Steady-state and dynamic hygrothermal performance of rendered straw bale walls

Wheat straw, in the form of compacted bales, is increasingly used as thermal insulation in the external walls of buildings. Common practice is to use a render finish, applied directly to surface of the straw bales, to protect them from decay, and enhance structural performance and fire resistance. Coatings are typically made of water vapour permeable materials, such as lime or earth-based renders. Such coatings should allow water vapour to diffuse through, minimising the risk of liquid moisture build up within the thickness of the wall, reducing likelihood of decay. However, to date there has been very limited scientific study of this behaviour in rendered straw bale walls. The aim of the work presented in this paper was to develop understanding of the hygrothermal performance of lime rendered wheat straw bales. A test panel was subjected to varying environmental conditions, including a thermal shock, dynamic freeze-thaw exposure and hot humid conditions. Key scientific contributions of this work include data on the dynamic and steady-state hygrothermal characteristics wheat straw bale walls, combined with the application of heat and moisture modelling. This work will further support uptake of straw bale construction by designers and their wider use in energy-efficient construction projects. </p

The Ursinus Weekly, May 5, 1952

Phila. Story to be presented May 8, 9 & 10 • Pre-meds elect officers • Y cabinet assumes duties at retreat • Music Club to hold elections tomorrow • Inter-sorority group holds annual party • Students will be charged for all overdue library books • Music Club to give concert • WSGA endorses removal of posters • New Lantern head selected by staff • Dan Giangiulio is elected new president of MSGA • Final plans set for May Day pageant, campus activities • Future teachers to hear talk Tuesday • Ludwig receives prize from chemical institute • Bus. Ad. club reorganizes; Bennett elected president • New Selective Service test scheduled to be given May 22 • Editorials: More pride needed; Super-patriots gag opinion • Spirit group meets to plan program for next year • Chess club loses match • Letters to the editor • German Club elects Owens • Junior-Sophomore weekend held • Pinned • Engagements • Many infected by senioritus • May pageants present queen in many guises • Parting seniors reveal one last desire • Hal Feist hurls seven-hit victory over Swarthmore • Girls net team gains shutout win • Delaware trounces Bears 10 to 3 with 15-hit attack • Cinder men rout Cadets, lose to Lehigh runners • Girls\u27 tennis team beats Stroudsburg 4-1 • Gellman elected to captain 1953 wrestling squad • Moravian beats Ursinus; Bears leave 15 on base • Stolen gloves halt intramural games • Y retreaters spend enjoyable weekendhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1543/thumbnail.jp

The Ursinus Weekly, October 6, 1952

Dean reveals new title for former B list • MSGA announces concession grants at first meeting • Musicians to appear Sunday • Ursinus bloodmobile to arrive October 22; Donors urged to apply • Thespians reveal production plans • Chest drive scheduled for early in November • Spirit Committee, Y, plan pep rally • Changes made in Bio, English faculty; New librarians, preceptresses installed • Y starts plan of orientation for freshmen • WSGA arranges varied plans for freshman affairs • Godshall resigns college position • Matlaga receives Cub and Key award • Music Club announces schedule of concerts • Dean of Women recuperates from serious eye ailment • Supply Store has new plans • New night courses stress economics • Lantern seeks staff members; Deadline set for first dance • Editorials: Great loss; Right direction • Independents in quandary • Several marriages occur over Summer • Debaters reveal plans • Seniors schedule activities • Election debate planned • Chi Alpha to offer grace • Y holds doggie roast • Sophs hold first meeting • Calm ones • Reporter discovers students from Ursinus at ocean resort • Fightin\u27st college demands cooperation of all students • Hockey squad prepares for Swarthmore opener • Bakermen face rugged schedule • 1952-53 prospects high; Host of lettermen back • Crusaders hand Grizzlies curtain raiser defeat • Miss Snell is always winner • WAA gives card party; Explains membership system • Bears face Drexel in home opener • Pre-med society changes name in memory of Dr. Brownback • Canterbury club plans retreathttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1500/thumbnail.jp

Gendered opportunities for improving soil health: A conceptual framework to help set the research agenda

Healthy soils play a critical role in supporting agricultural productivity, climate change mitigation and resilience, and a range of ecosystem services. Degraded and poorly responsive soils cover large areas of Africa and represent the majority of poor farmers’ fields in certain regions. While there are hundreds of technical options for improving the sustainability of land management and preventing or reversing degradation, there are many sociocultural, institutional, economic, and policy barriers hindering their adoption at large scale. At the same time, there is an emerging consensus within the international development community that gender equality and women’s empowerment are both an end in themselves and an important means for achieving a range of economic and social development objectives such as improved food security, child nutrition and education, and women’s health. Yet, gender inequality remains a wicked problem, whose deep-seated socio-economic and ideological causes are difficult to recognize and address, and which require context- and culture-specific understandings and approaches, involving multiple stakeholders with different and sometimes conflicting interests and different positions within power hierarchies. There is an urgent need to make more rapid progress on restoring and sustaining soil productivity and ecosystem functions and also to leverage soil health management for progress on gender equality. While there are important interconnections between soil health and gender equality and empowerment, these are seldom recognized, and have not been addressed in a coherent or concerted manner. In this study, we have reviewed relevant gender literature and proposed a conceptual framework to help illuminate important gender considerations for soil health and land management. These considerations are essential for identifying gender-based constraints, opportunities, and unintended consequences in promoting soil management technologies. Moreover, the application of the framework can help guide in priority setting with respect to where gender-responsive interventions are essential. We make several recommendations for setting priorities for gender-soil health research

The Ursinus Weekly, January 12, 1953

Petitions for May queen to start Feb. 2 • Revised final exam schedule • 11 students to graduate this January • Over 200 people hear Earle Spicer sing ballads Wed. • Lucas, Scott join cast of Alpha Psi • Pettit discovers fire in Bomberger chapel • Library has new collection of great books of western world • Campus Chest total is $955.23 • Y commission holds vespers • Frosh class discusses plans; Sets tentative dance date • Chem group to hear speech • Turkish speaker addresses classes Tuesday morning • Frats hold meetings, set date for dances • Movie to be shown in S-12 • 32 girls invited to Rosie dessert • Ruby wants snaps brought to Hobson • New rules regulate use of Alumni office machines • Editorials: New year suggestion • Goodbye H.S.T. • Letters to the editor • Engagements • Weddings • What are ex-student-teachers doing with their free time? • January graduates reveal variety of future plans • Resolutions of eager frosh contrast to humble seniors • F&M routs Bears 90-65 with second half splurge • Grizzlies rally to smother alumni 96-75 for fifth • Belles drub Moravian 75-22; Kuhn scores 21 • Grapplers down Swarthmore team • Herb Knull tabs record 46 as Ursinus routs Fords • French Club gives moviehttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1510/thumbnail.jp

The Ursinus Weekly, December 8, 1952

Second forum enjoys speech by diplomat • First forum hears Lord • Scribe praises Fall play • 15th annual Messiah performance to be Thursday night in Bomberger chapel • Y plans vespers, town-gown day Christmas party • Senior prom, party is this weekend • Marine speaks to students • Class to hear talk on southeast Asia • Pre-meds to hear Drs. Nye, Eger • Sororities go through informal initiations • Only $510 donated to Campus Chest • U. of P. student addresses IRC • French Club plans party • Editorials: So little time; Prom problem • Color trouble • GOP still split • Letters to the editor • Canterbury Club elects pres., holds meeting tonight at 7 • Weddings • Engagements • Reporter reveals sacred secrets of Weekly hole • Class of \u2753 gives birth to yearbook • Senior ball will feature Stars in the eyes theme • Inquirer relay to be held in January • Bears wallop Pharmacy in season opener, 97-48 • Mermaids begin practice; Sis Bosler is new coach • Kolp elected captain • Dick Glock paces Ursinus offense • Bob Swett tallies 75 as Bears split two decisionshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1508/thumbnail.jp

Attitudes and Opinions About Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing in Undergraduate Science Students

Background: There has been exponential growth in the number of direct-to-consumer genetic testing kits sold in the past decade. Consumers utilize direct-to-consumer genetic tests for a number of reasons which include learning about one’s ancestry and potential ways to manage health. Emerging adults tend to be early adopters of new technologies; however, there has been little research regarding the opinions about direct-to-consumer genetic testing in emerging adults. Methods: Data came from a study conducted in an upper-level biology course focusing on understanding undergraduate science students’ overall experiences with receiving personalized genetic testing results from 23andMe. The present study used data collected at the baseline assessment which assessed their opinions and attitudes about direct-to-consumer genetic testing (N=133). Results: Over 80% of participants would recommend direct-to-consumer genetic testing options including carrier status reports, DNA ancestry reports, wellness reports, and trait reports to others. However, participants were not as confident that others would be able to accurately interpret their test results. Additionally, more than two-thirds of the participants stated that they would ask a healthcare provider to help interpret their personalized genetic test results. Conclusions: Participants lack confidence in both their ability to interpret their own results and others to interpret their results. It is important for direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies to educate consumers before providing results in order to minimize potential harms due to misinterpretation of results. Further research is needed to assess motivations to participate in direct-to-consumer genetic testing, impact of testing, and understanding of genetic testing results in emerging adults.https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/gradposters/1124/thumbnail.jp

The Ursinus Weekly, October 27, 1952

Students and old timers enjoy varied activities: Ellie Unger crowned queen of Varsity Club dance; 724 wins golden trophy for best dorm decorations • 21 degrees conferred at Founders Day exercises: Helfferich, Lauer receive Doctor of Laws degrees; Vice President gives speech stressing college history • Ursinus, U. P. form program for engineers • Fraternities gave parties; Rushing starts this week • College fills blood quota • German Club holds meeting; Plans for year\u27s activities • Senior carnival, dance to be this weekend • Dr. Witmer receives Doctor of Pedagogy degree from F&M • Business Administration Club to hear advertising rep. • Y work day, chat to be Sat., Wed. • IRC hears librarian speak on Philippines • Miller, Pancoast to debate • Girls begin rushing today • WSGA changes frosh drug rules • Frosh women in booster group set up 15, 20 cent poster rates • Movie to be shown in S-12, Fri. • Lantern holds meeting • French Club to meet • Editorials: Let\u27s do something • Typical American family • Letters to the editor • Square dance to be Nov. 8 • Chi Alpha alters constitution • Liberals have free speech • Students attend Eisenhower press conference in Phila. • Pre-meds to hear Wagner • Married • Chess Club loses • And if it isn\u27t gov\u27nuh Jones back from Meddie England • Knull and Burger mates throughout ship\u27s tour on sea • New look, new hours, new food bring new life to the Supply • Albright beats third team • Lafayette booters hand Bears first defeat, 5-1 • Bears win 6-0 on Maliken\u27s last second TD: Grizzly Bears victorious in second straight game; Goal line stand saves Old Timers Day gridiron thriller • Girls drop hockey game to Beaver, 4-3 • Bakermen win over grads • West Chester is defeated, 7-2 • Canterbury Club to meethttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1503/thumbnail.jp

MetaCAM: Ensemble-Based Class Activation Map

The need for clear, trustworthy explanations of deep learning model predictions is essential for high-criticality fields, such as medicine and biometric identification. Class Activation Maps (CAMs) are an increasingly popular category of visual explanation methods for Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs). However, the performance of individual CAMs depends largely on experimental parameters such as the selected image, target class, and model. Here, we propose MetaCAM, an ensemble-based method for combining multiple existing CAM methods based on the consensus of the top-k% most highly activated pixels across component CAMs. We perform experiments to quantifiably determine the optimal combination of 11 CAMs for a given MetaCAM experiment. A new method denoted Cumulative Residual Effect (CRE) is proposed to summarize large-scale ensemble-based experiments. We also present adaptive thresholding and demonstrate how it can be applied to individual CAMs to improve their performance, measured using pixel perturbation method Remove and Debias (ROAD). Lastly, we show that MetaCAM outperforms existing CAMs and refines the most salient regions of images used for model predictions. In a specific example, MetaCAM improved ROAD performance to 0.393 compared to 11 individual CAMs with ranges from -0.101-0.172, demonstrating the importance of combining CAMs through an ensembling method and adaptive thresholding.Comment: 9 page

Towards standardisation:comparison of five whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis pipelines for detection of epidemiologically linked tuberculosis cases

BackgroundWhole genome sequencing (WGS) is a reliable tool for studying tuberculosis (TB) transmission. WGS data are usually processed by custom-built analysis pipelines with little standardisation between them.AimTo compare the impact of variability of several WGS analysis pipelines used internationally to detect epidemiologically linked TB cases.MethodsFrom the Netherlands, 535 Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) strains from 2016 were included. Epidemiological information obtained from municipal health services was available for all mycobacterial interspersed repeat unit-variable number of tandem repeat (MIRU-VNTR) clustered cases. WGS data was analysed using five different pipelines: one core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST) approach and four single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based pipelines developed in Oxford, United Kingdom; Borstel, Germany; Bilthoven, the Netherlands and Copenhagen, Denmark. WGS clusters were defined using a maximum pairwise distance of 12 SNPs/alleles.ResultsThe cgMLST approach and Oxford pipeline clustered all epidemiologically linked cases, however, in the other three SNP-based pipelines one epidemiological link was missed due to insufficient coverage. In general, the genetic distances varied between pipelines, reflecting different clustering rates: the cgMLST approach clustered 92 cases, followed by 84, 83, 83 and 82 cases in the SNP-based pipelines from Copenhagen, Oxford, Borstel and Bilthoven respectively.ConclusionConcordance in ruling out epidemiological links was high between pipelines, which is an important step in the international validation of WGS data analysis. To increase accuracy in identifying TB transmission clusters, standardisation of crucial WGS criteria and creation of a reference database of representative MTBC sequences would be advisable