Subtropical Subdivisions: Toward a Lot-rating Methodology for Subtropical Climates

What role can climatically appropriate subdivision design play in decreasing the use of energy required to cool premises by maximising access to natural ventilation? How can this design be achieved? The subdivision design stage is critical to urban and suburban sustainability outcomes, as significant changes after development are constrained by the configuration of the subdivision, and then by the construction of the dwellings. Existing Australian lot rating methodologies for energy efficiency, such as that by the Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA), focus on reducing heating needs by increasing solar access, a key need in Australia’s temperate zone. A recent CRC CI project, Sustainable Subdivisions: Energy (Miller and Ambrose 2005) examined these guidelines to see if they could be adapted for use in subtropical South East Queensland (SEQ). Correlating the lot ratings with dwelling ratings, the project found that the SEDA guidelines would need to be modified for use to make allowance for natural ventilation. In SEQ, solar access for heating is less important than access to natural ventilation, and there is a need to reduce energy used to cool dwellings. In Queensland, the incidence of residential air-conditioning was predicted to reach 50 per cent by the end of 2005 (Mickel 2004). The CRC-CI, Sustainable Subdivisions: Ventilation Project (CRC-CI, in progress), aims to verify and quantify the role natural ventilation has in cooling residences in subtropical climates and develop a lot rating methodology for SEQ. This paper reviews results from an industry workshop that explored the current attitudes and methodologies used by a range of professionals involved in subdivision design and development in SEQ. Analysis of the workshop reveals that a key challenge for sustainability is that land development in subtropical SEQ is commonly a separate process from house design and siting. Finally, the paper highlights some of the issues that regulators and industry face in adopting a lot rating methodology for subdivisions offering improved ventilation access, including continuing disagreement between professionals over the desirability of rating tools

Predictors of responsivity to language intervention : findings from a RCT

Logistic regression analyses were carried out on the pre- and blind-assessed post-intervention language outcome measures for 124 children aged 6-11 years with primary language impairment randomised to language therapy who received three 30-40 minute sessions per week in mainstream schools over fifteen weeks. Only the model for binary gains (made progress/did not make progess) for receptive language was significant, with gender and case status (specific expressive versus mixed receptive-expressive impairment) significant predictors. Non-verbal IQ score was not a significant predictor of responsivity to intervention. Implications for the relationship between non-verbal development and primary language impairment and for intervention are discussed

Time-integrated directional detection of dark matter

The analysis of signals in directional dark matter (DM) detectors typically assumes that the directions of nuclear recoils can be measured in the Galactic rest frame. However, this is not possible with all directional detection technologies. In nuclear emulsions, for example, the recoil events must be detected and measured after the exposure time of the experiment. Unless the entire detector is mounted and rotated with the sidereal day, the recoils cannot be reoriented in the Galactic rest frame. We examine the effect of this `time integration' on the primary goals of directional detection, namely: (1) confirming that the recoils are anisotropic; (2) measuring the median recoil direction to confirm their Galactic origin; and (3) probing below the neutrino floor. We show that after time integration the DM recoil distribution retains a preferred direction and is distinct from that of Solar neutrino-induced recoils. Many of the advantages of directional detection are therefore preserved and it is not crucial to mount and rotate the detector. Rejecting isotropic backgrounds requires a factor of 2 more signal events compared with an experiment with event time information, whereas a factor of 1.5-3 more events are needed to measure a median direction in agreement with the expectation for DM. We also find that there is still effectively no neutrino floor in a time-integrated directional experiment. However to reach a cross section an order of magnitude below the floor, a factor of 8 larger exposure is required than with a conventional directional experiment. We also examine how the sensitivity is affected for detectors with only 2D recoil track readout, and/or no head-tail measurement. As for non-time-integrated experiments, 2D readout is not a major disadvantage, though a lack of head-tail sensitivity is

Streams and rivers: report card 2020

This report card covers the effects of drought and water scarcity on streams and rivers, the ecosystem response, future impact scenarios and possible mitigation actions. One of a series of report cards summarising current and future aspects of water scarcity in the UK's main ecosystems

З історії Білопілля

Наук. кер.: В.Б. Звагельськи

Item selection and application in Higher Education

Over the past ten years the use of computer assisted assessment in Higher Education (HE) has grown. The majority of this expansion has been based around the application of multiple-choice items (Stephens and Mascia, 1997). However, concern has been expressed about the use of multiple choice items to test higher order skills. The Tripartite Interactive Assessment Development (TRIAD) system (Mackenzie, 1999) has been developed by the Centre for Interactive Assessment Development (CIAD) at the University of Derby. It is a delivery platform that allows the production of more complex items. We argue that the use of complex item formats such as those available in TRIADs could enhance validity and produce assessments with features not present in pencil and paper tests (cf. Huff and Sireci, 2001). CIAD was keen to evaluate tests produced in TRIADs and so sought the aid of the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER). As part of an initial investigation a test was compiled for a year one Systems Analysis module. This test was produced by the tutor (in consultation with CIAD) and contained a number of item types; both multiple-choice items and complex TRIADs items. Data from the test were analysed using Classical Test Theory and Item Response Theory models. The results of the analysis led to a number of interesting observations. The multiple-choice items showed lower reliability. This was surprising since these items had been mainly obtained from published sources, with few written by the test constructor. The fact that the multiple-choice items showed lower reliability compared to more complex item types may flag two important points for the unwary test developer: the quality of published items may be insufficient to allow their inclusion in high-quality tests, and furthermore, the production of reliable multiple-choice items is a difficult skill to learn. In addition it may not be appropriate to attempt to stretch multiple-choice items by using options such as ‘all’ or ‘none of the above’. The evidence from this test seems to suggest that multiple-choice items may not be appropriate to test outcomes at undergraduate level