Academic literature on the topic 'Time Slowing'

The experience of time is not fixed by a rigid mathematical measure, instead, it flows at vaying rates. There are certain occasions in which we would like to extend time with all our force, up to the limit of our stretched arms and further. Conversely there are moments which we'd like to last no more that the sparkle of a flash, but as we all have noticed, those are the longest in our life. How does the space that we inhabit influence on our perception of time? May we identify especial elements that contribute in one or other sense to accelerate or slowdown the time? It's said that time and space is an inseparable unity, as two aspects of the same thing. If this is so, then it also must be true that by shaping space in one way or another, we might influence the experience of time through it. Wouldn't it be delightful to believe that we may be magicians of time through manipulation of architecture?
Master of Architecture

In order to optimize limited infrastructure, many power systems are frequently operated close to critical, or bifurcation, points. While operating close to such critical points can be economically advantageous, doing so increases the probability of a blackout. With the continued deployment of Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs), high sample rate data are dramatically increasing the real time observability of the power grids. Prior research has shown that the statistics of these data can provide useful information regarding network stability and associated bifurcation proximity. Currently, it is not common practice for transmission and distribution control centers to leverage the higher order statistical properties of PMU data. If grid operators have the tools to determine when these statistics warrant control action, though, then the otherwise unused statistical data present in PMU streams can be transformed into actionable information. In order to address this problem, we present two methods that aim to gauge and improve system stability using the statistics of PMU data. The first method shows how sensitivity factors associated with the spectral analysis of the reduced power flow Jacobian can be used to weight and filter incoming PMU data. We do so by demonstrating how the derived participation factors directly predict the relative strength of bus voltage variances throughout a system. The second method leverages an analytical solver to determine a range of "critical" bus voltage variances. The monitoring and testing of raw statistical data in a highly observable load pocket of a large system are then used to reveal when control actions are needed to mitigate the risk of voltage collapse. A simple reactive power controller is then implemented that pushes the stability of the system back to a stable operating paradigm. Full order dynamic time domain simulations are used in order to test this method on both the IEEE 39 bus system and the 2383 bus Polish system. We also compare this method to two other, more conventional, controllers. The first relies on voltage magnitude signals, and the second depends only on local control of a reactive power resource. This comparison illustrates how the use of statistical information from PMU measurements can substantially improve the performance of voltage collapse mitigation methods.

The motivation for this research is to leverage the increasing deployment of the phasor measurement unit (PMU) technology by electric utilities in order to improve situational awareness in power systems. PMUs provide unprecedentedly fast and synchronized voltage and current measurements across the system. Analyzing the big data provided by PMUs may prove helpful in reducing the risk of blackouts, such as the Northeast blackout in August 2003, which have resulted in huge costs in past decades. In order to provide deeper insight into early warning signs (EWS) of catastrophic events in power systems, this dissertation studies changes in statistical properties of high-resolution measurements as a power system approaches a critical transition. The EWS under study are increases in variance and autocorrelation of state variables, which are generic signs of a phenomenon known as critical slowing down (CSD). Critical slowing down is the result of slower recovery of a dynamical system from perturbations when the system approaches a critical transition. CSD has been observed in many stochastic nonlinear dynamical systems such as ecosystem, human body and power system. Although CSD signs can be useful as indicators of proximity to critical transitions, their characteristics vary for different systems and different variables within a system. The dissertation provides evidence for the occurrence of CSD in power systems using a comprehensive analytical and numerical study of this phenomenon in several power system test cases. Together, the results show that it is possible extract information regarding not only the proximity of a power system to critical transitions but also the location of the stress in the system from autocorrelation and variance of measurements. Also, a semi-analytical method for fast computation of expected variance and autocorrelation of state variables in large power systems is presented, which allows one to quickly identify locations and variables that are reliable indicators of proximity to instability.

[EN] Phononic crystals are artificial materials formed by a periodic arrangement of inclusions embedded into a host medium, where each of them can be solid or fluid. By controlling the geometry and the impedance contrast of its constituent materials, one can control the dispersive properties of waves, giving rise to a huge variety of interesting and fundamental phenomena in the context of wave propagation. When a propagating wave encounters a medium with different physical properties it can be transmitted and reflected in lossless media, but also absorbed if dissipation is taken into account. These fundamental phenomena have been classically explained in the context of homogeneous media, but it has been a subject of increasing interest in the context of periodic structures in recent years as well. This thesis is devoted to the study of different effects found in sonic and phononic crystals associated with transmission, reflection and absorption of waves, as well as the development of a technique for the characterization of its dispersive properties, described by the band structure. We start discussing the control of wave propagation in transmission in conservative systems. Specifically, our interest is to show how sonic crystals can modify the spatial dispersion of propagating waves leading to control the diffractive broadening of sound beams. Making use of the spatial dispersion curves extracted from the analysis of the band structure, we first predict zero and negative diffraction of waves at frequencies close to the band-edge, resulting in collimation and focusing of sound beams in and behind a 3D sonic crystal, and later demonstrate it through experimental measurements. The focusing efficiency of a 3D sonic crystal is limited due to the strong scattering inside the crystal, characteristic of the diffraction regime. To overcome this limitation we consider axisymmetric structures working in the long wavelength regime, as a gradient index lens. In this regime, the scattering is strongly reduced and, in an axisymmetric configuration, the symmetry matching with acoustic sources radiating sound beams increase its efficiency dramatically. Moreover, the homogenization theory can be used to model the structure as an effective medium with effective physical properties, allowing the study of the wave front profile in terms of refraction. We will show the model, design and characterization of an efficient focusing device based on these concepts. Consider now a periodic structure in which one of the parameters of the lattice, such as the lattice constant or the filling fraction, gradually changes along the propagation direction. Chirped crystals represent this concept and are used here to demonstrate a novel mechanism of sound wave enhancement based on a phenomenon known as "soft" reflection. The enhancement is related to a progressive slowing down of the wave as it propagates along the material, which is associated with the group velocity of the local dispersion relation at the planes of the crystal. A model based on the coupled mode theory is proposed to predict and interpret this effect. Two different phenomena are observed here when dealing with dissipation in periodic structures. On one hand, when considering the propagation of in-plane sound waves in a periodic array of absorbing layers, an anomalous decrease in the absorption, combined with a simultaneous increase of reflection and transmission at Bragg frequencies is observed, in contrast to the usual decrease of transmission, characteristic in conservative periodic systems at these frequencies. For a similar layered media, backed now by a rigid reflector, out-of-plane waves impinging the structure from a homogeneous medium will increase dramatically the interaction strength. In other words, the time delay of sound waves inside the periodic system will be considerably increased resulting in an enhanced absorption, for a broadband spectral range.
[ES] Los cristales fonónicos son materiales artificiales formados por una disposición periódica de inclusiones en un medio, pudiendo ambos ser de carácter sólido o fluido. Controlando la geometría y el contraste de impedancias entre los materiales constituyentes se pueden controlar las propiedades dispersivas de las ondas. Cuando una onda propagante se encuentra un medio con diferentes propiedades físicas puede ser transmitida y reflejada, en medios sin pérdidas, pero también absorbida, si la disipación es tenida en cuenta. La presente tesis está dedicada al estudio de diferentes efectos presentes en cristales sónicos y fonónicos relacionados con la transmisión, reflexión y absorción de ondas, así como el desarrollo de una técnica para la caracterización de sus propiedades dispersivas, descritas por la estructura de bandas. En primer lugar, se estudia el control de la propagación de ondas en transmisión en sistemas conservativos. Específicamente, nuestro interés se centra en mostrar cómo los cristales sónicos son capaces de modificar la dispersión espacial de las ondas propagantes, dando lugar al control del ensanchamiento de haces de sonido. Haciendo uso de las curvas de dispersión espacial extraídas del análisis de la estructura de bandas, se predice primero la difracción nula y negativa de ondas a frecuencias cercanas al borde de la banda, resultando en la colimación y focalización de haces acústicos en el interior y detrás de un cristal sónico 3D, y posteriormente se demuestra mediante medidas experimentales. La eficiencia de focalización de un cristal sónico 3D está limitada debido a las múltiples reflexiones existentes en el interior del cristal. Para superar esta limitación se consideran estructuras axisimétricas trabajando en el régimen de longitud de onda larga, como lentes de gradiente de índice. En este régimen, las reflexiones internas se reducen fuertemente y, en configuración axisimétrica, la adaptación de simetría con fuentes acústicas radiando haces de sonido incrementa la eficiencia drásticamente. Además, la teoría de homogenización puede ser empleada para modelar la estructura como un medio efectivo con propiedades físicas efectivas, permitiendo el estudio del frente de ondas en términos refractivos. Se mostrará el modelado, diseño y caracterización de un dispositivo de focalización eficiente basado en los conceptos anteriores. Considérese ahora una estructura periódica en la que uno de los parámetros de la red, sea el paso de red o el factor de llenado, cambia gradualmente a lo largo de la dirección de propagación. Los cristales chirp representan este concepto y son empleados aquí para demostrar un mecanismo novedoso de incremento de la intensidad de la onda sonora basado en un fenómeno conocido como reflexión "suave". Este incremento está relacionado con una ralentización progresiva de la onda conforme se propaga a través del material, asociado con la velocidad de grupo de la relación de dispersión local en los planos del cristal. Un modelo basado en la teoría de modos acoplados es propuesto para predecir e interpretar este efecto. Se observan dos fenómenos diferentes al considerar pérdidas en estructuras periódicas. Por un lado, si se considera la propagación de ondas sonoras en un array periódico de capas absorbentes, cuyo frente de ondas es paralelo a los planos del cristal, se produce una reducción anómala en la absorción combinada con un incremento simultáneo de la reflexión y transmisión a las frecuencias de Bragg, de forma contraria a la habitual reducción de la transmisión, característica de sistemas periódicos conservativos a estas frecuencias. En el caso de la misma estructura laminada en la que se cubre uno de sus lados mediante un reflector rígido, la incidencia de ondas sonoras desde un medio homogéneo, cuyo frente de ondas es perpendicular a los planos del cristal, produce un gran incremento de la fuerza de
[CAT] Els cristalls fonònics són materials artificials formats per una disposició d'inclusions en un medi, ambdós poden ser sòlids o fluids. Controlant la geometría i el contrast d'impedàncies dels seus materials constituents, és poden controlar les propietats dispersives de les ondes, permetent una gran varietatde fenòmens fonamentals interessants en el context de la propagació d'ones. Quan una ona propagant troba un medi amb pèrdues amb propietats físiques diferents es pot transmetre i reflectir, però també absorbida si la dissipació es té en compte. Aquests fenòmens fonamentals s'han explicat clàssicament en el context de medis homogenis, però també ha sigut un tema de creixent interés en el context d'estructures periòdiques en els últims anys. Aquesta tesi doctoral tracta de l'estudi de diferents efectes en cristalls fonònics i sònics lligats a la transmissió, reflexió i absorció d'ones, així com del desenvolupament d'una tècnica de caracterització de les propietats dispersives, descrites mitjançant la estructura de bandes. En primer lloc, s'estudia el control de la propagació ondulatori en transmissió en sistemes conservatius. Més específicament, el nostre interés és mostrar com els cristalls sonors poden modificar la dispersió espacial d'ones propagants donant lloc al control de l'amplària per difracció dels feixos sonors. Mitjançant les corbes dispersió espacial obtingudes de l'anàlisi de l'estructura de bandes, es prediu, en primer lloc, la difracció d'ones zero i negativa a freqüències próximes al final de banda. El resultat és la collimació i focalització de feixos sonors dins i darrere de cristalls de so. Després es mostra amb mesures experimentals. L'eficiència de focalització d'un cristall de so 3D està limitada per la gran dispersió d'ones dins del cristall, que és característic del règim difractiu. Per a superar aquesta limitació, estructures axisimètriques que treballen en el règim de llargues longituds d'ona, i es comporten com a lents de gradient d'índex. En aquest règim, la dispersió es redueix enormement i, en una configuració axisimètrica, a causa de l'acoblament de la simetría amb les fonts acústiques que radien feixos sonors, l'eficiència de radiació s'incrementa significativament. D'altra banda, la teoria d'homogeneïtzació es pot utilitzar per a modelar, dissenyar i caracteritzar un dispositiu eficient de focalització basat en aquests conceptes. Considerem ara una estructura periòdica en la qual un dels seus paràmetres de xarxa, com ara la constant de xarxa o el factor d'ompliment canvia gradualment al llarg de la direcció de propagació. Els cristalls chirped representen aquest concepte i s'utilitzen ací per a demostrar un mecanisme nou d'intensificació d'ones sonores basat en el fenòmen conegut com a reflexió "suau". La intensificació està relacionada amb la alentiment progressiva de l'ona conforme propaga al llarg del material, que està associada amb la velocitat de grup de la relació de dispersió local en els diferents plànols del cristall. Es proposa un model basat en la teoria de modes acoblats per a predir i interpretar este efecte. Dos fenòmens diferents cal destacar quan es tracta d'estructures periòdiques amb dissipació. Per un costat, al considerar la propagació d'ones sonores en el plànol en un array periòdic de capes absorbents, s'observa una disminució anòmala de l'absorció i es combina amb un augment simultani de reflexió i transmissió en les freqüències de Bragg que contrasta amb la usual disminució de transmissió, característica dels sistemes conservatius a eixes freqüències. Per a un medi similar de capes, amb un reflector rígid darrere, les ones fora del pla incidint l'estructura des de un medi homogeni, augmentaran considerablement la interacció. En altres paraules, el retràs temporal de les ones sonores dins del sistema periòdic augmentarà significativament produint un augmen
Cebrecos Ruiz, A. (2015). Transmission, reflection and absorption in Sonic and Phononic Crystals [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/56463
TESIS
Premiado

Professional Doctorate - Doctor of Clinical Psychology (DCP)
Background: Individuals with Schizophrenia have been described to have extensive cognitive impairments that span across several domains and can significantly impact functional outcomes and quality of life. Slowing in reaction time paradigms has been consistently documented in Schizophrenia such as in simple and choice reaction time tasks. In addition to slowing, the performance by individuals with Schizophrenia in choice reaction time tasks has also been documented to be more variable and error prone relatively to healthy participants. Executive functioning deficits in Schizophrenia are profound and as a result, response inhibition difficulties have been reported across various paradigms. Model-based analysis have not yet been conducted in regards to choice reaction time performance in Schizophrenia, and this method has the potential of uncovering further underlying cognitive processes in decision-making. Method: A meta-analysis was conducted to extend and expand the investigations by Schatz (1999) to include information of accuracy and standard deviation as well as reaction time, and performance of participants with Schizophrenia and health control groups was compared. An experiment was also conduced that took place across two sessions on separate days. Nineteen participants with Schizophrenia or Schizoaffective disorder, as well as control participants matched by age and gender were recruited. In the first session, participants completed a choice reaction task, completed measures of working memory and premorbid intelligence, and participants with Schizophrenia also completed a clinical interview. The second session included a stop-signal task, data from which was not analysed further in the research manuscript due to the time-frame limitations of the project. The data from the choice reaction time task were fit by two cognitive models of choice processes: the Drift-Diffusion model (DDM, Ratcliff & McKoon, 2008) and the Linear Ballistic Accumulator model (LBA, Brown & Heathcote, 2008). Results: The meta-analysis revealed a consistent pattern of control groups performing faster and more accurately relative to participants with Schizophrenia in choice reaction time tasks. Reaction time and accuracy comparisons from the experiment indicated that participants with Schizophrenia were slower and less accurate in their responding, however this finding was not significant. Model-based analyses revealed that the LBA fit the data better than the DDM and produced a greater number of significant results, which are described in further detail. Sequential effects were found in the Schizophrenia group and model-based analyses further confirmed a bias towards participants with Schizophrenia repeating the immediately past response. A positive correlation was found between mean reaction time and negative symptoms in the Schizophrenia group. Furthermore, the combined effects of the threshold and rate parameters in the model-based analysis suggested a differential response strategy occurring in the group of participants with Schizophrenia relative to controls. Conclusions: The findings in the present study echo previous reports of slower and less accurate performance in Schizophrenia in choice reaction time tasks. A more in-depth discussion is provided regarding the possible interpretations of the threshold and rate parameter results. Relevant research findings regarding perseveration, flexibility in responding, as well as motion perception deficits in Schizophrenia are described and integrated with the results obtained. Finally, the strengths and limitations of the present study are highlighted and recommendations for future research and the potential implications of the present study are proposed.

Thesis is submitted in partial fulfilment for the degree of Master of Architecture (Professional) to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, School of Architecture and Planning at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2017
This research report intends to illuminate the effect of how we can slow down, clear our minds and come to a complete standstill in extremely fast cities. To apprehend these effects the investigation focuses contextually, around the eastern edge of Newtown Johannesburg. This site is juxtaposed within the intensity of major transport nodes. We are living in a world that is accelerating at a frightening pace, and people are not keeping up - there is very little time in one’s day to escape the rapidity, acquire peace of mind and absorb the present moment. This research report acts as a precedent for how future utopian cities can host a space that encourages a meditative-lifestyle of slowing down. I unfold three theories to help support my investigation; Lieven de Cauter’s theory on capsularisation tells us how man has turned to ‘hyper-individualisation’, closing himself off from the world and creating social barriers. The second theory I look at is non-places by Marc Augé who talks about the in between places we pass through such as petrol stations, bus stops, terminals, etcetera, and how these transient spaces have become more meaningful because one is spending more time in them due to technological advancement. I label these as delayed spaces in my thesis which is the third theory I look at by Fardjadi and Mostafavi. I engage with these last two theories by doing an evaluation on them; these include multi-faith spaces, petrol stations, bus stops, terminals and launderettes. I do so because these are spaces where people slow down and pass through within an ordinary day. I suggest how these activities, that are normally considered mundane, can be transcended through different opportunities to slow down through a meditative life-style. Within each evaluation particular lessons are acquired that are integrated in the overall building design. At one point in the research report I take a time-out from the design process to question the value of slow architecture. Much of the working world as well as universities have an uncomfortable urgency when it comes to design. There is no time to reflect on mistakes made or gain perspective on the process which leads to quick decisions without much thought, and often lack in creative depth or meaning. I touch on my own design process and thinking as an example to explain why it is important to slow down and review what has been done to be able to move forward with clear direction. In terms of the architecture for my research report, two specific concepts are unravelled; the first one is movement - how one approaches the building as well as the circulation within it. I used the labyrinth and the notion of time-frames to support this idea of slowing down from speed to stillness which determined my program. The second concept is the ‘consciousness capsules’ which host the main meditative spaces and activities in the building. These activities make up the program and they include a multi-functional gathering space, a communal library to learn about meditation and its philosophy, hand-craft workshops (such as painting, quilting and basket weaving), meditation rooms, collective yoga, a dormitory, and finally a public garden terrace at the very top accompanied by a walking labyrinth. The whole journey through the building portrays a ‘stairway to heaven’ and provides an overview of the city that allows for one to escape the bustle and re-collect ones’ thoughts and immerse in the present moment - as nothing is more urgent today than slowing down.
GR2017

AbstractAll engines involve the raising of pressure in the engine’s medium, be it liquid compression of water, piston-cylinder compression of air or compression by aerodynamic forces. The last is the hardest because it is required to be efficient and stable. An aerodynamic air compressor works by slowing velocities to raise pressure. The airfoil has a difficult time doing this reliably and well and so does the compressor. When it does, it allows for amazing performance of the engine in terms of power and efficiency.

AbstractPerhaps the two most abstract concepts in Monte Carlo sampling are variance reduction and next-event estimators. Variance reduction techniques enable significant enhancement of statistical convergence. They are then illustrated with safeguard examples of a lead slowing-down spectrometer and a Cf shuffler using weight windows, time splitting, and other techniques. Next-event estimators enable robust calculation of highly improbable events and challenging problems such as distributed sources in a UF6 enrichment cask model. Advanced methods are also required to model various safeguard detectors. These are illustrated with 3He pulse-height tallies, 3He coincidence tallies, and 10Be-lined detectors for 3He replacement.

AbstractIn the twenty-first century, it is difficult to understand that a medical device as widely used as urinary stents require a second medical procedure for removal. Research in the development of biocompatible biodegradable urinary stents (BUS) has been one of the most important research areas of innovation in the urology stent technology. The main characteristics of a BUS are related to its ability to degrade into non-obstructive fragments in a predefined time and to be removed through micturition, after providing an appropriate internal scaffold effect and urinary drainage.One of the barriers slowing down the progress of research are the lack of agreement between in vitro and in vivo degradation rates demonstrated in a large number of experimental studies. Unfortunately, currently the absence of BUSs in clinical practice is mainly due to the complicated degradation rate control, maintenance of mechanical properties and safe urinary excretion of stent fragments. In order to alleviate the weak mechanical properties of degradable biomaterials, research has been started with metallic BUS with very promising results. In this regard, Mg2+ and its alloys have been used in in vitro and in vivo studies.Another area of current research is the emergence of ureteral BUS to provide a new approach for local drug delivery in upper urinary tract. Drugs may be released while the stent is degrading. Although these innovations are still under research, it is foreseeable that in the near future they could be used to improve the lives of patients.

AbstractModerately intense, nonresonant laser pulses can be used to accurately control how gas phase molecules are oriented in space. This topic, driven by intense experimental and theoretical efforts, has been ever growing and developed for more than 20 years, and laser-induced alignment methods are used routinely in a number of applications in physics and chemistry. Starting in 2013, we have demonstrated that laser-induced alignment also applies to molecules dissolved in helium nanodroplets. Here we present an overview of this new work discussing alignment in both the nonadiabatic (short-pulse) and adiabatic (long-pulse) limit. We show how femtosecond or picosecond pulses can set molecules into coherent rotation that lasts for a long time and reflects the rotational structure of the helium-solvated molecules, provided the pulses are weak or, conversely, results in desolvation of the molecules when the pulses are strong. For long pulses we show that the 0.4 K temperature of the droplets, shared with the molecules or molecular complexes, leads to exceptionally high degrees of alignment. Upon rapid truncation of the laser pulse, the strong alignment can be made effectively field-free, lasting for about 10 ps thanks to slowing of molecular rotation by the helium environment. Finally, we discuss how the combination of strongly aligned molecular dimers and laser-induced Coulomb explosion imaging enables determination of the structure of the dimers. As a background and reference point, the first third of the article introduces some of the central concepts of laser-induced alignment for isolated molecules, illustrated by numerical and experimental examples.

OpenSource philosophy has reached to unexpected goals. The diffusion of OpenSource tools is increased quite a lot, but also the quality of the tools is improving. Their usability is slowing going even towards communities not exactly skilled in advanced programming. Open movement is penetrated in many sectors, often subverting, thank to its social impact, the traditional rules of companies and research institutions, pulling down sometimes hierarchies and pushing on innovative ideas because of their validity and values. [...]

Cryotherapy has been used in the treatment of soft tissue trauma and other ailments since the time of Hippocrates. Currently it is commonly applied in conjunction with surgical procedures and by athletic trainers and physical therapists to control pain, swelling, bleeding, and inflammation. Localized cooling also results in slowing of the nerve conduction velocity and reduced muscle spasm and secondary hypoxic injury1,2. Cooling is commonly used for soft tissue injuries in combination with rest, compression and elevation to minimize inflammation.

The thermal conductivity of zeolite MFI is modeled for different silicon/aluminum ratios using lattice dynamics and relaxation time theory. The model uses the actual phonon dispersions, Slack’s model for phonon-phonon scattering, a slightly modified form of Klemens’s model for point defect scattering, and a boundary scattering term. Our results strongly suggest that the upper limit of thermal conductivity is defined by boundary-like scattering associated with the pore structure of the material. Below this limit, silicon substitution with aluminum allows effective suppression of the thermal conductivity by point defect scattering and phonon slowing mechanisms.

In this work, the solitary wave loads on a submerged horizontal circular cylinder are studied by comparing new analytical results with ad-hoc experimental data. The proposed analytical solution has been recently proposed by Gurnari and Filianoti (2017) and represents an extension of the formulation developed by Filianoti and Piscopo (2008) to assess the solitary wave loads acting on a submerged breakwater and tested in a wave flume on a small-scale model (Filianoti and Di Risio, 2012). Here we deal with a submerged horizontal cylinder following the concept that a solitary wave is subjected to a slowdown passing over a submerged cylinder. A laboratory investigation was addressed to calibrate the adopted semi-analytical method. The speed of the solitary wave celerity crossing the solid submerged cylinder was measured for several wave amplitudes. In the adopted wave flume at the University of Calabria equipped by a piston-type wavemaker, an horizontal cylinder with diameter D = 0.127 m was posed with its center at a depth of 0.2 m. Twelve transducers measured the instantaneous pressures along the external contour of the body. A battery of wave gauges measured the free surface elevation to evaluate the celerity crossing the equivalent water cylinder. Tests confirmed the existence of the slowing down of the celerity of the wave pressure. In other words, we found that the pressure wave is nearly double the time necessary to cross the cylinder with respect to the time necessary to cover the same distance in the undisturbed field, for solitary waves amplitudes ranging from about 0.08 and 0.19 times the water depth. The slowing down increases the horizontal wave force on the solid body with respect to the Froude-Krylov one. Moreover, it appears that in the adopted experimental range the wave force is essentially inertial if compared to the drag one, enabling us to rely upon a simplified analytical model to obtain an effective estimate of the horizontal force produced by a solitary wave on a cylinder.

The rate and direction of the post-agrogenic succession are determined by the features of agricultural land development in the past. After intensive application of organic fertilizers, as well as cattle grazing, the restoration of woody vegetation slows down, as well as the rate of appearance of forest species resistant to acidic conditions and low enrichment in nutrient elements in the grass. With the intensive application of organic fertilizers, nitrophilic herbal phytocenoses with low floristic diversity exist for a long time. Prolonged haying causes a reduction in the weed-ruderal stage while slowing down the appearance of forest species. At the initial stages of overgrowing for all types of use, the convergence of a number of floristic and ecological-coenotic characteristics of phytocenoses of deposits of a similar age was revealed in the past.

The aim of the research is to explore the development of trade relations between the Visegrád countries and their major Western European partners since accession to the European Union. The topic is currently an important one, as the Visegrád region is highly dependent on Western European countries, especially in the area of foreign trade. The research analyzed how the 2008-2009 global economic crisis and the subsequent sovereign debt crisis in Europe affected these trade relationships, i.e. did it cause significant changes in levels of relationship and/or trends. To answer this question, this paper used a time-series analysis method called Interrupted Time Series Analysis. As a result, statistically significant changes in the level and trend of foreign trade relations between the Visegrád countries and their Western European partners were detected. Finally, a more detailed breakdown of product groups also revealed which product groups are most responsible for slowing down the growth of trade relations.

This study examines how engineering design teams converge to a common understanding of a design problem and its solution, how that is influenced by the information given to them before problem solving and how it is correlated with quality of produced solutions. To understand convergence, a model of the team members’ representations was sought through a cognitive engineering design study, specifically examining the effect of the introduction of a poor example solution and a good example solution prior to problem solving. Latent Semantic Analysis (LSA) was used to track the teams’ convergence. Introducing a poor example solution was shown to have a slowing effect on teams’ convergence over time and quality of design, while the good example solution was not significantly different than the control (no example solution) in its effects on convergence, but did cause higher quality solutions. This may have implications for design team performance in practice.

Carbon nanofiber (CNF) papers, when incorporated onto the surface of glass fiber reinforced polyester composites, were known to enhance the fire-retarding capability by decreasing the peak heat release rate (PHRR) and slowing down the mass loss. In this experimental study, attempts were made to understand the thermal degradation mechanisms of the composites and nanocomposites. The temperature distribution within the composite substrate should be determined because the degradation rate is related to the temperature. The composite was prepared through vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) process. Samples of glass-polyester resin composites were investigated. Thermal conductivity data was calculated from embedded thermocouples on the composite for real-time temperature measurement. Mass loss data was collected using thermal gravimetric analysis on resin and CNF paper samples. These results should help to further understand the depth and degree of the degradation and provide an understanding of thermal properties in composites.

Reliance on established macroeconomic thinking is not of much use in trying to understand what to do in response to the constellation of forces driving up inflation and slowing down growth in these times of COVID-19 and war. This paper attempts to reduce the heat and turn up the light in the debate on the return of high inflation and looming stagflation—by providing evidence-based answers to key (policy) questions concerning the return of high inflation: How close are the parallels between the current conjuncture and the 1970s? What are the differences? Does what is currently happening already amount to stagflation? Can central bankers engineer a ‘soft landing’ of their economies or are we already poised for a deep (global) recession? What are the likely spillover effects of monetary tightening in the US on the emerging economies? What, if anything, can we learn from the monetary and fiscal policy experiences and policy mistakes of the 1970s? And, finally, are there alternative, less socially costly, ways to bring inflation down?

Linear city bus services are facing increased challenges from city growth. Increased number of inhabitants on increasing acres of built-up areas, makes it demanding to maintain adequate bus services within reasonable catchment areas. Number of departures per hour give a partial description of the bus service quality. Number of departures give reference to the time aspect of bus service quality, but say nothing about the geographical aspect. What part of the entire line network is within reach of direct bus service when frequencies are limited? To address the geographical aspect of bus service quality, the term network ratio is introduced. The term Network Ratio (NR) signifies what part of the entire line network is within reach of direct bus service to or from a certain place in the network. Network Ratio is given as a mathematical term whereby direct bus lines are calculated as a percentage of the entire network. The character and development of Network Ratio in a specific city is illustrated through an analysis of the urban growth of line network and built-up areas in the twin cities of Stavanger and Sandnes. The analysis is covering the period 1920 – 2000 in intervals of 20 years from the first bus lines were established in the urban area. Year 2010 is also included due to major changes implemented right after the turn of the millennium. Development show there is a close relation between bus network and built-up areas. When areas are being built, bus lines follow. The initial fase 1920 – 40 with extensive development of bus lines combined with some areal growth, is followed by a fase of consolidation 1940 – 60. The latter period is characterized by moderate areal growth, extended lines reducing network ratios, and increasing frequencies on the best bus lines. Extensive areal growth in the following period 1960 – 80, implies increased number of bus lines. As a consequence network ratios as well as frequencies are falling in the entire network. In 1960 certain lines had developed as much as 6 departures per hour, while maximum bus line frequency in 1980 has diminished to 2. New bus service development is introduced in the following period between 1980 and 2000. Numerous bus companies are united, and a more comprehensive planning of bus services are applied. The number of bus lines is stabilized at about 40, the fall in network ratio is reduced, and certain lines develop 4 departures per hour. Parallell to the bus development, growth of built-up areas is slowing down due to increased urban renewal with higher densities within built-up areas. In the period 2000 – 2010 new efforts are given to the development of bus services. Development of Network Ratio takes a new direction: The length of network links with high NR is increasing, while links with very low NR are diminishing. Number of bus lines is decreasing, and by 2010 almost 50% of the bus lines are served with 4 departures or more. Passenger comfort is improved in buses as well as on bus stops, and low floor buses are introduced to ease accessibility. Bus service quality is further developed after 2010. Digital services are introduced including digital ticketing, bus service information and real-time information on internet. In addition real-time information is presented at high frequency bus stops through visual screen and auditory speaker. Inside the buses name of next stop is given on screen and through loudspeaker. Further development of the bus services, should include improved Network Ratios in the entire network, as well as increased frequencies on major bus corridors. The latter is a task not only for the bus service planners, but just as well for the city planners and politicians in collaboration with the developers implementing urban density and allocation of important destinations. A last, but not least, objective for bus service development will be to improve punctuality and total travel time. Today a considerable proportion of city bus services are delayed in car traffic congestions. This is occurring especially on main streets and during rush hours. A set of different solutions are needed to address this question: 1. Dedicated bus streets (including car access to limited addresses) 2. Bus lines through local streets in concentrated housing, office and shopping areas. 3. Dedicated bus lane on main streets where possible. 4. Car traffic regulations on main streets without space for extra bus lane. As an overall vision, we need to cultivate the word of Flemming Larsen: urban growth as pearls on a string, as shown in fig. 13 and fig. 14.