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

Improved determination of Q-factor and resonant frequency by a quadratic curve-fitting method

The Q-factor and peak frequency of resonant phenomena give useful information about the propagation and storage of energy in an electronic system and therefore its electromagnetic compatibility performance. However, the calculation of Q by linear interpolation of a discrete frequency response to obtain the half-power bandwidth can give inaccurate results, particularly if the data are noisy or the frequency resolution is low. We describe a more accurate method that makes use of the Lorentzian shape of the resonant peaks and involves fitting a second-order polynomial to the reciprocal power plotted against angular frequency. We demonstrate that this new method requires less than one quarter the number of frequency points as the linear method to give comparable accuracy in Q. The new method also gives comparable accuracy for signal-to-noise ratios that are approximately 8 dB greater. It is also more accurate for determination of peak frequency. Examples are given both from measured frequency responses and from simulated data obtained by the transmission line matrix method

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

Subsidiary capability upgrading and parent-subsidiary relationship: insights from a Chinese acquisition in the UK

Purpose: - This study aims to explore capability upgrading of EMNE’s subsidiaries in developed countries and how the parent-subsidiary relationship influences such upgrading. Design/methodology/approach: - The study adopts an interdisciplinary approach to capability upgrading of EMNEs subsidiaries in developed countries. It employs a single case study to explore this under-research area. Finding: - the analysis challenges the orthodox view and suggests broad based capability upgrading has taken place in the EMNE acquired subsidiaries ranging from product, process, functional to intersectoral. In addition, the capability upgrading was contingent on the degree of subsidiary autonomy and subsidiary mandates. Originality/value: - This study represents one of the first to examine capability upgrading and parent-subsidiary relationship in the context of EMNEs’ internationalisation activities

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

Observations of Several Officers Taken as a Whole Can Establish the Articulable Facts Necessary to Justify a Protective Sweep of an Area Not Immediately Adjacent to an Arrest Site, but the Area Searched Must Be Determined with Regard to the Exigencies of the Situation: \u3cem\u3eCommonwealth v. Taylor\u3c/em\u3e

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court held the facts articulated by several police officers demonstrated that a search of the basement of a convenience store, not described in the warrant for the search of the store, was a valid protective sweep justified by the reasonable safety fears of the police officers. The court further held that a pill bottle removed from an individual\u27s pocket while conducting a legal quick frisk of the individual was justified because the officer believed the bottle to be a weapon. However, the court held that contraband found in the coats of two individuals in the basement was not admissible as evidence because the coats were outside of the zone of the individuals\u27 immediate control. Commonwealth v. Taylor, 771 A.2d 1261 (Pa. 2001