Religion As the Bible Teaches It: True Light and Scripture Doctrine in a Dark World

https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/crs_books/1210/thumbnail.jp

A computationally-efficient numerical model to characterize the noise behavior of metal-framed walls

Architects, designers, and engineers are making great efforts to design acoustically-efficient metal-framed walls, minimizing acoustic bridging. Therefore, efficient simulation models to predict the acoustic insulation complying with ISO 10140 are needed at a design stage. In order to achieve this, a numerical model consisting of two fluid-filled reverberation chambers, partitioned using a metal-framed wall, is to be simulated at one-third-octaves. This produces a large simulation model consisting of several millions of nodes and elements. Therefore, efficient meshing procedures are necessary to obtain better solution times and to effectively utilise computational resources. Such models should also demonstrate effective Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) along with acoustic-fluid coupling to simulate a realistic scenario. In this contribution, the development of a finite element frequency-dependent mesh model that can characterize the sound insulation of metal-framed walls is presented. Preliminary results on the application of the proposed model to study the geometric contribution of stud frames on the overall acoustic performance of metal-framed walls are also presented. It is considered that the presented numerical model can be used to effectively visualize the noise behaviour of advanced materials and multi-material structures

Please, Mr. Judge, Where\u27s My Papa?

https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/mmb-vp/5694/thumbnail.jp

Environmental public health tracking of childhood asthma using California health interview survey, traffic, and outdoor air pollution data.

BackgroundDespite extensive evidence that air pollution affects childhood asthma, state-level and national-level tracking of asthma outcomes in relation to air pollution is limited.ObjectivesOur goals were to evaluate the feasibility of linking the 2001 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), air monitoring, and traffic data; estimate associations between traffic density (TD) or outdoor air pollutant concentrations and childhood asthma morbidity; and evaluate the usefulness of such databases, linkages, and analyses to Environmental Public Health Tracking (EPHT).MethodsWe estimated TD within 500 feet of residential cross-streets of respondents and annual average pollutant concentrations based on monitoring station measurements. We used logistic regression to examine associations with reported asthma symptoms and emergency department (ED) visits/hospitalizations.ResultsAssignment of TD and air pollution exposures for cross-streets was successful for 82% of children with asthma in Los Angeles and San Diego, California, Counties. Children with asthma living in high ozone areas and areas with high concentrations of particulate matter < 10 microm in aerodynamic diameter experienced symptoms more frequently, and those living close to heavy traffic reported more ED visits/hospitalizations. The advantages of the CHIS for asthma EPHT include a large and representative sample, biennial data collection, and ascertainment of important socio-demographic and residential address information. Disadvantages are its cross-sectional design, reliance on parental reports of diagnoses and symptoms, and lack of information on some potential confounders.ConclusionsDespite limitations, the CHIS provides a useful framework for examining air pollution and childhood asthma morbidity in support of EPHT, especially because later surveys address some noted gaps. We plan to employ CHIS 2003 and 2005 data and novel exposure assessment methods to re-examine the questions raised here

CONSUMER PREFERENCES FOR ELECTRICITY FROM BIOENERGY AND OTHER RENEWABLES

This study ascertains residential electricity consumers' support and willingness to pay for electricity from renewable sources. Then, willingness to pay for specified renewable energy sources (solar, wind, landfill wastes, bioenergy from fast growing crops, and bioenergy from forest products wastes). Effects of demographics and environmental behaviors are estimated.Institutional and Behavioral Economics,

Assessing exposure of young children to common endocrine-disrupting chemicals in the home environment: A review and commentary of the questionnaire-based approach

Background: Although infants and young children are particularly vulnerable to endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) exposure, there is an absence of comprehensive exposure data for this age group. As young children spend the majority of their time indoors, improved methods of exposure assessment are needed to characterise the health risks from exposures in the home environment. Biologic assessment, which has been considered the gold standard for exposure assessment in recent years, is difficult to conduct in young children. Questionnaires are an alternative and indirect method of predicting exposure, which may overcome some of the limitations of direct exposure assessment. Research problem: The feasibility of using a questionnaire-based approach to predict exposure of young children to EDCs in the home has yet to be comprehensively reviewed. Moreover, there is no one questionnaire that has been validated for predicting the exposure of infants to common EDCs in the home. Aims and objectives: The aim of this review is to discuss the use and validation of the questionnaire-based approach to predict exposure of children to chemicals from three common classes of EDCs in the home, namely, plasticisers, flame retardants, and insecticides. We discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the questionnaire-based approach as well as the important pathways of exposure in the home environment, by which to guide the design and validation of future exposure questionnaires. Results: The findings from our review indicate that the questionnaire-based approach is a valuable tool in the prediction of exposure to persistent organic pollutants, as well as to toxicants that have consistent patterns of exposure. With improvements to the design and validation process, the questionnaire-based approach may also prove to be a reliable instrument in predicting exposure to EDCs with short-half lives, including bisphenol A, phthalates, and pyrethroid and organophosphate insecticides

Validation of a finite element model of the cold roll forming process on the basis of 3D geometric accuracy

Cold roll forming is an incremental sheet metal forming process used to supply products to numerous industries such as automotive, architecture and construction, etc. In recent years there has been an increase in the demand by customers for high value products, through the forming of high strength materials, or complex profiles. Such demands increase the challenges faced by the tooling designer to bring a successful product through from design to manufacture, on time and within specification. Finite element (FE) simulations are increasingly applied in industry due to the desired advantage of reducing design iterations by allowing the designer to investigate the effects of parameter changes, without the risk of expensive tooling costs. Some successful validation of the numerical modelling of the cold roll forming process can be found in literature, in particular when analysing the strain distribution across the material or comparing the final rolled profile geometry. However, cold roll forming is a continuous process and no one has published work on the measurement of the profile on a pass to pass basis, in particular, the three dimensional geometry of the profile. Experimental trials were carried out to obtain a 3D point cloud model of the top surface of a roll formed section. This investigation aimed to quantify how accurate FE simulation may be in relation to physical data

Building a system-wide approach to community relationships with the findings of a scoping review in health and social care

Purpose: For leadership and management of western health systems, good quality relationships are a fundamental cornerstone of organising health and social care delivery, delivering benefits across organisations and communities. The purpose of this work is explore the extant management, health and social care literature, grounded in older people care, to reveal behaviours, processes and practices that if readily identified across a context will support healthy relationships across the ‘whole system’ of stakeholders. Design/methodology/approach: An academic/practitioner group designed and guided a scoping literature review of the health and social care and broader management literature to identify and extract important behaviours, processes and practices underlying the support of high quality relationships. A search strategy was agreed and key health and management databases were interrogated and 51 papers selected for inclusion. Working with the practitioners, the selected papers were coded and then organised into emergent themes. Findings: The paper outlines the relational behaviours, processes and practices elements that should be present within an older peoples care community, to support a healthy relational environment. These elements are presented under the five emergent literature themes of integrity, compassion, respect, fairness and trust. These five topics are examined in detail. A way forward for building statements using the review material, that may be developed to reveal relational patterns within older people care, is also explored and outlined. Research limitations/implications: All literature reviews are subject to practical decisions around time, budget, scope and depth restraints. Therefore potentially relevant papers may have been missed in the review process. The scoping review process adapted here does not seek to make any major considerations with regards to the weighting of evidence behind the primary research. Originality/value: This work contributes to a growing need for designers of health systems to more fully understand, measure and draw on the value of relationships to help bridge the gap between diminishing resources and the expanding demand on health and social care services

A rapid review exploring the role of yoga in healing psychological trauma

The evidence regarding the benefits of yoga for treating psychological trauma is well-established; however, there is a paucity of qualitative reviews exploring this topic. The purpose of this rapid review is to gain a deeper understanding of the impact that yoga can have on people with a history of psychological trauma and to reveal barriers and facilitators to the uptake of yoga in this cohort, from a qualitative perspective. The Ovid(EMBASE), Ovid(MEDLINE), PsycINFO, PubMed, and SPORTDiscus databases were searched using key terms. The systematic search generated 148 records, and 11 peer-reviewed articles met the inclusion criteria. The following main impacts of yoga on participants were identified: feeling an increased sense of self-compassion; feeling more centred; developing their coping skills; having a better mind–body relationship; and improving their relationships with others. The main barriers were also identified: concerns initiating yoga; time and motivational issues; and the costs and location of classes. The main facilitator was the feeling of safety generated in the trauma-informed yoga classes. This review suggests that yoga offers great potential in the field of trauma recovery. Despite this, more high-quality research with rigorous methodologies is called for to allow this field to advance