Analysis of the Non-singular Wyman-Schwarzschild Metric

The analog of the Schwarzschild metric is explored in the context of Non-Singular Gravity. Analytic results are developed describing redshifts, curvatures and topological features of the spacetime. All curvatures and redshifts are finite so there are no Black Holes, no singularities and no Hawking radiation.Comment: 14 pages, RevTeX, 6 Figures available on request, UTPT-94-1

Is the impact of social distancing on coronavirus growth rates effective across different settings? A non-parametric and local regression approach to test and compare the‘doubling rate

Epidemiologists use mathematical models to predict epidemic trends, and these results are inherently uncertain when parameters are unknown or changing. In other contexts, such as climate, modellers use multi-model ensembles to inform their decision-making: when forecasts align, modellers can be more certain. This paper looks at a sub-set of alternative epidemiological models that focus on the ‘doubling rate’, and it cautions against relying on the method proposed in (Pike & Saini, 2020) which relies on the data for China to calculate future trajectories. Such approaches are subject to overfitting, a common problem in financial and economic modelling. This paper finds, surprisingly, that the data for China are hyper-exponential, not exponential. Instead, this paper proposes using non-parametric methods, and local regression methods, to support epidemiologists and policymakers in assessing the relative effectiveness of social distancing across multiple settings. All works contained herein are provided free to use worldwide by the author under CC BY 2.0

Embedding QR codes in the Bournemouth University print collection

During the 2011/12 academic year, Library and Learning Support (LLS) at BU have been working on a project to embed QR codes within the library print collection to highlight available e-books from heavily used areas of the shelves

Minimal Faithful Permutation Degrees for Irreducible Coxeter Groups and Binary Polyhedral Groups

In this article we calculate the minimal faithful permutation degree for all of the irreducible Coxeter groups. We also exhibit new examples of finite groups that possess a quotient whose minimal degree is strictly greater than that of the group.Comment: 22 page

Schools, communities and social capital: building blocks in the 'Big Society' (Research associate full report)

"This study looked at how effective schools engage with their communities. Its aim was to identify key mechanisms that promoted community engagement. It also sought to determine the impact this had on the amount and nature of social capital available to pupils, parents and the wider community. Effective schools were found to generate significant amounts of social capital within their institutions as demonstrated by the degree of trust, reciprocity, civic engagement and social cohesion. Pupil voice was a powerful mechanism in developing a sense of control and self-efficacy. Recently created posts such as family workers, therapists and social work placements extended much of this impact into the family. Schools that went further to promote social capital in the neighbourhood were those with a more aspirational vision that went beyond simply engaging the community to aid school improvement. They viewed community empowerment as key to the success of their pupils and families within the wider social context. They encouraged community leadership and decision-making, often through informal learning approaches, and truly became ‘hubs of the community’, facilitating community development and promoting community cohesion. The findings suggest that a more reciprocal view is needed of the relationship between school and community and that schools could play a central role in creating the ‘Big Society’.

E-textbooks: the Bournemouth University experience

E-books have been a crucial part of the Bournemouth University collection strategy for over a decade and library model e-books are our preferred method of providing suggested reading. Along with core collections and patron plans, we currently have over 194,000 e-books and these received over three million section requests in 2012–13. Despite our strategy to purchase in ‘e’ whenever it is available, we have always found it challenging to provide electronic access to core textbooks. Traditionally, publishers have been reluctant to make this type of material available as library model e-books: they are understandably concerned about the impact that this would have on print sales to students. We have recently been investigating the evolving publishing models that enable institutions to provide access to e-textbooks, and this article reports on our experiences