On being unreasonable: Progressive planning in Sheffield and Chicago

This paper gives an account of ‘left’ and ‘progressive’ economic development politics and policy in Sheffield and Chicago in the early 1980s. The origins of these policies in activist work and grassroots organizing, and the leadership of John Benington and David Blunkett in Sheffield and of Robert Mier and Harold Washington in Chicago are characterized and briefly compared.     

Dynamic structure-soil-structure interaction by FEM and BEM

The dynamic interaction, through the underlying or surrounding soil, between three-dimensional structures has been investigated, by coupling finite and boundary elements. The structures are discretized by finite elements, and the infinite soil is represented by boundary elements. A harmonic force is applied on both mass-lumped structures and mass-distributed structures. On the basis of our numerical studies, we further indicate the effects of distance, direction of alignment between two foundations, bedrock, natural frequency of the system and the location of load on the dynamic responses of structure-soil-structure interaction systems.     

La réputation sociale de l'enfant en milieu scolaire.

Studied the social reputations of elementary school children. Ss were 76 2nd-grade (mean age 7.5 yrs), 71 3rd-grade (mean age 8.5 yrs), and 83 4th-grade students (mean age 9.7 yrs). Using the peer nomination technique, Ss were assessed collectively on 8 dimensions requiring both social and academic judgments. A cluster analysis was performed to identify groups with different sociometric profiles. Correlations between peer evaluations and teacher evaluations of Ss' social reputations were determined. (English abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Mine operating accurate stability control with optical fibersensing and Bragg grating technology: the European BRITE/EURAM STABILOSproject

Recent developments of stability control in mines, essentially based on Ge-doped fiber Bragg gratings (FBG) are reported including results about the different aspects of the system: accurate characterizations of FBG, sensor network topology and multiplexing method, user interface design and sensor packaging     

Remarks on the mean square tracking error

The purpose of this paper is to extend recent results of Ljung and Priouret to a more general class of regressors.     

On the theory of critical fields of superconducting films

In this paper nucleation of superconductivity in films in investigated numerically for all temperatures. Recent predictions of magnetically enhanced superconductivity, even above the critical temperature, are not confirmed. In a limiting case also the surface critical fieldH _c3 was obtained for all temperatures.Dedicated to Professor L. Tewordt on the occasion of his 65th birthday.     

Biocides used in building materials and their leaching behavior to sewer systems.

There is increasing concern about diffuse pollution of aquatic systems by biocides used in urban areas. We investigated sources and pathways of biocides significant for the pollution of storm water runoff. Main sources seem to be building envelopes, i.e. facades (paints, plasters) and roof sealing membranes. First results from a defined urban catchment drained by a separated sewer system without any agricultural activities reveal a substantial occurrence. Even after the first flush, concentrations of terbutryn, carbendazim, mecoprop as well as Irgarol 1051 and its metabolite exceeded the Swiss water quality standard of 0.1 microg/L. In laboratory experiments, leaching of mecoprop used as a root protection agent in bitumen sheets for roof waterproofing was determined. The concentrations differed in 16 different sheets two orders of magnitude, depending on the product composition. Using optimized products, it is expected to be the most efficient and sustainable way to reduce the environmental impact. To understand transport dynamics and environmental risk, further storm water events will be analyzed. Based on the ongoing project URBIC, first measures will be proposed to limit the release to surface and ground water.