A Multimedia Interactive Environment Using Program Archetypes: Divide-and-Conquer

As networks and distributed systems that can exploit parallel computing become more widespread, the need for ways to teach parallel programming effectively grows as well. Even though many colleges and universities provide courses on parallel programming [1], most of those courses are reserved for graduate students and advanced undergraduates. There is a demand for ways to teach fundamental parallel programming concepts to people with just a working knowledge of programming. By using the idea of a software archetype, and providing a learning environment that teaches both concept and coding, we hope to satisfy this need. This paper presents an overview of the multimedia approach we took in teaching parallel programming and offers Divide-and-Conquer as an example of its use

Desarrollo y validación del comportamiento mecánico de un implante discal cervical con forma de “S” de Ti-6Al-4V ELI fabricado mediante SLM

In the present study is developed and validated the mechanical behavior of a titanium alloy cervical medical implant type Ti-6Al-4V ELI, manufactured by selective laser melting (SLM), which is a highly versatile and a faster process that allows to manufacture components with complex shapes. The medical implant developed in this research presents improvements compared to existing ones. The proposal of this research is the geometric design optimization set up as a "S" shape, by using finite elements analysis and the feedback the results of mechanical tests. Chemical analyzes, microstructural analyzes, mechanical tests and finite element analysis were carried out, taking as reference the guidelines established in the ASTM F136-13 and ASTM 2346-11 standards. During the development of this project, several geometric modifications were presented as a result of the constant feedback between the simulation of the design and the behavior of the implant under cyclic loads. Finally, the optimal design of the implant was found and this design achieves the functional requirements of a cervical implant. En el presente estudio se desarrolla y valida el comportamiento mecánico de un implante médico cervical de aleación de titanio tipo Ti-6Al-4V ELI, fabricado mediante selective laser melting (SLM). Este es un proceso de gran versatilidad que permite fabricar componentes de formas complejas de manera relativamente rápida. El implante desarrollado es un dispositivo médico que presenta mejoras respecto a los ya existentes. La propuesta de esta investigación es la optimización del diseño geométrico en forma de “S”, a través de simulaciones por elementos finitos y retroalimentación del análisis de los resultados de los ensayos realizados. Se realizaron análisis químico, análisis microestructural, ensayos mecánicos y análisis por elementos finitos, para lo cual se tuvo como referencia los lineamientos establecidos en las normas ASTM F136-13 y ASTM 2346-11. Durante el desarrollo de este proyecto se presentaron diversas modificaciones geométricas resultado de la retroalimentación constante entre la simulación del diseño y el comportamiento del implante ante cargas cíclicas. Finalmente, se encontró el diseño óptimo del implante con el que se logran las características que deben garantizar un correcto funcionamiento del implante.

From the low status role of residential (care) workers to the high-status role as house mentors

This article is about the claim that 'residential work is part of social work', and how the subsequent demise of specialist residential qualifications in both Britain and Australia came about. This demise resulted from the British adoption of the CQSW (Certificate of Qualification in Social Work) as a common fieldwork and residential services qualification. Australia, in time, imported US models of residential care and treatment. Two examples are given, firstly, of how the downsizing of residential facilities in NSW has created a demand for residential placements that cannot be satisfied. This is described as a planning and policy failure. The second example is from education. This educational sector programme avoided the rush by community services to reduce the use of residential facilities. In contrast, this programme, for educationally disengaged young people, has maintained a capacity of 32 young people, and can empirically demonstrate effectiveness in returning these young people to mainstream education. The focus in this programme is on 'educational gain and behaviour change', with staff in the four special houses having an educational role as house mentors

Electro-kinetic technology as a low-cost method for dewatering food by-product

Increasing volumes of food waste, intense environmental awareness, and stringent legislation have imposed increased demands upon conventional food waste management. Food byproducts that were once considered to be without value are now being utilized as reusable materials, fuels, and energy in order to reduce waste. One major barrier to the valorization of food by-products is their high moisture content. This has brought about the necessity of dewatering food waste for any potential re-use for certain disposal options. A laboratory system for experimentally characterizing electro-kinetic dewatering of food by-products was evaluated. The bench scale system, which is an augmented filter press, was used to investigate the dewatering at constant voltage. Five food by-products (brewer’s spent grain, cauliflower trimmings, mango peel, orange peel, and melon peel) were studied. The results indicated that electro-kinetic dewatering combined with mechanical dewatering can reduce the percentage of moisture from 78% to 71% for brewer’s spent grain, from 77% to 68% for orange peel, from 80% to 73% for mango peel, from 91% to 74% for melon peel, and from 92% to 80% for cauliflower trimmings. The total moisture reduction showed a correlation with electrical conductivity (R2¼0.89). The energy consumption of every sample was evaluated and was found to be up to 60 times more economical compared to thermal processing

Impact of highly basic solutions on sorption of Cs+ to subsurface sediments from the Hanford site, USA

The effect of caustic NaNO3 solutions on the sorption of 137Cs to a Hanford site micaceous subsurface sediment was investigated as a function of base exposure time (up to 168 d), temperature (10°C or 50°C), and NaOH concentration (0.1 mol/L to 3 mol/L). At 10°C and 0.1 M NaOH, the slow evolution of [Al]aq was in stark contrast to the rapid increase and subsequent loss of [Al]aq observed at 50°C (regardless of base concentration). Exposure to 0.1 M NaOH at 10°C for up to 168 d exhibited little if any measurable effect on sediment mineralogy, Cs+ sorption, or Cs+ selectivity; sorption was well described with a two-site ion exchange model modified to include enthalpy effects. At 50°C, dissolution of phyllosilicate minerals increased with [OH]. A zeolite (tetranatrolite; Na2Al2Si3O10·2H2O) precipitated in 0.1 M NaOH after about 7 days, while an unnamed mineral phase (Na14Al12Si13O51·6H2O) precipitated after 4 and 2 days of exposure to 1 M and 3 M NaOH solutions, respectively. Short-term (16 h) Cs+ sorption isotherms (10−9–10−2 mol/L) were measured on sediment after exposure to 0.1 M NaOH for 56, 112, and 168 days at 50°C. There was a trend toward slightly lower conditional equilibrium exchange constants (∆log NaCsKc ~ 0.25) over the entire range of surface coverage, and a slight loss of high affinity sites (15%) after 168 days of pretreatment with 0.1 M base solution. Cs+ sorption to sediment over longer times was also measured at 50°C in the presence of NaOH (0.1 M, 1 M, and 3MNaOH) at Cs+ concentrations selected to probe a range of adsorption densities. Model simulations of Cs+ sorption to the sediment in the presence of 0.1 M NaOH for 112 days slightly under-predicted sorption at the lower Cs+ adsorption densities. At the higher adsorption densities, model simulations under-predicted sorption by 57%. This under-prediction was surmised to be the result of tetranatrolite precipitation, and subsequent slow Na → Cs exchange. At higher OH concentrations, Cs+ sorption in the presence of base for 112 days was unexpectedly equal to, or greater than that expected for pristine sediment. The precipitation of secondary phases, coupled with the fairly unique mica distribution and quantity across all size-fractions in the Hanford sediment, appears to mitigate the impact of base dissolution on Cs+ sorption

Adaptive energy minimisation for hp-finite element methods

This article is concerned with the numerical solution of convex variational problems. More precisely, we develop an iterative minimisation technique which allows for the successive enrichment of an underlying discrete approximation space in an adaptive manner. Specifically, we outline a new approach in the context of hp-adaptive finite element methods employed for the efficient numerical solution of linear and nonlinear second-order boundary value problems. Numerical experiments are presented which highlight the practical performance of this new hp-refinement technique for both one- and two-dimensional problems