Sample-specific behavior in failure models of disordered medial

The concept ''sample-specific'' is suggested to describe the behavior of disordered media close to macroscopic failure. it is pointed out that the transition from universal scaling to sample-specific behavior may be a common phenomenon in failure models of disordered media. The dynamical evolution plays an important role in the transition.

Pertsonaia protagonista femeninoen ezaugarriak eta bilakaera euskal narratiba garaikidean

361 p.

STREAM Journal, Vol. 2, No. 2, pp 1-19. April-June 2003

CONTENTS: Livelihoods and languages: a SPARK-STREAM learning and communications process, by Kath Copley and William Savage. Towards broader contextual understandings of livelihoods, by Elizabeth M. Gonzales, Nguyen Song Ha, Rubu Mukherjee, Nilkanth Pokhrel and Sem Viryak. Using tools to build shared understandings, using a sustainable livelihoods framework to learn, by Nuchjaree Langkulsane. Learning about rattan as a livelihood, by Mariel de Jesus and Christine Bantug. Meanings of “community-managed area,” by Arif Aliadi. Lessons learnt about processes for learning and communicating, by Graham Haylor and Ronet Santos.

STREAM Journal, Vol. 4, No. 4, pp 1-17. October-December 2005

CONTENTS: Seaweed culture and farmer incomes in Bekasi, Indonesia, by A. Mauksit L. Maala and Aniza Suspita. Significant change for a self-help group, by Nguyen Song Ha. Conflict over fishing in Jharkhand, by Ashish Kumar. Two worlds across a highway, by William Savage. Critical steps in preparing coastal communities for effective policy changes, by Josephine P. Savaris. New guidelines on data collection and iniormation sharing for co-management, by Charlotte Howard.

The Displacement and Strain Field of Three-Dimensional Rheologic Model of Earthquake Preparation

Based on the three-dimensional elastic inclusion model proposed by Dobrovolskii, we developed a rheological inclusion model to study earthquake preparation processes. By using the Corresponding Principle in the theory of rheologic mechanics, we derived the analytic expressions of viscoelastic displacement U(r, t) , V(r, t) and W(r, t), normal strains epsilon(xx) (r, t), epsilon(yy) (r, t) and epsilon(zz) (r, t) and the bulk strain theta (r, t) at an arbitrary point (x, y, z) in three directions of X axis, Y axis and Z axis produced by a three-dimensional inclusion in the semi-infinite rheologic medium defined by the standard linear rheologic model. Subsequent to the spatial-temporal variation of bulk strain being computed on the ground produced by such a spherical rheologic inclusion, interesting results are obtained, suggesting that the bulk strain produced by a hard inclusion change with time according to three stages (alpha, beta, gamma) with different characteristics, similar to that of geodetic deformation observations, but different with the results of a soft inclusion. These theoretical results can be used to explain the characteristics of spatial-temporal evolution, patterns, quadrant-distribution of earthquake precursors, the changeability, spontaneity and complexity of short-term and imminent-term precursors. It offers a theoretical base to build physical models for earthquake precursors and to predict the earthquakes.

Mechanics of metallic foams: A fractal approach

A fractal approach was proposed to investigate the meso structures and size effect of metallic foams: For a series At foams of different relative densities, the information dimension method was applied to measure meso structures. The generalized sierpinski carpet was introduced to map the meso structures of the foam according to specific dimension. The results show that the fractal-based model can not only reveal the variation of yield strength with specimen size, but also bridge the meso structures and mechanical proper-ties of Al foams directly. Key words: metallic foams; fractal; size effect; meso structures

Numerical investigation on a transition prediction model

A new transition prediction model is introduced, which couples the intermittency effect into the turbulence transport equations and takes the characteristics of fluid transition into consideration to mimic the exact process of transition. Test cases include a two-dimensional incompressible plate and a two-dimensional NACA0012 airfoil. Performance of this transition model for incompressible flows is studied, with numerical results consistent to experimental data. The requirement of grid resolution for this transition model is also studied.

The effect of traditional handling, processing and storage methods on the quality of dried fish in small scale fisheries in Nigeria

Most of the fish marketed throughout Nigeria are in either smoked or dried form. The technological requirement for other forms of preservation like chilling and freezing cannot be afforded by the small scale fisher folk. Considerable quantities of fish processed for distant consumer markets are lost at handling, processing, storage and marketing stages. Significant losses occur through infestation by mites, insects, fungal infestation and fragmentation during transportation. This paper attempts to describe the effect of these losses on fish quality and suggests methods of protecting fish from agents of deterioration

Neural representation of auditory temporal structure

Neurons in the songbird forebrain nucleus HVc are highly sensitive to auditory temporal context and have some of the most complex auditory tuning properties yet discovered. HVc is crucial for learning, perceiving, and producing song, thus it is important to understand the neural circuitry and mechanisms that give rise to these remarkable auditory response properties. This thesis investigates these issues experimentally and computationally.

Extracellular studies reported here compare the auditory context sensitivity of neurons in HV c with neurons in the afferent areas of field L. These demonstrate that there is a substantial increase in the auditory temporal context sensitivity from the areas of field L to HVc. Whole-cell recordings of HVc neurons from acute brain slices are described which show that excitatory synaptic transmission between HVc neurons involve the release of glutamate and the activation of both AMPA/kainate and NMDA-type glutamate receptors. Additionally, widespread inhibitory interactions exist between HVc neurons that are mediated by postsynaptic GABA_A receptors. Intracellular recordings of HVc auditory neurons in vivo provides evidence that HV c neurons encode information about temporal structure using a variety of cellular and synaptic mechanisms including syllable-specific inhibition, excitatory post-synaptic potentials with a range of different time courses, and burst-firing, and song-specific hyperpolarization.

The final part of this thesis presents two computational approaches for representing and learning temporal structure. The first method utilizes comput ational elements that are analogous to temporal combination sensitive neurons in HVc. A network of these elements can learn using local information and lateral inhibition. The second method presents a more general framework which allows a network to discover mixtures of temporal features in a continuous stream of input.

Space-resolved spectral diagnosis of line-shaped laser-produced magnesium plasmas

Space-resolved spectra of line-shaped laser-produced magnesium plasmas in the normal direction of the target have been obtained using a pinhole crystal spectrograph. These spectra are treated by a spectrum analyzing code for obtaining the true spectra and fine structures of overlapped lines. The spatial distributions of electron temperature and density along the normal direction of the target surface have been obtained with different spectral diagnostic techniques. Especially, the electron density plateaus beyond the critical surface in line-shaped magnesium plasmas have been obtained with a fitting technique applied to the Stark-broadened Ly-alpha wings of hydrogenic ions. The difference of plasma parameters between those obtained by different diagnostic techniques is discussed. Other phenomena, such as plasma satellites, population inversion, etc., which are observed in magnesium plasmas, are also presented.

Enforcement of associated protected measures in particularly sensitive sea areas

The distinguished character of Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas (PSSAs) is that every application for PSSAs must be accompanied by Associated Protected Measures (APMs) which can make PSSAs efficient in practice.1 That is why APMs are regarded as the core feature of every PSSA.2 APM is “an international rule or standard that falls within the purview of an international maritime organization (IMO) and regulates international maritime activities for the protection of the area at risk.” So far, APMs have been approved by IMO as following: -Compulsory or recommended pilotage -Mandatory ship reporting -An area to be avoided -Traffic separation schemes -Discharge prohibition or regulations -Mandatory no anchoring areas -Deep water routes -Emission control areas (PDF contains 5 pages)