Lightweight Bamboo Double Layer Grid System

The paper presents the structural and environmentally sustainable aspects of bamboo as a valid construction material. A special PVC joint designed for bamboo double layer grids (DLG) is presented and implemented in a 2.3x2.3x0.9m DLG module. Experimental results obtained from evaluating two bamboo species, proof loading of the proposed PVC joint and loading of the DLG module are presented and compared to numerical predictions. The results indicate that the proposed DLG system can be used in practice for constructing lightweight medium-span bamboo structures with excellent structural, aesthetic and environmental attributes

Cutting temperatures when ball nose end milling γ-TiAl intermetallic alloys

AbstractExperimental results are presented for Ti–45Al–2Mn–2Nb+0.8vol% TiB2XD and Ti–45Al–8Nb–0.2C alloys. Three approaches were employed involving a constantan-workpiece thermocouple arrangement, implanted K-type thermocouples and IR thermography. New and worn (~300μm flank wear) coated carbide tools were used under dry conditions when down milling at 50–345m/min, with workpieces mounted horizontally and at 45°. Despite slight variation in ancillary finishing parameters there was generally good agreement between data sets for the different evaluation techniques employed and for both alloys. Higher temperatures were measured with the workpiece at 45°, with constantan-workpiece thermocouple temperatures of 375°C and 413°C for new and worn tools respectively at 345m/min

Laser gas-discharge absorption measurements of the ratio of two transition rates in argon

The ratio of two line strengths at 922.7 nm and 978.7 nm of argon is measured in an argon pulsed discharge with the use of a single-mode Ti:Sapphire laser. The result 3.29(0.13) is in agreement with our theoretical prediction 3.23 and with a less accurate ratio 2.89(0.43) from the NIST database.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, 1 tabl

Epidemiology and strain characterization of rotavirus diarrhea in Malaysia

SummaryObjectivesThe objectives of the study were to describe the epidemiology and strain characterization of rotavirus (RV), to determine the proportion of hospitalizations for diarrhea attributable to RV among children under 5 years of age, and to estimate the disease burden of RV diarrhea in Malaysia.MethodsAll children 0–59 months of age admitted for acute gastroenteritis to Kuala Lumpur Hospital (KLH) or Hospital Umum Sarawak (HUS) were surveyed. The periods of surveillance were from February 1, 2001 to April 30, 2003 in KLH and April 1, 2001 to March 31, 2003 for HUS.ResultsThe highest rate of RV-associated diarrhea was among children aged 6–17 months, accounting for 55% of RV-associated diarrhea. There was no seasonality observed in either hospital. P[8]G9 strains were predominant, accounting for 73% of all strains in both hospitals, 80% from KLH and 61% from HUS. There was no mortality.ConclusionsRV was responsible for 38% of hospitalizations for diarrhea. It was most common in the 6–17 months age group. There was no seasonality observed for RV-associated diarrhea. The most prevalent strain of RV was P[8]G9. The estimated incidence of RV-associated diarrhea was 27 per 10000 population under the age of 5 years per year

Long-term passive monitoring of solar UV radiation using radiochromic films

Paper presented to the 3rd Southern African Solar Energy Conference, South Africa, 11-13 May, 2015.The solar ultraviolet (UV) spectrum spans over a range of wavelengths, namely, UVA (315–400 nm), UVB (280–315 nm) and UVC (100–280 nm). The UV radiation reaching the surface of the Earth comprises of mainly UVA, a small amount of UVB and essentially no UVC. Solar UV can affect the human health. An under-dose will lead to diseases such as rickets and osteoporosis, while an over-dose will cause sunburns, skin cancers and cataracts. It is therefore pertinent to design methods for integrated long-term measurements of UV radiation (e.g., over 1 day). Recently, we succeeded in demonstrating the feasibility of using the Gafchromic EBT3 radiochromic film to quantify solar (UVA+UVB) exposures (in Jcm-2). These radiochromic-film products were originally developed for clinical dosimetric applications, with visible-light absorption changes upon X-ray irradiation, but were understood to be also responsive to UV radiations. We found that the usable range of UV exposures for the EBT3 film was from ~0.2 to ~30 Jcm-2. However, the maximum UV exposure could reach 50 Jcm-2 per day, so we need a wider usable range. The current work proposed modifications to the EBT3 film for longer-term measurements (e.g., over 1 day). We explored the UV responses of EBT3 films covered with 2 and 5 barriers, each barrier being a blue polypropylene film with a thickness of 0.3 mm. The usable range for the film with 2 barriers was from ~4 to ~40 Jcm-2, while the usable range for the film with 5 barriers was from ~30 to ~300 Jcm-2. Using both EBT3 films covered with 2 and 5 barriers will give a continuous usable range from 4 to 300 Jcm-2, which will be useful for a consecutive 6-d UV exposure measurement.cf201

An ARIMA-Intervention Analysis Model for the Financial Crisis in China’s Manufacturing Industry

Triggered by the subprime mortgage crisis in the United States (U.S.), a financial tsunami has spread rapidly around the globe, from the U.S. to Europe and the rest of the world, causing the world economy to enter a recession. China is no exception, and has suffered a sharp reduction in the growth of its export and manufacturing sectors. In this paper, we attempt to model and analyze the impact of financial crisis on the manufacturing industry in China using data collected from March 2005 to November 2008 by the China Statistical Databases of the National Bureau of Statistics of China. The results indicate that China’s manufacturing industry may have to tolerate a significant negative effect caused by the global financial crisis over a period of time, with its gross industrial output value declining continually throughout 2008 and 2009 before reaching a state of equilibrium. The intervention effect is described in this study as temporary but immediate and abrupt. It is found that the ARIMA-Intervention model is more precise at explaining and analyzing the intervention effects of the financial tsunami

Identifying airway obstruction in primary care: is there a role for physiotherapists?

AIMS: To examine the implementation of a physiotherapist-driven spirometry case finding service in primary care to identify new cases of COPD and confirm diagnosis of existing cases of COPD. METHODS: Four general practices were recruited. ‘At risk’ participants (aged ≥ 40 years, current/ex-smoker) and people with ‘existing’ COPD were identified from practice databases and invited to attend an assessment with a cardiorespiratory physiotherapist in each general practice. The physiotherapist performed pre/post-bronchodilator spirometry to identify or confirm a diagnosis of COPD (FEV(1)/FVC < 0.7). Outcome measures included number (%) of new cases of COPD, number (%) confirmed diagnosis of COPD and number (%) of high quality spirometry assessments with accurate interpretation. RESULTS: One hundred forty eight participants (mean age 70 years (SD 11.1), 57% female) attended a baseline assessment (117 ‘at risk’, 31’existing’ COPD) from 748 people invited. Physiotherapists performed 145 pre/post bronchodilator spirometry assessments. Obstruction on post-bronchodilator spirometry was confirmed in 17% (19/114) of ‘at risk’ and 77% (24/31) of ‘existing’ COPD. Majority of cases were classified as GOLD Stage II (63%, n = 27). Quality of pre/post bronchodilator spirometries for FEV(1) were classified as A (68%), B (19%) and C (5%). CONCLUSION: Physiotherapists integrated into primary care performed high quality spirometry testing, successfully case finding ‘at risk’ patients and identifying potential misdiagnosis of obstruction in some ‘existing’ COPD cases. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ANZCTR, ACTRN12619001127190. Registered 12 August 2019 – Retrospectively registered, http://www.ANZCTR.org.au/ACTRN12619001127190.asp

CLUTCH SIZE AND INCUBATION TEMPERATURES OF GREEN TURTLE EGGS

Southeast Asia Sea Turtle Associative ResearchBangkok, Thailand, 16-19 December 2002Since clutch size of sea turtle eggs, through metabolic heating, can affect incubation temperatures, a study was conducted on Redang Island, Malaysia to look into the magnitude of this effect and its possible influence on sex determination of hatchlings. Miniature self-recording temperature loggers were used to monitor the incubation temperatures of relocated green turtle nests with 0, 5, 25, 50, 75, and 100 eggs at 60cm depth. Incubation temperatures were not constant but changed depending on weather, season, period of incubation and clutch size. The differential effects of metabolic heating on nest temperature due to clutch size only became evident after the first-third of incubation. These effects increase as the incubation progresses until hatching. Metabolic heating effects were greater in larger clutches compared to smaller clutch sizes. Incubation temperature reached its maximum after approximately 45 days of incubation. Clutch size can have a significant impact on incubation temperature through metabolic heating but may not necessarily influence significantly the sex ratio output of hatchlings

Analytical and experimental bearing capacities of system scaffolds

We investigated the structural behavior and bearing capacity of system scaffolds. The research showed that the critical load of a system scaffold structure without diagonal braces is similar to that of a door-shaped steel scaffold structure. Joint stiffness between vertical props in system scaffolds can be defined based on a comparison between analytical and experimental results. When the number of scaffold stories increases, the critical loads of system scaffolds decrease. Diagonal braces markedly enhance the critical load of system scaffolds. The coupling joint position between vertical props should be kept away from story-to-story joints to prevent a reduction in critical loads. The critical load of a system scaffold decreases as the quantity of extended vertical props at the bottom of the structure increases. A large Christmas tree set up by system scaffolds under various loads was used as an example for analysis and to check the design of system scaffolds