Open Front Research Articles

Poster 381: Biomechanical Risk Factors for Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injury and the Ability to Readily Recognize Them

Objectives: Three biomechanical traits which are concerning for potential injury to the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in baseball players include: the Tommy John Twist, an open front (landing) foot position, and early swinging gate (opening) of the hips. Our objective was first to determine if these risk factors were more commonly found in those who had undergone an ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction (UCLR) versus controls and second to determine if viewing standard video and/or broadcast video would allow a predictable identification of these three factors. Our hypothesis was the three aforementioned factors would be present in a higher frequency in those with previous UCLR and that the reviewers would have at least a substantial level of agreement of identification. Methods: Twenty (20) consecutive professional pitchers who underwent UCLR (height=188.0±6.9cm; weight=96.5±8.1kg; throw left=5; throw right=15) were analyzed and compared to 20 controls (height=188.5±6.0cm; weight=94.5±9.1kg; throw left=4; throw right=16) with similar height and weights and handedness (p≥0.46). 3 fastballs from 3 separate games were obtained for each pitcher from publicly available video and adjusted to a very low speed for review. The 3 factors analyzed included: Tommy John Twist (at the maximum abducted, externally rotated position of the shoulder, the palm (and ball) faces center field), open front foot position (front foot not aligned with the catcher or closed [open to first base side for a right hander or third base side for a left hander]), and early swinging gate of the hips (at the maximum abducted, externally rotated position of the shoulder, the hips have already rotated and are facing home plate). 6 reviewers with experience and current positions in professional baseball and familiarity with pitching biomechanics performed the video reviews. Both the number of subjects and the number of reviewers was appropriately powered. Each pitch from each of the pitchers was graded: yes, indeterminant, or no, for each of the biomechanical factors of interest. Reviews were conducted on two separate occasions by each reviewer 1 month apart. The frequency of responses was calculated and compared between the UCLR and control groups. Inter-rater agreement was calculated via Fleiss’ Kappa (K). Agreement (K) was interpreted as: ≤ 0=poor, 0.01-0.20=slight, 0.21-0.40=fair, 0.41-0.60=moderate, 0.61-0.80=substantial, and 0.81-1.00=almost perfect. Results: There was significantly greater percentages of “yes” responses (p<0.01) in the UCLR group versus the control group for Tommy John Twist (9%), open front foot position (9%), and early swinging gate of the hips (14%) for both rating sessions (Table 1). Agreement was similar (fair to moderate) for control and UCLR pitchers for identifying Tommy John Twist (K=0.28-0.48). However, the agreement for UCLR pitchers was moderate (K=0.41-0.46) for all 9 pitches of Early Swinging Gate, while the agreement for control pitchers was fair (K=0.29-0.38) for 8 of 9 pitches. Finally, the agreement for UCLR pitchers was moderate to substantial (K=0.50-0.67) for Open Front Foot while agreement for control pitchers was fair to moderate (K=0.27-0.46). Conclusions: The identification of particular, concerning high-risk biomechanical factors in those who have had UCLR was more common and identifiable versus controls. Presence of any of these factors in a pitcher could warrant a discussion of correctability. However, based on the range of indeterminant responses of 5-25%, along with Kappa values of fair to substantial, the shortcomings of video quality and position of the camera angle suggest an improved and reproducible method for video analysis should be employed.

Experimental analysis of thermal insulation performance in concrete blocks integrated with recycled rubber crumbs

This paper presents an experimental investigation of thermal insulation in rubberized concrete blocks, where the fine aggregate size was replaced by rubber crumbs at varying ratios (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%). The rubber crumbs used in this study ranged in size from 0-1mm, 1-3mm, and 2-4mm. A mixing ratio of 4:2:1 was employed, and simulated solar energy at a rate of 500 W/m2 was applied to the outer surface of the test samples. Heat flux sensors were installed on both the internal and external surfaces to measure transient heat flux through the samples, while K-type sensors were used to measure surface temperatures. The samples were placed in an adiabatic room with an open front side for testing. The results of the study indicate that the addition of rubber crumbs to the concrete mixture improves thermal insulation properties, as evidenced by a decrease in thermal conductivity corresponding to the volumetric substitution ratio of rubber crumbs with the volume of sand in the sample. Particularly, a 50% incorporation of rubber crumbs led to a substantial 76.2% reduction in thermal conductivity, indicating the effective thermal insulation provided by rubberized concrete. These findings hold significant implications for energy conservation within the building sector, where the use of rubberized concrete can contribute to improved energy efficiency and reduced heat transfer.

Numerical modelling of melting front structures during floating zone silicon crystal growth

We propose a mathematical model of the thin molten silicon film to describe the quasi-steady shape of the inhomogeneous structures on the open melting front of polycrystalline feed rod during the floating zone process for single crystal silicon growth. As a result, precise shapes of the phase boundaries in a three-phase environment on a local scale were determined with the use of moving meshes. The presence of the local structures influences the heat transfer on the open melting front. Consequently, the global phase boundary model can be adjusted, resulting in improved agreement with the experimentally measured interface shape.

Acoustic Analysis of Fricatives /s/ and /ʃ/ and Affricate /ʧ/ in Persian-Speaking Cochlear-Implanted Children and Normal-Hearing Peers

Background and Aim: Hearing-impaired individuals have difficulty comprehending and producing speech sounds. Cochlear implantation is used to augment hearing. The present study aims to compare the production of fricatives /s/ and /ʃ/ and affricate /ʧ/ by Persian- speaking Cochlear-Implanted (CI) and Normal-Hearing (NH) children Methods: Fifteen Persian-speaking NH children and 15 Persian-speaking CI children, matched for age, gender, and general health conditions, were included in the study. The stimuli included two voiceless Persian fricatives /s/ and /ʃ/ and one voiceless Persian affricate /ʧ/ along with the open front vowel /æ/ in three Consonant-Vowel (CV), Consonant-Vowel- Consonant (CVC), and Vowel-Consonant (VC) contexts (/sæ/, /æsæ/, /æs/, /ʃæ/, /æʃæ/, /æʃ/,/ʧæ/, /æʧæ/, /æʧ/). After recording all utterances, Praat software was used to measure the friction duration, rise time, and spectral peak of the consonants Results: The CI children could not distinguish between /ʃ/ and /ʧ/ and produced affricate /ʧ/ as an allophone of /ʃ/ (p=0.01). Moreover, distinguishing between two fricatives /s/ and /ʃ/ was difficult for both groups. While NH children slightly treated these two sounds differently, the CI group produced fricative /s/ as an allophone of /ʃ/ (p=0.02). The rise time of /ʃ/ was longer in the NH children, except for /ʧæ/, where the CI children had a longer rise time. Conclusion: The speech of CI children is different in producing /s/, /ʃ/, and /ʧ/ from their NH peers. The results can help speech therapists, clinical linguists, and application designers focus on speech sounds that are challenging for CI children to produce. Keywords: Cochlear implant; speech production; fricatives; affricate

Reconstruction of Single-Bay Buddhist Architecture Based on Stylistic Comparisons in Northeast Fujian, the Core Hinterland of the Changxi River Basin—Using Gonghoulong Temple as an Example

In the Changxi River Basin in eastern Fujian, a few stone elements remain and Buddhist buildings with one bay in width and three bays in depth have been preserved dating from the timespan of the Tang to the Song dynasty. These features are characterized by a regional form of early Buddhist architecture seldom seen in Chinese history. The article focuses on the reconstruction of a Song dynasty Buddhist building at the Gonghoulou Temple site in Huotong Town, Jiaocheng District, Ningde City, and aims to analyze the potential characteristics and rules of single-bay Buddhist architecture. From the styles of the remaining stone columns, the direction of the lotus carving at the column base, and the mortises of the plinth stone, a spatial arrangement is indicated that includes an open front corridor and a closed rear section. A “reconstruction” of the ruler used in the original building reveals the possibility that a local Fujian ruler was used, shorter than the standard measurement device employed elsewhere. The analysis of the frame construction indicates that this hip-gable roof-covered Buddhist hall utilizes the horizontally layered logic of multi-storied palatial-style halls. Key elements include its gentle roof slope, restraint from the practice of shortening the roof ridge, use of the traditional chuji method, and the interior columns use of internal longitudinal architraves secured to beam supporting brackets. This research brings to light a unique architectural type that has disappeared in the course of history and was previously unknown to the academic community. It holds significant importance and value for deepening the understanding of the history of timber frame architecture technology in Fujian.

Articulatory phonetic errors and patterns in Thai BIPA speakers: A study at SWM School Thailand

The tendency for Bahasa Indonesia bagi Penutur Asing (BIPA) or Indonesian as a Foreign Language (IFL) speakers' pronunciation errors makes specific patterns from an articulatory phonetic perspective. This approach is still limited, and the competence in pronouncing language is challenging. This study analyzes articulatory phonetic errors of vowels and consonants of BIPA Songserm Wittaya Mulniti (SWM) School Thailand speakers to find their reasons and patterns. This type of qualitative research used the listening-involved-conversation data collection technique as well as the equivalence and distributional analysis methods. The results showed 671 pronunciation errors; 184 vowels and 389 consonants. The majority of vowel errors are double vowels [uwa], open front [a], and near-close near-back [ʊ] based on the proximity of the tongue positions, movements of the tongue, lip position, and English interference. The majority of consonant errors are apico-alveolar trill [r] and lateral [l], lamino-palatal [ɲ], and dorso-velar [ŋ] based on the articulator and points of articulation, the similarity of the air passages, movement of the vocal cords, interference of air currents, and the interference of another language. The patterns formed were tendencies based on most errors, replacements, omissions, additions, omissions-replacements, replacements-additions, cutting of syllables, and phoneme errors that change the morpheme. Therefore, many errors formed a series of similarities and structured patterns, especially for consonants that had different pronunciation rules from the mother tongue. Practically, this research can help BIPA teachers develop appropriate learning materials and strategies according to the error patterns and characteristics of learners when pronouncing the language.

PSIII-13 Effects of Weather, Body Weight, and Feed Intake on Total and Liquid Water Intake in Beef Bulls

Abstract Research conducted in the 1950s to determine water requirements used cattle that vary greatly from the animals being raised today. Changes in lean composition and growth rate in young cattle and milk production and mature size in cows have likely altered water requirements. Furthermore, most of the research has been conducted on animals being fed for slaughter, rather than bulls or reproductive females. The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of weather variables, dry matter intake (DMI), and body weight (BW) on total daily water intake (TDWI) in growing beef bulls. Angus (n = 15) and Simmental x Angus bulls (n = 29) with an average initial BW of 362.5 ± 27.0 kg were housed in an open front, monoslope building at the SDSU Cow-Calf Education and Research Facility (CCERF) from November 9, 2021, to March 1, 2022. Bulls were provided with ad libitum access to feed (1.15 Mcal NEg/kg dry matter, 14% crude protein, 52.2% dry matter) and water using the Insentec Roughage Intake Control system (Hokofarm, Marknesse, Netherlands). Feed and water disappearance were assumed to be caused by intake. Water intake was measured in kg; however, the data were converted to L based on a correction factor determined by weighing a known amount of water. Body weights were taken every 28 d to determine ADG and predict daily BW during the duration of the study. Daily weather variables were collected from the South Dakota Mesonet station located 3.86 km from the CCERF. Weather variables analyzed included: average windchill (°C), solar radiation (W/m2), and wind speed (km/h); and minimum, maximum, and average relative humidity (%) and average temperature (°C). R-studio (R-4.1.2.pkg) was used to develop a linear mixed effects model with random intercept and slope used to account for the within subject correlations. Total daily water intake increased with increasing DMI (1.921 L TDWI per kg DMI; P < 0.0001), BW (0.025 L TDWI per kg BW; P = 0.0055), and maximum daily temperature (0.171 L TDWI per 1°C; P = 0.0023). For every 1% increase in the minimum relative humidity, TDWI tended to increase by 0.041 L (P = 0.0616). Warmer wind chill also tended to increase TDWI (0.463 L per 1°C; P = 0.0707). The effects of DMI, BW, maximum daily temperature, minimum relative humidity, and wind chill were predictive of TDWI in growing beef bulls fed during the winter months in South Dakota. This model will be useful for predicting TDWI in growing beef bulls that are raised in areas that experience similar winter weather conditions.

Influence of natural ventilation design on the dispersion of pathogen-laden droplets in a coach bus

Natural ventilation is an energy-efficient design approach to reduce infection risk (IR), but its optimized design in a coach bus environment is less studied. Based on a COVID-19 outbreak in a bus in Hunan, China, the indoor-outdoor coupled CFD modeling approach is adopted to comprehensively explore how optimized bus natural ventilation (e.g., opening/closing status of front/middle/rear windows (FW/MW/RW)) and ceiling wind catcher (WCH) affect the dispersion of pathogen-laden droplets (tracer gas, 5 μm, 50 μm) and IR. Other key influential factors including bus speed, infector's location, and ambient temperature (Tref) are also considered. Buses have unique natural ventilation airflow patterns: from bus rear to front, and air change rate per hour (ACH) increases linearly with bus speed. When driving at 60 km/h, ACH is only 6.14 h−1 and intake fractions of tracer gas (IFg) and 5 μm droplets (IFd) are up to 3372 ppm and 1394 ppm with ventilation through leakages on skylights and no windows open. When FW and RW are both open, ACH increases by 43.5 times to 267.50 h−1, and IFg and IFd drop rapidly by 1–2 orders of magnitude compared to when no windows are open. Utilizing a wind catcher and opening front windows significantly increases ACH (up to 8.8 times) and reduces IF (5–30 times) compared to only opening front windows. When the infector locates at the bus front with FW open, IFg and IFd of all passengers are <10 ppm. More droplets suspend and further spread in a higher Tref environment. It is recommended to open two pairs of windows or open front windows and utilize the wind catcher to reduce IR in coach buses.

Flow characteristics of positive and negative pressure irrigation in an immature tooth - A computational fluid dynamics study.

This study aims to investigate the irrigation dynamics in an immature tooth during positive and negative pressure irrigation using a computational fluid dynamics (CFDs) model. Cone-beam computed tomography scan of the maxillary central incisor with Cvek's stage III root development was used for the reconstruction of the root canal geometry. The computer-aided design models of open (front vent and notched) and closed (side vent [SV]) needles were positioned inside the root canal at two penetration depths, i.e., 3 mm and 1 mm short of apex. The negative pressure microcannula (MiC) was positioned at the level of the root apex. A prevalidated CFD model was used to simulate endodontic irrigation. The irrigant velocity in the apical root canal beyond the needle tip exceeded 0.1 m/s. As the needles were positioned closer to the apex, the wall shear stress (WSS) increased for the open-ended needles and decreased for the SV needle. MiC produced the lowest WSS. The mean apical pressure produced by the SV needle and MiC were below the critical threshold for periapical extrusion. The SV needle inserted within 1-3 mm of root apex during endodontic irrigation in an immature tooth allows adequate irrigant exchange with minimal risk of periapical extrusion.

Energy and Information Fluxes at Upper Ocean Density Fronts

We present large eddy simulations of a midlatitude open ocean front using a modified state-of-the-art computational fluid dynamics code. We investigate the energy and information fluxes at the submesoscale/small-scale range in the absence of any atmospheric forcing. We find submesoscale conditions (Ro∼1, Ri∼1) near the surface within baroclinic structures, related to partially imbalanced frontogenetic activity. Near the surface, the simulations show a significant scale coupling on scales larger than ∼103 (m). This is manifested as a strong direct energy cascade and intense mutual communication between scales, where the latter is evaluated using an estimator based on Mutual Information Theory. At scales smaller than ∼103 (m), the results show near-zero energy flux; however, at this scale range, the estimator of mutual communication still shows values corresponding with a significant level of communication between them. This fact motivates investigation into the nature of the self-organized turbulent motion at this scale range with weak energetic coupling but where communication between scales is still significant and to inquire into the existence of synchronization or functional relationships between scales, with emphasis on the eventual underlying nonlocal processes.

Not Going to Waste - Preserving Scotland’s COVID-19 Wastewater Data

Particles of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the causative agent of the COVID-19 disease, can enter the sewage system through faeces of infected people. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has been monitoring viral levels in wastewater since May 2020 in over 100 locations, as such data is a good indicator of COVID-19 spread throughout the population. These estimates are combined with others to provide the best overall estimate of disease prevalence and viral reproduction (R) values, at the Scottish and UK levels. These longitudinal, geospatial data are costly to obtain while they have a high potential for re-use. However, access to the data risks deteriorating over time once COVID-19 becomes an endemic infection and monitoring programmes terminate. Our team worked on the open research front of the programme monitoring SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater, with the aim to develop appropriate preservation strategies while following open science and FAIR data principles. Here we will present the curation process of making the outputs complete and unambiguous. We will describe the multiple ways in which we disseminated the data to maximize their visibility and re-usability, while assuring cost-free, long-term preservation, as well as share some recommendations for such multi-institutional initiatives. Briefly, our work included sharing data in public repositories, submitting a data paper to a scientific data journal, and curating and transcribing protocols, which were also published in online platforms. A dashboard webpage containing the links to published outputs was also created: https://biordm.github.io/COVID-Wastewater-Scotland. By making these data open and FAIR, we are supporting COVID-19 data transparency, assisting with government decisions and accountability. Additionally, the detailed data and methodologies can help with the implementation of similar surveillance programmes in the future, as well as assist with the modelling and analysis of the past SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks.&#x0D; Funding: CREW; Grant CD2019_06 Tracking SARS-CoV-2 via municipal wastewater

Experimental investigation of the air flow in a simplified underhood environment

In this paper, a simplified underhood environment is proposed to investigate the air flow distribution in a vehicle-like set-up and provide high quality measurement data that can be used for the validation of Computational Fluid Dynamic methods. The rig can be equipped with two types of front openings representative for electrified vehicles. Furthermore, it is possible to install differently shaped blockages downstream of the fan to imitate large underhood components. The distance between the blockages and the fan can be varied in longitudinal and lateral direction. The measurements are performed with Laser Doppler Anemometry at a fixed distance downstream of the fan. The results show that the lack of an upper grille opening in the configuration for a battery electric vehicle has a notable impact on the flow field in the reference case without any downstream blockage. However, the differences in the flow field between the two front designs become less when a downstream obstruction is present. The longitudinal and lateral position of the blockages have a minor impact on the flow field compared to the shape of the obstacle itself.

Modelling of the pedestal growth of silicon crystals

The pedestal method is an alternative to the well-known floating zone method, both of which are performed with high-frequency electromagnetic heating. Unlike the floating zone method, in the pedestal method a single crystal is pulled upwards from the melt. It allows one to lower feed rod quality requirements and simplify the process control due to the absence of open melting front. As the pedestal method has not been widely used in industry for silicon crystals, its development requires extensive numerical modelling. The present work describes application of the previously created mathematical model for crystals with diameters higher than it is currently possible in the experimental setup, as well as for the cone growth phase. Supplementary free surface heating, that prevents melt centre freezing during the seeding phase, has been added at the beginning of cone phase. After multiple sets of simulations, an optimal scheme of heating control for cone growth was proposed.

See it, say it, sort it: to tell or not to tell?

> ‘Far more crucial than what we know or do not know is what we do not want to know.’ > > (Eric Hoffer, The Passionate State of Mind and Other Aphorisms , 1955) What do we want to know, and what not? This often seems ‘irrational’, even unnegotiable, to others. Three vignettes from different decades portray our conundrums. A crisp, bright autumn morning. It is only my third week in this poor, inner-city practice: almost everyone is still a stranger. The phone rings in the brief handwriting-of-notes interlude between two patients. This is fortunately timed because the receptionist’s voice explodes with urgency and without preamble: ‘Doctor, Mrs O has just rung; she’s really upset. She says there’s something really wrong with her husband, Alf. She wants you to go there now … I really think you should, doctor. They live just fifty yards away, at the other end of this block. You can see your remaining patients when you come back.’ In 1977 such a request is not so unusual: the family-doctor is quite as likely to be called as an ambulance. In my haste I take the remarkably slim Lloyd George envelope of notes of this 64-year-old man and slip them, unperused, into my well-checked medical bag. Speed and now is of the essence; history can wait. Mrs O is waiting at her open front door. She is dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief and then holding it to her chest, as if for comfort. She is clearly fearful yet coherent. She says: ‘He suddenly sat up and started gasping and then he … Doctor, it’s terrible: you’ll see.’ She leads me into a sparsely furnished yet meticulously cared-for bedroom: this couple may be poor, but they are proud. Alf is lying in a vast pool of blood, emitted from his mouth and now haloing his thorax. The blood has not dried …

COVID-19

COVID-19

Wind-driven ventilation of Double Skin Façades with vertical openings: Effects of opening configurations

Insufficient airflow in the cavity of Double Skin façade (DSF) systems has resulted in the overheating risk of the cavity and the resulting reduction in thermal performance in cooling dominant climates. Previous research has focused more on buoyancy-driven natural ventilation, and there is a lack of research on utilising wind-driven ventilation in the cavity as a dominant natural force for the heat dispersion from the cavity. Additionally, geometrical features of the cavity and wind direction as influential factors on wind-induced airflow have not been addressed in DSF studies. This paper presents a detailed evaluation of the impact of opening configurations on the ventilation performance of an integrated tall building with DSF with respect to four wind orientations (0°, 30°, 60°, and 90°) to the facade. The evaluation is based on three ventilation performance indicators: (i) induced airflow rate, (ii) wind speed ratio, and (iii) airflow distribution across the cavity length. High-resolution 3D steady RANS CFD simulations of cavity ventilation were performed for a range of sizes of the DSF cavity. The CFD simulations were validated against wind-tunnel measurements. The results show that the ratio between the areas of the front and lateral openings is a critical factor for improving the ventilation in the cavity at the wind incident angle 0° < ϴ < 30°. As wind direction increases to 60° and 90°, cavity size tends to be of the highest importance. Employing three front openings on the external skin of DSF (M3) can increase the efficacy of the system in a broader range of wind direction and cavity size.

Raw materials and functional designs of Fishtail projectile points from southern Brazil

This study analyses the lithic landscape and the selection of rocks used to manufacture Fishtail points (FP) in southern Brazil, their designs, and some functional aspects. In order to identify the offer of lithic resources, we carried out several surveys throughout 15 months in 47 counties in the Southern Brazil covered by the Botucatú - Serra Geral Vulcano Sedimentary Complex. The lithic composition of numerous hill slopes, fallen rocks, and accumulations of pebbles and boulders in the riversides was evaluated. The results show that basalts (including a small proportion of andesites and rhyodacites-rhyolites), and silicified sandstones, are ubiquitous in the landscape. Conversely, non-translucent cherts are scarce, so their acquisition would have been time-consuming. However, these local cherts were the rocks mostly used to manufacture these points, being another example of the selectivity for high quality rocks by Paleoamerican hunter-gatherers. The same cherts selected in southern Brazil to produce the FP were used to manufacture other point-types by local hunter-gatherers of the early and middle Holocene grouped in the so-called “Umbú Tradition”. Not a single FP of the entire collection analyzed here was made from silicified limestones, which is one of the most common raw materials among the Uruguayan FPs, nor were they made from quartzites as were most of the FPs of the Pampean plains.&#x0D; Regarding to the designs of these projectiles, some morphotypes appear to have been designed to produce multiple injuries through successive thrusts and withdrawals in the bodies of the prey, while in others, the design seems to have favoured penetration and fixation on the prey, suggesting in this case, a single shot technique for each projectile. As the maintenance process unfolded, especially for points below ~ 80 mm in length, they show features that negatively impacted their efficiency, including distinct asymmetries, somewhat open front angles, a decrease in the cutting perimeter and cross-sectional area, an increase in the bevel angle of the blade edges, and a tendency to a conical cross-section. Behaviours intended to counteract these problems were maximizing the length of the leading edge, maintaining the symmetry and the triangular blade resting on straight shoulders, and maintaining the aerodynamic properties as much as it were possible, in order to improve their lethality and the fixation capacity.&#x0D; Beyond these rejuvenation processes, three different morphotypes of points appear to be included within the sample. The first includes points over 120 mm and ~ 80 g in weight, with triangular or slightly lanceolate limbs, which mostly present straight shoulders, but there are also examples of rounded shoulders. The second design corresponds to projectiles between 110 and 87 mm and ~30 g in weight, with triangular or slightly lanceolate blades and straight shoulders. The third design presents the classic shape of these projectiles, with a fish silhouette, with maximum lengths below 90 mm, with a more robust and conceptually different design, where the angles of the edges of the blades and of the shoulders are equal, perhaps with the intention to facilitate the spear withdrawal to produce multiple injuries.

Os carcharhiniformes (cCondrichthyes, Neoselachii) da Bacia de Alvalade (Portugal)

The uppermost Miocene, Esbarrondadoiro Formation (Alvalade basin, Portugal) yielded more than 10 thousandSelachian teeth at Santa Margarida, Esbarrondadoiro and Vale de Zebro outcrops. Forty-five taxa were identifiedbelonging to the orders Hexanchiformes, Squaliformes, Lamniformes, Carcharhiniformes, Torpediniformes and Myliobatiformes. The Carcharhiniformes make up about 40% of the selachian fauna that has been identified in the studiedarea. The different distribution of the Carcharhiniformes (as well as that of the other orders) by the three sitespoints out to distinct environments in the corresponding areas: Esbarrondadoiro indicates relatively deeper, ratherstill waters; Santa Margarida represents a very littoral area and rough waters; while Vale de Zebro was a (probablyinner) part of a gulf with muddy bottoms. At the Alvalade Basin localities there are several “temperate” elements that still are present in Portuguese waters. However the high frequence of Carcharhinus, a genus that is scarce at present off Portugal, indicates waters somewhatwarmer than today’s but less warm than during Tortonian times. This is corroborated by the large number of Dasyatisspecies and the rarity of Raja. We may conclude that moderately warm (less warm than during Tortonian, but warmerthan today’s) waters predominated in the Alvalade Basin close by the end of Miocene. The scarcity of pelagic forms and especially of the larger pelagic predators points out to a quite narrow gulf and not to an open Atlantic front. The faunal differences between the Tortonian near Lisbon and the Messinian of the Alvalade Basin also indicate a rather confined gulf.

A participatory trail web map based on open source technologies

ABSTRACT Interactive maps can be an important marketing tool for disseminating information about long distance walking trails and a way to value add to the recreation experience. Providing participatory functionality to maps by allowing users to share new information or refine existing information can greatly enhance user interest and improve the product. This research uses open source front and back end technologies to develop a single page, database driven participatory web map application for the Walk the Yorke Trail in South Australia. The development is based on and assessed through a user-centred design approach. The prototype participatory web map is assessed by cartographic experts, trail managers, and trail users. These evaluations indicate the validity of the design directions taken but highlight the need for information quality and quantity when encouraging participation from knowledgeable trail users, and the need for tools to ensure the continuing quality of further submitted information.

Combustion and fire safety of energy conservation materials in building vertical channel: Effects of structure factor and coverage rate

Experimental study on combustion and fire safety of energy conservation materials (extruded polystyrene, i.e., XPS) in vertical channel with front openings of building façade is conducted, and effects of channel structure factor (α) and curtain wall coverage rate (β) are revealed. The XPS flame in the vertical channel is turbulent. There is a correlation between the flame height and pyrolysis length: xf=mxpn, where m and n vary with the change in structure factor and coverage rate. Upward flame spread rate decreases first and then increases as β rises. When 0≤β<0.2, the restraining effect of vertical channel on air entrainment dominates, while for 0.2≤β≤0.8, the heat feedback from curtain wall dominates. When β = 0, the influence of α on flame spread rate is not significant. The flame spread rate increases with increasing α when 0.2≤β≤0.8. A model is established to predict the flame spread rate under different coverage rates and structure factors. Compared with experimental results, the prediction error is smaller than 10%. Larger values of flame height and flame spread rate correspond to higher fire hazard. This work is beneficial for fire safety assessment of building thermal insulation materials and optimal design of energy-saving curtain wall.