Is there a role for online repositories in e-Learning?

Many universities across Europe are introducing, or thinking of introducing, an online repository for learning and teaching materials. Evidence from development projects in the UK suggests that tutors are willing to share resources with each other. Yet they do not at present make much use of online repositories. Why is this? What can be done? Are repositories a good idea? Our article will explore and answer these questions. The authors together lead a project called “Developing Repositories at Worcester” (DRaW) funded by the UK Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC)

Reducing the effects of intersymbol interference in diffuse DPIM optical wireless systems

The paper investigates the performance of digital pulse interval modulation (DPIM) in the presence of multipath propagation and additive white Gaussian noise. To combat intersymbol interference (ISI), guard slots and a nonlinear equaliser have been introduced. The average optical power requirements (AOPR) due to ISI for cases with/without guard slots and with equaliser are analysed using a ceilingbounce model. Results obtained show that in the absence of equalisation, DPIM without guard slot offers a lower AOPR compared with on–off keying (OOK). Introducing guard slots gives a further reduction in AOPR by up to 4 dB due to the reduced duty cycle of the DPIM signal. The performance of DPIM without guard slot but using an equaliser is found to be significantly better than DPIM with guard slots on a channel with severe ISI

Visualisation and Grid applications of electromagnetic scattering from aircraft

Proceedings of the 2003 UK e-Science All Hands Meeting, 31st August - 3rd September, Nottingham UKElectromagnetic scattering behaviour plays a central role in the design of aircraft and other complex structures. This paper describes progress on visualisation tools in this area and on initial development of a web portal to enable scientists at remote locations to collaborate

Master of Arts

thesisWhile vocabulary is generally understood to be an obvious part of language learning and instruction, the actual "nuts and bolts" of vocabulary instruction are not fully understood. Though there has been a renewal of interest in research into vocabulary in recent years, in terms of both theoretical motivations and pedagogical applications, many questions remain about the most effective ways of teaching vocabulary and promoting successful vocabulary development among English Language Learners (ELLs). These considerations are particularly important when it comes to the development of academic vocabulary in a higher-educational context. This study reports results from a research experiment conducted at a public research university in the western United States. The study sought to compare two possible approaches to teaching vocabulary within the context of an academic, second language (L2) composition program. Both approaches offered students explicit instruction in academic vocabulary. The two approaches examined were a decontextualized, memorization dependent approach and a contextualized, integrated approach. Because previous research has indicated that integrated approaches to vocabulary instruction can be effective for L2 learners, it is hypothesized that students taught using a contextualized and integrated approach would learn targeted academic vocabulary more effectively than those taught using a decontextualized approach. In addition, because previous research also indicates that success in learning a second language is highly correlated with an individual's attitudes towards their own language learning, this study examined students' perceptions about each of these approaches, as well as how these perceptions appeared to influence their learning. The perceptual data were collected via student responses to a survey that used a Likert scale which was then examined in the context of students' scores on a test of vocabulary administered at the end of the course. Within-group results showed that a semester was not enough time for either group to make significant gains in their vocabulary knowledge and did not confirm the hypothesis that students who were taught vocabulary using a contextualized and integrated approach would learn more target vocabulary in a single semester than those taught using a decontextualized approach, confirming the results of previous research in the field. Students taught using both approaches also seemed to show positive attitudes regarding their own learning. A strong positive correlation was observed between students' attitudes and their performance on a vocabulary posttest

COUNTERING THE THREAT FROM RADICALISING INFLUENCES AND FOCUSING ON PROTECTING VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES

On November 23, 2022, Andrew Hayes, Chief Inspector (CI) of the South Wales territorial police force presented on Countering the Threat from Radicalizing Influences and Focusing on Protecting Vulnerable Communities. The presentation was followed by a question-and-answer period with questions from the audience and CASIS-Vancouver executives. The key points discussed were current trends in extremist recruitment and policy enactment compared to the preceding year, and counteracting extremist content showcased over decentralised platforms containing end-to-end encryption.   Received: 2022-12-25Revised: 2023-01-0

A Three-dimensional model of pulsatile flow at an arterial bifurcation

Atherosclerosis in known to form at sites of predilection. These sites are typically areas of reduced pressure or shear stress. In the thesis a link between hemodynamics and atherosclerosis formation will be investigated. In the study three-dimensional pulsatile flow at a simplified carotid artery bifurcation has been modeled with computational fluid dynamics (CFD). A flow visualization experiment has also been performed on a glass replica of the bifurcation to verify the CFD results. An intense literature review has been included in the thesis to assimilate all of the published work in the area

The modification of activated carbon cloth by alumina deposition

This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University.The impregnation of mesoporous carbon cloth with alumina has been studied. The most successful method of impregnation resulted from preparation of the alumina phase by a sol/gel route. This method involves a boehmite intermediate, and the heating environment for the thermal transition of boehmite to the final alumina was investigated. Heat treatment of the boehmite intermediate under flowing N2, flowing air and vacuum was found to give a different pore size distribution for the final alumina than did still air heat treatment. For the former environments the transition from boehmite to alumina was not accompanied by the usual increase in pore size. Alumina/carbon composites were made by dipping pieces of mesoporous carbon cloth in a boehmite sol. The distribution of boehmite about the carbon cloth was found to be improved by pre-wetting the carbon cloth and by the use of ultrasonic dispersion during boehmite impregnation. Dried boehmite/carbon composites, with loading levels of up to 180wt.%, were heated under vacuum to 5000 C. In this manner alumina/carbon composites of up to 60wt.% alumina were fabricated. The distribution of the alumina phase about the carbon cloth was investigated by electron microscopy and by gas adsorption techniques. Nitrogen isotherm data indicated that the mesopores of the carbon cloth were not blocked by the deposited alumina, rather the pore volume of the carbon cloth was increased by the clustering of porous alumina about the pore entrances of the carbon cloth. Water isotherms were determined for the composite materials. The water activity of the composite, particularly at low relative pressures, was found to be significantly greater than that of the carbon cloth as a result of the presence of alumina. CO2 activity of the composites was investigated by a gas chromatographic technique. The CO2 activity of the composite material was found to be up to 500 times greater than that of virgin carbon cloth.This study is funded by a research grant from ALCOA