Technical Evolution of Ceramic Tile Printing

[EN] Ceramic tile decorating techniques have evolved significantly in recent years. Digital inkjet printing technology has enabled digital systems to be used for the direct decoration of ceramic tiles, revolutionizing ceramic tile decoration and providing many advantages over traditional decoration techniques. It was the formulation of inks with soluble and vitrifiable stains that allowed inkjet printing technology to be introduced into ceramic tile decoration. The incorporation of milled inorganic pigments into the inks broadened the available color palette. However, the colloidal instability of these inks and the constraints of the printing heads themselves made it necessary to reduce pigment particle size, thus limiting color saturation and the color gamut. In order to increase color saturation and obtain a set of pigmented inks with colors more closely resembling CMYK colors, pigments with larger particle sizes need to be used. Indeed, other digital decorating techniques, such as xerography, allow larger particle sizes to be used, while also providing the advantages associated with digital decoration. However, the implementation of this technique for ceramic tile decoration requires the development of appropriate ceramic toners and adaptation of printing machines. This article reviews the technical evolution of ceramic tile printing and describes the development of a prototype, based on xerographic printing, that is able to print ceramic tiles directly and provides greater color intensity and a wider color gamut.40140756

Cómo motivar a los estudiantes de secundaria mediante actividades de ciencias atractivas y divertidas

Se presenta una propuesta de formación del profesorado llevada a cabo durante dos cursos académicos (2006/08) con la finalidad de mejorar la motivación e interés de los estudiantes hacia el aprendizaje de las ciencias. Se diseñó e implementó un curso desde la perspectiva de una ciencia comprometida, pero también amena, creativa y divertida, incluyendo actividades interactivas realizadas en colaboración con el Museo de Ciencias Príncipe Felipe, experimentos de laboratorio, textos divulgativos con enfoques CTSA (Ciencia-Tecnología-Sociedad-Ambiente), juguetes científicos, así como el aporte de experiencias provenientes de otros países europeos (Alemania, Francia y Reino Unido). Esta iniciativa, en la que han participado 80 profesores ha sido un instrumento eficaz tanto para la mejora de la motivación como para promover la formación de comunidades de práctica

Multi-transmission-line-beam interactive system

We construct here a Lagrangian field formulation for a system consisting of an electron beam interacting with a slow-wave structure modeled by a possibly non-uniform multiple transmission line (MTL). In the case of a single line we recover the linear model of a traveling wave tube (TWT) due to J.R. Pierce. Since a properly chosen MTL can approximate a real waveguide structure with any desired accuracy, the proposed model can be used in particular for design optimization. Furthermore, the Lagrangian formulation provides for: (i) a clear identification of the mathematical source of amplification, (ii) exact expressions for the conserved energy and its flux distributions obtained from the Noether theorem. In the case of uniform MTLs we carry out an exhaustive analysis of eigenmodes and find sharp conditions on the parameters of the system to provide for amplifying regimes

Unravelling the nature of HD 81032 - a new RS CVn Binary

BVR photometric and quasi-simultaneous optical spectroscopic observations of the star HD 81032 have been carried out during the years 2000 - 2004. A photometric period of $18.802 \pm 0.07$ d has been detected for this star. A large group of spots with a migration period of $7.43 \pm 0.07$ years is inferred from the first three years of the data. H$\alpha$ and Ca II H and K emissions from the star indicate high chromospheric activity. The available photometry in the BVRIJHK bands is consistent with spectral type of K0 IV previously found for this star. We have also examined the spectral energy distribution of HD 81032 for the presence of an infrared colour excess using the 2MASS JHK and IRAS photometry, but found no significant excess in any band abovethe normal values expected for a star with this spectral type. We have also analyzed the X-ray emission properties of this star using data obtained by the ROSAT X-ray observatory during its All-Sky Survey phase. An X-ray flare of about 12 hours duration was detected during the two days of X-ray coverage obtained for this star. Its X-ray spectrum, while only containing 345 counts, is inconsistent with a single-temperature component solar-abundance coronal plasma model, but implies either the presence of two or more plasma components, non-solar abundances, or a combination of both of these properties. All of the above properties of HD 81032 suggest that it is a newly identified, evolved RS CVn binary.Comment: 18 pages, 10 figures, 3 tables, Accepted for the publication in JAp

CycSim—an online tool for exploring and experimenting with genome-scale metabolic models

Summary: CycSim is a web application dedicated to in silico experiments with genome-scale metabolic models coupled to the exploration of knowledge from BioCyc and KEGG. Specifically, CycSim supports the design of knockout experiments: simulation of growth phenotypes of single or multiple gene deletions mutants on specified media, comparison of these predictions with experimental phenotypes and direct visualization of both on metabolic maps. The web interface is designed for simplicity, putting constraint-based modelling techniques within easier reach of biologists. CycSim also functions as an online repository of genome-scale metabolic models

KEYNOTE-022 part 3: A randomized, double-blind, phase 2 study of pembrolizumab, dabrafenib, and trametinib in BRAF-mutant melanoma

Background In the KEYNOTE-022 study, pembrolizumab with dabrafenib and trametinib (triplet) improved progression-free survival (PFS) versus placebo with dabrafenib and trametinib (doublet) without reaching statistical significance. Mature results on PFS, duration of response (DOR), and overall survival (OS) are reported. Methods The double-blind, phase 2 part of KEYNOTE-022 enrolled patients with previously untreated BRAF V600E/K-mutated advanced melanoma from 22 sites in seven countries. Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to intravenous pembrolizumab (200 mg every 3 weeks) or placebo plus dabrafenib (150 mg orally two times per day) and trametinib (2 mg orally one time a day). Primary endpoint was PFS. Secondary endpoints were objective response rate, DOR, and OS. Efficacy was assessed in the intention-to-treat population, and safety was assessed in all patients who received at least one dose of study drug. This analysis was not specified in the protocol. Results Between November 30, 2015 and April 24, 2017, 120 patients were randomly assigned to triplet (n=60) or doublet (n=60) therapy. With 36.6 months of follow-up, median PFS was 16.9 months (95% CI 11.3 to 27.9) with triplet and 10.7 months (95% CI 7.2 to 16.8) with doublet (HR 0.53; 95% CI 0.34 to 0.83). With triplet and doublet, respectively, PFS at 24 months was 41.0% (95% CI 27.4% to 54.2%) and 16.3% (95% CI 8.1% to 27.1%); median DOR was 25.1 months (95% CI 14.1 to not reached) and 12.1 months (95% CI 6.0 to 15.7), respectively. Median OS was not reached with triplet and was 26.3 months with doublet (HR 0.64; 95% CI 0.38 to 1.06). With triplet and doublet, respectively, OS at 24 months was 63.0% (95% CI 49.4% to 73.9%) and 51.7% (95% CI 38.4% to 63.4%). Grade 3-5 treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) occurred in 35 patients (58%, including one death) receiving triplet and 15 patients (25%) receiving doublet. Conclusion In BRAF V600E/K-mutant advanced melanoma, pembrolizumab plus dabrafenib and trametinib substantially improved PFS, DOR, and OS with a higher incidence of TRAEs. Interpretation of these results is limited by the post hoc nature of the analysis

Five-year analysis on the long-term effects of dabrafenib plus trametinib (D + T) in patients with BRAF V600–mutant unresectable or metastatic melanoma

Background: First-line treatment with D+T demonstrated prolonged progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with BRAF V600–mutant unresectable or metastatic melanoma. With 5 years of follow-up, we report survival and describe characteristics of patients in the phase 3 COMBI-d and COMBI-v trials with long-term benefit. Methods: Pooled 5-year landmark data for patients treated with D+T in the phase 3 COMBId (NCT01584648) and COMBI-v (NCT01597908) trials were analyzed. The trials enrolled patients with previously untreated BRAF V600E/K–mutant unresectable or metastatic melanoma. Patients received D 150 mg twice daily plus T 2 mg once daily vs either D + placebo (COMBI-d) or vemurafenib (COMBI-v). The primary endpoints were PFS in COMBI-d and OS in COMBI-v. Results: The pooled population included 563 patients who received D+T (COMBI-d, n = 211; COMBI-v, n = 352)

Cómo motivar a los estudiantes de secundaria mediante actividades de ciencias atractivas y divertidas

Se presenta una propuesta de formación del profesorado llevada a cabo durante dos cursos académicos (2006/08) con la finalidad de mejorar la motivación e interés de los estudiantes hacia el aprendizaje de las ciencias. Se diseñó e implementó un curso desde la perspectiva de una ciencia comprometida, pero también amena, creativa y divertida, incluyendo actividades interactivas realizadas en colaboración con el Museo de Ciencias Príncipe Felipe, experimentos de laboratorio, textos divulgativos con enfoques CTSA (Ciencia-Tecnología-Sociedad-Ambiente), juguetes científicos, así como el aporte de experiencias provenientes de otros países europeos (Alemania, Francia y Reino Unido). Esta iniciativa, en la que han participado 80 profesores ha sido un instrumento eficaz tanto para la mejora de la motivación como para promover la formación de comunidades de práctica

Associations between Active Trachoma and Community Intervention with Antibiotics, Facial Cleanliness, and Environmental Improvement (A,F,E)

Trachoma is an infectious disease that is cased by a bacterium, Chlamydia trachomatis, and is the leading cause of preventable blindness estimated to be responsible for 3.6% of blindness globally. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a strategy for trachoma control known as SAFE—surgery, antibiotics, facial cleanliness, and environmental improvement. Regular evaluations of trachoma control activities are advocated for by the WHO for decision making, programme planning, and the rational use of programme resources. We undertook a survey to evaluate the effectiveness of the SAFE strategy following three years of interventions in four districts in Southern Sudan. In this paper, we aimed to find out the relationship between the antibiotics, facial cleanliness, and environmental improvement (A,F,E) and active trachoma signs. Our study revealed that prevalence of active trachoma was less in children who had received treatment with azithromycin, had clean faces, had faces washed more frequently, and used latrines compared to children who had not received these interventions. The study findings are important since they make the case for implementing the A,F,E interventions together