The Aerodynamics of the Knuckleball Pitch: An Experimental Investigation into the Effects that the Seam and Slow Rotation have on a Baseball

There has been plenty of research on the fluid dynamic effects on different spheres, including sports balls, such as baseballs. Baseball pitches have different velocities, rotation rates and orientations which will cause the baseball to move in different directions. There has also been plenty of research on the aerodynamics of curveballs, but not nearly as much on knuckleballs. The difference between the two is that the knuckleball has a much slower rotation rate and a different initial orientation. This causes the baseball to knuckle, or moving erratically. This pitch in baseball is one of the hardest to pitch, hit, catch, and umpire. So through various wind tunnel experiments, an attempt will be made that would predict the movement of the pitch under these given conditions. The experimental data includes force balance dynamometry, flow visualization, and hot film anemometry. The force balance data includes the lift and lateral forces acting on a two-seam baseball rotating at 50 rpm. The flow visualization presents how separation on a rotating, two-seam baseball changes position along the surface of the ball due to rotation and the seams. Lastly, hot film anemometry illustrates how the seams effect separation during a rotation of the baseball. Together, these experiments illuminate the complicated interactions the presence of the seam induces, namely for formation of the turbulent boundary layer juxtaposed against the variations in the location of separated region

Extension and hardware implementation of the comprehensive integrated security system concept

Merged with duplicate record (10026.1/700) on 03.01.2017 by CS (TIS)This is a digitised version of a thesis that was deposited in the University Library. If you are the author please contact PEARL Admin ([email protected]) to discuss options.The current strategy to computer networking is to increase the accessibility that legitimate users have to their respective systems and to distribute functionality. This creates a more efficient working environment, users may work from home, organisations can make better use of their computing power. Unfortunately, a side effect of opening up computer systems and placing them on potentially global networks is that they face increased threats from uncontrolled access points, and from eavesdroppers listening to the data communicated between systems. Along with these increased threats the traditional ones such as disgruntled employees, malicious software, and accidental damage must still be countered. A comprehensive integrated security system ( CISS ) has been developed to provide security within the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) and Open Distributed Processing (ODP) environments. The research described in this thesis investigates alternative methods for its implementation and its optimisation through partial implementation within hardware and software and the investigation of mechanismsto improve its security. A new deployment strategy for CISS is described where functionality is divided amongst computing platforms of increasing capability within a security domain. Definitions are given of a: local security unit, that provides terminal security; local security servers that serve the local security units and domain management centres that provide security service coordination within a domain. New hardware that provides RSA and DES functionality capable of being connected to Sun microsystems is detailed. The board can be used as a basic building block of CISS, providing fast cryptographic facilities, or in isolation for discrete cryptographic services. Software written for UNIX in C/C++ is described, which provides optimised security mechanisms on computer systems that do not have SBus connectivity. A new identification/authentication mechanism is investigated that can be added to existing systems with the potential for extension into a real time supervision scenario. The mechanism uses keystroke analysis through the application of neural networks and genetic algorithms and has produced very encouraging results. Finally, a new conceptual model for intrusion detection capable of dealing with real time and historical evaluation is discussed, which further enhances the CISS concept

Numerical Studies of a Superelastic Nickel-Titanium Rhombic Dodecahedron Structure Using the Finite Element Method

Energy dissipation is an important material property for materials used inapplications such as armor, airplane wings, and automotive vehicle crumple zones. superelastic Nickel-Titanium (NiTi) and compliant under-dense materials both have excellent energy dissipation properties. Current research suggests that compliant underdense materials made of superelastic NiTi have desirable energy dissipation properties. A rhombic dodecahedron Lattice Structured Material (LSM) is an example of a compliant under-dense Material which has potential to exhibit desirable energy dissipation properties when manufactured from superelastic NiTi. In this work, finite element modeling of a superelastic NiTi rhombic dodecahedron Lattice Structured Material is performed and an optimum for energy dissipation based solely on geometric modification is found

Education case study reports reflection on teaching strategies for pharmacy students

Introduction: Teaching should meet the needs of all types of learner present in the class room; the activist, the reflector, the theorist and the pragmatist who also have diverse backgrounds, levels of education and are from different age groups. Aim: The aim of the four projects was to improve students’ engagement and success. Method: New teaching strategies were trialled to improve students’ engagement and successes with topics which according to their feedback were considered ‘dry’. The author utilised techniques such as flipping the class-room, simulation, case or problem based learning; and group work replacing traditional lectures. First, third and fourth year students were asked to prepare for the in-class activities at home using the lectures or simulation software. Results: The strategies were effective in a small class size of 15-20 students, with improved attendance and participation, improved fail/pass rate and number of students achieving credit or pass; however there was no significant change in the number of students achieving high distinction or distinction. Evaluation: Reproducibility is an important part of the experiment to demonstrate that the results can be trusted. Success with one or two cohorts is not sufficient to adopt a method of teaching. Ongoing evaluation is essential to eliminate cohort-related effects prior to implementation. It is not clear if the achieved results would be achievable in larger classes due to the reduction in student: lecturer ratio and limitation of class room time to allow all students to participate

Systematic review of the efficacy of pharmacological treatment alone vs. psychotherapy alone or the combination of both in the treatment of depressive disorders

Depression is a challenging condition to treat especially where the efficacy of the current types of treatments has been in debate for decades. The aim of this review was to compare the effectiveness of medications to psychotherapy interventions and the combination of both interventions in the treatment of depression. This was conducted by evaluating the evidence from studies that investigated the efficacy of alone interventions and dual therapy to identify the best course of treatment for depression. Twenty studies were selected of which ten were directly compared pharmacotherapy with psychotherapy and a further ten compared the combination of both to either of the two monotherapies. The results showed that in either of monotherapies cohorts, the rates of response, remission and changes in symptom severity were near equivalent for both but dropout rates were higher for the medications groups. Comparing dual therapy to the monotherapies showed higher efficacy in terms of response, remission and reduction of symptom severity for combination. The difference however seen less with pharmacotherapy and showed psychotherapy being least effective but the difference was in efficacy is small in the majority of the studies, to a point in which the question of‘is the difference clinically significant’ remained unanswered which require more definitive future research

Pharmacists’ essential knowledge on cognitive impairment in the elderly population

Background: There are various factors which can lead to irreversible, reversible cognitive impairments. The progression of reversible cognitive disorders can be halted by identifying and treating the underlying cause. Aim of the Review: To expand pharmacists’ knowledge on underlying causes of cognitive impairment and investigate the possibility of pharmacist involvement in the identification of and/or protection against cognitive impairment. Method: A search of the literature was conducted through databases to identify studies in the English language of 1975-2016. Peer-reviewed articles and informational websites were included. Results: There are two broad classifications of cognitive impairment, irreversible and reversible cognitive impairment. Pharmacists can play an essential role in early detection of cognitive impairment caused by medications. Conclusion: Pharmacists have the potential to lead early detection of cognitive impairment caused by medications through appropriate management of the underlying problem. This may contribute to patients’ better health outcomes and quality of life

Academic anxiety and its effects on academic performance

Academic anxiety is a well-established, significant predictor of academic performance. Students with high levels of anxiety are unable to perform at the best of their ability. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent of academic anxiety and its effects on academic performance and explore if social and family sources of anxiety have effects on academic performance. This was a cross-sectional study design utilising questionnaire based on pre-validated tools was used to determine the extent of academic anxiety and evaluate its effect on students with high and low academic performance. A sample of 132 pharmacy undergraduates from stages 3 and 4 enrolled at the University of Wolverhampton, participated in this project. Academic performance was significantly associated with factors such as test anxiety, academic competence and time management skills. A high proportion of the study population indicated low academic performance due to perceived course load and amount of study material assigned for each examination. A positive relationship was observed between social and family sources of anxiety and academic performance and stressors. This study also demonstrated that demographic variables, such as family history of anxiety and different stages may have positive or negative effect on academic performance. This study revealed the high level of academic anxiety among the MPharm undergraduates study sample and identified some influential sources which need to be addressed to improve students’ experience. It is important to develop strategies to facilitate students coping strategies and skills with academic life in order to improve future performance

Stress levels during the journey of cancer treatment

A patient’s journey with cancer may cause psychological disorders or exacerbate existing conditions. The field of psycho-oncology has found ways to link psychological disorders to cancer and research the effects of mental disorders on patient outcome and wellbeing. This review looked at current literature in the field of psycho-oncology to understand how the stress level changes during the patient’s treatment journey. A search was performed to identify relevant published articles on electronic databases, including PubMed, ScienceDirect and Web of Science. The results demonstrate a direct link between cancer diagnosis and increased stress, depression and anxiety within patients, not as medication side-effects. These levels reduce over time, mainly due to patient acceptance coupled with either improved prognosis, or acceptance of death. Stress is complex and can precipitate a range of psychological disorders. Early psychological, counselling and even in some cases coaching interventions, could work preventively to help cancer patients more effectively to manage their stress, thereby promoting their greater wellbeing. Additionally, early diagnosis of mental disorders is crucial to improving long-term outcomes, therefore, the need for adequate psychological screening services in oncology patients for mental illness should be routine practice