Coarse graining of slow variables in dynamic simulations of soft matter

A new Brownian dynamics model is presented to describe the coarse grain dynamics of particles with long-lived memory. Instead of solving a set of generalized Langevin equations we introduce a set of variables describing the slowly fluctuating thermodynamic state of the ignored degrees of freedom. These variables give rise to additional transient forces on the simulated particles, whose interpretation provides a new way of thinking about memory effects in soft-matter physics. We illustrate the proposed method by simulating shear thinning of synthetic resins.\u

Domain formation and growth in spinodal decomposition of a binary fluid by molecular dynamics simulations

The two initial stages of spinodal decomposition of a symmetric binary Lennard-Jones fluid have been simulated by molecular dynamics simulations, using a hydrodynamics-conserving thermostat. By analyzing the growth of the average domain size R(t) with time, a satisfactory agreement is found with the R(t)t1/3 Lifshitz-Slyozov growth law for the early diffusion-driven stage of domain formation in a quenched homogeneous mixture. In the subsequent stage of viscous-dominated growth, the mean domain size appears to follow the linear growth law predicted by Siggia

Change Management for using a Project Website in Design Team Communication

A Project Website (PWS) has been advocated as an important tool for design teams of construction projects, because the tool is supposed to greatly enhance team communication. This, finally, should result in improved team performance in terms of increase of efficiency and effectiveness. PWS vendors claim these results on expected better communication of teams who share and update their design information using a PWS together. The growing use of IT tools by design team members who electronically generate, collect and update design information increases the need for such an IT tool that allow fast and easy access and overview of the status of the latest changed and generated design information of the whole team. Also due to the growing complexity of building projects, the number of design partners and the number of electronic means for communication, the need for better collective communication is more important then it has ever been before. However, due to the expanding complexity and changes in design information, the redundancy of design information is growing too and the risk to failures. Team members need new skills for collective use of a PWS. The use of the tool might need radical changes in information flows to become effective. It might be experienced also that use of a PWS formalizes team communication too much, or might be threatening because of ‘big brother effects’. Within this view the change to collective use of a PWS by a design team is not an automatic change to an effective communication environment as vendors like us to believe and many pitfalls can be encountered. In this paper the most important aspects of change to collective use of a project website for team communication will be discussed, based on the results of a Dutch PhD research project

Web Based Communication

ATELCOMA Application of Teleworking in Construction Management Leonardo da Vinci Programm - No P/98/2/05349/PI/II.1.1.c/FP

Judicial Review in an Age of Moral Pluralism

The topic of conversation is Ron Den Otter\u27s book, Judicial Review in an Age of Moral Pluralism, published by Cambridge University Press in 2009. Ron is joined by Jude Egan in this exploration of constitutional theory, public reason, and related topics.https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/convocpauth/1006/thumbnail.jp

Preface

This special issue of TORTURE is meant to coincide with the twentieth anniversary of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Annemiek Richters, Grace Kagoyire and their colleagues present a sample of stories of torture and ill-treatment, but also of rehabilitation as experienced and shared by a small group of women who survived the atrocities of this dark period of history, in which over 800,000 people were massacred.  This Supplementum offers us opportunities for gaining insight on the socio-therapy approach, as well as discovering common themes that may require further research using a variety of methods. The voice of actual victims of torture has its place in a journal such as ours, and we hope this issue serves its intended purposes.  Joost den Otter, phD, MD, MSc Wditor-in-Chie

Formal and informal computer mediated communication within within design teams for complex building projects

In this paper the information environment of design teams is discussed because of the use of Internet based Project websites (PWS) to improve the information exchange within design teams. Because design teams heavenly depend on informal information exchange and PWS is a tool for formalising information exchange the question is how a PWS can be used effectively within deign environments. To get a more holistic view on the information environment of design teams Davenport’s model for Information ecology is used (Davenport, 1997). The design organisation of DGW&T of the Ministry of Defense in the Netherlands is described by using the different aspects of information ecology. Finally informal information exchange processes within DGW&T are discussed as well as possibilities for improvement of information handling