How Advancements in Aerodynamics Improves the Performance of Formula 1 Racecars

The purpose of this paper is to review how knowledge of aerodynamics improved the performance of Formula 1 racing cars since the beginnings of Formula 1 racing after World War II. Formula 1 racing places each competitive team on a similar level in regulating the cars to be safe while driving above 350 kph. This paper begins with how Formula 1 racing began and how race cars were designed and looked. Then each decade of racing will be discussed and remarks on major advancements and changes in aerodynamics. Also some computational fluid dynamics (CFD) will also be discussed on how analyses are made and their impact on the sport

Leverage Points for Focus Flow and Communitas

Society is running at a high pace, and with it the hamster wheel we sometimes perceive ourselves to be in. In more scientific terms, this is called cognitive overload in combination with artificial deadline pressure. There is a notion of overwhelm in combination with perceived time scarcity in terms of the cognitive load of individuals. However, if we as individuals are not living in a sustainable way, how can we attempt to create a sustainable world?This paper provides an autoethnography of the use of leverage points to reduce cognitive load for a computer worker, with insights from literature and self-experiments, as well as a discussion on what is needed for changes on a bigger scale. An understanding of how cognitive load and resilience can be addressed by choosing and using specific leverage points has the potential to increase individual sustainability and resilience, what can be called focus flow, as well as communitas (group flow)

Elementary principals as developers vs. deliverers of district instructional decisions

Title from PDF of title page, viewed on June 13, 2012Dissertation advisor: Donna DavisVitaIncludes bibliographic references (p. 135-147)Thesis (Ed.D.)--School of Education. University of Missouri--Kansas City, 2012The purpose of this heuristic case study, also informed through the tradition of critical systems theory was to explore elementary principals‟ “voices” in instructional decisions made by central office administrators at a large suburban school district in a Midwestern State. Six elementary principals were interviewed for this study. Additional data included observations of elementary principal meetings, an open-ended survey with the six elementary principals, and document analysis of the district‟s strategic plan and policies dealing with instruction/curriculum. Using the phases of heuristic inquiry; initial engagement, immersion, incubation, illumination, explication, and creative synthesis all helped to disclose the truth. Findings suggested that there is a need in this district for a shared-decision making model. The district policies and strategic plan demonstrate on paper that the district values shared decision-making, but from the perceptions of principals this is not occurring in reality. There must be a process in place in which the structures of shared decision making, principal “voice,” and dialogue are valued by both the elementary principal group and central office administrators.Introduction -- Review of literature -- Methodology -- Results and discussion -- Implications and recommendations -- Appendix A. Demographic elementary principal open-ended survey -- Appendix B. Informed consent to participate in research study -- Appendix C. Interview protocol -- Appendix D. Observation protoco

2011 Fall Jazz Festival

Program listing performers and works performe

Dialogues that Dig Deeper: Surfacing the Multiple Faces of Homelessness in Grand Rapids, MI (Report Two)

This community dialogue was designed to identify current gaps in responses to homelessness in Grand Rapids as well as options for addressing those gaps. Given the feedback received, this report focuses on (1) mentorship programs similar to the aftercare program at Dégagé, (2) facilitated housing, and (3) ideas for fostering social connectedness. Through primary and secondary research as well as an analysis of our dialogue, our team was able to identify key areas of need in the fight for consistent, stable housing. Below you will find an outline of those ideas, more theoretical research on the subject, and data on homelessness/home-finding in general. The results will be shared with Dégagé, Seeds of Promise, nonprofit leaders, Grand Rapids businesses and openly published so any interested stakeholders can access the lessons learned

PKCδ Clustering at the Leading Edge and Mediating Growth Factor-Enhanced, but not ECM-Initiated, Dermal Fibroblast Migration

We have previously shown that the immobilized extracellular matrices (ECMs) initiate cell migration and soluble growth factors (GFs) further enhance ECM-initiated cell migration. GFs alone cannot initiate cell migration. To further investigate the specificity of the two signaling mechanisms, we focused on the protein kinase C (PKC) family genes in primary human dermal fibroblasts (DFs). We here show that platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) strongly stimulates membrane translocation and leading edge clustering of protein kinase Cδ (PKCδ). In contrast, attachment to collagen matrix alone does not cause the translocation. Although the kinase function of PKCδ is dispensable for initial membrane translocation, it is critical for its sustained presence at the cells's leading edge. Blockade of endogenous PKCδ signaling with dominant-negative kinase-defective PKC (PKCδ-KD) or PKCδ-small interfering RNA (siRNA) completely inhibited PDGF-BB-stimulated DF migration. In contrast, neither PKCδ-KD nor PKCδ-siRNA affected collagen-induced initiation of DF migration. Overexpression of a constitutively activated PKCδ (PKCδ-R144/145A) partially mimics the effect of PDGF-BB. However, PKCδ-KD, PKCδ-siRNA, or PKCδ-R144/145A does not affect PDGF-BB-stimulated activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2, or c-Jun N-terminal kinase. Instead, inhibition of PKCδ blocks PDGF-BB-stimulated activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3). This study unveiled the specificity of PKCδ in the control of DF migration

MLK3 Limits Activated Gαq Signaling to Rho by Binding to p63RhoGEF

Mixed lineage kinase 3 (MLK3) is a MAP3K that activates the JNK-dependent MAPK pathways. Here we show that MLK3 is required for cell migration in a manner independent of its role as a MAP3K or MLK3 kinase activity. Rather, MLK3 functions in a regulated way to limit levels of the activated GTPase, Rho, by binding to the Rho activator, p63RhoGEF/GEFT, which, in turn, prevents its activation by Gαq. These findings demonstrate a scaffolding role for MLK3 in controlling the extent of Rho activation that modulates cell migration. Moreover, they suggest that MLK3 functions as a network hub that links a number of signaling pathways

Convergent Processing of Both Positive and Negative Motivational Signals by the VTA Dopamine Neuronal Populations

Dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) have been traditionally studied for their roles in reward-related motivation or drug addiction. Here we study how the VTA dopamine neuron population may process fearful and negative experiences as well as reward information in freely behaving mice. Using multi-tetrode recording, we find that up to 89% of the putative dopamine neurons in the VTA exhibit significant activation in response to the conditioned tone that predict food reward, while the same dopamine neuron population also respond to the fearful experiences such as free fall and shake events. The majority of these VTA putative dopamine neurons exhibit suppression and offset-rebound excitation, whereas ∼25% of the recorded putative dopamine neurons show excitation by the fearful events. Importantly, VTA putative dopamine neurons exhibit parametric encoding properties: their firing change durations are proportional to the fearful event durations. In addition, we demonstrate that the contextual information is crucial for these neurons to respectively elicit positive or negative motivational responses by the same conditioned tone. Taken together, our findings suggest that VTA dopamine neurons may employ the convergent encoding strategy for processing both positive and negative experiences, intimately integrating with cues and environmental context