Development of advanced technology for biomass combustion—CFD as an essential tool

Major advances have been made in the development of bagasse combustion technologies and understanding the many processes involved in bagasse combustion and steam generation. CFD modeling has come to form an integral and critical part of this progression. The experience with CFD in the sugar industry through Sugar Research Institute has encompassed the full range of applications from fundamental code development, through the generation and commercialization of new ideas and technologies, to the resolution of practical plant problems. The paper summarises the numerous applications where SRI has achieved successful results utilizing CFD. It is demonstrated that the full benefits of CFD in the delivery of commercial outcomes, for new technologies and the solution of operating plant problems, are achieved through the close interaction between the code development and validation via full scale plant simulation. This two-way interaction enhances the code fundamentals by focusing on practical issues and similarly increases the confidence in the capabilities and accuracy of the CFD predictions, to an extent that justifies firm engineering decisions on commercial plant based solely on the characteristics predicted by the code.     

Veteran interest in family involvement in PTSD treatment.

[Correction Notice: An erratum for this article was reported in Vol 7(3) of Psychological Services (see record 2010-17074-004). The copyright for the article was listed incorrectly. This article is in the Public Domain. The online version has been corrected.] The present study examined interest in family involvement in treatment and preferences concerning the focus of family oriented treatment for veterans (N = 114) participating in an outpatient Veterans Affairs outpatient posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) program. Most veterans viewed PTSD as a source of family stress (86%) and expressed interest in greater family involvement in their treatment (79%). These results suggest the need to consider increasing family participation in the clinical care of individuals with PTSD and to develop specialized family educational and support services for this population. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Video game training to improve selective visual attention in older adults

The current study investigated the effect of video game training on older adult’s useful field of view performance (the UFOV® test). Fifty-eight older adult participants were randomized to receive practice with the target action game (Medal of Honor), a placebo control arcade game (Tetris), a clinically validated UFOV training program, or into a no contact control group. Examining pretest–posttest change in selective visual attention, the UFOV improved significantly more than the game groups; all three intervention groups improved significantly more than no-contact controls. There was a lack of difference between the two game conditions, differing from findings with younger adults. Discussion considers whether games posing less challenge might still be effective interventions for elders, and whether optimal training dosages should be higher.     

Studio sample sheet

Abstract

This enormous studio sample sheet, featuring nearly 850 famous faces, and figures, spread across seven feet of thin canvas, was perhaps displayed in the window or behind the counter of a photographic establishment, or carried to small towns in England and abroad by a travelling studio salesman, in the hope of satisfying a popular demand for pictures of the Royal Family, political figures, stage and music hall performers, and celebrities of the day¹ (Figure 1). Each tiny photograph carries a number; there are about 32 of these reduced images on each 4 ½ × 5 ½ in. albumen print, and 27 such prints pasted along the length of the canvas. They appear to have been reproduced by photographing a composite layout of printed portraits, as the images lack the sharpness of prints made directly from the negative. The first in a series of portraits of a particular person is labelled, and successive numbered poses of that person follow, until the next series begins. Thus, Lilly Langtry is featured in 25 poses, in the upper left-hand corner of the canvas roll, (Figure 2) and in four or five other poses on two other albumen sheets. Queen Victoria is offered in ten different views, (Figure 3) and the very popular Princess of Wales in at least 25 (Figures 4 and 5). Almost all of these celebrated faces are English, although the youthful German Emperor is shown (see Figure 4). The pictures of the ‘Duke of York's Wedding Group’ enable us to date the prints as after 6th July 1893 (see Figure 5), so it is likely that these images were offered in Promenade size (7 ½ ? 3 ¾ in.) or Boudoir (8 ¼ × 5 in.) style, both of which were popular in the 1890s. However, the variety of studio settings and posing styles suggests that even older carte-de-visite and cabinet-card portraits were being enlarged and reissued in the larger formats popular in 1893.     

‘A or B’ to ‘A and B’

nal responses to such situations predominantly involve trade–off and compromise. This either/or thinking style almost invariably leads to lose–lose outcomes. This in turn despite the inordinate amount of literature and methodology available for ‘optimising’ those outcomes. Highly fashionable talk of ‘third ways’ or ‘win–win’ or ‘A and B’ solutions are an emerging counter to such thinking. Unfortunately, the literature–base for such approaches is largely non–existent, and hence win–win remains as precisely fashionable talk to most observers. This paper discusses the positive role TRIZ may be expected to play in beginning the task of turning win–win from nice idea to practical reality. Mass–customization is used as an exemplar contradiction problem.     

Determination of beam parameters and coherence properties of laser radiation by use of an extended Hartmann-Shack wave-front sensor

A combination of a Hartmann-Shack sensor and a standard far-field measurement on one single detector is proposed. The technique is fast and operates without movable parts, thus permitting a compact design. It is not only suited for characterization of the wave-front distribution but may also be considered for determination of the important parameters of beam width, beam divergence, and beam propagation ratio M2 of partially coherent laser beams. First results indicate that a fairly thorough beam characterization, including spatial coherence, propagation characteristics, and beam quality, can be achieved with this method.