A data model for moving regions of fixed shape in databases

Moving object databases are designed to store and process spatial and temporal object data. An especially useful moving object type is a moving region, which consists of one or more moving polygons suitable for modeling the spread of forest fires, the movement of clouds, spread of diseases and many other real-world phenomena. Previous implementations usually allow a changing shape of the region during the movement; however, the necessary restrictions on this model result in an inaccurate interpolation of rotating objects. In this paper, we present an alternative approach for moving and rotating regions of fixed shape, called Fixed Moving Regions, which provide a significantly better model for a wide range of applications like modeling the movement of oil tankers, icebergs and other rigid structures. Furthermore, we describe and implement several useful operations on this new object type to enable a database system to solve many real-world problems, as for example collision tests, projections and intersections, much more accurate than with other models. Based on this research, we also implemented a library for easy integration into moving objects database systems, as for example the DBMS Secondo (1) (2) developed at the FernUniversität in Hagen.     

DRIVING FORCES OF ISLAND BIODIVERSITY: AN APPRAISAL OF TWO THEORIES

The avifauna of three oceanic islands of the Revillagigedo archipelago in the eastern Pacific Ocean consists of 14 endemic landbird taxa and 3 recent continental colonists. This study analyzes the origin, areography of continental relatives, ecological characteristics, and role of immigration and extinction factors as regulators of the islands' species. Only two natural extinctions have been detected on this archipelago in more than 130 years. The endemic nature of the pristine avifauna is interpreted as an indication of high stability over thousands of years. The MacArthur–Wilson (1967) “equilibrium theory of island biogeography” cannot explain or predict the persistence of this avifauna adapted to stable and unique island ecosystems. Lack's (1976) “theory of ecological poverty” regulating island avifaunas, however, predicts stability and a resource-limited bird community. The Revillagigedo avifauna can be understood as an interactive community of a few highly adapted and competitive ecological generalists that have effectively filled all niche spaces and closed off the islands to further colonization. Catastrophic change or anthropogenic landscape degradation may, however, create novel niche spaces and open affected islands to new colonists. This appraisal lends support to the call for a shift away from application of the equilibrium model of island biogeography in conservation science. [Key words: island biogeography, equilibrium theory, island stability, island avifauna, MacArthur-Wilson, Lack, Revillagigedo Islands, Socorro Island.]     

Shock-induced mechanical deformations in biotites from crystalline rocks of the ries crater (Southern Germany)

Mechanical deformation features in shocked biotites from crystalline rocks of the Ries crater are: kink bands, planar elements, and plastic lattice deformations as determined by X-ray investigations.Kink bands can be observed in micas of various pressure histories (stages 0, I, II and less frequently stage III of shock metamorphism). Kink bands in shocked micas are less symmetrical than kinks of static origin. Asymmetry increases with increasing dynamic pressures. Moreover, kink band width is sensitive against changing peak pressures. Distribution of kinked and undistorted micas within a rock permits to fix the shock front direction. Shock-induced kinks in micas are produced by various gliding processes in the cleavage plane (001).Planar elements seldom occur in biotites of shock stages II and III and have never been described in endogenic rocks. Up to now orientations of planar elements parallel to (111), (1¯11), (112) and (11¯2) have been determined. Planar elements are interpreted as planes of plastic lattice gliding. {[110]} is supposed to be the main gliding direction. In the same pressure region other plastic lattice deformations have been determined. They are orientated parallel to (001), (100) and (¯132) or (201) which results from single crystal X-ray investigations and may represent planes of plastic lattice gliding. The dependency of formation of gliding planes and gliding directions on increasing dynamic pressures will be discussed.     

Oolithische Strukturen in Pyriten des Ventersdorp-Contact-Reefs,Südafrika

Zusammenfassung Oolithische Strukturen in Pyriten des Ventersdorp-Contact-Reefs im Witwatersrand Gebiet, die bisher als radial pyrites beschrieben wurden, zeigen eine starke Ähnlichkeit zu Eisenoolithen der Pretoria Serie des Transvaal Systems. Letztere wurden bereits als primäre Strukturen gedeutet, an deren Bildung Algen wahrscheinlich wesentlich beteiligt waren. Die Verfasser sind der Ansicht, daß sowohl der authigene Kohlenstoff im Ventersdorp- und Witwatersrand System als auch die oolithischen Strukturen in Pyriten des Ventersdorp-Contact-Reefs wahrscheinlich Überbleibsel von primitiven Organismen darstellen, die vor rund 2750×10⁶ Jahren im Sedimentationsbecken des Witwatersrand Systems existierten.

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Oölitic textures present in pyrites of the Ventersdorp Contact Reef at Venterspost Gold Mine, South Africa, which have previously been described as radial pyrites strongly resemble iron oöliths of the Pretoria Series of the Transvaal System. The latter have been considered to be primary textures; a causative connection was believed to have existed between primitive organic life and the formation of these oöliths and related textures. It is suggested that both the authigenic carbonaceous material present in the Ventersdorp- and Witwatersrand Systems and the oölitic textures shown by the pyrite in the Ventersdorp Contact Reef probably represent relicts of an early form of life which existed in the sedimentary basin of the Witwatersrand System some 2,750 × 10⁶ years ago.

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Résumé Les textures oolitiques dans les pyrites du Ventersdorp-Contact-Reef dans la région du Witwatersrand, étant dénommées jusqu'ici «radial pyrites», nous montre une affinité très forte avec oolites ferriques de la série Prétoria du système Transvaal. On a déjà interprété les derniers comme textures primaires; probablement alginite. Suivant l'opinion des auteurs, non seulement le carbone authigène dans le système Ventersdorp et Witwatersrand mais encore les textures oolitiques dans les pyrites du Ventersdorp-Contact-Reef sont probablement des restes des organismes primitifs, ayant existés dans le bassin sédimentaire du système Witwatersrand il y a 2750×10⁶ années.

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Elastic and Seismic Properties of Dabie-Sulu Ultrahigh Pressure Metamorphic Rocks

Lamé modulus (λ) and shear modulus (μ) are among the most important,intrinsic,elastic constants of rocks.Using λ and μ could be much more advantageous than using P- and S-wave velocities (Vp and Vs).He...     

Radiated seismic energy and strain energy release in laboratory dynamic tensile fracture

Tensile dynamic fractures were propagated under two experimental congifurations for the purpose of assessing the relative amount of strain energy release that is consumed as fracture energy and radiated as seismic waves. The configurations used were (1) application of localized thermal stresses to 2.29 mm-thick plates of soda-lime glass and (2) double cantilever beam (DCB) experiments in 12.7 mm-thick glass plates, in which a fracture is propagated from a notch at one end of the specimen by application of a transverse load. Fracture propagation velocities of 0.35–2 mm/s were obtained for fractures in the first configuration. A capacitance transducer with a point-like probe was used for measuring the seismic displacement waveforms from propagating fracture sources. This transducer is capable of measuring absolute surface displacements with a resolution of 0.01 nm. It has a flat frequency response in the range 10 kHz to 6 MHz. Measured seismic efficiencies, or the ratio of radiated seismic energy to strain energy released, are in the range 10^–5 to 10^–3.     

Gefügeregelung und elastische Anisotropie eines Marmors

Petrofabric analyses by means of the X-ray diffraotometer and ultrasonic measurements were made on a sample of marble from the Austrian Alps. The marble represents a B-tectonite with concentration of calcite crystallographic a axes subparallel to B-lineation and a girdle of c axes. The elastic longitutinal wave propagation is controlled to a large extent by the marble fabric. Parallel to the a axes maximum the longitudinal wave velovity propagation is high (v _p=6,82 km/sec). For propagation normal to the a axes maximum (parallel to c axes concentration) wave velocities are low (v _p min=6,17 km/sec). The results are qualitatively consistent with single crystal data (v _p‖ a=7,25 km/sec; v _p ‖ c=5,62 km/sec).     

A new ultrasonic interferometer for the determination of equation of state parameters of sub-millimeter single crystals

A new giga-Hertz ultrasonic interferometer has been developed, based on ultrasonic microscopy technology. The interferometer operates from 0.3 GHz to 1.5 GHz. The high frequency and associated small wavelengths together with the large bandwidth make it possible to measure travel times in samples with thicknesses of several microns and allow for unprecedented accuracy in bond corrections. An absolute accuracy of 1 part in 10⁵ in travel time measurements is achievable in single crystals (thickness of 200 microns) or glasses of interest to the earth sciences. The high precision travel time data, combining with sample length measurements using a laser interferometer built in our laboratory, yield very high precision ultrasonic velocities.The interferometer is intended for use in conjunction with a newly developed 4 GPa gas piston cylinder apparatus (Getting andSpetzler, 1993) for equation of state measurements under simultaneous pressure and temperature. A separate correction for the bond will be made for each datum at every point in temperature pressure space.     

Spin-cast ZERODUR mirror substrates of the 8 m class and lightweight substrates for secondary mirrors

For about 20 years SCHOTT has been supplying the glass ceramic ZERODUR, a material with very low thermal expansion. Besides many other applications, ZERODUR is excellently suited for the manufacture of mirror substrates for telescopes. About 80% of all telescopes in the western world with mirror diameters >1.8 m have been equipped with ZERODUR during the last 10 years. The development of modern astronomical telescopes is aimed at larger primary mirrors and lighter secondary mirrors.New techniques have been developed by SCHOTT for manufacture of thin monolithic mirror blanks of more than 8 m in diameter. The development of thin meniscus shaped shells using the spin-casting technique was successfully completed last year. During a test production several mirror substrates up to 4.1 m in diameter and down to 57 mm in thickness could be produced. The know-how has been acquired for the fabrication of mirror substrates of more than 8 m in diameter by the spin-casting technique.SCHOTT has also performed considerable developmental work in the field of lightweighted ZERODUR mirror substrates which can be generated using different techniques: forming of the lightweighted structure during casting, fusion of individual components to a total structure and lightweighting of a massive block by various mechanical machining methods.Paper presented at the Symposium on the JNLT and Related Engineering Developments, Tokyo, November 29–December 2, 1988.Registered trademark of SCHOTT Glaswerke, Mainz.