Characteristics and causes of severe poverty and hunger:

Poverty reduction, Poverty, Hunger, Landlessness in rural areas, Poverty dynamics, Measuring severe poverty, Characteristics of poor and hungry, Women,

Historical reconstruction of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation from the ECMWF operational ocean reanalysis

A reconstruction of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (MOC) for the period 1959–2006 has been derived from the ECMWF operational ocean reanalysis. The reconstruction shows a wide range of time-variability, including a downward trend. At 26N, both the MOC intensity and changes in its vertical structure are in good agreement with previous estimates based on trans-Atlantic surveys. At 50N, the MOC and strength of the subpolar gyre are correlated at interannual time scales, but show opposite secular trends. Heat transport variability is highly correlated with the MOC but shows a smaller trend due to the warming of the upper ocean, which partially compensates for the weakening of the circulation. Results from sensitivity experiments show that although the time-varying upper boundary forcing provides useful MOC information, the sequential assimilation of ocean data further improves the MOC estimation by increasing both the mean and the time variability

Optimized Ziegler-Nichols based PID control design for tilt suspensions

PID control design using optimized modified Ziegler-Nichols tuning is for active suspensions of tilting nature is presented. The study of this refers to non-precedent tilt active suspensions for railway vehicles which comprises a cumbersome design trade-off. No study exists on detailed Ziegler-Nichols PID tuning for Single-Input-Single-Output type non-precedent tilt control. We therefore investigate such an approach, referred to here as simple3 tilt, emphasizing control performance that can be achieved in such type of tilting suspension problem. The aim is to provide a baseline design tool for control practicioners, in active suspensions of that nature, who may be more familiar with traditional PID tuning rules. Without loss of generality the suggestions in this paper can be considered in other applications of tilting suspension nature

An Integrated Learning Approach to Teaching an Undergraduate Information Systems Course

This paper describes the redesign and implementation of an introductory Information Systems class. The redesign was guided by principles drawn from the experiential and active learning literature. Central to the redesign are two simulated companies: petGRO, a fictional ERP-enabled pet food and accessories e-tailer; and beans4all, a technology consulting company of which all registered students are employees. Students work in solution crews throughout the semester to solve a set of technology-related challenges that their client, petGRO, is facing. Initial student response to the redesign has been mixed. Survey responses indicate that students have an increased interest in IS after taking the course. There was a significant increase in students’ perception of the usefulness of the knowledge gained from the course in subsequent courses. However, this result is countered by a decrease in students’ perception of whether the course led to an improvement in their academic skills. Open-ended comments reveal the polarizing nature of the redesign but with more positive than negative comments

The world's most deprived: Characteristics and causes of extreme poverty and hunger

Poverty, Poor, Statistics, Hunger,

Ιστορική και πολεοδομική εξέλιξη της πόλης του Βερολίνου - Συγκριτική μελέτη αναβάθμισης υποβαθμισμένων περιοχών σε Αθήνα και Βερολίνο

130 σ.Αντικείμενο της διπλωματικής εργασίας είναι η ιστορική αναδρομή και πολεοδομική εξέλιξη της πόλης του Βερολίνου από την ίδρυσή της μέχρι σήμερα, όπως και η σύγκριση δύο πρώην υποβαθμισμένων περιοχών που αναβαθμίστηκαν τις τελευταίες δύο δεκαετίες, σε Βερολίνο και Αθήνα αντίστοιχα. Η περιγραφή αυτή έχει ως σκοπό την παρουσίαση της σπουδαιότητας και του ρόλου του Βερολίνου δια μέσου των αιώνων, την επισήμανση των πολιτικών, νομοθετικών και πολεοδομικών γεγονότων και εξελίξεων που έπαιξαν σημαντικό ρόλο στην πορεία του, καθώς και τον εντοπισμό ομοιοτήτων και διαφορών από την ανάλυση της σύγκρισης των δύο περιοχών μελέτης. Η παρούσα διπλωματική εργασία αποτελείται από έξι κεφάλαια. Στο Κεφάλαιο 1 δίνονται γενικές πληροφορίες για το Βερολίνο, περιγράφοντας τη γεωγραφική θέση και έκταση, το κλίμα, τον πληθυσμό, τα δημογραφικά στοιχεία και την διοικητική διαίρεση της πόλης. Στο Κεφάλαιο 2 παρουσιάζεται η ιστορική αναδρομή του Βερολίνου από την ίδρυση του το 1237 μέχρι και σήμερα, επισημαίνοντας τα σημαντικότερα ιστορικά γεγονότα. Στο Κεφάλαιο 3 αναλύονται πολεοδομικά σχέδια (Σχέδια Χρήσης Γης), που έπαιξαν σημαντικό ρόλο στην εξέλιξη του Βερολίνου, ως προς τον σκοπό, το περιεχόμενο και τις επιπτώσεις τους, περιγράφοντας παράλληλα την πολιτική, νομοθετική και πολεοδομική εξέλιξη της πόλης. Στο Κεφάλαιο 4 εξετάζεται η αναβάθμιση της περιοχή μελέτης Warschauer Straße του Βερολίνου. Στο Κεφάλαιο 5 εξετάζεται η αναβάθμιση της περιοχής μελέτης του Γκαζιού της Αθήνας. Στο Κεφάλαιο 6 περιλαμβάνονται τα συμπεράσματα και τα αποτελέσματα της σύγκρισης των δύο περιοχών μελέτης.Subject of the thesis is the historical overview and urban development of the city of Berlin from its foundation until today, as well as the comparison of two formerly degraded areas that have been upgraded over the past two decades, in Berlin and Athens respectively. This description is intended to show the importance and role of Berlin through the ages, highlight political, legislative and planning events and developments that played an important role in its course, and identify similarities and differences from the comparison analysis of the two study areas. This thesis consists of six chapters. Chapter 1 contains general information about Berlin, describing the geographical location and area, climate, population, demographics and administrative division of the city. Chapter 2 presents the historical overview of Berlin from its founding in 1237 until today, highlighting the most important historical events. In Chapter 3 we continue with the analysis of the aim, the contents, and the impact of urban plans (Land Use Plans), which played an important role in the evolution of Berlin, while describing the political, legislative and urban development of the city. Chapter 4 examines the upgrade of the study area Warschauer Straße, Berlin. Chapter 5 examines the upgrade of the study area of Gazi, Athens. Chapter 6 gives the conclusions and results of the comparison of the two study areas.Βασίλειος Σ. Βλάχο

Responsibility modelling for civil emergency planning

This paper presents a new approach to analysing and understanding civil emergency planning based on the notion of responsibility modelling combined with HAZOPS-style analysis of information requirements. Our goal is to represent complex contingency plans so that they can be more readily understood, so that inconsistencies can be highlighted and vulnerabilities discovered. In this paper, we outline the framework for contingency planning in the United Kingdom and introduce the notion of responsibility models as a means of representing the key features of contingency plans. Using a case study of a flooding emergency, we illustrate our approach to responsibility modelling and suggest how it adds value to current textual contingency plans

Martian Igneous Activity and Fluid-Based Alteration:Chronological Constraints from 40Ar/39Ar Analyses of the Nakhlites

The nakhlites are a group of mafic igneous rocks that crystallized on Mars at ca. 1.3-1.4 Ga [1-5]. They are amongst the least shocked Martian meteorites, with cumulate igneous textures (Fig. 1) and thus provide a crucial record of igneous activity and fluid-rock interaction on the red planet. Crystallization of the nakhlites. Understanding the original structure of the nakhlite source is crucial for using these stones to explore Martian igneous processes. In particular, are the different nakhlites from a single thick and differentiated lava flow/sill [6; 7], or do they instead represent magmatically related – but distinct – flows/intrusions? If the various meteorites are derived from separate units, then there will be differences in crystallization ages within the nakhlite suite – which may be identified if these differences are sufficiently large relative to the attainable precision of radioisotopic dating techniques. Some studies [e.g., 5] appear to resolve age differences between different stones, and we aim to test the single vs. multiple unit hypotheses via application of detailed 40Ar/39Ar stepheating of six nakhlites.<p></p> Alteration of the nakhlites, and the timing of waterrock interaction. In addition to primary magmatic minerals and glasses, the nakhlites contain secondary minerals including clays and carbonates that were precipitated by Martian aqueous fluids prior to impact ejection (Fig. 2) [8-10]. When did this alteration occur? As the clays contain potassium, they are amenable to K-Ar and 40Ar/39Ar dating. K-Ar data from Lafayette suggests the alteration phases formed between 0 to 670 Ma [11]. We consider further the timing of alteration using our 40Ar/39Ar data.<p></p&gt