Natural Catastrophes: Do We Have to Live with Them?

Naturkatastrophe; Klimaveränderung; Versicherungstechnisches Risiko; Internationale Umweltpolitik; Wirtschaftliche Anpassung; Welt

Increasing Weather Losses in Europe: What They Cost the Insurance Industry?

Naturkatastrophe; Versicherung; Versicherungsökonomik; Elementarschadenversicherung; Klimaveränderung; Europa

A deep redshift survey of field galaxies. Comments on the reality of the Butcher-Oemler effect

A spectroscopic survey of over 400 field galaxies has been completed in three fields for which we have deep UBVI photographic photometry. The galaxies typically range from B=20 to 22 and possess redshifts z from 0.1 to 0.5 that are often quite spiky in distribution. Little, if any, luminosity evolution is observed up to redshifts z approx 0.5. By such redshifts, however, an unexpectedly large fraction of luminous galaxies has very blue intrinsic colors that suggest extensive star formation; in contrast, the reddest galaxies still have colors that match those of present-day ellipticals

“La frontera norte tiene tres problemas: tráfico de armas, de drogas y de migrantes”. Migración irregular y discursos ‘securitarios’ en Centroamérica: el caso de Costa Rica

Tomando Costa Rica como caso ejemplar, en el ensayo se explora la tematización y el tratamiento institucional de la migración irregular en Centroamérica. Partiendo del paradigma mundial de una “securitización” de la migración irregular (Waever et al., 1993; Weiner, 1995), y aplicando un marco de análisis transnacional y de multiniveles, se preguntará por los repertorios discursivos, los actores y medidas específicos que confluyen en la creación de un nexo migración/(in)seguridad en Centroamérica en general y en Costa Rica en particular. La hipótesis principal es que se está fomentando un nuevo régimen regional de migración y de fronteras que (ya) no proyecta principalmente reforzar los mecanismos de control del territorio nacional, proteger las fronteras y detener las migraciones irregulares. Más bien se trata de establecer, a través de ciertos ‘discursos securitarios’, una nueva gobernabilidad (Foucault, 1991) de la alta permeabilidad de las fronteras centroamericanas y de los movimientos de los individuos que las cruzan. Usando métodos etnográficos y análisis del discurso (Jäger ,2001), el artículo analiza cómo los ‘discursos securitarios’ que circulan a nivel mundial y regional se manifiestan, por un lado, en la nueva legislación de migración en Costa Rica, y por otro, en las prácticas de “movilidad transfronteriza” y de control de la misma en la llamada “frontera norte” que separa Costa Rica y Nicaragua

Multidimensional curve-fitting with self-organizing automata

AbstractIn large-scale linear problems a one-dimensional electrical network often serves as a model, at discrete points, for a function of k independent variables. Such a discrete animated model has been generalized by the author to represent a class of large-scale nonlinear problems by introducing a sequence of linear-, planar-, cubic-, etc., up to k-dimensional networks, all interconnected into a single polyhedral structure. However, a hierarchy of multidimensional networks can no longer be energized by mere currents and voltages. A sequence of multidimensional electromagnetic waves must be propagated across the polyhedron (and its dual polyhedron), in order that the waves may satisfy Stokes' theorem, as they step across the boundaries between two different-dimensional networks. Such an animated polyhedral model can represent not only a function of k independent variables, but also all its divided differences of higher order (estimated directional derivatives along the lines, planes, cubes, etc.) all simultaneously. Furthermore, if the polyhedron and its dual are immersed into a k-dimensional region filled with stationary or moving magnetohydrodynamic plasma, the amorphous field crystallizes into a sequence of 2k sets of transmission networks, coupled by and energized with a large number of k-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic generators (“generalized” rotating electrical machines). Even in the absence of motion (velocity terms), the crystallized field-structure may assume a self-adaptive “oscillatory” state, in which it can represent not one, but any number of arbitrarily picked functions of k independent variables, as well as their higher order divided differences—all simultaneously and automatically—without needing any adjustment or interference by the analyst.The resultant oscillatory polyhedron (or self-organizing “automaton”) is applied in the present paper to model (curve-fit) simultaneously any number of functions of a set of nonuniformly-spaced variables. In particular, simple numerical examples are shown of estimating—by regression theory and a least-square criterion—several arbitrary functions of two independent variables at four nonuniformly-spaced points on a plane. The same oscillatory model (automaton) is used, without any change, for the highly satisfactory estimation of not one but six different arbitrarily picked functions, plus their divided differences. Numerical examples with two nonoscillatory polyhedra show that the latter can satisfactorily fit only one, or at most, only a small class of functions plus their divided differences

The specific way of individualization in Germany: a culture-theoretical comparison to the USA

"The paper examines the sociological reflections of individualization processes in Germany and the USA. In this comparison it appears that German sociology identifies a 'dialectical individualization' whereas sociology in the US ascertains a 'social individualization'. It is elaborated that the actual cause for this difference (which is important for, but mostly ignored in the public-political discourse) is on the one hand the relative cultural inheritance, and on the other hand the developments of post World-War II. Thus, the example of individualization shows that sociological theory has to be more sensitive towards cultural idiosyncrasies and towards specific historical steps in development." (author's abstract

Flood Risk – a Global Problem

Keynote Lecture