DILIGENT: integrating digital library and Grid technologies for a new Earth observation research infrastructure

This paper introduces DILIGENT, a digital library infrastructure built by integrating digital library and Grid technologies and resources. This infrastructure allows different communities to dynamically build specialised digital libraries capable to support the entire e-Science knowledge production and consumption life-cycle by using shared computing, storage, content, and application resources. The paper presents some of the main software services that implement the DILIGENT system. Moreover, it exemplifies the provided features by presenting how the DILIGENT infrastructure is being exploited in supporting the activity of user communities working in the Earth Science Environmental sector. This work is partially funded by the European Commission in the context of the DILIGENT project, under the 2nd call of FP6 IST priority.     

Calibration Model for Water Distribution Network Using Pressures Estimated by Artificial Neural Networks

The success of hydraulic simulation models of water distribution networks is associated with the ability of these models to represent real systems accurately. To achieve this, the calibration phase is essential. Current calibration methods are based on minimizing the error between measured and simulated values of pressure and flow. This minimization is based on a search of parameter values to be calibrated, including pipe roughness, nodal demand, and leakage flow. The resulting hydraulic problem contains several variables. In addition, a limited set of known monitored pressure and flow values creates an indeterminate problem with more variables than equations. Seeking to address the lack of monitored data for the calibration of Water Distribution Networks (WDNs), this paper uses a meta-model based on an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) to estimate pressure on all nodes of a network. The calibration of pipe roughness applies a metaheuristic search method called Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) to minimize the objective function represented by the difference between simulated and forecasted pressure values. The proposed method is evaluated at steady state and over an extended period for a real District Metering Area (DMA), named Campos do Conde II, and the hypothetical network named C-town, which is used as a benchmark for calibration studies.     

Conformational transitions in poly(butyl methacrylate)

Summary Temperature dependence of viscosity data was investigated on poly(butyl methacrylate) fractions in dilute solution. A discontinuity in intrinsic viscosity was observed in the 25°C–35°C temperature range. Sharp changes of unperturbed dimensions were visualized from this behaviour. The phenomenon can be accounted for by assuming conformational changes of the chain in different solvents.     

Valorization of Al slag in the production of green ceramic tiles: Effect of experimental conditions on microstructure and crystalline phase composition

This work reports the results of an investigation aimed at the development of sintered glass-ceramic tiles by the sinter-crystallization of mixtures composed of aluminum slag and reclaimed packaging glass. The thermal behaviors of mixtures incorporating 50 and 60 wt% Al slag were established by differential thermal analysis (DTA). Green compacts were sintered in a temperature range of 800°C-1050°C and then soaked for 10-60 minutes. The mineralogical characterizations of the sintered materials were obtained by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The achieved results indicated that the sintering of aluminum slag and packaging glass reclaimed led to a glass-ceramic material composed mainly of needle-like crystals of wollastonite (CaSiO₃). The bloating of samples during firing was evaluated according to a Cougny predictive diagram. After initial observations and according to bending strength characterizations, sintered tiles prepared from aluminum slag and glassy sand are appropriate for floor pavement and wall covering.     

Effect of lubricant composition on the fatigue properties of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene for total knee replacement

Ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fatigue is a critical factor affecting the longevity of total knee replacement (TKR) bearings. With the increased need for laboratory studies to mimic near in vivo conditions for accurate characterization of material performance, the present study investigated the role of hyaluronic acid (HA) in testing lubricant on the crack growth response of UHMWPE. It was hypothesized that the change in lubricant viscosity as a result of HA would affect the fatigue life of the polymer. A fracture mechanics approach as per ASTM E 647 was adopted for this study. Surface micrograph and surface chemistry analyses were employed to study the micromechanisms of fatigue failure and protein adsorption of the specimen surfaces. Rheological analysis indicated that the addition of HA to diluted bovine serum increased testing lubricant viscosity. HA concentrations of 2.22, 0.55, and 1.5 g/l closely matched the viscosity ranges reported for osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritic diseased joint fluid, and periprosthetic fluids respectively. Results showed that the addition of HA to standard diluted bovine serum lubricants, in concentrations similar to that of periprosthetic fluid, delayed crack initiation and crack growth during fatigue testing.     

University institutional repositories: competitive environment and their role as communication media of scientific knowledge

Are institutional repositories mere warehouses for digital documents or are they in fact establishing themselves as a rigorous option for the spread of scientific knowledge? This study analyses the competitive environment of the Top100 university repositories, defined as leaders in terms of market participation and penetration. The study also analyses the basic functionalities of preservation and diffusion of academic production through factors related to the prestige of the repositories and of the institutions that operate them. The results show that repositories with a larger digital academic supply are associated with the production of demonstrated scientific rigor.