Dysfunctionalities. Annual Conference of the German Society for Media Science (GfM), Potsdam, Germany, 5-8 October 2011

During the 1970s the intense use of audiovisual media in Germany encouraged a vigorous debate among philologists. The outcome of this discussion was the establishment of Media Studies as an independent discipline in the German high education system in the second half of the 1980s (“Fachgeschichte”). The German Society for Media Studies was founded in November 1985 as a forum for academic exchange and dialogue, as well as an initiator of public debate around media-related issues. Aesthetic, historical, sociological, psychological and communicational perspectives were equally considered within the GfM, and this multilayered critique of media production and consumption continues today (“Der Gesellschaft”)

Evaluación de un proceso integrado extracción-reextracción en contactores de membrana para la recuperación de betaína de melazas de azucarera

El presente trabajo recoge los resultados obtenidos en planta piloto del proceso integrado de extracción–reextracción de betaína utilizando contactores de membrana. El agente de extracción utilizado es el ácido di-nonilnaftalenosulfónico (DNNSA) disuelto en n-heptano y los contactores de membrana son fibras huecas de polipropileno Celgard X-50. El estudio realizado parte de los resultados previos obtenidos en nuestro laboratorio sobre disoluciones acuosas de betaína, en el que se demostró la viabilidad técnica de este proceso y se establecieron las condiciones de pH, diferencia de presión transmembranal, composición de las fases y caudales de circulación. El trabajo realizado en este proyecto se plantea como continuación del trabajo anterior con los siguientes objetivos: a) analizar el efecto de la temperatura, la presencia de NaCl en la etapa de reextracción y la presencia de sacarosa en la alimentación y b) estudiar la aplicación de esta tecnología, bajo las mejores condiciones de operación, al tratamiento de melazas reales obtenidas en la producción de azúcar. Los resultados obtenidos revelan un grado de recuperación efectivo de betaína en torno al 50% en masa respecto de la cantidad inicial, transcurridas 9 h de proceso, así como un cierto grado de coextracción de azúcares y productos coloreados derivados de la degradación de las hexosas y de la reacción de Maillard cuya conversión depende del pH, la temperatura y el contenido de agu

Cross-language speech perception in context : advantages for recent language learners and variation across language-specific acoustic cues

This dissertation explores the relationship between language experience and sensitivity to language-specific segmental cues by comparing cross-language speech perception in monolingual English listeners and Spanish-English bilinguals. The three studies in this project use a novel language categorization task to test language-segment associations in listeners’ first and second languages. Listener sensitivity is compared at two stages of development and across a variety of language backgrounds. These studies provide a more complete analysis of listeners’ language-specific phonological categories than offered in previous work by using word-length stimuli to evaluate segments in phonological contexts and by testing speech perception in listeners’ first language as well as their second language. The inclusion of bilingual children also allows connections to be drawn between previous work on infants’ perception of segments and the sensitivities of bilingual adults. In three experiments, participants categorized nonce words containing different classes of English- and Spanish-specific sounds as sounding more English-like or Spanish-like; target segments were either a phonemic cue, a cue for which there is no analogous sound in the other language, or a phonetic cue, a cue for which English and Spanish share the category but for which each language varies in its phonetic implementation. The results reveal a largely consistent categorization pattern across target segments. Listeners from all groups succeeded and struggled with the same subsets of language-specific segments. The same pattern of results held in a task where more time was given to make categorization decisions. Interestingly, for some segments the late bilinguals were significantly more accurate than monolingual and early bilingual listeners, and this was the case for the English phonemic cues. There were few differences in the sensitivity of monolinguals and early bilinguals to language-specific cues, suggesting that the early bilinguals’ exposure to Spanish did not fundamentally change their representations of English phonology, but neither did their proficiency in Spanish give them an advantage over monolinguals. The comparison of adult listeners with children indicates that the Spanish-speaking children who grow to be early bilingual adults categorize segments more accurately than monolinguals – a pattern that is neutralized in the adult results. These findings suggest that variation in listener sensitivity to language-specific cues is largely driven by inherent differences in the salience of the segments themselves. Listener language experience modulates the salience of some of these sounds, and these differences in cross-language speech perception may reflect how recently a language was learned and under what circumstances.Linguistic

Additive synthesis by sol-gel method for its use as antimicrobial

The antimicrobial activity of silver nanoparticles makes this chemical element attractive for their incorporation in different materials. Additionally, heteropolyacids (HPAs) have advantages as catalysts which make them environmentally very interesting. The objective of this work is to incorporate in a silica matrix obtained by sol-gel an HPA together with Ag, for their use as fillers in paints or adhesives. Six samples were synthesized, using tetraethoxysilane, methyltrimethoxysilane, acetic acid, molybdophosphoric acid and silver acetate. The silicas were characterized by potentiometric titration, XRD, SEM, TEM, SBET and FT-IR. When HPA is used instead of acetic acid, a variation on the final acidity is produced. The specific surface area decreases when HPA is incorporated into the silica synthesized using tetraethoxysilane as precursor, noticing a slight increase when Ag is added because a different distribution of HPA in the matrix. By SEM, it was observed that the particle size is bigger when the silicas are synthesized with TEOS-HPA, but it still shows the characteristic morphology of bulk silica. Additionally, preliminary test to evaluate the antimicrobial properties of the solids were carried out with fungi as Chaetomium globosum and Alternaria alternate, isolated from contaminated paints, and the first results are encouraging to continue with the development of these materials.Fil: Arreche, Romina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias Aplicadas ; ArgentinaFil: Hernández, Maria Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias Aplicadas ; ArgentinaFil: Blanco, Mirta Noemi. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias Aplicadas ; ArgentinaFil: Vazquez, Patricia Graciela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias Aplicadas ; Argentin

Econometric Evidence Regarding Education and Border Income Performance

This study examines the relationship between education and income in Texas counties that are located along the border with Mexico. Estimation results confirm ealrier research results for this region. Parameter heterogeneity underscores the increased importance of education in the service-oriented labor market that has emerged in recent years in the United States. Simulation results quantify the income gains that could potentially be realized if drop out rates were lowered in the border counties included in the sample.Education; Texas border incomes; applied econometrics

Editor's Note

The International Journal of Interactive Multimedia and Artificial Intelligence - IJIMAI - provides a space in which scientists and professionals can report about new advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI). On this occasion, for the last edition of the year, I am pleased to present a regular issue including different investigations covering aspects and problems in AI and its use in various fields such as medicine, education, image analysis, protection of data, among others

Photo-abilities (working title)

This photographic exhibition revolves around the idea of ability. Physical and cognitive processes are reviewed and explored in the context of creative work. The photographs depict prototypes currently being used by people with severe functional limitations in Brighton, UK. This visual approximation to the object of study constitutes the first step of a larger collaborative research project between Ivan Garbayo and Patricia Prieto-Blanco. Ivan Garbayo is an Occupational Therapist who has been working with in this field for over a decade. By applying the principles of accessible design to visual production tools, he aims to both facilitate access as well as to foster social, economic and sensory inclusion of people with severe functional limitations. By applying visual research methods to this investigation, Patricia Prieto-Blanco aims to both reach wider audiences as well as to facilitate an interdisciplinary discussion about ability and creative expression. Audio-visual resources are valuable tools of stimulation that can be productively used to foster interaction and communication when working with people with severe functional limitations. But, what happens when the receivers become the producers? The aim of the photographic series is to both raise awareness as well as to foster an exploration of socio-cultural inclusion and embodiment

Concurrent Session, Warm Rooms in a Cold House: Campus Environments for Student Success

Participants will engage with findings and implications of two research projects that explore environments promoting academic and personal success among students of color in a Predominantly White Institution (PWI). These environments can be described as cultural counterspaces that, like the warm room in a cold house, provide alternative opportunities for students of color to be comfortable and supported within an otherwise challenging campus environment. Participants will identify key concepts, programs, and practices that promote the success of underrepresented students

The Development of the Primitive iurisdictio episcopalis

The irruption of Christianity in Roman society implied a necessary process of adaptation of both realities, which coexisted in a common political and cultural space. Outside of first incomprehension from both sides—crystallized in groups that, on the one hand, foresaw the imminent Parousia, and the periodic violent reactions against this weird group of followers of an executed Galileo, on the other hand—truth is that both parts must have little by little adapted to a cohabitation they saw themselves headed toward, since they shared a common space. In turn, Christians, no matter their diverse origin, social or geographical, had to become little by little aware of their own identity, building through the years an internal organization that should answer not only to the necessities of this primitive religious society inside the enormous frame of the Empire, but also to some circumstances presented in their own evolution, as they were a particular human group with a clear mission—Gospel preaching—and with very specific sources they could not separate from. Within these organization needs, one of them was the administration of Justice, needed in all societies, and clearly articulated in the Roman world, but completely distant from the evangelic principles that must guide every action of a Christian. There begins the difficult task of constructing an organization able to answer to the needs of the community and to the mission given by Jesus, doing this task, firstly, in parallel to the Empire, and later under its protection. However, this will not mean the abandonment of the authority due to the established political power, but a complicated combination between obedience toward the authorities and the application ad intra of a Law in accordance with the condition of being “saved” of the believers, whose starting point will be, no doubt, the Gospel. It is clear that when both visions collide, that born from the faith should be given priority, but both will be combined as much as possible. Our paper tries to show the relations of the ecclesiastic authority as long as the temporary power was changing, from the end of secrecy to the fall of the Empire and the beginning of Middle Ages. We must take into account that concepts such as potestas, iurisdictio or auctorictas are still in a first state of gestation, not only to the temporary power, that to some extent still conserves the imperial inheritance, but also to a Church that has just left secrecy and must live with an authority that is taking conscience of itself and reaching its age of majority.Arte y HumanidadesCiencias ReligiosasDerech

Canitas Turísticas

En Colombia cada día se hace más necesaria la creación de empresa como aporte al crecimiento de la economía del país. Se debe motivar a la población Colombia a procurar un estado de salud y bienestar para los adultos mayores a través de la iniciativa de desarrollar una agencia de viajes que incluya asistencia médica, aprovechando el crecimiento sostenido de esta población en los últimos años. El presente estudio aporta evidencias que avalan la importancia de fomentar iniciativas de recreación y turismo para los Adultos Mayores y así promover la integración social y mejorar la calidad de vida de éstos.In Colombia every day becomes more necessary to create company as a contribution to the growth of the economy. It should encourage Colombia to pursue population health status and welfare for the elderly through the initiative of developing a travel agency that includes medical care, taking advantage of the sustained growth of this population in recent years. This study provides evidence supporting the importance of promoting recreation and tourism initiatives for Aging and thus promote social inclusion and improve the quality of life for them.Especialista en Gestión Human