Necessary and sufficient conditions for the oscillation of higher-order differential equations involving distributed delays

In this article, we establish necessary and sufficient conditions for the oscillation of both bounded and unbounded solutions of the differential equation \begin{equation} \bigg[x(t)+\int_{0}^{\lambda}p(t,v)x(\tau(t,v))\,\mathrm{d}v\bigg]^{(n)}+\int_{0}^{\lambda}q(t,v)x(\sigma(t,v))\,\mathrm{d}v=\varphi(t)\quad\text{for } t \geq t_{0},\notag \end{equation} where $n\in\mathbb{N}$, $t_{0},\lambda\in\mathbb{R}^{+}$, $p\in C([t_{0},\infty)\times[0,\lambda] \mathbb{R})$, $q\in C([t_{0},\infty)\times[0,\lambda],\mathbb{R}^{+})$, $\tau\in C([t_{0},\infty)\times[0 \lambda],\mathbb{R})$ with $\lim_{t\to\infty}\inf_{v\in[0,\lambda]}\tau(t,v)=\infty$ and $\sup_{v\in[0,\lambda]}\tau(t,v)\leq t$ for all $t\geq t_{0}$, $\sigma\in C([t_{0},\infty)\times[0,\lambda],\mathbb{R})$ with $\lim_{t\to\infty}\inf_{v\in[0,\lambda]}\sigma(t,v)=\infty$, and $\varphi\in C([t_{0},\infty),\mathbb{R})$. We also give illustrating examples to show the applicability of these results

Einfluss der Aufschlusstemperatur auf die morphologischen Eigenschaften von TMP aus Kiefernholz

Chips from pine wood were subjected to thermomechanical pulping (TMP) at 140 and 180 degrees C for 5 minutes, whereas the cooked chips were defibrated using a single disk pressurized refiner at the same temperatures (140 and 180 degrees C). The fibres were tested for some of their morphological properties including fibre length, fibre width, cell-wall thickness. Moreover, the fine fibre fraction (zero fibres) and the content of splinters were also estimated. The results reveal, that increasing the temperature during thermomechanical pulping decreases the fibre length, the cell width and the fibre wall thickness. It also increases the amount of fine fibres and increases the curl factor

Comparison of Personality Types Between Long-term Claims Representatives and Claims Management Trainees

School of Educational Studie

Applying Reflection Tomography in the Postmigration Domain to Multifold Ground-Penetrating Radar Data

Acquisition and processing of multifold ground-penetrating radar (GPR) data enable detailed measurements of lateral velocity variability. The velocities constrain interpretation of subsurface materials and lead to significant improvement in image accuracy when coupled with prestack depth migration (PSDM). Reflection tomography in the postmigration domain was introduced in the early 1990s for velocity estimation in seismic reflection. This robust, accurate method is directly applicable in multifold GPR imaging. At a contaminated waste facility within the U.S. Department of Energy’s Hanford site in Washington, the method is used to identify significant lateral and vertical velocity heterogeneity associated with infilled waste pits. Using both the PSDM images and velocity models in interpretation, a paleochannel system that underlies the site and likely forms contaminant migration pathways is identified

Destination Online Communication: Why Less is Sometimes More. A Study of Online Communications of English Destinations

This research investigates the relationship between Web site design and the Web site end-user experience of a vast number of English tourism destinations, both local and regional ones. Following recent research in the field, this paper evaluates destinations' online communication based on the implemented Web site features and on the effectiveness of the communication itself, borrowing its research methodology from different domains. After content and functionality analysis, a user-experience, scenario-based investigation has been carried out, which demonstrated that complex Web sites do not always serve end-users' needs properly; in other words, Web site complexity is not directly related with good user experience. This research may help destination managers to foster their online communication if they have fewer content and functionalities but are better focused and clearly user-oriented. © 2014 Taylor & Francis

Development of an inexpensive tire softening agent from readily available materials to improve traction in race car tires

Developing inexpensive tire softeners can prolong the life of tires and save people money that would be spent on new replacement tires. We have conducted two tests on the treated and untreated tires: the hardness test and the grip test. First, tire hardness was measured with a durometer on a tire that was treated with hot lap and a tire that was not. The tire that was treated with hot lap was slightly softer than the untreated tire substantiating the tire softener\u27s claim. Next, we will be cutting pieces out of the tire (also called omegas) and running them through an instron machine. This machine stretches the omegas at a certain frequency and reports back the hysteresis. The higher the hysteresis, the better the grip. Testing is ongoing, but initial results show that the tire softners did make the tires softer

Airborne multi-axis DOAS measurements of atmospheric trace gases on CARIBIC long-distance flights

A DOAS (<i>Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy</i>) instrument was implemented and operated onboard a long-distance passenger aircraft within the framework of the CARIBIC project (<i>Civil Aircraft for the Regular Investigation of the atmosphere Based on an Instrument Container</i>). The instrument was designed to keep weight, size and power consumption low and to comply with civil aviation regulations. It records spectra of scattered light from three viewing directions (nadir, 10° above and below horizon) using a miniaturized telescope system. The telescopes are integrated in the main pylon of the inlet system which is mounted at the belly of the aircraft. Fibre bundles transmit light from the telescopes to spectrograph-detector units inside the DOAS container instrument. The latter is part of the removable CARIBIC instrument container, which is installed monthly on the aircraft for a series of measurement flights. <br><br> During 30 flight operations within three years, measurements of HCHO, HONO, NO<sub>2</sub>, BrO, O<sub>3</sub> and the oxygen dimer O<sub>4</sub> were conducted. All of these trace gases except BrO could be analysed with a 30 s time resolution. HONO was detected for the first time in a deep convective cloud over central Asia, while BrO, NO<sub>2</sub> and O<sub>3</sub> could be observed in tropopause fold regions. Biomass burning signatures over South America could be seen and measurements during ascent and descent provided information on boundary layer trace gas profiles (e.g. NO<sub>2</sub> or HCHO)