1,900 research outputs found
âMulti-directional managementâ: Exploring the challenges of performance in the World Class Programme environment
Driven by the ever-increasing intensity of Olympic competition and the âno compromise â no stone unturnedâ requirements frequently addressed by HM Government and its main agency, UK Sport, a change in culture across Olympic team landscapes is a common occurrence. With a focus on process, this paper presents reflections from eight current or recently serving UK Olympic sport Performance Directors on their experiences of creating and disseminating their vision for their sport, a vital initial activity of the change initiative. To facilitate a broad overview of this construct, reflections are structured around the visionâs characteristics and foundations, how it is delivered to key stakeholder groups, how it is influenced by these groups, the qualities required to ensure its longevity and its limitations. Emerging from these perceptions, the creation and maintenance of a shared team vision was portrayed as a highly dynamic task requiring the active management of a number of key internal and external stakeholders. Furthermore, the application of âdarkâ traits and context-specific expertise were considered critical attributes for the activityâs success. Finally, recent calls for research to elucidate the wider culture optimisation process are reinforced
Model for coiling and meandering instability of viscous threads
A numerical model is presented to describe both the transient and
steady-state dynamics of viscous threads falling onto a plane. The steady-state
coiling frequency w is calculated as a function of fall height H. In the case
of weak gravity, w ~ H^{-1} and w ~ H are obtained for lower and higher fall
heights respectively. When the effect of gravity is significant, the relation w
~ H^2 is observed. These results agree with the scaling laws previously
predicted. The critical Reynolds number for coil-uncoil transition is
discussed. When the gravity is weak, the transition occurs with hysteresis
effects. If the plane moves horizontally at a constant speed, a variety of
meandering oscillation modes can be observed experimentally. The present model
also can describe this phenomenon. The numerically obtained state diagram for
the meandering modes qualitatively agrees with the experiment.Comment: 12 pages, 10 figure
Rapid prototyping and fast user trial of multimedia broadcast and cellular services
This paper presents the results of fast user trial of multimedia services that are enabled when a mobile terminal has access to converged services over digital broadcast and mobile telecommunications networks. It first describes the motivations behind developing this system and describes the service scenarios that benefit most from it. It then provides an overview of the service components of the test case scenario. Finally, it presents the results of fast user trials on end users of the services that were developed. This work was conducted as part of the EU-funded CISMUNDUS project
Absorbate-Induced Piezochromism in a Porous Molecular Crystal
Atmospherically stable porous frameworks
and materials are interesting
for heterogeneous solidâgas applications. One motivation is
the direct and selective uptake of pollutant/hazardous gases, where
the material produces a measurable response in the presence of the
analyte. In this report, we present a combined experimental and theoretical
rationalization for the piezochromic response of a robust and porous
molecular crystal built from an extensively fluorinated trispyrazole.
The electronic response of the material is directly determined by
analyte uptake, which provokes a subtle lattice contraction and an
observable bathochromic shift in the optical absorption onset. Selectivity
for fluorinated absorbates is demonstrated, and toluene is also found
to crystallize within the pore. Furthermore, we demonstrate the application
of electronic structure calculations to predict a physicochemical
response, providing the foundations for the design of electronically
tunable porous solids with the chemical properties required for development
of novel gas-uptake media
A Reusable, Extensible Infrastructure for Augmented Field Trips
This paper describes a reusable pervasive information infrastructure developed as part of the Equator IRC, designed to allow the construction of literacy based eLearning activities on top of material created as part of a more traditional visitors system. The architecture of the system is described along with details of the creation of the curated material and the subsequent adaption of the system by local primary school teachers to create a literacy experiences. Results of the first trials of the system are presented with conclusions drawn and discussion of future directions
The Literacy Fieldtrip: Using UbiComp to Support Children's Creative Writing
Fieldtrips, traditionally associated with science, history and geography teaching, have long been used to support childrenâs learning by allowing them to engage with environments first-hand. Recently, ubiquitous computing (UbiComp) has been used to enhance fieldtrips in these educational areas by augmenting environments with a range of instruments, devices and sensors. However, the sorts of interaction design that UbiComp makes possible have the potential not just to enhance the value of educational techniques in known application areas, but also to expand the application of those techniques into new areas of curriculum. We report on a UbiComp-supported fieldtrip to support creative writing, associated with the learning of literacy skills. We discuss how the fieldtrip, designed and run in the grounds of a historic English country house with Year 5 UK schoolchildren, engendered interactions which changed both the processes and products of creative writing, with benefits for both teachers and children
UbiComp in Opportunity Spaces: Challenges for Participatory Design
The rise of ubiquitous computing (UbiComp), where pervasive, wireless and disappearing technologies offer hitherto unavailable means of supporting activity, increasingly opens up âopportunity spacesâ. These are spaces where there is no urgent problem to be solved, but much potential to augment and enhance practice in new ways. Based on our experience of co-designing novel user experiences for visitors to an English country estate, we discuss challenges for PD in such an opportunity space. Key amongst these are how to build a working relationship of value when there are no urgent requirements; how to understand and scope the space of opportunities; and how to leave users with new resources of value to them
A persistent infrastructure for augmented field trips
This paper describes an approach to the provision of pervasive field trips where a persistent infrastructure is provided, upon which teachers can easily create novel pervasive experiences for children. The physical infrastructure is briefly described along with the underlying information infrastructure, which enables the tools for authoring the content and designing the orchestration of the experience to be placed in the hands of teachers. A literacy experience and initial trials of the system are discussed, conclusions drawn, and future directions outlined
2. Survey Of Urban Blood Donors And Rural Populations
A CAJM survey on the prevalence of Australia Antigen in the blood of Zimbabweans (formerly Rhodesians)Consequently a more comprehensive survey was undertaken to determine the general prevalence of the antigen in Rhodesia by testing African and European blood donors as examples of urban populations and, in contrast, certain African tribal groups as examples of rural populations. The results are presented here together with the findings in cases of hepatitis and leprosy which have come to hand subsequent to the pilot survey
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