Optimisation of solar-optical and thermal properties of buildings incorporating solar panels, emulating traditional Chinese building style

A building-integrated solar energy system, based on the traditional Chinese building (e.g., pagoda) - buildings with roofing at intermediate levels (known as eaves) - was investigated, with regard to providing for heating and cooling demands. A number of building parameters, related to energy exchange - solar absorptivity of the exterior wall, level of glazing, etc. - were optimised to minimise demand, and the orientation and tilt of the panels were selected to provide maximum energy at the times of maximum demand. Each parameter was investigated for a range of locations, in order to identify trends, which could then be applied to other locations. In most cases, solar power was sufficient to meet the cooling demands. For a number of locations, solar power provided some, but not all, of the heating loads.     

The influence of oxidation reduction potential and water treatment processes on quartz lamp sleeve fouling in ultraviolet disinfection reactors

Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection systems are incorporated into drinking water production facilities because of their broad-spectrum antimicrobial capabilities, and the minimal disinfection by-product formation that generally accompanies their use. Selection of an optimal location for a UV system within a drinking water treatment facility depends on many factors; a potentially important consideration is the effect of system location on operation and maintenance issues, including the potential for fouling of quartz surfaces. To examine the effect of system location on fouling, experiments were conducted at a groundwater treatment facility, wherein aeration, chlorination, and sand filtration were applied sequentially for treatment. In this facility, access to the water stream was available prior to and following each of the treatment steps. Therefore, it was possible to examine the effects of each of these unit operations on fouling dynamics within a UV system. Results indicated zero-order formation kinetics for the fouling reactions at all locations. Increases in oxidation reduction potential, caused by water treatment steps such as aeration and chlorination, increased the rate of sleeve fouling and the rate of irradiance loss within the reactor. Analysis of metals in the sleeve foulant showed that calcium and iron predominate, and relative comparisons of foulant composition to water chemistry highlighted a high affinity for incorporation into the foulant matrix for both iron and manganese, particularly after oxidizing treatment steps. Fouling behavior was observed to be in qualitative agreement with representations of the degree of saturation, relative to the metal:ligand combinations that are believed to comprise a large fraction of the foulants that accumulate on the surfaces of quartz jackets in UV systems used to treat water.     

Influence of smectite hydration and swelling on atrazine sorption behavior

Smectites, clay minerals commonly found in soils and sediments, vary widely in their ability to adsorb organic chemicals. Recent research has demonstrated the importance of surface charge density and properties of exchangeable cations in controlling the affinity of smectites for organic molecules. In this study, we induced hysteresis in the crystalline swelling of smectites to test the hypothesis that the extent of crystalline swelling (or interlayer hydration status) has a large influence on the ability of smectites to adsorb atrazine from aqueous systems. Air-dried K-saturated Panther Creek (PC) smectite swelled less (d(001) = 1.38 nm) than never-dried K-PC (d(001) = 1.7 nm) when rehydrated in 20 mM KCl. Correspondingly, the air-dried-rehydrated K-PC had an order of magnitude greater affinity for atrazine relative to the never-dried K-PC. Both air-dried-rehydrated and never-dried Ca-PC expanded to approximately 2.0 nm in 10 mM CaCl2 and both samples had similar affinities for atrazine that were slightly lower than that of never-dried K-PC. The importance of interlayer hydration status in controlling sorption affinity was confirmed by molecular modeling, which revealed much greater interaction between interlayer water molecules and atrazine in a three-layer hydrate relative to a one-layer hydrate. The entropy change on moving atrazine from a fully hydrated state in the bulk solution to a partially hydrated state in the smectite interlayers is believed to be a major factor influencing sorption affinity. In an application test, choice of background solution (20 mM KCl versus 10 mM CaCl2) and air-drying treatments significantly affected atrazine sorption affinities for three-smectitic soils; however, the trends were not consistent with those observed for the reference smectite. Further, extending the initial rehydration time from 24 to 240 h (prior to adding atrazine) significantly decreased the soil's sorption affinity for atrazine. We conclude that interlayer hydration status has a large influence on the affinity of smectites for atrazine and that air-drying treatments have the potential to modify the sorption affinity of smectitic soils for organic molecules such as atrazine.     

Understanding the internet, version 2.0: Finding the materials community

A surprising amount of collaboration and research can be quickly and inexpensively accomplished through the use of the Internet. Indeed, a wealth of quality information has become available through this new medium in just a few years. This article examines the practical utility of the Internet for materials scientists and engineers. Editor’s Note: In our April 1995 issue, we presented the paper “Understanding the Internet: A Guide for Materials Scientists and Engineers” by Kenneth J. Meltsner. While the scope of this article was broad and timely, much about the Internet has changed in the nearly three years since the article was written and published. Hence, an update on this emerging tool for materials scientists and engineers is more than required. Rob M. Johnston earned his B.Sc. in materials and metallurgical engineering at Queen’s University in 1994. He is currently a consultant at Qualisult Management Consultants.     

The Caste and Class of the Urban Form of Historic Philadelphia

To understand the surface evidence of urban form requires knowledge of the society that form sheltered. Early nineteenth century Philadelphia is so studied through an examination of membership characteristics and residential locations in certain of its churches, both white and Negro. The churches prove to be class oriented, and the residential locations of their members are found to present significant evidence of grouping by class. From the resulting pattern of residential groupings inferences are made as to spatial stratification of classes whose organization and movement through time can be seen in the urban form of Philadelphia before the Civil War.     

The general good of the community. Some perspectives on town planning and residential segregation: A Mount Laurel case study

Town planning is frequently claimed as a practice undertaken to promote the general good of the community. But what is the community? Practice in many parts of the suburban portions of US metropolitan areas equates community with municipality, and this practice has been given a theoretical underpinning. What has happened is that the residents of many municipalities have used the planning powers to promote their desired general good, irrespective of the wishes of others outside the municipality but, to some, part of the same community. Challenges to this exclusionary zoning have largely failed in the Courts. In New Jersey, however, two landmark decisions concerning the township of Mount Laurel have imposed a wider definition of community than that associated with the municipality. Those decisions are reviewed and used to illuminate theoretical perspectives on the practice of planning within the state apparatus.     

A cross industry comparison of inter-organisational systems implementation activities

The Inter-organisational systems (IOS) Motivation Model (IMM) has recently been proposed as a theory that explains variations in IOS implementation processes initiated by organisations. The IMM classifies IOS adoption projects (regardless of the underlying technology used) into four generic motivation scenarios and explains different implementation processes for each motivation scenario. The theory was tested in the Australian pharmaceutical industry where it received broad support. In order to enhance its generality, in this study we explore the applicability of part of the IMM theory to a different industry context by addressing the research objective that organisations with the same motive for implementing an IOS initiate the same implementation activities regardless of differences in the industry contexts within which they operate. We have used a multiple case study approach and compared the implementation of a proprietary in-house built e-ordering system in a large Australian pharmaceutical manufacturing company with that of a web-based EDI system used by a large automotive manufacturing company using IMM as a theoretical lens. The empirical results indicate a striking similarity in the implementation processes of these two different IOS applications; this can largely be explained using the IMM theory. Furthermore, the differences in industry contexts do not appear to have a direct influence on the activities associated with implementing these systems.     

Intranigral grafts of fetal ventral mesencephalic tissue in adult 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats can induce behavioral recovery

Intrastriatal grafts of fetal ventral mesencephalon in rats with unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesions can reduce and even reverse rotational behavior in response to direct and indirect dopamine agonists. These grafts can ameliorate deficits on simple spontaneous behaviors, but do not improve complex behaviors that require the skilled integration of the use of both paws. We report here that rats with grafts into the DA-depleted substantia nigra, that receive cyclosporine A, can experience recovery on spontaneous behaviors that mimic those observed in Parkinson's disease. Specific cyclosporine A treatment conditions can differentially affect whether intranigral grafts normalize paw use during initiation or termination of a movement sequence. These findings may have important implications for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.     

Incremental Validity in the Psychological Assessment of Children and Adolescents.

Incremental validity in the process of psychological assessment of children and adolescents is explored. The authors highlight the dependence of the incremental validity of assessment information on factors such as goal of assessment, other information available, base rate of the problem or outcome, age or gender of the child, and type of problem being assessed. The authors discuss the incremental validity of assessment information from alternate sources, methods, and constructs. In view of the limited number of studies directly relevant to incremental validity in child clinical assessments, the authors call for more clinically relevant research. To have the greatest impact on child and adolescent services, this research must be readily generalized and immediately relevant to actual clinical practice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)