Catch Fire Research Articles

Walkman time machine

ABSTRACT In the recent boom of 1980s-set television period dramas, the Walkman appears again and again as a symbol of the decade. This article argues that the Walkman (or personal stereo) is not just a one-way ticket into the past but can unsettle the temporality of the television serials in which it appears. It functions as a time machine – figuratively and occasionally even literally – by creating allegorical connections between past and present. Halt and Catch Fire (AMC, 2014–2017), The Americans (FX, 2013–2018), and Deutschland 83 (Sundance TV, 2015–2020) recreate for viewers the initial experience of the Walkman as a wondrously new piece of personal, mobile technology. Oblique comparisons to the smartphone sidestep didacticism, instead creating a defamiliarized perspective on current technology that has otherwise become a source of both boredom and anxiety. The Walkman further provides a structural metaphor for the ‘complex’ temporality of shows like Halt and Catch Fire: the back-and-forth spooling/unspooling mechanism of cassette tape access suggests that backward and forward movement in time are inherently intertwined. The Walkman’s recurring appearances in these serial television narratives allow the shows to ponder how we arrived at our technological present and what might have gone differently.

The benefits of restoring urban lakes in the tropics.

Lake restoration in developing economies, particularly in the tropics, is a major challenge given the severe levels of pollution from untreated wastewater and the warm climate conducive to microbial and algal growth. Restoration goals are often ill-defined or unachievable. Here we describe the successes that can be achieved through a control, compared with intervention case study of the two urban lakes in Bengaluru, India, one of the world's largest and fastest growing mega-cities. The unrestored control, Bellandur Lake, was severely polluted by 231 million litres per day (MLD) of untreated wastewater. The restoration site, Jakkur Lake, receives 10 MLD of treated wastewater and also receives some tertiary treatment by circulating the effluent through a constructed wetland before it enters the lake. The water quality of Bellandur Lake can only be described as extremely bad. Organic pollution levels in the main inflow were high (BOD5 of 199mg/l, faecal coliforms 6.9 Log MPN/100ml, total suspended solids (TSS) of 285mg/l) leading to the complete deoxygenation of lake even at the surface. The levels exceeded use-base standards for bathing water and fisheries. The high levels of organic pollution and low oxygen conditions also led to extreme levels of methane emissions that occasionally led to the lake surface catching fire. Total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) concentrations in the lake were extremely high (47mg/l and 6.3mg/l) respectively with low Secchi depth (SD). Despite the high nutrient levels, very little phytoplankton growth occurred (chlorophyll-a of 0mg/l), most likely due to the high TSS loads which restricted light availability. In comparison, the wastewater treatment and wetland at Jakkur Lake markedly reduced organic pollution of the main inflow (BOD5 of 32mg/l, faecal coliforms 4.1 Log MPN/100ml, TSS of 48mg/l). Levels of coliforms in the lake were above the standards for bathing waters. Total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) concentrations in the lake reduced (10.5mg/l, 2.4mg/l) but still classify the lake as extremely hypereutrophic. The lower TSS levels did, however, enable dense phytoplankton blooms to develop (max chlorophyll-a of 600 µg/l) which are in part responsible for the higher levels of dissolved oxygen in the lake water, albeit and as expected with large diurnal fluctuations. The comparison highlights the benefits that standard wastewater treatment provides to restore urban tropical lakes in context of rapidly urbanising catchments, and even though Jakkur Lake is by no means fully restored, it sustains water quality that allow propagation of fisheries and shore-based recreation. It also greatly contributes to greenhouse gas emission reductions. Further restoration measures are likely needed for urban tropical lakes, particularly to tackle pollutant loads in monsoon periods, but restoring community pride in the uses of a lake is an important milestone of the restoration efforts.

Screening difficult women: 21st century reclamations of women’s history

ABSTRACT Historical fiction has long been one of television’s most prominent genres. It was not until the advent of streaming TV in the 21st century, however, that the genre reached its radical feminist potential. Written, directed, produced by and starring women, contemporary women’s historical fiction has exploded as both a marketable and an ideological genre. Three series - Good Girls Revolt (Amazon, 2016), Mrs. America (Hulu, 2020), and Halt and Catch Fire (AMC, 2014–17)—exemplify women’s challenge to the orthodoxy of male-driven historical fiction. These three shows not only reclaim women’s 20th Century American histories, but they also refute accepted conceptualizations of the genre and of History itself. Through circular storytelling, the blending of fact and fiction, and new female archetypes, these three series narrate coherent and consistent women’s histories heretofore missing in popular memory. From this foundation, these series discuss, debate, and fantasize about women’s lived experiences in the past, as well as commenting on the present and dreaming about the future of women’s lives and desires.

Study on direct refrigerant cooling for lithium-ion batteries of electric vehicles

For the purpose of improving the working efficiency of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles (EVs), prevent battery catching fire and improve the economy of battery thermal management systems (BTMS), in this study a BTMS simulation model with direct cooling struct is built. The evaporator in the cooling circuit of the battery cells directly exchanges heat with the batteries. The performance of models using conventional R134a and environmentally friendly R1234yf was investigated without changing the model structure. The results show that: in normal temperature environment, the BTMS can effectively restrain the battery temperature from rising, the battery temperature would be suppressed under 305 K, the minimum difference of battery pack maximum temperature (T max ) and energy consumption of the BTMS using two refrigerants is 2 K and 2.3% respectively; when the working temperature is high, the BTMS can quickly drop the cells temperature below 313 K, and the shortest time difference that falling to 313K, is only 66s, and the minimum power consumption difference is 3.2%.

Reflections of the Surveillance and Oppressive Authority in Hunger Games Trilogy

This study focuses on hunger, social breakdown, political oppression and Michael Foucault’s concepts of surveillance and discipline in the The Hunger Games Trilogy, which is about rebellion and survival under a totalitarian regime. This paper aims to illustrate how The Hunger Games trilogy (The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay) examines the reflections of oppressive authority both in today’s and the future world and tries to reveal the connection between the districts in Panem in the films and today’s countries, based on Foucault’s concepts. Suzan Collins' civilization is portrayed by hunger and a ruthless central authority that is guarded by the Capitol and governs 12 surrounding districts. Panem is separated into 12 districts, which are controlled by the Capitol, the capital. As penance for their earlier disobedience, the 12 districts send a boy and a girl, ages 12 to 18, to fight to the death in the Hunger Games each year. Because of the economic situation of the districts, the Capitol easily dominates and controls them, and despite the fact that there is enough food in the Capitol, it does not supply the districts. Poor economic conditions caused by the Capitol in districts cause famine, thus residents occasionally opt to search for food regardless of being observed, yet the problem of starving persists. Drawing from Foucault's ideas on surveillance, discipline, and the panopticon, this article will explain the living conditions of citizens in Panem, the surveillance of the Capitol, and the relations between the Capitol (United States of America and some exploitative countries) and the present (exploited nations).

Critical thickness of nano-enhanced RT-42 paraffin based battery thermal management system for electric vehicles: A numerical study

Use of electric vehicles has increased worldwide. Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) batteries are widely used to power them due to their high energy density and low self-discharge rates as compared to other conventional batteries such as lead acid. But at 3C discharge rates (where 3C means 3 times the rated Ah capacity of the battery cell), there is a sharp rise in temperature which impacts battery cell performance. After temperature exceeding 50 °C, the Li-Ion battery cells become unstable and catch fire and thus, its thermal management became a priority. Battery thermal management system (BTMS) aims to control battery cell temperature within operating limits at high discharge rates and ambient temperatures. BTMS utilizes either a fluid medium to carry away heat or working material in the form of Phase Change Material (PCM). In the present numerical investigation RT-42 paraffin is used as working material to control battery temperatures. In this investigation the performance of RT-42 paraffin for different thicknesses ranging from 1 mm to 7 mm around the battery cell was used to control battery temperature effectively. It is observed that up to 4 mm thickness of RT-42 paraffin gain in controlling the temperature is maximum. But low thermal conductivity of pure RT-42 impacts on its heat transfer performance. Therefore investigation of performance of Al2O3/RT-42 paraffin nano PCM (NePCM) with percentage weight fractions of 0.5, 1, 2, and 5 at critical thickness 4 mm was carried out. NePCM was able to maintain the maximum battery temperature 42.77 °C and remains in partially liquefied state at the end of discharge cycle of 1200 s.

Corona XLVI – Oh my, Omicron!

Corona XLVI – Oh my, Omicron!

Fire Risk Prediction Using Cloud-based Weather Data Services

Dry and cold winter seasons result in very dry indoor conditions and have historically contributed to severe fires in the high and dense representation of wooden homes in Norway. The fire in Lærdalsøyri, January 2014, is a devastating reminder of town fires still posing a threat to a modern society. In order to reduce conflagration probability and consequences, it is necessary to have an accurate estimate of the current and near future fire risk to take proper planning precautions. Cloud computing services providing access to weather data in the form of measurements and forecasts, combined with recent developments in fire risk modelling, may enable smart and fine-grained fire risk prediction services. The main contribution of this study is implementation and experimental validation of a wooden home predictive fire risk indication model, as well as outlining a wooden home fire risk concept. The wooden home fire risk model focuses on the first house catching fire (indoors) in a potential conflagration event. Such a fire would be critical to intervene prior to the fire developing exterior flames and embers post flashover, and thus high likelihood of fire spread. The implemented model exploits cloud-provided weather measurements and forecasts, to predict the current- and near future fire risk at given geographical locations. It computes the indoor wooden fuel moisture content of houses that may catch fire, using measured and forecasted outdoor temperature and relative humidity, and estimates the time to flashover. The latter is found through an empirical relation with the fuel moisture content, and can be used as an indication of the fire risk, beyond the modelled single house. The model implementation was integrated into a micro-service based software system and experimentally validated at selected geographical locations, relying on weather data provided by the RESTful API’s of the Norwegian Meteorological Institute. The validation took place by applying the model to predefined cases, with an outcome known from observations or theory. The first part is a general evaluation of the outputs, considering three historical fires. Then, seasonal changes and natural climate variations were considered. Our evaluation demonstrates the ability to provide trustworthy and accurate fire risk indications using a combination of recorded weather data and forecasts. Further, our cloud- and micro-service based software system implementation is efficient with respect to data storage and computation time. Finally, the novel fire risk concept is demonstrated for a selected city, based on model output. It successfully depicts the implications following reduced indoor humidity by utilizing location specific fire risk contours.

ONYMIC SECTOR OF THE CONCEPTUAL SPHERE OF THE YOUNG-ADULT DYSTOPIAN NOVEL (case study S. COLLINS’ TRILOGY «THE HUNGER GAMES»

Introduction. The article examines the onymic parcel of the English young-adult dystopian novel conceptosphere based on the material of S. Collins’ trilogy «The Hunger Games». The theory of generations has proved the dominance of the main archetype of the hero for a circle of potential readers of the analyzed works, so the leading concept of dystopian novels is the concept of the hero around whom events take place, catalyst and initiator of which he acts. These protagonists are nominated by their own names, which serve as organizers of the artistic space. In the literary work onyms become the pillars of memory, the organizers of the mental lexicon, the coordinators of the mental world picture, the compact repository of significant information in a small form.
 The purpose. The purpose of the article is to analyze the onymic parcel of the English young-adult dystopian novel conceptosphere based on the material of S. Collins’ trilogy «The Hunger Games». The object is the onymic sector of the conceptosphere of the studied trilogy. The subject is the specifics of its structure and organization.
 Materials and methods. The analysis of the onymic parcel of the conceptosphere of the studied works was carried out in several stages: the cognitive features of the dominant onymic concept nominating the main character were established; a free associative experiment was conducted; systematized and described the reactions with the selection of their types; the most frequent associates are singled out, which are grouped into associative semantic gestalts. The material of the study was a trilogy «The Hunger Games» («The Hunger Games», «Catching Fire», «Mockingjay»), with a total volume of 1160 conditional pages.
 Results. An associative experiment with stimuli to denote the protagonists was conducted, which made it possible to establish the conceptualization and categorization of these anthroponyms in the mental lexicon of English speakers, detection of reflection in the received associations of hierarchical conceptual structures in the minds of respondents.
 Сonclusions. Summarizing the above, we can emphasize that the artistic onymic concept KATNISS of the onymic parcel of the conceptosphere of the trilogy «The Hunger Games» has cognitive features SACRIFICE, FEMININITY, HOPE, DEFENDER, VENGEANCE, WINNER and forms semantic associative gestalts THE MAIN CHARACTER OF THE NOVEL / FILM and NOVEL / FILM.

Women's lives in code

Exploring Ellen Ullman's 'Close to the Machine' and AMC's 'Halt and Catch Fire.'

INVESTIGANDO APROXIMAÇÕES ENTRE TEXTOS DE DIVULGAÇÃO CIENTÍFICA E LIVROS DIDÁTICOS DE QUÍMICA

Com o objetivo de promover a utilização de Textos de Divulgação Científica (TDC), por professores de Química da Educação Básica, este trabalho buscou analisar afinidades existentes entre os TDC publicados na Revista Ciência Hoje, selecionados por Cantanhede (2012) e Sousa, Cantanhede e Cantanhede (2020) para o conteúdo Ligações Químicas, e as discussões sobre esse conteúdo presentes nos seis Livros Didáticos de Química, indicados pelo Programa Nacional do Livro Didático (PNLD), para o triênio 2018/2020. A análise da afinidade foi realizada pela ferramenta Wordle, a partir da geração de nuvem de palavras, que destaca os termos mais frequentes em um conjunto de palavras, e o software IRaMuTeQ, utilizado para análise qualitativa de dados textuais, a partir da Análise Fatorial por Correspondência (AFC) e análise de Similitude. Os TDC, Por que a água não pega fogo se é formada por dois elementos combustíveis? (Edição 231, out/2006) e Como o enxofre pode se ligar mais de duas vezes ao oxigênio sendo ambos bivalentes? (Edição 276, nov/2010), apresentaram uma afinidade satisfatória com a forma com que o conteúdo Ligações Químicas é discutido nos LD investigados, considerando as nuvens de palavras geradas a partir desses materiais. Os termos de maior destaque nos LD foram: hidrogênio, átomo, substância, elemento, molécula e ligação. Os TDC se utilizam desses termos para fazer menções de significados e explicações dos fenômenos químicos com os termos em destaque nas nuvens. Essas relações entre TDC e LD, podem representar um importante parâmetro para a utilização de TDC em sala de aula e, assim, sustentar discussões de forma contextualizada de conteúdos químicos na Educação Básica.

Translating Tempests and Tremblements: Natural Disasters, News, and the Nation in Early Modern England and France

Early modern people lived at the mercy of their surroundings. In an uncertain world, floods, storms, fires, and earthquakes could affect all levels of society across Europe. But destruction can also lead to creation. Accounts of such disasters were printed as pamphlets and then translated, suggesting a shared experience of disaster that could cross confessional divides. However, a closer look shows that more complex ideas about nation and experience were a feature of these understudied publications. This article focuses on three cases in particular: the storm and lightning strike of 1561, which caused the roof and steeple of St. Paul’s to catch fire; the 1580 English Channel earthquake, which wreaked devastation in both southern England and northern France; and the 1618 fire, which destroyed much of the Palais de Justice in Paris. It investigates how and why accounts of these particular disasters were made and translated. It also questions the role of the nation in how stories were (or were not) transmitted across linguistic, cultural, and national boundaries.

The Cohesion of the Prologue on the Hunger Games Trilogy: A Discourse Analysis

Cohesion is designed to deal with words and phrases that generate a pattern of relations between lexical elements and structures to build an integral and logical text. The analysis of cohesion aims to connect central concepts to the context of writing intended to pursue standards of communication, writing styles, textuality, and a practice of discourse. Accordingly, this study analyzes the cohesion found in the Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins. The method of this research is a discourse analysis focusing on Systematic Functional Linguistics (SFL) developed by M.A.K. Halliday. Based on the analysis, the prologue of The Hunger Games and Catching Fire novels can be described in the terms of field, tenor, and mode creating the contextual parameter. The text of the novels is written and is clearly detached, explicit, planned and integrated. While links were observed as characters and places were repeatedly written. The conclusion can be drawn that the two novels aim to tell a story. Furthermore, the texts do not instruct the reader on what to do but rather, it tells what the characters of the story did, are doing, or will do. The novels also implore the reader to read further beyond the prologue and to the main story.

The Cohesion of the Prologue on the Hunger Games Trilogy: A Discourse Analysis

Cohesion is designed to deal with words and phrases that generate a pattern of relations between lexical elements and structures to build an integral and logical text. The analysis of cohesion aims to connect central concepts to the context of writing intended to pursue standards of communication, writing styles, textuality, and a practice of discourse. Accordingly, this study analyzes the cohesion found in the Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins. The method of this research is a discourse analysis focusing on Systematic Functional Linguistics (SFL) developed by M.A.K. Halliday. Based on the analysis, the prologue of The Hunger Games and Catching Fire novels can be described in the terms of field, tenor, and mode creating the contextual parameter. The text of the novels is written and is clearly detached, explicit, planned and integrated. While links were observed as characters and places were repeatedly written. The conclusion can be drawn that the two novels aim to tell a story. Furthermore, the texts do not instruct the reader on what to do but rather, it tells what the characters of the story did, are doing, or will do. The novels also implore the reader to read further beyond the prologue and to the main story.

Exploring the Relationship between Dystopian Literature and the Activism of Generation Z Young Adults

Some recent research has posited that the independent and revolutionary traits of Generation Z can be traced to the circumstances of their births, specifically the 9/11 attacks and the Great Recession. While there has been research examining the effect of these events on the type of behavior Generation Z exhibits towards political and societal issues, there has been little research that examines the literary culture in which they grew up. Did popular dystopian works such as Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (2009), Divergent by Veronica Roth (2011), and The Maze Runner by James Dashner (2009) have an impact on their political identities and behaviors? This paper examines that question by using a mixed method approach: a public questionnaire, thirteen in-depth interviews with a select group of Generation Z students from the University of Georgia, and direct content analyses of the key works under consideration. This study argues that the relationship between dystopian literature and young adult activism may offer insight into the ways literature can be used as a revolutionary tool. This study also hopes to add to the literature exploring the characteristics of Generation Z and the significance dystopian literature may have not only on a young adult’s thoughts but also their actions. KEYWORDS: Dystopian Literature; Dystopian Literary Media; Generation Z; Youth Activism; Literary Influence; Activist Typology; Aspects of Literary Response: A New Questionnaire; College Students; Divergent; Catching Fire; The Maze Runner; Literary Culture, The Hunger Games

Novel approach towards the synthesis of highly efficient flame retardant electrode and oil/organic solvent absorber.

We have developed a facile one pot process to synthesize an ultra-light functionalized spongy graphene (FSG). This is the first approach to use carbon based flame retardant spongy material as an electrode to build completely flame retardant supercapacitor (FRS) also as an oil/organic solvent absorber. The fully FRS concept has created by the compilation of as-prepared FSG with flame retardant separator and electrolyte. As-prepared FSG contained high amount of phosphorus and nitrogen functional groups, which makes it potent flame retardant electrochemical material, to use it as an efficient FR electrode. Flame test of FSG revealed that it doesn't catch fire for ∼1500s. Also, FSG was able to sustain flame retardancy at a temperature as high as 1500°C for continuous exposure of ∼300s. FSG used as an electrode for symmetric capacitor possessing maximum specific capacitance of 494.3Fg-1 at a current density 1Ag-1. Corresponding high energy density and power density values are 55.6Wh kg-1 and 1799Wkg-1. It shows cycling stability of 86.1% after 5000 cycles at current density of 10Ag-1. The electrochemical property of FSG was also confirmed using three electrode system. Flame retardant FSG material was also used for the absorption and recovery of oil and organic solvents. FSG has high oil and organic solvent sorption capacity in the range of 40-70g/g, also can be reused for minimum 10 cycles. Such approach has great significance for multifunctional graphene based nanocomposites will open the new window for large-scale applications.

TRAIL Spotlight: Fires in Abandoned Coal Mines and Waste Banks

Coal is a readily combustible rock of carbon and hydrocarbons that is found all across the United States. Due to its combustive properties and relative abundance, burning coal has been and still is a substantial fraction of the US energy market. However, also due its combustive properties, coal veins and mines tend to, well, catch fire. Lewis and Clark reported seeing burning veins of coal in 1805 when they were exploring the Missouri River in what is now central North Dakota. Maybe you have heard of the still burning mine fire in Centralia, Pennsylvania where a strip mine has been burning since 1962 and could continue to burn for over 250 years. Abandoned coal mines that catch fire are serious health, safety, and environmental hazards that the US government has been trying to address for decades.

Study on the Feasibility of Downward Evacuation in a Metro Station when the Station Hall Catch Fire

As more and more deep-buried metro stations appear, it’s becoming more and more difficult for people in the station hall and on the platform to evacuate in an emergency in these deep-buried stations. If people in the station hall choose to evacuate to the outside when fire happens in a underground station hall, the spread direction of the smoke is in coincident with the evacuation direction, which is unfavorable for the evacuation as well as the rescue from outside. Is it possible to use the platform as a shelter when the station hall catch fire? In this paper, the numerical method was used to demonstrate the feasibility of downward evacuation under the condition that fire happens in the station hall. At first, safety evacuation criteria were made to judge the feasibility of evacuation. Then, numerical models were established by FDS software, the smoke movement, the temperature, the concentration of carbon monoxide, and the visibility were taken into consideration to demonstrate the feasibility of downward evacuation. Different locations, different heat release rate of fires in the station hall were also calculated and analyzed. Results show that the downward evacuation to the platform is feasible during a fire in the station hall under the condition that the smoke exhausting system in the station hall can work properly and has enough efficiency.

“Are You Preparing for Another War?”: Un/Just War and the Hunger Games Trilogy

Drawing from the body of just war theory, this article analyzes Suzanne Collins’s discussion of warfare in the Hunger Games trilogy, tracing the ways in which decisions about war unfold along the lines of the love triangle plot involving Peeta and Gale. Although there are important issues about social injustices driving the trilogy, a fair amount of scholarship has focused on romance in the novel. The more interesting tension in the narrative is not Katniss’s romantic entanglements but the conflict among Peeta’s adherence to the principles of just war, Gale’s disregard of them, and Katniss’s continuing moral dilemmas about them. Arguing that Katniss’s deliberations about war—both joining the rebellion and fighting in the war against the Capitol—are aligned with the foundational principles of just war theory, this essay traces the mandates of jus ad bellum as set out in The Hunger Games and Catching Fire, where Katniss, influenced by both Gale and Peeta, considers rebellion, and then reads in Mockingjay the ways in which the ethical demands of jus in bello lead her to choose Peeta.

Hot Air Oven for Sterilization: Definition & Working Principle

A hot air oven is a type of dry heat sterilization. Dry heat sterilization is used on equipment that cannot be wet and on material that will not melt, catch fire, or change form when exposed to high temperatures. Moist heat sterilization uses water to boil items or steam them to sterilize and doesn't take as long as dry heat sterilization. Examples of items that aren't sterilized in a hot air oven are surgical dressings, rubber items, or plastic material. Items that are sterilized in a hot air oven include:  Glassware (like petri dishes, flasks, pipettes, and test tubes)  Powders (like starch, zinc oxide, and sulfadiazine)  Materials that contain oils  Metal equipment (like scalpels, scissors, and blades) Hot air ovens use extremely high temperatures over several hours to destroy microorganisms and bacterial spores. The ovens use conduction to sterilize items by heating the outside surfaces of the item, which then absorbs the heat and moves it towards the center of the item. The commonly-used temperatures and time that hot air ovens need to sterilize materials is 170 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes, 160 degrees Celsius for 60 minutes, and 150 degrees Celsius for 150 minutes. Hot air ovens sterilize equipment over long periods of time, so she has to be organized in determining what items will be sterilized at what time. This depends on when the equipment needs to be available again. Gina's manager now explains the different types of hot air ovens.