Cross-modal compensation between name and visual aspect in socially active avatars

Avatars serve for humans immersed in virtual settings as the interface between real and virtual worlds. The avatar-creation process involves numerous choices, including choice of visual representation, and choices to imbue the character with personality. Here, we hypothesised that these choices are not independent, and that a cross-modal talk may occur between the different components of the avatar identity. Specifically, we investigated whether name properties may be affected by the visual aspect (human vs. non-human) of the avatar. We analyzed names structure of players characters from the popular massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) World of Warcraft, which display both human and non-human avatars. We selected 1261 names of characters actively engaged in the in-game and out-game social networks. Analysis of the names revealed that female names presented more variability than male names, and contained systematically more vowels than male names. However, the strategy used to enrich the vowel composition of female names differed between human-like and non-human characters, suggesting that a lesser proximity with human regular appearance was compensated by an increase of “feminization” of the name. Altogether, our results suggest that a cross-modal compensation occurs between name and visual aspect in the creation of socially active avatars.     

Numerical modeling of nonisothermal polymer crystallization kinetics: Flow and thermal effects

A numerical model able to simulate polymer crystallization under nonisothermal flows is developed. It is based on the assumption that the trace of the extra‐stress tensor, calculated according to a viscoelastic multimode Upper Convected Maxwell (UCM) model, is the driving force of the flow‐induced extra nucleation. Two distinct sets of Schneider equations are used to describe the growth of thermally and flow induced nuclei. The model is then coupled with the momentum equations and the energy equation. As an application, a shear flow configuration between two plates (Couette flow) is simulated. The relative influence of the mechanical and thermal phenomena on the crystallization development as well as the final morphology distribution is then analyzed as a function of the shearing intensity and the cooling kinetics, in terms of nucleation density and crystallite mean sizes. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 50:2044–2059, 2010. © 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Molecular absorption spectrophotometric method for the determination of phosphorus in biodiesel

A molecular absorption method is proposed for the determination of phosphorus in biodiesel. The samples are mineralized using an ashing procedure at 550 °C followed by dissolution of the residue. The analytical procedure is based on the formation of a blue molybdenum complex. 1-amino-2-naphthol-4-sulfonic acid is used as reducing agent. The method was applied to biodiesel samples prepared from soy, canola and sunflower oils and from bovine fat. The limit of detection is 0.57 mg P kg⁻¹ and the limit of quantification is 1.7 mg P kg⁻¹. The observed mean relative standard deviation is about 5%. The simplicity of the procedure added to its precision, accuracy and low cost suggest that it is an excellent option for the determination of phosphorus in biodiesel.     

High‐Pressure High‐Temperature Transparent Fixed‐Bed Reactor for Operando Gas‐Liquid Reaction Follow‐up

A 3‐MPa, 350 °C fixed‐bed reactor was designed to follow‐up gas‐liquid‐solid reactions on a millimetric size heterogeneous catalyst with Raman spectroscopy. The transparent reactor is a quartz cylinder enclosed in a Joule effect heated stainless‐steel tube. A methodology to determine how to focus the microscope for liquid and solid phase characterization is presented. The setup was validated by performing diesel hydrodesulfurization on a CoMo/alumina extrudate catalyst with a conversion very close to expected values along with the acquisition of Raman spectra of the solid catalyst showing an evolution of the catalyst phase during sulfidation.     

Synthesis and characterization of fluorinated polyacrylate–cellulose acetate butyrate interpenetrating polymer networks

Fluorinated polyacrylates are highly hydrophobic and oleophobic. However, their poor mechanical properties prevent their development in many applications. Combination of a fluorinated polyacrylate network with a rigid cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) network in an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) architecture is an effective method for improving the mechanical properties of fluorinated polyacrylates. IPNs combining poly(3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,8‐tridecafluorooctyl acrylate) (polyAcRf6) with CAB were prepared according to an in situ polymerization/crosslinking synthesis. CAB was crosslinked by addition between unmodified hydroxyl groups and the isocyanate of a pluri‐isocyanate crosslinker. The fluorinated network was obtained through free‐radical copolymerization of 3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,8‐tridecafluorooctyl acrylate with poly(ethylene glycol dimethacrylate). The rates of formation of both networks were followed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) of IPNs show a single glass transition temperature and a single mechanical relaxation temperature, which are characteristic of a high degree of interpenetration between the partner networks. The mechanical properties of IPNs are greatly improved compared with those of the single fluorinated network. CAB/polyAcRf6 IPNs were prepared, and characterized using DSC and DMTA as well as contact angle measurements for their surface properties. As hoped, the mechanical properties of such materials are much improved compared with those of the fluorinated partner alone. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Micro and nano cellular amorphous polymers (PMMA, PS) in supercritical CO2 assisted by nanostructured CO2-philic block copolymers - One step foaming process

Microcellular foaming of commodity amorphous polymers, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), and poly(styrene) (PS) was studied in supercritical CO₂ via a batch one-step process in the presence of block copolymers able to change their foaming behaviour and therefore the porous structures. Triblock (styrene-co-butadiene-co-methylmethacrylate SBM, methylmethacrylate-co-butylacrylate-co-methylmethacrylate MAM) terpolymers were blended to PS or PMMA by extrusion. They showed advantages compared to classical PS-PMMA polymer blends in terms of cell size control and reduction of cell size. Foaming is carried out on bulk injection molded samples which were saturated under high pressures of CO₂ (300 bars) at different temperatures (25° C to 80 °C) and different depressurization rates (pressure drop rates from 150 bar/min to 12 bar/min). Very distinct cellular structures and densities were controlled by varying either the copolymer type or the foaming conditions (T,P). Cell sizes ranged from 0.2 μm to 200 μm, and densities from 0.30 g/cm³ to 1 g/cm³ in the polymers considered. Particularly, when triblock copolymers were able to self organize (nanostructuring) in a polymer matrix, they became phase separated at a nanometer level, presenting nanostructured polymers matrixes. To conclude the study, a possible nanostructuring mechanism is suggested based on the interplay between rubbery and highly CO₂-philic blocks/rigid and less CO₂-philic blocks. It is demonstrated that block copolymer additives are a good pathway towards micro and ultra microcellular supercritical CO₂ foaming of amorphous polymers.     

Optimising end-of-life system dismantling strategy

The management of end-of-life systems is becoming a major concern for systems manufacturers, as the negative impact of these systems on the environment is a matter of increasing public awareness, and their appropriate treatment offers economic opportunities. In this context, the disassembly of these systems in order to recycle their components is a possible and sound option that can make it possible to sustain economical progress while respecting environment requirements. The work undertaken in this paper considers modelling and optimising issues of such disassembly activities. An integrated approach is proposed to model and optimise the selection of valuable components of end-of-life systems, their recycling options and the way to obtain them. Because the framework of such problems is highly uncertain, we propose the use of Bayesian networks and their extension in terms of influence diagrams as mathematical tools for structuring and managing uncertainties. With this approach, one can take into account uncertainties rising from different sources on one hand and as a support for optimisation on the other hand.     

Depth and depth–color coding using shape-adaptive wavelets

We present a novel depth and depth–color codec aimed at free-viewpoint 3D-TV. The proposed codec uses a shape-adaptive wavelet transform and an explicit encoding of the locations of major depth edges. Unlike the standard wavelet transform, the shape-adaptive transform generates small wavelet coefficients along depth edges, which greatly reduces the bits required to represent the data. The wavelet transform is implemented by shape-adaptive lifting, which enables fast computations and perfect reconstruction. We derive a simple extension of typical boundary extrapolation methods for lifting schemes to obtain as many vanishing moments near boundaries as away from them. We also develop a novel rate-constrained edge detection algorithm, which integrates the idea of significance bitplanes into the Canny edge detector. Together with a simple chain code, it provides an efficient way to extract and encode edges. Experimental results on synthetic and real data confirm the effectiveness of the proposed codec, with PSNR gains of more than 5 dB for depth images and significantly better visual quality for synthesized novel view images.     

Contribution to the environmental performance of the dry-vibratory drilling technology

The self-vibratory drilling (SVD) is an innovative technology that allows increasing the productivity, without coolant. The aim of this paper is to prove that the environmental impacts of SVD are significantly less than those of traditional drilling (TD) and to quantify them. The study is based on a life cycle analysis of both processes. The major contributor to the environmental impacts in TD is the coolant. The new major contributors in SVD are the twist drills. A model that links the lifespan of the twist drills and the environmental impacts of SVD has been developed to support decisions for R&D.     

Nonlocal PDE morphology: a generalized shock operator on graph

This paper presents an adaptation and extension of the shock filters on weighted graphs using the formalism of partial difference equations. This adaptation leads to new morphological operators that alternate between nonlocal dilation and nonlocal erosion filter type on graphs. Furthermore, this adaptation extends the shock filter applications to any data that can be represented by graphs. This approach is illustrated through image, data defined on region maps, and 3D point cloud processing.