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Aims to analyse unique deformation properties of textile materials in terms of basic mechanical properties. Models fabric deformation as a nonlinear dynamical system so that a fabric can be completely specified in terms of its mechanical behaviour under general boundary conditions. Fabric deformation is dynamically analogous to waves travelling in a fluid. A localized two‐dimensional deformation evolves through the fabric to form a three‐dimensional drape or fold configuration. The nonlinear differential equations arising in the analysis of fabric deformation belong to the Klein‐Gordon family of equations which becomes the sine‐Gordon equation in three dimensions. The sine‐Gordon equation has its origins in the study of Bäcklund Transformations in differential geometry. Describes fabric deformation as a series of transformations of surfaces, defined in terms of curvature parameters using Gaussian representation of surfaces. By considering a deformed fabric as a two‐dimensional surface, algebraically constructs analytical solutions of fabric deformation by solving the sine‐Gordon Equation. The theory of Bäcklund Transformations is used to transform a trivial solution into a series of solitary wave solutions. These analytical expressions describing the curvature parameters of a surface represent actual solutions of fabric dynamical systems.

The subject of food and drug legislation is again before Parliament. It is proposed, under MR. JOHN BURNS' Food and Drugs Bill (see this Journal, August, 1913), to empower the Local Government Board to make Regulations which shall define an article of food or a drug with regard to its nature, substance, and quality. The Board will only issue Regulations of this kind after making such enquiry as in its opinion may be necessary.

This paper posits that the precision of accounting estimates should be an increasing function of experience due to learning effects. Using a sample of 747 observations for 305 firms for the period 1993–96 with complete data available on the COMPUSTAT, CRSP, and COMPACT DISCLOSURE databases, the paper conducts regression analyses to examine the precision of two estimates (discount rates and health care cost inflation rates) required under SFAS 106. Tests show that the estimation errors for the health care cost inflation estimates decrease with experience, but those for discounts rates do not. The results persist after controlling for the profile of participants of the health care plan, predisclosure uncertainty, and propensity to manipulate by managers. The results are consistent with “learning effect” for health care cost inflation rates that were being estimated for the first time, while no such effect is visible for discount rates that had been estimated in the past for pension plans. The paper also hypothesizes that the market rewards perceived precision of accounting estimates attributable to learning effect. Cross‐sectional tests confirm that the valuation coefficient of postretirement benefit obligations increases in absolute value as the estimation errors decline, suggesting that the market relies more on reported accounting estimates as their perceived precision improves. Thus, the extant research findings of weak or non‐existent value relevance of SEAS 106 liabilities may have been confined to the initial period after the adoption of SEAS 106 when the measurement errors were high. The documented evidence of improvement in precision provides support for FASB's claim that the reliability of accounting estimates, especially those required by complex standards such as SEAS 106, should improve with experience. The evidence of improvement in value‐relevance should also be reassuring for FASB, since one of the intended benefits of SEAS 106 was to provide value relevant information to the investors.