scholarly journals Selection and spatial arrangement of building materials during the construction of nest turrets by grass-cutting ants

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (10) ◽  
pp. 201312
Author(s):  
Daniela Römer ◽  
Marcela I. Cosarinsky ◽  
Flavio Roces
Keyword(s):  
Building Materials ◽  
Material Selection ◽  
Spatial Location ◽  
Spatial Arrangement ◽  
The Self ◽  
Nest Entrance ◽  
Self Organized ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Over Time ◽  
Selection Of

Ants build complex nest structures by reacting to simple, local stimuli. While underground nests result from the space generated by digging, some leaf- and grass-cutting ants also construct conspicuous aboveground turrets around nest openings. We investigated whether the selection of specific building materials occurs during turret construction in Acromyrmex fracticornis grass-cutting ants, and asked whether single building decisions at the beginning can modify the final turret architecture. To quantify workers' material selection, the original nest turret was removed and a choice between two artificial building materials, thin and thick sticks, was offered for rebuilding. Workers preferred thick sticks at the very beginning of turret construction, showed varying preferences thereafter, and changed to prefer thin sticks for the upper, final part of the turret, indicating that they selected different building materials over time to create a stable structure. The impact of a single building choice on turret architecture was evaluated by placing artificial beams that divided a colony's nest entrance at the beginning of turret rebuilding. Splitting the nest entrance led to the self-organized construction of turrets with branched galleries ending in multiple openings, showing that the spatial location of a single building material can strongly influence turret morphology.

Rebuilding Nepal: traditional and modern approaches, building or diminishing resilience?

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 218-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine Forbes
Keyword(s):  
Building Materials ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Vernacular Architecture ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Knowledge And Skills ◽  
Masonry Construction ◽  
Action Research Approach ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Over Time

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to highlight the importance of vernacular architecture and traditional knowledge to building resilience in Nepal and the impact of modernisation on that resilience and architectural diversity. Design/methodology/approach Using an action research approach, including field observations and discussions with local community members, artisans, architects, engineers and other international experts, the study examines the resilience of traditional building typologies to natural hazards in Nepal, including earthquake; the changes that have occurred over time leading to the failure and/or rejection of traditional construction; and a review of post-earthquake reconstruction options, both traditional and modern. Findings Although traditional approaches have been cyclically tested over time, this study found that changes in building materials, technologies, knowledge and skills, access to resources, maintenance practices, urban environments and societal aspirations have all contributed to the popular rejection of vernacular architecture following the earthquakes. Research limitations/implications The research is limited to traditional timber and masonry construction in the Kathmandu Valley and surrounding mountain areas. Practical implications To improve resilience the study identifies the need for capacity building in both traditional and modern construction technologies; adoption of approaches that use local materials, knowledge and skills, whilst addressing local timber shortages and access issues; a transparent construction certification system; good drainage; and regular maintenance. Originality/value The study critically evaluates the impact of technological, environmental, social and economic changes over time on the resilience of vernacular housing in Nepal.

Self-organized multiscale structures in thermally relativistic electron-positron-ion plasmas

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Usman Shazad ◽  
Shafa Ullah ◽  
M. Iqbal
Keyword(s):  
The Self ◽  
Magnetized Plasma ◽  
Complex Conjugate ◽  
Dynamo Theory ◽  
Relativistic Plasmas ◽  
Self Organized ◽  
Electron Positron ◽  
Relativistic Temperature ◽  
Multiscale Structures ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The self-organization of a thermally relativistic magnetized plasma comprising of electrons, positrons and static ions is investigated. The self-organized state is found to be the superposition of three distinct Beltrami fields known as triple Beltrami (TB) state. In general, the eigenvalues associated with the multiscale self-organized vortices may be a pair of complex conjugate and real one. It is shown that all the eigenvalues become real when thermal energy increases or the positron density decreases. The impact of relativistic temperature and positron density on the formation of self-organized structures is investigated. The self-organized field and flow vortices may vary simultaneously on vastly different length scales. The disparate variation of self-organized vortices is important in the context of dynamo theory. The present work is useful to study the formation of multiscale vortices and dynamo mechanisms in multi-species thermally relativistic plasmas.

scholarly journals Physiological and structural differences in spatially distinct subpopulations of cardiac mitochondria: influence of cardiac pathologies

2014 ◽  
Vol 307 (1) ◽  
pp. H1-H14 ◽  
Author(s):  
John M. Hollander ◽  
Dharendra Thapa ◽  
Danielle L. Shepherd
Keyword(s):  
Cardiac Tissue ◽  
Ischemia Reperfusion ◽  
Subcellular Location ◽  
Spatial Location ◽  
Spatial Arrangement ◽  
Heart Tissue ◽  
Absolute Size ◽  
Functional Studies ◽  
Interfibrillar Mitochondria ◽  
The Impact

Cardiac tissue contains discrete pools of mitochondria that are characterized by their subcellular spatial arrangement. Subsarcolemmal mitochondria (SSM) exist below the cell membrane, interfibrillar mitochondria (IFM) reside in rows between the myofibrils, and perinuclear mitochondria are situated at the nuclear poles. Microstructural imaging of heart tissue coupled with the development of differential isolation techniques designed to sequentially separate spatially distinct mitochondrial subpopulations have revealed differences in morphological features including shape, absolute size, and internal cristae arrangement. These findings have been complemented by functional studies indicating differences in biochemical parameters and, potentially, functional roles for the ATP generated, based upon subcellular location. Consequently, mitochondrial subpopulations appear to be influenced differently during cardiac pathologies including ischemia/reperfusion, heart failure, aging, exercise, and diabetes mellitus. These influences may be the result of specific structural and functional disparities between mitochondrial subpopulations such that the stress elicited by a given cardiac insult differentially impacts subcellular locales and the mitochondria contained within. The goal of this review is to highlight some of the inherent structural and functional differences that exist between spatially distinct cardiac mitochondrial subpopulations as well as provide an overview of the differential impact of various cardiac pathologies on spatially distinct mitochondrial subpopulations. As an outcome, we will instill a basis for incorporating subcellular spatial location when evaluating the impact of cardiac pathologies on the mitochondrion. Incorporation of subcellular spatial location may offer the greatest potential for delineating the influence of cardiac pathology on this critical organelle.

scholarly journals Effect of single tube sections on the structural safety of Chinese solar greenhouse skeletons

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xingan Liu ◽  
Zhenkun Li ◽  
Lei Zhang ◽  
Yu Liu ◽  
Yiming Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Material Selection ◽  
Selection Process ◽  
Load Condition ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Structural Safety ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Single Tube ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Selection Of

AbstractIn recent years, the use of single-tube skeletons for the construction of Chinese solar greenhouses has increased. As a consequence, during the selection of the construction materials, the safety of these structures has become an important issue. The single tube section has various forms, but there is no scientific theory to guide the selection process. To the best of our knowledge, the scientific analysis of the impact of single pipe cross section on the safety of greenhouse skeleton has not been addressed so far. In this context, the finite element analysis software was used to calculate and analyze the stress elements, displacement of round tube, Ω tube, elliptic tube and square tube under the same load conditions. We used the Chinese Standard values as a reference and analyzed structural features of different sizes and thicknesses of the greenhouse steel skeleton sections under non-uniform snow load. The results showed that, under the same load condition, the maximum stress in the four skeleton materials was all located at the connection of the transverse tension bar and the front roof. In addition, under same load condition, the greenhouse skeleton with elliptic tube presented the smallest cross-sectional displacement between the different materials tested. The effect of increasing the size of the greenhouse frame was better than that of increasing the greenhouse material thickness. All this work will provide theoretical guidance to the material selection of this structure.

Context Machines: A Series of Situated and Self-Organizing Artworks

Leonardo ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 114-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin David Robert Bogart ◽  
Philippe Pasquier
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
The Self ◽  
Self Organizing Map ◽  
Site Specific ◽  
Photographic Images ◽  
Associative Process ◽  
Self Organized ◽  
Over Time ◽  
Self Organizing

The authors discuss the development of self-organizing artworks. Context Machines are a family of site-specific, conceptual and generative artworks that capture photographic images from their environment in the construction of creative compositions. Resurfacing produces interactive temporal landscapes from images captured over time. Memory Association Machine's free-associative process, modeled after Gabora's theory of creativity, traverses a self-organized map of images collected from the environment. In the Dreaming Machine installations, these free associations are framed as dreams. The self-organizing map is applied to thousands of images in Self-Organized Landscapes—high-resolution collages intended for print reproduction. Context Machines invite us to reconsider what is essentially human and to look at ourselves, and our world, anew.

A sustainable assessment model for material selection in construction industries perspective using hybrid MCDM approaches

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 234-259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaliyan Mathiyazhagan ◽  
A. Gnanavelbabu ◽  
B. Lokesh Prabhuraj
Keyword(s):  
Building Materials ◽  
Material Selection ◽  
Fuzzy Topsis ◽  
Assessment Model ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Bottom Line ◽  
Sustainable Building ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sustainable Material ◽  
Selection Of

Purpose Urbanization and globalization in India have led to the depletion of resources and degradation of the environment to meet the demands. Because of these issues, researchers and practitioners have begun to study various strategies to reduce the level consumption of resources to utilize it for present and future needs. In pursuit of finding solutions to the problems, sustainable building construction is found as the best key to avoid depletion of resources. Sustainable material selection is found as a vital strategy in construction. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach A three-phase methodology is proposed for framing the assessment model for construction industries to select materials for construction. In the first phase, a total of 23 sub-criteria of triple bottom line (TBL) and four brick materials as alternatives were identified. The second phase finds the weights and ranks of criteria and sub-criteria using the best worst methodology (BWM) the third phase involves ranking of materials concerning sub-criteria weights determined in phase II using Fuzzy Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). Findings The objective of study is fixed to identify the criteria list for the selection of material in construction industries from the literature review especially for Indian construction industries; to rank the criteria for selection of materials with the help of the BWM approach; and to prioritize the identified materials in the view of sustainability with the help of Fuzzy TOPSIS in construction industries perspective. This study analyzed and choosing right sustainable materials by the three pillars of sustainability which are the environment, economic and social, also called TBL, for Indian construction companies by framing a sustainable material assessment model. Originality/value The results of this study facilitate to frame an assessment model for evaluating and selecting sustainable building materials.

scholarly journals English title is no available.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
ا.د. محمد دلف احمد الدلیمی ◽  
وا.د. نسرین عواد عبدون الحصانی
Keyword(s):  
Air Temperature ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Desert Region ◽  
Construction Methods ◽  
Arid Conditions ◽  
Materials Used ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Urban Characteristics ◽  
Climatic Characteristics ◽  
Selection Of

This study considers the urban characteristics of the old city of Fallujah and the impact of the prevailing climatic characteristics on its construction. In particular this study focuses on the suitability of the construction methods and materials for a desert region characterized by high temperatures and a lack of rain. The researcher relied on the analytical and descriptive methodology to reach the research objective. This study concludes that the bot arid conditions encouraged the construction of converging residential dwellings and narrow, twisted streets, designed to produce the largest area of shadows and thereby reduce the air temperature in these areas. The same purpose also contributed to the height of roofs and the selection of building materials used in the construction of walls and ceilings, as well as the distribution of spaces within the housing units. Keywords: Not Available

scholarly journals Analysing How the Shift in Discourses on Social Media Affected the Narrative Around the Indian General Election 2019

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-31
Author(s):  
Devansh Manu ◽  
Radhika Krishnan ◽  
Ponnurangam Kumaraguru
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Political Parties ◽  
Prime Minister ◽  
General Election ◽  
Online Social Media ◽  
Global Trend ◽  
Monthly Changes ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Over Time ◽  
Selection Of

The Lok Sabha Elections 2019 in the world’s largest democracy, India, was the biggest electoral event on the planet. These elections are key in the selection of the Prime Minister, the highest authority in the cabinet. Keeping in pace with the global trend, the Indian elections saw a very prominent use of Online Social Media by political parties to create a major discourse around the event. We focus our study on Twitter, collecting over 45 Million tweets, tracking more than 3500 hashtags and over 2500 political handles while monitoring their network interactions. In this work, we have analysed tweets from all these political handles to see how narratives were shaped and altered over time. We study these narratives formed by the party already in power and how they were supported or challenged by other parties. Spanning over 5 months, January to May 2019, we analysed the monthly changes in the rhetoric created by the leading political parties and leaders. We then discern the impact of these changes on existing narratives during the campaigning and the elections.

Introduction: Desert Island Discs in context

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Brown ◽  
Nicholas Cook ◽  
Stephen Cottrell
Keyword(s):  
National Identities ◽  
Media Culture ◽  
Potential Value ◽  
The World ◽  
Online Archive ◽  
Desert Island ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Radio Programme ◽  
Over Time ◽  
Selection Of

This chapter provides an overview of the long-standing and highly popular British radio programme Desert Island Discs (DID). It sets out the historical contexts in which the programme was established and developed, and interrogates both its changing format and the meanings and values that have been associated with DID over time. Developments in the production process are also assessed, including the impact of various presenters and the selection of castaways, as well as the programme’s place in broader media culture and its relationship to particular national identities. Finally, it considers the potential value of DID to the world of scholarship, particularly following the establishment in 2011 of the programme’s online archive, and the contribution of chapter authors to the realisation of that potential.

scholarly journals Life Cycle Evaluation of Sustainable Practices in a Sauna Bath

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (20) ◽  
pp. 5647
Author(s):  
Luis Velazquez ◽  
Sandra Villalba ◽  
Ricardo García ◽  
Nora Munguía
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Material Selection ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Solar Air Heater ◽  
Sustainable Solutions ◽  
Air Heater ◽  
Graphene Coating ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Selection Of

To battle climate change, the search for sustainable solutions and the reduction of environmental impacts are activities that must be pursued in all areas of human life. This study aimed to conduct a Life Cycle Evaluation of the environmental aspects and potential benefits associated with two different innovative adaptations to a sauna bath. The first adaptation is related to the selection of wooden materials for the bath’s interior construction; the second is related to the source of thermal energy. For the selection of wooden materials, experiments were performed to evaluate a graphene coating and its capacity to increase the durability of wooden materials. For the thermal energy source, a solar air heater was experimentally assessed to confirm its capacity to supply the thermal energy required to operate the sauna bath. Finally, the material selection and the heating operation were integrated in a Life Cycle Impact Assessment, contrasting two scenarios: “business as usual sauna bath” and “sustainable sauna bath.” The findings showed a significant reduction of around 61% of total emissions from the application of a solar air heater and wooden materials treated with a graphene coating. At the end of this study, “human well-being,” “ecosystems,” and “resources” were expressed in monetary values to assess the impact of the above practices in a sauna bath.

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