The software-simulated airworld: anticipatory code and affective aeromobilities

This paper is concerned with the way in which airspaces are organised, managed, and understood by virtual representations - software simulations that are tested and used both preemptively and in real time. We suggest that, while airspaces are often understood as simulations themselves - models and blueprints for real-world futuresöthey are among the most mediated of all contemporary social environments, produced not only through code, but based on scenarios which predict and plan for future events - real virtualities that might come true. Drawing on historical and contemporary examples of aeronautical software simulation employed by civilian and military aviation, we explore how code has become increasingly sophisticated and ubiquitous in response to the challenges set by the mobilities the simulations model and the affective susceptibility of the corporeal body that uses them. The paper explores how software simulations work to structure and mediate behaviour by producing specific emotional and affective experiences in order to prepare the body for future encounters

Air space: towards a social and cultural geography of global air travel

Geographic research into commercial aviation has traditionally been undertaken within the field of transport geography. While such studies have shed light on the increasingly complex morphology of global air routes, this paper argues such approaches often downplay crucial questions concerning the social production and consumption of different spaces of air travel. Drawing on ideas from the newlyemergent ‘mobilities' paradigm, this paper identifies some alternative geographies of air travel, arguing that socially- and culturally-inflected perspectives may help reveal the iniquitous imprints of global air travel at a variety of spatial scales. We suggest that there is much to be gained by adopting such perspectives, and argue that work on the social dimensions of air travel is vital in a discipline where air transport is routinely described as an enabler of globalisation, yet is often treated as an abstract, and oddly disembodied, space of flows

A benchmarking study of two trauma centres highlighting limitations when standardising mortality for comorbidity

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>A continuous process of trauma centre evaluation is essential to ensure the development and progression of trauma care at regional, national and international levels. Evaluation may be by comparison between pooled datasets or by direct benchmarking between centres. This study attempts to benchmark mortality at two trauma centres standardising this for multiple case-mix factors, which includes the prevalence of individual background pre-existing diseases within the study population.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Trauma patients with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) >15 admitted to the two centres in 2001 and 2002 were included in the study with the exception of those who died in the emergency department. Patient characteristics were analysed in terms of 18 case-mix factors including Glasgow Coma Scale on arrival, Injury Severity Score and the presence or absence of 9 co-morbidity types, and patient outcome was compared based on in-hospital mortality before and after standardisation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Crude mortality was greater at UHNS (18.2 vs 14.5%) with a non-significant odds ratio of 1.31 prior to adjusting for case-mix (P = 0.171). Adjustment for case mix using logistic regression analysis altered the odds ratio to 1.64, which was not significant (P = 0.069).</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>This study did not demonstrate any significant difference in the outcome of patients treated at either hospital during the study period. More importantly it has raised several important methodological issues pertinent to researchers undertaking registry based benchmarking studies. Data at the two registries was collected by personnel with differing backgrounds, in formats that were not completely compatible and was collected for patients that met different admissions criteria. The inclusion of a meaningful analysis of pre-existing disease was limited by the availability of robust data and sample size. We suggest greater communication between trauma research coordinators to ensure equivalent data collection and facilitate future benchmarking studies.</p

Preparation and properties of polybenzodioxane PIM-1 and its copolymers with poly(ethylene glycol)

This thesis describes the synthesis of soluble Polymer of Intrinsic Microporosity (PIM-1), fluoro-endcapped PIM-1 (F-PIM-1) and copolymers of F-PIM-1 with poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether (MeOPEG). The main aim of the project was to alter the porosity of microporous PIM-1 in three ways: (a) synthesis of copolymers of F-PIM-1 with MeOPEG (b) blending of PIM-1 with MeOPEG in various proportions; and (c) adsorption of MeOPEG from aqueous solution byPIM-1. PIM-1 and F-PIM-1 were synthesized by step growth polymerization of tetrafluoroterephthalonitrile (TFTPN) with 5,5',6,6'-tetrahydroxy-3,3,3',3'-tetramethyl-1,1'-spirobisindane (THSB), using the conventional method and a newly reported high shear mixing method. F-PIM-1 oligomers were then coupled to poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether (MeOPEG). The products were analyzed by NMR, IR, MALDI ToF MSS, TGA and polystyrene based GPC as well as multidetector GPC techniques. The high shear technique generally produced high molar mass products and yields. This method was also more successful for copolymerization.Blending of PIM-1 and MeOPEG in different proportions resulted in macrophase separation. Copolymer products were used to facilitate mixing of blends (as compatibilizers), however only 5% of MeOPEG could be solubilised into a PIM-1 phase. The effect of compatibilizer was found to be affected by interaction between PIM-1 and copolymer. However, N2 adsorption studies showed that after thermal removal of MeOPEG, PIM-1 regained stable porosity with significant BET surface area.Fluorescence studies were aimed at applications of PIM-1 and copolymers in sensors. PIM-1 and copolymers, spin-coated on the polyester-based substrate Melinex, were studied with and without methanol treatment in an environment of different solvent vapours. The effect of time and volume on wavelength shift and change in intensity was studied. Polar solvents tended to cause a red shift with decrease in intensity while less polar solvents behaved otherwise. Based on fluorescence experiments, solvent profiles for PIM-1 and copolymers were established.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceHigher Education Commission, Government of PakistanGBUnited Kingdo

Porous silica nanosheets in PIM-1 membranes for CO2 separation

PIM-1-based freestanding mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) and thin film nanocomposites (TFNs) were prepared by incorporating porous silica nanosheets (SN) and exfoliated SN (E-SN) derived from natural vermiculite (Verm) in the PIM-1 polymer matrix. In addition, SN were functionalized by sulfonic acid and amine groups (S-SN and N-SN, respectively) and were also used as fillers for the preparation of MMMs. The gas separation performance was evaluated using CO2/CH4 and CO2/N2 (1:1, v:v) binary gas mixtures. Among freestanding membranes, fresh ones (i.e. tested right after preparation) containing 0.05 wt% functionalized SN and E-SN outperformed the neat PIM-1, surpassing the 2008 Robeson upper bound. At the same filler concentration, fresh MMMs with sulfonic acid-functionalized SN (S-SN) exhibited 40% higher CO2 permeability, 20% higher CO2/N2 selectivity and almost the same CO2/CH4 selectivity as neat PIM-1 membranes. Moreover, after 150 days of aging, these membranes were capable of maintaining up to 68% of their initial CO2 permeability (compared to 37% for neat PIM-1). When prepared as TFN membranes, the incorporation of 0.05 wt% of S-SN led to 35% higher initial CO2 permeance and five times higher CO2 permeance after 28 days

Towards the total synthesis of domoic acid and the isodomoic acids

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Social Movement Learning Research: International Comparative Perspectives on Challenges and the Current Status of the Field

Studies of social movements have a long and contradictory relationship with adult education research. In this symposium contributors address the question: What is the current status, themes and the potentials and limits of current social movement learning (SML) research internationally