1,072 research outputs found

    Energy Loss in Submerged Hydraulic Jump Within Inclined Channel

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    Source: ICHE Conference Archive - https://mdi-de.baw.de/icheArchiv

    A spatial multi-criteria model for the evaluation of land redistribution plans

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    A planning support system for land consolidation has been developed that has, at its heart, an expert system called LandSpaCES (Land Spatial Consolidation Expert System) which contains a "design module" that generates alternative land redistributions under different scenarios and an "evaluation module" which integrates GIS with multi-criteria decision making for assessing these alternatives. This paper introduces the structural framework of the latter module which has been applied using a case study in Cyprus. Two new indices are introduced: the "parcel concentration coefficient" for measuring the dispersion of parcels; and the "landowner satisfaction rate" for predicting the acceptance of the land redistribution plan by the landowners in terms of the location of their new parcels. These two indices are used as criteria for the evaluation of the land redistribution alternatives and are transferable to any land consolidation project. Moreover, a modified version of the ratio estimation procedure, referred to as the "qualitative rating method" for assigning weights to the evaluation criteria, is presented, along with a set of non-linear value functions for standardizing the performance scores of the alternatives and incorporating expert knowledge for five evaluation criteria. The application of the module showed that it is a powerful new tool for the evaluation of alternative land redistribution plans that could be implemented in other countries after appropriate adjustments. A broader contribution has also been made to spatial planning processes, which might follow the methodology and innovations presented in this paper

    LandParcelS: A module for automated land partitioning

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    Land fragmentation is a widespread problem and schemes for consolidating land are required to improve agricultural efficiency. This paper explains the development of a module called LandParcelS (Land Parcelling System) that is part of an integrated planning and decision support system called LAONISS which is being developed to assist land consolidation planning in Cyprus. LandParcelS is the component of the system that automates the land partitioning process by optimising land parcels in terms of shape, size and value. The methodology employs a genetic algorithm and results are presented when treating the partitioning task as either a single or multi-objective problem

    An exploratory study of the relationship between store image, trust, satisfaction and loyalty in a franchise setting

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    This study aims to shed insight on how young shoppers, between theages of 21 and 35, perceive, and relate to, franchise and corporateownedstores in the supermarket industry. This is achieved by investigating the roles of store image, trust and satisfaction in predicting loyalty to a particular store type. By analysing empirical results, this study shows that compared to corporate-owned stores, consumers have an overall better perception of franchise stores, especially in terms of trust and customer satisfaction. Examining an integrative loyalty framework, the study shows diff erential eff ects in how Store Image elements infl uence customer Loyalty indirectlythrough satisfaction, and how Trust elements infl uence customer Loyalty indirectly through Satisfaction

    Quantifying the origin of metallic glass formation

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    The waiting time to form a crystal in a unit volume of homogeneous undercooled liquid exhibits a pronounced minimum τ_X* at a ‘nose temperature’ T* located between the glass transition temperature T_g, and the crystal melting temperature, T_L. Turnbull argued that τ_X* should increase rapidly with the dimensionless ratio t_(rg)=T_g/T_L. Angell introduced a dimensionless ‘fragility parameter’, m, to characterize the fall of atomic mobility with temperature above T_g. Both t_(rg) and m are widely thought to play a significant role in determining τ_X*. Here we survey and assess reported data for T_L, T_g, t_(rg), m and τ_X* for a broad range of metallic glasses with widely varying τ_X*. By analysing this database, we derive a simple empirical expression for τ_X*(t_(rg), m) that depends exponentially on t_(rg) and m, and two fitting parameters. A statistical analysis shows that knowledge of t_(rg) and m alone is therefore sufficient to predict τ_X* within estimated experimental errors. Surprisingly, the liquid/crystal interfacial free energy does not appear in this expression for τ_X*

    High porosity metallic glass foam: A powder metallurgy route

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    A powder metallurgy route to the fabrication of metallic glass foam is introduced. The method involves consolidating metallic glass powder blended with blowing agent particulates to produce expandable precursors, capable of yielding foams with porosities as high as 86%. The foams are found to inherit the strength of the parent metallic glass and to be able to deform heavily toward full densification absorbing high amounts of energy

    Cross-lingual document retrieval categorisation and navigation based on distributed services

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    The widespread use of the Internet across countries has increased the need for access to document collections that are often written in languages different from a user’s native language. In this paper we describe Clarity, a Cross Language Information Retrieval (CLIR) system for English, Finnish, Swedish, Latvian and Lithuanian. Clarity is a fully-fledged retrieval system that supports the user during the whole process of query formulation, text retrieval and document browsing. We address four of the major aspects of Clarity: (i) the user-driven methodology that formed the basis for the iterative design cycle and framework in the project, (ii) the system architecture that was developed to support the interaction and coordination of Clarity’s distributed services, (iii) the data resources and methods for query translation, and (iv) the support for Baltic languages. Clarity is an example of a distributed CLIR system built with minimal translation resources and, to our knowledge, the only such system that currently supports Baltic languages

    First records of Eledonoprius serrifrons (Reitter, 1890) from Greece and Eledona hellenica Reitter, 1885 from Bulgaria (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae): a contribution to the Bolitophagini of southern Balkan Peninsula with a special reference to Greece

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    Te Western Palaearctic representatives of the tribe Bolitophagini comprise of seven species in three genera. Research on Bolitophagini of Greece has been minimal reporting on the presence of four species. In this paper, the rarely collected Eledonoprius serrifrons (Reitter, 1890) is recorded for the frst time from Greece, while the Balkan species Eledona hellenica Reitter, 1885 is proved from Bulgaria for the frst time. Material from the collection of the frst author alongside a literature survey provide a distributional overview of the Greek Bolitophagini, while raising the number of known to Greek species within the tribe to fve. Ecological remarks and the conservation of these two species are briefy discussed

    100 kW peak power external cavity diamond Raman laser at 2.52 μm

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    We report an external cavity diamond Raman laser operating at 2.52 μm, pumped by a 1.89 μm Tm:LiYF4 (YLF) laser. The maximum pulse energy at 2.52 μm is 1.67 mJ for 4.4 mJ of pump, yielding a conversion efficiency of 38 %. The best slope efficiency is ~60% and the Raman pulse duration is between 11 and 15 ns for ~33 ns pump pulse duration. The peak power at 2.52 μm is >100 kW. This demonstration of a Thulium laser pumped diamond Raman laser paves the way for accessing the industrially important wavelength region of ~2.5 μm
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