917 research outputs found
Using a maturity model to move student engagement practices beyond the generational approach
This paper proposes that the generational approach to conceptualising first year student learning behaviour, while it has made a very useful contribution to understanding that behaviour, can be expanded upon. The generational approach has an explicit focus on student behaviour and it is suggested that a capability maturity model interpretation may provide a complementary extension of that as it allows an assessment of institutional capability to initiate, plan, manage and evaluate institutional student engagement practices. The development of a Student Engagement, Success and Retention Maturity Model (SESR-MM) is discussed along with Australasian FYE generational data and Australian SESR-MM data
Faraday Rotation Observations of Magnetic Fields in galaxy Clusters
The presence of magnetic fields in the intracluster medium in clusters of
galaxies has been revealed through several different observational techniques.
These fields may be dynamically important in clusters as they will provide
additional pressure support to the intracluster medium as well as inhibit
transport mechanisms such as thermal conduction. Here, we review the current
observational state of Faraday rotation measure studies of the cluster fields.
The fields are generally found to be a few to 10 microG in non-cooling core
clusters and ordered on scales of 10-20 kpc. Studies of sources at large impact
parameters show that the magnetic fields extend from cluster cores to radii of
at least 500 kpc. In central regions of cooling core systems the field
strengths are often somewhat higher (10-40 microG) and appear to be ordered on
smaller scales of a few to 10 kpc. We also review some of the recent work on
interpreting Faraday rotation measure observations through theory and numerical
simulations. These techniques allow us to build up a much more detailed view of
the strength and topology of the fields.Comment: 6 pages, including 2 colour figures. To appear in a dedicated issue
of the Journal of the Korean Astronomical Society (JKAS). Proceedings of the
"International conference on Cosmic Rays and Magnetic Fields in Large Scale
Structure", Busan, Korea, 200
Occurrence of radio minihalos in a mass-limited sample of galaxy clusters
We investigate the occurrence of radio minihalos --- diffuse radio sources of
unknown origin observed in the cores of some galaxy clusters --- in a
statistical sample of 58 clusters drawn from the Planck Sunyaev-Zel'dovich
cluster catalog using a mass cut (). We
supplement our statistical sample with a similarly-sized non-statistical sample
mostly consisting of clusters in the ACCEPT X-ray catalog with suitable X-ray
and radio data, which includes lower-mass clusters. Where necessary (for 9
clusters), we reanalyzed the Very Large Array archival radio data to determine
if a mihinalo is present. Our total sample includes all 28 currently known and
recently discovered radio minihalos, including 6 candidates. We classify
clusters as cool-core or non-cool core according to the value of the specific
entropy floor in the cluster center, rederived or newly derived from the
Chandra X-ray density and temperature profiles where necessary (for 27
clusters). Contrary to the common wisdom that minihalos are rare, we find that
almost all cool cores - at least 12 out of 15 (80%) - in our complete sample of
massive clusters exhibit minihalos. The supplementary sample shows that the
occurrence of minihalos may be lower in lower-mass cool-core clusters. No
minihalos are found in non-cool-cores or "warm cores". These findings will help
test theories of the origin of minihalos and provide information on the
physical processes and energetics of the cluster cores.Comment: 34 pages, accepted for publication in ApJ. Added a section
"Definition of a minihalo" and an appendix "Radio size and average surface
brigthtness of minihalos and halos
The Long Wavelength Array Software Library
The Long Wavelength Array Software Library (LSL) is a Python module that
provides a collection of utilities to analyze and export data collected at the
first station of the Long Wavelength Array, LWA1. Due to the nature of the data
format and large-N (100 inputs) challenges faced by the LWA, currently
available software packages are not suited to process the data. Using tools
provided by LSL, observers can read in the raw LWA1 data, synthesize a filter
bank, and apply incoherent de-dispersion to the data. The extensible nature of
LSL also makes it an ideal tool for building data analysis pipelines and
applying the methods to other low frequency arrays.Comment: accepted to the Journal of Astronomical Instrumentation; 24 pages, 4
figure
Reengineering of the Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS) equipment tracking database
The Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) manages the Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS). DBIDS captures personal and biometric information to manage DoD-wide access, control, and personnel accountability. DBIDS equipment is installed globally, and managed by a central office on the Monterey peninsula. Program managers track data about the numbers and type of equipment installed at each site. Program managers were tracking DBIDS data using a single Microsoft Excel workbook comprised of several, interlinking worksheets (DBIDS Master Plan Spreadsheet). Data updates were error-prone and difficult, requiring close coordination to keep the number of "current" versions of the spreadsheet to a minimum. This thesis initially focused on reviewing the business rules and processes surrounding DBIDS document, and then transitioned into designing, developing, and implementing of a relational database solution to improve problem areas identified during the initial review. After implementation of the database, this thesis explored the effects of making such a change within an organization. This was attempted by identifying and measuring changes in performance and accuracy of the system; by measuring pre- and post-user satisfaction through the qualitative methods of questionnaires and interviews; and finally using this analysis to improve the project through maintenance and growth iterations.http://archive.org/details/reengineeringofd109454607Outstanding ThesisUS Navy (USN) author.Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited
RIVPACS database documentation. Final report
With the advent of the EU Water Framework Directive the concept of the 'reference condition' has become explicit within the legislative framework of the European Union. Reference condition has been established as a quality standard against which assessments of biological degradation must be compared. It is therefore essential that Member States can demonstrate that the biological datasets used to define their reference conditions meet the criteria of the WFD. The RIVPACS reference site dataset is therefore central to the definition of reference conditions for macroinvertebrates in streams and rivers in the United Kingdom.
Objectives of research:
• To establish the ownership of the RIVPACS reference site dataset
• To liaise with all stakeholders of the dataset to establish unhindered access to the RIVPACS reference site dataset for the UK agencies (in perpetuity)
• To deliver the RIVPACS reference site dataset to the UK agencies and to the public domain in a readily accessible database together will its accompanying physicochemical variables (both existing and newly collated as part of this project), historical and current anthropogenic stress data, and a range of calculated biotic indices.
Key findings and recommendations:
Ownership of the RIVPACS dataset resides with no single organization and several different organizations consider that they own different portions of the dataset. Formal permissions to release the dataset into the public domain have been obtained from all twelve extant organizations that have been identified as having funded various phases of RIVPACS research. In addition, CEH/NERC has also agreed to release the RIVPACS dataset to the public domain. Terms and conditions relating to the end use of the RIVPACS dataset have now been established. The RIVPACS database has been assembled in Microsoft® Access and can now be downloaded from the CEH web site. This report details the terms and conditions that apply to all end users of the database and it documents the tables given in the database, their structure and the origin of their data. A separate Pressure Data Analysis report describes the screening of the RIVPACS sites in terms of the current and emerging definitions of reference condition
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