Facilitating question identification through natural intensity eyebrow movements in virtual avatars

In conversation, recognizing social actions (similar to ‘speech acts’) early is important to quickly understand the speaker’s intended message and to provide a fast response. Fast turns are typical for fundamental social actions like questions, since a long gap can indicate a dispreferred response. In multimodal face-to-face interaction, visual signals may contribute to this fast dynamic. The face is an important source of visual signalling, and previous research found that prevalent facial signals such as eyebrow movements facilitate the rapid recognition of questions. We aimed to investigate whether early eyebrow movements with natural movement intensities facilitate question identification, and whether specific intensities are more helpful in detecting questions. Participants were instructed to view videos of avatars where the presence of eyebrow movements (eyebrow frown or raise vs. no eyebrow movement) was manipulated, and to indicate whether the utterance in the video was a question or statement. Results showed higher accuracies for questions with eyebrow frowns, and faster response times for questions with eyebrow frowns and eyebrow raises. No additional effect was observed for the specific movement intensity. This suggests that eyebrow movements that are representative of naturalistic multimodal behaviour facilitate question recognition

Observations of the Crab Nebula with H.E.S.S. Phase II

The High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.) phase I instrument was an array of four $100\,\mathrm{m}^2$ mirror area Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes (IACTs) that has very successfully mapped the sky at photon energies above $\sim 100\,$GeV. Recently, a $600\,\mathrm{m}^2$ telescope was added to the centre of the existing array, which can be operated either in standalone mode or jointly with the four smaller telescopes. The large telescope lowers the energy threshold for gamma-ray observations to several tens of GeV, making the array sensitive at energies where the Fermi-LAT instrument runs out of statistics. At the same time, the new telescope makes the H.E.S.S. phase II instrument. This is the first hybrid IACT array, as it operates telescopes of different size (and hence different trigger rates) and different field of view. In this contribution we present results of H.E.S.S. phase II observations of the Crab Nebula, compare them to earlier observations, and evaluate the performance of the new instrument with Monte Carlo simulations.Comment: In Proceedings of the 34th International Cosmic Ray Conference (ICRC2015), The Hague, The Netherland

Structured multiphase reactors based on fibrous catalysts: nitrite hydrogenation as a case study

A reactor concept designed as a bubble column staged with fibrous catalytic layers is tested on pilot-scale for the redn. of nitrite to N by H. CO2 is used to neutralize the hydroxide ions produced during hydrogenation of nitrite. The effective reaction rate was found to depend on the superficial gas velocity ug0. The fibrous catalysts demonstrated a high selectivity towards nitrogen. The influence of the mass transport on the effective kinetics is discussed and the volumetric liq.-solid mass transfer coeff. kSaS is estd. as a function of the superficial gas velocity ug0. The selectivity was found to be independent of the hydrodynamics

Supported glass fibers catalysts for novel multi-phase reactor design

The catalytic properties of Pd and Pt supported on woven glass fabrics were explored for liq.-phase hydrogenation of benzaldehyde as a model for three-phase catalytic reaction. The catalysts demonstrated high activity and are suitable materials to be used in reactors with structured catalytic bed. The main characteristics of catalytic bed are discussed. [on SciFinder (R)

Experimental observation of vortex rings in a bulk magnet

Vortex rings are remarkably stable structures occurring in numerous systems: for example in turbulent gases, where they are at the origin of weather phenomena [1]; in fluids with implications for biology [2]; in electromagnetic discharges [3]; and in plasmas [4]. While vortex rings have also been predicted to exist in ferromagnets [5], they have not yet been observed. Using X-ray magnetic nanotomography [6], we imaged three-dimensional structures forming closed loops in a bulk micromagnet, each composed of a vortex-antivortex pair. Based on the magnetic vorticity, a quantity analogous to hydrodynamic vorticity, we identify these configurations as magnetic vortex rings. While such structures have been predicted to exist as transient states in exchange ferromagnets [5], the vortex rings we observe exist as stable, static configurations, whose stability we attribute to the dipolar interaction. In addition, we observe stable vortex loops intersected by magnetic singularities [7], at which the magnetisation within the vortex and antivortex cores reverses. We gain insight into the stability of these states through field and thermal equilibration protocols. These measurements pave the way for the observation of complex three-dimensional solitons in bulk magnets, as well as for the development of applications based on three-dimensional magnetic structures

Reduction of nitrite-ions in water over Pd-supported on structured fibrous materials

Catalytic hydrogenation of NO2- in water to N2 over Pd-supported on different woven fibrous materials was studied. Low porosity C fiber, low porosity D-type glass fiber, and composite (glass covered by g-Al2O3) fiber were used. Pd dispersion was compared for different supports at various Pd loadings and correlated with catalytic activity. NH3 as an undesired byproduct was also obsd. and main parameters to suppress its formation are discussed. A reactor concept based on woven fibrous catalysts is suggested and main design parameters for tech. application were estd. [on SciFinder (R)

Análise comparativa entre atributos de solos e indivíduos dE Araucaria angustifolia em sistemas agroflorestais com erva-mate.

Resumo

Acoustic and visual study of bubble formation processes in bubble columns staged with fibrous catalytic layers

High-speed images of bubbly flow coupled with simultaneous passive acoustic measurements were carried out in a bubble column staged with structured fibrous catalysts. Local observations made with a high-speed camera system allow a detailed understanding of the influence of fabric structure on bubble formation processes and the detn. of the Sauter bubble diam. With acoustic measurements, the building frequency of bubble swarm formation is identified to be a linear function of the superficial gas velocity. Due to bubble size and building frequency of bubble swarm the percentage of simultaneously operative sites (holes at which bubbles were formed simultaneously) is calcd. [on SciFinder (R)

Informações geoespaciais para a gestão dos recursos naturais do Corredor de Nacala - Moçambique.

O projeto Embrapa-Moçambique foi baseado nas similaridades edafoclimáticas existentes entre as savanas moçambicanas e o Cerrado brasileiro e objetiva o levantamento e o mapeamento das potencialidades dos recursos naturais de Moçambique. Neste estudo, organizaram-se bases de dados geográficos existentes do Corredor de Nacala, levantaram-se aspectos da legislação ambiental moçambicana, e realizou-se o mapeamento de florestas em distritos específicos deste corredor para a visualização da gestão de recursos naturais. Como resultados já alcançados, destacam-se a geração da base de dados geográficos on-line, a análise preliminar da integração da legislação ambiental em ambiente de sistemas de informação geográfica e o levantamento do uso e da ocupação dos distritos de Mandimba, Cuamba, Malema e Ribaué