The embedded cluster or association Trumpler 37 in IC1396: a search for evolutionary constraints

It is currently widely accepted that open star clusters and stellar associations result from the evolution of embedded star clusters. Parameters such star formation efficiency, time-scale of gas removal and velocity dispersion can be determinants of their future as bound or unbound systems. Finding objects at an intermediate evolution state can provide constraints to model the embedded cluster evolution. In the HII region IC1396, Trumpler 37 is an extended young cluster that presents characteristics of an association. We employed the Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) photometry to analysing its structure and stellar content, and determining its astrophysical parameters. We also analysed 11 bright-rimmed clouds in IC1396 in order to search for young infrared star clusters, and the background open star cluster Teutsch 74, to verify whether it has any contribution to the observed stellar density profile of Trumpler 37. The derived parameters and comparison with template objects from other studies lead us to conclude that Trumpler 37, rather than as a star cluster, will probably emerge from its molecular cloud as an OB association.Comment: 13 pages, 10 figures, 6 table

Recreation of the 28-entity IGES test file using the ComputerVision CADDS 4X

An Initial Graphics Exchange Specification (IGES) test file is called the 28 Entity IGES Test File. This file contains 28 geometric and annotation entities which are considered the basic entities that an IGES translator for any CAD system should support. The main purpose was to determine how the IGES preprocessor supports the 28 entities through recreation of the 28 Entity IGES Test File on the ComputerVision CADDS 4X. Test procedure is described and test results are presented

The 28-entity IGES test file results using ComputerVision CADDS 4X

The investigation was based on the following steps: (1) Read the 28 Entity IGES (Initial Graphics Exchange Specification) Test File into the CAD data base with the IGES post-processor; (2) Make the modifications to the displayed geometries, which should produce the normalized front view and the drawing entity defined display; (3) Produce the drawing entity defined display of the file as it appears in the CAD system after modification to the geometry; (4) Translate the file back to IGES format using IGES pre-processor; (5) Read the IGES file produced by the pre-processor back into the CAD data base; (6) Produce another drawing entity defined display of the CAD display; and (7) Compare the plots resulting from steps 3 and 6 - they should be identical to each other

Experiences with high definition interactive video conferencing

We review the design and implementation of UltraGrid, a new high definition video conferencing system, and present some experimental results. UltraGrid was the first system to support gigabit rate high definition interactive video conferencing on commodity systems and networks, and we present measurements to illustrate behavior of production networks subject to such real time traffic. We illustrate the benefits of hybrid IP/provisioned optical networks over best effort IP networks for this class of traffic, and motivate the development of congestion control algorithms for interactive conferencing on best effort IP networks

GOVERNANÇA, AVALIAÇÃO E FINANCIAMENTO DAS INSTITUIÇÕES DE ENSINO SUPERIOR – ASPECTOS INTEGRADOS E RELEVANTES

O objetivo deste texto é propor aspectos para discussão e análise, com base em uma análise crítica, referentes: (I) governança institucional (II) avaliação de desempenho, e, (III) estratégias de financiamento das Instituições de Ensino Superior - IES. O texto está na forma de um ensaio abordando os temas de governança, avaliação e financiamento de forma integrada. Apresenta de forma geral uma descrição sobre governança, avaliação e financiamento, referente às instituições de ensino superior públicas no Brasil, Comunidade Européia, e, Estados Unidos. São apresentados tópicos para discussão, referentes à gestão das IES, estrutura organizacional das atividades de ensino e pesquisa, e, estratégias de avaliação e de financiamento

Workplace Futures: A Case Study of an Adaptive Scenarios Approach to Establish Strategies for Tomorrow’s Workplace

Workplace change and innovation will become critical to the organisation’s future in a dynamic, knowledge-based economy and society. As such, anticipating and managing future change is fast becoming a vital dimension underpinning the successful transition – to new work styles, patterns and locations; yet traditional workplace planning methods are rather limited in their ability to fulfil this task. This research, therefore, examines how the potential application of Futures Studies, and more specifically the ProspectiveThrough Scenarios process, can address this issue in order for the workplace to be actively sustained to stay effective for the organisation in the long-term.Using a case study methodology, this research: explores the changing context and nature of the workplace from past and present perspectives and scans the potential changes of the future workplace; reflects the need to create conditions for excellence, promote innovation and manage risk at the workplace provision level; examines how the future is constructed in workplace planning; appraises the future studies field and employs a scenario planning approach in a real world context to establish strategies for tomorrow’s workplace. To achieve these objectives, a combination of research methodsare employed, namely documentary review, semi-structured in-depth interviews, horizon scanning, strategic conversations, futures workshops, illustration, and web forum discussions. The results of the case study gives rise to the development of a futures framework forworkplace planning, based on the Prospective Through Scenarios process, designed to assist property and facilities professionals in: anticipating future user demand requirements as well as what cannot be expected; understanding the complexities of the workplace environment; and, developing a mechanism for communication and collaboration between stakeholders in the workplace provision process. Ultimately, thisresearch enables the creation of a new transformative mindset, based on awareness, responsibility, creativity and knowledge development, in order to change how the physical environment of work adds value for organisation

Faune malacologique terrestre des Iles Paracels

The author presents a study on the land shells of the Paracel Islands, group of islands, reefs, banks and other maritime features in the South China Sea. The archipelago includes about 130 small coral islands and reefs, most grouped into the northeast Amphitrite Group or the western Crescent Group. It is approximately equidistant from the coastlines of China and Vietnam

Administração Financeira das Instituições de Ensino Superior Comunitárias de Santa Catarina

texto é o resultado de uma pesquisa exploratória sobre a administração contábil e financeira, e das fontes de financiamento das Instituições de Ensino Superior - IES comunitárias de Santa Catarina - SC. Foi elaborado com base nos questionários enviados as dez IES comunitárias existentes sendo que oito responderam. Identificou-se que todas as IES estudadas possuem um sistema de planejamento e orçamento, utilizam a contabilidade financeira e possuem diversas fontes de financiamentos. Verificou-se que em 2002 aproximadamente 87% dos recursos provêm das taxas pagas pelos alunos

MICROFLUIDIC PARTICLE AND CELL MANIPULATION USING RESERVOIR-BASED DIELECTROPHORESIS

Controlled manipulation of synthetic particles and biological cells from a complex mixture is important to a wide range of applications in biology, environmental monitoring, and pharmaceutical industry. In the past two decades microfluidics has evolved to be a very useful tool for particle and cell manipulations in miniaturized devices. A variety of force fields have been demonstrated to control particle and cell motions in microfluidic devices, among which electrokinetic techniques are most often used. However, to date, studies of electrokinetic transport phenomena have been primarily confined within the area of microchannels. Very few works have addressed the electrokinetic particle motion at the reservoir-microchannel junction which acts as the interface between the macro (i.e., reservoir) and the micro (i.e., microchannel) worlds in real microfluidic devices. This Dissertation is dedicated to the study of electrokinetic transport and manipulation of particles and cells at the reservoir-microchannel junction of a microfluidic device using a combined experimental, theoretical, and numerical analysis. First, we performed a fundamental study of particles undergoing electrokinetic motion at the reservoir-microchannel junction. The effects of AC electric field, DC electric field, and particle size on the electrokinetic motion of particles passing through the junction were studied. A two-dimensional numerical model using COMSOL 3.5a was developed to investigate and understand the particle motion through the junction. It was found that particles can be continuously focused and even trapped at the reservoir-microchannel junction due to the effect of reservoir-based dielectrophoresis (rDEP). The electrokinetic particle focusing increases with the increase in AC electric field and particle size but decreases with the increase in DC electric field. It was also found that larger particles can be trapped at lower electric fields compared to smaller counterparts. Next, we utilized rDEP to continuously separate particles with different sizes at the reservoir-microchannel junction. The separation process utilized the inherent electric field gradients formed at the junction due to the size difference between the reservoir and the microchannel. It was observed, that the separation efficiency was reduced by inter-particle interactions when particles with small size differences were separated. The effect of enhanced electrokinetic flow on the separation efficiency was investigated experimentally and was observed to have a favorable effect. We also utilized rDEP approach to separate particles based on surface charge. Same sized particles with difference in surface charge were separated inside the microfluidic reservoir. The streaming particles interacted with the trapped particles and reduced the separation efficiency. The influences from the undesired particle trapping have been found through experiments to decrease with a reduced AC field frequency. Then, we demonstrated a continuous microfluidic separation of live yeast cells from dead cells using rDEP. Because the membrane of a cell gets distorted when it loses its viability, a higher exchange of ions results from such viability loss. The increased membrane conductivity of dead cells leads to a different Claussius-Mossoti factor from that of live cells, which enables their selective trapping and continuous separation based on cell viability. A two-shell numerical model was developed to account for the varying conductivities of different cell layers, the results of which agree reasonably with the experimental observations. We also used rDEP to implement a continuous concentration and separation of particles/cells in a stacked microfluidics device. This device has multiple layers and multiple microchannels on each layer so that the throughput can be significantly increased as compared to a single channel/single layer device. Finally, we compared the two-dimensional and three-dimensional particle focusing and trapping at the reservoir-microchannel junction using rDEP. We observed that the inherent electric field gradients in both the horizontal and vertical planes of the junction can be utilized if the reservoir is created right at the reservoir-microchannel junction. Three-dimensional rDEP utilizes the additional electric field gradient in the depth wise direction and thus can produce three-dimensional focusing. The electric field required to trap particles is also considerably lower in three-dimensional rDEP as compared to the two-dimensional rDEP, which thus considerably reduces the non-desired effects of Joule heating. A three-dimensional numerical model which accounted for the entire microfluidic device was also developed to predict particle trajectories