V/STOL aircraft and fluid dynamics

The impact of military applications on rotorcraft and V/STOL aircraft design is summarized with respect to fixed-wing aircraft. The influence of the mission needs on the configurational design of V/STOL aircraft, the implications regarding some problems in fluid dynamics relating to propulsive flows, and their interaction with the aircraft and the ground plane, are also considered. Additional research in fluid dynamics that can contribute to an improvement in performance of V/STOL aircraft is suggested

Information Systems Undergraduate Degree Project: Gaining a Better Understanding of the Final Year Project Module

The place of an individual project in the final year of Information Systems (IS) undergraduate degrees at UK universities is well established. In this paper we compare the final year project modules at four UK universities: the University of Brighton, the University of South Wales, University of West London and the University of Westminster. We find that the aims of the projects are similar, emphasising the application of the knowledge and skills from the taught element of their course in a complex development project, often including interactions with a real client. Although we show in this analysis that projects serve a similar purpose in the IS degree courses, the associated learning outcomes and the assessment practice varies across the institutions. We identify some gaps in the skills and abilities that are not being assessed. In further work we are planning to consult final year students undertaking their projects and their supervisors, in order to gain an understanding of how project assessment criteria are actually put to use

Exploring the Roper wave function in Lattice QCD

Using a correlation matrix analysis consisting of a variety of smearings, the CSSM Lattice collaboration has successfully isolated states associated with the Roper resonance and other "exotic" excited states such as the $\Lambda(1405)$ on the lattice at near-physical pion masses. We explore the nature of the Roper by examining the eigenvectors that arise from the variational analysis, demonstrating that the Roper state is dominated by the $\chi_1$ nucleon interpolator and only poorly couples to $\chi_2.$ By examining the probability distribution of the Roper on the lattice, we find a structure consistent with a constituent quark model. In particular, the Roper $d$-quark wave function contains a single node consistent with a $2S$ state. A detailed comparison with constituent quark model wave functions is carried out, validating the approach of accessing these states by constructing a variational basis composed of different levels of fermion source and sink smearing.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures; presented at the 31st International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory (Lattice 2013), 29 July - 3 August 2013, Mainz, German

DSE Hadron Phenomenology

A perspective on the contemporary use of Dyson-Schwinger equations, focusing on some recent phenomenological applications: a description and unification of light-meson observables using a one-parameter model of the effective quark-quark interaction, and studies of leptonic and nonleptonic nucleon form factors.Comment: 7 pages, sprocl.sty, epsfig.sty. Contribution to the Proceedings of the Workshop on Light-Cone QCD and Nonperturbative Hadron Physics, Adelaide, Australia, 13-22 Dec 199

The Character of Goldstone Bosons

A succinct review of the QCD gap equation and dynamical chiral symmetry breaking; their connection with Bethe-Salpeter equations and resolving the dichotomous nature of the pion; the calculation of the pion's valence-quark distribution; and first results for the pi-exchange contribution to the gamma N -> omega N cross-section, which is important in the search for missing nucleon resonances.Comment: 9 pages, LaTeX2e, ws-p8-50x6-00.cls, Contribution to the Proceedings of the "Workshop on Lepton-Scattering, Hadrons and QCD," Adelaide, 26 March-6 April, 200

Slow solitary waves in multi-layered magnetic structures

The propagation of slow sausage surface waves in a multi-layered magnetic configuration is considered. The magnetic configuration consists of a central magnetic slab sandwiched between two identical magnetic slabs (with equilibrium quantities different from those in the central slab) which in turn are embedded between two identical semi-infinite regions. The dispersion equation is obtained in the linear approximation. The nonlinear governing equation describing waves with a characteristic wavelength along the central slab much larger than the slab thickness is derived. Solitary wave solutions to this equation are obtained in the case where these solutions deviate only slightly from the algebraic soliton of the Benjamin-Ono equation

Quantum effects with an X-ray free electron laser

A quantum kinetic equation coupled with Maxwell's equation is used to estimate the laser power required at an XFEL facility to expose intrinsically quantum effects in the process of QED vacuum decay via spontaneous pair production. A 9 TW-peak XFEL laser with photon energy 8.3 keV could be sufficient to initiate particle accumulation and the consequent formation of a plasma of spontaneously produced pairs. The evolution of the particle number in the plasma will exhibit non-Markovian aspects of the strong-field pair production process and the plasma's internal currents will generate an electric field whose interference with that of the laser leads to plasma oscillations.Comment: 4 pages, LaTeX2

Fibrocystic Disease of the Pancreas: A Histological Study of the Pancreas in Childhood with a Survey of the Clinical, Epidemiological, and Genetic Features of the Disease

Abstract Not Provided

‘VIOLET’: a fluorescence-based simulation exercise for training healthcare workers in the use of personal protective equipment

Background Healthcare workers caring for patients with high-consequence infectious diseases (HCIDs) require protection from pathogen exposure, for example by wearing personal protective equipment (PPE). Protection is acquired through the inherent safety of the PPE components, but also their safe and correct use, supported by adequate training and user familiarity. However, the evidence base for HCID PPE ensembles and any associated training is lacking, with subsequent variation between healthcare providers. Aim To develop an evidence-based assessment and training tool for evaluating PPE ensembles and doffing protocols, in the assessment of patients with suspected HCIDs. Methods VIOLET (Visualising Infection with Optimised Light for Education and Training) comprises a healthcare mannequin adapted to deliver simulated bodily fluids containing UV-fluorescent tracers. On demand and remotely operated, the mannequin projectile vomits (blue), coughs (red), has diarrhoea (yellow) and is covered in sweat (orange). Wearing PPE, healthcare staff participate in an HCID risk assessment and examination of the ‘patient’, thereby becoming exposed to these bodily fluids. Contamination of PPE is visualized and body-mapped under UV light before and after removal. Observational findings and participant feedback, around its use as a training exercise, is also recorded. Findings Significant contamination from different exposure events was seen, enabling evaluation of PPE and doffing procedures used. Observational data and participant feedback demonstrated its strengths and success as a training technique. Conclusion Simulation exercises using VIOLET provide evidence-based assessment of PPE ensembles, and are a valuable resource for training of healthcare staff in wearing and safe doffing of PPE