks have become more complex, and the computing resources and memory required for these tasks have also become more substantial. Since it has long been revealed that task offloading in cloud servers has many drawbacks, such as high communication delay and low security, task offloading is mostly carried out in the edge servers of the Internet of Things (IoT) network. However, edge servers in IoT networks are characterized by tight resource constraints and often the dynamic nature of data sources. Therefore, the question of how to perform task offloading of deep learning foundation model services on edge servers has become a new research topic. However, the existing task offloading methods either can not meet the requirements of massive CNN architecture or require a lot of communication overhead, leading to significant delays and energy consumption. In this paper, we propose a parallel partitioning method based on matrix convolution to partition foundation model inference tasks, which partitions large CNN inference tasks into subtasks that can be executed in parallel to meet the constraints of edge devices with limited hardware resources. Then, we model and mathematically express the problem of task offloading. In a multi-edge-server, multi-user, and multi-task edge-end system, we propose a task-offloading method that balances the tradeoff between delay and energy consumption. It adopts a greedy algorithm to optimize task-offloading decisions and terminal device transmission power to maximize the benefits of task offloading. Finally, extensive experiments verify the significant and extensive effectiveness of our algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the deep foundation pit project of the TOD (Transit-Oriented Development) complex of the Shaoxing North High-speed Railway Station, the influence of different construction stages on the deformation and inclination rate of the adjacent elevated bridge and its variation law are studied through field measurement and numerical simulation. The construction process is optimized by the method of reinforcement outside the pit and adjustment of preloaded axial force, and the influence of distance on elevated bridges is summarized. The results show that with the excavation of the foundation pit, the deformation of the bridge pier and bridge pile foundation gradually increases, and the deformation of the bridge piers is larger than that of the bridge pile foundations. As the depth of soil reinforcement outside the pit and the preloaded axial force increases, the maximum vertical displacement of the bridge pier and bridge pile foundations gradually decreases. The deeper the depth of soil reinforcement, the better the displacement control effect on the elevated bridge. In actual construction, it is recommended that the depth of reinforcement be taken as the excavation depth of the pit. It is obvious that the preloaded axial force is subject to the pit angle effect, and the appropriate value of the preloaded axial force should be selected according to the site conditions. The deformation of the bridge pier and bridge pile foundation generally shows a decreasing trend with the increase in the distance between the elevated bridge and the foundation pit. When the elevated bridge is close to the foundation pit, it will be affected by the pit angle effect, and the fluctuation will decrease. The conclusions drawn in the article can serve as the basis and reference for design and construction, and provide reference for similar projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unstable sandy soil poses significant challenges for buried pipelines, particularly due to the increased risk of displacement and stress-induced fractures resulting from soil settlement and earthquake-induced ground deformation. These concerns are especially critical in seismically active regions where underground infrastructure is at higher risk. Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites present a promising and sustainable alternative for deep foundations, offering durability and reduced maintenance costs compared to conventional materials. This study introduces a novel approach to enhancing the seismic performance of pipelines buried in sandy soils by numerically investigating a three-dimensional (3D) multipipe grouting micro anti-slide pile system, utilizing a polyurethane polymer slurry as the grouting material. Key parameters such as pile spacing, diameter, and length, along with the effects of soil wetting and various earthquake intensities, were examined under the influence of surface loads exerted by a fully loaded truck. The results demonstrate that using polymer micropiles significantly reduces soil and pipeline settlement by 15% to 50%, with larger pile diameters and lengths further decreasing settlement and strain on pipelines. While seismic excitation increases settlement, polymer grouting effectively mitigates this impact, leading to substantial reductions in settlement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inorganic arsenic (As), a known carcinogen and major contaminant in drinking water, affects over 140 million people globally, with levels exceeding the World Health Organization's (WHO) guidelines of 10 μg L−1. Developing innovative technologies for effluent handling and decontaminating polluted water is critical. This paper summarizes the fundamental characteristics of chitosan-embedded composites for As adsorption from water. The primary challenge in selectively removing As ions is the presence of phosphate, which is chemically similar to As(V). This study evaluates and summarizes innovative As adsorbents based on chitosan and its composite modifications, focusing on factors influencing their adsorption affinity. The kinetics, isotherms, column models, and thermodynamic aspects of the sorption processes were also explored. Finally, the adsorption process and implications of functionalized chitosan for wastewater treatment were analyzed. There have been minimal developments in water disinfection using metal-biopolymer composites for environmental purposes. This field of study offers numerous research opportunities to expand the use of biopolymer composites as detoxifying materials and to gain deeper insights into the foundations of biopolymer composite adsorbents, which merit further investigation to enhance adsorbent stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past 30 years, screw piles with diverse geometries have gained popularity over conventional piles for deep foundations. The behavior of toe-wing screw piles is not widely recognized on a global scale, and the effect of toe-wing plate position on the performance of screw piles has not been explored. Therefore, this paper investigated the impact of toe-wing position on screw pile performance embedded in the bearing layer. The toe-wing plates were embedded (Ew) in the bearing layer at a depth equal to the wing plate diameter, while the embedment depth (Ed) of the central shaft (pile tip) increased from 0 mm to 90 mm, which reflects the change in the toe-wing position. The model ground was prepared in the steel container with bearing layer densities of 55, 80, and 90 %, while the soil above the bearing layer was placed at a relative density of 45 %. The experimental results indicated that the installation load and torque non-linearly increased with the increase in embedment depth ratio (Ed/Ew). However, if checked at the same embedment depth (Ed), the normalized installation load increased to Ed/Ew = 1.2 and then decreased. In contrast, the normalized installation torque is non-linearly reduced with an increased embedment ratio (Ed/Ew). The normalized ultimate pile capacity increased non-linearly with the increase in embedment ratio (Ed/Ew). Regression equations based on the above trends are presented in this study to quantify the effect of Ed/Ew on installation load, torque, and bearing response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The risk posed by expansive soils can be lessened by placing foundations at a more deep level below the surface. Structures are able to withstand uplift forces because overburden pressure partially suppresses swelling pressure. In order to transfer the forces to a sufficiently deep depth, this study suggests introducing shafts of a low-expansion overburden material. Soil improved with cement is chosen for this purpose. This study suggests using sand with added excavated natural clay and cement. The expansive clay is added to sand in ratios of 10, 20, 30, 40 and 60%. The clay–sand mixture is then enhanced by cement of 1, 2, 4 and 8% by the weight of the mixture under four curing periods of 1, 7, 28, and 90 days. This material is recommended for use under lean concrete to transfer the loads to lower levels below the foundation depth. The thickness of this material depends on the stresses exerted, the type and the properties of the subsurface soils. The cement-enhanced clay–sand shaft's properties are examined in this work with regard to the swelling potential, compressibility, and the unconfined compressive strength for different clay contents and curing conditions. Stiff shafts were formed and found to support stresses from 600 to 3500 kPa at cement additions in the range of 1% to 8%. Clay content above 30% is found to be not suitable for Al-Qatif clay due to the compressibility and low strength of the mixture. When two percent or more of cement is added, the swelling potential is significantly reduced. This is reliant on the pozzolanic interactions of soils and cement as well as the clay mineralogy. Determining how cement affects clay–sand combinations in regions with expansive soils would facilitate the introduction of a novel, inexpensive technology to support loads applied by the superstructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transformer-based large language models (LLMs) are very suited for biological sequence data, because of analogies to natural language. Complex relationships can be learned, because a concept of "words" can be generated through tokenization. Training the models with masked token prediction, they learn both token sequence identity and larger sequence context. We developed methodology to interrogate model learning, which is both relevant for the interpretability of the model and to evaluate its potential for specific tasks. We used DNABERT, a DNA language model trained on the human genome with overlapping k-mers as tokens. To gain insight into the model′s learning, we interrogated how the model performs predictions, extracted token embeddings, and defined a fine-tuning benchmarking task to predict the next tokens of different sizes without overlaps. This task evaluates foundation models without interrogating specific genome biology, it does not depend on tokenization strategies, vocabulary size, the dictionary, or the number of training parameters. Lastly, there is no leakage of information from token identity into the prediction task, which makes it particularly useful to evaluate the learning of sequence context. We discovered that the model with overlapping k-mers struggles to learn larger sequence context. Instead, the learned embeddings largely represent token sequence. Still, good performance is achieved for genome-biology-inspired fine-tuning tasks. Models with overlapping tokens may be used for tasks where a larger sequence context is of less relevance, but the token sequence directly represents the desired learning features. This emphasizes the need to interrogate knowledge representation in biological LLMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The noise within train is a paradox; while harmful to passenger health, it is useful to operators as it provides insights into the working status of vehicles and tracks. Recently, methods for identifying defects based on interior noise signals are emerging, among which representation learning is the foundation for deep neural network models to understand the key information and structure of the data. To provide foundational data for track fault detection, a representation learning framework for interior noise, named the interior noise representation framework, is introduced. The method includes: (i) using wavelet transform to represent the original noise signal and designing a soft and hard denoising module for dataset denoising; (ii) deep residual convolutional denoising variational autoencoder (VAE) module performs representation learning with a VAE and deep residual convolutional neural networks, enabling richer data augmentation for sparsely labeled samples by manipulating the embedding space; (iii) deep embedding clustering submodule balances the representation of reconstruction and clustering features through the joint optimization of these aspects, categorizing metro noise into three distinct classes and effectively discriminating significantly different features. The experimental results show that, compared to traditional mechanism‐based models for characterizing interior noise, this approach offers a data‐driven general analysis framework, providing a foundational model for downstream tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isolated policy interventions are unlikely to effectively address a highly complex and cross‐cutting issue such as climate change. Such issues require more integrated or holistic approaches. The concept of searching for synergy across multiple objectives could then achieve better outcomes than a default position of trade‐off and collision. This contribution construes a novel principle of synergy to structure integrated decision‐making in global climate regulation through law. This article grounds its argument theoretically in the analysis of global regulation. It first develops the rationale of a regulatory principle justifying synergetic choices in rule‐design and rule‐application. It then sets out a typology of regulatory synergies – reinforcing, functional, and dormant or connecting – which can be arranged on a sliding scale and delivered with appropriate policy tools. It also suggests pathways for synergy‐as‐principle to advance beyond an effective strategy to acquiring legal bindingness within global regulation through law. Finally, this article tests the workability of this principle in four scenarios where climate protection and adjacent objectives intersect. Beyond this analysis of global climate regulation, this article points to the deeper normative foundations capable of supporting a non‐exclusionary global community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contribution to determining the diameter of piles based on thermal integrity profiling When carrying out thermal integrity profiling (TIP), it is often said that the profiling serves, among other things, to determine the cubature of the pile created. In the relevant publications on TIP, Pile Dynamics, Inc., among others, points out that this is only an estimate of the concrete cover or excess concrete during pile production. In particular, in this case it is assumed that the installed concrete volume must also be monitored in order to contrast this with the measurement results. However, from the authors′ point of view, this alone is not enough to draw a well‐founded conclusion about the pile cubature from the temperature records. This approach appears to be problematic, particularly with special shapes. As part of the 17th Hans Lorenz Symposium 2023 at the Technical University of Berlin, the first "New findings on Thermal Integrity Profiling (TIP) on deep piles with special shapes" were presented. These findings were expanded upon as part of further investigations using the commercial software COMSOL Multiphysics and are presented in more detail below. The result is that the influencing factors are so diverse that even if they are taken into account, no conclusions can be drawn about the diameter. This is clearly presented by the authors below. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of over 100 bored pile tests embedded in rock have been analyzed. A comparison with a large amount of published data on pile test results in construction sites from the USA, Canada, Hong Kong, Turkey, and other regions is presented. A pile strain index classification based on relative pile displacement was proposed. The ranges of mobilized side resistance of piles for different strain indexes were determined. The relationship between the side resistance of bored piles in rock and the unconfined compressive strength and strain values was obtained. The proposed relationship was compared with available published data and existing empirical methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of tests of vertically loaded long bored piles in clayey soils by the immersion jack method are obtained. The peculiarities of soil resistance formation under the lower end and along the lateral surface of piles are shown. The necessity of calculation of such piles on the soil by the second limit state with consideration of the pile shaft compressibility is substantiated. A methodology for calculating the settlement of a single pile and determining the allowable load thereon at a given settlement of the pile head based on the kinematic scheme of including the soil base and the pile shaft in the work upon pile loading is developed. The results of numerical studies on the basis of pile tests on an actual object are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking the bored pile mud of Shuangliu Yangtze River Bridge on Xingang Expressway as the research object,different mud of the same bored pile were selected to carry out flocculation settlement test and medium pressure filtration test,and the mud sludge specific resistance (SRF) and capillary water absorption time (CST) under different water content werecompared. Particle size analyzer, scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction were used to analyze the composition inthe mud, the dehydration performance and influencing factors of bored pile mud were studied to explore the factors affecting thedehydration performance. The results show that the settlement performance of bored pile mud is poor, and the addition of PAMhas no significant effect on the improvement of settlement performance. Mud water loss based on medium pressure water lossinstrument can reflect the mud settling performance. There is a certain linear correlation between SRF and CST of the test mud,and the correlation size is affected by the mud dehydration performance, the more difficult it is to dehydrate, the better thecorrelation. Among the characteristic particle size of mud, D50 particle size has the greatest influence on the mud dehydrationcharacteristics. Mixing with concrete has the effect of increasing the particle size of mud D50 and above, and increasing thecontent of Ca, Mg, Si, and Fe elements in the mud to improve its dehydration performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Honokiol (HNK) is one of the bioactive ingredients from the well-known Chinese herbal medicine Magnolia officinalis , and its research interests is rising for its extensive pharmacological activities, including novel therapeutic effect on ulcerative colitis (UC). However, further application of HNK is largely limited by its unique physicochemical properties, such as poor water solubility, low bioavailability, as well as unsatisfied targeting efficacy for inflammatory lesions. In this study, we constructed galactosylation modified PLGA nanoparticles delivery system for efficient target delivery of HNK to the colitic lesions, which could lay a research foundation for the deep development of HNK for the treatment of UC. D-galactose was grafted by chemical coupling reactions with PLGA to prepare Gal-PLGA, which was used as a carrier for HNK (Gal-PLGA@HNK nanoparticles (NPs)). To improve the colon targeting efficiency by oral administration of the NPs, Eudragit S100 was used for wrapping on the surface of Gal-PLGA@HNK NPs (E/Gal-PLGA@HNK NPs). Our results showed that the encapsulation efficiency and drug loading capacity of E/Gal-PLGA@HNK NPs were 90.72 ± 0.54% and 8.41 ± 0.02%, respectively. Its average particle size was 242.24 ± 8.42 nm, with a PDI value of 0.135 ± 0.06 and zeta-potential of -16.83 ± 1.89 mV. The release rate of HNK from E/Gal-PLGA@HNK NPs was significantly decreased when compared with that of free HNK in simulated gastric and intestinal fluids, which displayed a slow-releasing property. It was also found that the cellular uptake of E/Gal-PLGA@HNK NPs was significantly increased when compared with that of free HNK in RAW264.7 cells, which was facilitated by D-galactose grafting on the PLGA carrier. Additionally, our results showed that E/Gal-PLGA@HNK NPs significantly improved colonic atrophy, body weight loss, as well as reducing disease activity index (DAI) score and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in UC mice induced by DSS. Besides, the retention time of E/Gal-PLGA@HNK NPs in the colon was significantly increased when compared with that of other preparations, suggesting that these NPs could prolong the interaction between HNK and the injured colon. Taken together, the efficiency for target delivery of HNK to the inflammatory lesions was significantly improved by galactosylation modification on the PLGA carrier, which provided great benefits for the alleviation of colonic inflammation and injury in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copy number variation (CNV) refers to the number of copies of a specific sequence in a genome and is a type of chromatin structural variation. The development of the Hi‐C technique has empowered research on the spatial structure of chromatins by capturing interactions between DNA fragments. We utilized machine‐learning methods including the linear transformation model and graph convolutional network (GCN) to detect CNV events from Hi‐C data and reveal how CNV is related to three‐dimensional interactions between genomic fragments in terms of the one‐dimensional read count signal and features of the chromatin structure. The experimental results demonstrated a specific linear relation between the Hi‐C read count and CNV for each chromosome that can be well qualified by the linear transformation model. In addition, the GCN‐based model could accurately extract features of the spatial structure from Hi‐C data and infer the corresponding CNV across different chromosomes in a cancer cell line. We performed a series of experiments including dimension reduction, transfer learning, and Hi‐C data perturbation to comprehensively evaluate the utility and robustness of the GCN‐based model. This work can provide a benchmark for using machine learning to infer CNV from Hi‐C data and serves as a necessary foundation for deeper understanding of the relationship between Hi‐C data and CNV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevailing design methodology for foundation pit support structures conventionally treats the pit cross section as a two-dimensional plane, facilitating the computation of soil and water pressures acting upon the retaining structure. Regrettably, this conventional approach tends to overlook the critical corner effect, particularly when the foundation pit is in proximity to a subway tunnel, where the nuanced nature of this corner effect remains indeterminate. Consequently, this research is directed toward an in-depth investigation of a deep foundation pit contiguous to a subway tunnel. A systematic evaluation and optimization of the corner effect pertaining to the deep foundation pit are undertaken through a combination of comprehensive field monitoring and simulation methodologies. The results show that a substantial mitigation in the deformation of the supporting structure, settlements of the ground surface and adjacent buildings, as well as the displacement of the subway tunnel, were achieved through a consideration of the corner effect. Notably, the ameliorative impact of adjacent buildings on the corner effect is observed. Further scrutiny reveals that the supporting structure within a distance of 12 m from the pit corner is most susceptible to the corner effect, as evidenced by a plane strain ratio (PSR) falling below 0.8. Beyond a spatial threshold of 20 m, the PSR attains a value of 1.0, indicative of a negligible corner effect and the foundation pit section existing in a plane strain state. The adjustment of pile length or diameter based on the PSR emerges as a viable strategy that can realize the construction cost optimization on the premise of ensuring the stability of the foundation pit. The impact of pile diameter variation is paramount, corresponding to a reduction in the range of PSR values below 0.8 from 12 m to 9.8 m. The corner effect is significantly diminished. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to focus on two forms of humanism: atheistic humanism (or humanistic atheism) and Christian humanism. The first type is represented by Czech philosopher Otakar A. Funda, while the second type is represented by two Christian thinkers - Jolana Poláková and Richard Schaeffler. By examining humanistic atheism, we can understand the distinctiveness and uniqueness of Christian humanism. In particular, I will highlight two aspects of Christian humanism: the concept of heteronomy and the concept of hope. I believe that one of the important roles of religion, especially Christianity, today is to contribute to the development of a humanism that emphasizes hope and the liberating heteronomy of God. Additionally, we can question whether, in a time of potential threats or even the possibility of the extinction of the human species, the "earthly" reasons for "why keep on giving life?" are sufficiently convincing and valid, or if they require a deeper foundation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater is abundant in soft soil area, and water inrush may occur during excavation of deep foundation pit. To keep the construction safety of the foundation pit, foundation pit dewatering is often conducted by combining waterproof curtains and dewatering wells, resulting in groundwater level drawdown outside the foundation pit (ΔHo). There are many factors influencing the change of groundwater level during dewatering which are summarized as four types, including the design parameters of the waterproof curtains, the design parameters of dewatering wells, characteristics of target dewatering aquifer, and other factors. A foundation pit engineering database was established by collecting 101 dewatering engineering cases in Shanghai, and nine influencing factors were selected for statistical analysis to obtain the influence weights of each influencing factor on ΔHo. The numerical standardized data statistical analysis method is used for the weight assessment and the nine groups of the data corresponding to the nine influencing factors were normalized by min–max standardization method based on linear model. The results indicate that water retaining depth ratio of the waterproof curtain (Rw), height difference between the filter tube and the waterproof curtain (Rp), vertical permeability coefficient (Kv), and length ratio of the filter tube (Rl) are the primary factors that should be prioritized in foundation pit dewatering design optimization in Shanghai. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydraulic fracturing is a mature and effective method for deep oil and gas production, which provides a foundation for deep oil and gas production. One of the key aspects of implementing hydraulic fracturing technology lies in understanding mechanics response characteristics of rocks in deep reservoirs under complex stress conditions. In this work, based on outcrop core samples, high-stress triaxial compression tests were designed to simulate the rock mechanics behavior of deep reservoirs in Bozhong Sag. Additionally, this study analyzes the deformation and damage law for rock under different stress conditions. Wherein, with a particular focus on combining energy dissipation theory to further understand damage law for deep reservoirs. The experimental results show that regardless of stress conditions, the process of deformation/failure of deep-seated reservoirs goes through five stages: Fracture compaction, new fracture formation, stable fracture expansion, unstable fracture expansion, and post-peak residual deformation. Under different stress conditions, the energy change laws of specimens are similar. The energy dissipation process of rocks corresponds closely to the trend of deformation-failure curve, then displays distinctive stage characteristics. Wherein, in stage of rock fracture compaction, the input energy curve is approximately coincident with the elastic strain energy curve, while the dissipation energy curve remains near zero. With the increase of strain, the growth rate of elastic strain energy increases gradually, but with the deformation entering the crack propagation stage, the growth rate of elastic strain energy slows down and the dissipation energy increases gradually. Finally, in the post-peak stage, rock fracture releases a lot of energy, which leads to the sharp decline of elastic strain energy curve. In addition, the introduction of damage variable D quantifies the analysis of the extent of failure for rocks. During the process of increasing strain, rock damage exhibits nonlinear growth with increasing stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Architecture & Civil Engineering is the property of Chang'an Daxue Zazhishe and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Railway Standard Design is the property of Railway Standard Design Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Railway Standard Design is the property of Railway Standard Design Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

As the foundation of marine infrastructure, pile groups are subjected to extreme wave loads. Existing research primarily focuses on regular waves and wave forces. There is limited research on the pressure distribution of pile bodies under extreme waves. This paper describes a wave flume experiment where waves of a self-proposed extreme wave type were generated. The experiment considers three water depths (25/35/45 cm), three wave-pushing velocities (20/30/40 cm/s), and two clear distances (D, 2D). A total of 216 measuring points equipped with digital pressure sensors captured the vertical and circumferential pressure distribution and wave positive force. The results show that (1) the vertical and circumferential pressure distribution patterns of each component pile and the single pile are similar in various loading scenarios and clear distances. (2) The measuring point pressure, pressure after circumferential integration, and wave positive force are positively correlated with wave-pushing velocity. (3) The wave pressure is positively correlated with the water depth, while the pressure after circumferential integration is negatively correlated with the water depth. (4) When the clear distance is D, the wave positive force coefficient of each component pile is less than 1.0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a novel risk-assessment methodology for deep foundation pit projects in karst regions, aimed at enhancing project safety and decision-making processes. This approach amalgamates fuzzy dynamic Bayesian networks with a refined Dempster–Shafer (DS) evidence theory to tackle the intricate uncertainties present in such contexts. A comprehensive risk index system, derived from historical accident cases, relevant standards, and the literature, encompasses environmental, design, construction, and management factors. Initial probabilities for each risk factor are determined through the integration of expert knowledge and fuzzy theory. The enhanced Dempster–Shafer theory is utilized to fuse diverse information sources, culminating in a robust and dynamic risk evaluation model. This model leverages real-time monitoring data to dynamically assess and adjust risk levels throughout the construction process. The validation of the proposed method is demonstrated through a detailed case study of the Guangzhou Tangxi Section 1 deep foundation pit project, which effectively identified critical risk factors and facilitated proactive construction strategy adjustments. To further evaluate the reliability of the methodology, comparisons were made with three alternative methods, and applications were conducted on three additional deep foundation pit projects. These comparative analyses confirm the superior reliability and applicability of the proposed methodology across varied scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building a deep foundation pit in urban centers frequently confronts issues such as closeness to structures, high excavation depths, and extended exposure durations, making monitoring and prediction of the settlement and deformation of neighboring buildings critical. Machine learning and deep learning models are more popular than physical models because they can handle dynamic process data. However, these models frequently fail to establish an appropriate balance between accuracy and generalization capacity when dealing with multi-objective prediction. This work proposes a multi-objective prediction model based on the XGBoost algorithm and introduces the Random Forest Bayesian Optimization method for hyperparameter self-optimization and self-adaptation in the prediction process. This model was trained with monitoring data from a deep foundation pit at Luomashi Station of Chengdu Metro Line 18, which are characterized by a sand and pebble stratum, cut-and-cover construction, and a depth of 45.5 m. Input data of the model included excavation rate, excavation depth, construction time, shutdown time, and dewatering; output data included settlement, ground settlement, and pit deformation at an operating metro station only 5.7 m adjacent to the ongoing pits. The training effectiveness of the model was validated through its high R2 scores in both training and test sets, and its generalization ability and transferability were evaluated through the R2 calculated by deploying it on adjacent monitoring data (new data). The multi-objective prediction model proposed in this paper will be promising for monitoring the data processing and prediction of settlement of surrounding buildings for ultra-deep foundation pit engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Railway Construction Technology is the property of Railway Construction Technology Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Engineers have used deep pile foundations to support heavy loads from multi-story structures. For engineers to compare the actual pile capacities from their designs, deep foundation testing has made it possible to determine the actual pile foundation capacity and its behavior with soil. Static and dynamic load testing are the primary load tests to determine pile capacities. Numerous authors have proven connections between static and dynamic load tests on piles since the 1980s. However, comparing both testing results, we see that both have different capacities and correlation criteria. Fifty-one (51) piles tested with static and dynamic load testing from previous research are used. The comparison of DLT and SLT results provided the outcome of an average DLT/SLT ratio of 0.9833. The literature review reveals good agreement between the two test results when compared. The literature review recommends comparing SLT capacities to the DLT's field capacities and those obtained using CAPWAP analysis. Moreover, instrumented SLT can also be compared to those from DLT, allowing for the utilization of skin resistance from both tests as an additional criterion for comparison. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acoustic manipulation or perturbation of biological soft matter has emerged as a promising clinical treatment for a number of applications within regenerative medicine, ranging from bone fracture repair to neuromodulation. The potential of ultrasound (US) endures in imparting mechanical stimuli that are able to trigger a cascade of molecular signals within unscathed cells. Particularly, low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) has been associated with bio-effects such as activation of specific cellular pathways and alteration of cell morphology and gene expression, the extent of which can be modulated by fine tuning of LIPUS parameters including intensity, frequency and exposure time. Although the molecular mechanisms underlying LIPUS are not yet fully elucidated, a number of studies clearly define the modulation of specific ultrasonic parameters as a means to guide the differentiation of a specific set of stem cells towards adult and fully differentiated cell types. Herein, we outline the applications of LIPUS in regenerative medicine and the in vivo and in vitro studies that have confirmed the unbounded clinical potential of this platform. We highlight the latest developments aimed at investigating the physical and biological mechanisms of action of LIPUS, outlining the most recent efforts in using this technology to aid tissue engineering strategies for repairing tissue or modelling specific diseases. Ultimately, we detail tissue-specific applications harnessing LIPUS stimuli, offering insights over the engineering of new constructs and therapeutic modalities. Overall, we aim to lay the foundation for a deeper understanding of the mechanisms governing LIPUS-based therapy, to inform the development of safer and more effective tissue regeneration strategies in the field of regenerative medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, foundation pit construction has been rapidly developing in the direction of deep and large-scale, leading to the frequent occurrence of construction accidents. The pit construction process is characterised by a complex environment, high construction risk, and numerous coupling effects between the construction risk factors. In this paper, 23 main accident-causing factors in foundation pit construction are determined based on the six major risk accident types. In addition, the Grey-DEMATEL-Fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method of the risk evaluation model is introduced for better prediction and judgment of risk level, which combines the grey system theory with the method of decision-making experimental analysis, and in the case of inaccurate or incomplete information, the use of less data can achieve the evaluation results with a high degree of reliability, and it will effectively avoid the impact of the lack of information as well as the subjectivity in the process of risk evaluation. Through the Grey-DEMATEL method, the central degree value for each risk indicator factor is calculated, the coupling role and importance of each risk indicator are analysed, and the indicator weights are calculated. Based on the calculated weights, the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method is used to evaluate the overall risk level. The empirical research on the deep foundation pit construction project of Haitangxi subway station in Chongqing reveals that the excessive lateral earth pressure on the pile wall is the most prominent risk factor. The overall risk level of the construction process is medium, and the risk is within the controllable range. On this basis, corresponding preventive measures can be formulated, providing a basis for risk prevention in the construction of deep foundation pit projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractNowadays, the use of deep foundations in various civil engineering projects, especially in marine and coastal structures, has been increasing. One type of deep foundations are helical pile foundations, which have gained significant attention in recent decades. This research investigates the load–displacement behavior of different helical pile configurations regarding geometry, i.e., helix diameter and spacing ratio (S/D) in two different soil densities under pullout and compressive loading conditions via the FCV-AUT device. Babolsar sand from the southern coast of the Caspian Sea was utilized for advancing this study. Additionally, four full-scale pile tests were conducted on the Caspian Sea coast under both grouted and non-grouted conditions for pullout and compressive loading. The results indicate that increasing the helix diameter, soil density, and S/D ratio enhances the compressive load-bearing capacity. However, in tensile loading, the ultimate load decreases with an increase in the spacing ratio. Furthermore, the grouting process in the three-helix pile exhibits better performance compared to the two-helix pile, potentially increasing the pile capacity up to 30%. In conclusion, the results obtained from the FCV device, utilizing scale theory, have been generalized to the large-scale pile test results in the field, are representative of in agreement and compatible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The essays of Deborah Jenson and Chelsea Stieber point the way forward: a closer relationship amongst colleagues in the region, a deep analysis of the foundations that define us and our own way of progressing, as well as a careful look at the structures of national communities and their way of distancing themselves from this relatively hostile global universe. They retain the importance of the local language in getting closer to lived reality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an experimental, numerical and analytical study is conducted on a 2 × 1 bored pile group on saturated sand under combined loading. Initially, a single-degree-of-freedom system founded on the pile group is tested at the ETH Zurich drum centrifuge under vertical, lateral and pushover loading, gaining insights and deriving benchmark results for validation of finite-element (FE) models. The latter account for non-linear soil–pile interaction, using hypoplasticity for sand and appropriate modelling of interfaces and pile response. Combining centrifuge and FE modelling, the governing resistance mechanisms are identified and quantified. The transition from model to prototype scale is achieved after careful consideration of scale effects. The concrete damaged plasticity model is employed to model the non-linear response of the reinforced concrete (RC) piles, accounting for axial load dependency of bending moment capacity. The prototype problem is studied parametrically, deriving failure envelopes for different levels of vertical loading. Distinguishable failure modes are identified, and the contribution of different resistance mechanisms is quantified. Finally, analytical failure envelopes are derived based on limit equilibrium, expanding Broms' theory to pile groups under combined loading. Accounting for the axial load dependency of RC bending moment capacity, the proposed closed-form solutions provide a useful design tool for engineering practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Color distortion in an image presents a challenge for machine learning classification and regression when the input data consists of pictures. As a result, a new algorithm for color standardization of photos is proposed, forming the foundation for a deep neural network regression model. This approach utilizes a self-designed color template that was developed based on an initial series of studies and digital imaging. Using the equalized histogram of the R, G, B channels of the digital template and its photo, a color mapping strategy was computed. By applying this approach, the histograms were adjusted and the colors of photos taken with a smartphone were standardized. The proposed algorithm was developed for a series of images where the entire surface roughly maintained a uniform color and the differences in color between the photographs of individual objects were minor. This optimized approach was validated in the colorimetric determination procedure of vitamin C. The dataset for the deep neural network in the regression variant was formed from photos of samples under two separate lighting conditions. For the vitamin C concentration range from 0 to 87.72 µg·mL−1, the RMSE for the test set ranged between 0.75 and 1.95 µg·mL−1, in comparison to the non-standardized variant, where this indicator was at the level of 1.48–2.29 µg·mL−1. The consistency of the predicted concentration results with actual data, expressed as R2, ranged between 0.9956 and 0.9999 for each of the standardized variants. This approach allows for the removal of light reflections on the shiny surfaces of solutions, which is a common problem in liquid samples. This color-matching algorithm has universal character, and its scope of application is not limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]