Classical and numerical approaches to determining V-section band clamp axial stiffness

V-band clamp joints are used in a wide range of applications to connect circular flanges, for ducts, pipes and the turbocharger housing. Previous studies and research on V-bands are either purely empirical or analytical with limited applicability on the variety of V-band design and working conditions. In this paper models of the V-band are developed based on the classical theory of solid mechanics and the finite element method to study the behaviour of the V-bands under axial loading conditions. The good agreement between results from the developed FEA and the classical model support the suitability of the latter to model V-band joints with diameters greater than 110 mm under axial loading. The results from both models suggest that the axial stiffness for this V-band cross section reaches a peak value for V-bands with radius of approximately 150 mm across a wide range of coefficients of friction. Also, it is shown that the coefficient of friction and the wedge angle have a significant effect on the axial stiffness of V-bands

Utility maximization in incomplete markets

We consider the problem of utility maximization for small traders on incomplete financial markets. As opposed to most of the papers dealing with this subject, the investors' trading strategies we allow underly constraints described by closed, but not necessarily convex, sets. The final wealths obtained by trading under these constraints are identified as stochastic processes which usually are supermartingales, and even martingales for particular strategies. These strategies are seen to be optimal, and the corresponding value functions determined simply by the initial values of the supermartingales. We separately treat the cases of exponential, power and logarithmic utility.Comment: Published at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/105051605000000188 in the Annals of Applied Probability (http://www.imstat.org/aap/) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org

Global Facilitation of Attended Features Is Obligatory and Restricts Divided Attention

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Behavioural mHealth in developing countries: what about culture?

International audienceIn the absence of political action to address behavioural health in many developing countries (Lachat et al., 2013) one could suggest to simply make use of infrastructure that is already available – the mobile technology infrastructure. This seems sensible considering that modern mobiletechnology has reached almost every person on our planet. Additionally, the digital divide between developed and developing countries is closing and in 2016 95% of the global population has access to a mobile phone network while the number of mobile broadband subscriptions grows rapidlyespecially in developing countries (International Telecommunication Union, 2016). Mobile technology ownership is also not limited to any specific demographic because it is increasingly affordable and hence, there is potential to utilise behavioural mHealth approaches to successfully deal with NCDs in developing countries (Beratarrechea et al., 2014; Stephani, Opoku, & Quentin, 2016)

IS THERE A LEARNING TYPE?! REVISITING LEARNING-STYLES THEORY IN VIEW OF LEARNING AND EMOTION

Over the last twenty years the VAK learning-styles theory, which differentiates between visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning types, has been criticized and debunked by various academic disciplines and declared by several scientists as a neuromyth. Regardless of its criticism, the concept has retained its popularity within the teacher-community and is regularly taught in teacher education. The aim of this article is to meet this theory-practice gap in a constructive way. After (1) a short introduction, this paper starts (2) with a differentiated assessment of the theory. The VAK learning-style theory will be deconstructed into four main hypotheses which are then (3) one at a time, evaluated (empirically as well as in view of teaching practice). After a complex evaluation of the concept and its criticism, this article continues with (4) showing, how the learning-style theory provides teachers with an approachable understanding of learning and comforts them in dealing with learning differences within a heterogenic student body. Considering the empirical evidence on the one hand and teacher’s needs on the other hand, this article (5) lines out fundamental insights of learning theories, as well as (6) the relevance and capacity of emotions for perception and evaluation processes. Approaching (7) learning style-theory from the perspective of learning-theories and theories of emotion, which highlights the interdependency of learning, achievement, and emotion, finally allows concluding the paper (8) with four specific and normative principles, which allows teachers to benefit from an empirical accurate understanding of a complex process of learning and teaching.  Article visualizations

Basic principles of temporal dynamics

All ecological disciplines consider temporal dynamics, although relevant concepts have been developed almost independently. We here introduce basic principles of temporal dynamics in ecology. We figured out essential features that describe temporal dynamics by finding similarities among about 60 ecological concepts and theories. We found that considering the hierarchically nested structure of complexity in temporal patterns (i.e. hierarchical complexity) can well describe the fundamental nature of temporal dynamics by expressing which patterns are observed at each scale. Across all ecological levels, driver–response relationships can be temporally variant and dependent on both short- and long-term past conditions. The framework can help with designing experiments, improving predictive power of statistics, and enhancing communications among ecological disciplines

Attentional selection of feature conjunctions is accomplished by parallel and independent selection of single features

Date of Acceptance: 31/05/2015 This work was supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (AN 841/1-1, MU 972/20-1). We thank Renate Zahn and Norman Forschack for help with data collection. The authors declare no competing financial interestsPeer reviewedPublisher PD

What are the effects of climate change on agriculture in North East Central Europe?

Global and climate changes influence the basic conditions for agriculture and so there is not only a demand for a consequent climate protection but also for an adaptation of agriculture to these global changing conditions. For the whole "Maerkisch-Oderland" district (60x40 km) within the moraine landscape of North-East-Germany mainly used for agriculture water balance, nitrogen and sulphur loads as well as crop yields are calculated for two land use and climate scenarios. The comparison between the Scenario2050 and the Scenario2000 reveals significant changes of the water balance (decrease in percolation water, increase in actual evapotranspiration) as well as the concentration of the examined nitrogen in the percolation water. For the study region the crop yields decrease only slightly if the CO2 fertilizing effect is taken into account. Adaptation measures in reaction to the changing climate conditions for an economically secured and sustainable agriculture are recommended.climate change impact assessment, water balance, nitrogen load, crop yield, moraine landscape, Environmental Economics and Policy, Farm Management,

Would i use my personal blog for commercial exchange?

As information-based processes are usually independent of the location or even the processor, they can be oftentimes either automated or relocated to foreign sites to profit from differences in wages. Both strategies bear enormous micro-economic potential in terms of cost savings. However, with the main focus on cost reduction, risk due to the uncertain development of effective labor costs or future transaction volumes are oftentimes either inadequately considered or neglected. This systematically leads to false decisions, in particular since the two strategies – relocation and automation – result in different risk profiles. In this paper, we analyze the conditions for automating or relocating parts of business processes and propose a decision model that suggests a risk/return efficient allocation to the alternatives. In particular, we consider how uncertainties of effective labor costs and transaction volumes influence the decision. As shifting tasks to other locations has effects on the workload at the original location, we also take into account costs for social effects. The practicability of our approach is demonstrated with an example that is based on real data of a major financial services provider