7,419 research outputs found

    Annual SHOT Report 2018

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    SHOT is affiliated to the Royal College of PathologistsAll NHS organisations must move away from a blame culture towards a just and learning culture. All clinical and laboratory staff should be encouraged to become familiar with human factors and ergonomics concepts. All transfusion decisions must be made after carefully assessing the risks and benefits of transfusion therapy. Collaboration and co-ordination among staff is vital

    Post-Millennial Queer Sensibility: Collaborative Authorship as Disidentification in Queer Intertextual Commodities

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    This dissertation is examining LGBTQ+ audiences and creatives collaborating in the creation of new media texts like web shows, podcasts, and video games. The study focuses on three main objects or media texts: Carmilla (web series), Welcome to Night Vale (podcast), and Undertale (video game). These texts are transmedia objects or intertextual commodities. I argue that by using queer gestures of collaborative authorship that reaches out to the audience for canonical contribution create an emerging queer production culture that disidentifies with capitalism even as it negotiates capitalistic structures. The post-millennial queer sensibility is a constellation of aesthetics, self-representation, alternative financing, and interactivity that prioritizes community, trust, and authenticity using new technologies for co-creation. Within my study, there are four key tactics or queer gestures being explored: remediation, radical ambiguity and multi-forms as queer aesthetics, audience self-representation, alternative financing like micropatronage & licensed fan-made merchandise, and interactivity as performance. The goal of this project is to better understand the changing conceptions of authorship/ownership, canon/fanon (official text/fan created extensions), and community/capitalism in queer subcultures as an indicator of the potential change in more mainstream cultural attitudes. The project takes into consideration a variety of intersecting identities including gender, race, class, and of course sexual orientation in its analysis. By examining the legal discourse around collaborative authorship, the real-life production practices, and audience-creator interactions and attitudes, this study provides insight into how media creatives work with audiences to co-create self-representative media, the motivations, and rewards for creative, audiences, and owners. This study aims to contribute towards a fuller understanding of queer production cultures and audience reception of these media texts, of which there is relatively little academic information. Specifically, the study mines for insights into the changing attitudes towards authorship, ownership, and collaboration within queer indie media projects, especially as these objects are relying on the self-representation of both audiences and creatives in the formation of the text

    OLAK

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    In this paper, we study the problem of the anchored k -core. Given a graph G , an integer k and a budget b , we aim to identify b vertices in G so that we can determine the largest induced subgraph J in which every vertex, except the b vertices, has at least k neighbors in J . This problem was introduced by Bhawalkar and Kleinberg e t al. in the context of user engagement in social networks, where a user may leave a community if he/she has less than k friends engaged. The problem has been shown to be NP-hard and inapproximable. A polynomial-time algorithm for graphs with bounded tree-width has been proposed. However, this assumption usually does not hold in real-life graphs, and their techniques cannot be extended to handle general graphs. Motivated by this, we propose an efficient algorithm, namely onion-layer based anchored k-core (OLAK), for the anchored k -core problem on large scale graphs. To facilitate computation of the anchored k -core, we design an onion layer structure, which is generated by a simple onion-peeling-like algorithm against a small set of vertices in the graph. We show that computation of the best anchor can simply be conducted upon the vertices on the onion layers , which significantly reduces the search space. Based on the well-organized layer structure, we develop efficient candidates exploration, early termination and pruning techniques to further speed up computation. Comprehensive experiments on 10 real-life graphs demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of our proposed methods. </jats:p

    Conscience and Consciousness: British Theatre and Human Rights.

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    This research project investigates a paradigm of human rights theatre. Through the lens of performance and theatre-making, this thesis explores how we came to represent, speak about, discuss, and own human rights in Britain. My framework of ‘human rights theatre’ proposes three distinctive features: firstly, such works dramatise real-world issues and highlights the role of the state in endangering its citizens; secondly, ethical ruptures are encountered within and without the drama, and finally, these performances characteristically aspire to produce an activist effect on the collective behaviours of the audience. This thesis interrogates the strategies theatre-makers use to articulate human rights concerns or to animate human rights intent. The selected case-studies for this investigation are ice&fire’s testimonial project, Actors for Human Rights; Badac Theatre; Jonathan Holmes’ work as director of Jericho House; Cardboard Citizens’ youth participation programme, ACT NOW; and Tony Cealy’s Black Men’s Consortium. Deliberately selecting companies and performance events that have received limited critical attention, my methodology constellates case-studies through original interviews, durational observation of creative working methods and proximate descriptions of practice. The thesis is interested in the experience of coming to ‘consciousness’ through human rights theatre, an awakening to the impacts of rights infringements and rights claiming. I explore consciousness as a processual, procedural, and durational happening in these performance events. I explore the ‘æffect’ of activist art and examine the ways in which makers of human rights theatre aim to amplify both affective and effective qualities in their work. My thesis also considers the articulation of activist purpose and the campaigning intent of the selected theatre-makers and explores how their activism is animated in their productions. Through the rich seam of discussion generated by the identification and exploration of the traits of a distinctive human rights theatre, I affirm the generative value of this typological enquiry

    Flexographic printed nanogranular LBZA derived ZnO gas sensors: Synthesis, printing and processing

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    Within this document, investigations of the processes towards the production of a flexographic printed ZnO gas sensor for breath H2 analysis are presented. Initially, a hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA) based, microwave assisted, synthesis method of layered basic zinc acetate (LBZA) nanomaterials was investigated. Using the synthesised LBZA, a dropcast nanogranular ZnO gas sensor was produced. The testing of the sensor showed high sensitivity towards hydrogen with response (Resistanceair/ Resistancegas) to 200 ppm H2 at 328 °C of 7.27. The sensor is highly competitive with non-catalyst surface decorated sensors and sensitive enough to measure current H2 guideline thresholds for carbohydrate malabsorption (Positive test threshold: 20 ppm H2, Predicted response: 1.34). Secondly, a novel LBZA synthesis method was developed, replacing the HMTA by NaOH. This resulted in a large yield improvement, from a [OH-] conversion of 4.08 at% to 71.2 at%. The effects of [OH-]/[Zn2+] ratio, microwave exposure and transport to nucleation rate ratio on purity, length, aspect ratio and polydispersity were investigated in detail. Using classical nucleation theory, analysis of the basal layer charge symmetries, and oriented attachment theory, a dipole-oriented attachment reaction mechanism is presented. The mechanism is the first theory in literature capable of describing all observed morphological features along length scales. The importance of transport to nucleation rate ratio as the defining property that controls purity and polydispersity is then shown. Using the NaOH derived LBZA, a flexographic printing ink was developed, and proof-of-concept sensors printed. Gas sensing results showed a high response to 200 ppm H2 at 300 °C of 60.2. Through IV measurements and SEM analysis this was shown to be a result of transfer of silver between the electrode and the sensing layer during the printing process. Finally, Investigations into the intense pulsed light treatment of LBZA were conducted. The results show that dehydration at 150 °C prior to exposure is a requirement for successful calcination, producing ZnO quantum dots (QDs) in the process. SEM measurements show mean radii of 1.77-2.02 nm. The QDs show size confinement effects with the exciton blue shifting by 0.105 eV, and exceptionally low defect emission in photoluminescence spectra, indicative of high crystalline quality, and high conductivity. Due to the high crystalline quality and amenity to printing, the IPL ZnO QDs have numerous potential uses ranging from sensing to opto-electronic devices

    Deposição de filmes do diamante para dispositivos electrónicos

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    This PhD thesis presents details about the usage of diamond in electronics. It presents a review of the properties of diamond and the mechanisms of its growth using hot filament chemical vapour deposition (HFCVD). Presented in the thesis are the experimental details and discussions that follow from it about the optimization of the deposition technique and the growth of diamond on various electronically relevant substrates. The discussions present an analysis of the parameters typically involved in the HFCVD, particularly the pre-treatment that the substrates receive- namely, the novel nucleation procedure (NNP), as well as growth temperatures and plasma chemistry and how they affect the characteristics of the thus-grown films. Extensive morphological and spectroscopic analysis has been made in order to characterise these films.Este trabalho discute a utilização de diamante em aplicações electrónicas. É apresentada uma revisão detalhada das propriedades de diamante e dos respectivos mecanismos de crescimento utilizando deposição química a partir da fase vapor com filament quente (hot filament chemical vapour deposition - HFCVD). Os detalhes experimentais relativos à otimização desta técnica tendo em vista o crescimento de diamante em vários substratos com relevância em eletrónica são apresentados e discutidos com detalhe. A discussão inclui a análise dos parâmetros tipicamente envolvidos em HFCVD, em particular do pré-tratamento que o substrato recebe e que é conhecido na literatura como "novel nucleation procedure" (NNP), assim como das temperaturas de crescimento e da química do plasma, bem como a influência de todos estes parâmetros nas características finais dos filmes. A caracterização morfológica dos filmes envolveu técnicas de microscopia e espetroscopia.Programa Doutoral em Engenharia Eletrotécnic

    Conjunctures in Law and Development: Assemblages for Progress in Indian Agricultural Futures

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    This dissertation asks: how are the legal, political, and social legacies of the Green Revolution and India's incorporation into the global knowledge economy shaping or undermining the emergent discourses, practices, and regulatory rationalities of India's current Climate Smart Agriculture development initiatives? To answer this question, I construct a theoretical/methodological framework that brings together conjunctural analysis, assemblage theory, Foucaultian governmentality, and transnational legal pluralism. I identify two previous historical eras of significant agricultural and developmental change in India: the Green Revolution (1950s-early 1970s) and the liberalization of Indian agriculture as part of India's broader incorporation into the global knowledge economy (1991-mid 2000s). I study the historical relationship between the modern Indian state and Indian farmers across these eras of agricultural and developmental transformation to investigate how they are informing current Climate Smart Agriculture programs, how these contemporary programs work, and the extent to which these programs and the political struggles they incite represent a new historical phase of state power in India. I argue that Climate Smart Agriculture programs and the accompanying introduction of Big Data technology in Indian agriculture should not be understood as a singular event or a unique and novel initiative, but as the most recent project of governmentality mediating the relationship between the Indian state and Indian farmers. This dissertation further shows how relationships between states in the Global South and farmers are shaped by the interplay of technologies (understood both conventionally and in the Foucaultian sense) that are constructed and regulated through the law. I simultaneously demonstrate how the entwined processes of postcolonial state- and subject-making in the domains of agriculture and development always invokes forms of resistance that often result in contradictory regulatory outcomes, which continue to establish the conditions for future political contestation. This dissertation contributes to the field of Socio-legal Studies at large, and the subfields of Law and Development, Law and Globalization/TWAIL, and Green Criminology

    Smart-antenna techniques for energy-efficient wireless sensor networks used in bridge structural health monitoring

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    Abstract: It is well known that wireless sensor networks differ from other computing platforms in that 1- they typically require a minimal amount of computing power at the nodes; 2- it is often desirable for sensor nodes to have drastically low power consumption. The main benefit of the this work is a substantial network life before batteries need to be replaced or, alternatively, the capacity to function off of modest environmental energy sources (energy harvesting). In the context of Structural Health Monitoring (SHM), battery replacement is particularly problematic since nodes can be in difficult to access locations. Furthermore, any intervention on a bridge may disrupt normal bridge operation, e.g. traffic may need to be halted. In this regard, switchbeam smart antennas in combination with wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have shown great potential in reducing implementation and maintenance costs of SHM systems. The main goal of implementing switch-beam smart antennas in our application is to reduce power consumption, by focusing the radiated energy only where it is needed. SHM systems capture the dynamic vibration information of a bridge structure in real-time in order to assess the health of the structure and to predict failures. Current SHM systems are based on piezoelectric patch sensors. In addition, the collection of data from the plurality of sensors distributed over the span of the bridge is typically performed through an expensive and bulky set of shielded wires which routes the information to a data sink at one end of the structure. The installation, maintenance and operational costs of such systems are extremely high due to high power consumption and the need for periodic maintenance. Wireless sensor networks represent an attractive alternative, in terms of cost, ease of maintenance, and power consumption. However, network lifetime in terms of node battery life must be very long (ideally 5–10 years) given the cost and hassle of manual intervention. In this context, the focus of this project is to reduce the global power consumption of the SHM system by implementing switched-beam smart antennas jointly with an optimized MAC layer. In the first part of the thesis, a sensor network platform for bridge SHM incorporating switched-beam antennas is modelled and simulated. where the main consideration is the joint optimization of beamforming parameters, MAC layer, and energy consumption. The simulation model, built within the Omnet++ network simulation framework, incorporates the energy consumption profiles of actual selected components (microcontroller, radio interface chip). The energy consumption and packet delivery ratio (PDR) of the network with switched-beam antennas is compared with an equivalent network based on omnidirectional antennas. In the second part of the thesis, this system model is leveraged to examine two distinct but interrelated aspects: Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) based solar energy harvesting and switched-beam antenna strategies. The main consideration here is the joint optimization of solar energy harvesting and switchedbeam directional antennas, where an equivalent network based on omnidirectional antennas acts as a baseline reference for comparison purposes.Il est bien connu que les réseaux de capteurs sans fils diffèrent des autres plateformes informatiques étant donné 1- qu’ils requièrent typiquement une puissance de calcul minimale aux noeuds du réseau ; 2- qu’il est souvent désirable que les noeuds capteurs aient une consommation d’énergie dramatiquement faible. La principale retombée de ce travail réside en la durée de vie allongée du réseau avant que les piles ne doivent être remplacées ou, alternativement, la capacité de fonctionner indéfiniment à partir de modestes sources d’énergie ambiente (glânage d’énergie). Dans le contexte du contrôle de la santé structurale (CSS), le remplacement de piles est particulièrement problématique puisque les noeuds peuvent se trouver en des endroits difficiles d’accès. De plus, toute intervention sur un pont implique une perturbation de l’opération normale de la structure, par exemple un arrêt du traffic. Dans ce contexte, les antennes intelligentes à commutation de faisceau en combinaison avec les réseaux de capteurs sans fils ont démontré un grand potentiel pour réduire les coûts de réalisation et d’entretien de systèmes de CSS. L’objectif principal de l’intégration d’antennes à commutation de faisceau dans notre application réside dans la réduction de la consommation énergétique, réalisée en concentrant l’énergie radiée uniquement là où elle est nécessaire. Les systèmes de CSS capturent l’information dynamique de vibration d’une structure de pont en temps réel de manière à évaluer la santé de la structure et prédire les failles. Les systèmes courants de CSS sont basés sur des senseurs piézoélectriques planaires. De plus, la collecte de données à partir de la pluralité de senseurs distribués sur l’étendue du pont est typiquement effectuée par le biais d’un ensemble coûteux et encombrant de câbles blindés qui véhiculent l’information jusqu’à un point de collecte à une extremité de la structure. L’installation, l’entretien, et les coûts opérationnels de tels systèmes sont extrêmement élevés étant donné la consommation de puissance élevée et le besoin d’entretien régulier. Les réseaux de capteurs sans fils représentent une alternative attrayante, en termes de coût, facilité d’entretien et consommation énergétique. Toutefois, la vie de réseau en termes de la durée de vie des piles doit être très longue (idéalement de 5 à 10 ans) étant donné le coût et les problèmes liés à l’intervention manuelle. Dans ce contexte, ce projet se concentre sur la réduction de la consommation de puissance globale d’un système de CSS en y intégrant des antennes intelligentes à commutation de faisceau conjointement avec une couche d’accès au médium (couche MAC) optimisée. Dans la première partie de la thèse, une plateforme de réseau de capteurs sans fils pour le CSS d’un pont incorporant des antennes à commutation de faisceaux est modélisé et simulé, avec pour considération principale l’optimisation des paramètres de sélection de faisceau, de la couche MAC et de la consommation d’énergie. Le modèle de simulation, construit dans le logiciel de simulation de réseaux Omnet++, incorpore les profils de consommation d’énergie de composants réels sélectionnés (microcontrôleur, puce d’interface radio). La consommation d’énergie et le taux de livraison de paquets du réseau avec antennes à commutation de faisceau est comparé avec un réseau équivalent basé sur des antennes omnidirectionnelles. Dans la deuxième partie de la thèse, le modèle système proposé est mis à contribution pour examiner deux aspects distrincts mais interreliés : le glânage d’énergie à partir de cellules solaire à base d’arséniure de Gallium (GaAs) et les stratégies liées aux antennes à commutation de faisceau. La considération principale ici est l’optimisation conjointe du glânage d’énergie et des antennes à commutation de faisceau, en ayant pour base de comparaison un réseau équivalent à base d’antennes omnidirectionnelles
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