Reinforcement of Prefabricate Concrete Beams with Basalt-Epoxy Bars

The article presents a way of reinforcing concrete beams with innovative composite materials in the form of basaltic-epoxy bars. Considering the carrying the element out in the technology of the prefabrication, the main assumptions and aims of the method and economic conditioning were described. Examples of domestic, modern engineering objects made in the prefabricated structure were expressed. The particular attention was devoted to the issue of the cover of the composite reinforcement conditioning the permanence of the ready element. In the part of the article devoted to the numerical analysis of the new construction, is characterized the most important mechanical and physical parameters of used composite bars and presented the assumptions of the method of the numerical modeling of beams subjected to clean bending. For the optimum evaluation of the element a research set was prepared in the form of the reinforced beam by composite bars, and another one by steel rods and concrete beam without the reinforcement - enabling evaluation of the correctness of the method. The analysis is opening the doors for the more accurately research on the usefulness of the composite reinforcement of the concrete prefabrication to the modern construction.

Effectiveness of »natural stockmanship« training in cattle

The objective of this study was to investigate whether natural stockmanship training can be effective in the elimination of avoidance reactions by generating submissive behaviour in dairy cattle. The training session was divided into two procedures: natural stockmanship training focused on getting a submissive response to human approach; natural halter training focused on acceptance of stroking with a halter and fitting it. Both procedures were conducted on unrestrained animals by skilled trainer. Two tests were developed to assess the effectiveness of the method: »udder touching« testing natural stockmanship training and »halter-fitting« testing both natural stockmanship training and natural halter training. Training procedures followed the idea of employing natural behaviour of cattle (avoiding discomfort of pressure) to negative reinforcement conditioning (chasing away when an animal moved away) and habituation to trainer and training/testing arena. Sixty-three (n=63) animals from two barns were studied: 32 heifers and 31 cows followed by control group of 7 heifers and 11 cows. The approach developed proved to be an effective method of handling cattle: 93.7 % of animals completed »udder test« in an average 400.4 s and 75.8 % completed »halter fitting test« in an average 559.7 s compared to control group results: 77.8 % and 33.3 %, respectively. Animals responded with submission and avoidance distance was shortened to zero. Previous experience of being milked had a significant positive effect on »udder touching« test performance and duration but not »halter-fitting« test. No environmental impact was found and animals from both farms responded similarly.

Potency in Psychotherapy

This paper defines therapeutic potency in terms of constructive as opposed to destructive intervention. In judging the degree of success in psychotherapy we may use either a medical or a growth model. Whichever criterion is adopted the conclusion stands that potency will be at a maximum whenever the therapist selects the most efficient technique for working with his client regardless of the school which gave birth to it. An eclectic approach views the differences between schools as exaggerated by the use of divergent psychological models and terminology, and sees value in various explanatory concepts such as ‘reinforcement’ ‘conditioning’, ‘insight’ and ‘cognitive restructuring’.