A quartet in E : investigating collaborative learning and tutoring as knowledge creation processes

This paper is a short report of a continuing international study that is investigating networked collaborative learning among an advanced community of learners engaged in a master’s programme in e-learning. The study is undertaking empirical work using content analysis (CA), critical event recall (CER) and social network analysis (SNA). The first two methods are employed in the work reported in this paper. We are particularly interested in knowledge creation among the participants as they engage in action research for their master’s work. At the same time, another underlying aim of the main study is to develop methodology, enrich theory and explore the ways in which praxis (theory informed tutoring and learning on the programme) and theory interact as we try to understand the complex processes of tutoring and learning. The paper reports some of the current findings of this work and discusses future prospects

Ascension: proposal for a reconstruction of Ure Vaeiko’s Apai recitation

The recitations of the Easter Island native Ure Vaeiko that were recorded in 1886 belong to the very small corpus of traditional Rapanui literature that has been preserved. Although the value of individual texts is disputed, the chants that were published as Atua Matariri, Eaha to Ran Ariiki Kete and Apai are generally considered to be genuine examples of so-called “Old Rapanui”. Of these three, the Apai text is by far the most enigmatic, as it has been recorded and published in a way that renders it virtually incomprehensible. The accompanying attempt at translation is a confused narrative that appears to have only a fragmentary relation to the chant. This paper presents a tentative reconstruction of the original Apai text, together with a new translation. It is proposed that Apai contains an origin myth which intends to explain certain celestial phenomena regarding the sun and the planet Venus, set against the familiar Polynesian background of the eternal struggle between the brother gods Tangaroa and Tane. As such, it could provide valuable information on pre-missionary Easter Island astronomy, mythology, and literature

Oxydation de S-triazines par les procédés d'oxydation radicalaire. Sous-produits de réaction et constantes cinétiques de réaction

L'étude bibliographique montre que l'oxydation de l'atrazine en milieu aqueux par 03, 03/H202, 03/UV, H202/UV et TiO2/UV ne permet qu'une dégradation limitée du pesticide (pas d'ouverture de l'hétérocycle azoté). Ces procédés d'oxydation conduisent aux mêmes sous-produits d'oxydation. Les composés N-déalkylés, les acétamido-s-triazines et l'hydroxyatrazine constituent les premiers sous-produits de dégradation de l'atrazine. Une oxydation plus poussée conduit par des réactions de N-déalkylation, d'hydroxylation et de déamination à la formation de produits finals relativement stables comme la déséthyldésisopropylatrazine, l'amméline, l'ammélide et l'acide cyanurique. La distribution des différents sous-produits en cours d'oxydation dépend du procédé d'oxydation utilisé, des conditions de mise en oeuvre du procédé (dose d'oxydants ou d'UV, longueur d'onde d'irradiation,...), des caractéristiques des eaux de dilution (pH, pièges à radicaux hydroxyles,...).Les études cinétiques indiquent que l'atrazine est relativement réfractaire à une oxydation par l'ozone moléculaire (constante cinétique de l'ordre de 6 l mol-¹ s-¹ à 20 °C) et est assez réactive vis-à-vis des radicaux hydroxyles (constante cinétique de l'ordre de 2,5 10·9 mol-¹ s-¹ à 20 °C). En ce qui concerne les constantes cinétiques de réaction des radicaux hydroxyles sur les autres s-triazines, les résultats montrent que les méthylthio s-triazines sont beaucoup plus réactives que les méthoxy s-triazines qui sont elles mêmes légèrement plus réactives que les chloro et hydroxy s-triazines. Parmi les sous-produits d'oxydation de l'atrazine, la déséthyldésisopropylatrazine et l'acide cyanurique sont très réfractaires à une oxydation par les radicaux hydroxyles et par l'ozone moléculaire.In this paper, oxidation studies of s-triazines in aqueous solution by advanced oxidation processes (O3, O3/H2O2, O3/UV, H2O2/UV, et TiO2/UV) have been reviewed.Oxidation by-products of atrazine:Several investigators have shown that N-dealkylated (deethylatrazine and deisopropylatrazine) and acetamido-s-triazines are the primary oxidation by-products of atrazine by O3 and by O3/H2O2 (table 1; fig. 1a). Under conditions which favored the production of hydroxyl radicals (03/H2O2), trace amounts of hydroxyatrazine may also be formed. These primary by-products are subsequently degraded to give complete N-dealkylated, deamined, dehalogenated and hydroxylated s-triazines (deethyldeisopropylatrazine, ammelide ammeline, cyanuric acid,...) (table 1). For example, oxidation of deethylatrazine by O3/H2O2 yields deethyldeisopropylatrazine as the major by-product (fig. 1b). Identical by-products are produced by photochemical oxidation (O3/UV, H2O2/UV and TiO2/UV) (table 2; fig. 4 and 5). UV photolysis of atrazine at 253.7 nm (monochromatic radiation) yields hydroxyatrazine as the major product (=0.95 -1.0 mole of hydroxyatrazine formed / mole of atrazine photolysed (fig. 4a) whereas N and N,N'-dealkylated, deaminated and hydroxyderivatives are produced by UV irradiation in the presence of ozone, hydrogen peroxide (fig. 4b) or photosensitisers.The s-triazine ring is found to be resistant to chemical and photochemical oxidation. Pathways for the degradation of atrazine by molecular ozone (fig. 2) and by hydroxyl radical (fg. 3) are proposed.Kinetic rate constants:The second-order kinetic rate constants for the reaction of molecular ozone and of hydroxyl radical with atrazine have been determined by several authors from competitive experiments or from kinetic models The rate constants for the reaction of ozone which have been measured (~ 61 mol-¹ s-¹ at ~ 20°C) indicate that molecular ozone is not very reactive towards atrazine. The rate constants which have been determined for the reaction of hydroxyl radical with atrazine by using different modes of generation of hydroxyl radicals (O3 + OH-; O3 + H2O2; PhotoFenton; H2O2 + UV) are in the order of 2 10[exp]9 - 2.5 10[exp]9 l mol-¹ s-¹ at ~ 20°C (table 3).Rate constants for the reaction of hydroxyl radical with other s-triazines have been determined from competitive kinetic experiments. The relative rate constants show that methylthio s-triazines are far more reactive than methoxy s-triazines, which in turn are more reactive than chloro and hydroxy s-triazines (table 4). The kinetic data also confirm that deethyldeisopropylatrazine and cyanuric acid are very refractory to the oxidation by hydroxyl radical

Oxydation d'un acide humique aquatique par le bioxyde de chlore. Incidences sur une post-chloration et sur un traitement au charbon actif

Cette étude de laboratoire a eu pour but d'examiner la réactivité du bioxyde de chlore sur un acide humique d'origine aquatique en solution aqueuse et en milieu neutre (pH = 7,5) et de préciser en particulier l'incidence d'une préoxydation chimique au CIO2 sur les potentiels de formation de composés organohalogénés (trihalométhanes, acides dicloroacétique et trichloroacétique, chlore organiquement lié) et sur l'adsorbabilité du carbone organique sur charbon actif.Les résultats obtenus montrent que radian du bioxyde de chlore sur racide humique Pinail à l'obscurité, conduit à des faibles abattements du carbone organique dissous (< 10 %) et de l'absorbance UV à 254 nm (de l'ordre de 30 %) et conduit à des productions potentiel es en composées organohalogénés très nettement inférieures à celles formées par chloration. De plus, une préoxydation chimique au bioxyde de chlore permet de diminuer d'une manière très significative la production de composés organohalogénés au cours d'une post-chloration et semble améliorer l'adsorbabllité du carbone organique sur charbon actif.L'oxydation de l'acide humique par le bioxyde de chlore s'accompagne, par ailleurs, de la formation de chlorites (0,65 mg/mg de CIO2 consommé) qui peuvent ensuite être oxydés en chlorates au cours d'une post-chloration ou réduits en chlorures par un traitement au charbon actif.Enfin, les résultats obtenus font apparaître que le mécanisme d'oxydation de composés organiques parle bioxyde de chlore en présence de la lumière ainsi que les interactions entre le bioxyde de chore, les chlorites, la matière organique et le charbon actif méritent d'être plus précisément étudiés.Chlorine dioxide has drawn much recent attention as an alternative disinfectant and oxidant for drinking water to replace chlorine because of its powerful disinfecting ability and its limited capacity to produce organohalogenated compounds. However, the use of chlorine dioxide leads to chlorite (ClO2-) and chlorate (ClO3-) as inorganic oxidation by-products which are reported to have toxic effects on humans. The reactions of ClO2 with simple organic compounds (phenols, aliphatic and aromatic amines...) produce polar compounds such as quinone, ketones, aldehydes and carboxylic acids while oxydation by-products of dissolved organic matter of surface waters (in particular humic substances) are largely unknown. Consequently, the aim of this work was to obtain a better understanding of the effects of the use of chlorine dioxide in drinking water treatment To this end, experiments were carried out with dilute aqueous solutions of an isolated aquatic humic acid (Pinail humic acid, PHA) and the objectives of this present study were :- To evaluate the ClO2 demand and to determine the productions of chlorite, chlorate and of organohalogenated compounds such as trihalomethanes (THMs), dichloroacetic and trichloroacetic acids (DCA, TCA) which are the main organohalogenated products formed by chlorination.- To show the effects of chlorine dioxide preoxidation on organic halide formation potentials (postchlorination) and on the removal of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) by activated carbon. In addition, reactions of chlorite with chlorine or with activated carbon were also examined.EXPERIMENTALPniail humic acid was dissolved in phosphate buffered ultra-pure water (pH = 7.5). Oxidation and adsorption experiments were carried out in headspace-free bottles, at 20 ± 1 °C and in the dark. Stock solutions of chlorine dioxide (4-6 g l-1) and of chlorine (6-10 g l-1) were prepared in the laboratory and titrated by iodometry. Residual chlorine dioxide concentration in PHA solutions was determined by spectrophotometric measurement at 360 nm and by two colorimetric methods : the chlorophenol red and the ACVK methods. Concentrations of DOC and of total organic chlorine or halogen (TOCI, TOX) were measured using a DOHRMANN DC 80 carbon analyser and a DOHRMANN DX 20 A TOX analyser equipped with a microcoulometric cell, respectively. THMs, DCA and TCA were determined by a gas chromatograph equipped with a 63 Ni electron capture detector after extraction by pentane for the THMs, and methylation in ether phase for DCA and TCA. Inorganic chlorine species were analysed by HPLC with a UV detector (ClO2-) or by chromatography (Cl-, ClO3-).RESULTS• Oxidation of PHA by ClO2The results showed that PHA consumed about 2 mg of ClO2/mg of DOC after a reaction time of 24 hours (fig. 1) and that there is a rapid consumption of ClO2 during the first 30 minutes of the reaction (fig. 2) Oxidation by ClO2 had no effect on DOC concentration (DOC removal : < 10 %) and led to a significant decrease (about 30 %) of the UV-absorbance at 254 or 270 nm (fig. 1 and 2), and to productions of ClO2- (0,65 mg of ClO2-/mg of ClO2 consumed) which were independant of the applied oxidant dose and of the reaction time.Furthermore, after a 72 hour reaction time in the dark, chlorine dioxide ([ClO2]0 = 5 mg l-1, [PHA]0 = 5 mg l-1, DOC = 2,6 mg l-1) produces very small amounts of chloroform (< 5 µg l-1), DCA (5 µg l-1) and TCA (5 µg l-1) and organochlorinated compounds (TOCl : 36 µg/mg DOC) compared to chlorine oxidation (tableau 1). However, in the presence of sunlight, ClO2 is rapidly photodecomposed (fig. 3) and the photodegradation products of ClO2 allow bromide oxidation (fig. 11) and lead to higher productions of organohalogenated compounds such as THMs (fig. 4).• Chlorine dioxide preoxidation followed by chlorinationAs shown in figure 5, chlorine dioxide preoxidation reduces the production of organohalogenated compounds and the chlorine demand during postchlorination. For a preoxidant dose corresponding to the ClO2 demand of PHA, the decrease in the formation potentials of CHCl3, DCA, TCA and TOCl was about 40-50 %. These results confirm the similarity of the action of chlorine dioxide and chlorine on aromatic structures which have high electron density carbons and which constitute probably the most reactive precursors of organohalogenated by-products.As far as chlorite concentration is concerned, the results showed that chlorite formed during the preoxidation step was completely oxidized to chlorate during postchlorination, under the experimental conditions used in this study (chlorine dose : 40 mg l-1; contact time : 24 or 72 hours). Because of the reactions of chlorine eh chlorine and with residual chlorine dioxide, a small increase in the chlorine demand was observed when PHA solutions were heavily preoxidized (fig. 5).• Chlorine dioxide preoxidation followed by activated carbon treatmentBatch experiments were carried out with a powdered activated carbon (PAC, granulometry : < 80 µm) which was obtained by crushing a commercial granular activated carbon (CECA 40,12 x 40 mesh). Once equilibrium was achieved (contact time : 10 days), adsorption isotherms indicated that chlorine dioxide preoxidation increases the absorbability of DOC on activated carbon (fig; 4tableau 2). Furthermore, chlorite in oxidized PHA solutions was reduced by PAC to chloride. The capacity of CECA 40 activated carbon for ClO2- reduction to Cl- was about 170 mg ClO2-/g of PAC (fig. 7). Other experiments showed that chlorite may react with specific surface groups on PAC to produce inorganic carbon (fig. 7) and with PHA only in the presence of PAC as shown the DOC and UV-absorbance curves in figure 8 and the increase of TOX concentration in the liquid phase in figure 9. Thus the observed increase in DOC absorbability on PAC after a chlorine dioxide preoxidation may be attributed to cheminal interactions between PAC, chlorite, residual chlorine dioxide and adsorbed organic matter and requires further study

Lower bounds on matrix factorization ranks via noncommutative polynomial optimization

We use techniques from (tracial noncommutative) polynomial optimization to formulate hierarchies of semidefinite programming lower bounds on matrix factorization ranks. In particular, we consider the nonnegative rank, the completely positive rank, and their symmetric analogues: the positive semidefinite rank and the completely positive semidefinite rank. We study the convergence properties of our hierarchies, compare them extensively to known lower bounds, and provide some (numerical) examples

Sous-produits de réaction formés lors de la filtration sur charbon actif de composés phénoliques en présence d'ions chlorite

L'étude des interactions entre les ions chlorite, un charbon actif en grains (CAG CECA 40) et des composés phénoliques (phénol et para-nitrophénol) a été réalisée à partir d'expériences de filtration sur mini-colonnes de CAG de solutions aqueuses de chlorite et du composé organique en mélange ([C102-] inf=50 mg.l-¹; [Composé Organique]jnf=200 µmol.l-¹ ; 3 g de CAG; Vitesse de filtration: 3,7 m.h-¹). Les résultats obtenus ont permis de montrer que la présence de chlorite conduit à une augmentation des capacités du CAG vis-à-vis de l'élimination du phénol et du para-nitrophénol. Cette augmentation résulte de réactions chimiques entre le composé organique et les sous-produits de décomposition des ions chlorite par le charbon actif. Les analyses par couplage CG/SM des extraits issus des charbons actifs à la fin des filtrations ont permis de mettre en évidence la présence de nombreux composés adsorbés sur le charbon actif. Les composés identifiés résultent de réactions d'oxydation, de deshydroxylation, de carboxylation, d'halogénation, d'hydroxylation et de dimérisation. L'action des ions chlorite sur le charbon actif peut conduire à la formation de radicaux à la surface du charbon actif ou en solution capables de réagir avec les composés organiques pour former les sous-produits observés.The use of chlorine dioxide for the chemical preoxidation of potable water with high oxidant demand requires that the major inorganic byproduct, chlorite, in the treatment system be removed, owing to the potential toxicity of this oxychlorine species. Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) filtration, in converting chlorite ions into chloride, appears to be an interesting approach, but very few data are available concerning possible interactions in the presence of organic matter. The present research was designed to examine the influence of phenolic compounds on the efficiency of activated carbon in removing chlorite and to study the reactions between chlorite, activated carbon and organic molecules. Laboratory experiments have been carried out with relatively high substrate concentrations in order to identify the resulting byproducts.Materials and Methods.Filtrations of solutions containing chlorite and a phenolic compound (phenol or para nitrophenol; [Organic Compound]inf=200 µmol.L-¹;[C102-] inf=50 mg L-¹; pH=7.2); were performed using 1- cm i.d. glass columns packed with 3.0 g of GAC CECA 40 (Flow rate: 3.7 m.h-¹). Inorganic species were analysed by HPLC, with an anion column and a conductimetric detector for chloride and chlorate, and with a C-18 column and a UV detector for chlorite. Phenol and para nitrophenol were also analysed by HPLC, in the reverse mode. At the conclusion of the filtrations, the Total Organic Halogen (TOX) adsorbed on the carbon was determined after combustion of the carbon and measurement of the liberated halides with a micro coulometer (Dohrmann DX20). In order to identify organic reaction byproducts, carbon samples were Soxhlet extracted with methylene chloride and half of the extracts were methylated with diazomethane. Identification of the organic products was then carried out by gas chromatography / mass spectrometry with a DB5 capillary column and a quadrupolar hyperbolic filter system CPV/MS.Results and Discussion.Effects of phenol and p nitrophenol on removal of chlorite by GAC. The effluent curves from columns that received solutions containing both chlorite and an organic solute (columns A and B; fig. 1) showed that the presence of phenol or p nitrophenol in the influent decreases the capacity of GAC to remove chlorite.Effect of chlorite on removal of phenol and p nitrophenol. An increase in the cumulative removal of the organic solute was observed for columns A and B compared with columns that received solutions of the phenolic compound only (fig. 2; table 11). p benzoquinone was found in the eff1uent of column A fed with a chlorite phenol solution (fig. 3).Formation of organic byproducts by reactions between chlorite and phenol or p nitrophenol in the presence of GAC. TOX analyses showed that interactions between chlorite, GAC, and phenol or p nitrophenol led to the production of organohalogenated compounds. These data clearly demonstrate that halogenation reactions take place in the GAC bed and that a fraction of the total amount of phenol or p nitrophenol removed can be due to chemical reactions. GC/MS analyses of GAC extracts of columns A and B (tables IV and V) indicated that the phenol chlorite GAC reactions yield a variety of organic byproducts that are produced by hydroxylation and carboxylation of the aromatic ring by oxidation to quinones, by chlorine substitution and by dehydroxylation and dimerization reactions. Fewer products could be identified in the reaction between p nitrophenol, chlorite, and GAC. Since chlorite is unreactive with phenol and p nitrophenol in neutral aqueous solution, the formation of these organic byproducts can be attributed to reactions between phenol or p nitrophenol present in the GAC pore solution or adsorbed on GAC and the chemical species (Cl· ClO·, ClO2, HOCl (ClO-), surface free radicals ...) generated from the reaction of chlorite and carbon. Thus, aromatic acids could come from radical processes between adsorbed molecules and carbon surface functional groups oxidized by chlorite. The formation of dimers can also be explained by a freeradical mechanism. The reactions between Cl·, ClO· radicals or radicals present on the GAC surface, with organic compounds produce organic radicals via H atom abstraction or one electron transfer. Organic radicals such as phenoxy radicals or other aromatic radicals can then undergo dimerization by carbon-oxygen or carbon-carbon coupling. The formation of organochlorinated compounds can be explained by the reaction of chlorine (HOCl, ClO-) and chlorine radicals with organic molecules present in the solution. However further investigation is needed in order to evaluate if such compounds can be formed on GAC filters and then desorbed in the effluent in thc case of drinking waters pretreated with chlorine dioxide

Trends in Computer Network Modeling Towards the Future Internet

This article provides a taxonomy of current and past network modeling efforts. In all these efforts over the last few years we see a trend towards not only describing the network, but connected devices as well. This is especially current given the many Future Internet projects, which are combining different models, and resources in order to provide complete virtual infrastructures to users. An important mechanism for managing complexity is the creation of an abstract model, a step which has been undertaken in computer networks too. The fact that more and more devices are network capable, coupled with increasing popularity of the Internet, has made computer networks an important focus area for modeling. The large number of connected devices creates an increasing complexity which must be harnessed to keep the networks functioning. Over the years many different models for computer networks have been proposed, and used for different purposes. While for some time the community has moved away from the need of full topology exchange, this requirement resurfaced for optical networks. Subsequently, research on topology descriptions has seen a rise in the last few years. Many different models have been created and published, yet there is no publication that shows an overview of the different approaches.