Allophane as a Nanotechnological Additive in Masonry Materials to Increase Resistance and Waterproofing

The constant need for high-strength materials in the construction industry promotes the research of additives that improve the properties of masonry materials. The use of allophane as an additive in concrete and mortar mixtures was implemented to improve their strength and waterproofing, respectively, using compression and water absorption tests according to their corresponding standards (ASTM C1231, ASTM D2938, and ASTM C1585). The samples were evaluated at different concentrations and curing ages. In addition, different sand/cement ratios were considered for the mortar. The results revealed that there was a 9.4% increase in compressive strength in concrete and a 23.7% reduction in water absorption in mortar for the 5:1 ratio. These changes would be the result of the interaction of the nanoporous additive in the atomic crystal structure of the material demonstrating the nanotechnological nature of allophane.

Geoid undulation modeling through the Cokriging methode——A case study of Guayaquil, Ecuador

The determination of vertical component plays a fundamental role in the initial phase of engineering applications. However, its acquisition is technically and economically demanding, mainly due to the precise heights relative to a reference surface, such as the mean sea level. The Cokriging technique is a necessary input for the calculation of the vertical component of the geodetic control points measured by GNSS, and it requires less auxiliary data and uses complementary available variables for the calculation.Therefore, the main goal is to use Cokriging to establish a geoid undulation prediction model for the rural area of the canton of Guayaquil, Ecuador. Ordinary, Residual and Universal Cokriging and Kriging techniques were used to compare their results and select the best for achieving accuracy. The validation of the application techniques yielded that Universal Cokriging was the most accurate with an RMSE of 8 cm and RSR of 2 cm, obtained just with 66 samples(20% of the dataset). Furthermore, considering the comparison with other regional geoid undulation models, the proposed model increased the accuracy of the results by a ratio of 9.68 and 6.96 in relation to EGM96 and EGM08, respectively.

Determination of altitudes of the three main Ecuadorian summits through GNSS positioning

Determining the altitude of mountains is one of the most fundamental challenges for humankind.Therefore,the main objective of the study is to determine the altitudes of the three main summits in Ecuador through GNSS positioning,referring to the official vertical datum of Ecuador and the geo-potential surface(W_(o)).The three peaks are active volcanoes named Chimborazo,Cotopaxi and Cayambe,all of which are known to be over 5700 m above sea level.Positioning GNSS was performed on the summit of the volcanoes,and the GPS leveling method was applied on nearby plates.At these summits,the correction of the potential difference between the mean sea level and W_(o) was used.The altitudes referred to the mean sea level were compared with other registered heights,and the results are more accurate than previous geodetic missions.

Extracellular green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Amazonian fruit Araza(Eugenia stipitata McVaugh)

An eco-friendly method for the extracellular synthesis of silver nanoparticles（AgNPs） using aqueous Araza fruit extract and their antioxidant activity was investigated. It was observed that UV–Vis absorption peak is dependent on various parameters such as pH, temperature, and change of time. The initial appearance of the yellow color with intense surface plasmon bands at 430-450 nm, then transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis revealed the formation of 15-45 nm sized, spherical and crystalline Ag NPs. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy depicted that malic acid, citric acid, and carotenoids of Araza fruit involved in the synthesis of Ag NPs. In addition, the surface modified AgNPs（77.42%, 1mL） showed nearly double antioxidant efficiency than Araza fruit extract（35.30%, 1 mL） against 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl. The present study highlights the possibility of using the Araza fruit to synthesize AgNPs, which could be used effectively in the present and future antioxidant agent.

Prevalence of the terrain reversal effect in satellite imagery

The terrain reversal effect is a perceptual phenomenon which causes an illusion in various 3D geographic visualizations where landforms appear inverted,e.g.we perceive valleys as ridges and vice versa.Given that such displays are important for spatio-visual analysis,this illusion can lead to critical mistakes in interpreting the terrain.However,it is currently undocumented how commonly this effect is experienced.In this paper,we study the prevalence of the terrain reversal effect in satellite imagery through a two-stage online user experiment.The experiment was conducted with the participation of a diverse and relatively large population(n=535).Participants were asked to identify landforms(valley or ridge?)or judge a 3D spatial relationship(is A higher than B?).When the images were rotated by 180°,the results were reversed.In a control task with‘illusion-free’original images,people were successful in identifying landforms,yet a very strong illusion occurred when these images were rotated 180°.Our findings demonstrate that the illusion is acutely present;thus,we need a better understanding of the problem and its solutions.Additionally,the results caution us that in an interactive environment where people can rotate the display,we might be introducing a severe perceptual problem.