Integration of Flight Simulator 2002 with an epidemic multicast protocol

Multi-player games are increasingly popular in the Internet. This growing interest results in the need to support a high number of participants, which raises the issue of scalability, namely in what regards the ability to offer good performance in such a large-scale setting. This paper addresses the issue of designing middleware solutions to support large-scale multi-player applications. In particular, we are interested in studying the feasibility of using epidemic multicast protocols for information dissemination in multi-player games based on a peer-to-peer architecture. We have integrated a comercial multiplayer game, the Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002, with an epidemic multicast protocol appropriate to this kind of applications, the NEEM. The paper describes how this integration was achieved and presents evaluation results of the resulting prototype

First records of Fistularia petimba and Diodon eydouxii, for the Azores, with notes on the occurrence of three additional species

Two new records of fishes from the Azores are reported: Fistularia petimba and Diodon eydouxii. The occurrence of Centracanthus cirrus, Decapterus macarellus and Priacanthus arenatus in Azorean waters is confirmed

Modeling strategies for enantiomers separation by SMB chromatography

Modeling strategies for simulated moving bed adsorbers were studied to compare the simulated moving bed model (SMB) that considers the real shift of the injection and collection points to the true moving bed approach (TMB) that considers liquid and solid flow in opposite directions. The prediction of these two models is compared in terms of steady-state performance, steady-state internal concentration profiles, and transient behavior of the extract and raffinate purities. The influence of the degree of subdivision of the bed in the SMB model predictions is also analyzed and compared with the TMB performance. Model results are compared with experimental results obtained for the chromatographic separation of binaphthol enantiomers

Separation of 1,1'-bi-2-naphthol enantiomers by continuous chromatography in simulated moving bed

The chromatographic separation of 1,1′-bi-2-naphthol enantiomers with 3,5-dinitrobenzoyl phenylglycine bonded to silica gel stationary phases is studied. Continuous chromatography in simulated moving bed (SMB) is analyzed by modeling, simulation and operation of a SMB pilot unit Licosep 12–26 from Separex (France). A model for the prediction of the cyclic steady-state performance of the SMB is developed based on the analogy with the true moving bed (TMB). The model assumes axial dispersion flow for the liquid phase, linear driving force (LDF) approximation for intraparticle mass transfer rate and takes into account multicomponent adsorption equilibria. The SMB package allows the simulation of the pilot unit. The effect of operating variables (switching time, extract and feed flow rates, section length) and number of mass transfer units on the SMB performance is analyzed. The SMB performance is characterized by purity, recovery, solvent consumption and adsorbent productivity. The package also allows the simulation of the dynamic evolution of internal profiles for the transient operation of a TMB. The operation of the SMB pilot unit was carried out for the separation of racemic mixtures of bi-naphthol enantiomers. Using a 8-column configuration purities as high as 94.5% of the more retained species in the extract and 98.9% of the less retained species in the raffinate were obtained

Chiral separation by SMB chromatography

The paper deals with chiral separation by simulated moving bed (SMB) chromatography. A model for the prediction of the cyclic steady-state performance of the SMB, based on the analogy with the true moving bed (TMB), is developed assuming multicomponent adsorption equilibria, axial dispersion flow and the linear driving force approximation to describe the intraparticle mass transfer rate. The simulation package is used to predict the effect of operating variables on the process performance and to define the regions for enantiomers separation. The influence of mass transfer resistance in the separation region is analyzed. A practical tool for choosing the better SMB operating conditions as a function of the feed flow-rate is proposed. The experimental operation of a pilot unit of SMB, Licosep 12-26 (Novasep, France), is carried out for the separation of enantiomers and illustrated with two systems: the bi-naphthol and the chiral epoxide enantiomers. Experimental results and model predictions are compared in terms of process performance and internal concentration profiles

Avaliação da robustez de estruturas de madeira em zonas sísmicas

Alguns dos requisitos do projeto sísmico de edifícios de madeira são compatíveis com as recomendações para o dimensionamento tendo em conta a robustez estrutural. Neste estudo é analisado o efeito do dimensionamento sísmico na robustez de pórticos de madeira. Vários modelos de pórticos planos em madeira, com dois pisos de altura, são analisados através de análises push-over considerando diferentes níveis de resistência e rigidez das ligações.Agradecimentos à Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia pelo financiamento dado para a execução deste trabalho no âmbito do tema "Robustness of multi-storey timber buildings in seismic regions” do programa doutoral InfraRisk

Separation of enantiomers of a chiral epoxide by simulated moving bed chromatography

The paper deals with chiral separation by simulated moving bed (SMB) chromatography. The separation of chiral epoxide enantiomers in microcrystalline cellulose triacetate using methanol as eluent is considered as illustrative example. The use of microcrystalline cellulose triacetate for the chromatographic separation of enantiomers is first reviewed and a methodology for obtaining basic data (adsorption equilibrium isotherms, axial dispersion and mass transfer coefficient) is discussed. A model for the prediction of the cyclic steady-state performance of the SMB, based on the analogy with the true moving bed, is developed assuming multicomponent adsorption equilibria, axial dispersion flow and linear driving force approximation to describe the intraparticle mass transfer rate. The simulation package is used to predict the effect of operating variables on the process performance and to define the regions for enantiomer separation. A simple optimization procedure is proposed for choosing the best SMB operating conditions. This procedure is extensively tested for the separation of chiral epoxide enantiomers. The experimental operation of a SMB pilot unit was carried out for this system. Purities and recoveries higher than 90% were obtained for both extract and raffinate, using a 420 ml inventory of stationary phase. The SMB pilot allows the continuous resolution of 52 g of racemic mixture per day and per liter of bed, with a solvent consumption of 0.4 l of mobile phase per gram of racemic mixture processed. The simulation package is also used to predict the steady-state internal concentration profiles for the SMB operation with reasonable agreement with experimental results

Synthesis and reactivity of a 1,4-dihydropyrazine derivative

N,N-Bis-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2,5-bis-methoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydropyrazine can be obtained in high yield by treatment of the methyl ester of N-(4-toluenesulfonyl)-N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-alpha,beta-didehydroalanine with dimethylaminopyridine and potassium carbonate. This compound was used as substrate in Michael addition reactions with several types of nucleophiles. The electrochemical behaviour of this pyrazine derivative was also studied by cyclic voltammetry and by controlled potential electrolysis.We wish to thank the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia for financial support (project no. POCTI/1999/QUI/32689)

Burnout among Portuguese pastoral ministers

Burnout has been recognised as an occupational risk but also an indicator of organisational conditions and adjustment. This paper explores the role of personal, psychological, and professional experience factors in pastoral burnout compared to burnout in other caring professions. Using a set of questionnaires, data were collected from 64 pastoral ministry members, 192 elder care assistants and 258 teachers. Pastoral ministry members showed lower exhaustion and higher satisfaction with future security. Additionally, burnout symptoms were related to depression and stress. When compared with other groups, pastoral ministry members revealed lower levels of burnout. The results are discussed, and suggestions for further studies are presented.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio