The Thermal Performance of Chinese Vernacular Skywell Dwellings

The aim of this research was to investigate the thermal performance of Chinese vernacular skywell dwellings. This was done by the analysis of on-site measurements of the environmental performance and computer simulation of solar conditions of eight vernacular skywell dwellings in three villages in southeastern China—Xidi, Zhifeng, and Yuyuan. Through the discussion of several heat inputs and outputs, it can be concluded that evaporative cooling had a substantial influence on the temperature in the skywells of dwellings in Xidi and Zhifeng villages. In addition to the buffering of temperature by thermal mass, evaporative cooling was found to further reduce the fluctuation in temperature inside the skywell and is likely to have been the main reason that the mean dry bulb temperatures inside the skywells in these villages were lower than the mean external dry bulb temperatures. Moreover, the construction materials of Chinese vernacular dwellings (skywell wall, floor material, wooden column, and panels) are likely to be hygroscopic.

Experimental and Numerical Study on the Flexural Performance of Assembled Steel-Wood Composite Slab

This paper presents research on a new type of fabricated steel–wood composite floor material in the style of a slab-embedded beam flange, using test methods and finite element numerical analysis to study the flexural load-bearing performance of the composite slabs. Through experimental phenomena, the failure process and mechanism of the composite floor are analyzed, and the deformation performance and ultimate bearing capacity of the composite floor material are assessed. Through numerical analysis of the finite element model, the influence of the connection mode of the floor and the composite beam, the type and number of connectors, and the width of the flange of the composite beam on the bending performance of the composite beam–slab system is studied. The research results show that the fabricated steel–wood composite floor slab has good load-bearing and deformation performance. The self-tapping screw connection of the floor slab is better than the ordinary steel nail connection, and the reasonable screw spacing is 100–150 mm. Increasing the flange width of the composite beam can significantly improve the load-bearing capacity of the steel–wood composite floor component.

Measuring the Static Coefficient of Friction of Non-Fluid Contaminants

The purpose of our study was to evaluate whether there are differences between measuring the static coefficient of friction (SCOF) of a non-fluid contaminant when it is directly attached to a tribometer test foot, or “Attached”, versus when it is lying loose on the floor, or “Loose”. The non-fluid materials used in this study included Mylar, Cardboard, Terrycloth Bathmat, and Terrycloth Bathmat with Rubberized Silicon Backing; the floor material was porcelain tile. In addition, 10 participants subjectively rated the “slipperiness” of each material by pushing the materials with one foot across the porcelain tile. The findings of this study revealed that within each technique, Attached and Loose, the measurements were consistent and reliable. Furthermore, both techniques resulted in identical ordering of the materials from lowest to highest SCOF, which was verified by the human subjects’ subjective ratings of slipperiness. However, the Loose technique SCOF values were slightly but consistently greater than the Attached technique SCOF values; the Loose tests of the entire bathmats were found to have greater SCOF values when compared to Loose tests of small samples. These findings suggest that when investigating a specific slip event, a practitioner should measure the SCOF of the non-fluid contaminant using the technique which most closely represents the conditions of the slip event.

Effects of different floor materials on the welfare and behaviour of slow- and fast-growing broilers

Litter quality and fast growth rate are the two main issues in broiler welfare. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of genotype and floor material on broiler welfare and behaviour. In the study, slow-growing (Hubbard JA57) and fast-growing (Ross 308) broilers on a slatted floor and deep litter were used; there were four main groups (2 genotype × 2 housing) and each treatment group consisted of 5 replicates. Each replicate group consisted of 10 male chicks, and 200 birds were used in total. The experiment lasted for 8 weeks. The welfare parameters were recorded in weeks 6, 7, and 8, whereas behaviour data were collected in week 8 only. Results showed that welfare parameters of broiler chickens were affected by genotype and floor type. Slow-growing broilers had better welfare parameters than fast-growing broilers. The slatted floor had a positive effect on main welfare parameters of the birds. Slower-growing broilers had a longer distance in the avoidance distance test. Tonic immobility reaction was longer in slow-growing broilers compared to fast-growing broiler. On the other hand, floor type did not affect behaviour parameters. As a conclusion, slow-growing broilers had better welfare parameters than fast-growing broilers and slat flooring could be beneficial to improve broiler welfare, but further behavioural investigations are needed such as dust bathing and walking behaviour.

Effects of Ground Floor Type on Selected Health-Parameters and Weight of Rabbits Reared in Group Pens

Cage housing of growing rabbits is associated with welfare concerns. An alternative system that has already been introduced involves pens with non-wire floors. An important aspect of group pens, for which the best solution has not yet been clearly demonstrated, is the choice of floor material. The study investigated effects of two ground floor types—slatted plastic floor versus concrete floor with straw litter—on health-related parameters and weight of rabbits reared in large group pens on a commercial rabbit farm, i.e., with preventive coccidiostatic, and if required, additional therapeutic medical treatment. Pens were identical in dimensions, equipment (including platforms), and initial group size (60 animals/pen). Four pens were studied per ground floor type in three consecutive rearing periods (in total, 12 pens per floor type). A higher percentage of rabbits per pen had clean fur if reared on straw (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found in the load of coccidial oocysts in collective faecal samples, mortality, pathological alterations, or causes of loss (p > 0.05). Thus, often-expressed concerns that parasitic load and mortality would be higher in groups kept on straw were not confirmed when rabbits were housed under otherwise equal conditions. Average slaughter weight was higher in rabbits reared on a slatted plastic floor (p < 0.05), confirming previous findings of a negative impact of straw litter on weight gain.

Relación entre el dolor lumbar y el acortamiento isquiotibial. Estudio de casos y controles.

Objetivos: Este estudio busca establecer una relación directa entre el dolor lumbar de origen inespecífico y el acortamiento de la musculatura isquiotibial mediante la prueba dedos suelo (Finger-to-floor). Material y métodos: En el presente estudio participaron 54 sujetos: 27 casos y 27 controles (41 mujeres y 13 hombres). Resultados: No se ha encontrado relación entre los casos y los controles en las variables Finger-To-Floor test 1 (FTF1) (rP= 0.079; P>0.570), Finger-To-Floor test 2 (FTF2) (rP= 0.000; p>0.998), Finger-To-Floor test 3 (FTF3) (rP= 0.075;p>0.588) y Finger-To-Floor test total (FTFtotal) (-0.006 (-5.23,5.11);p>0.981). Conclusión: No se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre ambos grupos y las respectivas variables.