An Empirical Methodology for Engineering Human Systems Integration

The systems engineering technical processes are not sufficiently supported by methods and tools that quantitatively integrate human considerations into early system design. Because of this, engineers must often rely on qualitative judgments or delay critical decisions until late in the system lifecycle. Studies reveal that this is likely to result in cost, schedule, and performance consequences. This dissertation presents a methodology to improve the application of systems engineering technical processes for design. This methodology is mathematically rigorous, is grounded in relevant theory, and applies extant human subjects data to critical systems development challenges. The methodology is expressed in four methods that support early systems engineering activities: a requirements elicitation method, a function allocation method, an input device design method, and a display layout design method. These form a coherent approach to early system development. Each method is separately discussed and demonstrated using a prototypical system development program. In total, this original and significant work has a broad range of systems engineer applicability to improve the engineering of human systems integration

Thyroxine differentially modulates the peripheral clock: lessons from the human hair follicle

The human hair follicle (HF) exhibits peripheral clock activity, with knock-down of clock genes (BMAL1 and PER1) prolonging active hair growth (anagen) and increasing pigmentation. Similarly, thyroid hormones prolong anagen and stimulate pigmentation in cultured human HFs. In addition they are recognized as key regulators of the central clock that controls circadian rhythmicity. Therefore, we asked whether thyroxine (T4) also influences peripheral clock activity in the human HF. Over 24 hours we found a significant reduction in protein levels of BMAL1 and PER1, with their transcript levels also decreasing significantly. Furthermore, while all clock genes maintained their rhythmicity in both the control and T4 treated HFs, there was a significant reduction in the amplitude of BMAL1 and PER1 in T4 (100 nM) treated HFs. Accompanying this, cell-cycle progression marker Cyclin D1 was also assessed appearing to show an induced circadian rhythmicity by T4 however, this was not significant. Contrary to short term cultures, after 6 days, transcript and/or protein levels of all core clock genes (BMAL1, PER1, clock, CRY1, CRY2) were up-regulated in T4 treated HFs. BMAL1 and PER1 mRNA was also up-regulated in the HF bulge, the location of HF epithelial stem cells. Together this provides the first direct evidence that T4 modulates the expression of the peripheral molecular clock. Thus, patients with thyroid dysfunction may also show a disordered peripheral clock, which raises the possibility that short term, pulsatile treatment with T4 might permit one to modulate circadian activity in peripheral tissues as a target to treat clock-related disease

#RhodesMustFall: Using social media to "decolonise" learning spaces for South African higher education institutions: A cultural historical activity theory approach

Since the end of 2015, South African universities have been the stage of ongoing student protests that seek to shift the status quo of Higher Education Institutes through calls to decolonise the curriculum and enable free access to HEIs for all. One tool that students have increasingly turned to, to voice their opinions has been social media. In this article we argue that one can use Cultural Historical Activity Theory to understand how the activity systems of the traditional academy are shifting the wake of social media, with traditional power relations becoming more porous as students’ voices gain an audience. By tracing the historical development of CHAT, we show how 4th generation CHAT enables us to analyse potential power shifts in HEIs brought about through the use of social media.

Quantum tunneling dynamics of an interacting Bose-Einstein condensate through a Gaussian barrier

The transmission of an interacting Bose-Einstein condensate incident on a repulsive Gaussian barrier is investigated through numerical simulation. The dynamics associated with interatomic interactions are studied across a broad parameter range not previously explored. Effective 1D Gross-Pitaevskii equation (GPE) simulations are compared to classical Boltzmann-Vlasov equation (BVE) simulations in order to isolate purely coherent matterwave effects. Quantum tunneling is then defined as the portion of the GPE transmission not described by the classical BVE. An exponential dependence of transmission on barrier height is observed in the purely classical simulation, suggesting that observing such exponential dependence is not a sufficient condition for quantum tunneling. Furthermore, the transmission is found to be predominately described by classical effects, although interatomic interactions are shown to modify the magnitude of the quantum tunneling. Interactions are also seen to affect the amount of classical transmission, producing transmission in regions where the non-interacting equivalent has none. This theoretical investigation clarifies the contribution quantum tunneling makes to overall transmission in many-particle interacting systems, potentially informing future tunneling experiments with ultracold atoms.Comment: Close to the published versio

Supporting the generation of argument structure within video sequences

Browsing is a useful way of exploring annotated media repositories. Sets of links can be automatically created from the annotations associated with the media items in the repository. When there are also relationships among the annotations themselves, such as when the annotation terms are part of a thesaurus, these relations can also be used in the link generation process. Using structured annotations and a thesaurus for generating link sets has two advantages. The first is to evaluate the effectiveness of the terms in the thesaurus for classifying the media items in the repository. The second is to be able to control the links being generated by changing relationships within the thesaurus. The work is illustrated using video segments annotated with argument structures, but we show that the method used is independent of the media types and applicable to systems that use similar annotation structures and typed relations among the

The development of a new measure of quality of life for children with congenital cardiac disease

The purpose of the study was to develop a questionnaire measuring health-related R1 quality of life for children and adolescents with congenital heart disease, the ConQol, that would have both clinical and research applications. We describe here the process of construction of a questionnaire, the piloting and the development of a weighted scoring system, and data on the psychometric performance of the measure in a sample of 640 children and young people recruited via 6 regional centres for paediatric cardiology from across the United Kingdom. The ConQol has two versions, one designed for children aged from 8 to 11 years, and the other for young people aged from 12 to 16 years. Initial findings suggest that it is a valid and reliable instrument, is acceptable to respondents, and is simple to administer in both a research and clinical context

Providing accessibility through implementation of electronic laboratory notebooks

Electronic Laboratory Notebooks (ELNs) have recently gained popularity in academia and industry while paper laboratory notebooks (PLNs) are becoming obsolete from the digital world. This is due to the many benefits of ELNs such as efficiency, accessibility, and data integrity (Bird, Willoughby, & Frey, 2013; Colabroy & Bell, 2019). In tertiary education, ELNs have been implemented to help students develop skills that are easily transferrable and prepare them for a technological rich workplace. Learning and understanding students’ and teaching staff perceptions’ of their experience with using ELNs, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, is key to successful implementation in education. A series of surveys were distributed and interviews were conducted across various undergraduate chemistry units from first to third year level and post-graduate teaching staff to gather insight into their perceptions of using PLNs and ELNs and the software platform, LabArchives. This presentation will provide some insight into students’ and teaching staff’s experiences with using ELNs. In general, it was found that students had positive perceptions of ELNs, even though there is a higher learning curve compared to PLNs. Reasons for this include increased communication, accessibility, and the ease of presenting work legibility. Also, the COVID-19 pandemic is associated with students having a positive experience with using ELNs mainly due to increased communication and accessibility from home where otherwise not possible. REFERENCES Bird, C. L., Willoughby, C., & Frey, J. G. (2013). Laboratory notebooks in the digital era: The role of ELNs in record keeping for chemistry and other sciences. Chemical Society Review, 42(20), 8157-8175. Colabroy, K. & Bell, J. K. (2019). Lab eNotebooks. In Biochemistry Education: From Theory to Practice, 1337, 173-195. American Chemical Society

Penciptaan Buku Fotografi Esai Pluralisme Agama di Bali sebagai Upaya Meningkatkan Kesadaran Masyarakat dalam Toleransi

Tolerance in etymology means a allow the attitude of mutual respect and beliefs of others without requiring approval. The cultural diversity of Indonesia has many and various religions in Indonesia and tolerance is needed to make Indonesia as a country with strong. The number of cases of intolerance that occurred in Indonesia should be the subject of tolerance that can be a very valuable to the nation. Indonesia, as a country that had enough of a difference, from the racial diversities, the key, and language. Bali being one example of regions in Indonesia that presents diverse culture. Tolerance that occurs in Bali so strong that deserve to be used as an example for Indonesian. Therefore, it is a book about what the media tolerance in fact, it can increase the society awareness in bertoleransi. The study is done with a qualitative studies by taking the interview observation, documentation and literature to obtain the data is done as a supporter of the concept of design. Book served is shaped photographic book essay so that people can see clearly through some of the pictures that will be displayed

Perancangan Buku Komik Ludruk Berbasis Ilustrasi Digital Guna Mengenalkan Kembali Kesenian Tradisional Kepada Remaja

Ludruk art heritage of the ancestors, is the wealth of the local art and culture should be kept and preserved from extinction, a traditional theater arts that originated in East Java. Ludruk arts as an icon of Surabaya city already does not have the allure in the eyes of the youth, the development of technology and the rapid influx of television media making artistry Ludruk increasingly abandoned. Therefore, it is required a medium that can provide information about the arts, in order to re-introduce ludruk to teenagers. The method used was to create a comic book that gives information about art history include Ludruk Ludruk in Surabaya, Ludruk figures influential in Surabaya, the structure of the staging as well as presenting the paper and supported Ludruk media promotions such as keychains, bookmarks, stickers, x-banners, and posters. Through comic books is expected to increase the interest of teens against Arts Ludruk in Surabaya