2,357 research outputs found
Remote monitoring of biodynamic activity using electric potential sensors
Previous work in applying the electric potential sensor to the monitoring of body electrophysiological signals has shown that it is now possible to monitor these signals without needing to make any electrical contact with the body. Conventional electrophysiology makes use of electrodes which are placed in direct electrical contact with the skin. The electric potential sensor requires no cutaneous electrical contact, it operates by sensing the displacement current using a capacitive coupling. When high resolution body electrophysiology is required a strong (capacitive) coupling is used to maximise the collected signal. However, in remote applications where there is typically an air-gap between the body and the sensor only a weak coupling can be achieved. In this paper we demonstrate that the electric potential sensor can be successfully used for the remote sensing and monitoring of bioelectric activity. We show examples of heart-rate measurements taken from a seated subject using sensors mounted in the chair. We also show that it is possible to monitor body movements on the opposite side of a wall to the sensor. These sensing techniques have biomedical applications for non-contact monitoring of electrophysiological conditions and can be applied to passive through-the-wall surveillance systems for security applications
An Investigation into the Leadership Behaviors of School Librarians: A Qualitative Study
In order to evolve from traditional librarianship roles to dynamic and proactive leaders today’s school librarians need to understand what it means to be a school librarian leader, build those skills, and advocate for new opportunities within their school communities. This qualitative investigation into the leadership behaviors of school librarian leaders contributes to the work of Everhart and Johnston (2016) by developing their definition in order to operationalize school library leadership through the documentation of what it looks like in practice. This research is among the first efforts to move a proposed model of school librarian leadership from a theoretical model to a working theory. A multi-case design compared and examined leadership behaviors as they occurred in practice. Interviews, observations, and documents, collected at three high school libraries in Maine, served as the primary methods for data collection. The findings support Everhart and Johnston’s (2016) proposed theory that school librarian leaders intentionally develop strong relationships within the school community, serve as communication conduits in order to improve the school environment, and increase their confidence through mentorship from administrators and support from the school community. The findings extend the proposed theory by adding risk-taking, vulnerability, and job crafting as supports to the innovative work of school librarian leaders. This knowledge will help school librarians develop skills and an understanding of their updated role and prepare them to reach their full potential as school librarian leaders
Attractive Spin-Orbit Potential from the Skyrme Model
We derive the nucleon-nucleon isoscalar spin-orbit potential from the Skyrme model and find good agreement with the Paris potential. This solves a problem that has been open for more than 30 years and gives a new geometric understanding of the spin-orbit force. Our calculation is based on the dipole approximation to skyrmion dynamics and higher order perturbation theory
Acoustic characterization of crack damage evolution in sandstone deformed under conventional and true triaxial loading
We thank the Associate Editor, Michelle Cooke, and the reviewers, Ze'ev Reches and Yves Guéguen, for useful comments which helped to improve the manuscript. We thank J.G. Van Munster for providing access to the true triaxial apparatus at KSEPL and for technical support during the experimental program. We thank R. Pricci for assistance with technical drawings of the apparatus. This work was partly funded by NERC award NE/N002938/1 and by a NERC Doctoral Studentship, which we gratefully acknowledge. Supporting data are included in a supporting information file; any additional data may be obtained from J.B. (e-mail: [email protected]).Peer reviewedPublisher PD
Signal specific electric potential sensors for operation in noisy environments
Limitations on the performance of electric potential sensors are due to saturation caused by environmental electromagnetic noise. The work described involves tailoring the response of the sensors to reject the main components of the noise, thereby enhancing both the effective dynamic range and signal to noise. We show that by using real-time analogue signal processing it is possible to detect a human heartbeat at a distance of 40 cm from the front of a subject in an unshielded laboratory. This result has significant implications both for security sensing and biometric measurements in addition to the more obvious safety related applications
Transforming learning of programming: A mentoring project
Programming is central to Computer Science and cognate disciplines, and poses early-learning challenges in problem-solving and coding. Since the recent past the School of Computer Science & Information Technology (RMIT University) has provided a student mentoring service to assist novice student programmers with their programming, indeed, to build up their confidence in programming. The service has received favourable feedback from students and, as an interesting aside, has had the added benefit of increasing mentors' confidence and improving mentors' communication skills. Mentors volunteer their services under a University leadership initiative, and are not paid to assist students. In light of such success, we secured a University action-research teaching and learning grant, to investigate aspects of the service delivered to date. While mentoring has been shown to be helpful for novice student programmers to learn and improve their programming, less recognised, but of equal importance, is the value to mentors through the skills and experience they gain. This paper reports early findings of a dual-purpose research investigation into the mentoring service. The research project seeks to discover ways to improve the mentoring service for novice student programmers, as well as to enhance a range of qualities in mentors
Quay voices in Glasgow museums : an oral history of Glasgow dock workers
Notes on oral history project commissioned by Glasgow museums about Glasgow dock workers
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