Sustaining proactive motivation for non-mandatory professional development building self-determined employees

This dissertation examined the motivations energising employees' participation in non-mandatory professional development (PD) provided within their work organisation using a proactive motivation framework (Parker, Bindl, & Strauss, 2010) and a Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985) perspective. Two studies were conducted using a mixed-method design. Study 1 was conducted in a specific organisation and involved both quantitative and qualitative data. Both aspects of this study informed the development of the quantitative Study 2 conducted in an organisation non-specific sample. The quantitative aspect of both Study 1 and Study 2 provided support for a structural model of employees‟ motivation to participate in non-mandatory PD within their work organisation as a proactive, self-determined process that includes transfer implementation intentions as a pre-participation commitment toward change and readiness to transfer what is learned. Study 1 demonstrated that employees' Transfer Implementation Intentions were energised by autonomous motivation for participation in non-mandatory PD and the intrinsic benefits envisioned from participation. As an organisational context variable, positive work environment directly influenced each aspect of the model. From the Study 1 qualitative findings it was concluded that organisational commitment to employee development, useful to job, useful to career, and prosocial benefits were important variables to include in the structural model tested in Study 2. Study 2 demonstrated that employees‟ transfer implementation intentions were influenced by both intrinsic benefits and prosocial benefits. Autonomous motivation demonstrated only an indirect influence on transfer implementation intentions. An organisational commitment to development influenced employees‟ perceptions of useful to career and useful to job. Useful to job influenced autonomous motivation and prosocial benefits, while useful to career influenced intrinsic benefits. Together, the results of the two studies highlight the importance of autonomous motivation, intrinsic and prosocial goals, and the provision of organisational support to facilitate employees‟ proactive involvement in non-mandatory PD and their intention to transfer what is learned. These influences are important, as participation and the use of what is learned are paramount to the success of non-mandatory PD activities (Goldstein & Ford, 2002)

The role of biomechanical markers of dynamic stability in the execution of highly dynamic tasks

The primary aim in human locomotion is to control the body’s centre of mass sufficiently to perform the task as safely and as efficiently as possible. Control of the centre of mass is likely to involve the interaction of several movement strategies each deployed for a specific role. When the task becomes more dynamic involving movement in multiple planes, the task becomes more difficult and the movement strategies need to adapt. If those movement strategies begin to fail, or involve dangerous deviations, perhaps due to degradation of the physical and neuromuscular mechanisms required to execute them, then control of the centre of mass and consequently whole-body dynamic stability is compromised. When whole-body dynamic stability is compromised, this may lead to dynamic stability issues at a joint level, which may be a precursor to undesirable joint moments and an increase in injury risk. That said, research has yet to provide a holistic account of whole-body dynamic stability for highly dynamic tasks. Therefore, it was the intention in this doctoral thesis to outline and explore the interplay between movement strategies that can contribute significantly to whole-body dynamic stability and mechanisms that may indicate potential injury risk. In this research project, biomechanical observation of side cutting was utilised for its relevance with regards to sports performance and association with common lower limb injuries and even injury screening. Initially, study one focused on methodological concerns with the reliability of the kinetic and kinematic data typically derived from side cutting. Our findings identified new insights into variability of kinematic and kinetic data in a detailed view across phases of ground contact. In study two we developed a novel, holistic approach to quantify the movement strategies that contribute to control of the centre of mass, or whole-body dynamic stability, in side cutting. This approach has allowed us to express original insights into the key mechanisms for medial acceleration of the centre of mass; the extent of destabilisation that excessive ground reaction forces can generate; and the interaction of key movement strategies adopted to correct for destabilisation and retrieve control. Furthermore, in studies three and four we have been able to demonstrate the robustness of our measurement of movement strategies in quantifying responses to increasingly challenging scenarios. In addition, the final two studies allowed us to highlight the need for adaptability in movement strategies between tasks of varied complexity, and the transition between movement strategies within the side cutting task itself. Overall, our findings may provide valuable information for the performer and supporting practitioners to develop training strategies based on biomechanical markers of whole-body dynamic stability, which may preclude negative injurious consequences

The H1 Forward Track Detector at HERA II

In order to maintain efficient tracking in the forward region of H1 after the luminosity upgrade of the HERA machine, the H1 Forward Track Detector was also upgraded. While much of the original software and techniques used for the HERA I phase could be reused, the software for pattern recognition was completely rewritten. This, along with several other improvements in hit finding and high-level track reconstruction, are described in detail together with a summary of the performance of the detector.Comment: Minor revision requested by journal (JINST) edito

Mechanisms limiting the coherence time of spontaneous magnetic oscillations driven by DC spin-polarized currents

The spin-transfer torque from a DC spin-polarized current can generate highly-coherent magnetic precession in nanoscale magnetic-multilayer devices. By measuring linewidths of spectra from the resulting resistance oscillations, we argue that the coherence time can be limited at low temperature by thermal deflections about the equilibrium magnetic trajectory, and at high temperature by thermally-activated transitions between dynamical modes. Surprisingly, the coherence time can be longer than predicted by simple macrospin simulations.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figure

A Review of Seismic LRFD (Load-and-Resistance Factor Design) Method for MSE (Mechanically Stabilized Earth) Walls

The introduction of AASHTO’s LRFD (load-and-resistance factor design) method for the design of MSE (mechanically stabilized earth) walls in 2004 has gradually replaced conventional state-of-the-practice seismic ASD (allowable stress design) method in some states, and by FHWA mandate should completely replace the ASD method by 2010. Limit equilibrium analyses based on Mononabe- Okabe (M-O) pseudo-static method had been the standard method of estimating the seismic external thrust and inertia force for MSE walls. Considering the flexible nature of MSE walls that allow deformation without compromising structural integrity, in the LRFD method, the displacement based pseudo-static method that was developed from Newmark sliding block analyses is used. In this paper, parametric studies are used to highlight the variations of soil reinforcement length/wall height ratios and internal lateral stresses between the LRFD and the current state-of-the-practice ASD methods. The results are compared with referenced past experimental studies and recorded seismic field performance of MSE walls. In addition, results from preliminary dynamic constitutive models are provided for comparison with displacements based on M-O pseudo static method. This paper shows that, by selecting an appropriate amount of tolerable wall deformation (i.e. between 25 and 200 mm as specified in AASHTO and FHWA), the seismic LRFD method for MSE walls is conservative and in general is in agreement with the conventional ASD method that has been widely used in the design of the MSE walls that have performed well during past major seismic events

Seismic interpretation and generation of key depth structure surfaces within the Carboniferous and Devonian of the Orcadian Study Area, Quadrants 7-9, 11-15 and 19-21

This report details the rationale, methodology and results of a regional seismic interpretation of the 21CXRM Palaeozoic ‘Orcadian study area’, specifically the Inner Moray Firth and western Outer Moray Firth basins (Quadrants 11–15), the East Orkney Basin (Quadrant 13) and the Grampian High area (Quadrants 19–21). The aim of the interpretation was to create Two-Way Travel Time (TWTT) and depth maps that show the distribution of Palaeozoic basins and highs, and where possible interpret key Devono-Carboniferous surfaces and main structural elements in order to contribute a tectono-stratigraphic model of the Palaeozoic succession. Some 35,000 line kilometres of predominantly 2D seismic data have been interpreted and tied to key released wells in the study area. In total, 8 depth structure maps of key horizons have been produced for the pre-Permian succession. The maps do not cover the entire study area as it was not possible to interpret a specific seismic reflector everywhere due both to seismic resolution and also current day extents (as a result of non-deposition and/or erosion). These maps provide a key element to aid assessment of the petroleum systems of the Palaeozoic sequence within the study area. Where present, the surfaces with a grid spacing of 5000 m, give a regional view of the topography of the horizons, and comprise: Inner and Outer Moray Firth and East Orkney Basin area Base Zechstein; Top Firth Coal Formation; Top Eday Marl Formation; Top Orcadia Formation; Base Orcadia Formation; Top Struie Formation; Top Basement. The geological succession over the Grampian High area was such that only the following surfaces were generated: Base Zechstein; Base Carboniferous/ Top Devonian; Top Basement. The regional structure map of the area constructed for this report, and observations made from the seismic data, have been integrated with peer reviewed published information to describe a tectonic synthesis for the region (Leslie et. al., 2016). A new pre-Permian subcrop map is presented here that builds on existing publications (Smith, 1985; Marshall and Hewett 2003) and incorporates relevant new well penetrations since the previous maps were published. The well dataset has been either validated or re-interpreted before being integrated with the new seismic interpretation. The map extends the interpretation of the pre-Permian subcrop northwards from the published Central North Sea map (Arsenikos et al., 2015)

Fiber-Cavity-Based Optomechanical Device

We describe an optomechanical device consisting of a fiber-based optical cavity containing a silicon nitiride membrane. In comparison with typical free-space cavities, the fiber-cavity's small mode size (10 {\mu}m waist, 80 {\mu}m length) allows the use of smaller, lighter membranes and increases the cavity-membrane linear coupling to 3 GHz/nm and quadratic coupling to 20 GHz/nm^2. This device is also intrinsically fiber-coupled and uses glass ferrules for passive alignment. These improvements will greatly simplify the use of optomechanical systems, particularly in cryogenic settings. At room temperature, we expect these devices to be able to detect the shot noise of radiation pressure.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures; the following article has been submitted to Applied Physics Letter

Seismic interpretation and generation of key depth structure surfaces within the Devonian and Carboniferous of the Central North Sea, Quadrants 25 – 44 area

This report details the rationale, methodology and results of a regional seismic interpretation of the western margin of the Central North Sea (CNS) area, specifically over the Mid North Sea High area, the offshore extension of the Northumberland Trough and the Forth Approaches area. The aim of the interpretation was to create maps that show the distribution of Palaeozoic basins and highs, and where possible interpret key Devono-Carboniferous surfaces and main structural elements in order to build a tectono-stratigraphic model of the Palaeozoic geology. Some 50,000 line kilometres of predominantly 2D seismic data have been interpreted and tied to key released wells in the study area. The seismic and well data were augmented by donated reports from sponsor companies. A set of 5 depth structure maps of selected Palaeozoic horizons has been produced for the pre-Permian succession. These maps provide a key element to aid assessment of the petroleum prospectivity of the Palaeozoic within the study area. The surfaces, with a grid spacing of 5000 m, give a regional view of the topography of the horizons, and comprise: Upper Permian Base Zechstein Group; Lower Carboniferous near Top Scremerston Formation; Lower Carboniferous near Top Fell Sandstone Formation; Lower Carboniferous near Top Cementstone Formation; and Middle Devonian near Top Kyle Limestone Group. The regional structure map of the area constructed for this report and observations made from the seismic data, have been integrated with peer reviewed published information to describe a tectonostratigraphic model for the region (Leslie et. al., 2015). A new pre-Permian subcrop map is presented here that builds on existing publications (Smith,1985a, b; Kombrink et al., 2010) and incorporates all relevant new well penetrations since the previous map was published. The well dataset has been either validated or re-interpreted before being integrated with the new seismic interpretation (Kearsey et al., 2015). Figure 10 in Section 3.3.1 below summarises the regional structures referred to in the general observations listed below. General observations on the structures defined across Quadrants 29, 30, 31, 37, 38 and 39: The Middle-Upper Devonian basins and highs follow a NW-SE trend across Quadrants 29-30 and 37-38; Lower Carboniferous sequences (Tournaisian and Visean) are interpreted to be present in depocentres across much of the area covered by Quadrants 29 to 38; wells, mainly drilled on the structural highs, constrain the edge of the Lower Carboniferous basins; There is a structurally complicated area in the southernmost part of Quadrant 38 which comprises a folded Visean and probably Namurian succession. The structure can be interpreted either as an anticlinal rollover on a low-angle fault, or as a compressional anticlinal fold (see Figure 17 below). The structure trends broadly NNE-SSW, plunging northwards into Quadrant 38

Inclusion of Experimental Information in First Principles Modeling of Materials

We propose a novel approach to model amorphous materials using a first principles density functional method while simultaneously enforcing agreement with selected experimental data. We illustrate our method with applications to amorphous silicon and glassy GeSe$_2$. The structural, vibrational and electronic properties of the models are found to be in agreement with experimental results. The method is general and can be extended to other complex materials.Comment: 11 pages, 8 PostScript figures, submitted to J. Phys.: Condens. Matter in honor of Mike Thorpe's 60th birthda