1,830 research outputs found

    The application of the Bill of Rights

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    For centuries South Africa has been embroiled in racial conflict with human rights as one of the tragic casualties. With the adoption of the lnterim and Final Constitutions a decisive break was made with the past. One of the foundations laid to forge our new society based on equality and human dignity was the adoption of a Bill of Rights. Embodied in the clauses of the Bill of Rights are the values by which the people should guide their conduct in the future

    Euler Integration of Gaussian Random Fields and Persistent Homology

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    In this paper we extend the notion of the Euler characteristic to persistent homology and give the relationship between the Euler integral of a function and the Euler characteristic of the function's persistent homology. We then proceed to compute the expected Euler integral of a Gaussian random field using the Gaussian kinematic formula and obtain a simple closed form expression. This results in the first explicitly computable mean of a quantitative descriptor for the persistent homology of a Gaussian random field.Comment: 21 pages, 1 figur

    Trying to Help without getting in their Faces: Public Library Staff Descriptions of Providing Consumer Health Information

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    Several recent studies have analyzed users\u27 descriptions of the reference transaction, but little research has analyzed library staff members\u27 accounts of reference encounters. This article builds on the work of Marie Radford and the authors of the library visit studies by examining library staff members\u27 descriptions of providing consumer health reference services. WE conclude that an in-depth study of staff members\u27 accounts can provide insight into the different ways that library staff members and users construct problems in the reference encounter and can therefore suggest potential solutions

    A study of possible sea state information in the sample and hold gate statistics for the GEOS-3 satellite altimeter

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    The statistical variations in the sample gate outputs of the GEOS-3 satellite altimeter were studied for possible sea state information. After examination of a large number of statistical characteristics of the altimeter waveforms, it was found that the best sea predictor for H-1/3 in the range of 0 to 3 meters was the 75th percentile of sample and hold gate number 11

    Structure and binding in crystals of cage-like molecules: hexamine and platonic hydrocarbons

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    In this paper, we show that first-principle calculations using a van der Waals density functional (vdW-DF), [Phys. Rev. Lett. 92\mathbf{92}, 246401 (2004)] permits determination of molecular crystal structure. We study the crystal structures of hexamine and the platonic hydrocarbons (cubane and dodecahedrane). The calculated lattice parameters and cohesion energy agree well with experiments. Further, we examine the asymptotic accounts of the van der Waals forces by comparing full vdW-DF with asymptotic atom-based pair potentials extracted from vdW-DF. The character of the binding differ in the two cases, with vdW-DF giving a significant enhancement at intermediate and relevant binding separations. We analyze consequences of this result for methods such as DFT-D, and question DFT-D's transferability over the full range of separations

    A hierarchy of models related to nanoflows and surface diffusion

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    In last years a great interest was brought to molecular transport problems at nanoscales, such as surface diffusion or molecular flows in nano or sub-nano-channels. In a series of papers V. D. Borman, S. Y. Krylov, A. V. Prosyanov and J. J. M. Beenakker proposed to use kinetic theory in order to analyze the mechanisms that determine mobility of molecules in nanoscale channels. This approach proved to be remarkably useful to give new insight on these issues, such as density dependence of the diffusion coefficient. In this paper we revisit these works to derive the kinetic and diffusion models introduced by V. D. Borman, S. Y. Krylov, A. V. Prosyanov and J. J. M. Beenakker by using classical tools of kinetic theory such as scaling and systematic asymptotic analysis. Some results are extended to less restrictive hypothesis

    Experimental and numerical modelling of aerated flows over stepped spillways

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    Stepped spillways are a popular design choice for reservoir overflows due to the high rates of energy dissipation and air entrainment compared to smooth spillways. Air entrainment is important in spillway flows as it affects the pressures acting on the spillway surface, which in adverse conditions can damage the spillway. Air entrainment also causes flow bulking which increases the depth of flow. This study presents free surface and pressure data for aerated flows over an experimental stepped spillway, with pressures measured at different positions across the width of the channel. Within the step cavities, recirculating vortices are observed in both the stream-wise and cross-stream directions, with the direction of circulation alternating at each subsequent step. These 3D effects cause the pressures acting on the step edges to vary across the width of the channel. The Volume of Fluid (VOF) and Eulerian multiphase numerical models are used to predict flows over the spillway. The Eulerian multiphase model shows high levels of air entrainment and is able to predict the position of the free surface to reasonable accuracy. The VOF model, conversely, does not show any air entrainment and therefore under predicts the position of the free surface. The accuracy to which each numerical model predicts pressures on the step faces varies depending on the measurement location. Both of the numerical models accurately simulate the direction of circulation of the 3D vortices within the step cavities. Simulations with varying channel widths, conducted using the VOF model, show that the pattern of 3D vortices repeats as the channel width is increased

    A New Zealand regional work-related sprains and strains surveillance, management and prevention programme: study protocol.

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    BACKGROUND: The impact and costs associated with work-related sprains and strains in New Zealand and globally are substantial and a major occupational and public health burden. In New Zealand around one-third of all sprains and strains workers compensation (ACC) claims (2019) are for back injuries, but shoulder and arm injuries are increasing at a faster rate than other sprain and strain injuries (ACC, 2020). A need exists for a change to current approaches to sprains and strains prevention, to more effectively manage this significant and persistent problem in workplaces. Designing out hazards is one of the most effective means of preventing occupational injuries and illnesses. This paper outlines the study protocol of the surveillance, management and prevention programme and describes the utilisation of prevention through design principles in the prevention of work-related sprains and strains in agriculture/horticulture/food production in the Hawkes Bay region of New Zealand. METHODS: This is a prospective mixed methods study incorporating the collection of quantitative data to describe the epidemiology of work related sprains and strains injuries presenting to the regional health centre (Hastings Health Centre) over a period of 24 months and qualitative data from participants presenting at the health centre to identify high risk industry sectors/ occupations/ workplaces and tasks and design, develop and apply prevention through design principles/ solutions/interventions to critical features of the work and work environment and undertake an outcome evaluation during the last 6 months of the project. DISCUSSION: The purpose of this project is to establish an epidemiological surveillance programme to assess the incidence and prevalence of work-related sprains and strains according to age, sex, industry sector and occupation to target efforts to prevent work-related sprains and strains, by applying prevention through design (PtD) principles in selected workplaces in agriculture. The collection of more detailed case, occupational and work history data from a sample of patients presenting at the HHC clinic will identify high risk industry sectors/occupations/workplaces and tasks. Assessment techniques will include comprehensive design, design thinking and human factors/ergonomics methodologies through co-design and participatory ergonomics techniques. The PtD solutions/ interventions implemented will be evaluated using a quasi-experimental design consisting of a pre-test/ post-test with-in subjects design with control groups that do not receive the intervention.Published onlin

    Auto-calibration of ultrasonic lubricant-film thickness measurements

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    The measurement of oil film thickness in a lubricated component is essential information for performance monitoring and design. It is well established that such measurements can be made ultrasonically if the lubricant film is modelled as a collection of small springs. The ultrasonic method requires that component faces are separated and a reference reflection recorded in order to obtain a reflection coefficient value from which film thickness is calculated. The novel and practically useful approach put forward in this paper and validated experimentally allows reflection coefficient measurement without the requirement for a reference. This involves simultaneously measuring the amplitude and phase of an ultrasonic pulse reflected from a layer. Provided that the acoustic properties of the substrate are known, the theoretical relationship between the two can be fitted to the data in order to yield reflection coefficient amplitude and phase for an infinitely thick layer. This is equivalent to measuring a reference signal directly, but importantly does not require the materials to be separated. The further valuable aspect of this approach, which is demonstrated experimentally, is its ability to be used as a self-calibrating routine, inherently compensating for temperature effects. This is due to the relationship between the amplitude and phase being unaffected by changes in temperature which cause unwanted changes to the incident pulse. Finally, error analysis is performed showing how the accuracy of the results can be optimized. A finding of particular significance is the strong dependence of the accuracy of the technique on the amplitude of reflection coefficient input data used. This places some limitations on the applicability of the technique. © 2008 IOP Publishing Ltd
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