Discontinuity

Current individual-based, process-oriented approaches (dynamic systems theory and the microgenetic perspective) have led to an increase of variability-centred studies in the literature. The aim of this article is to propose a technique that incorporates variability in the analysis of the shape of developmental change. This approach is illustrated by the analysis of time serial language data, in particular data on the development of preposition use, collected from four participants. Visual inspection suggests that the development of prepositions-in-contexts shows a characteristic pattern of two phases, corresponding with a discontinuity. Three criteria for testing such discontinuous phase-wise change in individual data are presented and applied to the data. These are: (1) the sub-pattern criterion, (2) the peak criterion and (3) the membership criterion. The analyses rely on bootstrap and resampling procedures based on various null hypotheses. The results show that there are some indications of discontinuity in all participants, although clear inter-individual differences have been found, depending on the criteria used. In the discussion we will address several fundamental issues concerning (dis)continuity and variability in individual-based, process-oriented data sets.

We present a new formulation and a numerical procedure for the quasi-static analysis of threedimensional crack propagation in brittle and quasi-brittle solids. The extended finite element method (XFEM) is combined with linear tetrahedral elements. A viscosity-regularized continuum damage constitutive model is used and coupled with the XFEM formulation resulting in a regularized 'crack-band' version of XFEM. The evolving discontinuity surface is discretized through a C 0 surface formed by the union of the triangles and quadrilaterals that separate each cracked element in two. The element's properties allow a closed form integration and a particularly efficient implementation allowing largescale 3D problems to be studied. Several examples of crack propagation are shown, illustrating the good results that can be achieved.

A series of numerical schemes: first-order upstream, Lax -Friedrichs; second-order upstream, central difference, Lax-Wendroff, Beam-Warming, Fromm; third-order QUICK, QUICKEST and high resolution flux-corrected transport and total variation diminishing (TVD) methods are compared for onedimensional convection-diffusion problems. Numerical results show that the modified TVD Lax-Friedrichs method is the most competent method for convectively dominated problems with a steep spatial gradient of the variables.

This article is concerned with interface problems for Lipschitz mappings f + : R n + → R m and f − : R n − → R m in the half spaces, which agree on the common boundary R n−1 = ∂R n + = ∂R n − . These naturally occur in mathematical models for material microstructures and crystals. The task is to determine the relationship between the sets of values of the differentials Df + and Df − . For some time it has been thought that the polyconvex hulls [Df + ] pc and [Df − ] pc satisfy Hadamard's jump condition or are at least rank-one connected. Our examples here refute this idea.

A recent development in the use of lidar remote sensing techniques is ground-based laser scanning. Laser scanning of rock faces yields the spatial relation between all scanned rock surface points, at a very high resolution, basically a dense "point cloud" in three-dimensional space. The subject of this research is to obtain discontinuity information from the point cloud data set, using an approach that can be automated. The first step in this methodology is to interpolate the point cloud data using 3D Delaunay triangulation in order to create a 3D surface. As a 3D triangulated surface, the scanned rock face is represented by a large number of triangles. The orientation of each triangle can subsequently be computed using basic geometrical rules. Analysis of the kernel density stereo plots of the orientation of all triangles, reveal that specific discontinuity sets can be recognised. Obviously, if this approach can be further developed and fully automated, this would give the site engineer or geologist, in realtime, evidence on the internal structure of any discontinuous rock mass. Particularly in areas where access to rock outcrops is poor, application of this technique will be very promising.

A succession of technological discontinuities and dominant designs between automakers has historically epitomized the automotive industry. This is a complex and uncertain process of innovation in which the technology variable is intertwined with business decisions. In this regard, innovation scholars have questioned the conditions under which the succession of technological discontinuities and dominant designs can be successfully managed. This article joins the debate through a detailed historical analysis of the strategies pursued by Henry Ford from 1896 to 1914. The case study suggests that Ford dynamically managed this succession by pursuing five strategies: 1) experimentation with product architecture; 2) short-term partnerships for knowledge exchange; 3) the democratization of product architecture; 4) a transition from rational to emotional advertising; and 5) the vertical integration of an integrated moving assembly line. Drawing on these insights, we provide theoretical contributions and an original historical comparison of Ford Motor Company with Tesla, Inc.

Based on contextual information, forecasters often make judgmental adjustments to the forecasts of exponential smoothing models. This approach can produce sound initial forecasts, but it can result in diminished accuracy for forecast updates as well as misleading signaling effects. A proposed technique lets the forecaster include judgmental adjustments within an exponential smoothing model. For 20 real data series representing Virginia Medicaid expenses, forecasts are developed using the proposed technique and several alternatives, and they are updated through various simulated level shifts. The study shows that the proposed technique is more accurate than the alternatives in updating forecasts when a shift in level occurs approximately as planned. Other advantages of the proposed technique include automation through final reporting when the shift occurs as planned, better detection capability when the planned shift does not occur, and ease of adjusting the forecast when new assumptions about the planned change are warranted.

Détection et localisation de défauts dans des réseaux filaires de topologie complexe. Auteur principal : Fabrice AUZANNEAU -CEA LIST Tél : 01 69 08 90 70 -email : fabrice.auzanneau@cea.fr L'auteur est le responsable du Laboratoire de Fiabilisation des Systèmes Embarqués au CEA, centre de Saclay (91). Autres auteurs : Nicolas RAVOT -CEA LIST I. Résumé La réflectométrie est une méthode couramment utilisée pour déterminer l'état électrique de câbles et de lignes. Cette méthode fournit des informations pour la détection, la localisation et la caractérisation de défauts électriques. Le CEA LIST travaille sur l'implémentation de cette méthode pour le diagnostic de réseaux filaires de topologie complexe, pour des applications embarquées ou de diagnostic en ligne. Les domaines d'application concernent les télécommunications, l'automobile et les transports, la distribution d'énergie, etc.

Não é razoável, dizem eles, que Deus, sempre consistente consigo mesmo, tenha sofrido tão grande mudança que desaprovasse depois o que uma vez ordenara e recomendara. Respondo que Deus não deve ser considerado mutável por acomodar diferentes fórmulas a eras diferentes, segundo sabe ser apropriado a cada uma. Se um lavrador prescreve a sua família um conjunto de tarefas no inverno, e outro no verão, não o acusaremos, por isso, de inconstância nem o julgaremos desviar-se da norma correta da agricultura, que depende da ordem regular da natureza. De igual modo, se um pai de família instrui, governa, trata a seus filhos de uma forma na infância, de outra na adolescência, de outra na juventude, não diremos, por isso, ser ele leviano ou ter abandonado sua opinião. Portanto, por que acusamos Deus de inconstância ao ter ele estabelecido arranjos apropriados e coerentes para a diversidade dos tempos?" (João Calvino, Institutas, livro II, XI.13) Revelação a Adão X Revelação a Noé B. Aspectos de Descontinuidade:  Ampliação da fonte de alimento:  1.29: "... todas as ervas que dão semente e se acham na superfície de toda a terra e todas as árvores em que há fruto que dê semente" (cf. 3.18: "comerás a erva do campo; isso vos será por alimento")  9.3: "Tudo o que se move e vive ser-vos-á para alimento; como vos dei a erva verde, tudo vos dou agora"  Elemento novo de responsabilidade em Gn 9: a mediação humana na punição do assassinato (v. 5-6).

The connection between film elements and brain responses has been suggested by a number of neurocognitive studies. The studies of event segmentation, in particular, support that film editing conditions cognitive responses. After discussing the findings of these studies, this article draws on Münsterberg and Arnheim's classical cognitive approaches to film as well as on poststructuralist film theory to argue that the event segmentation approach still falls short of accounting for the impact of noncontinuous film stimuli on the brain's event segmentation, while it shares with other neurocognitive film research the tendency to naturalize narrative and continuity editing. Finally, the article points out that by approaching the findings of event segmentation studies from the perspective of complex systems neuroscience, new hypotheses can be drawn on how noncontinuous and complex film stimuli condition our brains by mediating (enabling or disrupting) event segmentation and cognitive patterning.

Challenged by competition pressures and the unprecedented pace of change, firms cannot choose anymore whether to concentrate on the needs of today's customers or on the anticipation of tomorrow's needs: they must be excellent at both. This requires managing two related balancing acts: on the one side, being excellent in both the exploitation and exploration of their capabilities and, on the other side, being excellent in managing both incremental and radical innovation. These two balances are critical since exploitation and exploration, on the one side, and incremental and radical innovation, on the other side, require different approaches that have been traditionally considered difficult to combine within the same organisation.

Exceeding the shear strength results in failure of the ground which can be described by the Mohr-Coulomb Failure Envelope. This is also used, sometimes, as a constitutive model for the shear strength along surfaces of, for example, discontinuities.

A pre-requisite in slope stability analyses is that the internal structure and the mechanical properties of the soil or rock mass of the slope, are known or can be estimated with a reasonable degree of certainty. Geophysical methods to determine the internal structure of a soil or rock mass may be used for this purpose. Various geophysical methods and their merits for slope stability analyses are discussed. Seismic methods are often the most suitable because the measurements depend on the mechanical properties that are also important in the mechanical calculation of slope stability
analyses. Other geophysical methods, such as electromagnetic, electric resistivity, self-potential, and gravity methods, may be useful to determine the internal structure, but require a correlation of found boundaries with mechanical properties.

In this paper we draw together the changing orientations that have been shaping the project business arena during the past years and discuss their implications for the future of project marketing theory and practice. Based on empirical qualitative data from two longitudinal research programmes, we identify ten changing orientations shaping the international project business, and discuss how these orientations challenge the existing concepts of project marketing. By reporting several case examples from our crossnational qualitative data, we illustrate these orientations and analyse how they affect the behavior of project business companies. Finally we discuss them in the light of the existing project marketing concepts and propose new directions for project marketing research in order to keep up with these changing orientations. Based on each identified changing orientation we propose a possible shift in project marketing and draw implications for project marketing theory and practice. ª

Three published rock mass classi®cation systems (RMR, SMR, RMS) were applied to weak Waikato Coal Measure mudrocks in order to assess their value as indicators of rock mass conditions and stable slope angles. The SMR classi®cation gives the most sensitive measure of rock mass conditions for the slopes studied, but none of the systems adequately predicts observed slope angles. Regression analysis indicates that where conditions for failure by sliding along discontinuities exist the slopes are most sensitive to the discontinuity parameters of parallelism, dip angle and spacing. Further, when the discontinuities are oriented favourably with respect to the slope, slope angles are most sensitive to intact rock strength and groundwater. This is supported by geomorphic evidence. Low angle natural slopes developed on unfavourable discontinuity sets are well predicted by published equations associated with both the RMR and RMS classi®cation systems. Steeper slopes developed on favourable discontinuities are at a much lower angle than the equations predict and show evidence of extensive creep. Application of the present rock mass classi®cation systems to these weak rocks is thus only appropriate when conditions exist under which the rocks fail by sliding on unfavourably oriented discontinuities. Where this does not occur, the contribution of intact strength to the rock mass strength is greatly overestimated by all of the rock mass classi®cation systems studied. Development of a separate rock mass classi®cation for these conditions is not seen as appropriate. Hence, recognition of the favourability or otherwise of the discontinuity sets is crucial to dealing with these rocks. A stereonet overlay that facilitates this division is presented. q

A lot has been speculated and written over the last few decades on the similarities between Eastern Religions and Quantum Physics. Most of the time the connection is oversimplified and blurred, and it is taken for granted that somehow they are identical. In this text I will be comprehensively describing and comparing three schools of Vedantic Hinduism, Buddhism and Quantum Physics. I will attempt to show the similarities and differences and will show that there really is a narrow field of religious schools of thought that can even be related to Quantum Physics. In the end the reader will have knowledge of all these religious schools of thought, Quantum Physics and be able to see the connections and contradictions that all these fields have with each other.

The strength of a rock mass for foundation purposes is for a large part determined by the discontinuities in the rock mass. Numerical calculations of discontinuous rock masses prove often to be cumbersome and unreliable. Rock mass classification may be an equal or more reliable methodology. The Slope Stability Probability Classification (SSPC) system designed for slope stability may be used for this purpose. The system has been developed during four years of research in Falset, province Tarragona, Spain. The rock slope classification scheme assesses orientation dependent and orientation independent stability. The orientation independent stability assessment leads to a rock mass strength criterion based on classification data, e.g. intact rock strength, discontinuity spacing and discontinuity condition. The criterion is developed in the context of a slope stability classification system, however, there is no reason that the criterion is not also valid for the determination of rock mass strength for other purposes, such as foundations on a discontinuous rock mass. The results of the strength criterion are compared to the results of the ’modified Hoek-Brown strength criterion’ and to the rock mass strength as determined by Bieniawski’s classification system.

A new approach for modelling discrete cracks in meshfree particle methods in three dimensions is described. The cracks can be arbitrarily oriented, but their growth is represented discretely by activation of crack surfaces at individual particles, so no representation of the crack’s topology is needed. The crack is modelled by a local enrichment of the test and trial functions with a sign function (a variant of the Heaviside step function), so that the discontinuities are along the direction of the crack. The discontinuity consists of cylindrical planes centered at the particles. The method is formulated for large deformations and arbitrary nonlinear and rate-dependent materials; cohesive laws govern the traction-crack opening relations. To reduce computational cost and since more accuracy around the crack tip is needed to obtain adequate results, h-adaptivity is incorporated in the method. The model is applied to several three-dimensional problems, some of which are compared to experimental data.

Resumen: Un gran número de comentaristas de Foucault afirman que la biopolítica forma parte de manera fundamental del corpus de su obra. La discusión acerca de esta noción está imbricada en la política contemporánea, pero dicha interpretación se aleja de las ideas mismas de Foucault. En ese sentido, ¿en qué consisten esas modificaciones que se desprenden de la obra foucaultiana? ¿Se trata de movimientos propios de la noción o de innovaciones investigativas ulteriores? ¿Existe una lógica que sigue el concepto y si es así qué lógica interna juega esta noción dentro del pensamiento del filósofo francés? La biopolítica se comprende a partir del sentido y significado de la vida en los siglos XVIII-XIX y, de esa manera, en torno a la estrategia política que circula en esos siglos. Una relación entre la política y la biopolítica o, si se prefiere, un problema discontinuo, es decir, una relación que intenta unir áreas que hasta ahora no han sido consideradas: la discontinuidad y la misma biopolítica. ¿Es posible considerar la biopolítica como un problema discontinuo y como un método en el que la discontinuidad es preeminente? Es una pregunta que pretendemos desplegar en este trabajo.

The kinematic test for toppling developed by Goodman and Bray (1976) was based on a two dimensional relationship (90°-δ) +φj <α (where δ= dip of discontinuity, φj, = friction angle of the discontinuity and, α = slope angle). The steeply dipping discontinuities into a slope, which the relationship describes, must have a strike nearly parallel to the strike of the slope. ‘Nearly’ is defined as up to 30° out of alignment though in the original paper by Goodman and Bray the strike had to be within 10°. By using the expressions for toppling failure and substituting instead for δ the apparent dip δa in Hack (1996) it is shown that the zone for toppling can be much larger than the 30° as stated by Goodman (1989). The relationship is derived in terms of principal stresses and apparent dip. The equation is more akin to a phenomena describing limited flexural slip at the surface of the slope resulting in ‘spalling’ of rock fragments from the slope surface. By making a distinction between toppling resulting from ‘over-turning’ and toppling by ‘spalling’ results in the much more limited instability zone on streographic projections as described by Goodman 1989. It is the the spalling that would eventually undermine the layering to form ‘leaning columns’ which can topple by ‘over-turning’ as the term ‘topple’ suggests. The slenderness of the columns and the dip of the layering (‘lean of the columns’) would indicate the likelihood of over-turning.

This paper proposes a new analysis in a Combinatory Categorial Grammar (CCG) of long-known coordination and discontinuity data in English. The analysis is based on the wrap operation first proposed by . It goes on to explore new data relating to Heavy-NP Shift and particle verbs, and a discontinuous coordination phenomenon known as Right-Node Wrapping (Whitman 2009). Finally it demonstrates that all these data are natural consequences of the present analysis.

Iniziato a scrivere 28 anni fa e interrotto, più che concluso, nel 2002, Works è stato pubblicato da Einaudi nel 2016. È un libro straordinariamente lungo, strabordante. Seicentocinquanta pagine di pensieri minuziosi, dove il dettaglio-soprattutto quando restituisce la dimensione tecnica e la prassi dell'esecuzione del lavoro-non è mai superfluo. Il protagonista è un diplomato dell'istituto tecnico per geometri che inizia a lavorare quando ancora i pennini si caricavano d'inchiostro, le tavole si disegnavano a mano e i fogli lucidi in formato A0 si trasformavano in copie cianografiche da piegare con cura. Un diplomato che non è mai diventato geometra con potere di firma e che esplora studi professionali, cantieri, uffici comunali, cooperative con contratti e accordi non sempre regolari ma di certo piuttosto diversificati tra loro. Cambia spesso. Per insofferenza. Per non volersi identificare con alcun altro nome che il proprio. Per assecondare la propria indole più che per scelte ponderate o di successo. Ricopre diverse professioni anche e soprattutto quelle meno qualificate che-come sente più volte ripetere-gli italiani non vogliono fare più e che, invece, gli consentono di essere assunto proprio perché lui è italiano. Eppure, nonostante l'ampio catalogo, il volume è tutt'altro che un'epopea romantica tanto che, sul finire delle pagine, si legge: «Mai riuscito a pensare, mai, neanche una volta, che se tornassi indietro rifarei tutto. Se tornassi indietro questo libro non esisterebbe». Il volume racconta la vita di un giovane che entra e esce dal mercato del lavoro. E intorno nel frattempo il lavoro cambia, cambia il contesto produttivo e l'idea del lavoro stesso. Né eroe, né antieroe. Semplicemente narratore. O meglio: la biografia-soprattutto nella ricostruzione che regala la scrittura-rimane l'assunto centrale e indiscutibile nella definizione di una identità del personaggio-scrittore. Il lavoro, anzi, i lavori (e il progressivo passaggio alla società dei lavori come più scientificamente avrebbe scritto Gosetti negli anni) pur oggetto della narrazione-e pur costituendo il titolo stesso del libro-perdono il ruolo centrale di riconoscimento sociale e di elemento preminente per perseguire diritti ed esercitare doveri. Mentre si legge, non si può fare a meno di calcolare che la storia di Trevisan-personaggio possa sembrare-per finta e per davvero-più facile di quanto lo sarebbe oggi per due ragioni: la narrazione si chiude prima della grande crisi economica (segnata convenzionalmente dall'anno 2008) e si svolge tutta in un distretto produttivo, quello vicentino, ricco di risorse e imprese e posti di lavoro. Detto questo, nonostante l'insieme delle vicende anticipi la storia della prima generazione di precari post crisi, condivide con questa la frammentazione delle traiettorie che dalla giovinezza portano allo status della vita adulta. Ogni nuova transizione si presenta senza approdo, temporanea e soprattutto reversibile (dalla uscita dalla famiglia di origine alla condizione abitativa, dalla creazione di una nuova famiglia all'inserimento stabile nel mercato del lavoro).

3D terrestrial laser scanning is nowadays the technique for 3D mapping and documentation of rock faces and tunnels that shows most potential. In this paper two state-of-the-art methods are described to map rock mass fractures on the basis of 3D laser scan data: a semi-automatic method and a fully automated approach. Both methods give good results and have both their advantages and disadvantages in terms of practical implementation. Both methods make use of the very high level of detail and precision that the 3D laser scan data provide. This, together with the rapid method and simple way of data acquisition makes 3D lasers scanning the most promising fracture mapping tool in the future.

Article based on paper presented as part of Panel 24: ‘Looting, Refusing, Negating, Embodying’ ‘Critical Refusals’ Fourth Biennal Conference of the International Herbert Marcuse Society, University of Pennsylvania, 27-29th October 2011

http://www.pdcnet.org/radphilrev/content/radphilrev_2013_0016_0001_0375_0385

http://web.asc.upenn.edu/news/Critical_Refusals_Conference.pdf

In: R. Karl & J. Leskovar (Hrsg.), Interpretierte Eisenzeiten. Fallstudien, Methoden, Theorie. Tagungsbeiträge der 8. Linzer Gespräche zur interpretativen Eisenzeitarchäologie. Studien zur Kulturgeschichte von Oberösterreich, Folge 49 (Linz 2019) 17–26.

Edited version of published paper presented at 'Is Black and Red Dead?' Conference, Centre for the Study of Social and Global and Justice (CSSGJ) University of Nottingham, 7-8 September, 2009

https://socialhistoryportal.org/news/articles/110943

This paper describes a futures method called the &quot;Three Horizons &quot; which enables different futures and strategic methods to be integrated as and when appropriate. The method is still in development. It differs significantly from the original version described in the management literature a decade ago. The approach has several strengths. It can relate drivers and trends-based futures analysis to emerging issues. It enables policy or strategy implications of futures to be identified. And it links futures work to processes of change. The paper connects this latter aspect to models of change developed within the &apos;social shaping &apos; school of technology. Finally, it summarises a number of futures applications where this evolving technique has been used.

Modern age was characterized by the prevailing influence of the systematic thought. Causal order in the physical world and formal order in axiomatic systems became dominant in scientific knowledge and inspired for a couple of centuries many legal philosophers, leading to codification. The so called "perfect legal syllogism" is a typical product of such theories: a kind of inference which is totally abstract and, for this reason, unfit for the complexity of legal discourses. Nevertheless the abandon of judicial decisions to the complete discretion of the judges does not seem to be the best way to face this lack of rationality in legal issues. There is in fact another way to manage the essential "discontinuity" of legal discourses: the one provided by judicial rhetoric.

A meshfree method for thin shells with finite strains and arbitrary evolving cracks is described. The C1 displacement continuity requirement is met by the approximation, so no special treatments for fulfilling the Kirchhoff condition are necessary. Membrane locking is eliminated by the use of a cubic or quartic polynomial basis. The shell is tested for several elastic and elasto-plastic examples and shows good results. The shell is subsequently extended to modelling cracks. Since no discretization of the director field is needed, the incorporation of discontinuities is easy to implement and straightforward. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

In order to understand and improve the crashworthiness of airdropped flexible containers, this paper presents the work of numerical simulations about the dynamic behaviour of the container under impact loading. A finite element model of the container is constructed and used to predict the dynamic response of the container. Water movement and sloshing in the container are modelled using the multi-material ALE method; interaction between the container and the fluid is studied by the penalty method. Mechanical properties of the fabric composite are obtained by applying periodic boundary conditions on the unit cell model. Numerical results are compared with experiment data for the validation of the model and the approaches. With a range of system parameters, numerical tests show that the shoulder of the container is the most vulnerable part during the impact. Both the drop heights and the amount of water have great effects on the crashworthiness of the container. The maximum dynamic stress of the container is proportional to the drop height. The amount of water in the container influences the failure of the container.

Bu tez en temelde süreklilik ve süreksizlik kavramlarının bir incelemesini içermektedir. Bu inceleme gerçekleşirken ilkin Deleuze ve Guattari’nin Felsefe Nedir? isimli kitabı referans alınarak felsefe, bilim ve sanat tanımları belirlenmiş ve bir tür araştırma yöntemi olarak ele alınmıştır. Böylelikle süreklilik ve süreksizlik kavramları bu araştırma yöntemlerine dayandırılarak ele alınmıştır. Buna göre ilk bölümde süreklilik ve süreksizlik ilişkileri kavram olarak ele alınıp felsefedeki karşılıkları gösterilmiştir. Bu araştırma Antik Yunan’dan Modern Felsefe’ye kadar ilgili kavramları mesele eden filozoflar üzerinden kronolojik olarak gerçekleştirilmiştir. İkinci bölümde bu kavramlar fonksiyon olarak ele alınmış ve ışığın dalga-parçacık ilişkisi olanağında incelenmiştir. Bu araştırmada dönemin değişen evren algısının ışık olgusunun sürekli ve süreksiz ilişkileri olanağında nasıl değişikliğe uğradığı gösterilmiştir. Üçüncü bölümde ise süreklilik ve süreksizlik kavramları duyum üzerinden ele alınarak İzlenimcilik ve Yeni-izlenimcilik üzerinden görme ve algılama ilişki örneklerle incelenmiştir. Bu yapılırken izlenimciliğin felsefi ve bilimsel temelleri gösterilmiş, uygulama örneklerinin ise bu temeller olanağında nasıl geliştiği gösterilmeye çalışılmıştır.   
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This thesis fundamentally features an examination of the concepts of continuity and discontinuity. In the study, first, the definitions of philosophy, science and art were determined based on Deleuze and Guattari's book named "What is Philosophy?" and they were put to use as a type of research method. Thus, the concepts of continuity and discontinuity were examined based on these research methods. Accordingly, in the first chapter, the relations of continuity and discontinuity were handled as concepts and their counterparts in philosophy were shown. This research was carried out chronologically through the philosophers who dealt with related concepts from Ancient Greece to Modern Philosophy. In the second part, these concepts were considered as functions and examined with regard to the wave-particle duality of light. In this study, it was shown how the changing universe perception of the period was altered in the context of the continuous and discontinuous relations of the phenomenon of light. In the third part, the concepts of continuity and discontinuity were approached in terms of sensation and examined with examples of Impressionism and Neo-Impressionism. The philosophical and scientific foundations of impressionism and how the examples of such practices developed on these foundations were included in this examination.

Dans un contexte caractérisé par la volonté d’accroître la responsabilisation individuelle des salariés dans l’acquisition et le maintien de leurs compétences professionnelles, l’utilisation du numérique apparaît aux yeux de certains décideurs comme une solution pertinente pour former leurs employés plus rapidement et en lien plus direct avec la stratégie des entreprises. Mais au-delà des principes séduisants, que montrent les expérimentations en cours ?
Pour apporter des éléments de réponse, nous nous appuyons dans cet article sur une enquête qualitative réalisée auprès des apprenants et des formateurs qui ont suivi — voire, pour certains, qui ont mis en place — une formation à distance entièrement numérisée (Corporate Open Online Courses ou COOC) au sein d’une grande entreprise. Nous pointons l’importance du taux d’abandon chez les apprenants, les difficultés des formateurs à exercer leur nouveau rôle d’animateur, et soulignons les discontinuités que la numérisation de la formation induit sur les espace-temps de travail et sur les interconnaissances professionnelles. Nous montrons également que ces discontinuités ont des effets différenciés sur les capacités d’apprentissage des salariés. Grâce à l’approche par les capacités d’Amartya Sen, nous interprétons ces constats en termes de facteurs de conversion (environnementaux, sociaux, individuels). Nous soutenons que c’est l’absence de ces trois catégories de facteurs qui explique, pour les apprenants et pour les formateurs, les discontinuités rencontrées et les inégalités dans la maîtrise des nouveaux dispositifs de formation. Enfin, nous esquissons des pistes pour repenser la numérisation de la formation continue, afin de réduire les risques d’inégalités sociales cristallisées autour de ce type de dispositifs technico-pédagogiques.

Mots clés : numérique, formation, COOC, environnement capacitant, espace, temps, interconnaissance, discontinuité

Digitalized vocational training facing its discontinuities

In a context characterized by the desire to increase the individual responsibility of employees in the acquisition and maintenance of their professional skills, the use of digital devices appears to some decision-makers as a relevant solution to train their employees more quickly and in a more direct link with business strategy. But beyond these attractive principles, what do the current experiments show?
To provide some answers, in this article, we rely on a qualitative survey of learners and trainers who have followed - or, for some, implemented - fully digitized distance learning (Corporate Online Open Courses), within a big company. After having indicated the importance of the dropout rate among learners and the difficulties of trainers in exercising their new role of facilitator, we highlight the discontinuities that the digitalization of training induces in terms of working time-space and professional interknowledge networks. We also show that these discontinuities have differentiated effects on the learning abilities of employees. Based on Amartya Sen's capacity approach, we interpret these findings in terms of conversion factors (environmental, social, individual). This allows us to argue that it is the absence of these three categories of factors which explains, for both learners and trainers, the discontinuities encountered and the inequalities in the mastery of the new training devices. Finally, the same framework of analysis allows us to sketch out ways to rethink the digitalization of professional training in order to reduce the risks of social inequalities crystallized around this type of technical-educational devices.

Key words: digital, training, vocational training, COOC, enabling environment, time-space, interknowledge, discontinuity

The strength of a rock mass for foundation purposes is for a large part determined by the discontinuities in the rock mass. Numerical calculations of discontinuous rock masses prove often to be cumbersome and unreliable. Rock mass classification may be an equal or more reliable methodology. The Slope Stability Probability Classification (SSPC) system designed for slope stability may be used for this purpose. The system has been developed during four years of research in Falset, province Tarragona, Spain. The rock slope classification scheme assesses orientation dependent and orientation independent stability. The orientation independent stability assessment leads to a rock mass strength criterion based on classification data, e.g. intact rock strength, discontinuity spacing and discontinuity condition. The criterion is developed in the context of a slope stability classification system, however, there is no reason that the criterion is not also valid for the determination of rock mass strength for other purposes, such as foundations on a discontinuous rock mass. The results of the strength criterion are compared to the results of the 'modified Hoek-Brown strength criterion' and to the rock mass strength as determined by Bieniawski's classification system. Rock mass strength by rock mass classification.

En prenant appui sur la théorie de l’apprentissage transformateur (TAT), développée par Jack Mezirow aux États- Unis, cet article propose une réflexion sur les temporalités qui caractérisent les processus de transformation, susceptibles d’être promus ou accompagnés en formation d’adultes. La réflexion proposée s’articule en trois temps. Premièrement, les fondements de la TAT sont énoncés de manière à situer leur pertinence en formation d’adultes. Ces apports sont repris afin de problématiser la manière dont on conçoit les temporalités impliquées dans un processus de transformation, et plus spécifiquement la nature à la fois continue et discontinue d’un tel processus. Finalement, l’apprentissage transformateur est envisagé à partir d’une perspective rythmologique, démontrant l’intérêt de développer une approche centrée sur les rythmes constitutifs des transformations vécues tout au long de la vie.

This paper refers to Jack Mezirow’s contribution to transformative learning theory in order to discuss the temporalities that characterize transformative processes, such as those fostered in adult education. The argument follows three steps. First, the core assumptions of transformative learning theory are introduced in order to locate their relevance in adult education. Such a contribution is then used to problematize the temporalities involved in a process of transformation, especially considering its continuous and discontinuous features. Transformative learning is finally conceived through a rhythmological perspective. Such an approach demonstrates the relevance of analyzing the rhythms through which transformations are lived throughout the lifespan.

Languages differ in whether or not they allow discontinuous noun phrases. If they do, they further vary in the ways the nominal projections interact with the available syntactic operations. Yucatec Maya has two left-peripheral configurations that differ syntactically: a preverbal position for foci or wh-elements that is filled in by movement, and the possibility to adjoin topics at the highest clausal layer. These two structural options are reflected in different ways of the formation of discontinuous patterns. Subextraction from nominal projections to the focus position yielding discontinuous NPs is possible, but subject to several restrictions. It observes conditions on extraction domains, and does not apply to the left branch of nominal structures. The topic position also appears to license discontinuity, typically involving a non-referential nominal expression as the topic and quantifiers/adjectives that form an elliptical nominal projection within the clause proper. Such constructions can involve several morphological and syntactic mismatches between their parts that are excluded for continuous noun phrases, and they are not sensitive to syntactic island restrictions. Thus, in a strict sense, discontinuities involving the topic position are only apparent, because the construction involves two independent nominal projections that are semantically linked.