A Tectonically-Controlled Rock Cycle

A rock cycle is proposed, in which geological processes of erosion, deposition and metamorphism are primarily controlled by vertical movements of crustal blocks. This rock cycle is considered to provide a framework for the scientific study of catastrophic episodes of Earth history

Tectonic Controls on Sedimentation in Rocks from the Jurassic Series

One of the classic areas of British geology is reexamined using perspectives provided by the tectonically controlled rock cycle and the Biblical record of the Flood. Field evidences are described which are highly suggestive of inter-related catastrophic processes and short time intervals. The conventional lengthy geologic timescales claimed for these rocks are challenged. The observations have a bearing on discussions relating to the position of the Flood/post-Flood boundary

Least squares approximations of measures via geometric condition numbers

For a probability measure on a real separable Hilbert space, we are interested in "volume-based" approximations of the d-dimensional least squares error of it, i.e., least squares error with respect to a best fit d-dimensional affine subspace. Such approximations are given by averaging real-valued multivariate functions which are typically scalings of squared (d+1)-volumes of (d+1)-simplices. Specifically, we show that such averages are comparable to the square of the d-dimensional least squares error of that measure, where the comparison depends on a simple quantitative geometric property of it. This result is a higher dimensional generalization of the elementary fact that the double integral of the squared distances between points is proportional to the variance of measure. We relate our work to two recent algorithms, one for clustering affine subspaces and the other for Monte-Carlo SVD based on volume sampling

Earthshine as an Illumination Source at the Moon

Earthshine is the dominant source of natural illumination on the surface of the Moon during lunar night, and at locations within permanently shadowed regions that never receive direct sunlight. As such, earthshine may enable the exploration of areas of the Moon that are hidden from solar illumination. The heat flux from earthshine may also influence the transport and cold trapping of volatiles present in the very coldest areas. In this study, Earth's spectral radiance at the Moon is examined using a suite of Earth spectral models created using the Virtual Planetary Laboratory (VPL) three dimensional modeling capability. At the Moon, the broadband, hemispherical irradiance from Earth near 0 phase is approximately 0.15 watts per square meter, with comparable contributions from solar reflectance and thermal emission. Over the simulation timeframe, spanning two lunations, Earth's thermal irradiance changes less than a few mW per square meter as a result of cloud variability and the south-to-north motion of sub-observer position. In solar band, Earth's diurnally averaged light curve at phase angles < 60 degrees is well fit using a Henyey Greenstein integral phase function. At wavelengths > 0.7 microns, near the well known vegetation "red edge", Earth's reflected solar radiance shows significant diurnal modulation as a result of the longitudinal asymmetry in projected landmass, as well as from the distribution of clouds. A simple formulation with adjustable coefficients is presented for estimating Earth's hemispherical irradiance at the Moon as a function of wavelength, phase angle and sub-observer coordinates. It is demonstrated that earthshine is sufficiently bright to serve as a natural illumination source for optical measurements from the lunar surface.Comment: 27 pages, 15 figures, 1 tabl

AQUATIC INVERTEBRATE COMMUNITY STRUCTURE IN THE NIOBRARA RIVER, AGATE FOSSIL BEDS NATIONAL MONUMENT, NEBRASKA, 1996-2009

Aquatic invertebrates were sampled annually in the Niobrara River, Nebraska, during the period 1996-2009 using Hester-Dendy multiplate samplers. Collections indicated the invertebrate community in the river has shifted from one dominated by Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT) taxa to one dominated by Chironomidae and Amphipoda. Generally, EPT richness and percentage abundance of EPT of the total community, as well as percentage abundance of Heptageniidae and Leptophlebiidae, has declined across the years. During that same period, percentage abundance of Amphipoda and Chironomidae, taxa evenness, Shannon\u27s Index, and the Hilsenhoff Biotic Index have increased. Stream discharge decreased significantly during the 15-year period when invertebrates were collected (Mann-Kendall trend test, P = 0.04). Water-surface elevation of the river measured with staff gages also gradually increased over time, although the trends were not significant (P \u3e/= 0.15). Although not analyzed statistically, water temperature (Degrees C), conductivity (uS/cm), and pH gradually increased over time while dissolved oxygen concentration (mg/liter) decreased over time. Although other factors cannot be ruled out, a proposed reason for the observed changes in invertebrate community structure may be related to changes in the physical habitat condition in the Niobrara River associated with encroachment of the nonnative and invasive emergent aquatic plant, yellow flag (Iris pseudacorus L.). This weed has expanded into the stream channel, where it blocks streamflow

Commentary: The History of Neurosurgery at Albany Medical College and Albany Medical Center Hospital, Albany, New York.

The origins of the Department of Neurosurgery at Albany Medical College closely parallel the development of early America and the establishment of modern health care.The tales of Washington Irving, the works of the Hudson River School of painters, and summers in the Catskill Mountains or Adirondacks are the stories that color the history of Upstate New York (Figure1). As a social, industrial, and political hub of the American colonies, New England’s need for centers providing structured medicine led to the creation of Albany Medical College in1839, one of the earliest such institutions in the young nation.1 Rapid progress in nearly every other realm of life required medical advancements as well, prompting subspecialization and the development of neurosurgery in the region

Industrial change in the clothing/textiles cluster of North West England

The Clothing/Textiles cluster has experienced continuous decline nationally and regionally for at least 30 years, and has often been viewed as a twilight industry with no future. However, restructuring has been, and is, taking place and new business models are emerging. NW England provides a window into national trends, and there are many signs of growth in activity and in jobs created. A recent re-mapping study of the Apparel sub-cluster reveals far more activity related to apparel than is apparent from the use of SIC code data. This research provides sector-specific answers to questions about what industrial knowledges have survived through the restructuring process, and whether these knowledges are explicable in the context of “new knowledge economy” theories

Designers with business skills and supply chain insight

Over the past 20 years, clothing students have witnessed a shift in their curriculum away from operations management towards supply chain management; away from materials handling within factories towards global logistics and distribution; away from assembly processes towards specification of the product. The technologies used to support new product development have also changed, but the processes within brand owner and retail organisations still have a strong link with pre-globalisation practices. This analysis of industry trends leads to the identification of design skills and organisational change that can provide companies with an innovation strategy and enable designers to achieve their potential

Cross-sectoral experiences with mass customization

The household textiles market is moving quickly towards fashion products that complement apparel. This creates many issues for traditional retailers who are used to product ranges with longer life cycles. The focus of the applied research reported in this paper concerns the potential of companies to transform their approach to fashion with the aid of textile digital printing to produce mass customized products. A single case study methodology has been adopted, based on a project part-funded by the UK Department of Trade and Industry. At the outset of the research, four technical problems were identified and three marketing challenges. The technical problems were concerned with color management, reduction in the use of black, the achievement of commercial standards of performance for printed textiles, and the standardization of processing conditions for textile substrates. The nature of the technical problems will be presented, together with the solutions that have been found. The market challenges were to enable three collaborating companies to operate in “virtual” mode, to identify suitable products, and to identify viable ways of getting access to consumers. Progress has been made in each of these areas, but the major issue concerns the interface with consumers. Manufacturers do not have an infrastructure giving access to markets, nor do they have the retailing expertise. At the same time, retail organizations have systems that involve holding stock items: physical products to sell. The mass customization concept is a paradigm shift for such organizations. At the same time, consumers easily confound mass customization with "made to measure". Nevertheless, the collaborating companies have found routes for digitally printed products via high street retailers and via internet sales. Spin-off companies have been formed and jobs have been created