The essence of nationhood: how ordinary people make sense of nationality, and how essentialist beliefs create acculturative problems

Objectives: Two studies (one qualitative, one quantitative) introduce new conceptual and methodological angles on national identity. Design and Methods: The qualitative study used a focus group approach in order to examine how nationality operates as an individual as well as collective experience. British, German and French volunteers talked about their national identities in six nationally homogeneous groups (3-6 participants each) and in their native language. The quantitative study asked a British opportunity sample (N = 90) to complete an online questionnaire on the relationship between acculturation attitudes, national essentialism, and rejection of immigrants. Results: The qualitative study shows how conversations between ordinary nationals can serve as a valuable method for researchers to understand the everyday meanings and feelings involved in national identity. People individually made sense of their nationality and their affective relationship with it; but they did so with reference to shared experience of how it feels to belong to a particular nation. We argue that this allows insights into the individual and systemic levels of national identity and productively joins discursive notions with a phenomenological approach. Meanwhile, the quantitative study brings together ideas from the literature on acculturation, essentialism and prejudice in showing that essentialist beliefs relate to feelings of cultural adaptation among immigrants being at once highly desirable and extremely difficult. This discrepancy, in turn, was associated with rejection of immigrants. Conclusions: Our work adds new conceptual and methodological perspectives to a genuinely social-psychological analysis of complex national identities, to complement less empirically based, interdisciplinary accounts

A numerical model for predicting the time for crack initiation in wood panel paintings under low-cycle environmentally induced fatigue

Determining the storage and display conditions for historical panel (wood) paintings requires a balance between ensuring the painting's preservation whilst also considering the energy consumption associated with climate control. The latter has become very important due to the need to lower the carbon footprint of museums and historical houses. In order to address this need, we have developed numerical models based on finite element analysis to simulate the initiation of two types of potential damage in panel paintings, namely interfacial and channelling cracks in the oil paint layer, under cyclically varying relative humidity. These models are based on our case study at Knole House (National Trust), Kent. Using known data for the past environment in which the paintings within the Brown Gallery at Knole House have been exposed, the ambient RH variation was approximated by three cycles, i.e., annual, biannual, and monthly varying cycles. Four RH cases, one containing all three cycles and each of the other three cases containing just two of the three cycles, were applied as boundary conditions to simplified geometries of the panel paintings in an effort to investigate the effects of the frequency and the amplitude of the variation on the possibility of cracking in the painting. The models need several material parameters as input which are not all available. Therefore, the study also includes some parametric studies to determine possible variations in the crack initiation. According to the model predictions, the channelling crack initiates slightly earlier than the interfacial crack. The crack initiation time in an uncontrolled environment (containing all three RH cycles) predicted by the model is approximately 120 years which empirically is a realistic estimate. Furthermore, the annual RH cycle (high amplitude and low frequency) has the most significant effect on the crack initiation. By removing the annual variation from the RH cycle, the initiation of both channelling and interfacial cracks can be postponed significantly, from approximately 120 years to over 400 years

Hierarchical multi-scale models for mechanical response prediction of highly filled elastic–plastic and viscoplastic particulate composites

Though a vast amount of literature can be found on modelling particulate reinforced composites and suspensions, the treatment of such materials at very high volume fractions (>90%), typical of high performance energetic materials, remains a challenge. The latter is due to the very wide particle size distribution needed to reach such a high value of In order to meet this challenge, multiscale models that can treat the presence of particles at various scales are needed. This study presents a novel hierarchical multiscale method for predicting the effective properties of elasto-viscoplastic polymeric composites at high . Firstly, simulated microstructures with randomly packed spherical inclusions in a polymeric matrix were generated. Homogenised properties predicted using the finite element (FE) method were then iteratively passed in a hierarchical multi-scale manner as modified matrix properties until the desired filler was achieved. The validated hierarchical model was then applied to a real composite with microstructures reconstructed from image scan data, incorporating cohesive elements to predict debonding of the filler particles and subsequent catastrophic failure. The predicted behaviour was compared to data from uniaxial tensile tests. Our method is applicable to the prediction of mechanical behaviour of any highly filled composite with a non-linear matrix, arbitrary particle filler shape and a large particle size distribution, surpassing limitations of traditional analytical models and other published computational models

so(p,q) Toda Systems

We define an integrable hamiltonian system of Toda type associated with the real Lie algebra \so{p}{q}. As usual there exists a periodic and a non-periodic version. We construct, using the root space, two Lax pair representations and the associated Poisson tensors. We prove Liouville integrability and examine the multi-hamiltonian structure. The system is a projection of a canonical $A_n$ type Toda lattice via a Flaschka type transformation. It is also obtained via a complex change of variables from the classical Toda lattice.Comment: 20 page

Policy conflict analysis for diffserv quality of service management

Policy-based management provides the ability to (re-)configure differentiated services networks so that desired Quality of Service (QoS) goals are achieved. This requires implementing network provisioning decisions, performing admission control, and adapting bandwidth allocation to emerging traffic demands. A policy-based approach facilitates flexibility and adaptability as policies can be dynamically changed without modifying the underlying implementation. However, inconsistencies may arise in the policy specification. In this paper we provide a comprehensive set of QoS policies for managing Differentiated Services (DiffServ) networks, and classify the possible conflicts that can arise between them. We demonstrate the use of Event Calculus and formal reasoning for the analysis of both static and dynamic conflicts in a semi-automated fashion. In addition, we present a conflict analysis tool that provides network administrators with a user-friendly environment for determining and resolving potential inconsistencies. The tool has been extensively tested with large numbers of policies over a range of conflict types

Optimizing Bus Routes in Nicosia

In this report the conclusions by the team of experts that took the ”Trans- portation Organization of the Nicosia District (OSEL)” challenge are provided. The challenge was to identify ways to improve efficiency of the bus network and increase the utilization of the network by the public. A thorough analysis of the various factors that affect bus route planning is provided. Moreover, a demonstration of a simplified route planning problem is described in order to motivate further work on this topic. Recommendations are provided to the company on the way to move forward towards solving the problem of creating a bus network with increased efficiency and grater appeal to the public. Specific recommendations include the collection of a larger amounts of data that can be used to generate models used in simulation analysis. Data include demographic data on bus usage and bus usage preferences by the public. In addition, data is required on bus travel times, walking distance to the nearest bus stop by the commuter, and traffic data

Kisspeptin-neuron control of LH pulsatility and ovulation

Feedback from oestradiol (E2) plays a critical role in the regulation of major events in the physiological menstrual cycle including the release of gonadotrophins to stimulate follicular growth, and the mid-cycle luteinising hormone (LH) surge that leads to ovulation. E2 predominantly exerts its action via oestrogen receptor-alpha (ERα), however, as gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons lack ERα, E2-feedback is posited to be indirectly mediated via upstream neurons. Kisspeptin (KP) is a neuropeptide expressed in hypothalamic KP-neurons that control GnRH secretion and plays a key role in the central mechanism regulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. In the rodent arcuate (ARC) nucleus, KP is co-expressed with Neurokinin B and Dynorphin; and thus, these neurons are termed ‘Kisspeptin-Neurokinin B-Dynorphin’ (KNDy) neurons. ARC KP-neurons function as the ‘GnRH pulse generator’ to regulate GnRH pulsatility, as well as mediating negative feedback from E2. A second KP neuronal population is present in the rostral periventricular area of the third ventricle (RP3V), which includes anteroventral periventricular (AVPV) nucleus and preoptic area neurons. These RP3V KP-neurons mediate positive feedback to induce the mid-cycle luteinising hormone (LH) surge and subsequent ovulation. Here, we describe the role of KP-neurons in these two regions in mediating this differential feedback from oestrogens. We conclude by considering reproductive diseases for which exploitation of these mechanisms could yield future therapies