Up and beyond: Building a mountain in the Netherlands

In M.A.A. Boon (Ed.)
Conference Paper:
Proceedings of the 84th European Study Group Mathematics with Industry (SWI 2012)
Eindhoven, The Netherlands
January 30-February 3, 2012
pp. 104-125

Paulo J. De Andrade Serra (Eindhoven University of Technology), Tasnim Fatima (Eindhoven University of Technology), Andrea Fernandez (University of Bath), Tim Hulshof (Eindhoven University of Technology), Tagi Khaniyev (Middle East Technical University), Patrick J.P. van Meurs (Eindhoven University of Technology), Jan-Jaap Oosterwijk (Eindhoven University of Technology), Stefanie Postma (Leiden University), Vivi Rottschäfer (Leiden University), Lotte Sewalt (Leiden University), Frits Veerman (Leiden University)

Abstract

We discuss the idea of building a 2 km high mountain in the Netherlands. In this paper, we give suggestions on three important areas for the completion of this project. Issues like location, structure and sustainability are investigated and discussed in detail.

Keywords

building a mountain, high structure, the Netherlands

Introduction

The Netherlands does not have any tall mountains. Indeed, its name even derives from the fact that it is essentially flat. According to Thijs Zonneveld, a journalist and former professional cyclist, this is a serious shortcoming of his country. As a possible remedy, he proposed building a 2 kilometer high mountain in the Netherlands. The response was immense. Immediately, there was a lot of excitement at the prospect of building a mountain, but also a fair amount of skepticism about whether it can actually be done (see [11]). In this report we aim to address some of the obstacles and opportunities that may arise in the construction of such a mountain.

The idea of building a massive structure is not new. In the past, numerous plans have been proposed for extremely tall buildings and structures. However, what all these plans have in common is that they never left the drawing board.

The Dutch, however, are renowned for their large-scale engineering works such as the dikes, polders, and the Delta Works. Still, it is not hard to see that building a mountain would dwarf these accomplishments by comparison. Consider that currently, at a height of 828 meters, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai is the tallest building in the world – truly a marvel of modern engineering. Imagine then the extremely special care and consideration, the vast amount of work and the incredible ingenuity that is required to achieve a structure that is more than double that height. After Thijs Zonneveld proposed building a mountain, a group of companies joined forces in the organization ‘Die Berg komt er!’

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http://www.tue.nl/publicatie/ep/p/d/ep-uid/282446/

http://repository.tue.nl/752008

http://purl.tue.nl/935863028769923.pdf

It was as big as my head, I swear!: Biased spider size estimation in spider phobia

Journal of Anxiety Disorders
Volume 26, Issue 1, January 2012, Pages 20–24
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2011.08.009

Michael W. Vasey, Michael R. Vilensky, Jacqueline H. Heath, Casaundra N. Harbaugh, Adam G. Buffington, Russell H. Fazio

Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, 1835 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210-1222

Abstract

The current study tested the association between fear and perception in spider phobic individuals (n = 57) within the context of a treatment outcome study. Participants completed 5 post-treatment Behavioral Approach Tasks (BATs) in which they encountered a live spider and were asked to provide spider size estimates. Consistent with predictions, results indicated that high levels of fear were associated with magnified perception of phobic stimuli. Specifically, we found a significant positive correlation between size estimates and self-reported fear while encountering spiders. Together with previous findings, these results further support the notion that fear is involved in the encoding and processing of perceptual information.

Highlights

► Test of association between fear and perception in spider phobics.
► Phobics encountered 5 spiders, reported fear, and estimated size of spiders.
► Significant correlation between size estimates and self-reported fear.
► High levels of fear associated with magnified perception of spiders.

Keywords

Phobias; Cognitive bias; Perceptual distortion

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0887618511001447

When backyard fun turns to trauma: risk assessment of blunt ballistic impact trauma due to potato cannons

International Journal of Legal Medicine
January 2012, Volume 126, Issue 1, pp 13-18
Cover Date 2012-01-01
DOI 10.1007/s00414-011-0552-y

Matthias Frank (1,2), Oliver Jobski (3), Britta Bockholdt (4), Rico Grossjohann (1), Dirk Stengel (1,2), Axel Ekkernkamp (1,2), Peter Hinz (2)

1. Department of Trauma and Orthopedic Surgery, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University Greifswald, Sauerbruchstrasse, 17475, Greifswald, Germany
2. Department of Trauma and Orthopedic Surgery, Unfallkrankenhaus Berlin, Berlin, Germany
3. Landeskriminalamt (LKA) Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Rampe, Germany
4. Department of Legal Medicine, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany

Abstract

Although potato cannons are an area of great interest among internet users, they are almost completely unknown in the medical community. These simple ballistic devices are made from plastic plumbing pipes and are powered with propellant gas from aerosol cans. By combustion of the gas–oxygen mixture, a high pressure is produced which propels the potato chunks through the barrel. It is the aim of this study to investigate the hazardous potential of these shooting devices. Test shots were performed using three illegally manufactured potato cannons that were confiscated by police authorities. Velocity, impulse, kinetic energy, and energy density were calculated. The risk of head and chest injuries was investigated by using Sturdivan's Blunt Criterion (BC), an energy based five parametric trauma model assessing the vulnerability to blunt weapons, projectile impacts, and behind-body-armor exposures. The probability of lethality due to blunt impact trauma to the chest was assessed using Sturdivan's lethality model. For potential head impacts, all test shots far exceeded the critical BC (head) value which corresponds to a 50% risk of skull fracture. The risk of injury with regard to chest impacts was similar. All but two test shots far exceeded the critical BC (chest) value corresponding to a 50% risk of sustaining a thoracic skeletal injury of Abbreviated Injury Scale 2 or 3. The probability of a lethal injury due to blunt chest impact was as high as 20%. To conclude, this work demonstrates that potato cannons should be considered dangerous weapons rather than as toys used by adventurous adolescents.

Ethical standards

Ethical approval was not required for this experimental investigation.

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00414-011-0552-y

Is 27 really a dangerous age for famous musicians? Retrospective cohort study

BMJ. 2011 Dec 20;343:d7799
doi: 10.1136/bmj.d7799
(Published 20 December 2011)

Martin Wolkewitz, statistician [1], Arthur Allignol, statistician [1], Nicholas Graves, health economist [2], and Adrian G Barnett, statistician [2]

[1] Freiburg Center of Data Analysis and Modelling, University of Freiburg and Institute of Medical Biometry and Medical Informatics, University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany
[2] Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation and School of Public Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia

OBJECTIVE:

To test the "27 club" hypothesis that famous musicians are at an increased risk of death at age 27. Design Cohort study using survival analysis with age as a time dependent exposure. Comparison was primarily made within musicians, and secondarily relative to the general UK population.

SETTING:

The popular music scene from a UK perspective.

PARTICIPANTS:

Musicians (solo artists and band members) who had a number one album in the UK between 1956 and 2007 (n = 1046 musicians, with 71 deaths, 7%).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Risk of death by age of musician, accounting for time dependent study entry and the number of musicians at risk. Risk was estimated using a flexible spline which would allow a bump at age 27 to appear.

RESULTS:

We identified three deaths at age 27 amongst 522 musicians at risk, giving a rate of 0.57 deaths per 100 musician years. Similar death rates were observed at ages 25 (rate = 0.56) and 32 (0.54). There was no peak in risk around age 27, but the risk of death for famous musicians throughout their 20s and 30s was two to three times higher than the general UK population.

CONCLUSIONS:

The 27 club is unlikely to be a real phenomenon. Fame may increase the risk of death among musicians, but this risk is not limited to age 27.

http://www.bmj.com/content/343/bmj.d7799?view=long&pmid=22187325