Ellipsoidal optical reflectors reproduced by electroforming

An accurately dimensioned convex ellipsoidal surface, which will become a master after polishing, is fabricated from 316L stainless steel. When polishing of the master is completed, it is suspended in a modified watt bath for electroforming of nickel reflectors

Conforming polisher for aspheric surface of revolution Patent

Conforming polisher for aspheric surfaces of revolution with inflatable tub

Educational drama in the teaching of education for sustainability

In this paper, I describe part of my research project that examines the use of Educational Drama in Education for Sustainability in the upper stages of the primary school (10- and 11-year-olds). Central to the research is a small-scale qualitative research study. Here, I describe the educational focus of the study and outline the methodology. Central to the study was a series of drama lessons (taught by me) based on environmental themes. The lessons link with some of the key aims in Education for Sustainability - to help young people to develop awareness, knowledge and concepts, to encourage positive attitudes and personal lifestyle decisions and to help them to acquire action skills in and for the environment. The locus is within the Scottish education system. A number of key data were generated during the teaching and evaluation of the lessons. These take the form of field notes, children's evaluations of their work and learning, observation schedules, taped interviews with participants and observers and videotapes of the lessons. The analysis of the data is ongoing, but already there is substantial evidence to suggest that the drama was instrumental in helping the children to achieve the learning outcomes set for the lessons. Some of that evidence is presented here. I suggest that the active, participative learning central to drama is particularly useful for allowing children to develop skills in communication, collaboration and expressing ideas and opinions. Also, the immersion in the imagined context and narrative, integral to the 'stories' in the drama, allows the children to feel sympathy for and empathy with people who are affected by environmental issues and problems. In giving the children a context for research and in helping them to plan solutions and to suggest alternatives, the drama allows the participants opportunities to rehearse active citizenship and facilitates learning in Education for Sustainability

Synthesis and characterization of a sol-gel derived ureasilicate hybrid organic-inorganic matrix containing CdS colloidal particles

A hybrid organic-inorganic material filled with in situ generated inorganic particles has been synthesised by the homogeneous precipitation of CdS from aqueous solutions of Cd(NO3)2 and CH3CSNH2 . These highly transparent, homogeneous and flexible CdS doped xerogels were prepared by the sol-gel technique using, as precursors, organically modified silicon alkoxide (3-isocyanatepropyltriethoxysilane) and a di-amine functionalized oligopolyoxyethylene (Jeffamine ED-600), which by subsequent hydrolysis and condensation processes formed a solid 3-D network. TEM studies indicate the presence of round nanoparticles around 20 nm in diameter dispersed in a homogeneous amorphous matrix. The samples were also characterized by spectroscopic (UV-visible and photoluminescence) and XRD techniques.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia - PRAXIS/P/FIS/10128/98, SFRH / BD / 3188 / 2000

A is for Anthropocene:An A–Z of Design Ecology

This paper lists in A to Z format the changing ecology of design in the Anthropocene. From twenty-six points of view the paper contrasts design’s search for a coherent ecology – how it looks like it looks – with its search for a familiar ecology – how it is understood today. Taking each letter of the alphabet to create individual reviews of the vicissitudes of design, the paper critiques how design has historically explained to itself, and anyone who has been listening, what it has been doing, and contrasts that with what needs to be done

Interaction of DODAB with neutral phospholipids and cholesterol studied using fluorescence anisotropy

Liposomes composed of cationic lipids and neutral phospholipids have been used as vehicles for cellular delivery of DNA and drug delivery. The aim of this study is to get a better understanding of phospholipid–cationic lipid interactions that is essential for the development of this potential. We have studied the interaction between cationic lipid liposomes primarily composed of dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide (DODAB) with two different phospholipids, dioleoyl phosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) and soybean phosphatidylcholine (PC), as well as with cholesterol. The effect of these components on the liposome’s physical properties (microviscosity and polarity) was accessed by studying, both the steady-state and time-resolved, fluorescence anisotropy of the dye Nile Red. This information combined with analysis of the steady-state emission and fluorescence lifetime of Nile Red using the different lipids and cholesterol provided information concerning the polarity and hydration level changes in these vesicle systems along with organisational information

Highly efficient methods for the one-pot synthesis of b-substituted enones

A mild and practically-convenient one-pot procedure for the direct b-substitution of enones has been developed using a conjugate addition–oxidation strategy with a full range of copper-based reagents and N-tert-butylphenylsulfinimidoyl chloride; alkyl- and aryl-substituted enones are delivered in good to excellent yields

On Haagerup's list of potential principal graphs of subfactors

We show that any graph, in the sequence given by Haagerup in 1991 as that of candidates of principal graphs of subfactors, is not realized as a principal graph except for the smallest two. This settles the remaining case of a previous work of the first author.Comment: 19 page