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Qualitative Model (qualitative + model)
Selected AbstractsQualitative model of concrete acidification due to cathodic protection,MATERIALS AND CORROSION/WERKSTOFFE UND KORROSION, Issue 2 2008W. H. A. Peelen In this paper a mathematical description and numerical implementation for ion transport in concrete due to current passage is developed, in which the heterogeneous equilibrium between Ca2+, OH, and the solid Ca(OH)2 is incorporated. The description is based on the Nernst,Planck equation for ion transport, and reaction terms for the dissolution/precipitation of Ca(OH)2. This description was implemented in the finite element package Comsol Multiphysics. In this way Ca(OH)2 depletion in a zone at a CP anode adjacent to a bulk of concrete with Ca(OH)2 could be modelled in one calculation. Drawback of this model is that the kinetic parameters in the reaction terms are not known, and must be chosen high to ensure the dissolution of Ca(OH)2 to be in equilibrium. This proved numerically challenging and sometimes caused long calculation times. The growth rate of the zone without solid depends on the current density applied, concrete cover, the pore liquid composition and the diffusion constants of Ca2+ and OH,. This rate must be evaluated numerically. This qualitative model of anode acidification shows no participation of Na+; therefore transport properties of this ion do not affect the acidification rate of concrete. The same would hold for any other ion included in the model, which is not involved in electrochemical or chemical reactions. [source] Controls on englacial sediment deposition during the November 1996 jökulhlaup, Skei,arárjökull, IcelandEARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS, Issue 9 2001Matthew J. Roberts Abstract This paper presents sedimentary evidence for rapid englacial debris entrainment during jökulhlaups. Previous studies of jökulhlaup sedimentology have focused predominantly on proglacial impact, rather than depositional processes within glaciers. However, observations of supraglacial floodwater outbursts suggest that englacial sediment emplacement is possible during jökulhlaups. The November 1996 jökulhlaup from Skei,arárjökull, Iceland presented one of the first opportunities to examine englacial flood deposits in relation to former supraglacial outlets. Using observations from Skei,arárjökull, this paper identifies and explains controls on the deposition of englacial flood sediments and presents a qualitative model for englacial jökulhlaup deposition. Englacial jökulhlaup deposits were contained within complex networks of upglacier-dipping fractures. Simultaneous englacial deposition of fines and boulder-sized sediment demonstrates that englacial fracture discharge had a high transport capacity. Fracture geometry was an important control on the architecture of englacial jökulhlaup deposits. The occurrence of pervasively frozen flood deposits within Skei,arárjökull is attributed to freeze-on by glaciohydraulic supercooling. Floodwater, flowing subglacially or through upglacier-dipping fractures, would have supercooled as it was raised to the surface faster than its pressure-melting point could increase as glaciostatic pressure decreased. Evidence for floodwater contact with the glacier bed is supported by the ubiquitous occurrence of sheared diamict rip-ups and intra-clasts of basal ice within jökulhlaup fractures, deposited englacially some 200,350 m above the bed of Skei,arárjökull. Evidence for fluidal supercooled sediment accretion is apparent within stratified sands, deposited englacially at exceptionally high angles of rest in the absence of post-depositional disturbance. Such primary sediment structures cannot be explained unless sediment is progressively accreted to opposing fracture walls. Ice retreat from areas of former supraglacial outbursts revealed distinct ridges characterized by localized upwellings of sediment-rich floodwater. These deposits are an important addition to current models of englacial sedimentation and demonstrate the potential for post-jökulhlaup landform development. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Dissecting large earthquakes in Japan: Role of arc magma and fluidsISLAND ARC, Issue 1 2010Dapeng Zhao Abstract We synthesized information from recent high-resolution tomographic studies of large crustal earthquakes which occurred in the Japanese Islands during 1995,2008. Prominent anomalies of low-velocity and high Poisson's ratio are revealed in the crust and uppermost mantle beneath the mainshock hypocenters, which may reflect arc magma and fluids that are produced by a combination of subducting slab dehydration and corner flow in the mantle wedge. Distribution of 164 crustal earthquakes (M 5.7,8.0) that occurred in Japan during 1885,2008 also shows a correlation with the distribution of low-velocity zones in the crust and uppermost mantle. A qualitative model is proposed to explain the geophysical observations recorded so far in Japan. We consider that the nucleation of a large earthquake is not entirely a mechanical process, but is closely related to the subduction dynamics and physical and chemical properties of materials in the crust and upper mantle; in particular, the arc magma and fluids. [source] Morphology of deltoid origin and end tendons , a generic modelJOURNAL OF ANATOMY, Issue 6 2008J. N. A. L. Leijnse Abstract This study provides a model of the complex deltoid origin and end tendons, as a basis for further anatomical, biomechanical and clinical research. Although the deltoid is used in transpositions with upper limb paralysis, its detailed morphology and segmentation has not been object of much study. Morphologically, the deltoid faces two distinct challenges. It closely envelops a ball joint, and it reduces its width over a short distance from a very wide origin along clavicle, acromion and spina scapula, to an insertion as narrow as the humerus. These challenges necessitate specific morphological tendon adaptations. A qualitative model for these tendons is developed by the stepwise transformation of a unipennate muscle model into a functional deltoid muscle. Each step is the solution to one of the mentioned morphological challenges. The final model is of an end tendon consisting of a continuous succession of bipennate end tendon blades centrally interspaced by unipennate tendon parts. The origin tendon consists of lamellae that interdigitate with the end tendon blades, creating a natural segmentation. The model is illustrated by qualitative dissection results. In addition, in view of a proliferation of terms found in the literature to describe deltoid tendons, tendon concepts are reviewed and the systematic use of the unique and simple terminology of ,origin and end tendons' is proposed. [source] Pharmaceutical company influences on medication prescribing and their potential impact on quality use of medicinesJOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 5 2008G. J. Kyle BPharm MClinPharm Summary Background:, Pharmaceuticals are big business, reporting strong market growth year after year. The ,gatekeepers' of this market are prescribers of medicines, who are the major target of pharmaceutical companies, utilizing direct and indirect influences. Methods:, This paper draws on previous research investigating pharmaceutical company prescribing influences to develop a qualitative model demonstrating the synergism between commercial influences on prescribing. The generic model was used to explore a realistic but hypothetical scenario to ascertain the applicability of the model. Results and Discussion:, A generic influence model was developed. The model was readily able to be adapted to reflect a realistic practice scenario. Conclusion:, Prescriber awareness of the linkages between various seemingly separate marketing techniques could potentially improve medicines usage in an evidence-based practice paradigm. [source] Qualitative model of concrete acidification due to cathodic protection,MATERIALS AND CORROSION/WERKSTOFFE UND KORROSION, Issue 2 2008W. H. A. Peelen In this paper a mathematical description and numerical implementation for ion transport in concrete due to current passage is developed, in which the heterogeneous equilibrium between Ca2+, OH, and the solid Ca(OH)2 is incorporated. The description is based on the Nernst,Planck equation for ion transport, and reaction terms for the dissolution/precipitation of Ca(OH)2. This description was implemented in the finite element package Comsol Multiphysics. In this way Ca(OH)2 depletion in a zone at a CP anode adjacent to a bulk of concrete with Ca(OH)2 could be modelled in one calculation. Drawback of this model is that the kinetic parameters in the reaction terms are not known, and must be chosen high to ensure the dissolution of Ca(OH)2 to be in equilibrium. This proved numerically challenging and sometimes caused long calculation times. The growth rate of the zone without solid depends on the current density applied, concrete cover, the pore liquid composition and the diffusion constants of Ca2+ and OH,. This rate must be evaluated numerically. This qualitative model of anode acidification shows no participation of Na+; therefore transport properties of this ion do not affect the acidification rate of concrete. The same would hold for any other ion included in the model, which is not involved in electrochemical or chemical reactions. [source] A Human,Automation Interface Model to Guide Automation Design of System FunctionsNAVAL ENGINEERS JOURNAL, Issue 1 2007JOSHUA S. KENNEDY A major component of the US Army's Future Combat Systems (FCS) will be a fleet of eight different manned ground vehicles (MGV). There are promises that "advanced automation" will accomplish many of the tasks formerly performed by soldiers in legacy vehicle systems. However, the current approach to automation design does not relieve the soldier operator of tasks; rather, it changes the role of the soldiers and the work they must do, often in ways unintended and unanticipated. This paper proposes a coherent, top-down, overarching approach to the design of a human,automation interaction model. First, a qualitative model is proposed to drive the functional architecture and human,automation interface scheme for the MGV fleet. Second, the proposed model is applied to a portion of the functional flow of the common crew station on the MGV fleet. Finally, the proposed model is demonstrated quantitatively via a computational task-network modeling program (Improved Performance Research and Integration Tool). The modeling approach offers insights into the impacts on human task-loading, workload, and human performance. Implications for human systems integration domains are discussed, including Manpower and Personnel, Human Factors Engineering, Training, System Safety, and Soldier Survivability. The proposed model gives engineers and scientists a top-down approach to explicitly define and design the interactions between proposed automation schemes and the human crew. Although this paper focuses on the Army's FCS MGV fleet, the model and analytical processes proposed, or similar approaches, are appropriate for many manned systems in multiple domains (aviation, space, maritime, ground transportation, manufacturing, etc.). [source] Integrative functional genomics of salt acclimatization in the model legume Lotus japonicusTHE PLANT JOURNAL, Issue 6 2008Diego H. Sanchez Summary The model legume Lotus japonicus was subjected to non-lethal long-term salinity and profiled at the ionomic, transcriptomic and metabolomic levels. Two experimental designs with various stress doses were tested: a gradual step acclimatization and an initial acclimatization approach. Ionomic profiling by inductively coupled plasma/atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) revealed salt stress-induced reductions in potassium, phosphorus, sulphur, zinc and molybdenum. Microarray profiling using the Lotus Genechip® allowed the identification of 912 probesets that were differentially expressed under the acclimatization regimes. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry-based metabolite profiling identified 147 differentially accumulated soluble metabolites, indicating a change in metabolic phenotype upon salt acclimatization. Metabolic changes were characterized by a general increase in the steady-state levels of many amino acids, sugars and polyols, with a concurrent decrease in most organic acids. Transcript and metabolite changes exhibited a stress dose-dependent response within the range of NaCl concentrations used, although threshold and plateau behaviours were also observed. The combined observations suggest a successive and increasingly global requirement for the reprogramming of gene expression and metabolic pathways to maintain ionic and osmotic homeostasis. A simple qualitative model is proposed to explain the systems behaviour of plants during salt acclimatization. [source] Predicting the unexpected: using a qualitative model of a New Zealand dryland ecosystem to anticipate pest management outcomesAUSTRAL ECOLOGY, Issue 4 2009DAVID S. L. RAMSEY Abstract Pest management is expensive and there is often uncertainty about the benefits for the resources being protected. There can also be unintended consequences for other parts of the ecosystem, especially in complex food webs. In making decisions managers generally have to rely on qualitative information collected in a piecemeal fashion. A method to assist decision making is a qualitative modelling approach using fuzzy cognitive maps, a directed graphical model related to neural networks that can take account of interactions between pests and conservation assets in complex food webs. Using all available information on relationships between native and exotic resources and consumers, we generated hypotheses about potential consequences of single-species and multi-species pest control on the long-term equilibrium abundances of other biotic components of an ecosystem. We applied the model to a dryland ecosystem in New Zealand because we had good information on its trophic structure, but the information on the strength of species interactions was imprecise. Our model suggested that pest control is unlikely to significantly boost native invertebrates and lizards in this ecosystem, suggesting that other forms of management may be required for these groups. Most of the pest control regimes tested resulted in greater abundances of at least one other pest species, which could potentially lead to other management problems. Some of the predictions were unexpected, such as more birds resulting from possum and mouse control. We also modelled the effects of an increase in invasive rabbits, which led to unexpected declines of stoats, weasels, mice and possums. These unexpected outcomes resulted from complex indirect pathways in the food web. Fuzzy cognitive maps allow rapid construction of prototype models of complex food webs using a wide range of data and expert opinion. Their utility lies in providing direction for future monitoring efforts and generating hypotheses that can be tested with field experiments. [source] | |||||||||||||