AVL based bus priority at traffic signals: a review of architectures and case study

Recent developments in technologies such as Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) and advanced control systems have stimulated new interest in bus priority facilities using traffic signals. The use of AVL systems has generated opportunities for implementing flexible bus-specific priority strategies according to performance. The extent of the opportunities available depends very much on the architecture of a bus priority system, including the location(s) of intelligence determining the priority level and its implementation, and the method of priority request to the traffic signal. These aspects are important from the point of view of bus priority performance, communication requirements and the cost of the system. This paper draws together and compares the various architectures currently being used for AVL-based bus priority, providing an overall review to supplement other papers which are usually concerned with individual systems. The paper reviews current bus priority systems used across Europe under five different architecture categories. The present bus priority architecture in London is then analysed in more detail as a case study. The paper concludes with a discussion of issues for this application, given the continuing advances in locations and communication technologies, and issues for the future

Nova light curves from the Solar Mass Ejection Imager (SMEI) - II. The extended catalogue

We present the results from observing nine Galactic novae in eruption with the Solar Mass Ejection Imager (SMEI) between 2004 and 2009. While many of these novae reached peak magnitudes that were either at or approaching the detection limits of SMEI, we were still able to produce light curves that in many cases contained more data at and around the initial rise, peak, and decline than those found in other variable star catalogs. For each nova, we obtained a peak time, maximum magnitude, and for several an estimate of the decline time (t2). Interestingly, although of lower quality than those found in Hounsell et al. (2010a), two of the light curves may indicate the presence of a pre-maximum halt. In addition the high cadence of the SMEI instrument has allowed the detection of low amplitude variations in at least one of the nova light curves

Assessment innovation and student experience: a new assessment challenge and call for a multi-perspective approach to assessment research

The impact of innovative assessment on student experience in higher education is a neglected research topic. This represents an important gap in the literature given debate around the marketization of higher education, international focus on student satisfaction measurement tools and political calls to put students at the heart of higher education in the UK. This paper reports on qualitative findings from a research project examining the impact of assessment preferences and familiarity on student attainment and experience. It argues that innovation is defined by the student, shaped by diverse assessment experiences and preferences and therefore its impact is difficult to predict. It proposes that future innovations must explore assessment choice mechanisms which allow students to shape their own assessments. Cultural change and staff development will be required to achieve this. To be accepted, assessment for student experience must be viewed as a complementary layer within a complex multi perspective model of assessment which also embraces assessment of learning, assessment for learning and assessment for life long learning. Further research is required to build a meta theory of assessment to enhance the synergies between these alternative approaches and to minimise tensions between them

The expanding dusty bipolar nebula around the nova V1280 Sco

V1280 Sco is one of the slowest dust-forming nova ever historically observed. We performed multi-epoch high-spatial resolution observations of the circumstellar dusty environment of V1280 Sco to investigate the level of asymmetry of the ejecta We observed V1280 Sco in 2009, 2010 and 2011 using unprecedented high angular resolution techniques. We used the NACO/VLT adaptive optics system in the J, H and K bands, together with contemporaneous VISIR/VLT mid-IR imaging that resolved the dust envelope of V1280 Sco, and SINFONI/VLT observations secured in 2011. We report the discovery of a dusty hourglass-shaped bipolar nebula. The apparent size of the nebula increased from 0.30" x 0.17" in July 2009 to 0.64" x 0.42" in July 2011. The aspect ratio suggests that the source is seen at high inclination. The central source shines efficiently in the K band and represents more than 56+/-5% of the total flux in 2009, and 87+/-6% in 2011. A mean expansion rate of 0.39+/-0.03 mas per day is inferred from the VISIR observations in the direction of the major axis, which represents a projected upper limit. Assuming that the dust shell expands in that direction as fast as the low-excitation slow ejecta detected in spectroscopy, this yields a lower limit distance to V1280 Sco of 1kpc; however, the systematic errors remain large due to the complex shape and velocity field of the dusty ejecta. The dust seems to reside essentially in the polar caps and no infrared flux is detected in the equatorial regions in the latest dataset. This may imply that the mass-loss was dominantly polar

High school boys' and girls' writing conceptions and writing self-efficacy beliefs : what is their role in writing performance?

ABSTRACT: This study investigated the conceptions about writing and writing self-efficacy beliefs held by high school students in relation to the students’ gender as well as their associations with writing achievement. The results show that female students have more sophisticated writing conceptions than their male counterparts but no gender differences were found in writing self-efficacy beliefs. In addition, results reveal that writing self-efficacy beliefs and gender play an important role in predicting writing performance and that writing performance is moderated by students’ writing conceptions. Educational implications and further research are discussed

Introducing a reward system in assessment in histology: A comment on the learning strategies it might engender

BACKGROUND: Assessment, as an inextricable component of the curriculum, is an important factor influencing student approaches to learning. If assessment is to drive learning, then it must assess the desired outcomes. In an effort to alleviate some of the anxiety associated with a traditional discipline-based second year of medical studies, a bonus system was introduced into the Histology assessment. Students obtaining a year mark of 70% were rewarded with full marks for some tests, resulting in many requiring only a few percentage points in the final examination to pass Histology. METHODS: In order to ascertain whether this bonus system might be impacting positively on student learning, thirty-two second year medical students (non-randomly selected, representing four academic groups based on their mid-year results) were interviewed in 1997 and, in 1999, the entire second year class completed a questionnaire (n = 189). Both groups were asked their opinions of the bonus system. RESULTS: Both groups overwhelming voted in favour of the bonus system, despite less than 45% of students failing to achieve it. Students commented that it relieved some of the stress of the year-end examinations, and was generally motivating with regard to their work commitment. CONCLUSIONS: Being satisfied with how and what we assess in Histology, we are of the opinion that this reward system may contribute to engendering appropriate learning approaches (i.e. for understanding) in students. As a result of its apparent positive influence on learning and attitudes towards learning, this bonus system will continue to operate until the traditional programme is phased out. It is hoped that other educators, believing that their assessment is a reflection of the intended outcomes, might recognise merit in rewarding students for consistent achievement

Um sistema de realidade virtual para treinamento de manutenção e estudo de uma unidade hidrelétrica de energia

Este artigo apresenta a concepção, projeto e implementação de um sistema educacional de realidade virtual desktop para o estudo e treinamento de procedimentos de manutenção de uma Unidade Hidrelétrica de Energia. Possui uma arquitetura modular o que o torna expansível e flexível para outras áreas de treinamento de manutenção. O sistema se subdivide em dois módulos funcionais principais: Educativo e Manutenção. O primeiro visa ambientar o treinando a estrutura e á s peças constituintes de uma Unidade Hidrelétrica de Energia nos seus vários níveis de detalhamento, bem como, suas informações gerais e técnicas. O módulo de manutenção dispõe de um programa de treinamento dividido em três modos: automático, guiado e exploratório. Os modos de treinamento apresentam ao treinando os procedimentos de manutenção de forma que este aumente gradativamente o seu envolvimento com o sistema.This article presents the inception, design and implementation of a virtual reality system for learning in maintenance of an hydroelectric energy unity. The system adopts a modular architecture what makes it expansive and flexible for other areas of training in assembly. The system is subdivided in two main functional modules: educative and maintenance. The first one aims to set trainee to the structure and to the constituent pieces of an hydroelectric energy unity in his several levels of detail as well its general and technical information. The maintenance module disposes a program of training divided in three modes: automatic, guided and exploratory. The mode of training presents to trainee the procedures of maintenance so that it increases gradually his involvement in the system.Red de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Um sistema de realidade virtual para treinamento de manutenção e estudo de uma unidade hidrelétrica de energia

Este artigo apresenta a concepção, projeto e implementação de um sistema educacional de realidade virtual desktop para o estudo e treinamento de procedimentos de manutenção de uma Unidade Hidrelétrica de Energia. Possui uma arquitetura modular o que o torna expansível e flexível para outras áreas de treinamento de manutenção. O sistema se subdivide em dois módulos funcionais principais: Educativo e Manutenção. O primeiro visa ambientar o treinando a estrutura e á s peças constituintes de uma Unidade Hidrelétrica de Energia nos seus vários níveis de detalhamento, bem como, suas informações gerais e técnicas. O módulo de manutenção dispõe de um programa de treinamento dividido em três modos: automático, guiado e exploratório. Os modos de treinamento apresentam ao treinando os procedimentos de manutenção de forma que este aumente gradativamente o seu envolvimento com o sistema.This article presents the inception, design and implementation of a virtual reality system for learning in maintenance of an hydroelectric energy unity. The system adopts a modular architecture what makes it expansive and flexible for other areas of training in assembly. The system is subdivided in two main functional modules: educative and maintenance. The first one aims to set trainee to the structure and to the constituent pieces of an hydroelectric energy unity in his several levels of detail as well its general and technical information. The maintenance module disposes a program of training divided in three modes: automatic, guided and exploratory. The mode of training presents to trainee the procedures of maintenance so that it increases gradually his involvement in the system.Red de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI