Dynamic Euler Diagram Drawing

In this paper we describe a method to lay out a graph enhanced Euler diagram so that it looks similar to a previously drawn graph enhanced Euler diagram. This task is non-trivial when the underlying structures of the diagrams differ. In particular, if a structural change is made to an existing drawn diagram, our work enables the presentation of the new diagram with minor disruption to the user's mental map. As the new diagram can be generated from an abstract representation, its initial embedding may be very different from that of the original. We have developed comparison measures for Euler diagrams, integrated into a multicriteria optimizer, and applied a force model for associated graphs that attempts to move nodes towards their positions in the original layout. To further enhance the usability of the system, the transition between diagrams can be animated

Ionic coupling to plasma polymer surfaces

The work in this thesis was aimed at the preparation of low energy surfaces via the surface attachment of fluorinated surfactant molecules. Such surface functionalisation routes are highly dependent on the chemical nature of the substrate surface. For this reason the choice of substrate materials is both all important and extremely limited. To make the process of more general appeal a method for pre-treating the substrate, using cold plasma polymerisation reactions, followed by surfactant coupling to the plasma polymer has been devised. Using this approach, the surfactant coupling process is now dependent on the surface chemistry of deposited plasma polymers and independent of substrate characteristics. In order to form highly functionalised surfaces, likely to undergo further reactions, the plasma polymerisation of acrylic acid, ally! amine and allyl alcohol was investigated. Highly functionalised acid, amine and alcohol surfaces, as shown by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Infrared Spectroscopy (IR), were produced by optimisation of pulsed plasma conditions. Measurement of deposition rates during plasma polymerisation reactions indicated that polymerisation can occur during the off-time of the pulsed plasma period, most likely via free radical polymerisation pathways. Highly functionalised plasma polymer surfaces thus formed were shown to couple to fluorinated surfactant molecules. The mechanism of surfactant attachment has been suggested to be ionic attraction between opposite charges on the surfactant molecule and the plasma polymer in aqueous solution. The surfaces formed give rise to oleophobic/hydrophilic behaviour. This is in marked contrast to the usual liquid repellent attributes of conventional polyelectrolyte- fluorosurfactant complexes formed by solution phase synthesis

Adorno y Horkheimer : Prolegómenos a una teoría sobre la cultura de masas

La industria cultural. Ilustración como engaño de masas fue, en un principio, elaborado sólo por Adorno, quien ha realizado dentro del Instituto de Frankfurt sus mayores esfuerzos intelectuales por desarrollar una teoría sociológica. Años más tarde Adorno y Horkheimer realizaran una corrección en conjunto que dará lugar al texto que hoy nos proponemos recorrer. La frase que hemos elegido para volcarnos al artículo es contundente. Los frankfurtianos exclaman con ímpetu “La industria se adapta a los deseos por ella misma suscitados”. Esta frase es una invitación, una invitación directa a pensar una circularidad de consumo: la industria cultural produce para sujetos ociosos que quieren saciar sus deseos. Pero estos deseos han sido previamente producidos por la misma industria cultural. El sujeto está encerrado. ¿Cuál es el medio para poder salir de la circularidad de la producción? No lo sabemos porque no nos encontramos con formula alguna. Ahora bien, ¿cuál es el medio para que el sujeto continúe en esta circularidad de consumo? La publicidad. La publicidad mediática: las radios, propio del boom de la época en la que los autores escriben. Las publicidades que tienen grandes similitudes con la propaganda nazi: repetir y actuar. Repetir el deseo, actuar consumiendo. (Párrafo extraído del texto a modo de resumen)Mesa 2: Crítica de la cultura y sociedad. Problemas en torno a la práctica de una sociología crítica hoyFacultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educació

The case for developing an Australian technical specification for structural design of ventilation control devices

Ventilation management and control plays an essential part in underground coal mining. Failure of the ventilation system or failure of underground seals can lead to multiple fatalities and closure of a mine. Examples include: Moura No.2 (Qld, 1994); Sago (USA, 2006) and Pike River (NZ, 2010). Following the Moura No.2 disaster, the Qld Dept. of Mines put new regulations in place specifying pressure ratings for various classes of Ventilation Control Devices (VCDs). They also initially specified that only VCD’s that had been subject to “full scale testing” would be accepted for use in Qld mines. No guidance was provided on how the full scale test results were to be applied to the design of VCDs in the field. It is considered that an Australian Standard for VCDs should be developed to address commonly observed issues including: Factors of safety Design methodologies and designer qualifications Material properties, testing and verification Dual ratings for overpressure and water head Provision for inclusions such as access hatches, doors and pipes. Australian Standards are extensively researched, peer reviewed and subject to public comment. The entire process typically can take from two to four years. An Australian Technical Specification is a one-tier lower document than an Australian Standard, produced by an expert committee on the basis of consensus. Although peer reviewed, it is not subject to public comment and could be completed within 12 months. It is suggested in light of the critical importance of VCDs and the lack of any Governmental or Regulatory technical progress since 2001, that the Coal Mining Industry should pro-actively assemble an expert committee and prepare a business case to Standards Australia for development of an Australian Technical Specification for VCDs with a target completion date of June 2018

Designing explosion rated ventilation seals for coal mines using high-fidelity physics-based computer modelling

Questions have been raised about the effectiveness of ventilation control devices (VCDs) to safely resist explosions during their intended life. This functionality depends on the ability of the VCDs and in particular seals to withstand changes in the behaviour of the strata, particularly where longwall abutments influence the stress regime in and around the chain pillars. As a consequence of an explosion impact on a seal, the surrounding strata could experience increased loads possibly resulting in permanent deformation and requiring grout consolidation. These aspects of seal design have been investigated using advanced numerical analysis. Globally since the early 20th century, to protect underground personnel, ventilation seal designs have been required to be tested at an internationally recognized explosion test gallery to achieve pressure ratings required by legislation. The last two decades has seen advances in materials technology and engineering of structures. It has become accepted practice to use numerical methods to provide engineering ratings for mine seals in line with other industries where the elimination of prototype testing provides more rapid product introduction to the market. Before presenting the results of numerical analysis, structural aspects of seal design are simply explained including arching behaviour and the contribution of dynamic magnification due to impact loads. High-fidelity physics-based computer simulations using software LS-DYNA were able to predict the results from physical testing of mine based seals in a most realistic way. Test data from live gas/coal dust deflagration explosions at Lake Lynn, PA, USDA along with pressure-time curves recently developed by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health as a result of the study of explosive atmospheres, were used to simulate a realistic loading environment caused by 138 kPa (20- psi) and 345 kPa (50-psi) explosions in physics-based models of seals

Danos promovidos por cigarrinha-das-raízes na qualidade da cana e processo fermentativo

A qualidade da matéria-prima define o potencial de produção da indústria. A colheita de cana sem queima proporcionou um ambiente favorável ao aumento da infestação da Mahanarva fimbriolata (Stål, 1854), que suga a planta e afeta seu desenvolvimento. Avaliaram-se os danos promovidos pela M. fimbriolata na qualidade da cana e no processo fermentativo. Os tratamentos utilizados foram quatro níveis de danos e duas épocas de avaliações para as análises tecnológicas, e quatro níveis de danos, quatro ciclos fermentativos e duas épocas de avaliações para as análises microbiológicas com três repetições. Foram determinados Brix (sólidos solúveis), Pol (sacarose aparente), Pureza, açúcar redutor total (ART), açúcar redutor (AR), Acidez Total, pH, e teor de compostos fenólicos totais no caldo. No processo fermentativo foram realizadas análises de viabilidade celular, brotos de leveduras e concentração de bactérias. Determinaram-se açúcar redutor residual Total (ARRT), teor alcoólico nos vinhos e a eficiência da fermentação. Os tratamentos com 60% dos colmos danificados apresentaram menor média de Brix, Pol, Pureza e ART do caldo. Verificou-se aumento do AR% caldo e dos teores de compostos fenólicos totais. A viabilidade celular e de brotos foram reduzidas com o aumento dos danos provocados pela M. fimbriolata. O processo fermentativo apresentou maiores quantidades de contaminantes. Com os danos a quantidade de ARRT dos vinhos foi maior, houve redução do teor alcoólico, assim como na eficiência da fermentação. Os danos causados pela M. fimbriolata afetaram a qualidade da matéria-prima, comprometendo o processo fermentativo, além de aumentar a produção de compostos fenólicos e contaminantes.The quality of the raw material defines the industrial potential production. The harvest of raw sugarcane promoted a favorable environment for the increase of Mahanarva fimbriolata (Stål, 1854) pest that affects the plant development. This research was undertaken to evaluate the effects of M. fimbriolata on sugarcane quality and fermentation process. For the technological analysis, four damage levels and two evaluation periods were evaluated, while four fermentation cycles and two evaluation periods were tested for microbiological analysis, with three replications. The determined parameters were Brix (soluble solids), Pol (apparent sucrose), Purity, reducing sugars (RS), total reducing sugars (TRS), Total Acidity, pH and Total Phenolic Compounds in juice. In the fermentation process cellular viability analysis, yeast sprout and bacterial concentration were carried out. The wine was submitted to alcohol content, TRRS (total residual reducing sugars) and fermentation efficiency. The treatment with 60% of damage steams exhibited the lowest averages of Brix, Pol, Purity and TRS of the juice. An increase of the RS% of the juice and content of total phenolic compounds was observed. The cellular and sprouts viability were reduced with the increase in the damages caused by M. fimbriolata. The fermentation process exhibited larger quantities of contaminators. With the damages, the wine TRRS quantity was superior and, consequently there was a decrease of the alcoholic content and fermentation efficiency. The damages caused by M. fimbriolata affected the quality of the raw material, compromising the fermentative process, and increase the production of phenolic compounds and contaminators

Designing explosion rated ventilation seals for coal mines using high-fidelity physics-based computer modelling

Questions have been raised about the effectiveness of ventilation control devices (VCDs) to safely resist explosions during their intended life. This functionality depends on the ability of the VCDs and in particular seals to withstand changes in the behaviour of the strata, particularly where longwall abutments influence the stress regime in and around the chain pillars. As a consequence of an explosion impact on a seal, the surrounding strata could experience increased loads possibly resulting in permanent deformation and requiring grout consolidation. These aspects of seal design have been investigated using advanced numerical analysis. Globally since the early 20th century, to protect underground personnel, ventilation seal designs have been required to be tested at an internationally recognized explosion test gallery to achieve pressure ratings required by legislation. The last two decades has seen advances in materials technology and engineering of structures. It has become accepted practice to use numerical methods to provide engineering ratings for mine seals in line with other industries where the elimination of prototype testing provides more rapid product introduction to the market. Before presenting the results of numerical analysis, structural aspects of seal design are simply explained including arching behaviour and the contribution of dynamic magnification due to impact loads. High-fidelity physics-based computer simulations using software LS-DYNA were able to predict the results from physical testing of mine based seals in a most realistic way. Test data from live gas/coal dust deflagration explosions at Lake Lynn, PA, USDA along with pressure-time curves recently developed by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health as a result of the study of explosive atmospheres, were used to simulate a realistic loading environment caused by 138 kPa (20- psi) and 345 kPa (50-psi) explosions in physics-based models of seals

Teacher education policy making during the pandemic: shifting values underpinning change in England?

This paper examines how the policy process around initial teacher education (ITE) during the pandemic of 2020 was experienced by the leaders of ITE programmes across England.Education policies,it is argued, are solutions to perceived problems, revealing latent values that drive action. Group interviews with leaders of ITE programmes across the education sector, focused on the lived experience of ITE policy developments during the first wave of the COVID-19 period (March to July 2020). The analysis drew upon three policy drivers derived from an examination of teacher education policy (prior to the pandemic) in four ‘high performing’ English-speaking countries (according to PISA). The three policy drivers: the economy and global competitiveness (the rationale for change); accountability and regulatory framework (the technologies for change); and the core purpose of schooling and teacher professionalism (the values underpinning change); show how the temporary policy shift soon reverted back to previous priorities. Agency and autonomy were experienced by teacher educators which enabled them to exercise expert judgment, but there were also the significant ‘gaps’ in the expertise of policymakers. The research reveals how values influences policy formation, creating divisions within England’s ITE community, and isolating it from international policy trends