SLOVAKIA IN TRANSITION: EXAMINING SCENARIOS FOR CHANGE WITH A SYSTEM DYNAMICS MODEL

This paper presents the theoretical and methodological background and main findings of the research project “A System Dynamics Model of Slovakia,” which was financed by the Austrian Ministry of Science and Research. It was performed by cooperative efforts of scientists at INFO-STAT, Bratislava, and the Department for Design and Assessment of Technology/Social Cybernetics at the Vienna University of Technology. The model deals with the transition of Slovakia from a centrally planned to a market economy for the period 1990 to 1996. As examples of its application, the standard run and a scenario to fight unemployment are discussed.     

Observations of flow separation by an isolated island

Abstract

Remotely-sensed data from a series of overflights of the Clyde estuary in western Scotland are described. Thermal band images are presented to demonstrate the occurrence of flow separation at the tip of an isolated island in the estuary and the characteristics of the resulting downstream eddy are investigated. Field data are used to interpret the observed eddy structure and to confirm that the eddy is delineated in the images because of the existence of a source tracer of cold water upstream of the point at which the tidal stream separates from the tip of the island. Upwelling of cold water induced by the rotational motion of the attached eddy is shown to be inhibited by the stable density stratification existing in the estuary under summer conditions. The dynamics of the eddies generated at the island are discussed in terms of the non-dimensional parameters controlling the flow and it is demonstrated that the effects of the background rotation of the Earth upon the flow dynamics are weak. The usefulness of the so-called equivalent Reynolds number and the island wake parameter in describing estuarine flows is discussed and it is shown that the spatial structures of the observed eddies suggest a horizontal eddy viscosity for the flow of about 10² m² s^?, which is of the same order as the values adopted by other workers for similar cases.     

From bud to berry, with special reference to inflorescence and bunch morphology in Vitis vinifera L.

A brief review of the reproductive system of the grapevine is presented. Phases discussed include floral induction and initiation during early spring, inflorescence primordium growth during summer to dormancy, flower formation at budburst in the subsequent growing season, and finally flowering and berry development. Difficulties in clearly defining and describing some of these developmental stages will be outlined, especially the complex bud system, the morphology of buds at budburst, and the course of flowering. The course of floral development during dormancy and at the time of budburst requires further attention, especially the reported effect that low temperature at budburst leads to increased numbers of flowers. Also, the recent finding that 'intercarpellar' floral organs can be induced by applying auxin is of particular interest and will be described. Case studies from Burgundy vineyards with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Gamay ovaries and berries will be included.
A detailed analysis of what constitutes a grape bunch will be presented from observations of Chardonnay inflorescences and bunches collected at random after set and at harvest in two seasons from spur-pruned, cane-pruned and hedged vines growing on two sites varying in climate and productivity (Adelaide Hills and Southern Vales of South Australia). This analysis covered variability in numbers of branches and flowers and in per cent berry set, as well as relationships between branch numbers and flower numbers. Relationships between flower numbers and per cent set, per cent set and berry size along the inflorescence, and berry size and seed complement are outlined. Likely implications of inter-bunch and intra-bunch variability for bunch compactness, berry composition and yield components are discussed.     

Thermal satellite imagery applied to a littoral macrobenthos investigation in the Gulf of Maine

The application of satellite imagery to oceanographic problems has grown in recent years. Its use in biological oceanography, however, has been largely limited to studies of primary productivity. The ability of thermal satellite imagery to identify coastal oceanic fronts suggests that there may be an application to macrobenthos investigations. This communication describes how thermal satellite imagery was applied to the study of sand-beach community distribution in the Gulf of Maine.     

No Resistance

In 2006, Peter Lynch (USA) and Gustavo Crembil (Argentina/USA) established THEM, an architectural partnership, after several years of a collaborative practice drawing upon the fields of design, architecture, performance art, communication, and social and ecological activism. The "Pleasure Garden," THEM's proposal for the 2008 YAP PS1/MoMA competition, continues an exploration of "craft in the age of globalization" and suggests what such an architecture might look like.     

Toward a Geography of the Globalization of Architecture Office Networks

This paper examines the globalization of architectural practice, focusing on the global strategies of architectural firms in relation to those of advanced business services and to the evolving network of world cities that provides the spatial framework for economic globalization. A basic geography of global architecture office networks is identified, and multivariate statistical analysis is used to identify four distinctive global arenas in which architectural firms are involved. In a final section, the implications of these findings for architectural education are discussed.     

Influence of trypsin action in yoghurt milk on the release of caseinophosphopeptide-rich fractions and physical properties of the fermented products

The influence of trypsin action in yoghurt milk on the release of caseinophosphopeptide (CPP)-rich fractions was studied and the physical properties of the fermented products determined. Trypsin treatment of skim milk led to increased fermentation times and a substantially lowered production of l -lactic acid as well as to delayed and reduced proteolysis caused by peptidases of the starter cultures. The functional properties of the milk proteins were decreased and the sensory properties less pronounced in yoghurt from trypsin-treated milk, but were described as less bitter than samples from nontreated milk. The CPP sequences β-CN(1–25)-4P and α _s1 -CN(43–79)-7P were released during enzyme treatment.     

跃变比判别热解Si-C-N陶瓷EELS定量分析的有效性

电子能量损失谱（EELS）分析方法的运用为材料研究领域提供了有力的定性和定量手段。通过对内壳层电子激发谱跃变比的计算,能够获得样品相对厚度的参考信息。这一方法弥补了实验条件在同步采集等离子激发谱和内壳层电子激发谱方面的局限性,并为辨别EELS定量的可靠性提供依据。本文以Si3N4为例,对跃变比随样品相对厚度的变化规律进行了研究,并在低于最佳样品厚度的范围内得到了可靠的定量结果。类似的跃变比变化规律能够运用于成份均一的Si-C-N热解样品,然而对于非均一的Si-C-N退火样品则不适用。     

Model-structure selection by cross-validation

Two criteria for choosing between different model-structures are proposed. Their derivation is within a natural cross-validatory assessment context and is fairly assumption-free. In particular, the two criteria can be used for discriminating between non-nested model structures and, more importantly, the ‘true’ system is not required to belong to the considered set of models. Should the true system belong to the model set, the two proposed criteria will asymptotically reduce to some well-known structure selection criteria. This is believed to be a desirable feature of our proposals. On the other hand, it provides a nice cross-validation interpretation of some well-known model structure selection rules. Also, the cross-validation interpretation helps one to choose which criteria to use in a given application

The paper also has a second purpose, somewhat decoupled from that mentioned above. It contains an extensive survey of the literature that is useful in its own right.