Digitally augmented sketch-planning

Thesis (M.C.P.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 2002.Includes bibliographical references (p. 73-74).While many aspects of the planning profession have changed radically in light of recent technological advances, the practice of sketching plans has remained largely unaffected. There may be good reasons for eschewing computers in the design arena such as that their use may detract from the liberty of the design thinking process. This thesis suggests that this reluctance may be overcome by changing the practice from one of emulation with digital tools to one of "augmentation". In addressing a perceived need to bring computation to the design table a solution called the "digitally augmented sketch planning environment" (DASPE) has been developed. Making use of video projection, DASPE augments the design space with digital visualization and analysis tools and allows planners to sketch using either conventional media or a pen stylus on a digitizing table. Plans can be sketched in the conventional manner, then "hardened" into three dimensional computer models without the need to leave the design space.by Kenneth Goulding.M.C.P

Retaining the adolescent workforce in family businesses

Purpose: To critically explore the linkage between adolescent work, parent-child relationships and offspring career choice outcomes in a family business context. It examines the above in light of the stay/go decision faced by adolescent family members. Design/methodology/approach: Findings are derived from semi-structured interviews with 15 individuals from five Italian families operating family catering businesses in Yorkshire (UK). The approach represents a sample spanning four generations, designed to capture data from individuals who had experienced adolescent work at the family business. Findings: The findings offer evidence that the 'familiarity' of family business impacts on offspring career choices, providing a safety net or a trap which can impede exit decisions. Returning after periods of study leave that represent the transition from adolescence to adulthood, offspring continue to use the family business as a base from which to explore their career options. Alternatively, when parent-child relationships break down, family business escape strategies assume priority for offspring. Research limitations/implications: The study focused exclusively on migrant Italian families within the catering sector. The sample included different generational representations among the five families. It lays the ground for future research of a similar nature among other family business ethnicities and across other economic sectors. Originality/value: This paper contributes to understanding offspring career choice outcomes in a family business context. The empirical evidence suggests that parent-child relationships are instrumental to understanding the stay/go decision as well as previous stages of the socialisation process of embedding in the family business

Transforming social housing into an asset class: the financialisation of English housing associations under neoliberalism and austerity urbanism

This thesis analyses the financialisation of housing associations, with the aim of connecting the abstract and distant processes of property finance to how these are materialised in the practices of social housing provision. In doing so, a major objective is to show that financialisation is not an automatic process, operating as a rigid structural logic, but has rather necessitated an ongoing and active process of governance within the housing association sector. I argue that a fundamental component of this long-term process since the 1980s has been a re-imagining of associations as entrepreneurial, risk-taking enterprises. Governing financial risk has been a fundamental element of the conversion of associations into an asset class, with the need to safeguard social housing assets a major priority for the regulator. A key finding of this research is that as housing associations have undergone neoliberalisation, the powers of the regulator have been progressively eroded as lenders have emerged as a major interest group within the social housing sector. The financial crisis and austerity have deepened these trends, with austerity policies driving associations to commercialise their development programmes in order to protect their income streams. This in turn is driving financialisation within the sector as providers come to treat their land and housing as a pure financial asset, though development activity at scale still remains concentrated among a minority of large, London-based providers. This thesis has nonetheless found financialisation to be a contradictory process, with major risks building up within the sector as part of the commercialisation agenda and serious consequences for tenants as access to social housing becomes more restricted. The systematic transfer by the regulatory system of risk downward from lenders, to providers, to tenants, is therefore a crucial means by which financialisation has been maintained in the aftermath of the financial crisis

Impact of the Quick-Response Code Based In-Class Assignments on Students Engagement and Retention

The paper describes a teaching technique alternative to online-based student response systems. We explore the potential of quick response (QR) code sheets as a tool for formative assessment, feedback, as well as a way to increase class engagement, student participation, information retention, and as a method to develop communication skills. The technique is neither institution nor course bound and can be implemented in classes of numerous sizes and levels. While it resembles more traditional teaching methods than computerized student response systems, it is student centered and accommodates digital natives’ approach to information gathering

The Development of a Process-Structure-Properties-Performance (PSPP) Map for Aluminum-Zinc-Magnesium-Copper Alloys Used in Aircraft Applications

Presented at the 23rd IFHTSE (International Federation for Heat Treatment and Surface Engineering) Congress, Savannah, GA, April 18-22, 2016.In 2011, the White House announced the Materials Genome Initiative, which aims to cut down the cost and time required to discover, develop, and optimize a material and deploy it in a commercial system. One method of achieving this is by integrating experimental test methods, computational tools, and known knowledge databases. While the potential for computational models to speed and assist process-structure-property optimization is not a new concept, one of the key issues in the implementation of models in this space is the lack of a standard method of communication regarding the physical and chemical mechanisms that drive a materials system, and the amount and type of data required to accurately characterize that materials system in its entirety. This work focuses on developing process-structure-property-performance (PSPP) maps as this missing standard communication method. Here we detail the steps that should be taken to generate a map for any system, and then briefly discuss how those steps were applied to high-strength Al-Zn-Mg- Cu alloys. These alloys are highly utilized in aircraft applications and are extremely complicated and commercially viable materials which are repeatedly subject to re-optimization, and are thus a good example of the value of these maps and how they can be used

Engineering soil organic matter quality: Biodiesel Co-Product (BCP) stimulates exudation of nitrogenous microbial biopolymers

Biodiesel Co-Product (BCP) is a complex organic material formed during the transesterification of lipids. We investigated the effect of BCP on the extracellular microbial matrix or ‘extracellular polymeric substance’ (EPS) in soil which is suspected to be a highly influential fraction of soil organic matter (SOM). It was hypothesised that more N would be transferred to EPS in soil given BCP compared to soil given glycerol. An arable soil was amended with BCP produced from either 1) waste vegetable oils or 2) pure oilseed rape oil, and compared with soil amended with 99% pure glycerol; all were provided with 15N labelled KNO3. We compared transfer of microbially assimilated 15N into the extracellular amino acid pool, and measured concomitant production of exopolysaccharide. Following incubation, the 15N enrichment of total hydrolysable amino acids (THAAs) indicated that intracellular anabolic products had incorporated the labelled N primarily as glutamine and glutamate. A greater proportion of the amino acids in EPS were found to contain 15N than those in the THAA pool, indicating that the increase in EPS was comprised of bioproducts synthesised de novo. Moreover, BCP had increased the EPS production efficiency of the soil microbial community (μg EPS per unit ATP) up to approximately double that of glycerol, and caused transfer of 21% more 15N from soil solution into EPS-amino acids. Given the suspected value of EPS in agricultural soils, the use of BCP to stimulate exudation is an interesting tool to consider in the theme of delivering sustainable intensification

Helicon Plasma Injector and Ion Cyclotron Acceleration Development in the VASIMR Experiment

In the Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket (VASIMR) radio frequency (rf) waves both produce the plasma and then accelerate the ions. The plasma production is done by action of helicon waves. These waves are circular polarized waves in the direction of the electron gyromotion. The ion acceleration is performed by ion cyclotron resonant frequency (ICRF) acceleration. The Advanced Space Propulsion Laboratory (ASPL) is actively developing efficient helicon plasma production and ICRF acceleration. The VASIMR experimental device at the ASPL is called VX-10. It is configured to demonstrate the plasma production and acceleration at the 10kW level to support a space flight demonstration design. The VX-10 consists of three electromagnets integrated into a vacuum chamber that produce magnetic fields up to 0.5 Tesla. Magnetic field shaping is achieved by independent magnet current control and placement of the magnets. We have generated both helium and hydrogen high density (>10(exp 18) cu m) discharges with the helicon source. ICRF experiments are underway. This paper describes the VX-10 device, presents recent results and discusses future plans

Tool-use experiments to determine the function of an incised ground stone artefact with potential symbolic significance

Ground stone implements are found across most Australian landscapes and are often regarded as Aboriginal tools that were used for processing or modifying other items such as plant foods, plant fibres, resins, bone points, pigments and ground-stone axes and knives. Less common are ground stones modified for non-utilitarian, symbolic purposes; for example, polished and carved stone ornaments; ritual implements such as cylcons and tjuringa sacred stones; and unused, well-crafted ground-stone axes. In this paper, we report on the function and potential significance of an unusual ground stone artefact from a site near Bannockburn, southwestern Australia. A set of regularly spaced, shallow grooves has been cut into the surface of each side of the stone. Use-wear, residues and experimental replica tools indicate that the grooves were probably made with a stone flake and then used to shape or sharpen wooden implements such as spear points or the edges of boomerangs or other weapons. The microscopic wear outside the grooves indicates contact with soft wood or other plant material, possibly a soft plant fibre bag. We suggest that the Bannockburn artefact primarily functioned as a woodworking tool, but the even spacing of the incisions suggests that they were intentionally placed, perhaps to convey a special meaning, perhaps as a tally system or other form of communication

Tool-use experiments to determine the function of an incised ground stone artefact with potential symbolic significance

Ground stone implements are found across most Australian landscapes and are often regarded as Aboriginal tools that were used for processing or modifying other items such as plant foods, plant fibres, resins, bone points, pigments and ground-stone axes and knives. Less common are ground stones modified for non-utilitarian, symbolic purposes; for example, polished and carved stone ornaments; ritual implements such as cylcons and tjuringa sacred stones; and unused, well-crafted ground-stone axes. In this paper, we report on the function and potential significance of an unusual ground stone artefact from a site near Bannockburn, southwestern Australia. A set of regularly spaced, shallow grooves has been cut into the surface of each side of the stone. Use-wear, residues and experimental replica tools indicate that the grooves were probably made with a stone flake and then used to shape or sharpen wooden implements such as spear points or the edges of boomerangs or other weapons. The microscopic wear outside the grooves indicates contact with soft wood or other plant material, possibly a soft plant fibre bag. We suggest that the Bannockburn artefact primarily functioned as a woodworking tool, but the even spacing of the incisions suggests that they were intentionally placed, perhaps to convey a special meaning, perhaps as a tally system or other form of communication