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Abstract: The Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (EICAT) is an important tool for biological invasion policy and management and has been adopted as an International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) standard to measure the severity of environmental impacts caused by organisms living outside their native ranges. EICAT has already been incorporated into some national and local decision-making procedures, making it a particularly relevant resource for addressing the impact of non-native species. Recently, some of the underlying conceptual principles of EICAT, particularly those related to the use of the precautionary approach, have been challenged. Although still relatively new, guidelines for the application and interpretation of EICAT will be periodically revisited by the IUCN community, based on scientific evidence, to improve the process. Some of the criticisms recently raised are based on subjectively selected assumptions that cannot be generalized and may harm global efforts to manage biological invasions. EICAT adopts a precautionary principle by considering a species’ impact history elsewhere because some taxa have traits that can make them inherently more harmful. Furthermore, non-native species are often important drivers of biodiversity loss even in the presence of other pressures. Ignoring the precautionary principle when tackling the impacts of non-native species has led to devastating consequences for human well-being, biodiversity, and ecosystems, as well as poor management outcomes, and thus to significant economic costs. EICAT is a relevant tool because it supports prioritization and management of non-native species and meeting and monitoring progress toward the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) Target 6.
Keywords: biological invasions, evidence synthesis, impact assessment, managing invasive species, precautionary principle
Published in DiRROS: 11.12.2023; Views: 433; Downloads: 262
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Abstract: Accurate and comprehensive nursing documentation is essential to ensure quality patient care. To streamline this process, we present SONAR, a publicly available dataset of nursing activities recorded using inertial sensors in a nursing home. The dataset includes 14 sensor streams, such as acceleration and angular velocity, and 23 activities recorded by 14 caregivers using five sensors for 61.7 hours. The caregivers wore the sensors as they performed their daily tasks, allowing for continuous monitoring of their activities. We additionally provide machine learning models that recognize the nursing activities given the sensor data. In particular, we present benchmarks for three deep learning model architectures and evaluate their performance using different metrics and sensor locations. Our dataset, which can be used for research on sensor-based human activity recognition in real-world settings, has the potential to improve nursing care by providing valuable insights that can identify areas for improvement, facilitate accurate documentation, and tailor care to specific patient conditions.
Keywords: nursing documentation, nursing activities, SONAR, sensors
Published in DiRROS: 11.12.2023; Views: 292; Downloads: 154
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Abstract: The pozzolanic activity of five different types of ash was studied using various direct and indirect methods. In addition to strength activity index (SAI) determination and the Frattini test, ash pozzolanicity was assessed via differential thermal and thermogravimetric analyses (DTA/TG) after curing for 7, 28 and 90 days. The results showed that, due to their respective mineralogical, chemical and physical characteristics, the ashes exhibited different levels of pozzolanic activity in terms of the amount of lime with which they could chemically bind, as well as reaction kinetics. Although SAI and Frattini test results were not in agreement in the case of some of the ashes, DTA/TG analysis revealed that a certain amount of portlandite was consumed, thus confirming the occurrence of a pozzolanic reaction. The results also showed that ashes with higher amounts of reactive SiO2 were more reactive, while those with higher BET surface areas displayed a faster pozzolanic reaction rate.
Keywords: biomass ash, DTA/TG, fly ash, Frattini test, pozzolanic activity, SAI
Published in DiRROS: 11.12.2023; Views: 288; Downloads: 143
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Abstract: Geotechnical structures in rock masses such as tunnels, underground caverns, dam foundations and rock slopes often have problems with a jointed rock mass. The shear behaviour of a jointed rock mass depends on the mechanical behaviour of the discontinuities in that particular rock mass. If we want to understand the mechanical behaviour of a jointed rock mass, it is necessary to study the deformation and strength of a single joint. One of the primary objectives of this work is to improve the understanding of the frictional behaviour of rough rock joints under shear loads with regard to the roughness of the joint surface. The main problem is how to measure and quantify the roughness of the surface joint and connect the morphological parameters into a shear strength criterion. Until now, several criteria have been developed; however, all of them used large rock samples (20×10×10 cm). It is often not possible to get large samples, especially when the rock is under a few meters thick layer of soil. In this case, samples of rock can only be acquired with investigation borehole drilling, which means that the samples of rock are small and of different shapes. The paper presents the modified criterion that is suitable for calculating the peak shear stress of small samples.
Keywords: camera-type 3D scanner, rock mechanics rock joint, roughness of the joints, rock joint shear strength
Published in DiRROS: 11.12.2023; Views: 323; Downloads: 145
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Abstract: This study focuses on the kinetics of hydration, phase assemblage, microstructure and mechanical properties after various hydration times of two different BCSA cements at 5, 20, 40 and 60 ◦C and compares experimental data with thermodynamic modelling. Different curing temperatures change the type of hydrates and their amounts. Ye’elimite and gypsum in belite-ye’elimite-ferrite cements are almost fully reacted after 24 h of hydration at 20, 40 and 60 ◦C, while not at 5 ◦C. The hydration of belite is slower than the one of ye’elimite, but reaches a high degree of hydration after 150 days which is increasing with temperature. Less ettringite is present at elevated temperatures due to its increasing solubility, while more monosulfate is observed. Furthermore, with increasing temperature siliceous hydrogarnet forms at the expenses of strätlingite as well as more C S H is found as more belite reacts resulting in higher compressive strength. Dense and homogenous microstructure is observed at 5 ◦C, while it is more heterogeneous at higher temperatures. The presence of more ye’elimite resulted in higher ettringite and str¨atlingite formation and a higher compressive strength, while more belite yields more C S H in the hydrates and lower compressive strength.
Keywords: belite-ye’elimite-ferrite cement, temperature, hydration, thermodynamic modelling
Published in DiRROS: 11.12.2023; Views: 259; Downloads: 202
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