Turbine instabilities: Case histories

Several possible causes of turbine rotor instability are discussed and the related design features of a wide range of turbomachinery types and sizes are considered. The instrumentation options available for detecting rotor instability and assessing its severity are also discussed

Events management for the end of life: mortality, mourning and marginalisation

The rituals, ceremonies and celebrations marking end of life are a vital aspect of human society. There is a diverse literature associated with this lifestage, yet much of this sits outside the events management body of knowledge. Whilst such occasions clearly meet accepted definitions of an event, there remains little research into the meanings and management practices associated with events at the end of life. In this way, marginalisation is expressed both through prevailing attitudes, and in the absence of research from an events perspective. In this chapter the authors address both concerns using a critical event studies approach to draw together key concepts, issues and links to professional practice. It emerges that wider societal trends such as secularisation, personalisation and co-creation are present in the contemporary funeral event. Furthermore, there will be increased demand for tailored services as more people move into the “death demographic”. The professional experience of the second author is used to illustrate how this affects current practice. What is apparent is that by adopting a design approach to the total experience environment, events professionals are well-placed to meet the growing demand for customised experiences at the end of life

Is executive impairment associated with schizophrenic syndromes? A meta-analysis

Original article can be found at: http://journals.cambridge.org/ Copyright Cambridge University Press. DOI: 10.1017/S0033291708003887A key neuropsychological proposal in schizophrenia is that negative and disorganization symptoms are associated with different patterns of impairment on executive tasks. Reporting correlations between positive, negative or disorganization symptoms and any type of executive test were meta-analysed. The influence of moderating factors was also examined, including age, treatment and stage of illness and whether symptoms were relapsing or persistent. The magnitudes of the correlations were compared with those for general intellectual impairment. Pooled correlations between executive impairment and both negative symptoms and disorganization were significant in the small-to-moderate range. That for positive symptoms (‘reality distortion’), however, was close to zero. The pattern of correlations among different executive tests differed significantly for negative symptoms and disorganization. Patients with stable clinical pictures showed significantly higher correlations with executive impairment than those with relapsing and remitting illnesses. Both negative symptoms and disorganization also correlated significantly with general intellectual function as indexed by current IQ. Meta-analysis supports the view that negative symptoms and disorganization are associated with partially dissociable patterns of executive impairment. However, co-existent general intellectual impairment has been an important confounding factor in the studies to date.Peer reviewe

Creativity in events: the untold story

This paper reports upon untold stories that illustrate the creativity but also complexity of working in outdoor events. There has been global interest in the Creative Industries and the Creative Economy more generally. Events have not been identified or categorised as part of this. Experiences have been identified as part of the creative sectors (NESTA, 2006) and events are seen as experiences (Jackson, 2006; Berridge 2007). There has been little research undertaken about the creative nature of event experiences, especially in how they are created. A theoretical framework was created from literature on creativity more generally to inform the Creativity in Events research project. Interviews with those working in the outdoor events sector were the basis of the qualitative stage of the research project investigating the phenomenon of creativity in events. This paper identifies the core facets of creativity in the management of outdoor events. These were fluency, originality, imagination, elaboration, environment and complexity. A vignette is used to illustrate the intricacy of the nature of creativity in the production of outdoor event experiences. The overall findings were that event management was both creative and pragmatic and that both are necessary. There was a need for a creative environment with processes and familiarity that aided inspiration and originality. The background and findings are relevant to recognising events as part of the wider creative economy. A greater understanding of the nature of creativity in events informs both education and practice

Electronic Banking and Fintech: Changes Over the Years, Disruptions and Where It Will Head in the Future

This paper investigates the changes to banking over the years, and the ways in which it has transformed. It investigates the advantages and disadvantages of online banking and looks forward into the future of banking. The research discusses where banking will head and how far it may advance. I use a survey to reveal customers’ perceptions regarding the preferences they have pertaining to electronic banking, and how participative they are in the system. It looks to gain valuable knowledge about electronic banking uses and advantages, so that we can predict how it may change the future, and how it is being used currently. It aimed to find real-time data on the current generation of bank users to see how it has disrupted the industry of banking. The survey was disseminated amongst the University of New Hampshire campus and resulted in 25 participants. The survey contained 15 questions that were able to give us a better understanding of the banking situation amongst college students. A literature review containing different research articles gave us the ability to make a prediction of the future of banking as well as giving a lot of information about what electronic banking is today versus what it was 10, 20, 30 years ago. Throughout this paper you will find important information regarding the uses of electronic banking and the advantages and disadvantages that come along with the technology. After reading you will have a lot more knowledge on the area, and be able to see and predict that the future is heading into more technology in the banking industry than we see now

Creating The Water Clock

This thesis will discuss the making of my short film The Water Clock at the University of New Orleans from its inception to its final short film form. Part One discusses the balancing of content and style and explores the relation between time and water as inspirations for story. Part Two details the preproduction process and major crew members’ collaborations and contributions before filming. Part Three describes daily successes, struggles, and direction while in production. Part Four describes every phase of the post-production process as the film is completed. Lastly, I will analyze my personal growth as a filmmaker

The Phenomenon of Abstract Cognition Among Scholastic Chess Participants: A Case Study

A qualitative investigation was conducted to explore the phenomenon of abstract cognition among a purposive sample of 5 secondary scholastic chess club participants. The case study enabled the researcher to explore the faculties of abstract cognition among students of contrasting skills and abilities in playing chess. The study also allowed for the consideration of potential visual-spatial, logical, academic, social competency and life benefits of chess play. Through analysis of interviews, chess simulations, blindfold chess play, and narration of chess lines and sequences, the investigator was able to extract meaning and code schemata into a holistic understanding of the phenomenon of abstract cognition within the context of Piaget’s Formal Operations Stage. Scholastic chess systematically engages the student in a stimuli-enriched environment in which the participant must exercise optimal cognitive control in processing and anticipating chess lines and sequences, thus facilitating the manifestation and phenomenon of abstract cognition. Abstract cognition as a phenomenon may elicit increased academic, scholarly, and life potential. Participation in scholastic chess may produce both scholarly and critical thinking individuals. Suggestions for future research include continuing qualitative research in the area of abstract cognition among chess players and developing a stronger understanding of cognitive growth in students

Facial emotion processing in schizophrenia : a non-specific neuropsychological deficit?

Original article can be found at : http://journals.cambridge.org/ Copyright Cambridge University PressBackground: Identification of facial emotions has been found to be impaired in schizophrenia but there are uncertainties about the neuropsychological specificity of the finding. Method: Twenty-two patients with schizophrenia and 20 healthy controls were given tests requiring identification of facial emotion, judgement of the intensity of emotional expressions without identification, familiar face recognition and the Benton Facial Recognition Test (BFRT). The schizophrenia patients were selected to be relatively intellectually preserved. Results: The patients with schizophrenia showed no deficit in identifying facial emotion, although they were slower than the controls. They were, however, impaired on judging the intensity of emotional expression without identification. They showed impairment in recognizing familiar faces but not on the BFRT. Conclusions: When steps are taken to reduce the effects of general intellectual impairment, there is no deficit in identifying facial emotions in schizophrenia. There may, however, be a deficit in judging emotional intensity. The impairment found in naming familiar faces is consistent with other evidence of semantic memory impairment in the disorder.Peer reviewe

Is the events industry a creative industry?

This paper outlines a project that is being conducted by the University of Westminster and Bournemouth University on behalf of the Business Visits and Events Partnership (BVEP) to measure the amount of creative intensity involved in events management work, with a view to lobbying government via DCMS to provide representation for the events industry on the Creative Industries Council (CIC), a national advisory body for policy-making on the creative industries. BVEP sees the event sector as a stand-alone industry in its own right and has already lobbied DCMS with the objectives of having the events industry recognised as a stand-alone sector – not part of the tourism sector – and an industry that is creative (OECD, 2014, Richards, 2011). The first objective has now been achieved through the appointment of an Events Industry Council to offer advice on event-related policy. However, this does not go far enough in terms of dovetailing the event’s sectors aims and complementarities with other creative sectors. Therefore the BVEP are still pursuing recognition as a creative industry: on advice from DCMS, the events sector must now research its ‘creative intensity’ and the purpose of this research project is to take that objective forward. Through CIC representation the creative sectors, such as film and TV, music, advertising and marketing, museums, arts and crafts have direct influence on policy-making at the DCMS, UKTI, Visit Britain and Visit England and at the Prime Minister’s Office (DCMS, 2015). Each sector is considered as creative according to the ‘creative intensity’ of the job roles within those sectors: currently, the events industry is not considered as a creative sector, largely because its ‘creative intensity’ has not yet been measured. The research team will adopt the model established by Freeman (2008) and used by the DCMS to measure the UK creative industries in order to review samples of recognised occupation codes (SOCs) within businesses indicated by their industrial codes (SICs). The DCMS looks for sectors to have a 20% or above creative intensity to be considered as a creative industry (Knight, 2014). The research team consider that exploring the creative intensity within event management education is a necessary and related task, as a signifier of the developing professional skills-base on which future events management practitioners will draw. Therefore, as AEME enters its second decade it is fitting to reflect on the development of events management education and to consider the role of creativity within UK degree programmes as the subject and profession continues to mature. As Bladen and Kennell (2014) highlight the prominence of business school perspectives within early educational offers may have privileged analytical approaches over the more lateral thinking required in creative practice and it is timely to review whether this remains the case. This year’s forum at Falmouth University provides a sympathetic setting in which to consider the re-framing of events management as a creative endeavour and to explore the risks and rewards that a shift towards status as a creative industry may bring for educators and practitioners alike