Singularity criteria for perturbation series

This paper is concerned with some mathematical aspects of the Van Dyke method inperturbation theory, i.e. the singularity criteria of perturbation series. The author suggestsa sign criterion and a Domb-syke plot for the cases with complex conjugate singularities, thussucceeding in extending the conclusions of Van Dyke's. Subsequently. effects of singularitiesof the lower order upon the criteria are taken into account. In addition, a method of locat-ing singular points is developed by analysing the new perturbation series derived by the Eulertransformation.

Slope Stability Analysis Using Anisotropic and Nonlinear Failure Criteria

The shear strength of soils or rocks developed in a landslide usually exhibits anisotropic and nonlinear behavior. The process of sedimentation and subsequent consolidation can cause anisotropy of sedimentary soils or rocks, for instance. Nonlinearity of failure envelope could be attributed to "interlocking" or "dilatancy" of the material, which is generally dependent upon the stress level. An analytical method considering both anisotropy and nonlinearity of the failure envelops of soil and rocks is presented in the paper. The nonlinearfailure envelopes can be determined from routine triaxial tests. A spreadsheet program, which uses the Janbu's Generalized Procedure of Slice and incorporates anisotropic, illustrates the implementation of the approach and nonlinearfailure envelops. In the analysis, an equivalent Mohr-Coulomb linear failure criterion is obtained by drawing a tangent to the nonlinear envelope of an anisotropic soil at an appropriate stress level. An illustrative example is presented to show the feasibility and numerical efficiency of the method.

Adiabatic shear localization: occurrence, theories, and applications

Hypoxia and Sturgeons: report to the Chesapeake Bay Program Dissolved Oxygen Criteria Team

In this essay, three lines of evidence are developed that sturgeons in the Chesapeake Bay and elsewhere are unusually sensitive to hypoxic conditions: 1. In comparison to other fishes, sturgeons have a limited behavioral and physiological capacity to respond to hypoxia. Basal metabolism, growth, and consumption are quite sensitive to changes in oxygen level, which may indicate a relatively poor ability by sturgeons to oxyregulate. 2. During summertime, temperatures >20 C amplify the effect of hypoxia on sturgeons and other fishes due to a temperature*oxygen "squeeze" (Coutant 1987)- In bottom waters, this interaction results in substantial reduction of habitat; in dry years, nursery habitats in the Chesapeake Bay may be particularly reduced or even eliminated. 3. While evidence for population level effects by hypoxia are circumstantial, there are corresponding trends between the absence of Atlantic sturgeon reproduction in estuaries like the Chesapeake Bay where summertime hypoxia predominates on a system-wide scale. Also, the recent and dramatic recovery of shortnose sturgeon in the Hudson River (4-fold increase in abundance from 1980 to 1995) may have been stimulated by improvement of a large portion of the nursery habitat that was restored from hypoxia to normoxia during the period 1973-1978. (PDF contains 26 pages)

Development of appropriateness explicit criteria for cataract extraction by phacoemulsification

Background: Consensus development techniques were used in the late 1980s to create explicit criteria for the appropriateness of cataract extraction. We developed a new appropriateness of indications tool for cataract following the RAND method. We tested the validity of our panel results. Methods: Criteria were developed using a modified Delphi panel judgment process. A panel of 12 ophthalmologists was assembled. Ratings were analyzed regarding the level of agreement among panelists. We studied the influence of all variables on the final panel score using linear and logistic regression models. The explicit criteria developed were summarized by classification and regression tree analysis. Results: Of the 765 indications evaluated by the main panel in the second round, 32.9% were found appropriate, 30.1% uncertain, and 37% inappropriate. Agreement was found in 53% of the indications and disagreement in 0.9%. Seven variables were considered to create the indications and divided into three groups: simple cataract, with diabetic retinopathy, or with other ocular pathologies. The preoperative visual acuity in the cataractous eye and visual function were the variables that best explained the panel scoring. The panel results were synthesized and presented in three decision trees. Misclassification error in the decision trees, as compared with the panel original criteria, was 5.3%. Conclusion: The parameters tested showed acceptable validity for an evaluation tool. These results support the use of this indication algorithm as a screening tool for assessing the appropriateness of cataract extraction in field studies and for the development of practice guidelines.

Fish farming in Anambra State: economic criteria

The paper is based on the premise that an understanding of the role and potentials of fish farming entrepreneurs in terms of their activities and expectations would enhance fish production and productivity. To this end, the present paper investigates the activities of 24 fish farmers in Anambra State, Nigeria. Based on the fish farmers' experience, the paper presents fish farming investments, budgets and recommendations that could ensure fish farming development as a profitable business venture and at the same time ensure greater fish production in the country