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Geoportals are used to support the sharing of geospatial data for various purposes. In recent years, the importance of such geoportals in an academic environment is highly recognized. Equipped with the latest and most detailed spatial datasets these academic geoportals can support universities in numerous activities including research and teaching. One of the key characteristics that significantly influences the effectiveness of the academic geoportals is their Graphical User Interface (GUI). GUI designers can now benefit from emerging web technologies that assist in the production of intuitive interfaces to ensure high efficiency, good User Experience (UE), maximum usability and simultaneously the minimum cognitive workload. In this paper, we introduce the new GUI of the Geodata Versatile Information Transfer environment geoportal, and we present the results of a between-subjects study with 20 participants for the evaluation and comparison of the previous and the latest version. The results show that the GUI adaptations done, have a positive influence to several indicators like efficiency, UE, usability and cognitive workload. Our findings additionally reveal the weaknesses of the latest design and give constructive feedback in order to identify in which areas we should further improve the GUI to keep spinning the wheel of design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, melt film dynamics in rock wool spinning machines are investigated. High-speed visualization of the melt film structure was performed for a model spinning wheel and two industrial spinning machines. The quality of the melt film adhesion to the wheel and related heat transfer parameters were assessed by time series analysis of the image gray level for different operating conditions. During the warmup procedure for the spinning wheels investigated in laboratory experiments, the best wetting of the wheel surface (i.e. with least voids in the melt film) was observed at the lowest rotational speed and melt viscosity. In this transitional period, melt adhesion can be improved by preheating of the wheel surface and by gradual increase of the wheel rotational speed. Once the wheel surface has reached its working temperature, melt temperature and viscosity seem to have the largest effect on the melt adhesion process. The cooling rate of the melt film was observed to increase with its initial temperature and circumferential velocity. Regardless of the operating regime, no significant melt slippage against the wheel surface was observed, with melt film structure preserved over multiple spinner wheel rotations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of spinneret design parameters on cross-sectional shape and mechanical performance characteristics of coaxial composite filaments. A number of different cross-sectional-shaped metal/polymer core/sheath coaxial composite filaments were developed by changing spinneret design parameters. The cross-sectional shapes obtained were circular, rectangular, triangular and elliptical shapes. The mechanical performance of filaments was evaluated for application in sensors and actuators. The change of cross-sectional shape significantly influences mechanical properties of developed filaments which express their vulnerability during applied stresses in their life cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The rice leaffolder, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis, is an important rice pest. The sublethal effects of chlorpyrifos, chlorantraniliprole, emamectin benzoate and spinosad were investigated on the folding and spinning behaviors of third- to fifth-instar C. medinalis larvae (L3-L5) after insecticidal exposure of the second instar. RESULTS: A 25% lethal concentration (LC25) of chlorpyrifos prolonged the leaf selection time of L5, and reduced the number of binds per primary fold for L4 and L5. An LC10 of chlorantraniliprole reduced the number of binds per primary fold for L4 and increased the number of head swings per bind for L5. An LC10 of emamectin benzoate shortened the primary fold length for L5 and decreased the number of head swings per primary fold for L3 and L4 and the number of head swings per bind for L3, while an LC25 of emamectin benzoate shortened the fold length per 24 h for L5 and folding time for L3. An LC10 of spinosad lowered the fold length per 24 h and the number of head swings for L5. An LC25 of spinosad prolonged leaf selection time, and decreased primary fold length, binds per primary fold, binds per fold and fold length per 24 h in L5. CONCLUSION: Emamectin benzoate and spinosad exerted stronger sublethal effects on the folding and spinning behavior of C. medinalis than chlorpyrifos and chlorantraniliprole. These results provide better understanding of the sublethal effects of interactions of insecticides on C. medinalis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pottery, bone implements, and stone tools are routinely found at Neolithic sites. However, the integrity of textiles or silk is susceptible to degradation, and it is therefore very difficult for such materials to be preserved for 8,000 years. Although previous studies have provided important evidence of the emergence of weaving skills and tools, such as figuline spinning wheels and osseous lamellas with traces of filament winding, there is a lack of direct evidence proving the existence of silk. In this paper, we explored evidence of prehistoric silk fibroin through the analysis of soil samples collected from three tombs at the Neolithic site of Jiahu. Mass spectrometry was employed and integrated with proteomics to characterize the key peptides of silk fibroin. The direct biomolecular evidence reported here showed the existence of prehistoric silk fibroin, which was found in 8,500-year-old tombs. Rough weaving tools and bone needles were also excavated, indicating the possibility that the Jiahu residents may possess the basic weaving and sewing skills in making textile. This finding may advance the study of the history of silk, and the civilization of the Neolithic Age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquid ligaments can grow from perturbations in liquid film spread on a spinning wheel due to the centrifugal force acting on the film. Typically, the growth is strongly influenced by the surface tension on the evolving liquid–air interface. This phenomenon, frequently exploited in industry for the production of fibers, was investigated numerically and the Volume-of-Fluid (VOF) methodology was used to model the interface. The freely available Gerris code with adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) was used to achieve the fine resolution of the computational grid required at the evolving liquid–air interface. The results were compared with the experimental data captured by a high-speed camera. The influence of the process operating variables on the ligament growth is also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For more than a century, historians of science have been spinning a philosophical roulette wheel, pondering which is more important in the creative process: imagination or knowledge. The most original scientists (and artists) in our day discover newness by blending existing knowledge with imaginative thinking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. The term core strength refers to the strength of these core muscles. Either core muscle strength is usually operationally defined by a measurement of the strength of core muscles, in terms of how much weight/resistance a muscle can lift, how many repetitions a muscle can perform, or how long a muscle can hold a neutral stable position.The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of core strength training on spinning wheel kick and certain physical variables for young female athletes. Methods. Participants were 20 karate young female athletes (M age = 12.54 years, SD = 1.23) who all regularly participated in Karate training in Egypt. Divided into two groups. The experimental group (n = 10) performed core strength exercisestraining and control group (n = 10) performed traditional exercise. All participants completed the spinning wheel kick test and certain physical variables (balance- core strength-power- reaction speed). Subjects were required to read and complete a health questionnaire and informed consent document; there was no history of injuries, diabetes or recent surgery. Results.The results revealed that a Significant difference between the experimental group and control group in spinning wheel kick test and certain physical variables (balance- core strength-power-reaction speed). Conclusion. The findings indicated that the implication of this research for coaches working with core strength exercises (10) weeks is that to match athlete preferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A ligament-type disintegration of liquid on a spinning wheel was investigated experimentally using photographs taken by a high-speed camera. Three different Newtonian liquids were used at various flow rates and the wheel rotational speed was varied in a wide range. Velocity slip between the liquid film and the wheel surface was found to depend primarily on wheel rotational speed and angular position, dropping to approximately 1–1.5% for sufficiently fast rotation. As a liquid ligament grows from the film, the relative pathline of its free (head) end resembles an involute. Ligament strain rate on the film was found to increase steadily until the head droplet pinch-off when a short but significant strain rate reduction was observed. At this point, ligament is rapidly decelerated in the lateral direction which may cause significant longitudinal oscillations, possibly destabilizing its growth. Strain rate then increases again until the ligament detachment from the film which is soon followed by capillary breakup into droplets. The mean ligament length at detachment was determined to increase with a rising liquid flow rate and Ohnesorge number. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, liquid disintegration by a spinning wheel was investigated experimentally. The mechanism of ligament formation on a spinning wheel was studied using photographs taken by a high-speed camera. Three different liquids with Newtonian properties were used at various flow rates and the wheel rotational speed was varied in a wide range. The atomization process was found to be significantly different from the spinning disc and cups atomization due to the highly non-uniform circumferential ligament distribution and the absence of the direct drop formation mode. Nevertheless, the dependence of ligament number and diameter on the input process parameters is similar as with other types of centrifugal atomizers due to the same underlying hydrodynamic instabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: To assess the net impact on U.S. longevity of the decision to commute by bicycle rather than automobile. Methods: We construct fatality rates per distance traveled using official statistics and denominators from the 2009 National Household Travel Survey. We model the life-table impact of switching from auto to bicycle commuting. Key factors are increased risks from road accidents and reduced risks from enhanced cardiovascular health. Results: Bicycling fatality rates in the U.S. are an order of magnitude higher than in Western Europe. Risks punish both young and old, while the health benefits guard against causes of mortality that rise rapidly with age. Although the protective effects of bicycling appear significant, it may be optimal to wait until later ages to initiate regular bicycle commuting in the current U.S. risk environment, especially if individuals discount future life years. Conclusions: The lifetime health benefits of bicycle commuting appear to outweigh the risks in the U.S., but individuals who sufficiently discount or disbelieve the health benefits may delay or avoid bicycling. Bicycling in middle age avoids much fatality risk while capturing health benefits. Significant cross-state variations in bicycling mortality suggest that improvements in the built environment might spur changes in transit mode. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Pashmina, a finest natural animal fiber is utilized for preparation of world famous Kashmiri pashmina shawls by traditional practices. Hand spinning is one of the important processing step, wherein fibers are converted into a fine yarn on a traditional spinning wheel (yander). The task is usually carried out by women folk. It is a laborious process resulting in a lot of physical stress affecting the efficiency of artisans. An innovative charkha has been fabricated to reduce the physical stress and its effect on the spinning efficiency and remuneration of artisans over traditional one was evaluated. The study revealed that innovative charkha was efficient in terms of time consumed for spinning by 73.50% over traditional one besides decreasing physical drudgery. In terms of income, there was an increase of 146% over traditional one for same period of time without deteriorating the quality of yarn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]