Fluidity of hydraulic grouts for masonry strengthening

Design of hydraulic grouts for strengthening of masonry historical buildings seems to follow a rather empirical procedure, with all the related uncertainties, both in economical and efficiency terms. This paper is part of a broader attempt to establish a rational methodology for the design of such grouts, based on their discrete injectability characteristics, i.e. (i) penetrability, (ii) fluidity and (iii) stability. The first part of this holistic methodology proposing a procedure to be followed in order to make a first selection of suitable grain size distribution of solid materials of the grout to fulfill penetrability requirements was published elsewhere. The second part regarding the fluidity of the grouts is the subject of this paper. A new practical fluidity measurement is proposed (the fluidity factor test [FFT]); and a ??fluidity factor?? is defined. It is proved that the follow-up of this factor as a function of the water-to-solids ratio may reveal fundamental characteristics of the grout-composition under design. The influence of the mixing method and superplasticizer on grout??s fluidity is also examined. The paper concludes with a case study to highlight the practical use of the proposed test. Furthermore, stability of the suspension against segregation or excessive bleeding should also be ensured since, otherwise, blockage may soon appear and the quality of the intervention could be severely affected. This matter is examined by the authors in a separate paper, where specific semi empirical formulae permitting a first selection of water content and percentage of ultrafine materials, useful for the design of a grout composition are proposed.     

Visual impact evaluation of a wind park in a Greek island

The visual impact of wind turbines is one of the main factors affecting public acceptance of wind parks. This paper evaluates the visual impact of a wind park in Chania, Crete, using the Spanish method of evaluation. The outcomes are combined with the psychometric testing of the residents by the use of questionnaires and with the values of the Spanish method about various scenarios concerning the size of the wind park (double, half, one wind turbine). The results of the study prove that the quantification of the potential visual impact could minimize this, apparently, main reason that affects public acceptance.     

Going soft on quality?:Process management in the Scottish software industry

Despite their proliferation within the industry, quality assurance standards are insufficient to ensure effective software development. Scottish software companies are now highly sensitive to limitations imposed by the standards movement, flagging the need for more explicit attention to work organization and human resource issues. This article examines efforts to broaden the focus of quality management within the software industry, charting the impact of theoretical and practical initiatives and identifying the mediating role of commercial pressures, the consultancy marketplace and, crucially, staff reactions.     

Comparative performance of lissamine green stains

Purpose

To investigate the performance of lissamine green strips from different manufacturers. Additionally, the repeatability, need for sequential dye instillation and impact of repeated lid evertion on lid wiper staining were assessed.

Participating informally: opportunities and dilemmas in user-driven design

. This paper draws attention to the hidden influence of human subjectivity and informal patterns of social interaction within the systems development process. Through an extended case analysis, it uncovers a level of activity beneath the surface of structured methodologies and formalized arrangements which can be intense and problematical for the various stakeholders yet crucial in rendering systems viable in use. By contrast with conventional images of passive, dependent or as yet unenfranchized users, we demonstrate the active agency of grassroots staff in claiming space to assert themselves, taking the initiative and developing their own resources to secure viable systems. Essentially, we offer an account of how two data entry workers breached the terms of their contracts to become de facto designers and programmers, successfully customizing applications software to achieve required functionality despite formalized procedures rather than because of them. Though eventually attracting the tacit approval of managerial grades, this was a tense and struggle-suffused activity for the individuals concerned, and also one which implies a gender dimension to the capacity to control final outcomes. By revealing the dilemmas they confronted, and relating these to an appreciation of the creative space they levered open, we reflect on the wider significance of this episode for ambitions towards participatory design.     

‘European Policy on Food Safety’: Comments and suggestions on the White Paper on Food Safety

The paper provides a summary of the report written for the European Parliament's Science and Technology Options Assessment (STOA) Programme, as a response to the Commission's 2000 Food Safety White Paper. The White Paper made a series of major proposals, including a plan to set up a new European Food Authority (EFA). This paper summarises the comments and proposals on the background and technical arguments in the White Paper. The key issues in food-related public health, which the EFA will have to address, are reviewed. The role of science and technological information in policy-making on food and health matters is explored, as is the core challenge of how to link nutrition and food safety to give a consumer-friendly public health policy for Europe.