Designs on the Web: A case study of online learning for design students

The De Montfort University Electronic Campus initiative started in September 1999. Web‐based learning resources and support have been provided for over 3,000 students via a portfolio of thirty projects ranging across all levels of the university and within every faculty. This paper focuses on one aspect of this initiative: the development of online teaching and learning materials to support first‐year IT modules for students of art and design. An undergraduate module has been converted from traditional, face‐to‐face, delivery to a hybrid combination of Web‐based and studio‐based work in accordance with Laurillard's conversational framework. In the first year of use all the new material has been made available on a pilot basis to a group of 440 students in parallel with conventional lectures and seminars. All the students have had access to the online resources; some students have used them, but some have not. Data on student expectations collected prior to starting on the module are compared with student feedback gathered at the end of the module and student performance data across the two mode's of presentation are compared to establish the relative effectiveness of each approach. In addition the paper reviews the resource implications of developing, delivering and supporting online learning and discusses some of the barriers to implementation that were encountered and overcome

Propfan Test Assessment (PTA)

The objectives of the Propfan Test Assessment (PTA) Program were to validate in flight the structural integrity of large-scale propfan blades and to measure noise characteristics of the propfan in both near and far fields. All program objectives were met or exceeded, on schedule and under budget. A Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation GII aircraft was modified to provide a testbed for the 2.74m (9 ft) diameter Hamilton Standard SR-7 propfan which was driven by a 4475 kw (600 shp) turboshaft engine mounted on the left-hand wing of the aircraft. Flight research tests were performed for 20 combinations of speed and altitude within a flight envelope that extended to Mach numbers of 0.85 and altitudes of 12,192m (40,000 ft). Propfan blade stress, near-field noise on aircraft surfaces, and cabin noise were recorded. Primary variables were propfan power and tip speed, and the nacelle tilt angle. Extensive low altitude far-field noise tests were made to measure flyover and sideline noise and the lateral attenuation of noise. In coopertion with the FAA, tests were also made of flyover noise for the aircraft at 6100m (20,000 ft) and 10,668m (35,000 ft). A final series of tests were flown to evaluate an advanced cabin wall noise treatment that was produced under a separate program by NASA-Langley Research Center

Similitude requirements and scaling relationships as applied to model testing

The similitude requirements for the most general test conditions are presented. These similitude requirements are considered in relation to the scaling relationships, test technique, test conditions (including supersonic flow), and test objectives. Particular emphasis is placed on satisfying the various similitude requirements for incompressible and compressible flow conditions. For free flying models tests, the test velocities for incompressible flow are scaled from Froude number similitude requirements and those for compressible flow are scaled from Mach number similitude requirements. The limitations of various test techniques are indicated, with emphasis on the free flying model

Domains of invasion organelle proteins from apicomplexan parasites are homologous with the Apple domains of blood coagulation factor XI and plasma pre-kallikrein and are members of the PAN module superfamily

AbstractMicronemes are specialised organelles, found in all apicomplexan parasites, which secrete molecules that are essential for parasite attachment to and invasion of host cells. Regions of several microneme proteins have sequence similarity to the Apple domains (A-domains) of blood coagulation factor XI (FXI) and plasma pre-kallikrein (PK). We have used mass spectrometry on a recombinant-expressed, putative A-domain from the microneme protein EtMIC5 from Eimeria tenella, to demonstrate that three intramolecular disulphide bridges are formed. These bridges are analogous to those that stabilise A-domains in FXI and PK. The data confirm that the apicomplexan domains are structural homologues of A-domains and are therefore novel members of the PAN module superfamily, which also includes the N-terminal domains of members of the plasminogen/hepatocyte growth factor family. The role of A-domains/PAN modules in apicomplexan parasites is not known, but their presence in the microneme suggests that they may be important for mediating protein–protein or protein–carbohydrate interactions during parasite attachment and host cell invasion

Molecular weight effects on chain pull-out fracture of reinforced polymeric interfaces

Using Brownian dynamics, we simulate the fracture of polymer interfaces reinforced by diblock connector chains. We find that for short chains the interface fracture toughness depends linearly on the degree of polymerization $N$ of the connector chains, while for longer chains the dependence becomes $N^{3/2}$. Based on the geometry of initial chain configuration, we propose a scaling argument that accounts for both short and long chain limits and crossover between them.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Propfan Test Assessment (PTA): Flight test report

The Propfan Test Assessment (PTA) aircraft was flown to obtain glade stress and noise data for a 2.74m (9 ft.) diameter single rotation propfan. Tests were performed at Mach numbers to 0.85 and altitudes to 12,192m (40,000 ft.). The propfan was well-behaved structurally over the entire flight envelope, demonstrating that the blade design technology was completely adequate. Noise data were characterized by strong signals at blade passage frequency and up to 10 harmonics. Cabin noise was not so high as to preclude attainment of comfortable levels with suitable wall treatment. Community noise was not excessive

Branching of the Falkner-Skan solutions for λ < 0

The Falkner-Skan equation f'" + ff" + λ(1 - f'^2) = 0, f(0) = f'(0) = 0, is discussed for λ < 0. Two types of problems, one with f'(∞) = 1 and another with f'(∞) = -1, are considered. For λ = 0- a close relation between these two types is found. For λ < -1 both types of problem allow multiple solutions which may be distinguished by an integer N denoting the number of zeros of f' - 1. The numerical results indicate that the solution branches with f'(∞) = 1 and those with f'(∞) = -1 tend towards a common limit curve as N increases indefinitely. Finally a periodic solution, existing for λ < -1, is presented.

Quantitative effects of abrupt deceleration on pulmonary diffusion in man Technical report,

Quantitative effects of abrupt deceleration on pulmonary diffusion in ma

The Degrees of Freedom of Partial Least Squares Regression

The derivation of statistical properties for Partial Least Squares regression can be a challenging task. The reason is that the construction of latent components from the predictor variables also depends on the response variable. While this typically leads to good performance and interpretable models in practice, it makes the statistical analysis more involved. In this work, we study the intrinsic complexity of Partial Least Squares Regression. Our contribution is an unbiased estimate of its Degrees of Freedom. It is defined as the trace of the first derivative of the fitted values, seen as a function of the response. We establish two equivalent representations that rely on the close connection of Partial Least Squares to matrix decompositions and Krylov subspace techniques. We show that the Degrees of Freedom depend on the collinearity of the predictor variables: The lower the collinearity is, the higher the Degrees of Freedom are. In particular, they are typically higher than the naive approach that defines the Degrees of Freedom as the number of components. Further, we illustrate how the Degrees of Freedom approach can be used for the comparison of different regression methods. In the experimental section, we show that our Degrees of Freedom estimate in combination with information criteria is useful for model selection.Comment: to appear in the Journal of the American Statistical Associatio

Quantum dynamics of the Neel vector in the antiferromagnetic molecular wheel CsFe8

The inelastic neutron scattering (INS) spectrum is studied for the antiferromagnetic molecular wheel CsFe8, in the temperature range 2 - 60 K, and for transfer energies up 3.6 meV. A qualitative analysis shows that the observed peaks correspond to the transitions between the L-band states, from the ground state up to the S = 5 multiplet. For a quantitative analysis, the wheel is described by a microscopic spin Hamiltonian (SH), which includes the nearest-neighbor Heisenberg exchange interactions and uniaxial easy-axis single-ion anisotropy, characterized by the constants J and D, respectively. For a best-fit determination of J and D, the L band is modeled by an effective SH, and the effective SH concept extended such as to facilitate an accurate calculation of INS scattering intensities, overcoming difficulties with the dimension of the Hilbert space. The low-energy magnetism in CsFe8 is excellently described by the generic SH used. The two lowest states are characterized by a tunneling of the Neel vector, as found previously, while the higher-lying states are well described as rotational modes of the Neel vector.Comment: 12 pages, 10 figures, REVTEX4, to appear in PR