Workflows for Heliophysics

In this paper we describe how we have introduced workflows into the working practices of a community for whom the concept of workflows is very new, namely the heliophysics community. Heliophysics is a branch of astrophysics which studies the Sun and the interactions between the Sun and the planets, by tracking solar events as they travel throughout the Solar system. Heliophysics produces two major challenges for workflow technology. Firstly it is a systems science where research is currently developed by many different communities who need reliable data models and metadata to be able to work together. Thus it has major challenges in the semantics of workflows. Secondly, the problem of time is critical in heliophysics; the workflows must take account of the propagation of events outwards from the sun. They have to address the four dimensional nature of space and time in terms of the indexing of data. We discuss how we have built an environment for Heliophysics workflows building on and extending the Taverna workflow system and utilising the myExperiment site for sharing workflows. We also describe how we have integrated the workflows into the existing practices of the communities involved in Heliophysics by developing a web portal which can hide the technical details from the users, who can concentrate on the data from their scientific point of view rather than on the methods used to integrate and process the data. This work has been developed in the EU Framework 7 project HELIO, and is being disseminated to the worldwide Heliophysics community, since Heliophysics requires integration of effort on a global scale.     

Evidence for Glass–glass Interfaces in a Columnar Cu–Zr Nanoglass

Comprehensive analyses of the atomic structure using advanced analytical transmission electron microscopy-based methods combined with atom probe tomography confirm the presence of distinct glass–glass interfaces in a columnar Cu-Zr nanoglass synthesized by magnetron sputtering. These analyses provide first-time in-depth characterization of sputtered film nanoglasses and indicate that glass–glass interfaces indeed present an amorphous phase with reduced mass density as compared to the neighboring amorphous regions. Moreover, dedicated analyses of the diffusion kinetics by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy (ToF SIMS) prove significantly enhanced diffusivity, suggesting fast transport along the low density glass–glass interfaces. The present results further indicate that sputter deposition is a feasible technique for reliable production of nanoglasses and that some of the concepts proposed for this new class of glassy materials are applicable.     

Making it easier for older people to talk to smart homes: the effect of early help prompts

It is well known that help prompts shape how users talk to spoken dialogue systems. This study investigated the effect of help prompt placement on older users’ interaction with a smart home interface. In the dynamic help condition, help was only given in response to system errors; in the inherent help condition, it was also given at the start of each task. Fifteen older and sixteen younger users interacted with a smart home system using two different scenarios. Each scenario consisted of several tasks. The linguistic style users employed to communicate with the system (interaction style) was measured using the ratio of commands to the overall utterance length (keyword ratio) and the percentage of content words in the user’s utterance that could be understood by the system (shared vocabulary). While the timing of help prompts did not affect the interaction style of younger users, it was early task-specific help supported older users in adapting their interaction style to the system’s capabilities. Well-placed help prompts can significantly increase the usability of spoken dialogue systems for older people.     

Application of ionic liquids for the removal of heavy metals from wastewater and activated sludge

This paper presents the results of adsorption studies on the removal of heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Cd, Ni, Pb and Zn) from standard solutions, real wastewater samples and activated sewage sludge using a new technique of liquid-liquid extraction using quaternary ammonium and phosphonium ionic liquids (ILs). Batch sorption experiments were conducted using the ILs [PR4][TS], [PR4][MTBA], [A336][TS] and [A336][MTBA]. Removal of these heavy metals from standard solutions were not effective, however removal of heavy metals from the industrial effluents/wastewater treatment plants were satisfactory, indicating that the removal depends mainly on the composition of the wastewater and cannot be predicted with standard solutions. Removal of heavy metals from activated sludge proved to be more successful than conventional methods such as incineration, acid extraction, thermal treatment, etc. For the heavy metals Cu, Ni and Zn, ≥90% removal was achieved.     

Low Loss Star Coupler Concept for AWGs in Rib Waveguide Technology

We introduce a new concept for a tapered transition between waveguides and a free propagation region (FPR) for rib waveguide technology. The optical field is pressed downwards to the lower part of the guiding layer by tapering off the waveguide. The subsequent FPR is also etched down to the lower part of the guiding layer, which results in an adiabatic transition from the waveguide to the slab. Arrayed waveguide gratings, designed with this technique, were fabricated in silicon-on-insulator and showed a reduction in insertion loss of about 2.5 dB     

Measuring Affective Clarity Indirectly: Individual Differences in Response Latencies of State.

This research investigated a new method to measure momentary affective clarity indirectly, which is based on latencies of responses to state affect items. Three studies revealed that this indirect measure of momentary clarity demonstrated high reliability and stability as well as convergent and predictive validity. The indirect measure was associated with dispositional clarity when the concept of clarity was activated before measuring response latencies (Studies 1 and 2) and was related to self-reports of momentary clarity (Study 3). Furthermore, Study 3 demonstrated that indirectly measured clarity decreased after an affectively complex film. Indirectly, but not directly, measured momentary clarity predicted a more positive affective state at the end of the study. This effect was mediated by affect regulation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Moderne Elektronenstrahltechnologien zum Fügen und zur Randschichtbehandlung. Modern Electron Beam Technologies for Soldering and Surface Treatment

A new generation of beam deflection technique is the basis for the development of electron beam (EB) technologies, which are not realisable with conventional methods. A high frequency 3D‐beam deflection makes possible multi‐field, multi‐pool and multi‐process technologies for EB welding und EB surface treatment, which result in a clear higher productivity and new combinations of properties.     

Identifying software project risks in Nigeria: an International Comparative Study

We report a study where software project risk factors were solicited in Nigeria. The study repeats a research design, which has been used in a Delphi study in the U.S., Finland, and Hong Kong to rank software development risks. The study produces a rank-order list of software risk factors and compares results with the earlier study, showing significant differences. Obtained rankings signal the importance of the infrastructure related and socio-economic software risks in developing countries like Nigeria. This demonstrates the importance of understanding the broader socio-economic context in identifying and managing software risks. The study also shows that some risks in Nigeria are located on a different scale. The choice of contingent mitigation strategies of project managers play a less important role, because the risks are so deeply engrained with the poor quality of basic infrastructure services.     

Anonymity and software agents: An interdisciplinary challenge

Software agents that play a role in E-commerce and E-government applications involving the Internet often contain information about the identity of their human user such as credit cards and bank accounts. This paper discusses whether this is necessary: whether human users and software agents are allowed to be anonymous under the relevant legal regimes and whether an adequate interaction and balance between law and anonymity can be realised from both the perspective of Computer Systems and the perspective of Law.This paper is an extended and fully revised version of Brazier, Kubbe, Oskamp and Wijngaards (2002) and Brazier, Oskamp, Prins, Schellekens and Wijngaards (2003).     

The effect of radar on cardiac pacemakers.

The susceptibility of 16 noncompetitive cardiac pacemakers to radiation from a powerful radar system was investigated in the laboratory and in the vicinity of its prototype. From comparative in vitro tests in air, fat, water, and saline it was concluded that only tests in fat or air represent the worst case condition after implantation. In air all pacemakers showed signs of interference at pulse power densities between 0.025 mW/cm2 and 62.5 mW/CM2. Three of six implanted pacemakers were triggered or inhibited depending on their mode of operation when tested at a location 1.2 km away from the radar station by the radar beam occurring every 5.5 sec. Because interfering radiation can enter the pacemaker circuitry directly along the electrode, acting as an antenna, metal encapsulation of the pulse generator does not provide sufficient shielding against microwave radiation. However, pacemakers modified by metal encapsulation and a low-pass filter at the electrode remained undistrubed at pulse power densities of greater than 10 W/cm2 when tested under worst case condition in air.