Vocabulary recommendation approach for forced migrants using informal language learning tools

Universal Access in the Information Society - Learning a new language is a major challenge faced by many forced migrants. Current vocabulary learning curricula are not adapted to the...     

Formalizing the four-layer metamodeling stack with MetaMorph: potential and benefits

Software and Systems Modeling - Enterprise modeling deals with the increasing complexity of processes and systems by operationalizing model content and by linking complementary models and...     

Scale-dependent and example-based grayscale stippling

We present an example-based approach to synthesizing stipple illustrations for static 2D images that produces scale-dependent results appropriate for an intended spatial output size and resolution. We show how treating stippling as a grayscale process allows us to both produce on-screen output and to achieve stipple merging at medium tonal ranges. At the same time we can also produce images with high spatial and low color resolution for print reproduction. In addition, we discuss how to incorporate high-level illustration considerations into the stippling process based on discussions with and observations of a stipple artist. Also, certain features such as edges can be extracted and used to control the placement of dots to improve the result. The implementation of the technique is based on a fast method for distributing dots using halftoning and can be used to create stipple images interactively. We describe both a GPU implementation of the basic algorithm that creates stipple images in real-time for large images and an extended CPU method that allows a finer control of the output at interactive rates.     

Novel glass-ceramic SOFC sealants from glass powders and a reactive silicone binder

The processing of sintered ceramics is often conditioned by the debinding step. The binders may determine some defects in the final product directly, by causing some gas evolution even at an advanced state of densification, due to incomplete decomposition at low temperature, or indirectly, by offering poor adhesion between particles, so that ‘green’ compacts may be easily damaged. The present investigation is aimed at exploring a novel concept for sintered glass-ceramics, based on the adoption of a silicone polymer as reacting binder, providing an abundant ceramic residue after firing. A glass belonging to the CaO-MgO-Al₂O₃-SiO₂ system, already studied as a sealant in solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) planar stack design, was reproduced in form of ‘silica-defective’ variants, featuring a SiO₂ content, in the overall formulation, reduced up to 15?wt%. The overall silica content was recovered by mixing powders of the new glasses with the silicone: upon firing in air, the interaction between glass powders and polymer-derived silica led to glass-ceramics with the same phase assemblage than that formed by the reference glass and with a CTE of 9.5?×?10^?6 K^-1. The new approach has been successfully applied to the manufacturing of glass-ceramic seals as joining materials for solid oxide cells.     

Global and Latin American scientific production related to pneumococcal vaccines

Scientometrics - The most effective way to fight against diseases caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae is prevention through vaccination. The present study analyzed global and Latin American...     

Reducing Campylobacter numbers on chicken carcasses using lactic acid in processing plants

Four trials were carried out at a broiler processing plant to examine the effectiveness of spraying lactic acid solutions for reducing the numbers of Campylobacter on carcasses. The carcasses were naturally contaminated and treated after the inside–outside washer and before the air chiller. Carcasses were treated by spraying in a tunnel or with one of two hand‐held sprayers. Carcasses were treated with a 1.9%, 4% or 8% solution of lactic acid buffered to pH 4 using sodium lactate, and testing was carried out on skin samples from the breast or back/neck. Treating carcasses with 1.9% acid was not effective. Treatments with 4% acid reduced the numbers of Campylobacter on breast skin by 0.4 log₁₀ cfu g^?1 or less and on back/neck skin by 0.8 log₁₀ cfu g^?1. Spraying with an 8% acid solution in the tunnel produced a 1.9‐log cfu g^?1 reduction on breast skin but adversely affected the appearance of the carcasses. Further work is suggested with a 5% solution with consumer testing for acceptability of appearance.     

Exergetic comparison of two different cooling technologies for the power cycle of a thermal power plant

Exergetic analysis is without any doubt a powerful tool for developing, evaluating and improving an energy conversion system. In the present paper, two different cooling technologies for the power cycle of a 50 MWe solar thermal power plant are compared from the exergetic viewpoint. The Rankine cycle design is a conventional, single reheat design with five closed and one open extraction feedwater heaters. The software package GateCycle is used for the thermodynamic simulation of the Rankine cycle model. The first design configuration uses a cooling tower while the second configuration uses an air cooled condenser. With this exergy analysis we identify the location, magnitude and the sources or thermodynamic inefficiencies in this thermal system. This information is very useful for improving the overall efficiency of the power system and for comparing the performance of both technologies.