3,653 research outputs found
Letter to mrs. M.R. Peacock
No full textFile type: 600 DPI TIF, Cannonscan 8000f scanner used, File dimensions: 5008 x 6352 pixels, File size: 64.9 MB, Original document: 26 x 20.5 mm letter.Letter to mrs. M.R. Peacock from Herbert Baker and Fleming Architects, signed by Frank Fleming, inquiring about the transportation issues for the completed stone font
Machine-learning-based calving prediction from activity, lying, and ruminating behaviors in dairy cattle
No full textThe objective of this study was to use automated activity, lying, and rumination monitors to characterize prepartum behavior and predict calving in dairy cattle. Data were collected from 20 primiparous and 33 multiparous Holstein dairy cattle from September 2011 to May 2013 at the University of Kentucky Coldstream Dairy. The HR Tag (SCR Engineers Ltd., Netanya, Israel) automatically collected neck activity and rumination data in 2-h increments. The IceQube (IceRobotics Ltd., South Queensferry, United Kingdom) automatically collected number of steps, lying time, standing time, number of transitions from standing to lying (ly-. ing bouts), and total motion, summed in 15-min increments. IceQube data were summed in 2-h increments to match HR Tag data. All behavioral data were collected for 14 d before the predicted calving date. Retrospective data analysis was performed using mixed linear models to examine behavioral changes by day in the 14 d before calving. Bihourly behavioral differences from baseline values over the 14 d before calving were also evaluated using mixed linear models. Changes in daily rumination time, total motion, lying time, and lying bouts occurred in the 14 d before calving. In the bihourly analysis, extreme values for all behaviors occurred in the final 24 h, indicating that the monitored behaviors may be useful in calving prediction. To determine whether technologies were useful at predicting calving, random forest, linear discriminant analysis, and neural network machine -learning techniques were constructed and implemented using R version 3.1.0 (R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria). These methods were used on variables from each technology and all combined variables from both technologies. A neural network analysis that combined variables from both technologies at the daily level yielded 100.0% sen-sitivity and 86.8% specificity. A neural network analysis that combined variables from both technologies in bihourly increments was used to identify 2-h periods in the 8 h before calving with 82.8% sensitivity and 80.4% specificity. Changes in behavior and machine-learning alerts indicate that commercially marketed behavioral monitors may have calving prediction potential
A study of nano-particle based silane consolidants for Globigerina limestone
No full textThis STEPS funded study focuses on the application of hybrid and nanoparticle loaded hybrid silane consolidants for the treatment of 'Franka' type Globigerina Limestone. Consolidants act by gluing the deteriorated stone material to the underlying healthy stone (Dukes, 1972; Gutt, 1973; Alessandrini et al., 1975; Garrod, 2001).
The consolidants evaluated in this work were a laboratory prepared hybrid silane based on a mixture of tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) and 3-(glycidoxypropyl) trimethoxysilane (GPTMS), the same hybrid consolidant loaded with silica nanoparticles and GPTMS-modified silica nanoparticles. In addition, a consolidant based on the hydrolysis product of TEOS was also tested. Prepared consolidants were applied to Globigerina Limestone test blocks by complete immersion. Untreated stone block were used as benchmarks. Following application of the consolidants, half of the treated limestone blocks were subjected to accelerated weathering.
Non-weathered and weathered limestone blocks were then characterised by optical and electron microscopy and the stone colour before and after treatment with consolidants was assessed by a colorimetric technique. The pore size distribution before and after application of the different consolidant treatments was assessed by Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry. A water absorption by capillarity technique was also carried out to assess how the water uptake rate into the limestone alters with the different treatments. The mechanical properties of the consolidated limestone blocks were assessed by resistance to sodium sulfate crystallisation.
Microscopy observations showed that the consolidants penetrated the stone to different extents depending on the consolidant and the method of application. The hybrid consolidant on its own led to yellowing of the limestone but the addition of nanoparticles to the hybrid (modified or not) appeared to help restore the original colour of the stone. The porosity of the limestone was only marginally affected by the different treatments but the somewhat hydrophobic nature of the consolidants led to a disruption in the capillary flow of water into the limestone.peer-reviewe
Need to study earth's ecosystems
No full textPost project research output by John Stone, IDRC Visiting Fellow, April 2007-2008The chapter is based on the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Report (2005). The author argues for effective transfer of knowledge regarding climate change to the general public, and in particular to political leaders as a means of enhancing democracy and making informed decisions. Society must wrestle with its apparent need to seek short-term rewards and the tendency towards greed, denial, tribalism, and ignorance which often raises barriers to action. The chapter urges policy making and action based on evidence, recognizing that many of these issues are deemed "wicked problems," where uncertainty is a given
Creep behavior of a building stone from the South of Italy
No full textStone materials can suffer high long-term deformations when subjected to constant compressive load. The knowledge of creep behaviour of these materials is crucial for determining the safety factor of a structure, including historical buildings with large ashlar walls, and, generally, all types of buildings in which the stone acts as a structural component or is the support of foundation loads. This chapter aims to investigate the possibility of exploiting the vast experience accumulated in the study of concrete in order to obtain a reasonable approach to the behaviour of the stone. A well-known stone from Trani in the South of Italy, locally named as "Calcareous Tufa" has been physically and mechanically characterized and then subjected to long-term compressive laboratory tests. Stone materials can suffer high long-term deformations when subjected to constant compressive load. The chapter proposes a creep function adapted to the studied stone only dependent on its elastic and mechanical characteristics
Scotland's building stone industry: a review
No full textScotland has one of the richest legacies of traditional (pre-1919) buildings and other stone structures of any country in the world, but the building stone industry that created that legacy is now a small fraction of its former size and struggling to survive as the use of imported stone continues to grow. This report presents an objective review of the building stone industry in Scotland today. It includes: a brief synopsis of its history; evidence of its current fragile state, and the threat this poses to the historic and natural environments; an analysis of the potential for the industry to grow, and the benefits that a stronger indigenous industry could bring; a description of factors that are holding back its development (‘barriers to growth’); and a list of practical steps that can be taken by the industry and other stakeholders to encourage and facilitate growth
Esperienza ed evento della verità. Pratica filosofica e astrazione scientifica nel pensiero di A.N. Whitehead
No full textThis article analyzes the relationship between philosophy, experience and event in A.N. Whitehead’s thought. From the critics of the concept of object, the author retraces and describes the peculiar “abstract-concrete dialectic”, at the center of the researches concerning the perceptual experience.
Furthermore, according to Whitehead’s later works, she demonstrates how the philosophical practice is different from all other kinds of science, although it requires science itself because of the co-implication of object and event, abstraction and recognition
Evaluating oxalate-degrading Lactobacillus spp. for their ability to be used as probiotics in the treatment of kidney stone disease
No full textIncludes abstract.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 73-95).Although the direct cause of kidney stone formation is not known, reports have suggested it is probably a multifactorial disease. Lactobacillus strains which potentially had increased ability to degrade oxalate were previously isolated from a healthy low kidney stone risk group. The aim of this study was to identify these natural Lactobacillus strains and evaluate their potential for use as probiotics in reducing the risk of kidney stone disease. Identification was achieved by PCR amplification and sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene and the 16S-23S rRNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. The strains were identified as follows; Lactobacillus gasseri 7(3), L. gasseri 17(4), Lactobacillus reuteri 17(7) and L. reuteri 16(9). Their probiotic characteristics were also evaluated
Il "Guerrin Meschino" di Gesualdo Bufalino : un'"opra" in versi
No full textGesualdo Bufalino first published Il Guerrin Meschino in 1991 in a non-commercial edition. In 1993, after a deep revision, he re-published his work with publisher Bompiani: the novel has a modified plot, and the author decided to insert three new poems in addition to the opening and closing poems, formerly present in 1991’s edition. This paper, in its entirety supported by handwritten material preserved at Fondazione Gesualdo Bufalino (Comiso), is divided in two parts: the first part illustrates the differences between the first and the second edition, the second part provides a critical edition of the five poems
A building stone assessment of The Engine Shed, Stirling
No full textThis report describes the outcomes of a project commissioned by Historic Scotland to identify suitable stone to use in forthcoming repairs to the building known as The Engine Shed, in Stirling, which will become Historic Scotland’s National Conservation Centre. A Building Stone Assessment has been conducted on three samples of sandstone supplied by Historic Scotland – two from different parts of The Engine Shed and one from the recently demolished Seaforth Place Bridge in Stirling – with a view to assessing whether stone recovered from the demolished bridge could be considered amongst the closest-matching currently available stones and therefore a suitable replacement stone. This assessment has shown that stone from the bridge is amongst the closest-matching stones, and should provide a good replacement stone for walling and copestones in The Engine Shed provided weathered stone is first removed from the recycled blocks and any blocks required to perform a load-bearing function are subjected to a geotechnical test to confirm they are sufficiently strong. Drumhead sandstone, which is currently quarried near Denny, should also provide a good replacement stone
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