Comparability of non-destructive moisture measurement techniques on masonry during simulated wetting

Detecting the presence of moisture in historical masonry is essential to understanding how a structure interacts with the environment, and diagnosing the potential for damage from a range of physical, chemical, and biological processes. In-situ, non-invasive diagnostic techniques have been developed in preference to methods that require irreversible modifications to a structure. These techniques include: electrical resistivity, microwaves, and infrared thermography. Independently, these approaches provide limited snapshots of surficial and internal moisture regimes; this project sought to assess the comparability of multiple techniques. Simulated post-rain spell drying was monitored over 48 h on limestone and sandstone monoliths in a controlled laboratory environment and also in ambient conditions on purpose-built masonry located in Oxfordshire, UK. Repeat measurements were taken using electrical resistance tomography (ERT), electrical and microwave moisture meters, and infrared thermography. Three aspects of comparability are discussed: i) data transformations and geological comparability, ii) depth-resolving meter readings, iii) the localised benefits of employing multiple technologies and instruments

Aplikasi Pembelajaran Table Manners Berbasis Multimedia

Table manners adalah aturan-aturan pokok yang berlaku di meja makan. Aturan ini biasanya diterapkan padajamuan makan resmi. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk merancang dan mengembangkan suatu aplikasipembelajaran tentang table manners untuk memudahkan dalam mempelajari aturan-aturan yang perlu diketahuidalam jamuan makan resmi, meliputi etika sebelum dan saat proses menyantap makanan, serta penggunaanalat-alat makan. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah metode Interactive Multimedia System DesignDevelopment (IMSDD), yang meliputi system requirements, design considerations. implementation, andevaluation. Hasil yang dicapai dalam penelitian ini adalah tersusunnya suatu aplikasi pembelajaran tablemanners berbasiskan multimedia dan terpenuhnya kebutuhan pengguna pada aplikasi ini sehingga dapatmembantu di dalam pembelajaran table manners. Kesimpulannya adalah aplikasi ini dapat mendukung prosespembelajaran table manners dengan disertai fitur-fitur yang mendukung, tampilan yang menarik dan friendly

Bioactivity and structural properties of chimeric analogs of the starfish SALMFamide neuropeptides S1 and S2

The starfish SALMFamide neuropeptides S1 (GFNSALMFamide) and S2 (SGPYSFNSGLTFamide) are the prototypical members of a family of neuropeptides that act as muscle relaxants in echinoderms. Comparison of the bioactivity of S1 and S2 as muscle relaxants has revealed that S2 is ten times more potent than S1. Here we investigated a structural basis for this difference in potency by comparing the bioactivity and solution conformations (using NMR and CD spectroscopy) of S1 and S2 with three chimeric analogs of these peptides. A peptide comprising S1 with the addition of S2's N-terminal tetrapeptide (Long S1 or LS1; SGPYGFNSALMFamide) was not significantly different to S1 in its bioactivity and did not exhibit concentration-dependent structuring seen with S2. An analog of S1with its penultimate residue substituted from S2 (S1(T); GFNSALTFamide) exhibited S1-like bioactivity and structure. However, an analog of S2 with its penultimate residue substituted from S1 (S2(M); SGPYSFNSGLMFamide) exhibited loss of S2-type bioactivity and structural properties. Collectively, our data indicate that the C-terminal regions of S1 and S2 are the key determinants of their differing bioactivity. However, the N-terminal region of S2 may influence its bioactivity by conferring structural stability in solution. Thus, analysis of chimeric SALMFamides has revealed how neuropeptide bioactivity is determined by a complex interplay of sequence and conformation

Structural analysis of the starfish SALMFamide neuropeptides S1 and S2: The N-terminal region of S2 facilitates self-association

The neuropeptides S1 (GFNSALMFamide) and S2 (SGPYSFNSGLTFamide), which share sequence similarity, were discovered in the starfish Asterias rubens and are prototypical members of the SALMFamide family of neuropeptides in echinoderms. SALMFamide neuropeptides act as muscle relaxants and both S1 and S2 cause relaxation of cardiac stomach and tube foot preparations in vitro but S2 is an order of magnitude more potent than S1. Here we investigated a structural basis for this difference in potency using spectroscopic techniques. Circular dichroism spectroscopy showed that S1 does not have a defined structure in aqueous solution and this was supported by 2D nuclear magnetic resonance experiments. In contrast, we found that S2 has a well-defined conformation in aqueous solution. However, the conformation of S2 was concentration dependent, with increasing concentration inducing a transition from an unstructured to a structured conformation. Interestingly, this property of S2 was not observed in an N-terminally truncated analogue of S2 (short S2 or SS2; SFNSGLTFamide). Collectively, the data obtained indicate that the N-terminal region of S2 facilitates peptide self-association at high concentrations, which may have relevance to the biosynthesis and/or bioactivity of S2 in vivo

Comportamiento tipo del desarrollo de obras Cooperativas de viviendas Uruguayas

Numerosos estudios nacionales e internacionales revelan que el acceso a la vivienda es una de las problemáticas principales que afrontan las sociedades de hoy en día. Las cooperativas de vivienda surgen como una alternativa para satisfacer la demanda de viviendas para clases sociales de bajos recursos. A pesar de ser una solución habitacional que se ha mantenido en el tiempo, el estudio del proceso muestra grandes deficiencias, sobretodo en la etapa de construcción. En este artículo se muestra un estudio para la caracterización y determinación del comportamiento de las cooperativas uruguayas. Este estudio permite conocer los comportamientos típicos de este tipo de obras, el comportamiento de sus retrasos, conocimiento que puede ayudar a los encargados de la gestión de las viviendas para el control de las mismas en la fase de construcción. Se ha utilizado una base de datos de 90 proyectos de viviendas cooperativas uruguayas para la realización de un análisis Cluster que permite clasificar el comportamiento de estas obras durante su fase de construcción en 4 comportamientos estándar.Agencia Nacional de Investigación e Innovació