QCD Flux Tubes as Sigma Model Relics

We describe flux tubes and their interactions in a low energy sigma model induced by SU(\NF) \goto SO(\NF) flavor symmetry breaking in $SO(N_c)$ QCD. Gauge confinement manifests itself in the low energy theory through flux tube interactions with unscreened sources. The flux tubes which mediate confinement also illustrate an interesting ambiguity in defining global Alice strings.Comment: 12 pages (REVTEX) plus one figur

GIS-enabled Spatial Analysis and Modeling of Geotechnical Soil Properties for Seismic Risk Assessment of Levee Systems.

Flood protection systems are complex, interconnected engineered systems, where failure at one location means the failure of the entire system. Earthen levees, the systems’ major component, are at risk from many causes of failure including seepage, erosion and instability due to seismic loading, yet there are currently no guidelines available for the seismic design of levees. Levees stretch for long distances and are formed through various geologic processes and human activities over time, however information regarding soil properties is collected only at limited point locations and varies significantly both laterally and with depth. Levee vulnerability analyses are currently performed only at locations with known soil properties. Prediction of levee performance in locations where no soil data is available becomes a limitation for system risk assessment studies. A simplified methodology is proposed to predict soil variability in riverine geologic environments for the seismic risk assessment of earthen levee systems. A key step in this methodology is to provide a continuous characterization of soil conditions throughout the system. The proposed model correlates soil properties to preselected regional variables and is implemented, using geostatistical kriging, in a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) environment. GIS was crucial in this research and proved to be the appropriate platform for input, manipulation, analysis, and output presentation of spatial and non-spatial data. Correlation relationships between soil strength parameters and geological and river geometry factors are presented for a pilot study area in California. Global observations that apply across the study area included the increasing trend of shear strength, Su, with increasing distance from the river, and decreasing trend of Su with increasing river Sinuosity Index levels. Only local trends were observed in the relation of friction angle, ϕ, with Sinuosity Index, as well as in the relation of Su and ϕ with geological formations. The proposed methodology also includes steps for seismic response analysis of levee segments, and flood scenarios in protected areas. Since seismic response of earthen structures is controlled primarily by input ground motions, a methodology for selecting ground motions based on their mean period, Tm, for liquefaction triggering assessment of levees is also developed.Ph.D.Civil EngineeringUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/91571/1/msaadi_1.pd

Social-Costs Perspective Impacts of Cybercrime in World-Economy, Country-Wise: Policy-Guidance under Piecemeal Approach

Today’s technology-driven human-society(s) country-wise are counted more than ever before where UAE-society is no exception. Tech-users here compete for comparative time-saving options for marginalizing operating costs. It has resulted in huge data usages, a high number of users & devices, which has attracted criminals for taking advantage, which is called cybercrime. Addressing cybercrime, the UAE, like many countries, is not out of control by-laws. However, laws like cybercrime for its society are not always for absolutely eliminating the crime. Thus, besides cybercrime law in place, UAE needs a piecemeal approach in practice where one department may vary from approaches of other-department. With awareness about risky online behaviors & options, tech-users as defenders are needed to invest their efforts. This study has laid out the foundation of the proposal, Akim’s Model-2021, using the Theory of Consumer Choice & Behaviors and Welfare Analysis. Tech-user’s actual utility-received is the sum of utility-received from awareness & own-effort and utility-received from cybercrime-law. Any changes to services received from joint efforts may risk tech-user, to be a victim. Welfare analysis shows tech user's actions - awareness & own-effort, besides cybercrime-law can create, Net Social-gain, which largely depends on tech user's actions. Tech-user’s economic surplus is greater than government expenses for implementation of cybercrime law in UAE. Net-loss to the UAE is the sum of deadweight loss and net-loss to tech producers for underutilized resources