Representing simmodel in the web ontology language

Many building energy performance (BEP) simulation tools, such as EnergyPlus and DOE-2, use custom schema definitions (IDD and BDL respectively) as opposed to standardised schema definitions (defined in XSD, EXPRESS, and so forth). A Simulation Domain Model (SimModel) was therefore proposed earlier, representative for a new interoperable XML-based data model for the building simulation domain. Its ontology aims at moving away from tool-specific, non-standard nomenclature by implementing an industry-validated terminology aligned with the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC). In this paper, we document our ongoing efforts to make building simulation data more interoperable with other building data. In order to be able to better integrate SimModel information with other building information, we have aimed at representing this information in the Resource Description Framework (RDF). A conversion service has been built that is able to parse the SimModel ontology in the form of XSD schemas and output a SimModel ontology in OWL. In this article, we document this effort and give an indication of what the resulting SimModel ontology in OWL can be used for

Studies in Ring Expansion

The work described in this thesis has been divided into three parts: Chapter One describes several unsuccessful attempts to add dichlorocarbene to the enol-acetate derived from bicyclo [3.3.1.] nonan-9-one. This was intended as a new route to the relatively inaccessible bicyclo[4.3.1.] deca-2,10-dione system. Chapter Two is concerned with investigations into the fragmentations of 4-tosyloxy bicyclo [3.2.1.] and [3.3.1.] alkanones as routes into specifically-substituted medium ring compounds. Two new fragmentation reactions are described, one of which has been studied in detail. Also included is a discussion of the ractors affecting the hydrolysis of certain cycloheptene gem-diesters. Chapter Three outlines synthetic approaches to a possible intermediate in the biogenesis of sesquiterpenes of the carotane family. No sesquiterpene as such has been isolated, but it is believed that with suitable modification of the reaction conditions, such a synthesis might have been achieved

Using learner corpora to redesign university-level EFL grammar education

This paper outlines the developing work in the TREACLE project, which is using learner corpora to inform the redesign of English grammar curricula in Spanish University contexts. The paper outlines the two components of the annotation: manual error analysis and automatic syntactic analysis, which together provide information as to what syntactic structures require attention at each proficiency level, and with what degree of attention. The degree of usage of a syntactic feature compared to native usage is often used to judge the criticality of the syntactic feature for learners at each proficiency level, but we argue for an alternative metric: onset of use, which measures how many of the learners at each level use the feature at all. This measure provides a clearer measure of how critical the feature is to the particular group. We finish the paper with proposed extension of the project to complement classroom teaching with intelligent online learning informed by the learner corpora.Este artículo presenta el trabajo que se está realizando en el proyecto TREACLE, que utiliza un corpus de aprendices para informar el diseño curricular de gramática inglesa en el contexto de universidades españolas. En este artículo se describen los dos componentes de la anotación: análisis manual de errores y análisis sintáctico automático, que, juntos, proporcionan información sobre qué estructuras sintácticas requieren atención, y cuánta atención, en cada nivel de competencia. A menudo se utiliza la frecuencia de uso de una estructura sintáctica en comparación con el uso nativo para determinar hasta qué punto esa estructura es crítica en el nivel de competencia de los aprendices. Sin embargo, aquí mantenemos que este enfoque presenta deficiencias. En su lugar, se propone una medida que llamamos inicio de uso, que mide cuántos de los estudiantes de cada nivel utilizan esa estructura sintáctica en algún momento. Se argumenta que el inicio de uso constituye una medida más clara de la importancia de esa estructura para un grupo determinado de aprendices. Por último, proponemos una extensión del proyecto para complementar la enseñanza en el aula con un sistema inteligente de aprendizaje en línea informado por corpus de aprendices

Thomas Cushing: a reluctant rebel

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston University.The Peace of Paris in 1763 marked a turning point in the relationship of Great Britain with her colonies. The mother country's new territorial possessions seemed to require an increased revenue from the American colonies. However, Parliament's attempts to raise it greatly antagonized the colonists. In Massachusetts, the new Parliamentary program brought about a rapprochement between the conservative merchant and propertied classes, and the radicals. But the two allies had differing final goals. The radicals sought more self-rule, whereas many merchants, having prospered under the Old Colonial System, viewed the British Empire as the rock of their prosperity. The Navigation Acts had been advantageous to their trade, while restrictive legislation had been but mildly enforced [TRUNCATED

The role of linked data and the semantic web in building operation

Effective Decision Support Systems (DSS) for building service managers require adequate performance data from many building data silos in order to deliver a complete view of building performance. Current performance analysis techniques tend to focus on a limited number of data sources, such as BMS measured data (temperature, humidity, C02), excluding a wealth of other data sources increasingly available in the modern building, including weather data, occupant feedback, mobile sensors & feedback systems, schedule information, equipment usage information. This paper investigates the potential for using Linked Data and Semantic Web technologies to improve interoperability across AEC domains, overcoming many of the roadblocks hindering information transfer currently

Making SimModel information available as RDF graphs

Many building energy performance Simulation (BEPS) tools use custom schema definitions as opposed to standardised schema definitions (defined in XSD, EXPRESS, and so forth). A Simulation Domain Model (SimModel) was therefore previously developed and is representative of a new interoperable XML-based data model for the building simulation domain. In this paper we document our ongoing efforts to make building simulation data more interoperable with other building data. In order to better integrate SimModel information with other building information, the authors propose to represent this information in the Resource Description Framework (RDF). A specialised conversion service parses the SimModel ontology, which is in the form of linked XSD schemata, and output a SimModel ontology in OWL. In this article, we further outline how the conversion service now also parses input SimModel XML files and outputs SimModel instances as RDF graphs. We briefly indicated how those SimModel RDF graphs can subsequently be used

Electronic structure tuning via surface modification in semimetallic nanowires

Electronic structure properties of nanowires (NWs) with diameters of 1.5 and 3 nm based on semimetallic α − Sn are investigated by employing density functional theory and perturbative GW methods. We explore the dependence of electron affinity, band structure, and band-gap values with crystallographic orientation, NW crosssectional size, and surface passivants of varying electronegativity. We consider four chemical terminations in our study: methyl (CH3), hydrogen (H), hydroxyl (OH), and fluorine (F). Results suggest a high degree of elasticity of Sn-Sn bonds within the Sn NWs’ cores with no significant structural variations for nanowires with different surface passivants. Direct band gaps at Brillouin-zone centers are found for most studied structures with quasiparticle corrected band-gap magnitudes ranging from 0.25 to 3.54 eV in 1.5-nm-diameter structures, indicating an exceptional range of properties for semimetal NWs below the semimetal-to-semiconductor transition. Band-gap variations induced by changes in surface passivants indicate the possibility of realizing semimetal-semiconductor interfaces in NWs with constant cross-section and crystallographic orientation, allowing the design of novel dopant-free NW-based electronic devices

The influence of social-cognitive constructs and personality traits on physical activity in healthy adults

The psychosocial factors involved in successful physical activity engagement are not fully understood. Research suggests that specific personality traits (e.g. extraversion, conscientiousness, and neuroticism) influence physical activity behaviour. There is also evidence that social-cognitive constructs (e.g. self-efficacy, self-regulation, outcome expectations, social support, and perceived barriers) can significantly explain and predict physical activity behaviour. The current study aimed to investigate the influence of personality and social-cognitive constructs on physical activity over a 2-week period. The study employed a prospective design in which 94 participants provided 2-weeks of pedometer data and completed daily diary measures of non-ambulatory physical activity. In addition, all participants completed self-report measures of the Big Five personality traits and social-cognitive constructs. Multiple regression analyses revealed that social-cognitive constructs significantly explained 35.6% of the variance in physical activity, with goal setting emerging as a key predictor. Although personality did not have an effect on physical activity overall, subsequent analyses found significant differences in neuroticism between activity groups, and personality significantly interacted with social-cognitive constructs to influence behaviour. The findings suggest a key role for goal setting, barrier self-efficacy, conscientiousness, and neuroticism in explaining physical activity behaviour