7,385 research outputs found
The Change Laboratory in Higher Education:research-intervention using activity theory
In this chapter we discuss the Change Laboratory as an intervention-research methodology in higher education. We trace its theoretical origins in dialectical-materialism and activity theory, consider the recommendations made by its main proponents, and discuss its use in a range of higher education settings. We suggest that the Change Laboratory offers considerable potential for higher education research, though tensions between Change Laboratory design recommendations and typical higher education contexts require consideration
Patterning and process parameter effects in 3D suspension near-field electrospinning of nanoarrays
The extracellular matrix (ECM) contains nanofibrous proteins and proteoglycans. Nanofabrication methods have received growing interest in recent years as a means of recapitulating these elements within the ECM. Near-field electrospinning (NFES) is a versatile fibre deposition method, capable of layer-by-layer nano-fabrication. The maximum layer height is generally limited in layer-by-layer NFES as a consequence of electrostatic effects of the polymer at the surface, due to residual charge and polymer dielectric properties. This restricts the total volume achievable by layer-by-layer techniques. Surpassing this restriction presents a complex challenge, leading to research innovations aimed at increasing patterning precision, and achieving a translation from 2D to 3D additive nanofabrication. Here we investigated a means of achieving this translation through the use of 3D electrode substrates. This was addressed by in-house developed technology in which selective laser melt manufactured standing pillar electrodes were combined with a direct suspension near-field electrospinning (SNFES) technique, which implements an automated platform to manoeuvre the pillar electrodes around the emitter in order to suspend fibres in the free space between the electrode support structures. In this study SNFES was used in multiple operation modes, investigating the effects of varying process parameters, as well as pattern variations on the suspended nanoarrays. Image analysis of the nanoarrays allowed for the assessment of fibre directionality, isotropy, and diameter; identifying optimal settings to generate fibres for tissue engineering applications
Density-functional study of Cu atoms, monolayers, and coadsorbates on polar ZnO surfaces
The structure and electronic properties of single Cu atoms, copper monolayers
and thin copper films on the polar oxygen and zinc terminated surfaces of ZnO
are studied using periodic density-functional calculations. We find that the
binding energy of Cu atoms sensitively depends on how charge neutrality of the
polar surfaces is achieved. Bonding is very strong if the surfaces are
stabilized by an electronic mechanism which leads to partially filled surface
bands. As soon as the surface bands are filled (either by partial Cu coverage,
by coadsorbates, or by the formation of defects), the binding energy decreases
significantly. In this case, values very similar to those found for nonpolar
surfaces and for copper on finite ZnO clusters are obtained. Possible
implications of these observations concerning the growth mode of copper on
polar ZnO surfaces and their importance in catalysis are discussed.Comment: 6 pages with 2 postscript figures embedded. Uses REVTEX and epsf
macro
Marxism, Maoism, and Social Change
Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/68502/2/10.1177_009770047700300201.pd
Subset feedback vertex set is fixed parameter tractable
The classical Feedback Vertex Set problem asks, for a given undirected graph
G and an integer k, to find a set of at most k vertices that hits all the
cycles in the graph G. Feedback Vertex Set has attracted a large amount of
research in the parameterized setting, and subsequent kernelization and
fixed-parameter algorithms have been a rich source of ideas in the field.
In this paper we consider a more general and difficult version of the
problem, named Subset Feedback Vertex Set (SUBSET-FVS in short) where an
instance comes additionally with a set S ? V of vertices, and we ask for a set
of at most k vertices that hits all simple cycles passing through S. Because of
its applications in circuit testing and genetic linkage analysis SUBSET-FVS was
studied from the approximation algorithms perspective by Even et al.
[SICOMP'00, SIDMA'00].
The question whether the SUBSET-FVS problem is fixed-parameter tractable was
posed independently by Kawarabayashi and Saurabh in 2009. We answer this
question affirmatively. We begin by showing that this problem is
fixed-parameter tractable when parametrized by |S|. Next we present an
algorithm which reduces the given instance to 2^k n^O(1) instances with the
size of S bounded by O(k^3), using kernelization techniques such as the
2-Expansion Lemma, Menger's theorem and Gallai's theorem. These two facts allow
us to give a 2^O(k log k) n^O(1) time algorithm solving the Subset Feedback
Vertex Set problem, proving that it is indeed fixed-parameter tractable.Comment: full version of a paper presented at ICALP'1
Die Kritik der Politischen Ă–konomie der Medien/Kommunikation: ein hochaktueller Ansatz
This debate article discusses how topical the approach of the Critique of the Political Economy of Media/Communication is today. The paper analyses the status of this field. At the international level, there is a longer tradition in the Critical Political Economy of Media/Communication, especially in the United Kingdom and North America. Since the start of the new crisis of capitalism in 2008, the interest in Marx’s works has generally increased. At the same time communicative and ideological features of societal changes’ unpredictable turbulences have become evident. This contribution introduces some specific approaches. It also discusses 14 aspects of why the complex, multidimensional, open and dynamic research approach of the critique of capitalism and society that goes back Marx’s theory remains relevant today
Data model issues in the Cherenkov Telescope Array project
The planned Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA), a future ground-based
Very-High-Energy (VHE) gamma-ray observatory, will be the largest project of
its kind. It aims to provide an order of magnitude increase in sensitivity
compared to currently operating VHE experiments and open access to guest
observers. These features, together with the thirty years lifetime planned for
the installation, impose severe constraints on the data model currently being
developed for the project.
In this contribution we analyze the challenges faced by the CTA data model
development and present the requirements imposed to face them. While the full
data model is still not completed we show the organization of the work, status
of the design, and an overview of the prototyping efforts carried out so far.
We also show examples of specific aspects of the data model currently under
development.Comment: In Proceedings of the 34th International Cosmic Ray Conference
(ICRC2015), The Hague, The Netherlands. All CTA contributions at
arXiv:1508.0589
Scotland, Catalonia and the “right” to self-determination: a comment suggested by Kathryn Crameri’s “Do Catalans Have the Right to Decide?
No abstract available
Magainin 2 and PGLa in bacterial membrane mimics III : membrane fusion and disruption
We previously speculated that the synergistically enhanced antimicrobial activity of Magainin 2 and PGLa is related to membrane adhesion, fusion, and further membrane remodelling. Here, we combined computer simulations with time-resolved in vitro fluorescence microscopy, cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM), and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) to interrogate such morphological and topological changes of vesicles at nanoscopic and microscopic length scales in real time. Coarse-grained simulations revealed the formation of an elongated and bent fusion zone between vesicles in the presence of equimolar peptide mixtures. Vesicle adhesion and fusion was observed to occur within few seconds by cryo-EM and corroborated by SAXS measurements. The latter experiments further indicated continued and time-extended structural remodelling also for individual peptides or chemically-linked peptide heterodimers, but with different kinetics. Fluorescence microscopy further captured peptide-dependent adhesion, fusion, and occasional bursting of giant unilamellar vesicles already few seconds after peptide addition. The synergistic interactions between the peptides shorten the time response of vesicles and enhance membrane fusogenic and disrupting properties of the equimolar mixture compared to the individual peptides
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