Impact of Vapor Barrier on Moisture Content of Fiberboard Insulation in Log Structure

The paper is focused on a verification of the moisture content of fiberboard insulations in the multilayer loadbearing log wall designed with and without the vapor barrier. Experimental verification was done using a sample of the multilayer loadbearing log wall built in a research timber structure building under in-situ conditions. Indoor properties of the building met conditions for human occupancy. The experiment was performed for 2 years and 3 months. Aims of the fiberboard insulations moisture content verification in the walls were to verify the effect of vapor barrier in various periods of the year and verify excessive moisture in the fiberboard insulations, which is undesirable in terms of biodegradation. The results of measuring the moisture content showed that after a certain period, the difference of insulation moisture content in the wall including and excluding vapor barrier is negligible, as well as other results and conclusions for designing the composition of multilayer loadbearing log walls.

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RISK ANALYSIS OF THE PILLAR STRENGTH IN THE ESTONIA MINE

Environment Technology Resources Proceedings of the International Scientific and Practical Conference ◽

10.17770/etr2009vol1.1113 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 1 ◽

pp. 19

Author(s):

Juri-Rivaldo Pastarus ◽

Sergei Sabanov ◽

Jekaterina Shestakova ◽

Oleg Nikitin

Keyword(s):

Experimental Data ◽

Risk Analysis ◽

Moisture Content ◽

Bearing Capacity ◽

Oil Shale ◽

Volume Density ◽

Analysis Method ◽

Strength Parameters ◽

In Situ Conditions

This paper deals with the risk analysis and assessment of the pillars strength problems in the Estonia oil shale mine. Aim of this investigation was to determine the strength parameters and predict the bearing capacity of the pillars in Estonia mine, mining block No. 3107 Methods were based on theoretical investigation and experimental data of in-situ conditions. It is given the geological description of the mining block and determined the strength parameters, moisture content and volume density of the oil shale and limestone layers. Analysis showed that the used risk analysis method is applicable for Estonian oil shale mines. The results of the risk analysis are of particular interest for practical purposes.

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Application of TDR Method for Moisture Profiles Measurement in Cellular Concrete

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.982.11 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 982 ◽

pp. 11-15 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Lukáš Fiala ◽

Milena Pavlíková ◽

Zbyšek Pavlík

Keyword(s):

Moisture Content ◽

Continuous Monitoring ◽

Building Materials ◽

Soil Science ◽

In Situ Conditions ◽

Long Time ◽

Measured Moisture Content ◽

Moisture Profiles ◽

Cellular Concrete

Possible applicability of TDR method for continuous monitoring of moisture content in porous building materials is studied in the paper. TDR method, originally proposed for application in soil science, represents prospective tool for long time monitoring of moisture content in laboratory as well as in-situ conditions neglecting the effect of salts presence in researched material on accuracy of measured moisture content. The basic experimental setup of the TDR method is adjusted to the measurement of water content in building materials. The practical application of the method is presented on the measurement of moisture profiles in rod-shaped sample of cellular concrete.

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Comparison of Mammography and Ultrasonography for Tumor Size of DCIS of Breast Cancer

Current Medical Imaging Formerly Current Medical Imaging Reviews ◽

10.2174/1573405614666180131163321 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 15 (2) ◽

pp. 209-213

Author(s):

Yu Wang ◽

Jiantao Wang ◽

Haiping Wang ◽

Xinyu Yang ◽

Liming Chang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Correlation Coefficient ◽

Tumor Size ◽

Ductal Carcinoma ◽

Pearson Correlation ◽

Dense Breast ◽

Pathological Examination ◽

Negative Group ◽

The Difference

Objective: Accurate assessment of breast tumor size preoperatively is important for the initial decision-making in surgical approach. Therefore, we aimed to compare efficacy of mammography and ultrasonography in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of breast cancer. Methods: Preoperative mammography and ultrasonography were performed on 104 women with DCIS of breast cancer. We compared the accuracy of each of the imaging modalities with pathological size by Pearson correlation. For each modality, it was considered concordant if the difference between imaging assessment and pathological measurement is less than 0.5cm. Results: At pathological examination tumor size ranged from 0.4cm to 7.2cm in largest diameter. For mammographically determined size versus pathological size, correlation coefficient of r was 0.786 and for ultrasonography it was 0.651. Grouped by breast composition, in almost entirely fatty and scattered areas of fibroglandular dense breast, correlation coefficient of r was 0.790 for mammography and 0.678 for ultrasonography; in heterogeneously dense and extremely dense breast, correlation coefficient of r was 0.770 for mammography and 0.548 for ultrasonography. In microcalcification positive group, coeffient of r was 0.772 for mammography and 0.570 for ultrasonography. In microcalcification negative group, coeffient of r was 0.806 for mammography and 0.783 for ultrasonography. Conclusion: Mammography was more accurate than ultrasonography in measuring the largest cancer diameter in DCIS of breast cancer. The correlation coefficient improved in the group of almost entirely fatty/ scattered areas of fibroglandular dense breast or in microcalcification negative group.

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Rock Surface Fungi in Deep Continental Biosphere—Exploration of Microbial Community Formation with Subsurface In Situ Biofilm Trap

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms9010064 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 64

Author(s):

Maija Nuppunen-Puputti ◽

Riikka Kietäväinen ◽

Lotta Purkamo ◽

Pauliina Rajala ◽

Merja Itävaara ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Significant Proportion ◽

Debaryomyces Hansenii ◽

Fungal Communities ◽

Fungal Colonization ◽

Rock Surface ◽

Mica Schist ◽

Deep Subsurface ◽

Bacterial Phyla ◽

In Situ Conditions

Fungi have an important role in nutrient cycling in most ecosystems on Earth, yet their ecology and functionality in deep continental subsurface remain unknown. Here, we report the first observations of active fungal colonization of mica schist in the deep continental biosphere and the ability of deep subsurface fungi to attach to rock surfaces under in situ conditions in groundwater at 500 and 967 m depth in Precambrian bedrock. We present an in situ subsurface biofilm trap, designed to reveal sessile microbial communities on rock surface in deep continental groundwater, using Outokumpu Deep Drill Hole, in eastern Finland, as a test site. The observed fungal phyla in Outokumpu subsurface were Basidiomycota, Ascomycota, and Mortierellomycota. In addition, significant proportion of the community represented unclassified Fungi. Sessile fungal communities on mica schist surfaces differed from the planktic fungal communities. The main bacterial phyla were Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteriota. Biofilm formation on rock surfaces is a slow process and our results indicate that fungal and bacterial communities dominate the early surface attachment process, when pristine mineral surfaces are exposed to deep subsurface ecosystems. Various fungi showed statistically significant cross-kingdom correlation with both thiosulfate and sulfate reducing bacteria, e.g., SRB2 with fungi Debaryomyces hansenii.

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Development of a rapid field testing method for metals in horizontal directional drilling residuals with XRF sensor

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-83584-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Hailin Zhang ◽

João Antonangelo ◽

Chad Penn

Keyword(s):

Moisture Content ◽

Standard Method ◽

Field Testing ◽

Field Method ◽

Filter Press ◽

Directional Drilling ◽

Horizontal Directional Drilling ◽

Excess Water ◽

Spiked Soil

AbstractPortable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) spectrometer allows fast in-situ elemental determination without wet digestion for soils or geological materials, but the use of XRF on wet materials is not well documented. Our objective was to develop a rapid field method using pXRF to measure metals in the residues from horizontal directional drilling (HDD) operations so that proper disposal decisions can be made in-situ. To establish the procedure, we spiked soil samples with 4 concentrations of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb up to 1000 mg kg−1, and then the metal concentrations were determined by wet chemical method after drying and acid digestion (standard method), and by pXRF, also at laboratory conditions, after drying and at two different moisture conditions. The measurements by pXRF and standard method after drying and after removal of excess water (AREW) were highly correlated with slopes ranging from 0.83 ± 0.01 to 1.08 ± 0.01 (P < 0.001) for all metals. The relationship was better AREW than the saturated paste without removal of excess water and the moisture content affected only the accuracy of As, Cd, and Pb. The procedure established was successfully used for HDD residues collected from 26 states of US with moisture content ranging from 14 to 83% AREW. The pXRF was proven to be a reliable tool for fast detection of common metals in dried soils and HDD residues, and samples containing < 30% moisture content without needing to correct for moisture. If the moisture is > 30%, excess water in samples need to be removed with a commercially available filter press to achieve high accuracy. The developed procedures reduce time of metal detection from days to about an hour which allows drilling operators to make quick decisions on soil or HDD disposal.

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Comparison of In-Situ and Retrospective Self-Reports on Assessing Hearing Aid Outcomes

Journal of the American Academy of Audiology ◽

10.1055/s-0040-1719133 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Yu-Hsiang Wu ◽

Elizabeth Stangl ◽

Octav Chipara ◽

Anna Gudjonsdottir ◽

Jacob Oleson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hearing Aids ◽

Hearing Aid ◽

Outcome Data ◽

Self Report ◽

Data Collection And Analysis ◽

Self Reports ◽

Outcome Difference ◽

The Difference ◽

Ecological Momentary

Abstract Background Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) is a methodology involving repeated surveys to collect in-situ self-reports that describe respondents' current or recent experiences. Audiology literature comparing in-situ and retrospective self-reports is scarce. Purpose To compare the sensitivity of in-situ and retrospective self-reports in detecting the outcome difference between hearing aid technologies, and to determine the association between in-situ and retrospective self-reports. Research Design An observational study. Study Sample Thirty-nine older adults with hearing loss. Data Collection and Analysis The study was part of a larger clinical trial that compared the outcomes of a prototype hearing aid (denoted as HA1) and a commercially available device (HA2). In each trial condition, participants wore hearing aids for 4 weeks. Outcomes were measured using EMA and retrospective questionnaires. To ensure that the outcome data could be directly compared, the Glasgow Hearing Aid Benefit Profile was administered as an in-situ self-report (denoted as EMA-GHABP) and as a retrospective questionnaire (retro-GHABP). Linear mixed models were used to determine if the EMA- and retro-GHABP could detect the outcome difference between HA1 and HA2. Correlation analyses were used to examine the association between EMA- and retro-GHABP. Results For the EMA-GHABP, HA2 had significantly higher (better) scores than HA1 in the GHABP subscales of benefit, residual disability, and satisfaction (p = 0.029–0.0015). In contrast, the difference in the retro-GHABP score between HA1 and HA2 was significant only in the satisfaction subscale (p = 0.0004). The correlations between the EMA- and retro-GHABP were significant in all subscales (p = 0.0004 to <0.0001). The strength of the association ranged from weak to moderate (r = 0.28–0.58). Finally, the exit interview indicated that 29 participants (74.4%) preferred HA2 over HA1. Conclusion The study suggests that in-situ self-reports collected using EMA could have a higher sensitivity than retrospective questionnaires. Therefore, EMA is worth considering in clinical trials that aim to compare the outcomes of different hearing aid technologies. The weak to moderate association between in-situ and retrospective self-reports suggests that these two types of measures assess different aspects of hearing aid outcomes.

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Discrete element analysis of the punching behaviour of a secured drapery system: from laboratory characterization to idealized in situ conditions

Acta Geotechnica ◽

10.1007/s11440-020-01119-z ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Antonio Pol ◽

Fabio Gabrieli ◽

Lorenzo Brezzi

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Response ◽

Steel Wire ◽

Discrete Element ◽

Wire Mesh ◽

Steel Plates ◽

Loading Conditions ◽

Element Analysis ◽

In Situ Conditions ◽

Wire Meshes

AbstractIn this work, the mechanical response of a steel wire mesh panel against a punching load is studied starting from laboratory test conditions and extending the results to field applications. Wire meshes anchored with bolts and steel plates are extensively used in rockfall protection and slope stabilization. Their performances are evaluated through laboratory tests, but the mechanical constraints, the geometry and the loading conditions may strongly differ from the in situ conditions leading to incorrect estimations of the strength of the mesh. In this work, the discrete element method is used to simulate a wire mesh. After validation of the numerical mesh model against experimental data, the punching behaviour of an anchored mesh panel is investigated in order to obtain a more realistic characterization of the mesh mechanical response in field conditions. The dimension of the punching element, its position, the anchor plate size and the anchor spacing are varied, providing analytical relationships able to predict the panel response in different loading conditions. Furthermore, the mesh panel aspect ratio is analysed showing the existence of an optimal value. The results of this study can provide useful information to practitioners for designing secured drapery systems, as well as for the assessment of their safety conditions.

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Tuning Single-Molecule Conductance by Controlled Electric Field-Induced trans-to-cis Isomerisation

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app11083317 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. 3317

Author(s):

C.S. Quintans ◽

Denis Andrienko ◽

Katrin F. Domke ◽

Daniel Aravena ◽

Sangho Koo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Electric Field ◽

Electric Fields ◽

Single Molecule ◽

Quantum Interference ◽

Single Molecule Level ◽

Wet Chemical Synthesis ◽

Single Molecule Junctions ◽

Tunnelling Microscopy ◽

The Difference

External electric fields (EEFs) have proven to be very efficient in catalysing chemical reactions, even those inaccessible via wet-chemical synthesis. At the single-molecule level, oriented EEFs have been successfully used to promote in situ single-molecule reactions in the absence of chemical catalysts. Here, we elucidate the effect of an EEFs on the structure and conductance of a molecular junction. Employing scanning tunnelling microscopy break junction (STM-BJ) experiments, we form and electrically characterize single-molecule junctions of two tetramethyl carotene isomers. Two discrete conductance signatures show up more prominently at low and high applied voltages which are univocally ascribed to the trans and cis isomers of the carotenoid, respectively. The difference in conductance between both cis-/trans- isomers is in concordance with previous predictions considering π-quantum interference due to the presence of a single gauche defect in the trans isomer. Electronic structure calculations suggest that the electric field polarizes the molecule and mixes the excited states. The mixed states have a (spectroscopically) allowed transition and, therefore, can both promote the cis-isomerization of the molecule and participate in electron transport. Our work opens new routes for the in situ control of isomerisation reactions in single-molecule contacts.

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Reconstruction of the Technical Museum in Zagreb

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.778.919 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 778 ◽

pp. 919-926 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Vlatka Rajčić ◽

Dean Čizmar ◽

Mislav Stepinac

Keyword(s):

Moisture Ratio ◽

Timber Structure ◽

Structural Performance ◽

Timber Structures ◽

Large Span ◽

Entire Structure ◽

Structure Reconstruction ◽

Engineering Concept

Technical Museum is one of the most visited Museums in Zagreb (capital of Croatia). The museum presents scientific and educational centre in the field of technical sciences. The entire structure of the Museum is constructed as a timber structure and as such represents a rare existing example of the European engineering concept of expo-halls timber structures with large span (85m x 40 m) from the early 20 century. In this article overview of different NDTs that were performed in order to assess the structural performance of elements is given; moisture ratio and ultrasound investigations are carried out in situ in order to investigate timber condition. Based on the detected state of the structure reconstruction measures are presented.

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