Vere-Jones' Self-Similar Branching Model

Motivated by its potential application to earthquake statistics, we study the exactly self-similar branching process introduced recently by Vere-Jones, which extends the ETAS class of conditional branching point-processes of triggered seismicity. One of the main ingredient of Vere-Jones' model is that the power law distribution of magnitudes m' of daughters of first-generation of a mother of magnitude m has two branches m'm with exponent beta+d, where beta and d are two positive parameters. We predict that the distribution of magnitudes of events triggered by a mother of magnitude $m$ over all generations has also two branches m'm with exponent beta+h, with h= d \sqrt{1-s}, where s is the fraction of triggered events. This corresponds to a renormalization of the exponent d into h by the hierarchy of successive generations of triggered events. The empirical absence of such two-branched distributions implies, if this model is seriously considered, that the earth is close to criticality (s close to 1) so that beta - h \approx \beta + h \approx \beta. We also find that, for a significant part of the parameter space, the distribution of magnitudes over a full catalog summed over an average steady flow of spontaneous sources (immigrants) reproduces the distribution of the spontaneous sources and is blind to the exponents beta, d of the distribution of triggered events.Comment: 13 page + 3 eps figure

Investigation of cosmic radiation on the AMS ''Luna-10''

Flux of primary cosmic radiation from Luna-1

Registration of Electrons with Energies Greater than 30 Kev in the Near-lunar Space

Measured high energy electron flux in lunar environment by gas-discharge counter on lunar prob

Registration of Solar Cosmic Rays on the AMS ''luna-11''

Proton flux measurements onboard lunar prob

New Approach to the Characterization of Mmax and of the Tail of the Distribution of Earthquake Magnitudes

We develop a new method for the statistical esitmation of the tail of the distribution of earthquake sizes recorded in the Worldwide Harvard catalog of seismic moments converted to mW-magnitudes (1977-2004 and 1977-2006). We show that using the set of maximum magnitudes (the set of T-maxima) in windows of duration T days provides a significant improvement over existing methods, in particular (i) by minimizing the negative impact of time-clustering of foreshock / main shock /aftershock sequences in the estimation of the tail of the magnitude distribution, and (ii) by providing via a simulation method reliable estimates of the biases in the Moment estimation procedure (which turns out to be more efficient than the Maximum Likelihood estimation). Using a simulation method, we have determined the optimal window size of the T-maxima to be T=500 days. We have estimated the following quantiles of the distribution of T-maxima of earthquake magnitudes for the whole period 1977-2006: Q_{0.16}(Mmax)=9.3, Q_{0.5}(Mmax)=9.7 and Q_{0.84}(Mmax)=10.3. Finally, we suggest two more stable statistical characterristics of the tail of the distribution of earthquake magnitudes: the quantile QT(q) of a high probability level q for the T-maxima, and the probability of exceedence for a high threshold magnitude. We obtained the following sample estimates for the global Harvard catalog: QT(q=0.98)=8.6 +- 0.2 and a probability for the T-maxima to exceed magnitude 8 equal to 0.13-0.20. The comparison between our estimates for the two periods 1977-2004 and 1977-2006, where the later period includes the great Sumatra earthquake, 24.12.2004, mW=9.0, confirms the instability of the estimation of the parameter Mmax and the stability of the two other estimates.Comment: 40 pages including 16 figures and 7 table

Damaging of a structural steel under monotonic and cyclic deformation

The paper presents the characteristics of inelastic properties of the surface material of laboratory specimens under monotonic deformation and fully reversed cyclic loading. The comparative results are shown for calculating the values of the surface layer inelastic strains determined based on the fractal parameterization method for statistically non-uniform surfaces of the material for two states of the deformation-induced relief under identical conditions of elasto-plastic deformation in specimens. The kinetic characteristics of discrete strains in the material at the stage of non-localized damaging are presented

Study of the soft corpuscular radiation on the AMS ''Luna-10''

Lunar-10 measurements of soft corpuscular radiatio

Pension reforms in countries with developed and transitional economies

The subject matter of the research is as follows: pension reforms conducted by some states define the transformation of pension systems. The choice of countries is stipulated by the fact that each of them has different types of pension systems and preconditions for reforms. The purpose is to develop an approach that allows comparing and evaluating changes in disparate systems. The hypothesis is that the ongoing pension reforms, regardless of initial conditions and their type lead to a similar trajectory of pension systems development in all countries. The methodology rests on the comparative analysis that was carried out on the basis of a single algorithm that allows to determine significant modifiable parameters and the overall direction of reform. The novelty is that the authors research the ongoing pension reform from the viewpoint of pension rights formation and distribution of risks. The results are a single trajectory of reforms implementation for the studied countries, which confirms the authors' hypothesis. The specific features of the Russian pension system do not affect the reform trajectory, which is similar to all countries. The conclusions are the following: the reducing pressure on pension system requires increasing revenues and limiting the number of potential participants. This is achieved by expanding sources of financing, increasing the dependence of pension on an employee's contributions, transferring the risks of old age into the individual level, and employment motivation during the retirement period. The principle of the intergenerational solidarity loses its value. The obtained results can be used for the pension reform modification in the Russian Federation, the development of voluntary pension insurance based on the experience of other countries and risks faced by the modern Russian pension system

Inventions of Scientists, Engineers and Specialists from Different Countries in the Area of Nanotechnologies. Part VI

Introduction. Advanced technologies impress people\u27s imagination demonstrating the latest achievements (materials, methods, systems, technologies, devices etc.) that dramatically change the world. This, first of all, concerns nanotechnological inventions designed by scientists, engineers and specialists from different countries. Main part. The article provides an abstract overview of inventions of scientists, engineers and specialists from different countries: Russia, USA, China, Kazakhstan, Sweden. The results of the creative activity of scientists, engineers and specialists, including inventions in the field of nanotechnology and nanomaterials allow, when introduced to industry, achieving a significant effect in construction, housing and communal services, and related sectors of the economy. For example, the invention \u27A method to obtain polymer-composite material and a composite reinforcement \u3e\u3e relates to construction materials and is designed to reinforce building structures, that allows obtaining strengthened stressed composite reinforcement with improved physical-mechanical characteristics, increased resistance to aggressive environments. A method to obtain polymer-composite material is a multi-stage production of colloid solution on the basis of epoxy resin with addition of carbon nanotubes and applying heat and ultrasound impact. Introduction of modifiers (fillers) in polymer matrix in a certain ratio and fillers orientation make it possible to create a polymer strengthened for mechanical loads and with increased resistance to aggressive media (acid-resistance and alkali-resistance). The following inventions in the field of nanotechnology can also be interesting for specialists: a method to obtain biocide suspension applied on wallpaper and wall finishings, a method of aerosol spraying of nanoparticles in constant electric field, a method to obtain amorphous nanostructured diamond-like coating, a polymer composite heat-conducting paste with nanofiber modifier, a plant to provide controlled electroimpulse obtaining of nanoparticles of current conducting materials, etc. Conclusion. One of the most challenging tasks the economy of every country faces is to increase industrial competitiveness through technological upgrade. From the side of the state and companies the principal object to control in this process are the people and enterprises dealing with introduction of inventions and new technologies