Debris flow hazard modelling on medium scale: Valtellina di Tirano, Italy

Debris flow hazard modelling at medium (regional) scale has been subject of various studies in recent years. In this study, hazard zonation was carried out, incorporating information about debris flow initiation probability (spatial and temporal), and the delimitation of the potential runout areas. Debris flow hazard zonation was carried out in the area of the Consortium of Mountain Municipalities of Valtellina di Tirano (Central Alps, Italy). The complexity of the phenomenon, the scale of the study, the variability of local conditioning factors, and the lacking data limited the use of process-based models for the runout zone delimitation. Firstly, a map of hazard initiation probabilities was prepared for the study area, based on the available susceptibility zoning information, and the analysis of two sets of aerial photographs for the temporal probability estimation. Afterwards, the hazard initiation map was used as one of the inputs for an empirical GIS-based model (Flow-R), developed at the University of Lausanne (Switzerland). An estimation of the debris flow magnitude was neglected as the main aim of the analysis was to prepare a debris flow hazard map at medium scale. A digital elevation model, with a 10 m resolution, was used together with landuse, geology and debris flow hazard initiation maps as inputs of the Flow-R model to restrict potential areas within each hazard initiation probability class to locations where debris flows are most likely to initiate. Afterwards, runout areas were calculated using multiple flow direction and energy based algorithms. Maximum probable runout zones were calibrated using documented past events and aerial photographs. Finally, two debris flow hazard maps were prepared. The first simply delimits five hazard zones, while the second incorporates the information about debris flow spreading direction probabilities, showing areas more likely to be affected by future debris flows. Limitations of the modelling arise mainly from the models applied and analysis scale, which are neglecting local controlling factors of debris flow hazard. The presented approach of debris flow hazard analysis, associating automatic detection of the source areas and a simple assessment of the debris flow spreading, provided results for consequent hazard and risk studies. However, for the validation and transferability of the parameters and results to other study areas, more testing is needed.

New Trends in Public Facility Location Modeling

The past four decades have witnessed an explosive growth in the field of networkbased facility location modeling. This is not at all surprising since location policy is one of the most profitable areas of applied systems analysis in regional science and ample theoretical and applied challenges are offered. Location-allocation models seek the location of facilities and/or services (e.g., schools, hospitals, and warehouses) so as to optimize one or several objectives generally related to the efficiency of the system or to the allocation of resources. This paper concerns the location of facilities or services in discrete space or networks, that are related to the public sector, such as emergency services (ambulances, fire stations, and police units), school systems and postal facilities. The paper is structured as follows: first, we will focus on public facility location models that use some type of coverage criterion, with special emphasis in emergency services. The second section will examine models based on the P-Median problem and some of the issues faced by planners when implementing this formulation in real world locational decisions. Finally, the last section will examine new trends in public sector facility location modeling.

Location models in the public sector

The past four decades have witnessed an explosive growth in the field of networkbased facilitylocation modeling. This is not at all surprising since location policy is one of the mostprofitable areas of applied systems analysis in regional science and ample theoretical andapplied challenges are offered. Location-allocation models seek the location of facilitiesand/or services (e.g., schools, hospitals, and warehouses) so as to optimize one or severalobjectives generally related to the efficiency of the system or to the allocation of resources.This paper concerns the location of facilities or services in discrete space or networks, thatare related to the public sector, such as emergency services (ambulances, fire stations, andpolice units), school systems and postal facilities. The paper is structured as follows: first,we will focus on public facility location models that use some type of coverage criterion,with special emphasis in emergency services. The second section will examine models based onthe P-Median problem and some of the issues faced by planners when implementing thisformulation in real world locational decisions. Finally, the last section will examine newtrends in public sector facility location modeling.

Psychothérapie de la dépression chronique: l'apport du modèle CBASP selon McCullough = Psychotherapy of chronic depression: Contributions of CBASP by McCullough

Les dépressions chroniques sont fréquentes et souvent traitées par des approches traditionnelles. Cet article vise à présenter la nature spécifique de la psychopathologie et un traitement spécifiquement adapté à ces patients avec dépression chronique. Nous décrirons d'abord les spécificités psychopathologiques de cette population, en nous référant aux travaux de J. Piaget et de D. Kiesler. À partir de ces théories, nous mettrons en avant le modèle Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy (CBASP), selon McCullough. Cet auteur propose deux volets d'interventions spécifiquement adaptées aux patients avec dépression chronique : l'analyse situationnelle et les techniques interpersonnelles basées sur la notion de transfert et de contre-transfert. Nous soulignerons la pertinence de cette approche par le résumé de plusieurs études empiriques ayant établi l'efficacité de ce modèle, sous certaines conditions cliniques. Nous terminerons par une réflexion de l'application de ce modèle au-delà du tableau clinique de la dépression chronique en ajoutant ainsi des arguments supplémentaires en faveur de l'apport du modèle CBASP au champ actuel de la psychothérapie des troubles mentaux. © L'Encéphale, Paris, 2012.

Spanish unemployment : normative versus analytical regionalisation procedures

In applied regional analysis, statistical information is usually published at different territorial levels with the aim providing inforamtion of interest for different potential users. When using this information, there are two different choices: first, to use normative regions ( towns, provinces, etc.) or, second, to design analytical regions directly related with the analysed phenomena. In this paper, privincial time series of unemployment rates in Spain are used in order to compare the results obtained by applying yoy analytical regionalisation models ( a two stages procedure based on cluster analysis and a procedure based on mathematical programming) with the normative regions available at two different scales: NUTS II and NUTS I. The results have shown that more homogeneous regions were designed when applying both analytical regionalisation tools. Two other obtained interesting results are related with the fact that analytical regions were also more estable along time and with the effects of scales in the regionalisation process

Bilateral olfactory sensory input enhances chemotaxis behavior.

Neural comparisons of bilateral sensory inputs are essential for visual depth perception and accurate localization of sounds in space. All animals, from single-cell prokaryotes to humans, orient themselves in response to environmental chemical stimuli, but the contribution of spatial integration of neural activity in olfaction remains unclear. We investigated this problem in Drosophila melanogaster larvae. Using high-resolution behavioral analysis, we studied the chemotaxis behavior of larvae with a single functional olfactory neuron on either the left or right side of the head, allowing us to examine unilateral or bilateral olfactory input. We developed new spectroscopic methods to create stable odorant gradients in which odor concentrations were experimentally measured. In these controlled environments, we observed that a single functional neuron provided sufficient information to permit larval chemotaxis. We found additional evidence that the overall accuracy of navigation is enhanced by the increase in the signal-to-noise ratio conferred by bilateral sensory input.

Spanish unemployment : normative versus analytical regionalisation procedures

In applied regional analysis, statistical information is usually published at different territorial levels with the aim providing inforamtion of interest for different potential users. When using this information, there are two different choices: first, to use normative regions ( towns, provinces, etc.) or, second, to design analytical regions directly related with the analysed phenomena. In this paper, privincial time series of unemployment rates in Spain are used in order to compare the results obtained by applying yoy analytical regionalisation models ( a two stages procedure based on cluster analysis and a procedure based on mathematical programming) with the normative regions available at two different scales: NUTS II and NUTS I. The results have shown that more homogeneous regions were designed when applying both analytical regionalisation tools. Two other obtained interesting results are related with the fact that analytical regions were also more estable along time and with the effects of scales in the regionalisation process

O estado da arte da cromatografia associada à espectrometria de massas acoplada à espectrometria de massas na análise de compostos tóxicos em alimentos

Chromatography combined with several different detection systems is one of the more used and better performing analytical tools. Chromatography with tandem mass spectrometric detection gives highly selective and sensitive analyses and permits obtaining structural information about the analites and about their molar masses. Due to these characteristics, this analytical technique is very efficient when used to detect substances at trace levels in complex matrices. In this paper we review instrumental and technical aspects of chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and the state of the art of the technique as it is applied to analysis of toxic substances in food.

Desenvolvimento e validação de um método analítico rápido por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência para determinação de nimesulida em estudos de liberação in vitro

A high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method has been developed for a rapid determination of nimesulide in dissolution studies. Nimesulide was analyzed using 5 µm Lichrospher® RP-18 column (125 x 4 mm i.d.) and mobile phase acetonitrile: phosphate buffer pH=6.0 (55:45) at a flow-rate of 1.0 mL min-1. Detection was carried out at 300 nm at 25 ºC. The method was applied to analysis of nimesulide in in vitro release studies and showed a rapid and efficient analytical alternative for evaluation of dissolution profile of nimesulide.

”Käsitteitä tarpeen mukaan". Kirjallisuustieteelliset käsitteet lukion kirjallisuudenopetuksessa

Tavoitteeni tässä tutkimuksessa oli selvittää, miten kirjallisuustieteellisiä proosa-anayysin käsitteitä opetetaan opetussuunnitelman mukaisissa lukion äidinkielen ja kirjallisuuden oppikirjoissa ja miten hyvin kokelaat hallitsivat kertoja-käsitteen tekstitaidon ylioppilaskokeessa keväällä 2007. Samalla pohdin, minkälainen kirjallisuustieteellinen käsitteistö palvelisi tekstianalyysin opetusta koulussa, koska Lukion opetussuunnitelman perusteet 2003 ja äidinkielen ylioppilaskoe edellyttävät äidinkielen ja kirjallisuuden opetukselta ja oppilailta käsitteiden käyttöä. Tutkimusaineistonani olivat kaikki kuusi käytössä olevaa lukion äidinkielen ja kirjallisuuden oppikirjaa ja 440 kpl kevään 2007 äidinkielen tekstitaidon ylioppilaskokeen vastaustekstiä. Oppikirjoja tarkastelin soveltamalla niiden arviointiin Lev S. Vygotskin ajatuksia arkikäsitteiden ja tieteellisten käsitteiden opettamisesta ja Hans Aeblin esittämiä teoreettisia malleja käsitteiden opettamisesta ja oppimisesta. Tutkimukseni osoittaa, että opetussuunnitelmassa mainittujen proosa-analyysin käsitteiden kertoja, näkökulma, motiivi, aihe ja teema opetus on epätäsmällistä. Oppikirjoissa ei ole otettu huomioon sitä, että käsitteenoppiminen on monivaiheinen prosessi. Myöskään problematiikkaa, joka aiheutuu kyseisten käsitteiden määrittelyn kirjavuudesta ja käytöstä sekä arkikielen käsitteinä että tieteellisinä käsitteinä, ei oppikirjoissa käsitellä. Sama näkyy ylioppilaskoeaineistossa: oppilaat eivät hallitse käsitettä kertoja tieteellisenä käsitteenä. Tietoisuus kirjallisuustieteellisten käsitteiden määrittelyn problematiikasta ja arkikäsitteiden ja tieteellisten käsitteiden ontologisista kategorioista on onnistuneen käsitteenoppimisen edellytys. Kirjallisuustieteelliset käsitteet ovat metakäsitteitä, jotka edellyttävät oppilaiden metakäsitteellisen tietoisuuden ja motivaation hyödyntämistä opetuksessa, jossa olisi sovellettava monipuolisesti eri oppimiskäsitysten parhaita puolia hyödyntäviä lähestymistapoja, erilaisia pedagogisia diskursseja. Koulujen kirjallisuudenopetusta suunniteltaessa ja kirjallisuustieteellisiä käsitteitä opetettaessa on otettava huomioon niin kirjallisuustieteen kuin kasvatustieteen näkökulma. Opetussuunnitelman ja ylioppilaskokeen asettama vaatimus käsitteiden käytöstä on kohtuuton, mikäli ei sovita, miten käsitteet määritellään ja mitä käsitteitä kokelaiden oletetaan ylioppilaskokeessa hallitsevan. Kirjallisuustieteellisten käsitteiden puutteellisen opetuksen oppikirjoissa ja niiden epämääräisen käytön ylioppilaskokeen tehtävänannoissa ja arvioinnissa voi kärjistyneimmillään nähdä oppilaan oikeusturvakysymyksenä

Determination of atenolol in pharmaceutical formulations by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy

A simple analytical method for quantification of atenolol in pharmaceutical formulations by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy is described. The method is based on the reaction, on the filter paper surface, between the drug and p-chloranil producing a colored compound. The best reaction conditions were obtained with 20 µL of atenolol solution and 20 µL of p-chloranil. All reflectance measurements were carried out at 550 nm and the linear range was from 1.13x10-2 to 7.88x10-2 mol L-1 (r = 0.9992). The limit of detection was 2.80 x 10-3 mol L-1. The proposed method was successfully applied to analysis of different commercial brands of pharmaceutical formulations and the results obtained by the proposed method were in good agreement with those obtained using the British Pharmacopoeia method.

”Du sköna sång, vårt bästa arv” - kanonisering av en sångskatt ur ett hermeneutiskt perspektiv

Songs have the power to get through to people. When lyrics are combined with a tune, the result is an entity where the first few notes of a melody can evoke emotions of recognition and belonging. A song treasury consists of such songs that are part of a canonized song tradition. The process where certain songs become part of an established song treasury is long, and many other aspects than the tune itself influence the forming of a song treasury. By examining the characteristics of a song tradition, the history of an ethnic group can be illuminated. In this study, music, pedagogy, and the sociocultural context are merged into a whole where a common song tradition, the song treasury, is in focus. The main aim of this study is to deepen the understanding of a song treasury, its development and contents. This understanding is accomplished by analyzing the musical and lyrical characteristics of 60 songs, which have been sung in schools, homes, and communities, thereby becoming popular among the Swedish-speaking Finns during the 20th century. The songs have been chosen by combining three song lists, of which two lists are closely related to school curricula. The third song list is a result of a survey on favourite songs, according to the situation around year 2000. The songs are examined in their notated versions, a number of song books and text books (n = 29) forming the empirical material. In this study, a hermeneutical approach is applied, content analysis being the method. The analysis is based on three perspectives: the sociocultural perspective, the music-pedagogical perspective, and the musico-analytical perspective. Within each perspective, two aspects are studied. This results in a hexagonal model which forms the structure of the study as a whole. The first two perspectives form the background; a historical context where nation, education, home country, and homestead are regarded as highly important. A common song repertoire is considered to be an effective means of building collective identity within ethnic groups, the common language and the cultural heritage being used as rhetorical arguments. During the early 1900s, choir festivals become an educational platform where conceptions of a common belonging are developed and strengthened through religious, patriotic, and poetical expressions. National school curricula in singing and music have similar characteristics, cultural heritage and values education being in focus. The song lyrics often describe nature and emotions, and they also appear to be personal and situated in a given time and place. Patriotic expressions and songs about music are also fairly common. The songs generally express positive attitudes, which are intensified by major tonality, rich and varied melodies with stable rhythms, and a strong tonal base. The analyzed details of the studied aspects are merged into a thick description, which results in an interpretation pattern with three dimensions: a song treasury can be considered an expression of collective identity, cultural heritage, and values education.

Kylmää sotaa ja systeemianalyysiä

Kirjallisuusarvostelu

Stresses of a boat trailer

In this thesis work, a strength analysis is made for a boat trailer. The studied trailer structure is manufactured from Ruukki’s structural steel S420. The main focus in this work is in the trailer’s frame. The investigation process consists two main stages. These stages are strain gage measurements and finite elements analysis. Strain gage measurements were performed to the current boat trailer in February 2015. Static durability and fatigue life of the trailer are analyzed with finite element analysis and with two different materials. These materials are the current trailer material Ruukki’s structural steel S420 and new option material high strength precision tube Form 800. The main target by using high strength steel in a trailer is weight reduction. The applied fatigue analysis methods are effective notch stress and structural hot spot stress approaches. The target of these strength analyses is to determine if it is reasonable to change the trailer material to high strength steel. The static strengths of the S420 and Form 800 trailers is sufficient. The fatigue strength of the Form 800 trailer is considerably lower than the fatigue strength of the S420 trailer. For future research, the effect of hot dip galvanization to the high strength steel has to be investigated. The effect of hot dip galvanization to the trailer is investigated by laboratory tests that are not included in this thesis.

Exploring two cases of Piano Teacher Education in Finland and Germany

Research about music instrument teacher education is scattered and fairly recent, especially in the European context. The purpose of this study was to explore two cases of piano teacher education programs at higher music education institutions, one in Finland, and one in Germany, to gain insights into the preparation of piano teachers for their professional working life. The aim was to identify issues for consideration in curriculum development of piano teacher education to enhance the teaching and learning of piano playing, and to ultimately increase musical practice and engagement among young learners. Nine semi-structured interviews with piano teacher educators, heads of program, other lecturers within the program, and student piano teachers in both cases were analyzed using applied thematic analysis. Three main themes with subcategories emerged: (1) the organization of the piano teacher education program, such as the structure, the content, the learning environments provided, and the development mechanisms of the program; (2) the views on the piano teacher profession, the working environment and resulting requirements, including further education during professional life; and (3) the professional skills and teacher identity development of student teachers. While the supposed working environments and requirements of future piano teachers, the student teachers' development characteristics, and the content were found reasonably concurrent in both cases, the structure of the teacher education program, and the organization of learning environments presented notable differences. While the complete teacher qualification in the Finnish case was offered as option in the Bachelor and Master of Music program within the piano department, the German case offered a separate program for music instrument educators. Other main differences concerned the organizations of practical teaching experiences, and the linking of practical with theoretical pedagogy. Conviction and enthusiasm for improving piano and other music instrument teacher education seemed remarkable. These improvements could include the development of a comprehensive teacher education pedagogy for music instrument teacher educators, intensified cross-linking within and of higher music education institutions in local contexts, and the expansion of professional development opportunities.