Society is running out of time to renew the political party

James Lloyd traces the decline of the political party. He warns without a much-needed revival of party membership, this key aspect of democracy will erode, along with its numerous and irreplaceable benefits

Investment Performance Comparison Between Roth and Traditional Individual Retirement Accounts

With the recent introduction of the Roth Individual Retirement Account (IRA) along with a significantly improved Traditional IRA, there has been considerable interest in comparing the performance of these investment vehicles. Some confusion regarding these comparisons has evolved. In this paper we show that this confusion may be attributed to scale and tax differences between the two investment vehicles. We adjust for these differences by focusing on the after-tax rate-of-return on investment for each IRA vehicle. We find that performance depends crucially on the relationship between an individual\u27s tax rates at the time of investment and at the time of withdrawal

Large eddy simulations of a circular cylinder at Reynolds numbers surrounding the drag crisis

Large eddy simulations of the flow around a circular cylinder at high Reynolds numbers are reported. Five Reynolds numbers were chosen, such that the drag crisis was captured. A total of 18 cases were computed to investigate the effect of gridding strategy, domain width, turbulence modelling and numerical schemes on the results. It was found that unstructured grids provide better resolution of key flow features, when a ‘reasonable’ grid size is to be maintained.When using coarse grids for large eddy simuation, the effect of the turbulence models and numerical schemes becomes more pronounced. The dynamic mixed Smagorinsky model was found to be superior to the Smagorinsky model, since the model coefficient is allowed to dynamically adjust based on the local flow and grid size. A blended upwind-central convection scheme was also found to provide the best accuracy, since a fully central scheme exhibits artificial wiggles which pollute the entire solution.Mean drag, fluctuating lift and Strouhal number are compared to experiments and empirical estimates for Reynolds numbers ranging from 6.31 × 104 ? 5.06 × 105. In terms of the drag coefficient, the drag crisis is well captured by the present simulations, although the other integral quantities (rms lift and Strouhal number) less so. For the lowest Reynolds number, the drag is seen to be most sensitive to the domain width, while at the higher Reynolds numbers the grid resolution plays a more important role

PROJECT REPORT: A MARKET OPPORTUNITY STUDY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW ONCOLOGY SERVICE IN THE VETERINARY TEACHING HOSPITAL

Current trends in veterinary medicine indicate the potential need for several new services within the VTH. Based on focus groups and practitioner surveys conducted in late 1998 and early 1999, potential new services could include oncology, overnight emergency, behavior medicine, dentistry, equine sports medicine and exotic animal medicine. Of these, an oncology service is currently being considered based on internal staff recommendations coupled with survey and focus group information supporting demand for the service. Different from past new services, the oncology service was also earmarked to undergo a formal market study to determine the full potential of the opportunity and to more clearly establish the goals and objectives within the service.Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,

A MARKET OPPORTUNITY STUDY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW SPORT HORSE SERVICE AT THE MSU VETERINARY TEACHING HOSPITAL

The potential need for several new services within the Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH) is unknown. However, based on focus groups and practitioner surveys conducted over the last several years, potential new services were identified: overnight emergency, behavior medicine, equine sports medicine, dentistry, oncology and exotic animal medicine. Michigan State University's College of Veterinary Medicine (MSU-CVM) has recently expanded its equine research, diagnostic and therapy capabilities with the addition of the new Mary Anne McPhail Equine Performance Center. As a result of this expansion, a study was conducted to determine whether the VTH should also broaden its clinical offerings with a new complement of services targeted specifically toward sport horse care.Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,

Should academics be expected to change policy? Six reasons why it is unrealistic for research to drive policy change

UK social scientists feel a growing pressure to achieve policy change. In reality, this process is more complex than it sounds. James Lloyd looks at six reasons that limit the impact research can have on policy change. None of this should suggest that academic researchers shouldn’t seek to influence policymaking. But more consideration is needed on how best academic evidence can leverage the real-world nature of policymaking

So you want to change policy? Six steps for academics looking to achieve policy change

The inevitable chaos and unpredictability of politics makes trying to achieve policy change a real challenge. But that doesn’t mean academics should just give up. Drawing from policy analysis and public affairs lessons, James Lloyd recommends six steps to get researchers going in the right direction towards achieving policy change

Hazardous materials emergency response mobile robot

A simple or unsophisticated robot incapable of effecting straight-line motion at the end of its arm inserts a key held in its end effector or hand into a door lock with nearly straight-line motion by gently thrusting its back heels downwardly so that it pivots forwardly on its front toes while holding its arm stationary. The relatively slight arc traveled by the robot's hand is compensated by a complaint tool with which the robot hand grips the door key. A visible beam is projected through the axis of the hand or gripper on the robot arm end at an angle to the general direction in which the robot thrusts the gripper forward. As the robot hand approaches a target surface, a video camera on the robot wrist watches the beam spot on the target surface fall from a height proportional to the distance between the robot hand and the target surface until the beam spot is nearly aligned with the top of the robot hand. Holes in the front face of the hand are connected through internal passages inside the arm to an on-board chemical sensor. Full rotation of the hand or gripper about the robot arm's wrist is made possible by slip rings in the wrist which permit passage of the gases taken in through the nose holes in the front of the hand through the wrist regardless of the rotational orientation of the wrist

Lucretius in the Greco-roman didactic tradition

This dissertation aims to assess the importance of tradition and origality in Lucretius»s didactic technique, including the part played by "poetry" in its success? by following the Greco-Roman didactic tradition up to and past Lucretius as far as the Georgics; and by examining the consistency with which Lucretius uses these techniques. The first chapter distinguishes two branches of the tradition: maqnis de rebus beginning with the Theogony ancestor of De Rerum Nature, and in tenui beginning with the works and Days, ancestor of the Georgics. The didactic techniques used in the Works and Days, which resembles a Homeric persuasion speech, are considered more successful than those of the Theoqony. The Monists' prose tradition is seen as the successor of the Theoqony; verse is reintroduced to the tradition by Xenophanes. Parmenides and Empedocles then adapt the didactic techniques of the Works and Days. Empedocles is recognised as a model for Lucretius. The second chapter considers the Alexandrian in tenui tradition, successor to the Works and Days, by reference to Aratus's Phaenomsna. Difficulties caused by the poem's lack of argument are seen, but the Weather Signs are found to be distinguished by a new subjectivity and sympathy with nature. Translations of an Aratean passage by Cicero and Varro of Atax are seen to enhance this quality. Cicero is shown to be a model for Lucretius, and both translators for Vergil, whose further development of the subjective style is noted. Using it Lucretius and Vergil are found to give their poems a previously unknown unity. The third chapter considers Lucretius's influence on the Georgics. More consistency but less grandiloquence are seen in Vergil. The last chapter tests assertions of subjectivity, consistency and grandiloquence. Three passages of Lucretius's poem and one from the Georqics are compared. The assertions are found to be broadly true