Immunochemical studies on human plasma lipoproteins

Some years ago, a series of human serum lipoproteins, distinguishable by their hydrated densities and lipid-protein ratios were recognized and isolated by ultracentrifugal techniques (1). Certain of these lipoproteins are invariably present in human serum and the concentrations of these and of others can be quantitatively correlated with disease (2). No difference in the lipoprotein distribution can be demonstrated between serum and plasma. The purpose of this investigation was to obtain information about the immunochemical specificity of some of the lipoproteins

Absurdist Rituals to Process Ecological Grief

I created absurdist rituals to be performed and engaged in with the goal of helping myself, and hopefully, individuals and communities process current and impending ecological grief, brought on by the increasing climate disaster. The products include 27 written rituals, a video art project documenting performance of the rituals, this written component, and a large visual map connecting these things with my thoughts and research, via the platform Miro. As the climate disaster will only increase in severity, I intend the rituals to be able to be revisited and repeated, for emotional maintenance, not to “solve” anything. They are designed to be performed with minimal equipment or setup, and can be modified for accessibility or fun. When so many disciplines and lenses have been employed to process and to try to solve climate change, and when, according to science, we have not done enough to alter the future out of doom’s way, what left is there to turn to but art, and specifically, the absurd? How do you begin to convey the value of the absurd to people immersed in a culture that allegedly values rationality and practicality above all else? For me, one of the antidotes to the cognitive dissonance of living in this world is engaging in embodied absurdist practices. My research was informed by the Dada and Fluxus movements, and scholars in the field, such as Panu Pihkala, and Ashlee Cunsolo

The Linguistic Landscape as a learning space for Contextual Language Learning

One of the challenges of teaching and learning a foreign language is that students are not being sufficiently exposed to the target language. However, it is quite common to find linguistic and cultural exponents of different foreign languages in authentic contexts (termed the “Linguistic landscape"). Using the Linguistic landscape as a learning space, may facilitate language learning. This paper, describes an approach for contextual informal foreign language learning supported by mobile devices and social media. The findings suggest that this approach holds the potential to increase learner awareness of language learning opportunities, thus supplementing formal learning and encouraging continuous learning

From 3D to 2D: Drawing as documentation and reflection processes by young children

In this study, we examine drawings created by kindergarten children as a means of documenting artefacts constructed by their own. We seek to shed light on the characteristics of this particular drawing process, which involves a cognitive transition from a 3D object (physical construction) to a 2D drawing. Most theoretical and research work conducted focused on children’s free, intuitive and/or spontaneous drawing. And most data collection focused on children drawings of given objects, even their copy of drawings of objects, or on free representation of ideas or feelings. In this study, we addressed two aspects that differ from the foci of previous work: (a) children drew what they have constructed; and (b) the drawing has a functional purpose (i.e., documentation) as part of a design task. The study participants included 30 kindergarten children, aged 5-6. During freeform play, the children produced constructions using a building kit and documented these in drawings. A total of 39 constructions and corresponding drawings were analyzed. Data analysis was conducted to examine the characteristics of children’s drawings, as well as the relationship between the features of the constructions and the corresponding drawings. The insights emerging from the study indicate that drawing can serve as a tool for documentation and reflection in kindergarten and may aid in the development of technological thinking processes. &nbsp

Design, construction, and operation of the first industrial salinity-gradient solar pond in Europe: An efficiency analysis perspective

A 500 m2 industrial salinity-gradient solar pond (SGSP) was constructed in a mineral processing plant (Solvay Minerales) in Granada (Spain). This renewable energy technology was designed to supply a low-temperature heat (up to 60 °C) to achieve the temperature requirements of the flotation mineral purification stage. The low-temperature source was integrated to partially replace the fuel oil boiler used to heat the water used in the flotation stage. Theoretical calculations based on solar radiation indicated that the use of the SGSP would reduce the annual fuel consumption by more than 50%, thus providing a significant improvement at both economic and environmental levels. Two months after the SGSP was established, in August 2014, the temperature in the storage zone of the SGSP reached approximately 90 °C. The overall performance was evaluated in two periods (2014 and 2015) in terms of the retrofitting of mining facility with a solar pond and a new method to assess the thermal efficiency of the solar pond in a long-term perspective has been proposed. The overall efficiencies obtained after the first and second operation periods were 10 and 12%, respectively, with maximum values of 28 and 24% obtained during the first operation months. Regarding the economic savings, the fuel oil cost of the flotation unit was reduced by a higher percentage than the fuel oil consumption, due to the decreasing tendency of fuel oil prices during 2014 and 2015. Reductions of 52 and 68% were obtained in the first and second periods of operation, respectively, when compared to 2013. In addition, not only does the SGSP have considerably reduced operating costs but also the environmental costs are clearly reduced when considering the reduction of CO2 emissions.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft