A LiDAR crop scanner for managing pesticide dose adjustment

This paper gives a brief description of a LiDAR Crop Scanner (LCS) and associated software for recording and processing sequential range measurements of tree-row structures. The data processing methods have been described in previous publications (Walklate et al., 2002 and Walklate and Cross, 2013). The results of apple orchard measurements show examples of output

Exploring the processes of emergent leadership in a netball team. Providing empirical evidence through discourse analysis

In line with recent developments in leadership research which conceptualise leadership as a discursive and collaborative process rather than a set of static attributes and characteristics displayed by individuals, this paper explores some of the discursive processes through which leadership emerges in a sports team. Drawing on over ten hours of naturally occurring interactions among the players of a women’s netball team in the UK, and applying the concepts of deontic and epistemic status and stance, we identify and describe some of the specific processes through which leadership is claimed and assigned, as well as rejected, passed on, and eventually accepted by different team members at different points throughout an interaction. While the processes outlined in our analysis contribute to theoretical discussions regarding the notion of emergent leadership, this paper also demonstrates the benefits of taking a discourse analytical approach to leadership, and outlines how such an approach enables researchers to empirically capture emergent leadership in situ

Working Memory Training Using Mental Calculation Impacts Regional Gray Matter of the Frontal and Parietal Regions

Training working memory (WM) improves performance on untrained cognitive tasks and alters functional activity. However, WM training's effects on gray matter morphology and a wide range of cognitive tasks are still unknown. We investigated this issue using voxel-based morphometry (VBM), various psychological measures, such as non-trained WM tasks and a creativity task, and intensive adaptive training of WM using mental calculations (IATWMMC), all of which are typical WM tasks. IATWMMC was associated with reduced regional gray matter volume in the bilateral fronto-parietal regions and the left superior temporal gyrus. It improved verbal letter span and complex arithmetic ability, but deteriorated creativity. These results confirm the training-induced plasticity in psychological mechanisms and the plasticity of gray matter structures in regions that have been assumed to be under strong genetic control

Integrating the Unified Modeling Language with an Architecture Description Language

These paper presents an approach for integrating UML with an ADL. The integration would encompass the advantages of both languages. It would give formal semantics to UML constructs and thus would provide UML with a theoretical foundation for architecture modeling. Furthermore, the integration would provide benefits for both ADL and UML users: it will enable ADL users to utilize general-purpose UML tools, and will enable UML users to utilize ADL validation capabilities. The result would be a rigorous software development process that is currently lacking

Design and development of innovative physics simulations and teaching materials for the learning of the concept of energy

This paper describes an innovative educational approach for the teaching of the concept of energy, by the use of 12 simulations developed with the educational software "Modellus". The concept of energy is a very abstract concept and according to the literature, many secondary students face learning difficulties and develop alternative ideas that persist after teaching. The purpose of this work was the design and development of new learning materials (simulations, worksheets for the students, teacher guide) according to a constructivistic point of view, in order to help secondary students better understand various phenomena, apply the law of energy conservation in a satisfactory way and overcome their learning difficulties about energy. This educational approach is based on the modelization of energy with: a) the energy transfer model and b) the visualization of energy (stored in a system, or transferred from one system to another) with appropriate representations (bars and arrows). An example simulation of an experimental situation is presented and discussed, in order to show how students can interact with the simulation and work on the proposed learning activities