The Nature and Nurture of Sports Performance, Blog 5

Student blog posts from the Great VCU Bike Race Book

Photovoltaic System Installation in Belize

California Polytechnic State University’s National Electrical Contractors Association Student Chapter (NECA) was selected by the ELECTRI Council to take part in its Student Passport Initiative program, through which participants engage in meaningful service-learning experiences in developing communities. The team was tasked with the design and construction of a photovoltaic system for San Pedro Roman Catholic Primary School in San Pedro, Belize, with the purpose of enabling the school to achieve carbon neutrality with respect to utility grid power consumption. The team of five students collaborated primarily with two professors, two alumni, and an accomplished electrical contractor from Belize to perform six months of design and preconstruction work before ultimately delivering a fourteen-panel photovoltaic system with a projected average output of 13.4 kilowatt-hours per day. My role on this project was to manage shipping of materials and equipment from San Luis Obispo, California to Belize City, Belize, and to provide construction labor during the system’s installation. I worked directly with our NECA student scheduler and interfaced with our NECA student cost estimator during preconstruction. This project has provided outstanding lessons learned and has aided me in my professional development by demonstrating the incredible logistics and planning necessary to complete international projects

Impact of Parasitic Drag on a Family of Optimal Lift Distributions

Minimizing drag is a variational problem, and several minimum induced drag solutions have been found using different design constraints. The elliptic lift distribution is commonly used to minimize induced drag, but is only the optimal solution under one set of design constraints. Non-elliptic lift distributions are able to reduce induced drag, when compared to the elliptic lift distribution, by increasing the wingspan while maintaining a consistent wing–structure weight. However, these non-elliptic lift distributions are only optimal if the effects of viscous drag are neglected. In this study, numerical tools are used to estimate the total drag on rectangular wings that are twisted to give both elliptic and non-elliptic lift distributions. It is shown that the optimal lift distribution is described by Bn = 0 for all n≠ 3 and B3 = -0.0901 or -0.103 depending on twist type. These optimal lift distributions reduce total drag by 1.01 or 1.23% respectively when compared to the elliptic lift distribution. These values are compared to lift distributions that minimize only induced drag, to understand the effects of using a non-elliptic lift distribution on the efficiency of an aircraft and the viability of using non-elliptic lift distributions on aircraft, specifically morphing-wing aircraft

Reducing and removing barriers to spatial audio : applications of capital as a critical framework to promote inclusion in spatial audio : a thesis submitted to Massey University in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctorate of Philosophy in Music at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand

The research within this thesis aims to address the question of whether barriers of capital to the field of spatial audio can be reduced or removed. Spatial audio is the musical utilization of space, where spatialization is the salient feature of the musical work. As a field, it primarily exists within academic and art institutions. Because of this, there are numerous barriers that prohibit people from engaging with the field. These barriers include significant technical requirements, the need for education, the expense of large spatial audio systems, amongst others. These barriers mean that those who are excluded have little to no pathway to engage with the field. This thesis explores the barriers in spatial audio through the lens of capital. Viewed as one’s level of resource, a lack of economic, social, symbolic, cultural, and physical capital can exclude many from engaging with spatial audio. The research within this thesis identifies barriers of capital that exist within the field through qualitative and quantitative survey analysis as well as literature review. The identified barriers are then addressed through practice-led and practice-based research with the creation of new spatial audio works and compositional strategies, alongside user surveys to ascertain the efficacy of the research

Breeding, Moulting, and Site Fidelity of Brant (Branta bernicla) on Bathurst and Seymour Islands in the Canadian High Arctic

We studied the breeding and moulting ecology of eastern High Arctic brant Branta bernicla hrota on Bathurst and Seymour Islands in the central Canadian High Arctic from 1968 to 1989. In most years, brant arrived in Polar Bear Pass, Bathurst Islnd, during the first few days of June (earliest 28 May 1977), where they fed for several days in small flocks before dispersing to nesting areas. First eggs were usually laid on 13 June and the peak of nest initiation occurred about 16 June. The mean clutch size was 4.5 eggs, and the mean incubation period 23 days. Broods were raised along the shorelines of lakes, ponds, estuaries, and rivers. Goslings were capable of flight by 42-43 days. During the 10 years when the studies were most intensive (1974-77 and 1984-89), there were three years in which brant did not attempt to nest (1974, 1986, 1988); they nested in all other years and were known to produce fledged young in at least four of them. Nesting was not attempted when the mean temperature for the period 1-20 June was below -3 C. On Bathurst Island in 1987, arctic foxes (Alopex lagopus) preyed heavily on brant eggs, and no young were fledged. Nonbreeding adults assembled in small flocks to moult around nerby inland lakes, in river valleys, and at the mouths of estuaries, and concentrated in the latter in cold summers when inland sites had heavier ice cover. The flightless period began about 6 July and lasted 20-22 days. The recapture or resighting of brant marked on Bathurst Island showed that many adults returned in subsequent years to the same breeding territories, and in nonbreeding years they moulted nearby. A smaller proportion of the brant that had been marked as goslings and yearlings also returned to the island. In comparison with most other stocks of North American brant, those we studied bred at high latitude. That choice of breeding site subjected them to periodic breeding failures caused by cold springs and to a reduced availability of plant biomass, but it offered the advantage of reduced spring snow depth and a full 24 h of daylight for feeding during nesting and brood rearing. By using small wetlands which thaw early in close proximity to nesting sites, these brant were able to initiate egg laying relatively early and produce large clutches in most years. The low availability of plant biomass in the High Arctic probably explained the wide dispersal and low densities of these brant during breeding and moulting.De 1968 à 1989, nous avons étudié l'écologie de reproduction et de mue de la bernache cravant à ventre pâle Branta bernicla hrota dans les îles Bathurst et Seymour situées dans la partie centrale de l'Extrême-Arctique canadien. En général, les bernaches cravants arrivaient dans la vallée Polar Bear de l'île Bathurst durant les premiers jours de juin (le plus tôt étant le 28 mai 1977); elles s'alimentaient par petits groupes pendant plusieurs jours avant de se disperser vers les sites de nidification. Les premiers oeufs étaient généralement pondus le 13 juin et le pic du début de la ponte se situait vers le 16 juin. La taille moyenne de la couvée était de 4,5 oeufs/nid et la durée moyenne d'incubation était de 23 jours. Les couvées étaient élevées en bordure des lacs, des étangs, des estuaires et des cours d'eau. Les oisons étaient capables de voler à 42 ou 43 jours. Au cours des 10 années d'étude intensive (1974-77 et 1984-89), il y en a eu trois pendant lesquelles les bernaches cravants n'ont pas essayé de nicher (1974, 1986, 1988); par contre, elles ont niché toutes les autres années et ont réussi à élever des oisons jusqu'à l'âge d'envol au moins quatre de ces années. Les bernaches cravants n'ont pas essayé de nicher les années où la température moyenne pour la période allant du 1er au 20 juin était inférieure à -3 °C. En 1987, des renards arctiques Alopex lagopus ont prélevé quantité d'oeufs de bernaches cravants dans l'île Bathurst et aucun oison n'a survécu jusqu'à l'âge d'envol. Des adultes non reproducteurs se rassemblaient localement en petits groupes pour muer près des lacs, des rivières et de l'embouchure des estuaires, préférant, durant les étés froids, des estuaires normalement plus dégagés de glace que des sites à l'intérieur des terres. La période de mue débutait autour du 6 juillet et durait de 20 à 22 jours environ. Des bernaches cravants qui avaient été marquées dans l'île Bathurst y ont été observées de nouveau ou y ont été recapturées durant les années subséquentes, prouvant ainsi qu'un grand nombre d'adultes reviennent sur les mêmes aires de reproduction et, pendant les années de non-reproduction, elles muaient à proximité. Une proportion moindre de bernaches cravants marquées au stade juvénile (soit < 2 mois, soit à l'âge d'un an) sont aussi revenues à l'île Bathrust. Comparées à d'autres populations nord-américaines de bernaches, celles que nous avons étudiées se reproduisent à une latitude élevée. En nichant dans l'Extrême-Arctique, cette population était sujette à des échecs périodiques dus à des printemps froids ainsi qu'à une disponibilité réduite de biomasse végétale. Elle bénéficiait par contre d'une faible accumulation de neige au printemps et de 24 heures quotidiennes de clarté pour se nourrir pendant la nidification et l'élevage des oisons. En exploitant de petites superficies de terres humides qui dégèlent tôt, à proximité des sites de nidification, ce bernaches cravants pouvaient, la plupart des années, pondre relativement tôt en saison et produire des couvées de bonne taille. La disponibilité réduite de biomasse végétale dans l'Extrême-Arctique expliquait probablement la dispersion étendue et les faibles densités de ces bernaches cravants en période de reproduction et de mue

The "isothermal" compressibility of active matter

We demonstrate that the mechanically defined “isothermal” compressibility behaves as a thermodynamic-like response function for suspensions of active Brownian particles. The compressibility computed from the active pressure—a combination of the collision and unique swim pressures—is capable of predicting the critical point for motility induced phase separation, as expected from the mechanical stability criterion. We relate this mechanical definition to the static structure factor via an active form of the thermodynamic compressibility equation and find the two to be equivalent, as would be the case for equilibrium systems. This equivalence indicates that compressibility behaves like a thermodynamic response function, even when activity is large. Finally, we discuss the importance of the phase interface when defining an active chemical potential. Previous definitions of the active chemical potential are shown to be accurate above the critical point but breakdown in the coexistence region. Inclusion of the swim pressure in the mechanical compressibility definition suggests that the interface is essential for determining phase behavior

The "isothermal" compressibility of active matter

We demonstrate that the mechanically-defined "isothermal" compressibility behaves as a thermodynamic-like response function for suspensions of active Brownian particles. The compressibility computed from the active pressure - a combination of the collision and unique swim pressures - is capable of predicting the critical point for motility induced phase separation, as expected from the mechanical stability criterion. We relate this mechanical definition to the static structure factor via an active form of the thermodynamic compressibility equation and find the two to be equivalent, as would be the case for equilibrium systems. This equivalence indicates that compressibility behaves like a thermodynamic response function, even when activity is large. Finally, we discuss the importance of the phase interface when defining an active chemical potential. Previous definitions of the active chemical potential are shown to be accurate above the critical point but breakdown in the coexistence region. Inclusion of the swim pressure in the mechanical compressibility definition suggests that the interface is essential for determining phase behavior

Using Design Interventions to Develop Communication Solutions for Integrated Pest Management

Iowa State University’s (ISU) Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program partnered with the ISU College of Design (COD) to use Design Thinking and other practical design methodologies and theories to identify and develop approaches to address IPM extension and communication issues. ISU IPM met with agriculture industry, program colleagues, and ISU COD faculty to discuss IPM-related needs in agriculture and to determine the program’s primary challenges. ISU COD faculty developed a two-semester course for undergraduate students, allocating various resources to solve these challenges. Undergraduates in the course, as the primary agents and problem solvers, developed various strategies the IPM program and its colleagues could implement. A model of interdisciplinary collaboration was developed, where design and science may function as equal partners in a design education setting. In our collaboration, the partners bought into a design-led process-based methodology that began with identifying IPM communication needs. This project resulted in unique design interventions to communicate IPM to stakeholders and the public, as well as created a model for interdisciplinary cooperation that can be exported to fields outside of agriculture and IPM