A new method of measuring corrosion under water. Investigation of effect of velocity

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New models of leadership in Kent schools: final report

1. Executive Summary The overall aim of this commissioned project, led by Professor Vivienne Griffiths and Dr Andrew Lambirth at Canterbury Christ Church University, is to identify new models of leadership in Kent schools, their characteristics, benefits and challenges to schools. It builds on recent initiatives in Kent schools as set out by the Advisory Service for Kent (2009), responding to an analysis and identification of school leadership needs (ASK 2008). We were particularly asked to look at: - what schools have learnt from introducing new models of leadership - how they prepared for change - their professional needs in the run up to and during the change process - the barriers to change - the enablers. 1.1 Summary of work undertaken The study involved: a) scrutiny of available data on new models of leadership in Kent schools; b) analysis of the literature and consultation material; c) questionnaires to headteachers of federations (N=19); d) interviews with headteachers of federations (N=16). The interim report presented a description and analysis of the questionnaire responses, which dealt in particular with preparation for change and professional needs during this period of development. In this final report, analysis of the interview data is presented, together with analysis of relevant literature on new models of school leadership. 1.2 Key findings - Origins of federations often focus on the need for a link between stronger and less successful schools, as well as community needs. - Clear vision and aims are expressed, particularly by executive heads. - Federation and community school aims are usually linked to community development. - Federations are usually but not always in deprived communities. - Many federation aims included new buildings and/or a joint federation site. - All federations had joint governing bodies or were moving towards this. Benefits of federations: - Greater support for headteachers - Distributed leadership to senior and middle management - Shared curriculum, within or cross-phase - Sharing of good practice, teaching and pastoral approaches - Shared resources - Joint or semi-joint timetabling - Wider offer of subjects, especially at A-level - Joint CPD, including training for teaching assistants and trainee teachers - Improved standards, attendance and behaviour - Range of benefits to the community. Challenges: - Resistance by staff, parents and governors - Heavy workload, especially for executive heads - Need to change school cultures, especially between selective and non-selective schools - Financial pressures; not necessarily savings - Pressures to raise standards - Federations not generally recognised by Ofsted, so separate inspections. 1.3 Recommendations - Case studies and of successful federations and other new leadership models to be collected. - Dissemination of good practice at headteacher conferences and other events. - Training for executive heads, senior and middle management. - Support groups, ‘buddying’ and mentoring for executive heads and headteachers. - Training for governors, parents and other staff. - Improved communication of aims to staff, governors, parents and pupils. - Further research into the development of federations and other new models of leadership

Ancient mtDNA Analysis of Early 16th Century Caribbean Cattle Provides Insight into Founding Populations of New World Creole Cattle Breeds

The Columbian Exchange resulted in a widespread movement of humans, plants and animals between the Old and New Worlds. The late 15th to early 16th century transfer of cattle from the Iberian Peninsula and Canary Islands to the Caribbean laid the foundation for the development of American creole cattle (Bos taurus) breeds. Genetic analyses of modern cattle from the Americas reveal a mixed ancestry of European, African and Indian origins. Recent debate in the genetic literature centers on the ‘African’ haplogroup T1 and its subhaplogroups, alternatively tying their origins to the initial Spanish herds, and/or from subsequent movements of taurine cattle through the African slave trade. We examine this problem through ancient DNA analysis of early 16th century cattle bone from Sevilla la Nueva, the first Spanish colony in Jamaica. In spite of poor DNA preservation, both T3 and T1 haplogroups were identified in the cattle remains, confirming the presence of T1 in the earliest Spanish herds. The absence, however, of “African-derived American” haplotypes (AA/T1c1a1) in the Sevilla la Nueva sample, leaves open the origins of this sub-haplogroup in contemporary Caribbean cattle

Initial teacher training to promote health and well-being in schools – a systematic review of effectiveness and barriers and facilitators

Objectives: to conduct a systematic review of effectiveness, and barriers and facilitators, of initial teacher training to promote health and wellbeing in schools. Design: systematic review of the literature Method: a total of 20 bibliographic databases were searched, including Medline, Embase, and the Social Science Citation Index. Studies were included if they reported research into the processes and/or outcomes of initial (pre?service) teacher training to promote health. Results: a total of 20 studies met the inclusion criteria, mainly from the UK and Australia. Twelve studies assessed outcomes, commonly using uncontrolled before and after assessment designs. Sixteen studies evaluated the processes of training. Training was diverse in terms of content, format and health topics. The studies demonstrated short?term increases in trainee teachers’ factual knowledge of health issues, a general increase in teachers’ confidence to teach about health and to identify and help children with specific health issues. There was an increase in teachers’ positive beliefs about their role in promoting children’s health. None of the studies assessed changes in pupil outcomes. The training was generally considered acceptable and adequate by trainee teachers. However, some of trainees felt that they still lacked knowledge and confidence to address sensitive health issues on entering teaching practice. Conclusion: this systematic review identified some evidence for the effectiveness of teacher training for health, and highlighted factors which facilitate and inhibit effective training. Further evaluation, using controlled trial designs with long?term follow?up of teacher and pupil outcomes, may enable teachers to effectively address the health and education needs of school pupils <br/

Fluctuations, line tensions, and correlation times of nanoscale islands on surfaces

We analyze in detail the fluctuations and correlations of the (spatial) Fourier modes of nano-scale single-layer islands on (111) fcc crystal surfaces. We analytically show that the Fourier modes of the fluctuations couple due to the anisotropy of the crystal, changing the power spectrum of the fluctuations, and that the actual eigenmodes of the fluctuations are the appropriate linear combinations of the Fourier modes. Using kinetic Monte Carlo simulations with bond-counting parameters that best match realistic energy barriers for hopping rates, we deduce absolute line tensions as a function of azimuthal orientation from the analyses of the fluctuation of each individual mode. The autocorrelation functions of these modes give the scaling of the correlation times with wavelength, providing us with the rate-limiting kinetics driving the fluctuations, here step-edge diffusion. The results for the energetic parameters are in reasonable agreement with available experimental data for Pb(111) surfaces, and we compare the correlation times of island-edge fluctuations to relaxation times of quenched Pb crystallites.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures; to appear in PRB 70, xxx (15 Dec 2004), changes in MC and its implication

A compact high field magnet system for medical applications

High magnetic field gradients can be used for various medical applications including magnetically targeted drug delivery, magnetic cell separation and controlled local heating for the ablation of tumours. These processes involve the use of biocompatible magnetic nanoparticles directed to the area of interest by the use of a field gradient. The force on the nanoparticle is proportional to the field gradient product, so high fields are required for effective delivery. Bulk superconductors are an attractive solution for both drug delivery and the next generation of low cost magnetic resonance imaging magnets. In particular, MgB2 is seen as an attractive material due to its low cost, simple processing and relatively high transition temperature (∼39 K). This paper describes the development of a breadboard compact delivery system suitable for medical applications. This incorporates a cryogenic stage which utilises long life space-proven technology and state of the art ex-situ processed MgB 2 pellets.EP/P026427/1

Conformity of spin fluctuations in alkali-metal iron selenide superconductors inferred from the observation of a magnetic resonant mode in K(x)Fe(2-y)Se(2)

Spin excitations stemming from the metallic phase of the ferrochalcogenide superconductor K(0.77)Fe(1.85)Se(2) (T_c=32 K) were mapped out in the ab plane by means of the time-of-flight neutron spectroscopy. We observed a magnetic resonant mode at Q_res=(1/2 1/4), whose energy and in-plane shape are almost identical to those in the related compound Rb(0.8)Fe(1.6)Se(2). This lets us infer that there is a unique underlying electronic structure of the bulk superconducting phase K(x)Fe(2)Se(2), which is universal for all alkali-metal iron selenide superconductors and stands in contrast to the doping-tunable phase diagrams of the related iron pnictides. Furthermore, the spectral weight of the resonance on the absolute scale, normalized to the volume fraction of the superconducting phase, is several times larger than in optimally doped BaFe(2-x)Co(x)As(2). We also found no evidence for any additional low-energy branches of spin excitations away from Q_res. Our results provide new input for theoretical models of the spin dynamics in iron based superconductors

Linhas gráficas de publicações diárias em Portugal: Estudo comparativo de publicações diárias nos anos 1985, 1995 e 2005

Com esta investigação pretendi analisar o design gráfico ao nível do projecto (linha) gráfico em quatro publicações portuguesas, jornais diários (Diário, Diário de Notícias, Correio da Manhã e Jornal de Notícias e, posteriormente, substituído o Diário, que encerrou, pelo Público). A análise incidirá em três momentos distintos (1985, 1995 e 2005) separados por intervalos de uma década. Através do estudo comparativo do design gráfico de informação destas publicações, procurarei identificar e avaliar as diferenças de alteração gráfica, afirmando ou infirmando que estas foram motivadas pela mudança e introdução de novas tecnologias como pelas grandes alterações económicas e sociais em Portugal

Characterization of breast calcification types using dual energy X-ray method

Calcifications are products of mineralization whose presence is usually associated with pathological conditions. The minerals mostly seen in several diseases are calcium oxalate (CaC2O4), calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and hydroxyapatite (HAp). Up to date, there is no in-vivo method that could discriminate between minerals. To this aim, a dual energy X-ray method was developed in the present study. An analytical model was implemented for the determination of the Calcium/Phosphorus mass ratio (mca/mp ). The simulation was carried out using monoenergetic and polyenergetic X-rays and various calcification thicknesses (100 to 1000 um) and types (CaC2O4, CaCO3, HAp). The experimental evaluation of the method was performed using the optimized irradiation conditions obtained from the simulation study. X-ray tubes, combined with energy dispersive and energy integrating (imaging) detectors, were used for the determination of the mca/mp in phantoms of different mineral types and thicknesses. Based on the results of the experimental procedure, statistical significant difference was observed between the different types of minerals when calcification thicknesses were 300 um or higher