12,218 research outputs found
Applied Learning of Emerging Technology: Using Business-Relevant Examples of Blockchain
Within the ever-changing technology and business landscape, it is imperative that students develop skills in identifying and leveraging emerging technologies to create business value in innovative and novel ways. Drawing on the Net-enabled Business Innovation Cycle framework, applied learning techniques, and current events, we developed an assignment to explore one such emerging technology ā blockchain ā to enhance studentsā ability to apply what they have learned to solve business problems. Our findings showed that students overwhelmingly found the activity and experience beneficial in three important ways: (1) understanding an emerging technology, (2) applying the technology to contemporary business issues, and (3) leveraging what they learned to create plausible solutions to business challenges and opportunities
Winds of Planet Hosting Stars
The field of exoplanetary science is one of the most rapidly growing areas of
astrophysical research. As more planets are discovered around other stars, new
techniques have been developed that have allowed astronomers to begin to
characterise them. Two of the most important factors in understanding the
evolution of these planets, and potentially determining whether they are
habitable, are the behaviour of the winds of the host star and the way in which
they interact with the planet. The purpose of this project is to reconstruct
the magnetic fields of planet hosting stars from spectropolarimetric
observations, and to use these magnetic field maps to inform simulations of the
stellar winds in those systems using the Block Adaptive Tree Solar-wind Roe
Upwind Scheme (BATS-R-US) code. The BATS-R-US code was originally written to
investigate the behaviour of the Solar wind, and so has been altered to be used
in the context of other stellar systems. These simulations will give
information about the velocity, pressure and density of the wind outward from
the host star. They will also allow us to determine what influence the winds
will have on the space weather environment of the planet. This paper presents
the preliminary results of these simulations for the star Bo\"otis,
using a newly reconstructed magnetic field map based on previously published
observations. These simulations show interesting structures in the wind
velocity around the star, consistent with the complex topology of its magnetic
field.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in the peer-reviewed
proceedings of the 14th Australian Space Research Conference, held at the
University of South Australia, 29th September - 1st October 201
Pencil-Beam Surveys for Faint Trans-Neptunian Objects
We have conducted pencil-beam searches for outer solar system objects to a
limiting magnitude of R ~ 26. Five new trans-neptunian objects were detected in
these searches. Our combined data set provides an estimate of ~90
trans-neptunian objects per square degree brighter than ~ 25.9. This estimate
is a factor of 3 above the expected number of objects based on an extrapolation
of previous surveys with brighter limits, and appears consistent with the
hypothesis of a single power-law luminosity function for the entire
trans-neptunian region. Maximum likelihood fits to all self-consistent
published surveys with published efficiency functions predicts a cumulative sky
density Sigma(<R) obeying log10(Sigma) = 0.76(R-23.4) objects per square degree
brighter than a given magnitude R.Comment: Accepted by AJ, 18 pages, including 6 figure
Vlasov simulation in multiple spatial dimensions
A long-standing challenge encountered in modeling plasma dynamics is
achieving practical Vlasov equation simulation in multiple spatial dimensions
over large length and time scales. While direct multi-dimension Vlasov
simulation methods using adaptive mesh methods [J. W. Banks et al., Physics of
Plasmas 18, no. 5 (2011): 052102; B. I. Cohen et al., November 10, 2010,
http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2010.DPP.NP9.142] have recently shown
promising results, in this paper we present an alternative, the Vlasov Multi
Dimensional (VMD) model, that is specifically designed to take advantage of
solution properties in regimes when plasma waves are confined to a narrow cone,
as may be the case for stimulated Raman scatter in large optic f# laser beams.
Perpendicular grid spacing large compared to a Debye length is then possible
without instability, enabling an order 10 decrease in required computational
resources compared to standard particle in cell (PIC) methods in 2D, with
another reduction of that order in 3D. Further advantage compared to PIC
methods accrues in regimes where particle noise is an issue. VMD and PIC
results in a 2D model of localized Langmuir waves are in qualitative agreement
Coexpression of rat P2X2 and P2X6 subunits in Xenopus oocytes.
Transcripts for P2X(2) and P2X(6) subunits are present in rat CNS and frequently colocalize in the same brainstem nuclei. When rat P2X(2) (rP2X(2)) and rat P2X(6) (rP2X(6)) receptors were expressed individually in Xenopus oocytes and studied under voltage-clamp conditions, only homomeric rP2X(2) receptors were fully functional and gave rise to large inward currents (2-3 microA) to extracellular ATP. Coexpression of rP2X(2) and rP2X(6) subunits in Xenopus oocytes resulted in a heteromeric rP2X(2/6) receptor, which showed a significantly different phenotype from the wild-type rP2X(2) receptor. Differences included reduction in agonist potencies and, in some cases (e.g., Ap(4)A), significant loss of agonist activity. ATP-evoked inward currents were biphasic at the heteromeric rP2X(2/6) receptor, particularly when Zn(2+) ions were present or extracellular pH was lowered. The pH range was narrower for H(+) enhancement of ATP responses at the heteromeric rP2X(2/6) receptor. Also, H(+) ions inhibited ATP responses at low pH levels (<pH 6.3). The pH-dependent blocking activity of suramin was changed at this heteromeric receptor, although the potentiating effect of Zn(2+) on ATP responses was unchanged. Thus, the rP2X(2/6) receptor is a functionally modified P2X(2)-like receptor with a distinct pattern of pH modulation of ATP activation and suramin blockade. Although homomeric P2X(6) receptors function poorly, the P2X(6) subunit can contribute to functional heteromeric P2X channels and may influence the phenotype of native P2X receptors in those cells in which it is expressed
Constraints on small-scale cosmological perturbations from gamma-ray searches for dark matter
Events like inflation or phase transitions can produce large density
perturbations on very small scales in the early Universe. Probes of small
scales are therefore useful for e.g. discriminating between inflationary
models. Until recently, the only such constraint came from non-observation of
primordial black holes (PBHs), associated with the largest perturbations.
Moderate-amplitude perturbations can collapse shortly after matter-radiation
equality to form ultracompact minihalos (UCMHs) of dark matter, in far greater
abundance than PBHs. If dark matter self-annihilates, UCMHs become excellent
targets for indirect detection. Here we discuss the gamma-ray fluxes expected
from UCMHs, the prospects of observing them with gamma-ray telescopes, and
limits upon the primordial power spectrum derived from their non-observation by
the Fermi Large Area Space Telescope.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures. To appear in J Phys Conf Series (Proceedings of
TAUP 2011, Munich
Importance of physical qualities for speed and change of direction ability in elite female soccer players.
The purpose of this study was to determine the importance of physical qualities for speed and change of direction (CoD) ability in female soccer players. Data were collected on 10 female soccer players who were part of a professional English Womenās Super League team. Player assessments included anthropometric (stature and body mass), body composition (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), speed (10m, 30m sprint), CoD ability (505 agility), aerobic (Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test), lower-body strength (bilateral knee extensions) and power (countermovement jump [CMJ], squat jump [SJ], 30cm drop jump [DJ]) measures). The relationships between the variables were evaluated using eigenvector analysis and Pearson correlation analysis. Multiple linear regression revealed that the performance variables (10 and 20m speed, mean 505, and CoD deficit mean) can be predicted with almost 100% accuracy (i.e. adjusted R2 > 0.999) using various combinations of the predictor variables (DJ height, CMJ height, SJ height, lean body mass). An increase of one standard deviation (SD) in DJ height was associated with reductions of -5.636 and 9.082 SD in 10 m and 20 m sprint times. A one SD increase in CMJ also results in a reduction of -3.317 and -0.922 SD respectively in mean 505 and CoD deficit mean values. This study provides comparative data for professional English female soccer players that can be used by strength and conditioning coaches when monitoring player development and assessing the effectiveness of training programmes. Findings highlight the importance of developing reactive strength to improve speed and CoD ability in female soccer players
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