Quantitative Microanalysis by Time-of-Flight Laser Probe Mass Spectrometry

Quantitative multielement microanalyses of insulators and refractory materials are made with an advanced laser microprobe mass spectrometer (LPMS-2S). A plasma in local thermal equilibrium (LTE) is generated in a field-free region in the ion source by a short laser pulse. A magnetic time-of-flight (TOF) mass analyzer is used to optimize ion transmission and mass separation. And, an Eloy-Unsold wide aperture ion detector provides the low noise and wide dynamic range required for accurate analyses. The characteristics of the LPMS-2S are demonstrated with NBS standard reference glasses and are compared with the characteristics of the commercially available LAMMA and LIMA microprobe mass spectrometers

Geological Applications of Ionization LTE Model in Laser Probe Mass Spectrometry

Recently, the laser plasma ionization process of the laser Probe Mass Spectrograph permitted one to obtain quantitative information on the fluid inclusions and trace distributions in ores. Indeed laser ionization provides the physical conditions for a substantial application in the Local Thermodynamical Equilibrium (LTE) model. Other geological information in the case of micro-analysis on the quartz, fluorite, and zircon has also been obtained

How non-designers understand the architecture design project: a comparative study using immersive virtual reality

This study focusses on how people who are not familiar with the traditional methods used to represent architecture understand architecture design projects. The main objective of the study was to assess the client's level of comprehension of a design project presented using traditional representation methods in comparison with a method based on the use of immersive virtual reality. Two experiments were conducted, involving architects, design projects and real clients. In both experiments an architecture design project was presented using two different methods: i) the traditional method, ii) the immersive method, using virtual reality, viewed by means of a Head Mounted Display. The results were used to address the questions posed during the study regarding comprehension of architecture design projects. They confirmed the hypothesis that individuals who are not familiar with architectural representations have a better and more accurate perception of a project after viewing it using immersive virtual reality rather than looking at technical drawings, renders and scale models.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The atomic orbitals of the topological atom

The effective atomic orbitals have been realized in the framework of Bader’s atoms in molecules theory for a general wavefunction. This formalism can be used to retrieve from any type of calculation a proper set of orthonormalized numerical atomic orbitals, with occupation numbers that sum up to the respective Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules (QTAIM) atomic populations. Experience shows that only a limited number of effective atomic orbitals exhibit significant occupation numbers. These correspond to atomic hybrids that closely resemble the core and valence shells of the atom. The occupation numbers of the remaining effective orbitals are almost negligible, except for atoms with hypervalent character. In addition, the molecular orbitals of a calculation can be exactly expressed as a linear combination of this orthonormalized set of numerical atomic orbitals, and the Mulliken population analysis carried out on this basis set exactly reproduces the original QTAIM atomic populations of the atoms. Approximate expansion of the molecular orbitals over a much reduced set of orthogonal atomic basis functions can also be accomplished to a very good accuracy with a singular value decomposition procedure

Developing and assessing shape grammar design systems

The ongoing and future research focus on the developing and assessing shape grammars design systems for architecture. The work started by the join paper from Eloy (ISTAR-IUL), Vermaas (TU Delft) and Andrade (ISTAR-IUL) (Eloy, Vermaas, & Andrade, n.d.) where the quality of designs generated by shape grammar systems with designs created by professional architects was compared. In this work authors collaborated in defining and analysing an experiment in which evaluators rank the quality of preliminary designs for refurbishing Lisbon’s Rabo-de-Bacalhau apartments, and that makes plausible that the design quality of the grammar solutions for this task is similar to that of the designs of the professional architects. It was argued that shape grammars can therefore be used as stand - alone design systems in architecture. The practical value is that shape grammar systems become alternative means to take up design challenges (such as refurbishing all of Lisbon’s Rabo -de-Bacalhau apartments) that currently require too much effort of architects to be economically feasible. In the scope of the developed work the three authors joined a consortium composed by TU Ghent, ISCTE-IUL, TU Delft, SWAP, MVRDV, ARUP and Caramel for a call proposal to H202 0 ICT-20-2017. The proposal project aims at bringing out creative architectural design content as smart digital data, and making this data effectively re - usable across different use - cases, offices and purposes. The project shall create a design engine that can work with given datasets and shape grammar rule set s to generate diverse alternative design solutions. The designs generated by the engine are customized since they responds to specifically selected architectural design language, to building regulations and to a particular architectural design brief. In this H2020 proposal the team of ISCTE-IUL was composed by Eloy, Andrade and Lopes. Within the project workplan the task and collaboration between the ISTAR group was the following: Sara Eloy tasks were related to architectural design and shape grammar design rules definition, Pedro Faria Lopes collaborated on the interface design and tests, Marina Andrade was part of the team for developing the experimental settings and performing statistical analysis.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Customizing mass housing: a dual computer implementation design strategy based on shape grammars

This research aims at developing a system for automatic generation of designs that allows housing customers to participate in the design of their house by using mass-customization design. The proposed system is based on shape grammars and will allow future owners to acquire houses that fit their needs while simultaneously complying to a language of design (Stiny 1980). Such a system will enable to deliver design solutions with quality (Eloy et al. n.d.) and at affordable prices improving satisfaction of clients and their quality of living. The system encodes knowledge on housing design principles (sizes of rooms, types of rooms and there preferable connections) as well as in the construction techniques that underlies the shape composition principles.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Digital technologies in architecture and engineering: Exploring an engaged interaction within curricula

This chapter focuses on the development and adoption of new Multimedia, Computer Aided Design, and other ICT technologies for both Architecture and Computer Sciences curricula and highlights the multidisciplinary work that can be accomplished when these two areas work together. We describe in detail the addressed educational skills and the developed research and we highlight the contributions towards the improvements of teaching and learning in those areas. We discuss in detail the role of Digital technologies, such as Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Multimedia, 3D Modelling software systems, Design Processes and its evaluation tools, such as Shape Grammar and Space Syntax, within the Architecture curricula.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Efeito de dois diluidores sobre a viabilidade In Vitro de sêmen de caprinos.

Procurou-se avaliar a eficiência de dois diluidores (Leite desnatado e Bioxcell - IMV Technologies, Le Aigle, French) sobre a viabilidade espermática através da motilidade e vigor visando a melhoria dos parâmetros pós-conservação

Comparison of modified Hackethal bundle nailing versus anterograde nailing for fixation of surgical neck fractures of the humerus: Retrospective study of 105 cases

AbstractIntroductionIntramedullary fixation of displaced surgical neck fractures of the humerus can be performed either by retrograde pinning or anterograde nailing. The goal of the current study was to compare the postoperative reduction and stability obtained with these two techniques.HypothesisIntramedullary nailing will provide the best reduction and stabilization of these fractures.Patients and methodsThis was a multicenter retrospective study that included patients with sub-tuberosity fractures with or without greater tuberosity fragment. These patients were treated either by retrograde Hackethal type pinning (group 1) or Telegraph anterograde nailing (group 2). To be included, patients needed to have A/P and lateral X-rays that had been taken before the surgery, immediately post-operative, between four and six weeks post-operative, and at the last follow-up. The outcomes were head angulation, translation and greater tuberosity position.ResultsOne hundred and five patients (40 retrograde pinning and 65 anterograde nailing) with an average age of 69 years (18–97 years) were included. The pre-operative fracture displacement was similar between the two groups. After the surgery, the A/P head angulation had been corrected in 72.5% of patients in group 1 and 84% in group 2 (no significant difference). Translation was still present in 17.5% of patients in group 1 and 1.5% in group 2 (P<0.05). At the last follow-up, union was achieved without residual angulation on lateral X-rays in 71% of patients in group 1 and 88% in group 2 (P<0.05). The fractures had healed with residual translation is 19.5% of patients in group 1 and 3% in group 2 (P<0.05).Discussion and conclusionIn cases of displaced surgical neck fractures with or without a greater tuberosity fragment, anterograde nailing provides better reduction and stability than retrograde pinning. However, fixation of the greater tuberosity fragment must be improved.Level of evidenceIV (retrospective comparative study)