Assessment of Constructability Practices among General Contractors

Modern construction has been characterized as a complex and fragmented process. These characteristics have produced a decrease in the quality and cost efficiency of projects. It has been proven that this problem can be partially overcome by implementing constructability, which is based on the integration of construction knowledge into design (as was done in the past). The implementation of constructability is not easy because it represents a change in the way things have been done in the last century. Prior research has found a lack of constructability efforts among participants in the construction industry, especially general contractors. Because builders can play an important role in implementing constructability, this paper assesses constructability practices among general contractors. The data were obtained from a mailed survey. It was found that contractors applied constructability concepts and participated during the earliest phase of the projects more often than is thought. In addition, the findings showed that constructability practices differed depending on the characteristics of the organization, the type of work performed, and the type of contractual arrangement.     

Classification of building images in video sequences

A technique that improves precision in classification results using information extracted from video features is introduced. It combines fuzzy rule-based classification with the detection of changing regions in outdoor scenes. The approach is invariant to extreme illumination changes.     

Primary pericardial mesothelioma

This study reports the results of analysis concerning some chemical characteristics of 63 samples of tomato juice and paste. Copper was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry and its average content was 32 ppm. This is not a critical value for human health and results below the upper limit provided by law of several european and not european countries.     

Inhibition by diazepam of the effect of additional training and of extinction on the retention of shuttle avoidance behavior in rats.

Rats were submitted to a training and a test session in a shuttle avoidance task. In some groups, a second training session was interpolated 2 or 24 hr after the first session. In others, a session of extinction was interpolated 2 or 24 hr after the training session. When the interpolated task was 2 hr after training, training-test interval was 24 hr. When the interpolated task was 24 hr after training, training-test interval was 48 hr. The additional training enhanced, and the extinction depressed, retention test performance. Diazepam, given 30 min prior to the first (or only) training session enhanced the performance of avoidance responses in that session but inhibited it in the subsequent retention test. Diazepam given 90 min after training had no effect on retention. Diazepam given 30 min prior to either the additional training session or the extinction session did not affect performance in that session but canceled their effects on retention test performance. The effects are related to the previously described prevention by diazepam of interfering effects on memory. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Usefulness of the neuroandrologic profile study in patients with erectile dysfunction: review of a series of 180 cases

OBJECTIVES: To determine the usefulness of a complete neuroandrologic evaluation and SPACE (Single Potential Analysis Cavernous Electromyography) in the study of impotence. METHODS: We performed a clinical study, erection test with papaverine-phentolamine and neuroandrologic evaluation (bulbocavernous EMG, S2-S4 evoked potentials, evoked somatosensorial potentials, SPACE, D10-L2 skin sympathetic potentials, cystometrogram, and filling videocystography) in 180 patients consulting for impotence. RESULTS: We observed a relationship between the clinical diagnosis of impotence and the data from the neuroandrogenic study. The results of the study were classified as normal [in the clinical diagnosis of psychogenic impotence (100%), hormonal (80%) and vascular (60%)], abnormal [prevalent in the clinical diagnosis of structural impotence (87%)]. The erection test was mainly negative in all clinical diagnoses of impotence, except in psychogenic and vascular impotence (60% positive tests). CONCLUSIONS: The clinical data are useful in the diagnosis of impotence. The pharmacological erection test was not found to be very reliable. Complete neuroandrologic evaluation is indicated in non typified and mixed impotence, and can be performed in neurogenic impotence to identify the level of the lesion. Alone, SPACE does not appear to be useful as a screening test for neurologic lesions, but can be useful as a screening test for neuromuscular cavernous lesions. SPACE is indicated in structural, vascular and hormonal impotence. If SPACE is abnormal, the differential diagnosis between neurogenic and myogenic lesion can be made through a complete neuroandrologic evaluation.     

A novel experimental investigation of a solar cooling system in Madrid

This paper reports novel experimental results derived through field testing of a part load solar energized cooling system for typical Spanish houses in Madrid during the summer period of 2003. Solar hot water was delivered by means of a 49.9 m² array of flat-plate collectors to drive a single-effect (LiBr/H₂O) absorption chiller of 35 kW nominal cooling capacity. Thermal energy was stored in a 2 m³ stratified hot water storage tank during hours of bright sunshine. Chilled water produced at the evaporator was supplied to a row of fan coil units and the heat of condensation and absorption was rejected by means of a forced draft cooling tower. Instantaneous, daily and period energy flows and energy balance in the installation is presented. System and absorption machine temperature profiles are given for a clear, hot and dry day's operation. Daily and period system efficiencies are given. Peak insolation of 969 W m⁻² (at 12:30 solar time on 08/08/03) produced 5.13 kW of cooling at a solar to cooling conversion efficiency of 11%. Maximum cooling capacity was 7.5 kW. Cooling was provided for 8.67 h and the chiller required a threshold insolation of 711 W m⁻² for start-up and 373 W m⁻² for shut-down. A minimum hot water inlet temperature to the generator of 65 °C was required to commence cold generation, whereas at 81 °C, 6.4 kW of cooling (18.3% of nominal capacity) was produced. The absorption refrigeration machine operated within the generation and absorption temperature ranges of 57–67 and 32–36 °C, respectively. The measured maximum instantaneous, daily average and period average COP were 0.60 (at maximum capacity), 0.42 and 0.34, respectively. Energy flows in the system are represented on a novel area diagram. The results clearly demonstrate that the technology works best in dry and hot climatic conditions where large daily variations in relative humidity and dry bulb temperature prevail. This case study provides benchmark data for the assessment of other similar prototypes and for the validation of mathematical models.     

Virgin Queen Mandibular Gland Signals of Apis mellifera capensis Change with Age and Affect Honeybee Worker Responses

The mandibular gland secretions of Apis mellifera capensis virgin queens were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy. Changes in the patterns of the mandibular gland volatiles of A. m. capensis virgin queens were followed from emergence until 14-d old. Ontogenetic changes in the mandibular gland secretions were largely quantitative in nature, delineating the age categories (global R = 0.612, P = 0.001), except for 7- and 14-d-old queens, which cannot be separated on their mandibular gland profiles (P = 0.2). (E)-9-Oxodec-2-enoic acid (9ODA) contributes most and most consistently to the dissimilarity between groups as well as the similarity within groups. Worker reactions to introduced virgin queens of various ages were recorded. Workers showed a significant increase in hostile reactions as queens aged (r = 0.615, N = 20, P < 0.05). Consequently, worker reactions and relative 9ODA production exhibit a positive queen age-dependent response.     

Occurrence of urolithins,gut microbiota ellagic acid metabolites and proliferation markers expression response in the human prostate gland upon consumption of walnuts and pomegranate juice

Epidemiology supports the important role of nutrition in prostate cancer (PCa) prevention. Pomegranate juice (PJ) exerts protective effects against PCa, mainly attributed to PJ ellagitannins (ETs). Our aim was to assess whether ETs or their metabolites ellagic acid and urolithins reach the human prostate upon consumption of ET‐rich foods and to evaluate the effect on the expression of three proliferation biomarkers. Sixty‐three patients with BPH or PCa were divided into controls and consumers of walnuts (35 g walnuts/day) or pomegranate (200 mL PJ/day) for 3 days before surgery. Independently of the ETs source, the main metabolite detected was urolithin A glucuronide, (3,8‐dihydroxy‐6H‐dibenzo[b,d]pyran‐6‐one glucuronide) (up to 2 ng/g) together with the traces of urolithin B glucuronide, (3‐hydroxy‐6H‐dibenzo[b,d]pyran‐6‐one glucuronide) and dimethyl ellagic acid. The small number of prostates containing metabolites was likely caused by clearance of the compounds during the fasting. This was corroborated in a parallel rat study and thus the presence of higher quantities of metabolites at earlier time points cannot be discarded. No apparent changes in the expression of CDKN1A, MKi‐67 or c‐Myc were found after consumption of the walnuts or PJ. Our results suggest that urolithin glucuronides and dimethyl ellagic acid may be the molecules responsible for the beneficial effects of PJ against PCa.