A fistful of dollars or the sting? Considering academic–industry collaborations in the production of feature films

Increasingly universities and film schools are looking for ways to provide richer experiences for students to enhance their employability as well as find ways to make their programmes stand out in a competitive marketplace. Likewise, economic pressure on commercial feature film production companies, particularly independents, is forcing them to consider alternative means of production and new sources of cost-effective project support. This paper looks at the emergence of formal academic-industry collaboration in the creation, production and support of commercial feature films. Looking at a wide range of examples from collaborations worldwide, it considers three basic models: University as film production company with 'soft' investment; University as film production company with 'hard' investment; and University as film production service provider. It is argued that all three models can be viable but that alignment with corporate and institutional objectives, as well as realistic expectations, are essential to success

A Moment-Based Polarimetric Radar Forward Operator for Rain Microphysics

There is growing interest in combining microphysical models and polarimetric radar observations to improve our understanding of storms and precipitation. Mapping model-predicted variables into the radar observational space necessitates a forward operator, which requires assumptions that introduce uncertainties into model-observation comparisons. These include uncertainties arising from the microphysics scheme a priori assumptions of a fixed drop size distribution (DSD) functional form, whereas natural DSDs display far greater variability. To address this concern, this study presents a moment-based polarimetric radar forward operator with no fundamental restrictions on the DSD form by linking radar observables to integrated DSD moments. The forward operator is built upon a dataset of > 200 million realistic DSDs from one-dimensional bin microphysical rain shaft simulations, and surface disdrometer measurements from around the world. This allows for a robust statistical assessment of forward operator uncertainty and quantification of the relationship between polarimetric radar observables and DSD moments. Comparison of "truth" and forward-simulated vertical profiles of the polarimetric radar variables are shown for bin simulations using a variety of moment combinations. Higher-order moments (especially those optimized for use with the polarimetric radar variables: the 6th and 9th) perform better than the lower-order moments (0th and 3rd) typically predicted by many bulk microphysics schemes

Facial expression of affect in children with Cornelia de Lange Syndrome

Background: Individuals with Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS) have been reported to show comparatively high levels of flat and negative affect but there have been no empirical evaluations. In this study, we use an objective measure of facial expression to compare affect in CdLS with that seen in Cri du Chat syndrome (CDC) and a group of individuals with a mixed aetiology of intellectual disabilities (ID). Method: Observations of three groups of 14 children with CdLS, CDC and mixed aetiology of ID were undertaken when a one-to-one interaction was ongoing. Results: There was no significant difference between the groups in the duration of positive, negative or flat affect. However, the CdLS group displayed a significantly lower ratio of positive to negative affect than children in the other groups. Discussion: This difference partially confirms anecdotal observations and could be due to the expression of pain caused by health problems associated with CdLS or neurological expression of the CdLS gene in facial muscles related to expression of positive affect. However, further research is needed to directly test these possible associations. </p

Ugi multicomponent reaction to prepare peptide–peptoid hybrid structures with diverse chemical functionalities

Monodisperse sequenced peptides and peptoids present unique nano-structures based on their self-assembled secondary and tertiary structures. However, the generation of peptide and peptoid hybrid oligomers in a sequence-defined manner via Ugi multicomponent reaction has not yet been studied. Herein, we report a synthetic strategy that enables both the modification of peptides as well as the generation of sequence-defined peptide–peptoid hybrid structures. Our synthetic methodology rests on the fusion of solid phase peptide synthesis with Ugi multicomponent reactions. We evidence that a diversity of chemical functionalities can be inserted into peptides or used in the design of peptide–peptoid hybrids exploiting a wide functional array including amines, carboxylic acids, hydrocarbons, carbohydrates as well as polymers, introducing a sequence-defined synthetic platform technology for precision peptoid hybrids

Outcomes following the surgical management of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction; A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) causes exertional symptoms in two thirds of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Consensus guidelines recommend surgical intervention in patients with drug refractory symptoms. The primary aim of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine morbidity and mortality after surgery. METHODS: Study Selection: Studies reporting outcomes following surgical intervention for symptomatic LVOTO in HCM. RESULTS: 85 studies were included in the systematic review and 35 studies in the meta-analysis. Contemporary early (30 days) mortality following septal myectomy were 1.4% (CI 0.8, 2.4) I^{2} 9.0%, p = 0.36 and 0.7% (CI 0.3, 1.2) I^{2} 70.7%, p < 0.05 respectively. Sixty-eight studies (80%) reported perioperative complications. The contemporary rate of a perioperative ventricular septal defect was 1.4% (0.8, 2.3) I^{2} 0%, p < 0.05. Late morbidities including atrial fibrillation, stroke, heart failure and transplant were reported in fewer than 22% of studies and few studies compared mortality and clinical outcomes using different surgical approaches to LVOTO. The incidence rate (IR) of reintervention with a further surgical procedure was 0.3% (CI 0.2, 0.4) I^{2} 52.5%, p < 0.05. CONCLUSIONS: Contemporary surgical management of LVOTO is associated with low operative mortality rates but further studies are needed to investigate the impact of surgical therapy on non-fatal early and late complications

Seismo-acoustic ray model benchmarking against experimental tank data

Acoustic predictions of the recently developed TRACEO ray model, which accounts for bottom shear properties, are benchmarked against tank experimental data from the EPEE-1 and EPEE-2 (Elastic Parabolic Equation Experiment) experiments. Both experiments are representative of signal propagation in a Pekeris-like shallow-water waveguide over a non-flat isotropic elastic bottom, where significant interaction of the signal with the bottom can be expected. The benchmarks show, in particular, that the ray model can be as accurate as a parabolic approximation model benchmarked in similar conditions. The results of benchmarking are important, on one side, as a preliminary experimental validation of the model and, on the other side, demonstrates the reliability of the ray approach for seismo-acoustic applications. (C) 2012 Acoustical Society of America. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1121/1.4734236

Maximising Social Interactions and Effectiveness within Distance Learning Courses: Cases from Construction

Advanced Internet technologies have revolutionised the delivery of distance learning education. As a result, the physical proximity between learners and the learning providers has become less important. However, whilst the pervasiveness of these technological developments has reached unprecedented levels, critics argue that the student learning experience is still not as effective as conventional face-to-face delivery. In this regard, surveys of distance learning courses reveal that there is often a lack of social interaction attributed to this method of delivery, which tends to leave learners feeling isolated due to a lack of engagement, direction, guidance and support by the tutor. This paper defines and conceptualises this phenomenon by investigating the extent to which distance-learning programmes provide the social interactions of an equivalent traditional classroom setting. In this respect, two distance learning case studies were investigated, covering the UK and Slovenian markets respectively. Research findings identified that delivery success is strongly dependent on the particular context to which the specific distance learning course is designed, structured and augmented. It is therefore recommended that designers of distance learning courses should balance the tensions and nuances associated with commercial viability and pedagogic effectiveness

By design : negotiating flexible learning in the built environment discipline

The term &lsquo;flexible education&rsquo; is now firmly entrenched within Australian higher education discourse, yet the term is a contested one imbued with a multiplicity of meanings. This paper describes a process designed to elucidate how the idea of flexible education can be translated into teaching models that are informed by the specific demands of disciplinary contexts. The process uses a flexible learning &lsquo;matching&rsquo; tool to articulate the understandings and preferences of students and academics of the Built Environment to bridge the gap between student expectations of flexibility and their teacher&rsquo;s willingness and ability to provide that flexibility within the limits of the pedagogical context and teaching resources. The findings suggest an informed starting point for educators in the Built Environment and other creative disciplines from which to traverse the complexities inherent in negotiating flexibility in an increasingly digital world

Non-oxidative modification of low density lipoprotein by ruptured myocytes

AbstractIn this study, the interaction of ruptured cardiac myocytes with low density lipoprotein (LDL) has been investigated and the consequent extent of uptake by macrophages. The results show that lysate released from ruptured myocytes is capable of inducing LDL oxidation and that the resulting modified form is recognised and degraded by macrophages. Peroxyl radical scavengers inhibit the LDL oxidation but not the macrophage uptake suggesting that LDL can be modified by mechanisms that are independent of oxidative processes by intracellular constituents of cardiac myocytes