Un nouveau regard sur la société virtuelle

The importance of rigorous research into the actual impact of the new Information and Communication Technologies (icts) on society in general cannot be overemphasised. The answer to questions concerning the precise effect ofiCTs on interpersonal relations, communication, social inclusion and exclusion, trust and identity are now central to discussion in both commercial and business fora. This paper examines the concept of the “virtual society“ in the light of the findings of the ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council) Virtual Society? Programme (1997–2002). The paper describes the need to rethink the actual approaches used in researching this area of social science at the same time as performing the analyses themselves. The author also highlights the requirement for future research to examine actual on the ground experiences. How are new technologies actually used and by whom? In addition, the author utilises his overview of this large body of research to put forward a useful guide for predicting the use of ICTs in practice. These “5 rules of virtuality” serve as pointers to the experiences that may be encountered in the development and implementation of new technologies.     

WiMedia UWB 技术追踪

采用WiMedia UWB标准的越来越多 WiMedia通用无线电平台是实现传输速率高达480Mb／s（更高的传输速率正在开发中）无线个人局域网（WPAN）的基础。这个平台并不局限于某一类应用，而是允许同时存在不同的协议适配层，如图1所示。WiMedia规范既规定了一些如无线USB之间相互通信的应用，也规定其他不相互通信的接口同时存在的应用。     

Cryptosporidium Log-inactivation with Ozone Using Effluent CT10, Geometric Mean CT10, Extended Integrated CT10 and Extended CSTR Calculations

The draft Long-Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2ESWTR) contains Cryptosporidium log-inactivation CT tables (ozone-in-water concentration [residual], “C” times contact time, T). Depending on water temperature, Cryptosporidium CT values that are listed are 15 to 25 times greater than CT values for equivalent Giardia log-inactivation credit. The elevated operating dose required for Cryptosporidium log-inactivation credit has the potential to increase disinfection by-product (DBP) formation (e.g., bromate). Calculating CT value accurately will minimize ozone dose, which will decrease operating cost and lower DBP formation, and at the same time maintain disinfection protection through implementation of scientifically based safety factors. Various methods are available for calculating CT value. The method chosen depends largely on the available information concerning ozone residual characteristics and hydrodynamic features of the ozone contactor, plus local regulatory requirements. Four methods are discussed in this paper. Each method can be used to calculate Giardia, virus, and Cryptosporidium log-inactivation credit.     

Potential for integration of electrophoretic deposition into electronic device manufacture; demonstrations using silver/palladium

A silver palladium (Ag/Pd) alloy powder is used as an example material to illustrate potential applications of electrophoretic deposition (EPD) in electronics manufacturing, in particular the forming of multilayer devices. The dispersion and deposition of the Ag/Pd powder in acetic acid is characterized. It is found that deposition can be explained by the direct action of electrostatic force on individual particles. Depositions of this Ag/Pd powder are then used to demonstrate: forming of a continuous layer on a rigid substrate; forming of continuous layers in laminated and sintered BaTiO₃ multilayers; and incorporation of patterned depositions into a multilayer by either overcasting the patterned deposition with a particulate slip to form a multicomponent tape, or direct lamination of the patterned deposition to a low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) tape. It is shown that electrically conducting layers can be formed at an average thickness of only two times the diameter of the starting powder. Continuous conductor lines thirty times the average diameter of the starting powder were formed.     

Studies on adsorption equilibrium of xylenes in AEL framework using biased GCMC and energy minimization

The adsorption of xylene isomers in AlPO₄-11 (AEL network) was investigated using biased grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulations. Preferential o-xylene adsorption was predicted by the simulations, in agreement with previously reported experimental data. In AlPO₄-11 the selective adsorption behavior comes from the smaller length of the o-xylene molecule along the crystallographic c-axis compared to p-xylene. This is in contrast to AlPO₄-5 and AlPO₄-8, where the ortho-selectivity is caused by the characteristic face-to-face positioning of o-xylene. Energy minimization studies were also performed in a flexible AlPO₄-11 lattice to study the structural changes upon xylene adsorption. The energy minimization study showed that the AlPO₄-11 crystal distorts upon p- and o-xylene adsorption. The distortion mechanism is related to the strong interaction between xylene methyl groups and the sieve oxygen atoms in the O3 position in the wide region of the pore.