Analysis Of R.U.R.

(The analysis of RUR by Robert Bowles is printed as an example of what is being done in Freshman Composition classes in the form of analysis. We believe that this is a superior illustration of a review of the important work by Capek.

Never The Twain Shall Meet

It has been over a year since I last saw Lu, yet today whenever I pick up a paper and read of trouble in India, Palestine, or China _ especially China - I see again before me that homely yellow face with its broad, friendly grin, and the deep network of tiny, delicate wrinkles crinkling about the calm, slanted, brown eyes which saw so much and told so little. I can see the mild laughter, and maybe a trace of pity, slipping forth from Lu\u27s usually inscrutable eyes, and I can hear again the soft, even tones of his voice as he spoke the few words which I shall remember the rest of my life-remember and wonder about

Comparing the cost-effectiveness of methods for estimating population density for primates in the Amazon rainforest Peru

With increasingly extreme fluctuations in flood levels in the Amazon basin (Malhi et al. 2008, Marengo et al. 2012, Bodmer et al. 2014) the future of its' fauna is becoming more uncertain. It is essential therefore that effective monitoring is in place in order to detect drops in population before irreversible damage is done. In developing countries such as the ones situated in the Amazon basin funding for conservation is very limited (Danielsen et al. 2003), it is therefore vital that cost effective methods of monitoring the wildlife of the Amazon are found. Three surveying techniques for monitoring primates are compared in this thesis to find the most cost effective method of estimating population densities of primate species local to the Amazon basin; these are terrestrial transects, aquatic transects and audio-playback point counts. Data was collected in the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve using these methods over a period of four months, from January to May 2014. For both terrestrial and aquatic transects, transect lines were traversed and data was recorded every time an individual or group of the 7 primates species were spotted. Audio-playback point counts were used to record data for red howler monkeys (Alouatta seniculus)and brown capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella). This was done by mimicking primate vocalisations at a point and recording any resultant responses or sightings of the species under observation. Each survey technique was compared with regards to three qualities; precision, ability to react to change and cost. On average over all 7 species of primate aquatic transects produced the most precise estimations of population density with a mean estimation CV% (percentage coefficient of variance) of 36.35% in comparison the 47.3% averaged by terrestrial transects. Both methods failed to produce precise results for the two rarest species present, the monk saki monkey (Pithecia monachus) and the white fronted capuchin monkey (Cebus albifrons). Aquatic transects were also shown to react to sudden change in population levels. For the two species Alouatta seniculus and Cebus apella aquatic transects once again on average gained the most precise results with a mean estimation CV% value of 20.05% in comparison to the 31.08% of terrestrial transects and 36.35% for audio-playback point counts. The estimates created using audio-playback point counts used considerably less time and resources than the other two methods for single species and was also shown to be the quickest to react to immediate changes in population densities. Thus it was concluded that audio-playback point counts can produce relatively precise estimates that react to population changes at low cost. However only one species can be observed at a time using audio-playback point counts; when observing multiple species at one time it was concluded that aquatic transects are by far the cheapest survey technique and the method that produces precise estimates more consistently. I would therefore recommend for a monitoring effort of several primate species at one given time in the Amazon basin, that aquatic transects be used as it is the most cost-effective overall. However if a single species is a monitoring target, perhaps to be used as an indicator species or because the primate is of most concern, then audio-playback point counts be used as it is possible to gain relatively precise results at a minimal cost. I would also like to suggest that the use of audio-playback point counts be tested on rarer primate species in future as neither terrestrial transects nor aquatic transects could produce a useful estimate in a combined effort of 104 half days. If audio-playback point counts could be used to get good estimates for rare primate species then monitoring strategies could be developed combining the use of audio- playback point counts and aquatic transects to gain precise density estimates for all primate species in an area whilst keeping costs low. A generic decision tree is presented at the end of this thesis as a guideline to cost-effective primate monitoring for any seasonally flooding rainforest study site

Globalization and Redistribution: Feasible Egalitarianism in a Competitive World

A reduction of impediments to international flows of goods, capital and professional labor is thought to raise the economic costs of programs by the nation state (and labor unions) to redistribute income to the poor and to provide economic security. But some of the more politically and economically successful examples of such policies --for example Nordic social democracy and East Asian land reform-- have occurred in small open economies which would, on the above account, provide a prohibitive environment for egalitarian interventions. I present a model of globalization and redistribution to answer the following question: in a liberalized world economy, what programs of egalitarian redistribution and social insurance are implementable by democratic nation states acting independently? While in the absence of international coordination, globalization indeed makes it difficult for nation states to affect the relative (after tax) prices of mobile goods and factors of production and for this and other reasons may limit the effectiveness of some conventional strategies of redistribution, a large class of state and trade union interventions leading to substantial improvements in the wages, employment prospects, and economic security of workers is not ruled out by globalization. Included are redistributions of assets which provide efficient solutions to incentive problems arising in principal agent relationships such as wage employment, farm and residential tenancy.

Dealing with dirt : servicing and repairing cars.

This paper explores the significance of dirt in the work of technicians who service and repair private cars. Rather than being useful in understanding how dirt is dealt with, the historical and anthropological analyses of dirt are shown to be overly concerned with cultural significance and the idea that dirt is no more than ‘matter out of place’. Such accounts suppress the more common sense approach that dirt is unpleasant to human beings and is to be avoided if possible. In work such as garage servicing and repairs, dirt has to be confronted and dealt with pragmatically, according to the consequences of its presence, rather than symbolically according to its cultural meaning. The writing of Sartre on slime provides a more persuasive explanation both for the ambivalence towards ambiguous materials of slime and dirt and for the moral connotations that attach to them. Everett Hughes’s account of a ‘moral division of labour’ in which distinctions are made concerning dirty work fits with some of the visible hierarchical distinctions in the garage setting. But it is the variability of practices, both between garages and between technicians in a similar setting, that suggests dealing with dirt is a practical matter that is not prescribed by ritual or cultural significance

Fire test method for graphite fiber reinforced plastics

A potential problem in the use of graphite fiber reinforced resin matrix composites is the dispersal of graphite fibers during accidential fires. Airborne, electrically conductive fibers originating from the burning composites could enter and cause shorting in electrical equipment located in surrounding areas. A test method for assessing the burning characteristics of graphite fiber reinforced composites and the effectiveness of the composites in retaining the graphite fibers has been developed. The method utilizes a modified rate of heat release apparatus. The equipment and the testing procedure are described. The application of the test method to the assessment of composite materials is illustrated for two resin matrix/graphite composite systems

Thermo-oxidative stability studies of PMR-15 polymer matrix composites reinforced with various fibers

An experimental study was conducted to measure the thermo-oxidative stability of PMR-15 polymer matrix composites reinforced with various fibers and to observe differences in the way they degrade in air. The fibers that were studied included graphite and the thermally stable Nicalon and Nextel ceramic fibers. Weight loss rates for the different composites were assessed as a function of mechanical properties, specimen geometry, fiber sizing, and interfacial bond strength. Differences were observed in rates of weight loss, matrix cracking, geometry dependency, and fiber-sizing effects. It was shown that Celion 6000 fiber-reinforced composites do not exhibit a straight-line Arrhenius relationship at temperatures above 316 C

Effect of fiber reinforcements on thermo-oxidative stability and mechanical properties of polymer matrix composites

A number of studies have investigated the thermo-oxidative behavior of polymer matrix composites. Two significant observations have been made from these research efforts: (1) fiber reinforcement has a significant effect on composite thermal stability; and (2) geometric effects must be considered when evaluating thermal aging data. A compilation of some results from these studies is presented, and this information shows the influence of the reinforcement fibers on the oxidative degradation of various polymer matrix composites. The polyimide PMR-15 was the matrix material that was used in these studies. The control composite material was reinforced with Celion 6000 graphite fiber. T-40R graphite fibers, along with some very stable ceramic fibers were selected as reinforcing fibers because of their high thermal stability. The ceramic fibers were Nicalon (silicon carbide) and Nextel 312 (alumina-silica-boron oxide). The mechanical properties of the two graphite fiber composites were significantly different, probably owing to variations in interfacial bonding between the fibers and the polyimide matrix. The Celion 6000/PMR-15 bond is very tight but the T-40/PMR-15 bond is less tight. Three oxidation mechanisms were observed: (1) the preferential oxidation of the Celion 6000 fiber ends at cut surfaces, leaving a surface of matrix material with holes where the fiber ends were originally situated; (2) preferential oxidation of the composite matrix; and (3) interfacial degradation by oxidation. The latter two mechanisms were also observed on fiber end cut surfaces. The fiber and interface attacks appeared to initiate interfiber cracking along these surfaces

Finite Element Composite Analysis Program (FECAP) for a microcomputer

A special purpose finite element composite analysis program for analyzing composite material behavior with a microcomputer is described. The formulation assumes a state of generalized plane strain in a material consisting of two or more orthotropic phases. Loading can be mechanical and/or thermal. The theoretical background, computer implementation, and program users guide are described in detail. A sample program is solved showing the required user input and computer generated output