A Hybrid AUV design for shallow water reef navigation

The highly unstructured nature of coral reef environments makes them difficult for current robotic vehicles to efficiently navigate. Typical research and commercial platforms have limited autonomy within these environments and generally require tethers and significant external infrastructure. This paper outlines the development of a new robotic vehicle for underwater monitoring and surveying in highly unstructured environments and presents experimental results illustrating the vehicle’s performance. The hybrid AUV design developed by the CSIRO robotic reef monitoring team realises a compromise between endurance, manoeuvrability and functionality. The vehicle represents a new era in AUV design specifically focused at providing a truly low-cost research capability that will progress environmental monitoring through unaided navigation, cooperative robotics, sensor network distribution and data harvesting.

Bibliometric study of the reverse salient concept

In the development of technological systems the focus of system analysis is often on the sub-system that delivers insufficient performance – i.e. the reverse salient – which subsequently limits the performance of the system in its entirety. The reverse salient is therefore a useful concept in the study of technological systems and while the literature holds numerous accounts of its use, it is not known how often, in which streams of literature, and in what type of application the concept has been utilized by scholars since its introduction by Thomas Hughes in 1983. In this paper we employ bibliometric citation analysis between 1983 and 2008, inclusively, to study the impact of the reverse salient concept in the literature at large as well as study the dissemination of the concept into different fields of research. The study results show continuously growing number of concept citations in the literature over time as well as increasing concept diffusion into different research areas. The analysis of article contents additionally suggests the opportunity for scholars to engage in deeper conceptual application. Finally, the continuing increase in the number of citations highlights the importance of the reverse salient concept to scholars and practitioners.

Approximation of solutions to fractional integral equation

In this paper we shall study a fractional integral equation in an arbitrary Banach space X. We used the analytic semigroups theory of linear operators and the fixed point method to establish the existence and uniqueness of solutions of the given problem. We also prove the existence of global solution. The existence and convergence of the Faedo–Galerkin solution to the given problem is also proved in a separable Hilbert space with some additional assumptions on the operator A. Finally we give an example to illustrate the applications of the abstract results.

Homogenization of periodic structures via Bloch decomposition

In this paper, the classical problem of homogenization of elliptic operators in arbitrary domains with periodically oscillating coefficients is considered. Using Bloch wave decomposition, a new proof of convergence is furnished. It sheds new light and offers an alternate way to view the classical results. In a natural way, this method leads us to work in the Fourier space and thus in a framework dual to the one used by L. Tartar [Problemes d'Homogeneisation dans les Equations aux: Derivees Partielles, Cours Peccot au College de Prance, 1977] in his method of homogenization. Further, this technique offers a nontraditional way of calculating the homogenized coefficients which is easy to implement in the computer.

Spectral asymptotics of the Helmholtz model in fluid-solid structures

A model representing the vibrations of a coupled fluid-solid structure is considered. This structure consists of a tube bundle immersed in a slightly compressible fluid. Assuming periodic distribution of tubes, this article describes the asymptotic nature of the vibration frequencies when the number of tubes is large. Our investigation shows that classical homogenization of the problem is not sufficient for this purpose. Indeed, our end result proves that the limit spectrum consists of three parts: the macro-part which comes from homogenization, the micro-part and the boundary layer part. The last two components are new. We describe in detail both macro- and micro-parts using the so-called Bloch wave homogenization method. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

La influencia de los bosques en las inundaciones de Managua, Nicaragua (Contribución al manejo de cuencas hidrográficas)

El objetivo inmediato del presente trabajo, es conocer los motivos y los factores que intervienen en el desaparecimiento de las zonas arboladas en los alrededores de Managua; puesto que a esto se deben las inundaciones periódicas de algunos sectores de la ciudad. Como complemento de tal reconocimiento se dan algunas recomendaciones. El estudio se concreto a la Cuenca Hidrográfica de Ticuantepe y se desarrolla un bosquejo para su ordenación. Para proceder al análisis y a la ordenación, se divide a la cuenca en dos zonas: la cuenca de recepción y la planicie. También se pone atención a la corrección del torrente que recoge las aguas que proceden de toda la zona de recepción. Tanto a la cuenca de recepción como a la planicie, se las divide en sectores, a cada uno de los cuales se les valora de acuerdo a su posible rendimiento hidrológico; tomando en cuenta para ello los siguientes aspectos: el relieve del terreno, la capacidad de infiltración del suelo, el recubrimiento vegetal y el acopio superficial. Se pone especial atención en averiguar el papel que desempeña la extensión de las explotaciones, la forma de tenencia de la tierra y el uso a la que esta esta sometida, en relación a la conservación del suelo y del agua. En cuanto al torrente, se llego a la conclusión de que el lecho de deyección se halla en su segunda fase de formación y que por tanto, los poblados situados en sus proximidades están seguros hasta tanto dure esta situación; pero se hacen recomendaciones para la corrección de la garganta. Se calcula la escorrentía en los suelos de la planicie, tomando en cuenta las máximas intensidades de lluvia que se han registrado en un periodo de 8 años (1957-1965), y se aconsejan algunas medidas para evitar los daños que ocasiona el agua de escorrentía bajo tales condiciones extremas de precipitación, que pueden ocurrir una vez en el lapso mencionado. A continuación se establecen los motivos por los cuales es necesaria la ordenación de la cuenca de recepción y la secuencia en la cual debe procederse, así como también, los aspectos que deben tomarse en cuenta. En lo referente a la ordenación de la planicie, igualmente se establece un orden de tratamiento, basándose en el relieve y la capacidad de infiltración del suelo. Se pone especial interés en los problemas para la conservación del suelo, originados en la forma de tenencia de la tierra y en la existencia de un gran porcentaje de extensiones pequeñas: sugiriéndose a continuación algunas soluciones. El objetivo ultimo de este estudio es establecer algunos puntos que debería comprender una Ley de conservación del suelo. Esto se consigue al sacar las consecuencias de este trabajo, que se pueden generalizar para cualquier lugar de Nicaragua.

Tratamiento Homeopático en Equino con Dermatofitosis

El presente trabajo, basado en un estudio de caso de carácter demostrativo, se llevó a cabo en la comunidad de Sabadell, Barcelona, región de Catalunya en España. Consistió en la aplicación de un tratamiento homeopático para Dermatofitosis en un equino macho castrado, de la raza Shire con 10 años de edad y un peso de 1000 kg, cuyos síntomas iniciales fueron: decaimiento, mucosas poco rosáceas, temperatura de 38.5, pelaje reseco, escoriaciones con exudaciones en las extremidades inferiores de forma circular, falta de apetito y estrés general a causa de los picores, se concluyó como causa de nivel micótico. A través de un examen de laboratorio de cultivo micológico se determinó la presencia de Thichophyton equinum, utilizando los resultados de laboratorio y los síntomas observados en el animal, se ingresaron los datos en el programa de medicina alternativa (Mc. Repertory Kent Program) que arrojo como medicamento de base sulfur coadyuvado por cremas de árnica y sepia. La importancia de este tratamiento radico en el estímulo del organismo del equino con dosis pequeñas de origen animal, vegetal y mineral, que no presentan ningún tipo de efecto colateral en el paciente, convirtiéndose en la alternativa de medicamentos tradicionales ya que existen fuertes restricciones sobre su uso en los caballos. Desde el punto de vista clínico y financiero el tratamiento resultó viable, por cuanto el paciente se recuperó satisfactoriamente sin presencia de recidivas ni efectos colaterales, además de resultar en una baja inversión por aplicación del tratamiento.

Exploração de gás natural na bacia do rio São Francisco

Consultoria Legislativa - Área XII - Recursos Minerais, Hídricos e Energéticos.

Lengua y derecho a la educación en la Comunidad Autónoma del País Vasco : reflexiones jurídicas sobre el tránsito hacia un nuevo modelo

The article analyzes the legal regime of Euskara in the education system of the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country (capv). In the capv, the legislation recognizes the right to choose the language of study during the educational cycle. The students are separated into different classrooms based on their language preference. This system of separation (of language models) has made it possible to make great strides, although its implementation also suggests aspects which, from the perspective of a pluralistic Basque society on its way towards greater social, political and language integration, call for further reflection The general model for language planning in the capv was fashioned in the eighties as a model characterized by the guarantee of spaces of language freedom, and the educational system was charged with making the learning of the region’s autochthonous language more widespread. At this point, we already have a fair degree of evidence on which to base an analysis of the system of language models and we are in a position to conclude that perhaps the educational system was given too heavy a burden. Official studies on language performance of Basque schoolchildren show (in a way that is now fully verified) that not all the students who finish their mandatory period of schooling achieve the level of knowledge of Euskara required by the regulations. When faced with this reality, it becomes necessary for us to articulate some alternative to the current configuration of the system of language models, one that will make it possible in the future to have a Basque society that is linguistically more integrated, thereby avoiding having the knowledge or lack of knowledge of one of the official languages become a language barrier between two communities. Many sides have urged a reconsideration of the system of language models. The Basque Parliament itself has requested the Department of Education to design a new system. This article analyzes the legal foundations on which the current system is built and explores the potential avenues for legal cooperation that would make it possible to move towards a new system aimed at guaranteeing higher rates of bilingualism. The system would be sufficiently flexible so as to be able to respond to and accommodate the different sociolinguistic realities of the region.

Régimen jurídico de las lenguas y reconocimiento de la diversidad lingüística en el Tratado por el que se establece una Constitución para Europa

The territory of the European Union is made up of a rich and wide-ranging universe of languages, which is not circumscribed to the «State languages». The existence of multilingualism is one of Europe’s defining characteristics and it should remain so in the constantly evolving model of Europe’s political structure. Nonetheless, until now, the official use of languages has been limited to the «State languages» and has been based on a concept of state monolingualism that has led to a first level of hierarchization among the languages of Europe. This has affected the very concept of European language diversity. The draft of the treaty establishing a European Constitution contains various language-related references that can be grouped in two major categories: on the one hand, those references having to do the constitutional status of languages, and on the other, those regarding the recognition of European language diversity. Both issues are dealt with in this article. In analyzing the legal regime governing languages set forth in the draft of the constitutional treaty, we note that the draft is not based on the concept of the official status of languages. The language regulation contained in the draft of the constitutional treaty is limited in character. The constitutional language regime is based on the concept of Constitutional languages but the official status of languages is not governed by this rule. The European Constitution merely enunciates rights governing language use for European citizens vis-à-vis the languages of the Constitution and refers the regulation of the official status of languages to the Council, which is empowered to set and modify that status by unanimous decision. Because of its broad scope, this constitutes a regulatory reservation. In the final phase of the negotiation process a second level of constitutional recognition of languages would be introduced, linked to those that are official languages in the member states (Catalan, Basque, Galician, etc.). These languages, however, would be excluded from the right to petition; they would constitute a tertium genus, an intermediate category between the lan guages benefiting from the language rights recognized under the Constitution and those other languages for which no status is recognized in the European institutional context. The legal functionality of this second, intermediate category will depend on the development of standards, i.e., it will depend on the entrée provided such languages in future reforms of the institutional language regime. In a later section, the article reflects on European Union language policy with regard to regional or minority languages, concluding that the Union has not acted in accordance with defined language policy guidelines when it has been confronted, in the exercise of its powers, with regional or minority languages (or domestic legislation having to do with language demands). The Court of Justice has endeavoured to resolve on a case by case basis the conflicts raised between community freedoms and the normative measures that protect languages. Thus, using case law, the Court has set certain language boundaries for community freedoms. The article concludes by reflecting on the legal scope of the recognition of European language diversity referred to in Article II-82 of the European Constitution and the possible measures to implement the precept that might constitute the definition of a true European language policy on regional or minority languages. Such a policy has yet to be defined.

Apuntes jurídicos sobre el paisaje lingüístico en Euskal Herria

This paper is a study of place-names and signs in the Basque Country from the point of view of language law. These are matters that relate to both the status and corpus of language and contribute to the formation of the language landscape,» After a brief historical introduction, the author focuses on the factors that bear on signs and the language 1andscape: the cornpetence factor and the language factor. The description of the latter leads the author to a discussion of the existing language system, in which the Spanish and Basque sharing official status does not necessarily entail the obligation to use both languages at the same time. Using this discussion as a frame of reference, the au- thor analyses place-names, traffic signals and signs. As for place-names, the existing rules are deemed rigid and lacking in ambition, in that they do not pursue the dissemination of official Basque forms. In traffic signaIs, Basque has to appear alongside Spanish, which is required by Spanish legislation, although this bilingualism excludes place-names that have an official Basque form only. With regard to signs, the author analyses public premises, companies licensed to provide public services and the private sector. For public premises there is no specific regulation, but the status of Basque as an autochthonous language, together with the identification and informatíon purposes of signs, could support the exclusive use of this language, According to the author , companies licensed to provide public services should observe the same language system as the goverment and therefore promote the use of Basque. Finally, in the private sector, the author upholds the legitimacy of measures to promote Basque language use such as tax allowances and exemptions in advertising and commercial signs.