Mechanical Characterization and Chemical Identification of Clear Binders for Road Surface Courses

The development of non‐black asphalt mixtures for surface courses may play a significant role to improve functional, aesthetic and environmental issues of road pavements. Nowadays, the development of clear binders as substitutes for traditional bitumen in asphalt mixtures, which combine durability and mechanical properties, exalting the color of pavements for a better integration of road networks in urban and environmentally sensitive areas, is undoubtedly a timing challenge. However, the selection and classification of clear binders are often based only on color and standard requirements referred to traditional bitumen that do not describe consistently the binder behavior. A better understanding on clear binder properties is required to guide the aggregate selection and the mix design for surface layer, merging safety, aesthetical and environmental benefits into long lasting pavement. This paper presents a comprehensive experimental program, including empirical tests, infrared spectrum analysis, and rheological testing over a wide range of temperature and frequency, to determine the overall mechanical behavior of three clear binders. Results highlighted that the selected clear binders differ from traditional bitumen in terms of mechanical behavior. Different composition or origin can induce to completely different performance. Moreover, the combination of several testing procedures allowed suggesting specific application methods and uses for the three clear binders

Convergence of univariate non-stationary subdivision schemes via asymptotical similarity

A new equivalence notion between non-stationary subdivision schemes, termed asymptotical similarity, which is weaker than asymptotical equivalence, is introduced and studied. It is known that asymptotical equivalence between a non-stationary subdivision scheme and a convergent stationary scheme guarantees the convergence of the non-stationary scheme. We show that for non-stationary schemes reproducing constants, the condition of asymptotical equivalence can be relaxed to asymptotical similarity. This result applies to a wide class of non-stationary schemes of importance in theory and applications

A comparison of kindergarten storytelling by human and humanoid robot with different social behavior

In this paper, we present a study on the influence of different social behavior on preschool children's perception of stories narrated either by a humanoid robot or by a human teacher. Four conditions were considered: static human, static robot, expressive human and expressive robot. Two stories, with knowledge and emotional content, were narrated in two different encounters. After each story, children draw what they remember of the story. We examined drawings of 81 children to study whether the sociability of the teacher (robot or human) could influence elements and details recorded. Results suggest a positive effect of the expressive behavior in robot storytelling, whose efficacy is comparable to the human with the same behavior or better if the expressive robot is compared with a static inexpressive human

“Robot, tell me a tale!”: A Social Robot as tool for Teachers in Kindergarten

Robots are versatile devices that are promising tools for supporting teaching and learning in the classroom or at home. In fact, robots can be engaging and motivating, especially for young children. This paper presents an experimental study with 81 kindergarten children on memorizations of two tales narrated by a humanoid robot. Variables of the study are the content of the tales (knowledge or emotional) and the different social behaviour of the narrators: static human, static robot, expressive human, and expressive robot. Results suggest a positive effect of the expressive behaviour in robot storytelling, whose effectiveness is comparable to a human with the same behaviour and better when compared with a static inexpressive human. Higher efficacy is achieved by the robot in the tale with knowledge content, while the limited capability to express emotions made the robot less effective in the tale with emotional content

Correlates of calcaneal quantitative ultrasound parameters in patients with diabetes: the study on the assessment of determinants of muscle and bone strength abnormalities in diabetes

OBJECTIVE: Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) provides an estimate of bone mineral density (BMD) and also evaluates bone quality, which has been related to increased fracture risk in people with diabetes. This study aimed at assessing the correlates of calcaneal QUS parameters in diabetic subjects encompassing various degrees of micro and macrovascular complications and a wide-range of peripheral nerve function. METHODS: Four hundred consecutive diabetic patients were examined by QUS to obtain values of broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA), the speed of sound (SOS), quantitative ultrasound index (QUI), and BMD. RESULTS: Among surrogate measures of complications, sensory and motor nerve amplitude and heart rate response to cough test and standing correlated with QUS parameters at univariate analysis, together with age, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, lipid profile, and renal function. Multivariate analysis revealed that BUA, SOS, QUI, and BMD were independently associated with age, male gender, hemoglobin A1c, BMI (or fat, but not fat-free mass), and somatic and autonomic nerve function parameters. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that peripheral nerve dysfunction is associated with worse QUS parameters, possibly contributing to increased fracture risk in diabetes. The positive relation of QUS measures with adiposity needs further investigation. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01600924)

Microimaging FT-IR of Head and Neck Tumours. The case of salivary glands

n/

MULTILETRAMENTOS NA FORMAÇÃO DE PROFESSORES DE LÍNGUAS

A relação dos professores com o mundo tecnológico moderno abrange tanto o domínio de técnicas para a utilização dos seus recursos como também o desenvolvimento de diversas habilidades linguísticas. Essas habilidades preconizam diversas modalidades e podem coexistir em diferentes contextos culturais. Ao reportar tais competências ao professor de línguas, torna-se fundamental argumentar sobre seu processo de formação inicial, no que tange ao ensino mediado por Tecnologias Digitais de Informação e Comunicação (TDICs) e, consequentemente, às práticas de multiletramentos. Posto isso, esta pesquisa propõe como objetivo geral investigar a formação de professores de línguas no estado de Goiás, no que tange ao uso de Tecnologias Digitais de Informação e Comunicação (TDICs), nos Cursos de Licenciatura em Letras, com o propósito de destacar a relevância de práticas de multiletramentos. Trata-se de um recorte de um projeto maior, que se encontra em andamento, vinculado ao Programa de Pós-Graduação em Língua, Literatura e Interculturalidade (POSLLI). O referencial teórico proposto abarca os estudos relacionados às TICs/TDICs, à formação de professores de línguas, ao letramento do professor e à teoria dos multiletramentos, com destaque para Cani e Coscarelli (2016), Lima (2016)Kleiman (2014), Kalantzis e Cope (2012), Rojo (2012), Jordão (2007), Monte Mór (2007), Santaella (2004), Morin, Ciurana e Mota (2003), Street (2000), entre outros autores. Espera-se com esta pesquisa colaborar com os estudos acerca da formação inicial de professores de línguas, no que tange ao envolvimento com práticas de multiletramentos, concretizadas em experiências de ensino-aprendizagem mediadas por Tecnologias Digitais de Informação e Comunicação –TDICs