Social Policy in the EU — Reform Barometer 2016. Bertelsmann Stiftung Social Inclusion Monitor Europe

The Social Inclusion Monitor Europe (SIM Europe) project invited social policy experts from across Europe to participate in the Reform Barometer 2016 survey and assess the reform need, activity and quality with respect to 55 policy objectives in the 28 member states of the European Union between July 2014 and January 2016. This report presents the analysis of the replies from over 1,000 survey participants in five dimensions: Poverty Prevention, Equitable Education, Labour Market Access, Social Cohesion and Non-discrimination, and Health.1 For each member state, the experts’ quantitative assessments have been aggregated to different levels of analysis, yielding a reform need score, an activity rate and a quality score at the levels of policy objectives and of dimensions as well as at the overall level. In addition, the reform performance score is a composite measure that captures each member state’s reform activity and quality using a single number. In what follows, we present a summary of the key findings

Transit-timing variations in the AU Mic system observed with CHEOPS

Context. AU Mic is a very active M dwarf star with an edge-on debris disk and two known transiting sub-Neptunes with a possible third planetary companion. The two transiting planets exhibit significant transit-timing variations (TTVs) that are caused by the gravi tational interaction between the bodies in the system. Aims. Using photometrical observations taken with the CHaracterizing ExOPlanet Satellite (CHEOPS), we aim to constrain the plan etary radii, the orbital distances, and the periods of AU Mic b and c. Furthermore, our goal is to determine the superperiod of the TTVs for AU Mic b and to update the transit ephemeris for both planets. Additionally, based on the perceived TTVs, we study the possible presence of a third planet in the system. Methods. We conducted ultra-high precision photometric observations with CHEOPS in 2022 and 2023. We used Allesfitter to fit the planetary transits and to constrain the planetary and orbital parameters. We combined our new measurements with results from previous years to determine the periods and amplitudes of the TTVs. We applied dynamical modelling based on TTV measurements from the 2018–2023 period to reconstruct the perceived variations. Results. We found that the orbital distances and periods for AU Mic b and c agree with the results from previous works. However, the values for the planetary radii deviate slightly from previous values, which we attribute to the effect of spots on the stellar surface. AU Mic c showed very strong TTVs, with transits that occurred ∼80 minutes later in 2023 than in 2021. Through a dynamical analysis of the system, we found that the observed TTVs can be explained by a third planet with an orbital period of ∼12.6 days and a mass of 0.203−0.024+0.022 M⊕. We explored the orbital geometry of the system and found that AU Mic c has a misaligned retrograde orbit. The limited number of AU Mic observations prevented us from determining the exact dynamical configuration and planetary parameters. Further monitoring of the system with CHEOPS might help to improve these results

Behavior of FRP confined ultra-high strength concrete columns under compression: An experimental study

Ultra High-Strength Concrete (UHSC) have become increasingly popular within the civil engineering community. While many studies exist on structural members made using UHSC, research works on the behavior of Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) confined UHSC columns are scarce. Existing theoretical models for predicting the behavior of FRP-confined normal strength and high strength concrete found to be inadequate for FRP-confined UHSC with silica fume. Due to inconstancies of existing limited experimental results on FRP-confined UHSC columns, effect of silica fume cannot be clearly identified. This paper presents an experimental study on the compressive performance of twelve FRP-confined UHSC columns under axial compression. The variables investigated include unconfined concrete strength (two different mix designs with different silica fume content) and number of GFRP plies. While GFRP confinement significantly enhance both compressive strength and ultimate strain, effectiveness of GFRP confinement was found to be largely effected by the concrete mix design

The mechanical properties of natural fibre composite laminates: a statistical study

The use of long natural fibres (LNF) as reinforcement in composite systems for structural applications has been steadily growing in the automotive and construction industries as these materials offer sustainability benefits combined with high specific strength and stiffness. However, the performance of natural fibres has been questioned by a high variability in their mechanical properties and design data for structural reliability analysis of LNF composites are not yet available. Here, we present a statistical study of the elastic modulus, strength and failure strain of a comprehensive set of LNF composite systems. We have found that the variability of LNF laminate properties is similar to that of carbon fibre laminates. We provide recommendations to apply the statistical parameters determined here to the design of natural fibre composite structures. Our findings provide a deeper understanding of LNF composites reliability and are important for the further acceptance of these materials by the industry

Unveiling the internal structure and formation history of the three planets transiting HIP 29442 (TOI-469) with CHEOPS

Multiplanetary systems spanning the radius valley are ideal testing grounds for exploring the different proposed explanations for the observed bimodality in the radius distribution of close-in exoplanets. One such system is HIP 29442 (TOI-469), an evolved K0V star hosting two super-Earths and one sub-Neptune. We observed HIP 29442 with CHEOPS for a total of 9.6 days, which we modelled jointly with two sectors of TESS data to derive planetary radii of 3.410 ± 0.046, 1.551 ± 0.045, and 1.538 ± 0.049 R⊕ for planets b, c, and d, which orbit HIP 29442 with periods of 13.6, 3.5, and 6.4 days, respectively. For planet d this value deviates by more than 3σ from the median value reported in the discovery paper, leading us to conclude that caution is required when using TESS photometry to determine the radii of small planets with low per-transit signal-to-noise ratios and large gaps between observations. Given the high precision of these new radii, combining them with published RVs from ESPRESSO and HIRES provides us with ideal conditions to investigate the internal structure and formation pathways of the planets in the system. We introduced the publicly available code plaNETic, a fast and robust neural network-based Bayesian internal structure modelling framework. We then applied hydrodynamic models to explore the upper atmospheric properties of these inferred structures. Finally, we identified planetary system analogues in a synthetic population generated with the Bern model for planet formation and evolution. Based on this analysis, we find that the planets likely formed on opposing sides of the water iceline from a protoplanetary disk with an intermediate solid mass. We finally report that the observed parameters of the HIP 29442 system are compatible with a scenario where the second peak in the bimodal radius distribution corresponds to sub-Neptunes with a pure H/He envelope and with a scenario with water-rich sub-Neptunes

DI Diesel Engine Combustion Visualized by Combined Laser Techniques

In this work we demonstrate that the progress of the combustionccycle in a four-cylinder (in-line) 1.9 1 direct injection Diesel engine can be studied effectively using different laser visualization techniques. Direct optical access to the piston bowl was facilitated by inserting quartz windows in one of the pistons. The flow field at the time of injection was characterized by seeding the flow and illuminating the piston bowl with a laser light sheet. Fuel spray development, auto-ignition and flame propagation in a Diesel cycle were followed by laser shadowgraphy and high speed cinematography while simultaneous laser induced fluorescence (LIF) and Mie scattering images were taken to distinguish the fuel distribution in the liquid and vapor phase. In addition, two dimensional distributions of OH and NO, formed during n-heptane/air combustion in the same engine, were recorded in the pressure range 5 to 50 bar by LIF following narrowband excitation using tunable excimer lasers. Finally, further work, designed to obtain quantitative images and hence data for comparison with model calculations, is outlined.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/86790/1/Sick50.pd

The CHEOPS view of the climate of WASP-3 b

Context. Hot Jupiters are giant planets subject to intense stellar radiation. The physical and chemical properties of their atmosphere make them the most amenable targets for atmospheric characterization. Aims. In this paper we analyze the photometry collected during the secondary eclipses of the hot Jupiter WASP-3 b by CHEOPS, TESS, and Spitzer. Our aim is to characterize the atmosphere of the planet by measuring the secondary eclipse depth in several passbands and constrain the planetary dayside spectrum. Methods. We updated the radius and the ephemeris of WASP-3 b by analyzing the transit photometry collected by CHEOPS and TESS. We also analyzed the CHEOPS, TESS, and Spitzer photometry of the occultations of the planet, measuring the eclipse depth at different wavelengths. Results. Our update of the stellar and planetary properties is consistent with previous works. The analysis of the occultations returns an eclipse depth of 92±21 ppm in the CHEOPS passband, 83±27 ppm for TESS, and >2000 ppm in the IRAC 1-2-4 Spitzer passbands. Using the eclipse depths in the Spitzer bands, we propose a set of likely emission spectra that constrain the emission contribution in the CHEOPS and TESS passbands to approximately a few dozen parts per million. This allowed us to measure a geometric albedo of 0.21±0.07 in the CHEOPS passband, while the TESS data lead to a 95% upper limit of ∼0.2. Conclusions. WASP-3 b belongs to the group of ultra-hot Jupiters that are characterized by a low Bond albedo (<0.3±0.1), as predicted by different atmospheric models. On the other hand, it seems to efficiently recirculate the absorbed stellar energy, which is not typical for similar, highly irradiated planets. To explain this inconsistency, we propose that other energy recirculation mechanisms are at play besides advection (for example, the dissociation and recombination of H2). Another possibility is that the observations in different bandpasses probe different atmospheric layers; this would make the atmospheric analysis difficult without an appropriate modeling of the thermal emission spectrum of WASP-3 b, which is not feasible with the limited spectroscopic data available to date

Spacers to improve performance and porosity of graphene based polymer electrolyte fuel cells

Graphene has been suggested as a potential support material to replace commercial carbon black due to its carbon corrosion resistance. However, graphene-based electrodes typically perform poorly in MEA testing due to restacking of the graphitic sheets. In this study we investigate the introduction of carbon black and their effects on the porosity and current density of graphene-based supports

Representations and concepts of professional ethos among Swiss religious education teacher trainers

Over the past two decades, the organisation of religious education classes in Switzerland has undergone profound reforms. Amid the increasing secularisation and pluralisation of the religious landscape, many cantons have introduced a compulsory course that falls under the responsibility of the state and is aimed at teaching basic knowledge about a variety of religions. These reforms have enabled a harmonisation of the syllabi for religious education across the country and have prompted the adaptation of teacher training programmes. Because of the many diverse social expectations surrounding these new courses and the diverse academic tra- ditions in the field of religious education, however, a unified conception of these courses is still absent. In this article, we discuss the ongoing construction of religious education teachers’ professional ethos within this fluid context. In particular, we discuss the perspective of teacher trainers on pragmatic questions concerning religious plurality and the place of teachers’ and pupils’ personal (religious) experiences in the classroom, and pay attention to different representations of ‘religion’ and distinct ideas regarding the purpose of these courses as they have a major impact on the professional attitudes expected from teachers. Keywords: professional ethos; teacher trainers; Switzerland; concepts of religion; impartialit