A force-measurement in orbit to check scalar gravitational theory

Force measurement in orbit to check scalar gravitation theor

Role of geometrical symmetry in thermally activated processes in clusters of interacting dipolar moments

Thermally activated magnetization decay is studied in ensembles of clusters of interacting dipolar moments by applying the master-equation formalism, as a model of thermal relaxation in systems of interacting single-domain ferromagnetic particles. Solving the associated master-equation reveals a breakdown of the energy barrier picture depending on the geometrical symmetry of structures. Deviations are most pronounced for reduced symmetry and result in a strong interaction dependence of relaxation rates on the memory of system initialization. A simple two-state system description of an ensemble of clusters is developed which accounts for the observed anomalies. These results follow from a semi-analytical treatment, and are fully supported by kinetic Monte-Carlo simulations.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figure

Double-blind, randomised, placebo controlled, parallel group study of sativex® in the treatment of patients with peripheral neuropathic pain, associated with allodynia [poster]

No abstract available

Active Collaboration Learning Environments: The Class of Web 2.0

The maturity and increased integration of online collaboration, networking, and research tools offer Information Systems faculty opportunities to provide unique learning environments at multiple levels. A growing ensemble of Web 2.0 technologies provide the background to introduce and explore fundamental aspects of information system development, design, application, and use, while simultaneously providing a functional suite of tools which will aid students in other aspects of their university learning. A selection of these technologies and case studies of their classroom usage is discussed. In addition, an agenda for research in both pedagogy and in information systems phenomena is outlined

Expert-based development of a standard in CO2 sequestration monitoring technology

Bureau of Economic Geolog

REFORMING PILLAR 2 –TOWARDS SIGNIFICANT AND SUSTAINABLE RURAL DEVELOPMENT?

With the ongoing “Health Check” and the decisions needed for after 2013, the Common Agricultural Policy is likely to see another major reform and an increase in compulsory modulation. By employing a regional model, this paper compares the long-term impact of spending along the Pillar 2 Axes in NUTS3 areas on selected indicators of sustainability in several peripheral areas across Europe. The four case study areas are: Pinzgau-Pongau (a tourism-dominated alpine area in Austria), the Wetterau (an urbanised industrial area in Germany), Gorenjska (a tourism and manufacturing dominated area in Slovenia) and Caithness-Sutherland (a remote area in Scotland). The results suggest although devolution in European rural development policy has taken over the last 10 years, there is further need to restore place-based stewardship of public goods and services as well as private investments across rural areas in the European Union. Increasing the importance of Axis 2 and Axis 3 measures (part of CAP Pillar 2) therefore seems an obvious choice for the future. Furthermore, it is clear that the effects of wider societal trends such as the decreasing importance of agriculture, commuting and migration, can be weakened or amplified by EU funding but can not be reversed or significantly changed.CAP, Pillar 2, rural development, Agricultural and Food Policy, R15, Q18, Q01,

The rise of metrics and fall of academic autonomy: the digital future of academic freedom

As citation-based metrics are increasingly used for measuring research performance, the formation of academics’ research choices and conceptions of academic freedom are affected. Critically examining the behaviours of academics in today’s competitive publishing landscape, we argue that creeping managerial practices are shaping research choices and perceived opportunities. In addition, observation indicates that the way in which academic freedom is conceptualised is changing as a result of considering academic performance through metrics. This raises questions of whether and to what extent professional and academic autonomy remains in the hands of authors or are instead being outsourced to metrics. Based on 21 semi-structured interviews with academics across the humanities and social sciences, we found metrics relating to assessment, rankings and funding all direct research choices. This research-in-progress paper identifies key issues and outlines future research to understand the wider influence of metrification

A Design Framework for Researching Collaborative Learning Environments

Despite the increasing use of communication and social media technologies in higher education teaching environments, and an extensive literature describing the potential of using technology in teaching, there is limited empirical literature demonstrating that technology enhances learning. The widespread adoption of some Web 2.0 and other mature technologies in education creates an opportunity to extend current research by identifying relationships between these technologies and pedagogically informed interactions within a Community of Inquiry. In this research, we propose a conceptual framework linking educational pedagogy, technological support of learning interactions, and emergent teaching, social and cognitive presences, which are linked with learning outcomes. This framework grounds discussion of the future design and evaluation of a prototype Collaborative Learning Environment based on the proposed interactions. Additional future research based on this framework is discussed