Fostering a community of scholars at the University of Warwick : the Wolfson Research Exchange

This paper focuses on the University of Warwick’s Wolfson Research Exchange which opened in October 2008. It describes the varied environment that the facility offers to Warwick’s research community, and explores the service model provided. The new approaches to learning space design and the students’ expectations which informed and influenced the Research Exchange’s creation (as well as its ongoing service development) are also discussed. This case study provides an overview of the Research Exchange’s developments, successes and lessons learnt which could be applicable to other institutions exploring dedicated spaces and support for their research communities

Electronic Commerce and the Communication of Information

Electronic Commerce is a relatively new phenomenon in today\u27s market place. Commerce or the buying and selling of goods and services can take many forms. In the early years of computerization. commercial activities revolved around the exchange of financial data between businesses and banks (Electronic Funds Transfer). Then businesses began exploring the transfer of data in an electronic format between individual businesses in the form of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). Over time much broader types of business transactions began occurring. Data exchange included inventory items, marketing. sales materials, product design. Items which were sent via mail took on an electronic format speeding the exchange of data from one business to another. As data began moving electronically a network or series of communication lines developed. The development of internal network lines expanded the use of forms of electronic communication to include E-mail, EDl, EFT, file transfers of text, graphics and sound. Internal business and external network applications grew. Most internal networks allowed for the increasing productivity of internal workers in sharing ideas and completing projects. The use of the computer attached to an internal network made workers more productive. Likewise the external network which was used primarily for research by the military and universities called the Internet also grew in popularity. The shift of business transactions moving from a an internal application to and external application on the Internet lead the way for the development of Electronic Commerce. Electronic Commerce is currently one of the newest, hottest technological achievements of our time. Businesses are rapidly developing applications in which to buy, sell or trade services using the Internet. Th.is paper explores some of the challenges faced by electronic commerce and the communication of information. Reviewing past and current technical writer\u27s works in the field of computer technology, an overview demonstrates how computers are changing the way humans are adapting this new technology. Electronic commerce changes many processes currently used in business transactions and produces a new form of commercial activity. As future developments progress in this type of technology people will see many adaptations of electronic commerce in daily life

A multi-analytical investigation into glass dopant incorporation

The influence of various dopants on the properties and local structure of glass samples was explored and a quantitative determination of the structural changes in the network as the dopant concentration was varied was achieved using 27Al, 29Si, 33S MAS NMR. Findings showed that silver- and copper-doping of phosphate based glass gave rise to unexpected connectivity between the phosphate units most likely due to some phase separation creating a different composition to that intended in the majority glass. This emphasises the importance of a careful and systematic approach to sample manufacture in achieving high sample stabilities, leading to a good degree of predictability in both structure and properties. Lanthanum and yttrium ions, despite their huge difference in ionic size, showed very little difference in their effect upon the phosphate coordination in the glass samples as they remain outside the phosphate network, cross-linking between the terminal oxygen atoms. The aluminium ions however, showed evidence of behaving in both a cross-linking manner and in a network forming, tetrahedral role and it appears energetically favourable for them to avoid any Al-O-Al linkage, hence resulting in the formation of AlO4 rather than exceeding the AlO5 or AlO6 quantities that would lead to this. The sulphur NMR looks to be a very promising method for future use in understanding sulphur speciation in glasses

Recommended Training Practices to Prepare Pilots to Cope With Information Conflicts

As the next generation of flight deck information systems are being utilized on the flight deck, pilots now have greater amounts of information at their fingertips. Although redundant sources of information allow pilots to crosscheck, they also introduce the potential for information conflicts. There is a need to ensure pilots are trained to effectively evaluate, integrate and make decisions based on information from redundant, and potentially conflicting information. Based on findings from a literature, we present several best practice guidelines for preparing pilots to effectively respond to conflicting information. Based on data collected during a questionnaire study administered to a large sample of pilots, and a simulation-based study with B737 pilots, we transformed these guidelines into training recommendations for the pilot training community and provide use case examples of how these recommendations could be implemented

Non-linear enhancement of laser generated ultrasonic Rayleigh waves by cracks

Laser generated ultrasound has been widely used for detecting cracks, surface and sub-surface defects in many different materials. It provides a non-contact wideband excitation source which can be focused into different geometries. Previous workers have reported enhancement of the laser generated Rayleigh wave when a crack is illuminated by pulsed laser beam irradiation. We demonstrate that the enhancement observed is due to a combination of source truncation, the free boundary condition at the edge of the crack and interference effects. Generating a Rayleigh wave over a crack can lead to enhancement of the amplitude of the Rayleigh wave signal, a shift in the dominant frequency of the wideband Rayleigh wave and strong enhancement of the high frequency components of the Rayleigh wave

Recommended Training Practices to Prepare Pilots to Cope with Information Conflicts

As the next generation of flight deck information systems are being utilized on the flight deck, pilots now have greater amounts of information at their fingertips. Information that was typically available only from certified information sources in aircraft panels, is now being provided by a range of sources, both within the panel and on Electronic Flight Bags (EFBs). Although redundant sources of information provide pilots a means by which to crosscheck and hone in on ground truth, they also introduce the potential for pilots encountering conflicting information. As conflicting information can have negative effects on decision making, there is a need to ensure pilots are trained to effectively evaluate, integrate and make decisions based on information from redundant, and potentially conflicting information. Based on findings from the literature, we present several best practice guidelines for preparing pilots to effectively respond to situations in which they will be faced with redundant and potentially conflicting information. Based on data collected during a questionnaire study administered to a large sample of airline, corporate and general aviation pilots, and a simulation-based study with B737 airline pilots, we operationalize these guidelines into specific training recommendations for the pilot training community and provide use case examples of how these recommendations would be implemented in both commercial and general aviation contexts

A multi-analytical investigation into glass dopant incorporation

The influence of various dopants on the properties and local structure of glass samples was explored and a quantitative determination of the structural changes in the network as the dopant concentration was varied was achieved using 27Al, 29Si, 33S MAS NMR. Findings showed that silver- and copper-doping of phosphate based glass gave rise to unexpected connectivity between the phosphate units most likely due to some phase separation creating a different composition to that intended in the majority glass. This emphasises the importance of a careful and systematic approach to sample manufacture in achieving high sample stabilities, leading to a good degree of predictability in both structure and properties. Lanthanum and yttrium ions, despite their huge difference in ionic size, showed very little difference in their effect upon the phosphate coordination in the glass samples as they remain outside the phosphate network, cross-linking between the terminal oxygen atoms. The aluminium ions however, showed evidence of behaving in both a cross-linking manner and in a network forming, tetrahedral role and it appears energetically favourable for them to avoid any Al-O-Al linkage, hence resulting in the formation of AlO4 rather than exceeding the AlO5 or AlO6 quantities that would lead to this. The sulphur NMR looks to be a very promising method for future use in understanding sulphur speciation in glasses.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceEngineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (Great Britain) (EPSRC)GBUnited Kingdo

Examining Pilot Decision Making in Information-Rich Cockpits

Pilots are faced with making decisions based on a range of different information sources. One challenge pilots often face is the presentation of conflicting information between sources. This effort examined pilot decision making with conflicting information by conducting structured interviews with 13 pilots, including seven airline, three corporate, and three GA pilots. Pilots were asked questions regarding their experience with conflicting sources of weather, traffic, and navigation information on the flight deck or cockpit. Further, they were asked to describe how they responded to the information conflict, including which source they trusted, which source they ultimately acted on, and why they acted on that source. This paper describes the methods, results and implications for commercial and military aviation

Effect of silver content on the structure and antibacterial activity of silver-doped phosphate-based glasses

Staphylococcus aureus can cause a range of diseases, such as osteomyelitis, as well as colonize implanted medical devices. In most instances the organism forms biofilms that not only are resistant to the body's defense mechanisms but also display decreased susceptibilities to antibiotics. In the present study, we have examined the effect of increasing silver contents in phosphate-based glasses to prevent the formation of S. aureus biofilms. Silver was found to be an effective bactericidal agent against S. aureus biofilms, and the rate of silver ion release (0.42 to 1.22 µg·mm–2·h–1) from phosphate-based glass was found to account for the variation in its bactericidal effect. Analysis of biofilms by confocal microscopy indicated that they consisted of an upper layer of viable bacteria together with a layer (20 µm) of nonviable cells on the glass surface. Our results showed that regardless of the silver contents in these glasses (10, 15, or 20 mol%) the silver exists in its +1 oxidation state, which is known to be a highly effective bactericidal agent compared to that of silver in other oxidation states (+2 or +3). Analysis of the glasses by 31P nuclear magnetic resonance imaging and high-energy X-ray diffraction showed that it is the structural rearrangement of the phosphate network that is responsible for the variation in silver ion release and the associated bactericidal effectiveness. Thus, an understanding of the glass structure is important in interpreting the in vitro data and also has important clinical implications for the potential use of the phosphate-based glasses in orthopedic applications to deliver silver ions to combat S. aureus biofilm infections

Developing clinical decision tools to implement chronic disease prevention and screening in primary care: the BETTER 2 program (building on existing tools to improve chronic disease prevention and screening in primary care).

BackgroundThe Building on Existing Tools to Improve Chronic Disease Prevention and Screening in Family Practice (BETTER) trial demonstrated the effectiveness of an approach to chronic disease prevention and screening (CDPS) through a new skilled role of a 'prevention practitioner'(PP). The PP has appointments with patients 40-65 years of age that focus on primary prevention activities and screening of cancer (breast, colorectal, cervical), diabetes and cardiovascular disease and associated lifestyle factors. There are numerous and occasionally conflicting evidence-based guidelines for CDPS, and the majority of these guidelines are focused on specific diseases or conditions; however, primary care providers often attend to patients with multiple conditions. To ensure that high-level evidence guidelines were used, existing clinical practice guidelines and tools were reviewed and integrated into blended BETTER tool kits. Building on the results of the BETTER trial, the BETTER tools were updated for implementation of the BETTER 2 program into participating urban, rural and remote communities across Canada.MethodsA clinical working group consisting of PPs, clinicians and researchers with support from the Centre for Effective Practice reviewed the literature to update, revise and adapt the integrated evidence algorithms and tool kits used in the BETTER trial. These resources are nuanced, based on individual patient risk, values and preferences and are designed to facilitate decision-making between providers across the target diseases and lifestyle factors included in the BETTER 2 program. Using the updated BETTER 2 toolkit, clinicians 1) determine which CDPS actions patients are eligible to receive and 2) develop individualized 'prevention prescriptions' with patients through shared decision-making and motivational interviewing.ResultsThe tools identify the patients' risks and eligible primary CDPS activities: the patient survey captures the patient's health history; the prevention visit form and integrated CDPS care map identify eligible CDPS activities and facilitate decisions when certain conditions are met; and the 'bubble diagram' and 'prevention prescription' promote shared decision-making.ConclusionThe integrated clinical decision-making tools of BETTER 2 provide resources for clinicians and policymakers that address patients' complex care needs beyond single disease approaches and can be adapted to facilitate CDPS in the urban, rural and remote clinical setting.Trial registrationThe registration number of the original RCT BETTER trial was ISRCTN07170460