Extending conceptualisations of the diversity and value of extracurricular activities: a cultural capital approach to graduate outcomes

This report presents the findings from the research project Extending conceptualisations of the diversity and value of extra curricular activities: a cultural capital approach to graduate outcomes. Very little research has directly addressed the question of what constitutes extra-curricular activities (ECA), the extent to which students engage in ECA, and how students experience and conceptualise benefits from their engagement. Nor is there research that looks at how staff understand ECA. This research sought to address these questions from a cultural capital approach. Traditionally conceived ECA include campus-based cultural and sporting activities and volunteering. An awareness is required of the fact that many students work for economic reasons, continue their faith and caring activities, and continue to live at home. The researchers were interested in the possible differential recognition and valuing of activities undertaken by different groups of students. This research explores issues of inter-generational capital that might shape both the capacities to participate and how students understood the benefits

Extra-Curricular Activities: creating graduates with impact in education

Staff from the Carnegie Faculty’s Centre for Social and Educational Research across the Life-course (SERL) have completed a project for the Higher Education Academy subject group for education, ESCalate, into ‘Creating Graduates with Impact in Education’. Jacqueline Stevenson, Professor Sue Clegg and Paula Sealey undertook research with students and staff across a range of education-related courses as well as with employers from schools, local authorities and other education settings

Contrasting Views on the Organization of Cytoplasm

The widely held conception of cytoplasm as a concentrated solution of dissolved proteins and other macromolecules, metabolites and inorganic ions, within which the various organelles and other formed elements are suspended appears to be a gross over-simplification. Evidence to be reviewed briefly here, from a wide variety of experiments and cell types, indicates that a much more extensive organization exists, in animal cell cytoplasm at least. Results from experiments on dextran sulfate permeabilized L-929 cells will be presented which support that organized paradigm. It seems likely that this intracellular architecture also exerts a strong influence on the water in the regions adjacent to it, resulting in the generation of altered aqueous phase physical properties compared to those of ordinary aqueous solutions. This analysis suggests consequences of far reaching importance to our understanding of cell structure and function

Neutron Scattering and magnetization studies of Ba2_2Cu2.95_{2.95}Co0.05_{0.05}O4_4Cl2_2: A decorated two-dimensional antiferromagnet

Ba$_2$Cu$_3$O$_4$Cl$_2$ has two inter-penetrating square Cu sublattices, one with square root 2 times the in-plane spacing of the other. Isotropic magnetic interactions between the two sublattices are completely frustrated. Quantum fluctuations resolve the intrinsic degeneracy in the ordering direction of the more weakly coupled sublattice in favor of collinear ordering. We present neutron scattering and magnetization studies of the magnetic structure when the Cu ions are substituted with Co. The Co spins create new magnetic interactions between the two sublattices. The ordering behavior of both Cu sublattices is retained largely unmodified. Between the phase transitions of the two sublattices spin-glass behavior is observed. Magnetization results show a strong enhancement to the ferromagnetic aspect of the magnetic structure. The combination of glassy behavior and large moments strongly suggest that the Co moments induce the formation of local canted states.Comment: 4 figure

The use of genetic algorithms to maximize the performance of a partially lined screened room

This paper shows that it is possible to use genetic algorithms to optimize the layout of ferrite tile absorber in a partially lined screened enclosure to produce a "best" performance. The enclosure and absorber are modeled using TLM modeling techniques and the performance is determined by comparison with theoretical normalized site attenuation of free space. The results show that it is possible to cover just 80% of the surface of the enclosure with ferrite absorber and obtain a response which is within +/-4 dB of the free space response between 40 and 200 MHz

Particle-stabilized oscillating diver: a self-assembled responsive capsule

We report the experimental discovery of a self-assembled capsule, with density set by interfacial glass beads and an internal bubble, that automatically performs regular oscillations up and down a vial in response to a temperature gradient. Similar composites featuring interfacial particles and multiple internal compartments could be the solution to a variety of application challenges.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figure

Pair programming teams and high-quality knowledge sharing: A comparative study of coopetitive reward structures

© 2015, Springer Science+Business Media New York. There has been a growing research interest in understanding knowledge sharing in agile development. Yet, empirical research that sheds light on its underlying practices, such as pair programming, is evolving. This study uses insights from coopetition and software literature to focus inquiry on the relation between coopetitive rewards and high-quality knowledge sharing in pair programming teams. Theoretical hypotheses are developed and validated, suggesting that: ‘coopetitive rewards influence high-quality knowledge sharing both directly and over time through their impact on the level of knowledge sharing satisfaction’, and, ‘the impact of coopetitive rewards on high-quality knowledge sharing is dependent upon task complexity and the history of working under similar reward structure’. This study generates new understanding related to the use of rewards in pair programming teams, and offers a rigorous and replicable seven-step experimental process for simulating coopetitive structures and investigating their role in pair programming and in similar collaborative contexts