Relating statistics to dynamics in axisymmetric homogeneous turbulence

The structure and the dynamics of homogeneous turbulence are modified by the presence of body forces such that the Coriolis or the buoyancy forces, which may render a wide range of turbulence scales anisotropic. The corresponding statistical characterization of such effects is done in physical space using structure functions, as well as in spectral space with spectra of two-point correlations, providing two complementary viewpoints. In this framework, second-order and third-order structure functions are put in parallel with spectra of two-point second- and third-order velocity correlation functions, using passage relations. Such relations apply in the isotropic case, or for isotropically averaged statistics, which, however, do not reflect the actual more complex structure of anisotropic turbulence submitted to rotation or stratification. This complexity is demonstrated in this paper by orientation-dependent energy and energy transfer spectra produced in both cases by means of a two-point statistical model for axisymmetric turbulence. We show that, to date, the anisotropic formalism used in the spectral transfer statistics is especially well-suited to analyze the refined dynamics of anisotropic homogeneous turbulence, and that it can help in the analysis of isotropically computed third-order structure function statistics often used to characterize anisotropic contexts.Comment: Physica

Central Micro-Peripheries: Temporary Uses of Central Residual Spaces as Urban Development Catalysts (?)

New “urban wastelands” are continually developing in European cities as side effects of economic, technological and political changes. These abandoned industrial zones or former traffic nodes (railways, harbours) have typically been built in the late 19th or in the early 20th century to the fringe of the old city centres. The combination of low estate values with high potential land rents have turned these areas to important scenes of urban transformation since 1980’s. Especially locations close to waterfront have attracted investments and resulted rapid changes and new housing and commercial exploitations. There are though exceptions: some areas remain residual or vacant for years. These areas turn to potential places for temporary “lower secondary uses” since no “primary higher uses” are attracted of them. The contextual factors creating “gaps” for temporary uses are weak demand in the local estate market, delays in the political decision making and planning processes, unclear ownership or exceptionally high construction costs caused by soil contamination and massive old infrastructures. This paper examines the nature of temporary uses and users in the central micro-peripheries, the role of temporary uses in the urban development processes as well as their impact on urban cultures and urban economies in five European metropolitan areas. The research has been done as part of the research project “Urban Catalysts. Strategies for Temporary Uses – Potential for Development of Urban Residual Areas in European Metropolises” (duration 2001-2003), funded by the Fifth R&D Framework Programme of European Community and its key action programme "City of Tomorrow and Cultural Heritage". In this project local case studies have taken place in Amsterdam, Berlin, Helsinki, Naples and Vienna. The research methods have included interviews with local key actors (temporary users, estate owners, planners and other authorities, politicians) and examination of planning and other development documents as well as site documentation with spatial analyses of the patterns of temporary usage of urban space. The research results show that the areas containing temporary uses have succeeded to foster extremely dynamic and mixed uses (art, culture, education, leisure, sports, residences, production, commerce) and to attract heterogeneous user groups (established and start up companies, migrants, system refugees, drop-outs, part time activists, associations). Many of the sites have also attracted user groups working in the same branch, sharing a common production network or co-operating in flexible ways. The spatial analysis proved temporary uses to mean adaptive reuse of urban spaces, being in most cases part of industrial heritage. The residual spaces seemed also to offer a possibility also for weak social groups to take risks and do various experiments with relatively modest economic investments. They created synergy and arenas for collective learning. The results include further strategies, instruments and methods that have been used in some cities to integrate temporary uses into city management and urban design. The most successful best practice examples show that the temporary uses have had clear catalytic effects on local urban culture and economies. It could be stated that temporary uses are an underused resource in activating residual areas and in improving both social stabilization and competition capacity of urban regions.

Yritysvastuu pk-yrityksissä

Opinnäytetyön tarkoituksena oli selvittää pääkaupunkiseudulla toimivien pienten ja keskisuurten yritysten suhtautumista yritysvastuuseen ja sen raportointiin. Tavoitteena oli nostaa esille yritysvastuuta tukevia järjestöjä ja ohjeistoja, jotka tukevat erityisesti pk-yritysten vastuullisuutta. Tutkimuksen avulla oli tarkoitus selvittää, mitä hyötyjä yritysvastuulla voidaan saavuttaa pk-yrityksissä. Tietoperustassa käsitellään yritysvastuuta Suomessa, pääkaupunkiseudulla ja pk-yrityksissä. Työssä luodaan myös katsaus isompien yritysten vastuuraportointiin. Opinnäytetyön tutkimus toteutettiin kvalitatiivisina teemahaastatteluina. Tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli saada tietoa pk-yritysten suhtautumisesta yritysvastuuseen ja sen raportointiin. Haastattelujen tukena käytettiin havainnointia Ratkaisun paikka -yritysvastuutapahtumassa. Haastatteluiden pohjalta saatiin tietoa yritysten asenteista ja toimintatavoista vastuullisuuteen sekä yritysvastuun raportointiin liittyen. Haastatteluista ilmeni, että yritykset ovat kiinnostuneita yritysvastuusta, mutta suhtautuvat epäilevästi yritysvastuuraportoinnin hyötyihin. Kaikki haastateltavat näkivät yritysvastuun osa-alueet tärkeänä toiminnassaan, mutta eivät tiedostaneet toimintansa olevan vastuullista. Yritykset eivät tunnistaneet vastuullisten toimintatapojen olevan osa yritysvastuuta, sillä vastuullisuus ajateltiin kuuluvan yrittäjyyteen itsessään. Yritysvastuutapahtumassa havainnoitiin seminaariluentojen kautta millä tavalla pk-yrityksiä motivoidaan yritysvastuun toteuttamiseen. Seminaariluennot keskittyivät avaamaan yritysvastuun käsitettä tuoden käytännön esimerkkejä pk-yritysten toimintaan.The purpose of this thesis project was to determine the attitudes of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in the metropolitan area to corporate responsibility and reporting. The aim was to raise awareness about organizations and guidelines that can support in particular the corporate responsibility of SMEs. The theoretical section of the thesis report deals with corporate responsibility in Finland, the metropolitan area and in SMEs. The thesis also reviews the reporting of corporate responsibility by larger companies. The research was conducted as a qualitative case study. The aim was to obtain information on the attitudes of SMEs towards corporate responsibility and its associated reporting. Observations at a corporate responsibility event “Ratkaisun paikka” were used to support the interviews. The interviews yielded information on the companies’ attitudes and practices towards corporate responsibility and corporate responsibility reporting. The interviews revealed that companies are interested in corporate responsibility but are skeptical about the benefits of corporate responsibility reporting. All of the interviewees felt that the areas of corporate responsibility were important in their operations, but were not aware of any current activities to be responsible. The companies did not identify the responsible practices as being a part of corporate responsibility, and responsibility was thought to be part of entrepreneurship itself. At the corporate responsibility event the seminar lectures were observed in terms of how the lecturers motivated SMEs towards greater corporate responsibility. The event gave information about corporate responsibility in general and showed some examples in practical ways

Doppler images of II Pegasi for 2004-2010

Aims. We study the spot activity of II Peg during the years 2004-2010 to determine long- and short-term changes in the magnetic activity. In a previous study, we detected a persistent active longitude, as well as major changes in the spot configuration occurring on a timescale of shorter than a year. The main objective of this study is to determine whether the same phenomena persist in the star during these six years of spectroscopic monitoring. Methods. The observations were collected with the high-resolution SOFIN spectrograph at the Nordic Optical Telescope. The temperature maps were calculated using a Doppler imaging code based on Tikhonov regularization. Results. We present 12 new temperature maps that show spots distributed mainly over high and intermediate latitudes. In each image, 1-3 main active regions can be identified. The activity level of the star is clearly lower than during our previous study for the years 1994-2002. In contrast to the previous observations, we detect no clear drift of the active regions with respect to the rotation of the star. Conclusions. Having shown a systematic longitudinal drift of the spot-generating mechanism during 1994-2002, the star has clearly switched to a low-activity state for 2004-2010, during which the spot locations appear more random over phase space. It could be that the star is near to a minimum of its activity cycle.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astron. and Astrophys., 8 pages, 5 figure

On the third order structure function for rotating 3D homogeneous turbulent flow

A form for the two-point third order structure function has been calculated for three dimensional homogeneous incompressible slowly rotating turbulent fluid. It has been argued that it may possibly hint at the initiation of the phenomenon of two-dimensionalisation of the 3D incompressible turbulence owing to rotation.Comment: This revised version corrects some serious flaws in the discussions after the equation (2) and the equation (13) of the earlier version. Some typos are also correcte

Central Micro-Peripheries: Temporary Uses of Central Residual Spaces as Urban Development Catalysts

New “urban wastelands” are continually developing in European cities as side effects of economic, technological and political changes. These abandoned industrial zones or former traffic nodes (railways, harbours) have typically been built in the late 19th or in the early 20th century to the fringe of the old city centres. The combination of low estate values with high potential land rents have turned these areas to important scenes of urban transformation since 1980’s. Especially locations close to waterfront have attracted investments and resulted rapid changes and new housing and commercial exploitations. There are though exceptions: some areas remain residual or vacant for years. These areas turn to potential places for temporary “lower secondary uses” since no “primary higher uses” are attracted of them. The contextual factors creating “gaps” for temporary uses are weak demand in the local estate market, delays in the political decision making and planning processes, unclear ownership or exceptionally high construction costs caused by soil contamination and massive old infrastructures. This paper examines the nature of temporary uses and users in the central micro-peripheries, the role of temporary uses in the urban development processes as well as their impact on urban cultures and urban economies in five European metropolitan areas. The research has been done as part of the research project “Urban Catalysts. Strategies for Temporary Uses – Potential for Development of Urban Residual Areas in European Metropolises” (duration 2001-2003), funded by the Fifth R&D Framework Programme of European Community and its key action programme "City of Tomorrow and Cultural Heritage". In this project local case studies have taken place in Amsterdam, Berlin, Helsinki, Naples and Vienna. The research methods have included interviews with local key actors (temporary users, estate owners, planners and other authorities, politicians) and examination of planning and other development documents as well as site documentation with spatial analyses of the patterns of temporary usage of urban space. The research results show that the areas containing temporary uses have succeeded to foster extremely dynamic and mixed uses (art, culture, education, leisure, sports, residences, production, commerce) and to attract heterogeneous user groups (established and start up companies, migrants, system refugees, drop-outs, part time activists, associations). Many of the sites have also attracted user groups working in the same branch, sharing a common production network or co-operating in flexible ways. The spatial analysis proved temporary uses to mean adaptive reuse of urban spaces, being in most cases part of industrial heritage. The residual spaces seemed also to offer a possibility also for weak social groups to take risks and do various experiments with relatively modest economic investments. They created synergy and arenas for collective learning. The results include further strategies, instruments and methods that have been used in some cities to integrate temporary uses into city management and urban design. The most successful best practice examples show that the temporary uses have had clear catalytic effects on local urban culture and economies. It could be stated that temporary uses are an underused resource in activating residual areas and in improving both social stabilization and competition capacity of urban regions

“I Did It My Way”: Moving Away from the Tyranny of Turn-by-Turn Pedestrian Navigation

No abstract available

How are biodiversity and dispersal of species affected by the management of roadsides? A systematic map protocol

Background: In many parts of the world, roadsides are regularly managed for traffic-safety reasons. Hence, there are similarities between roadsides and certain other managed habitats, such as wooded pastures and mown or grazed grasslands. In contrast to roadsides, the latter habitats have declined rapidly in Europe during the last century, and today only a fraction of their former extent remains. For many species historically associated with these habitats, roadsides may therefore function as new primary habitats or as dispersal corridors in fragmented landscapes. Current recommendations for roadside management to promote conservation values are largely based on studies of plants in semi-natural grasslands, although such areas often differ from roadsides in terms of environmental factors and impacts. Moreover, roadsides provide habitats not only for plants but also for many insects, especially if they are sandy and exposed to the sun. For these reasons, stakeholders in Sweden have emphasised the need for more targeted management recommendations, based on actual studies of roadside biodiversity. Methods: The proposed systematic map is intended to provide an overview of the available evidence on how biodiversity is affected by various forms of roadside management, and how such management influences the dispersal of species along roads or roadsides. Relevant interventions include e.g. mowing, shrub removal, control of invasive/nuisance species, sowing or planting, burning, grazing by livestock, scraping and ditching. Non-intervention or alternative forms of roadside management will be used as comparators. Relevant outcomes include measures of species or genetic diversity, the abundance of individual species or groups of organisms, species distribution patterns, and movement rates of individuals or propagules. Searches will be made for peer-reviewed and grey literature in English and several other languages. No geographical restrictions will be applied, and all species and species groups will be considered

Scaling analysis and simulation of strongly stratified turbulent flows

International audienceDirect numerical simulations of stably and strongly stratified turbulent flows with Reynolds number Re " 1 and horizontal Froude number Fh Gt; 1 are presented. The results are interpreted on the basis of a scaling analysis of the governing equations. The analysis suggests that there are two different strongly stratified regimes according to the parameter R = ReFh2. When R " 1, viscous forces are nimportant and lv scales as lv ~ U/N (U is a characteristic horizontal velocity and N is the Brunt - Väis¨alä frequency) so that the dynamics of the flow is inherently three-dimensional but strongly anisotropic. When R " 1, vertical viscous shearing is important so that lv ~ lh/Re1/2 (lh is a characteristic horizontal length scale). The parameter R is further shown to be related to the buoyancy Reynolds number and proportional to (lO/?) 4/3, where lO is the Ozmidov length scale and ? the Kolmogorov length scale. This implies that there are simultaneously two distinct ranges in strongly stratified turbulence when R " 1: the scales larger than lO are strongly influenced by the stratification while those between lO and ? are weakly affected by stratification. The direct numerical simulations with forced large-scale horizontal two-dimensional motions and uniform stratification cover a wide Re and Fh range and support the main parameter controlling strongly stratified turbulence being R. The numerical results are in good agreement with the scaling laws for the vertical length scale. Thin horizontal layers are observed independently of the value of R but they tend to be smooth for R > 1, while for R > 1 small-scale three-dimensional turbulent disturbances are increasingly superimposed. The dissipation of kinetic energy is mostly due to vertical shearing for R > 1 but tends to isotropy as R increases above unity. When R > 1, the horizontal and vertical energy spectra are very steep while, when R > 1, the horizontal spectra of kinetic and potential energy exhibit an pproximate kh-5/3-power-law range and a clear forward energy cascade is observed. © 2007 Cambridge University Press