Strain localization effect on system reliability based design of bridge abutments under earthquake loading

The component and system reliability based design of bridge abutments under earthquake loading is presented in the paper. Planar failure surface has been used in conjunction with pseudo-dynamic approach to compute seismic active earth pressures on an abutment. The pseudo-dynamic method, considers the effect of phase difference in shear waves, soil amplification along with the horizontal seismic accelerations, strain localization in backfill soil and associated post-peak reduction in the shear resistance from peak to residual values along a previously formed failure plane. Four modes of stability viz. sliding, overturning, eccentricity and bearing capacity of the foundation soil are considered in the analysis. The series system reliability is computed with an assumption of independent failure modes. The lower and upper bounds of system reliability are also computed by taking into account the correlations between four failure modes, which is evaluated using the direction cosines of the tangent planes at the most probable points of failure.

Electronic Structure of CH3NH3PbX3 Perovskites: Dependence on the Halide Moiety

A combination of measurements using photoelectron spectroscopy and calculations using density functional theory (DFT) was applied to compare the detailed electronic structure of the organolead halide perovskites CH3NH3PbI3 and CH3NH3PbBr3. These perovskite materials are used to absorb light in mesoscopic and planar heterojunction solar cells. The Pb 4f core level is investigated to get insight into the chemistry of the two materials. Valence level measurments are also included showing a shift of the valence band edges where there is a higher binding energy of the edge for the CH3NH3PbBr3 perovskite. These changes are supported by the theoretical calculations which indicate that the differences in electronic structure are mainly caused by the nature of the halide ion rather than structural differences. The combination of photoelectron spectroscopy measurements and electronic structure calculations is essential to disentangle how the valence band edge in organolead halide perovskites is governed by the intrinsic difference in energy levels of the halide ions from the influence of chemical bonding.

Regional research priorities in brain and nervous system disorders

The characteristics of neurological, psychiatric, developmental and substance-use disorders in low-and middle-income countries are unique and the burden that they have will be different from country to country. Many of the differences are explained by the wide variation in population demographics and size, poverty, conflict, culture, land area and quality, and genetics. Neurological, psychiatric, developmental and substance-use disorders that result from, or are worsened by, a lack of adequate nutrition and infectious disease still afflict much of sub-Saharan Africa, although disorders related to increasing longevity, such as stroke, are on the rise. In the Middle East and North Africa, major depressive disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder are a primary concern because of the conflict-ridden environment. Consanguinity is a serious concern that leads to the high prevalence of recessive disorders in the Middle East and North Africa and possibly other regions. The burden of these disorders in Latin American and Asian countries largely surrounds stroke and vascular disease, dementia and lifestyle factors that are influenced by genetics. Although much knowledge has been gained over the past 10 years, the epidemiology of the conditions in low-and middle-income countries still needs more research. Prevention and treatments could be better informed with more longitudinal studies of risk factors. Challenges and opportunities for ameliorating nervous-system disorders can benefit from both local and regional research collaborations. The lack of resources and infrastructure for health-care and related research, both in terms of personnel and equipment, along with the stigma associated with the physical or behavioural manifestations of some disorders have hampered progress in understanding the disease burden and improving brain health. Individual countries, and regions within countries, have specific needs in terms of research priorities.

经典轨道的封闭性和径向Schrodinger方程的因式分解

研究表明，保证经典轨道具有封闭性的Bertrand定理可以进一步推广，在适当的角动量睛，仍存在着非椭圆的闭合轨道。对于屏蔽Coulomb场，可获得广义Runge-Lenz矢量。这种轨道封闭性与径向Schrodinger方程因式分解相对应。

Efecto de tres niveles de nitrógeno y tres densidades poblacionales sobre el crecimiento, desarrollo y rendimiento en el cultivo de maiz (Zea mays L) Var. NB-6

El presente estudio se estableció durante la época de postrera de 1998, en la hacienda experimental El "Plantel" ubicado a 200 msnm, 12' 03' Latitud Norte y 86° 06' Longitud Oeste, con el objetivo de determinar el efecto de tres niveles de nitrógeno (60, 90, 120 kg/ha) y tres densidades de siembra (56 000, 71 000 y 85000 plantas/ha) sobre el crecimiento, desarrollo y rendimiento del cultivo de maíz (Zea mays L). Var. NB-6. El diseño experimental utilizado fue un bifactorial con arreglo de bloques completamente al azar (BCA), cuatro repeticiones realizando un análisis de varianza (ANDEVA) y separación de medias por Duncan con a= 0.05. Los resultados demuestran que hubo diferencia significativa para los factores en estudio en las variables de crecimiento (altura y diámetro del tallo). El factor nitrógeno presento diferencia significativa para la variable de rendimiento de grano obteniéndose los mejores resultados con los niveles de 90 y 120 kg/ha alcanzando promedios de 6 378 y 6 672.40 kg/ha, también el factor densidad mostró diferencia significativa en él número de plantas cosechadas y mazorcas cosechadas que son un componente importante para el rendimiento del cultivo. Los resultados del análisis económico demuestran que la mejor tasa de retomo marginal es de 539.15 % y se obtuvo con el tratamiento (90 kg/N. ha y 71 000 plantas /ha).