Social networks and citizen election forecasting: the more friends the better

Most citizens correctly forecast which party will win a given election, and such forecasts usually have a higher level of accuracy than voter intention polls. How do citizens do it? We argue that social networks are a big part of the answer: much of what we know as citizens comes from our interactions with others. Previous research has considered only indirect characteristics of social networks when analyzing why citizens are good forecasters. We use a unique German survey and consider direct measures of social networks in order to explore their role in election forecasting. We find that three network characteristics – size, political composition, and frequency of political discussion – are among the most important variables when predicting the accuracy of citizens’ election forecasts

Nanotailoring Stereolithography Resins for Unique Applications using Carbon Nanotubes

Nanostructured materials and exploiting their properties in stereolithography (SL) may open new markets for unique rapidly manufactured functional devices. Controlled amounts of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were successfully dispersed in SL epoxy-based resins and complex three-dimensional (3D) parts were successfully fabricated by means of a multi-material SL setup. The effect of the nanosized filler was evaluated using mechanical testing. Small dispersions of MWCNTs resulted in significant effects on the physical properties of the polymerized resin. A MWCNT concentration of .05 wt% (w/v) in DSM Somos® WaterShed™ 11120 resin increased the ultimate tensile stress and fracture stress an average of 17% and 37%, respectively. Electron microscopy was used to examine the morphology of the nanocomposite and results showed affinity between the MWCNTs and SL resin and identified buckled nanotubes that illustrated strong interfacial bonding. These improved physical properties may provide opportunities for using nanocomposite SL resins in end-use applications. Varying types and concentrations of nanomaterials can be used to tailor existing SL resins for particular applications.Mechanical Engineerin

Influência do pré-tratamento osmótico na qualidade de mamão Formosa (Carica papaya L.) seco.

O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a influência do processo de desidratação osmótica como pré-tratamento à secagem de cubos de mamão Formosa (Carica papaya L.)

Qualidade do caju (Anacardium occidentale L.) osmoticamente desidratado em xarope de milho.

Dessa maneira, este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito do xarope de milho como agente osmótico nas características químicas do caju desidratado

Processo agroindustrial: obtenção de um produto seco de caju por desidratação osmótica e secagem.

A cajucultura desempenha papel de destaque na economia nordestina, em razão de o fruto se destacar como produto de exportação, além do potencial de agregação de valor por meio do aproveitamento do pedúnculo

Vacuum-stimulated cooling of single atoms in three dimensions

Taming quantum dynamical processes is the key to novel applications of quantum physics, e.g. in quantum information science. The control of light-matter interactions at the single-atom and single-photon level can be achieved in cavity quantum electrodynamics, in particular in the regime of strong coupling where atom and cavity form a single entity. In the optical domain, this requires permanent trapping and cooling of an atom in a micro-cavity. We have now realized three-dimensional cavity cooling and trapping for an orthogonal arrangement of cooling laser, trap laser and cavity vacuum. This leads to average single-atom trapping times exceeding 15 seconds, unprecedented for a strongly coupled atom under permanent observation.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Effect of concentration on the physical properties of cashew juice.

Thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, density and viscosity of cashew juice were measured at 30 oC for soluble solids content ranging from 5.5 to 25 oBrix. Thermal conductivity and diffusivity were determined using a linear hest source probe. Both properties were found to decrease with the increase of soluble solids content, while density and viscosity increased. Empirical models were fitted to the experimental data for each property and the accuracy of those models was checked

Effect of osmotic dehydration on the drying kinetics and quality of cashew apple,

The effect of different osmotic pretreatments on cashew apple drying kinetics and product quality were investigated

Avaliação do efeito da concentração e da temperatura na desidratação osmótica de abóbora utilizando metodologia de superfície de resposta.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito da temperatura (12 a 33°C) e da concentração de cloreto de sódio (3 a 17% p/p) na perda de água (PA) e no ganho de sólidos (GS) durante a desidratação osmótica de abóbora. Observou-se que, na faixa estudada, quanto maior a temperatura e a concentração maior foi a PA e o GS e a concentração de NaCl mostrou ser a variável de maior influência no processo