Concept Of Circle Research Articles

Do you believe in magic? Computer games in everyday life

Huizinga's concept of a 'magic circle' has been used to depict computer games and gaming activities as something separate from ordinary life. In this view, games are special (magical) and they only come to life within temporal and spatial borders that are enacted and performed by the participants. This article discusses the concept of a 'magic circle' and finds that it lacks specificity. Attempts to use the concept of a magic circle create a number of anomalies that are problematic. This is not, as has been suggested earlier, primarily a matter of the genre of the game, or a discussion of what an appropriate definition of a 'game' might be. Rather, in this study with hardcore gamers, playing computer games is a routine and mundane activity, making the boundary between play and non-play tenuous to say the least. This article presents an alternative theoretical framework which should be explored further.

Centel of Virginia

Centel has completed a successful fall program tor improve productivity and services for incoming students at the University of Virginia. To use the concept of quality circles to extend these improvements to other aspects of Centel operations, an assistant must design a plan that takes into account how a service company like Centel would implement quality circles.The case forces a discussion of how quality circles operate and how they should be implemented as well as whether QCs are people-building or productivity improving programs.

Exact solution of the classical mechanical quadratic Zeeman effect

We address the curious problem of quadratic Zeeman effect at the classical mechanical level. The problem has been very well understood for decades, but an analytical solution of the equations of motion is still to be found. This state of affairs persists because the simultaneous presence of the Coulombic and quadratic terms lowers the dynamical symmetry. Energy and orbital angular momentum are still constants of motion. We find the exact solutions by introducing the concept of an image ellipse. The quadratic effect leads to a dilation of space-time, and a one-to-one correspondence is observed for pairs of physical quantities like energy and angular momentum, and the maximum and minimum distances from the Coulomb center for the Zeeman orbit and the corresponding pairs for the image ellipse. Thus, instead of finding additional conserved quantities, we find constants of motion for an additional dynamics, namely, the image problem. The trajectory is open, in agreement with Bertrand’s theorem, but necessarily bound. A stable unbound trajectory does not exist for real values of energy and angular momentum. The radial distance, the angle covered in the plane of the orbit, and the time are uniquely determined by introducing further the concept of an image circle. While the radial distance is defined in a closed form as a transcendental function of the image-circular angle, the corresponding orbit angle and time variables are found in the form of two convergent series expansions. The latter two variables are especially contracted, thereby leading to a precession of the open cycles around the Coulomb center. It is expected that the space-time dilation effect observed here would somehow influence the solution of the quantum mechanical problem at the non-relativistic level.

Discussion on: “Combining Slip and Deceleration Control for Brake-by-wire Control Systems: A Sliding-mode Approach”

The chapter starts with an examination of the forces created by the tyre. The tyre plays a fundamental part in vehicle dynamics since it is from the tyres that all the forces responsible for accelerating a vehicle longitudinally, in acceleration and braking, and laterally, in cornering, are generated. In addition, the tyre produces the vertical load that supports the corner load. Thus, forces are generated in all three directions. In addition, the tyre generates moments about all three directions, and so, a tyre is a device offering a six-degree-of-freedom compliance between the road surface and the axle. Following this examination, the mechanisms of grip generation are reviewed. Considerations such as chemistry, shape, temperature and inflation pressure are all presented, and the way in which they influence grip is considered. The construction of the tyre is examined, and in particular, the way in which lateral and longitudinal forces are developed is explained in detail. Camber thrust is similarly treated. The concept of the friction circle is developed, and the way in which lateral and longitudinal forces vary through a corner is examined. Consideration of tyre modelling and tyre testing is presented. The treatment offers a very comprehensive introduction to tyres and to their modelling and operation. There are questions, learning exercises and guided internet-based research to develop knowledge further.

Enabling the seamless supply chain by exploiting the four smooth material flow controls

A decade after the publication of the concept of smooth material flow via four fundamental principles related to the work of Jay Forrester and John Burbidge (FORRIDGE) the influence of this work on academe and industry is discussed. We show that by extension of their principles via a three-level model which includes the vision and the toolkit, substantial contributions have been made towards new management theory. The associated 12 simplicity rules and uncertainly circle concepts have been exploited within the structured framework provided by the quick scan audit methodology. This generates value stream classification ranging from baseline to exemplar, and a design procedure aimed at material flow best practice. A detailed case study demonstrates the improved industrial performance achievable by this means.

The Advantages of Evolving Perceptual Cues

This paper introduces the evolvable functional circle hypothesis. This hypothesis states that if it is assumed that von Uexküll’s concept of functional circles exists in robots and that the models used in evolutionary robotics are altered accordingly, then practitioners of evolutionary robotics will benefit in two ways. The first way is that by promoting the evolution of functional circles rather than sensorimotor loops, it allows evolved robots to select their own stimuli and therefore find their own meaning from environmental information. The second way is that it makes it easier for evolved robots to derive multiple meanings from the signal produced by a sensor. The paper goes on to demonstrate a method to alter our models in evolutionary robotics to promote the evolution of functional circles

Kinematic Analysis of Face Grinding Process at Lapping Machines

The precise face grinding and lapping technology with abrasive or abrasive tool has been widely used in the field of the precise manufacture and ultraprecise manufacture. It has become an essential technology in the manufacture of many components. The planetary lapping machine is typical equipment for face grinding or lapping process. And the relative motions between the workpieces and grinding wheel will affect the formation of wear profiles of the tools, furthermore, the work result will be affected directly by the cutting path of this relative motions. In this paper, the kinematic principle of face grinding process on lapping machines has been analyzed. By means of the concept of pitch point and pitch circles, the complicated grinding process has been converted into two kinds of rotations with the fixed center distance. Two kinds of path curves, i.e. workpiece against grinding wheel and grinding wheel against workpiece, and their relations are analyzed. The geometrical analyses and the manufacture quality of the workpiece are linked with the aid of the cutting velocity, the range of the rotational angle of the cutting traces and the rate of the change of the rotational angle with time. The optimal path curve and kinematic parameters are achieved, and these results are corresponding to the experimental results.

Sudden infant death syndrome, infection and inflammatory responses

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is sudden unexpected death in infancy for which there is no explanation after review of the history, a death scene investigation and a thorough autopsy. The use of common diagnostic criteria is a prerequisite for discussing the importance of infection, inflammatory responses and trigger mechanism in SIDS. Several observations of immune stimulation in the periphery and of interleukin-6 elevation in the cerebrospinal fluid of SIDS victims explain how infections can play a role in precipitating these deaths. Finally, these findings and important risk factors for SIDS are integrated in the concept of a vicious circle for understanding the death mechanism. The vicious circle is a concept to elucidate the interactions between unfavourable factors, including deficient auto-resuscitation, and how this could result in death.

Using the Concept of Literature Circles in a College Course

(2004). Using the Concept of Literature Circles in a College Course. Journal of Teaching in Marriage & Family: Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 217-224.

The quality circle approach to knowledge management

Whilst the concept of quality circles is well established in the management lexicon, knowledge management is a much more recent addition. The aim of this paper is to show that these two concepts, together with a number of others, are closely linked and are all aspects of a much more fundamental concept – organisational development. The paper illustrates this by looking at a quality circle and a knowledge management application in two West Midland SMEs and highlighting the similarities and dissimilarities between the two. Finally the paper discusses the factors that, in the author’s experience, predispose an organisation to be successful in terms of such initiatives.

Are isophotes and reflection lines the same?

Isophotes and reflection lines are standard tools for surface interrogation. We study the correlations between them. We show that isophotes and reflection lines are different (but not disjunct) classes of surface curves. Furthermore we introduce the concept of reflection circles as a generalization of isophotes and reflection lines. Reflection circles can be considered as the mirror images of a family of concentric circles on the surface. We show that reflection circles contain both isophotes and reflection lines as special cases.

New simple proofs of the two-port stability criterium in terms of the single stability parameter μ/sub 1/ (μ/sub 2/)

The classical scattering-parameter stability criterium for a linear two-port makes use of two conditions involving the Rollet parameter K plus one additional parameter. A new stability criterium was developed by Edwards and Sinksky [1992] on the basis of a condition on a single parameter, i.e., /spl mu//sub 1/ or /spl mu//sub 2/. This paper presents a new, simpler, and more straightforward set of proofs of the single-parameter stability criterium for a linear two-port. The first proof is algebraic and shows the equivalence of the conditions K>1, b/sub 1/>1 with the condition /spl mu//sub i/>1 (i=1, 2). The second proof, which is geometrical, relies only on the classical stability circle concepts in an improved way with respect to the treatment by Edwards and Sinksky.

Mending the Broken Circle: Treatment of Substance Dependence Among Native Americans

Issues surrounding substance dependence of Native Americans are examined through the cultural concept of the Broken Circle. Traditional cultural views of wellness and healing are described using the traditions of Indian Medicine, the value of the Circle, and what it means to live in harmony and balance. Underlying factors in substance dependence of Native Americans are presented along with practical counseling recommendations and implications for treatment through both contemporary and traditional Native healing methods.

Incremental circle transform and eigenvalue analysis for object recognition: an integrated approach

In this paper, a new method to recognize two-dimensional objects by combining the concept of incremental circle transform (ICT) and eigenvalue analysis is presented. The algorithm has two stages. In the first stage, the shape of an object is preserved by the use of ICT (Bein et al. Proc. ICARCV, 1990, 851–855), which maps the boundary of an object into a circle with constant radius. In the second stage, the eigenvalues of the variance and covariance matrix of the computed ICT vector are found and are used to represent compactly the set of objects. Apart of realizing memory reduction, the proposed integrated method is shown to be rotation and translation invariant. Experimental results have been highly encouraging in terms of accuracy in the recognition of target objects.

Criteria for the evaluation of unconditional stability of microwave linear two-ports: a critical review and new proof

The problem of unconditional stability for active two-port networks has been widely discussed in literature. A geometrical condition involving the stability circles and the Smith circle is generally found. Then, depending on the authors, several criteria, involving the two-port S-parameters, and equivalent to the geometrical one, are derived. The equivalence among the different stability criteria has been clearly shown and some complete proof exists in the literature. In this paper, after a critical outlook on the material existing in the literature, a new proof of the unconditional stability criterion is presented. This proof has the advantage of being directly related to the concept of stability circles and to some geometrical conditions on the Smith chart. Moreover, a straightforward proof is given in which the unconditional stability at the input port implies that at the output port and vice versa.

Development of an automated flexible fixture for planar objects

A three fingered automated flexible fixturing system has been developed to fixture planar objects in a machining process. The fixturing system consists of two computer numerically controlled (CNC) modules, an auxiliary mechanism and a fixturing algorithm. This fixture is designed on the idea of the minimum number of fingers needed to immobilise an object. The fixturing algorithm is developed on the concept of the maximal inscribed circle in a polygon. It offers the flexibility to reconfigure the fingers of the system to accommodate workpieces of different shapes and sizes. A prototype of the system has been successfully built and tested, showing satisfactory performance in mechanical design and automatic control over the configurations of the fingers. Examples are given of the application of the system with objects of different shapes. The system is shown to be flexible, reconfigurable and automatic, capable of fixturing planar objects of different shapes and sizes in the machining process.

Small Firms' Training and Competitiveness. Building Upon the Small business as a Learning Organisation

PROFESSOR ALLAN GIBB IS CHAIRMAN OF the Small Business Centre at Durham University Business School, England. This paper begins with a review of the present concerns to link training with competitiveness in the United Kingdom and Europe. It notes that many of the issues raised in this respect are over 20 years old. It suggests therefore a new way to approach the problems, namely by considering the learning needs that will reduce the transaction costs of the small firm operating its stakeholder environment. After defining the concept of learning it makes the distinction between contextual learning (via experience) and the associated tacit (subjective) knowledge that is gained by this, and objective and abstract knowledge frequently purveyed by teachers. It then explores the issue of the SME as a 'learning company' and argues that the key to its learning is via the transactional and other relationship that it has with its immediate network environment. The concept of learning circles and learning partnerships is introduced as a basis for exploring in some detail the issue of 'who' needs to learn. It is argued that the learning needs of those who effectively dictate the level of the playing field for achieving small business success are very high. The nature and importance of this learning need is then explored for key groups. It is argued that the benefits to society of this holistic approach to learning is a reduction in the 'discontinuities' between the SME and its environment and therefore a lowering of transaction costs.

Literature Circles: Reducing Reading Stress

AbstractThe concept of literature circles is now familiar in American and Australian literature about reading, but it does not as yet have great currency in this country. This article by Charlotte Keefe may do much to change this as it very lucidly explains the benefits of and teaching strategies underlying the use of literature circles. As Charlotte points out, they may do much to alleviate those of children's problems with reading which stem from not seeing the point and deriving little pleasure from the experience.

The Spoken and the Unspoken: A Hermeneutic Approach to Understanding the Cultural Viewpoints That Underlie Consumers' Expressed Meanings

This article draws on the philosophical concept of the hermeneutical circle to explore the cultural viewpoints that underlie the meanings expressed by consumers. Phenomenological interviews were conducted with adult female consumers. The interviews are interpreted first by the identification of an exemplary image or event that we describe as a symbolic metaphor. We show that these symbolic metaphors highlight key personal meanings that each participant ascribed to her consumer experiences. We then use a hermeneutic logic known as intertextual analysis to show that these personal meanings reflect more general cultural viewpoints that are implicitly conveyed in language. These intertextual interpretations offer insights into the sociocultural meanings that underlie skeptical, nostalgic, and pragmatic consumer orientations. A concluding discussion is given to key implications and areas for future research that follow from this hermeneutic approach.

Visual Neural Mapping Technique for Locating Fine Airborne Particles Sources

A combination of two pattern recognition methods has been developed that allows the generation of geographical emission maps from multivariate environmental data. During such a projection into a visually interpretable subspace by a Kohonen self-organizing feature map, the topology of the higher dimensional variables space can be preserved, but parts of the information about the correct neighborhood among the sample vectors are lost. This loss can partly be compensated for by the additional projection of Prim’s minimal spanning tree onto the trained neural network. This new environmental receptor site modeling technique is theoretically discussed for measurements from single sampling sites. In order to obtain a further quantitative evaluation of such a combined mapping of minimal spanning tree and Kohonen neural network, the concept of a geographic unit circle (GUC) is introduced as well. The GUC around the single sampling site in Granite City, IL, yielded estimates of the emission levels, the trace element profiles, and the geographic directions for a number of airborne particle sources.