Relative Select

Motivated by the problem of storing coloured de Bruijn graphs, we show how, if we can already support fast select queries on one string, then we can store a little extra information and support fairly fast select queries on a similar string

Post-primary music education in Ireland: principals’ perspectives

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to investigate, describe, and understand the current provision of music education in post-primary (secondary) schools in Ireland as reported by school principals. Data included a large-scale national survey (n = 410) with a 59% response rate and 17 follow-up face-to-face interviews. The findings revealed how music instruction was provided for, in addition to principals’ expectations of music programs and music teachers. Using a systems ecological framework, factors influencing principals’ support of music in schools were also identified. It was found that music education practices are inconsistent throughout post-primary schools to the point of insidious decline in many schools, as principals are not all exercising the autonomy granted to them to develop equitable curricula and music-making opportunities. Music programs tended to exist less frequently in all-boys’ schools and in smaller schools. Based on the degree to which principals demonstrated commitment to the implementation of music in their curricula, three distinct types of principals emerged and were categorized as the Progressives (managing schools with exemplar music programs), the Maintainers (struggling to develop music in their schools) and the Disinclined (unwilling or unable to implement music in their schools). The majority of principals articulated high expectations for music in the school and communicated the importance of music in the curriculum for aesthetic, utilitarian, and extra-curricular benefits. However, principals’ glowing endorsements of music education did not necessarily translate into action and implementation. Principals highlighted that the vibrancy of a music program is contingent upon recruiting competent, committed, and positive music teachers who act as evangelists for music. The absence of a clear and cohesive framework for principals from centralized government, the Department of Education and Skills (DES), is inimical to the development of music in schools; whereas creative funding, scheduling, and recruitment strategies facilitate the support of music in schools. The primary recommendation resulting from this study is that a pyramidal governance structure is required so that the DES takes a stronger leadership role by developing relevant and cogent music education guidelines for principals and music teachers

A Cyber-Physical System

The team was tasked with the creation of an autonomous cyber-physical system that could be continually developed as a post-capstone class by future STEM students and as a means to teach future engineering students. The strict definition of a cyber-physical system is a computation machine that networks with an embedded computer that performs a physical function. The autonomous aspect was achieved through two sonic sensors to monitor object distances in order to avoid walls and obstacles. The integrated system was based on the Intel Edison computation module. A primary goal for future addition is automation capabilities and machine learning applications

Space weather effects on drilling accuracy in the North Sea

The oil industry uses geomagnetic field information to aid directional drilling operations when drilling for oil and gas offshore. These operations involve continuous monitoring of the azimuth and inclination of the well path to ensure the target is reached and, for safety reasons, to avoid collisions with existing wells. Although the most accurate method of achieving this is through a gyroscopic survey, this can be time consuming and expensive. An alternative method is a magnetic survey, where measurements while drilling (MWD) are made along the well by magnetometers housed in a tool within the drill string. These MWD magnetic surveys require estimates of the Earth’s magnetic field at the drilling location to correct the downhole magnetometer readings. The most accurate corrections are obtained if all sources of the Earth’s magnetic field are considered. Estimates of the main field generated in the core and the local crustal field can be obtained using mathematical models derived from suitable data sets. In order to quantify the external field, an analysis of UK observatory data from 1983 to 2004 has been carried out. By accounting for the external field, the directional error associated with estimated field values at a mid-latitude oil well (55 N) in the North Sea is shown to be reduced by the order of 20%. This improvement varies with latitude, local time, season and phase of the geomagnetic activity cycle. By accounting for all sources of the field, using a technique called Interpolation In-Field Referencing (IIFR), directional drillers have access to data from a “virtual” magnetic observatory at the drill site. This leads to an error reduction in positional accuracy that is close to matching that of the gyroscopic survey method and provides a valuable independent technique for quality control purposes

Facebook surveillance of former romantic partners: Associations with post-breakup recovery and personal growth

Copyright @ 2012 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.This article has been made available through the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fund.Previous research has found that continuing offline contact with an ex-romantic partner following a breakup may disrupt emotional recovery. The present study examined whether continuing online contact with an ex-partner through remaining Facebook friends and/or engaging in surveillance of the ex-partner's Facebook page inhibited postbreakup adjustment and growth above and beyond offline contact. Analysis of the data provided by 464 participants revealed that Facebook surveillance was associated with greater current distress over the breakup, more negative feelings, sexual desire, and longing for the ex-partner, and lower personal growth. Participants who remained Facebook friends with the ex-partner, relative to those who did not remain Facebook friends, reported less negative feelings, sexual desire, and longing for the former partner, but lower personal growth. All of these results emerged after controlling for offline contact, personality traits, and characteristics of the former relationship and breakup that tend to predict postbreakup adjustment. Overall, these findings suggest that exposure to an ex-partner through Facebook may obstruct the process of healing and moving on from a past relationship