Download Special Issue
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Load more
Recommended publications
-
NSF Current Newsletter Highlights Research and Education Efforts Supported by the National Science Foundation
March 2012 Each month, the NSF Current newsletter highlights research and education efforts supported by the National Science Foundation. If you would like to automatically receive notifications by e-mail or RSS when future editions of NSF Current are available, please use the links below: Subscribe to NSF Current by e-mail | What is RSS? | Print this page | Return to NSF Current Archive Robotic Surgery Systems Shipped to Medical Research Centers A set of seven identical advanced robotic-surgery systems produced with NSF support were shipped last month to major U.S. medical research laboratories, creating a network of systems using a common platform. The network is designed to make it easy for researchers to share software, replicate experiments and collaborate in other ways. Robotic surgery has the potential to enable new surgical procedures that are less invasive than existing techniques. The developers of the Raven II system made the decision to share it as the best way to move the field forward--though it meant giving competing laboratories tools that had taken them years to develop. "We decided to follow an open-source model, because if all of these labs have a common research platform for doing robotic surgery, the whole field will be able to advance more quickly," said Jacob Rosen, Students with components associate professor of computer engineering at the University of of the Raven II surgical California-Santa Cruz. Rosen and Blake Hannaford, director of the robotics systems. Credit: University of Washington Biorobotics Laboratory, led the team that Carolyn Lagattuta built the Raven system, initially with a U.S. -
Natural & Unnatural Disasters
Lesson 20: Disasters February 22, 2006 ENVIR 202: Lesson No. 20 Natural & Unnatural Disasters February 22, 2006 Gail Sandlin University of Washington Program on the Environment ENVIR 202: Lesson 20 1 Natural Disaster A natural disaster is the consequence or effect of a natural phenomenon becoming enmeshed with human activities. “Disasters occur when hazards meet vulnerability” So is it Mother Nature or Human Nature? ENVIR 202: Lesson 20 2 Natural Phenomena Tornadoes Drought Floods Hurricanes Tsunami Wild Fires Volcanoes Landslides Avalanche Earthquakes ENVIR 202: Lesson 20 3 ENVIR 202: Population & Health 1 Lesson 20: Disasters February 22, 2006 Naturals Hazards Why do Populations Live near Natural Hazards? High voluntary individual risk Low involuntary societal risk Element of probability Benefits outweigh risk Economical Social & cultural Few alternatives Concept of resilience; operationalized through policies or systems ENVIR 202: Lesson 20 4 Tornado Alley http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/torn/2005deadlytorn.html ENVIR 202: Lesson 20 5 Oklahoma City, May 1999 319 mph (near F6) 44 died, 795 injured 3,000 homes and 150 businesses destroyed ENVIR 202: Lesson 20 6 ENVIR 202: Population & Health 2 Lesson 20: Disasters February 22, 2006 World’s Deadliest Tornado April 26, 1989 1300 died 12,000 injured 80,000 homeless Two towns leveled Where? ENVIR 202: Lesson 20 7 Bangladesh ENVIR 202: Lesson 20 8 Hurricanes, Typhoons & Cyclones winds over 74 mph regional location 500,000 Bhola cyclone, 1970, Bangladesh 229,000 Typhoon Nina, 1975, China 138,000 Bangladesh cyclone, 1991 ENVIR 202: Lesson 20 9 ENVIR 202: Population & Health 3 Lesson 20: Disasters February 22, 2006 U.S. -
Structural Theory of Thermoeconomics - Luis Serra and César Torres Cuadra
EXERGY, ENERGY SYSTEM ANALYSIS AND OPTIMIZATION – Vol. II - Structural Theory of Thermoeconomics - Luis Serra and César Torres Cuadra STRUCTURAL THEORY OF THERMOECONOMICS Luis Serra and César Torres Cuadra University of Zaragoza, Spain Keywords: thermoeconomics, analysis of energy systems, exergy, average cost, marginal cost, productive structure, structural theory Contents 1. Introduction 2. Marginal Costs 2.1. Characteristic Equations 2.2. General Equation of Marginal Cost 2.3. Generalized Fuel Impact 2.4. Lagrange Multipliers and Marginal Costs 3. Structural Theory of Thermoeconomics 3.1. Linear Model of Characteristic Equations 3.2. Average and Marginal Costs 4. Structural Theory as Standard for Thermoeconomics 4.1. Structural Theory and Exergy Cost Theory 4.1.1. Structural Theory and the Fuel–Product Model 4.2. Structural Theory and Thermoeconomic Functional Analysis 5. Applications 5.1. Local Optimization 6. Closure Glossary Bibliography Biographical Sketches Summary Characteristic equations and average and marginal costs are analyzed in this article. As a consequence the structural theory is a general mathematical formalism either for thermoeconomicUNESCO cost accounting and/or optimization– EOLSS methods, providing a common basis of comparison among the different thermoeconomic methodologies, which could be considered the standard formalism for thermoeconomics. The cost calculationSAMPLE method of the struct CHAPTERSural theory is based on the rules of mathematical derivation applied to a set of characteristic equations that determine the thermoeconomic model. In this way, as more physical and realistic information is contained in the characteristic equations, more physical significance will be contained in the costs obtained. 1. Introduction During the three decades from 1972 to 2002 various thermoeconomic methodologies have been developed. -
A Guide to Space Law Terms: Spi, Gwu, & Swf
A GUIDE TO SPACE LAW TERMS: SPI, GWU, & SWF A Guide to Space Law Terms Space Policy Institute (SPI), George Washington University and Secure World Foundation (SWF) Editor: Professor Henry R. Hertzfeld, Esq. Research: Liana X. Yung, Esq. Daniel V. Osborne, Esq. December 2012 Page i I. INTRODUCTION This document is a step to developing an accurate and usable guide to space law words, terms, and phrases. The project developed from misunderstandings and difficulties that graduate students in our classes encountered listening to lectures and reading technical articles on topics related to space law. The difficulties are compounded when students are not native English speakers. Because there is no standard definition for many of the terms and because some terms are used in many different ways, we have created seven categories of definitions. They are: I. A simple definition written in easy to understand English II. Definitions found in treaties, statutes, and formal regulations III. Definitions from legal dictionaries IV. Definitions from standard English dictionaries V. Definitions found in government publications (mostly technical glossaries and dictionaries) VI. Definitions found in journal articles, books, and other unofficial sources VII. Definitions that may have different interpretations in languages other than English The source of each definition that is used is provided so that the reader can understand the context in which it is used. The Simple Definitions are meant to capture the essence of how the term is used in space law. Where possible we have used a definition from one of our sources for this purpose. When we found no concise definition, we have drafted the definition based on the more complex definitions from other sources. -
UN Specialized Agencies and Governance for Global Risks
13 UN Specialized Agencies and Governance for Global Risks For the first time in human history, we have reached a level of scientific knowledge that allows us to develop an enlightened relationship to risks of catastrophic magnitude. Not only can we foresee many of the challenges ahead, but we are in a position to identify what needs to be done in order to mitigate or even eliminate some of those risks. Our enlightened status, however, also requires that we ... collectively commit to reducing them. 1 Allan Dafoe and Anders Sandberg The United Nations has grown far beyond the institutions directly provided for in the UN Charter. This chapter and those immediately following review a number of global issues and risks that have emerged largely since 1945 and the responses through the UN family of specialized agencies, programs and convention secretar- iats. We consider the efforts of the UN to develop more strategic and integrated approaches to the range of interrelated problems in sustainable development facing the world today. We then consider examples of reform in the economic, environ- mental and social dimensions, without attempting to be comprehensive. We first look at governance for the global economy, especially to address the major chal- lenges of growing inequality and the need for a level playing field for business. For the risks of instability in the financial system, we propose reinforcing the role of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for enhanced financial governance. We then review global environmental governance, including climate change, as well as population and migration as significant global social issues. -
Relation Between Sunspots and Covid19 – a Proof for Panspermia
International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056 Volume: 07 Issue: 11 | Nov 2020 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072 RELATION BETWEEN SUNSPOTS AND COVID19 – A PROOF FOR PANSPERMIA Janani T1 1Department of Biotechnology, Kumaraguru College of Technology, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India ---------------------------------------------------------------------***---------------------------------------------------------------------- Abstract - The novel viral or the bacterial pandemics and epidemics are not new to this earth. Often these disease-causing pathogens are of unknown origin and often identified as an infection which is transmitted from other animals. They are frequently found as the mutated form of the original strain or completely a newly developed strain. The causes for this mutation are many which comprises of both natural and artificial sources. The time of occurrence of these pandemic and epidemic astonishingly coincides with the sun spot extremum (often minimum). It is observed that whenever there is a sun spot extremum there was a novel microbial pandemic or epidemic. The current COVID19 pandemic is also suggested to be due to such sunspot extremum as the sun cycle is currently at its sun spot minimum. This review aims at providing the facts of relation between sunspots and the novel corona virus pandemic and there by stating this occurrence as a proof for panspermia. Key Words: Pandemic, Epidemic, COVID19, Sunspot, Solar Cycle, Solar minimum, Panspermia 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 SUNSPOTS: Sunspots are the dark regions in the sun’s surface due to the concentration of magnetic field in that region. These regions are relatively colder to the other regions of the sun’s surface. Hotter region emits more light than the colder region hence these regions appear to be darker and called the spots of the sun. -
Magnetic Storms and Induction Hazards
News: Report Puts Timeline on Cutting Greenhouse Gas Emissions, p. 446 Meeting: Multidisciplinary Monitoring Experiments at Kawah Ijen Volcano, p. 447 What’s on the Web: Antarctic Expedition, Teaching Professional Skills, and More, p. 447 About AGU: Amazon Hack-A-Thon at Fall Meeting, p. 448 Research Spotlight: Magnetic Field Data, Ocean Acidification, and More, p. 452 VOLUME 95 NUMBER 48 2 DECEMBER 2014 Magnetic Storms and Induction Hazards Magnetic storms are potentially hazard- Electrical conductivity in the Earth’s inte- ous to the activities and technological infra- rior ranges from about 10-4 siemens per structure of modern civilization. This reality meter (S/m) in some parts of the upper man- was dramatically demonstrated during the tle to 3 S/m in the ocean. Generally speak- great magnetic storm of March 1989, when ing, electric power grids are susceptible to surface geoelectric fields, produced by the interference from naturally induced geoelec- interaction of the time-varying geomag- tric fields that vary with periods from about netic field with the Earth’s electrically con- 10 to 1000 seconds. Geomagnetic and geo- ducting interior, coupled onto the overlying electric field variation over such periods Hydro-Québec electric power grid in Can- plumbs the Earth’s interior across diffusive ada. Protective relays were tripped, the grid depth and length scales of between about 2 collapsed, and about 9 million people were and 3000 kilometers, but localized conduc- temporarily left without electricity [Bolduc, tivity anomalies can reduce the upper length 2002]. scale to about 50 kilometers. A magnetic storm that was, by some mea- As a subject of natural science, estimat- sures, the most intense ever recorded fol- ing the geoelectric field as a function of geo- lowed a solar flare observed by astronomers graphic location is distinct from the engi- Richard Carrington and Richard Hodgson neering subject of electric currents that in September 1859. -
An Alternative Methodological Approach to Value Analysis of Regions, Municipal Corporations and Clusters
ACTA UNIVERSITATIS AGRICULTURAE ET SILVICULTURAE MENDELIANAE BRUNENSIS Volume LIX 35 Number 4, 2011 AN ALTERNATIVE METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH TO VALUE ANALYSIS OF REGIONS, MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS AND CLUSTERS M. Sabolovič Received: March 8, 2011 Abstract SABOLOVIČ, M.: An alternative methodological approach to value analysis of regions, municipal corporations and clusters. Acta univ. agric. et silvic. Mendel. Brun., 2011, LIX, No. 4, pp. 295–300 The paper deals with theoretical conception of value analysis of regions, municipal corporations and clusters. The subject of this paper is heterodox approach to sensitivity analysis of fi nite set of variables based on non-additive measure. For dynamic analysis of trajectory of general value are suffi cient robust models based on maximum entropy principle. Findings concern explanation of proper fuzzy integral – Choquet integral. The fuzzy measure is represented by theory of capacities (Choquet, 1953) on powerset. In fi ne, the conception of the New integral for capacities (Lehler, 2005) is discussed. Value analysis and transmission constitutes remarkable aspect of performance evaluation of regions, municipal corporations and clusters. In the light of high ratio of so variables, social behavior, intangible assets and human capital within those types of subjects the fuzzy integral introduce useful tool for modeling. The New integral a erwards concerns considerable characteristic of people behavior – risk averse articulated concave function and non-additive operator. Results comprehended tools enabling observation of synergy, redundancy and inhibition of value variables as consequence of non-additive measure. In fi ne, results induced issues for future research. powerset, fuzzy integral, Choquet integral, New intergral for capacities, non-additive measure A general theoretical approach to value analysis of value is assigned to thermoeconomics in of particular crisp set of discrete value variables of general. -
TEACHING MODULE for ENGLISH for SPECIFIC PURPOSES
TEACHING MODULE for ENGLISH FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES Compiled By Bertaria Sohnata Hutauruk Only for our classroom instructions (Very restricted use) FKIP UHN PEMATANGSIANTAR 2015 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT This binding is a result of compilation from the authentic material from the webs. It is a result of short browsing. The aim is to provide a suitable module for our ESP classroom sessions in the first semester of the 2011/2012 academic year in our study program. This module consists of some lessons for the concept of ESP, some lessons for ESP lesson plans used abroad and in Indonesia, ESP for some school levels, and ESP for Academic Purposes and for Occupational Purposes. The main teaching objective in our classroom is to provide the students with the competence on designing a good lesson plan to teach ESP for academic purposes and occupational purposes at any level according to its context. We fully intend that this binding is only to facilitate some compiled authentic materials from the webs for our ESP Classroom instructions. By this opportunity, we would like to extend our sincere thanks all the authors of the materials and the websites which publish them. May God the Almighty bless them all! Medan-Pematangsiantar, September 2015 The Authors, Bertaria Sohnata Hutauruk TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT…………………………………………………………… TABLE OF CONTENTS…………………………………………………………….. Lesson 1 Introduction………………………………………………………………………….. Lesson 2 ESP AND ESL………………………………………………………………………. Leson 3 ESP Course at Technical Secondary Vocational School for Construction and Building Trade students………………………………………. Lesson 4 ESP Vocabulary Teaching at the Vocational Secondary School of Furniture Industry………………………….. Lesson 5 ESP International Sample lesson plan........................................................................... Lesson 6 ESP Lesson Plan in Indonesia……………………………………………………….. -
Extreme Solar Eruptions and Their Space Weather Consequences Nat
Extreme Solar Eruptions and their Space Weather Consequences Nat Gopalswamy NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA Abstract: Solar eruptions generally refer to coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and flares. Both are important sources of space weather. Solar flares cause sudden change in the ionization level in the ionosphere. CMEs cause solar energetic particle (SEP) events and geomagnetic storms. A flare with unusually high intensity and/or a CME with extremely high energy can be thought of examples of extreme events on the Sun. These events can also lead to extreme SEP events and/or geomagnetic storms. Ultimately, the energy that powers CMEs and flares are stored in magnetic regions on the Sun, known as active regions. Active regions with extraordinary size and magnetic field have the potential to produce extreme events. Based on current data sets, we estimate the sizes of one-in-hundred and one-in-thousand year events as an indicator of the extremeness of the events. We consider both the extremeness in the source of eruptions and in the consequences. We then compare the estimated 100-year and 1000-year sizes with the sizes of historical extreme events measured or inferred. 1. Introduction Human society experienced the impact of extreme solar eruptions that occurred on October 28 and 29 in 2003, known as the Halloween 2003 storms. Soon after the occurrence of the associated solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) at the Sun, people were expecting severe impact on Earth’s space environment and took appropriate actions to safeguard technological systems in space and on the ground. -
A BRIEF HISTORY of CME SCIENCE 1. Introduction the Key to Understanding Solar Activity Lies in the Sun's Ever-Changing Magnetic
A BRIEF HISTORY OF CME SCIENCE 1 2 DAVID ALEXANDER , IAN G. RICHARDSON and THOMAS H. ZURBUCHEN3 1Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, 6100 Main St., Houston, TX 77005, USA 2 The Astroparticle Physics Laboratory, NASA GSFC, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA 3 Department of AOSS, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, M148109, USA Received: 15 July 2004; Accepted in final form: 5 May 2005 Abstract. We present here a brief summary of the rich heritage of observational and theoretical research leading to the development of our current understanding of the initiation, structure, and evolution of Coronal Mass Ejections. 1. Introduction The key to understanding solar activity lies in the Sun's ever-changing magnetic field. The potential role played by the magnetic field in the solar atmosphere was first suggested by Frank Bigelow in 1889 after noting that the structure of the solar minimum corona seen during the eclipse of 1878 displayed marked equatorial extensions, called 'streamers '. Bigelow(1 890) noted th at the coronal streamers had a strong resemblance to magnetic lines of force and proposed th at the Sun must, in fact, be a large magnet. Subsequently, Hen ri Deslandres (1893) suggested that the forms and motions of prominences seen during so lar eclipses appeared to be influenced by a solar magnetic field. The link between magnetic fields and plasma emitted by the Sun was beginning to take shape by the turn of the 20th Century. The epochal discovery of magnetic fields on the Sun by American astronomer George Ellery Hale (1908) signalled the birth of modem solar physics. -
SOLAR FLARES and THEIR IMPACT on HUMANITY H. Brynkevich, O
Nowadays the territory of the city and his suburban area are the leading form of the territorial and socio- economic organization of modern society. The components of environment of the city such as relief, atmosphere, ecotopes with artificial soil are changing because of urbanization process and household activities. It’s very im- portant to save the ecology of the city according to sustainable socio-economic development. Plants are one of the main components in environment of urbanization area and they do some important ecological functions. Plants are important sanitary-hygienic, town-planic and aesthetic element of landscape architecture of the city; they are re- ducing a harmful effect on working, living and rest conditions; we can use urban plants like bioindicators for de- termination anthropogenic contamination. Natural processes and anthropogenic activity like chemical contamination of air and soil, groundwater pollution are impact for the growth of urban plants. According to this impact flora and vegetation changes in the city, the stability of natural biocoenosis is reduced, new artificial bio- coenosis are created, the temperature in the city is increased because of process of desertification. In this reason it’s important to research natural and ruderal communities of plants. An analysis of the current state of the flora in Zhodino city will make it possible to identify species that have adapted to the conditions of the urbanized environment, which can later be used to optimize the vegetation cover and improve the hygienic