Wearable Device for Observation of Physical Activity with the Purpose of Patient Monitoring Due to COVID-19

In late 2019, a new genre of coronavirus (COVID-19) was first identified in humans in Wuhan, China. In addition to this, COVID-19 spreads through droplets, so quarantine is necessary to halt the spread and to recover physically. This modern urgency creates a critical challenge for the latest technologies to detect and monitor potential patients of this new disease. In this vein, the Internet of Things (IoT) contributes to solving such problems. This paper proposed a wearable device that utilizes real-time monitoring to detect body temperature and ambient conditions. Moreover, the system automatically alerts the concerned person using this device. The alert is transmitted when the body exceeds the allowed temperature threshold. To achieve this, we developed an algorithm that detects physical exercise named “Continuous Displacement Algorithm” based on an accelerometer to see whether a potential temperature rise can be attributed to physical activity. The people responsible for the person in quarantine can then connect via nRF Connect or a similar central application to acquire an accurate picture of the person’s condition. This experiment included an Arduino Nano BLE 33 Sense which contains several other sensors like a 9-axis IMU, several types of temperature, and ambient and other sensors equipped. This device successfully managed to measure wrist temperature at all states, ranging from 32 °C initially to 39 °C, providing better battery autonomy than other similar devices, lasting over 12 h, with fast charging capabilities (500 mA), and utilizing the BLE 5.0 protocol for data wireless data transmission and low power consumption. Furthermore, a 1D Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) was employed to classify whether the user is feverish while considering the physical activity status. The results obtained from the 1D CNN illustrated the manner in which it can be leveraged to acquire insight regarding the health of the users in the setting of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Micro-displacement monitoring in caves at the Southern Alps–Dinarides–Southwestern Pannonian Basin junction

In situ micro-displacement monitoring in caves at the seismically active junction of the Southern Alps, Dinarides and Southwestern Pannonian Basin revealed active tectonic micro-deformations. The largest total vertical movement of 0.35 mm (2008–2018) occurred at Kostanjeviška Jama (Southwestern Pannonian Basin–Dinarides). Two abrupt displacements observed at that cave location correspond to pre- and post-seismic episodes in 2014 and 2015. At Pološka Jama (Southern Alps), more gradual and continuous displacement on a monitored bedding plane of 0.13 mm down-slip (2008–2018) was observed. This movement is attributed to slope relaxation as well as tectonic activity on the Julian Alps thrust fault and the seismogenic Ravne Fault, which generated earthquakes at Mw = 5.6 in 1998 and Mw = 5.2 in 2004. At Jama pri Svetih Treh Kraljih in Dinarides, activity on the Ravne Fault was shown as sinistral-horizontal (0.1 mm) and vertical (0.15 mm) movement along an E–W-oriented tectonic structure. This shallowly buried site also experienced cyclic seasonal displacements. At Županova Jama, multiple short-term horizontal dextral and sinistral strike-slip pulses (2016–2018) demonstrated active tectonic micro-deformations within the wider zone of the Dobrepolje and Želimlje faults. At Postojnska Jama, two episodes of vertical movement on a NW–SE-oriented fault are associated with earthquake swarms: the first episode was in 2010 (MLV = 3.7) and the second in 2014 (MLV = 4.3). In-cave flood events do not coincide with periods of micro-displacement activity in the studied caves, and therefore are not the drivers of the micro-displacement.

The Subject Lagging Behind the Acceleration of Neoliberal Capitalist Discourse

The capitalist discourse, as formulated by Lacan, imposes a ceaseless movement, a continuous displacement without friction or obstacles, which is going faster and faster as we get into deep neoliberalism. Its acceleration is correlated with its freedom—the freedom of neoliberal capitalism, the free market and the free circulation of goods, including subjective commodities. People must follow the rhythm of production and consumption, a rhythm that, as Marx showed, consumes people as much as it consumes their environment, their planet and their conditions of existence, which are also those of capitalism itself. The capitalist discourse, according to Lacan, undermines itself by consuming its own foundation. The capital even consumes itself by its effectiveness. The efficiency of capital, which implies an unsustainable progressive acceleration, is what this paper will examine at the subjective level. It will show how the subject is radically excluded— forclosed—when there is no time for them to live, stop and exist, be unoccupied, look back, resignify their history and understand until the moment of conclusion. Without conclusion of anything, there is no interval to unfold the subject’s existence. There is no point at which life can be anything other than labour and consumption, i.e., production and realization of capital.

Euler–Bernoulli elastic beam models of Eringen’s differential nonlocal type revisited within a $$\mathbf{C }^{0}-$$continuous displacement framework

A theory of the Erigen’s differential nonlocal beams of (isotropic) elastic material is prospected independent of the original integral formulation. The beam problem is addressed within a $$C^{(0)}-$$ C ( 0 ) - continuous displacement framework admitting slope discontinuities of the deflected beam axis with the formation of bending hinges at every cross section where a transverse concentrated external force is applied, either a load or a reaction. Concepts sparsely known from the literature are in this paper used within a more general context, in which the beam is envisioned as a macro-beam whose microstructure is able to take on a size dependent initial curvature dictated by the loading and constraint conditions. Indeed, initial curvature seems to be an effective analytical tool to inject size effects into micro- and nano-beams. The proposed theory is applied to a set of benchmark beam problems showing that a softening behaviour is always predicted without the appearance of paradoxical situations. Comparisons with other theories are also presented.

Dynamic response of axially loaded end-bearing rectangular closed diaphragm walls

This paper presents an approximate analytical solution for the vertical dynamic impedance and shaft resistance of rectangular closed diaphragm walls (RCDWs) embedded in a homogeneous soil medium and resting on rock base. The vertical continuous displacement model for the steady-state response of RCDWs is proposed to ensure proper RCDWs-soil contact and satisfy the boundary condition of soil at infinite horizontal distance. The soil horizontal displacement is neglected and the effect is indirectly taken into account by the modification of soil modulus. The functional of system potential and kinetic energies is established via the soil and RCDWs displacement functions. The governing equations of the system and the relevant conditions are obtained and the vertical shaft resistance of RCDWs is established by employing Hamilton’s variational principle for RCDWs-soil system and thin layer element, respectively. Some representative numerical examples are presented to portray the influences of soil core ratio, height–width ratio, diaphragm wall-soil stiffness ratio, and aspect ratio of RCDWs cross sections on the dynamic impedances and stiffness of the shaft resistance.

Detection of sinkhole occurrence, experiences from South Africa

Sinkholes are alarming and dangerous events, they have a worldwide occurrence, and are imposing a potential risk to urban communities and the widely developed built environment. Losses due to catastrophic sinkhole collapse, foundation, pavement and structural repairs, occur more often, due to the increased pressure to develop even on sinkhole prone land, and the aging of existing water supply infrastructure in the majority of cities. Remote sensing earth observation methods have proved to be valuable tools during the last two decades in long-term sinkhole hazard assessment. Satellite air borne and ground earth observation methods have primarily facilitated the wide detection of continuous displacement on the earth's crust. National sinkholes catalogues are necessary for town planers decision makers, and government authorities. In many instances the ground collapse is the result of water ingress from old poorly maintained leaking pipelines, or extensive dewatering activities. In the current study a comprehensive review of the current literature is presented in order to show experiences from South Africa and present recent mapping using PSInSAR methodology in Centurion South Africa.