Simulations of Critical Currents in Polycrystalline Superconductors Using Time-Dependent Ginzburg–Landau Theory

In this thesis, we investigate the in-field critical current density $J_\text{c} (B)$ of polycrystalline superconducting systems with grain boundaries modelled as Josephson-type planar defects, both analytically and through computational time-dependent Ginzburg--Landau (TDGL) simulations in 2D and 3D. For very narrow SNS Josephson junctions (JJs), with widths smaller than the superconducting coherence length, we derive what to our knowledge are the first analytic expressions for $J_\text{c} (B)$ across a JJ over the entire applied magnetic field range. We extend the validity of our analytic expressions to describe wider junctions and confirm them using TDGL simulations. We model superconducting systems containing grain boundaries as a network of JJs by using large-scale 3D TDGL simulations applying state-of-the-art solvers implemented on GPU architectures. These simulations of $J_\text{c} (B)$ have similar magnitudes and dependencies on applied magnetic field to those observed experimentally in optimised commercial superconductors. They provide an explanation for the $B^{-0.6}$ dependence found for $J_\text{c} (B)$ in high temperature superconductors and are the first to correctly provide the inverse power-law grain size behaviour as well as the Kramer field dependence, widely found in many low temperature superconductors

Modular electric automatic guided vehicle suspension-drive unit

This report discusses the design, development, elevation and creation of a modular omni-directional suspension-drive train unit for use on 1000 kg automatic guided vehicle. The system included a semi-active suspension oleo strut system that can vary its dampening and ride height. The drive train system is capable of omni-directional motion through the use of separately driven mechanum wheels power by a 48 volt DC system

Declaring and Diagnosing Research Designs.

Researchers need to select high-quality research designs and communicate those designs clearly to readers. Both tasks are difficult. We provide a framework for formally "declaring" the analytically relevant features of a research design in a demonstrably complete manner, with applications to qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research. The approach to design declaration we describe requires defining a model of the world (M), an inquiry (I), adatastrategy(D), andananswerstrategy(A). Declaration of these features in code provides sufficient information for researchers and readers to use Monte Carlo techniques to diagnose properties such as power, bias, accuracy of qualitative causal inferences, and other "diagnosands." Ex ante declarations can be used to improve designs and facilitate preregistration, analysis, and reconciliation of intended and actual analyses. Ex post declarations are useful for describing, sharing, reanalyzing, and critiquing existing designs. We provide open-source software, DeclareDesign, to implement the proposed approach

Acetazolamide-based fungal chitinase inhibitors

Chitin is an essential structural component of the fungal cell wall. Chitinases are thought to be important for fungal cell wall remodelling, and inhibition of these enzymes has been proposed as a potential strategy for development of novel anti-fungals. The fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus possesses two distinct multi-gene chitinase families. Here we explore acetazolamide as a chemical scaffold for the inhibition of an A. fumigatus ‘plant-type’ chitinase. A co-crystal structure of AfChiA1 with acetazolamide was used to guide synthesis and screening of acetazolamide analogues that yielded SAR in agreement with these structural data. Although acetazolamide and its analogues are weak inhibitors of the enzyme, they have a high ligand efficiency and as such are interesting leads for future inhibitor development

Video Design and Interactivity: The Semiotics of Multimedia in Instructional Design

This creation-as-research thesis examines the semiotics of multimedia and interactivity within the context of instruction, focusing on theoretical and practical representations in video game design, and the cultural models therein. There are 4 parts to this thesis 1) A traditional written document; 2) A 15-Module Online Course in video game design entitled Gaming, Interactive, and Multiplatform Media; 3) 15 Summary Videos of the online course in video game design; 4) The performative creation-as-research dissertation presentation. This thesis highlights the teaching practices surrounding video game design principles, while emulating those design principles as part of the instructional platforms. The 4 parts of this thesis, collectively, are a manifestation of the findings in the written component, which suggests that video games, through their innate interactivity via the inclusion of multimedia as part of their design, hold critical implementation frameworks for course-based instructional design, when multimedia is used as part of the instructional process

Reported self-control is not meaningfully associated with inhibition-related executive function:A Bayesian analysis

Self-control is assessed using a remarkable array of measures. In a series of five data-sets (overall N = 2,641) and a mini meta-analysis, we explored the association between canonical operationalisations of self-control: The Self-Control Scale and two measures of inhibition-related executive functioning (the Stroop and Flanker paradigms). Overall, Bayesian correlational analyses suggested little-to-no relationship between self-reported self-control and performance on the Stroop and Flanker tasks. The Bayesian meta-analytical summary of all five data-sets further favoured a null relationship between both types of measurement. These results suggest that the field’s most widely used measure of self-reported self-control is uncorrelated with two of the most widely adopted executive functioning measures of self-control. Consequently, theoretical and practical conclusions drawn using one measure (e.g., the Self-Control Scale) cannot be generalised to findings using the other (e.g., the Stroop task). The lack of empirical correlation between measures of self-control do not invalidate either measure, but instead suggest that treatments of the construct of self-control need to pay greater attention to convergent validity among the many measures used to operationalize self-control