Study on the Expansion of a Cement-Based System Containing Sap Polymer and Supplementary Cementing Materials

In this paper, the addition of admixed superabsorbent polymer (SAP) improved the microstructure and durability-related properties in a cement-based system with supplementary materials. This is an important issue in real construction projects when good durability properties are required. This study investigates the effect of SAP on the systems using cement replacement by fly ash and silica fume considering the strength properties and durability properties of paste under sulfate attack of cement-based system. The replacement considered in the study was of 10% silica fume and 20% fly ash in each case, the dosage of SAP was 0.25% of the total amount of cementitious material. The results showed that the addition of SAP in the cement-based system improved the compressive strength and reduced expansion to sulfate attack. Scanning electron micrographs showed that utilization of fly ash with silica fume and silica fume with SAP resulted in a much denser microstructure, thereby, leading to an increase in compressive strength and lower expansion under sulfate attack.

Effect of Supplementary Irrigation on the Yield of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) in the Context of Climate Change in the Dry Savannahs of Togo

Under the current context of climate change, supplementary irrigation may be needed for crop production resilience. We determined the effects of supplementary irrigation on sorghum grain yield in the dry Savannah region of Togo. A two-year trial was conducted in a controlled environment at AREJ, an agro-ecological center in Cinkassé. The plant material was sorghum variety Sorvato 28. The experimental design was a Completely Randomized Block with three replications and three treatments as follows: T0 control plot (rainfed conditions);T1 (supplementary irrigation from flowering to grain filling stage) and T2 (supplementary irrigation from planting to grain filling stage). Two irrigation techniques (furrow and Californian system) were used under each watering treatment. The results showed that irrigation technique significantly affected panicle length with no effect on 1000 grains mass. Panicle length and grain yields varied from 15.59 to 25.71 cm and 0.0 to 2.06 t∙h−1, respectively, with the highest values (25.66 cm and 2.06 t∙h−1, respectively) under the T2 treatment with the California system-based supplementary irrigation. The comparison of results obtained on treatment T0 and T2, shows that supplementary irrigation increased the yields by at least 68.62%. Supplementary irrigation during sowing and growing season (T2) improved sorghum yields in the dry savannahs of Togo, with a better performance of the California irrigation system.

Effects of Supplementary Pollination by Single-rotor Agricultural Unmanned Aerial Vehicle in Hybrid Rice Seed Production

In 2012-2015, under the conditions of different natural wind speeds, the single-rotor agricultural unmanned aerial vehicle was used for the supplementary pollination during seed production of 10 hybrid combinations with big parental row ratios in the hybrid rice seed production bases of Hunan, Hainan and Guangdong Province, and the pollination effects were studied through the investigation of pollen density in the field, outcrossing seeding rate of female parent and seed production yield. The results showed that under the parental row ratio of 6：（40-60）, the seed setting rate and yields of the supplementary pollination by single-rotor agricultural UAV could reach and even higher than those of artificial pollination, indicating the single-rotor agricultural UAV could be used in supplementary pollination for hybdd rice seed production, which could promote the whole-process mechanization of seed production.

Response of Watermelon to Gravel-Mulch and Supplementary Irrigation: Yield, Water Use Efficiency and Root Distribution

A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of supplementary irrigation on watermelon (Citullus lanatus) yield, water-use efficiency (WUE) and root distribution in gravel-mulched field in northwest Loess Plateau, China, during 2001 and 2002 growing seasons. The results showed that gravel mulch significantly improved seedling emergence, increased yield and WUE, and alleviated the influence of drought on plant growth. Regardless of gravel mulch application, supplementary irrigation increased watermelon yields, average fruit weight and number of fruit, especially yield increased as the amount of irrigation increased (P<0.05). Generally, WUE of irrigated treatments were higher than that of non-irrigation treatment in gravel-mulched field. The effect of water supply on root distribution was different in two years. In 2001, average root length density (RLD) and root weight density (RWD) whole the soil profile increased. In 2002, however, RLD and RWD decreased as water supply increased. The average RLD and RWD in 2001 were significantly higher than those in 2002. Maybe we can interpret the phenomenon with the theory that there is a need to optimize root distribution (in terms of water relations) and aboveground biomass for a given water supply.The yield may not depend as much on root growth as on the amount of water required at critical stages. A significant effect of soil depth on RLD and RWD were observed in both years, but did not rapidly decrease with depth.

Supplementary Materials: Ultrafast charge transfer in dual graphene-WS_2 van der Waals quadrilayer heterostructures

1. The transient absorption spectra of the WS2 monolayer sample.In the measurement of the transient absorption spectra of the WS2 monolayer sample, A 400-nm (3.1eV) pump pulse with a peak fluence of about 10μJ/cm2excites the electrons from the valence band into the conduction band,the

Right lower limb apraxia in a patient with left supplementary motor area infarction: intactness of the corticospinal tract confirmed by transcranial magnetic stimulation

We reported a 50-year-old female patient with left supplementary motor area infarction who presented right lower limb apraxia and investigated the possible causes using transcranial magnetic stimulation. The patient was able to walk and climb stairs spontaneously without any assistance at 3 weeks after onset. However, she was unable to intentionally move her right lower limb although she understood what she supposed to do. The motor evoked potential evoked by transcranial magnetic stimulation from the right lower limb was within the normal range, indicating that the corticospinal tract innervating the right lower limb was uninjured. Thus, we thought that her motor dysfunction was not induced by motor weakness, and confirmed her symptoms as aprax- ia. In addition, these results also suggest that transcranial magnetic stimulation is helpful for diagnosing apraxia.

Effects of Supplementary Feed with Different Apple Pomace-to-Alfalfa Meal Ratios on Milk Performance of Dairy Cows

[Objective] To study the effects of apple pomace on milk performance of dairy cows. ~Method] A total of 48 Holstein dairy cows at the same parity and with close lactation stage and similar daily milk yield were randomly assigned to six groups. The supplementary feed was composed of apple pomace, alfalfa meal, com and premix, and it was processed into pellets. In the groups I - V, the percentage of apple pomace was 17.5%, 35.0%, 52.5%, 70.0% and 0%, respectively. Each cow was fed with supplementary feed （3 kg/d）. [ Result] The milk yield in the group II and group V was increased significantly （ P 〈 0.05）, and the fat content in milk of the group III and V was significantly higher than that of the con- trol group （P 〈 0.05）. [ Conclusion] The supplementary apple pomace can improve the milk performance of dairy cows effectively.

THE ROAD TO PLATINUM Using the USGBC’s LEED-EB® Green Building Rating System to Retrofit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 10 Park Place Office Building

According to the U.S.Green Building Council(USGBC),buildings account for a significant amount of environmental degradation.The building sector is the number one producer of global CO_(2) emissions in the U.S.,followed by the transportation and industrial sectors.1(See Figure 1 for the environmental impact of all U.S.buildings.)The concept of green buildings represents a major paradigm shift in the architectural,construction,and engineering fields.As society increasingly switches its appreciation of buildings from merely size and aesthetics toward environmental stewardship and efficiency,the USGBC’s LEED Green Building Rating System has become increasingly popular to follow.Since its inception in 2000,the LEED system has been promoting and monitoring green building practices throughout the United States.With a four-tiered rating scheme including LEED Certified,LEED Silver,LEED Gold,and LEED Platinum,the system currently has 35,000 projects already on their way toward certification.2 In particular,the LEED for Existing Buildings(LEED-EB)system looks to retrofit existing buildings into those that are more sustainable,efficient,and environmentally friendly.Doing so significantly reduces the demand for new resources,as construction managers can recycle and reuse building materials and incorporate them into new designs.This truly is the definition of green building and is the way of the future.By implementing green building practices,many of the adverse environmental impacts of buildings can be dramatically reduced,often for only a one to two percent initial cost premium over the price of conventional construction practice.3 Several environmental benefits of green buildings include improving air and water quality,conserving natural resources,and becoming more energy efficient.Sudies have shown that green buildings,compared to normal buildings,can reduce energy use by 24–50 percent,CO_(2) emissions by 33–39 percent,water use by 40 percent,and solid waste by 70 percent.4(See Figure 2 for the impact of green commercial buildings compared to the average commercial building.)In fact,if half of all new construction within the U.S.were built to match these percentages,it would be the equivalent of taking more than one million cars off of the road every year.5 Economic benefits include reducing operating costs,improving employee productivity and satisfaction,and optimizing economic performance over the life cycle of the structure.6 Additionally,health and community benefits include enhancing occupant comfort and health,and contributing to an overall positive environmentallyconscious reputation.7 Furthermore,Taryn Holowka states,“people in green buildings have 40-60 percent fewer incidents of colds,flu,and asthma;patients in green hospitals are discharged as much as two and a half days earlier;and kids in green schools increase their test scores by as much as 18 percent.”8 The U.S.EPA’s Region 10 Park Place office building in Seattle was built in 1970.Its owner,Washington Holdings,and building manager,Wright Runstad&Company,have been encouraged by the EPA to use innovative energy conservation design,water conservation,waste reduction,stormwater management,and other strategies to make the structure more sustainable.Following the EPA’s Green Building Strategy,which states that the EPA aims to strengthen the foundations of green building and raise public awareness of building-related impacts and opportunities,the Park Place building has become only the fifteenth LEED-EB Platinum building in the world,and one of the most impressive nearly-forty-year-old buildings in the entire United States.By using the LEED-EB Platinum green building rating system,the Park Place building management team has been able to successfully lower the building’s energy consumption rate,improve its water efficiency,and make many other beneficial changes—all of which demonstrate just how effective the LEED system is at producing higher performance buildings.

Supplementary motor area deactivation impacts the recovery of hand function from severe peripheral nerve injury

Although some patients have successful peripheral nerve regeneration,a poor recovery of hand function often occurs after peripheral nerve injury.It is believed that the capability of brain plasticity is crucial for the recovery of hand function.The supplementary motor area may play a key role in brain remodeling after peripheral nerve injury.In this study,we explored the activation mode of the supplementary motor area during a motor imagery task.We investigated the plasticity of the central nervous system after brachial plexus injury,using the motor imagery task.Results from functional magnetic resonance imaging showed that after brachial plexus injury,the motor imagery task for the affected limbs of the patients triggered no obvious activation of bilateral supplementary motor areas.This result indicates that it is difficult to excite the supplementary motor areas of brachial plexus injury patients during a motor imagery task,thereby impacting brain remodeling.Deactivation of the supplementary motor area is likely to be a serious problem for brachial plexus injury patients in terms of preparing,initiating and executing certain movements,which may be partly responsible for the unsatisfactory clinical recovery of hand function.

Improvement of Supplementary Irrigation Water Quality for Rain-Fed Agriculture in the Semi-Arid Region Using Magnetization Techniques

Rain-fed agriculture depends on the groundwater as a supplementary source of irrigation. The poor quality of water from the hard rock area is applied to the crops to save the crop. Continuous irrigation leads to degradation of soil, drip irrigation system as well plants. This study assessed the damages on the drip irrigation system and soil, inflicted by the use of low-quality irrigation water. The quality of water was improved with reference to raw water in terms of pH (1.57% - 5.88%), EC (3.08% - 10.08%), ions (0.96% - 46%) by using magnetization method, without disrupting the existing irrigation system in the basaltic aquifer in semi-arid to the arid condition. This was demonstrated before the farmers in central India.

Performance Assessment and Configuration Analysis in the Study of SCADA System (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition)

Queuing models are used to assess the functionality and aesthetics of SCADA systems for supervisory control and data collection.Here,the main emphasis is on how the queuing theory can be used in the system’s design and analysis.The analysis’s findings indicate that by using queuing models,cost-performance ratios close to the ideal might be attained.This article discusses a novel methodology for evaluating the service-oriented survivability of SCADA systems.In order to evaluate the state of service performance and the system’s overall resilience,the framework applies queuing theory to an analytical model.As a result,the SCADA process is translated using the M^(X)/G/1 queuing model,and the queueing theory is used to evaluate this design’s strategy.The supplemental variable technique solves the queuing problem that comes with the subsequent results.The queue size,server idle time,utilization,and probabilistic generating factors of the distinct operating strategies are estimated.Notable examples were examined via numerical analysis using mathematical software.Because it is used frequently and uses a statistical demarcation method,this tactic is completely acceptable.The graphical representation of this perspective offers a thorough analysis of the alleged limits.

The Effect of Handedness on Supplementary Motor Area Activation during Complex Motor Tasks

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to assess the activity of supplementary motor area (SMA) in six right-handed and six left-handed healthy volunteers. Two manual tasks (self-initiated previously practiced and unpredictable visually guided) were used. Quantitative analysis of hemispheric and bilateral SMA activation was described as mean ± standard deviation of hot spots/total spots. The two tasks induced bilateral SMA activation. The laterality of SMA activation was affected by manual dominance. Left SMA was significantly more activated in right- and left-handers while performing the motor tasks with the right hand. Right SMA was more activated in the left-handers when the left hand was used. Task complexity was the most important factor influencing the degree of SMA activation.

Experimental Study on the Use of Trass as a Supplementary Cementitious Material in Pervious Concrete

Abstract： The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the suitability of using trass as a supplementary cementing material in pervious concrete. OPC （Ordinary Portland Cement） was replaced in the concrete mix by 15%, 25% and 35% weight percentages and the results were compared with reference mixtures with 100% Portland cement. The variables in this study were trass content, aggregate size and water to cement ratio. Sixteen eases of concrete mixtures were tested to study physical and mechanical properties of hardened concrete, including porosity, permeability, compressive strength, splitting-tensile strength and flexural strength at various ages. Results indicated that mechanical properties of the pervious concrete marginally decreased with the increased content of trass when compared to the reference mixtures. However, at later ages the differences were insignificant.

Sensory Evaluation Acceptability for a Food Supplementary Chickpea-Based Ready-to-Use among Moderately Malnourished Children Aged 6-59 Months

The objective of this study was to assess sensory acceptability of locally-produced chickpea-based ready-to-use supplementary foods （RUSF） among moderately malnourished children （6-59 months）. A quantitative descriptive analysis using a five point hedonic scale among a total of 140 mother-baby pairs was conducted in five hotspot priority one district. The target groups were sampled from 10 sites of five districts （two sites per district）. The child-mother pairs per district were selected through systematic random sampling. The selection criteria included children aged 6-59 months with moderate acute malnutrition （MAM） and not suffering from any illness. Half of the respondents （46%） were farmers, while 29% were housewives; only 21% had formal education. Both sexes were equally represented in the sample size among children with 46% being males while 54% females. About half （46%） of households had four or more children with median maternal age during child birth reported at 28.6 ± 5.9 years. About 89% of children consumed complementary food from starchy staple food; 17% consumed from vitamin A rich foods; 57% consumed from dark green leafy vegetables; no child consumed meat, fish and eggs; 49.3% consumed legumes, nuts and seeds; 36.4% consumed milk and milk products and the mean dietary diversity was rated at two out of the nine food groups. The amount of RUSF consumed by children from 48-59 months was higher than children who were 6-11 months. Amhara region had accepted chickpea only and chickpea ＋ maize＋ soy the two products more than the other four regions with an average mean value of 4.8 and 4.6 by mother/caregiver and interviewer, respectively. Mothers＇ perception of the appearance of the products and their overall acceptability was similar in most regions except South Nation Nationality People Region （SNNPR） where the rating of the two products was low with an average mean value of 4.6. Two of the products were well accepted by the study of the participants. The purchase for progress （P4P） programme could utilize this opportunity to support cooperative unions to make chickpeas available on the market given importance to.

Supplementary Irrigation and Soil Amendment Management with Sorghum on Khor Abu Habil （Sudan）

This research was conducted for 3 cropping seasons at Elobeid Research Station in Western Sudan. The objectives were to improve the irrigation water and soil management and crop yield by evaluating the response of sorghum crop to different supplementary irrigation regimes and soil amendments management in flood basin irrigated scheme. The existing flood irrigation practice was basically conducive to late planting, weed growth, late season water stress and pest and diseases attack. Four levels of each irrigation regimes and farm yard manure （FYM） treatments arranged in split-plot design were tested. Rainfall, field capacity, irrigation water added, profile water content, plant height, yield components and water use efficiency were measured. Grain yield was significantly increased （p 〈 0,01） with irrigation treatments where 1919, 1870 and 878 kg/ha were obtained for one, two and no irrigation treatments, respectively. The 3 irrigations treatment has produced relatively lower grain yield （1679 kg/ha）. FYM treatment up to 4-8 t/ha showed increase in grain yield. Water added in 1, 2 and 3 irrigation treatments amounts to 4475, 5302 and 6035 m3/ha, respectively which supplmented the rainfall by 23%, 45% and 65%, respectively. Water use efficiency was greater with 1 and 2 irrigation treatments and 4 t/ha FYM which reached 0.43, 0.35 and 0.28 kg/m3, respectively. The result concludes that providing supplementary irrigation from crop establishment to mid season was found sufficient to improve crop productivity.

Preliminary Study on the Legal Conflict of our Country Marriage Alternative Provisions and Supplementary Provisions in the National Autonomous Areas

The national autonomous areas exercise an important way of autonomy power to make adaptive or supplementary provisions to the existing laws, and the diversity between different ethnic groups determines the adaptive or supplementary provisions that are bound to the existence of conflict in the legislative content and legal application. On the basis of adaptive or supplementary provisions, this paper carries out the analysis on the law conflict problems of marriage adaptive or supplementary provisions, hoping to start a discussion, and make scholars foeusing on the conflict of national regional autonomy law.

The Ming Dynasty Printing and Dissemination of Wang Yangming’s Works in Guizhou:On the 1535 Guiyang Edition of A New Supplementary Edition of Master Wang Yangming’s Writings

After Wang Yangming experienced the revelation of Confucian philosophy at Longchang,he disseminated his heart-mind doctrine by engaging in teaching.A great number of scholars in Guizhou followed him and formed the Qian sub-school of the heartmind philosophy,the earliest of local Yangming sub-schools in the country. roughout the Zhengde and Wanli periods of the Ming dynasty,Yangming scholars and local o cials in favor of the heart-mind philosophy worked in collaboration to collate and print six books of Wang’s works in Guizhou.Among these,A New Supplementary Edition of Master Wang Yangming’s Writings represents the most fruitful e ort by both government o cials(Wang Xing)and local scholars(Chen Wenxue and Ye Wu).As an o print block-carving edition of Wang Yangming’s collections in the early years,it is extremely treasured for its rarity of edition and historical value. e profusion of printing of Wang’s works in Guizhou re ects the wide circulation of his heart-mind doctrines in China’s southwest frontier regions,vividly mirroring the growth of Wang’s philosophy outside cultural centers as well as the complicated history of interactive in uence between Chinese marginal and central cultures.

Liquid-solid grinding system:Grinding kinetics of coal fly ash as ultrafine supplementary cementitious materials

Wet-milling in liquid-solid system can achieve ultra-fine mechanical dissociation of solid wastes with low energy consumption,thereby efficiently improving the potential pozzolanic reactivity.However,the wet-milling kinetics of ultrafine dissociation in liquid-solid system has not been fully investigated.This paper systematically investigates the wet-milling kinetics of fly ash(FA).Results showed that before wet-milling of FA for 360 min,no agglomeration effect was observed.The particle dissociation of FA during wet-milling can be divided into three stages:rapid dissociation,slow dissociation and stabilization.The evolution process of particle size distribution during wet-milling is consistent with the Rosin-Rammler-Bennet distribution.Both the particle uniformity coefficient and fractal dimension showed highly positive linear correlation with the strength activity index of wet-milled FA.The grey correlation analysis showed that FA particles between 1.1 and 3.1μm had the greatest impact on both the early and late strength activity index.Simultaneously,D10 of wet-milled FA has the largest impact on strength activity index at each age,while D100 has the least impact.Therefore,D10 and proportion of particles in 1.1–3.1μm can be an important basis for judging the reactivity of wet-milled FA as ultrafine supplementary cementitious materials.

Adult nutrition affects reproduction and flight performance of the invasive fall armyworm,Spodoptera frugiperda in China

Floral resources,such as carbohydrate-rich nectar or pollen,can bolster fitness and raise reproductive output of adult lepidopterans.Here,we used laboratory experiments to assess how those plant-derived foods impact adult fecundity,reproductive physiology and flight performance of an invasive strain of the fall armyworm,Spodoptera frugiperda(FAW;Lepidoptera:Noctuidae)in China.More specifically,supplementary feeding on bee pollen and honey enhanced FAW flight duration,testis size,ovarian development,longevity and adult fecundity.FAW adults attained the longest pre-oviposition(10.8 days)and oviposition period(6.8 days)and longevity(19.2 days)on 5%acacia honey.Upon access to 2.5%acacia honey and 2.5‰pine pollen,S.frugiperda attained the highest mating rate(79.7%),fecundity(644.9 eggs/female)and egg hatching rate(82.3%).Feeding on honey further delayed decay of male testes,while ovarian development was enhanced when female moths were allowed access to 2.5%honey and 2.5‰pine pollen.Upon feeding on 5%honey solution,S.frugiperda engaged in flight over the longest duration(9.5 h),distance(29.9 km)and speed(3.1 km h-1).Honey had a comparatively greater effect on the above parameters than pollen.Our findings help decipher FAW invasion patterns and population dynamics,facilitate the development of nutritional attractants,and contribute to integrated pest management of this newly-invasive pest in eastern Asia.