Thermal performance of thermoactive continuous flight auger piles

Foundation piles are being increasingly equipped with heat exchangers to efficiently harvest shallow geothermal energy. For buildings in urban areas, continuous flight auger (CFA) piles are common owing to their speed, cost-efficiency and low noise levels. To construct a thermoactive CFA pile usually requires separate central installation of the heat exchanger. However, the energy performance of this type of pile has not been investigated systematically, with most studies focused on rotary piles where the heat exchanger is attached to the reinforcing cage. In this work, insights are provided about the main influences on the energy efficiency of thermoactive CFA piles, with a focus on the implications of using CFA construction techniques rather than rotary boring. An innovative three-dimensional numerical model, able to capture the different aspects of transient heat transfer, is employed together with analytical methods to evaluate the transient and steady-state behaviour of energy piles in a number of design situations. Attention is given to understanding the role of possible pipe-to-pipe interaction, which cannot be systematically investigated with standard methods. Finally, practical guidelines on the optimal choice of design parameters to maximise the energy efficiency of CFA piles, without altering the geotechnical arrangements, are provided

Reporting pursuant to the Association for Investment Management and Research performance presentation standards; Statement of position 01-4;

https://egrove.olemiss.edu/aicpa_sop/1145/thumbnail.jp

Reporting pursuant to the Global Investment Performance Standards; Statement of position 06-1;

https://egrove.olemiss.edu/aicpa_sop/1154/thumbnail.jp

Development of a heptaplex PCR assay for identification of Staphylococcus aureus and CoNS with simultaneous detection of virulence and antibiotic resistance genes

Background Staphylococcal toxicity and antibiotic resistance (STAAR) have been menacing public health. Although vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) is currently not as widespread as methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), genome evolution of MRSA into VRSA, including strains engineered within the same patient under anti-staphylococcal therapy, may build up to future public health concern. To further complicate diagnosis, infection control and anti-microbial chemotherapy, non-sterile sites such as the nares and the skin could contain both S. aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), either of which could harbour mecA the gene driving staphylococcal methicillin-resistance and required for MRSA-VRSA evolution. Results A new heptaplex PCR assay has been developed which simultaneously detects seven markers for: i) eubacteria (16S rRNA), ii) Staphylococcus genus (tuf), iii) Staphylococcus aureus (spa), iv) CoNS (cns), v) Panton-Valentine leukocidin (pvl), vi) methicillin resistance (mecA), and vii) vancomycin resistance (vanA). Following successful validation using 255 reference bacterial strains, applicability to analyse clinical samples was evaluated by direct amplification in spiked blood cultures (n = 89) which returned 100 % specificity, negative and positive predictive values. The new assay has LoD of 1.0x103 CFU/mL for the 16S rRNA marker and 1.0x104 CFU/mL for six other markers and completes cycling in less than one hour. Conclusion The speed, sensitivity (100 %), NPV (100 %) and PPV (100 %) suggest the new heptaplex PCR assay could be easily integrated into a routine diagnostic microbiology workflow. Detection of the cns marker allows for unique identification of CoNS in mono-microbial and in poly-microbial samples containing mixtures of CoNS and S. aureus without recourse to the conventional elimination approach which is ambiguous. In addition to the SA-CoNS differential diagnostic essence of the new assay, inclusion of vanA primers will allow microbiology laboratories to stay ahead of the emerging MRSA-VRSA evolution. To the best of our knowledge, the new heptaplex PCR assay is the most multiplexed among similar PCR-based assays for simultaneous detection of STAAR

Zappa and Zappa: Counterculture California in the 1960s

Join us for the Museum and Music Series. Today\u27s concert takes a broad look at the concept of counterculture by considering three manifestations that flourished in California from the 1950s to the 70s.https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/music_programs/1100/thumbnail.jp

Validation of the care transition measure in multi-ethnic South-East Asia in Singapore

10.1186/1472-6963-12-256BMC Health Services Research121

A written self-help intervention for depressed adults comparing behavioural activation combined with physical activity promotion with a self-help intervention based upon behavioural activation alone: study protocol for a parallel group pilot randomised controlled trial (BAcPAc)

notes: PMCID: PMC4061537types: Journal Article© 2014 Farrand et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.Challenges remain to find ways to support patients with depression who have low levels of physical activity (PA) to overcome perceived barriers and enhance the perceived value of PA for preventing future relapse. There is an evidence-base for behavioural activation (BA) for depression, which focuses on supporting patients to restore activities that have been avoided, but practitioners have no specific training in promoting PA. We aimed to design and evaluate an integrated BA and PA (BAcPAc) practitioner-led, written, self-help intervention to enhance both physical and mental health.NPRI-

La Liberazione di Ruggiero dall\u27Isola d\u27Alcina (The Rescue of Ruggiero from the Island of Alcina) - Francesca Caccini

The Performance Practice Institute (PPI) at the Caine College of the Arts embodies a project-based approach to the study of the history of performance, which enriches the intellectual and artistic life of the students involved while making accessible to Utah audiences exciting concerts of lesser known repertoires, especially chose from the pre-1750 period. Events in this series are held in the spring, with a yearly alternation between larger projects and more modest events that build upon the previous year\u27s activities.https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/music_programs/1051/thumbnail.jp

Fibres for Sportswear

This book describes the differences between woven and knitted structures, provides an understanding of fabric behavior and the characteristics of a functional garment, and outlines the importance of garment fit and consumer perception of ..

Study protocol: Evaluating the impact of a rural Australian primary health care service on rural health

BACKGROUND: Rural communities throughout Australia are experiencing demographic ageing, increasing burden of chronic diseases, and de-population. Many are struggling to maintain viable health care services due to lack of infrastructure and workforce shortages. Hence, they face significant health disadvantages compared with urban regions. Primary health care yields the best health outcomes in situations characterised by limited resources. However, few rigorous longitudinal evaluations have been conducted to systematise them; assess their transferability; or assess sustainability amidst dynamic health policy environments. This paper describes the study protocol of a comprehensive longitudinal evaluation of a successful primary health care service in a small rural Australian community to assess its performance, sustainability, and responsiveness to changing community needs and health system requirements. METHODS/DESIGN: The evaluation framework aims to examine the health service over a six-year period in terms of: (a) Structural domains (health service performance; sustainability; and quality of care); (b) Process domains (health service utilisation and satisfaction); and (c) Outcome domains (health behaviours, health outcomes and community viability). Significant international research guided the development of unambiguous reliable indicators for each domain that can be routinely and unobtrusively collected. Data are to be collected and analysed for trends from a range of sources: audits, community surveys, interviews and focus group discussions. DISCUSSION: This iterative evaluation framework and methodology aims to ensure the ongoing monitoring of service activity and health outcomes that allows researchers, providers and administrators to assess the extent to which health service objectives are met; the factors that helped or hindered achievements; what worked or did not work well and why; what aspects of the service could be improved and how; what benefits have been realised and for whom; the level of community satisfaction with the service; and the impact of a health service on community viability. While the need to reduce the rural-urban health service disparity in Australia is pressing, the evidence regarding how to move forward is inadequate. This comprehensive evaluation will add significant new knowledge regarding the characteristics associated with a sustainable rural primary health care service