Passive Means Research Articles

A COMPARATIVE REVIEW OF DESIGN REQUIREMENTS FOR NATURAL SMOKE VENTILATION IN HOSPITAL BUILDINGS

Smoke is recognized as the main factor of fatality when fire occurred in a building. Thus, smoke management in the building is of paramount importance in order to achieve a tenable indoor environment in the event of fire other than ensuring passive means of escapes to the place of safety. In hospital building, where patients have limited movements, natural smoke ventilation through windows is the most common form of smoke control design. Nevertheless, inappropriate design of natural smoke ventilation through window may result to poor smoke air flow contributing to unwanted toxic gases inhaled by occupants that lead to fatalities in the event of fire. This study aims to analyse the design requirements and specifications of natural smoke ventilation system in buildings by exploring local and other prominent building regulations as well as code of practices around some countries. The study found that smoke ventilation system (natural and mechanical) is usually applied in windowless building, basement and in large open spaces. The natural smoke ventilation system employs smoke vents (gravity vents) located at a higher level in the roof or at the ceiling level. The regulations state that the size of smoke vents for effective natural smoke ventilation is in between 2% to 3% of the floor areas. Most regulations would allow openable windows for smoke ventilation in the event of fire.

A COMPARATIVE REVIEW OF DESIGN REQUIREMENTS FOR NATURAL SMOKE VENTILATION IN HOSPITAL BUILDINGS

Smoke is recognized as the main factor of fatality when fire occurred in a building. Thus, smoke management in the building is of paramount importance in order to achieve a tenable indoor environment in the event of fire other than ensuring passive means of escapes to the place of safety. In hospital building, where patients have limited movements, natural smoke ventilation through windows is the most common form of smoke control design. Nevertheless, inappropriate design of natural smoke ventilation through window may result to poor smoke air flow contributing to unwanted toxic gases inhaled by occupants that lead to fatalities in the event of fire. This study aims to analyse the design requirements and specifications of natural smoke ventilation system in buildings by exploring local and other prominent building regulations as well as code of practices around some countries. The study found that smoke ventilation system (natural and mechanical) is usually applied in windowless building, basement and in large open spaces. The natural smoke ventilation system employs smoke vents (gravity vents) located at a higher level in the roof or at the ceiling level. The regulations state that the size of smoke vents for effective natural smoke ventilation is in between 2% to 3% of the floor areas. Most regulations would allow openable windows for smoke ventilation in the event of fire.

Radiology Field Trips—A List of “Must Sees” in the Radiology Department for Medical Students: How We Do It

Traditionally, the radiology elective has been designed to teach medical students the fundamentals of radiologic interpretation, typically through passive means, such as didactic conferences and observational shadowing of radiologists as they interpret images. In doing so, the importance of noninterpretive skills and active learning has been minimized. Additionally, in the traditional model, students typically only gain a superficial appreciation of radiologists' role in patient care and their interactions with clinical services, multidisciplinary teams, and patients. With the emphasis on value-focused, team-based, patient-centered care, it is important to expand the focus of radiology education beyond interpretive skills alone such that these future physicians can most effectively utilize imaging to care for patients. A list of integrated radiology field trips was created for medical students from two institutions, Allegheny Health Network and the University of Kentucky, representing a consolidation of the instructional strategies utilized at these institutions. This paradigm uses active observation to extend learning beyond the reading room. It targets noninterpretive skills that will be of vital importance in the majority of students' future clinical practice, such as patient safety and appropriate ordering practices. This article describes the integration of nine field trip experiences into a 4-week radiology clerkship and its effect on learning outcomes and student satisfaction.

Design, development, and evaluation of the Maternal Outcomes and Nutrition Tool (MONT).

Suboptimal nutrition has been largely associated with poorer perinatal outcomes. However, an inability to compare data between biologically and geographically diverse cohorts has complicated determination of the role of diet in such conditions. The aim of this paper is to describe the design, development, and evaluation of the Maternal Outcomes and Nutrition Tool (MONT), a novel cross-cultural digital dietary data collection tool. The tool was modelled on previously validated food frequency questionnaires and designed for exclusive administration in the digital environment, featuring minimal language and emphasis on images. Participants were recruited by both passive and active means. A total of 502 women were recruited; descriptive statistics were used to describe the cohort. Pregnant women constituted the majority of subjects recruited (n=376, 74.9%), 63% of which were nulliparous. Women were recruited from 13 ethnicities and 20 countries of birth. Of the 341 women who commenced the surveys (68%), 114 submitted complete datasets (33.5%). Maintenance and recruitment costs equated to $5.64 per completion. Total processing and analysis time for the pilot dataset equated to 12s per survey. The MONT was used successfully by women from a variety of continents and cultures and proved to be practical and economical in terms resource management.

Amyloid-β Peptide Triggers Membrane Remodeling in Supported Lipid Bilayers Depending on Their Hydrophobic Thickness.

Amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide has been implicated in Alzheimer's disease, which is a leading cause of death worldwide. The interaction of Aβ peptides with the lipid bilayers of neuronal cells is a critical step in disease pathogenesis. Recent evidence indicates that lipid bilayer thickness influences Aβ membrane-associated aggregation, while understanding how Aβ interacts with lipid bilayers remains elusive. To address this question, we employed supported lipid bilayer (SLB) platforms composed of different-length phosphatidylcholine (PC) lipids (C12:0 DLPC, C18:1 DOPC, C18:1-C16:0 POPC), and characterized the resulting interactions with soluble Aβ monomers. Quartz crystal microbalance-dissipation (QCM-D) experiments identified concentration-dependent Aβ peptide adsorption onto all tested SLBs, which was corroborated by fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) experiments indicating that higher Aβ concentrations led to decreased membrane fluidity. These commonalities pointed to strong Aβ peptide-membrane interactions in all cases. Notably, time-lapsed fluorescence microscopy revealed major differences in Aβ-induced membrane morphological responses depending on SLB hydrophobic thickness. For thicker DOPC and POPC SLBs, membrane remodeling involved the formation of elongated tubule and globular structures as a passive means to regulate membrane stress depending on Aβ concentration. In marked contrast, thin DLPC SLBs were not able to accommodate extensive membrane remodeling. Taken together, our findings reveal that membrane thickness influences the membrane morphological response triggered upon Aβ adsorption.

Exergy Analysis of a Flat Plate Solar Collector With Grooved Absorber Tube Configuration Using Aqueous ZnO–Ethylene Glycol

In this study, the exergetic performance of a flat plate solar collector (FPSC) setup with ZnO-based ethylene glycol (EG)/water nanofluid as a working fluid has been evaluated against that of EG/water. As a passive means to augment the rate of heat transfer, internally grooved tubes of two different pitches (e = 0.43 and e = 0.44) have been examined and compared against the performance of plain tube. The mass flow rate was fixed at 0.015 kg/s and the volume fraction of ZnO nanoparticles is ф = 0.02% v/v. The results indicate an enhancement in exergy efficiency of 44.61% when using the grooved tube (e = 0.44) against plain tube without the nanofluid and 39.17% when nanofluid is used. Using the nanofluid enhanced the exergy efficiency of the FPSC by a maximum of 73.81%. Maximum exergy efficiency obtained was 5.95% for grooved tube (e = 0.44) with nanofluid as working fluid and is in good agreement with previous literature. Exergy destruction/irreversibility due to temperature differences and heat flow within the system has been reported. Sun-collector temperature difference accounts for nearly 86–94% of the irreversibility. The results for thermal efficiency of this experimental setup have been published and summarized in this study for reference.

ReDSHIFT: A Global Approach to Space Debris Mitigation

The H2020 ReDSHIFT project aims at finding passive means to mitigate the proliferation of space debris. This goal is pursued by a twofold research activity based on theoretical astrodynamics, computer simulations and the analysis of legal aspects of space debris, coupled with an experimental activity on advanced additive manufacturing (3D printing) applied to the production of a novel small satellite. Several different aspects related to the design and production of a debris compliant spacecraft are treated, including shielding, area augmentation devices for deorbiting (solar and drag sails) and design for demise. A strong testing activity, mainly based on design for demise wind tunnel experiments and hypervelocity impacts is performed as well. The main results obtained so far in the project are outlined.

An in-situ study on occupants’ behaviors for adaptive thermal comfort in a Japanese HEMS condominium

We conducted a series of survey on occupants’ behaviors for adaptive thermal comfort together with indoor air temperature measurement in a condominium equipped with Home Energy Management System (HEMS), from November 2015 to October 2016, in which 17,026 votes were collected. The data was categorized into Free Running (FR), Cooling (CL) and Heating (HT) mode and were analyzed thoroughly. The results showed that the indoor air temperature was highly correlated with outdoor air temperature in FR mode. In CL mode, the mean indoor air temperature was 27.3 °C, which was close to the recommended air temperature for summer in Japan equal to 28 °C. In HT mode it was found that indoor air temperature was maintained around 20 °C. Similar indoor air temperature was also observed in FR mode during winter. The occupants’ thermal sensation votes were most likely to be neutral. The mean clothing insulation was 0.43 clo in summer and 0.89 clo in winter. The occupants’ behaviors in this condominium for clothing insulation adjustment were found to be quite similar to those in detached houses found in previous studies. The occupants seemed adapting to the indoor thermal environment by window-opening behaviors to adjust thermal comfort during summer. The use of fan was found to increase as the indoor air temperature increased. The occupants were found to take these passive means along with the use of air conditioning unit for cooling. Mechanical heating was used only for a limited period for the condition of outdoor air temperature being low.

PENGARUH RECOVERY AKTIF DAN PASIF DALAM

A B S T R A C TPhysical exercise causes athletes to be at risk of injury. One of the most common muscle injuries is Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS). DOMS is a pain felt by a person within 24-72 hours after sports activities. Active recovery is a physical activity that do in low intensity. Passive recovery means stop activity and not doing anything or total rest. This research is expected to find the type effective and efficient recovery in reducing DOMS symptoms. The type of this research is quasi experiment with the three group post-control group design. The sample is a student of Faculty of Sport Science State University of Padang which is divided into 3 groups. Each group consists of 15 students. Each Sample will perform an eccentric physical exercise by squatting 10 sets (1set: 20 steps) with a break for 30 seconds each set. After exercie group 1 didn’t do recovery, group 2 did a passive recovery and group 3 did active recovery. After 48 hours, DOMS measurements were made using Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Research data is tabulated and analyzed with descriptive statistic test, distribution normality test, homogeneity test, different test. Result of data analysis concluded there is effect of active recovery to DOMS symptom with p 0,005. There is no effect of passive recovery of DOMS symptoms with p 0, 180. Conclusion active recovery research can reduce DOMS symptoms.

Vibro-acoustic analysis of an elastically restrained plate duct silencer backed by irregular acoustical cavity

Drum silencer is seemed as a novel passive mean for the low frequency noise control in duct, a lot of research work has been done for such panel silencer backed by regular cavity, while there is little effort devoted to the case with wall inclination. Motivated by such limitation, a three-dimensional vibro-acoustic coupling model for sound attenuation analysis of elastically restrained plate silencer backed by irregular acoustical cavity is established in a unified energy formulation. Coordinate transformation technique is employed to map the acoustical field description associated with the irregular-shaped cavity into those defined in a unit cubic volume. Boundary smoothed supplementary terms are introduced to the Fourier series to construct the corresponding admissible function, in conjunction with Rayleigh-Ritz procedure, the fully coupled matrix is derived, in which the concrete block can be specified for the irregular cavity subsystem. Numerical results are presented to illustrate the correctness and effectiveness of the proposed model through the comparison with those calculated from Finite Element Analysis. Based on the model established, the influence of geometry distortion of backed cavity on sound attenuation behavior of such drum silencer is studied and addressed. It is found that the wall inclination arrangement can modify the duct-panel-cavity structural-acoustic coupling pattern, and further serve as the optimal parameter to adjust the transmission loss frequency band. Experimental study is also carried out to verify the theoretical prediction from current model.

Social Sensibility. Simmel, the Senses, and the Aesthetics of Recognition

In this article, I sketch a theory of social sensibility building on Simmel’s Sociology. I focus on the sense of smell and its “distancing” function, and I develop Simmel’s insights in line with the phenomenological theory of the “oral sense” (Oralsinn). Notions like atmosphere and Stimmung allow me to shed light on the almost subliminal functioning of social evaluation: sensible inclinations pre-condition deeply social relations. In addition, I focus on the link between recognition and esteem (Anerkennung and Schätzung) in its active meaning (how we value others through our feelings) as well as in its passive meaning (how we strive to please and how the quest for recognition is part of the search for distinction). I conclude by suggesting the need for a reciprocal integration between Simmel’s and Bourdieu’s reflections.

Tannin-mediated assembly of gold–titanium oxide hybrid nanoparticles for plasmonic photochemical applications

Plasmonic nanostructures have received increasing attention for photochemical applications due to high light absorptivity, tunability, sensitivity, and robustness. However, the short lifetime of hot electrons limits their efficient extraction, requiring the well-defined assembly of neighboring functional materials (e.g., electron filters and catalysts) along with the plasmonic nanostructures. Here we report the polyphenol-mediated assembly of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) into colloidal plasmonic heterostructures. Tannic acid (TA) is deposited on the surface of TiO2 NPs through metal-ligand coordination, where TA serves as a reducing agent to synthesize AuNPs on the surface of TiO2 NPs. The generation and injection of hot carriers from the plasmonic heterostructures exhibit faster electron transfer kinetics under visible light illumination as determined using ferricyanide as a redox agent. Subsequent surface coatings of TiO2 NPs with phosphate-functionalized polyethylene glycol is shown as an effective means of selective surface passivation to suppress the charge transfer in the semiconductor/electrolyte interface. We expect that the interface control of plasmonic heterostructures for functional assembly and passivation can be utilized for their photochemical applications through integration with catalytic and sensing components.

Programmable Self-Locking Origami Mechanical Metamaterials.

Developing mechanical metamaterials with programmable properties is an emerging topic receiving wide attention. While the programmability mainly originates from structural multistability in previously designed metamaterials, here it is shown that nonflat-foldable origami provides a new platform to achieve programmability via its intrinsic self-locking and reconfiguration capabilities. Working with the single-collinear degree-4 vertex origami tessellation, it is found that each unit cell can self-lock at a nonflat configuration and, therefore, possesses wide design space to program its foldability and relative density. Experiments and numerical analyses are combined to demonstrate that by switching the deformation modes of the constituent cell from prelocking folding to postlocking pressing, its stiffness experiences a sudden jump, implying a limiting-stopper effect. Such a stiffness jump is generalized to a multisegment piecewise stiffness profile in a multilayer model. Furthermore, it is revealed that via strategically switching the constituent cells' deformation modes through passive or active means, the n-layer metamaterial's stiffness is controllable among 2n target stiffness values. Additionally, the piecewise stiffness can also trigger bistable responses dynamically under harmonic excitations, highlighting the metamaterial's rich dynamic performance. These unique characteristics of self-locking origami present new paths for creating programmable mechanical metamaterials with in situ controllable mechanical properties.

The effect of ankle tape on joint position sense after local muscle fatigue: a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundAnkle tape is widely used by athletes to prevent ankle sprain. Although there is growing evidence that ankle tape improve joint position sense, but yet it is not clear even if tape improve joint position sense after muscle fatigue, because fatigue impair joint position sense and raise the risk of ankle sprain. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of ankle tape on joint position sense after local muscle fatigue.MethodThis trial is a randomized controlled trial. 34 healthy subjects participated in this trial. Subjects were randomized distributed into two groups: with tape and without tape. Active and passive absolute error and variable error mean values for two target positions of the ankle joint (15° inversions and inversion minus 5°) before and after fatigue protocol consisted of 30 consecutive maximal concentric/concentric contractions of the ankle evertors and invertors. In this trail joint position sense for all subjects was assessed using The Biodex System isokinetic dynamometer 3, this system is used also for fatigue protocol.ResultsFor the variable error (VE), significant mean effect was found for active joint position sense in 15° of inversion after muscle fatigue (P < 0, 05). It was a significant decrease in the work in the last third of inversion detected (P < 0, 05). There was no significant main effect found for fatigue index of eversion.ConclusionAnkle tape can improve joint position sense at the fatigue session when joint position sense becomes worse. As a result, ankle tape may be useful to prevent ankle sprain during playing sports. We suggest athletes and individuals at risk of ankle sprain to apply taping before high-load activity.Trial registrationThe study was retrospectively registered on the ISRCTN registry with study ID ISRCTN30042335 on 12th December 2017.

Using Combined Close-Range Active and Passive- Remote Sensing Methods to Detect Sinkholes

In the Dead Sea region of Israel, sinkholes collapse can be observed easily due to the large number of sites. The continuous decrease in Dead Sea level over the last 30 years, caused a substantial increases the sinkhole activity (more than 3,000 sinkholes upper layer collapse). Sinkholes of up to 50 m diameter are found to be clustered in sites with variable characteristics. In this research, we have developed methods for prediction of sinkholes appearance by using mapping and monitoring methods based on active and passive remote-sensing means. These methods are based on measurements from several instruments including field spectrometry, geophysical ground-penetration radar (GPR) and a frequency domain electromagnetic (FDEM) instrument. Field spectrometry was used to compare the spectral signatures of soil samples collected near progressing sinkholes and those taken in regions with no visible occurrence of sinkholes. Active remote sensing showed higher electrical conductivity and soil moisture in the former regions. Measurements were taken at different time points to monitor the progress of an embryonic sinkhole. The research steps included (i) review of previous published literature, (ii) mapping of regions with an abundance of sinkholes in various stages, and areas that are vulnerable to them, (iii) data analysis and development of warning indicators, accessible information to the scientific community. The result derived from this research indicates the possibility to build a pre-warning tool to detect the formation of sinkholes.

Surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) based biomicrofluidics systems for trace protein analysis.

In recent years, Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) has been widely applied to many different areas, including chemical analysis, biomolecule detection, bioagent diagnostics, DNA sequence, and environmental monitor, due to its capabilities of unlabeled fingerprint identification, high sensitivity, and rapid detection. In biomicrofluidic systems, it is also very powerful to integrate SERS based devices with specified micro-fluid flow fields to further focusing/enhancing/multiplexing SERS signals through molecule registration, concentration/accumulation, and allocation. In this review, after a brief introduction of the mechanism of SERS detection on proteins, we will first focus on the effectiveness of different nanostructures for SERS enhancement and light-to-heat conversion in trace protein analysis. Various protein molecule accumulation schemes by either (bio-)chemical or physical ways, such as immuno, electrochemical, Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, and magnetic, will then be reviewed for further SERS signal amplification. The analytical and repeatability/stability issues of SERS detection on proteins will also be brought up for possible solutions. Then, the comparison about various ways employing microfluidic systems to register, concentrate, and enhance the signals of SERS and reduce the background noise by active or passive means to manipulate SERS nanostructures and protein molecules will be elaborated. Finally, we will carry on the discussion on the challenges and opportunities by introducing SERS into biomicrofluidic systems and their potential solutions.

‘목적어 있는 피동문’에 대한 재고(再考)

In the transitive sentence, the ‘whole-part’ construction can be assumed to be composed of ‘topic-object’. So, the composition of ‘topic-object’ in the active sentence corresponds to the composition of ‘topic-subject’ in the passive sentence. However, ‘passive sentence with object’ is outside of this correspondence relation.BR The verb in the ‘passive sentence with object’ should be regarded as a transitive verb with passive meaning. It is difficult to set up a passive sentence containing a transitive verb because there is no complex sentence-marker.BR If this ‘passive sentence with object’ can be interpreted as having causative meaning as well as passive meaning, there is no reason to regard it as a passive sentence.BR Consequently, the verb in the ‘passive sentence with object,’ which has ‘EXP’ as its subject, should be regarded as a transitive verb with the passive or causative meaning. So, ‘passive sentence with object’ is not a typical passive sentence, and the suffix in ‘passive sentence with object’ is not a phrasal passive suffix.BR

Dynamical response properties of neocortical neurons to conductance-driven time-varying inputs.

Ensembles of cortical neurons can track fast-varying inputs and relay them in their spike trains, far beyond the cut-off imposed by membrane passive electrical properties and mean firing rates. Initially explored in silico and later demonstrated experimentally, investigating how neurons respond to sinusoidally modulated stimuli provides a deeper insight into spike initiation mechanisms and information processing than conventional F-I curve methodologies. Besides net membrane currents, physiological synaptic inputs can also induce a stimulus-dependent modulation of the total membrane conductance, which is not reproduced by standard current-clamp protocols. Here, we investigated whether rat cortical neurons can track fast temporal modulations over a noisy conductance background. We also determined input-output transfer properties over a range of conditions, including: distinct presynaptic activation rates, postsynaptic firing rates and variability and type of temporal modulations. We found a very broad signal transfer bandwidth across all conditions, similar large cut-off frequencies and power-law attenuations of fast-varying inputs. At slow and intermediate input modulations, the response gain decreased for increasing output mean firing rates. The gain also decreased significantly for increasing intensities of background synaptic activity, thus generalising earlier studies on F-I curves. We also found a direct correlation between the action potentials' onset rapidness and the neuronal bandwidth. Our novel results extend previous investigations of dynamical response properties to non-stationary and conductance-driven conditions, and provide computational neuroscientists with a novel set of observations that models must capture when aiming to replicate cortical cellular excitability.

Replacing Epiphenomenalism: a Pluralistic Enactive Take on the Metaplasticity of Early Body Ornamentation

In the domain of evolutionary cognitive archaeology, the early body ornaments from the Middle Stone Age/Palaeolithic are generally treated as mere by-products of an evolved brain-bound cognitive architecture selected to cope with looming social problems. Such adaptive artefacts are therefore taken to have been but passive means of broadcasting a priori envisaged meanings, essentially playing a neutral role for the human mind. In contrast to this epiphenomenalist view of material culture, postphenomenology and the Material Engagement Theory (MET) have been making a case for the active role of artefacts on the count that they can actually shape and restructure the human mind. By bringing these dissenting voices together, the paper at hand employs an enactive way of thinking in order to challenge the epiphenomenalist take on early body ornaments. In fact, two variants of enactivism are presented, each advancing a unique explanation of how the engagement of early humans with body ornaments transformed their minds along the two postphenomenological categories of embodied and hermeneutic cognition. Our theoretical frameworks specifically seek to explore how early beadworks could have scaffolded the creation of semiotic categories and the development of cognitive processes. Despite relying on inherently different premises, both theories suggest that beads fostered the emergence of an epistemic apparatus which thoroughly transformed the way humans engaged with the world. Having concurred on the ornaments’ transformative effects, we ultimately conclude that the epiphenomenalist paradigm best be replaced with an enactive approach grounded on the dictates of postphenomenology and the MET.

Understanding How Sterols Regulate Membrane Remodeling in Supported Lipid Bilayers.

The addition of single-chain lipid amphiphiles such as antimicrobial fatty acids and monoglycerides to confined, two-dimensional phospholipid bilayers can trigger the formation of three-dimensional membrane morphologies as a passive means to regulate stress. To date, relevant experimental studies have been conducted using pure phospholipid compositions, and extending such insights to more complex, biologically relevant lipid compositions that include phospholipids and sterols is warranted because sterols are important biological mediators of membrane stress relaxation. Herein, using the quartz crystal microbalance-dissipation (QCM-D) technique, we investigated membrane remodeling behaviors triggered by the addition of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), lauric acid (LA), and glycerol monolaurate (GML) to supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) composed of phospholipid and cholesterol mixtures. The SLB platforms were prepared by the solvent-assisted lipid bilayer method in order to form cholesterol-rich SLBs with tunable cholesterol fractions (0-52 mol %). The addition of SDS or LA to fabricated SLBs induced tubule formation, and the extent of membrane remodeling was greater in SLBs with higher cholesterol fractions. In marked contrast, GML addition led to bud formation, and the extent of membrane remodeling was lower in SLBs with higher cholesterol fractions. To explain these empirical observations, we discuss how cholesterol influences the elastic (stiffness) and viscous (stress relaxation) properties of phospholipid/cholesterol lipid bilayers as well as how the membrane translocation properties of single-chain lipid amphiphiles affect the corresponding membrane morphological responses. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that single-chain lipid amphiphiles induce highly specific membrane morphological responses across both simplified and complex model membranes, and cholesterol can promote or inhibit membrane remodeling by a variety of molecular mechanisms.