Flood generation: process patterns from the raindrop to the ocean

This article reviews river flood generation processes and flow paths across space scales. The scale steps include the pore, profile, hillslope, catchment, regional and continental scales, representing a scale range of a total of 10 orders of magnitude. Although the processes differ between the scales, there are notable similarities. At all scales, there are media patterns that control the flow of water, and are themselves influenced by the flow of water. The processes are therefore not spatially random (as in thermodynamics) but organised, and preferential flow is the rule rather than the exception. Hydrological connectivity, i.e. the presence of coherent flow paths, is an essential characteristic at all scales. There are similar controls on water flow and thus on flood generation at all scales, however, with different relative magnitudes. Processes at lower scales affect flood generation at the larger scales not simply as a multiple repetition of pore scale processes, but through interactions, which cause emergent behaviour of process patterns. For this reason, when modelling these processes, the scale transitions need to be simplified in a way that reflects the relevant structures (e.g. connectivity) and boundary conditions (e.g. groundwater table) at each scale. In conclusion, it is argued that upscaling as the mere multiple application of small scale process descriptions will not capture the larger scale patterns of flood generation. Instead, there is a need to learn from observed patterns of flood generation processes at all spatial scales.

THE GREAT GATSBY BY F. S. FITZGERALD: POETIC TEXT

В статье обсуждается вопрос о понимании текста на основе восстановления читателем смысла «поэтическое» как инварианта жанрового смысла культуры. Ритмический рисунок романа является одновременно и важной характеристикой стиля текста и основанием для отбора автором стилистических изобразительных средств. Смысл «поэтическое» прослеживается на всех уровнях организации высказывания и помогает восстанавливать его более частные смыслы. The article discusses the issue of understanding the text based on the reader's restoration of the meaning of «poetic» as an invariant of the genre meaning of culture. The rhythmic pattern of the novel is an essential characteristic of the author's style and, at the same time, the basis for the selection of stylistic pictorial means. Rhythmization can be traced at all levels of the organization of the utterance and helps to restore its more particular meanings.

Corruption-Driven Inequalities in Access to Adult Education

The article aims to show that taking into account diverse characteristics of the wider social environment is indispensable for a better understanding of participation in adult education (PAE). It explores the association of corruption as a macro factor with PAE, arguing for an integrated approach to PAE. By using two indexes for corruption at country level Corruption Perception Index and the Index of Public Integrity—and micro-data for adults aged 25–64 from 29 European countries in the Adult Education Survey, 2016, as well as by applying random-effects logit models, this study has demonstrated that a country's higher corruption level is associated with the lower probability of PAE. Our article also reveals that the relationships between individual-level variables such as gender, higher education, social background, and PAE are embedded in a wider social milieu, and corruption is an essential characteristic of that milieu which deepens some of the inequalities in PAE.

Solons Fr. 12 G.-P.2 (= 9 W.2): ein Textvorschlag

This paper proposes a new conjecture for Solon fr. 12 G.-P.2 (= 9 W.2). In this, as in other poems, Solon shows a clear desire to present himself as an expert in the political milieu and to serve as a guide for the community of Athens. The politician’s penetrating gaze, his far-sighted νόος, is able to grasp in nuce the development of political dynamics which, if they prevail, could mean the ruin of the city as a whole. Solon frames his νόος as an indispensable tool for the analysis of the city and its optimal and timely planning. To a secular conception of the νόος, which is the essential characteristic of the excellent politician, is added a traditional one that considers the νόος as a gift of Apollo. In this way, Solon appears as a politically engaged poet of the πόλις who mediates between the fighting factions and tries to work for the good of the community.

"I need to play three times before I kind of understand"

Replay of interactive stories is an essential characteristic of the medium, enabling players to both see whether their choices impact the narrative, and work towards an understanding of the story and underlying system. Despite the centrality of replay to the form, little work has been done to investigate what motivates people to replay interactive stories, or when and why they stop replaying. In this paper, we report on the results of an exploratory qualitative observational study of 12 participants (aged 22 to 28) replaying the visual novel The Shadows that Run Alongside Our Car, a short work that presents a post-apocalyptic survival story from the perspective of two different playable characters and involves four dialogue choices leading to one of three possible endings. Unlike previous models of rereading, our observations suggest that players' reasons for deciding whether or not to replay change fluidly as their sense of closure changes, and players are deciding based not just on whether they have reached closure, but also on their estimate of the likelihood of seeing something new or moving closer to closure versus the effort required to replay. This suggests a need to rethink earlier, more simplistic models of rereading in interactive stories.

INFORMATION RELIABILITY ENHANCEMENT METHODS

Information reliability is the property of information to reflect real-world objects with the necessary accuracy. The reliability of information is an essential characteristic of any communication system. It is found that in modern network architectures of test automation systems, the main problem in the field of enhancement of the reliability of information is the creation of methods aimed at solving the problem of enhancing the reliability for «real» time systems.

Recent Improvements of the PV Solar Energy Generation Performance

PV solar energy is the upcoming king of the energy source in the world, which is the fastest growing, most available, sustainable, clean, and environmentally friendly renewable energy. The essential characteristic of PV solar energy is generating the maximum power at mid-day. At the same time, the energy demand is high during the daytime. Due to this, PV solar energy replaces the conventional energy demand at peak periods. The sun is the source of PV solar energy, and it changed into electricity directly by using solar cells, which are made from semiconductor materials called silicon. Therefore, PV solar energy plays a crucial role in providing usable energy, and as well as reducing carbon dioxide emissions. However, the solar energy generation systems not achieved the desired efficiency yet, because of many unsolved problems like weather conditions, losses, materials made by and so on. The aims of this paper is to review the current literature on the improvement of the PV solar energy generation system's overall performance. First, to figure out the existing challenges, like environmental factors and natural phenomena that affect the PV solar modules efficiency. Then it presents the techniques that are used to enhance the PV solar modules overall performance. Finally, to propose the best ways and techniques to improve the PV modules efficiency and suggest to further studies.

The Distinguishing Characteristic of Task-based Language Assessment

Since its advent, the principles of Task-Based Language Teaching have been extended to assessment giving rise to Task-Based Language Assessment. Despite the growing body of research on the efficacy of Task-Based Language Teaching in instruction, the application of the assessment based on the tenets of Task-Based Language Teaching has been mainly neglected in some studies owing to their lack of use of Task-Based Language Assessment to measure the effectiveness of Task-Based Language Teaching (viz., Li, et al., 2016). The present study emphasizes the importance of Task-Based Language Assessment and highlights the feature that distinguishes this type of assessment from other assessments. The study concludes that while the performance-referenced feature of Task-Based Language Assessment is an essential characteristic thereof, it is, in fact, the holistic and direct feature of Task-Based Language Assessment that distinguishes it from other assessments. The more the assessment measure is incorporated in the performance of assessment tasks, the more the assessment tasks are based on the tenets of Task-Based Language Assessment. Therefore, the holistic and contextualized assessment tasks improve the confidence with which language teachers could generalize the results of the assessment tasks to real-life situations.

Algunas reflexiones sobre las distintas alternativas existentes para financiar el mantenimiento y conservación de las carreteras españolas

LABURPENA: Zenbait finantzaketa-eredu daude Espainiako errepideak mantentzeko eta zaintzeko, eta horiek oinarrituta daude bideen erabiltzaileentzat doakoak izatean edo azpiegitura horiek erabiltzearen truke ordaintzean. Zer aukera hautatzen dugun, finantzaketa-sistema orok funtsezko ezaugarri berak bete behar ditu, nahitaezkoa baita irizpide egonkorrak, aurresangarriak eta proportzionalak betetzea. Ildo horretatik, dauden finantzaketa-formula guztiak aztertzen ditu lan honek, eta ahalegintzen da bakoitzaren zailtasunak eta bertuteak agerian uzten; egiaztatutako arazoak arintzeko tresna juridikoak eskaintzen ditu, halaber. Bereziki, errepideak aurrekontu orokorren kontura finantzatzea edo tasak (bideen erabileraren iraupenaren arabera) edo bidesariak (erabiltzaileek ibilitako zatia) erabiltzea aztertuko da. ABSTRACT: There are different financing models for the maintenance of Spanish roads, which are based either on gratuity for road users or on payment for the use of such infrastructures. Regardless of the alternative chosen, the essential characteristic which any financing system must meet are identical, requiring submission to stable, predictable and proportional criteria. In this sense, the paper addresses the different financing formula, trying to highlight their difficulties and virtues, as well as offering legal tools in order to mitigate any problems that may arise. In particular, the work will analyse the financing of roads from general budgets, the implementation of user charges - linked to the duration of road use - or the use of tolls - which are levied on the distance travelled by road users. RESUMEN: Existen distintos modelos de financiación para el mantenimiento y conservación de las carreteras españolas, que se sustentan bien en la gratuidad para los usuarios de las vías o bien en el pago por el uso de dichas infraestructuras. Con independencia de la alternativa escogida, las características esenciales con las que ha de cumplir todo sistema de financiación son idénticas, exigiéndose el sometimiento a criterios estables, predecibles y proporcionales. En este sentido, el presente trabajo aborda las distintas fórmulas de financiación posibles, tratando de poner de manifiesto las dificultades y virtudes de las mismas, así como ofreciendo herramientas jurídicas para mitigar los problemas que pudieran constatarse. En particular, se analizará la financiación de carreteras con cargo a presupuestos generales o el recurso a tasas –vinculadas a la duración del uso de las vías– o a peajes –que gravan la distancia recorrida por los usuarios.

River sinuosity describes a continuum between randomness and ordered growth

River channels are among the most common landscape features on Earth. An essential characteristic of channels is sinuosity: their tendency to take a circuitous path, which is quantified as along-stream length divided by straight-line length. River sinuosity is interpreted as a characteristic that either forms randomly at channel inception or develops over time as meander bends migrate. Studies tend to assume the latter and thus have used river sinuosity as a proxy for both modern and ancient environmental factors including climate, tectonics, vegetation, and geologic structure. But no quantitative criterion for planform expression has distinguished between random, initial sinuosity and that developed by ordered growth through channel migration. This ambiguity calls into question the utility of river sinuosity for understanding Earth’s history. We propose a quantitative framework to reconcile these competing explanations for river sinuosity. Using a coupled analysis of modeled and natural channels, we show that while a majority of observed sinuosity is consistent with randomness and limited channel migration, rivers with sinuosity ≥1.5 likely formed their geometry through sustained, ordered growth due to channel migration. This criterion frames a null hypothesis for river sinuosity that can be applied to evaluate the significance of environmental interpretations in landscapes shaped by rivers. The quantitative link between sinuosity and channel migration further informs strategies for preservation and restoration of riparian habitat and guides predictions of fluvial deposits in the rock record and in remotely sensed environments from the seafloor to planetary surfaces.