Toward methods for supporting the anticipation-feedback loop in user interface design

Recent research has compared different usability evaluation methods with respect to their effectiveness and efficiency. The paper analyses the impact of different usability evaluation methods on design problem-solving processes of individual designers and evaluators. It is proposed that usability evaluation methods have to be divided into two categories according to their fundamentally different way of supporting the design for usability: (1) guideline-based methods and (2) methods based on the mental generation of scenarios and anticipation of user goals. We present data from an experimental study that shows that these two types of methods entail differences in the perspective-taking processes. Furthermore, the results indicate that the methods have a differential impact on the general problem-solving strategy, i.e. whether to use a top-down, breadth-first or a depth-first approach. Possible implications for the development of techniques that support the design of usable systems are discussed.     

BASF NanoSelect? Technology: Innovative Supported Pd- and Pt-based Catalysts for Selective Hydrogenation Reactions

An innovative BASF catalyst manufacturing technology (NanoSelect?) is introduced which allows production of heterogeneous catalysts with excellent control over metal crystallite sizes. NanoSelect? technology enabled the development of Pd catalysts which are lead-free Lindlar catalyst replacements in alkyne-to-cis-alkene hydrogenations. NanoSelect? Pt catalysts showed excellent chemoselectivity in substituted nitro-arene hydrogenation reactions without build-up of hydroxylamine intermediates. All NanoSelect? produced catalysts show markedly higher activity per gram of metal leading to ten-fold less use of precious metal.     

Water Penetration—Its Effect on the Strength and Toughness of Silica Glass

When a crack forms in silica glass, the surrounding environment flows into the crack opening, and water from the environment reacts with the glass to promote crack growth. A chemical reaction between water and the strained crack-tip bonds is commonly regarded as the cause of subcritical crack growth in glass. In silica glass, water can also have a secondary effect on crack growth. By penetrating into the glass, water generates a zone of swelling and, hence, creates a compression zone around the crack tip and on the newly formed fracture surfaces. This zone of compression acts as a fracture mechanics shield to the stresses at the crack tip, modifying both the strength and subcritical crack growth resistance of the glass. Water penetration is especially apparent in silica glass because of its low density and the fact that it contains no modifier ions. Using diffusion data from the literature, we show that the diffusion of water into silica glass can explain several significant experimental observations that have been reported on silica glass, including (1) the strengthening of silica glass by soaking the glass in water at elevated temperatures, (2) the observation of permanent crack face displacements near the crack tip of a silica specimen that had been soaked in water under load, and (3) the observation of high concentrations of water close to the fracture surfaces that had been formed in water. These effects are consistent with a model suggesting that crack growth in silica glass is modified by a physical swelling of the glass around the crack tip. An implication of water-induced swelling during fracture is that silica glass is more resistant to crack growth than it would be if swelling did not occur.     

Shift Register Graphs and Permutation/Reset Automata

Abstract

This note completes the author's study of embedding of cascade products of permutation or reset automata in so-called shift register graphs.     

SPHERES, Jülich's high-flux neutron backscattering spectrometer at FRM II

SPHERES is a third-generation neutron backscattering spectrometer, located at the 20 MW German neutron source FRM II and operated by the Ju?lich Centre for Neutron Science. It offers an energy resolution (fwhm) better than 0.65 μeV, a dynamic range of ±?31 μeV, and a signal-to-noise ratio of up to 1750:1.     

Contribution of Solutes to Density Stratification in a Meromictic Lake (Waldsee/Germany)

Density differences are the key parameter for stratification stability. We used data from the iron-meromictic Waldsee, Germany, a lignite mine pit lake, to quantify the contribution of single solutes to water density and analyzed the density gradient. Iron meromictic lakes maintain their density gradient through chemical reactions. Hence, quantifying the contributions of separate solutes is essential for understanding the entire process. Based on solute concentrations and literature values of partial molal volumes, substance specific density contributions were quantitatively evaluated. Then, by direct measurements of the density of IHSS Waskish peat fulvic acid, we quantified the density contribution of dissolved organic carbon (DOC). While several solutes contributed to the density throughout the water column, only those substances that occurred at higher concentrations in the anoxic monimolimnion than in the oxic mixolimnion were crucial to sustaining the density difference between the two layers. In Waldsee, the density difference between monimolimnion and mixolimnion was attributed to dissolved Fe²⁺ (0.23?g/L, resulting in a 45?% of the density difference due to solutes) and to the carbonate system (HCO₃ ^?, about 0.16?g/L and CO₂, 0.03?g/L) while Ca²⁺ and DOC delivered only a small contribution. In summer, total density differences were dominated by temperature differences; during winter, solutes sustained meromixis. Finally, we present a complete list of specific density fractions for basically all of the density-relevant substances in fresh waters.     

Development and Performance of Crystallization with Additives Applied on Different Milk Samples

Crystallization with additives is developed on milk samples from different processing treatments. Performance tests are carried out based on structure analysis of the crystallization patterns. Crystallization with milk as additive is applied following changes in milk after different processing treatments. When an aqueous cupric chloride dihydrate solution crystallizes in the presence of milk as additive, specific patterns emerge, which can be evaluated by image analysis. Milk samples were heated and homogenized in a pilot plant and characterized by various parameters. Furthermore, milk samples from the market were tested. Patterns from milk after heat treatment and homogenization are significantly different from those derived from untreated milk. The experiments could be reproduced for other milk samples, on different days and in another laboratory.