CFD modelling of the fast pyrolysis of biomass in fluidised bed reactors: modelling the impact of biomass shrinkage

The fluid–particle interaction and the impact of shrinkage on pyrolysis of biomass inside a 150 g/h fluidised bed reactor is modelled. Two 500 View the MathML sourcem in diameter biomass particles are injected into the fluidised bed with different shrinkage conditions. The two different conditions consist of (1) shrinkage equal to the volume left by the solid devolatilization, and (2) shrinkage parameters equal to approximately half of particle volume. The effect of shrinkage is analysed in terms of heat and momentum transfer as well as product yields, pyrolysis time and particle size considering spherical geometries. The Eulerian approach is used to model the bubbling behaviour of the sand, which is treated as a continuum. Heat transfer from the bubbling bed to the discrete biomass particle, as well as biomass reaction kinetics are modelled according to the literature. The particle motion inside the reactor is computed using drag laws, dependent on the local volume fraction of each phase. FLUENT 6.2 has been used as the modelling framework of the simulations with the whole pyrolysis model incorporated in the form of user defined function (UDF).

The role of the greens in the local politics of West Germany.

The study examines the contribution of the Greens to the changing nature of West Germany's local politics in the 1980s. The changes correspond broadly to the politicisation and parliamentarisation of a sphere of government traditionally perceived as being "unpolitical". Building upon theories of the New Politics, it is suggested that the varying pace of socio-economic change across the Federal Republic underlies the nonuniform development of its local party systems. The party systems of localities which have witnessed rapid social and economic change are found to be more susceptible to the emergence of a New Politics dimension than those of communities in which change has occurred less rapidly. The thesis continues by addressing aspects of the Greens' role in the development of local party systems across the Federal Republic. Despite the fact that marked differences in the Greens' approach to local political participation are registered in communities of varying socio-economic types, it is argued that the Greens are largely responsible for the introduction of a "New Local Politics" dimension into West Germany's local party systems. In a comprehensive study of the Greens' role in the Mainz party system, the conflicting styles and practices of the Greens and the established political parties in the city are depicted. The failure of the Green Party to form an alliance with the SPD in the city council is attributed to the cleavage between the Greens' New Politics and the SPD's Old Politics approaches. A detailed analysis of the parliamentary initiatives introduced by the four parties represented in the Mainz council between 1984 and 1987 also supports the contention that a New Politics dimension exists in the city's party system. This dimension is identified as representing a significant source of conflict during the period of analysis.

The operation of repair in L2 learner conversation, group work and classroom discourse

The present study is an empirical investigation into repair in spoken discourse, specifically focusing on L2 learner conversation, group work and teacher-fronted classroom interaction. The core of the investigation concentrates on identification of the problem type, classification of repair strategies and examination of interaction in the repair process. A comparison between Conversation (CS), Group Work (GW), and Teacher-fronted classroom interaction (CR) suggests that more repair is undertaken in CS. The results of the study suggest that the fundamental differences between CS, GW and CR are of two types: in the frequency of repair and in the nature of the repair itself. It has been found that other-initiation for production problem repair occurs mainly in CR, other-completion is characteristic of GW and self-repair is most frequent in CS. Factors affecting the occurrence of repair in CS, GW and CR are related to content and social and communicative features of context. Importantly, the study shows the frequency of repair in GW falls between that of CS and CR in most of repair strategies. This result lends support to the argument that group work can assist L2 learners to develop their communicative competence. It is suggested that the analysis of the repair process in CS, GW and CR can be useful in throwing light on the intricacies of spoken discourse in general and can be exploited by applied linguists for both theoretical and pedagogical purposes.

Under the influence? The construction of foetal alcohol syndrome in UK newspapers

Today, alongside many other proscriptions, women are expected to abstain or at least limit their alcohol consumption during pregnancy. This advice is reinforced through warning labels on bottles and cans of alcoholic drinks. In most (but not all) official policies, this is linked to a risk of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) or one of its associated conditions. However, given that there is little medical evidence that low levels of alcohol consumption have an adverse impact on the foetus, we need to examine broader societal ideas to explain why this has now become a policy concern. This paper presents a quantitative and qualitative assessment of analysis of the media in this context. By analysing the frames over time, this paper will trace the emergence of concerns about alcohol consumption during pregnancy. It will argue that contemporary concerns about FAS are framed around a number of pre-existing discourses including alcohol consumption as a social problem, heightened concerns about children at risk and shifts in ideas about the responsibility of motherhood including during the pre-conception and pregnancy periods. Whilst the newspapers regularly carried critiques of the abstinence position now advocated, these challenges focused did little to refute current parenting cultures.

Unresolved issues and new challenges in teaching English to young learners:the case of South Korea

The introduction of languages, especially English, into the primary curriculum around the world has been one of the major language-in-education policy developments in recent years. In countries where English has been compulsory for a number of years, the question arises as to what extent the numerous and well-documented challenges faced by the initial implementation of early language learning policies have been overcome and whether new challenges have arisen as policies have become consolidated. This article therefore focuses on South Korea, where English has been compulsory in primary school since 1997. The issues raised by the introduction of English into the primary curriculum are reviewed and the current situation in South Korea is investigated. The results of a mixed methods study using survey data from 125 Korean primary school teachers, together with data from a small-scale case study of one teacher are presented. The study shows that, while some of the initial problems caused by the introduction of early language learning appear to have been addressed, other challenges persist. Moreover, the data reveal the emergence of a number of new challenges faced by primary school teachers of English as they seek to implement government policy. © 2013 © 2013 Taylor & Francis.

Private equity and the flight of the phoenix four - the collapse of MG Rover in the UK

This paper explores the nature of the co-called ‘private equity business model’ (PEBM) and assesses its shortcomings, using the illustrative example of the role of private equity in structuring the finance and subsequent collapse of MG Rover, as the automotive industry has been a significant destination for private equity financing. The paper outlines the nature of the PEBM. It then details how the PEBM extracts value, before stressing how this can affect workers in a portfolio business. We argue that the emergence of the PEBM changes the basis of competitive rules in organizations and the running of erstwhile going concerns, necessitating a need for further regulation—particularly, how to secure wider stakeholder oversight without reducing the efficiency of PEBM concerns.

A qualitative case study of teacher perceptions and concerns during the implementation of literacy folders in a select elementary school in Broward County, Florida

Classroom teachers are often required to implement new procedures or practices in response to local or federal education mandates. Attempts to implement innovations, often do not take into account the personal side of change; the perceptions, concerns and needs of those required to implement the innovation. One innovation that was required by the School Board of Broward County, Florida for all elementary classroom teachers was the implementation of Literacy Folders. ^ This study attempted to address the personal side of change by identifying teacher concerns during the implementation of Literacy Folders in a select elementary school in Broward County Florida. The Concerns Based Adoption model (CBAM) for change was used as the conceptual framework for this qualitative case study. ^ Sources of data for this study included participant interviews, observations and analysis of documents. Informal conversations with the participants and unscheduled classroom visits were also sources of data. Seven classroom teachers were interviewed using a predesigned interview guide developed based on the CBAM of change, specifically the Stages of Concern Dimension. Participant responses were coded into two categories, (a) recollections of past perceptions, and (b) present perceptions regarding the innovation. ^ Data analysis resulted in the emergence of one major theme and two subordinate themes. The themes were related to time and purpose of the innovation. The researcher also discovered that the participants exhibited responses typically representative of the CBAM for individuals who are in the process of adjusting to a new innovation. ^ Recommendations based on participant concerns are made for improving the implementation of the innovation. Recommendations for alternatives to the innovation and suggestions regarding areas for further research in the field of educational change are also made. ^

The role of redox signaling in the molecular mechanism of tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer.

The emergence of tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitor resistance is a major problem in the treatment of breast cancer. The molecular signaling mechanism of antiestrogen resistance is not clear. Understanding the mechanisms by which resistance to these agents arise could have major clinical implications for preventing or circumventing it. Therefore, in this dissertation we have investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying antiestrogen resistance by studying the contributions of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced redox signaling pathways in antiestrogen resistant breast cancer cells. Our hypothesis is that the conversion of breast tumors to a tamoxifen-resistant phenotype is associated with a progressive shift towards a pro-oxidant environment of cells as a result of oxidative stress. The hypothesis of this dissertation was tested in an in vitro 2-D cell culture model employing state of the art biochemical and molecular techniques, including gene overexpression, immunoprecipitation, Western blotting, confocal imaging, ChIP, Real-Time RT-PCR, and anchorage-independent cell growth assays. We observed that tamoxifen (TAM) acts like both an oxidant and an antioxidant. Exposure of tamoxifen resistant LCC2 cell to TAM or 17 beta-estradiol (E2) induced the formation of reactive oxidant species (ROS). The formation of E2-induced ROS was inhibited by co-treatment with TAM, similar to cells pretreated with antioxidants. In LCC2 cells, treatments with either E2 or TAM were capable of inducing cell proliferation which was then inhibited by biological and chemical antioxidants. Exposure of LCC2 cells to tamoxifen resulted in a decrease in p27 expression. The LCC2 cells exposed to TAM showed an increase in p27 phosphorylation on T157 and T187. Conversely, antioxidant treatment showed an increase in p27 expression and a decrease in p27 phosphorylation on T157 and T187 in TAM exposed cells which were similar to the effects of Fulvestrant. In line with previous studies, we showed an increase in the binding of cyclin E-Cdk2 and in the level of p27 in TAM exposed cells that overexpressed biological antioxidants. Together these findings highly suggest that lowering the oxidant state of antiestrogen resistant LCC2 cells, increases LCC2 susceptibility to tamoxifen via the cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor p27.

Investigating the encoding of visual stimuli by forming neural circuits in the cat primary visual cortex

Contexte La connectomique, ou la cartographie des connexions neuronales, est un champ de recherche des neurosciences évoluant rapidement, promettant des avancées majeures en ce qui concerne la compréhension du fonctionnement cérébral. La formation de circuits neuronaux en réponse à des stimuli environnementaux est une propriété émergente du cerveau. Cependant, la connaissance que nous avons de la nature précise de ces réseaux est encore limitée. Au niveau du cortex visuel, qui est l’aire cérébrale la plus étudiée, la manière dont les informations se transmettent de neurone en neurone est une question qui reste encore inexplorée. Cela nous invite à étudier l’émergence des microcircuits en réponse aux stimuli visuels. Autrement dit, comment l’interaction entre un stimulus et une assemblée cellulaire est-elle mise en place et modulée? Méthodes En réponse à la présentation de grilles sinusoïdales en mouvement, des ensembles neuronaux ont été enregistrés dans la couche II/III (aire 17) du cortex visuel primaire de chats anesthésiés, à l’aide de multi-électrodes en tungstène. Des corrélations croisées ont été effectuées entre l’activité de chacun des neurones enregistrés simultanément pour mettre en évidence les liens fonctionnels de quasi-synchronie (fenêtre de ± 5 ms sur les corrélogrammes croisés corrigés). Ces liens fonctionnels dévoilés indiquent des connexions synaptiques putatives entre les neurones. Par la suite, les histogrammes peri-stimulus (PSTH) des neurones ont été comparés afin de mettre en évidence la collaboration synergique temporelle dans les réseaux fonctionnels révélés. Enfin, des spectrogrammes dépendants du taux de décharges entre neurones ou stimulus-dépendants ont été calculés pour observer les oscillations gamma dans les microcircuits émergents. Un indice de corrélation (Rsc) a également été calculé pour les neurones connectés et non connectés. Résultats Les neurones liés fonctionnellement ont une activité accrue durant une période de 50 ms contrairement aux neurones fonctionnellement non connectés. Cela suggère que les connexions entre neurones mènent à une synergie de leur inter-excitabilité. En outre, l’analyse du spectrogramme dépendant du taux de décharge entre neurones révèle que les neurones connectés ont une plus forte activité gamma que les neurones non connectés durant une fenêtre d’opportunité de 50ms. L’activité gamma de basse-fréquence (20-40 Hz) a été associée aux neurones à décharge régulière (RS) et l’activité de haute fréquence (60-80 Hz) aux neurones à décharge rapide (FS). Aussi, les neurones fonctionnellement connectés ont systématiquement un Rsc plus élevé que les neurones non connectés. Finalement, l’analyse des corrélogrammes croisés révèle que dans une assemblée neuronale, le réseau fonctionnel change selon l’orientation de la grille. Nous démontrons ainsi que l’intensité des relations fonctionnelles dépend de l’orientation de la grille sinusoïdale. Cette relation nous a amené à proposer l’hypothèse suivante : outre la sélectivité des neurones aux caractères spécifiques du stimulus, il y a aussi une sélectivité du connectome. En bref, les réseaux fonctionnels «signature » sont activés dans une assemblée qui est strictement associée à l’orientation présentée et plus généralement aux propriétés des stimuli. Conclusion Cette étude souligne le fait que l’assemblée cellulaire, plutôt que le neurone, est l'unité fonctionnelle fondamentale du cerveau. Cela dilue l'importance du travail isolé de chaque neurone, c’est à dire le paradigme classique du taux de décharge qui a été traditionnellement utilisé pour étudier l'encodage des stimuli. Cette étude contribue aussi à faire avancer le débat sur les oscillations gamma, en ce qu'elles surviennent systématiquement entre neurones connectés dans les assemblées, en conséquence d’un ajout de cohérence. Bien que la taille des assemblées enregistrées soit relativement faible, cette étude suggère néanmoins une intrigante spécificité fonctionnelle entre neurones interagissant dans une assemblée en réponse à une stimulation visuelle. Cette étude peut être considérée comme une prémisse à la modélisation informatique à grande échelle de connectomes fonctionnels.

Investigating the encoding of visual stimuli by forming neural circuits in the cat primary visual cortex

Contexte La connectomique, ou la cartographie des connexions neuronales, est un champ de recherche des neurosciences évoluant rapidement, promettant des avancées majeures en ce qui concerne la compréhension du fonctionnement cérébral. La formation de circuits neuronaux en réponse à des stimuli environnementaux est une propriété émergente du cerveau. Cependant, la connaissance que nous avons de la nature précise de ces réseaux est encore limitée. Au niveau du cortex visuel, qui est l’aire cérébrale la plus étudiée, la manière dont les informations se transmettent de neurone en neurone est une question qui reste encore inexplorée. Cela nous invite à étudier l’émergence des microcircuits en réponse aux stimuli visuels. Autrement dit, comment l’interaction entre un stimulus et une assemblée cellulaire est-elle mise en place et modulée? Méthodes En réponse à la présentation de grilles sinusoïdales en mouvement, des ensembles neuronaux ont été enregistrés dans la couche II/III (aire 17) du cortex visuel primaire de chats anesthésiés, à l’aide de multi-électrodes en tungstène. Des corrélations croisées ont été effectuées entre l’activité de chacun des neurones enregistrés simultanément pour mettre en évidence les liens fonctionnels de quasi-synchronie (fenêtre de ± 5 ms sur les corrélogrammes croisés corrigés). Ces liens fonctionnels dévoilés indiquent des connexions synaptiques putatives entre les neurones. Par la suite, les histogrammes peri-stimulus (PSTH) des neurones ont été comparés afin de mettre en évidence la collaboration synergique temporelle dans les réseaux fonctionnels révélés. Enfin, des spectrogrammes dépendants du taux de décharges entre neurones ou stimulus-dépendants ont été calculés pour observer les oscillations gamma dans les microcircuits émergents. Un indice de corrélation (Rsc) a également été calculé pour les neurones connectés et non connectés. Résultats Les neurones liés fonctionnellement ont une activité accrue durant une période de 50 ms contrairement aux neurones fonctionnellement non connectés. Cela suggère que les connexions entre neurones mènent à une synergie de leur inter-excitabilité. En outre, l’analyse du spectrogramme dépendant du taux de décharge entre neurones révèle que les neurones connectés ont une plus forte activité gamma que les neurones non connectés durant une fenêtre d’opportunité de 50ms. L’activité gamma de basse-fréquence (20-40 Hz) a été associée aux neurones à décharge régulière (RS) et l’activité de haute fréquence (60-80 Hz) aux neurones à décharge rapide (FS). Aussi, les neurones fonctionnellement connectés ont systématiquement un Rsc plus élevé que les neurones non connectés. Finalement, l’analyse des corrélogrammes croisés révèle que dans une assemblée neuronale, le réseau fonctionnel change selon l’orientation de la grille. Nous démontrons ainsi que l’intensité des relations fonctionnelles dépend de l’orientation de la grille sinusoïdale. Cette relation nous a amené à proposer l’hypothèse suivante : outre la sélectivité des neurones aux caractères spécifiques du stimulus, il y a aussi une sélectivité du connectome. En bref, les réseaux fonctionnels «signature » sont activés dans une assemblée qui est strictement associée à l’orientation présentée et plus généralement aux propriétés des stimuli. Conclusion Cette étude souligne le fait que l’assemblée cellulaire, plutôt que le neurone, est l'unité fonctionnelle fondamentale du cerveau. Cela dilue l'importance du travail isolé de chaque neurone, c’est à dire le paradigme classique du taux de décharge qui a été traditionnellement utilisé pour étudier l'encodage des stimuli. Cette étude contribue aussi à faire avancer le débat sur les oscillations gamma, en ce qu'elles surviennent systématiquement entre neurones connectés dans les assemblées, en conséquence d’un ajout de cohérence. Bien que la taille des assemblées enregistrées soit relativement faible, cette étude suggère néanmoins une intrigante spécificité fonctionnelle entre neurones interagissant dans une assemblée en réponse à une stimulation visuelle. Cette étude peut être considérée comme une prémisse à la modélisation informatique à grande échelle de connectomes fonctionnels.

The Effect of Prenatal Auditory Enrichment on Perceptual Narrowing in Bobwhite Quail Neonates

The development of species-typical perceptual preferences has been shown to depend on a variety of socially and ecologically derived sensory stimulation during both the pre- and postnatal periods. The prominent mechanism behind the development of these seemingly innate tendencies in young organisms has been hypothesized to be a domain-general pan-sensory selectivity process referred to as perceptual narrowing, whereby regularly experienced sensory stimuli are honed in upon, while simultaneously losing the ability to effectively discriminate between atypical or unfamiliar sensory stimulation. Previous work with precocial birds has been successful in preventing the development of species-typical perceptual preferences by denying the organism typical levels of social and/or self-produced stimulation. The current series of experiments explored the mechanism of perceptual narrowing to assess the malleability of a species-typical auditory preference in avian embryos. By providing a variety of different unimodal and bimodal presentations of a mixed-species vocalizations at the onset of prenatal auditory function, the following project aimed to 1) keep the perceptual window from narrowing, thereby interfering with the development of a species-typical auditory preference, 2) investigate how long differential prenatal stimulation can keep the perceptual window open postnatally, 3) explore how prenatal auditory enrichment effected preferences for novelty, and 4) assess whether prenatal auditory perceptual narrowing is affected by modality specific or amodal stimulus properties during early development. Results indicated that prenatal auditory enrichment significantly interferes with the emergence of a species-typical auditory preference and increases openness to novelty, at least temporarily. After accruing postnatal experience in an environment rich with species-typical auditory and multisensory cues, the effect of prenatal auditory enrichment rapidly was found to rapidly fade. Prenatal auditory enrichment with extraneous non-synchronous light exposure was shown to both keep the perceptual narrowing window open and impede learning in the postnatal environment, following hatching. Results are discussed in light of the role experience plays in perceptual narrowing during the perinatal period.

The Use of Nudges in Exergames to Moderate Player Exertion

Exergames are digital games with a physical exertion component. Exergames can help motivate fitness in people not inclined toward exercise. However, players of exergames sometimes over-exert, risking adverse health effects. These players must be told to slow down, but doing so may distract them from gameplay and diminish their desire to keep exercising. In this thesis we apply the concept of nudges—indirect suggestions that gently push people toward a desired behaviour—to keeping exergame players from over-exerting. We describe the effective use of nudges through a set of four design principles: natural integration, comprehension, progression, and multiple channels. We describe two exergames modified to use nudges to persuade players to slow down, and describe the studies evaluating the use of nudges in these games. PlaneGame shows that nudges can be as effective as an explicit textual display to control player over-exertion. Gekku Race demonstrates that nudges are not necessarily effective when players have a strong incentive to over-exert. However, Gekku Race also shows that, even in high-energy games, the power of nudges can be maintained by adding negative consequences to the nudges. We use the term "shove" to describe a nudge using negative consequences to increase its pressure. We were concerned that making players slow down would damage their immersion—the feeling of being engaged with a game. However, testing showed no loss of immersion through the use of nudges to reduce exertion. Players reported that the nudges and shoves motivated them to slow down when they were over-exerting, and fit naturally into the games.

Effect of reading sport chronicles on the perception of justice and the predisposition to protest actions in soccer

In this study three chronicles from national newspapers (one generalist and two sport press) were analyzed. The chronicles belong to Spain’s soccer final of the King’s Cup in 2014. The aim of the study was to know if there was any influence on the readers’ perception of justice and consequently if this influence could cause a particular predisposition to participate in acts of protest. 462 university students participated. The results showed that different chronicles caused differences in the perception of justice depending on the chronicle read. However, a clear influence on the willingness to participate in acts of protest was not obtained. These results should make us think about the impact of sport press and its influence, and to be aware of the indirect responsibility of every sector on the antisocial behaviors generated by soccer in our country.

The Uses of Print and Writing in Eighteenth Century European Ballet: the Case of The Letters on Dancing and Ballets by Jean-Georges Noverre

This article aims to study the uses of print, especially the Letters on Dancing and Ballets by Jean-Georges Noverre, throughout the emergence of pantomime ballet in the late eighteenth century. Noverre’s discourse is directly associated with a project to revitalize the art of dance. In this sense, books as an object are not only a support for the new aesthetic discourse, but a tool with multiple uses. It simultaneously seeks to modify the spectator’s view of the scene, legitimize the success of the new theatrical genre and value the ballet master profession.

Migrant identities in a new immigrant destination: revealing the limitations of the ‘hard working’ migrant identity

Migrant labour has transformed local economies in many places, often helping to reverse long-term decline. The emergence of new immigrant destinations (NID) globally brings mixed opportunities for the individuals involved. This article uses empirical evidence, focusing on the workplace, to show the performance, construction and significance of migrant identity. By using social identity theory to examine what it means to be a ‘migrant’, it follows from Goffman’s overarching concern with social interactions and his promotion of microanalysis as analytical lenses.
The article reveals the ambiguity of the label ‘migrant’. It shows how the external application or internal enactment of migrant identities bestow particular status that represents an asset or an obstacle to integration. It can mean ‘hard working’, ‘less deserving’ and ‘exploitable’ and it also denotes ‘lazy’ and individuals. While some individuals assume the hard working migrant and ‘exploitable’ identity in certain circumstances because of the benefits that it brings, this status can also cause high levels of dissatisfaction and distress among migrants. The research shows how the creation of a migrant identity limits the structures and networks from which migrants may draw resources and in so doing curtails the possibilities for social change due to migration.