Technical and economical assessment of energy-saving roof and wall construction in Thailand

This research assessed the economic impact and construction costs of buildings with solar chimneys in Thailand, called bioclimatic houses. A solar chimney uses a combination of air gaps between walls and roof, and effective ventilation to lower the indoor temperature and reduce the need for air conditioning. The study looked at small, medium, and large size houses and studied construction techniques, the materials used, and the time needed to build a residential structure. It also polled owners of bioclimatic houses about their satisfaction. The techniques employed in building bioclimatic houses take slightly longer and cost slightly more than those used in standard construction. However, the study found that bioclimatic houses use approximately 10–20% less electricity for air conditioning require less maintenance and have a payback period of 6–13 years, depending on the size. The lifespan of insulation material used in standard houses is about 20–25 years, while the lifespan of a solar chimney is about 40–50 years. The solar chimney concept can also be applied to standard houses with minimal renovation. The study found that this type of house was suitable for use in Thailand, and with increased consumer awareness, had a high probability for adoption.     

An Enthusiastic Sceptic

Nat Oppenheimer , principal of structural engineers Robert Silman Associates, is a dissenting voice among the advocates of building information modelling (BIM) - an enthusiastic sceptic. Could the quest for integration be leading towards oversimplification rather than customisation and differentiation? Even towards the sort of standardisation adopted with LEED ratings in the quest for sustainability? Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Easy classification of traditional Minas cheeses using artificial neural networks and discriminant analysis

The classification of traditional Minas cheese (TMC) from different regions is important to ensure authenticity. Different chemometric approaches were used to discriminate TMCs from three different regions (Serro, Canastra and Araxá) of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The data obtained from the literature were used to develop an artificial neural network and to obtain linear discriminant functions, which were able to classify 100% of cheeses from different regions as a function of physico‐chemical composition. Both chemometric methods can be very useful tools to discriminate TMC from different regions based on physico‐chemical data which are obtained in a very quick and simple way.     

Electrohydrodynamic Induced Flow and Heat Transfer in Vertical Channel with Fin Array Attached

Electrohydrodynamic heat transfer enhancement of natural convection inside the finned vertical channels is investigated via a computational fluid dynamics technique. The interactions between electric field, flow field, and temperature field are numerically determined. Flow and heat transfer enhancements are significantly influenced at low Rayleigh number. The effect of electrode arrangement and number of electrodes to the average velocity and Nusselt number are expressed. An optimum inclined angle of the channel is recommended. Relation between the number of fins and fin length to the augmented flow and heat transfer is also analyzed.     

A computational fluid dynamics modeling of natural convection in finned enclosure under electric field

Numerical modeling of the electric field effect on natural convection in the square enclosures with single fin and multiple fins is investigated. The interactions between electric, flow, and temperature fields are analyzed using a computational fluid dynamics technique. The parameters considered are the supplied voltage, Rayleigh number, size of enclosure, electrode arrangement, number of fins, and fin length. It can be concluded that the flow and heat transfer enhancements are the decreasing function of Rayleigh number. Moreover, the heat transfer coefficient is substantially improved by the electric field effect especially at the high number of fins and long fin length. Surprisingly, the maximum average velocity and heat transfer enhancement occur at the different electrode arrangements for the single fin and multiple fins.     

Enhanced heat transfer in inclined solar chimneys by electrohydrodynamic technique

Heat transfer enhancement of natural convection inside the inclined solar chimneys is investigated using electrohydrodynamic technique. The interactions between electric field, flow field, and temperature field are analyzed. The ranges of parameters considered are 10⁴Ra10⁷, 7.5 kVV₀17.5 kV, 30°θ120°, and 2aspect ratio14. Flow and heat transfer enhancements are significantly influenced at low Rayleigh number. The optimum inclined angle which obtains maximum volume flow rate and heat transfer is found to be at θ=60°. A maximum volume flow rate enhancement is expressed in relation with the number of electrodes. The relation between aspect ratio of chimney and number of electrodes that performs the optimum condition between efficiency and economy is analyzed incorporating with all concerning parameters.     

Nematode Root Herbivory in Tomato Increases Leaf Defenses and Reduces Leaf Miner Oviposition and Performance

The outcome of plant-mediated interactions among herbivores from several feeding guilds has been studied intensively. However, our understanding on the effects of nematode root herbivory on leaf miner oviposition behavior and performance remain limited. In this study, we evaluated whether Meloidogyne incognita root herbivory affects Tuta absoluta oviposition preference on Solanum lycopersicum plants and the development of the resulting offspring. To investigate the M. incognita-herbivory induced plant systemic responses that might explain the observed biological effects, we measured photosynthetic rates, leaf trypsin protease inhibitor activities, and analyzed the profile of volatiles emitted by the leaves of root-infested and non-infested plants. We found that T. absoluta females avoided laying eggs on the leaves of root-infested plants, and that root infestation negatively affected the pupation process of T. absoluta. These effects were accompanied by a strong suppression of leaf volatile emissions, a decrease in photosynthetic rates, and an increase in the activity of leaf trypsin protease inhibitors. Our study reveals that root attack by nematodes can shape leaf physiology, and thereby increases plant resistance.     

Metallschichten für langlebige Strukturen

For the steady growing of the miniaturisation in the interconnection technique new basic materials with improved quality must be available. The new generation for the flex materials affords high reliability for many applications that are characterized for example by high temperature, high humidity and aggressive chemicals surroundings.