This thesis presents a virtual disk cluster called END, the Expandable Network Disk. END aggregates storage on a cluster of servers into a single virtual disk. END'S main goals are to offer good performance during normal operation, and efficiently handle changes in the cluster membership. END achieves these goals using a two-layer design, in which storage "bricks," servers that consist of CPU, ...

Background Air quality monitoring in brick kilns indicates very high concentrations of airborne particulate matter. Air pollution from brick kilns poses an enhanced threat to the environment and to human health. Objective To evaluate airborne particulate matter concentration and health status of brick kiln workers. Method A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted in the Kathmandu valley...

A common decay scenario in old and new buildings was simulated: the effects on masonry structures of salt efflorescence or subefflorescence produced by the rise of saline solution. Eight different types of masonry wall each made up of a combination of different construction materials (brick, calcarenite and four types of mortar were combined as follows: pure lime mortar, mortar + air entraining...

The composition process of the acousmatic piece Gazelle Rain Petals began with the construction of the elemental pitch and rhythmic modules – the organogeometric brick modules, as a musical metaphor to Dubuffet’s lithographic series Les Murs. These brick modules are 4-pitch series (tetrachords) that cover all possible pitch permutations to represent 4-sided geometric as well as organo-geometric...

An investigation focused on the transformation and distribution behaviors of trace elements and natural radionuclides around a coal gangue brick plant was conducted. Simultaneous sampling of coal gangue, brick, fly ash and flue gas were implemented. Soil, soybean and earthworm samples around the brick plant were also collected for comprehensive ecological assessment. During the firing process, ...

This paper presents investigation carried out, including experimental and numerical studies, on low-rise shear-dominated brick masonry structures for the calculation of force reduction factor R. Basic experimental tests were conducted on masonry constituent materials for mechancial characterization. In-plane quasi-static cyclic tests were conducted on twelve full scale brick masonry walls, to u...

Buildings are the major energy users and by 2035, they will be fourth largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. Phase change materials (PCMs) applied to shift peak-load off-peak-load, positively effecting efficiency building. In this paper, an experimental embedding PCM (Paraffin) with bricks in conventional wall layers is carried out. The effect on thermal diffusion inner surface studied. Ca...

BACKGROUND The main objective of this study was to test Argus II subjects on three real-world functional vision tasks. DESIGN The study was designed to be randomized and prospective. Testing was conducted in a hospital/research laboratory setting at the various participating centres. PARTICIPANTS Twenty eight Argus II subjects, all profoundly blind, participated in this study. METHODS Sub...