Capitalising on multiplicity: a transdisciplinary systems approach to landscape research

Different disciplines have landscape as the focal point of their research. They are successful in presenting new findings about landscapes within their specialisation, but collaboration—and thus, transfer of knowledge across disciplinary boundaries—is seldom realised because a common approach that bridges the gaps between disciplines is missing. Instead, different landscape concepts exist side by side. Yet, cooperation is required to tackle the various environmental and social problems related to landscapes. This paper provides an overview of the historical development of landscape concepts originating from different cultural and scientific trends, and presents a new complex concept of landscape, which is designed to enable transdisciplinary landscape research. The transdisciplinary landscape concept is based on five dimensions of landscapes: the spatial entity, the mental entity, the temporal dimension, the nexus of nature and culture, and the systemic properties of landscapes. In contrast to other approaches, it unites dimensions that are usually the domain of individual disciplines and makes it, thus, possible to capitalise on plurality in landscape research. The concept promotes landscape as the combination of the subsystems known as the geo-, bio- and noo-sphere, and is illustrated by the people–landscape interaction model. The concept can be applied to all human–landscape-related research, but is exemplified by two studies that have investigated the relationship between landscape and second-home tourism, and landscape and farming, respectively.     

Fuzzy Models in Geotechnical Engineering and Construction Management

This article is devoted to a variety of applications of fuzzy models in civil engineering, presenting the current work of a group of researchers at the University of Innsbruck. With fuzzy methods and possibility theory as an encompassing framework, the following areas are addressed: uncertainties in geotechnical engineering, fuzzy finite‐element computation of a foundation raft, fuzzy dynamic systems, and processing uncertainty in project scheduling and cost planning.     

Post-measurement processing of electric power quality data

This paper addresses the issues of post-measurement processing of data collected in a power quality assessment study. Three broad types of post-measurement processing objectives are considered: to enhance accuracy; to estimate data; and to reduce the volume of the collected data. The methods used to enhance accuracy are bad data identification and rejection. Averaging is discussed as a method to “filter” measurement error. The methods used for data estimation are state estimation techniques in both the time and frequency domain. The methods used to reduce the volume of the collected data are based on the calculation of marginal and conditional probabilities and expectations. The integrated use of these techniques in an instrumentation system for power quality assessment is discussed. The main suggested application is for the measurement of harmonics     

On the influence of silicon on the growth of the alloy layer during hot dip aluminizing

The reactions between a low alloyed steel and a pure as well as a 2% silicon containing aluminium melt where studied at 780 and 792‡ C, respectively. The velocity of the iron enrichment was the same for both cases, whereas the alloy layer growth was much faster in the case of the pure aluminium melt. After hot dip aluminizing in the 2% silicon containing aluminium melt silicon was found to be incorporated in the alloy layer. From that it is clear that silicon acts on the solid state side, when reducing the alloy layer thickness during hot dip aluminizing.     

Pharmacokinetic features, immunogenicity, and toxicity of B43(anti-CD19)-pokeweed antiviral protein immunotoxin in cynomolgus monkeys

Withdrawal responses to mechanical and thermal stimuli applied to the plantar surface of the hindpaw were measured before and after bone damage. In separate groups of rats the bone was injured by scraping the periosteum of the tibia, drilling a hole through the tibia, aspirating bone marrow, or drilling a hole through the calcaneus. Scraping the periosteum did not alter withdrawal responses to the mechanical stimuli, or evoke nocifensive behavior. In contrast, secondary mechanical hyperalgesia and allodynia, and cold allodynia were observed after a hole was drilled through the tibia or calcaneus and after aspiration of bone marrow. The secondary hyperalgesia peaked at 2 h after injury. Drilling a hole through the calcaneus permitted primary hyperalgesia to be easily quantified. Primary hyperalgesia lasted up to 24 h after injury. Nocifensive behavior characterized by a lifting and guarding of the damaged limb was also observed after a hole was drilled through the tibia or calcaneus. Drilling a hole through the tibia or calcaneus should be a useful experimental model for investigating the mechanisms underlying bone pain.     

Educational lectures and films in the clinical treatment of alcoholism: a critique

A recent meta-analysis of alcohol treatment outcome research concluded that educational lectures and films are an ineffective treatment modality in the treatment of persons with alcohol-related problems. This paper suggests several reasons why educational lectures and films are likely to be ineffective with alcohol misusers. Possible explanations include (a) the inability of alcoholics to appreciate and utilize (presented) information because of the cognitive deficits associated with chronic alcohol misuse, (b) the presentation of inaccurate or misleading information about alcoholism through lectures and films (i.e., unitary disease concept, faulty conceptualizations of denial), and (c) conventional alcoholism education which may undermine an individual's belief in her/his ability to make a complete and successful recovery from chemical dependence. Treatment implications and suggestions for further research are briefly discussed.