Building a Heavy Metal World: Cultural Entrepreneurship in the Polish People’s Republic

This paper explores how cultural entrepreneurs built a ‘heavy metal world’ in the Polish People’s Republic (PRL), focussing on the years 1980-89. By combining historical analysis with primary research to examine how both fans and artists alike acted together to overcome shortages, scarcity and repression, this paper supports definitions of cultural entrepreneurship which go beyond an economic orientation, and acts as case study to highlight the often uneasy co-existence between states and cultural production

Implementation of an intelligent control system

A laboratory testbed facility which was constructed at NASA LeRC for the development of an Intelligent Control System (ICS) for reusable rocket engines is described. The framework of the ICS consists of a hierarchy of various control and diagnostic functions. The traditional high speed, closed-loop controller resides at the lowest level of the ICS hierarchy. Above this level resides the diagnostic functions which identify engine faults. The ICS top level consists of the coordination function which manages the interaction between an expert system and a traditional control system. The purpose of the testbed is to demonstrate the feasibility of the OCS concept by implementing the ICS as the primary controller in a simulation of the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME). The functions of the ICS which are implemented in the testbed are as follows: an SSME dynamic simulation with selected fault mode models, a reconfigurable controller, a neural network for sensor validation, a model-based failure detection algorithm, a rule based failure detection algorithm, a diagnostic expert system, an intelligent coordinator, and a user interface which provides a graphical representation of the event occurring within the testbed. The diverse nature of the ICS has led to the development of a distributed architecture consisting of specialized hardware and software for the implementation of the various functions. This testbed is made up of five different computer systems. These individual computers are discussed along with the schemes used to implement the various ICS components. The communication between computers and the timing and synchronization between components are also addressed

AN EXPLORATION OF BARRIERS TO INTEGRATION OF STRATEGIC HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT IN THE UNITED STATES FIRE SERVICE: AN INTERPRETATIVE PHENOMENOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF CHIEF OFFICERS\u27 PERCEPTIONS

Trends in the current human resource development (HRD) literature emphasize the role that integration of strategic human resource development (SHRD) practices has on organizational effectiveness (Garavan, 1991; Garavan, 2007; Gilley & Gilley, 2003; Gilley & Maycunich, 2000; Ruona & Gilley, 2009; Wright, 2007). The United States Fire Service currently views human resource development as a management practice to be utilized by the chief officer to address vocational or technical skills (Stowell, 2004). This interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) qualitative study explored the beliefs, attitudes, and perceptions of chief officers in the United States Fire Service to further understanding of barriers to integration of strategic human resource development practices and the strategies that have been utilized to overcome these barriers. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews. Once transcribed, the data were analyzed using qualitative data analysis techniques. The population for this study was twenty-four chief officers currently employed in the United States Fire Service. By identifying common themes that affect the integration of SHRD practices in the United States Fire Service, this study advances understanding of barriers that prevent integration of SHRD practices and the strategies that have been utilized to overcome these barriers. Understanding these barriers contributes to the literature and provides multiple practical benefits to scholars, practitioners, and fire service organizations on how to address the barriers to integration of SHRD

Tropical cyclone inner core structure and intensity change

2011 Fall.Includes bibliographical references.This dissertation focuses on two projects that examine aspects of the relationship between tropical cyclone (TC) storm-scale dynamics and intensity. TC intensity change is a forecast challenge combining influences from the large-scale environment, the underlying ocean state, and the storm-scale dynamics within the TC. In particular structures and processes involving the TC eye are observed to have an impact on current and future intensity. The first project examines observations of TC eyes from aircraft reconnaissance flown into Atlantic basin TCs over the period 1989-2008. Relationships between TC eye diameter and type and intensity and intensity change are investigated. Consistent with previous studies, eye diameter does not display a direct relationship with intensity. Smaller eye diameters are observed at all intensities, though both the most and least intense TCs with eyes have smaller average eye diameters. Smaller eyes also have the largest variability in intensity change. Larger eyes show smaller ranges for intensity change, and the largest eyes tend to maintain or weaken in intensity. TCs with eyes reported had higher intensification rates and higher probabilities of undergoing rapid intensification. The second project takes a theoretical approach to examining the TC response to the location of the convection within the vortex structure using the balanced vortex model. An annular ring of heating is placed along an idealized axisymmetric vortex. The largest increase in intensity is produced when the heating is placed within the radius of maximum winds. Intensification still occurs at a lessened rate when the heating is contained within the vorticity skirt, and when the heating is outside the vorticity skirt the vortex does not intensify. The strength of the vortex increases in all cases, though less so than the intensity when the heating is within the radius of maximum winds

Those wonderful elastic waves

We consider in a simple and general way elastic waves in isotropic and anisotropic media, their polarization, speeds, reflection from interfaces with mode conversion, and surface waves. Reflection of quasi transverse waves in anisotropic media from a free surface is shown to be characterized by three critical angles.Comment: 11 Figures 26 page

Lax pair tensors in arbitrary dimensions

A recipe is presented for obtaining Lax tensors for any n-dimensional Hamiltonian system admitting a Lax representation of dimension n. Our approach is to use the Jacobi geometry and coupling-constant metamorphosis to obtain a geometric Lax formulation. We also exploit the results to construct integrable spacetimes, satisfying the weak energy condition.Comment: 8 pages, uses IOP style files. Minor correction. Submitted to J. Phys

Tool transfers are a form of teaching among chimpanzees

Teaching is a form of high-fidelity social learning that promotes human cumulative culture. Although recently documented in several nonhuman animals, teaching is rare among primates. In this study, we show that wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes troglodytes) in the Goualougo Triangle teach tool skills by providing learners with termite fishing probes. Tool donors experienced significant reductions in tool use and feeding, while tool recipients significantly increased their tool use and feeding after tool transfers. These transfers meet functional criteria for teaching: they occur in a learner’s presence, are costly to the teacher, and improve the learner’s performance. Donors also showed sophisticated cognitive strategies that effectively buffered them against potential costs. Teaching is predicted when less costly learning mechanisms are insufficient. Given that these chimpanzees manufacture sophisticated, brush-tipped fishing probes from specific raw materials, teaching in this population may relate to the complexity of these termite-gathering tasks