Chasing real-time interaction in new media: towards a new theoretical approach and definition

‘Real-Time’ is one of the most frequent concepts used referring to digital media. Despite it is commonly related to immediate feedback, it is not clear when it happens and what its characteristics are, especially in current digital interfaces. Although real-time has been written about very extensively in the context of Human Computer Interaction and Computational Systems, there are few studies evaluating the key features of real-time interaction in other domains. This article attempts to address this situation by proposing a new approach to the concept of real-time interaction driving the analysis of this topic into paradigmatic cases studies in new media, video games and digital artworks. This new analysis reveals several specific facets that allow us to identify new factors in the understanding of this fuzzy concept. Finally, the article proposes a new definition of ‘real-time interaction’ based on the findings in the context of new media practices.     

Ten‐year results of galvanic sacrificial anodes in steel reinforced concrete

Zinc sacrificial anodes have been included in patch repairs to steel reinforced concrete structural elements suffering from corrosion since the mid‐1990s. A number of these anode‐containing repairs have been monitored with time. One of the first monitored sites was of a locally repaired cross beam of a bridge structure in Leicester, UK, which has now completed 10 years since its original repair and anode installation. This paper reviews the performance of the anodes installed at the Leicester site in terms of anode current output and steel reinforcement polarisation and corrosion rate over the period. It also presents results of analysis of recovered anodes exposed for 10 years which still show electrolyte continuity, uniform consumption of the zinc and coherent encasing mortar. The knowledge gained from the 10 year results has enabled the development of new, higher current output anodes, which are now trialled in this and other sites.     

A method of ranking the aggressive nature of chloride contaminated concrete

In this work, previously reported titration data obtained on cement pastes and concretes are analysed. It is postulated that the inhibitive nature of concretes may be quantified by titrating a ground suspension to the endpoint indicated by phenolphthalein while the aggressive chloride content may be determined from the soluble chloride at the endpoint of this titration. Thus, the aggressive nature of chloride contaminated concrete may be ranked using the ratio of the extracted chloride to acid neutralisation capacity. Not only is there a theoretical justification for this, but it is relatively simple to determine.     

Hydrodynamic characterization of a needle sparger rectangular bubble column: Homogeneous flow, static bubble plume and oscillating bubble plume

In this work a detailed experimental hydrodynamic characterization of a needle sparger rectangular bubble column has been performed. The liquid velocity profiles and bubble plume oscillation frequency have been measured by means of laser Doppler anemometry (LDA), and the bubble velocity map by particle image velocimetry (PIV). In this way, the influence of the superficial gas velocity, liquid height and aeration pattern on the column flow structure was analysed. A highly uniform upward flow structure with down flow near the walls was obtained by means of a full-length aeration pattern. This flow structure was preserved even for high gas fractions values. The partial-length aeration patterns with the aerated zone (defined as the aerated width divided by the column width) larger than 0.7 provide a bubble plume and two pure liquid vortical structures in the column bottom, although they are static in nature. With aerated zones lower than 0.6, an oscillating bubble plume is obtained. A non-dimensional analysis of bubble plume oscillation frequency shows a dependence of bubble plume behaviour with the aerated zone. In this way, two different types of bubble plume oscillations, namely confined bubble plume oscillation and free bubble plume oscillation, are introduced and analysed.     

Explicit Solutions of Galois Embedding Problems by Means of Generalized Clifford Algebras

In this paper we study Galois embedding problems given by central extensions with cyclic kernel. We find a new expression for the obstruction to the solvability of these embedding problems in terms of Galois symbols. We also give a method to construct the solutions when these problems are solvable. We find a solution from a coordinate of the norm of an adequate element in a generalized Clifford algebra.     

Local detailed inspection methods regarding reinforcement corrosion of concrete structures

Full surface surveys which are likely to include e.g. a deterioration and potential mapping as well as a cover depth survey, should be the base to identify critical areas which are suspect to be suffering from reinforcement corrosion 1 . Localised assessment in these areas should give further information about the type and extent of deterioration. It should include the determination of the chloride profile beyond the cover depth, the depth of carbonation and a direct visual assessment of the steel reinforcement by breaking away the cover concrete at selected locations. Further valuable information may be collected by determining the water content of the concrete or performing corrosion rate measurements. Within this publication the essential methods for local detailed inspections are discussed regarding the application and interpretation of the results. An overview of the survey procedure is given in ref. 2 .     

Effect of pH and ionic strength on phospholipid nanomechanics and on deposition process onto hydrophilic surfaces measured by AFM

The effect of ion-binding on a zwitterionic phospholipid such as 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) has been studied by measuring the zeta potential value of the unilamellar liposomes present in solution while varying the pH and the ionic strength in independent experiments. We have experimentally confirmed that DMPC binds cations, resulting in an increase of the zeta potential value. The liposome surface charge has been proved to have a strong effect on the supported bilayer formation on hydrophilic, negatively charged surfaces such as mica and silicon oxide as atomic force microscopy images reveal. Furthermore, thanks to force spectroscopy measurements we have proved that ion-binding also affects the nanomechanical response of the system, since it increases the force that has to be exerted on the membrane in order to puncture it. Last but not least, the nanomechanics of the bilayer does not depend on the substrate, thus implying that membrane properties are not influenced by the supporting material.     

Use of farming and agro-industrial wastes as versatile barriers in reducing pesticide leaching through soil columns

Increased interest has been recently focused on assessing the influence of the addition of organic wastes related to movement of pesticides in soils of low organic matter (OM) content. This study reports the effect of two different amendments, animal manure (composted sheep manure) and agro-industrial waste (spent coffee grounds) on the mobility of 10 pesticides commonly used for pepper protection on a clay-loam soil (OM = 0.22%). The tested compounds were azoxystrobin, cyprodinil, fludioxonil, hexaconazole, kresoxim-methyl, pyrimethanil, tebuconazole, and triadimenol (fungicides), pirimicarb (insecticide), and propyzamide (herbicide). Breakthrough curves were obtained from disturbed soil columns. Cumulative curves obtained from unamended soil show a leaching of all pesticides although in different proportions (12-65% of the total mass of compound applied), showing triadimenol and pirimicarb the higher leachability. Significant correlation (r = 0.93, p<0.01) was found between the observed and bibliographical values of GUS index. The addition of the amendments used drastically reduced the movement of the studied pesticides. Only two pesticides were found in leachates from amended soils, pyrimethanil (<1%) for both, and pirimicarb (44%) in the soil amended with spent coffee grounds. A decrease in pesticide leaching was observed with the increase in dissolved organic matter (DOM) of leachates. The results obtained point to the interest in the use of organic wastes in reducing the pollution of groundwater by pesticide drainage.     

Influence of the density of states on the open-circuit voltage in small-molecule solar cells

Open-circuit voltages are strongly dependent on the density-of-states in solar cells based on disordered semiconductors. In this work, organic solar cells based on tetraphenyldibenzoperiflanthene and fullerene C₇₀ with a bilayer structure were fabricated to investigate the variation in the density-of-states with the substrate temperature during deposition of the donor. The maximum open circuit voltage was reached at a substrate temperature of 60 °C. Organic thin-film transistors were also fabricated to study their electrical properties, such as the mobility and the density-of-states. Finally, an organic solar cell with p–i–n structure was fabricated at the optimized substrate temperature, and a power conversion efficiency of almost 4% was obtained.