What factors explain differences in learning climates?

Peer reviewe

Multiwavelength Studies of PSR J1420-6048, a Young Pulsar in the Kookaburra

We present X-ray, radio, and infrared observations of the 68 ms pulsar PSR J1420-6048 and its surrounding nebula, a possible counterpart of the gamma-ray source GeV J1417-6100/3EG J1420-6038. Pulsed X-ray emission at the radio period is marginally detected by ASCA from a source embedded in the hard spectrum X-ray nebula AX J1420.1-6049. At radio wavelengths, the pulsar is found to be strongly linearly and circularly polarized, and the polarization sweep is measured. A comparison of high resolution ATCA radio imaging of the Kookaburra's upper wing (G313.6+0.3), which contains the pulsar and the X-ray nebula, with infrared images suggests the radio emission is partly non-thermal.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, to appear in Astrophysical Journal Letter

Static Torsion Testing and Modeling of a Variable Thickness Hybrid Composite Bull Gear

Torsional strength of a variable thickness hybrid gear web was measured by performing static testing on the part in a large torsion test frame. The outer rim of the hybrid gear web was fixed to the bottom of the test frame and loading was applied to the web through a shaft. The test setup included the installation of digital image correlation (DIC) systems to obtain deformation and strain measurements from the surfaces of the hybrid gear web and the mechanical test equipment to ensure reliability of the test. The results indicated that the variable thickness hybrid gear web achieved approximately twice the torsional strength compared to that of previous hybrid gear designs. The DIC analysis showed significantly more straining of the loading shaft than the actual test article. Additionally, the results demonstrated the importance and affect that the metallic, lobed interlock features had on the principal strain and out-of-plane displacement fields. The analysis revealed that the fixed outer rim was in fact rotating and a rigid body motion compensation (RBMC) function was computed to determine the actual rotation of the hub and composite web relative to the outer rim. Modeling simulations were performed for the variable thickness hybrid gear web and correlated well with the RBMC rotational deformation seen in the DIC analysis. In addition to benchmarking the load capacity of the hybrid gear web, measuring its strength is useful information to define the parameters needed for dynamic, endurance, and other testing of the part

Novel expression of Haemonchus contortus vaccine candidate aminopeptidase H11 using the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

With the problem of parasitic nematode drug resistance increasing, vaccine development offers an alternative sustainable control approach. For some parasitic nematodes, native extracts enriched for specific proteins are highly protective. However, recombinant forms of these proteins have failed to replicate this protection. This is thought to be due to differences in glycosylation and/or conformation between native and recombinant proteins. We have exploited the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans to examine its suitability as an alternative system for recombinant expression of parasitic nematode vaccine candidates. We focussed on Haemonchus contortus aminopeptidase H11 glycoprotein, which is enriched in a gut membrane fraction capable of inducing significant protection against this important ovine gastrointestinal nematode. We show that H. contortus H11 expressed in C. elegans is enzymatically active and MALDI mass spectrometry identifies similar di- and tri-fucosylated structures to those on native H11, with fucose at the 3- and/or 6-positions of the proximal GlcNAc. Some glycan structural differences were observed, such as lack of LDNF. Serum antibody to native H11 binds to C. elegans recombinant H11 and most of the antibody to rH11 or native H11 is directed to glycan moieties. Despite these similarities, no reduction in worm burden or faecal egg count was observed following immunisation of sheep with C. elegans-expressed recombinant H11 protein. The findings suggest that the di- and tri-fucosylated N-glycans expressed on rH11 do not contribute to the protective effect of H11 and that additional components present in native H11-enriched extract are likely required for enhancing the antibody response necessary for protection

A review of energy law education in the UK

This article focuses on reviewing energy law education in the UK. For such a fast-growing discipline it is important to reflect on the features that give cohesiveness to its curriculum development: how it is taught; who is teaching it and where it is being taught; and what content is given to the curriculum offered? Is it, for example, national in focus or international, or both? A recent review on the state of energy law education in the US demonstrates the scale and ambition of energy law education in that country. This article complements that exercise by providing a review of energy law education in the UK as at 2016. By comparing and contrasting the two approaches, we can glean some distinctive features of the UK approach. More research is needed on energy law education but from this article it is clear that energy law has taken a foothold in legal education in the UK

A search for the radio counterpart of the unidentified gamma-ray source 3EG J1410-6147

We have made radio continuum, HI and X-ray observations in the direction of the unidentified EGRET source 3EG J1410-6147, using the Australia Telescope Compact Array and the Chandra X-ray Observatory. The observations encompass the supernova remnant (SNR) G312.4-0.4 and the two young pulsars PSRs J1412-6145 and J1413-6141. We derive a lower distance limit of 6 kpc to the SNR, although interpretation of positive velocity features in the HI spectrum may imply the SNR is more distant than 14 kpc. PSR J1412-6145, with an age of 50 kyr, is the pulsar most likely associated with SNR G312.4-0.4. X-rays are not detected from either pulsar and diffuse X-ray emission near the bright western edge of the SNR is weak. Although there is circumstantial evidence that this western region is a pulsar wind nebula (PWN), the embedded pulsar PSR J1412-6145 is apparently not sufficiently powerful to explain the radio enhancement. The origin of the electron acceleration in this region and of the gamma-rays remain unidentified, unless the distance to PSR J1413-6141 is at least a factor of 3 lower than its dispersion measure distance.Comment: 10 pages, plus 5 jpeg figures, MNRAS, in press. Full postscript or pdf including all figures is available at http://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/~m

Medical students’ views of clinical environments.

Background: Monitoring the quality of clinical learning environments (CLEs) is immensely important in medical education. Objective indicators of the quality of the CLE can be used to measure learner perceptions and to inform educational improvements; however, many established tools were not designed for use in clinical settings and are not theoretically grounded. Our aim was to apply a new tool to the new context of a UK setting to explore the perceptions of senior medical students in a number of different CLEs. “Monitoring the quality of clinical learning environments is immensely important in medical education”. Methods: The four-factor Undergraduate Clinical Education Environment Measure (UCEEM) was translated into English, and used to gather fina-year medical students’ perceptions of four different specialties they had rotated through: Emergency Medicine (EM), General Surgery (GS), Medicine for the Elderly (ME), and Obstetrics and Gynaecology (O&G). The UCEEM was distributed in paper form. Students were asked to complete it in relation to two of the four specialties. Results/findings: Year-5 medical students (n = 132) returned a completed UCEEM. For opportunities to learn in and through work experience EM was reported the most positively. ME was perceived to be the most prepared for student entry. Students reported being well received by staff and made to feel part of the team within GS, EM and ME, but less so in O&G. Discussion: UCEEM appears to be a useful tool for evaluating medical student perceptions of CLEs. Theoretically robust, UCEEM is straightforward to administer and to score. It has the potential to be used by time-pressured educators to collect baseline and comparative data for evaluation and improvement purposes

Shotgun assembly of random graphs

In the graph shotgun assembly problem, we are given the balls of radius $r$ around each vertex of a graph and asked to reconstruct the graph. We study the shotgun assembly of the Erd\H{o}s-R\'enyi random graph $\mathcal G(n,p)$ from a wide range of values of $r$. We determine the threshold for reconstructibility for each $r\geq 3$, extending and improving substantially on results of Mossel and Ross for $r=3$. For $r=2$, we give upper and lower bounds that improve on results of Gaudio and Mossel by polynomial factors. We also give a sharpening of a result of Huang and Tikhomirov for $r=1$.Comment: 36 pages, 3 figure

Session 2C: Lessons Learned - From Lab to Market

The best way for businesses to learn how to grow is from each other. This second Lessons Learned panel will feature some local and not so local green economy companies, from agriculture to high tech, for participants to hear their stories and glean inspiration and tips on succeeding in the green world. Moderator: Colleen Moynihan, NEBA Business Consulting Center a. Roberts Bros. Lumber Co. - Leonard Roberts b. Terraclime Geothermal - Sam Johnston c. Center for Ecological Technology (CET) - John Majercak d. ESCO Energy Services Company - Colby Lewi

A transient component in the pulse profile of PSR J0738-4042

One of the tenets of the radio pulsar observational picture is that the integrated pulse profiles are constant with time. This assumption underpins much of the fantastic science made possible via pulsar timing. Over the past few years, however, this assumption has come under question with a number of pulsars showing pulse shape changes on a range of timescales. Here, we show the dramatic appearance of a bright component in the pulse profile of PSR J0738-4042 (B0736-40). The component arises on the leading edge of the profile. It was not present in 2004 but strongly present in 2006 and all observations thereafter. A subsequent search through the literature shows the additional component varies in flux density over timescales of decades. We show that the polarization properties of the transient component are consistent with the picture of competing orthogonal polarization modes. Faced with the general problem of identifying and characterising average profile changes, we outline and apply a statistical technique based on a Hidden Markov Model. The value of this technique is established through simulations, and is shown to work successfully in the case of low signal-to-noise profiles.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRA