Collections of the Swiss Institute for Children’s and Youth Media and their Public Access

The Swiss Institute for Children’s and Youth Media, Schweizerisches Institut für Kinder- und Jugendmedien (SIKJM), an associated institute of the University of Zurich and the Swiss section of IBBY (International Board on Books for Young People), accommodates the only documentation centre of Switzerland, which collects children's literature and secondary literature of a wide range, with historical and contemporary interest. The main activities of the institute are research and documentation in the field of children’s and youth media and reading promotion. It cooperates with similar institutions in other European countries

The value of near infrared reflectance measurement of feedgrain nutrient composition

To determine the value of near infrared reflectance (NIR) measurement of corn nutrient composition to livestock feeders, sequential decision models of beef cattle and swine feeding were developed. Corn composition data from the National Feedstuff Composition Data Bank (NFCDB) were used to derive probability density functions for crude protein, fat, and lysine content. Expected values of profit and other variables were computed by numerical integration. Means of crude protein and lysine of the NFCDB sample were lower and higher, respectively, than National Research Council estimates. These differences caused errors in diet formulations which resulted in losses due to imperfect information of up to 47 per year per head of one-time capacity in feeding yearling steers, up to 41 per year per head of one-time capacity in feeding steer calves and up to 6.50 per year per head of one-time capacity in feeding swine;The difference between the expected values of NIR-generated information and of NFCDB sample means was very small. One-time capacities of approximately 40,000 yearling cattle, 12,500 calves of 2,200 swine were necessary to justify investment in an analyzer based on net present value when NIR-generated information (versus NFCDB sample means) was used to formulate diets to meet recommended nutrient allowances. Minimum one-time capacities declined to 2,550 yearling cattle, 1,700 calves or 1,080 swine when diets were formulated to meet nutrient requirements;NIR-generated information was more valuable to yearling steer feeders than to steer calf feeders on an annual basis, given continuous production. This result was due to yearling steers\u27 requiring fewer days to reach market weight thereby allowing more animals to be fed per year;Losses due to imperfect knowledge in beef cattle feeding were largest when corn had low crude protein content and high fat content. Losses incurred by swine feeders were highest when crude protein content was high and fat content was low;The use of NIR results to reject corn with low crude protein and/or fat content increased the expected value of NIR-generated information by roughly ten percent for both species. This gain in expected value does now, however, account for costs that may be incurred by feeders in finding corn that meets their specified standards

Plasma cleaning of ITER first mirrors in magnetic field

To avoid reflectivity losses in ITER optical diagnostic systems, plasma sputtering of metallic First Mirrors is foreseen in order to remove deposits coming from the main wall (mainly beryllium and tungsten). Therefore plasma cleaning has to work on large mirrors (up to a size of 200*300 mm) and under the influence of strong magnetic fields (several Tesla). This work presents the results of plasma cleaning of aluminium and aluminium oxide (used as beryllium proxy) deposited on molybdenum mirrors. Using radio frequency (13.56 MHz) argon plasma, the removal of a 260 nm mixed aluminium/aluminium oxide film deposited by magnetron sputtering on a mirror (98 mm diameter) was demonstrated. 50 nm of pure aluminium oxide were removed from test mirrors (25 mm diameter) in a magnetic field of 0.35 T for various angles between the field lines and the mirrors surfaces. The cleaning efficiency was evaluated by performing reflectivity measurements, Scanning Electron Microscopy and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figures and 1 table. Results presented on the 21st Plasma Surface Interaction conference held in Kanazawa Japan, May 201

National test bed concept

Information on the National Test Bed concept is given in outline form. Program objectives include the development of a national test bed for propulsion system testing, the efficient utilization of NASA's limited funding for future propulsion system development and sustained flight support, ensuring that adequate test facilities are available within NASA to support future propulsion systems, and the development and maintenance within NASA and the private sector of the technical skills and expertise for future propulsion system development. Proposed actions and programs as well as major milestones are outlined

Afrikabilder in Kinder- und Jugendmedien: Das Beispiel der "Hottentotten" und "Buschmänner" (Khoisan)

Das Bild, das die westlichen Medien heute von Afrika und afrikanischen Menschen zeichnen, ist immer noch geprägt von Exotismus einerseits und Rückständigkeit und Armut andererseits. Auch an Kinder und Jugendliche adressierte Medien wie Bilderbücher, Jugendbücher, Sachbücher oder Filme zeichnen von der Aufklärung bis in die Gegenwart oft ein konstruiertes „Afrika-Bild“, welches mit Stereotypisierungen durchsetzt ist. Bei dem Versuch verschiedene Repräsentationen indigener Bevölkerung des südlichen Afrika zu analysieren und historisch zu erklären, wird auf den Machtaspekt europäischer Repräsentationsweisen fokussiert, um tradierte Afrikabilder zu hinterfragen. Der Beitrag widmet sich der Darstellung der Khoisan-Bevölkerungsgruppen in Kinder- und Jugendmedien im Laufe der Zeit. Die Khoikhoi, früher abwertend als „Hottentotten“ bezeichnet, und die San, die bis heute diskriminierend „Buschmänner“ genannt werden, sind dabei seit Peter Kolbs Reisebericht von 1709 ein wiederkehrendes Motiv