On ‘Notes From the Underdog’

This article talks about the social impact of economic collapse on marginal territories and on the ingenuity of these new settlers, in the context of the visual essay Notes from the Underdog, by Alexandre Delmar. Forced to find new alternatives, these settlers are not only inventing new methods of constructing terraces, fashioning aqueducts from plastic, making their own tools, and defining their own plots, but are also inventing new methods of constructing terraces, of fashioning aqueducts from plastic, of making their own tools, and of defining their own plots, thus changing the surrounding environment and landscape of these marginal areas

Analysis of Residual Stress And Strain on The Formation of Workpiece Based Ansys 12.1

Machining process to produce plastic deformation on the workpiece. Plastic deformation during the machining process are formed by friction against the cutting tools to workpieces generate furious. During the deformation process appearance residual stress on the surface which can affect the fatigue resistance, fracture strength, and corrosion. Failure in the component structure is not only due to external forces, residual stress is an important parameter in this case. The purpose of this study to analyze the residual stresses that occur on the workpiece from turning process. In the analysis performed using the Finite Element Method (FEM) with the software to obtain the desired results by entering input data including modeling of cutting tools and the workpiece. The result is a visual overview of the residual stress in the workpiece and areas of plastically deformed as a result of feeding from the cutting tools motion. 2D visual modeling using the software Ansys 12.1 with three comparison rake angle 50, 100.150 to determine the result of the residual stress on the surface of the workpiece

Using the Finite Element Method to Determine the Temperature Distributions in Hot-wire Cutting.

Hot-wire cutting is a common material removal process used to shape and sculpt plastic foam materials, such as expanded polystyrene (EPS). Due to the low cost and sculpt-ability of plastic foams they are popular materials for large sized (> 1 m³) prototypes and bespoke visual artefacts. Recent developments in robotic foam sculpting machines have greatly increased the ability of hot-tools to sculpt complex geometrical surfaces bringing the subject into the realm of subtractive rapid prototyping/manufacturing. Nevertheless foam cut objects are not being exploited to their full potential due to the common perception that hot-wires are a low accuracy cutting tool. If greater accuracy for hot-wires can be obtained, it could provide a low cost method of producing high value functional engineering parts. Polystyrene patterns for lost foam casting are one such possibility. A nonlinear transient thermal finite element model was developed with the purpose of predicting the kerf width of hot-wire cut foams. Accurate predictions of the kerfwidth during cutting will allow the tool paths to be corrected off-line at the tool definition stage of the CAM process. Finite element analysis software (ANSYS) was used to simulate the hot-wire plastic foam cutting. The material property models were compiled from experimental data and commonly accepted values found in literature. The simulations showed good agreement with the experimental data and thus the model is thought to be reliable. The simulations provide an effective method of predicting kerf widths, under steady state cutting conditions. Limitations and further developments to the model are described

Reducing the visual impact of plasticulture on rural landscapes by a sustainable management of agricultural plastics.

The use of plastics in agriculture represents one of the main factors having a major impact on the environmental sustainability of the agricultural sector. The effectiveness, economy and versatility of using different plastic polymers has made these products widespread in highly profitable agricultural activities (orchards and horticulture). However, their incorrect management can determine serious environmental impacts, mainly connected to large quantities of post-consume plastic waste. Another problem is linked to the visual impact that these large clusters can have on the surrounding rural landscape. Indeed, the aesthetic quality of these territories may be reduced, with negative impacts on the surrounding areas - often characterized by a fragile environment and a marked tourist vocation - whose perception is difficult to quantify and evaluate. In this paper, a GIS-based methodology has been implemented, to perform a visual impact assessment, by applying it to the case study of the agri-food district of “Metapontino” (Basilicata Region - Southern Italy). GIS tools, besides allowing complex spatial analysis, revealed as a planning instrument that can be used by public authority also to activate suitable strategies for mitigating the visual impact of plastics on rural landscape, so as to contribute to reducing the plastic footprint of agriculture

Low-level Modality Specific and Higher-order Amodal Processing in the Haptic and Visual Domains

The aim of the current study is to further investigate cross- and multi-modal object processing with the intent of increasing our understanding of the differential contributions of modal and amodal object processing in the visual and haptic domains. The project is an identification and information extraction study. The main factors are modality (vision or haptics), stimulus type (tools or animals) and level (naming and output). Each participant went through four different trials: Visual naming and size, Haptic naming and size. Naming consisted of verbally naming the item; Size (size comparison) consisted of verbally indicating if the current item is larger or smaller than a reference object. Stimuli consisted of plastic animals and tools. All stimuli are readily recognizable, and easily be manipulated with one hand. The actual figurines and tools were used for haptic trials, and digital photographs were used for visual trials (appendix 1 and 2). The main aim was to investigate modal and amodal processing in visual and haptic domains. The results suggest a strong effect, of modality type with visual object recognition being faster in comparison to haptic object recognition leading to a modality (visual-haptic) specific effect. It was also observed that tools were processed faster than animals regardless of the modality type. There was interaction reported between the factors supporting the notion that once naming is accomplished, if subsequent size processing, whether it is in the visual or haptic domain, results in similar reaction times this would be an indication of, non-modality specific or amodal processing. Thus, through using animal and tool figurines, we investigated modal and amodal processing in visual and haptic domains

Computational Simulation and 3D Virtual Reality Engineering Tools for Dynamical Modeling and Imaging of Composite Nanomaterials

An adventure at engineering design and modeling is possible with a Virtual Reality Environment (VRE) that uses multiple computer-generated media to let a user experience situations that are temporally and spatially prohibiting. In this paper, an approach to developing some advanced architecture and modeling tools is presented to allow multiple frameworks work together while being shielded from the application program. This architecture is being developed in a framework of workbench interactive tools for next generation nanoparticle-reinforced damping/dynamic systems. Through the use of system, an engineer/programmer can respectively concentrate on tailoring an engineering design concept of novel system and the application software design while using existing databases/software outputs.Comment: Submitted on behalf of TIMA Editions (http://irevues.inist.fr/tima-editions

Research priorities in light of current trends in microsurgical training: revalidation, simulation, cross-training, and standardisation.

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly citedPlastic surgery training worldwide has seen a thorough restructuring over the past decade, with the introduction of formal training curricula and work-based assessment tools. Part of this process has been the introduction of revalidation and a greater use of simulation in training delivery. Simulation is an increasingly important tool for educators because it provides a way to reduce risks to both trainees and patients, whilst facilitating improved technical proficiency. Current microsurgery training interventions are often predicated on theories of skill acquisition and development that follow a 'practice makes perfect' model. Given the changing landscape of surgical training and advances in educational theories related to skill development, research is needed to assess the potential benefits of alternative models, particularly cross-training, a model now widely used in non-medical areas with significant benefits. Furthermore, with the proliferation of microsurgery training interventions and therefore diversity in length, cost, content and models used, appropriate standardisation will be an important factor to ensure that courses deliver consistent and effective training that achieves appropriate levels of competency. Key research requirements should be gathered and used in directing further research in these areas to achieve on-going improvement of microsurgery training

Visualization, Exploration and Data Analysis of Complex Astrophysical Data

In this paper we show how advanced visualization tools can help the researcher in investigating and extracting information from data. The focus is on VisIVO, a novel open source graphics application, which blends high performance multidimensional visualization techniques and up-to-date technologies to cooperate with other applications and to access remote, distributed data archives. VisIVO supports the standards defined by the International Virtual Observatory Alliance in order to make it interoperable with VO data repositories. The paper describes the basic technical details and features of the software and it dedicates a large section to show how VisIVO can be used in several scientific cases.Comment: 32 pages, 15 figures, accepted by PAS

Burton Optical Company (Cases A & B)

Thesis (M.B.A.)--Boston Universit